Category: San Diego

It was a rainy afternoon in Ramona. But that didn’t stop the dozens lining the sidewalks on Main Street to remember the late fire captain, Rebecca Marodi. It was a rainy afternoon in Ramona. But that didn’t stop the dozens lining the sidewalks on Main Street to remember the late fire captain, Rebecca Marodi. Or, as they knew her, Becky. “She was the Princess Diana of our neighborhood and of San Diego. She would give her heart to anybody at any time, help any stray animal, no questions asked,” said Amber Webster, Marodi’s next-door neighbor. Webster said she heard the emotional moments after Marodi’s body was found. “That needs to be brought to justice,” said Webster. Rebecca Marodi was found stabbed in her home on February 17. The suspect, her wife Yolanda, still on the run. Authorities believe she fled to Mexico. Yolanda was sentenced to 13 years in prison back in 2004 for killing her then-husband, James Olejniczak Jr. Those attending the procession told ABC 10News that it’s been almost a month since Rebecca Marodi’s death- and they want something done. “They need to

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Even with heavy rain coming down this week, San Diego County remains in a drought, highlighting how much more is needed to replenish the region’s water resources. In the past two days alone “we saw really anywhere from one to three inches of rainfall in the valleys, coastal areas, the hills outside of the mountains and then up in the mountains we saw a significant amount of snowfall,” according to Samantha Zuber, meteorologist with the National Weather Service San Diego. Zuber is keeping tabs on rainfall totals, but this latest storm doesn’t mean we’re out of the woods.  “We are in what’s called D3 drought now that means that we are in extreme drought,” Zuber said. That’s just one level away from the worst drought.  “But D3 drought and extreme drought in San Diego County actually is pretty rare. The last time that we were in a D3 level was actually back in the fall of 2018,” Zuber added. Just five months ago, the region wasn’t experiencing any drought. So far, the county has seen 3.8 inches of rain, which is about half

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — New cellphone video shows the dramatic arrest of a man accused of a violent crime spree that spanned multiple locations across San Diego County. Authorities say 34-year-old James Alvernaz was taken into custody Tuesday morning at a Kia dealership in El Cajon after employees noticed his suspicious behavior. Alvernaz, who faces multiple charges including attempted rape and carjacking, had allegedly broken into a home in Logan Heights by smashing a window with his head. Alvernaz was scheduled to be arraigned in Vista on Thursday, but the hearing was delayed after he refused to leave his jail cell. Police say Alvernaz’s crimes began on March 10 in Oceanside, where a woman who knows him reported that he attempted to sexually assault her. As officers searched for him, he allegedly carjacked another woman. Man caught on video breaking into Airbnb rental home with family inside While on the run, investigators say he broke into an Airbnb in Logan Heights, frightening a family inside and leaving blood at the scene before fleeing. His fugitive run from law enforcement ended at the Kia dealership, where

You know how people say there are plenty of fish in the sea? That’s because every year, researchers go out into the ocean to collect data that prevents overfishing. LA JOLLA (KGTV) — You know how people say there are plenty of fish in the sea? That’s because every year, researchers go out into the ocean to collect data that prevents overfishing. “To say look, based on all this data, here’s how many fish we can pull out of the water sustainably and here’s how many we need to leave in the water so there’s more fish to catch in the future,” said Brice Semmens at Scripps Institute of Oceanography. Semmens says that work and much more is in jeopardy. After the Trump administration ordered the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Institute also called NOAA to reduce staffing. “If we lose that, we’re in great peril of losing some of the huge economic engine that the ocean provides here in Southern California,” Semmens said. Semmens is the Director of California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations, also called Cal COFI. It’s the world’s largest and longest running ocean

A bag of Cheetos will typically cost you a few bucks. But a story you might have heard this month claims someone paid $87,000 for just one Cheeto. (KGTV) – A bag of Cheetos will typically cost you a few bucks. But a story you might have heard this month claims someone paid $87,000 for just one Cheeto. It’s true. A Cheeto shaped like a Pokémon Charizard sold at auction for $87,840. It was reportedly discovered sometime between 2018 and 2022. If you’re not familiar, a Pokémon Charizard is an orange, dragon-like creature. Meantime, a new Cheeto is now up for auction. It’s being called The Jumpman Cheeto for its resemblance to the famous 1985 Michael Jordan dunk image. But bidders don’t seem impressed so far. With two weeks to go, the high bid is just $336. Copyright 2025 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Sign up for the Breaking News Newsletter and receive up to date information.

