Category: San Diego

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — With St. Patrick’s Day weekend approaching, multiple law enforcement agencies in the area will be conducting driving under the influence checkpoints. On Friday, the Chula Vista Police Department will hold a DUI checkpoint at an undisclosed location in the city from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. Then on Sunday, authorities with Lemon Grove and Oceanside will conduct DUI checkpoints in their cities — both at undisclosed locations. In Lemon Grove, the DUI checkpoint will take place from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., while in Oceanside it will be from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. How to report a pothole in San Diego and surrounding communities DUIs can not only be alcohol related, but they also could involve prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs and marijuana. Drivers charged with a first-time DUI face a suspended license and an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties. Some tips to avoid a DUI include using a designated sober driver; having someone sober walk you home or stay with you until a sober driver picks you up; reporting drunk drivers by calling 911 and offering non-alcoholic

It wasn’t the kind of “March Miracle” that had erased San Diego County’s water worries in the past. But the loud and rowdy storm that drenched the region Thursday greatly eased the palpable threat of wildfires, slowed a deepening drought and gave outdoor plants a good, long drink. The cold, volatile system was far larger than the one that hit a day earlier. By 2 p.m. Thursday, the two-day rainfall totals were in the 1.5-to-2-inch range along the coast, from Camp Pendleton to San Diego, and even higher inland, from Miramar to Julian. With spring a week away, the second storm also was dropping light snow on the oak and pine trees of Mount Laguna. It was a pretty sight — and for drivers, a vexing one, as the snow forced them to put chains on their tires to climb the highway twisting north from Interstate 8. The same thing happened on state Route 79, where passage into the area of Lake Cuyamaca was limited to residents only. The weather — including pea-sized hail in many spots — led the Spencer Valley School District in

Storm two this week dumped heavy rain and snow, bringing strong winds and small hail to the county. While the worst of the rain and snow has moved out, a few showers will continue into this evening. Rainfall totals have ranged between 1 to 2 inches for most of the county this week. Click here to see rainfall totals where you live. A passing warm front will bring more rain, snow, and wind tomorrow, but not as crazy as today. Expect scattered mostly light to moderate showers with the best chance between 10am to 4pm. Additional rainfall through Friday will average between .25 to .50″ for most of the county, but little rain in the deserts. Snow levels will start the day tomorrow between 3,500′ to 4,000′, climbing to 5,000′ by the afternoon as the warm front moves through. We may see an additional 1 to 4″ of snow through tomorrow. A Winter Weather Advisory is set to expire at 11pm today in the mountains. Travel through the mountains may be hazardous into Friday, if traveling there, carry chains. Winds will taper off late tonight

Local wine importer: 200% tariff would ‘devastate’ business; Brendan Quigley is co-founder of Quigley Fine Wines SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — A proposed 200% tariff on European alcohol could have a catastrophic impact on a family-owned wine importer in San Diego, the business owner said. Brendan Quigley, co-owner of Quigley Fine Wines tasting room, told ABC 10News reporter Michael Chen that about 75% of the wines sold at his business are from Europe. “Devastated. Like a gut punch,” Quigley said of his initial reaction to the potential tariff. In a post on Truth Social, President Trump said he would impose the tariff if the European Union did not rescind a 50% tariff on U.S. spirits, which was part of a response to tariffs on aluminum and steel. Trump stated the tariff “will be great for the wine and champagne businesses in the US,” a majority of which is in California. However, Quigley said a 200% tariff would be 100% catastrophic for his business. He only has about 3 to 4 months’ worth of European wines in stock and said doubling or tripling prices “just wouldn’t sell.”

San Diego’s newest soccer club is taking a stand against a homophobic chant that happened during its inaugural match. SAN DIEGO (KGTV) – San Diego’s newest soccer club is taking a stand against a homophobic chant that happened during its inaugural match. The team laid out a series of steps as it tries to prevent it from happening again. The new team in town is saying no to hate, launching a plan to help reinforce a Snapdragon Stadium as a space of respect and diversity. The plan is being implemented after a homophobic chant took place at San Diego FC’s inaugural home match at the beginning of March. “Not here,” said Tom Penn, the CEO of San Diego FC. “Aqui no is basically our idea, that we want everybody to bring their energy and their passion, but there’s no place for the goal kick chant that is so controversial and so divisive, you know, we want to be the club that unifies everyone and brings together this whole community, and our basic message is, that’s not us.” The plan itself? A flyer in every single

DEL MAR, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — The San Diego County Fair season pass is back. Last offered in 2019, the season passes provide perks for the 20-day fair happening June 11-July 6. There are two types of season passes: the standard Season Pass and brand-new Fair Fanatic Season Pass. Lineup released for the 2025 San Diego County Fair The Season Pass, which costs $65, includes every day admission without the need for reservations. The Fair Fanatic Season Pass, priced at $160, offers the following: Unlimited admission Commemorative lanyard and access pass Refillable souvenir cup with discounted refills Free parking on the first visit, discounted parking on subsequent visits Buy-one-get-one free FastPass 50% off two additional general admission tickets 15% off fair merchandise Priority access to the fair’s speakeasies $10 off two tickets to one Summer Nights at The Sound show Season passes can be purchased online at sdfair.com.

