News

Alcohol a factor in head-on crash in Crest that killed Ramona woman, 72

East County News Service

Photo via San Diego Fire Protection District

February 12, 2026 (Crest) – A Ramona woman, 72, has died of injuries sustained in a head-on crash that occurred February 11 in the Crest area of unincorporated El Cajon.  An El Cajon woman, 30, driving a 2011 Chevrolet Silverado eastbound on La Cresta Road east of Coyote Ridge crossed the solid, double-yellow center lines, striking a 2012 Volkwagen Jetta driven by the Ramona woman head-on.


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Randy Robinson to be honored on Feb. 13

Photo and story by Karen Pearlman

Feb. 12, 2026 (El Cajon) -- East County's education and basketball communities are going to gather on Feb. 13 to pay tribute to a man whose name became synonymous with El Cajon Valley High School academics and athletics for more than 30 years.

Randy Robinson, the legendary former Braves coach, athletic director and beloved Grossmont Union High School District teacher who passed away from complications of pancreatic cancer on Dec. 19, 2024, will be honored during a special halftime ceremony during halftime of the boys basketball game between El Cajon Valley and West Hills.

The court inside the gym will formally be named after Robinson.

The game starts at 7 p.m. at the school's gym, and is the Braves' final regular-season home game. El Cajon Valley High is at 1035 E. Madison Ave., in El Cajon.


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County approves new traffic signals, road improvements and filtration project

 

By Donna Durckel, County of San Diego Communications Office
 
Photo:  rendering of final road improvements
 
February 12, 2026 (San Diego) - The Board of Supervisors approved three major infrastructure projects to improve safety, mobility and sustainability in unincorporated communities: new traffic signals in Lakeside and Fallbrook, road upgrades in Valley Center and a stormwater filtration project in Fallbrook.

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Supervisors OK updating ordinance for amplified music at boutique wineries

Grapes at Sierra Roble Winery in Warner Springs
 
Photo and story by Karen Pearlman
 
Feb. 11, 2026 (San Diego County) — The silence will at last be broken at some of East County’s smallest vineyards.
 
The San Diego County Board of Supervisors on Wednesday voted unanimously to amend the County Zoning Ordinance, allowing amplified live music at boutique wineries.
 
The decision marks a major shift for the region’s roughly 100 small-scale operations, which have been restricted from using speakers or mechanical music since the "by-right" winery tier was created in 2010.

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Court finds San Diego rodeo practices ‘cruel,’ ‘illegal’

Bucking bronco horse at Calgary Stampede; Creative Commons image by SA 3.0 via Wikipedia
 
By Karen Pearlman
 
Feb. 11, 2026 (San Diego) — In a decision that could eventually bring change in the professional rodeo circuit, a judge with the the San Diego Superior Court at the end of January issued a landmark ruling against the San Diego Padres and the C5 Rodeo Company, the producer of the San Diego Rodeo event.
 
Following a week-long trial held just before the 2026 San Diego Rodeo, Judge Joel R. Wohlfeil determined in a 21-page ruling that specific practices during the 2024 and 2025 San Diego Rodeos constituted “needless suffering” and “unnecessary cruelty,” and determined that the San Diego Rodeo was to have proper medical technology on site and that pregnant mares were not allowed to be part of competition.
 
The San Diego Rodeo is an independent event not sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. Produced by C5 Rodeo Co. in partnership with the Padres, the rodeo just concluded its third annual run at Petco Park from Jan. 16 to Jan. 18, once again drawing sold-out crowds.

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Every 15 Minutes comes to Helix Charter High School on February 11th

Source:  California Highway Patrol

February 11, 2026 (La Mesa) - On February 11, 2026, the California Highway Patrol, in conjunction with Helix Charter High School and La Mesa Police Department will be conducting a simulated drunk driving crash as part of the Every 15 Minutes program. The crash will be staged on Highlander Way and will begin at approximately 10:27 am. The mock crash will take place for approximately one hour; however, Highlander Way will be closed for several hours to allow for scene set-up and breakdown. During the mock crash, there will be a high concentration of emergency vehicles in the area. We would like to ensure that the public is aware this is a mock emergency incident, and that no real emergency exists. Numerous pre-designated students will be pulled from class and at the same time a mock obituary will be read by law enforcement personnel to the class. These students represent the number of people who will be seriously injured or killed at the hands of a drunk driver while they are in school that day.


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Next phase of Casa de Oro plan to be discussed at Feb. 26 workshop

East County News Service
 
Feb. 10, 2026 (Casa de Oro) – The vision for a safer, more walkable Casa de Oro is moving from the drawing board to the engineering phase.
 
San Diego County officials are holding a public workshop later this month, inviting residents and other interested stakeholders to review design elements for the transformation of the Campo Road Commercial Corridor, the civic and commercial heart of the community.
 
