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Motorcyclist Dies After Crashing Into Center Divide: CHP

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A motorcyclist died Saturday morning after crashing their motorcycle into the center divide, California Highway Patrol (CHP) officials said. 

The incident happened near the San Ysidro point of entry shortly before 2:30 a.m., officials said. 

The motorcyclist was traveling toward the entry point on the southbound I-5 when he lost control and hit the center divide. 

The motorist was pronounced dead at the scene. 

CHP officials closed off two lanes to the port of entry, but other freeway traffic was not affected. 



Photo Credit: NBC7

Car Abandoned Near Deadly Hit-and-Run

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A pedestrian was killed in a hit-and-run collision in Vista Friday night and the driver who hit him fled the scene, abandoning the car involved in the crash on a street nearby.

California Highway Patrol (CHP) officials said a 65-year-old man was crossing South Santa Fe Avenue near Palmyra Drive at around 10:15 p.m. – about 200 feet from the crosswalk -- when he was struck by a driver in a red Chevrolet Prism.

Instead of stopping, the driver fled the scene, leaving the victim critically injured on the roadway. The victim died, CHP confirmed.

Officers found the hit-and-run suspect’s red car abandoned on Estrelita Drive, about a half-mile away from the scene of the deadly crash. The windshield was badly shattered.

There was no sign of the driver.

Investigators impounded the car as evidence, marking it with a large, yellow tag labeled “CHP.” Officials said they have leads on who the driver of the car is, and they’re working on tracking him down.

Investigators said there may also be a second hit-and-run driver involved in this incident, as it appears that once the victim was down in the street, he was hit by another car described as a white or silver sedan, possibly a Toyota.

The driver also fled the scene. Investigators are now looking for that car as well, which likely sustained damaged to its front bumper.

The hit-and-run is under investigation. At this time, officials have not yet determined if alcohol or drugs played a role in the collision.

Anyone with information is urged to call CHP at (858) 637-3800. The victim’s name was not immediately released.

On Saturday, NBC 7 spoke with two pedestrians near the site of the deadly hit-and-run who both said the intersection there is not safe enough. There is no sidewalk, but rather a dirt path to walk on.

Residents said cars speed on that roadway all the time, but there have been no traffic safety improvements to the area to prevent that from happening so often.

"I just doesn't feel safe," said neighbor Raymond Rea. "It's really hard to walk on this dirt path."

Now, a vase with flowers rests at the intersection as a small tribute to the victim.

Friends in the area told NBC 7 the victim was a nice man. He was walking to the store when he was hit by the car.

Witnesses said the collision was a difficult sight.

"That was terrible. You don't want to see anyone die -- especially in a hit-and-run," said witness Tony Hernandez. "It was a tragic moment for me. I saw that and I felt for the man. I don't think that was a right thing that was happpening."

Those who knew the victim are hoping investigators find the hit-and-run driver very soon.

"Maybe he'll learn a lesson," said Rea. "I hope he does get caught."
 



Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego

Officials: Oregon College Shooter Died of Apparent Suicide

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The man armed with several guns who walked into a Thursday morning writing class at a rural Oregon community college and fatally shot nine people, died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Douglas County Sheriff John Hanlin, speaking at a news conference Saturday, said the medical examiner's office has determined the cause of death as suicide.

Officials initially said the shooter, identified as 26-year-old Christopher Harper-Mercer, was killed during a shoot out with officers responding to the Umpqua Community College campus. The worst mass shooting in Oregon history also injured nine people.

Hanlin also revealed an additional gun was found at the apartment Harper-Mercer shared with his mother, bringing the total number of weapons seized to 14. 

Harper-Mercer was armed with a 9mm Glock pistol and .40-caliber Smith & Wesson, according to a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives incident report obtained by The Associated Press.

Mercer also had a .40-caliber Taurus pistol traced to someone in Portland and a .556-caliber Del-Ton.

ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Celine Nunez announced Friday at a news conference that six weapons were recovered at the college campus and an additional seven were found at the shooter's home.

Nunez said the firearms were purchased legally by the shooter or a family member in the last three years. Officials did not say whether the latest gun found at Harper-Mercer's home was purchased legally. 

Investigators also found a flak jacket next to a rifle at the school, which contained steel plates, Nunez said.

Officials conducting searches at the school, shooter's residence and vehicle have also seized documents and digital media, Hanlin said.

