

Editor and reporter
Karen Kucher
Karen Kucher is a veteran reporter and Sunday editor at the Union-Tribune. Karen is on the public safety team and over the years has covered everything from city and county governments to K-12 schools and colleges to the San Diego Zoo. She is a native San Diegan and graduated from the University of Southern California. She's won several awards, most recently first place from the San Diego Society of Professional Journalists for Daily Reporting and Writing — Series for “20 years after the Cedar fire" with several colleagues, and first place in the same category in 2020 for "Inside the Fire Academy" with several colleagues. In 2023, she won first place for feature writing from the San Diego Press Club.
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Gun owners who have unwanted firearms can exchange them for gift cards at the North County Regional Center from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Unoccupied car wash gutted by three-alarm fire in Escondido
Firefighters were called around 2:55 a.m. about heavy smoke and flames showing at the car wash on North Escondido Boulevard near West Mission Avenue

Oceanside police find drugs after plane makes emergency landing on freeway
Two Oceanside residents were arrested early Thursday after their plane made an emergency landing on state Route 76 near Canyon Drive

With more lithium-ion batteries comes more fire risk. San Diego now has an expert for that.
San Diego Fire-Rescue Battalion Chief Rob Rezende became the region’s alternative energy emergency response coordinator in April

Teen on e-bike seriously injured in hit-and-run crash involving white pickup
The 16-year-old boy was hospitalized with internal injuries after being struck on his e-bike in San Marcos by a hit-and-run driver around 9 p.m. Tuesday

Federal officer wounds man with screwdriver at Otay Mesa Port of Entry
No commercial trucks were allowed to cross at the port for a few hours during the investigation Wednesday

Arrestan a masajista sin licencia en San Diego por sospecha de delitos sexuales
Christopher Scott Preston se declaró inocente de tres cargos de agresión sexual y otros dos delitos sexuales

Arrest made in deadly shooting, stabbing in East Village
Police said a man was shot and stabbed after getting into an altercation on the sidewalk of 14th Street near Imperial Avenue around 7:40 p.m. Tuesday

San Diego unlicensed massage therapist arrested on suspicion of sex crimes
Christopher Scott Preston, who also coached freshman football at University City High, pleaded not guilty to five counts

La policía investiga la muerte de dos personas en un tiroteo en Barrio Logan
El tiroteo se reportó poco después de las 9:30 p. m. en Beardsley Street cerca de National Avenue

Arrest made after two people fatally shot, car stolen in Barrio Logan
San Diego police said the gunman nearly drove off with a female in the back seat. A 23-year-old National City man was found and arrested hours later driving the victim’s...

Police investigating after 2 killed in shooting in Barrio Logan
The shooting was reported shortly after 9:30 p.m. on Beardsley Street near National Avenue

El crimen en general disminuyó en el condado de San Diego; pero los crímenes de odio aumentaron un 39%
Se reportaron 133 incidentes de crímenes de odio con 151 víctimas en 2023, en comparación con 96 incidentes en 2022.

Overall crime in San Diego County down, but reported hate crimes rose 39 percent
There were 133 hate crime incidents with 151 victims reported to local law enforcement in 2023, compared to 96 incidents in 2022

Autoridades realizan un arresto en conexión con homicidio en Lemon Grove
La víctima, Diego Omar Valera-Trujillo, de 21 años, recibió varios disparos alrededor de las 11:35 p. m. del sábado en School Lane

Arrest made in Lemon Grove homicide
The victim, 21-year-old Diego Omar Valera-Trujillo, was shot multiple times around 11:35 p.m. Saturday on School Lane near Central Avenue, officials said

No structures threatened as Camp Pendleton brush fire continues to burn
The blaze ignited Saturday in the Zulu Impact Area on base near Case Springs Road, which is five miles from Fallbrook and about 6 1/2 miles from Oceanside

Algunas escuelas de Escondido cerraron debido a incendio en la instalación de almacenamiento de baterías de SDG&E
Los bomberos respondieron a una alarma y reporte de humo poco antes de las 12:10 p.m., en la instalación ubicada en Enterprise Street

Un hombre herido dijo a la policía que alguien le disparó. La policía de National City asegura que se disparó a sí mismo.
El hombre recibió un disparo afuera de un centro comercial en Highland Avenue, cerca de East 24th Street

Injured man told police someone shot him. National City police said he shot himself.
The man was shot outside a strip mall on Highland Avenue near East 24th Street around 2:25 a.m.

