Category: San Diego

San Diego police arrested a third suspect in the homicide of a man found buried last year in Balboa Park, the agency said Tuesday In July, police discovered the body of 43-year-old James Garcia in a “shallow makeshift grave” in a canyon area of Balboa Park. Garcia had died from gunshot wounds, according to the county medical examiner. In September, police arrested Jeffrey Jones, 41, identified as the primary suspect, and Brandon Winegarden, 28, on suspicion of being an accessory. As the investigation into the killing continued, police identified Gisela Bowers, a 42-year-old woman, as another suspect. Bowers was arrested Thursday in San Diego. She was booked into jail on suspicion of criminal conspiracy. Police said Bowers had “been in a dating relationship” with the victim and Jones. Garcia’s body was found after police received a report of a body buried in the canyon area adjacent to state Route 163 near Richmond Street, police said. The body “had likely been there for several weeks,” officials said. Police said Jones shot Garcia multiple times near the gravesite and that Winegarden had allegedly assisted in burying the

San Diego Housing Commission Lisa Jones, President and CEO, San Diego Housing Commission SAN DIEGO (CNS) — The Housing Authority of the city of San Diego will Tuesday consider increasing the pay of the San Diego Housing Commission’s president and CEO, even as the agency cut a popular housing voucher program earlier this year. Lisa Jones, the Housing Commission’s head, was appointed president and CEO in late 2023. Tuesday’s meeting would consider increasing her salary by 5% — to $372,500 — plus $5,000 to “right-size the compensation comparable to others in similar positions,” for the period of one year. Additionally, the authority will consider adding a $14,000 performance incentive payment for Jones for her “exemplary service,” according to the SDHA’s Ad Hoc CEO Performance Evaluation Committee. The Housing Commission’s board cited Jones’ work during last year’s January floods and directing negotiations for a new labor agreement as a reason for the proposed bump. A performance review is conducted annually for the position. This move would put Jones’ base salary somewhere between the CEO/Executive Director of the Housing Authority of the City of Inglewood’s $388,923 and

Libby Kamrowski/ KMTV 3 News Now A stray cat pauses to drink from the base of a potted plant on a residential street in Omaha’s Dundee District on Oct. 16, 2022. EL CAJON, Calif. (CNS) — El Cajon-based cat food manufacturer Savage Pet is recalling boxes of raw chicken cat food over concerns they may be contaminated with H5N1, the virus that causes bird flu. According to the company, they were first notified in February of a cat who contracted bird flu and recovered in Colorado after eating Savage Pet food. Testing by Colorado State University using PCR testing found results “non-negative” and were sent to the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa for additional testing. Savage Pet began a market withdrawal on Feb. 17 while awaiting final results for lot number/best by date 11152026. On March 6, the additional testing returned negative. However, on March 13, the company learned of another case in New York, where a kitten that ate food from the same lot number contracted bird flu. While testing in that case is still ongoing, Savage Pet issued a precautionary recall

Copyright 2013 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Escondido Police Department SAN DIEGO (CNS) — Sixteen alleged members of an Escondido-based drug trafficking organization that allegedly dealt fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine and Adderall were arrested Tuesday. The arrests came at the conclusion of a 16-month investigation that led to two indictments charging the defendants with crimes that include drug trafficking, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and conspiracy to commit money laundering offenses. Among those charged are two of the organization’s alleged leaders, Escondido residents Hector Armando Espinoza, 29, and Demetrius Collins, 34. The U.S. Attorney’s Office says Collins agreed to sell an undercover agent thousands of fentanyl pills, as well as methamphetamine, on two separate occasions last year. The agent was told to send money to another co-defendant’s residence in Escondido, then Collins allegedly mailed the drugs to the agent. Espinoza allegedly provided the drugs that were part of those sales, but after discovering a tracking device that law enforcement placed on his vehicle, he allegedly had others conduct drug distribution activities on his behalf. During

