San Diego, CA
San Diego Padres celebrate Puerto Rican heritage with local artist
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — If home is truly where the heart is, then Rocio Delgado’s home is in Puerto Rico.
“I grew up in Ciales. It’s a town in the middle of the island, green, full of mountains. It’s a very pretty town that I invite everybody to have the opportunity to go visit,” Delgado said.
Everything in her house, from the sugar cane painting to the cafecito, reminds her of the island.
“The best way to drink the coffee,” she said as she warmed milk on the stove.
But, she doesn’t live in Puerto Rico anymore.
“Especially in the beginning, it was super hard because my family is there, my friends as well,” Delgado said.
She moved to San Diego more than 20 years ago to continue her education. “That was a hard transition.”
Through her time in her art studio, you can see the longing to connect with her homeland in each brush stroke. “Painting was a way to heal,” she said. “I feel like it was a therapy.”
That feeling produced her painting: “Corazon Boricua.”
“I let myself go in a way,” Delgado said.
She painted the blue, white, and red heart with oil on a large canvas.
“I feel that the heart is not broken. It’s just expanding,” she said, adding it symbolizes the resilience of Latinos.
That’s what caught the attention of the San Diego Padres.
“They sent us a deck with several different design options, things that are important to the culture,” said Emily Wittig, the Vice President of Marketing with the San Diego Padres.
In collaboration with the award-winning artist, the Padres will feature her artwork on the limited-edition game hat during their fourth Puerto Rican Heritage Game.
“I was finishing my heart, and that’s the one that they chose,” Delgado said.
What started as a painting on her wall became a digital graphic design she shared with the Padres.
This hat became a reality after several drafts — a tangible way to share her culture at the Puerto Rican Heritage Game.
“We want it to be authentic,” Wittig said. “We want it to be true to the culture, so it’s important for us to work with these local community groups to see what’s important to them.”
The team designed every part of the hat with intention.
“Our Puerto Rican celebration hat is the colors of the Puerto Rican flag,” Wittig said.
It includes authentic details in even unexpected ways.
“The fun thing that people might not notice right away, but on the inside we have the coqui, the tiny frogs, which are so cute, so it’s a really fun nod to Puerto Rico while also still celebrating and showing your Padres pride,” Wittig said, showing the details of the hat.
The Padres donate $5 from every ticket sold to the House of Puerto Rico, which Carmen Acevedo says keeps the cottage operating.
“It’s also going to keep the international cottages alive for the rest of the generations,” Acevedo said.
Acevedo says the cultural museum relies solely on donations, receiving more than $4,000 from the game last year.
“This one is a fundraiser with a lot of fun,” Acevedo said.
Delgado is one of thousands of Puerto Ricans who left the island in recent years.
“I was thinking it was going to be a short transition, just come study, having an opportunity to do that, and come back, but things change,” Delgado said.
According to the Pew Research Center, since 2004, more than 600,000 Puerto Ricans have left the island to live in the mainland United States, so events like this offer a chance to reconnect with other Puerto Ricans.
“We want people to feel included and welcomed here,” Wittig said.
While Delgado no longer calls Puerto Rico her physical home, you can see the home in her heart through the ‘Corazon Boricua.’
“The Padres are doing something so nice to recognize the Puerto Rican community in San Diego, and not too many teams do that,” Delgado said.
San Diego, CA
Alleged San Diego Gunman Had Violent Obsessions
Police were so unsettled by one of the teens later accused in the deadly shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego that they took his guns away more than a year before the attack. Court records show Chula Vista police secured a gun violence restraining order against then-high school student Caleb Vazquez in January 2025 after classmates and staff reported he idolized mass shooters, talked about a “day of retribution,” and came to school dressed as mass murderers and the TV serial killer Dexter, per NBC News and KGTV. The school had shared social media posts in which Vazquez praised killers, including those behind a 2011 attack in Norway and a 2019 shooting at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas, NBC reports.