Some Escondido schools closed Friday as fire burns at SDG&E battery storage facility
The fire was reported shortly before 12:10 p.m. at the facility on Enterprise Street near Commercial Street

Agente de la Policía de San Diego herido en accidente es dado de alta del hospital
Zachary Martínez, de 27 años, sufrió quemaduras, fractura de espalda y múltiples lesiones faciales cuando fue embestido por un conductor adolescente

Body of man wearing motorcycle helmet found on SR-94 in East County
CHP officers responding to calls found the man lying in the road east of Sweetwater Spring Boulevard near Casa de Oro around 3:35 a.m.

San Diego police officer injured in crash released from hospital
Officer Zachary Martinez, 27, suffered burns, a broken back and multiple facial injuries when the patrol car he was riding in was broadsided by a teen driver on Aug 26,...

Agente de Policía de San Diego muerto en accidente tras persecución era ‘único en su clase’
El conductor del coche que estaban persiguiendo también murió en el accidente del lunes por la noche en Clairemont.

Community mourning death of San Diego police officer killed in fiery crash
Officer Austin Machitar was killed and Officer Zach Martinez badly injured when they were hit by a speeding driver in Clairemont

Trabajador de la construcción muere en una zanja en el sitio de Scripps Ranch
Los bomberos fueron llamados poco después de las 4 a.m. a Hoyt Park Drive y Scripps Ranch Boulevard

Construction worker dies in trench at Scripps Ranch site
Firefighters were called shortly after 4 a.m. to a construction site at Hoyt Park Drive and Scripps Ranch Boulevard where a worker was trapped 20 feet down

SDPD officer killed in fiery crash following pursuit was ‘one of a kind’
San Diego police Officer Austin Machitar died and Officer Zach Martinez was injured in the Monday night crash in Clairemont

Two killed and teen enger injured in solo van crash in Spring Valley
The driver lost control of his silver Nissan Quest, veered off the roadway and ran into a light pole on Saturday

Carjacking suspect arrested after pursuit, crash in Vista
The alleged carjacking occurred around 1:25 a.m. on South Santa Fe Avenue near Civic Center Drive

Conductor perseguido por la policía de San Diego muere tras chocar en la SR-94
El accidente ocurrió poco después de las 7:30 p.m. del martes después de que el presunto conductor se dio a la fuga

Policía investiga incidente de vandalismo en escuela de Chula Vista como crimen de odio
Los agentes fueron llamados a la escuela primaria Camarena en Exploration Falls Drive para investigar los grafitis en la escuela de Otay Ranch

Driver being chased by San Diego police dies after crashing on SR-94
The crash occurred shortly after 7:30 p.m. Tuesday after the suspected hit-and-run driver lost control on a transition from south state Route 15 to west SR-94

Detectives investigan tiroteo en Lakeside que dejó a un hombre herido
El tiroteo se reportó poco después de las 12:15 a.m. en Woodside Avenue cerca de Winter Gardens Boulevard

Detectives investigating shooting in Lakeside
The shooting was reported shortly after 12:15 a.m. on Woodside Avenue near Winter Gardens Boulevard, a sheriff's official said

Police investigating Chula Vista school vandalism as hate crime
Officers were called out to Camarena Elementary School on Exploration Falls Drive to investigate spray paint messages and swastikas

Conductor gravemente herido en choque con patrulla de policía de Oceanside
La colisión ocurrió poco antes de las 9:15 a.m. en la intersección de Mission Avenue y Roymar Road

Alleged hit-run driver arrested in Imperial Beach crash that killed pedestrian
The pedestrian was hit by a car just before 11 p.m. on Connecticut Street near Imperial Beach Boulevard

San Diego y otras grandes ciudades reportan caídas en delitos violentos en una nueva encuesta
La encuesta compara datos recopilados en los primeros seis meses de 2023 y 2024

Investigation under way after pipe fitter killed in industrial accident at NASSCO shipyard
The county Medical Examiner's Office said 58-year-old JC Adame of San Diego died Monday afternoon after a steel foundation piece fell on him at the shipyard.

