San Diego, CA
Little league raises funds for 4 kids whose parents were killed in Little Italy shooting
San Diego’s American Little League is raising money for the four kids whose parents were shot and killed in an ambush in Little Italy last week.
One of the children plays on the White Sox baseball team. The boys’ coach and members of the league organized a fundraiser Friday night at Memorial Community Park in Logan Heights.
A few Mexican comfort food favorites add a little comfort to the lives of the four children who have survived their parent’s deaths.
“You don’t expect these things to happen,” Coach Johnny Banuelos said.
Banuelos coaches the White Sox little league baseball team. He had to adjust his own emotional compass.
One of his players, 12-year-old Nathan, is the son of Jose Medina and Rachael Martinez. The couple was shot and killed while waiting in their car downtown for a court hearing.
“I hope he is able to move on in life and realize there is still good out there,“ Coach Banuelos said.
Coach Banuelos struggled with what to say but did not struggle with what to do. He organized a team of league volunteers and parents to sell food and raffle tickets. The proceeds will go to Nathan and his three siblings.
“My heart drops for them. I don’t know from here or another day. Maybe, I won’t be here. I would want somebody to reach out to my family as well,“ Estrella Flores said.
Flores’ daughter plays on the White Sox. She also runs the league concessions.
“These kids right now they have this hope that, they have all this love coming out from outside, not just their home,“ Flores.
The fundraiser is being held next to the White Sox home field. The night before the shooting the team had a scrimmage. The coach says Nathan had his first big hit and his parents got to see it.
The idea that their parents will miss the rest of their children’s accomplishments is unsettling to those supporting these fundraising efforts.
Daniel Paz is a classmate.
“It is really difficult to go through, especially at a young age. I really feel bad for him but I hope he is doing good,“ Paz said.
Dina Chan and Fiancée Matthew Rosenberg are friends of another player on the team.
“We didn’t believe what we were hearing on the news. I think it was like a shock factor,“ Chan said.
“It’s the holidays. These kids are now without their parents at the best time of the year. Now it’s the worst time of the year for them,“ Rosenberg said.
More than 200 people donated food, time, or money to make this a success. There was no goal set and no expectations to meet. Only the hope that some day these four orphaned children find peace in their lives.
“There is a God even though it might feel like, Where is God in this situation? We have to keep pushing forward,” Banuelos said.
The kids’ classmates from Logan Memorial Educational Campus also participated and donated to the fundraiser.
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 Padres (14-7) at Los Angeles Angels (11-11), April 19, 2026, 1:07 p.m. PST
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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.
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/soccer
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