The project is backed by a $2.5 million Housing Acceleration Program grant awarded by the San Diego Association of Governments. The funding is earmarked to support the engineering and design activities required to turn the Campo Road Corridor Revitalization Specific Plan into a reality.
 
The workshop is scheduled for 6 to 7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 26 at the Rancho San Diego Library, 11555 Via Rancho San Diego.

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Long-time El Cajon City Councilman Gary Kendrick denounces Republican Party, switches affiliation to Democrat

By Paul Levikow

View video of Gary Kendrick's announcement.

February 9, 2026 (El Cajon) – El Cajon City Councilman Gary Kendrick, a life-long Republican, announced Monday that he is switching his party affiliation and joining the Democratic Party. Kendrick made the declaration at a news conference in front of El Cajon City Hall surrounded by supporters and Democratic Party officials.

He cited the city’s resolution passed last year announcing El Cajon’s intent to have local police officers collaborate with federal immigration officials in violation of state law as one of the reasons he made the switch.

“As the longest-serving Republican in municipal office in San Diego County, I cannot ignore the Republican Party’s betrayal of our immigrant community, nor its disastrous impacts on the people of El Cajon,” Kendrick said. “Forcing our police to break the law sends the wrong message to El Cajon residents and erodes the public’s trust in our law enforcement officers.  Victims and witnesses in our most vulnerable communities are scared to talk to the police, because they might have a friend or a relative with undocumented status—or they worry they’ll be targeted because of the way they look.”


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After Minneapolis killings by federal agents, El Cajon residents rally as Councilman Kendrick speaks out

By Alexander J Schorr

Councilmember Gary Kendrick addresses crowd in El Cajon

February 8, 2026 (El Cajon) — An El Cajon Council meeting has once again set the stage for heightened tensions between the public and elected officials over the federal government’s crackdown on immigrants the violence committed by Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE).

At a rally outside before last Tuesday’s  meeting, Councilmember Gary Kendrick denounced the killings in Minneapolis of two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, by ICE and Border Patrol agents. El Cajon residents protested outside Council Chambers and continued to voice outrage. He also noted that the state of California won a court challenge filed against SB 54 by the Trump administration. 


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Plane lands on freeway in Lakeside

East County News Service

Photo via CalTrans camera

February 7,2026 (Lakeside) -- A small plane has made an emergency landing on State Route 67 south in Lakeside at Winter Gardens Blvd., Cal Trans reports. Traffic is backed up to Mapleview, with the plane blocking the right lane and shoulder.

A SIG alert has been issued. 


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Sheriff’s deputies to conduct increased Super Bowl DUI Patrols on Sunday

Source:  San Diego County Sheriff

February 6, 2026 (San Diego) - The San Diego County Sheriff's Office will be keeping our roadways safe this Super Bowl Sunday by looking for impaired drivers.

Look for increased impaired driving patrols beginning on Sunday, February 8 at 3:00 p.m. and lasting through 5:00 a.m. the following day. 


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 Last year tapped our resources at East County Magazine more than any on record, with so many major news stories. This year, we’ve had requests from readers to cover lots of important local issues, but costs have soared with inflation.

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Please donate now to help grow our East County reporting on land use issues, city councils, school boards, supervisors' actions and more, as we reflect voices often not heard in other media.  Plus assure that  we can send reporters to provide on-scene reporting of wildfires or other emergencies. You can choose to support the wildfire and emergency alerts, our news reporting, or both!


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Supreme Court allows Prop 50 redistricting, bringing major shifts in representation for East County voters

Which district will you be in for the upcoming elections?

By Miriam Raftery

Photo:  Rep. Darrell Issa’s once-safe seat is now vulnerable, as new district has more Democrats than Republican voters.

February 5, 2026 (San Diego’s East County) — State Republicans have lost a last-ditch appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court seeking to block Prop 50 redistricting of Congressional districts.  The high court declined to hear the case, with no justices dissenting from the order.  As a result, San Diego County’s Congressional district lines will change dramatically for the June primary and November general election. 

Governor Gavin Newsom pushed forward the California redistricting plan, which was approved by voters and favors Democrats; experts predict it could flip five seats in California, including the 48th district currently represented by Republican Darrell Issa. California’s redrawing of districts came in response to Texas redistricting  which favors Republicans and was allowed to stand by the Supreme Court. At stake is the balance of power in Congress.


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County Supervisors to decide on amplified music for boutique wineries

Photo by Miriam Raftery

By Karen Pearlman

Feb. 4, 2026 (San Diego County) – For the winemakers of East County, the sound of progress has long been a quiet one.

Under current San Diego County laws, the region’s smallest “boutique” wineries -- the family-run operations that make up an important part of the local agriculture scene -- have been silenced when it comes to amplified music.

