https://spvlife.com/news.html News for Rancho San Pasqual, the Ranchos at Vistamonte and the San Pasqual Valley (Escondido 92027): curated local stories plus City of Escondido, Escondido Police and CAL FIRE updates. en-us Mon, 19 Oct 2026 22:07:48 -0700 60 https://www.escondido.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?aid=309 https://www.escondido.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?aid=309 Mon, 19 Oct 2026 09:07:51 -0700 Fire On October 19, 2026, at approximately 12:02 a.m., the North Comm Communications Center received a report of a residential structure fire at 129 East 6th Avenue in Escondido. https://www.maxpreps.com/ca/escondido/san-pasqual-golden-eagles/football/schedule/ https://www.maxpreps.com/ca/escondido/san-pasqual-golden-eagles/football/schedule/ Sat, 17 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0700 Sports San Pasqual High beat Valley Center 32–18 at home on Friday, October 16, 2026, pulling away after a 12–12 halftime tie, according to MaxPreps. The Golden Eagles are 5–3 overall and 1–1 in the Palomar League, third behind Ramona (2–0) and Valley Center (2–1). They host Mt. Carmel (2–7, 1–2) at 7pm Friday, October 23, 2026, then close the regular season at Escondido High at 7:15pm Friday, October 30, 2026. https://www.maxpreps.com/ca/escondido/san-pasqual-golden-eagles/flag-football/girls/fall/schedule/ https://www.maxpreps.com/ca/escondido/san-pasqual-golden-eagles/flag-football/girls/fall/schedule/ Wed, 14 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0700 Sports San Pasqual High's varsity girls flag football team is 13–6 overall and 3–2 in the Palomar League after a 40–0 win at Sage Creek on Monday, October 12, 2026, according to MaxPreps. A Times-Advocate roundup published Wednesday, October 14, 2026 reported that a senior has rushed for 2,023 yards and 19 touchdowns and a sophomore quarterback has thrown for 1,816 yards and 24 touchdowns. Also on Monday, October 12, 2026, field hockey beat Vista 6–0 at home, and girls volleyball lost 3–0 to Poway at home on Tuesday, October 13, 2026. Coming up at San Pasqual High: volleyball hosts Fallbrook at 6pm and flag football hosts Escondido Charter at 7pm on Thursday, October 15, 2026, and football hosts Valley Center at 7pm Friday, October 16, 2026. https://engage.sandiegocounty.gov/san-pasqual-academy https://engage.sandiegocounty.gov/san-pasqual-academy Tue, 13 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0700 Schools The county's Request for Information on the future of the 238-acre foster-youth campus (RFI 13371, "Reimagining San Pasqual Academy") closed at 5pm Tuesday, October 13, 2026. The county's BuyNet procurement portal lists it as closed, with the end date unchanged. The request followed community input that showed strong interest in keeping the Academy open with an expanded model. The county says it will present the results to the Board of Supervisors by the end of the year; staff's August 18, 2026 memo to the Board said they would return in December 2026 with the results and possible options. As of Wednesday, October 14, 2026, the county had not publicly said how many responses it received, and the agenda for the Board's next meeting, Tuesday, October 27, 2026, had not been posted. https://www.escondido.gov/m/newsflash/Home/Detail/304 https://www.escondido.gov/m/newsflash/Home/Detail/304 Wed, 07 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0700 City hall City Manager Sean McGlynn announced that Deputy Fire Chief Tyler Batson, interim chief for nearly a year, has been named Escondido’s fire chief after a nationwide search. Batson said the department is positioned to build resilience to regional threats such as wildfire. No start date was given. https://thecoastnews.com/escondido-extends-data-center-moratorium/ https://thecoastnews.com/escondido-extends-data-center-moratorium/ Wed, 07 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0700 City hall The Escondido City Council unanimously approved a 10-month, 15-day extension of the city’s temporary moratorium on new, expanded or intensified data centers and similar high-intensity computing uses at its Wednesday, October 7, 2026 meeting, The Coast News reported on Tuesday, October 13, 2026. The extension, listed in the meeting’s agenda packet as Ordinance No. 2026-19, required at least four of the five council votes and runs until the close of business on Sunday, August 22, 2027. The original 45-day ordinance, adopted 5-0 on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, had been set to expire Saturday, October 10, 2026. The city has not received any data center applications and has no pending projects, according to the report. Under state law, the council could extend the moratorium once more, for 12 months, after notice, another public hearing and another four-fifths vote. As of Wednesday, October 14, 2026, the city had not yet posted minutes for the meeting. https://www.times-advocate.com/articles/clean-sweep-for-san-pasqual-at-valley-league-cluster-1/ https://www.times-advocate.com/articles/clean-sweep-for-san-pasqual-at-valley-league-cluster-1/ Wed, 30 Sep 2026 12:00:00 -0700 Sports Both San Pasqual High varsity teams won the six-team Valley League Cluster 1 meet, held the previous Friday on the three-mile course at Kit Carson