Category: San Diego

PARIS (AP) — Notre Dame Cathedral, its air thick with the smell of incense, on Sunday hosted its first Mass since the catastrophic fire of 2019, a moment that transcends religious significance to become a powerful symbol of Paris’ resilience. Beneath the glow of traditional chandeliers and modern spotlights, which illuminated its intricately carved stonework, the cathedral emerged reborn, its grandeur restored after more than five years of reconstruction. For Catholics, it marks the revival of the city’s spiritual heart, a place where faith has been nurtured for centuries. For the world, it signals the rebirth of one of global heritage’s most famous landmarks. The event was both solemn and historic. Archbishop Laurent Ulrich presided over the morning Mass, including the consecration of a new bronze altar. Trump calls for ‘immediate ceasefire’ in Ukraine after meeting with Zelenskyy The liturgy, attended by French President Emmanuel Macron, clergy, dignitaries, and guests totaling around 2,500 people, was closed to the general public. Nearly 170 bishops from France and around the world took part in the celebration, along with one priest from each of the parishes in the Paris diocese

PARIS (AP) — Notre Dame Cathedral, its air thick with the smell of incense, on Sunday hosted its first Mass since the catastrophic fire of 2019, a moment that transcends religious significance to become a powerful symbol of Paris’ resilience. Beneath the glow of traditional chandeliers and modern spotlights, which illuminated its intricately carved stonework, the cathedral emerged reborn, its grandeur restored after more than five years of reconstruction. For Catholics, it marks the revival of the city’s spiritual heart, a place where faith has been nurtured for centuries. For the world, it signals the rebirth of one of global heritage’s most famous landmarks. The event was both solemn and historic. Archbishop Laurent Ulrich presided over the morning Mass, including the consecration of a new bronze altar. Trump calls for ‘immediate ceasefire’ in Ukraine after meeting with Zelenskyy The liturgy, attended by French President Emmanuel Macron, clergy, dignitaries, and guests totaling around 2,500 people, was closed to the general public. Nearly 170 bishops from France and around the world took part in the celebration, along with one priest from each of the parishes in the Paris diocese

The San Diego Unified School Board is weighing recommendations to build 1,000 income-restricted apartments on five of its properties across the city, with a goal of housing 10% of its employees within the next decade, in what would mark a significant expansion of the district’s decade-old real estate strategy. “The time has come for us to set some bold but achievable long-term goals together,” Lee Dulgeroff, the district’s facilities executive director, said at a board workshop last week. School districts around California are increasingly pursuing the idea of building affordable housing for employees as a way to improve recruitment and retention amid a worsening housing crisis. That idea has become the hallmark of San Diego Unified’s ongoing real estate strategy, in which it has recruited developers to build housing on district-owned land via joint-occupancy lease agreements. Under the arrangement, the district gets to keep valuable land under its ownership while it collects a share of the developer’s revenue. And the money it collects is unrestricted — the district can use it for any part of its budget, unlike many kinds of federal and state funding.

A $165 million operating loss in its previous fiscal year has Palomar Health asking its lenders not to enforce borrowing terms that could push the North County medical provider into bankruptcy. While such extreme measures seem unlikely, it is clear that investors might ask for operational changes at Palomar in order to improve the bottom line, which could force the state’s largest public hospital district to further cut services. Like many medical providers, Palomar has struggled for several years to maintain a balanced budget in the face of increased wages and supply costs, stagnant revenue and increased competition in a market dominated by large systems with extensive primary care and specialty networks. Many in the industry are closely following the situation as Palomar is a critical part of the regional health care system, providing a comprehensive range of health care services to the hundreds of thousands of residents living within its boundaries, which cover 800 square miles, stretching east to Julian and north past Pauma Valley to Palomar Mountain. An October report from Moody’s Ratings, one of the world’s big-three credit rating agencies, noted that Palomar

Half of the amphibious warships the Navy uses to transport and land Marines — including many based in San Diego — are in poor condition, hurting the service’s ability to deploy infantry, the U.S. General Accountability Office says in a new report. The agency largely attributes the situation to wide-ranging maintenance problems, some of which have resulted in ships not being available for service for years at a time. GAO also says the problem has been exacerbated by a dispute between the Navy and the Marines over the size and readiness of the amphibious fleet, which is making it harder for the Navy to meet a statutory requirement of operating at least 31 so-called “amphibs.” The ships are critically needed by the Navy, especially in the Indo-Pacific, where tensions have risen between the U.S. and China over access to shipping lanes and the sovereignty of Taiwan. GAO released the report Thursday, a day before the 83rd anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, which killed 2,403 people, most of them service members. The Navy has 32 of these ships, 14 of them stationed at Naval

