San Diego, CA
Mattel San Diego Comic-Con 2024 Exclusives [UPDATE July 7]
Mattel is always doing something unexpected at San Diego Comic-Con. The company has some of the most beloved licenses around, from Barbie to Hot Wheels to Star Wars, Monster High, and beyond. To get your hands on this year’s items, they will once again be part of the Online Exclusives Portal lottery system, meaning you will need to submit for a chance to enter the booth when it opens on Tuesday, July 9.
While most of the day’s timeslots will be available through the portal, last year at a certain point, Mattel would open the booth to anyone with quantities that remain for that day — and we suspect it will operate the same way this year. For those lucky enough to win, make sure that you bring your QR code to the booth along with photo ID a few minutes before your designated timeslot.
Exclusives will be available for purchase at Booth #3029 at the con beginning Preview Night, as well as available on MattelCreations.com beginning Thursday, July 25 at 9am PT.
[UPDATE July 7]
You’ll also find several booth activities at Booth #3029, including:
FRIDAY, JULY 26
- 10AM — Mattel Creations Presents: Mattel TV. Unlock access with Mattel Creations. Go behind-the-scenes with Rob David, VP of Mattel TV Content Creative for insider info (and maybe a few secrets) about your favorite Mattel TV series including Masters of the Universe: Revolution, Monster High and Hot Wheels: Let’s Race. Join us for a sneak peek of What’s Next!
- 11:30am — Barbie: Sneak Peak. Host Trisha Hershberger and Barbie designers will share details of product.
- 12:15pm — From the Isle to the Aisle: An In-Depth Look at Jurassic World Toy & Packaging Design. Grab your flip-flops and tune in for a closer look at toy creation with members of the Mattel and Universal Jurassic World Design and Packaging Teams. Get ready for a dynamic and dinosaur-filled conversation led by designers Raf Bencosme, Katherine Benecke, Chloe Mun, Carlos Rosales, and Erick Solorzano and enjoy exciting product reveals, branding sneaks, and more!
- 3pm — Street Sharks 30th Anniversary POSTER Signing. Mattel Designers will be on-hand to sign a jawsome reproduction of the re-release packaging character art spread.
SATURDAY, JULY 27
- 11AM — Mattel Creations Opens the Vault. Unlock nostalgia with Mattel Creations. Join us as we dig deep into the archives and reintroduce you to some of your favorite toys from Barbie, Hot Wheels, Monster High, Masters of the Universe, Street Sharks and WWE! Relive your childhood and see which item from the archives won the fan vote.
[UPDATE June 24 #3]
Celebrate the 25th anniversary of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace with Mattel’s die-cast Hot Wheels Starships Select Royal Naboo Starship. The diorama packaging is the perfect backdrop fot eh 7.46″x5.43″x5.43″ starship, in the first-ever appearance of this ship in the Starships Select series. Pick it up for $30 beginning Preview Night at the booth or online beginning Thursday, July 25.
[UPDATE June 24 #2]
Did you really think there wouldn’t be a Jurassic World exclusive? Of course you didn’t, and the toy giant has come roaring in with two new exclusives. Superhero Hype has the details.
Up first, raise your glass for Mattel’s Jurassic World Jimmy Buffet exclusive, which features a figure of Buffet’s iconic cameo from the film. Mattel pays tribute to the legend with this exclusive, which features a giant margarita glass (which Buffet can stand in), two margarita accessories, and attacking dinosaurs on flight stands. But to us, the best part of this set is that the box is shaped like a margarita pitcher. *chef’s kiss*. You can pick it up for $30 beginning Preview Night, or online starting Thursday, July 25.



They’ll also have a Masters of the Universe Two-Bad combo set, featuring individual figures of Tuvar and Baddrah. They come with the ancient Mirror of Avathar, from an episode of the Filmation series, as well as a double-sided mini comic. It will be available for $50.


[UPDATE June 24]
She’s Barbie, and he’s just a San Diego Comic-Con exclusive. Per People, Mattel will be releasing a Mini Mojo Dojo Casa House at San Diego Comic-Con. Based on the movie, the set will feature Ken’s iteration of Barbie’s Dreamhouse, as well as a Ken figure in a matching denim set, and a Kendom sign in the background. You can pick it up for $50. Sublime!
Like the other exclusives, it will be available at the con starting Preview Night, and then on MattelCreations beginning Thursday, July 25.



[UPDATE June 20]
Mattel’s second wave of San Diego Comic-Con exclusives are worth the fight to get your hands on them. As revealed by IGN this morning, they’ve got four new exciting exclusives heading to the con, starting with a new WWE Ultimate Edition Shawn Michaels figure, based on his WrestleMania XII’s Iron Man Match. The figure comes equipped with a zip line accessory, as well as interchangeable head, hands, and arm pieces, so that you can recreate Michaels’ iconic entrance. It will be available for $45, and here is the pre-order link launching on July 25 (note that the link won’t work until 9am PT on Thursday, June 20).

