Millions in “Inflation Relief” need to be collected by April 30
by Karen Pearlman | April 23, 2026 11:08 pm
East County News Service
April 23, 2026 (San Diego County) — The office of Sen. Akilah Weber Pierson[1] of District 39 in the state of California has sent out a reminder to San Diego County residents about their Middle Class Tax Refund, and an April 30 deadline for the spending of that money.
Possibly for thousands of San Diegans, their Middle Class Tax Refund (MCTR) debit cards[2] are officially one week away from use. Weber’s office reminds residents that any remaining balances on the state-issued cards will expire at the end of the month, with the funds pt back into California’s General Fund.
The MCTR program began in 2022 when California Governor Gavin Newsom and the State Legislature struck a $9.5 billion deal to provide “inflation relief.” Unlike previous stimulus efforts, the MCTR was tiered specifically to favor the middle and lower-income brackets, with payments ranging from $200 to $1,050 depending on income, filing status and the presence of dependents.
While the program was largely a success — state data shows that nearly 89 percent of the cards in San Diego County have been activated — the “unactivated” or “partially used” minority represents a significant sum of money.
The rules for the final week are rigid.
While you can still spend the funds at any retailer or transfer the balance to a personal bank account via the Money Network portal, the window for administrative help has closed and the deadline to request a replacement for a lost or stolen card has already passed.
If you have the card, you have seven days of “purchasing power” left. After April 30, the card becomes a useless piece of plastic.
How to claim your remaining balance
If you still have your card (look for the “Valid Thru 04/26” marking on the front), here is how to act before the deadline:
Check your balance by call the number on the back of your card or visit the Money Network[3] FAQ page.
You can log in to the Money Network portal and initiate a one-time transfer to your personal savings or checking account.
The card functions as a standard Visa debit card. It can be used for groceries, utility bills or gas.
For more details on the program’s history and rules, visit the Franchise Tax Board’s MCTR webpage here[4].
Endnotes:
Sen. Akilah Weber Pierson: https://sd39.senate.ca.gov/
Middle Class Tax Refund (MCTR) debit cards: https://mctrpayment.com/
Celebration of Olaf Wieghorst in downtown El Cajon on May 2
by Karen Pearlman | April 23, 2026 10:19 pm
East County News Service
April 23, 2026 (El Cajon) — The Olaf Wieghorst Museum is hosting a birthday remembrance next month, celebrating the life of its namesake artist widely regarded as the “Dean of Western Art.”
The museum is hosting “Olaf Wieghorst Day,” from 3 to 6 p.m., Saturday, May 2, and will offer a deep dive into the history of the artist who not only painted the frontier, but lived it as well.
The museum is located at 131 Rea Ave., in downtown El Cajon.
Born April 30, 1899 in Viborg, Denmark, Wieghorst arrived in the United States in 1918 with little more than a dream and a love of horses.
PASSAGES: Kevin Key, 54 photographer, historian, teacher
by Karen Pearlman | April 23, 2026 8:23 pm
By Karen Pearlman
April 23, 2026 (Salton Sea) — Kevin Connolly Key, a renowned professional photographer whose lens captured the stark beauty and environmental fragility of the Anza-Borrego Desert, Salton Sea and nearly all of San Diego County through the years, passed away on April 20, 2026. He was 54.
Known to friends and neighbors as “Kevin LiT!,” Key was a resident of Niland, California, living “off grid” at the Salton Sea, and was a cornerstone of the Bombay Beach artistic community.
According to the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s office, Key died of blunt force trauma at the Pine Valley Bridge on the morning of April 20.
Key was preceded in death by his father, Bill Key, and leaves behind his mother, Clare Key, a brother Kerry Key, sister-in-law Carolyn Keen, nephew Alexander, and many uncles, aunts and cousins.
Secretary of State Dr. Shirley Weber warns of ongoing threats to voting rights at East County Democratic Club meeting
by Karen Pearlman | April 22, 2026 9:03 pm
Story and photo by Paul Levikow
April 22, 2026 (Alpine) — California Secretary of State Dr. Shirley Weber[1] recently delivered an assessment of the challenges facing the state’s electoral system, while urging vigilance and civic participation ahead of the 2026 elections.
About 30 attendees gathered at The Alpine Club[2] for the East County Democratic Club[3]’s April meeting to hear from the state’s chief elections official. Weber’s message carried urgency shaped by both personal history and her experience overseeing elections in the nation’s most populous state.
Weber, a former teacher, university professor and San Diego School Board of Education[4] member, recounted her initial reluctance to accept the role of Secretary of State when asked by Governor Gavin Newsom.
She was serving her fifth term as a member of the California State Assembly representing San Diego when the call came.
