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Late barrage powers split SDFC squad to Baja Cup win over Xolos

The segment of the San Diego FC roster that coach Mikey Varas chose to field in Tuesday’s Baja Cup friendly against Club Tijuana seized the moment, coming back for a 4-2 victory. “We set an individual challenge for each player to prove themselves,” Varas remarked. “Demonstrate who you are. The best way to do that is by playing with the intensity that contributes to the team’s success.” In front of a vibrant and somewhat divided crowd of 29,171 at Snapdragon Stadium, SDFC netted goals in the 76th and 83rd minutes. Fireworks lit up the night, as the faction of the audience in Xolos red and black, who had been cheering a 2-1 lead only minutes prior, were suddenly overshadowed by the home fans in blue. David Vazquez first equalized, skillfully chasing down a cross and executing a sliding shot that found the back of the net. Shortly after, Manu Duah headed in a goal from a set piece, giving SDFC its first lead of the evening. The home team further dampened the Mexican Independence Day festivities for their guests in the 88th minute. A breakaway goal from Lamine Sadio, a promising player from SDFC’s Right to Dream international academy, wrapped up a thrilling 15-minute sequence. Sadio’s appearance was part of Varas’ “double mission” to keep SDFC ready for their return to Major League Soccer action on Saturday in Atlanta, as they maintain their pursuit of the MLS Cup, currently at the top of the Western Conference. “This game allowed us to expand our squad and increase its depth,” Varas stated. “We had to separate the group for a few days… It was a fantastic experience, and the players truly showed up.” Varas deployed a split lineup on Tuesday, with notable absences including Hirving “Chucky” Lozano, Anders Dreyer, and Onni Valakari, who did not participate in the inaugural friendly against Club Tijuana. Alex Mighten was among those who rose to the occasion, scoring SDFC’s first goal of the match. In the 15th minute, he deftly maneuvered through defenders before taking a left-footed shot that slipped through. This marked Mighten’s first goal in any match since March, leveling the score at 1-1. Midfielder Emmanuel Boateng also made a significant impact throughout the game. San Diego native Duran Ferree earned Varas’ commendation for his strong performance as a goalkeeper after entering the match. According to Varas, Ferree had trained well, but Tuesday was crucial to ascertain whether he was ready: “The only way to truly evaluate a player is in front of a crowd of over 20,000.” The Xolos struck first, with Brazilian forward Vitinho scoring in the fifth minute following a rapid exchange of plays. Vitinho noticed SDFC goalkeeper Pablo Sisniega out of position and expertly lofted a shot from nearly midfield, which sailed perfectly into the center of the goal. The match’s first action was set early on by Club Tijuana’s Adonis Stalin Preciado Quintero, who intercepted a wayward pass just 63 seconds in but narrowly missed with his shot. Preciado nearly contributed to another goal later in the first half when his cross found a leaping Joban González, but González’s attempt flew just over the crossbar, keeping the score at 1-1 for the time being. Club Tijuana’s lead finally came in the 53rd minute, when Christian Castillo seized an opportunity and unleashed a shot from the top of the box, breaking the long deadlock. Originally Published: September 16, 2025 at 9:22 PM PDT Source link

Commission advances seven-story hotel, nine-story residential development near convention center ⋆ The Palm Springs Post

A rendering of a proposed seven-story hotel planned for what is currently a parking lot that sits on tribal land between the Hilton and Renaissance hotels. The Palm Springs Planning Commission voted Tuesday to move forward proposed plans for a seven-story resort hotel and nine-story residential development that, if completed, would likely become the tallest building in Palm Springs. The commissioners approved a major development permit for the project and a conditional use permit for a high-rise building and a pool bar and rooftop social club under the Section 14 Specific Plan. However, the approvals came with some additional conditions intended to address concerns with the project’s size. The project is located at 847 East Andreas Rd., just north of Kaptur Plaza and between the Renaissance and Hilton hotels near the Palm Springs Convention Center on land currently used as a parking lot The hotel portion of the building would be seven stories and include 125 rooms, and a nine-story residential portion would include 132 condo units, which owners would have the option of renting out through the hotel. Parking would be available in an underground lot with 100 spaces and a five-level parking garage with 400 spaces attached to the residential tower. Plans also include a 6,040-square-foot standalone restaurant. The resort hotel and condos are proposed by Nexus Development, Inc., and emerged as part of a settlement agreement over the “Prairie Schooner” property, involving a hotel proposed for the same site around 20 years ago. That project became embroiled in a public corruption case involving a former Nexus employee who allegedly paid former Palm Springs Mayor Steven Pougnet bribes in exchange for the company purchasing the lot from the city at a reduced rate. A Nexus affiliate company agreed to pursue plans for a hotel at the property as part of the settlement agreement, and the city agreed to expedite the hotel entitlement application. “The initial project, when it started 20 years ago, was actually envisioned for a nine-story, 10-acre, 500-room hotel, and that was ultimately approved, and that was much more massive,” Rob Eres with Nexus told the commission on Tuesday. Eres said the condo units are part of an industry shift toward “branded residences” that are part of the hotel but also provide ownership options. During off-peak times, when occupancy is hovering lower than the city’s 60% average, the property would serve as a 125-room hotel. But during the busy season, the hotel could “flex up” into a 257-room hotel, Eres said, with the company expecting that many of the condo owners will opt to make their units available as hotel inventory. “The ultimate goal here is to get a project that not only can be something everyone’s proud of, that could be something that serves community members, but also feed tourism into the city, support the convention center, support surrounding restaurants and businesses,” said Eres, adding that the company believes its proposal “is an economically feasible project the way it is designed.” But some residents living in the Plaza Villas condos across Andreas Road from the project site took issue with the building’s size, and with shade projections showing some shadow impacts, with the greatest additional shade around the winter solstice. “People living in Plaza Villas, wintertime is top season, they’ll not be happy to be deprived of some hours of sunshine,” said one opponent. “ … We don’t need to be becoming the new Las Vegas or Manhattan.” For comparison, the Kimpton Rowan hotel in downtown Palm Springs is seven stories. The nine-story portion of the Nexus project would be 99 feet, below the 100 feet allowed under the Section 14 Specific Plan, which allows high-rises with a conditional use permit. Some commissioners at Tuesday’s meeting said they were less concerned with the shadowing on Plaza Villas, since the shade study showed increased shade for “a relatively small portion of the development for a two or three month window at a time in the early morning and in late afternoon,” said Commissioner David Murphy. “We don’t need to be becoming the new Las Vegas or Manhattan.” — A project opponent who spoke Tuesday evening Chair Kathy Weremiuk and Vice Chair Lauri Aylaian expressed concerns over the building’s overall mass and size, and expressed a desire to continue the meeting to see more exhibits of how the project would look in context of surrounding buildings, and potentially with some adjustments. “I’d like to see it in such a way that we don’t have the shadowing on the adjacent neighbors. I’m concerned about that, and I am concerned about the nine stories and the look, which is very stark to me, of the parking structure,” said Weremiuk. But Eres said the company was “not comfortable” with any delay, and asked that the commission provide a yes or a no on whether the project would move forward to next steps with the Architectural Review Committee. If the commission denied the project, the developer could appeal that decision to the city council (which could then approve the project without input from the planning commission). After an initial motion failed (with a tied 2-2 vote among the four commissioners present), the commission ultimately voted 4-0 to move the project forward, with a requirement added that the developer essentially cut out a minimum 20 by 20 foot chunk at the east and south ends of the nine-story tower to reduce its overall mass. The project will next go to the Architectural Review Committee for a more detailed review of the project’s architecture, materials, and landscaping. Source link

