A frustrated President Barack Obama addressed the nation Thursday, contrasting federal efforts to combat terrorism with the lack of action on gun violence, NBC News reported.

Obama asked news organizations to “tally up the number of Americans who have been killed in terrorist attacks in the last decade” and compare those killed by gun violence.

An estimated 153,144 homicide cases in which firearms were used were registered by the Centers for Disease Control between 2001 and 2013, compared to 3,046 people killed in the U.S. by terrorist or possible terrorist attacks between 2001 to 2014, according to the Global Terrorism Database.

The shooting rampage on the community college campus in Roseburg left at least 10 people dead, including the shooter.

As the 2015 season winds down to a merciful end for the Padres, there are many questions concerning how the team’s roster will change in the coming months.

Four players in particular made their case during Thursday’s 3-1 victory over the Brew Crew. Let’s take a look at all four of these players and why they should play key roles with the 2016 Padres.

Infielder Yangervis Solarte provided a 2-run homer in the bottom of the 3rd inning to give the Friars a 2-0 lead.

The former Yankee has been inconsistent but when he’s on – he’s on. If he can be more Hyde than Jekyll, he can cement himself as the guy at 3rd base.

The Padres acquired Solarte in 2014 when they sent Chase Headley to the Bronx. He has 15 homers and 64 RBI this season while holding a .274 batting average. If he can boost those numbers closer to 23 HR / 85 RBI / .290 next year, the Friars have a solution at that position.

Rookie outfielder Travis Jankowski started in right field and made two great defensive plays.

He threw out fellow rookie Michael Reed at the plate as he tried to score from second base on a single in the 3rd.

Jankowski also ran into the right field railing and caught a foul ball to rob Jason Rogers in the 4th inning. Starting pitcher Ian Kennedy loved it so much he tipped his cap immediately and rightly so.

Jankowski has flashed his speed on the bases and in the field over the past month since getting promoted from Triple-A El Paso.

His batting average is not where he wants it to be (.210 as of Thursday evening) after collecting multiple hits in his first few major league games, but in my book the Padres should pencil him in as the starting centerfielder next season. They can flank the youngster with 100-RBI right fielder Matt Kemp and either Justin Upton (if they re-sign him to play left field) or Wil Myers (if they put him in there instead of 1st base).

Cory Spangenberg reached base his first 3 at-bats, providing 2 singles and a walk. His second hit knocked in Derek Norris to give the Padres a 3-0 advantage.

The Padres desperately need more speed in the lineup and in the field if they are going to get their offense going next season.

If you need another example of how Spangenberg can help the Friars in years to come - just think of him hustling for a triple Wednesday after smacking the ball into the right field corner. Those types of plays - and players that provide them - have been few and far between this year at Petco Park.

Spangenberg and Jankowski were both 1st round draft picks by San Diego.  Spangenberg was selected 10th overall in 2011 and Jankowski 44th overall in the supplemental part of the 2012 opening round.

Since they were drafted so high you would think they have a longer leash to prove they belong in the bigs as a part of the team's long-term future.  Especially since the Padres have not exactly had a lot of success with 1st round picks the past decade.

Not only was it Kennedy’s last start of the year, it might have been his last game in a Padres uniform.

His one-year 9.8 million dollar contract runs out after the Dodgers series and he becomes an unrestricted free agent.

Kennedy was on point against the Brewers, notching 11 strikeouts over 6 innings. He only allowed a solo homer to pinch hitter Shane Peterson.

Even with the impressive outing, Kennedy finishes 2015 with an underwhelming 9-15 record and an ERA of 4.28.

Speaking of the Dodgers, if the Padres sweep LA in their final series of the year, they will equal last season’s record of 77 wins and 84 losses.

The Dodgers could be resting many of their starters since they already clinched the NL West division and already know they will be facing the New York Mets in the NLDS.

Fox Sports San Diego reporter Kris Budden announced towards the end of Thursday's game that she will be leaving the Padres TV crew at the end of this season.

She said on-air that her husband accepted a new job as an assistant tennis coach at Pepperdine University and that they are moving to Los Angeles.

Budden also said she will continue to work for various NFL game broadcasts and with Fox Sports coverage of the San Diego State Aztecs.