(more…)[5]
Endnotes:
Dr. Shirley Weber: https://www.sos.ca.gov/administration/about
The Alpine Club: https://thealpineclub.org/
East County Democratic Club: https://ecdcweb.net/
San Diego School Board of Education: https://www.sdcoe.net/board-of-education
Villa Musica expanding to East County for 20th anniversary
by Karen Pearlman | April 22, 2026 5:59 pm
East County News Service
April 22, 2026 (El Cajon) — For two decades, the halls of Villa Musica[1]’s Sorrento Valley headquarters have been alive with a specific kind of beautiful chaos — the steady thumps on the drum, soaring scales of soprano singers and the first notes of student violinists.
Now with Villa Musica is celebrating its 20th anniversary, the nonprofit community music center is opening a second site, in El Cajon.
Senior resource fair coming to Grossmont Healthcare District on April 23
by Karen Pearlman | April 22, 2026 12:33 am
East County News Service
April 20, 2026 (La Mesa) — Health advocates from across San Diego County will provide critical resources through the upcoming “Spring into Healthy Living 2026: Senior Conference & Resource Fair” on Thursday, April 23 at Grossmont Healthcare District headquarters.
Hosted by the San Diego East County Action Network (SanDi ECAN), the free event is set for 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at GHD’s site at 9001 Wakarusa St. in La Mesa.
The summit aims to bridge the gap between healthcare providers and East County’s older adults and those who live with disabilities.
The conference arrives at a time when healthcare costs and navigation are primary concerns for San Diegans. The fair will feature a series of expert-led seminars designed to address some of the most pressing safety and health issues facing the 65-and-older demographic.
The main informational presentations will be on preventing falls among older adults, caring for the mind and advance healthcare planning tips.
Experts will provide actionable advice on home safety modifications and balance exercises. According to County health data, falls remain the leading cause of injury-related hospitalizations for local seniors.
A session will cover lifelong brain health and early detection of dementia, offering guidance on cognitive exercises and support systems for caregivers.
And legal and medical professionals will outline necessary steps for establishing healthcare directives, so individuals’ wishes are respected during critical medical events.
Beyond the formal presentations, the event serves as a central hub for service providers. Representatives from Aging & Independence Services, local food security initiatives and transportation advocates are expected to be on site.
Host Grossmont Healthcare District has long served as the backbone of wellness in La Mesa, its conference center and adjacent Health & Wellness Library providing a professional setting for regional health initiatives. GHD invests in community health and recently approved several grants to support senior-focused nonprofits in the region.
The fair is open to the public at no cost, though organizers encourage early registration due to the limited capacity of the speaking sessions.
Attendees will have the opportunity to engage one-on-one with service providers and collect information on everything from local “Cool Zones” to volunteer opportunities with the Retired Senior Volunteer Program.
To secure a spot, register by calling (858) 505-6435 or by visiting the official registration portal at https://shorturl.at/m7ZLb[1]
East County-based physician Charles Hamori honored by American College of Physicians
by Karen Pearlman | April 22, 2026 12:19 am
By Karen Pearlman
April 21, 2026 (La Mesa) — When he was a teenager growing up in Muncie, Indiana, Charles Hamori performed his first successful medical diagnosis — on himself.
Hamori was 14 when he correctly identified his own appendicitis, and it was at that moment (or soon thereafter) a doctor was born.
“With my first diagnosis of appendicitis, my mom ignored it and my sister cried wolf,” Hamori said, laughing. “But what I remember most about that is that many times, most times, your patients are going to tell you what they have, what’s wrong, if you take the time to listen. That (appendicitis incident) influenced how I listen to my patients today.”
With nearly 30 years at Kaiser Permanente as a physician and surgeon under his medical belt, Dr. Charles J. Hamori, a Mount Helix resident, has reached one of the true pinnacles of American medical leadership.
Dr. Hamori, a long-time internal medicine doctor at Kaiser Permanente’s Rancho San Diego Medical Offices and who practices at Kaiser offices in La Mesa and Bostonia (El Cajon), was officially named Chair of the Board of Regents for the American College of Physicians (ACP).
The ACP honor
The merit-based appointment, announced at the conclusion of the ACP’s Annual Internal Medicine Meeting in San Francisco last weekend, placed Dr. Hamori at the helm of the largest medical specialty organization in the United States.
The ACP represents more than 160,000 internal medicine physicians, subspecialists and medical students across 172 countries. The ACP is the second-largest physician group in the country, trailing only the American Medical Association.
As Chair of the Board of Regents, Dr. Hamori will have a growing slate of national responsibilities, and will take a leave of absence from Kaiser Permanente but do some per diem work.
Dr. Hamori said he will focus on leading the primary policy-making body for the organization. He said he is focused on some of the biggest challenges facing doctors in 2026, including declining reimbursements and insurance coding challenges.
