San Diego, CA
From AI-Powered Fraudsters to Broken Treaties: Top 10 Stories of 2025
2025 gave us no lack of news to cover.
Some of the battles were familiar to San Diegans, such as the city’s struggle to get people out of homelessness. Others were new, such as the rapid influx of AI-powered bots used to for community college financial aid fraud.
But not all of it was bad. Two of this year’s top posts highlighted successful methods for how outreach workers are getting more people housed.
We asked our reporters to break down the top 10 posts of 2025, why they matter and what they’re looking forward to in the year ahead.
Editor’s note: Responses have been edited for length and clarity.
By Jakob McWhinney
What’s this story about? When the pandemic forced schools online, few systems embraced the shift more than community colleges. Their students are often older, working people, so having more opportunities to earn credits online was a welcome change.
But there was a catch.
As online classes became more prevalent, so did community college financial aid fraud. The scam is fairly simple. Fraudsters would use stolen identities to create a network of fake students, or bots. They use these bots to register for classes and attempt to stick around long enough to receive financial aid payouts for each of their fraudulent accounts. Community colleges are uniquely at risk because they don’t charge application fees.
The scam has been around for years, but the rise of online classes and AI platforms that allow fraudsters to easily create classwork to submit has supercharged the practice. As bots have flooded classes, community colleges have struggled to respond.
In 2024, fraudsters stole more than $10 million in aid. In that same year, one of every four California community college applicants was a fraudster. The bots have also crowded out real students trying to register for classes. For the piece I spoke with one Southwestern College professor who found that of 104 students registered in her online classes, only 19 were real people.
Where do you see this story going in 2026? As I reported in follow-up pieces, community college officials have had to rapidly evolve how they fight this fraud, because fraudsters themselves are rapidly evolving. As part of that fight, AI has become an increasingly important weapon in community colleges’ arsenals.
The tech-enabled arms race will likely only heat up, as fraudsters and watchdogs try to out-smart each other with new and more sophisticated AI strategies. For example, colleges have begun to require in-person appointments or video calls to verify identities, which has given rise to scammers using AI platforms to create fake videos.
The Trump administration will also likely continue to lean into the chaos. Officials this month touted their efforts to crack down on the scam, claiming they’d prevented fraudsters from absconding with more than $1 billion in financial aid.
Read the story here.
Enrollment Decline Can’t Be Explained Away by Shift to Private Schools, Homeschooling
By Jakob McWhinney
What’s this story about? Enrollment at San Diego County’s public schools has been dropping for years – and it doesn’t show any signs of stopping. Over the past decade, local schools have lost about 27,000 students. That’s an about 5 percent decline in enrollment countywide.
State officials think the declines will speed up in coming years. If their projections pan out, between 2014 and 2044 the county will lose about 115,000 students. That would mean the number of kids in local public schools would drop by the population of Del Mar, Solana Beach, Coronado, Lemon Grove and Poway combined.
For schools, the declines are frightening because they will lead to funding cuts, which will in turn lead to a whole lot of layoffs and closed schools. But what’s even more worrisome is why this is happening – declining birth rates and high costs chasing families elsewhere mean our region just has fewer kids.
And what happens to societies that shrink? Not great things!
Why did you pursue this story? This story started as a sort of fact check. One of the primary reactions I got to the first in a series of stories I wrote about this topic was that enrollment was declining because parents no longer trusted public schools and were opting to homeschool their children or send them to private schools. That’s just not true. The reason behind declining enrollment is much more simple – San Diego County has fewer kids.
Read the story here.
An Experiment to Clear a Homeless Camp in North County Seems to Be Working
By Tigist Layne
What was this story about? For this story, I checked in on a joint effort by Oceanside and Carlsbad officials to move hundreds of unsheltered homeless people from encampments into stable and long-term housing. The two cities had received a state grant to move every person camped along state Route 78 and the Buena Vista Creek into housing, and the state gave them three years and $11.4 million to do it.
I visited the first major encampment area where the cities’ homeless outreach teams, along with several nonprofit organizations, were set up, and I watched as homeless people and families were moved into housing one by one. So far, the ambitious plan had been very successful, and people were accepting help and services at a much higher rate than city officials had expected.