Local police are still trying to gather information about the mass shooting at Umpqua Community College. The massacre in Roseburg, Oregon is the latest in a tragic list of mass shootings that have taken place across the country, at schools and elsewhere.

Here is a list of some of the other shootings across America that claimed the most lives, according to NBC News.

Thirty-two people were killed on April 16, 2007 when 23-year-old Virginia Tech student Seung-Hui Cho shot and killed 32 people on campus in Blacksburg, Virginia before killing himself.

On Dec. 14, 2012, Adam Lanza killed 28 people, including himself and his mother, at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.

George Hennard crashed his pickup through a cafeteria on Oct. 16, 1991 in Killeen, Texas, where he shot and killed 23 people before shooting and killing himself.

Republican Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy said Thursday that he never meant to link a Congressional investigation into Benghazi to Hillary Clinton's faltering poll numbers, and that the outrage over his remarks has been a setback to his hopes of becoming the next House speaker, NBC News reported.

In an appearance on Fox earlier this week, McCarthy said, "We put together a Benghazi special committee, a select committee. What are [Clinton's] numbers today? Her numbers are dropping."

The comment drew criticism from both sides of the aisle, including some of his fellow members of the House GOP.

McCarthy, the favorite to become speaker once John Boehner retires later this year, said the comments have "been a setback," but he is still confident he will have the votes to become the next leader of the House Republicans.

Two children were injured Thursday morning when a teenage driver hit them in a crosswalk in San Marcos, officials confirmed.

The accident happened just before 7:30 a.m. on West Mission Road and Comet Circle East, near Palomar College.

The San Diego County Sheriff's Department said two kids, ages 12 and 13, were walking in the crosswalk just as a 17-year-old driver in a white Honda Civic approached the road.

The teen hit the kids, injuring them both. He pulled over and stayed at the scene until deputies and paramedics arrived.

Officials said the 13-year-old victim suffered serious facial injuries and was airlifted to Rady Children's Hospital. The 12-year-old suffered minor leg injuries and was taken by ambulance to Palomar Hospital.

Following the crash, the teenager's white car was stalled on the side of the street, its front windshield shattered, the passenger door left ajar. Clothing and backpacks were strewn near the vehicle, along the side of the road.

Some passersby gathered in the area as investigators collected evidence and tried to piece together exactly what happened.

By 8:45 a.m., two vehicles were being towed away from the site of the accident, an SUV with some damage to its front end and a white car. It is unclear if the SUV had anything to do with the collision.

No other injuries were reported.

The site of the collision is near San Marcos Middle School, though it is unknown if the victims are students there.

The investigation is ongoing, but deputies did say it doesn't appear alcohol or drugs contributed to the accident. Deputies have not said if the driver in this crash will face charges.
 

A Chula Vista family was displaced overnight when an intense fire ripped through their home and got so hot, the paint on the ceiling was bubbling.

The blaze sparked around 3 a.m. at a house in the 100 block of Oxford Street. The Chula Vista Fire Department said five fire trucks were dispatched to battle the flames as they tore through the home’s attic.

Crews had to rip through the home’s roof in order to gain better access to the fire. Firefighters were able to contain the blaze to the attic, but the home still sustained heavy damage.

Homeowner Frances Smith said she woke up in the middle of the night and realized there was no power in the house. She fell back asleep but woke up again shortly thereafter to find smoke coming from the attic and wafting through her home.

Smith said she also noticed the paint on her ceiling bubbling.

“It was awful, but we didn’t see flames,” she told NBC 7.

Smith quickly woke up her four family members also living in the home, grabbed her two dogs and cats and evacuated.

The family, in shock, looked on as firefighters doused their home and tried to prevent the attic fire from spreading to other rooms. They could not help but feel emotional.

“I worked so hard for everything I have – and to maybe lose it all,” Smith lamented.

Red Cross arrived at the home a short time later and will help the family find a temporary place to stay.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, but it may have stemmed from an electrical malfunction. The family said they believe faulty wiring in the attic may have led to the fire.

No one was injured.
 

In the South Bay, renters rallied Wednesday evening to bring attention to what they call terrible living conditions and a landlord who tries to evict anyone who speaks out against the problems.