"The Oregon State Police Crime Lab as well as the ATF and FBI Laboratories are all engaged in the effort to move forward with processing this evidence," he added.

Douglas County District Attorney Rick Wesenberg said the Oregon State Police's investigation into the officer-involved shooting is "nearing conclusion."

"I expect to be presented with the case early next week. Once I receive the case, I will do a thorough review and make a determination on whether the use of force was justified," he said.

In a statement, Harper-Mercer's family expressed their grief and offered prayers to the families of the victims.

"We are shocked and deeply saddened by the horrific events that unfolded on Thursday, October 1. Our thoughts, our hearts and our prayers go out to all of the families of those who died and were injured," the statement read.

Law enforcement officials told NBC News that Mercer left behind a multi-page document at the shooting scene espousing what one of them called "a philosophy of hate."

Two officials familiar with the contents say he wrote that he would be "welcomed in Hell and embraced by the devil."

The officials said he lamented the fact that he had no girlfriend. "He said he had no life," another official said, adding, "He felt the world was against him."



Photo Credit: AP

Lawsuit Battles SDG&E’s Plan to Charge for Wildfires

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San Diego Gas & Electric’s (SDG&E) plan to ask ratepayers to cover costs associated with the 2007 wildfires is being hit with a lawsuit filed by the firm of the former San Diego City Attorney.

Michael Aguirre and his law firm, Aguirre & Severson, filed a lawsuit Friday on behalf of Ruth Henricks against SDG&E’s efforts. In the suit, Henricks is described by the law firm as having “a long history of dedicated opposition to SDG&E’s attempts to recover in rates the costs arising from the fires in 2007 caused by SDG&E’s equipment.”

Prior to filing the lawsuit Aguirre had called SDG&E’s proposed rate increase “outrageous.”

On Sept. 25, San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) asked the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to approve a new electricity rate hike that will ask customers to pay almost $380 million in settlement fees associated with the 2007 wildfires that ravaged the county.

SDG&E first owed $463 million to firestorm victims after an independent report by Cal Fire determined its power lines caused the Witch, Rice, and Guejito fires. Two people died and 1,300 homes burned down. Losses have run upwards of $2 billion.

Initially, SDG&E faced 2,500 lawsuits related to the 2007 fires and $4 billion in claims, but the company settled most of them at a cost of $2.4 billion. The cost of some of the settlements was taken from the company's liability insurance and recoveries from third parties.

Today, $420 million in costs remains unpaid.

SDG&E filed paperwork on Sept. 25 in an attempt to pass along the costs to ratepayers.

Shareholders would pay 10 percent of the remaining bill, or $42 million. Customers would pay for the remaining $379 million of that legal tab.

SDG&E said the average customer's bill would cost $1.70 more per month for a customer using 500 kilowatt-hours of electricity a month. The company has said it would take six years to pay off the sum at that rate.

“We have gone to great lengths to minimize the impact to our customers by successfully settling these lawsuits rather than taking them to trial, which would have been significantly more costly,” said Lee Schavrien, chief administrative officer for SDG&E, in a statement. “We are in the final stages of this proceeding, and after eight years, we believe that, as a company, a community and a region, we are much better prepared for a future fire emergency.”

If the change is approved, it would likely take effect in 2017.

Since the 2007 fires, SDG&E said it has taken steps to prevent similar incidents from happening by installing over 170 weather stations across its service territory. Those stations enhance operational safety and overall situational awarness, SDG&E says.

This is not the first time SDG&E has asked CPUC to approve a new electricty rate hike. In Dec. 2012, CPUC denied a request from the company to retroactively impose a rate hike of nearly half a billion dollars to cover the cost of power-line caused fires in 2007, plus the cost of future damages.

SDG&E had asked that ratepayers cover 95 percent of the losses with Sempra investors on the hook for the rest. The company said this would cost the average customer around $190, payable at the rate of $3 to $4 per month for up to four years.

CPUC will likely issue their final decision by the first quarter of 2017.
 



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Viewers' Guide to 1st Democratic Debate of 2016 Race

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Five Democrats vying to be President Barack Obama's successor meet Tuesday night for their first televised debate of the 2016 election, a confrontation between one of the best-known women on the planet and four men seeking to unseat her as the party's front-runner.