Where do you see the story going in 2026? In 2026, I’m planning to check in on the program again to see if city officials are still having as much success with it as they were in the beginning. I’m interested to see if they have had to adjust their methodology as they continue through different encampments. I also want to dig into the most recent data from this program; the state grant came with strict reporting requirements, and I’m curious to see if both cities have adhered to that, and what they’re learning from these reports. And finally, depending on how the program has progressed, I want to understand if this is a strategy that can be duplicated by other cities moving forward.
Read the story here.
The Faster, Cheaper Way Homeless People Are Getting Housed
By Tessa Balc
What is this story about? This story is about a strategy that the Regional Task Force on Homelessness credited as part of the reason why more people exited homelessness than became homeless in November and December 2024. That was the first time in nearly three years that this had happened. Rather than functioning as a systematic program, diversion is a strategy designed to be inherently flexible in helping solve the problems that contribute to an individual’s homelessness.
Where do you see this going in 2026? While the early results of funding diversion strategies were extremely promising, the number of people becoming homeless is once again higher than the number of people becoming housed. But as Lisa Halverstadt recently wrote, this gap is becoming narrower, and those working to find solutions to homelessness are still crediting diversion.
In a world of increasing economic uncertainty, with many San Diegans living on the financial edge, we’ll need creative solutions to combat homelessness. Diversion is interesting because it’s an evolving strategy that looks different for everyone who encounters it, much like the circumstances that lead people into homelessness; they don’t all follow the same path. A main function of the strategy is targeting people who aren’t homeless yet but are on the brink. It’s more cost-effective to provide someone with assistance for car repairs so they don’t have to miss work — and, in turn, miss a rent payment — than it is to provide a bed in a shelter.
Solutions like these, when funded robustly, could reduce the inflow of people into the homelessness services network and begin chipping away at the population of people who have been homeless but still retain access to some personal resources.
Read the story here.
In 2025, San Diego Can’t Look Away from the Screaming
By Scott Lewis
Why did you write this? It was my New Year’s essay. It was about the homelessness crisis and, in particular, the people we see every day having breakdowns in public. It was a call to action for city and county leaders to meet the moment with creativity, leadership and urgency.
Where do you see this story going in 2026? Rereading it, I’m struck by how much has changed in a year. The mayor had proclaimed that we were entering an “era of austerity” for the city of San Diego and he was going to fix the structural budget deficit. Since then, city residents have absorbed a long menu of new fees or fee increases but the deficit remains. However, visible street homelessness has significantly improved. And even the ratio of how many people are seeking homeless services compared to how many are finding housing has flipped to the positive side. In part because of our reporting there are now more detox beds available. It used to be like winning the lottery to get one of those beds.
However, one thing that has also changed is that there are now hundreds more people in jail than would have been last year because of harsher penalties imposed by voters on theft and drug offenses. This has surely had an impact as well. Part of the reason things may seem like they’ve improved in the streets is that we have moved the screams to the jails. Now the sheriff has asked for $3 billion to improve jail facilities and county employee unions are seeking a sales tax increase. These discussions will be a big part of San Diego public affairs in 2026.
Read the story here.
Encinitas Councilmember Luke Shaffer Charged with Felony Assault, Two Misdemeanors
By Tigist Layne
What was this story about? This story was about criminal charges that the District Attorney’s office filed against a sitting elected official in Encinitas, who is fresh into his term. Encinitas Councilmember Luke Shaffer was charged with felony assault and two misdemeanors of hit-and-run driving and willful omission to perform duty, which basically means that a public official knowingly failed to do something they were legally required to do as part of their job.
The charges stemmed from a July confrontation over trash bins between Shaffer and resident Declan Caulfield. Shaffer moved Caulfield’s trash bins to clear space to park his truck. Caulfield moved the bins back, insisting that’s where the bins needed to be. Shaffer then got into his truck and allegedly reversed into the bins and Caulfield’s outstretched palms.
Since we first published this story, a judge reduced Shaffer’s felony assault charge to a misdemeanor and dismissed the willful omission to perform duty misdemeanor. Later, another judge suspended Shaffer’s case with the contingency that he completes anger management and community service hours.
Why did you decide to pursue this story? I pursued this story because, initially, these were serious charges being brought against an elected official. It was shocking to see that a sitting councilmember was being charged with felony assault because of an incident involving a resident. I believed Shaffer’s constituents and residents in Encinitas deserved to know what was happening with a public official that they elected.
Read the story here.