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Since Belmont Park first opened to the public in 1925, the historic Mission Beach amusement park and its iconic wooden roller coaster have become synonymous with San Diego’s beach culture. Located at 3000 Mission Blvd., Belmont Park welcomed its first guests on July 4, 1925, under its original name, Mission Beach Amusement Center. New high-speed thrill ride coming soon to Belmont Park Its star attraction? The Giant Dipper Roller Coaster, formerly called the “Earthquake” or sometimes “Mission Beach Roller Coaster.” Aerial view of Belmont Park in 1927, a historic oceanfront amusement park located on Mission Beach. (City of San Diego/Harry (Jimmy) Erickson) Belmont Park history Both the park and coaster were part of a $2.5 million development project led by sugar magnate John D. Spreckels, the real estate developer behind other projects including the Hotel del Coronado, the Spreckels Organ Theatre in Balboa Park and the Lower Otay Dam. His goal for the waterfront amusement park — called the Mission Beach Amusement Center at the time — was to attract people to the Mission Beach area, especially as roller coasters

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel launched airstrikes across the Gaza Strip early Tuesday, killing more than 400 Palestinians, local health officials said, and shattering a ceasefire in place since January with its deadliest bombardment in a 17-month war with Hamas. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the strikes, which killed mostly women and children, after Hamas refused Israeli demands to change the ceasefire agreement. In a statement aired on national television, he said the attack was “only the beginning” and that Israel would press ahead until it achieves all of its war aims — destroying Hamas and freeing all hostages held by the militant group. All further ceasefire negotiations will take place “under fire,” he said. The White House said it had been consulted and voiced support for Israel’s actions. The Israeli military ordered people to evacuate eastern Gaza and head toward the center of the territory, indicating that Israel could soon launch renewed ground operations. The new campaign comes as aid groups warn supplies are running out two weeks after Israel cut off all food, medicine, fuel and other goods to Gaza’s 2

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — San Diego has a record number of designations for schools across the county this year, according to the list of 2025 Purple Star Schools released by the California Department of Education. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond announced last week that 83 schools in California have been designated as Purple Star Schools in 2025, with 41 San Diego County schools receiving the Purple Star designation — the most in one year since the program began in 2021, the San Diego County Office of Education reports. Major campus improvement project completed at Franklin Elementary School The California Purple Star School Designation Program provides transition support for military-connected students and their families by publicly designating schools that meet certain requirements.  The 41 San Diego County schools represent about half of the 83 California schools designated as Purple Star Schools in 2025. San Diego County 2025 Purple Star Schools: Carlsbad High, Carlsbad Unified Carlsbad Seaside Academy, Carlsbad Unified Carlsbad Village Academy, Carlsbad Unified Camarena (Enrique S.) Elementary, Chula Vista Elementary Fahari L. Jeffers Elementary, Chula Vista Elementary Hedenkamp (Anne and William) Elementary

Young Kwak/AP San Diego State head coach Brian Dutcher watches the second half of a second-round college basketball game against Yale in the NCAA Tournament in Spokane, Wash., Sunday, March 24, 2024. SAN DIEGO (CNS) – San Diego State will face North Carolina in a First Four game of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament Tuesday evening in Dayton, Ohio, in a matchup of the two lowest-seeded at-large teams in the 68-team field. The Aztecs (21-9) are the 43rd overall seed in the field of 68, three spots ahead of the Tar Heels (22-13). Both teams are considered 11th seeds in the South Region, with Tuesday’s winner facing sixth-seeded Ole Miss at 1:05 p.m. PDT Friday in a first-round game in Milwaukee. “I’m really proud of our group,” San Diego State coach Brian Dutcher said Sunday after his team reached the tournament for fifth consecutive season. “To make it to the NCAA Tournament again is a tremendous accomplishment, especially due to the fact that we lost 90% of our scoring and minutes from a year ago. “To have this young team come in play with such