(Above: Video captured by Drone5 of the aftermath of the intense rains in the Fashion Valley area) SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The recent heavy rains caused the San Diego River to overflow Thursday, leading to drenched streets in Mission Valley and a parking garage that almost looked like a swimming pool at the Fashion Valley Mall. According to the National Water Prediction Service, water levels spiked near Fashion Valley between 5 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Thursday. It reached a peak of more than nine feet. How to report a pothole in San Diego and surrounding communities The water levels of the San Diego River near Fashion Valley spiked between 5 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Thursday, March 13. (National Water Prediction Service) It almost met the NWPS’ official threshold for flooding, which is 10 feet. Several roads and a few structures did end up flooded with rain and river water after the rainstorm. Avenida Del Rio, between Camino De La Reina and Riverwalk Drive, was closed off to traffic due to a significant amount of water that covered all lanes of the street. The first

SAN DIEGO (FOX5/KUSI) — When heavy rain hits San Diego, causing roads to flood, trees to topple over, and new potholes to form, there’s a way to report damages that you may already be carrying in your pocket. The City of San Diego handles a lot of city repairs from submissions through the Get it Done app and program. “The Get it Done app launched about 9 years ago, and it’s all about making it simple and easy for residents to report problems to the city,” explained Alex Hempton, acting director of the performance and analytics department. Reports can be made on the city’s website or on the Get It Done app on your cell phone. Hempton explained that about one thousand reports are filed daily, but that number spikes during storms. “Pothole and tree issues and traffic signal issues are some of the top types of reports that come through. In some cases, street light knock-overs or things of that nature are all things that spike during a storm,” he said. Hempton said response times vary, but they are included when you file a

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan has declined to file criminal charges against anyone in the 2023 death of Keith Bach, a diabetes patient who died in sheriff’s custody after being denied life-saving insulin. The district attorney’s office said Thursday that numerous people were responsible for the failures that led to Bach’s death in the Central Jail downtown and that prosecutors were unlikely to prove that any crime had been committed. Last year, The San Diego Union-Tribune obtained a copy of Bach’s autopsy and reported that the medical examiner’s office had classified his death as a homicide. Records showed that deputies and medical staff failed to provide Bach insulin, even though the alarm on his insulin pump had been beeping for at least 19 hours. “While there was a series of events that led up to Mr. Bach’s death, insufficient evidence exists to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the actions, or inactions, of any specific individual was a substantial cause in Mr. Bach’s death,” spokesperson Steve Walker said in a statement Thursday. “Further, California law has no statute by which criminal liability can

A special election is underway in San Diego County’s South Bay for the District 1 county supervisor seat that Nora Vargas unexpectedly vacated earlier this year. Seven people appear on the ballots mailed to hundreds of thousands of registered voters: Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre, Chula Vista Councilmember Carolina Chavez, energy consultant Elizabeth Efird, businessman Louis Fuentes, Chula Vista Mayor John McCann, San Diego Councilmember Vivian Moreno and Lincoln Pickard. But who exactly are the candidates, and what do they promise to do if elected to the Board of Supervisors? The San Diego Union-Tribune asked all seven of them a series of questions about their policy positions, priorities, plans and more. Here’s what they told us.

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The San Diego Unified School District is increasing its slots for Transitional Kindergarten (TK) students by adding more classrooms in its schools for the upcoming academic year. According to a news release Thursday, SDUSD will increase the number of TK classrooms by 10% across the district. How to report a pothole in San Diego and surrounding communities In addition, they will reduce class sizes from 24 students to 20, which will allow them to have more individualized attention, the district stated. Each classroom will have two educators. Transitional Kindergarten is part of a two-year program that consists of free full days of school and often serves as the stepping stone between preschool and kindergarten. TK is open to all students who are at least 4 years of age by September 1 of the upcoming school year. The district began offering TK classes in 2022. Since then, it said it has served more than 15,000 students. Currently, SDUSD has 229 TK classrooms. Next year, the district will offer a total of 252 TK classrooms district-wide. School closures announced due to winter

