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Heroes of San Diego Honored

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 When a small plane went down near a busy Costco store in Kearny Mesa, four employees dashed out to help.

“I ran toward the plan because I knew they still had to be alive,” said Costco employee Randy Harford.

Tragically, one of the women on board the single engine plane died in the crash last July. But the store employees worked to free the other person on board, who was injured but survived.

Those four employees were among a number of local residents, emergency responders and military personnel honored Friday at the Red Cross’ Real Heroes Breakfast.

When the men went on stage to accept their award, they downplayed their heroics.

“We’re not the real heroes,” Costco employee Robert Sears said. “The real heroes who put on the uniforms do this stuff every day.”

In total, eight people were honored, also including a U.S. Marine service member, Randy Vaccaro, who received the military award.

At one point, the service member was living on the streets and struggling with depression and anxiety. Now, he works to inspire other veterans to give back to the community with a group he started called “The Avengers.” It helps veterans assimilate to civilian life after combat.

“I don’t consider myself a hero,” Vaccaro said. “I’m just doing what I wish somebody did for me when I returned back from Iraq.”

Bill Earley, chief executive officer of the local chapter of the American Red Cross, said a characteristic of all the recipients was their humility.

"The one common thread is that they're so humble," he said. "They're not looking for the limelight."


Papal Visit Day 5: Francis Speaks on Immigration

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Welcome to the home stretch of Pope Francis' inaugural visit. The pontiff arrives in Philadelphia Saturday for the World Meeting of Families, a triennial gathering that is the largest of Catholic families.

Here's a look at  the agenda for today:

Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, 10:30 a.m.

Francis celebrates Mass at the mother church of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The place was built in the mid-1800s with no street-level windows, a reminder of the anti-Catholic riots that took place at the time.

Independence Hall, 4:45 p.m.

Francis will give a speech on immigration and religious freedom, standing at the same lectern that President Abraham Lincoln used to deliver the Gettysburg Address.

Festival of Families, World Meeting of Families, Benjamin Franklin Parkway, 7:30 p.m.

Francis will visits the Festival of Families, a celebration of family life around the world that is part of the World Meeting of Families. Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli and Colombian rock musician Juanes are to perform for Francis.

Want to Watch the Events?
We will cover all the day's biggest events live with live streams on our website and in our app. Click here for full coverage of the papal visit.

Philadelphia Forecast

Expect a cool and breezy weekend with temperatures in the mid-70's, according to NBC10's First Alert Weather team

If You're in Town: 

Francis' arrival means the virtual closure of the city's core, major interstates and more. Here's a schedule of what's closing when. But don't despair. Google Maps will help drivers navigate road closures and it turns out that parking may not be so hard to find. For those taking public transit, check out this survival guide. Still have questions? Check out this list of FAQs

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Photo Credit: AP

Security Breaches Expose Private Information of Military Families

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A pair of security breaches has compromised the private information of some U.S. Army families, according to a report by the News-4 I-Team in Washington, D.C.

The families’ medical histories, social security numbers, home addresses and child daycare information were made vulnerable. Unauthorized people or contractors have viewed the private information of at least 82 of those families, according to the federal General Services Administration, the agency that suffered the breached.

The agency's inspector general says as many as 8,000 of the 9,000 Army families that use the program may have had their information compromised.

These breaches add injury to injury: These families were all part of the U.S. Army Fee Assistance program, a program that has struggled to provide subsidies to Army parents who use private daycare services.

The program's managers and the GSA were brought before Congress earlier this month after Army families complained about late subsidy payments, which have triggered a series of financial hardships for the families. In at least one case, the late payments led an Army parent to declare personal bankruptcy.

News4 exposed the late payments in July.

Internal agency auditors have also revealed a major backlog of thousands of unreturned phone calls, emails and records requests from those Army families who were seeking the late payments.

The GSA has offered credit monitoring services to all 9,000 families who use the program.

Internal auditors found the GSA allowed contractors access to private information of families without first completing background checks and without requiring those contractors sign non-disclosure agreements.

The auditors found the contractors included a person with a criminal warrant for his or her arrest and two people with financial problems, including a personal bankruptcy.

In a second breach, the agency failed to properly encrypt the families’ personal information in a government database, auditors said. That breach was disclosed to other government agencies in June.

Army captain Karmon Dyches said she’s suffered a series of financial hardships because of the management of the program.

“It’s one thing to have your child care provider not be paid," Dyches said. "But it’s completely unacceptable to have your safety compromised.”

Dyches said home addresses and family details are particularly sensitive for military families.

A GSA spokeswoman said, “GSA takes its responsibility for the welfare of our military families seriously and understands it is critically important that GSA improve the operations of the Army Fee Assistance program. GSA apologizes to all of the Army families who have suffered frustrations and financial hardships.”

The U.S. House Oversight Committee launched an investigation into the Army Fee Assistance program in the wake of a series of reports by the I-Team, detailing red tape, backlogs and late payments for families.

The committee has also requested follow-up information about the agency’s response to the security breaches, the I-Team has learned.

