By Miriam Raftery

April 7, 2020 (San Diego's East County) -- El Cajon now has 74 cases of COVID-19 reported, accounting fo 5.3% of the total cases in San Diego County, as of yesterday's figures released by County health officials.

The cities of La Mesa, Lemon Grove and Santee have 23, 13, and 16 cases respectively.

In the uincorporated communities, 157 cases are reported including 63 in communities not identified, 34 in Spring Valley, 12 in Lakeside, 8 in Ramona, 2 in Jamul, 1 in Alpine, and  a case or two each in even remote area such as Ranchita, Borrego Springs, and Descanso.

March 31, 2020 (San Diego) -- East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego's inland regions, published in other media.  This week's round-up stories include:  

LOCAL

• San Diego’s Mesa Biotech gets approval for 30-minute coronavirus test (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• FDA approves San Diego company’s coronavirus test kit (10 News)
• One by one, prominent San Diego hotels shutting down amid coronavirus lockdown (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Coronavirus: Scripps Health to temporarily shut down Santee clinic (Patch)
• San Diego County to restrict cruise ship disembarkation after Tuesday (Times of San Diego)
• San Diego Magazine folds after 72 years (Times of San Diego)

STATE

• California closes vehicular access to all 280 state parks  (Mercury Star-News)
• California got 170 broken ventilators from feds; Silicon Valley is fixing them, Newsom says (Los Angeles Times)
• California governor: 5 big banks suspend mortgage payments (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• California beer, wine and weed companies get creative during coronavirus stay-at-home order (Sacramento Bee)
• California is asking state workers to consider changing jobs during coronavirus outbreak (Sacramento Bee)
• California restaurants plead for insurance help during coronavirus closures (Politico)
• Assemblyman Kevin Kiley urges Governor Newsom to suspend AB-5 amid the coronavirus pandemic (KUSI)
• PG&E to plead guilty to 85 counts in 2018 Camp Fire and pay victims $13.5 billion, court filings show (CNN)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

March 13, 2020 (San Diego) -- East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego's inland regions, published in other media.  This week's round-up stories include:  

LOCAL

• Empty shelves: signs of the coronavirus impacts in San Diego (NBC 7)
• San Diego could take a hit if cruises are cancelled (10 News)
• Judge hears objections to housing sex predator in Jacumba, delays ruling (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Victim’s skull found; ex-electrician sentenced to almost life in prison (The Alpine Sun)
• Familiar faces dominate San Diego’s community college trustee races (San Diego Union-Trbune)

STATE

• Trump administration blocks states from using Medicaid to respond to Coronavirus outbreak (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• California proposes 3-day backup power for cell towers, communication networks (San Francisco Chronicle)
• California calls for ban on large events as coronavirus spreads; NBA suspends season (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Gov. Newsom issues order allowing California to take over hotels, medical facilities (Los Angeles Times)
• Passengers of ship linked to virus toured Mexico ports (AP)
• California orders insurers to waive out of pocket costs for corona virus testing (San Francisco Chronicle)
• Chaos at hospitals due to shortage of coronavirus tests (Los Angeles Times)
• Disneyland, California Adventure to close for the rest of the month over coronavirus (Orange County Register)
• Coronavirus symptoms ‘take five days to show’ (BBC)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

February 19, 2020 (San Diego) -- East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego's inland regions, published in other media.  This week's round-up stories include:  

LOCAL

• Two ballot measures will decide future of rural county lands (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Nearly every San Diego County school district may be spending more than it can afford (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• ICE subpoenas San Diego Sheriff's Dept. for migrant arrest data (10 News)
• A run-down shopping center in Spring Valley’s new housing project (KUSI)
• HUD Secretary Carson cites San Diego as good example of cutting regulations, helping homeless in local visit (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Tribal regulators seize nearly 60 pounds of black market cannabis at Santa Ysabel (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• CDC mistakenly removes San Diego’s first positive coronavirus case from hospital  (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Young burrowing owls get a shot at survival in San Diego (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Vargas Running For Re-Election To Congressional Seat Against Familiar Foe (KPBS)

