February 2025 Articles

By Seraphina Eberhardt, Program Manager, Institute for Public Strategies East County

February 17, 2025 (San Diego) -- The start of a new year often brings the promise of new beginnings. For many, that includes resolutions focused on personal health and well-being, from hitting the gym to adopting healthier eating habits. In recent years, however, more and more of us have embraced a different kind of New Year’s resolution: abstaining from alcohol for the month of January. This annual challenge, known as Dry January, has gained popularity, particularly among the “Sober Curious” movement, which seeks to explore the impact of alcohol on mental and physical health. In San Diego County, it’s more than just a passing trend. It's a growing cultural shift.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo:  Merle Wakefield and Alvin Quarles have been conditionally released into  Campo and Borrego Springs.

February 16, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – The Sheriff’s department has sent warning notices to residents in Borrego Springs and Campo, announcing that two sexually violent predators have been conditionally released into these communities.  The court has ordered Liberty Healthcare, which runs the state’s conditional release program, to continue seeking permanent placement for the two men.

Looking to chow down on an all-American burger, steak, or seafood dinner?  Or savor regional cuisine such as Cajun, Southern, soul food, California cuisine, or Texas-style barbecue?

Perhaps you’re hankering for health food, jarm-to-table fresh meals, or vegan options.  Or you're craving a sub sandwich or Jewish deli.  You can even sample exotic foods from Hawaii or U.S. territories including Guam and Puerto Rico—all in San Diego’s East County!

Our guide below lists many delicious options, arranged alphabetically by category.  Note:  Many of these eateries also offer options beyond American. Click each link to view full menus.

Our guide to delicious desserts in San Diego's inland region

San Diego’s East County has many options to satisfy your sweet tooth, thanks to our diverse population and rich heritage. From all-American Julian apple pies, candy cottages and ice cream parlors to international desserts such as Franch pastries, Mexican cakes and Middle Eastern baklava, you’ll find a wide variety of delicious desserts to savor—and even a vegan bakery.

By Tracy DeFore, County of San Diego Communications Office

Photo:  Alexis & Deondre

February 15, 2025 (San Diego) - The day started with a few showers, but the sun came out for many couples saying “I do” on Valentine’s Day.

February 15, 2025 (Spring Valley) -- The Casa de Oro Alliance invites members of the community who have been affected by flooding to a community dialogue to help bring the community together and build resilience.

Issue prompts drive to recall Councilman Phil Ortiz

By Alex Schorr and Miriam Raftery

View video

Photo, left:  Resolution opponents hold up sign denouncing hate and likening ICE roundups to “Gestapo” tactics

February 14, 2025 (El Cajon) – El Cajon’s City Council on Tuesday passed a controversial resolution allowing the city’s police to cooperate with federal immigration authorities and hand over any undocumented who has been convicted of a violent crime, as well as immigrants merely accused of a crime.  The measure was introduced by Mayor Bill Wells, with backing of Councilmember Phil Ortiz and amendments by Councilman Steve Goble.

The meeting was contentious, sparked by numerous emotional outbursts, threats to recall Councilmember Ortiz for supporting the resolution, and playing of phone threats made against Councilmembers who voted against the measure previously.

Just two weeks ago, the Council rejected a similar proposal by a 3-2 vote, but reversed that action on Wednesday after Councilmember Goble switched sides.

February 14, 2025 -- 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.

DOGE controversy

• Trump and Musk’s dismantling of government is shaking the foundations of US democracy (AP)
• As Musk cuts federal spending, his own firms have received billions in contracts (ABC News)

Legal actions

• Elon Musk’s DOGE sued by 14 states (Newsweek)
• Trump administration pauses prosecutions of individuals and entities bribing foreign officials  (Jurist)
• Inspectors general fired by Trump file lawsuit to get their jobs back (ABC)
• A 2nd U.S. judge says Trump administration must pause its federal spending freeze  (NPR)
• Judge blocks Trump’s executive order on transgender prisoners (Politico)
• Trump sued in attempt to block his anti-diversity orders (Reuters)
• Oath Keepers founder barred from D.C., U.S. Capitol unless judge signs off  (NPR)
• Jan. 6 court evidence ‘disappeared,’ attorneys for press group say  (NPR)

