January 2, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – 2024 has been a turbulent year, from devastating floods in January to controversies over homelessness and immigration, contentious elections, land use and fire issues, expansion of Jamul tribal lands, officials grappling with hate speech, resignation of the County Supervisors' Chairwoman Nora Vargas, and at year’s end, Syrian-Americans rallying in El Cajon to celebrate the fall of the Assad regime.Below are the top stories of the year which had an impact in East County communities.FLOOD INNUNDATES REGIONThe year opened with extreme flooding in January, resulting in county, state and federal emergency declarations. As ECM reported, thousands sought help at a flood assistance center in Spring Valley. A woman drowned in a flooded Santee creek. In East County, floodwaters caused severe damage to homes in areas such as Rolando and destroyed relief…
East County News ServiceDecember 31, 2024 (San Diego’s East County) - Our region lost civic leaders and luminaries this year in fields including a basketball superstar, an astronaut, a famous architect, a retired Sheriff’s deputy and Chamber of Commerce chairman, a World War veteran, an HVAC industry leader, a noted philanthropist, a former college president, a retired teacher, an engineer and newscaster, a political party chairwoman and a community theatre cofounder. They are gone but not forgotten, leaving lasting legacies and memories.Read more about their remarkable lives below; each title links to a full obituary. BILL WALTON, basketball champion and hometown heroNBA Hall of Famer and former Helix High School superstar Bill Walton, 71, died May 27 after a prolonged battle with cancer. One of the greatest basketball players of all time, Walton later became an award-…
Biden hopes to next achieve a cease-fire in Gaza before his term ends, with an agreement for a Palestinian state and security for IsraelBy Miriam RafteryPhoto, left: Hezbollah fighters in Southern Lebanon in 2023, via Tasnim News ServiceNovember 28, 2024 (Washington D.C.) – In a historic accord, on Tuesday, U.S. President Joe Biden and President Emmanuel Macron of France issued a joint statement announcing that after “weeks of tireless diplomacy,” Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a cease fire that went into effect yesterday.“The United States and France will work with Israel and Lebanon to ensure this arrangement is fully implemented and enforced,” the statement continued. Though the U.S. has supported Israel including sending war planes used to bomb Hezbollah targets, U.S. troops will not be sent to the region, the President assured.The agreement includes assurances that Israel…
By Miriam RafteryJanuary 8, 2025 (La Mesa) – Dozens of public speakers at yesterday’s Grossmont Healthcare District meeting urged the board to move its 9 a.m. meetings to evenings in order to accommodate people with full-time jobs. The proposal was made by newly elected director Nadia Farjood, a working mother who says her new full-time job at the District Attorney’s office prevents her from attending daytime meetings.The district represents about 520,000 residents. Around 271 people signed a petition in support of Farjood’s proposal, and around 40 showed up in support at yesterday’s meeting. But despite testimony from union representatives, healthcare workers, district residents and local elected officials, Farjood’s proposal failed, with no other director in support.Some speakers voiced concern not only for Farjood, but for the potential chilling effect on would-be candidates who may…
By Miriam RafteryPhoto, left: Gaza bombing by Israel, WAFA for news agency APA, creative commons via WIkiPalestineJanuary 15, 2025 (Washington D.C.) – President Joe Biden today announced, “After many months of intensive diplomacy by the United States, along with Egypt and Qatar, Israel and Hamas have reached a ceasefire and hostage deal.”The deal is slated to halt fighting in Gaza, surge humanitarian aide to Palestinian civilians, and return hostages taken by Hamas during its October 7, 2023 attack in Israel, in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners.Biden indicated the cease-fire is based on a plan he laid out May 31,which the United Nations Security Council endorsed. The action comes after a cease-fire in Lebanon with Hezbollah and weakening of Iran, both allies of Hamas.The Hamas attack killed over 1,200 Israelis. Israel’s military retaliation in Gaza has killed tens…
Photo: County Supervisor Jim Desmond delivering his State of North County speech in June. (File photo courtesy of Desmond’s office)January 16, 2025 (San Diego) - San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond announced that he will run for Congress.The District 5 Republican said on Thursday that he hopes to “restore common-sense leadership” and is a candidate who prioritizes real-world solutions. “It’s becoming unbearable to live in California,” Desmond said in a press release. “The cost of living is driving working families and seniors out of this state.” The 49th Congressional District straddles San Diego and Orange Counties, including the communities of Oceanside, Vista, Encinitas, Carlsbad, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Dana Point, Laguna Niguel, and others. The district is currently represented by Democratic Party Congressman Mike Levin, who easily defeated…
January 16, 2025 (Washington D.C.) — During 2024, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) intercepted a total of 6,678 firearms at airport security checkpoints, preventing them from getting into the secure areas of the airport and onboard aircraft. Approximately 94% of these firearms were loaded. This total is a minor decrease from the 6,737 firearms stopped in 2023. Throughout 2024, TSA managed its “Prepare, Pack, Declare” public awareness campaign to explain the steps for safely traveling with a firearm."One firearm at a checkpoint is too many,” said TSA Administrator David Pekoske. “Firearms present a safety risk for our employees and everyone else at the checkpoint. It’s also costly and slows down operations. If individuals who carry a firearm intend to travel, we remind them that the firearm must be unloaded, locked in a hard-sided case…