BEIRUT (AP) — The Syrian government fell early Sunday in a stunning end to the 50-year rule of the Assad family after a sudden rebel offensive sprinted across government-held territory and entered the capital in 10 days. Syrian state television aired a video statement by a group of men saying that President Bashar Assad has been overthrown and all detainees in jails have been set free. The man who read the statement said the Operations Room to Conquer Damascus, an opposition group, called on all opposition fighters and citizens to preserve state institutions of “the free Syrian state.” The statement emerged hours after the head of a Syrian opposition war monitor said Assad had left the country for an undisclosed location, fleeing ahead of insurgents who said they had entered Damascus following the remarkably swift advance across the country. Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed Ghazi Jalali said the government was ready to “extend its hand” to the opposition and turn its functions over to a transitional government. “I am in my house and I have not left, and this is because of my belonging to this

A crash involving a motorcycle officer left at least 10 people hospitalized during a holiday parade in Palm Springs Saturday night.  The crash happened around 6 p.m. near Palm Canyon Drive and Amado Road as crowds gathered to watch the 32nd annual Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade. The officer, who was reportedly performing a wheelie trick, suddenly lost control of his bike and fell off, witnesses told the Desert Sun.  The motorcycle then continued moving down the street before slamming into the crowd, according to the Palm Springs Post. The motor officer’s hand was reportedly severed during the incident.  The nine spectators who were injured were transported to local hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries, Palm Springs police confirmed.  A motorcycle crash left 10 people hospitalized during a holiday parade in downtown Palm Springs on Dec. 7, 2024. (Gillyh2o) A motorcycle crash left 10 people hospitalized during a holiday parade in downtown Palm Springs on Dec. 7, 2024. (Gillyh2o) Frenzied crowds rushed to help after a motorcycle crash left 10 people hospitalized during a holiday parade in downtown Palm Springs on Dec. 7, 2024. (Robert Cluck)

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Several lanes of Interstate 5 in downtown San Diego were closed Saturday night due to a reported fatal pedestrian accident. California Highway Patrol (CHP) issued a Sig Alert at 8:25 p.m. Saturday due to a pedestrian accident on I-5 southbound near the intersection of Sassafras Street and Kettner Blvd by the San Diego International Airport. Jogger killed in hit-and-run crash identified There is not much information at this time, however CHP is reporting a pedestrian was hit while crossing the highway and that it was a fatal accident. 511CA is showed heavy, stopped traffic on I-5 southbound starting at Sassafras Street for several hours. All lanes have since reopened.

It didn’t take much effort for Joedy Adams, 12, to unscrew the metal fastener from the machine gun lying in her yard. The weapon had fallen from a Japanese plane, one of hundreds that had attacked Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. Adams, born in Coronado, was on Oahu 83 years ago. Her father, then-Navy Cmdr. Joseph Cronin, was stationed there. Now 95 and living in San Diego, Adams shared her story Saturday with attendees of The Military Order of the World Wars gathering on the attack’s anniversary. Adams was up early and dressed for church that Sunday morning when incessant buzzing drew her to the front door. The noise just grew louder and louder, “like big swarms of  bees around your ears,” Adams said, holding rapt the roomful of luncheon guests in Mission Valley. “When I looked up, a plane was going over,” she said. “He looked down at me, I looked up at him. We had eye contact.” Adams dashed back inside and woke up her father, who pretty quickly realized the “big red balls on the wings” his daughter was describing meant

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Santa Ana winds forecast to bring very dry air to Southern California mountains and valleys this week have prompted the National Weather Service to issue a Red Flag Warning due to the increased risk of fire danger. Some San Diego County residents might also have their power shut off on Monday to help reduce the risk of wildfires, SDG&E said Saturday evening. A Red Flag Warning is in effect from 10 a.m. Monday to 4 a.m. Wednesday for all Southern California mountains, the Inland Empire and San Diego County valleys due to strong gusty Santa Ana winds and low relative humidity, the National Weather Service (NWS) reports. Dry rainy season sparks wildfire concerns A Red Flag Warning goes into effect Monday in parts of San Diego County. The pink shows the areas under the Red Flag Warning, while the tan shows the area under a Marine Weather Statement (Photo: National Weather Service) The weather service is forecasting wind gusts in the valley areas to get up to 35 to 45 mph, and up to 60 mph in mountains and passes

Two people were hospitalized — one with serious injuries — following a traffic collision late Friday night in Encinitas, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office reported. Deputies from the North Coastal Sheriff’s Station responded to a report of the collision at 9:55 p.m. at the intersection of Santa Fe and Lake drives in Encinitas. Preliminary information indicates that the 24-year-old male driver of a 2003 Toyota Tacoma was heading eastbound on Santa Fe and went through the intersection at Lake Drive at the same time a 16-year-old female was driving westbound in her 2016 Nissan Frontier on Santa Fe and turned south onto Lake Drive in front of the Tacoma, according to Sgt. Jeremy Collis. The teen driver, he said, made a turn on a left-turn-yield green light when the two vehicles collided. The Tacoma overturned and the driver of that vehicle was ejected. He was transported to Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla with life-threatening injuries, and his 23-year-old passenger was taken to the same hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the Frontier, who was uninjured, remained at the scene following the collision, Collis