Vazquez allegedly admitted an infatuation with mass killings and an idolization of Adolf Hitler and was put on a 72-hour psychiatric hold. His father—initially uncooperative, according to a police affidavit—removed 26 weapons from the home and arranged for therapy before the restraining order was dismissed that March. Just over a year later, police say Vazquez, 18, and a 17-year-old he’d met online killed three people at the mosque—security guard Amin Abdullah, caretaker Mansour Kaziha, and neighbor Nadir Awad—before wounding a landscaper and dying by suicide. FBI officials say writings left behind were steeped in extremist hatred. In the aftermath, community members are questioning how so many warnings failed to prevent the attack and calling for stronger, earlier interventions on mental health and homicidal ideation.
San Diego, CA
A South San Diego Mother questions SDPD’S response to her teenage son’s death
SOUTH BAY (KGTV) — The funeral for Julian Guerrero, the 15-year-old boy found dead inside Otay Valley Regional Park on Friday, May 15, is set for this Saturday at noon at Funeraria del Angel Chula Vista.
A GoFundMe has been set up to help the family with funeral expenses.
As his family prepares to lay him to rest, Julian’s mother said she is still waiting for answers about whether more could have been done to save him.
Julian was first reported missing on Thursday, May 14. The following morning, his missing persons flyers circulated across social media.
Neighbors were seen scouring the South Bay looking for him.
Then on Friday morning, San Diego police reported a body was discovered inside Otay Valley Regional Park in Fenton Pond, and it appeared to be a Hispanic, teenage male.
Julian’s mother, Laura Guerrero Gomez, said she was the one who ultimately led authorities to her son.
Guerrero Gomez said a homeless man was seen riding Julian’s bike on Friday, and after she asked where he got it, he led her to the area where Julian’s body was recovered.
Guerrero Gomez said when she first reported Julian missing, she told police her son was autistic, had a mental disability, and was taking medication — factors that made him especially vulnerable.
Jose, Guerrero Gomez’s other son, translated for ABC 10News from Spanish to English, and said that his mother still has many questions.
“She wants to know why there was no urgency, and looking for him, there was no Amber Alert. There was no helicopter trying to look for him. She had to do everything herself.”
Guerrero Gomez also questioned how her son’s missing case was overall handled.
Jose said, “The officer who took the initial report is the same officer who showed up [at Fenton Pond]. She was begging the officer, and there was no help whatsoever. He didn’t want to go into the park. They didn’t want to question the person who had the bike.”
The family also has questions about how Julian ended up in the water.
“He doesn’t know that area, he doesn’t like water, and he doesn’t know how to swim,” Jose said.
Guerrero Gomez also added that when she found her son, he was naked in the pond.
“She definitely thinks that it wasn’t accidental that something somebody did to him,” Jose said. “She’s pretty much feeling destroyed at this point because we weren’t taken seriously from the beginning. Julian didn’t deserve all that.”
Jose said his mother wants justice and hopes another family who has a child with a disability doesn’t have to face the same experience with SDPD as she did.
Julian was positively identified by the Medical Examiner’s Office days after he was found dead.
ABC 10News reached out to The San Diego Police Department for explanations on how they handled Julian’s case.
A spokesperson told ABC 10News their hearts go out to Julian’s family in the following statement:
Our hearts go out to Julian’s family for their loss. We understand there may be questions about what led to his death. At this time, the case is not being treated as a homicide, so it is not under SDPD’s purview. It is being handled by the Medical Examiner’s Office. If their investigation shows indications of a crime, then SDPD’s Homicide Unit would take over responsibility for the investigation. Based on the information officers received at the time of the report, SDPD’s initial response was for a runaway juvenile. Officers were told where he normally frequents and began checking several locations; however, they were unable to locate him. A report was taken, and his name and picture were added to the log for missing juveniles. SDPD did additional follow-up with the family on the morning of May 15, prior to him being found in the Otay Valley Regional Park. The decision to identify the body was in the hands of the Medical Examiner’s Office that day. Any further questions about the investigation can be directed to them.
ABC 10News has requested an autopsy, investigative and toxicology report from the Medical Examiner’s office in Julian’s cause of death.
San Diego, CA
San Diego Wave poaches Leeds United executive Morrie Eisenberg as new CEO
NWSL team San Diego Wave have poached Leeds United’s chief business officer Morrie Eisenberg to be its new chief executive officer.
