By Rachel Becker, CalMatters

Photo:  Drought-stricken Lake Mead on the Colorado River in August 2022. (File photo by Christopher Clark/U.S. Bureau of Reclamation)

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November 16, 2025 (San Diego) - After two fraught years of negotiations amid dire projections for the Colorado River’s reservoirs, California and six other states that rely on the river’s water have yet again failed to reach a deal — despite a federal deadline. 

East County News Service

November 14, 2025 (Oceanside) -- The first inpatient psychiatric health facility funded in part by San Diego County opened Nov. 13 in Oceanside.

San Diego County Board of Supervisors leader Jim Desmond says, “When I came into office, I said we needed to stop leaving people on the streets and start getting them into treatment. Today, that work is becoming reality.”

He calls the new facility,  “a place where people in crisis will finally get help, not handcuffs.”

By Alexander J. Schorr

Screenshot: Student Board Trustee Sage Larson and Board Trustee Chris Fite

November 14, 2025 (El Cajon) — The conservative board majority of the Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) last night rejected a resolution proposed by Trustee Chris Fite that would have offered protection to vulnerable students and their families facing the looming presence of Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) on school campuses.  The motion died without a second.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo via White House:  President Trump at signing ceremony

November 13, 2025 (Washington D.C.) -- President Donald Trump has signed a bill to reopen the federal government and end the longest-ever government shutdown that lasted 43 days, sidelined federal workers, delayed food aid, and snarled air travel. 

 The deal has drawn criticism for failing to assure extension of Affordable Healthcare Act premiums, which Republicans have held the line against. Health experts estimate that Americans shopping for 2026 Obamacare health insurance plans are facing more than doubling of monthly premiums on average as a result of subsidies expiring. Senate Democrats settled for a promise that the Senate would vote on a bill to extend the subsidies by the end of the second week of December, but there’s no assurance that either the  Senate or House would pass the measure.

President Trump blasted Democrats during a ceremony to sign the government funding bill. Trump accusing Democrats of trying to "extort American taxpayers" by pushing to extend health insurance subsidies, CBS News reports.

By Gig Conaughton, County of San Diego Communications Office

November 12, 2025 (San Diego) - With the County’s first winter storm predicted to stretch through the weekend and into early next week, County of San Diego road crews are ready to respond if needed and the County is offering tips to help people stay safe.

East County News Service

November 13, 2025 (San Diego) – The County is urging residents to make preparations for a deluge forecast over the next three days.  The National Weather Service predicts an atmospheric storm could dump 2 to 6 inches of rain in mountain areas, up to 4 inches in valleys and along the coast, and up to 2 inches in the desert.

Scattered flash flooding may occur.  Thunderstorms are also possible Friday afternoon through Saturday.  Snow is not forecast in San Diego County, however, with snow only above 7,000 feet in other Southern California counties.

Proposal would restore SNAP funding, but healthcare subsidies remain in limbo

By G. A. McNeeley 

Updated Nov. 11 and 12 with comments from California's Senators.

November 10, 2025 (Washington D.C.) -- On Sunday, November 9, The U.S. Senate moved forward on a measure aimed at reopening the federal government and ending the ongoing government shutdown that sidelined federal workers, delayed food aid, and snarled air travel, according to Reuters. 

The agreement, reached by a group of Democrats who teamed up with Republicans, cleared the first hurdle on a vote of 60-40 to advance in a late-night Senate vote. If it's approved, it would still need to pass the House, and gain President Donald Trump's signature to become law, and reopen the government, according to NBC News. 

However, even if the agreement has enough support to clear those hurdles, the process is still expected to take days--and has drawn controversy for failing to assure extension of Affordable Healthcare Act premiums, which Republicans have held the line against. 

By Alexander J. Schorr

Image by The Wandering Trader

November 9, 2025 (Washington, D.C.) — After the U.S. bombed multiple boats allegedly carrying drugs in foreign waters, tensions are high. President Donald Trump risks war with Venezuela as U.S. warships head across the Eastern Pacific toward Venezuela.

By Miriam Raftery

Thursday, November 6, 2025 (Washington D.C.) – San Diego International Airport is among 40 airports across the U.S. that will be forced to cut flights starting tomorrow, under order of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) due to the federal government shutdown. Read the full emergency order here. 

Air traffic controllers have been working without pay for weeks due to the failure of Congress to enact a funding measure to end the shutdown.  Some have taken outside jobs and have been calling in sick, resulting in flight delays. This past weekend, there were 2,740 delays at various airports, according to the FAA.

A 4 percent reduction in operations will take effect Friday, November 7, ramping up to 6 percent by November 11, 8 percent by November 13, and 10 percent by November 14--just in time to cause travel hassles over the holidays, if the shutdown hasn't ended by then.

By Paul Levikow

Photo:  new parking configuration in front of Descanso Junction eliminated two-thirds of spaces and left no disabled parking access.  Photos courtesy of Descanso Junction and Rett Lawrence, Mountain Views and News

November 6, 2025 (Descanso) – The California Department of Transportation removed several parking spaces in front of Descanso Junction Restaurant and nearby businesses in late October, amounting to approximately a two-thirds reduction.

East County News Service

November 5, 2025 (El Cajon) – A judge has set bail at $1.5 million for Dani Korkis, 35 of El Cajon,who fled the scene after hitting a 12-year-old boy with his SUV, causing serious injury.

After his arrest, Korkis was initially released on a lower bail but failed to show up at an October 28  court hearing on a separate charge of evading police back in July.He was charged with reckless driving in July and again in August, before the Oct. 22 accident on Ballantyne Street that left the 12-year-old boy with a head injury that left him in a coma initially, ABC 10 News reports, though his condition is reportedly improving. The boy also suffered missing teeth and is wearing a wire to hold his remaining teeth, according to NBC 7.

Korkis now faces additional charges including felony hit-and-run.

By Miriam Raftery

November 4, 2025 (San Diego) – Voters in California, including San Diego, have decisively approved Proposition 50, which will allow temporary redistricting of the state’s Congressional districts for the next five years.

Poway voters also opted overwhelmingly to oust scandal-plagued District 2 Councilmember Tony Blain by an 81% to 19% margin. Blain is facing felony charges including perjury and soliciting bribes.

East County News Service

Nov. 4, 2025 (El Cajon) – El Cajon Police officers on Sunday rescued a woman who called 911 on Sunday afternoon to report that her husband had assaulted and strangle her, holding her hostage in an El Cajon motel room located at 1368 East Main St.

After police evacuated the victim, the suspect, later identified as Ruben Castro, 44, barricaded himself inside the motel room.