January 2025 Articles

JUDGE TEMPORARILY BLOCKS TRUMP ORDER TO END BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP, CALLS ORDER “BLATANTLY UNCONSTITUTIONAL”

By Miriam Raftery

January 23, 2025 (Washington, D.C.) – A federal judge appointed by conservative Ronald Reagan called President Donald Trump’s executive order to end birthright citizenship “blatantly unconstitutional.” U.S. District Judge John Coughenour issued a temporary restraining order to block the order from taking effect, Associated Press (AP) reports.

AS PRESIDENT TRUMP DECLARES A BORDER EMERGENCY ON DAY ONE, CALIFORNIA'S TARGETED IMMIGRANTS LIE LOW

By Wendy Fry, CalMatters

CalMatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California’s state Capitol works and why it matters

Photo:  Saul Muñoz, 53, waits for any job opportunities in front of a Home Depot in San Diego on Jan. 20, 2025. Photo by Adriana Heldiz, CalMatters

January 23, 2025 (San Diego) - Undocumented immigrants and their California families braced for the worst — and many told CalMatters they would go underground — as newly sworn-in President Donald Trump began issuing executive orders to enable what he promises will be the most massive deportation in U.S. history. 

FINDING THE 'NOW' OF TEACHING: SDSU ONLINE EDUCATION PROGRAMS REACH NO. 3 IN NATIONAL RANKINGS

U.S. News & World Report highlights SDSU’s growing reputation for excellence in online education master’s programs.

By Michael Klitzing, SDSU News

January 23, 2025 (San Diego) - Anaiz Moreno (left) always knew she wanted to go for a master’s degree, but she never imagined it would be happening so soon. After all, the high school English teacher only recently earned her credential from San Diego State University’s School of Teacher Education, in December 2023.

She asked: Was it really time to go back to school?

DANCING LIGHTS, TALKING TREES AND A LIGHT SHOW AT CAMP CHRISTMAS

By Miriam Raftery

November 29, 2024 (Pine Valley) – Camp Christmas in Pine Valley is back, with dazzling lighting displays and more from 5:30 to p.m. Nov. 29-30, Dec. 1, Dec. 6-8, and Dec. 13-22.  Visitors to Camp Christmas, located in a mountain community in San Diego's East County, will see thousands of computerized lights strung on trees and a spectacular water show,  both synchronized to holiday music.

There’s also hayrides, a bounce house, laser tag, archery, food,  live entertainment, and a talking Christmas tree, a Nativity presentation, Camp Christmas train rides, a children’s playground, climbing wall, face painting, gift shop, and more.

NEW YEAR'S EVE HAPPENINGS AROUND SAN DIEGO COUNTY

Photo:  Viejas will host a party at The Park on New Year's Eve. Photo courtesy Viejas Resort
 
December 29, 2024 (San Diego) - San Diego County residents have myriad opportunities to ring in 2025 with New Year's Eve celebrations across the region.

DESTINATION EAST COUNTY: JANUARY EVENTS

January 9, 2024 (El Cajon) – January happenings include a film festival in Borrego Springs—ideal if you like the desert without the heat—as well as opportunities to see raptors up close in Ramona,  take a group hike up Cowles Mountain, watch a thriller at Lamplighters Theatre in La Mesa, or network with veterans in Santee.

Scroll down for details on these entertaining options.

CUCUMBERS AND CUCUMBER PRODUCTS RECALLED DUE TO SALMONELLA

By Miriam Raftery

December 5, 2024 (Washington D.C.) – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration reports that 68 cases of salmonella have been linked to cucumbers, including 18 people who were hospitalized. SunFed Produce, Baloian Farms of Arizona Co. and Russ Davis Wholesale have issued voluntary recalls of all sizes of fresh American/slicer cucumbers grown by Agrotato and sold in 19 states, including California.

Russ Davis also recalled multiple products containing recalled cucumbers: Crazy Fresh Garden Salad W/ Ranch Dressing, Quick & Easy Garden Salad with Ranch Dressing, Crazy Fresh Turkey Havarti Wrap, Quick & Easy Bacon Avocado Wrap, Crazy Fresh Bacon Avocado Wrap, and Kowalski’s Market Garden Salad.

BILL WALTON TRIBUTE TO HONOR BASKETBALL GREAT AT HELIX HIGH ON JANUARY 3

Tickets on sale now at https://www.gofan.co/event/2594824?schoolId=CA22796
 
By Ben Perez 
 
December 23, 2024 (La Mesa) --Always saying he was honored to be from East County, "Billy from La Mesa" is how Bill Walton wanted people to know him and greet him.
 
So it's only fitting that his high school alma mater in La Mesa is honoring him with a special event in January.
 
At nearly seven feet tall, with an almost literally larger-than-life persona and an endearing, charismatic personality-- a basketball star at Helix High School, the University of California at Los Angeles and professionally -- a beloved, knowledgeable sports announcer and broadcaster, music aficionado, father, husband and friend, passed away in May of 2024.

FIRST LOCAL DETECTION OF HANTAVIRUS IN 2025

By Shauni Lyles, County of San Diego Communications Office
 
Image Credit: Shutterstock
 
January 13, 2025 (Julian) - A deer mouse collected on Jan. 3, 2025, in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, has tested positive for the potentially deadly hantavirus.

SUSTAINABLE HOLIDAYS MADE SIMPLE: HOW AND WHERE TO RECYCLE REAL CHRISTMAS TREES IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY

Drop-off locations and curbside pickup info for all San Diego County residents

Source: I Love a Clean San Diego

Image: CC via Bing

December 14, 2024 (San Diego) -- Did you know a Christmas tree can take hundreds of years to decompose in a landfill due to lack of oxygen? San Diego residents can help prevent waste and save landfill space by transforming their old Christmas trees into nutrient-rich compost or mulch.

The County of San Diego and I Love a Clean San Diego make it easy for residents to recycle their real Christmas trees by compiling a list of drop-off locations and instructions for curbside pick-up. The countywide recycling resource, WasteFreeSD.org, hosts the 2024/2025 Christmas Tree Recycling Guide with listings for curbside and drop-off locations.