But that quartet of rivals may not be Hillary Rodham Clinton's most immediate challenge. Instead, it's whether she can change the focus from emails she sent and received over a private server as secretary of state to the policies she's proposed to close the gap between rich Americans and everyone else.

Her chief rival for the Democratic nomination, Vermont independent Sen. Bernie Sanders, isn't likely to let her stand out on that point. Look for him to insist he's the authentic liberal, far ahead of Clinton on the issue of income inequality, as well as education and trade.

Here are some things to watch for in the debate at the Wynn Las Vegas hotel and casino, with coverage beginning at 8:30 p.m. EDT on CNN.

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CLINTON VS CLINTON

If the emails come up — or, more likely, when they come up — look for Clinton to try to pivot from defending herself to explaining why she's running for president and what she would do as Obama's successor. She'll likely try to name issues on which she agrees with Obama, such as health care, while carefully noting where the two part ways, such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal.

Two recent developments could help Clinton deflect the email issue.

The first is House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy's recent suggestion that the House committee investigating the deadly 2012 attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, which has focused in recent months on Clinton's email, has paid off by damaging Clinton in the polls.

While McCarthy apologized, his comment has fed Democratic arguments that the investigation was never truly about the deaths of four Americans. So, too, has the second development: accusations made this past weekend by a fired committee staff member that the panel is improperly focused on a partisan investigation of Clinton, rather than a definitive accounting of the attack.

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SANDERS VS CLINTON

Sanders has passion, while Clinton has experience in presidential primary debates. But don't look for the two to go after each other in dramatic fashion. Each needs the supporters of the other to win in a general election, and they're not likely to risk alienating them with open hostility.

Yet distinctions will be drawn.

Sanders has broadcast that he's not bothering with formal preparation for the debate. As a self-described democratic socialist, he's been advocating for middle- and lower-income Americans for years in the legislative arena.

He's likely to cast Clinton as a late-comer to efforts to make college more affordable, for example, and a flip-flopper on such issues as the Iraq War and trade. As a senator from New York, Clinton voted for the war, which she's since said she regrets. Last week, she reversed her support as secretary of state for the Pacific trade deal backed by Obama.

Clinton, meanwhile, is sure to suggest her proposals are more realistic than those offered by Sanders, including his call to make college tuition free for all Americans.

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THE FRONT-RUNNERS VS THE REST

Clinton and Sanders are the unquestioned front-runners, but there will be three other candidates on stage — each sure to be searching for a breakout moment.

Expect former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley to be the most aggressive. "It's a very, very important opportunity for me to not only present my vision for where the country should head, but also 15 years of executive experience, actually accomplishing the progressive things some of the other candidates can only talk about," he said ahead of the debate.

It's a little bit of a mystery how former Virginia Sen. Jim Webb, a decorated Vietnam veteran, and Lincoln Chafee, a former governor and senator from Rhode Island, will engage with the rest of the field.

Neither has campaigned as much as Clinton, Sanders and O'Malley up to this point, although both are critics of Clinton's vote for the Iraq War.

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THE FIELD VS JOE BIDEN

Will he or won't he?

Hovering over the debate will be Vice President Joe Biden, grieving father of son Beau, who is expected to announce within days whether he will make a late entry into the race.

If asked about the potential candidate who isn't at the debate, look for the candidates to offer up familiar responses about giving Biden time to mourn his son's death.

While Biden's advisers have been talking to potential staff and donors, those familiar with his thinking say they don't expect him to upend the debate by revealing his plans before the candidates take the stage.

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TRUMP VS THE DEMOCRATS

Never one to miss a chance at the spotlight, Republican front-runner Donald Trump said Tuesday that he planned to watch the debate and offer color commentary.

"At the request of many, and even though I expect it to be a very boring two hours, I will be covering the Democrat Debate live on twitter!" Trump wrote in a tweet.
 



Photo Credit: Illustration/Photos: AP

Missing At-Risk 21-Year-Old Found: Family

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The family of missing, at-risk 21-year-old Chad Anthony Coble said that their son has been found safe.  

Coble, who lives west of San Diego, was last seen on Friday, Oct. 9 driving away from his home at 11:30 a.m. His mother told NBC7 he was found Tuesday afternoon. 

He was driving a black 2014 Yamaha motorcycle with golf suspension and blue rims with the California license plate number 21W9885, police said. 

He was considered at-risk because he was on psychiatric medication, though he left that medication at home, police said. 

