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San Diego Zoo debuts two giant pandas from China in key conservation partnership

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San Diego Zoo debuts two giant pandas from China in key conservation partnership


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A pair of pandas are making their big American debut.

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Two giant pandas from China have officially arrived at the San Diego Zoo with the grand re-opening of their exhibit on Aug. 8.

The pandas, named Xin Bao and Yun Chuan, will live in the zoo’s newly renovated and expanded Panda Ridge, which is inspired by the landscapes of their native habitats in the Suchuan, Gansu and Shanxi provinces, according to the zoo’s website.

SAN DIEGO ZOO TO WELCOME PAIR OF GIANT PANDAS FROM CHAIN UNDER CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP

The bears, the first to enter the U.S. in 21 years, arrived safely on June 27, the zoo reported.

Yun Chuan, the almost 5-year-old male panda, is identifiable by his long, slightly pointed nose.

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This photo released by the San Diego Zoo shows giant panda Yun Chuan, a male, on April 25, 2024, in the Sichuan province of China. (Ken Bohn/San Diego Zoo via AP)

His mother, Zhen Zhen, was born at the San Diego Zoo in 2007. Yun Chuan is active, but is “known to be quite gentle,” said the zoo.

Xin Bao is an almost 4-year-old female recognized by her round face and fluffy ears.

Xin Bao’s name means “precious treasure of prosperity and abundance,” and she’s described as “very active, alert, witty and an excellent climber.”

OUTSIDE OF CHINA, PANDAS ARE ONLY FOUND IN THESE 5 ZOOS AROUND THE WORLD

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The pandas’ arrival is the result of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s 30-year partnership with conservationists in China, which aims to protect and recover giant pandas and bamboo forests.

“By uniting our strengths, we’re restoring flourishing populations and healthy ecosystems, so giant pandas can thrive,” the zoo states on its website.

In this photo released by the Xinhua News Agency, giant panda Xin Bao, a female, is seen on a tree at the Bifengxia Panda Base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Yanan, southwest China’s Sichuan Province, on April 18, 2024. (Xue Chen/Xinhua via AP, File)

“In the exciting next step of our partnership, we’re working to improve overall health and resilience for populations vulnerable to extinction and loss of genetic diversity,” the statement continued.

‘Hope and prosperity’ 

Species conservation has been at the forefront of global efforts since the bears’ populations dwindled in the 1990s.

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The San Diego Zoo built an alliance with China to “shift panda recovery from an uncertain future to one of hope and prosperity,” the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance wrote in a June article.

PANDAS TO RETURN TO SAN DIEGO ZOO AS CHINA BRINGS BACK ‘PANDA DIPLOMACY’

The zoo welcomed its first giant pandas in 1996, making “critical” discoveries about the animals’ reproductive behavior as well as physiology, health, genetics, nutrition and habitat needs, according to the zoo.

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“We developed a giant panda milk formula, and together with our partners, other neonatal techniques that drastically increased survival rates for nursery-raised cubs from less than 10% to more than 90%,” the zoo wrote in an article. 

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In this photo released by the Xinhua News Agency, giant panda Yun Chuan eats at the Bifengxia Panda Base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Yanan, southwest China’s Sichuan Province, on April 18, 2024. (Xue Chen/Xinhua via AP, File)

In 1999, the alliance also achieved the first successful artificial insemination of a giant panda outside of China.

The pandas, along with their U.S.-born babies, were sent back to China at the end of their 12-year loan agreement.

DC’S SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL ZOO TO WELCOME PAIR OF YOUNG PANDAS FROM CHINA

In 2016, the conservation status of giant pandas changed from endangered to vulnerable.

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Now, the offspring of previous San Diego-raised pandas are returning to the U.S. to further conservation efforts.

The San Diego Zoo built an alliance with China to “shift panda recovery from an uncertain future to one of hope and prosperity,” the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance wrote in a June article. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull, File)

People visiting the San Diego Zoo can view the pandas for free, or they can book an early-morning walking tour that includes accompaniment by an expert guide and exclusive viewings.

As of Feb. 2024, Zoo Atlanta is the only other U.S. zoo to house giant pandas, including the first panda twins born in America in more than a quarter-century, according to the AP.

Giant pandas Yun Chuan (left) and Xin Bao (right) will live in the San Diego Zoo’s newly renovated and expanded Panda Ridge, which is inspired by the landscapes of the animals’ native habitats in the Suchuan, Gansu and Shanxi provinces. (AP)

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The National Zoo in Washington, D.C., is expecting the arrival of two young giant pandas by the end of 2024, Reuters reported in May.

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This is just months after the zoo returned three bears to China in Nov. 2023 amid heightened U.S.-China tensions.

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Fox News Digital reached out to the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance for comment.

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San Diego, CA

UNLV faces San Diego State after Hamilton’s 24-point performance

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UNLV faces San Diego State after Hamilton’s 24-point performance


UNLV Rebels (16-14, 11-8 MWC) at San Diego State Aztecs (19-10, 13-6 MWC)

San Diego; Friday, 10 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: UNLV faces San Diego State after Kimani Hamilton scored 24 points in UNLV’s 92-65 victory over the Utah State Aggies.

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The Aztecs have gone 13-2 in home games. San Diego State is eighth in the MWC with 9.0 offensive rebounds per game led by Miles Heide averaging 2.0.