Susan Montoya Bryan/AP The Albuquerque Police Department headquarters is seen, Feb. 2, 2024, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. A 13-year-old boy has been charged with murder in an apparently deliberate hit-and-run of a bicyclist that was recorded on video from inside a stolen car, Albuquerque police said. The teenager, who is believed to be the driver, and a 15-year-old have been charged with an open count of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, leaving the scene of an accident involving great bodily harm or death and unlawful possession of a handgun by a person, according to a late Monday police statement. An 11-year-old also was involved but is too young to be charged with murder, police said. Detectives are working with prosecutors and state social workers “to determine what charges he may face and whether he can be held on those charges,” according to the statement. The 13-year-old was expected to be booked into juvenile detention. The statement said detectives were searching for the other boys. RELATED STORY | Video shows teen ‘intentionally’ hit retired police chief on bicycle Scott Dwight Habermehl, 63, was riding to his

A McDonald’s restaurant owned for many years by a local family was destroyed by a fire early Tuesday morning. SPRING VALLEY, Calif. (KGTV) — A fire destroyed a family-owned McDonald’s restaurant in Spring Valley early Tuesday morning, but no injuries were reported. The 2-alarm fire was reported at around 3 a.m. at the restaurant on 8730 Jamacha Boulevard, near Sweetwater Road. Crews arrived as flames shot out from the roof of the eatery and destroyed much of the main dining area. Fire officials said crews noticed strong heat coming from the interior walls, making the firefighting effort a challenge. Crews then used a fire hose raised high above the restaurant to put out most of the fire. After about two hours, crews gained control of the fire and remained at the scene to prevent hot spots from flaring up. The cause of the fire is unknown, but fire officials believe the fire may have started in the restaurant’s basement. Officials said that despite the restaurant being listed as a 24/7 establishment, no one was inside at the time of the fire. The owner of the

By COLLEEN SLEVIN, Associated Press DENVER (AP) — A woman who gained prominence after she took refuge in churches in Colorado to avoid deportation during the first Trump administration has been detained, immigration advocates said Tuesday. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to requests for comment on whether Jeanette Vizguerra had been taken into custody. Vizguerra, a mother of four, was arrested at a Denver-area Target store where she worked while she was on a break on Monday, said Jordan Garcia of the American Friends Service Committee, who has been in contact with Vizguerra’s lawyer and family. Vizguerra has been trying to gain a visa given to crime victims that allows them to remain in the United States since she left sanctuary in churches in 2020, Garcia said. Denver Mayor Michael Johnston blasted the Trump administration for the reported arrest of Vizguerra, an immigration activist herself who has worked as a building cleaner and union organizer. He called on people to demand that ICE release Vizguerra and give her due process rights. “This is not immigration

By MATTHEW PERRONE, AP Health Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Sarepta Therapeutics said Tuesday that a patient died while taking its closely watched gene therapy for muscular dystrophy, sending company shares plummeting in morning trading. Related Articles Health | What to know about the bird flu outbreak in wild birds and what it means for backyard bird feeders Health | More children are getting kidney stones. Experts think it’s their diet. Health | All the News That’s Fit: Pollution and pregnancy hopes, duck drama and blood trivia Health | Extreme ‘clean’ eating can tip healthy eaters into a danger zone Health | Do you need a measles booster? The young man died of acute liver injury, a known side effect, Sarepta said in a statement. But the company said the “severity” of the patient’s case had not previously been seen with the therapy, called Elevidys. It’s the first known patient death with the therapy, which has been used in more than 800 patients, the company said. In 2023, Elevidys received expedited U.S. approval despite concerns from some Food and Drug Administration scientists about its effectiveness in