City’s Housing Agency Won’t Issue Vouchers for New Housing Projects
By Lisa Halverstadt
What’s this story about? The San Diego Housing Commission, the city’s housing agency, made the tough call that it needed to stop doling out new vouchers that have been crucial to helping the city dramatically increase housing options for formerly homeless people and others with very low incomes. These vouchers — known as project-based vouchers — are attached to specific projects to subsidize rents for years to come, helping developers make projects pencil out financially that wouldn’t otherwise and allowing them to serve more people with very low incomes.
The housing agency said its decision was forced by insufficient federal dollars to cover existing commitments and uncertainty about future resources. Officials don’t expect the situation to change for years to come.
Where do you see this story going in 2026? The Housing Commission’s decision will likely have reverberations on the city’s ability to help deliver affordable housing projects for people with the lowest incomes in 2026 and beyond — and slow the development of new subsidized homes for formerly homeless people.
The Housing Commission’s decision also foreshadowed more tough calls that will affect low-income families with housing vouchers in late 2026. The Housing Commission recently approved rent increases for thousands of families with Section 8 vouchers to help address a budget shortfall that it said would otherwise force the agency to halt housing aid for some families.
Read the story here.
Mexico Said River Border Wall Broke Treaties. The US Built it Anyway.
By MacKenzie Elmer
What’s this story about? The story is about how the United States has broken multiple treaties with Mexico by building a piece of border wall through the polluted Tijuana River. Voice of San Diego sued the federal government after they refused to produce public records in a timely matter, which revealed this information. The International Boundary and Water Commission, which is supposed to act as a negotiating body with Mexico on border water issues, was the only federal agency standing in the way of Homeland Security from completing their project. They greenlighted the project despite pleading from Mexico to stall it. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency also raised alarm over the project, which studies they generated showed could cause deadly flooding in Tijuana.
Why did you pursue this story? I pursued this story because it was clear that this project could cost lives. But it was also clear that U.S. Homeland Security was dead-set on building the project regardless. It remains to be seen what the true impact of the border wall across the river will be. If Mexico fails to keep the border wall clean of trash, or if the United States fails to open the wall before a flood, the wall could devastate communities on both sides of the border. Time will tell.
Read the story here.
San Diego Is on the Hook for Monthly $77,000 Payments of Shuttered Senior Shelter
By Lisa Halverstadt
What’s this story about? A downtown hotel that the city once turned into a dedicated shelter for homeless seniors was sitting vacant after the city quietly shuttered the program early last year – and the city was set to pay $77,000 in rent for months until its lease with the owner ended. The city said it closed the 34-room shelter at a time when homelessness among vulnerable seniors was spiking because needed building repairs made the program unsustainable.
The move unsurprisingly upset nonprofit operator Serving Seniors and advocates for homeless seniors who argued the non-congregate shelter was a successful model that should have continued – whether at the hotel on Pacific Highway or elsewhere.
Why did you pursue this story? A reader noticed that the downtown hotel that was once clearly occupied looked to be empty and wondered what was going on. I started asking questions and found that the city had closed the shelter – and was set to keep making rent payments despite the building issue it said forced the closure. Writing about all of this was a no-brainer.
A little post script: A city spokesperson confirmed the city ultimately did make rent payments until the lease ended in June. Though there were some conversations with the landlord, spokesperson Matt Hoffman said the city’s lease required it to make renovations after homeless residents moved out.
The city and its housing agency do still fund some non-congregate beds that are reserved for seniors. They report that there are 18 beds in nine apartment units for seniors at Veterans Village of San Diego and that there are plans to set aside a yet-to-be-determined number of beds for senior women at Catholic Charities’ Rachel’s Promise shelter in mid-2026.
Read the story here.
New Safe Parking Site Frees City to Push Campers Out of Mission Bay
By Mariana Martínez Barba
What’s this story about? Residents in Mission Bay were frustrated at a growing number of people living in their recreational vehicles in the area. But because of the opening of H Barracks, a safe parking lot nearby, police could start ticketing campers again.
The city wasn’t able to do that before because of a 2024 legal settlement that said camping citations can only be issued if people have access to a safe alternative. The opening of H barracks allowed police to come back in and start handing out citations.
But folks living out of their vehicle said getting to the safe parking lot came with its own hurdles. Some of them can’t afford the gas to move their car in and out of the lot everyday, as it is only open from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m.