“Fight! Fight! Fight! For better tenants’ rights!” people chanted in the parking lot of Linda Nelson’s Chula Vista apartment complex.

Nelson said she was slapped with an eviction notice, dated Sunday, for having too many people living in her home. She lives with two grandchildren, a special needs adult and her 82-year-old mother.

But Paola Martinez-Montes with the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE) said the stated eviction cause is just a cover. They believe the landlord, Elisa Flores, is being vengeful.

”She's just finding a reason to evict her, which is retaliation," said Martinez-Montes.

Residents like Nelson have started joining forces with the ACCE, a nonprofit representing renters and bringing to light issues at the Glover Avenue apartments. People there say they’ve been plagued by pests, broken appliances, mold and worse.

“She's been dealing with bedbugs and roaches," Martinez-Montes interpreted for one tenant.

Last month, Nelson welcomed NBC 7 into her home, telling us a similar story. She also showed us a recurring problem.

“I have my toilet that comes up in my bathtub,” Nelson said. “The toilet overflows frequently -- three to four times a month.”

Calls to the landlord, Elisa Flores, went to voicemail after she abruptly hung up on NBC 7’s first call, saying she didn't speak English.

Martinez-Montes and the other protesters are now trying to push for a new policy for renters rights, which would giving Nelson time to find a new home.

“I'm just fighting to give me 60 to 90 days to get a proper place and make sure the person moving in knows what they're dealing with and won’t have to go through same thing we did,” explained Nelson.

The city of Chula Vista has set up a task force to work with the ACCE on the issues it has raised, including landlord-tenant disputes.

A city spokeswoman says on Oct. 1, the city is supposed to be at the complex to check for bed bugs.
 

A Carlsbad woman on retrial for murder took the stand for the third and final time Thursday following two days of detailed, graphic testimony about the alleged abuse that drove her to kill her husband.

Julie Harper admitted to shooting and killing her husband, Jason Harper, in their North County home on Aug. 27, 2012, but claims she did it in self-defense, as she feared Jason would kill or rape her.

During the deadly shooting, the couple’s children were at home in another room watching cartoons. On the stand last week, the couple’s son said he heard a “thud” as his mother killed his father. The couple’s daughter testified that when they went to check on their parents, her mother told them their father was dead.

Under oath earlier this week, Julie claimed she had suffered years of verbal and physical abuse at the hands of her husband, including allegedly being raped by Jason 30 times. She said she began to keep a journal recording the times he’d get angry or the times he allegedly attacked or raped her.

During her testimony Thursday, Julie talked about her journal once more, claiming she used the word "sex" as a code for "rape" in her writings.

After she revealed the code word, Julie was asked how she could tell, in reading her own journal, the difference between the times she was allegedly raped by her husband and the time she had consensual sex with Jason.

“I wasn’t generally writing down when it was regular sex,” she said. "I wasn't keeping track of consensual sex. It's pretty obvious that this isn't pleasant sex that's going on."

She was asked about an entry in which it seems as if she's upset because Jason had "rejected" her.

Earlier this week, amid Julie’s allegations of rape in her marriage, the prosecution argued writings in her journal included complaints from her about a lack of foreplay in her sex life.

She claimed she never reported the abuse because she was “embarrassed” and feared pressing charges against Jason would cause him to lose his job as a Carlsbad high school teacher, and thus impact the family’s finances, which were already rocky.

When Julie took the stand on Wednesday, she recounted the exact moment when she shot her husband to death after they got into an intense argument and she told him she had filed for divorce.

“I turned around and saw him coming toward me. He said, ‘I’m going to kill you.’ I told him to stop. I heard a loud noise and felt [the gun] jerk. He froze, stopped and fell forward,” she testified.

“I ran into the bathroom because I thought he would come after me. [He was] completely still – no movement. I began shaking him and felt no movement,” she continued.

Julie said she didn’t know how to tell her children their dad was dead. She didn’t want them to see his body, so she covered Jason with a blanket and other items.

She testified that after the murder, she dropped the kids off at her sister’s house, went to a local coffee shop and visited her father at his office. She told her father her husband was dead, and he told her they needed to call police and hire a lawyer.

