NLL’s Seals force deciding playoff game with dominant home win over Toronto

by Karen Pearlman | May 4, 2026 3:17 am

Dylan Watson of the San Diego Seals in Sunday’s semifinal game. Photo courtesy San Diego Seals

East County News Service

May 3, 2026 (San Diego) — Staring down playoff elimination at Pechanga Arena, the San Diego Seals delivered their most complete performance of the postseason on Sunday afternoon. The Seals topped the Toronto Rock 11-6 in Game 2 of their NLL Semifinal series to force a decisive third game next weekend in Hamilton, Ontario.

The result ends any thought of a Toronto sweep and sets up a winner-take-all showdown, with the Seals riding a wave of momentum, which was pushed to the heights with a hometown crowd that sent them off the floor roaring.

 

With Seals goaltender Chris Origlieri placed on the Injured Reserve list the morning of the game, the Seals turned to Cam Dunkerley to guard the net. Making his first career playoff start, Dunkerley stepped up to the job, stopping 36 of 42 shots (85.7 save percentage).

On the offensive end, Dylan Watson was the story, netting a season-high four goals to bring his postseason total to nine. Wes Berg finished with five assists and one goal, while Connor Robinson added two scores. James Barclay, Eli Gobrecht, Tre Leclaire and Zach Currier rounded out the offense with single goals.

The game was a physical affair, with officials assessing 80 total penalty minutes. There were also four ejections.

San Diego’s special teams converted on two of seven power play opportunities while shutting out Toronto’s man advantage, holding the Rock to 0-for-5 on the power play.

Game 3 is set for Saturday, May 9, at TD Coliseum in Hamilton, with faceoff at 4 p.m. Pacific time. A Seals win sends San Diego to their first-ever NLL Cup Finals; a Rock win would end the Seals’ season.

Source URL: https://eastcountymagazine.org/nlls-seals-force-deciding-playoff-game-with-dominant-home-win-over-toronto/

Padres announce $3.9B sale agreement amid win over White Sox

by Karen Pearlman | May 4, 2026 2:10 am

Padres third baseman Manny Machado connects for a home run on Sunday, May 3. Photo courtesy San Diego Padres Facebook page

East County News Service

May 3, 2026 (San Diego) — The San Diego Padres formally announced on Saturday, May 2, a definitive agreement to transfer franchise ownership to a group led by José E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones for a record-breaking $3.9 billion.

The news was followed by a tense afternoon at Petco Park on Sunday, May 3, where the Padres snapped a losing streak with a 4-3 win over the Chicago White Sox.

The sale still needs the approval of 75 percent of Major League Baseball owners to be finalized. That vote could potentially occur at the next quarterly owners meeting in June in New York. If approved, the price would shatter the previous record for an MLB franchise sale, when Steve Cohen purchased the New York Mets for $2.42 billion in 2020.

(more…)[1]

Endnotes:
  1. (more…): https://eastcountymagazine.org/padres-announce-3-9b-sale-agreement-amid-win-over-white-sox/#more-124433

Source URL: https://eastcountymagazine.org/padres-announce-3-9b-sale-agreement-amid-win-over-white-sox/

Eight candidates For California’s 48th Congressional District attend April 9 forum

by Karen Pearlman | May 4, 2026 1:19 am

Screenshot from forum on YouTube

By G. A. McNeeley 

May 3, 2026 (San Diego County) — On Thursday, April 9, the League of Women Voters of North County San Diego facilitated a forum (click here to watch it on YouTube[1]) hosted by the Ocean Hills Country Club Democracy Defenders that brought together eight of the candidates who are running for California’s 48th Congressional District. 

This forum was structured by the League of Women Voters (a non-partisan organization) to give the candidates equal time to answer questions, and they were encouraged to share civil and substantive answers, focused on their own priorities, plans and positions. 

(more…)[2]

Endnotes:
  1. click here to watch it on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5h4wxTh2vWQ
  2. (more…): https://eastcountymagazine.org/124426-2-eight-candidates-48th/#more-124426

Source URL: https://eastcountymagazine.org/124426-2-eight-candidates-48th/

San Diego River Days 2026: Conservation, culture and community exploration

by Karen Pearlman | May 4, 2026 12:58 am

Photo courtesy San Diego River Park Foundation

By Karen Pearlman

May 3, 2026 (San Diego County) — The 23rd annual San Diego River Days[1] is officially underway, offering more than three dozen events designed to connect San Diego County residents with the 52-mile waterway that serves as the region’s ecological backbone.