While the city saw this as the only option and needed to continue enforcement, the people living in their RVs found it difficult to just pick up their things and go.
Why did you pursue this story? I pursued this story because it speaks to a tension point where the city is attempting to balance two needs. Mission Bay residents are frustrated at the campers and the settlement allowed the cops to start ticketing. At the same time, people living in their RVs said that the alternative is not feasible for them. In fact, it adds another burden when they’re already pressed for cash.
I think this story also speaks to what works for unhoused people and what doesn’t. While I found some people I talked to were struggling financially to move their cars, other more high-end RVs just liked being in the area. But with those people struggling, I learned that not every solution the city provides is one-size-fits-all. While safe parking lots can be an option for some, they don’t work for everyone.
Read the story here.
Tuesday night was a tale of two parties. Two election night parties.
At Liberty Station’s Stone Brewing, a small coterie of Democratic elected officials and functionaries and a larger coterie of news media shuffled around trying to make sense of the lackluster returns trickling in.
Meanwhile, at downtown’s US Grant Hotel, a much more spirited collection of Republican operatives and supporters laughed and drank in a blindingly-lit convention room, backed by a pianist’s rendition of “Billie Jean.”
The takeaway seemed clear: this was a not-so-great night for San Diego’s Democratic in-group. Chula Vista’s Republican mayor had a huge lead over his Democratic opponent. A tax on second homes lagged behind in the vote count. And several Republicans seemed to make it out of crowded primary fields in local races.
Hell, even if it was only a just-OK night for Republicans – that still seemed worth celebrating to them.
Normally we now get long stretches of days, even weeks of fingernail-biting anticipation as the county so slowly tallies the rest of the votes. But there doesn’t appear to be many close races to watch this time around. There are a couple. We start at the top:
It’s Becerra vs. Hilton
As of 11 p.m., with more than 50 percent of votes counted, it appeared that a Republican and Democrat — rather than two Democrats — would make it through to the general election. Steve Hilton and Xavier Becerra led the race, with billionaire Tom Steyer on the outside looking in. The New York Times has a nice tracker here.
Empty Homes Tax Goes Down
Measure A presented a simple choice. What do voters in the city of San Diego have more disdain for – people with enough money to own a second home they leave empty, or new taxes? Turns out, it’s additional taxes. For now, at least.
Championed by Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera, Measure A would have placed a tax on homes left vacant for more than half of the year. It was pitched as a way to both raise badly needed revenue for the city and, potentially, make available badly-needed housing.
As of Tuesday evening, the measure’s prospects looked grim, with about 58 percent of voters casting a ‘No’ vote. It will become the second citywide tax increase rejected by voters in as many years. Despite the poor showing, intern Naomi Granata found the pitch resonated with some voters in North Park.
San Diego County Assessor-Recorder-Clerk Jordan Marks was one of a number of local electeds who came out in opposition of the tax. He said the city’s housing problems couldn’t be solved by what he called “bad taxes.”
“This result reflects that Sean Elo-Rivera and the City Council have lost the trust of the public and that voters are reading the fine print,” Marks said.
Elo-Rivera said it wasn’t looking good, but he was hopeful the picture would improve. Ultimately, he thought the money spent opposing the tax — and the distorted message he felt it sent — was too big to overcome.
“There was an enormous amount of money spent, and not just money spent, but money spent to trick voters into thinking that something was going to impact them that wasn’t,” Elo-Rivera said.
No Ammar
Republican County Supervisor Jim Desmond led the way in the 48th Congressional District on Tuesday night.
What we were waiting for is the candidate who would go with him to the runoff. It will attract a ton of national attention and money. It was one of the seats made more competitive by Democrats in the special redistricting vote last year.
San Diego City Councilmember Marni von Wilpert and Ammar Campa-Najjar, squared off for a chance to wrest the seat out of longtime Republican control. With 53 percent reporting, von Wilpert held a commanding lead over Campa-Najjar. The councilmember will advance to face Desmond in November.
On the ground in the district, reporter Tigist Layne found that the national politics that led to the redistricting fight were also front and center on voters’ minds as they headed into vote.
Bailey vs. Crosby in Coastal Council District
Former Coronado Mayor Richard Bailey and Deputy City Attorney Nicole Crosby will advance to the November election in District 2 of the San Diego City Council.
