Latest news with #KSWB
The Hill
31-07-2025
- Climate
- The Hill
History's biggest recorded tsunami happened in the US: A look back
(KSWB/KUSI) — Imagine a wall of water taller than the Empire State Building crashing through a quiet fjord in the dead of night. No warning, no time to run — just the rumbles of an earthquake, the thunder of a mountainside collapsing, and then, a wave unlike any other. No, this wasn't a scene from a Hollywood disaster film. It was real. On the night of July 9, 1958, along the Fairweather Fault in the Alaska Panhandle, nature unleashed the largest tsunami ever recorded after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake triggered a colossal rockslide into Lituya Bay — a narrow, glacier-carved inlet surrounded by steep cliffs. About 40 million cubic yards of rock fell into the water, triggering a towering wave that reached an almost unimaginable 1,720 feet, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The natural event, also referred to as a mega-tsunami, obliterated tree lines and vegetation in the surrounding area. Remarkably, the giant wave was mostly localized within Lituya Bay due to its topography, preventing a wider Pacific disaster. The United Nations reported that five people died as a result of the tsunami, two of whom were on a fishing boat within the inlet. A few other lucky fishermen in the area made it out alive, with a USGS professional paper even noting that one couple 'was lifted up by the wave and carried across La Chaussee Spit, riding stern first just below the crest of the wave, like a surfboard.' Unlike most tsunamis caused by undersea earthquakes, the unfolding of the Lituya Bay event was triggered by a landslide. This fact has caused some to question whether this tsunami should be considered the largest ever recorded. Nonetheless, scientists with the United States Geological Survey have labeled it as such. As climate change increases the likelihood of glacial melt and destabilized terrain in some parts of the world, scientists warn that rare events like the Lituya Bay tsunami could happen in similar high-risk regions. As it stands, the occurrence etched southeastern Alaska into the geological history books.
The Hill
23-07-2025
- Science
- The Hill
Rare, purple sea snails wash ashore on San Diego beaches
SAN DIEGO (KSWB/KUSI) — Beachgoers in San Diego may have spotted some glistening, purple shells reminiscent of small gemstones in the sand recently. Scientists at the University of California, San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography have identified them as a rare species of sea snail called Janthina. They are known for their colorful, violet shells and their ability to float thanks to a natural 'bubble raft.' The Janthina, which were recently found on La Jolla Shores, are usually found in sub-tropical to tropical seas, according to Scripps Oceanography researchers. They can sometimes be found along the coast of Southern California due to warmer waters flowing toward the shore. Check out the photos by Scripps Oceanography PhD student, Anya Stajner, below. According to the researchers at Scripps Oceanography's Pelagic Invertebrate Collection, the snails can eat the by-the-wind sailors, or Velella velella, which have also washed ashore in San Diego in the winter and spring. Janthina are also known to consume the Portuguese man o'war, a creature that is similar to by-the-wind sailors due to its sail-like appendage.
The Hill
09-07-2025
- The Hill
Man drowns after saving 2 young boys: ‘His heart was pure gold'
SAN DIEGO (KSWB/KUSI) — Friends are remembering a man who drowned over the weekend after saving two young nephews of his girlfriend who became caught up in the river current during a weekend fishing trip. San Diego native Jeff Brady, 51, was on the Colorado River near the Hidden Shores Resort in Yuma, Ariz., with his girlfriend Elen Ellis, his twin brother Greg, and their loved ones. 'They did it almost every weekend during the summer,' Joann Ripley, a longtime friend of Brady, said. The summer fun quickly turned tragic on Saturday when Ellis' 10- and 12-year-old nephews were swept away by the river's current. 'The boys, they know how to swim and everything, so it's just the current at the river this weekend happened to be pretty strong, and it swept the little one out, and then it just snowballed from there,' Summer Needham, another friend of Brady's, explained. Needham said Brady dove into action immediately, swimming out to the boys to keep them above water until they could get help. While struggling to battle the strong current, Ripley says Greg and his girlfriend, Julie, jumped in after Jeff to help save the boys. 'There was a boat that showed out of nowhere, and they were able to throw the boys on the boat and Julie on the boat, and Greg turned around, and Jeff was gone,' Needham said. Several agencies, including the Yuma County Sheriff's Office, responded to the river, searching for Brady after he was swept under the water. Shortly after 7 p.m., they found him and pronounced him dead on the scene. 'He was a giant of a man, but his heart was pure gold,' Needham said, smiling. Brady, Neeham, and Ripley went to the same high school together and had been friends for decades. 'They were the fun boys to be around,' Ripley said when asked what Brady was like in high school, adding that it wasn't a shock or surprise that he was the one who jumped into the water to save Ellis' nephews. She noted, however, that the shock of Brady's death has been real. 'She's just heartbroken and misses him,' Ripley said of Jeff's girlfriend. 'She wants the one more hug, the one more walk through the door, the one more everything that she's not gonna get anymore.' Even though the friends will miss the hugs, laughs, and fun reunions, they say their proud to know he died a hero. 'We want people to know how amazing he was,' Needham said. 'He went out with his angel wings on.' Needham says she set up a GoFundMe page to support the family after his death. She adds Jeff moved to Yuma two months ago to take care of his dad, who had some medical concerns, and the money will help support him as they mourn Jeff's loss.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Over 6K seniors graduating at local high schools this week
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Graduation ceremonies are in full swing across the San Diego Unified School District, with 6,009 seniors set to receive their diplomas this year. The district is celebrating a projected graduation rate of 90.9%, marking a significant achievement for students and educators alike. This year's ceremonies highlight the accomplishments of students who have excelled in various academic and civic areas. San Diego County Fair announces semi-finalists in 'Fair-tastic Foods' competition Among the graduating seniors, 687 have earned the State Seal of Biliteracy, recognizing their proficiency in English and at least one additional language. This achievement underscores the district's commitment to fostering multilingual skills among its students. Additionally, 76 seniors have been awarded the State Seal of Civic Engagement, which honors students who have demonstrated a strong understanding of the rights and responsibilities of citizens in a democracy. As graduation ceremonies continue throughout the week, San Diego Unified School District celebrates not only the academic success of its students but also their readiness to engage in a diverse facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by KSWB. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by KSWB staff before being published. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
San Diego honors USS Cole victims with Memorial Day ceremony
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — San Diego honored the memory of Lakiba Palmer and her 16 shipmates who died in the USS Cole attack during a Memorial Day ceremony at Mount Soledad. The ceremony, which took place on the 25th anniversary of the attack, included a plaque presentation dedicated to Palmer, a San Diego native, and those lost in the tragedy. Tunnel to Towers pays off mortgages for 25 families across US over Memorial Day The USS Cole was attacked by Al Qaeda suicide bombers, resulting in the loss of 17 sailors, including Palmer. The Palmer family, along with thousands of others in San Diego, continue to feel the weight of their loss, especially on Memorial Day. Mount Soledad now holds over 7,000 plaques, each representing a fallen service member and serving as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made for freedom. Memorial Day: Hundreds pay tribute at Miramar National Cemetery Memorial Day in San Diego is a time for reflection, as the city, deeply rooted in military culture, pauses to remember those who have given their lives in service to the country. As families gather for Memorial Day, the true meaning of the holiday is underscored by the sacrifices of service members like Lakiba Palmer, reminding everyone of the steep price of freedom. All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by KSWB. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by KSWB staff before being published. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
