San Diego County Deserts are Turning Colorful

Supervisor Jim Desmond outlines County preparations and steps residents can take now.

Here's how the community is getting by amid the heat wave.

Simple steps to prepare for an emergency.

Wednesday, September 16

Borrego Springs highlighted as a retirement destination.

A new BenefitsCal feature called Truv now helps CalFresh, CalWORKs, Medi-Cal and County General Relief applicants save time, reduce paperwork and avoid mailing costs. The tool launched July 20, 2026, and verifies income and employment electronically during the e-application process. How Truv Works When applying through BenefitsCal, customers can securely sign in to their employer, payroll provider or financial institution. Truv uses secure, encrypted channels, and no information is shared outside the County of San Diego. If the employer participates in Truv, the system automatically pulls available income and employment information. Applicants can then review and confirm the information before submitting their application. “With Truv, it is easy for customers to opt in while applying through the online application tool BenefitsCal app,” said Alberto Banuelos, Interim Director of County Self Sufficiency Services. “It is a win-win, helping our customers save time and money and staff manage higher workloads.” Why It Matters Using Truv means customers don’t need to search for documents, manually enter income details or pay postage to mail paperwork. It also reduces the chance of manually entered errors. Application processing timelines vary: CalFresh reviews can take up to 30 days. Medi-Cal reviews can take up to 45 days. When income information is verified upfront, processing time can be shortened, helping eligible households get connected to critical resources faster. Self-Sufficiency Services supports more than 1.2 million San Diego County residents by providing access to essential public safety net programs. With customer-focused tools, multilingual help and community partnerships, Self‑Sufficiency Services works to make applying for benefits easier, faster and more accessible. Our mission is simple: to help people stay healthy, safe and on a path toward long‑term self‑sufficiency. Cassie N. Saunders is a communications specialist with the County of San Diego Communications Office. Contact

Saturday, November 7

Borrego Springs-made short film screens Oct. 11 St. Barnabas Episcopal Church will present the award-winning short film George & Rosa on Sunday, Oct. 11, from 1–2 p.m. as part of its “Who Is My Neighbor?” film and discussion series. Written, produced and directed by Borrego Springs resident Matt Bosson, the 24-minute drama follows George and Rosa, two people living on the margins who form an unexpected bond despite speaking different languages. The story explores loneliness, companionship and human dignity. George & Rosa was produced entirely in Borrego Springs, with local talent involved in the production and the Anza-Borrego desert serving as its backdrop. The film won Best Medium Short in the Reale Film Festival’s June 2026 Monthly Awards. Bosson worked for many years in television video playback on productions including 24, House MD and Grey’s Anatomy before relocating to Borrego Springs, where he teaches English and continues his filmmaking and music work. His previous short BAD was also filmed and premiered in Borrego Springs. The screening will be held at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, 2680 Country Club Road, followed by a community discussion as part of the ongoing “Who Is My Neighbor?” series.