Then, they’re making waves with a Street Sharks 30th Anniversary Collection Presents: Ripster, based on the character’s appearance in the episode “A Shark Among Us”. Ripster features a soft goods leather jacket and other episode-specific accessories and comes packaged inside a ’90s action movie-inspired box. You can pick him up for $40 beginning July 25 (or on Preview Night at the booth).
Monster High fans will want to get their claws on two new exclusives, starting with a Monster High Deadfast Ghoulia Yelps doll, which serves as a follow-up to Mattel’s San Diego Comic-Con 2011 exclusive. Ghoulia is decked out in her superhero best, and you can pick her up for $75 online or at the show.

And finally, for now, Mattel will be unleashing a MEGA – Adult Builder – Monster High Frankie Stein Boo-k Lab, which features 362-piece Mega Adult Builder set, inspired by the SDCC 2010 doll. It will be available for $40 both online and at the show.

[UPDATE June 17]
The hero we deserve. After teasing the set all the way back in March, Game Rant today revealed Mattel’s first full look at one of Mattel’s San Diego Comic-Con exclusives — a Fisher Price Little People Batman 85th Anniversary: I Am Batman Set. To celebrate the character’s 85th anniversary, Mattel is celebrating with this set, which features every film version of the character, from Michael Keaton’s 1989 portrayal to Val Kilmer, George Clooney, Christian Bale, Ben Affleck, and Robert Pattinson’s iterations. Each is dressed in their version of the costume, and comes with an iconic Batarang gadget.
Fans will be able to grab this set for $40.