Pedestrian Dies After Struck by Shuttle Bus

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 A 66-year-old pedestrian crossing the street in Midtown died Friday afternoon when a shuttle bus struck her, San Diego Police said. 

The incident happened on the 3700 block of India Street at approximately 4:02 p.m. just north of the San Diego Airport across Interstate 5, police said. 

A 46-year-old man was driving the bus, filled with 20 people, when he turned onto southbound across West Washington Street. 

The pedestrian was crossing legally with the signal light when the driver struck her with the front right of the bus, knocking her down. He told police he did not see her. 

When the woman fell, she suffered major head trauma. She died at the hospital. 

The intersection was blocked off as police investigate. 

No drugs or alcohol were involved, police said,. 

The investigation is ongoing. 

No further information was immediately available. 



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Suicide Attempts in Juvenile Facilities More Than Doubled in 2 Years

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 Data from the state corrections agency shows suicide attempts by juveniles inside San Diego County detention facilities has increased each year since 2011.

Mack Jenkins, chief probation officer for the County of San Diego said the increase in reported attempts was the result of an expanded interpretation of the term, "suicide attempt." Specifically, the numbers included occasions when juveniles made a "verbal expression or a gesture of intent to hurt themselves."

The County of San Diego's Probation Department operates two maximum-security juvenile halls. They also operate three, minimum-security, facilities. Offenders are 10 to 19 years old and held for crimes ranging from truancy to murder. According to the county probation department, juvenile detention centers focus on intervention and rehabilitation.

Rosemary Summers was booked into one of the county’s juvenile halls in 2011 after being charged with resisting arrest and marijuana possession. She spent the next year-and-a-half in and out of the Kearny Mesa facility. Her last arrest came after she attended a 2013 rally for Trayvon Martin and didn't notify her probation officer.

“Underneath all of these reasons she ended up in the hall, because she could be sassy, was a very sensitive person,” Deb Chanterelle, Summers’ grandmother said.

In September 2013, detention facility staff noticed Summers’ cell's window was covered with paper. When they went inside, they found Summers dead, hanging from an air vent by a bed sheet.

“I was speechless I couldn’t think about anything,” said her half-sister Genora Gonzalez.

Summers was 16-years-old.

Her death is now raising some serious questions and has her family wondering if the detention facility staff did everything they could to prevent her death.

“We will never be the same again as a family that has been taken away, we will get through it but we will never get over her loss,” Chanterelle said.

The California Board of State and Community Corrections reports there were eight suicide attempts at San Diego County juvenile hall facilities in 2011. That number went up to 11 in 2012 and then more than doubled to 25 attempts in 2013.

Summers’ family said she was diagnosed with depression. They told NBC 7 Investigates they believe more needs to be done to protect the young people inside juvenile detention facilities, who are the most vulnerable. The family filed a lawsuit against the county. In it they say the juvenile hall staff knew the teen was a suicide risk.

According to the lawsuit, she was over medicated, potentially intensifying suicidal thoughts and the facility was understaffed the night of Summers’ death.

It also claims she was sent her to her room alone when she was upset.

“You don't send someone to their room which they knew she had suicidal ideations,” Chanterelle said.

Citing pending litigation, Jenkins declined an on-camera interview but sent NBC 7 Investigates a statement saying in part, "the physical safety and emotional well-being of youth in the Probation Department's custody are our top priorities."

The attorney for Summers’ family is in the process of taking depositions from witnesses for the case. According to the attorney, if it goes to trial, it would likely take place in the spring of 2016.

NBC 7 Investigates is working for you. If you have more information about this or other story tips, contact us: (619) 578-0393, NBC7Investigates@nbcuni.com. To receive the latest NBC 7 Investigates stories subscribe to our newsletter.



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Former Torero Nominated For Roberto Clemente Award

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Former University of San Diego pitcher Brian Matusz was named the Baltimore Orioles 2015 Roberto Clemente Award Nominee. 

