English Bulldog Puppies for Sale in El Cajon, CA

The San Diego County Water Authority (SDCWA)Thursday approved a new wholesale water rate for the next fiscal year. The agency said the 8.3% increase is less than what it originally forecast earlier this year.

"The reductions were achieved by cutting budgets across the agency, including capital improvement projects, operating departments, the Board of Directors, and equipment replacement," the Water Authority said in an announcement. "In addition, the adopted rate was lowered by third-party water exchanges and financial benefits from the conclusion of litigation between the Water Authority and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California."

The wholesale rate is what the SDCWA charges its member agencies. The agency says home and business customers will feel the impact differently based on how their water supplier handles costs.

"While I recognize the impact of this increase on working families around the region, the Water Authority is now on a path for smoother and smaller rate increases in the future that will provide the financial stability our region needs while still ensuring safe and reliable water supplies,” said SDCWA board chairman Nick Serrano.

On Thursday, the agency also approved a recommended two-year budget, under pressures of increasing costs. One of the elements under consideration was whether to continue funding for the Water Conservation Garden.

The County Water Authority has been contributing $150,000 a year toward running the garden dedicated to educating county residents about water conservation and sustainability. On Thursday, board members rejected options to continue that funding after June 30.

The loss of Water Authority money is a blow for supporters of the garden, who'd launched an online campaign in favor of continued funding for the six-acre site at Cuyamaca College in El Cajon, which features all sorts of exhibits — ideas on what to plant that will beautify land, while saving water.

There is also a children’s area for when the young ones tire of looking at all the flora, an amphitheater for group presentations, a gazebo for weddings and parties, and informational signs featuring QR codes everywhere you look.

Emily Routman is a three-year volunteer at the garden. She is retired, but she spent her career helping organizations craft effective financial and mission-related strategies. She spoke to KPBS the day before the vote, and said any move to cut, or cut off funding is shortsighted.

“This is not a good strategic move. The investment that was made to build this place, that has created this place of beauty and education, that advances the missions of all of the water districts, this investment would be lost and wasted if the county withdrew their support,” she said. “It does not make any strategic sense for them to give up on this place, and to close this beautiful and informative resource that advances their mission.”

Volunteer Harold Bailey has 40 years of water industry experience including at the City of San Diego, and the Padre Dam Municipal Water District. Bailey has volunteered at the Water Conservation Garden for 13 years.

Bailey said the Water Authority’s level of financial support amounts to a bit less than five cents a year per ratepayer.

“I think they have not done an adequate cost benefit analysis to see what the value of this garden is. Our motto is, ‘More beauty, less water,’ and less water is the theme. It’s conservation at the forefront. So by not taking that into account, I think they’re just trying to make an offhand decision and save a few dollars,” he said.

Some municipalities have also supported the project. But over the years, some of that support has fallen away, including from the City of San Diego, which recently ended its financial support of the Garden. The garden is still getting financial support from some other local water purveyors, but it’s unclear whether that support will continue in light of the County Water Authority’s action.

Still, the garden’s director of operations, Lauren Magnuson, told KPBS they’ve faced difficult times before in their 26-year history. She said they’ll consider what’s next at their next meeting in July.

El Cajon, CA (June 13, 2025) – A serious traffic collision in El Cajon late Friday morning resulted in injuries after a vehicle reportedly struck a pedestrian and crashed into a storefront near 8909 Winter Gardens Blvd, outside the Lakeside Discount Liquor store.

The crash occurred around 11:34 a.m., drawing immediate attention from the California Highway Patrol and local responders. Initial reports indicated a two-vehicle collision, one of which veered off the roadway, striking a pedestrian and crashing directly into the retail business. Though details about the vehicles remain limited, authorities confirmed the situation was classified as a medical emergency with injuries at the scene.

As emergency crews converged on the area, one injured individual was reportedly treated near the point of impact, either on the sidewalk or inside the affected store. Witnesses described a chaotic scene with one vehicle having entered the storefront after initial impact. A flatbed tow truck from Clancy’s Towing was requested to recover one of the vehicles, which had sustained significant damage.