His mother told NBC7 that statements show Chad's card was last used at a market in Westmorland, Imperial County. She said she spoke with market employees who described the man who used the card as Chad. 

Police described him as 6 feet 2 inches and 155 pounds with long brown hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing a black t-shirt and black leather jacket with blue jeans and black riding boots. 

Any information related to the whereabouts of Chad Coble should be forwarded to San Diego Police Department at (619) 531-2000 or PISO Zendejas SDPD Missing Persons Unit (619) 531-2277
 



Photo Credit: San Diego Police Department

Suspects Sought in Pacific Beach Burglaries

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San Diego Police say someone broke into at least two businesses on Cass Street near Turquoise in Pacific Beach around 4:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Elderly Briton Facing 350 Lashes Punishment in Saudi Arabia

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British Prime Minister David Cameron will intervene in the case of an elderly Briton facing 350 lashes in Saudi Arabia after being caught with homemade wine — a punishment which his family said could kill him, NBC News reported.

Karl Andree, 74, was jailed for 12 months in August last year but remains in prison awaiting further punishment for breaking strict Saudi laws prohibiting alcohol after police found the wine in his car, his family said. 

"This is an extremely concerning case," Cameron's spokeswoman told reporters on Tuesday. "Given the ongoing concerns and the fact we would like to see more progress, the PM is writing today to the Saudis to further raise the case."

The move underlines diplomatic tensions over human rights in Saudi Arabia, which is considered one of Britain's closest military allies in the Middle East.

The move underlines diplomatic tensions over human rights in Saudi Arabia, which is considered one of Britain's closest military allies in the Middle East.
 



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Balboa Park Receives “Great Places” Award

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San Diego’s iconic Balboa Park received a big award Tuesday as it was named one of six “Great Public Places in America” by the American Planning Association (APA).

San Diego Councilmember Todd Gloria accepted the award on behalf of the city at a special ceremony in front of the lily pond and Botanical Building at Balboa Park honoring the historic “Jewel of San Diego.”

The award ceremony was also attended by William Anderson of the APA, Director of the City of San Diego Park and Recreation Department Herman Parker and Deborah Klochko, chair of the Balboa Park Cultural Partnership.

Gloria posted this message to his Twitter page following the ceremony:

Balboa Park was recognized by the APA earlier this month in the association’s list of “Great Public Places in America,” which names 15 neighborhoods, streets and public spaces.

In order to make the cut, each place must demonstrate character, planning, cultural and historical significance that enriches the community and helps economic growth. These sites act as important gathering places and recreational venues in communities.

“The Great Public Spaces of 2015 illustrate how to effectively create spaces that enhance the lives of residents and visitors alike, and we commend them on this tremendous achievement,” said Carol Rhea, FAICP, president of APA, when the list was first announced.

The distinction comes as Balboa Park celebrates its centennial. In 1915 the park played host to the Panama-California Exposition celebrating the opening of the Panama Canal, which defined much of the way the park looks today.

The park has played a vital role in San Diego’s history and contribution to culture. From World War II when many of the institutions were taken over by the Navy to the 15 museums and world-famous zoo that welcome thousands of residents, tourists, and students each year, the park is the artistic hub of the city: a place for relaxation, learning, and fun.

Other recognized public places on the APA’s list this year include the Santa Fe Railroad, Flint Farmer’s Market in Michigan, and Millennium Park in Chicago.

The APA is an independent, not-for-profit educational organization providing leadership in the development of communities. Since it launched this list in 2007, the APA has recognized 245 “Great Public Places” in the U.S.
 



Photo Credit: Monica Garske
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Volkswagen to Overhaul Diesel Technology

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Volkswagen plans a complete makeover of its diesel technology in the wake its emissions cheating scandal. The new versions of its high-mileage engines should go into production "as soon as possible," according to VW brand chief Herbert Diess, NBC News reported. 

The maker's current 2.0-liter diesel was surreptitiously programmed to produce low levels of smog-causing nitrogen oxides (NOx) during emissions tests, but in a trade-off apparently meant to improve performance and mileage, those TDI engines were allowed to produce significantly higher levels of pollutants in real-world use. VW has confirmed it used the so-called "defeat device" technology in 11 million vehicles sold worldwide over the past seven years, including 482,000 in the U.S.