In her self-defense stance, Julie claimed she had become so afraid of Jason that in the weeks leading up to his killing she had packed a getaway bag, put cash aside for an escape and had taken her Derringer gun out of a safe and put it under her pillow in case she needed to protect herself from him.

In her retrial testimony this week Julie also said she suffers from medical conditions, including Rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Medications she had taken over the years caused side effects, she said, including weight gain.

She claimed Jason often attacked her weight and called her “fat” and “lazy,” and believed she was
faking her medical problems.

Julie was acquitted on first-degree murder charges in her first trial last October. Prosecutors sought to retry her, and she now faces second-degree murder charges in her retrial that began two weeks ago.

Over the course of her retrial, many witnesses have taken the stand, delivering emotional accounts. This has included Jason’s mother and very tearful brother, neighbors and the couple’s children.

Although Julie admits she killed her husband in self-defense, the prosecution argues that Julie added
to the couple’s tumultuous family life by frivolously spending money when the couple was experiencing financial problems.

The retrial will take a break Friday and resume next week, likely with closing arguments.

Family members of the man who went on a deadly shooting rampage at a rural Oregon college told NBC4 that they were in shock and didn't understand why he resorted to violence.

The gunman, identified as 26-year-old Chris Harper Mercer, opened fire inside a classroom at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon Thursday, killing at least nine people before dying in a shootout with police, authorities said. One survivor said he demanded his victims state their religion before he started shooting.

"I don't know what to say," the family member said in an interview Thursday night from Tarzana, in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles. "I'm shaking right now. He was a nice guy. He put everyone before himself. It doesn't sound right because he wanted everyone to be happy."

His father, Ian Mercer, told reporters gathered outside his Tarzana home where he and his wife live, said he was "just as shocked as anybody else," but declined to answer questions.

Former neighbors of the shooter who used to live in Torrance, about 20 miles south of downtown Los Angeles, said they instantly recognized him from the photo he posted on social media posing with a weapon.

"Yeah, that's him," said Derrick McClendon. "Stayed in number 9, him and his mom."

They recall Mercer and his mom shared a downstairs unit, then moved to Oregon about four years ago.

"Everyday I'd come home from school,"said Bryan Clay. "I'd see Chris, shaved head, combat boots, camo pants and a plain brown or white shirt. He kept to himself, really didn't say much.

"He would really just walk really fast, avoid anybody who came towards him."

Those who remember him said Mercer was mild mannered and not known to own guns.

"It's just sad to see that people just go out and kill people for no reason," said Paul Rogers.

The Daily Breeze reported that the Mercer graduated from Switzer Learning Center in Torrance in 2009. The newspaper cited records indicating that he lived with his mother in a ground-floor apartment in Torrance from 2011 to 2013.

An online search of the suspect's name points to a MySpace account referencing Torrance and bearing a photo of a man with a shaved head, with what appears to be the barrel of a rifle visible alongside him.

Elsewhere on the account are images of masked gunmen and praise for the Irish Republican Army, the outlawed paramilitary group committed to overthrowing Northern Ireland and its links with Britain.

An online search using the terms "Chris Mercer Torrance" turns up a whitepages.com entry for Chris Harper-Mercer, showing a cellphone number with a 310 area code and a land line number with a 541 area code, which covers most of Oregon.

It also listed an address for an apartment in Winchester, Oregon, which is about four miles north of Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon, where the shooting took place about 10:30 a.m.

The suspect was killed when police engaged him in a shootout, but it was unclear if he was fatally wounded by officers.

The shooting left seven other people wounded, according to authorities.

Authorities shed no light on his motive and said they were investigating.

Jorge Diaz, Kate Larsen and NBC4 Wire Services contributed to this report.

The family of one of the victims of the deadly Oregon college shooting is speaking out, NBC News reported.

Chris Mintz, an army veteran, was shot seven times while trying to save other students when a gunman opened fire at Umpqua Community College on Thursday in Roseburg, Oregon.

Mintz "tried to protect some people," his aunt Sheila Brown told NBC News in a telephone interview. "We were told he did heroic things to protect some people."

She said Mintz had been in surgery since the shooting that left 10 dead, including the gunman.

Originally from Randleman, North Carolina, Mintz served about 10 years in the Army. He had just started college, Brown said. He was shot in the back, abdomen and hands, and had two broken legs, she added.