That silence may soon be broken.


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Calif. Attorney General asks for help to identify “unlawful” activity of ICE and Border Patrol

East County News Service

Photo: ICE and CBP agents shoot non-lethal weapons at protesters in Minneapolis; by Chad Davis cc by 4.0

February 4, 2026 (Sacramento) – California Attorney General Rob Bonta has set up a website for the public to submit reports, photos and/or videos as evidence of potentially unlawful activity in California by federal agents or personnel. This includes officers or agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), or federalized National Guard soldiers or airmen.


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County helps businesses prepare for federal enforcement actions

By Tracy DeFore, County of San Diego Communications Office

Image credit:  Shutterstock

February 4, 2026 (San Diego) - Businesses and employees concerned about federal immigration enforcement actions can learn about their rights through a new video training series.

The three County videos on what to do before, during and after visits from federal authorities are designed to help keep workplaces safe and compliant.

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First-Ever Spring Valley Changemakers Summit Feb. 19 set to connect community and inspire action

Source:  Spring Valley Community Alliance

February 2, 2026 (Spring Valley) - The Spring Valley Community Alliance and Spring Valley Chamber of Commerce along with SEEDS partners invite residents and community members to the first-ever Spring Valley Changemakers Summit, a free community gathering designed to connect neighbors with local organizations and nonprofit partners, offering opportunities to learn about local projects, share ideas, and explore ways to get involved in shaping the future of Spring Valley. 


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Get RAMped up and ready for a new radio station out of Borrego Springs

Graphic courtesy Ram Media Foundation
 
By Karen Pearlman
 
Feb. 1, 2026 (Borrego Springs) – K-RAM 90.5 FM is hitting the airwaves this week.
 
After years of radio static, the new station out of Borrego Springs will start broadcasting to the greater San Diego County desert community starting Wednesday, Feb. 11. Its license was granted March 19, 2025.
 
Gabriel Wisdom, a legendary San Diego radio figure from the 1970s at KGB-FM in San Diego and at KMET Los Angeles, is behind the launch of KRAM 90.5 FM. The FCC licensed non-commercial station is in the old Wells Fargo bank building at Christmas Circle in Borrego Springs, an unincorporated community of about 3,100 adjacent to the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.
 
K-RAM has a partnership to rebroadcast KPBS-FM out of San Diego. The station will also serve as a critical node for emergency information if cell towers or landlines fail during storms, wildfires, earthquakes or other crises.
 
KPBS Chief Marketing Officer Heather Milne Barger said that the station will not have Borrego-centric news, talk and weather but is "very interested in receiving tips from the Borrego area that we can include in our news coverage by the KPBS newsroom, and highlight area events."

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Deadlock with Iran: U.S. military threats escalate tensions amid rising violence

Iranian-Americans in San Diego march for peace after Iran kills thousands

By Alexander J. Schorr

February 2, 2026 (San Diego) — After thousands of protesters and others were killed in Iran, Iranian-Americans have taken to the streets across the United States. including here in San Diego to take a stand for freedom.

Tensions have been rising between Iran and the U.S. since the June 22, 2025 military offensive, Operation Midnight Hammer. That attack, which targeted three of Iran’s critical nuclear facilities, follows the US reinforced support of Israel's offensive against Tehran and its regional proxies. The Trump administration has also sent a Naval “armada” to Iran, led by the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, further escalating fears of potential military confrontation.


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Founder of Lions, Tigers and Bears urges public to oppose 'Protecting Local Zoos Act'

Hearing set for Feb. 4 has “dangerous loopholes” that would allow exploitation of exotic animals
 
Photo of Eddie the jaguar courtesy Lions, Tigers & Bears
 
By Karen Pearlman
 
Jan. 30, 2026 (Alpine) – Bobbi Brink, the founder and director of nonprofit rescue organization Lions Tigers & Bears, can speak with authority on all matters concerning captive exotic animals, including the illegal wildlife trade, animals being used and abused in entertainment, and animal welfare legislation.
 
Brink is currently urging those who care about the fate of exotic animals to oppose a bill being offered in just a few days in the House of Representatives.
 
A plan called “Protecting Local Zoos Act of 2026” (H.R. 7159) is headed to be heard at the top government level via a Feb. 4 subcommittee hearing, and if passed, will take hard-won safety measures for animals in a dangerous direction.

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SDPD releases body cam video of officer-involved shooting in Spring Valley

East County News Service

January 30, 2026 (Spring Valley) – A stolen car pursuit on January 22 ended with a San Diego Police officer shooting and injuring the suspect.  SDPD has released video on the department's YouTube channel within hours of the shooting.


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Found: Missing woman Tiffanie Russ

Update February 2, 2026:  Tiffanie Russ has been located. She is safe and back with her family, per La Mesa Police.