CHP coordinated efforts with other regional units and began managing traffic around the crash zone. Notifications and updates continued throughout the early afternoon as crews worked to stabilize the area, assess injuries, and remove debris. Although the number and severity of injuries have not been officially confirmed, the incident’s escalation to a 1141 response code suggests emergency transport was involved for at least one party.

An investigation is now underway to determine the exact sequence of events, including whether driver error, vehicle malfunction, or other external factors contributed to the crash. Officers have also noted that surveillance footage from nearby businesses may assist in clarifying the pedestrian’s involvement and the vehicle’s final trajectory into the building.

We are keeping those injured in our thoughts and hope for their full and swift recovery.

Pedestrian-Involved Crashes in California

Crashes involving pedestrians and businesses are often more than just roadway incidents—they disrupt lives, endanger public safety, and challenge the emergency response systems of urban communities like El Cajon. Friday’s collision on Winter Gardens Blvd reflects the unpredictable nature of vehicle-related injuries, particularly in areas with high foot traffic and tightly spaced commercial zones.

When a vehicle strikes a pedestrian and continues into a building, it raises serious concerns about driver attentiveness, traffic controls, and parking safety. Locations like Lakeside Discount Liquor, which sit close to narrow roadside curbs, are especially vulnerable to such incidents. While the exact cause of this crash remains under investigation, it serves as a stark reminder of the need for increased safety measures near busy retail areas.

In these complex scenarios, emergency crews face layered challenges—administering aid to pedestrians, securing structurally compromised buildings, and preserving evidence for investigation. The use of a flatbed tow and coordinated dispatches between multiple jurisdictions highlight the seriousness with which these situations are treated.

Pedestrian safety remains a top priority throughout California. Drivers must exercise extreme caution near storefronts and sidewalks, particularly during daytime hours when foot traffic peaks. Equally important is ensuring businesses are protected with physical barriers or reinforced zones when feasible.

Anyone impacted by such events is urged to seek immediate medical and legal guidance. Injuries from vehicle-pedestrian collisions can be life-altering, and timely care is essential to recovery and justice.

Moments like these can turn lives upside down in seconds. Local Accident Reports is here to help you navigate the aftermath—whether you need help understanding your rights, connecting with the right care, or simply finding your next steps. Contact us today and take the first step toward recovery with clarity and support.

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Note: These posts are created solely for the use of Local Accident Reports. We have not verified the information in these posts as the information is gathered from secondary sources. If you have personal knowledge that the information contained in these posts is inaccurate, please contact Local Accident Reports immediately so we can make the necessary corrections or remove the story.

Disclaimer: We are providing this information to the general public as a resource to use in the event you or a family member are injured in a similar incident. Every effort is put forth to honor the victims of accidents, and hope the information presented helps others avoid the same type of accidents in the future. The photos depicted in these posts are not representative of the actual accident scene. Please contact Local Accident Reports at (888) 657-1460 to be connected with an attorney in your area who will answer any legal questions you may have.

With constant water drops and fire retardant, crews got a handle on the quick moving fire.

Hawick fire forward rate stopped at 51 acres

and last updated 30 minutes ago

UNINCORPORATED EL CAJON, Calif. (KGTV) — The Hawick Fire burned in unincorporated El Cajon. The fire has burned 51 acres and is 50% contained according to Cal Fire.

WATCH: ABC 10News reporter Ava Kershner live at the scene of the Hawick Fire

Watch Duty first reported the fire just before 3 p.m. Thursday afternoon, saying it was burning at the base of an avocado grove.

They're reporting that the fire is 51 acres and that forward progress has stopped, according to incident command.

When it first broke out, even those in non-evacuation zones were prepared to leave.

"We just started staging everything to evacuate, grabbing mementos, clothes. We have pets, animals. Make sure that they're OK and just kind of quickly forming a plan to go," said Aron Sacks, a former firefighter who lives right next to the charred hilltop.

5 additional type 3 engines have been requested by incident command.

Cal Fire says that additional resources have been requested and that some have been switched off the Monte Fire to help with the Hawick Fire.