The 28-year old relief pitcher was honored for his charitable work around the Baltimore area. Matusz is active with the Casey Cares Foundation, which helps children who are critically ill and their families. He spends time visiting pediatric patients at the Herman and Walter Samuelson Children’s Hospital at Sinai Hospital and served as the honorary race ambassador for the Casey Cares 5K Run/Walk that took place at Oriole Park this year. The benefit raised more than $106,000 for the Casey Cares Foundation.
He’s also involved in the Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter and appears in the Orioles 2016 Pet Calendar and is active in the Orioles Charitable Foundation. Each year Matusz contributes $5,000 to the OriolesREACH ticket program that gives at risk children tickets to O’s games.  
Matusz was drafted fourth overall by the Orioles in the 2008 out of USD. He made is Major League debut the following year. On the mound this season he’s 1-4 with an ERA of 2.87 over 47.0 innings pitched with 54 strikeouts. Matusz missed eight games after being suspended for having a foreign substance on his arm while pitching in May.
The Roberto Clemente Award goes to the player(s) who best represent the game of baseball through positive contributions on and off the field. Every season each club nominates a player who best represents the character of Clemente by helping others. Last year Paul Konerko of the Chicago White Sox and Jimmy Rollins, of the Philadelphia Phillies were co-winners. 
Previously called the Commissioner’s Award, it was renamed the Roberto Clemente Award after 1972 to honor the 12-time All-Star and Pirates Hall of Famer who died December 31, ‘72 in a plane crash. Clemente, already known for his philanthropic work was trying to deliver supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua.
The other nominees are: Andrew Cashner (Padres), Paul Goldschmidt (Arizona), Jason Grilli (Atlanta), Anthony Rizzo (Cubs), J.J. Hoover (Cincinnati), Kyle Kendrick (Colorado), Adrian Gonzales (Dodgers), Dee Gordon (Miami), Jonathan Lucroy (Milwaukee), Curtis Granderson (Mets), Ryan Howard (Philadelphia), Andrew McCutchen (Pittsburgh), Adam Wainwright (St. Louis), Javier Lopez (San Francisco), Denard Span (Washington), Brock Holt (Boston), David Robertson (White Sox), Carlos Carrasco (Cleveland), Miguel Cabrera (Detroit), George Springer (Houston), Alex Gordon (Kansas City), Hector Santiago (Angels), Torii Hunter (Minnesota), Mark Teixeira (Yankees), Stephen Vogt (Oakland), Charlie Furbush (Seattle), Chris Archer (Tampa Bay), Adrian Beltre (Texas), and Jose Bautista (Toronto).
Fans can go to ChevyBaseball.com to vote for one of the nominees. The winner will be announced during the 2015 World Series.


Photo Credit: Getty Images

'Pope Fever': Reaction to Francis' Visit in Central Park

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Thousands waited for hours Friday for a chance to catch a glimpse of Pope Francis in New York City's Central Park. Many hoped to get close to the pontiff, but for some, being in the same area as the leader of the Catholic Church was a big honor, too.

Listen to some of their stories below:

Elizabeth Hayes, 39. Teacher at Holy Rosary School in Staten Island. 

Joanna Joseph, 40, Stay at home mom from Brooklyn.

Thomas Wright, 34. Immigration attorney from Manhattan's Upper West Side.

Danny Scheyer, 26. Works in advertising and lives in Brooklyn. 

Johanna Yorro, 33. Paralegal from Queens. 

San Ysidro School Settles Malpractice Lawsuit with Firm

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 The San Ysidro School District voted unanimously in closed-session Thursday to settle a malpractice lawsuit the district lodged against their former attorneys, the “Stuz Artiano Shinoff & Holtz” law firm.

According to action reported out of closed-session, the law firm agreed to pay $1.8 million to the district. The district accused the firm of failing to report settlement offers to district leaders.

The case stems from a separate 2012 lawsuit in which a solar panel installation company claimed breach-of-contract and received a $12 million jury verdict against the district.

The company, Eco-Business Alliance, agreed to reinstate the contract instead of collecting the $12 million upfront from the cash-strapped district.

The district and the contractor claimed the attorney, working for the district at the time, failed to advise board members about settlement offers.

The law firm, which has called the action baseless, does legal work for most of the school districts in the county.


Stadium, Convention Center Solutions Seen in New Light

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 As the Chargers stadium standoff drags on, there are civic observers who see stalled-out convention center expansion plans as a potential link to solving both issues.

A big moving part is JMI Realty, which certain behind-the-scenes players hope will revive its abandoned plans for a new convention hotel that would generate significant room taxes.

That economic boost could benefit the bayfront facility while turning eyes toward a downtown stadium for the Chargers, plus a convention center annex.

"Only in the largest conventions would you be using both facilities, like Comic-Con,” says downtown stadium activist Dan McLellan. “ So even if you had some scheduling conflicts with the NFL in the new space, you would still have the old space available for conventions."

The funding plan to expand on the water was shot down in court, and more litigation is pending against the project itself.

Financing issues going forward and voter approval also are question marks.

The Chargers, meanwhile, may be stuck in San Diego for a while.

According to Mike Florio of NBC Sports, the NFL is looking first to a Rams move to Los Angeles.

But the mayor's stadium advisory group --which recommended building a facility on the current Qualcomm site in Mission Village -- is skeptical that such a development would guarantee the Chargers would actually commit, long-term, to East Village.

"If you were able to cobble together the land downtown, you'd end up with this postage stamp-sized lot and nothing else, no parking structure,” says the group’s spokesman, Tony Manolatos. “People would bleed off into East Village to spend their money, instead of spending their money on your campus."

Chargers special counsel Mark Fabiani wouldn't address all this directly in an email exchange Friday with NBC 7.

That raises questions about prospects for jump-starting stadium talks.

Should JMI revive its hotel plans instead of pursuing a high rise residential project, and the mayor the mayor embrace the idea of an East Village convention center annex?

For now, the Bolts seem to be biding their time awaiting a definitive signal from the league.



Photo Credit: Getty

Potential Next House Speaker

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Rep. Kevin McCarthy has risen to the upper reaches of House leadership mostly on the basis of his people skills and political smarts rather than his policy chops.