Park: the girls with 49 points ahead of Fallbrook (58), and the boys with 57 ahead of Ramona (67). https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/VETO-msg-AB-2770.pdf https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/VETO-msg-AB-2770.pdf Sun, 27 Sep 2026 12:00:00 -0700 Land use Gov. Newsom vetoed AB 2770 on September 27. The bill, by Assemblymember David Alvarez, would have required the state to hand three parcels — about 3.68 acres of San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park — to the San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians at no cost. It had passed the Senate 40–0 and the Assembly 78–0. In his veto message the governor said he shares the goal of returning ancestral land but wants it done through systematic processes that are transparent and fair to all parties. The bill is separate from Oswit Land Trust's effort to buy the Harvest Hills site for the Band. https://thecoastnews.com/former-escondido-housing-site-could-become-san-pasqual-tribal-land/ https://thecoastnews.com/former-escondido-housing-site-could-become-san-pasqual-tribal-land/ Fri, 11 Sep 2026 12:00:00 -0700 Land use Oswit Land Trust told The Coast News it signed an agreement in February 2024 to buy the 1,100-acre former Safari Highlands Ranch property — county land just north of the Safari Park, east of Rancho San Pasqual and northeast of the Vistamonte enclave — from Concordia Homes, then transfer it to the San Pasqual Band while keeping a conservation easement against development. The deal hinges on state grants the nonprofit is seeking. The city told the paper Concordia's housing application is considered inactive. It's a separate effort from AB 2770, the bill that would have returned about 3.68 acres of San Pasqual Battlefield State Park to the Band; the governor vetoed it September 27. https://mccmeetings.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/escondidca-pubu/MEET-Minutes-ba5732c880744d268e76327817422b39.pdf https://mccmeetings.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/escondidca-pubu/MEET-Minutes-ba5732c880744d268e76327817422b39.pdf Land use On Wednesday, June 24, 2026, the city council voted 5-0 (Resolution 2026-111) to let staff accept and process a proposed amendment to the Rancho San Pasqual Specific Plan for a 'Dos Osos RV Resort and Golf Club' at 2492 Old Ranch Rd: 82 RV spaces and 42 park-model cottages (city case PL26-0121). The vote didn't approve the resort; environmental review and Planning Commission and City Council hearings come first. As of Wednesday, October 14, 2026, no hearing had been announced: the project isn't on the Planning Commission's tentative future-agenda list dated Friday, October 9, 2026, the city hadn't yet posted an agenda for the commission's Tuesday, October 27, 2026 meeting, and the city's City Council public hearing notices page listed no notice for it. The City Council's next listed meeting is Wednesday, November 4, 2026. https://www.times-advocate.com/articles/alleged-check-alteration-fraud-at-orange-glen-post-office/ https://www.times-advocate.com/articles/alleged-check-alteration-fraud-at-orange-glen-post-office/ Wed, 09 Sep 2026 12:00:00 -0700 Safety A postal employee was arrested for allegedly stealing mail and 'acid-washing' checks to change the payee — it surfaced when a customer's birthday cards never arrived. If your mailed checks went missing, report it: uspsoig.gov/hotline or 1-888-USPS-OIG. https://www.times-advocate.com/articles/12-dogs-receiving-emergency-care-after-escondido-apartment-fire/ https://www.times-advocate.com/articles/12-dogs-receiving-emergency-care-after-escondido-apartment-fire/ Wed, 09 Sep 2026 12:00:00 -0700 Safety A fire in a three-story senior living complex at 1225 E. Grand Ave. sent five residents to the hospital; about a dozen dogs and an unknown number of cats were rescued. The cause is under investigation. https://www.times-advocate.com/articles/new-owners-of-empty-maple-plaza-storefronts-have-big-plans/ https://www.times-advocate.com/articles/new-owners-of-empty-maple-plaza-storefronts-have-big-plans/ Wed, 09 Sep 2026 12:00:00 -0700 Around Town Three vacant storefronts at Grand Ave and Maple St sold to new owners who plan four retail sites, including two restaurants, plus a fountain on part of the adjacent lot and a possible promenade-style building facing Maple Street Plaza, with completion expected in 12–18 months. https://www.countynewscenter.com/national-increase-in-reported-human-rabies-exposures/ https://www.countynewscenter.com/national-increase-in-reported-human-rabies-exposures/ Sun, 06 Sep 2026 12:00:00 -0700 Safety Found near the Mombasa Restaurant; no human contact reported. Rabies risk requires direct contact — never touch a bat, and call County Epidemiology (619-692-8499) if you did. 43 rabid bats county-wide already doubles last year's record. https://www.times-advocate.com/articles/epd-seeks-information-on-hit-run-driver/ https://www.times-advocate.com/articles/epd-seeks-information-on-hit-run-driver/ Sat, 05 Sep 2026 12:00:00 -0700 Safety A 27-year-old cyclist was struck at Washington & Ash by a light-colored SUV — possibly a Ford Expedition or Explorer, likely with front-end damage — that fled north. Tips: EPD Traffic Investigator 