Jasmine Mooney Jasmine Mooney, 35, got sent to ICE detention after trying to enter the San Diego border. SAN DIEGO, Calif. — A step closer tonight to a story that’s making headlines around the world. A Canadian woman detained by ICE is now on her way back to Canada. “They woke me up at 2 a.m. in Arizona. They drove me back to San Diego in chains in a bus and I sat in a cell all day and then they finally took me here,” said Jasmine Mooney, in an interview Friday night from the tarmac at the San Diego airport. Team 10 spotted a white deportation van with blacked out windows just before 5 p.m. outside the airport. As soon as an officer saw Team 10 filming on the sidewalk, he drove away. “They drove off and then they took me in the back because they didn’t want any media attention, so they just snuck me in,” Mooney said. The former actress and business entrepreneur said she saw Team 10 before the officers took off. “I was in the back, all like, in chains.”

Educators and classified professionals rallied in protest against the Trump administration in downtown San Diego on Friday during their union’s twice-yearly convention, warning of possible effects on schools and students. Cuts at the U.S. Department of Education — which this week said it would lay off more than 1,300 people — could particularly hurt special education students in California, teachers union leader Jeff Freitas said. “It will devastate the special ed students,” Freitas, president of the California Federation of Teachers, told reporters after the event. The crowd gathered in Federal Plaza chanted “Who are we? CFT” and “Who’s got the power? We’ve got the power.” Amid the chants, there were sounds of bells, whistles and drums. The Department of Education cuts appear to be a move to effectively dismantle the agency, which distributes federal funds to colleges and schools, regulates services for students with disabilities and conducts civil-rights investigations. Freitas told reporters the cuts could also cost schools para-educators — the second adult in the classroom for special education students. And he said the department’s elimination, which would require an act of Congress, could decimate

A driver was killed early Friday after the vehicle collided with a semi on Interstate 8 and burst into flames, the California Highway Patrol said. The collision was reported just after 1 a.m. on the eastbound freeway, west of College Avenue, CHP said in a release. A sedan was traveling eastbound when it collided with the semi, drove across lanes and crashed into the center divider. A BMW then crashed into the sedan, which became engulfed in flames, CHP said. The driver of the sedan was pronounced dead at the scene. The person’s name was not released. The incident remains under investigation, but CHP officials said neither drugs nor alcohol were a factor in the crash involving the sedan and the BMW.

By JAKE OFFENHARTZ, Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — A video released Friday shows the moment federal immigration agents arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist and Columbia University graduate student whose detention alarmed free-speech advocates. The clip begins with at least three agents confronting Khalil in the lobby of his apartment building near the Columbia campus Saturday night. The agents inform him that he is “going to be under arrest,” then order him to “turn around” and “stop resisting.” “There’s no need for this,” Khalil replies calmly as they place him in handcuffs. “I’m going with you. No worries.” As his wife, Noor Abdalla, cries out in protest, asking in Arabic: “My love, how can I call you?” Khalil assures her that he will be fine and instructs her to call his lawyer. Abdalla, an American citizen who is eight months pregnant, then asks the agents to identify themselves. “We don’t give our names,” one replies. The video was released by Khalil’s attorneys the same day the Justice Department announced it was investigating whether the university concealed “illegal aliens” on its campus. Khalil is a

VISTA, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — A narcotics search warrant at a home in Vista Thursday resulted in the arrest of two people. Ruben Novellan Feliciano, 23, and Evelyn Gomez Herrera, 23, were arrested on suspicion of child endangerment, sale of a controlled substance, sales of a narcotic controlled substance and possession of firearm with a controlled substance, Lt. Matthew Carpenter with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release Friday. Herrera also faces an addict in possession of a firearm charge. Tijuana airport blockage enters third day The seizure occurred around 1 p.m. at a residence in the 800 block of Wandering Road. Deputies found a registered Glock handgun, ammunition, xanax pills, psilocybin mushrooms, about 12.99 grams of methamphetamine and about 22.26 grams of cocaine, according to authorities. During the search, children were also found living in the home. The San Diego County’s Child and Family Well-Being Department were called in and placed the children with other family members.

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The Vedder Cup will be played this year between the San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners. Named after Rock-and-Roll Hall of Famer Eddie Vedder, the Vedder Cup will feature six matchups between the two clubs. From May 16-18, the Mariners head to San Diego for a three-game series at Petco Park. Then from Aug. 25-27, Seattle will host the Padres for three games at T-Mobile Park from August 25-27. Vedder, the frontman of Pearl Jam, was a one-time resident of both San Diego and Seattle. The Mariners and Padres will compete for the Vedder Cup trophy, which features a guitar provided by the rock legend himself. That is set to be unveiled later during this season before the two clubs meet. If a tie occurs in the series, the following tiebreakers will be used, according to Major League Baseball: Run Differential: The team with a greater run differential in the season series. EV (short for Exit Velocity and Eddie Vedder): If the clubs share an even run differential in the season series, the team with the highest exit velocity recorded on

