Category: San Diego

It was hard to top Thursday at Comic-Con, with its Marvel-themed drone show over Petco Park, and its surprise appearances by the likes of Jennifer Garner and Wesley Snipes, but Friday saw its own wave of pop culture pomp. Costume-clad fans known as cosplayers could be seen strolling through the Gaslamp Quarter and around the San Diego Convention Center, while inside the convention, a panel featuring franchise co-creator Kevin Eastman celebrated 40 years of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The casts of “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” and “Doctor Who” could be found Friday in Comic-Con’s biggest room, Hall H. Related Articles News | Photos: Comic-Con 2024 Day 2 News | Comic-Con 2024: Free activations take over downtown San Diego. Here are 7 you can’t miss News | Burnt food in employee area causes emergency announcement at Comic-Con News | Photos: The 10th annual Her Universe Fashion Show News | Photos: Comic-Con 2024 Opening Day Amid all the tens of thousands of people downtown were Union-Tribune reporters, looking for highlights. Here’s what they saw on Friday. Opening ceremony shown for Comic-Con

For the second time in recent weeks, San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl cited an emergency exception to fast-track the installation of surveillance cameras, this time around downtown for Comic-Con. The chief first used the legal provision earlier this month to get up streetlight cameras in Hillcrest ahead of the Pride Parade, citing an increase in hate crimes against the LGBTQ+ community. This week, Wahl said in a memo that he again needed to circumvent the city’s usual approval process because San Diego Comic-Con International, an annual convention that attracts tens of thousands of people, “may serve as a potential target of opportunity for individuals or groups interested in committing violent or criminal acts.” He added in a statement that he would not “allow public safety to be compromised on my watch without knowing I’ve taken the necessary steps to protect the thousands of residents and visitors attending this event.” Wahl also said that while the department doesn’t have knowledge of any credible threats, “that can change at any moment.” According to the memo, nine cameras were installed on eight downtown thoroughfares: West Broadway Street

Nearly 30 years after it last flew out of McClellan-Palomar Airport, American Airlines will be returning next year with twice daily flights between Carlsbad and Phoenix. The new nonstop, which will be flown under the American Eagle brand, will be operated by American Airlines subsidiary Envoy Air using the 76-seat Embraer E175 aircraft. Outbound flights to Phoenix, which will start Feb. 13, will depart at 6:15 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. “We think it’s going to provide one-stop connections to other in the U.S. and Mexico, and all from Carlsbad,” said Jamie Abbott, director of airports for the county’s eight-airport system. “One of American’s goals is get folks to one of their hubs, and from there people can go from anywhere they service.” He said that he expects the new route will allow travelers living in North County to no longer have to travel south to San Diego International Airport or north to John Wayne Airport in Orange County. American Airlines echoed what Abbott said about the added convenience for North County residents planning to travel beyond Phoenix. “American looks forward to connecting Carlsbad to our

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Just a day after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order urging cities to remove homeless encampments, he is now facing backlash. Critics are calling the order “weak and disappointing.” El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells criticized the governor’s approach, saying that if you visit any park in his city, you won’t see any tents because they are removed immediately. He believes the governor needs to adopt a tougher stance. On Thursday, Newsom announced his executive order, encouraging local governments to remove homeless encampments across California. This move follows a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that allows cities to enforce bans on sleeping outside in public places, including sidewalks. “The executive order sounds like a good idea on the surface, but frankly, I think it’s a lot of smoke and mirrors,” Wells said. “I think it’s a PR stunt to help the governor get on the ticket to be vice president.” Wells argued that the executive order doesn’t do enough to address the ongoing homeless crisis many cities face. He emphasized the need for stricter laws against crimes such as retail

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Actors and performers in the union SAG-AFTRA are on strike against video game companies. The use of AI in video game development is a central issue in negotiations. The strike come after nearly two years of contract talks. As of Friday at 12:01 a.m., members of the union stopped any voice acting, and anything else that appear in video games. “All performers who work under our agreement are delivering performances that deserve to be protected, their likeness deserves to be protected, their voice deserves to be protected, their movements deserve to be protected,” said Ray Rodriguez, SAG-AFTRA Chief Contracts Officer. He says without protection game companies could train A.I to replicate an actor’s voice or create a digital replica of their likeness without consent or fair compensation. MORE: San Diego Comic-Con The decision to go on strike on comes after 18 months of negotiations with gaming giants. “We need our contract to protect all performers and until we have that, until we can look at our performers and say all of you who’s work is covered by this contract, who