A two-alarm fire ripped through a McDonald’s restaurant in Spring Valley early Tuesday morning, sending flames through the roof and gutting the fast-food eatery, officials said. The blaze may have started in the basement and smoldered for a while before someone spotted smoke and called it in, said San Miguel Fire-Rescue District Battalion Chief Brian Lieberman. The cause is under investigation, although officials do not consider it suspicious, Lieberman said. A sheriff’s official said someone called 911 to report the fire shortly before 3 a.m. at the business on Jamacha Boulevard near state Route 125. Flames broke through the roof of a McDonald’s restaurant in Spring Valley as firefighters battled the blaze early Tuesday. (ONSCENE.TV) When San Miguel firefighters arrived, crews found light white smoke coming from the restaurant. Inside, they discovered smoke throughout the building, including in the basement. As crews looked for the source of the fire, they found “a lot of heat” in the walls as well as fire in the attic and in “void spaces” near the roof, Lieberman said.   “When we got there, the building was completely charged with

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel launched airstrikes across the Gaza Strip early Tuesday, killing more than 400 Palestinians, local health officials said, and shattering a ceasefire in place since January with its deadliest bombardment in a 17-month war with Hamas. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the strikes, which killed mostly women and children, after Hamas refused Israeli demands to change the ceasefire agreement. Officials said the operation was open-ended and expected to expand. The White House said it had been consulted and voiced support for Israel’s actions. The Israeli military ordered people to evacuate eastern Gaza and head toward the center of the territory, indicating that Israel could soon launch renewed ground operations. The new campaign comes as aid groups warn supplies are running out two weeks after Israel cut off all food, medicine, fuel and other goods to Gaza’s 2 million Palestinians. “Israel will, from now on, act against Hamas with increasing military strength,” Netanyahu’s office said. The attack during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan could signal the full resumption of a war that has already killed tens of thousands of

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — A nearly $1 million project is set to begin at Miramar National Cemetery Wednesday. On Tuesday, the Miramar National Cemetery Support Foundation announced that contractors will break ground inside the cemetery’s Memorial Amphitheater to begin renovating the area. Scripps moves forward with plans for new San Marcos medical campus Construction crews will spend the next three months or so creating 500 seats for guests attending events and funeral services at the cemetery, as well as ADA walkways and new landscaping. The $900,000 project was funded entirely through donations and grants, without the usage of federal funding. The foundation said the intent behind the large-scale project is to maximize the use of the amphitheater and surrounding land. It took six years to get the project up and running from its conception, design and fundraising to getting final approval from the Department of Veterans Affairs, the foundation said. The foundation’s previous projects included the installation of the Veterans Tribute Tower and Carillon, and the Avenue of Flags, which is the only one of its kind across all 155 national cemeteries. The public

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The effort to split La Jolla off from San Diego and make the coastal community its own city has hit a setback. On Friday, the regional entity in charge of municipal boundaries, the Local Agency Formation Commission, sent a letter to the group behind the latest push to realize La Jolla cityhood, informing them their recent petition to get the ball rolling did not collect enough signatures. The group, known as the Association for the City of La Jolla, now has just 15 days collect an additional 1,027 unique signatures of La Jolla residents to meet the commission’s threshold to initiate consideration of their proposal. Should this goal not be met, the so-called “La Jexit” secession efforts could get sent back to square one. San Diego residents protest proposed trash and recycling fees Making the community of La Jolla its own city has been a goal of some residents for decades, but only in the last few years have its proponents gained momentum. The Association for the City of La Jolla said back in December it had submitted more than

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — The parents of a U.S. college student who vanished almost two weeks ago in the resort town of Punta Cana have asked authorities to declare her legally dead. In a letter to Dominican police dated Monday, Subbarayudu and Sreedevi Konanki state that after an extensive search, local authorities believe that Sudiksha, a 20-year-old student at the University of Pittsburgh, drowned. “Initiating this process will allow our family to begin the grieving process and address matters related to her absence,” they wrote. “While no declaration can truly ease our grief, we trust that this step will bring some closure and enable us to honor her memory.” Missing student Sudiksha Konanki (The AWARE Foundation) A police official not authorized to speak about the case confirmed Tuesday that authorities received the letter. Sudiksha Konanki and five female friends had traveled to the Caribbean nation on March 3 for spring break. Police said she disappeared at a beach by her hotel before dawn on March 6. Authorities have interviewed people who were with Konanki before she vanished, including Joshua Riibe, a senior at St. Cloud University

