Update April 13, 2026 - Rep. Swalwell has suspended his gubernatorial campaign. He denies the allegations, but admits to errors in judgement that he says should be between him and his wife.

By Jeanne Kuang and Yue Stella Yu, CalMatters

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

Photo:  U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell speaks to a crowd during a town hall he hosted at the Fresno Convention & Entertainment Center in downtown Fresno on Dec. 15, 2025. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local

April 10, 2026 (Fresno) - Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell, one of the leading candidates for California governor, came under increasing pressure Friday to drop out of the race following a report by the San Francisco Chronicle that he sexually assaulted a former female staffer. Swalwell denied the allegations.

East County News Service

April 10, 2026 (San Diego County) -- Distracted driving causes hundreds of crashes across California each year, and violations of the state’s hands-free cellphone law remain an ongoing concern.

As part of Distracted Driving Awareness Month, the California Highway Patrol is urging drivers to put down their phones and stay attentive to help make roads safer for everyone.

By Miriam Raftery

April 10, 2026 (San Diego’s East County) – Our East County Magazine website is being attacked by AI-cyberbots that have repeatedly crashed it. Our new website designed in Wordpress is ready to launch with great new features for readers – but we can’t launch without critical security upgrade programs that cost thousands of dollars.  Please help! Donate at https;//www.eastcountymedia.org./donate. 

We are also seeking major sponsors who may want to sponsor any special section on the new site, as well as angel donors/philanthropists who would love to earn the loyalty of our many readers.

Our audience is huge—more than 10 million hits and 650,000 unique visitors each month! Our success in growing our readership is unfortunately also attacking cyberbots seeking to cause harm. It's critical to protect our 18 years of news articles on our existing site as well as protect the new site design immediately.

Call 619 698 7617 or email editor@eastcountymagazine.org for more information.

By Alex J. Schorr

April 9, 2026 — As of yesterday, the United States and Iran have agreed to a fragile two-week ceasefire brokered by Pakistan, with the agreement aiming to pause hostilities that began on February 28. Pakistan-mediated talks are scheduled to begin in Islamabad on Friday April 10, to seek a permanent settlement.  The fragile cease-fire comes after Trump posted a threat on social media Tuesday stating that a “whole civilization will die tonight” unless Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz.

Additionally, a big point of contention has also emerged concerning Lebanon. While Pakistan and Iran maintain that the truce includes "Lebanon and elsewhere,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Trump have stated that the ceasefire does not cover Lebanon, where Israel has significantly intensified its attacks against Hezbollah.

April 9, 2026 (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 round-up stories include:

LOCAL

• County supervisors used obscure events fund to solicit over $100K from influential donors since 2024 (KPBS)
• SDG&E customers to receive $32.53 climate credit in April billing cycle  (City News Service)
•  El Cajon native who died saving two boys awarded posthumous Carnegie Medal for heroism (KGTV)
• San Diego neighborhoods push back against massive housing developments under Complete Communities plan (ABC)
• Navy 'looking into' Campa-Najjar's use of military status in campaign (KPBS)
• New razor wire along the U.S.-Mexico border threatens the survival of endangered bighorn sheep (10 News)
• San Diego Court Tosses Key Sex Convictions for Ex-Granite Hills Teacher (Hoodline)
• Department of Education axes protections for transgender students in La Mesa (KPBS)
• Fewer people are riding the San Diego trolley. Officials blame the unexpected drop on ICE and affordability.  (San Diego Union-Tribune)

STATE

• Record heat, melting snow: What does it mean for California’s reservoirs? (CalMatters)
• Trump endorsing Hilton may change governor race (Cal Matters)
• Agents of Chaos: Border Patrol's Year of Unchecked Force  (Evident Media)
• Imperial County supervisors clear path for massive data center complex amid fierce opposition (KPBS)
• The 9 Rat-Repelling Flowers California Gardeners Are Planting Now  (Positive Bloom)
• Sparse snowpack in California fuels concern over fast-approaching fire season  (KPBS)

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

East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts

April 5, 2026 (San Marcos) – The #MoreeFire in San Marcos has led to evacuations, including the California State University San Marcos Campus.  

Evacuation orders and warnings have been issued. As this is a rapidly changing situation, check the Genasys Map for the current evacuation zones: 

CSU San Marcos sent this emergency alert:  “Main Campus Evacuation - DO NOT exit campus via Campus View and La Moree. Follow all police instructions. Do not come to campus."

A Temporary Evacuation Point is open at Mission Hills High School located at 1 Mission Hills Court, San Marcos, CA 92069, per San Diego Sheriff on X.

East County News Service

April 4, 2026 (Escondido) -- The developer of the Seguro Battery Energy Storage System has formally withdrawn its application to build one of the world’s largest lithium-ion storage facilities in the hills of North San Diego County.

The decision, confirmed earlier this week, marks the end of a three-year battle between developer AES Corporation and the unincorporated communities of Eden Valley, Harmony Grove and Elfin Forest.

East County News Service

April 4, 2026 (San Diego County) -- San Diego County health officials are urging consumers to purge their refrigerators of specific raw cheddar cheese products after a multi-state E. coli outbreak that has hospitalized at least three people and left one person with a life-threatening kidney condition.

The warning, issued late Thursday, targets RAW FARM brand raw milk cheddar cheese.

The Fresno-based company initiated a voluntary recall on April 2, 2026, after the outbreak was linked to nine illnesses across California, Florida and Texas.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo:  proposed Starlight Solar site, via County of San Diego

April 4, 2026 (Boulevard) – Should a 588-acre solar project with one of the state’s largest battery energy storage sites be built near rural Boulevard, a small town located in a very high fire hazard zone?  The County Planning Commission may vote May 8 on the Starlight Solar project, which supporters say is needed to help meet state and county green energy mandates.

East County News Service

March 30, 2026 (El Cajon ) -- The El Cajon City Council last week unanimously upheld a decision by the city's Planning Commission to deny the Afghan Community Culture Center a permit extension for its temporary prayer tent on East Main Street between Walter Way and East Madison Avenue.

The ruling ended an ongoing dispute between the city’s safety regulations and the center, which provides services to a community of more than 3,000 people who look to the ACCC as a spiritual, educational and social home, according to ACCC Board President Bakhtar Aminzay. 

"We have to follow the state law, which has to do with public safety issues," said El Cajon City Councilmember Gary Kendrick.

The ACCC since last November has owned a building at 1342 E. Main St., but structural damage on the inside by previous tenants have made the building uninhabitable as well as not being up to code, Kendrick said.

Councilmember Laura Lothian criticizing city tactics on parking issues

By Alexander J. Schorr

March 29, 2026 (La Mesa) — The La Mesa City council met on March 24 to try and tackle the “parking crisis” fueled by new housing development in the Downtown Village.

La Mesa is currently facing massive tension over the need for affordable housing and a growing parking crisis in its Downtown Village district. Recent developments have prioritized transit-oriented housing with reduced parking requirements, sparking concerns from local business owners and residents about the long-term impact on the area’s accessibility and economic health.