WASHINGTON (AP) — Nearly two weeks after Donald Trump’s near assassination, the FBI confirmed Friday that it was indeed a bullet that struck the former president’s ear, moving to clear up conflicting accounts about what caused the former president’s injuries after a gunman opened fire at a Pennsylvania rally. “What struck former President Trump in the ear was a bullet, whether whole or fragmented into smaller pieces, fired from the deceased subject’s rifle,” the agency said in a statement. The statement from the FBI marked the most definitive law enforcement account of Trump’s injuries and followed ambiguous comments earlier in the week from Director Christopher Wray that appeared to cast doubt on whether Trump had actually been hit by a bullet. The comment drew fury from Trump and his allies and further stoked conspiracy theories that have flourished on both sides of the political aisle amid a dearth of information following the July 13 attack. Up until now, federal law enforcement agents involved in the investigation, including the FBI and Secret Service, had repeatedly refused to provide information about what caused Trump’s injuries. Trump’s campaign

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Nearly the entire first half of July was plagued by heat, but the final days of this prolonged heat wave is coming to an end this weekend. A weather disturbance over Northern California will bring an end to our heat this weekend, replacing hot, humid conditions with cooler, breezier and drier conditions. The troughing pattern squeezes out our monsoonal moisture, so the threat of thunderstorms isn’t apparent this weekend and it won’t feel so muggy out. Gusty westerly winds will also come into play for Saturday and Sunday afternoon, especially in mountains and deserts where gusts of up to 45 MPH are expected.  Temperature-wise, we cool back down to seasonal normals the next few days with mid 70s for the coast, mid-80s for inland valleys and mountains and near 107 degrees for the deserts. The marine layer rebuilds a bit for evening and morning hours across the coastline, with spottier coverage middle of next week. Everything is extremely dry when it comes to vegetation and landscape, so elevated fire danger persists into the last week of the month and beyond. 

If you want one more way to prove you’re the biggest die-hard fan of “The Bear” or a longtime devotee of “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” San Diego Comic-Con International has the perfect unofficial test for patience and grit. Hollywood studios have once again gone all out with free activations outside Comic-Con this year with intricate sets and interactive experiences that place fans in the center of their favorite movies and TV shows. Fans who are willing to wait hours in lines for unique immersive experiences, photo opportunities and freebies won’t be disappointed with what awaits them outside of the hubbub of the convention floor. The activations are spread far across downtown, throughout the Gaslamp Quarter, East Village and the waterfront. They are meant to promote upcoming TV shows, movies and video games. While the events are free and don’t require a badge, many have lines that last from six to eight hours. In many cases, the lines are not in the shade. The most sought-after installation is likely for FX near the waterfront, which packs in multiple immersive experiences from fan-favorite shows. It features a model

The San Diego City Council unanimously approved the city’s first-ever child and youth plan this week to create a raft of new programs and services advancing young people’s wellness. “Every child in San Diego deserves to grow up with an opportunity to be happy, healthy, and prepared to reach their potential,” said Council President Sean Elo-Rivera. “This strategic plan, developed in partnership with the community, provides a framework to better support the holistic development of our young residents.” Just over a year ago, the Office of Child and Youth Success and the nonprofit Social Advocates for Youth had begun carving out the two-year framework. The final plan is the result of youth input gathered through a series of focus groups and steering committee meetings to ensure young voices were heard. In March, San Diegans even had the opportunity to glimpse and help refine the draft. “Our office is grounded in youth voices, and I feel like this plan truly encompasses that,” said Andrea O’Hara, the office’s executive director. The decision builds on previous efforts to prioritize youth engagement, including with the city’s 2022 creation of

South Korean authorities are reportedly investigating three Chinese students they say used a drone in late June to take images of the San Diego-based aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt while it was anchored in Busan harbor. The alleged filming occurred June 23 and June 25 in an area where the students also had a view of South Korea’s Naval Operations Command, according to the South China Morning Post. It is unlawful to take photographs and video in and around military bases in South Korea, which has been a U.S. ally for 71 years. The 1,092-foot Theodore Roosevelt stopped by Busan shortly before leaving on joint exercises with South Korean and Japanese warships. In recent days, the “TR,” as it’s widely known, has been operating in the Gulf of Aden, not far from the Rea Sea, according to the U.S. Naval Institute fleet tracker.