U.S. Customs and Border Protection SAN DIEGO (CNS) – Border Patrol officers intercepted eight different cocaine smuggling attempts at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry this month, preventing more than 240 pounds of the drug from entering the country, the agency announced. The first three seizures occurred March 4 at around 2 p.m., when an empty commercial tractor-trailer driven by a 31-year-old man was referred to secondary inspection, where a K-9 unit alerted officers to a non-factory compartment in the cabin floor, according to the agency. Officers said they discovered and extracted 18 packages of cocaine weighing almost 47 pounds. Then at around 3 p.m., a 39-year-old man driving an empty commercial tractor-trailer applied for entry into the country. Officers referred the driver and tractor-trailer for additional inspection, and a K-9 alert allegedly led to the discovery of a non-factory compartment in the cabin floor, where officers extracted 24 packages of cocaine weighing around 61 pounds, according to Monday’s statement from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Ten minutes later, a 52-year-old man driving a third empty tractor- trailer attempted to cross customs and was directed

Tracy Morgan says food poisoning is to blame for him throwing up on the court during an NBA game. (Scripps News) American actor and comedian Tracy Morgan says he is feeling better after falling ill and vomiting on the court during an NBA game between the New York Knicks and Miami Heat at Madison Square Garden. The former “Saturday Night Live” cast member posted a photo update to social media Tuesday morning, saying he is “doing ok” and that doctors believe he had food poisoning. RELATED STORY | ‘Saturday Night Live’ celebrates 50 years with comedy, music and show’s many, many famous friends “Appreciate my MSG family for taking such good care of me and I need to shout out the crew that had to clean that up,” he said. “Appreciate you!” “More importantly, the Knicks are now 1-0 when I throw up on the court so maybe I’ll have to break it out again in the playoffs,” Morgan joked, adding a sweating smiley face emoji and the hashtag #goknicks. The incident occurred Monday night while Morgan was seated courtside during the Knicks’ 116-95 win

The French bulldog is America’s most popular dog breed for the third year in a row, according to the American Kennel Club. In the number two spot is the labrador retriever followed by the golden retriever, German shepherd, poodle, dachshund, beagle, rottweiler, bulldog and German shorthaired pointer to round out the top 10 breeds for 2024. “The Frenchie has solidified itself as America’s sweetheart, and it’s no surprise why,” said AKC Executive Secretary Gina DiNardo in a statement. “They are fabulous companions for a variety of people.” RELATED STORY | Monty the giant schnauzer wins Westminster dog show But AKC said there’s one breed that has made a significant jump this year: The cane corso. Over the past decade, registrations for the cane corso have increased 414% and it has gone from 47th most popular in 2014 to 14th in 2024. Other breeds that have made noticeable jumps in popularity over the last year include the Staffordshire bull terrier (#72 in 2023 to #63 in 2024), Chinese crested (#79 in 2023 to #68 in 2024), American Staffordshire terrier (#95 in 2023 to #77 in 2024)

By JOSEPH KRAUSS The wave of Israeli strikes that killed hundreds of Palestinians across the Gaza Strip early Tuesday was the culmination of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s efforts to get out of the ceasefire with Hamas that he agreed to in January. Since the start of the war, Netanyahu has faced dueling, possibly incompatible pressures: Families of the hostages want him to cut a deal with Hamas to free them, while his far-right coalition partners want to continue the war with the aim of annihilating Hamas, which has been designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, Canada and the European Union. On Tuesday, he appeared to cast his lot with the latter — and U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration has backed Netanyahu’s decision to unilaterally walk away from the ceasefire it took credit for brokering. Both Israel and the United States blame the renewed hostilities on Hamas’ refusal to release more hostages before negotiations on ending the war proceed — which was not part of the ceasefire agreement. Israel has accused Hamas of preparing for new attacks, without providing evidence. The group has