The ACP and related industry experts report that physicians, particularly in primary care and internal medicine, are facing significant financial challenges because of declining insurance reimbursements, which are often not keeping pace with inflation or practice operating costs. These challenges are leading to burnout and impacting patient access to care, according to the groups.
“Patients get caught in the middle,” Dr. Hamori said.
The role is a culmination of Dr. Hamori’s decades of service.
Since 2007, Dr. Hamori has been a Fellow of the American College of Physicians (FACP), a peer-reviewed mark of distinction.
He also served as the Governor of the ACP’s California Southern Region III from 2017 to 2021. During his tenure as governor, he was a staunch advocate for both patients and providers. He frequently traveled to Sacramento to meet with legislators, championing initiatives like the “Patients Before Paperwork” campaign and supporting mental health resources for physicians.
Dr. Hamori’s leadership earned the regional chapter the prestigious John Tooker Evergreen Award in 2021 for “The DEI Shift,” an award-winning podcast focusing on diversity, equity and inclusion in medicine.
Some background
After graduating from Stanford University and a brief stint in biotechnology, Dr. Hamori moved to San Diego in 1989 to attend the UC San Diego School of Medicine.
He stayed for his residency and a year as chief resident before joining Kaiser Permanente in 1997.
For three decades, he has been a fixture at Kaiser’s Rancho San Diego Medical Offices, a location he chose specifically because it allowed him to live and work in the same neighborhood.
He said he has thrived as part of Kaiser’s collaborative team approach that includes nurse practitioners, physician assistants and medical assistants.
“I’m a strong believer in the concept that good things happen when each member of the team practices to their maximum potential,” Dr. Hamori said.
He said his practice has always focused on preventive medicine —a passion he honed during four years in Kaiser’s Department of Preventive Medicine, and was once part of a grant from Pfizer that showed how in a two-year period doctors were able to save about 500 lives.
“That’s how an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” Dr. Hamori said. “That, and the best stroke is the one you never have. And I say that as someone who once had a mini stroke.”
About that storke: Nearly two years ago, Dr. Hamori was playing tennis when he noticed he was playing clumsily. At first he thought he tweaked something in his arm but instead of letting it go, he ended the match and drove to a Kaiser emergency room.
Thanks to quick-acting doctors armed with new telestroke technology, Dr. Hamori was giving a clot-busting medication less than 30 minutes after he arrived at the ER. Acting quickly likely saved his life.
“If I had brushed it off and gone to sleep that night, I probably wouldn’t have made a full recovery,” he said.
Teaching and living well
He also serves as a clinical professor at UCSD, mentoring the next generation of doctors.
“Teaching keeps my perspective fresh,” he noted. “It’s really satisfying mentoring students and residents, and it’s also satisfying seeing a doctor you hired as a resident six or seven years later and they’re blossoming.”
He said the best advice he has given to students and residents is to enjoy what you do.
“You have to get up and do this job for 30 years, 35 years, so you better like it,” Dr. Hamori said. “Find something that challenges you and that you find joy in. It has to be something you can get up and do that you know you’re not going to burn out.”
Dr. Hamori said his wife many years ago gave him a card that said “Peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart.”
Dr. Hamori said he’s kept that card on his personal bulletin board his entire career.
Dr. Hamori’s colleagues and patients know him not just for his clinical expertise — which has earned him multiple recognitions from the National Committee for Quality Assurance for diabetes and heart/stroke care — but for his active life outside the clinic.
Dr. Hamori remains deeply rooted in the San Diego community, with interests including playing tennis, cycling hiking, surfing, theater-going and attending the San Diego Symphony. He is also a rock concert enthusiast — but is quick to note that he never forgets his earplugs.
“You have to enjoy life, and I think part of that is connecting to the community, that’s really important,” he said.
He said that burnout is an issue many doctors have and the advice he gives to those in the medical field is the same as those he shares with his patients.
“Take the time for the things we need: sleep, nutrition, exercise and community, for connection,” he said. “One of the things we found out in the pandemic is that humans don’t do isolation well.”
He said it isn’t uncommon for him to runs into his patients at The Home Depot, COSTCO and other places around East County, although he admits that they don’t always recognize him out of his medical attire.
He has two daughters, the oldest of whom was born just one month before he began his career with Kaiser Permanente.
With Eric Swalwell’s scandalous implosion, Xavier Becerra surges in race for California governor
by Miriam Raftery | April 21, 2026 1:00 am
By Dan Walters
This story[1] was originally printed inCalMatters, the only nonprofit newsroom devoted solely to covering statewide issues that affect all Californians. Sign up for WeeklyMatters[2] for a Saturday morning digest of the latest news and commentary from the Golden State.This story is part of California Voices, a commentary forum aiming to broaden our understanding of the state and spotlight Californians directly impacted by policy or its absence. Learn more here[3].
