Local Politics · Calexico, CA
The Calexico City Council will hold a special closed session at 4:30 p.m. and a regular public meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. The agenda includes a proposed ordinance to enforce California Vehicle Code 22526, aiming to prevent intersection blocking on Imperial Avenue, Grant Street, and Cesar Chavez Boulevard. Council members will also review labor negotiations with six municipal bargaining units and discuss ongoing state housing litigation.
Community News · Imperial County
The Imperial Irrigation District (IID) Board of Directors approved $4.3 million in Funding Local Opportunities for Water (FLOW) grants on October 20, 2026. The funding supports 13 infrastructure projects proposed by nine local agencies within IID’s water service area, including six cities and two utility districts. These projects aim to improve potable water distribution, raw water conveyance, storm-water facilities, and recreational resources linked to water management. The grant program, established in early 2026, facilitates partnerships that bring the total local investment to over $13.5 million.
Local Politics · Imperial County
With less than three weeks until Election Day, PACs backed by tech companies, unions, and business groups have spent over $100 million on California legislative races this cycle, eclipsing 2024 totals. Two new tech-backed groups—Grow California (funded by Chris Larsen and Tim Draper) and California Leads (funded by Meta and Google)—have dominated independent spending in competitive districts. In the Latino-majority border district along the California-Mexico line that Republican Jeff Gonzalez flipped in 2024, Imperial councilmember and nurse practitioner Ida Obeso-Martinez is challenging him, with outside groups having spent $2.7 million supporting Gonzalez while the Democratic Party has given her over $1.5 million. The article profiles nine of the most expensive competitive general-election contests statewide, including races in Orange County, coastal Los Angeles, Marin/Sonoma, Riverside County, and the Sacramento area.
Public Safety · El Centro, CA
Two Imperial Valley Catholic radio stations, KCJP 95.7 FM in El Centro and its Brawley translator, went off the air early Sunday morning after a copper theft attempt damaged their transmitter site. El Centro Police responded to the scene at the tower site but have not announced an arrest, though they identified a potential suspect. Station engineers confirmed the main transmitter suffered no permanent damage, but signals will remain dark until electrical service is safely repaired and inspected, with no timeline for restoration established. Listeners can access programming via streaming on the station's website or mobile app while terrestrial broadcasts are down.
Community News · Imperial County
The San Diego Regional Center will hold its first annual resource fair in Imperial County on Wednesday, October 21, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Casa de Mañana Building and surrounding area at the Imperial Fairgrounds. The event connects families of individuals with developmental disabilities—including intellectual disabilities, autism, cerebral palsy, and epilepsy—with health, wellness, and community service providers. Over 1,000 attendees are expected. Assistant Director Joab Gonzalez said the goal is to help families learn about available services they may not otherwise know about.
Community brief · El Centro, CA
A graduation and pinning ceremony was held Sunday, October 18 at the Old Eucalyptus Schoolhouse in El Centro to honor thirteen vocational nursing graduates from Honor Health Sciences' fourth cohort. The one-year program requires no prerequisites for high school graduates and prepares students for the national board exam through five 10-week terms combining classroom learning with clinical rotations. El Centro city councilmember and retired ER…