Her Dad Was Taken During An Immigration Raid In Long Beach. She’s Asking For The Community’s Help

LONG BEACH, CA —The daughter of a man who was detained during an immigration raid at a Long Beach car wash this weekend is now asking for the public’s help to pay for legal fees. On Monday, Griselda Rodriguez created a fundraiser asking for helping raising money to pay for her father’s legal fee. Her father Jesus Rodriguez had lived in the United States for more than 35 years and had all the proper documentation, Griselda said in a statement accompanying the fundraiser. He is still being held by federal agents, she said. She said her father “obeyed all the rules” and never had any legal issues prior to being taken from the car wash. “We come to you in a time of uncertainty,” Griselda said. “Please keep my dad and my family in your prayers.” So far the fundrasier has raised $4,755 out of its $5,000 goal. The fundraiser can be found here. At least one other family has created a family to help their parent who was taken during the car wash raid Saturday. Karol Mejia said in another fundraiser that her mother is currently being held at the Los Angeles Detention Center after being taken by federal agents during the raid. Her mother, Karla Martinez Bardales, had lived in the country for over 30 years. “She worked tirelessly, even on holidays when most were resting, to provide for her family,” Mejia said in a statement posted with the fundraiser. “Today, she continues to give selflessly, caring for her granddaughter five days a week and working on weekends to make ends meet.” That fundraiser, which can be found here, has surpassed its $12,000 goal, raising $13,281 to help with legal fees and any other costs. Source link

SoCal Sunshine: The Impact of Climate Change on Southern California’s Ecosystem

Southern California, famously known for its sunshine and vibrant landscapes, is experiencing the profound effects of climate change that threaten its delicate ecosystems. This region, known for its diverse habitats, faces a multitude of environmental challenges that disrupt the intricate balance sustaining its flora and fauna. Rising Temperatures and Drought One of the most pressing issues in Southern California is the significant rise in temperatures, resulting in extended periods of drought. These changes affect water supply and quality, posing serious risks to agriculture and wildlife. Drought conditions lead to the wilting of essential plant species, which in turn impacts herbivorous wildlife that depend on these plants for food. Wildfires and Habitat Loss The increasing temperatures also contribute to a heightened risk of wildfires. The frequency and intensity of these fires have escalated in recent years, leading to widespread destruction of habitats. As wildfires ravage these ecosystems, many species are pushed to the brink of extinction. The loss of flora not only alters the landscape but also disrupts animal migration patterns and breeding cycles. Shifts in Biodiversity Climate change is also ushering in significant shifts in biodiversity across Southern California’s ecosystems. Many native species struggle to adapt to rapidly changing climate conditions, leading to a decline in populations. Meanwhile, invasive species are finding new opportunities to thrive in disturbed environments, further complicating conservation efforts. Water Quality and Marine Life Additionally, the coastal regions of Southern California are not immune to the impacts of climate change. Rising sea levels and increased water temperatures pose a threat to marine ecosystems. Coral reefs, vital to marine biodiversity, are particularly vulnerable, as warmer waters lead to coral bleaching. The degradation of these underwater habitats puts countless marine species at risk. Community Response and Resilience Despite the daunting challenges posed by climate change, communities in Southern California are actively working towards creating resilient ecosystems. Conservation initiatives, reforestation projects, and sustainable water management practices are being implemented to restore balance and promote biodiversity. Public awareness campaigns are essential in fostering a collective commitment to combat climate change and protect the unique ecosystems of this region. Conclusion Southern California’s ecosystems face an uncertain future amid the pressing challenges of climate change. However, through dedicated efforts and collaborative action, there is hope for a sustainable and vibrant environment that honors the region’s natural beauty. Protecting these ecosystems is not merely a necessity for the present but a legacy for future generations.