Multiple local agencies are assisting alongside San Diego Cal Fire and U.S. Forest Service.

Evacuation warnings and orders have been lifted.

"Obviously they've had a lot of fire crews, fire helicopters, planes dropped. They have the land on the hill. They just attacked it all over. Thank God for the firefighters here at in California," said Sacks.

This is a developing story, and this article will be updated.

Copyright 2025 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

A former manager of an El Cajon company pleaded guilty Wednesday to hiring undocumented workers, the culmination of a federal investigation that included an undercover agent and an armed raid at the powder coating and sandblasting company earlier this year.

John Washburn, the former general manager of San Diego Powder & Protective Coatings, was sentenced to one year of unsupervised release but will do no jail time as part of a plea agreement, according to court records.

Washburn, who had been originally charged with a felony, pleaded guilty Wednesday to one misdemeanor count of hiring undocumented workers.

The sentencing comes after armed federal agents raided the El Cajon business in March, a decision that Washburn's attorney said had no purpose other than to "terrorize the community."

"This was not to enforce some immigration laws," said Patrick Griffin, Washburn's attorney. "It was to do so in a manner to send a chilling effect to the community."

Griffin criticized the decision by federal authorities to pursue charges against Washburn, and said the federal authorities used an unnecessary amount of resources to investigate the case, and then raid the El Cajon business.

"It's a monumental waste of resources for this," he said.

As part of the plea agreement, Washburn admitted that he had communicated with other managers at the company about employees who had "bad paperwork," meaning they did not have valid documents proving they were allowed to work in the U.S., according to a statement from the U.S. attorney's office.

According to the initial complaint filed against Washburn, the investigation included an undocumented worker who cooperated with federal agents who recorded audio and video inside the company, and an undercover agent who posed as a worker lacking proper documentation.

According to the complaint, the immigrant worker who was cooperating with federal agents was two or three weeks away from obtaining legal immigration status, but had been working at the company under a fake name.

In one recording captured by the worker, Washburn indicated he was aware that several workers did not have the documentation to work in the U.S.

When one worker asked about bringing in a friend looking for work, Washburn reportedly said, "As long as you can show me something, I don't care," according to the complaint.

But Griffin said federal authorities seemed to target Washburn simply because he was the employee who spoke to the worker who cooperated with officials.

"[Washburn] is just a paid employee," Griffin said. "They're prosecuting a manager, someone who is just punching a clock for doing what he's told and doing his job."

Court documents indicate that the company, San Diego Powder & Protective Coatings, often worked with military agencies as a subcontractor, including at the time of the raid in March.

Jeremy Warren, an attorney representing San Diego Powder & Protective Coatings, said the company completed a review of its hiring practices after the March raid.

"This incident sparked SDPPC to review its policies and adopt best practices in hiring and training employees," Warren said. "All current employees are authorized workers."

Warren said before the raid, all employees for the company were receiving the same benefits, accrued personal time off, and had taxes withheld.

According to the complaint, three workers believed to be undocumented were also living at the company building, where a conference room had been converted into living quarters with cots, a television, small refrigerator, microwave and rack of clothes.

Workers interviewed by federal agents said they had been allowed to stay in the conference room and were not being charged rent.

The March operation in El Cajon came several weeks before a visible escalation of operations by Immigration and Customs Enforcement across Southern California. The ICE raids and detentions of the past few weeks seemingly focused on detaining and deporting unauthorized immigrants and have apparently not targeted employers such as Washburn.

Masked ICE agents have been reported across the region, executing raids at car washes, Home Depot parking lots, near schools, in busy immigrant communities and most recently near Dodger Stadium. The raids sparked days of protests and arrests across Southern California.

Last week, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said immigration agents had taken 330 immigrants into custody in Los Angeles and surrounding areas since the operations began in June.

According to the complaint filed against Washburn, about 50 people were working at the company at the time, and about 15 of them appeared to lack legal authority to work in the U.S.

ICE officials did not immediately respond to questions about the status of the unauthorized workers who were identified in the March operation.

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