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Chula Vista residents rally in support of embattled police chief

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Chula Vista residents rally in support of embattled police chief


Some Chula Vista residents lashed out on Tuesday against their city council members who they believe are trying to force their police chief into early retirement.

“I believe it’s politically motivated,” said Bill Turpin, who owns multiple properties in Chula Vista and calls Chief Roxana Kennedy a friend.

“She’s come up through the ranks,” said Turpin. “She’s a female police chief in one of the fastest-growing communities in the nation. She’s done an unbelievable job. There’s nothing she’s done wrong. She should be getting awards,” he added.

Turpin was one of more than a dozen people who planned to speak during the public comment period at Chula Vista City Council on Tuesday night. Also on the speaker list is Maricris Drouaillet, sister of Maya Milliete, a mother who vanished in 2021. Chula Vista Police eventually arrested Maya’s husband for murder. Drouaillet told NBC 7 she had praise for Chief Kennedy for her department’s handling of the case.

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Before Tuesday’s city council meeting, several Kennedy-supporters rallied outside city hall, carrying signs and wearing hats that read, Kennedy should stay, and “keep politics out of policing”.

Supporters of Chief Kennedy are rallying outside Chula Vista City Hall, saying her job is on the line for purely political reasons, reports NBC 7’s Allison Ash.

Attorney for Chief Kennedy’s response

City councilmembers were expected to meet in closed session to discuss a letter from Cory Briggs who said he is representing Chief Kennedy. That letter says in part:

“I am writing to request that your agency and all of those under its control preserve in its current form any evidence regarding the allegations that the Chief has been subjected to improper discipline, retaliation, discrimination, and/ or a hostile work environment, including but not limited to adverse actions against her as a subterfuge for the desire of a majority of the City Council to force the Chief into an early retirement and replace her with a Latino.”

NBC 7 and Telemundo 20 were unable to get comments from city council regarding rumors that some members may be trying to force Kennedy out. Mayor John McCann responded to NBC 7’s request for an interview.

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McCann said he believes politics is at play. When asked if Kennedy had done anything to warrant her removal he said, “I have not seen anything.” 

He added that he hoped Tuesday night’s closed session meeting would help him “find out exactly what is the hullabaloo.”

City of Chula Vista’s response

The City of Chula Vista provided the following statement in response to the situation Tuesday night:

“The City of Chula Vista is deeply disappointed over the continued misrepresentation of the facts involving its relationship with Police Chief Roxana Kennedy. The City is proud of the advancements in policing that have been made during the Chief’s tenure. While the City is prohibited from sharing information on any individual personnel matter, we can unequivocally state the following facts:

  1. The City Manager has never been pressured by any elected official to replace Chief Kennedy for political purposes. To state otherwise is entirely false.
  2. Chief Kennedy requested and is currently out on approved personal leave. This was not a City-directed action.
  3. The City of Chula Vista has not proactively discussed these matters in public. Reporting on this issue has consisted of untruths, rumors and innuendo generated by other parties, in an apparent effort to attract media attention, create a false narrative and combat factual information.

We will continue to govern our city with integrity and professionalism and adhere to all employment policies to foster a work environment that is respectful, inclusive, and free of discrimination or harassment.”

Chief Roxana Kennedy is on medical leave as her attorney alleges city leaders are trying to force her out following a holiday party, reports NBC 7’s Joe Little.

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Solans, Luna, Guilavogui help RSL beat slumping San Diego, extend unbeaten streak to 6 games :: WRALSportsFan.com

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Solans, Luna, Guilavogui help RSL beat slumping San Diego, extend unbeaten streak to 6 games :: WRALSportsFan.com


— 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.

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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.

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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.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/soccer

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How San Diego Has Quietly Emerged as One of America’s Great Dining Destinations

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How San Diego Has Quietly Emerged as One of America’s Great Dining Destinations


When John Resnick opened Campfire on a quaint little street in Carlsbad, Calif., in 2016, some locals weren’t sure what to think. The coastal enclave wasn’t exactly awash in innovative, chef-driven establishments, so it was a shock to see the dining room consistently full. Early on, one woman wondered aloud to Resnick, “Where did all these people come from?”

It’s a moment he remembers vividly. “I was struck by her statement, because I think she was surprised that so many other people in Carlsbad were there,” Resnick says. 

The rest of the culinary world would take some time to catch up to what was happening. In 2019, when Michelin expanded to rate restaurants throughout all of California—not just the San Francisco area—Addison was the only one in San Diego to earn a star. But since emerging from the pandemic, the region’s food scene has grown dramatically. Driven by outstanding farms, ingredients, a bumper crop of talented chefs, and a G.D.P. approximately the size of New Zealand or Greece, San Diego County has become one of America’s most underrated dining destinations.

Campfire’s octopus, chorizo, and celery-root entrée.