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The University of California, San Diego is included in the U.S. Department of Education’s list of 60 universities nationwide threatened with federal funding cuts. In a statement by the agency Monday, federal officials said the DOE’s Office for Civil Rights sent letters to 60 institutions of higher education, threatening them with potential actions if they fail to protect Jewish students on their campuses. The full list can be found on the DOE’s website. San Diego FC will take more action against discriminatory fan chants “The Department is deeply disappointed that Jewish students studying on elite U.S. campuses continue to fear for their safety amid the relentless antisemitic eruptions that have severely disrupted campus life for more than a year,” said Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. She added, “University leaders must do better.” UCSD joins ten other California schools on the list: California State University, Sacramento Chapman University Pomona College Santa Monica College Stanford University Union College University of California, Davis University of California, Santa Barbara University of California, Berkeley University of Southern California This threat follows on the heels of

Video above: This Nexstar Media video answers the question: will TSA stop you for marijuana? VISTA, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — For the first time ever in San Diego County, a public permit has been granted for cannabis sales and consumption on city property — an event that’s sure to draw in a hazy crowd. On Saturday, those who enjoy the culture and industry of marijuana can all come together at Moonlight Amphitheater in Vista to share a smoke and talk buds. According to the event’s organizers, it’s meant to be a meeting spot for “like minded adults that have a connection with the cannabis plant.” Whether you’re a seasoned smoker or are new to the plant medicine, the Farmer’s Cup Cannabis Festival will connect those in attendance to some of the industry’s hottest brands and cultivators. There will also be food vendors for “all types of stoner palates,” a “munchie competition” that includes sample bites, interactive “canna activations,” and a day full of live music. ‘Surf, sand and snow’: Photos show white mountaintops across San Diego County As an added bonus, festivalgoers will be able

KABC Helicopter The KABC news helicopter flew above the damage, seeing at least a dozen uprooted trees fallen on cars and front lawns. LOS ANGELES (KABC) — An EF0 tornado hit a Los Angeles County neighborhood early Thursday morning, according to the National Weather Service. NWS says the tornado happened around 3:15 a.m. in Pico Rivera, lasting about two minutes and reaching peak winds of 85 miles per hour. A team of six meteorologists surveyed the damage that spread across four blocks near Glencannon Drive and Church Street, per NWS. Multiple trees were knocked down, as well as a few power lines. No injuries were reported in this tornado. “This is a part of a larger Pacific storm system that brought significant rainfall and flooding impacts, as well as strong winds to a large portion of coastal California,” meteorologist Ariel Cohen with the National Weather Service said during a press conference. “This activity did spawn what we have determined to be a tornado.” The KABC news helicopter flew above the damage, seeing at least a dozen uprooted trees fallen on cars and front lawns. From

By HOWARD FENDRICH, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — John Feinstein, one of the country’s foremost sports writers and the author of numerous bestselling books, died unexpectedly Thursday. He was 69. Feinstein died of natural causes at his brother’s home in McLean, Virginia. Robert Feinstein said he discovered John’s body. Feinstein was a full-time reporter for The Washington Post from 1977 to 1991 and a commentator for outlets such as NPR, ESPN and the Golf Channel. He remained with the Post as a contributing columnist, and he also hosted satellite radio programs on SiriusXM. “He was very passionate about things,” Robert Feinstein said. “People either loved him or hated him — and equally strongly.” John Feinstein was working until the time of his death. He was in Washington this week to cover the Atlantic 10 Tournament, and he filed a column Wednesday for the Post on Michigan State coach Tom Izzo. Feinstein was comfortable writing about an array of sports, but he was best-known for his connection to college basketball because of his groundbreaking book “A Season on the Brink.” Feinstein took a leave of absence

Rainfall rates exceeded a half-inch per hour at times Thursday morning, according to the National Weather Service. SAN DIEGO (CNS) – The second late-winter storm to chill and drench the San Diego area this week delivered widespread and intense rainfall Thursday along with more mountain snowfall. The unsettled atmospheric system out of the Gulf of Alaska generated heavier downpours than its immediate predecessor, at times dropping more than a half-inch of moisture an hour in some parts of the county, according to the National Weather Service. The East County highlands received modest amounts of snowfall over the morning down to about the 4,000-foot level, meteorologists reported. Some spots at the highest local elevations, those around 6,000 feet above sea level, got as much as six inches of frozen white flakes. The cloudbursts led to scattered roadway flooding over the morning Thursday, according to the California Highway Patrol. The deluged locations included Grade Road at Saint Georges Lane in Valley Center, on the Bonita Road off-ramp from northbound Interstate 805 in Bonita, on northbound I-805 at Main Street in Chula Vista, on the El Camino Real

