Coming next to Downtown’s Embarcadero — a 5.7-acre
over-the-water park next to the USS Midway Museum
Freedom Park will be a tribute to San Diego’s military history
Sometime in early 2028, a 5.7-acre over-the-water park will be opened alongside the USS Midway Museum on the Downtown Embarcadero — a tribute to the San Diego region’s rich military history.
On its completion, Freedom Park will boast an array of features, including nature gardens, memorials and monuments, play elements, and concessionaires. Developed by the USS Midway Museum and the Port of San Diego, Freedom Park’s overall design will be handled by RICK, a San Diego company formerly called Rick Engineering Company.
RICK is the prime design consultant for the park and will be responsible for developing all civil engineering and landscape architecture. Sub-consultants involved on the engineering, landscape architecture team include BSE Engineering, Triton, Engineers, Ninyo & Moore, and Wimmer, Yamada & Caughey — all from San Diego, and Gallagher and Associates of Virginia Beach, Virginia.
“Visitors will enjoy the beautiful surroundings but have no idea about the complex engineering that made it all possible,” says Nick A. Dorner, RICK’s project manager for Freedom Park, responsible for the extensive coordination of the project.
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“This is among California’s most structurally complex over-the-water parks,” Dorner said. “In a typical park, engineers have unlimited space below ground to position water, sewer, electrical, communications and storm drain systems. At Freedom Park, we have minimal space to contain all the infrastructure. Everything must fit together seamlessly.”
Top Photo: A rendering of Freedom Park.
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Saab selects San Diego as U.S. innovation hub
Swedish defense industrial giant Saab’s U.S. subsidiary is opening an innovation hub in San Diego named Skapa, the company’s president and CEO said in an interview April 24. “We have innovation hubs in Sweden and one in the U.K, so we thought, ‘Why don’t we set something up in the U.S.?’” Saab President and CEO Micael Johansson told National Defense in a phone interview. Skapa is Swedish for “to create, to make, to shape,” a press release said. Having an innovation hub in the United States will pave the way for research opportunities with Saab’s U.S. customers as well as government organizations such as the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Johansson said. “It will help us quickly get traction in the U.S., and that is quite attractive to us,” he added.
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State awards $120 million in tax credits to eight
companies to generate more than 2,000 full-time jobs
The state has awarded $120 million in tax credits to eight innovative companies in California that will generate more than 2,100 full-time jobs with an average annual salary of over $100,000, and bring in an estimated $15.5 billion in private investment over the next five years.
The funding, from the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development’s (GO-Biz) California Competes program, is going to companies expanding their operations in California and supporting the type of cutting-edge industries that the state is known for.
One of those companies is Controlled Thermal Resources, which received a $30 million tax credit to help construct a facility near the Salton Sea to sustainably extract lithium and other critical minerals from geothermal brine in Imperial County.
The other companies and their tax credit:
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Pacific Steel Group: $30 million
Moxion Power Co.: $25 million
Elve Inc.: $15 million
MicroVention Inc.: $7,500,000
Tau Motors Inc.: $7 million
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Paired Power Inc.: $3,500,000
Juanita’s Foods: $2 million
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A new California ruling tries to hold down your health care costs.
Here’s how it works
A nurse checks on a patient in the emergency room unit of Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital in Hollister on March 30, 2023. (Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local)
By Kristen Hwang | CalMatters
You won’t notice it right away, but a new California state agency took a major step last week toward reining in the seemingly uncontrollable costs of health care.
The Office of Health Care Affordability approved the state’s first cap on health industry spending increases, limiting growth to 3 percent by 2029. This means that hospitals, doctors and health insurers will need to find ways to cut costs to prevent annual per capita spending from exceeding the target. Between 2015 and 2020, per capita health spending in California grew more than 5 percent each year, according to federal data.
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A board appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature on April 17 approved the new regulations in a 6-1 vote.
Health and Human Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly, who chairs the board, said the regulations recognize that Californians are struggling every day to pay for health care and the state has a role in helping them. “We have a place in making sure it becomes more affordable,” Ghaly said.
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Carlsbad to build solar energy farm at Maerkle Reservoir
Carlsbad is working with consultants and industry experts to build a solar energy farm on 30 to 40 acres the city owns at the Maerkle Reservoir.
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The Carlsbad Municipal Water District recently completed a feasibility study and is on track to select a development partner by the end of the year, Intergovernmental Affairs Director Jason Haber said Tuesday at a meeting of the Carlsbad City Council, which oversees the water district.
The reservoir covers about 17 acres of the district’s property in a little-seen eastern corner of the city near the border with Oceanside and Vista. The photovoltaic panels would be installed on vacant property the district owns just north of the reservoir.
