By Philicia Tonangoye

Image:  tangerines, via Bing (cc) 

April 18, 2026 (San Diego’s East County) – The Mexican fruit fly quarantine has reduced donations of fresh produce to local food pantries, since organizations such as Produce Good mainly rely on backyard harvests to help community members in need. Home growers are not allowed to move their backyard products in the 82-square-mile quarantine area, meaning that these organizations may have to import products from other parts of San Diego or take donations directly from people outside the quarantine area who are willing to give.  

East County News Service

April 14, 2026 (Boulevard) -- The Backcountry Resource Center in Boulevard will be busy this Wednesday, April 15 hosting the first-ever Mountain Empire Art Show 2026, opening at 4 p.m. and the Boulevard-Jacumba Town Hall Event at 6:30 p.m.

The first annual Mountain Empire Art Show  is an act of advocacy for the vibrant and sometimes hidden gem of the art community of the high desert east county region. Sixteen artists will show at the Backcountry Resource Center, gathered by the curation of Mara Harris who enthusiastically organized the show as an act of community activism.

Harris is also a resident on Jewel Valley Road the primary location for the Starlight Solar Project slated for Boulevard. 

The art show theme is "Artists Activate Aliveness!" It is a direct response to the east desert communities' concern of the impact of the growing number of industrial solar, battery, and wind turbine projects in the Mountain Empire region.

East County News Service

April 13, 2026 (Lemon Grove) -- The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office Reentry Services Division is holding a public event aimed at bridging the gap between life behind bars and life as a productive neighbor.

From 4 to 6 p.m., Tuesday, April 14 at the Lemon Grove Library, the community is being invited to meet the team dedicated to ensuring that when individuals leave custody, they stay out.

While vocational skills get people hired, the Sheriff’s Department is also focused on the internal work required to prevent a return to custody.

During the event, guests can explore tables that highlight the department's Career Technical Education programs and meet our community partners who support successful reintegration.

There will be an overview presentation that shares a clear picture of the services, programs, and supports our team provides, along with how these efforts contribute to a successful return to our communities.

East County News Service

April 11, 2026 (Borrego Springs) - The San Diego Superior Court has ordered the conditional release of Sexually Violent Predator Gary Snavely.  The California Department of State Hospitals has recommended the placement of Snavely at 3406 Running M Road in Borrego Springs  He was convicted of lewd and lascivious acts with two girls ages 8 and 9 between 1982 and 1986.

The Padres will sport their new "City Connect 2.0" uniforms with a special patch on the arm tonight at home against the Colorado Rockes. Photo courtesy San Diego Padres

East County News Service

April 10, 2026  (San Diego) — The San Diego Padres might just be starting to pick up some steam.

In a finish that felt more like end-of-season heroics instead of an April extra-inning game, Padres infielder Xander Bogaerts sent a 1-2 slider over the left-field wall at Petco Park for a walk-off grand slam in the 12th inning of Thursday night's game against visiting Colorado, giving the Padres a thrilling 7-3 victory over the Rockies.

The Padres are now at 7-7, tied for second place with the Arizona Diamondbacks in the National League West, as they continue play against the Rockies, who are in San Diego all weekend.

April 9, 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.

• Trump's VA killed a home loan program. Vets are now losing their homes because of it (NPR)
• Eligible young men will automatically be registered for US military draft later this year (NY Post)
• Trump fires Attorney General Pam Bondi after criticism over Epstein docs  (USA Today)
• Trump administration can't make colleges provide race-related data, judge rules (Reuters)
• Looking to limit birthright citizenship, Trump turns to an 1884 Supreme Court ruling against a Native American man (NBC)
• Judge deals Trump setback in civil suits over Capitol riot        (Politico)
• Board of Immigration Appeals transforms law behind the scenes  (NPR)
• Judge sides with New York Times in challenge to policy limiting reporters’ access to Pentagon (AP)
• Judge orders Trump administration to bring back DACA recipient deported to Mexico (Politico)
• Prosecutor conceded lack of criminal evidence in Federal Reserve investigation, transcript shows ((AP)
• US Treasury plans to put Trump's signature on new paper currency in first for sitting president (AP)
• Judge Halts Construction of Trump’s White House Ballroom (Associated Press)
• Epstein survivors sue Justice Department and Google over release of private information (CNN)
• Beer cans, helium balloons and mortgages: Unexpected costs of war  (NPR)
• Eulogy for the CIA Factbook: The free standard for world facts, long an educational staple, is gone (AP)

• WORLD
• G7 agrees to secure Strait of Hormuz but only after war in Iran ends  (Euro News)
• Israel says it will begin direct negotiations with Lebanon as US prepares for Iran ceasefire talks  (CNN)
• Trump compares attack on Iran to Pearl Harbor in meeting with Japanese PM (BBC)
• Exclusive: US can only confirm about a third of Iran's missile arsenal destroyed (Reuters)

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 News Service

April 6, 2026 (San Diego County) – A head-on collision Saturday, April 4 on State Route 78 south of S-2 in Shelter Valley near Julian resulted in two deaths and two others injured.

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection/San Diego County Fire responded along with multiple other agencies to the crash, which required extensive extrication.

Two persons from the collision were airlifted to local trauma centers and two others were pronounced dead at the scene.

Highway 78 was closed in both directions for approximately five hours during the incident.

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.