760-839-4904. https://hoodline.com/2026/09/gray-suv-flees-after-killing-pedestrian-on-escondido-s-el-norte-parkway/ https://hoodline.com/2026/09/gray-suv-flees-after-killing-pedestrian-on-escondido-s-el-norte-parkway/ Safety A 65-year-old man died after being struck by a gray SUV that fled westbound near Centre City Pkwy; the driver remains unidentified. Tips: EPD Traffic Division 760-839-4714. https://www.times-advocate.com/articles/petition-filed-to-undo-board-appointment/ https://www.times-advocate.com/articles/petition-filed-to-undo-board-appointment/ Thu, 03 Sep 2026 12:00:00 -0700 Schools The Escondido Union School District board voted 3-1 on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, to provisionally appoint political consultant Ryan Gardiner to the vacant Area 3 seat. In mid-September, a representative of the district’s teachers union, the Escondido Elementary Educators Association, which supports a petition for a special election, was quoted in the Times-Advocate saying “the approved petition has been filed” and that people were out gathering signatures; the paper put the number needed at about 300. Signed petitions were due to the San Diego County Superintendent of Schools by Friday, October 2, 2026. As of October 8, 2026, the district, the San Diego County Office of Education and local news outlets have not reported whether signatures were turned in. If they were, the county superintendent has 30 days to verify them; a sufficient petition ends the appointment and leads to a special election. Gardiner is still listed on the district website as the board member for Region 3, and the board’s next regular meeting is Thursday, October 22, 2026. (EUSD is the city’s elementary district; the San Pasqual Valley’s TK-8 district is San Pasqual Union.) https://patch.com/california/san-diego/rescued-california-condor-chick-gets-s-pecialized-care-san-diego-zoo-safari https://patch.com/california/san-diego/rescued-california-condor-chick-gets-s-pecialized-care-san-diego-zoo-safari Tue, 01 Sep 2026 12:00:00 -0700 Safari Park Cayic ('strong' in the Mutsun language) was brought from Pinnacles National Park at about a month old after his father died of suspected lead poisoning. Keepers raise him with condor puppets so he stays wild; release is planned for fall 2027. https://timesofsandiego.com/business/2026/09/15/stone-brewing-layoffs-new-owners-30th-anniversary/ https://timesofsandiego.com/business/2026/09/15/stone-brewing-layoffs-new-owners-30th-anniversary/ Wed, 26 Aug 2026 12:00:00 -0700 Around Town Sapporo, which kept the Escondido brewery and the World Bistro & Gardens after selling the Stone brand, plans to close both by year-end. The first 58 layoffs come in October and the rest (about 220 in all) by January, per a September 15 Times of San Diego report. The bistro is open for now. https://www.times-advocate.com/articles/landmark-sign-installed-on-hwy-78/ https://www.times-advocate.com/articles/landmark-sign-installed-on-hwy-78/ Wed, 19 Aug 2026 12:00:00 -0700 Around Town The city installed the gateway sign on August 19 on Highway 78 just west of Broadway, built in the Caltrans right-of-way with $2.1M in Caltrans Clean California funding. https://thecoastnews.com/escondido-approves-costco-ground-lease-at-north-county-mall/ https://thecoastnews.com/escondido-approves-costco-ground-lease-at-north-county-mall/ Wed, 12 Aug 2026 12:00:00 -0700 Around Town On August 12 the council unanimously approved a 20-year ground lease with Costco for the city-owned former Sears site at North County Mall, with seven five-year options. The city projects $2M+ a year in sales tax. The lease doesn’t approve the store itself; a land-use review comes next. https://www.times-advocate.com/articles/euhsd-to-provide-free-meals-for-all-students-in-2026-2027/ https://www.times-advocate.com/articles/euhsd-to-provide-free-meals-for-all-students-in-2026-2027/ Tue, 04 Aug 2026 12:00:00 -0700 Schools The high school district is offering no-cost breakfast and lunch to every student this school year, San Pasqual High included — no application needed. https://www.euhsd.org/apps/news/article/2216105 https://www.euhsd.org/apps/news/article/2216105 Sat, 01 Aug 2026 12:00:00 -0700 Schools San Pasqual High took Gold for Best High School in The Coast News Group's 2026 Best of North County awards; Escondido High earned Bronze. https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-11/current-projects/sr78-projects/sr78-assetmanagement https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-11/current-projects/sr78-projects/sr78-assetmanagement Roads Caltrans' ~$126M SR-78 project covers the freeway from I-5 in Oceanside to Broadway in Escondido through 2027, with overnight ramp and lane closures (9pm–5am). The valley stretch of SR-78 isn't part of it — check closures before heading toward the coast. https://health.ucsd.edu/news/press-releases/2026-07-02-palomar-health-and-uc-san-diego-health-form-joint-powers-authority/ https://health.ucsd.edu/news/press-releases/2026-07-02-palomar-health-and-uc-san-diego-health-form-joint-powers-authority/ Wed, 01 Jul 2026 12:00:00 -0700 Health Since July 1, the Escondido hospital and Palomar's clinics operate as Palomar UC San Diego Health under a new joint powers authority; early priorities include building out two shelled floors at the Escondido hospital.