Up next is a Hot Wheels Batmobile Collector Set, which features the most iconic versions of the Batmobile in one set, including the Batmobiles from the Batman 1966 TV series, the Batman 1989 movie, Batman: The Animated Series, Batman Forever, Batman Begins, and The Batman.
Each iteration comes with a small figurine of its driver, representing Adam West, Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, Christian Bale, and Robert Pattinson’s versions of the character. It will be available for $50.
There is also a Hot Wheels RacerVerse Marvel Secret Wars set for $20, which celebrates the 40th anniversary of Marvel’s Secret Wars comics. The original 1984 comics debuted the Symbiote Spider-Man suit for the first time, and Mattel is celebrating this with a Die-Cast Symbiote Suit Spider-Man in a little Spider-Buggy, along with a commemorative coin. There will also be a Wolverine chase variant, which features the Secret Wars version of the character in a mini X-Jet.
And finally, for now, they’ll also have a UNO Show ’em No Mercy Deadpool card set, on display only at San Diego Comic-Con. The game is a version of the game that is “even more brutal than its original counterpart”. It features new action cards and more brazen rules, and each card bears artwork from Deadpool comics over the years. It will be available for $19.99, and available exclusively as a Target.com exclusive.
San Diego, CA
San Diego Unified leaders propose policy to limit technology in classrooms
SAN DIEGO (CNS) – San Diego Unified School District leaders Tuesday announced an effort to better integrate technology in classrooms and reduce excessive media consumption, to be voted upon by the school board Tuesday evening.
If the Board of Education approves the proposed resolution at Tuesday evening’s meeting, the first changes would go into effect on Aug. 10, the first day of the 2026-27 school year.
The proposed changes include:
— Prohibiting video-streaming platform use such as YouTube on individual devices;
— Prohibiting non-instructional gaming platform use on individual devices; and
— Removing computer carts from Transitional Kindergarten classrooms, while still allowing for access to devices for students with needed accommodations.
“Technology has expanded educational opportunities for students in ways we could not have imagined a generation ago,” Board President Richard Barrera said. “But our responsibility is to ensure technology serves students – – not the other way around. This resolution takes thoughtful, research-based steps to reduce passive screen time and create more opportunities for students to engage with their teachers, collaborate with their peers, and develop the communication, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills that will serve them throughout their lives.”
Other facets of the proposal, which would be phased in over the course of the next year, include:
— Developing age-appropriate device usage guidance;
— Limiting screen time outside established time frames;
— Expanding family resources and parent controls;
— Strengthening digital citizenship instruction;
— Reviewing instructional software annually; and
— Continuing evaluations of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.
District leaders said that while technology remains an important learning tool, excessive screen time and passive digital media consumption can “negatively impact attention, academic performance, sleep, social-emotional development, and overall student well-being.”
The impetus of the resolution is not to remove technology from classrooms, its proponents say, but to instead support diverse learning needs while “creating more opportunities for meaningful human interaction, student engagement, creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking.”
“One of the strengths of this resolution is that it recognizes these decisions should not be made in isolation,” Board Trustee Shana Hazan said. “Families, educators and community partners have helped elevate this conversation, and their voices will continue to guide this work. Technology remains an important educational tool, but it should never replace the relationships, creativity, collaboration, and human connection that are at the heart of a great education.
“This resolution creates a framework for bringing diverse perspectives together to determine what is best for students at every stage of their development,” Hazan added.
District leaders say if the resolution passes, staff will work with advisory groups such as the Community Advisory Committee, District Advisory Council and District English Learner Advisory Committee to further refine ideas.
San Diego, CA
Who’s playing in the World Cup today? TV schedule for June 23
Here’s who is playing in the 2026 men’s World Cup on Tuesday, June 23.
MORE: 2026 men’s World Cup standings, scores, brackets
World Cup TV Schedule June 23
Group Stage
Group K: Portugal vs. Uzbekistan, 1 p.m. ET, 10 a.m. PT, Houston Stadium (FOX, Telemundo, Peacock)
Group L: England vs. Ghana, 4 p.m. ET, 1 p.m. PT, Boston Stadium (FOX, Telemundo, Peacock)
Group L: Panama vs. Croatia, 7 p.m. ET, 4 p.m. PT, Toronto Stadium (FOX, Telemundo, Peacock)
Group K: Colombia vs. Congo DR, 10 p.m. ET, 7 p.m. PT, Estadio Guadalajara (FS1, Telemundo, Peacock)
Note: Matches on Telemundo and Peacock are in Spanish.
San Diego, CA
Los Angeles schools superintendent resigns after FBI search and months on paid leave
By CHRISTOPHER WEBER and BIANCA VÁZQUEZ TONESS
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The superintendent of Los Angeles public schools has resigned four months after he was put on paid leave during a federal investigation, saying he wants students to learn “without distraction.”
Alberto Carvalho ‘s resignation letter dated Sunday made no direct mention of the FBI’s Feb. 25 search of his home and the LA Unified School District’s headquarters. Two days after the FBI served the search warrants, the district’s Board of Education voted unanimously to place Carvalho on leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
Authorities have not provided details of the nature of the investigation involving the district, which serves more than 500,000 students. The investigation appears to relate to a contract the school district had with an education technology company whose leader was later indicted for fraud. The company, AllHere, had a contract with the district to create an AI chatbot.
Before becoming the Los Angeles superintendent in 2022, Carvalho had spent his entire education career in Miami-Dade County Public Schools, where he drew national praise for improving graduation rates and academic achievement among Black and Hispanic students. While advocating for Miami’s immigrant students, he spoke openly about his own struggles as a young recent arrival from Portugal working in restaurants and construction while homeless at times.
Under Carvalho, the Los Angeles district had been making strides. Students’ academic growth has outpaced the state average in recent years and students have bounced back from pandemic learning loss. Voters overwhelmingly passed a $9 billion construction and modernization bond, the school system’s largest ever.
Carvalho has denied wrongdoing
Authorities have not accused Carvalho of any crimes. He denied any wrongdoing earlier this year and had asked to be reinstated as head of the nation’s second-largest district. On Sunday he resigned via a letter addressed to “students, families, teachers, staff, and community.”
“Placing students first has always guided my work,” Carvalho wrote. “Because I believe our schools must remain focused on students and learning without distraction, I am resigning as Superintendent of LAUSD effective today, June 21, 2026.”
In its statement released early Monday, the Board acknowledged it received the letter of resignation.
“The Board remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring stability, continuity, and continued progress through strong leadership. Our focus remains unchanged: providing every student with a high-quality education, supporting our dedicated workforce, and maintaining the trust of the communities we serve,” it said. in the statement.
It said that Andrés Chait, who has been acting superintendent, will remain in that position until a permanent decision is made.
The FBI investigation has been linked to the maker of a school chatbot
In February, the FBI also searched a third location near Miami. The Miami Herald reported the Florida property belonged to Debra Kerr, who previously worked with AllHere.
In 2024, Carvalho heavily touted a deal with AllHere for an AI chatbot named “Ed” designed to help students. But about three months after unveiling the technology and paying the company $3 million, the district dropped its dealings with AllHere, which collapsed into bankruptcy. Months later, founder Joanna Smith-Griffin was charged with securities and wire fraud, along with identity theft.
At the time, Carvalho denied personal involvement in the selection of AllHere, according to the Los Angeles Times.
“Mr. Carvalho respects the rule of law and the investigative process and has always acted in the best interests of students and within the bounds of the law,” Holland & Knight, the law firm representing him, previously said in a statement. “While the government’s investigation remains ongoing, no evidence has been presented by prosecutors supporting any allegation that Mr. Carvalho violated federal law.”
Following the search of school headquarters, LA Unified said it was cooperating with investigators and had no further information.
Carvalho became superintendent of LA schools in 2022 on a four-year contract with an annual salary of $440,000. He began a new four-year contract in February, just weeks before the raid, for the same salary, according to school board meeting documents.
In Miami, Carvalho began his education career as a high school physics teacher in the 1980s and climbed the administrative ranks. He led the district for nearly 14 years.
In 2020, a nonprofit he founded to support Miami schools drew scrutiny after it solicited a $1.57 million donation from an online education company doing business with the district. The district’s inspector general later determined the donation didn’t violate state or district ethics policies but did create the “appearance of impropriety” and should be returned, according to The Miami Herald. Instead of returning the funds, the foundation distributed the money to Miami-Dade teachers in the form of $100 gift cards.
Toness reported from Boston.
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