April 20, 2026 (Sacramento) — Ten days ago, Congressmember Eric Swalwell was getting very close to becoming the Democratic candidate for governor of California. But then he imploded amidst sensational accusations of sexual harassment and assault.
Within hours of the revelations, Swalwell abandoned his campaign and then resigned from Congress and is now under criminal investigation.
Why Swalwell was leading the field of Democratic hopefuls was never clear. His only claim to political fame was being one of President Donald Trump’s most persistent critics — which, of course, has little to do with governing the nation’s most populous state.
It seemed he was seen as an alternative to billionaire Tom Steyer, who had been spending lavishly on TV and internet ads while positioning himself as a Bernie Sanders-style progressive.
Those turned off by Steyer’s ideology or his wealth were seemingly drifting to Swalwell, who hewed to a more or less moderate line.
Swalwell’s sudden departure left a vacuum that Steyer and the third Democrat in the top tier, former Congressmember Katie Porter, hoped to fill. However, when Swalwell’s disappointed supporters looked at their options, many apparently settled on Xavier Becerra, the mild-mannered former congressmember, state attorney general and Biden administration official.
The Democratic Party released its latest tracking poll[4] on Monday, revealing that the two Republicans, — former TV commentator Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco —are still leading the pack at 16% and 14%.
However the big news was that Becerra had shot up from 4% on April 5 to 13%, topping all Democrats. Both Steyer and Porter gained slightly in the post-Swalwell shakeout but Becerra’s rise is nothing less than phenomenal.
Why?
Perhaps Swalwell’s disillusioned supporters, who obviously had not felt comfortable with Steyer or Porter, were looking for someone dependable and trustworthy — even a little dull — after seven years of Gavin Newsom’s flashy sideshow.
It could be 1982 all over again.
That was the year that a stolid public servant, Republican Attorney General George Deukmejian, defeated wunderkind Gov. Jerry Brown.
Brown publicly acknowledged that he had worn out his welcome — although 28 years later, much older and wiser, he returned to the governorship.
This year’s campaign for governor has been the weirdest of any in at least 80 years, including actor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s improbable victory in 2003. For months, potential candidates dropped in and opted out, two Republicans led the polls in one of the nation’s bluest states, Democratic leaders were openly worried that the GOP could win the governorship by default with a 1-2 finish in the primary and, finally, scandal forced Swalwell out.
The next phase will continue the post-Swalwell reshuffle, with Becerra either continuing his meteoric rise or reaching a plateau and with Democrats still mired in low single digits, deciding whether to continue their campaigns.
“I continue to believe there are too many Democrats in the field,” said Rusty Hicks, Democratic state chair.
An hour before the new poll was released, one of the also-rans, former Controller Betty Yee, tearfully suspended her campaign — understandable, given her 1% standing. Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (2%) and state schools Superintendent Tony Thurmond (2%) are on the bubble. San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan gained a bit to 5% and his Silicon Valley backers are now staging a multimillion-dollar ad campaign in hopes of putting him in contention, with mail voting beginning in just two weeks.
Meanwhile it’s still theoretically possible, although not likely, that the two Republicans could finish 1-2, thus guaranteeing election of a GOP governor in November.
In a year as wacky as this one, nothing seemingly impossible should be discounted.
Crest residents urged to take action against wildfire risks with free Home Assessment Program
by Miriam Raftery | April 21, 2026 12:18 am
By Morgan Dioli and Diana Griffin
April 21, 2026 (Crest) – The Crest community is stepping up wildfire preparedness efforts by participating in the Fire Safe Council of San Diego County’s 2026 Home Assessment Program. It’s a free, voluntary service designed to help residents reduce wildfire risks and improve defensible space around their homes.
As one of the most wildfire-prone areas in the region, Crest faces ongoing challenges, especially with newly released Zone 0 guidance and updated Wildfire Severity Zone maps. Many residents are left wondering how best to protect their homes and families. The 2026 Home Assessment Program helps answer those questions by offering one-on-one evaluations conducted by trained, non-regulatory staff. The assessments focus on home hardening, vegetation management, and defensible space practices aligned with current fire science and Cal Fire recommendations. (more…)[1]
April 20, 2026 (San Diego) — The current owners of the San Diego Padres, the Seidler family, are reportedly in the final stages of an agreement to sell the team to a group led by private equity billionaire José E. Feliciano[1] and his wife, musician and investor Kwanza Jone[2]s, for a reported $3.9 billion.
If finalized and approved by Major League Baseball as expected, the transaction will represent the highest sale price in MLB history, shattering the previous record of $2.4 billion set in 2020 by Steve Cohen[3] when he bought the New York Mets. (more…)[4]
Endnotes:
José E. Feliciano: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josefeliciano/
Kwanza Jone: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kwanzajones/
East County News Service