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — In a season where food insecurity may be a concern for some, Feeding San Diego is stepping up to provide support to local families struggling with the high cost of living. On Saturday, the organization hosted a large-scale holiday food distribution at its headquarters in Sorrento Valley, aiming to assist 700 households in need. From 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., families received essential holiday food items, including frozen turkey breasts, stuffing mix, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, canned sweet potatoes, and corn muffin mix. In addition to holiday staples, fresh produce was also distributed to ensure a well-rounded meal for families. Volunteers worked together to distribute over 25,000 pounds of food to households in need, in hopes of alleviating some of the financial burdens many are facing during the holiday season. Feeding San Diego hosted a free food distribution at its headquarters on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024. (Courtesy of Feeding San Diego) This distribution is part of a larger initiative by Feeding San Diego to support local families throughout the holidays. Since mid-November, the organization has been hosting additional food distributions

(NEXSTAR) — As the end of 2024 draws to a close, you’ll likely see dozens of “best” and “worst” lists. And while some celebrities, like Taylor Swift and Kendrick Lamar, had undoubtedly great years (as far as we know), not everyone got so lucky. Below are six celebrities who might be glad 2024 is almost done. Spotify Wrapped 2024: Taylor Swift named platform’s most-streamed artist Curious which celebrities were included in last year’s list? Check out Celebrities who had the worst year in 2023 to see if there are any repeat inclusions (there are). Sean “Diddy” Combs The once-beloved rapper and business mogul was included in last year’s list of celebrities who had the worst year and unfortunately for Combs, 55, his 2024 was likely even worse. It was just last November when Diddy’s troubles began, when his former girlfriend, R&B singer Cassie, filed a lawsuit claiming Combs physically and sexually abused her for over a decade. Though Combs’ denied the allegations through his attorney, the two parties reached a settlement agreement just one day later for an undisclosed sum. Though the settlement helped Combs avoid a public trial, three

ENCINITAS, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — A two-vehicle collision in Encinitas on Friday left one person with life-threatening injuries and another with non-life-threatening injuries, authorities said. The incident occurred shortly before 2 a.m. at the intersection of Santa Fe Drive and Lake Drive. According to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, the crash involved a 24-year-old man driving a 2003 Toyota Tacoma eastbound on Santa Fe Drive and a 16-year-old female driving a 2016 Nissan Frontier westbound on Santa Fe Drive. The 16-year-old driver made a left turn onto Lake Drive in front of the Tacoma at the “Left Turn Yield” circular green light. The two vehicles collided and the Tacoma overturned, causing the driver to be ejected from the vehicle. The 24-year-old driver was transported to Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla with life-threatening injuries. A 23-year-old passenger in the Tacoma was also taken to the same hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the Nissan Frontier remained on the scene and was uninjured. The Sheriff’s Department indicated that alcohol or drugs do not appear to have played a role in the crash. The investigation remains

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The holiday spirit was in full force in Coronado Friday, with locals celebrating the 49th Annual Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting. It’s a custom attendee Shannon Nevitt and her family never miss this time of year. “We come every year,” she told FOX 5/KUSI. “It’s probably our 13th year.” From the lights to the music and all the magic in between, the glowing wonderland takes over Orange Avenue – lining the street with a feast for the eyes. “It’s definitely the feeling of community, and just coming out and seeing our friends and talking to folks,” Nevitt continued. Take a selfie with this life-sized gingerbread house — it’s drivable from San Diego Thousands of onlookers packed the street, eager to see all of the unique floats and the more than 1,000 participants that bring color and life to every display.  For the fifth year in a row, Laurie Kressler and her family are enjoying it together and in style.   “We’ve made this kind of a tradition that we do,” she explained. “The parade and then we go down to Hotel

A father’s tireless search for his son has ended in Tijuana, 5 1/2 years later. “We did it. Erick Carrillo has been located,” Eddy Carrillo said Friday. “It’s not the way we want it, we wanted him to be alive, but only God knows.” His son’s remains were found last month by the search collective he founded in a lot in the El Lago neighborhood of Tijuana, about 5 miles from where he was last seen on June 1, 2019. On Friday, the Baja California Attorney General’s Office gave the DNA confirmation needed to finally give closure. The cause of death has not yet been determined, prosecutor Fidel Corvera said. While the pursuit is over for the Carrillo family, thousands of families in Mexico continue their painful search for lost loved ones, mostly with their own resources. Erick Carrillo, pictured in a shirt with the Virgin Mary of Guadalupe. (Carlos Moreno / For The San Diego Union-Tribune) There are nearly 100,000 reports of missing persons in Mexico, federal officials said in March. They are known as Mexico’s “disappeared.” Eddy Carrillo founded the Todos Somos Erick Carrillo