The California Republican, who is the overwhelming favorite to succeed John Boehner as speaker, has relied on those skills to navigate the treacherous waters of the fractious GOP conference.

But they won't change the unpleasant reality of the limits the tea party-driven House confronts in a capital city dominated by a Democratic president — and the resulting frustration for conservatives who stormed Washington on a wave of opposition to President Barack Obama.

Like Boehner, McCarthy is a realist. But conservatives frustrated with Boehner's willingness to strike deals with Democrats see an ally in McCarthy, who cut his teeth as an aide to powerful former Rep. Bill Thomas, whose seat he easily won in 2006.

"Kevin has done a great job of reaching out to conservatives,'' said Rep. Mick Mulvaney, R-S.C., among those who helped push Boehner out. "It's fair to say that if Kevin were to run he would be able to draw votes from across the conference.''

In the hours after Boehner's shocking announcement, McCarthy stayed quiet, but GOP lawmakers said he was a likely bet to win the top job. Unlike Boehner or previous Democratic speakers like Tom Foley of Washington or Jim Wright of Texas, McCarthy has never chaired a committee _ and lacks a signature legislative accomplishment like the No Child Left Behind education law that Boehner help shepherd through Congress during President George W. Bush's first term.

But the 50-year-old McCarthy has thrived in the rough-and-tumble world of House Republicans, raising money for lawmakers across the spectrum, listening on end to the sometimes unreasonable demands of tea party lawmakers and sensing which way the political winds are blowing.

McCarthy has been a loyal lieutenant to Boehner, for instance, backing up the outgoing speaker's plan to remove a controversy over "defunding" Planned Parenthood from a stopgap spending bill that's needed to avoid a government shutdown next week. And he supported Boehner last year as one of only 28 Republicans to vote to raise the so-called debt limit without seeking concessions from Obama.

But McCarthy parted ways with Boehner in early 2013 on a vote to increase tax rates on wealthier filers and, more recently, sided with conservatives who made a cause celebre of opposing the reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank, which helps finance purchases of U.S. exports by foreign buyers. The bank's authority lapsed this summer even though Boehner privately supported extending it.

"He understands what it takes on both the political side and the policy side,'' said Rep. Devin Nunes, a GOP ally from an adjoining district.

"Even before Election Day 2006, McCarthy set about raising money for fellow Republicans. Shortly after arriving in Washington, McCarthy began navigating the leadership waters and secured several lower-profile posts. And when Republicans won back the chamber in 2010 and the No. 3 spot opened up, McCarthy easily moved up. Last year, the unexpected defeat of then-Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., in a GOP primary opened up the No. 2 post, and McCarthy grabbed that, too.

Then, as now, there is no credible alternative to McCarthy's ascent.

There's more to his success than luck, however. Inside leadership, McCarthy's accessibility and open-mindedness has won him friends in all corners of the GOP conference and he's more popular among junior lawmakers than Boehner.

"He is a savant of human relationships and that makes him somewhat unique,'' said Rep. David Schweikert, R-Ariz., who admits their relationship has had ups and downs.

"The reason he's so successful with the members is he knows their districts in addition to knowing them,'' said Erica Elliott, a former aide and confidante. "Kevin knows 100 percent of the time exactly where the conference is.''

Boehner all but endorsed McCarthy on Friday.

"I'll tell Kevin, if he's the next speaker, that his number-one responsibility is to protect the institution. Nobody else around here has an obligation like that,'' Boehner told reporters. "Secondly, I'd tell him the same thing I've just told you. You just do the right thing every day for the right reasons, the right things will happen.''

But Boehner let slip Friday that he had been planning to leave Congress at the end of last year but changed his mind in mid-2014 after Cantor was no longer in line to succeed him. That appeared to tip his opinion that McCarthy, at least back then, needed more seasoning.

Some Democrats aren't sold on McCarthy.

"I don't think he is as dedicated to the institution as John Boehner was,'' said Rep. Bill Pascrell, D-N.J. "Winning is the whole thing."



Photo Credit: CQ-Roll Call,Inc.

Chargers May Be in Violation of Their Stadium Lease

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This week’s popular opinion on the NFL’s quest to return to Los Angeles has the league only moving one team (the Rams) back for the 2016 season, leaving the Chargers and Raiders to continue trying to work things out with their home markets.

It would behoove the Chargers to do just that because they very well might be in default of their current lease agreement at Qualcomm Stadium.

We’ve all heard about the annual window the Chargers have from February 1 through May 1 to terminate their lease and move away. However, it works both ways. According to the official document, the city has the ability to terminate the lease as well, as long as proof can be provided that the Chargers are in default of the agreement.

It’s found in Section 25: Remedies of the City, which reads in part:

“Any election on the part of the city to terminate this Agreement must be in writing, properly executed by the city and served upon the Chargers.  No termination of this Agreement on account of a default by the Chargers shall be or become effective by operation of law or otherwise, unless and until the City shall have given such written notice to the Chargers.”