Up to 8 megawatts could be generated by the system, said the city’s Senior Engineer Keri Martinez. A single megawatt is to supply 650 average homes annually, according to SDG&E.
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Mahesh Krishnan elected to Halozyme’s Board of Directors
Halozyme Therapeutics Inc. announced the election of Mahesh Krishnan, M.D. to its board of directors. Dr. Krishnan has more than 20 years of experience in health care, biotechnology and health services. Dr. Krishnan currently serves as group vice president of growth at DaVita Inc., one of the largest providers of kidney care services in the U.S. He was co-lead of the DaVita Venture Group, where he oversaw strategic partnerships in technology and research and development within the organization.
Sempra named a Best Employer for Diversity by Forbes
Sempra has been named to Forbes Best Employers for Diversity in 2024, marking the sixth consecutive year the company has earned a spot on the annual list recognizing strong workforce development and employee engagement practices. The Best Employers for Diversity 2024, presented by Forbes and Statista Inc., were identified in an independent survey from a sample of over 170,000 U.S.-based employees working for companies employing at least 1,000 people within the U.S.
Cetera names Michael Molnar head of corporate development
Cetera Finanial Group, he premier financial advisor Wealth Hub, has named Michael Molnar its head of corporate development. Molner, a Wall Street veteran who has been a buy-side investor, an investment banker and a sell-side analyst, previously led corporate development, M&A and succession planning for Avantax Inc., acquired by Cetera Holdings in November 2023. Molnar orchestrated more than 20 acquisitions that helped nearly double the size of Avantax’s employee-based RIA.
Finopotamus launches the 2024-25 Payments Industry Leaders Forum
Finopotamus, the only online resource providing in-depth technology coverage exclusively to credit unions, announced the launch of the inaugural Payments Industry Leaders Forum, the second in a Finopotamus series of knowledge portals focused on key industry topics. The publication’s first offering, the Digital Banking Industry Leaders Forum, was launched in Q4 of 2023. Finopotamus was created by industry veterans W.B. King, John San Filippo, and Roy Urrico.
Provisio Medical announces FDA clearance of Provisio SLT IVUS system
Provisio Medical announced FDA clearance of the Provisio SLT IVUS System. Sonic Lumen Tomography (SLT) technology addresses a critical unmet need for vascular specialists by providing automatic, real-time, accurate, numeric measurements of the flow lumen of blood vessels without the complexities of image interpretation. Provisio Medical’s catheter is the world’s first integrated intravascular imaging and support crossing catheter and enables vessel lumen measurement and visualization simultaneously.
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Alaska Airlines expands presence in Southern California
Alaska Airlines is expanding service at two of its major hubs in Southern California with new routes and additional capacity to popular West Coast destinations as part of the carrier’s ongoing commitment to growth in the state. It will add its 39th nonstop destination from San Diego with service to Las Vegas. It also will start new service between Los Angeles and Pasco, and bring back guest favorite Los Angeles to Reno.
COOLA celebrates 20 years of innovation
COOLA has been creating organic, innovative suncare for 20 years. As sunscreen and skincare consumers have evolved, COOLA is making a move to ensure its packaging fully represents its future. Building beyond its lifestyle-brand legacy, COOLA is looking to reflect its expertise and superiority in SPF by revealing a brand-new look that conveys its focus on efficacy and innovation while still embracing its organic, Southern California heritage.
Polaris unleashes lineup of cordless cleaners to meet every need
Polaris, the leading manufacturer of premium automatic pool cleaners, has added to its robotic offering with a new lineup of cordless cleaners to accommodate any backyard pool or spa. The Polaris Freedom, which debuted last spring, was the first Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner launched by the iconic brand. Now Polaris builds on the success of FREEDOM with the advanced FREEDOM Plus, PIXEL and the groundbreaking new Spabot cleaners.
LUXE Bidet named Hermes Creative Awards 2024 Gold winner
LUXE Bidet, the #1 bidet attachment provider in America, shared its recent success at the esteemed Hermes Creative Awards for its project “LUXE Bidet – Good Clean Fun,” featuring a host-read with Conan O’Brien. The company’s advertisement, led by Conan O’Brien, has been honored as a 2024 Gold Winner, signifying a remarkable achievement in creative excellence and industry recognition. LUXE Bidet celebrates winning the 2024 Hermes Creative Gold Award for its exceptional bidet attachment project.
Oberon Fuels and Sunvapor commission solar steam project
Oberon Fuels, a renewable fuels producer, and Sunvapor, a renewaboe heat provider, commissioned a solar steam project under the first purchase agreement in the U.S. for industrial solar steam. This agreement will eliminate upfront capital requirements to deploy solar steam, while enabling Oberon to as much as double output capacity and slash the carbon intensity of renewable fuels — critical for industrial customers seeking renewable fuels to achieve pressing net-zero commitments.