Cabinet appointments

• Trump Cabinet confirmation status: Which nominees have been confirmed? (AP)
• Trump’s FCC chief investigates NPR, PBS (NPR)
• ‘Terrifying’: Public Health Experts React to Senate’s Confirmation of RFK Jr. to Lead HHS (Time Magazine)
• Senate confirms Doug Burgum as interior secretary after Trump tasked him to boost drilling (AP)
• Trump's FBI chief pick, Kash Patel, insists he has no 'enemies list' and won't seek retribution (AP)
• Tulsi Gabbard, Trump's pick to oversee US spy agencies, grilled about Snowden, Syria and Russia (AP)
• Trump’s pick to lead counter-terrorism unit is a white supremacist dream (New Republic)

Immigration

• Homan warns daily migrant arrests will 'steadily increase' as Trump admin targets nonviolent illegal aliens (Fox)
• Trump will send up to 30K illegal immigrants to Guantanamo Bay: ‘It’s a tough place to get out of’ (New York Post)
• ’Legal black hole’: ACLU sues over immigrants being sent to Guantanamo (USA Today)
• Trump signs first bill of his second presidency, the Laken Riley Act, into law (NPR)
• Trump Immigration Targets: Ukrainians, Venezuelans, Haitians (NY Times)
• Some migrants arrested in Trump's immigration crackdown have been released back into the U.S. (NBC)
• Trump administration begins sending migrants to Guantánamo Bay (Washington Post)

Safety and oversight

• Trump fires heads of TSA, Coast Guard and guts key aviation safety advisory committee (AP)
• Trump fires the director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (AP)
• Air traffic controllers were initially offered buyouts and told to consider leaving government  (AP)
• Trump ends Fauci's security detail and says he'd feel no responsibility if harm befell him (AP)

Protests

Protesters in cities across the US rally against Trump’s policies, Project 2025 and Elon Musk (AP)

Women’s health

• Government's reproductive rights resource goes dark hours into new Trump administration (RawStory)

WORLD

• South Africa suspends American businesses and mineral exports (Maravi Post)
• What would happen if the US military went after cartels on Mexican soil? (Guardian)
• Europe fears Trump-Putin ‘dirty deal’ as Ukraine scrambles for a seat at the table(CNN)
• El Salvador’s millennial dictator offers to hold American criminals in mega prisons (Yahoo News)
• Russian drone struck Chernobyl reactor shell but radiation levels normal, Zelenskyy says (AP)
• Syria's new leader denounces Iran, calling its proxies a regional threat  (NPR)
• European Leaders Condemn Musk's 'Ominous' Push for Germany to 'Forget' Holocaust (Common Dreams)
• Colombia yields on US deportation flights to avert trade war (BBC)
• A U.S. dual citizen is among 3 Israeli hostages exchanged for Palestinian prisoners (NPR)
• Emergency crews deployed on Santorini as an earthquake swarm worries Greek experts (AP)
• Baltic nations count final hours to ending electricity ties to Russia   (NPR)

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

By Patrick Cameron, El Cajon

February 13, 2025 (El Cajon) -- In one of Donald Trump’s first acts in office, he stripped away protections for schools, hospitals, and places of worship from immigration enforcement. These were once safe spaces where people could learn, receive health care, and pray without fear. Now they have been turned into targets for ICE raids.

This is unconscionable. As the world’s largest historical climate polluter, the United States has a responsibility to immigrants. Our pollution is causing the climate chaos — droughts, floods, hurricanes, rising waters — that is forcing people in Latin America, Asia, Africa and elsewhere to leave their homes. Others are fleeing violence, poverty, and hunger — all of which are caused or made worse by the climate crisis.

People have the right to be able to leave their homes and migrate with dignity to find safe haven. But right now, immigrant families are facing the unimaginable: the fear that seeking education or health care could mean deportation, or that a peaceful moment of prayer might be shattered by ICE agents barging in.