Miriam Raftery

May 6, 2024 (La Mesa) – President Joe Biden Friday presented the Medal of Freedom to Ellen Ochoa of La Mesa, the first Hispanic female astronaut and second woman to serve as Director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center. She retired in 2018 after 30 years with the agency.

May 8, 2024 (Rancho San Diego) – Yoga classes return to the beautiful and serene Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College. Open to the public for a nominal fee, the classes include chair yoga, sloth yoga, and gentle garden yoga.

A report has been filed with La Mesa Police by a resident disturbed over anti-Semitic flyers found across her 73 rd Street neighborhood on Sunday morning.

May 9, 2024 (El Cajon) – The County of San Diego has announced (link is external)plans to construct a new East Region Crisis Stabilization Unit and Recovery Bridge Center at 2000 South Magnolia Avenue and West Douglas Avenue in El Cajon. These services are part of an array of mental health and substance use services that are regionally distributed across San Diego County and will enable those living in East County to access the care they need.

May 9, 2024 (San Diego) – Across the nation, campus protests have erupted over the war raging in the Middle East, including a large march at San Diego State University and an encampment at the University of California locally, the latter ending in arrests.

May 14,2024 (San Diego) -- County public health officials have confirmed the third case of measles in the region this year in a 13-month-old resident who recently traveled overseas.

May 17, 2024 (Ramona) – Amid renovations of Ramona’s historic town hall, the venue will host its first live music concerts in 40 years on June 8 and 9. Ashley E. Norton will perform songs from her newest album, “Call of the Void” along with a song called “Whiskey in the Walls” written specifically about Ramona’s Town Hall. The singer/songwriter will also debut a music video at the event, with a portion of proceeds benefiting the town hall renovations.

May 17, 2024 (Otay Mesa) – The #CaminoFire at Gateway Energy Storage, a lithium battery storage facility in Otay Mesa, flared up overnight and prompted county officials to issue an evacuation warning for businesses in the surrounding area due to the potential for release of toxic gasses.

May 18, 2024 (San Diego's East County) - - East County has some joyful June events coming up—including a Taste of Julian, Descanso Day Parade and Fair, Bathhouse Bazaar concerts in Jacumba Hot Springs, live music at the Magnolia in El Cajon, a twilight walk at Mission Trails, a comedy night in La Mesa, Santee summer concerts, La Mesa's classic car show, Lemon Grove's concert series opener,and El Cajon’s outdoor concerts and classic car shows, and more.

May 20, 2024 (Santa Ysabel) – The world has lost a creative giant. Visionary artist and internationally acclaimed architect James Hubbell passed away on May 17 in Chula Vista at age 92, surrounded by family members including his wife, Anne.