Bailey, a Republican-turned-Independent, seemed destined to finish in the top two after he attracted significant attention on social media. The race for the second spot was more uncertain. Josh Coyne, like Crosby, attracted significant Democratic support. And Mandy Havlik — a more development-resistant candidate — also had strong grassroots support in Point Loma.
Our new intern Fiona Bork talked to voters in District 2, which covers the city’s southern coastline, who said that affordability was the most important issue. Exactly how that explained their electoral choices differed by a lot. One voter said Coyne’s market-driven approach to building more housing appealed to him. Another liked Havlik’s approach to limiting vacation rentals. A third voted for Bailey because she wanted less development and more public transit. It seems unlikely that Bailey, who is fiscally conservative, would support massively expanding public transit options. Read the full story here.
City Council District 4: The race for southeastern San Diego’s council district featured three candidates: incumbent Henry Foster, Martha Abraham and Johnny Lee Dang.
Abraham was highly critical of Foster in her campaign and that seemed to resonate well with voters. At the latest count, she led Foster by several hundred votes.
Foster has many supporters in the district, but the city’s handling of catastrophic flooding in January 2024 — among other issues — has led to massive distrust of City Hall.
Council District 6: Incumbent Kent Lee had one prominent opponent, Mark Powell, who is a former member of the County Board of Education. They will both make the runoff but Lee got 55 percent of the vote in early counting.
City Council District 8: San Ysidro School Board Member Antonio Martinez and current District 8 chief of staff, Gerardo Ramirez, lead in this race — which was crowded with Democrats. Venus Molina, who serves as the chief of staff to Councilmember Jennifer Campbell, trailed closely behind in third place. This is one of the races close enough to change as the registrar continues counting votes. Molina’s count improved slightly as the night went on.
Our South County reporter, Jim Hinch, spoke with voters outside the Otay Mesa/Nestor Branch Library. One voter told Hinch she voted for Molina because she liked that she is local and a single mother. Read the full story here.
Election Watch Party Bonus: Ramirez’ supporters and family gathered at the Landing Strip, a bar and restaurant at Brown Field Municipal Airport, to watch results roll in. They broke out into applause when results showed him coming in second.
“For some of the folks it might seem like ‘hey man’ you’re second place, but we’re in there. This is a huge, wonderful sign,” said Ramirez.
DeMaio’s Gonna Gloat
Two local elections were something of a proxy battle between two warring factions of the Republican Party. Assemblymember Carl DeMaio’s team won, again. Every time local Republican leaders unite to oppose him or the people he supports, DeMaio wins. This time it was about two races: the one to replace County Supervisor Jim Desmond and the one to replace State Sen. Brian Jones.
In the county supervisor race: San Marcos Mayor Rebecca Jones left no doubt she would make it to the runoff. The only remaining question is who will face her — Vista Mayor John Franklin or Kyle Krahel, the former chair of the Democratic Party. After the first votes were counted, Krahel held a slight advantage with 20 percent of the vote compared to Franklin’s 19 percent. DeMaio went all in for Jones and she led the field with more than 41 percent of the vote.
In the state Senate race: As expected, former San Diego City Attorney Mara Elliott made the runoff for the state Senate District 40 seat. She got nearly 45 percent of the votes counted so far. The real question was who would go with her. That Republican battle between Kristie Bruce-Lane and San Marcos City Councilmember Ed Musgrove seems to have also gone DeMaio’s way with Bruce-Lane holding a 4.7-percentage-point advantage over Musgrove.
That’s not enough of a gap to call the race but it’s significant.
Teachers Union Pushed Barrera to Runoff in Statewide Race
The race for State Superintendent of Public Instruction became something of a flex test for the state’s largest teachers union. Could the California Teachers Association almost singlehandedly lift a relatively unknown San Diego board member over a bevvy of better financed, higher profile candidates? Yup. Easily.
Fueled by nearly $5 million in spending from the state’s largest teachers union, longtime San Diego Unified Trustee and labor-darling Richard Barrera sailed to a convincing second place finish in the race for state supe. In his nearly two decades as the power behind the throne of the second largest district in the state, Barrera has engineered a progressive labor friendly transformation that the union hopes can be taken statewide.
He will now face off against Republican Chino Valley Trustee Sonja Shaw in November.
Brews and News + Your Chance to Win Padres Tickets
Meet our team and get an election debrief at our Brews & News Live Podcast at Soda Bar on Thursday, June 11. We will be joined by San Diego City Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera. Get your tickets here and you’ll be automatically entered to win two tickets to a Padres game. Winners will be announced at the event.