(Click here to read the lease)

So now we have to see where the default is. Believe it or not, there is something that can be considered a breach of the contract. In Supplement Number Eight to the Agreement, we find Section 3.2 Long-Term Stadium Development, which states:

“The Parties shall meet and confer on a mutually convenient basis to discuss the development of a proposal for the financing and development of a new stadium to be voted on by the general public.  Neither Party is obligated to participate in the financing or development of a new stadium, and the Parties acknowledge that there is no assurance the (a) the Parties will arrive at a mutually satisfactory proposal, (b) such a proposal will be submitted to a public vote, of (c) if submitted, such proposal will be approved by the general public.”

You may remember the June 17 meeting in City Attorney Jan Goldsmith’s office when the Chargers walked away from negotiations. They have not returned since. Members of the Mayor’s office and the Citizens Stadium Advisory Group (CSAG) have been vocal in their claims the Chargers have refused to negotiate in good faith. Given the circumstances it could be successfully argued in a court of law that the team has put themselves in default of the stadium lease by refusing to “meet and confer on a mutually convenient basis.”

When asked for comment City Attorney Goldsmith’s office told NBC 7 SportsWrap in a statement, “Although we have provided advice to the City on that, we cannot discuss that publicly.”

Chargers Special Counsel Mark Fabiani also commented on the possibility the Chargers being in default: "We have worked for 14 years, developing and submitting nine separate proposals. So that accusation is ludicrous."

The City could then counter, arguing that was a different time with different leadership that cannot be held against the current, motivated group. And on and on it goes.

So it appears the City of San Diego does have the makings of a case to prove the Chargers are in default of their lease, which would give City Hall the power to terminate the entire agreement and kick the Chargers out of Qualcomm Stadium and their Murphy Canyon practice facility which was also built by the city. If they get tired of the vitriol, one could certainly see the temptation to do just that. However, it is probably highly unlikely the Mayor’s office would have any interest in that course of action.

No city wants to be known as the place that told the NFL to take a hike. That’s simply not good for one’s national reputation.

There’s another, more likely way to use this legal tactic, and it’s completely opposite the first scenario.

The City could effectively force the Chargers to come back to the negotiating table. If the NFL does, indeed, decide to only put the Rams in L.A., for 2016 the Chargers would still have to play at Qualcomm Stadium, something they cannot do without a lease agreement. That is one heck of a bargaining chip in the City’s favor.

The specter of having a team with no place to play for an entire season could put the NFL into crisis mode. Commissioner Roger Goodell would have to either proceed with moving the Chargers to Los Angeles as a second tenant with Stan Kroenke’s club in Inglewood (good luck getting Kroenke to agree to something like that when it’s not on his terms), including finding a place for them to play and practice until the new stadium is built … or force the team to work it out in San Diego.

Working it out in San Diego would then mean either getting back to negotiations on construction of a new stadium or renegotiating a brand new lease at Qualcomm. In that case it’s extremely likely the City would push for a new agreement that makes it exponentially more difficult for the Bolts to leave San Diego County than the current lease.

It’s amazing to think about, but in reality the biggest monkey wrench in the Chargers moving to L.A. could be two sentences on the 26th page of the eight supplement to the lease agreement between the team and the City of San Diego.

Family Coming From Dinner Hit by Suspected DUI Driver

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A family out for a Friday night dinner was hit by a car without its light on Friday night, plowing into two of the family members and leaving them with serious injuries. 

The incident happened at 8:17 p.m. on the 12200 block of Woodside Avenue near Lakeside Cafe when the driver of a Toyota Yaris hit the man and his girlfriend and his parents. 

The family was coming from a restaurant across the streets when the driver, who CHP officials later arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, hit the family members.

The driver suffered major injuries. Witnesses said the two people critically injured were the man's parents, visiting from out of state. 

"I looked up, thinking, 'this guy's going fast, no lights on,'" one witness at the scene told NBC7. "I looked down at my phone. No sooner than I looked down, I heard, I heard the boom. One hit...I knew right away he hit a person." 

All three victims were taken to the UC San Diego Trauma Center. 

The California Highway Patrol and Sheriff's officials responded.  

At Sharp Mary Birch Hospital, one man died and one suffered serious injuries after a crash Friday night. Read more by clicking here. 

Watch NBC 7 News at 11 for live updates from the scene. 

No further information was immediately available. 

Refresh this page for updates on this breaking news story. 



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Fatal Crash Involving Pedestrians Prompts SigAlert

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A fatal crash involving two pedestrians, one of which has died, prompted a SigAlert near Sharp Mary Birch Hospital late Friday night. 

The incident happened at 8:20 p.m. on the 3000 block of Health Center Drive. The Sig Alert was put in place at 9 p.m. for the street between Frost and Vista Hill. 

A 60-year-old man and 29-year-old man parked their car on the 300 block of Health Center Drive and began heading east across the street.

A 46-year-old man was driving a Toyota Corolla north when he saw the men. He tried to avoid them, but struck them. The driver got out of the car and began CPR on the youngest victim, police said. 