Even as VW moves ahead on developing a new version of its small EA 189 diesel engine, the maker will cut about $1.1 billion in annual investment spending, Diess confirmed Tuesday. VW has so far set aside $7.3 billion to cover the cost of the scandal, but many analysts believe that figure is far too low.



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Slain Teacher Trail Halted

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Jury selection in the trial of a Massachusetts teen accused of raping and killing his high-school teacher has been halted amid concerns about his mental competency.

Philip Chism, 16, is accused of raping and murdering Danvers High School math teacher Colleen Ritzer in 2013. Ritzer, 24, was found dead in the woods near the school. Prosecutors said her throat had been slit with a box cutter.

Chism was 14 at the time but will be tried as an adult.

Jury selection began last week in Essex Superior Court in Salem. A psychiatrist brought in to examine Chism in court Tuesday tried twice to speak with him, and both times he refused to acknowledge her.

Court officers reported Chism banged his head on the floor of a padded room where he was held. The psychiatrist will examine Chism again briefly on Wednesday, according to the judge's ruling.

Defense attorneys have said they plan to use a mental health defense but haven't revealed specifics.

Necn legal analyst Randy Chapman said it's possible jury selection will continue Wednesday morning.

"Competency is a fluid concept. A person can be competent one day and incompetent the next. The determination the court has to make is whether the person is truly incompetent from some kind of mental disease or illness or they're feigning lack of competency in order to avoid the trial that is ongoing," he explained.

If Chism continues to ignore the psychiatrist, he will likely be taken to a psychiatric facility for extended evaluation before the judge determines whether the trial can continue.



Photo Credit: AP

Civil Rights Groups Oppose MLK Monument at Stone Mountain

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A proposal to erect a monument to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. atop Georgia's Stone Mountain is getting a chilly reception from some of the civil rights groups that King worked with.

The Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which King co-founded, and the Atlanta and DeKalb branches of the NAACP say they oppose placing a tribute to King near the figures of three Confederate leaders engraved on the mountain outside Atlanta.

SCLC President Charles Steele said Tuesday that a reference to King doesn't belong near the carving of "three traitors."

Officials with the groups say they will meet Wednesday with Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal to discuss the issue.

A Confederate heritage group also has opposed the King monument at Stone Mountain.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution first reported on the proposal Sunday. 



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Report: CBP Agents Use of Force Incidents Drop

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The U.S. Border Patrol released a report Tuesday that suggests employees were using less physical force than last year however critics say the agency didn’t include all uses of force as defined by the Department of Justice.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported 768 incidents in which authorities used force during the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30. The number of incidents was down 26 percent from the previous year and down 37 percent from 2013, according to the Associated Press.

The agency that’s responsible for policing the U.S.-Mexico border south of San Diego said its officers were assaulted 390 times in the same period, up 5 percent from the previous year.

Mitra Ebodalahi, Border Litigation Project attorney, ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties, said the public release of data was encouraging but did not paint the entire picture because of incomplete statistics.

The report includes physical restraint, use of an alternative device or application of lethal force according to the ACLU.

“CBP must expand public reporting to include data on stops and searches,” Ebodalahi said in a written statement. “Without this data, border communities have no way of assessing CBP’s record on racial profiling, excessive force, and lack of accountability."

Under current policy, agents can use deadly force if they have a reasonable belief that their lives or the lives of others are in danger.

CBP said it has revamped training, launched new case review practices and focused on being more transparent.

On a typical day, the CBP said its employees process more than 678,000 incoming travelers by land.

One of its busiest ports of entries is San Ysidro located 17 miles from downtown San Diego.



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Gathering Honors Pawn Shop Shooting Victim

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Residents and activists gathered in southeast San Diego streets Tuesday in honor of a shooting victim killed near a trolley stop in San Diego's Encanto community. 

The deadly shooting was reported around 1:35 p.m. in front of the CashCo Pawn Shop in the 6200 block of Imperial Avenue, across the street from the Encanto Trolley Station at 62nd and Akins streets. A 25-year-old man died and a second shooting victim was taken to the hospital.

Nearly a week after the incident, Reverend Shane Harris, the victim's family and residents of southeastern San Diego gathered at Imperial Avenue to raise awareness about the crime happening in their community. 

A Peace March would have gone from 62nd Street and Imperial to the end of the Boys and Girls Club on Imperial, but was abruptly canceled. 

No further details, including a motive for the shooting, were immediately released.

NBC 7 spoke with one witness who said she heard the gunshots ring out.