The man who held a San Diego SWAT team at bay for hours Wednesday has a history of erratic behavior, including tossing urine and frozen foods at his neighbors, the victims told NBC 7.

Scott Tadlock said he feels like he has been held hostage in his home all summer, ever since Christopher James Pearson, 49, moved into his Pacific Beach apartment in the 1300 block of Reed Avenue.

“He threw a bucket of old urine at my wife,” said Tadlock.

After observing Person, Tadlock had a sophisticated, multi-camera surveillance system installed to keep an eye on the man, who would be up at all hours of the night, hammering and hollering, his neighbors said.

One image from the cameras shows Pearson throwing frozen meat and vegetables at the family, Tadlock said. In another, the suspect is whipping the back of his truck with a leash.

Since moving into the complex in May, Pearson has accused the family of stealing water and electricity and of breaking into his apartment.

“He continuously thinks someone is breaking into his place all the time,” Tadlock said. “Even when he’s in there, he claims he sees them.”

According to the neighbor, Pearson’s strange behavior was caught on surveillance camera Wednesday starting at about 7 a.m. It shows him looking for an imaginary intruder, Tadlock said, and attempting to screw the doors shut to trap the person inside.

He then showered his garage doors, the sides of the building and steps leading to his apartment with lighter fluid.

By the time he threatened to ignite it, witnesses had called 911. A SWAT team moved in while the suspect barricaded himself into his attic. He could be heard yelling threats at officers.

Eventually, at about 2:45 p.m., Pearson surrendered peacefully, using a tethered electric cord to climb down from his second-story window. Firefighters and a hostage negotiator told NBC 7 the incident was brought on by methamphetamine use.

Multiple neighbors, including Tadlock, have filed restraining orders against Pearson, and they fear that after his psychological hold expires in 72 hours, the suspect will return in the same state of mind – just as he has two times before.
 

At least 10 people were killed and seven others were injured when a gunman who demanded to know his victims' religions opened fire Thursday morning on the campus of Umpqua Community College in southwest Oregon, NBC News reported.

A parent of a student who was in the classroom where the shootings occurred told NBC News the gunman asked at least "a few" people what religion they were. The parent asked that they not be identified.

Multiple law enforcement officials told NBC News on Thursday night the gunman's motives weren't clear.

The gunman was killed in a firefight with Douglas County sheriff's deputies, Sheriff John Hanlin said. Multiple law enforcement sources identified him to NBC News as Chris Harper Mercer, 26, but the sheriff wouldn't confirm that identity.

"You will never hear me mention his name," Hanlin said Thursday night, because "he does not deserve it."

Officials have not confirmed if Mercer was included in the 10 killed, and could not confirm his connection to the college. Police said that the victims would not be identified for at least 24 hours.

Every day a woman in San Diego dies of breast cancer, and six women a day are told they have the disease.

According to experts women without health insurance have a 30% to 50% increased risk of dying from breast cancer.

There is good news though. Experts say if caught early enough the most common type of breast cancer is 99% survivable.

To help kick off Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Susan G. Komen San Diego will be giving free mammograms until 2 pm Friday. The event will be at Northgate Gonzales Market at 1410 S. 43rd Street in Southcrest. 

Susan G. Komen encourages uninsured women to make sure they get a breast exam. Women of average risk should get a mammogram once a year starting at age 40, but it's never too early for an exam.

A family or personal history with breast cancer, mutations in certain genes and previous radiation treatments all put women at higher risk for the disease.

Susan G. Komen San Diego is the County’s largest provider of free breast health and cancer resources and services. Their website has information on other ways to get a free exam.
 

Safety is a top concern as the MCAS Miramar Air Show opens this weekend.

All bags will be inspected and people are subject to search as they enter the base.

Prohibited items include:
• Weapons of any kind
• Alcohol (unless purchased by approved venders)
• Large ice chests
• Pets (except service animals)
• Glass containers
• Bicycles, roller blades/skates, scooters and skateboards
• Large backpacks/bags
• Personal drones
• Federally banned substances

Officials remind spectators to drink plenty of water, hold onto valuables, use sunblock, and wear comfortable shoes.

The Air Show, which runs through Sunday, includes a demonstration by the Blue Angels, the Patriots Jet Team and the Army’s Golden Knights Parachute Team. Admission to the Air Show is free.
 