San Diego, other large cities report drops in violent crime in new survey
The survey compares data collected in the first six months of 2023 and 2024 for reported homicide, rape, robbery and aggravated assault cases in large cities

Driver seriously injured in crash with Oceanside police car
The collision occurred shortly before 9:15 a.m. at the intersection of Mission Avenue and Roymar Road as an Oceanside police officer was making a left turn

Evacuation orders lifted as crews get containment on Jamul area brush fire
More than 100 firefighters, assisted by helicopters and firefighting planes, were sent to fight the East County blaze

Escondido High math teacher arrested on suspicion of sexual with student
Kyiri Tisdale, 31, was arrested on Friday and is being held in the Vista jail. Police said they believe there is at least one additional victim.

Todo lo que debes saber para ver a los pandas gigantes en el Zoológico de San Diego
Los visitantes deberán seguir algunos pasos únicos para ver a los pandas gigantes

Los pandas Yuan Chuan y Xin Bao del Zoológico de San Diego se exhiben al público el jueves
Los visitantes finalmente podrán dar la bienvenida a los dos nuevos osos y ver Panda Ridge

How to see the return of the giant pandas at the San Diego Zoo
Zoo visitors will need to follow a few unique steps to see the giant pandas, or try a new walking tour option

Panda fans, rejoice: San Diego Zoo’s Yuan Chuan and Xin Bao go on public view Thursday
Visitors will be able to finally welcome the two new bears and see Panda Ridge, a habitat that's four times larger than the zoo's previous panda space

3 stabbed during incidents in Fallbrook, Spring Valley and Vista
Sheriff's officials are investigating separate attacks reported over a six-hour period from late Saturday to early Sunday.

Un conductor muere tras chocar contra un vehículo estacionado en Lemon Grove
El conductor chocó contra un vehículo estacionado sin personas en Massachusetts Avenue, cerca de Mount Vernon Street

Operación encubierta contra el tráfico sexual deja 14 arrestos en la Comic-Con
La operación se centró en los compradores de sexo con el objetivo de recuperar a las víctimas potenciales

Motorcyclist dies in Imperial Beach crash with pickup
The motorcyclist, a man in his 20s, was killed in the Thursday morning collision with a pickup, a sheriff's official said

Driver dies after crashing into parked car in Lemon Grove
The driver crashed into an unoccupied parked vehicle on Massachusetts Avenue near Mount Vernon Street shortly before 10:45 p.m. Wednesday

Residente de Oceanside mata a tiros a sospechoso de invasión de vivienda
La policía dijo que un residente de Oceanside disparó y mató a un hombre, armado con una piedra y un palo

Undercover sex-trafficking sting nets 14 arrests, recovery of 10 possible victims at Comic-Con
The San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force operation targeted sex buyers with a goal of recovering potential victims and arresting traffickers.

Bomberos avanzan en el control de un incendio cerca de la frontera entre Estados Unidos y México
El lunes por la mañana, se informó que el incendio Border 65 estaba contenido en un 50 por ciento

Oceanside homeowner fatally shoots home-invasion suspect
The 22-year-old man, armed with a rock and a 3-foot wooden stake, had entered an open sliding glass door of his home on Diamond Circle, police said

Motorcyclist killed, another rider seriously injured in SR-78 crash with truck, trailer
A 66-year-old motorcyclist was killed Sunday morning when he sideswiped a truck pulling a trailer heading in the opposite direction and crashed near Wynola.