Obligatory note: No purchase or payment of any kind is necessary to enter or win the Brews and News Live Podcast Giveaway. A ticket purchase or donation will not increase chances of winning. All applicable federal, state, local and municipal laws, rules, and regulations apply. Void where prohibited by law.
In Other News
- Opinion: A retired lifeguard finds irony in SDG&E’s stance on residents putting solar panels on their balconies. The company once argued against rooftop solar because it was unfair to renters, but now, he writes, “a low-cost system allows most of those same people access to solar, but SDG&E seeks to deny them as well.” (ICYMI: Our MacKenzie Elmer wrote that plugging in such a device could put her at risk of getting her power cut.)
- San Diego County officials warned South Bay residents to limit their exposure to the outdoors after a broken pipe spilled millions of gallons of sewage into the Tijuana River. (Union-Tribune)
- NBC 7 reports that a judge ruled that the city of San Diego illegally collected parking ticket late fees for three years.
- About that cross-border tunnel: The U.S. Attorney’s office says a recently discovered, massive tunnel stretching from Tijuana to Otay Mesa leads to a fake store in the southern San Diego neighborhood. Four people have been charged in connection with drug trafficking linked to the tunnel.
The Morning Report was written by Jakob McWhinney, Mariana Martínez Barba and Will Huntsberry. It was edited by Will Huntsberry, Andrea Sanchez-Villafaña and Scott Lewis.
Related Posts
There’s a creative inertia that resides in San Diego, producing a near-constant stream of cool events. Fortunately, this weekend is no different. Those with an artistic inkling can search for inspiration at MCASD’s EXPO Design Market or admire the mixture of live performance and neighborhood charm during the North Park Music Fest. Foodies can dine (with wine) at Stake Chophouse & Bar during its ZD Wines Dinner or explore Barrio Logan’s standout eats at the Sabor Del Barrio. Plus, Pride Month is already in full swing in SD with the return of DISCO RIOT’s Queer Mvmnt Fest and the two-day Out & Abt Music Festival.
Food & Drink | Concerts & Festivals | Theater & Art Exhibits | More Fun Things to Do
Food & Drink Events in San Diego This Weekend
ZD Wines Dinner at Stake Chophouse & Bar
June 4
Stake Chophouse & Bar is collaborating with Napa Valley’s ZD Wines—a family-run winemaking institution that’s been around since 1969—on an intimate four-course dinner this Thursday at 6:30 p.m. Throughout the meal, each dish will be paired with a curated pour from ZD Wines, with patrons set to receive a chardonnay, pinot noir, and pair of cabernet sauvignons. Dinner guests will also be treated to insight on the night’s wine pairings from ZD Wines’ senior winemaker Chris Pisani. Reservations are $210 pre-paid through OpenTable.
1309 Orange Avenue, Coronado
Sabor Del Barrio
June 7
Take advantage of all the dynamic attractions that the Barrio Logan Cultural District has to offer—and eat very well while you’re at it—during the third annual Sabor Del Barrio. This Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. attendees can devour their way through 35 neighborhood staples and traverse the tasting stops on foot, by bike, via a free trolley shuttle, or a combination of the three. Tickets are $40 online ($55 day of) and come with complimentary admission to Quint Gallery, the Athenaeum Art Center, and the Chicano Park Museum & Cultural Center, plus a free tour of Tao of Clay.
Barrio Logan
Concerts & Festivals in San Diego This Weekend
Sam Hinton Folk Heritage Festival at Old Poway Park
June 6
Survey the depth of oral storytelling during the free annual Sam Hinton Folk Heritage Festival this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Old Poway Park. Named for harmonica virtuoso, marine biologist, and longtime San Diegan Sam Hinton, this event highlights folk artists who specialize in time-honored traditions. Throughout the day, attendees can see performances by musicians with roots in Americana, Cajun, and Appalachian rhythms on the main stage, dance in the Templars Hall, and hear historical tales from the Storytellers of San Diego in the Porter House.