The mother of an Oceanside Navy medic who was murdered in 2018 by her upstairs neighbor, a mentally ill Marine Corps deserter who should have been legally barred from buying the gun he used to kill her, has agreed to settle two lawsuits against the government for a total of $10.5 million. The lawsuits filed by Leslie Woods, the mother of 24-year-old Navy Corpsman Devon Rideout, alleged the Marine Corps and the California Department of Justice failed to properly submit information about the mental incompetency and background of Rideout’s killer, Eduardo Arriola, that would have landed him on an FBI database of prohibited gun owners and alerted the gun store it was barred from selling him a weapon. “Devon’s death and the suffering her death has caused her mother … was entirely preventable,” Eugene Iredale, Woods’ attorney, told the Union-Tribune. Woods agreed Monday to settle a federal lawsuit against the U.S. government for $4.5 million, pending final approval of the U.S. Attorney General, Iredale said this week. Earlier this year, Woods settled a state court lawsuit against the California Department of Justice for $6 million

Over the last year, Mohamed Mbengue has attended several workshops alongside his Mid-City neighbors, dreaming of what the future could look like for the area’s refugee and immigrant community. The 19-year-old is one of about 700 residents who have helped design a new space — called the Refugee and Immigrant Cultural Hub, or RICH — that will provide resources to current and recently-arrived refugees and immigrants, including long-term and transitional housing, medical care, job training and food assistance. At the workshops, residents from all backgrounds and ethnicities came together, clustered around scaled maps of the space on more than two dozen tables, to brainstorm what services would be most valuable to them and future neighbors. Many of the adults didn’t speak the same language, so Mbengue said their kids helped translate. “I feel like it just exemplifies the USA being a melting pot and just a bunch of different cultures coming together to excel,” said Mbengue, whose parents immigrated to the U.S. decades ago from Senegal. The workshops have been a key part of the hub’s development. And on Saturday afternoon, the community will be

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Dense fog made for a tricky Friday morning commute but most of the low cloud cover is clearing. Some areas like La Jolla may stay foggy for much of the day but otherwise sunshine is taking over the rest of the region. The warming trend peaks Saturday where many inland areas will get close to 80 degrees at the peak of temperatures.  Weak Santa Ana winds are helping to dry out and warm up temperatures anywhere from 10 to 15 degrees for west of the mountains. Northeast winds could gust 15 to 20 miles per hour Saturday afternoon, but winds decrease and become more isolated into the weekend. Saturday daytime highs will top out in the low to mid 70s for the coast, low 80s inland, upper 60s for the mountains and upper 70s for the deserts.  An area of low pressure swings through well to the north for Sunday but it will bring increasing cloud cover and cooler temperatures for the back half of the weekend. Another Santa Ana wind event kicks in for Monday through Wednesday of next

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The San Diego County Board of Supervisors are expected to vote on a resolution next week that would block county cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The resolution was introduced by Board of Supervisors Chair Nora Vargas. If approved, it would prohibit the county from providing information about immigrants to ICE agents. It would also ban ICE from using county facilities. The motion goes further than the state’s current sanctuary law, which generally limits law enforcement’s cooperation with ICE. This all comes just weeks before President-Elect Donald Trump takes office, promising to launch a mass deportation campaign on day one. Vargas argues the new restrictions would help prevent the separation of families in the region. Fellow Board of Supervisor Jim Desmond says it would stop the deportation of immigrants accused of crimes. The resolution is scheduled to be taken up at next Tuesday’s board meeting.

ESCONDIDO, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — The number of people who live along the Escondido Creek is estimated to be in the hundreds. Neighbors who live within walking distance of the creek, known as “the jungle,” say the homelessness issues have been growing exponentially over the last few months. “Working in my garage I had my mountain bike stolen in my driveway when I had my back turned. So, after that I hung up some cameras and just seen almost weekly them coming up to my property and taking my stuff,” said Christopher Bouchard, a long-time resident of Escondido. Bouchard says his surveillance cameras are not a deterrent, and he has half a dozen videos of people he says rummaging around his property looking for things to steal. The encampment goes for a quarter mile. Lawn lights and Christmas signs decorate the reinforced tents. Identity unknown for woman with script tattoo hit by train Bouchard says his phone calls, messages and emails haven’t had any impact on the issues his neighborhood faces every day. “My assessment is what a mess,” said Mayor Dane White from the