San Diego, CA
Attendee of the Week: Cash Branson
Every week from now until San Diego Comic-Con, we’re celebrating you: our readers! So let’s meet this week’s Attendee of the Week:
Cash Branson
@captcash

Where are you traveling from for San Diego Comic-Con?
Pittsburgh, PA
How many years have you been attending?
Since 2013
What was your favorite panel and why?
I love attending any cosplay panel to learn what’s new in crafting and to get ideas.
What is your favorite exhibitor or artist booth and why?
I’m a Marvel junkie, so you can always find me around there in cosplay (usually as a Marvel character).
What is your favorite item you’ve ever taken home from the convention (swag, exclusive, merch, etc.)?
The coolest piece of swag I’ve ever gotten was a copy of Defenders #1 (2017) signed by the leads of The Defenders Netflix show! Netflix had an activation and invited Defenders cosplayers to show up. So I dressed as Daredevil, imagine my surprise when Charlie Cox, Mike Coulter, Kristen Ritter, and Finn Jones walked out and gave us all copies of the latest Defenders book signed by them! And where do you think I heard about the cosplay Invite? Here on the SDCC Unofficial Blog!
What was your favorite autograph session and why?
I’m a comic nerd first and foremost. At SDCC I was able to meet one of my favorite authors, Tom King, at the DC Booth. He signed my Mister Miracle (and my copy of Vision #1 despite that it was a Marvel book)!
Tell us about your most memorable celebrity encounter at the convention.
At this point there have been so many! SDCC is crazy for randomly bumping into celebs. My favorite one was probably at the premiere of The Boys in 2019. Mind you, this was the first any of the public had seen of The Boys and well before it became the hit it is. I had read the comics and knew who the production staff was so I had high enough hopes for the show that I made myself a Homelander cosplay. As the showrunner, Eric Kripke was introducing the cast and he called me out from the audience and I got the chance to hug Anthony Starr, Homelander himself!
What was your favorite offsite and why?
I love the offsites! It’s hard to pick a favorite, but I absolutely love how the Gaslamp District transforms during Comic-Con. One of my favorites was last year’s Hellfire Gala held by D23. It was effectively the Met Gala held by the X-Men in a who’s who of the Marvel Universe. I attended dressed as Doctor Doom with a retinue of Doom Bots.
Where is your favorite place to eat during the con?
That’s a tough call. I did really enjoy the Mooby’s pop-up from 2023. It was really entertaining to get View Askewinverse snacks!
What is your favorite thing about San Diego Comic-Con?
The other fans! It’s so much fun to see so many folks so passionate about their fandoms. I’ve gotten to know so many folks from all over.
What is your best tip having a good con?
Follow the SDCC Unofficial Blog! No, seriously. They are invaluable in knowing what is going on and where and how to get tickets for it! Beyond that plan it, but be open to change. Prioritize the things you HAVE to do vs. what you really want to do. You won’t be able to do everything and that’s ok! If there’s something you HAVE to do, get in line for it at least 2 hours early.
Do you tend to do the convention solo or with friends?
How would you describe SDCC to someone who has never been before?
Nerd Mecca. Everyone should go once just to see how crazy it is.
Want to be featured as our Attendee of the Week? Find out how!
San Diego, CA
City considering cutting funding to resource center for those experiencing homelessness
Last week Mayor Todd Gloria released the budget proposal for the 2027 fiscal budget. Protected homeless services is among his top priorities mentioned in the proposal. However, some of the reductions he’s proposing could impact thousands of San Diegans experiencing homelessness.
Located on 17th and K Street, the Neil Good Day Center offers an array of services to nearly seven thousand people experiencing homelessness. The services include giving them a place to shower and do laundry, and connecting them to a case manager, among others.
“These are critical services that are helping people off the streets, but really better their lives and their health and their employment situation as well,” Deacon Vargas with Father Joe’s Villages said.
Deacon Jim Vargas heads Father Joe’s Villages, which runs the center. He said through their prevention and diversion strategies, they’ve managed to keep nearly one thousand individuals from falling into homelessness.
“So by helping them pay rent, or helping them with their utilities, or helping them to reunite with family,” Vargas said.
Right now, the city allocates at least $850,000 per year to the Neil Good Day Center, according to Vargas.
But the future and funding for these services are in limbo because of Mayor Todd Gloria’s proposed budget cuts.
“The impact to those whom we’ve been serving the Daily Center would be very severe,” Deacon Vargas said.
In a statement to NBC 7, Mayor Todd Gloria said in part, “We must find more efficient and cost-effective ways to address this crisis and prioritize funding for programs that provide shelter beds and maximize resources to programs that place people into permanent housing.”
Since it’s still at a proposal stage, Deacon Vargas said it’s unclear how the city will decide to move forward.
However, Deacon Vargas said services would be significantly reduced because they would be forced to operate solely on a budget of about half a million dollars they receive from philanthropy.
“The hours would be cut. Some days would be cut. We would have showers that might be impacted because they’re given seven days a week and we’d close two days a week, then the showers would be five days a week, the case management,” Deacon Vargas said.
Deacon Vargas is certain of one thing.
He would like to continue offering services at the Day Center, even if the city goes through with the funding cuts.
“As we work with individuals at the Day Center and at Father Joe’s Villages, the community becomes healthier as a result of it,” Deacon Vargas said.
The budget also recommends additional cuts to homeless services, but does not give specifics as to where those cuts would be.
San Diego, CA
Game 21: San Diego Padres at Los Angeles Angels
San Diego Padres (14-7) at Los Angeles Angels (11-11), April 19, 2026, 1:07 p.m. PST
Watch: Padres.TV
Location: Angel Stadium – Anaheim, Calif.
Listen: 97.3 The Fan
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San Diego, CA
Solans, Luna, Guilavogui help RSL beat slumping San Diego, extend unbeaten streak to 6 games :: WRALSportsFan.com
SANDY, Utah — SANDY, Utah (AP) — Sergi Solans had two goals and an assist, Diego Luna added a goal and two assists, and Real Salt Lake beat San Diego FC 4-2 on Saturday night to extend its unbeaten streak to six games.
Morgan Guilavogui scored his first goal in MLS and had an assist for Real Salt Lake (5-1-1). The 28-year-old designated player has five goal contributions in his first six career games.
RSL hasn’t lost since a 1-0 defeat at Vancouver in the season opener.
San Diego (3-3-2) has lost three in a row and is winless in five straight.
Luna opened the scoring in the fifth minute when he re-directed a misplayed pass by Duran Ferree, San Diego’s 19-year-old goalkeeper, into the net.
Moments later, Solans headed home a perfectly-placed cross played by Luna from outside the right corner of the 18-yard box to the back post to make it 2-0. Solans, a 23-year-old forward, flicked a header from the center of the area inside the right post and past the outstretched arm of Ferree to make it 3-1 in the 37th minute.
Guilavogui slammed home a first-touch shot to give RSL a three-goal lead in the 45th.
Marcus Ingvartsen scored a goal in the 14th minute and Anders Dreyer converted from the penalty spot in the 66th for San Diego.
Ingvartsen has five goals and an assist this season and has 10 goal contributions (seven goals, three assists) in 16 career MLS appearances.
Rafael Cabral had three saves for RSL.
Ferree finished with five saves.
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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/soccer
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