STATE

• Get in line now. California’s DMV is really, really behind in issuing Real IDs  (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• California loosens its individual mandate for health insurance (Los Angeles Times)
• California could crack down on illegal marijuana landlords, advertisers under proposed law (Sacramento Bee)
• California takes a first step toward improving its failing county jails (Sacramento Bee)
• From horse handlers to tutors, California gig law AB5 frustrates contractors (San Francisco Chronicle)
• California’s Lone March Ballot Measure: A $15 Billion School Bond With A Confusing Name  (Capital Public Radio)
• California's primary looms large — just like state officials had hoped (Politico)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

January 29, 2020 (San Diego) -- East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego's inland regions, published in other media.  This week's round-up stories include:  

LOCAL

• Should colleges do more to safeguard sleeping students? (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• San Diego attorney wants to send utilities CEOs to jail if they lie about wildfire prevention measures (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• San Diego City Council approves ban on scooters (NBC 7)
• SANDAG kicks off largest effort to stabilize Del Mar bluffs, protect rail line in nearly a decade (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Gov. Gavin Newsom visits San Diego to take part in county homeless population count (10 News)

STATE

• Californians have until Friday to sign up for health insurance or pay penalty (San Francisco Chronicle)
• Hundreds of Freelancers at ‘Repeal AB5’ Rally Want Back the Right to Earn a Living in CA (California globe)
• Gavin Newsom asks Trump’s HUD to turn over California land for homeless housing (San Francisco Chronicle)
• Kobe Bryant, daughter killed in helicopter crash (10 News)
• Kobe Bryant, 1978-2020 (Time)
• California’s sleeper political issue of the year, so far, is school funding (Los Angeles Times)
• Black market marijuana vape pens were cut with deadly additives, California regulator says (Sacramento Bee)
• To fight new employment law, Uber pits California drivers against each other (Washington Post)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

January 16, 2020 (San Diego) -- East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego's inland regions, published in other media.  This week's round-up stories include:  

LOCAL

• Judge orders attorney access for migrants who fear Remain in Mexico return  (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Advocates call on the city to increase funding for pedestrian and bicycle safety (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Campa-Najjar leads in latest 50th District poll; Issa, DeMaio close behind (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• El Cajon’s rich history dates to Gold Rush days (10 News)
• Trump Fans Aim to Buy San Diego’s One America News Network, WSJ Says (Times of San Diego)
• San Diego student named among those killed in Iran plane crash (10 News)

STATE

• California could be first state to sell prescription drugs (10 News)
• California drivers aren’t paying traffic fines. Here’s what Gov. Newsom plans to do (Sacramento Bee)
• From housing to health care: Here’s what’s in Gavin Newsom’s $222 billion California state budget (Sacramento Bee)
• Joe Biden says he’d consider Kamala Harris ‘for anything’ she wants, including VP (Sacramento Bee)
• Elementary school kids doused as jet dumps fuel before LAX emergency landing (Los Angeles Times)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

November 26, 2019 (San Diego) -- East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego's inland regions, published in other media.  This week's round-up stories include:  

LOCAL

• Padre Dam board members vote to give themselves pay raises (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Lemon Grove School Board appoints its fifth member (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• 3 firefighters suffer minor injuries while battling house fire in Julian (Fox 5)
• San Diego's tourism also attracts the sex trade, pop-up brothels (10 News)
• 5 dead, including 3 children, in Paradise Hills shooting (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Teen uses remote-controlled car to smuggle meth: Border Patrol (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Navy wants to eject Chief Eddie Gallagher, who was cleared by Trump, from SEALS (KUSI)

STATE

• California attorney general sues Juul, alleging vape ads reached youths (Sacramento Bee)
• California Supreme Court rejects law requiring Trump to release tax returns to get on ballot   (Fox News)
• Biden, Warren absence at California gathering irks top Dems (Associated Press)

For excerpts and full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

October 17, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) -- East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media. This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include:

LOCAL

• Border Battles Over Wireless Service (NBC 7)
• La Mesa plans to put housing at old police station site (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Members of Kurdish community protest in front of courthouse (Fox 5)
• Innocent Man Freed From San Diego Prison After 33 Years (NBC 7)
• Borrego Springs Resort Golf Course closed (Borrego Sun)
• Allegations of child abuse at Alpine day care center being investigated (NBC 7)