Firefighters making progress on blaze near U.S.-Mexico border
The Border 65 fire, south of Barnett Junction and west of Tecate, was reported to be 60 percent contained on Monday

Un hombre muere apuñalado en una pelea cerca de la estación de tranvía de Palm City
La víctima fue encontrada en la estación de tranvía de Palm Avenue alrededor de las 7:50 p.m. del martes

Some evacuations lift as firefighters battle 900-acre Grove fire for second day
Firefighters in San Diego County are battling flames under hot, humid conditions, and a fire official said it was expected to burn "probably several days"

Man killed in La Mesa was stabbed, not shot, police say
Police said a 25-year-old man found mortally wounded on a La Mesa street July 13 died from stab wounds, not gunshot wounds as originally believed

La policía identifica a un hombre de 25 años de La Mesa que fue asesinado a tiros
La policía de La Mesa dijo que Essa Faraj fue encontrado mortalmente herido después de desplomarse en High Street

One fatally stabbed in fight near Palm City trolley station
The victim, who appeared to be a teen or young man, was found at the Palm Avenue trolley station around 7:50 p.m. Tuesday

Sheriff de San Diego dice que un conductor atropelló intencionalmente a un hombre de 44 años
No se reveló el nombre del hombre asesinado.

Police identify 25-year-old La Mesa man who was fatally shot
La Mesa police said Essa Faraj was found mortally wounded after collapsing on High Street shortly after midnight on July 12

Crews make progress on brush fire near Bell Valley in East County
The blaze was reported shortly after 10:30 a.m. between Potrero and Campo, and was 20 percent contained by afternoon

Sheriff’s Department says Lemon Grove driver intentionally ran over 44-year-old man
A 44-year-old man who was standing on Broadway in Lemon Grove, talking with people inside a vehicle, was intentionally run over around 2:15 a.m. and later died at a hospital....

Peatón dispara a conductor con pistola de aire comprimido durante discusión en El Cajón
El tiroteo ocurrió el jueves por la noche en la intersección de Second Street y East Madison Avenue

Pedestrian shoots driver with BB gun during argument in El Cajon
The shooting occurred Thursday night at the intersection of Second Street and East Madison Avenue shortly before 1:10 a.m.

Rescatan a 2 hombres del naufragio de su bote que acababan de comprar en San Diego
Los dos ciudadanos mexicanos llamaron al 911 cuando la embarcación de 25 pies comenzó a hundirse

2 men rescued from sinking boat they just bought in San Diego
The two Mexican nationals had purchased the 25-foot vessel in North County and were driving it to Ensenada when it began taking on water around midnight Monday

DNA tests confirm shark that bit Del Mar swimmer was juvenile white shark
Researchers conducted a bite analysis and tests of DNA left on a wetsuit worn by Caleb Adams when he was bitten by a shark last month off the coast of...

Hombre arrestado después de que una mujer se despertara con un intruso en su habitación
El incidente ocurrió alrededor de las 4:40 a.m. en Mary Lane Drive, cerca de Campanile Drive, dijo la policía.

No reportan víctimas después de un posible tiroteo entre automóviles en National City
La policía de National City está investigando el tiroteo, que se reportó cerca de Third Street y J Avenue.

Man arrested after College Area woman wakes up to prowler in her bedroom
The incident happened about 4:40 a.m. on Mary Lane Drive off Campanile Drive, San Diego police said

Man fatally shot by Chula Vista police sergeant after allegedly firing gun at officers
The shooting was reported around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, about a half hour after police were called to a solo-vehicle crash on Marina Parkway and Sandpiper Way

La pareja de osos pandas ya se ‘aclimata’ a su nuevo hogar en el Zoológico de San Diego
Yun Chuan y Xin Bao permanecen fuera de la exhibición después de volar a San Diego desde China el 27 de junio

Empleado de hotel en La Jolla sospechoso de atacar a huésped en su habitación
El hombre condujo fuera del muelle junto al Museo USS Midway hacia la Bahía de San Diego

Panda pair ‘acclimating’ to new home at San Diego Zoo
Yun Chuan and Xin Bao remain off exhibit after taking a flight to San Diego from China on June 27. They came to the U.S. under a conservation partnership designed...

