By Miriam Raftery

Photo Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro aboard USS Iwo Jima after his capture, via U.S. Dept. of War

January 4, 2025 (San Diego) – Without notifying Congress and in apparent violation of international law, President Donald Trump ordered airstrikes and a ground raid on Venezuela’s capital city that resulted in capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Madura and his wife, Cilia Flores, overnight. Both have been transported to the U.S. to face charges of alleged drug trafficking.

Some civilians reportedly died in the bombings and some U.S. service members were injured.

Trump, in a press conference, Trump announced that the U.S. will “run” Venezuela and takeover the country’s oil production. Venezuela has more proven oil reserves than any other nation on earth. The president said he is not averse to "boots on the ground" but did not clarify how he intends to run Venezuela's government or oil facilities over the objections of its interim leader. 

Maduro, an authoritarian strongman and socialist whom Biden accused of stealing an election, is unpopular with U.S. elected officials on both the left and right.  But disapproving of a regime does not grant any nation the right to initiate military action against another country, let alone forcibly remove and arrest a nation’s leader. Legal scholars and members of Congress have argued that the action violated both U.S.and international law.

East County News Service

January 3, 2026 (Lakeside) - Scott Lagace Photography sent in in this beautiful image of a Great Blue Heron at Lake Jennings in Lakeside.

The Great Blue Heron is the largest heron native to North America, with height up to 54 inches and a wingspan of 66 to 79 inches—a maximum of more than seven and a half feet. 

While its primary diet is fish, this large heron also eats amphibians, reptiles, invertebrates and even small mammals.

East County News Service 

January 1, 2026 (El Cajon) -- Saps at Sea, the San Diego Laurel and Hardy fan organization, will present February Valentine's Fun on Saturday, February 7 from 5:00 to 8:30 p.m. (doors open at 4:30) at First Lutheran Church, 867 South Lincoln Avenue in El Cajon.

East County News Service

January 1, 2026 (San Diego) – The County Medical’s office has determined that Steven Curren, 35, died of natural causes at a hospital on August 30, less than an hour and a half after he was found unresponsive in his cell at San Diego County’s Central Jail.  An autopsy found the cause of death was due to complications of hypertensive cardiovascular disease in the setting of a smaller than normal right kidney. Asthma, chronic ethanol use, and obesity were cited as significant contributing factors.