Old Town's Bazaar del Mundo will showcase artisans from around Mexico, Central and South America at its annual market this weekend.

Why it matters: The decades-old event helps artists gain international recognition while putting their rich cultures and traditions on display.

What to expect: From Aug. 1-3, Bazaar del Mundo's courtyard will become a marketplace for folk art, handwoven textiles, jewelry, ceramics and clay pottery.

• Artists will also do demonstrations to showcase their craftsmanship.
• Andean folk band Tinku Duo will perform and Casa Guadalajara will sell tacos and drinks.

Over the years, Diane Powers, owner-operator of Bazaar del Mundo, has met the artisans in their studios and workshops while traveling across Latin America.

• This year's event, billed as "The Best of the Best," will feature a smaller group of about a dozen folk artists.

Zoom in: The Latin American Market opened the door for Oaxacan artisans Jacobo and María Ángeles 27 years ago, and helped them cultivate relationships with collectors from San Diego and around the U.S.

• The pair is known for their colorful, hand-carved and painted wooden figurines of mythical animal spirit guides called alebrijes that were featured in the movie "Coco," and are important to Oaxacan and Zapotec cultures.
• The pieces, which can take about a year to make, range from $15 to over $350.
• They'll also be selling goods from other workshops from their town, San Martín Tilcajete in Oaxaca, Mexico.

What they're saying: "In these times of division and of insecurity, these events are a way of bringing people together and building bridges from one culture to another," Jacobo Ángeles told Axios through a translator.

• "It's important to show the beauty from every different culture to people in San Diego," he said.

If you go: The free festival runs from 10am-8pm Friday and Saturday, and 10am-6pm on Sunday.

• Find free parking in the Caltrans lot across the street after 5pm Friday and all day on the weekend.

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UC San Diego Health is the top hospital locally again and fifth-best in the state, according to U.S. News & World Report's annual analysis released Tuesday.

State of play: The university hospital system — which has medical centers in La Jolla, Hillcrest and College Area — earned national rankings in nine specialties, with obstetrics and gynecology, pulmonology and lung surgery in the top 10.

• UCSD fell off the honor roll, which recognizes the 20 best hospitals nationwide.
• Cedars-Sinai, UCLA, UCSF, and Stanford hospitals tied for first in California and all made the honor roll.

How it works: U.S. News evaluated the performance of more than 4,400 hospitals nationwide, including 64 in California, based on procedures, patient outcomes and care.

Here's how other hospitals in the region stack up, based on state ranking:

• Scripps La Jolla (6)
• Sharp Memorial (12)
• Kaiser Permanente's Zion and San Diego medical centers (28)
• Scripps Mercy (31)

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👋 Former Vice President Kamala Harris announced Wednesday that she will not run for governor, releasing next year's race to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom from a paralysis that gripped it while she made a decision. (Axios)

• Toni Atkins, the former senate president pro tem from San Diego, sent supporters a message after Harris' announcement saying her campaign is is still about combatting the cost of living and defending marginalized communities.

🔋 A new battery storage facility in Barrio Logan capable of holding enough electricity to power 200,000 homes during peak power needs opened Tuesday. (Union-Tribune)

🏗️ UTC and Sorrento Valley, the region's top employment center, have received just 336 permits for new homes in the last six years, less than 1% of the county's total. (Voice of San Diego/KPBS)

San Diego International Airport is opening a new, dedicated road to both terminals Friday, shifting airport traffic off of Harbor Drive.

Why it matters: The three-lane road on airport property is expected to divert 45,000 vehicles per day, at least initially clearing up congestion for both airport trips and local traffic.

The big picture: The project is part of the $3.8 billion Terminal 1 redevelopment, which is expected to unveil 19 new gates when its first phase opens in September.

• The project's next phase is expected in early 2028, after the airport demolishes the existing Terminal 1 to make way for 11 more gates.

Between the lines: The airport secured $300 million from airlines to pay for part of a long-sought rail connection to the airport.

• That connection isn't close to happening, and the airlines' funding commitment expires in 2029. Airport officials say they intend to renegotiate the same deal when it does.

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Rip currents are the leading cause of lifeguard rescues, according to NOAA.

Why it matters: These powerful, narrow channels of fast-moving water or "drowning machines" can pull you out to sea before you realize what's happening.

If you find yourself in a rip current, there are ways to get safely out:

1. Don't panic. A rip current won't pull you under — it pulls you away from shore.

2. Don't try to swim straight back to shore, float or tread water calmly to conserve energy.

3. Swim parallel to the shore to get out of the current. Once free, swim at an angle back to shore, away from the current's pull.

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