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Wildcat receives 100th patent for battery materials innovation and technology
Battery materials pioneer Wildcat Discovery Technologies announced it received its 100th patent, reinforcing its industry-leading innovation and advancing its strategy for U.S.-based cathode materials manufacturing. Wildcat has been developing battery materials since 2006 and plans to build a plant in the United States to manufacture lithium iron phosphate (LFP) in late 2026, lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP) in 2027, and disordered rock salt (DRX) in 2028. The company has received patents for cathode active materials (CAM) innovations, novel electrolytes and anodes, and various other battery-related technologies.
Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of the Chaldean Catholic bishop of San Diego, California, a decision announced Tuesday by the Vatican after the bishop was arrested on embezzlement charges. The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office said last week it had arrested Bishop Emmanuel Shaleta on Thursday at San Diego International Airport as he tried to leave the country, reports the AP. The office said it acted after someone from Shaleta’s church provided a statement and documentation “showing potential embezzlement from the church.” Shaleta was being held on $125,000 bail on eight counts of embezzlement, money laundering, and aggravated white collar crime, the statement said. Shaleta pleaded not guilty on Monday, reports NBC San Diego.
“He was on his way to Germany,” prosecutor Joel Madero said. “Given his access to funds, the fact that he had over $9,000 in the bag when he was stopped, and the fact that he has these international ties … I do believe that some bail to ensure he shows up is appropriate.” There was no immediate reply to an email sent to Shaleta’s parish, St. Peter Chaldean Church, seeking comment and contact information for his attorney. The Vatican said in its daily bulletin Tuesday that Leo had accepted Shaleta’s resignation under the code of canon law for eastern rite churches that allows for the pope to agree if a bishop asks to step down.
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Leo actually accepted the resignation when Shaleta presented it in February, but an announcement was not made until Tuesday, according to the Vatican embassy in Washington. The Holy See appears to have waited to announce the decision to avoid interfering with the police investigation. Leo named Bishop Saad Hanna Sirop as a temporary administrator. Shaleta, 69, was ordained a priest of the Chaldean Catholic Church in Detroit in 1984. He was named to the San Diego branch of the eastern rite Catholic Church in the US in 2017.
36.9 — The percentage of groundballs that Márquez yielded in 2025, a career low and significantly below his career average (48%). Márquez’s groundball rate was regularly above 50% before requiring Tommy John surgery in early 2023. He made one start in 2024 and struggled mightily while making 26 starts last year.
TRENDING
Down — Márquez had a 4.40 ERA through his first seven years in the majors, not bad considering he pitched roughly half his games at one of the best hitting environments in the majors. In fact, Márquez has a 5.17 ERA in his career at Coors Field and a 4.22 ERA in road environments. But Márquez underwent Tommy John surgery early in 2023, made one start in the majors in mid-July in 2024 (4 IP, 3 ER) and struggled throughout his first full year back in the Rockies rotation. The season was so difficult for Márquez that he was actually worse on the road (7.32 ERA) than he was in 11 starts at Coors Field (5.98 ERA). His strikeout rate (5.9 per nine innings) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (1.73) were the worst of his careers, as was his walk rate (3.4 per nine innings), while his hit rate (12.0 per nine innings) was the second worst of his career. On top of that, Márquez’s groundball rate was also the lowest of his career (see stat to note) and ranked in the bottom 22nd percentile of the league and his hard-hit rate (48.5%) and average exit velocity (91.7 mph) both ranked in the bottom 2 percentile of the league. One reason: a 94.8 mph four-seamer is down a few ticks than the height of his effectiveness. Márquez reached free agency after the season and signed with the Padres in February.
2026 OUTLOOK
Márquez has a big-league deal with the Padres, but he’ll have to rediscover his pre-elbow-reconstruction form to hold onto a roster spot, as RHP Griffin Canning (Achilles) is expected to push for a spot at some point this season and the likes of LHP JP Sears, RHP Matt Waldron and minor league signees like Marco Gonzales could warrant looks if Márquez’s struggles continue into 2026.
German Marquez #33 of the San Diego Padres participates in drills during spring training workouts at the Peoria Sports Complex on Monday, Feb. 16, 2026 in Peoria, Ariz.(Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
In today’s Daily Dirt, I mentioned that the search at San Diego was done. Here’s the official announcement from USD on the hiring of JR Blount as their next head men’s basketball coach:
University of San Diego Athletics has named JR Blount the 15th head coach in San Diego men’s basketball program history, USD Associate Vice President and Executive Director of Athletics Kimya Massey announced on Monday.