Residents in the North County community of San Elijo are shining a spotlight on the need for safer streets after a series of crashes.

Drivers coming down San Elijo North across Elfin Forest Road into a 25 mph zone aren’t always following the law.

“People are always flying down this hill,” said San Elijo resident Sophia Russell, referring to the intersection.

An accident on the street Tuesday illustrates the danger stoking residents’ concern – especially with San Elijo Middle School just a block away.

“My worst fear is the worst case scenario,” said Marta Mac Ban. “Someone getting killed."

Mac Ban is one of the San Elijo Hills residents who plan to ban together and the San Marcos City Council to make the streets safer.

“People just clearly don’t obey the traffic laws,” exclaimed Mac Ban.

“You always have to wait five seconds to cross the road after a red light because someone is going to hit you even if it’s red,” added Russell.

San Elijo Hills residents have started an online group and are planning to meet Monday to brainstorm about a cohesive solution to their traffic concerns.

“It’s been an ongoing issue for years now,” said Mac Ban. “Nothing’s been done. “

Flashing yellow warning lights, signs with flashing LED lights around them and radar signs showing your speed are just a few of the suggestions the San Marcos city engineer says are possibilities.

“I think those are all good options,” said Mac Ban.

Options Mac Ban hopes are installed quickly to help protect her and her 2-year-old daughter from accidents like the one in San Marcos on West Mission Road and Comet Circle Thursday in which a teenage driver hit and injured two children crossing the street.

“Protect our residents and protect our streets and ensure everyone’s safety. Not just for the residents but the drivers too,” she added.

City engineer Mike Edwards says a town hall meeting is being planned to discuss safety measures residents would like to see put in place. The date hasn’t been set yet.

Cal State Long Beach's student body president is also undocumented.

The elected role is a paid position, but not for Jose Salazar because of his immigration status.

Salazar spends a lot of time at CSULB's Dream Center, a resource center for the undocumented.

He also spends a lot of time in his office at the college as student body president.

"Even if you have the most odds against you, if you work hard enough you can achieve whatever you want," Salazar said.

Salazar is the first undocumented student to be elected into the role. While he didn't need a social security number to run for office, he needs one now to get paid for his position.

"It's been quite a challenge," Salazar said.

Salazar's tuition is waived, perks that come with the president position.

His undocumented status prevents him from receiving a $1,200 a month fellowship payment.

He is urging the school to change the policy because he said his livelihood depends on it.

"Now that school started it's very hard for me to make any form of income because of this job and I have school," he said. "I'm not going to use it myself. I'm going to use it to help out my family."

Salazar came to the United States when he was 8 years old. He's petitioned for deferred status through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, an immigration policy that allows certain undocumented immigrants who entered the country before their 16th birthday to receive a renewable two-year work permit and exemption from deportation. But it could be several months before he gets an answer.

The school, meanwhile, is reaching out to lawmakers, encouraging them to push Salazar's petition through.

"He is working very hard in making sure he's successful in that role," said Jane Conoley, the CSULB president. "We don't want anything to be a distraction. We want him to graduate. We want him to get everything he can out of the leadership role that he's in."

Salazar knows not everyone agrees he should be treated equally. His journey did not come without controversy.

He knows a policy change may not come until well after he has graduated, but he said this campaign is not just for him.

"If no one wants to have the courage to stand up for a community, we're not going to make any type of progress," he said.

The group of mostly black women who were booted off the popular Napa Valley Wine Train for laughing loudly filed a $11 million lawsuit in federal court Thursday against the Wine Train alleging racial discrimination.

Reverend Amos Brown and two other members of the NAACP joined the 11 women —, all members of a book club, as they announced their eight claims on the steps of the federal building in San Francisco. "This is an atrocity that should not have occurred," Brown said.

"It's horrible, it really is," plaintiff Lisa Carr said. "The things that have happened to us. People don't think that it's real. It's absolutely real. People have reached out. People have been nasty. It's uncalled for."

Debbie Reynolds, one of the women removed from the train, told reporters at the press conference the incident had affected her livelihood. "To top it all off, the people who I worked with believed those things, and I've lost my job, and I'm the primary breadwinner for my family," Reynolds said.