"I walked down there, I [saw] the one guy dead, with blood all over him. And the other guy suffering with blood all over him," the witness said. "I think it's absolutely horrible. It's terrible."
 



Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego

Why Democrats Chose Las Vegas for 1st Debate

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Ah Las Vegas, home of Celine Dion, the soft 17 in blackjack and … labor unions. Often lost in all the glamour and the flashing lights on the strip is the fact that about 20% of the workforce in Las Vegas is covered by organized labor. That's a big reason why the Democrats will be holding their first debate there Tuesday night.

Las Vegas' union number is higher than the figures for Boston, Boulder, Denver or even Detroit. Las Vegas and, in a larger sense, Nevada are in many ways the capitals of the new labor movement, full of construction and service jobs covered by unions. And that makes Nevada prime real estate for the Democratic Party, NBC News reported.

Over the last 10 years, as organized labor has been in retreat in the United States as a whole, the Silver State has been a notable exception. In 2004, Nevada looked a lot like the nation - 14.3% of the employed were represented by unions in the state versus 13.8% nationally. But since then, there has been separation. By 2014, the number was 16.4% in the state versus 12.3% nationally.



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Locals Cut Water Use for 4th Month

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Residents of San Diego County reduced their water use for the fourth consecutive month according to numbers released for September.

The County Water Authority reported Tuesday customers reduced their water use by 26 percent in September, compared with the same month two years ago.

That beat the region's goal of 20 percent despite a very warm month with the average temperature 7 degrees higher than normal.

State water officials set mandatory conservation targets for Water Authority member agencies between 12 and 36 percent below 2013 levels. 

 


 



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Jogger Slaying Suspect Allegedly Called 911, Confessed: PD

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The ex-college football player who allegedly cut down a jogger at random in Dallas Monday is said to have called in the killing on his own, then confessed to the grisly attack to an officer, Dallas police said Tuesday.[[332017812,R]]

According to an arrest warrant affidavit released Tuesday, Thomas Linz Johnson, was taken into custody Monday morning after flagging down a police officer and asking to speak with him at a popular Northeast Dallas park Monday morning.

The officer was one of several who responded to numerous calls about a stabbing along the White Rock Creek Trail at Harry Moss Park, police said.

Johnson, sitting near the crime scene next to a concrete pillar, told the officer "I just committed capital murder. I just committed capital murder," police said Tuesday. When the officer asked the man what he meant by the statement, Johnson responded, "It's like when you don't wake up."

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Earlier in the morning, at about 7:55 a.m., police said Johnson approached a man, whom police identified Tuesday as 53-year-old David Stevens, jogging along the trail and struck him in the head multiple times with a "large-bladed knife."

A witness to the slaying, who wished to be identified only as Brandon, told NBC 5 Monday that he saw a man strike another man several times with a "machete." As he rode past on his bike, Brandon said the attacker yelled for him to stop but that he kept going. Once a safe distance away, Brandon stopped and called 911.

According to police, Johnson left the trail after the slaying and asked a man, later identified by Dallas police as Jason Hagen, if he could use his mobile phone to call 911. During the call, Johnson reported "an unknown individual was laying down with a sword in his head and not moving."

Johnson then took Hagen and another man, identified by police as Jonathan Lawrence, to the spot under the overpass where the victim's body was found.

Dallas Fire-Rescue would arrive a short time later, find Stevens as described by the 911 caller and transport him to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Dallas police officers arrived at the crime scene as paramedics were leaving with Stevens. Police say that as one of the officers approached the scene, Johnson, sitting near the pillar, said, "I need to talk to you." The officer asked Johnson to wait for a moment while he spoke with DFR personnel.

After Johnson told the officer he'd committed a murder, the officer placed him under arrest and noticed blood on his pants. During the arrest, police said Johnson was issued his Miranda warning and voluntarily waived his right to remain silent and agreed to talk with detectives. During that interview, police said Johnson again confessed to the slaying.

Johnson, who was listed as homeless in the arrest warrant affidavit released by police Tuesday, allegedly told investigators he was angry about his current living situation and picked Stevens at random.

Johnson has prior felony convictions, but none for violent crimes. On Jan. 9, he pleaded guilty to unauthorized use of a vehicle and to burglary of a habitation. He was sentenced to four years probation on both offenses and fines of $3,500. The Dallas County Sheriff's Department had two outstanding warrants for Johnson on the same offenses, with bond being set at $200,000.