The Rebels have gone 11-8 against MWC opponents. UNLV ranks eighth in the MWC shooting 34.4% from 3-point range.

San Diego State averages 79.1 points per game, 0.6 more points than the 78.5 UNLV gives up. UNLV averages 7.2 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.9 fewer made shots on average than the 9.1 per game San Diego State allows.

The teams play for the second time in conference play this season. San Diego State won the last meeting 82-71 on Jan. 24. Miles Byrd scored 23 points points to help lead the Aztecs to the win.

TOP PERFORMERS: Reese Dixon-Waters is shooting 35.9% from beyond the arc with 1.6 made 3-pointers per game for the Aztecs, while averaging 13 points. Byrd is averaging 10.2 points and 5.1 rebounds over the past 10 games.

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Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn is shooting 50.9% and averaging 20.6 points for the Rebels. Hamilton is averaging 1.4 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Aztecs: 5-5, averaging 74.9 points, 28.9 rebounds, 13.7 assists, 6.9 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 69.0 points per game.

Rebels: 6-4, averaging 84.1 points, 32.3 rebounds, 14.7 assists, 6.4 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 50.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 80.8 points.

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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San Diego, CA

Military bases in San Diego County increase security following Iran attacks

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Military bases in San Diego County increase security following Iran attacks


SAN DIEGO (CNS) – Military bases in San Diego County and nationwide have increased security measures due to last weekend’s U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran, prompting traffic delays near base entrances, enhanced ID checks and access restrictions.

The Naval Air Station North Island on Coronado ports three aircraft carriers, including the San Diego-based USS Abraham Lincoln, which led some of the first-wave attacks on Saturday.

Naval Base Coronado warned motorists of possible traffic delays at all base entry points due to the increased security measures.

Targets included Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps command and control facilities, Iranian air defense capabilities, missile and drone launch sites and military airfields.

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The U.S. operation, dubbed “Epic Fury,” and Israeli operation, “Raging Lion,” began striking targets at 1:15 a.m. Eastern Time Saturday.

As of Tuesday, at least six U.S. service members had been killed in action.

The strikes also killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei, who had been Iran’s supreme leader since 1989, making him the longest-serving head of state in the Middle East.

Iran’s offensive forces claimed to have struck USS Abraham Lincoln with ballistic missiles, but according to an X post from U.S central Command, “The Lincoln was not hit. The missiles launched didn’t even come close. The Lincoln continues to launch aircraft in support of CENTCOM’s relentless campaign to defend the American people by eliminating threats from the Iranian regime.”

Those with concerns regarding the heightened security can contact San Diego County’s Office of Emergency Services at 858-565-3490 or oes@sdcounty.ca.gov.

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Copyright 2026, City News Service, Inc.





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San Diego, CA

SD Unified moves forward with layoffs of classified employees

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SD Unified moves forward with layoffs of classified employees


SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — Less than 3 weeks after the San Diego Unified School District finalized a new contract with teachers, the school board voted unanimously on Tuesday to move forward with layoff notices for other district employees.

The layoffs affect classified employees — workers who are employed by the district but are not teachers and are not certified. That includes bus drivers, custodians, special education and teacher aides, and cafeteria workers.

The district says it is eliminating 221 positions — 133 that are currently filled and 88 that are vacant — to save $19 million and help address a projected $47 million deficit for the next fiscal year.

Preliminary layoff notices will go out on March 15, with final notices by May 15.

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The district estimates about 200 classified employees will receive preliminary notices, but of them, about 70 are expected to lose their jobs based on union-negotiated bumping rules.

Bumping allows employees with more seniority to move into another position in the same classification, thereby “bumping” a less senior employee out of that role.

Lupe Murray, an early childhood special education parafacilitator with the district, said the news came as a shock after the teacher strike was called off.

“When the strike was called off, I’m like, ‘Yes!’ So then when I got the email from the Superintendent, I’m like, ‘Wait, what?’ So, I think everyone was shocked,” Murray said.

The district says it sends out annual layoff notices, as all districts in the state do.

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Before Tuesday’s board meeting, classified employees rallied outside, made up of CSEA (California School Employees Association) Chapters OTBS 788, Paraeducators 759, and OSS 724. They were joined by parents, students, and the San Diego & Imperial Counties Labor Council, AFL-CIO.

Miguel Arellano, a paraeducator independence facilitator with San Diego Unified and a representative of San Diego Paraeducators Cahpter 759.

“What do we want? No layoffs! When do we want it? Now!” the crowd chanted.

Arellano said he felt compelled to act when he learned about the potential layoffs.

“The first thing that went through my mind was that I need to speak up. I need to protect these people,” Arellano said.

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Inside the meeting, the board heard emotional, at times tearful testimony from classified employees before voting unanimously to move forward with the layoff schedule.

Superintendent Fabi Bagula said the district has tried to protect classrooms from the cuts.

“We have tried our best to only, I mean, to not touch the school. Or the classroom. But now it’s at the point where it’s getting a little bit harder,” Bagula said. “What I’m still hoping, or what I’m still working toward, because we’re still in negotiations, is that we’re able to actually come to a win-win, where there’s positions and availability and maybe even promotions for folks that are impacted.”

Arellano warned the layoffs could have a direct impact on students.

“We are already spread thin, so, with more of a case load, it’s going to be impossible to be able to service all the students that we need to have,” Arellano said.

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Follow ABC 10News Anchor Max Goldwasser on InstagramFacebook, and Twitter.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.





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