Update 4 p.m.: Forward spread has been stopped and fixed-wing aircraft dismissed, though helicopters remain on scene.
East County News Service
January 20, 2025 (Poway) – Structures are immediately threatened by a brush fire in Poway. The #TedWilliamsFire is burning along Ted Williams Parkway and Pomerado Road.
Evacuations are being conducted near Glen Oak Road, Watch Duty App reports. Evacuation details: www.AlertSD.org.
The blaze has charred three acres thus far and comes amid a Red Flag Alert due to dry conditions and potential for very high winds.
Read full text of Donald Trump’s inauguration speech on January 20, 2025
View video of speech
By Miriam Raftery
January 20, 2025 (Washington D.C.) – Donald J. Trump was sworn in for his second term of office today inside the Capitol rotunda, instead of outdoors, due to bitterly cold weather. In a 30-minute inaugural speech, Trump promised a “Golden Age of America” in which he would “put America first,” proclaiming, “America’s decline is over.”
The 47th President is only the second ever to be returned to office after being voted out following his term as 45th.
Below are highlights of his inaugural speech, along with fact checks and clarifications as context.
Source: SDG&E
January 20, 2025 (San Diego) – Due to extreme fire weather conditions and forecasted Santa Ana winds, San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E) has notified 83,609 customers that it may have to turn off power to reduce wildfire risk as early as late today. Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) are approved by state regulators as a safety tool of last resort to mitigate fire risk during dangerous weather conditions.
As a result of dry conditions and expected Santa Ana windsup to 60 miles per hour locally, the National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning and High Wind Warning for parts of Orange and San Diego Counties beginning Monday morning through late Tuesday night.
SDG&E has activated its Emergency Operations Center and staffed it with key personnel to monitor weather conditions throughout the duration of the event, especially the wind speeds in the high fire risk areas of the county.
If SDG&E implements a PSPS for public safety, it will open Community Resource Centers to support impacted customers.
President Biden also laid out proposed future reforms, including a Constistutional amendment to limit presidential immunity, tax reforms, and term limits for Supreme Court justices
By Miriam Raftery
Hear audio of President Biden’s farewell address; view video, read transcript
January 19, 2025 (Washington D.C.) – In his farewell address to the nation delivered in the White House oval office on January 15, President Joe Biden issued a warning reminiscent of the farewell speech delivered by President Dwight Eisenhower in 1961.
“Today, an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights and freedoms, and a fair shot for everyone to get ahead,” President Biden said. Specifically, he cited “the concentration of technology, power and wealth” and warned of “dangerous consequences if their abuse of power is left unchecked.”
President-elect Donald Trump, who will be inaugurated tomorrow, has surrounded himself with wealthy tech company executives, drawing controversy. There are parallels to the Russian oligarchs who wield undue influence over Russia’s president Vladimir Putin and have profited from his reign, while supporting his policies.
By Miriam Raftery
January 19, 2025 (San Diego) – January’s freakish weather continues with both fire danger and frost forecast for this week. The weather hazards line up for a potentially “worse case” scenario, the National Weather Service predicts.
A red flag warning has been issued for San Diego County’s inland mountains and valleys Monday and Tuesday due to low humidity and strong winds forecast.
Cold mornings will also bring frost in sheltered inland valleys west of the mountains.
Widespread wind gusts over 35 miles per hour are expected, with a high potential for gusts up to 60 miles per hour in the mountain areas Monday and Tuesday.
By Michael Howard
Photo: La Mesa City Councilmember Laura Lothian speaks during a January 14, 2025 City Council meeting. Screenshot from City of La Mesa meeting video.
January 19, 2025 (La Mesa, CA) - La Mesa City Councilmember Laura Lothian is calling for a “15-Strikes And You’re Out” policy to address the rising cost and associated risks of managing the homelessness crisis in the city.
Council asks staff to revise resolution, which will be on the agenda January 28
By Miriam Raftery
"I see this as disrespectful from you, the Council, the Mayor and the attorneys...This is going to create a lot of distrust in the community.” -- Jose Cruz, photo, left
"It's about following the law. California is asking us to ignore federal law."--Mayor Bill Wells, photo, right
January 17, 2025 (El Cajon) – In emotional testimony, leaders of the Latino community and others pleaded with El Cajon City Council members on January 14 to reject a resolution proposed by Mayor Bill Wells aimed at maximizing the city’s cooperation with federal immigration authorities. With President-Elect Donald Trump’s announced mass deportation intent, which Trump has said could include all undocumented immigrants in the U.S., many speakers voiced fears over potential discrimination by police against people of color, as well as fears that even long-term immigrants and children who have committed no crimes could be rounded up for deportation.
Trump has also said he wants to deport some special protection status immigrants who came here legally, such as Haitians; others with TPS status include Afghans and Iraqis who helped the U.S. military, Ukrainian refugees, and others.
Source: TSA
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.
By Brooke Binkowski, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association
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.
By Miram Raftery
January 15, 2025 (San Diego) – President-elect Donald Trump has pledged “mass deportations” of 11 million undocumented immigrants, most of whom do not have criminal backgrounds. But many people are unaware that he has also threatened to revoke temporary protected status (TPS) from some immigrants who are here legally.
San Diego’s East County is home to many people who came here with TPS status, including Iraqis and Afghans who worked for the U.S. government, such as translators for our military, as well as Somalis and Sudanese displaced by civil unrest, and Ukrainians displaced by the Russian invasion.
Currently, 17 nations have TPS designations which protect immigrants such as Afghans who helped the U.S. military, Ukrainians, Syrians and Sudanese with war-torn homelands, and Haitians displaced by earthquakes and gang violence after the assassination of the nation’s president. The list also includes immigrants from Burma, Cameroon, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Honduras, Lebanon, Nepal, Nicaragua, Somalia, Venezuela, and Yemen.
Asked if he would revoke temporary protected status for TPS holders such as Haitians in Springfield, Ohio, Trump told News Nation,” Absolutely, I’d revoke it.”