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Gage Forster

Perhaps no single restaurant is a better emblem for this shift than chef William Bradley’s Addison, which opened in 2006. After landing his first star, Bradley knew he wanted more. To get them, he transformed his French-leaning fare to serve what he calls California Gastronomy, which combines the cultures of SoCal with impeccable ingredients and wildly impressive techniques, prizing flavor over flair. Michelin responded, awarding Addison a second star in 2022, and making it the first Southern California three-star restaurant just a year later. The accolade has created a halo effect, attracting culinary tourists from around the world.

Berry beet tartlets at San Diego’s three-star stalwart Addison.

Berry beet tartlets at San Diego’s three-star stalwart Addison.

Eric Wolfinger

“Earning three stars forces the global dining community to pay attention to a place that may not have been on their radar before,” says chef Eric Bost, a partner in Resnick’s four Carlsbad establishments. 

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Resnick recruited Bost, who spent time at award-winning outposts of Restaurant Guy Savoy, to run Jeune et Jolie, which he led to a star in 2021. They’ve since taken over an old boogie-board factory down the street and converted it to an all-day restaurant and bakery, Wildland. The space also hosts an exquisite tasting-counter experience called Lilo, which was given a Michelin star mere months after opening in April 2025. And as Resnick and Bost grew their successful Carlsbad operation, chef Roberto Alcocer earned a Michelin star for his Mexican fine-dining spot Valle in nearby Oceanside.

The stylish tasting counter at Michelin one-star Lilo in Carlsbad.

The stylish tasting counter at Michelin one-star Lilo in Carlsbad.

Kimberly Motos

About 25 miles to the south, another affluent coastal community is going through its own culinary glow up. In La Jolla, chef Tara Monsod and the hospitality group Puffer Malarkey Collective opened the stylish French steakhouse Le Coq. Chef Erik Anderson, formerly of Michelin two-star Coi, is preparing to launch Roseacre. And last year, Per Se alums Elijah Arizmendi and Brian Hung left New York to open the elegant tasting-menu restaurant Lucien, lured by the ingredients they’d get to serve. “A major reason we chose San Diego is the quality and diversity of the produce,” Arizmendi explains. “San Diego County has more small farms than anywhere else in the U.S., and its many microclimates allow farmers to grow an incredible range of ingredients year-round.”

Wildland’s spicy Italian sandwich.

Wildland’s spicy Italian sandwich.

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Gage Forster

Chef Travis Swikard has also been a tireless advocate for the region’s ingredients since he returned to San Diego, his hometown, and opened Mediterranean-influenced Callie in 2021. There’s no sophomore slump with his latest effort, the French Riviera–inspired Fleurette in La Jolla, where he’s serving his take on classics like leeks vinaigrette and his San Diego “Bouillabaisse” with local red sheepshead fish and spiny lobster. Its food is bright, produce-driven, and attentive in execution, while the dining room maintains a relaxed and unpretentious style of service. And Swikard sees that approach cohering into a regional style with a strong network of professionals behind it.

“It’s really nice that we are developing our own identity, not trying to be like L.A. or any other market, just highlighting what’s great about the San Diego lifestyle and ingredients,” he says. “Similar to New York, a chef community is starting to develop where chefs are supporting each other. There is a true sense of pride to be cooking here.”

Top: In La Jolla, Lucien serves ocean whitefish with tomatoes turned into concasse, sabayon, and other expressions.





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Little Debbie is launching a new flavor of one of its most popular treats

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Little Debbie is launching a new flavor of one of its most popular treats


Little Debbie is officially expanding its doughnut range.

On April 14, the brand announced a new sweet snack: Chocolate Old Fashioned Donuts. The company says there was “massive consumer demand” for the original Big Pack Old Fashioned Donuts, which quickly became a top seller. Now, they’re just giving the people what they want.

The new snack is a chocolate old-fashioned cake doughnut finished with a sweet glaze and is launching in two formats:

  • The Big Pack Carton: This box contains six doughnuts in a retro-inspired package that reflects the brand’s heritage.
  • Single-serve doughnuts: There are also 3-ounce, individually wrapped Chocolate Old Fashioned Donuts, which the brand suggests pairing with a morning coffee or eating on a midday break.

The original, which includes six individually wrapped cake-style doughnuts with a vanilla glaze, first hit stores in June 2025 and, according to the brand, has been “consistently selling out.”

“We saw an incredible response to the Old Fashioned Donut we introduced last year,” said Scott Brownlow, Little Debbie’s brand manager, in a press release. We’re doubling down on what works and giving both loyalists and new fans an irresistible reason to head back to the store.”

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Little Debbie’s Chocolate Old Fashioned Donuts are rolling out now to major retailers, grocery stores and convenience stores nationwide. As with the original Old Fashioned Donut, they become a permanent addition to the brand’s snack lineup.

This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:



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