No victims found after possible car-to-car shooting in National City
National City police are investigating the shooting, which was reported shortly after 10:40 a.m. on east Third Street near J Avenue and possibly involved people in vehicles shooting at each...

Dos heridos y un detenido por apuñalamiento en restaurante de Ocean Beach
Una persona fue arrestada en relación con un apuñalamiento la madrugada del domingo en un restaurante de Ocean Beach que dejó a dos víctimas hospitalizadas.

La Jolla hotel clerk suspected of attacking guest in her room and driving off pier into bay
Aaron Tran, 23, who worked the front desk at The Shoal La Jolla Beach hotel, drove off the pier next to the USS Midway Museum into San Diego Bay and...

Man suspected in La Jolla motel stabbing dies after car goes into the water near USS Midway
Police identify him as Aaron Tran, 23, a clerk at the motel.

2 injured, one arrested in stabbing at Ocean Beach restaurant
One person was arrested in connection with a stabbing early Sunday at an Ocean Beach restaurant that left two victims hospitalized, San Diego police said

Drug-disposal pouches handed out to patients prescribed opioids to combat misuse
More than 1,200 of the pouches have been distributed at dental and doctor offices and pharmacies in East County and central San Diego

Equipo antiexplosivos revisa dispositivo sospechoso en automóvil en La Mesa
La policía llegó a Kelton Avenue para investigar a un hombre que actuaba de manera extraña y blandiendo un cuchillo

Pasajera de 77 años gravemente herida en presunto accidente de DUI en Pacific Beach
El accidente ocurrió en Mission Bay Drive, cerca de la rampa de salida de la Interestatal 5 en dirección norte

East County wildland fire 50 percent contained in third day
Four helicopters are assisting crews on the ground as firefighters battle a brush fire sparked by car crash Monday that prompted evacuations at De Anza Springs Resort

Bomb squad checks out suspicious device in car in La Mesa
Police called to Kelton Avenue Tuesday to a man waving a knife found a suspicious device in his car

77-year-old enger critically injured in suspected DUI crash in Pacific Beach
The crash occurred on Mission Bay Drive near the off-ramp from northbound Interstate 5 shortly after 6:30 p.m. Sunday, leaving a woman in a Prius with a ruptured diaphragm, police...

Bombero de Oakland de 25 años es encontrado muerto en Pacific Beach aparentemente ahogado
El cuerpo del hombre fue encontrado alrededor de las 4 a.m. al norte de Crystal Pier dos horas después de su desaparición

La I-5 reabre varias horas después de que un accidente en cadena matara a 3 personas e hiriera a 5
Dos vehículos y cuatro motocicletas estuvieron involucrados en el accidente que congestionó varias autopistas

Los pandas se dirigirán a San Diego después de una “ceremonia de despedida” en China
Funcionarios del Zoológico y el alcalde de San Diego asistieron a una ceremonia para Yun Chuan y Xin Bao

25-year-old Oakland firefighter found dead in Pacific Beach in apparent drowning
The man's body was found around 4 a.m. north of Crystal Pier about two hours after he went missing in the ocean

I-5 reopens several hours after chain-reaction crash kills 3, injures 5
All southbound freeway lanes were shut down for nearly seven hours after the early-morning crash involving two vehicles and four motorcycles south of Las Pulgas Road

Pandas will head to San Diego after a ‘farewell ceremony’ in China
San Diego Zoo officials and San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria attended a ceremony for Yun Chuan and Xin Bao in the Sichuan province in advance of the animals being flown...

La policía de San Diego investiga después del hallazgo de un cuerpo en una casa de Clairemont
El cuerpo en descomposición de una mujer fue descubierto en una casa en Mount Albertine Avenue la madrugada del martes.

San Diego police investigate after woman’s body found in Clairemont home
A suspicious death investigation was launched after the body was discovered on Mount Albertine Avenue