The women are being represented by high-profile attorney Waukeen McCoy whose expertise includes civil rights cases. McCoy had initially said the group would sue if negotiations for a settlement with the Wine Train failed.

"The actions taken by the wine train were egregious," McCoy said, "This lawsuit highlights that blacks are still being treated differently in America."

The Napa Valley Wine Train — which was caught in the middle of a public relations nightmare after the incident was much-publicized on social media — was sold last month.

The family of Vincent Michael DeDomenico, the wine train’s founder, sold the train to Noble House Hotels & Resorts, a collection of luxury hotels and resorts that entered into a partnership with California-based real estate development and investment company Brooks Street for the purchase.

Wine Train spokesperson Sam Singer released a statement Thursday saying they had hired former FBI agent Rick Smith as an investigator to examine the incident.

“The Napa Valley Wine Train takes the allegations of discrimination very seriously. We are conducting our own investigation into the matter,” Singer’s statement said. “After the investigation has been conducted we will have the appropriate response to the complaint that has been filed seeking $11 million in damages."

The Wine Train’s CEO, Tony Giaccio, personally apologized to the women after their less than pleasant experience aboard the train, which one of them documented on Facebook through videos that went viral. It also prompted the #LaughingWhileBlack hashtag. Giaccio offered the women a chance to be his guests on the train along with their friends and family and promised more diversity training for his staff.

The apology didn’t help, with many saying they would boycott the train for what they claimed was racist behavior. The Wine Train's Facebook page continues to receive criticism from visitors.

The backlash resulted in the creation of a Napa Valley Soul train, which plans to offer rides to Latino and black-owned vineyards in the fall.

Online discount broker Scottrade said Friday believes it was the victim of a data breach from late 2013 to early 2014 that targeted client names and addresses, NBC News reported.

The company is notifying an estimated 4.6 million clients whose information was stored on a compromised database, Scottrade said in a message on its website.

"Although Social Security numbers, email addresses and other sensitive data were contained in the system accessed, it appears that contact information was the focus of the incident," the company said. 

Santa Claus is coming to town — council. 

Unlike the original Kris Kringle, this Claus notes in all capital letters on his Facebook page, "Please do not send me requests for presents."

Instead, as the North Pole Clerk's office announced on Thursday, Claus is running for election to North Pole's city council. The former local chamber of commerce president is running for one of two open seats for city council, the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reported.

Due to his late filing, voters will need to write in his name to cast their votes.

Claus, however, isn't worried that people won't remember his name at the ballot.

"Pretty easy to remember and pretty easy to spell," Claus said on Friday. "Even if they spell it C-L-A-U-S-E, I asked the city council and they said they'd still count it."

Thomas O'Connor legally changed his name in 2005 while living in Washoe County, Nevada. He decided that the unconventional name would help his work in child advocacy. He moved to North Pole, Alaska, shortly after changing his name.

The name change is a "useful tool" for his volunteer work in order to get media outlets to pay attention to his actions, he said. 

"It helps me persuade state and federal legislators to support, draft, co-sponsor and pass legislation related to child abuse, neglect, exploitation, abandonment, homelessness and institutionalization," Claus said.

North Pole Mayor Bryce Ward remarked that he doesn't know Claus well since he only moved to the community a few years ago. He's pleased, however, that Claus running for council.

"We found out about his candidacy yesterday," Ward said. "Filing actually opened back in August. We've had a bit of a drought as far as candidates this year, so I'm definitely excited to see someone run for council."

Ward added that he "definitely does have a unique name. That's for sure." 

The current president of the North Pole chamber of commerce did not immediately return calls for comment about his predecessor.  

President Barack Obama sharply criticized Russia's support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime on Friday saying Moscow's actions could result in a "quagmire" in the region.

"What started off as peaceful protests against Assad...evolved into civil war because Assad met those protests with unimaginable brutality," Obama said. "The reason Assad is still in power is because Russia and Iran have supported him in that process. They have been propping a regime that is rejected by an overwhelming majority of the population."

Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin's icy relationship took on an even chillier tone this week amid a perception that Moscow is seizing on a perceived American vulnerability in addressing the Syrian conflict and making a power play in the war-torn region.