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — From basketball and archery to skateboarding and surfing, several San Diego-area athletes will be competing for gold at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. With the assistance of FOX 5/KUSI’s reporting partners at The San Diego Union-Tribune, here’s a breakdown of who to be on the lookout for during this year’s Olympics Games when rooting for Team USA or other countries linked to hometown competitors: Archery Catalina Gnoriega and Jennifer Mucino-Fernandez, both 21 years old, will be aiming their bows and arrows in hopes of coming out on top in the archery competition for Team USA. Both archers train at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center in the South Bay. PHOTOS: What did the Olympics look like 100 years ago? Gnoriega is originally from Mexicali, Mexico, while Mucino-Fernandez was born in Massachusetts but raised in Mexico City. Mucino-Fernandez competed at the Olympic level prior to this year, while Gnoriega previously competed at the youth Olympic level. Archers Jennifer Mucino, Casey Kaufhold and Catalina Gnoriega, of the United States, compete against Cuba in a the women’s team archery match at

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — San Diego Comic-Con 2024 is underway with thousands flocking to America’s Finest City to get in on all the fun. From those in costume to others wearing T-shirts with their favorite characters, the crowd could be seen gradually growing Friday, with even more attendees expected over the weekend. Photos: Comic-Con cosplayers channel their favorite characters FOX 5/KUSI photographer Aaron Eudaley launched his drone above the area to capture the bustling environment, as seen in the video below: Headed to San Diego Comic-Con? Here’s everything to know before you go The Comic-Con schedule is jampacked with a variety of panels and interactive exhibits for this year’s event. Even those without a badge can find plenty of things to do outside of the San Diego Convention Center. San Diego Comic-Con will continue daily until Sunday, July 28.

A motorcycle passenger sustained life-threatening injuries when she was thrown from the bike while the driver was doing wheelies in a Mission Beach parking lot late Thursday, San Diego police said Shortly after 11 p.m., a 21-year-old man had been riding his Suzuki in a parking lot on the northside of Belmont Park, accelerating and doing wheelies, Officer Jose Perales said in a news release. As the driver left the parking lot, the front wheel came down and he lost control of the motorcycle, Perales said. His 20-year-old passenger was thrown. The woman, who was not wearing a helmet, suffered a skull fracture and other injuries. She was taken to a hospital. Traffic officers are investigating the crash.

With immigration policies at the forefront of the presidential election season, House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana joined fellow Republican Rep. Darrell Issa of Bonsall on a tour of the U.S.-Mexico border in San Diego on Thursday, pressing for stronger tools to deter illegal crossings and noncitizen voting. Their visit comes as migrant encounters along the southern border continue to plummet. Over the past several weeks under President Joe Biden’s executive order restricting access to asylum, apprehensions by Border Patrol have decreased by 55 percent along the southern border, according to data from the Department of Homeland Security. The San Diego sector, the busiest along the border last month, averaged 460 encounters per day last week, down 62 percent from the beginning of June, just before the new restrictions took place, the agency said Thursday. Johnson was critical of the current administration’s border policies, calling Biden’s executive order “a little too late” and “not solving the problem.” Under the executive action, arriving undocumented immigrants are screened by an asylum officer only if they specifically state, without being prompted, that they fear being returned to their

(KTXL) – A man accused of starting the Park Fire in California — which had grown to over 164,000 acres as of Friday — was arrested Thursday morning at his home, according to the Butte County District Attorney’s Office. Ronnie Stout, 42, of Chico, California, was arrested on one count of arson, though enhancements (i.e., additional allegations that could lead to a more severe sentence) have yet to be determined, District Attorney Mike Ramsay said at a news conference Thursday afternoon. “We hope it will not be an enhancement of great bodily injury or death, but it is still early in this fire to make that determination,” Ramsay said. What are ‘zombie’ fires, and why are they becoming more common? The suspect is accused of starting the blaze on Wednesday after pushing a burning car into a gully at Bidwell Park in Northern California’s Butte County just before 3 p.m. on Wednesday, officials said. The vehicle went down an embankment about 60 feet and burned completely, with the flames spreading to the surrounding vegetation. The suspect then calmly left the area, in one of the

(NEXSTAR) – The River Seine has become the center of the sports world this Friday as an estimated 6,800 athletes board 90 boats in a Parade of Nations to kick off the 2024 Olympic games. These games signal the return of crowds following two COVID-dampened Olympics. About 220,000 invited and security-screened spectators are expected to fill the upper tiers of the Seine’s banks, and an additional 104,000 paying spectators will watch from the lower riverside and around the Trocadéro plaza. In the video player above, live images show the skyline above the City of Light as 206 delegations from across the world join in what is expected to be the largest opening extravaganza in Olympic history. The live camera showing the Eiffel Tower and other landmarks is provided by a partnership between the American University of Paris and Nexstar Media. This live view will be available throughout the 16 days of competition. In addition to the athletes who will participate in the parade, 3,000 dancers, artists and other athletes will be featured in the opening and closing ceremonies. Those in Paris who could not get tickets will be able