The 29-year-old was taken to the hospital, where he died. The 60-year-old was taken to the hospital, though it is unclear if his injuries are life-threatening. 

Police said this incident is not a hit-and-run and said alcohol was not a factor. 

Sharp Mary Birch said because of the crash, hospital access is restricted. Patients and guests trying to access the facility are asked to park in the structure on Frost Street and walk in at Sharp Memorial. Staff will be on hand to help visitors. 

A second crash involving three pedestrians shut down a road in Lakeside. Click here for more details. 

No further information was immediately available. 

Refresh this page for updates on this breaking news story. 

Aztecs vs. Penn State Preview

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 The Aztecs make their first trip to Beaver Stadium this weekend and hopefully they’ll leave Happy Valley, well happy.

San Diego State (1-2) heads to Penn State (2-1) looking to end a two game skid. The Aztecs are 14-point underdogs facing a team that beat Rutgers 28-3 last weekend in the second largest college football stadium. Difficult? Yes. Impossible? No.
Here are some things to look out for Saturday.
Penn State’s run game. Last week they piled up 330 yards on the ground. Freshman running back Saquon Barkley rushed for 195 yards on 21 carries with two touchdowns. Teammate Akeel Lynch tacked on 120 yards on 10 carries and a touchdown of his own. The SDSU rush defense is ranked 78th in FBS.  A tough task but one the Aztecs can overcome because their offensive ground game has Donnel Pumphrey. 
Last week the junior running back posted his first 100-yard game of the season and 14th of his collegiate career. Pumphrey sits in fourth place on SDSU’s all-time list with 2,868 career rushing yards behind Marshall Faulk, Larry Ned and Ronnie Hillman. He’s also a receiving threat that can cause problems for the PSU defensive if he can find some holes. 
But Pumphrey and the rest of the Aztecs are going to have to deal with a PSU defense that gets to the quarterback. Defensive end Carl Nassib is tied for second in the nation with 5.0 sacks. The Nittany Lions as a whole have 13 on the season. They’ve also got outside linebacker Brandon Bell who had nine tackles against Rutgers.
But SDSU cornerback Damontae Kazee could be the Aztecs not so hidden weapon. The 5’11 185-pound junior is off to a great start. In the Mountain West, Kazee is considered one of the top players in his position. He’s active tracking down receivers around the field and has three interceptions this season. He’ll be keeping his eye on PSU quarterback Christian Hackenberg who has only one touchdown but two interceptions in three games. 
Another plus for the Aztecs is their special teams. They’re ranked third nationally behind Rutgers and Auburn. Sophmore Rashaad Penny is fifth in FBS in kick return average at 37.3 yards per return including a 97-yard touchdown return in the Aztecs opener. 
It won’t be easy for the head coach Rocky Long and the Aztecs at Beaver Stadium. But they’ve got a real chance to get a statement win in Happy Valley. 
Kickoff is set for 12:30 p.m. pacific time.


Photo Credit: Getty Images

If Streets Aren't Swept, Violations Still Need to Be Paid: City

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 In March, city leaders said if you get a parking ticket for not moving your car from a street sweeping zone on a day the street isn’t swept, you won’t have to pay the fine.

Now they are reversing course on that statement.

“They can confirm whether a street sweeper went down the street that day with the GPS; we’ll be able to confirm it,” said Andrew Kleise, the deputy director of storm water and transportation said in March. “Obviously, if there’s a mistake, we’ll correct that and refund the ticket.”

San Diego officials now say no refunds will be issued after an NBC 7 Investigates and San Diego Regional Data Library analysis found thousands of tickets a year are issued to violators of street-sweeping parking restrictions on the same dates and in the same locations GPS data shows a sweeper didn’t go down the block.

The city says GPS data is incomplete because sometimes the GPS trackers don’t work.

NBC 7 Investigates, along with Eric Busboom at the San Diego Regional Data Library, analyzed data obtained from the city through a public records act request.

The data included dates, times and locations where parking citations were issued to street-sweeping parking scofflaws as well as GPS locations where street sweeping trucks drove between January 2014 and May 2015.

NBC 7 Investigates mapped out the top spots where street-sweeping tickets are issued and found most of the top blocks are along Mission Boulevard. See that map by clicking here. 

The area where most of the tickets are issued, Mission Beach, is a high-traffic, tourist location.

Mission Beach Resident Shingo Hosoma lives here and says he makes a point to warn his neighbors.

“Most of them are tourists, so they don’t really know. So, I’ll tip them off,” Hosoma said. “I’ll say ‘Hey make sure you don’t park right in front. Early in the morning, that’ll be the first thing they do is issue tickets.”

Other Mission Beach residents agreed.

“In my opinion, it’s pretty much a racket,” said Mission Beach resident Mark Burris. He said he’s gotten about 60 street-sweeping parking tickets during the past five years and he views it as a Mission Beach tax.

“I just add that $50 bucks onto my rent. I mean I think it’s ridiculous, obviously,” Burris said. “If they are going to issue tickets, at least give us the service of street sweeping.”