Organized by the nonprofit San Diego River Park Foundation and a wide array of local co-hosts and partner organizations, River Days runs May 9 through May 17, spanning the entire watershed from Julian through Lakeside and Mission Valley out to Ocean Beach.

This year’s programming emphasizes a blend of hands-on environmental stewardship, wildlife education and cultural history, with a large concentration of activities the weekends of May 9-10 and May 16-17.

(more…)[2]

Endnotes:
  1. San Diego River Days: https://sdriverdays.org/
  2. (more…): https://eastcountymagazine.org/san-diego-river-days-2026-conservation-culture-and-community-exploration/#more-124423

Source URL: https://eastcountymagazine.org/san-diego-river-days-2026-conservation-culture-and-community-exploration/

About 10 to 20 fires burning along SR 76 and I15

by Karen Pearlman | May 2, 2026 8:08 pm

East County News Service

May 2, 2026 (North San Diego County) — The North County Fire Protection District is reporting a total of 10 to 20 spot fires along state Route 76 and up Interstate 15. Most fires were reported 50-feet by 50-feet, according to Watch Duty App.

Eastbound SR-76 from Mission Road to Hwy 395 is closed as firefighters are working to contain the fires that broke out just after 11 a.m. Saturday morning around Bonsall and Pala Mesa. There have been reports of four fires burning on state Route 76 and about five fires burning on northbound I-15.

#MissionFire

Source URL: https://eastcountymagazine.org/about-10-to-20-fires-burning-along-sr-76-and-i15/

East County in focus for San Diego County Board of Supervisors

by Karen Pearlman | May 2, 2026 1:24 am

East County News Service

May 1, 2026 (San Diego County) — In a show of bipartisan collaboration aimed at addressing the needs of one of San Diego County’s most underserved regions, District 2 Supervisor Joel Anderson hosted Board Chair Pro Tem Paloma Aguirre from District 1 (South County) this past week for an extensive tour of East County, including the backcountry.

The day-long journey provided both supervisors a firsthand look at the diverse landscape of East County’s sprawling District 2, ranging from the urban corridors of El Cajon to the rugged Mountain Empire.

(more…)[1]

Endnotes:
  1. (more…): https://eastcountymagazine.org/east-county-in-focus-for-san-diego-county-board-of-supervisors/#more-124408

Source URL: https://eastcountymagazine.org/east-county-in-focus-for-san-diego-county-board-of-supervisors/

Massive rescue underway: hundreds of animals seized from Julian sanctuary

by Karen Pearlman | May 2, 2026 12:23 am

Photo from Villa Chardonnay, Horses With Wings, Inc. Facebook page

By Karen Pearlman

May 1, 2026 (Julian) — In what appears to be one of the largest ever animal welfare interventions locally, the San Diego Humane Society, the County of San Diego Department of Animal Services and several more partner agencies launched a massive rescue operation of animals with welfare concerns early Friday morning, May 1, at a 20-acre rural sanctuary in Julian.

SDHS officials say that an investigation into the site began in early April and that San Diego DAS “had previous reports about the property but only recently received legal authority to enter.”

Supported by the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, San Diego Humane Law Enforcement officers served a search warrant at Villa Chardonnay, Horses With Wings, Inc.[1], the property at 4554 Boulder Creek Road in Julian just after sunrise.

The rescue operation at Villa Chardonnay involves large groups of veterinary teams, emergency responders and animal care specialists. The collective effort is doing triage work, aiming to rescue and relocate hundreds of animals currently living on the site.

(more…)[2]

Endnotes:
  1. Villa Chardonnay, Horses With Wings, Inc.: https://villachardonnay.org/
  2. (more…): https://eastcountymagazine.org/massive-rescue-underway-hundreds-of-animals-seized-from-julian-sanctuary/#more-124392

Source URL: https://eastcountymagazine.org/massive-rescue-underway-hundreds-of-animals-seized-from-julian-sanctuary/

San Diego State University does not track amount of unhoused students on campus 

by Karen Pearlman | May 1, 2026 11:33 pm

“SDSU relies on students self-reporting their housing status, and not everyone adopts the same definition of homelessness.” – Evie Baez, the director of the SDSU Basic Needs Center

By Armando Rasing II

Hepner Hall on SDSU’s campus in San Diego, Calif. on March 24, 2026. (Photo/Armando Rasing II)

While there are thousands of unhoused students in the California State University system, it is unknown how many unhoused students attend San Diego State University as they rely on students to self-report their housing status. 