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — New cellphone video shows the dramatic arrest of a man accused of a violent crime spree that spanned multiple locations across San Diego County. Authorities say 34-year-old James Alvernaz was taken into custody Tuesday morning at a Kia dealership in El Cajon after employees noticed his suspicious behavior. Alvernaz, who faces multiple charges including attempted rape and carjacking, had allegedly broken into a home in Logan Heights by smashing a window with his head. Alvernaz was scheduled to be arraigned in Vista on Thursday, but the hearing was delayed after he refused to leave his jail cell. Police say Alvernaz’s crimes began on March 10 in Oceanside, where a woman who knows him reported that he attempted to sexually assault her. As officers searched for him, he allegedly carjacked another woman. Man caught on video breaking into Airbnb rental home with family inside While on the run, investigators say he broke into an Airbnb in Logan Heights, frightening a family inside and leaving blood at the scene before fleeing. His fugitive run from law enforcement ended at the Kia dealership, where

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Almost five years after a fire forced the shuttering of a beloved South Park beer bar, a collective of new businesses have officially opened their doors in its former home. The businesses now living in the former Hamilton’s Tavern building, which has been renamed the “South Park Commons,” each held a surprise soft opening to the public on Wednesday and are now fully open for business. The commons consists of a German-style neighborhood pub, Bock; its companion kitchen centered on Germanic street food, Biersal; and the newest locations of other institutions in the local foodie circles, Pop Pie Co. and Stella Jean’s Ice Cream. Dutch Bros opens first South Bay location, expanding beyond North County As Axios San Diego reported, the soft opening Wednesday livened up the nearly block-long building on 30th Street that used to be one of the city’s most acclaimed craft beer bars, quickly drawing out dozens in the hours after it was announced on social media earlier that day. Hamilton’s Tavern had sat dormant since November 2020, when an early morning kitchen fire ripped through the

If there’s one thing San Diegans know about the roads, it’s that when it rains, potholes follow shortly thereafter. SAN DIEGO — If there’s one thing San Diegans know about the roads, it’s that when it rains, potholes follow. And for Benjamin Hart, owner of TBH Complete Auto Care in Kearny Mesa, that means more business — but not the kind of typical maintenance he hopes to see. “You’re hitting a pothole, what, once a day? Even if it’s minor, it’s shifting the alignment in your vehicle,” Hart said. Hart warns that frequent pothole hits can knock a car’s alignment out of place, leading to uneven tire wear and costly repairs. “Alignment is measured by degrees, so even a small shift can cause excessive tire wear,” he explained. Since new tires are expensive, he recommends getting an alignment check at least once a year San Diego. One easy way to check if your tires are still safe? A simple penny test. “Take a penny and place it into the tread of your tire. If the rubber doesn’t cover Lincoln’s face, it’s time for new tires,”

For months, a San Diego man sent emails to a local elementary school, threatening to commit a mass shooting. SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KGTV) – For months, a San Diego man sent emails to a local elementary school, threatening to commit a mass shooting. However, since the threats were made against an institution and not a person, lawmakers say the current law allows people to get away with it without getting in trouble. Two years ago, Shoal Creek Elementary School confronted multiple threats of a mass shooting. Lee Lor, a 39-year-old marine combat veteran, sent over 350 emails threatening to commit a mass shooting. While nothing ever happened, the incident is getting attention at the state capitol. Assemblymember Darshana Patel wants to push back against similar types of threats. Her bill would close what many believe are several loopholes in the law, it would make it a crime for a person to threaten with an image or threat posted or published on the internet to commit a crime at a specific location. It would be a crime even if there was no intent on actually carrying it

A rainy day may make for a slower day at Hungry Hawk Vineyard & Winery, which is nestled in the Escondido hills. ESCONDIDO, Calif. (KGTV) – A rainy day may make for a slower day at Hungry Hawk Vineyard & Winery, which is nestled in the Escondido hills. “We’re at the whim of the weather in a lot of cases,” Edward Embly, Co-Owner of Hungry Hawk Vineyard & Winery, said. It’s a family affair for Embly, who co-owns the place with his wife Jeannine, and his son Michael is involved too. “Both my son and I are the winemakers,” Embly said. The winemakers are aware of what’s going on in their industry. “I have heard about that tariff,” Embly said. President Donald Trump is threatening a 200 percent tariff on wines, champagnes, and other liquors coming out of countries in the European Union. That’s if the EU doesn’t pull back its tariff on U.S. spirits, which was a counterpunch to the u-s aluminum and steel tariff during the trade war. “A 200 percent tariff would; wouldn’t really affect us drastically, except it might increase some