Street sweeping isn’t just aimed at making neighborhoods look nicer. Because San Diego doesn’t treat its storm water before it runs into waterways and bays, the city has environmental obligations to the Environmental Protection Agency to help offset that impact.

Parking violators must pay a $52.50 fine if they get a ticket.

City Spokesman Bill Harris sent this statement to NBC7 Investigates:

“…as stated on multiple occasions before when addressing this issue…if the street is posted for “No Parking,” be it for street sweeping, overnight restrictions or any other purpose, there is “no parking” during the hours of restriction….whether the anticipated sweeping occurs or does not, for whatever reason…emergencies elsewhere, limited fleet availability, traffic conditions nearby…or any other cause that might preclude a normal sweeping schedule. The City posts streets with parking restrictions in anticipation of activities planned or limited in a given area. It maintains those restrictions to provide the greatest opportunity for meeting those planned or limited activities.”

At a March meeting, Councilman David Alvarez and Councilman Todd Gloria tried to understand what issues are keeping the streets from being swept.

“We’re trying to get to the bottom of this to make sure, first of all, that if we claim that we’re doing something at the city that we actually go out and do it,” Alvarez said. “You never want to be in the position where you ask people to move their vehicles or ticket them when they’re parked there, if we don’t actually go and sweep the street.”

Alvarez and Gloria both said they’ve been hearing from residents who are angry about the program.

“If the sign says they’re going to sweep the street on Tuesday morning, ‘Move your car,’ then you better (sweep the street) and you absolutely need to do it if you give them a ticket,” Gloria said.

The city issues on average 113,000 citations a year for violating street sweeping parking signs. It collects about $6.6 million from those tickets, which is 23.5 percent of the total annual revenue from the parking program, according to Jonathan Carey in the City Treasurer’s office.

In a March city memo from the Storm Water division that oversees the street sweeping program, Deputy Director Kleis said on days when the mechanical sweepers are down for maintenance, workers manually remove debris from roadways and center islands.

Although some routes have been missed, Kleis wrote, the minimum requirements for environmental concerns are being met, even if residents' expectations aren’t satisfied.


Padres Fall 6-3 to DBacks

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Padres right-hander Casey Kelly made his first major league start in three years Friday night at Petco Park against the Diamondbacks. After a rough start, Kelly calmed down but it was too late for the Padres.

Kelly struggled early giving up two runs in the first inning. The big hit was a second inning grand slam off the bat of Arizona’s A.J. Pollock to make it 6-0. But Kelly settled down retiring the next 11 hitters. He went five innings giving up six earned runs walking one.
The Padres got on the board in the fourth when Matt Kemp scored on a Jedd Gyorko ground out. Wil Myers added another run in the fifth with an RBI single and Alexi Amarista made it exciting cutting the Diamondbacks lead to 6-3 the next inning with an RBI single of his own.
But the Friars couldn’t complete the comeback dropping them to 72-82 on the season. Game two is tomorrow at 5:40 p.m. local time.


Photo Credit: Getty Images

Civilians Take on Marine Boot Camp Challenge

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The Marines never do anything the easy way. The 14th Annual Boot Camp Challenge at MCRD San Diego combines a three-mile run with hay jumps, tunnel crawls, log hurdles, six-foot wall climbs, cargo nets, push-up stations and bayonets among other obstacles.

"It's a very long course,"  Douglas Voigt, a Marine Chief drill instructor told NBC7. " You're going to start off with a run, but you're going to be doing all types of agility, endurance and strengthening exercises throughout the three miles."

At least 60 Marine drill instructors will dot the course shouting encouragement to the more than 2,500 civilians expected to sweat, grunt and push their way to the finish.

The course, tough as it seems, is a realistic look at what Marine recruits do on a day-to-day basis.

All of the proceeds from the challenge go to quality of life programs for Marines and their families like recreational activities and community involvement.

The race takes place Saturday, September 26 at 9 am. It will be at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) San Diego on the Commanding General's Lawn at 3800 Chosin Ave.

Registration is open on the morning of the race and costs $45 for one person, $135 for a 3-person team and $225 for a 5-person team.

 

 


 



Photo Credit: NBC7

Kids Get in Free at Museums, Zoo in October

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October is a good month to be a kid in San Diego: local museums and other popular attractions are offering free admission to kids all month long.

The popular “Kids Free in October” program returns next month, giving kids a chance to play around town for free – and parents a chance to save some cash.

The San Diego Museum Council says the fun and educational program, presented by ScholarShare, runs Oct. 1 through Oct. 31 and offers free admission to children ages 12 and under at more than 40 museums, with a paid adult admission.

To cash in on the freebie, parents will have to download this coupon online for each visit to each museum. One coupon is good for up to two free child admissions with one full-price paid adult admission.