San Diego is the eighth-most populated city[1] with the sixth-largest[2] homeless population in the United States. The average monthly rent for all property types in San Diego County is $2,522,[3] which is more than the average rent of $2,000 in the country. [4]According to the San Diego Regional Task Force on Homelessness, San Diego has approximately 9,905 unhoused individuals,[5] which is less than the 10,605 unhoused individuals that were tracked in 2024. 

According to the San Diego Regional Task Force on Homelessness, San Diego has approximately 9,905 unhoused individuals,[6] which is less than the 10,605 unhoused individuals that were tracked in 2024. 

Both SDSU and UC San Diego – the two largest collegiate institutions in San Diego – do not keep numbers on unhoused students, but the San Diego Community College District does. 

(more…)[7]

Endnotes:
  1. eighth-most populated city: https://www.sandiego.gov/economic-development/sandiego/population
  2. sixth-largest: https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/2024-AHAR-Part-1.pdf
  3. $2,522,: https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/time-to-negotiate-that-lease-san-diego-rents-drop-for-first-time-in-15-years/3958755/
  4. in the country. : https://www.zillow.com/rental-manager/market-trends/united-states/
  5. approximately 9,905 unhoused individuals,: https://www.rtfhsd.org/2025-point-in-time-count-shows-7-drop-in-regionwide-homelessness/
  6. approximately 9,905 unhoused individuals,: https://www.rtfhsd.org/2025-point-in-time-count-shows-7-drop-in-regionwide-homelessness/
  7. (more…): https://eastcountymagazine.org/san-diego-state-university-does-not-track-amount-of-unhoused-students-on-campus/#more-124385

Source URL: https://eastcountymagazine.org/san-diego-state-university-does-not-track-amount-of-unhoused-students-on-campus/

Supervisors unanimously advance Anderson government accountability reforms

by Eliza Bethalper | May 1, 2026 8:26 pm

East County News Service

Photo via countynewscenter.com

May 1, 2026 (San Diego) — In a decisive step toward restoring public trust and bringing sunshine to local government, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors has unanimously approved three transparency-focused measures authored by Supervisor Joel Anderson. The package of reforms is designed to ensure the public can see, understand, and participate in how decisions are made at the County.

Taken together, the measures reflect a governing philosophy grounded in a simple idea: public business should be conducted in public view. From how subcommittees operate, to how taxpayer-funded polling is conducted, to how public records are processed and released, the actions establish clearer rules of the road and put transparency at the center of County decision-making.

“It’s the dawn of new transparency at the County,” said Supervisor Anderson. “For too long, important conversations have happened out of public view. These reforms reaffirm that the public deserves a clear window into the Board’s work and not just on the final vote.”

(more…)[1]

Endnotes:
  1. (more…): https://eastcountymagazine.org/supervisors-unanimously-advance-anderson-government-accountability-reforms/#more-124402

Source URL: https://eastcountymagazine.org/supervisors-unanimously-advance-anderson-government-accountability-reforms/

Scripps Research offers lecture on new drugs to tackle diseases May 20

by Eliza Bethalper | May 1, 2026 8:19 pm

East County News Service

Join the community in person on the Scripps Research campus https://frontrow.scripps.edu/lectures/michael-erb[1] or attend virtually via Zoom webinar.

May 1, 2026 (San Diego) — Some of the most devastating diseases are driven by proteins that cannot be targeted with conventional drugs.  Scientists are now discovering ways to control disease by recruiting the cell’s own machinery to tackle this challenge. In this free Front Row lecture, Associate Professor Michael Erb will take the audience inside the cell to explain how his team is developing “proximity” drugs. On May 20 at 4 p.m., Scripps Research will present the lecture both online and at its San Diego campus.

(more…)[2]

Endnotes:
  1. https://frontrow.scripps.edu/lectures/michael-erb: https://frontrow.scripps.edu/lectures/michael-erb
  2. (more…): https://eastcountymagazine.org/scripps-research-offers-lecture-on-new-drugs-to-tackle-diseases-may-20/#more-124399

Source URL: https://eastcountymagazine.org/scripps-research-offers-lecture-on-new-drugs-to-tackle-diseases-may-20/

Copyright ©2026 East County Magazine unless otherwise noted.