Eisenberg, who joined Premier League club Leeds as chief operating officer in October 2023, is credited internally with leading the push on its stadium redevelopment at Elland Road, which gained full planning permission earlier this year.
During Eisenberg’s time at the club, Leeds secured promotion back to the Premier League and, after his promotion last May, avoided relegation this season to maintain their place in English football’s top flight.
Eisenberg will begin his new role at the Wave in August, having previously held leadership positions at LinkedIn, Tesla and with the San Francisco 49ers in the NFL. He remained as a senior advisor to 49ers Enterprises while working at Leeds, with the two teams sharing the same ownership.
An announcement will be made by the two teams later on Wednesday.
In a statement, San Diego Wave governor Lauren Leichtman welcomed Eisenberg as a “transformative leader.”
“His vision, collaborative leadership style and commitment to building world-class organizations make him the ideal person to lead this club into its next chapter,” she added.
Eisenberg said: “The Wave has already established itself as a global brand with an exceptional fan base, ambitious vision and strong foundation. I’m excited to work alongside the players, staff, supporters and community to continue building a club that sets the standard on and off the pitch.”
The Wave are third in the NWSL standings (Leonardo Fernandez / Getty Images)
Leeds United managing director Robbie Evans added: “While I am disappointed to see Morrie leave, I am grateful for his effort and impact over the last three years. Much as with players, when you employ excellent people who produce excellent results, sometimes the unfortunate effect is that they will attract interest elsewhere.
“Morrie and I first met three years ago in discussing if we should leave our old lives behind to try and help Leeds United return to its rightful place in English football. Three seasons later, he leaves with the club on an excellent trajectory. I hope Morrie is especially proud of his tireless work on the stadium expansion, which will benefit the club, supporters, and the community for generations to come.
“Morrie and his wonderful family depart with the best wishes of the club. He is welcome anytime if he tires of California sunshine and misses the Yorkshire weather!”
The Wave is building influence
Analysis by soccer writer Asli Pelit
Lauren Leichtman, the first woman to become a billionaire from private equity, bought the Wave from billionaire businessman Ron Burkle for a record $120 million in 2024. Less than three years earlier, Burkle bought the franchise for $2m. Leichtman’s arrival in the NWSL marked the entry of institutional-caliber capital from one of private equity’s most accomplished operators.
Through Levine Leichtman Capital Partners, which manages more than $12bn in assets, Leichtman brought a new level of financial sophistication to women’s soccer just as franchise valuations, sponsorship revenue and infrastructure spending across the NWSL continue to surge.
The acquisition also underscored the increasing importance of relationships in women’s soccer. Former Wave president and ex-USWNT coach Jill Ellis played a pivotal role in connecting the parties, leveraging a relationship with Leichtman that dates back two decades to UCLA. Though Ellis’ exit to join FIFA was quite contentious.
Bringing USWNT legend Alex Morgan into the ownership group only deepened the club’s alignment between business credibility and player influence, a growing trend across the NWSL’s new ownership era.
Having only launched in 2022, the Wave have never won the NWSL Championship, though they did capture the 2023 NWSL Shield after finishing with the league’s best regular-season record and added the 2024 Challenge Cup to the trophy case.
In just a few seasons, the Wave have packed stadiums, landed superstar talent, shattered franchise valuation records and behaved like an established giant; the only thing still missing is the championship confetti.
The Wave are navigating a transitional 2026 season, balancing strong results with clear growing pains both on and off the field. Under second-year head coach Jonas Eidevall, San Diego remains in the playoff run, consistently hovering around the league’s top four to six spots, but performances have often highlighted unresolved issues within the squad. The club is still searching for consistency, but the potential arrival of USWNT star Catarina Macario after the summer break could significantly raise the team’s ceiling and strengthen their chances of bringing home a trophy this season.
Eisenberg is coming to Wave after his stint with one of the most successful American ownership groups, the 49ers Enterprises, the investment arm linked to the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers, which completed a full takeover of the club in 2023 after first purchasing a minority stake five years earlier. Led by chairman Paraag Marathe and backed by the York family, the ownership group has reshaped Leeds with an American-style approach centered on commercial expansion, infrastructure investment and data-driven operations.
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