Participating museums include:

  • Barona Cultural Center & Museum
  • Birch Aquarium at Scripps
  • Cabrillo National Monument
  • California Center for the Arts Museum
  • California Surf Museum
  • Coronado Museum of History & Art
  • Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum
  • Gaslamp Museum at the Davis-Horton House
  • Heritage of the Americas Museum
  • Japanese Friendship Garden
  • La Jolla Historical Society
  • Living Coast Discovery Center
  • Lux Art Institute
  • Maritime Museum of San Diego
  • Marston House Museum & Gardens
  • Mingei International Museum
  • Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego
  • Museum of Making Music
  • Museum of Photographic Arts
  • Oceanside Museum of Art
  • Reuben H. Fleet Science Center (galleries only)
  • San Diego Air & Space Museum
  • San Diego Archaeological Center
  • San Diego Automotive Museum
  • San Diego Botanic Garden
  • San Diego Children's Discovery Museum
  • San Diego Chinese Historical Museum
  • San Diego History Center
  • San Diego Model Railroad Museum
  • San Diego Natural History Museum (theNAT)
  • Santa Ysabel General Store
  • Serra Museum
  • The New Children's Museum
  • The San Diego Museum of Art
  • The Water Conservation Garden
  • Tijuana Estuary
  • Timken Museum of Art
  • USS Midway Museum
  • Veterans Museum & Memorial Center
  • Visions Art Museum
  • Warner-Carillo Ranch House
  • Women's Museum of California

Other attractions offering free admission to kids in October include the San Diego Zoo (free for kids ages 11 and under), the San Diego Zoo Safari Park (also free for kids ages 11 and under) and LEGOLAND California, offering kids a free 1-day pass with a paid adult pass through Oct. 31.

 

Belmont Park, located near the boardwalk in Mission Beach, will also offer freebies for kids in October, including one free kids wristband with the purchase of an adult unlimited ride wristband. Check out coupons for other kid-friendly fall freebies here.

Meanwhile, San Diego’s Old Town Trolley sightseeing tours will offer kids free rides in October with a paid adult.

This makes us never want to grow up.
 



Photo Credit: math.ucsd.edu

SD Woman Has Robot Buy New iPhone in Her Place

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Note to marketers: Show up with a robot on Apple iPhone release day and you’re likely to get media coverage.

That’s what happened on Friday in front of the Apple store in Palo Alto, California, when the new iPhone6 and 6s Plus was set to be released.

Brianna Lempesis  of San Diego was in line waiting to buy one of the new gadgets. Well, sort of.

Her face beamed on a computer screen attached to a BeamPro Sustainable Technologies robot was present - and grabbing the air waves. She was physically in San Diego, and planned to purchase a new phone remotely through a complicated plan that involved paying by credit card in a deal that she already arranged with the store manager. Someone was going to drop the phone in a side pouch of her robotic "body." Then she planned to lock herself (or her robot) in the store and fly up to the Bay Area on Monday to get her hands - her real ones - on her new purchase in the flesh. She was apparently "standing" in line at other stores, like in Toronto, too, thanks to technology.

Lempesis wasn't the only robot-customer to think of the gimmicky idea, either. Lucy Kelly sent her Atomic 212 Robot - which looks like an iPad riding a Segue - showed up in Sydney, Australia to buy a smartphone, Metro and Mashable reported. Kelly is a media executive for Atomic 212, the Telegraph in England reported.

In the case of Lempesis, the company that she worked for has grabbed headlines before, too. In July, President Barack Obama greeted Alice Wong, founder of the Disability Visibility Project via BeamPro during the Americans with Disabilities Act 25th Anniversary reception in the Blue Room of the White House via a BeamPro robot.

Robots, and new iPhones, are good for all sorts of things, Lempesis noted.

“I love the magic of technology,” she said.


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Officials Seeking Help Identifying "Hipster Bandit"

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 San Diego officials are seeking the public's help in identifying the "hipster bandit," accused of robbing local banks wearing dark shades and business casual clothing. 

The man, who officials believe is responsible for two bank robberies dating back to Thursday, July 2, was dubbed the "hipster bandit" because of the clothes and sunglasses he wore during his robberies.

The bandit's most recent robbery occured Friday at the U.S. Bank in the Albertsons grocery store in Fallbrook on the 1100 block of South Mission Road at approximately 10:08 a.m. 

The robber approached the teller, asking for help while handing him a note saying he was there to rob him and demanded cash. The teller handed him the cash, which he took and left the store. 

Officials believe the bandit also robbed the U.S. Bank of the Albertsons grocery store in La Mesa on the 8900 block of Fletcher Parkway on Thursday, July 2. At approximately 10:07 a.m. that day, he walked into the bank and sat down in front of the tellers desk asking for help.

He then handed the teller a white envelope, demanding cash. He also provided instructions on how to package the money. The teller packaged the money and handed it to him. 

No injuries were reported in both robberies. 

The "hipster bandit" is described as a 5-foot, 4-inch tall man that weighs approximately 110 pounds and is in his early 30s. Officials say he has protrouding ears and was wearing long sleeved button up shirts with dark, round-lens sunglasses at the time of the robberies. 

Anyone with information concerning the “Hipster Bandit” is asked to contact the FBI at (858) 320-1800 (option 2) or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.



Photo Credit: FBI, San Diego Field Office
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