14134 Midland Road, Poway
North Park Music Fest
June 6
Psychedelic rockers Frankie and the Witch Fingers will headline an eclectic lineup at the North Park Music Fest. This Saturday, enjoy sets from noon to 1:45 a.m. from over thirty performers—including DJs, bands, and local acts—across a dozen North Park venues. Ticket options include general admission ($25 online, $35 day of) and VIP passes ($65) which come with lounge access at Granada House, line-skipping privileges and more; festival proceeds will go towards the North Park Business & Neighborhood Foundation. Plus, performances at Pure Pawsh, Visual Art + Supply, Overland, and Playground Art + Coffee will be open to the public.
North Park
Out & Abt Music Festival
June 6 & 7
The calendar has just flipped to Pride Month, and Out & Abt is celebrating in style. The two-day Out & Abt Music Festival begins Saturday from 3-10 p.m. at The Soap Factory with drag shows, circus acts, a manic pixie dream market, two stages of live music, and last but not least, a mechanical bull. The festivities will continue with an after party from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Gossip Grill and conclude with an afternoon pool party at Hard Rock Hotel San Diego on Sunday from 1-7 p.m. Ticket options include weekend general admission passes ($70), and entry to the music festival ($30), after party ($17) and pool party ($27).
Citywide
Theater & Art Exhibits in San Diego This Weekend
The Monsters at La Jolla Playhouse
June 2-28
Fresh off its Drama Desk Award-winning run in the Big Apple this past winter, The Monsters will have its first West Coast production beginning Tuesday in the Mandall Weiss Forum at La Jolla Playhouse. Written by and co-starring Ngozi Anyanwu, The Monsters finds its reconciliatory narrative in a young woman yearning to repair her relationship with her estranged older brother in the brutal and unforgiving world of mixed martial arts. The Monsters will have preview performances this Tuesday through Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 & 8 p.m. and Sunday at 1 & 7 p.m., with tickets ranging from $30-$74.
2910 La Jolla Village Drive, La Jolla
Queer Mvmnt Fest
June 3-7
DISCO RIOT has orchestrated five days of queer-focused events centered on the essence and vitality of movement for its annual Queer Mvmnt Fest. The festival begins Wednesday from 5-8 p.m. with short film screenings at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, and will include six free movement workshops, with instruction ranging from breathwork to ballet and beyond. Plus, on back-to-back nights at the Malashok Black Box Theater, the participating 2SLGBTQIA+ artists will perform in a variety show (Friday at 7 p.m.) and a featured artist showcase (Saturday at 7:30 p.m.). Admission ranges from free to $40 for individual events at Queer Mvmnt Fest.
Citywide
Golden State Ballet: A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Balboa Theatre
June 5-7
The final production in Golden State Ballet’s 2025/26 season will be a world premiere version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, crafted by the company’s artistic director Raúl Salamanca. Inspired by William Shakespeare’s celebratory fantasy play and George Balanchine’s subsequent ballet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream will guide viewers into a fanciful world. This production will also feature the return of Houston Thomas’ neoclassical ballet The Four Seasons to the Golden State Ballet program. Tickets range from $45-$126, with performances this Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 & 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. at Balboa Theatre.
868 Fourth Avenue, Gaslamp
Let’s Chat at Lamplighters Community Theatre
June 5-14
The ever-expanding presence of artificial intelligence looms large over America’s educational institutions, most notably at the college level. In Let’s Chat, a world-premiere play written and directed by Lisa Balderston, a complex student-teacher quarrel is sprung from the natural tug-of-war between AI usage and ethical standards. Theatergoers can catch Let’s Chat at Lamplighters Community Theatre on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 and Sunday at 2 p.m. this week and next. Tickets are $30 for adults and $28 for students, seniors, and active military.
5915 Severin Drive, La Mesa
Hairspray at New Village Arts
June 5 – July 19
It’s 1962 in Baltimore, and the dancefloor of The Corny Collins Show, the city’s preeminent teen variety show, is the unlikely setting for a battle over racial integration. Based on John Waters’ most accessible film, Hairspray has since become a beloved stage musical featuring teen idols, endearing characters, and a beat that can’t be stopped. New Village Arts’ production of Hairspray will begin with previews ($40) this Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m., and two additional previews next week, before the production opens on June 13 ($80).
