14-year-old killed, pedestrian injured in crash near Cowles Mountain

by Karen Pearlman | May 4, 2026 11:42 pm

East County News Service

May 4, 2026 (San Carlos) — A 14-year-old girl died the morning of Sunday, May 3, after a vehicle jumped the curb, struck a pedestrian and crashed into a tree on Navajo Road near Cowles Mountain.

San Diego Police Department officers and San Diego Fire-Rescue Department personnel responded to a vehicle rescue on Navajo Road near Golfcrest Drive shortly after 11:30 a.m. Sunday. A 35-year-old woman was driving a 2017 Mazda 6 westbound in the 7500 block of Navajo Road when she drove up onto the north sidewalk, striking an 18-year-old male pedestrian, and continued forward until hitting a tree in the Navajo Road divider.

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Endnotes:
  1. (more…): https://eastcountymagazine.org/14-year-old-killed-pedestrian-injured-in-crash-near-cowles-mountain/#more-124452

Source URL: https://eastcountymagazine.org/14-year-old-killed-pedestrian-injured-in-crash-near-cowles-mountain/


Two dead in rollover crash on I-8 near Jacumba

by Karen Pearlman | May 4, 2026 10:34 pm

East County News Service

May 4, 2026 (Jacumba) — A tragic single-vehicle accident claimed the lives of two Texas men over the weekend after their vehicle overturned on Interstate 8 in the high desert, authorities said.

The collision occurred at approximately 7:35 p.m. on Sunday, May 3, just west of Carrizo Gorge Road. According to the California Highway Patrol, a 20-year-old man from Edinburg, Texas, was behind the wheel of a eastbound 2024 GMC Sierra traveling at approximately 70 mph when the incident began.

Preliminary investigations suggest the driver fell asleep at the wheel, causing the pickup truck to veer off the roadway. The vehicle struck the center median and a dirt embankment before overturning multiple times.

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Endnotes:
  1. (more…): https://eastcountymagazine.org/two-dead-in-rollover-crash-on-i-8-near-jacumba/#more-124449

Source URL: https://eastcountymagazine.org/two-dead-in-rollover-crash-on-i-8-near-jacumba/


Multi-Vehicle collision on I-8 in La Mesa leaves El Cajon Man dead

by Karen Pearlman | May 4, 2026 10:12 pm

East County News Service

May 4, 2026 (La Mesa) — A late-night chain-reaction crash involving a semi-truck and two passenger vehicles on Interstate 8 claimed the life of a young El Cajon man early Saturday morning, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The collision occurred at about 1:37 a.m. on May 2, west of Fletcher Parkway. Investigators say a 28-year-old El Cajon man was traveling eastbound in a 2022 Ford Ranger when he struck the rear of a Volvo T680 tractor-trailer.

The semi-truck, driven by a 33-year-old El Cajon resident, was traveling at about 45 mph at the time of the initial impact.

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Endnotes:
  1. (more…): https://eastcountymagazine.org/multi-vehicle-collision-on-i-8-in-la-mesa-leaves-el-cajon-man-dead/#more-124446

Source URL: https://eastcountymagazine.org/multi-vehicle-collision-on-i-8-in-la-mesa-leaves-el-cajon-man-dead/


State health officials file lawsuit against Santee-based Kratom manufacturer

by Karen Pearlman | May 4, 2026 6:51 pm

East County News Service

May 4, 2026 (Sacramento) – The California Department of Public Health, in coordination with Attorney General Rob Bonta, has filed a formal legal complaint against Ashlynn Marketing Group, Inc., for the illegal manufacture and distribution of kratom-derived products.

The filing, submitted to the San Diego County Superior Court, targets the company — which operates under the names Krave, Krave Kratom and Krave Botanicals and conducts business on Hartley Road in Santee — for repeatedly violating state law and interfering with a government-ordered embargo.

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Endnotes:
  1. (more…): https://eastcountymagazine.org/state-health-officials-file-lawsuit-against-santee-based-kratom-manufacturer/#more-124442

Source URL: https://eastcountymagazine.org/state-health-officials-file-lawsuit-against-santee-based-kratom-manufacturer/


Police search for suspect after juvenile battered in Poway

by Karen Pearlman | May 4, 2026 5:02 pm

East County News Service

May 4, 2026 (Poway) – Detectives from the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department Child Abuse Unit are seeking public assistance in identifying a man who allegedly sexually battered an 11-year-old girl over the weekend.

The incident occurred around 7 p.m., Saturday, May 2 near the 13400 block of Midland Road in Poway. According to authorities, the victim was with a friend when the unknown male approached and battered her. The assault ended when the victim’s friend screamed for the man to stop, prompting the suspect to flee the scene on foot.

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Endnotes:
  1. (more…): https://eastcountymagazine.org/police-search-for-suspect-after-juvenile-battered-in-poway/#more-124439

Source URL: https://eastcountymagazine.org/police-search-for-suspect-after-juvenile-battered-in-poway/


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.

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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. 

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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/