By Miriam Raftery

Photo courtesy of ECM news partner 10 News

January 26, 2024 (Spring Valley) - St. Mary’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Spring Valley has been a place of worship for Ukrainians across San Diego since 1960. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began in 2022, the small church has welcomed and helped many Ukrainian refugees—and has also gathered humanitarian relief supplies to send to war-torn Ukraine.

By Sir Milo Loftin, County of San Diego Communications Office

January 25, 2024 (San Diego) -- With the possibility of another storm heading to the region next week, the County and CAL FIRE are offering free sandbags to residents and businesses in the unincorporated area to prepare for heavy rain.

The Jan. 22 storm brought historic rainfall to the county, causing flood damage to many homes and businesses. Forecasters say more rain may arrive by the middle of next week.

To prepare for potential flooding or soil erosion, people in the unincorporated areas can visit any one of several fire stations to get and fill sandbags.

By Miriam Raftery

January 25, 2024  (San Diego) – Shane Harris, president of the People’s Association of Justice Advocates, held a press conference in the Mountain View community Tuesday to announce plans to file a class action lawsuit against the City of San Diego for “long-standing negligence” in failing to clear flood channels before severe storms.  He was joined by residents whose homes flooded along the 100-year flood plain including Encanto, Southcrest and Mountain View. 

Residents interested in participating in the class action suit can visit www.pajmovement.org/sandiegoflood.

By Tracy DeFore, County of San Diego Communications Office

January 24, 2024 (San Diego) -- San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan is warning businesses and scammers not to take advantage of consumers by price gouging or other fraud schemes during a state of an emergency – doing so can result in prosecution and jail.

As a result of the damage and devastation caused by the severe storm on Jan.22, the County of San Diego has proclaimed a local emergency on behalf of the Board of Supervisors in anticipation that resources and assistance from the state and federal government may be needed. The City of San Diego also proclaimed an emergency, and Governor Gavin Newsom declared an emergency in the county. During a declared state of emergency, it is illegal for a business to increase its prices for essential goods or services by more than 10 percent, unless they can show their own costs have been increased.

East County News Service

January 23, 2024 (San Diego's East County)--If you or someone you know is experiencing unsafe living conditionsin EastCounty due to flooding, the Red Cross has opened a shelter.  The shelter is in the Bostonia Recreation Room,1049 Bostonia St.,El Cajon. Additional shelters have been opened at Lincoln High School and the Coronado Community Center.

"The County of San Diego Office of Emergency Services is actively monitoring the storm and its impacts," says Supervisor Joel Anderson, who notes that the winter storm ha affected many parts of the County, with multiple communities and highways experiencing flooding, "especially communities I represent in the unincorporated area of the County."

"The County of San Diego will be assisting with damages caused by the winter storm. More details on that will be shared in the coming days," Supervisor Anderson adds. "For now, if there's any way my office can be of assistance to you during this time, please do not hesitate to reach out to us using the contact form on my website."

The safety of students and school staff is of the upmost importance to San Diego County School Districts. The following schools have early dismissals or closures planned for this week. Please contact your school's administration for more details:

"This commission is a poison pill designed to slash Social Security and Medicare behind closed doors."

By Jake Johnson, senior editor and staff writer for Common Dreams, CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 Deed

Photo: House Budget Committee Chairman Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-Texas), Library of Congress

January 22, 2024 (Washington, D.C.) -- Social Security defenders sounded the alarm ahead of a Thursday House Budget Committee hearing and vote on the Fiscal Commission Act, bipartisan legislation that opponents say is a ploy to fast-track cuts to the popular New Deal program without political accountability.

"This commission is a poison pill designed to slash Social Security and Medicare behind closed doors," Nancy Altman, president of Social Security Works, said in a statement ahead of Thursday's markup. "The White House has accurately stated that such a commission is a 'death panel for Medicare and Social Security.'"

East County News Service

January 22, 2024 (Spring Valley, CA) --- Yesterday at 5:11 a.m., California Highway Patrol received reports of a pedestrian possibly hit by a vehicle at Sweetwater Road near Blossom Lane.  Preliminary investigation determined the pedestrian had been struck by an unknown vehicle while in the southbound lanes of Sweetwater Road before being struck by additional vehicles, several of which fled the scene prior to the arrival of emergency personnel. 