2787 State Street, Carlsbad
New Exhibitions at California Center for the Arts Museum
June 6 – August 16
Ancestry, history, and the immersively original connection to them both is at the forefront of two new exhibitions opening Saturday at the California Center for the Arts Museum. In Field Notes on Memory, a product of the museum’s In Studio Artist Residency program, artists Farshid Bazmandegan, Tony M. Bingham, and Helena Westra blend sentimental and tangible materials with culturally-grounded stories. In José Hugo Sánchez’s Amoxtlis, which will have a free opening reception this Saturday from 4-6 p.m., Sánchez tackles border relations through printmaking informed by Mesoamerican innovation and medium-spanning influences.
340 North Escondido Boulevard, Escondido
More Fun Things to Do in San Diego This Weekend
Bleak Week: Cinema of Despair at Digital Gym Cinema
June 5-11
Digital Gym Cinema and American Cinematheque invite filmgoers to resonate with all matters of havoc and helplessness during Bleak Week: Cinema of Despair. While this week-long gauntlet of afflicting cinema will examine the atrocities of the world in which we live, it is also intended to demonstrate the resounding hope that remains. The Bleak Week programming at Digital Gym Cinema will navigate stories of grief, pain, gore, and beyond, with selections by international directors like Lars von Trier, Béla Tarr and Andrzej Wajda. Tickets are $14 for all series screenings, with multiple showings of each film happening throughout the week.
1100 Market Street, East Village
Giro di San Diego GranFondo
June 6
Cyclists will test their strength as well as their appetites (for both a challenge and the large meal that follows it) during this Saturday’s Giro di San Diego GranFondo. All riders depart from Frances Ryan Park in Escondido at 7:15 a.m. and end in the same location, with mountainous course distances of 20, 32, 56 and 95 miles, as well as the brand-new King & Queen of the Mountain climbing challenge. But no GranFondo is complete without a proper reward, and all cyclists who cross the finish line can enjoy a post-ride massage, receive a finisher’s medal, and dive fork-first into an Italian feast. Registration ranges from $97-$278 for the GranFondo races.
390 Hidden Trails Road, Escondido
EXPO Design Market
June 6 & 7
Tap into cutting-edge worlds of local creativity during the third annual EXPO Design Market at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego. This Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., network with fellow arts lovers and check out vinyl DJ sets, maker-led talks, local vendors, a zine workshop, and more. Additionally, festivities will continue each day from 8 p.m. to close during the free 21+ Expo After Dark activation at Kiku Room. Market entry is free for all ages and RSVPs are encouraged, but not mandatory, for both Saturday and Sunday; gallery admission is 50% throughout the weekend when purchased at the front desk.
700 Prospect Street, La Jolla
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Countdown to ’26: International Soccer Weekend at Snapdragon Stadium
June 6 & 7
In less than two weeks, 48 nations will vie for soccer’s most desired prize during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. But before the tournament kicks off across North America, Snapdragon Stadium will host a pair of friendly matches showcasing four of the tournament’s featured teams. During International Soccer Weekend, local fans can catch matchups between Switzerland and Australia (Saturday at noon) and Colombia vs. Jordan (Sunday at 4 p.m.) as they prepare to play on the sport’s biggest stage. Tickets start at $55 for Saturday’s match and $74 for Sunday’s match.
2101 Stadium Way, Mission Valley
San Diego, CA
Where to watch San Diego Padres vs Philadelphia Phillies: TV channel, start time, streaming for Jun. 02
What to know about MLB’s ABS robot umpire strike zone system
MLB launches ABS challenge system as players test robot umpire calls in a groundbreaking season.
The 2026 MLB season has surpassed the quarter mark, and after each team’s first 40 games, there’s plenty of reasons to tune in all summer long.
Chicago White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami has already proven doubters wrong by launching 17 home runs, Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes consistently looks like the best version of himself on the mound and Milwaukee ace Jacob Misiorowski is throwing harder than any starter in the majors.
The MLB action continues on Tuesday as the San Diego Padres visit the Philadelphia Phillies.
Here’s everything you need to know to tune in for the first pitch.
See USA TODAY’s sortable MLB schedule to filter by team or division.
What time is San Diego Padres vs Philadelphia Phillies?
First pitch between the Philadelphia Phillies and San Diego Padres is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. (ET) on Tuesday, Jun. 02.
How to watch San Diego Padres vs Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday
All times Eastern and accurate as of Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at 6:33 a.m.
Watch MLB all season long with Fubo
MLB regional blackout restrictions apply
MLB scores, results
MLB scores for Jun. 02 games are available on usatoday.com . Here’s how to access today’s results:
See scores, results for all of today’s games.
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