STATE

• PG&E should compensate customers for power shutoffs, California governor says (10 News)
• Deadly Los Angeles wildfire began near base of electrical tower, company and fire officials say (Reuters)
  
  California to end its use of private, for-profit prisons (NBC 7)
• Californians will be banned from smoking at state parks and beaches under new law  (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• California Governor Attacks PG&E for Blackout Caused by ‘Greed and Neglect’ (Yahoo Finance)
• Pollock Pines Family Says Man Died When Oxygen Tank Lost Power during PG&E Shut-Off   (Fox)
• Wind damaged dozens of pieces of PG&E equipment San Francisco Chronicle)
• Northern California blackouts may mean mobile outages (Washington Post)
• PG&E shut-off: Your food is spoiled, business shut down — can you file a claim with the utility? (San Francisco Chronicle)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

September 27, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) -- East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media. This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include:

LOCAL

• SDG&E Proposes Eliminating Season Pricing Changes (Patch.com)
• Lapses in treatment, medical care spell horrific ends for mentally ill inmates (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Police Oversight Group Set to Dismiss 22 Death Cases Without Investigation (Voice of San Diego)
• Troublesome Cell Towers (NBC 7)
• Team 10 Investigates: San Diegans describe popular antibiotic causing devastating side effects (10 News)
• El Cajon fire station to get a four-legged companion (San Diego Union-Tribune)

STATE

• Bald eagles have found themselves a new home: suburbia (Los Angeles Times)
• California’s employment law was rewritten. Many independent contractors aren’t thrilled. (Los Angeles Times)
• California mountain lions dying on highways, but face an even bigger threat (San Francisco Chronicle)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

August 28, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) -- East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media. This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include:

LOCAL

• Schools Tied to A3 Charter School Scandal Will All Close (Voice of San Diego)
• County collects ideas for boosting agri-tourism (Ramona Sentinel)
• Ramona Man Mutters 'I Didn't Do It' as Judge Sentences Him for Killing Pregnant Woman on Mother's Day 2017 (NBC 7)
• Congolese Asylum-Seeker Reunited With Family After Almost Two Years Apart (KPBS)

STATE

• Jews praise Calif. education board's decision to rewrite curriculum (Jerusalem Post)
• Developments in disaster-prone areas means big bucks for builders, but can leave communities at risk (News 21)
• California Supreme Court backs greater access to police misconduct cases (Los Angeles Times) 
• Black Market Hash-Oil Labs Growing, Exploding In California: DEA (Patch.com)

For excepts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

August 15, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) -- East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media. This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include:

LOCAL

• UN Observer Calls For 'Moratorium' On Criminalizing Homelessness In San Diego  (KPBS)
• Rental Scams Surge in San Diego (NBC 7)
• Asylee who won his case after ‘remaining in Mexico’ is released but not yet free (San Diego Union-Tribune) 
• San Diego’s inflation rate among highest in nation (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Emergency road closures to stabilize cave in La Jolla (10 News)

STATE

• California counties file lawsuit over public benefit immigration rule (KUSI)
• Report: California is the least affordable state to have a baby (10 News)
• Police fear suicide-by-cop cases. So they’ve stopped responding to some calls. (Los Angeles Times)
• California Republican wants party to denounce white nationalism at convention (San Francisco Chronicle)
• Palm Springs Republican Is 2nd to Launch Recall vs. Gov. Newsom (Times of San Diego)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

August 1, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) -- East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media. This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include:

LOCAL

• San Diego home price hits all-time high: $590K (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Lemon Grove Council denies appeals for medical marijuana dispensaries (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• San Diego inmate awarded more than $12M after suffering brain bleed in county jail (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• E-coli death, infections spark claims against San Diego Fair Board (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Controversial inclusionary housing ordinance passes City Council in 5-4 vote (Times of San Diego)
• Rep. Mike Levin calls for U.S. House to start impeachment proceedings (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Five Local Police Agencies Are Partnering With Doorbell Surveillance Company (Voice of San Diego)
• Campaign to uphold approval of Newland Sierra housing development launched  (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• 16 Marines arrested on human smuggling and drug charges (NBC)