The pedestrian was pronounced deceased at the scene, says Officer Jared Grieshaber.

The California Highway Patrol is currently looking for additional involved vehicles, one of which is believed to be a 2013-2018 Ram 1500 with damage to its left side and/or front, to include a missing driver’s side mirror.

By Miriam Raftery

January 21, 2024 (Alpine, CA) – Tamara Newton, a Granite Hills High School alumni and daughter of Alpine resident Carlette Anderson, is hospitalized after suffering a brain hemorrhage from a suspected tumor. She is paralyzed on her left side, cannot walk, and requires full-time care.

“The family has been very generous, but now we need some extra help with her expenses and recovery,” Anderson, founder of CPR PROS,  told  East County Magazine. A GoFundMe account has been setup to help pay for surgery and other medical needs.

The family posted on the site, “There is no doubt that it will be SO much easier for her if you join us in showering her with blessings and support in this time of need. She cannot work at this time, has limited savings and many new expenses. AND all this happened within days of moving from New Jersey to California with her youngest son.”

Facility will house migrants,  serve as control center for enforcement  

By Michael Howard

An artist rendering of the new Dulzura Border Patrol facility slated to open in September 2024. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Border Patrol

January 20, 2024 (Dulzura, CA) –  A new $74 million U.S. Border Patrol station has begun construction and is slated to open in Dulzura next year, spokesperson Michael Scappechio said in an emailed statement this week.

“This new station will provide CBP law enforcement personnel with much-needed facilities, technologies, and other infrastructure carefully designed to meet the demands and challenges of an ever-evolving border environment,” Scappechio wrote.

The station will be used to process and house migrants short-term, as well as serve as a control center for border patrol enforcement activities. The facility sits on an approximately 9-acre plot of land and will include a helipad for air support, fuel stations, and dog kennels.

By Yvette Urrea Moe, County of San Diego Communications Office

January 19, 2024 (San Diego) - Overcrowded shelters are a problem across the nation and in our local communities. Hundreds of shelter dogs need to be adopted or to be fostered temporarily. County Animal Services is asking caring individuals in the community: Can you be a Hero for a Husky?

East County News Service

January 18, 2024 (San Diego) -- The National Weather Service is forecasting a major storm bringing widespread rain this weekend and early next week countywide, with thunderstorms possible in San Diego’s mountains, valleys and coastal areas. The storm is also expected to bring gusty winds, graupel (similar to hail) and lightning that could pose hazards to those outdoors.

Source: San Diego County Sheriff

January 18, 2024 (El Cajon) -- A woman is behind bars on suspicion of starting a fire on January 11 at an apartment complex on E. Bradley Ave. in unincorporated El Cajon. The fire engulfed 14 garages at the complex.

By Miriam Raftery

Photos:  Screenshots of loose dog photos posted on Deerhorn Valley social media

January 17, 2024 (Jamul) – Residents of Deerhorn Valley, a Jamul community, are speaking out to warn neighbors about loose dogs posing threats to people, pets and livestock.

Story and photo by Michael Howard

Photo: Tobacco retailers like this smoke shop will be subject to licensing later this year. 

January 15, 2024 (La Mesa, CA) - The La Mesa City Council adopted a new ordinance earlier this month that mandates tobacco retailers shall have a license to sell tobacco products.

The ordinance passed unanimously during the January 9,2024 City Council meeting upon Councilmember Jack Shu’s motion to adopt. Shu showed his support of the ordinance by wearing two lapel pins.

“One is ‘I love clean air’ and the other is a lung that was given to me for cleaner lungs by not smoking,” Shu said.

“Being America’s most expensive city is anti-Dr. King.”—Shane Harris

January 14, 2024  (San Diego) -- Civil rights leader Shane Harris and the People's Association of Justice Advocates  will serve hundreds of unsheltered individuals and low-income families with a free breakfast on Martin Luther King Day, January 15, from 9 a.m.to 11 a.m. at the Living Water Church, 1550 Market Street, San Diego.  Harris will give an MLK Day address announcing new policy efforts to combat poverty, calling new efforts to raise sales taxes in what has already been deemed America's most expensive city 'anti-MLK' as well as calling out San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria for failing to demonstrate dr. King's policies as San Diego further prices out the working class under his leadership