A 31-year-old man suspected of stabbing a 43-year-old man in San Diego’s Grantville neighborhood Thursday evening was arrested. Officers were called to Waring Road, just off Interstate 8 near an office complex and tennis club, around 5:40 p.m. and learned the suspect approached victim, claiming he was being followed, according to Officer Jose Perales. The suspect then drew a knife and stabbed the victim once in the chest and fled, Perales said. The suspect was taken into custody shortly after, and a knife was recovered. The victim was taken to a hospital and was stable, Perales said.

A heated confrontation between a homeowner and a family of beachgoers in Laguna Beach, California, is going viral on social media. A video shared last week on TikTok by Rosie Garcia (@rosiecheeks_irl) shows an angry woman berating Garcia and her children, whom she accused of crossing onto her property at Victoria Beach in the upscale SoCal community. “Get f***ing moving. I’m not joking around!” the woman shouts while attempting to rope off a section of sand in front of an existing rope barrier. “It’s not harassment on the beach. It’s harassment in my home property … Get moving now!” The video, titled “Karen on Laguna Beach,” had more than 860,000 views as of Thursday afternoon. It does not show what preceded the woman’s tirade. However, Garcia claims they were never on her property. Garcia said she and her family were packing up their belongings when the woman first confronted them and told them they weren’t allowed to have a tent on the beach. “Ma’am, we’re f***ing walking,” Garcia replied as she and the children walked toward the stairs to leave the beach, the video shows.

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — A motorcyclist and his passenger were both injured in Mission Beach Thursday after the rider lost control while popping a wheelie, authorities said. The incident occurred around 11:08 p.m. when a 21-year-old man was riding his Suzuki GSX-R600 motorcycle with a 20-year-old woman in a parking lot at 700 Ventura Place, explained the San Diego Police Department. The man was reportedly accelerating rapidly while doing a wheelie when he maneuvered to exit the parking lot, police said. At that time, his front wheel came down and he lost control of the motorcycle. The man sustained an abrasion to his leg and the woman, who was not wearing a helmet, was thrown from the motorcycle. Police said she sustained a skull fracture, a fracture to her elbow and avulsions to her forehead. Her injuries are considered to be life-threatening. The Traffic Division responded to the scene and will be handling the investigation. Anyone with information related to the inciden is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.

(NEXSTAR) – After years of anticipation, and a pair of COVID-dampened games, Paris fully welcomes the world Friday, kicking off 16 days of competition that promise to be ground-breaking, with nearly every corner of the city hosting some aspect of competition. Perhaps the most anticipated moments of the entire games come at the start on Friday, as organizers shatter tradition to highlight the iconic scenery of Paris. Here’s a look at some of the key themes expected from the Olympic opening ceremonies. An Uprescedented Spectacle Using the River Seine as a backdrop, the opening ceremonies have been billed as the most sprawling and elaborate Olympic party ever. Instead of a traditional march into a stadium, about 6,800 athletes will parade on more than 90 boats nearly 4 miles down the Seine River. “An opening ceremony has never been held outside of a stadium. There is no model; it’s absolute creation,” Thomas Jolly, artistic director of the opening events recently told The Associated Press. The French have spent close to a decade working to clean the river in preparation for these games. Even French President Emmanuel

The “Looking Glass” ponders economic and real estate trends through two distinct lenses: the optimist’s “glass half-full” and the pessimist’s “glass half-empty.” Buzz: California easily remains the nation’s largest economy – but can it stay as the world’s fifth-biggest? Source: My trusty spreadsheet compared new stats from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis and the International Monetary Fund on gross domestic product, a broad measure of business output used to compare the size of economies. Debate: Will India surpass California on the theoretical GDP scorecard, looking at the state as an international economic force? Glass half-full California’s GDP grew at a 1.2% annual rate in 2024’s first quarter. That pushed the value of the state’s business output at $3.99 trillion a year. So, just how big is that? It’s 50% larger than Texas and its $2.66 trillion in GDP. Only three other states are in the trillion-dollar club: New York at $2.23 trillion, Florida at $1.65 trillion, and Illinois at $1.11 trillion. Pennsylvania should join soon, as it’s only $1.6 billion short! Or consider this: California’s output is larger than the nation’s 25 smallest state