San Diego, CA
SeaWorld San Diego changes shark story from apex predators to endangered species
SeaWorld San Diego wants to change the bad reputation of sharks thanks to movies like “Jaws,” “The Meg” and “Sharknado” from apex predators to endangered species with a refreshed aquarium exhibit at the marine life park.
Shark Encounter reopens on Friday, May 22 at SeaWorld San Diego after an eight-month refurbishment that added fresh paint, redressed rockwork, new props, digital screens and projection scenes to the exhibit. SeaWorld hosted a media preview of Shark Encounter on Tuesday, May 19.
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The entrance to the Shark Encounter exhibits where visitors can view sharks from above at Sea World on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (Kristian Carreon / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
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The entrance to the Shark Encounter exhibits where visitors can view sharks from above at Sea World on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (Kristian Carreon / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
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The 280,000-gallon aquarium with three pools and a signature walk-through tunnel features about 40 sharks representing 10 species.
The updated storyline in the SeaWorld exhibit paints sharks as personable, friendly, calm and sensitive fish that just happen to be highly evolved hunters at the top of the food chain.
The latest refurbishment marks the first major update to Shark Encounter since the exhibit opened in 1992.
The old exhibit featured scary music and spooky lighting intended to reinforce the public’s fear of sharks, according to SeaWorld Aquarist Nathan Merghart.
“Back when the original exhibit opened, there was still a lot of confusion around sharks and not a lot was known about them,” Merghart said during a tour of Shark Encounter. “A lot more information has come out about these animals. They’re not these big, giant, terrifying, scary things that everybody used to think they were.”
The new exhibit features a summer beach town vibe with surfing props, water safety signage and plenty of information designed to lighten the stigma about sharks, according to Merghart.
“These guys have a bad reputation and get a very bad rap for lots of things,” Merghart said during a tour. “They can be scary and they do have big teeth, but they’re not really as problematic as a lot of people think.”
Sharks are under attack with some species in danger of disappearing, according to an eight-minute video playing on a loop at the end of the exhibit.
More than 100 million sharks are killed a year due to overfishing, water pollution, climate change and loss of habitat, according to the video.
SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — San Diego is hosting two international soccer friendly matches at Snapdragon Stadium this weekend, giving local businesses a major economic boost as fans from around the world descend on the city ahead of the FIFA World Cup.
McGregors Bar and Grill is among the businesses capitalizing on the excitement, offering watch parties and preparing for larger-than-usual crowds drawn by some of international soccer’s biggest names.
Managing Partner Ian Linekin said the energy around the matches has been building steadily.
“We started early. We had a great crowd for the pregame for the Australia-Switzerland game. It’s been good,” Linekin said.
To meet the surge in demand, Linekin and his staff have been stocking up on supplies.
“We just order more food, we order more beer, we order more, more vodka and bourbon,” Linekin said.
The crowds are not limited to local fans. Linekin said international supporters have been making McGregors a destination as well.
“It was somebody in Australia… put together a flyer, found our logo, and planned a pregame party for this morning here,” Linekin said.
With the two friendly matches at Snapdragon Stadium serving as a preview of World Cup excitement, Linekin said he expects the atmosphere inside the bar to match the energy on the pitch.
“There’s gonna be, there’s gonna be chanting, there’s gonna be towels waved overhead, and yeah, it’s, it’s gonna be, be something to see,” Linekin said.
Beyond the food and drinks, McGregors has built its reputation on the overall experience it provides guests — something Linekin said has kept customers coming back for decades.
“That’s why we’ve been here for 30 years. We take care of people and we provide a fun, clean, safe place to come and enjoy yourself,” Linekin said.
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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Winning poster by Yohan R.
(Courtesy of Olivenhain Municipal Water District)
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Winning poster by Yohan R.
(Courtesy of Olivenhain Municipal Water District)
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At its May 20 meeting, Olivenhain Municipal Water District’s Board of Directors recognized the winners of the 2026 North County Water Agencies Fourth Grade Water Awareness Poster Contest. In its 33rd year, the contest was themed “Love Water, Save Water.” Winning entries were submitted by Austin M. from Olivenhain Pioneer Elementary School, Yohan R. from Monterey Ridge Elementary School, and Kira S. from Stone Ranch Elementary School, according to a news release.
“The annual poster contest offers future water stewards the chance to showcase their creativity and share their understanding of why saving water is so important,” shared board president Matthew Hahn in the news release. “On behalf of the entire board, a heartfelt thank you to every student who participated this year, and a big congratulations to all the winners!”
Austin’s poster features an image of the Earth as a crying eye, with oceans forming tears that flow into the word “Water.” His poster highlights the urgency of conserving water and protecting the planet.
Yohan’s entry showcases an hourglass filled with water flowing from a faucet. It symbolizes that time is of the essence and every drop counts. The poster also includes the messages “Love Water, Save Water” and “Preserve Every Drop.”
Kira’s poster depicts a vibrant underwater scene filled with marine life. It includes a whale, fish, turtles, and coral. Her poster emphasizes the potential impacts of water pollution with the phrase “Say No to Plastic,” and to “Love Water, Save Water.”
The three posters will be featured in the 2027 Water Awareness Calendar.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — A man in Chula Vista celebrated a career milestone that’s a statistical anomaly.
Tom McKievick has been the director of security at Fredericka Manor for 50 years.
He responded to a newspaper ad back in 1976 and has been working at the senior living community ever since.
“When I started, I wouldn’t think in a million years I’d still be here, but I enjoy the residents and the work,” McKievick said.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2024 the average job tenure for Americans was 3.9 years — a 15% drop from 4.6 years in 2014.
McKievick has never taken a sick day and said he has no plans to retire anytime soon.
“It’s entertaining and challenging and never boring,” McKievick said. “A lot of people think working at a senior facility is very quiet, but it can be very hectic and very challenging, but that’s part of the job.”
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