East County News Service

January 30,2026 (La Mesa) – La Mesa Police seek public help to find Tiffanie Russ, 24, who was last seen leaving her room at the Heritage Inn, 7851 Fletcher Parkway in La Mesa shortly after midnight on January 29.She was reportedly headed to a nearby taco shop, but she never arrived. An acquaintance at the hotel reported her missing to the La Mesa Police Department shortly thereafter.

The California Highway Patrol has activated a San Diego County-wide Ebony Alert at the Police Department’s request to help publicize the search for her.


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Immigration arrests quietly surge by 1,500% in San Diego: ‘I feel the temperature rising’

By Wendy Fry and Natasha Uzcategui-Liggett, CalMatters

This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters.

Photo:  members of Unión del Barrio gather by flashlight in the predawn hours before patrolling the Linda Vista neighborhood in San Diego on Jan. 13, 2026. The group by alerts residents to the presence of ICE agents in the community. Photo by John Gastaldo for CalMatters

January 29, 2026 (San Diego) - While the Trump administration’s immigration blitz hit Midwestern cities like Chicago and Minneapolis, a quieter escalation unfolded in San Diego late last year with agents making thousands of arrests in and around the city.


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San Diego Humane Society celebrates end of quarantine for cat attacked by coyote

Photo courtesy San Diego Humane Society
 
East County News Service
 
Jan. 28, 2026 (Esconddo) -- Orange tabby Kyle has beaten the odds, and is looking for a new home.
 
Staff at the San Diego Humane Society’s Escondido campus threw a graduation party on Jan. 28 to celebrate Kyle's survival from a coyote attack last year. Kyle has now successfully completed his six-month rabies quarantine and is cleared for adoption.
 
On July 27, 2025, a community member saw a coyote attack Kyle near East Valley Parkway and North Rose Street in Escondido.
 
The onlooker acted quickly and intervened, getting Kyle safely away from the coyote, bringing the cat to SDHS' campus in Escondido for emergency care.

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Thousands of San Diegans join marches to support Minneapolis

By Brooke Binkowski, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

Photo:  Hundreds marched on Sunday in an interfaith show of support for people on the ground in Minneapolis and elsewhere.  Photo by Adrian Childress/Times of San Diego

January 26, 2026 (San Diego) - San Diegans joined marches all over the county on Sunday, offering a show of support to people on the ground in Minneapolis as the federal government continues its chaotic deployment on the ground in Minnesota and elsewhere.


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Fire destroys 2 businesses in Spring Valley

East County News Service

January 26, 2026 (Spring Valley) — A three-alarm fire that broke out around 2:45 a.m. destroyed two businesses in a strip mall at 8300 Paradise Valley Road in Spring Valley, causing water and smoke damage to two others.

“A total of 18 businesses were saved due to the quick response from everyone involved,” San Miguel Fire District posted on Facebook.


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Kratom, banned by California, is still for sale in East County stores including synthetic versions linked to numerous deaths

Story and photos by Miriam Raftery

January 24, 2026 (San Diego’s East County) – An investigation by East County Magazine has found kratom and synthetic kratom (7-OH) products for sale locally in every East County city, despite the fact that it’s illegal in California to sell or manufacture kratom for consumption. The ban is due to risk of addiction, serious harm, overdose or death, according to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). Kratom can also cause liver toxicity when used with alcohol.


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ECM World Watch: national and global news

January 25, 2026 (San Diego) -- As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to a variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

WORLD

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


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New laws come to California in 2026

By Henri Migala

Photo by Miriam Raftery: California state seal at capitol in Sacramento

January 10, 2026 (Sacramento) -- Nearly 800–900 bills were signed into law in 2025 in California spanning workers’ rights, consumer protections, public health, education, housing, tech/AI policy, immigration policy, environmental safety, and more. Below are major statutes that took effect on January 1, 2026, unless otherwise noted.

For details, full legislative texts, and the complete set of laws, refer to official California legislative information (http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/) or the Office of Administrative Law (https://oal.ca.gov/).


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County EBT theft drops more than 80% after chip card issued

East County News Service
 
Jan. 23, 2026 (San Diego County) -- More attention to security needs and new chips are making a difference in the safety of electronic benefits cards, also known as EBT cards.
 
San Diego County officials report that enhanced security measures and new chips have led to an 84 percent reduction in EBT card thefts affecting the county’s CalFresh, CalWORKs and General Relief recipients. 
 
Nearly a year ago, the California Department of Social Services issued new EBT cards with chips similar to those in many credit cards. The card expiration date, card security code and all personal information also were moved to the back side of the card. Prior to the shift to improve security, California EBT cardholder information was traditionally printed on the front of the card.

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