Sunny skies are on the horizon for San Diego County, with weather forecasts showing this week’s storm system clearing out of the region by Saturday. The rainfall this week brought an average of about an inch to areas throughout the county, National Weather Service meterologist Kyle Wheeler said. Escondido received about 1.5 inches, while areas in higher elevations, such as Palomar Mountain, saw about 6.5 inches of snowfall since Wednesday evening. However, the rainy weather is expected to clear out by Saturday morning, and temperatures will begin to rise to the low to mid-60s in lower elevation areas in the region, Wheeler said. “We’ll be warming up a little this weekend,” Wheeler said. “There might be a little rain Saturday morning, but outside of that, it’ll be a pleasant weekend.” Wheeler said on Monday and Tuesday, a light rain system may move in over coastal parts of the county, but it would bring less precipitation than the storm this week. “It’ll be just enough to get everything a little wet,” Wheeler said.

(FOX 5/KUSI) — Californians headed to San Diego International Airport now have a new way to get through TSA security that could save them a bit of time. New technology being used by the California DMV and the airport allows Californians to use a mobile version of their driver’s license installed on their cell phone during the TSA process. The California DMV is running the pilot program at several airports across the state, with SAN being the latest one. Multiple airports across the country are also using the technology. At these airports, TSA uses what is known as credential authentication technology, or CAT-2, to check that a passenger is the same person on the identification they provide. Federal offices in San Diego County could be shut down by DOGE When passengers pass through TSA, they can scan the mobile license and have a picture taken. The system then compares facial features on the photo and license to ensure it’s the same person, all within seconds and without the need to hand over identification. Officials say the photo is only used for that purpose and that

RAMONA, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — A 24-year-old Ramona man is facing multiple weapons charges after San Diego County Sheriff’s deputies allegedly found a ghost gun in his vehicle during a traffic stop, authorities said Friday. Deputies from the Ramona Sheriff’s Substation first pulled over the suspect — identified as Brandon Nichols — around 9 p.m. on Monday for expired registration tags on his silver Chevrolet Colorado, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office. Man caught on video breaking into Airbnb rental home with family inside During the stop, the sheriff’s office says deputies found Nichols to be in possession of a loaded, privately manufactured firearm commonly known as a “ghost gun.” These firearms do not have serial numbers unlike legal ones, making them nearly impossible to trace. Sheriff’s detectives subsequently carried out a search warrant on Wednesday at his home along D Street. The search recovered additional ghost guns, as well as machines to manufacture weapons, illegal magazines and ammunition, and various pieces for firearms, according to SDSO. Ghost guns were allegedly found after a search warrant was served on a Ramona man’s home

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — As rain and mountain snow continue to fall on the Southern California region, several roads in eastern San Diego County on Friday have chain control requirements while some are closed to non-residents. Caltrans San Diego Friday morning reports north SR-79 at Viejas Blvd and south SR-79 at Porter Lane are closed to traffic, except residents, due to winter conditions. Inclement weather prompts some schools to close Friday Chain control is in effect Friday on several parts of SR-79 and SR-78: Northbound Highway 79 Chain Control level R-2 at Japatul/I-8 Northbound Highway 79 Chain Control level R-2 at Park Museum Road Southbound Highway 79 Chain Control level R-2 at Sunrise Highway Southbound Highway 79 Chain Control level R-2 at Inspiration Point Southbound Highway 79 Chain Control level R-2 at 79/78 on 79 (Julian) Westbound Highway 78 Chain Control level R-2 at Banner Grade-Up Eastbound Highway 78 Chain Control level R-2 at Williams Ranch Road Eastbound Highway 78 Chain Control level R-2 at Santa Ysabel According to Caltrans, when Chain Control level R-2 is in effect, “chains or traction devices are required on

John Raoux/AP A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the Crew Dragon spacecraft stands ready for a mission to the International Space Station on pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, Friday, March 14, 2025. SpaceX successfully launched a crew of four astronauts from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Friday to the International Space Station. The Falcon 9 rocket launch is the first step in a mission to bring home two astronauts — Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams — who have been stranded at the International Space Station for months. NASA astronauts Anne McClain, commander, and Nichole Ayers, pilot, along with mission specialists JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Takuya Onishi and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov are the members of Crew-10 on the company’s Dragon spacecraft. An earlier planned launch on Wednesday was scrapped due to a launch pad problem. It will take Crew-10 approximately 28 hours to reach the International Space Station, officials said during the launch Friday. Once they arrive, they will begin hundreds of experiments for a variety of materials and technology. Wilmore and Williams have been