STATE

• 700 acres of massive 1,000 year old redwoods are being turned into a public park (Good News Network)
• California farmers are planting solar panels as water supplies dry up (Los Angeles Times)
• Gavin Newsom adds hundreds more firefighters amid fears of ‘large and damaging’ fire season
• Search of Gilroy gunman’s home finds items suggesting massive attack, white supremacy materials  (Los Angeles Times)
• Gilroy gunman promoted white supremacist treatise on Instagram (San Francisco Chronicle)
• California Law Could Have Prevented The Garlic Festival Shooting, But The Gun Came From Nevada (Buzzfeed)
• Newsom Signs Law that Invites Political Mischief (Fox and Hounds)
• Billions in California real estate at serious risk from wildfire. New study maps it out (Sacramento Bee)
• Five Months From Deadline, Many Companies Still Have All-Male Boards  (Voice of San Diego)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click  “read more” and scroll down.

July 10, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) -- East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media. This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include:

LOCAL

• San Diego County supervisors weigh a new way for the public to vote (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Public Advocacy Lawyer Cory Briggs Announces Candidacy for San Diego City Attorney (Times of San Diego)
• Campo family, community mourn recent graduate killed in crash (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Politics report: More on the email subject line that jolted the mayor’s race (Voice of San Diego)
• San Diego's Quake Risk Is Big, But Not 'Big One' Big (Voice of San Diego)
• Local Water Providers Have Racked Up Dozens of Violations (Voice of San Diego)

STATE

• California earthquakes left a crack in in the earth so big, it can be seen from space (USA Today)
• California’s not enforcing wildfire-prevention rules for homeowners, leaving tens of thousands of properties vulnerable to big blazes (San Diego Union-Tribune) 
• New CA rules for deadly police force go to governor’s desk (Calmatters)
• Amid fears of mass deportation of immigrants, State Bar warns of potential legal fraud (Sacramento Bee)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

June 27, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) -- East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media. This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include:

LOCAL

• Lemon Grove considering changes on street where teenager was hit by car and killed (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• La Mesa looking at $51.7 million budget for next fiscal year (San Diego Union-Tribune) 
• Border apprehensions: looking to the past to understand the current spike in illegal crossings (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Trump: San Diego  mayor thanked me for the wall. Mayor: I did not. (Voice of San Diego)
• Former KUSI anchor sues station for $10 million (CBS)
• Real men at Wilson Middle School, SDSU, El Cajon City Council (San Diego Reader)

STATE

• What to do if your wildfire insurance gets dropped (10 News)
• Avian incident’ knocks out 84% of massive California solar farm (Los Angeles Times)
• Audit says CSU stashed away $1.5 billion and raised tuition (AP and KGTV) 
• California utility PG&E to pay $1 billion to local governments for a series of wildfires (CNN)
• California vaccine bill undergoes major changes, wins support of Newsom, a former critic (Los Angeles Times)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

June 13, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) -- East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media. This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include:

LOCAL

• East County residents concerned over future of transportation (NBC 7)
• SDG&E Says There’s A 100% Chance It’ll Start Or Contribute To A Major Wildfire (KPBS)
• American Bar Association Votes to Strip Thomas Jefferson Law School of Accreditation (Voice of San Diego)
• California’s vaccination rate slips as medical exemptions rise (Wired)
• KPBS Lawsuit Reveals Unanswered Citizen Complaints Against Sheriff’s Department (KPBS)
• Stop Dismissing Concerns About the Risks of New Homes in Wildfire Zones (Voice of San Diego)
• What is the Vaccination Rate at Your Child’s School in San Diego County?
• East County family searches for answers after bicycle crash (10 News)
• Massive Buddha statue carved into granite in East County (10 News)

STATE

• California’s high speed rail route took land from farmers. The money they are owed hasn’t arrived.  (Los Angeles Times)
• A civil rights hero focuses on a new fight at the Capitol: clean drinking water (Sacramento Bee)
• Utility companies in fire-weary California strategize for a long, hot summer (Los Angeles Times)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.