Breaking News Stories

Illustration of children playing musical chairs in a classroom setting, symbolizing unstable school enrollment. One child wears a Method Sports Academy jersey, another carries a backpack labeled 'Flex-Based Learning.' Empty desks and paperwork labeled 'Independent Study Contract' are scattered around. The scene reflects confusion and competition for classroom seats amid Dehesa School District’s shifting student placements.

Method Musical Chairs: How Dehesa’s Enrollment Shuffle Fueled ADA Funding, Charter Growth, and Audit Flags

Dehesa’s enrollment skyrocketed—on paper. But the math doesn’t track. Resident students were displaced. Outsiders were brought in. Funding followed the fiction. At the center: inflated ADA, a $253K superintendent, and

Lizzie Bly July 25, 2025 3:41 pm

Adjacent, Apparently: How Dehesas Definition Could Cost Taxpayers Millions

Let’s talk about the word “adjacent.” It’s simple, right? You’d think so. But in the world of charter authorizing loopholes, definitions get stretched—then warped—until they snap.

Lizzie Bly July 23, 2025 1:25 pm

To the Dehesa School Board Members

East of 52 is publishing this open letter on behalf of parents and community members who feel their voices have gone unheard. This letter represents a collective call for transparency,

Lizzie Bly July 19, 2025 7:44 pm

Community Spotlight

Op Ed

The Sizzle Shack: A New Burger Royalty Emerges in East County

When In-N-Out’s heiress announced she was leaving California, burger lovers wondered who might rise to fill the symbolic void. Enter The Sizzle Shack: a fresh, family-owned burger joint in El

Lizzie Bly July 29, 2025 2:39 pm

Community Spotlight: The Stand Brings Flavor & Fresh Energy to Santee

Santee has a new spot worth checking out—and no, it’s not another chicken chain. It’s The Stand, a fast-casual eatery that’s setting a new bar for casual dining with bold

Lizzie Bly July 14, 2025 2:36 pm

East of 52 Launches: A New Voice for Unfiltered, Local Journalism in East County

In a time when independent journalism is disappearing and local issues are too often overlooked, a new publication is stepping in to fill the

Lizzie Bly June 26, 2025 5:55 pm

Method Musical Chairs: How Dehesa’s Enrollment Shuffle Fueled ADA Funding, Charter Growth, and Audit Flags

Adjacent, Apparently: How Dehesas Definition Could Cost Taxpayers Millions

To the Dehesa School Board Members

The Sizzle Shack: A New Burger Royalty Emerges in East County

Community Spotlight: The Stand Brings Flavor & Fresh Energy to Santee

East of 52 Launches: A New Voice for Unfiltered, Local Journalism in East County

If I Weren’t a Responsible Journalist I Would Name-Drop

What the Law Allows, What the Record Shows, and the Most Honest Answer We Can Give

Setting The Record Straight

Rio Seco: An Expanded Investigation