Blount arrives in San Diego with a reputation as one of college basketball’s rising coaching talents after helping lead Iowa State to four NCAA Tournament appearances in four seasons.
He joins the Toreros after five seasons on T.J. Otzelberger’s staff at Iowa State, where the Cyclones compiled a 95-45 record during his tenure, won the 2024 Big 12 Tournament Championship and reached the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 in 2022 and 2024 — one of the most successful stretches in program history. Iowa State finished in the AP Top 15 in each of those four seasons and climbed as high as No. 2 nationally in each of the last two years. During the 2025-26 season, the Cyclones opened with a 16-0 start, highlighted by victories over No. 1 Purdue, No. 2 Houston, No. 9 Kansas and No. 14 St. John’s.
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“After a thorough and highly competitive national search, we are proud to welcome JR Blount as the next head coach of USD men’s basketball,” said Massey. “JR is an outstanding leader, a relentless competitor and one of the brightest rising coaches in college basketball. Even more importantly, throughout this process I came to know him as a humble leader with strong integrity and deep family values. JR has been a part of winning at every level of his career and understands what it takes to build a program that competes with toughness, discipline and consistency. Just as importantly, he believes in developing young men holistically and leading in a way that reflects the values of this university.
“This is a pivotal moment for our program and JR’s vision aligns with our belief that San Diego men’s basketball should compete in the upper tier of the WCC and position itself to be a regular NCAA Tournament participant. We are excited about what lies ahead under his leadership.”
“As a product of Catholic education and deeply committed to USD’s mission and values, Coach Blount is an outstanding role model for the young men in our Torero basketball program,” said USD President James T. Harris III. “He brings an impressive resume with deep experience, a winning track record and — above all — a commitment to the overall wellbeing of our student-athletes.”
“I’m incredibly honored and grateful for the opportunity to lead USD men’s basketball,” Blount said. “We are so thankful to Athletic Director Kimya Massey and President Harris for this opportunity. This is more than just a coaching position for me — it’s a chance to become part of a community and build something meaningful. My wife and our three daughters are excited to make this move together and we can’t wait to invest in this university and the relationships that make it special.
I come to USD with a deep desire to win — to compete relentlessly, to develop our young men to their fullest potential and to build a program our fans can be proud of. Winning championships is important, but so is building a culture of toughness, accountability and love. We’re going to work every day to represent USD the right way, on and off the court. I’m ready to get started.”
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Blount played a key role in Iowa State’s rise under Otzelberger, helping orchestrate one of the most significant program turnarounds in recent Division I history. In his first season with the Cyclones in 2021-22, Iowa State rebounded from a two-win campaign the year before to finish 22-13 and advance to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16. The Cyclones quickly established a national reputation for defensive toughness, ranking among the nation’s best in scoring defense, defensive efficiency, steals and turnovers forced.
Over the next three seasons, Blount helped Iowa State sustain that momentum. In 2022-23, the Cyclones advanced to the NCAA Tournament and recorded nine wins over AP Top 25 opponents, tied for the most in school history. In 2023-24, Iowa State won the Big 12 Championship, finished 29-8, posted an undefeated 18-0 record at Hilton Coliseum and advanced to the Sweet 16. Most recently, the 2024-25 Cyclones finished 25-10, climbed as high as No. 2 in the Associated Press poll, earned another NCAA Tournament appearance and closed the season ranked No. 17 nationally.
Known for his work in player development, recruiting and culture-building, Blount has mentored multiple all-conference and All-America caliber players throughout his coaching career. At Iowa State, he developed some of the Big 12’s top performers while contributing to a program identity rooted in toughness, connectivity and competitive excellence.
Prior to Iowa State, Blount spent three seasons at Colorado State, where he helped elevate the Rams into one of the Mountain West’s top programs. During his tenure in Fort Collins, Colorado State signed the highest-rated recruiting class in program history and posted consecutive 20-win seasons, including a 20-8 finish and a run to the NIT semifinals in 2020-21. He also played a leadership role in Colorado State’s Together Initiative, which promoted social justice and racial equality on campus.
Blount also previously served in coaching roles at Drake and Saint Leo and began his collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant at Wisconsin-Stevens Point, where the program won the 2010 NCAA Division III National Championship.
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A former three-year team captain and two-time team MVP at Loyola University Chicago, Blount later played professionally for the Leicester Riders of the British Basketball League during the 2010-11 season. He earned degrees in psychology and sociology from Loyola in 2009 and later received his master’s degree in education from UW-Stevens Point in 2012.
A native of Milwaukee, Blount and his wife, Ashley, have three daughters: Maya, Zuri and Gema.