Half of Americans are now using artificial intelligence models like ChatGPT and Gemini, according to a new survey from researchers at Elon University. The school’s Imagining the Digital Future Center conducted a national survey in January to see how Americans are using AI large language models, referred to as LLMs. Researchers said the widespread usage represents one of the fastest adoption rates of a major technology in U.S. history. RELATED STORY | How small businesses are embracing artificial intelligence ChatGPT launched at the end of November 2022 is by far the most used model to this day, according to the survey. But overall, the use of LLMs is becoming widespread. “Younger, well-educated, relatively wealthy, and employed adults are somewhat more likely than others to be using LLMs now. Yet, it is also the case that half of those living in households earning less than $50,000 (53%) use the tools,” the researchers said. The technology is more popular among Hispanic adults (66%) and Black adults (57%) than White adults (47%), the survey found. It’s also slightly more popular among women than men. How often the LLMs

McALLEN, Texas (Border Report) — Rules and regulations for those holding green cards appear to be getting tougher under the Trump administration with the arrest in New York of a former Columbia University student who was a permanent legal resident and vocal pro-Palestinian supporter who is now facing deportation. That has immigration lawyers and migrant advocates throughout the country concerned. In this week’s Border Report Live show, we discuss how the immigration landscape appears to be changing under the Trump administration, which vows to deport anyone with ties to terrorist organizations. We also will discuss the opening and closing of detention and immigrant processing facilities along the Southwest border. Green-card holder rules On Thursday, about 300 people occupied Trump Tower in New York City protesting the arrest Saturday of Mahmoud Khalil. Khalil is a former Columbia University student who was born and raised in Syria and has been living in the United States as a lawful permanent resident. New York Police officers gather to arrest demonstrators from the group, Jewish Voice for Peace, who protested inside Trump Tower in support of Columbia graduate student Mahmoud

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The San Diego Zoo is celebrating the birth of its newest addition to the sloth family. It is the third baby for Xena, a 12-year-old sloth who has two other children, Tornero and Colheita. Two baby bear sloths born at San Diego Zoo Some significant time has passed since the zoo last welcomed a sloth pup. Born on Feb. 8, the recent snuggly bundle of joy was the first to be born at the zoo since Colheita’s birth in June 2022. See the sweet photos of the pup bonding with its mother below. The baby sloth will spend some time bonding with its mother before it makes its public debut. (Mary Hamula/San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance) The baby sloth was born on Feb. 8, 2025. (Mary Hamula/San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance) The unnamed pup will spend a lot of time bonding with Xena over the next few months as it grows, according to the zoo. Guests may be able to spot the mother-baby duo at the Wildlife Explorers Basecamp in the coming weeks, the zoo added. Check out the adorable

(FOX 5/KUSI) — San Diego FC has announced additional steps that the team will take to limit discriminatory behavior by fans that was observed at the inaugural home match. At that first match, many fans took part in a homophobic chant that is often used at Mexican soccer matches and that sports leagues, including FIFA, have been struggling to restrict over the last decade. •Video above: SDFC inaugural home match draws record crowd San Diego FC’s historic home opener draws record crowd San Diego FC’s new messaging includes the phrase “Not here” in English and Spanish (Aquí no) throughout Snapdragon Stadium, as well as extra security and stronger enforcement that could lead to fans being removed from the facility. In a news release issued on Thursday, the team detailed several actions it will begin taking, including anti-discriminatory messages in newsletters, on flyers placed at every seat, a banner with the supporters’ group, and pre-match messaging from team officials. San Diego FC’s full schedule for 2025 The new actions include extra security throughout the stadium which will look for fans participating in the chant and potentially

(FOX40.COM) — California’s slightly drier water year is bad news for fans of the super blooms. “Super bloom” is the common term for when many wildflowers bloom in a short span of time, bringing bright color to landscapes. The phenomenon is typically associated with parks in Southern California. Last month, California State Parks warned parkgoers to expect a “limited bloom” this spring. Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve this year (left) and in 2017 (right). (IMAGE: California State Parks) Those looking to get their fill of flowers this year still have some options, though. “While there tend to be impressive wildflower blooms in desert parks in Southern California on a good rainfall year, in Northern California you can still count on at least some nice blooms even in years with below-average rainfall,” the state parks department said. Here are the spots the department suggests wildflower watchers check out. Mount Tamalpais Wild flowers on Mount Tamalpais, California, USA. (Photo by Hoang-Lien Pham, 2012) California State Parks said that the blooms at Mount Tamalpais just north of San Francisco are currently “bigger, bolder, and more abundant.” ‘Don’t doom the