At this time, a bond amount on the murder charge has not been disclosed and jail records do not list an attorney on record.

Johnson, who grew up in Dallas, played football for Texas A&M University in College Station in 2012. In his short collegiate career, he had three catches for 22 yards in A&M's 29-24 win at top-ranked Alabama. He disappeared from College Station a few days later and wasn't seen again until he appeared at his family's Dallas home three days later.  He never returned to A&M.

Thomas Linz Johnson Arrest Warrant Affidavit

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Photo Credit: Jeff Smith, NBC 5 News
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N.H. Primary: More Visits Aren't Helping Presidential Candidates

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There's a saying in New Hampshire that you don't decide who to vote for in the presidential primary until you've met the candidates at least three times.

But based on necn's 2016 New Hampshire Primary Candidate Tracker, it appears that spending a lot of time with Granite State voters isn't necessarily a good thing.

More often than not, the New Hampshire Primary has accurately predicted the party's nominee. Even when it hasn't, it has helped shape the race, often propelling lesser known candidates to frontrunner status.

But that may be changing, even as some candidates invest huge chunks of their time in the state.

"Since 2012, the national debates have kind of changed a bit the role of early caucuses," said Patrick Griffin of Purple Strategies New England, a former Bush family advisor. "There's been an incredible nationalization of the campaigns. People in New Hampshire are making up their minds based on debate performance. They're making their minds up without necessarily meeting a candidate."

The three Republican candidates who have made the most stops in New Hampshire so far — Lindsey Graham, Chris Christie and George Pataki — are all polling near the bottom of the field in the state. Graham and Pataki received 1 percent or less in two recent polls conducted by NBC and WMUR, while Christie was between 5 and 7 percent.

Only Carly Fiorina — who has made the fourth most stops in the state with 80 — is in the top five in recent polls. She was in second place in both recent polls.

Donald Trump, who is leading the polls, made his 20th stop in New Hampshire on Monday. Only Rick Santorum (17) and Mike Huckabee (9) have spent less time in the state.

On the Democratic side, the same appears to hold true. Martin O'Malley has made the most stops in New Hampshire, at 54, followed by Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton at 42.

O'Malley is polling at just 2 percent in the state — way behind both Sanders and Clinton.

"Putting in hours and days is no guarantee it's going to translate into increased poll numbers," said Dean Spiliotes, a Southern New Hampshire University political scientist. "Back in 2004, Joe Lieberman basically moved to Manchester and it didn't make a difference. It can help, but it's no guarantee. It's not a silver bullet for getting traction in the polls."

Some candidates still seem think the state is worth visit after visit before the primary, to be held at some point in February and traditionally the very first in the nation – a huge feather in a would-be president's cap.

necn's candidate tracker compiles campaign visits collected from media reports, candidate schedules and plans confirmed by the station. This analysis tracks visits scheduled through Friday, Oct. 16.

Spiliotes agrees with Griffin that the nationalization of presidential campaigns has changed New Hampshire's role to some extent. With the growth of the Internet and social media, it's become easier than ever before for voters to get access to the candidates.

"I think technology, social media and campaign finance has renationalized the primaries at some level," he said. "You can be a frontrunner, get traction and have movement in the polls with retail politics, or less so. There are all these virtual ways that are still quite intimate — cell phone, iPad — there's a very direct connection with the candidate.

"I was on vacation overseas in August in a pretty remote area," Spiliotes added. "I popped on to Twitter and saw 'Coming up next - John Kasich at the Iowa State Fair.' I watched it in real time, no different than if I was sitting in New Hampshire."

Still, Griffin thinks there's still plenty of time for New Hampshire voters to reverse that trend.

Given time, he thinks Trump will fall in the polls, making room for those candidates who have carefully cultivated New Hampshire voters, "the candidates of second looks," as he calls them. Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio and even Ted Cruz are all examples of people he thinks could still climb to the top of the heap.

"Usually as you get closer, people in New Hampshire will do what they're supposed to do," Griffin said. "I don't think this is over. I think people are still shopping."

Asher Klein contributed research for this story.



Photo Credit: necn
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Facebook Adds New Sections and Suggested Videos

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Video on Facebook may be a relatively new feature, but it's already seeing enough engagement that the social network is expanding it into a mini-YouTube.

"We have been testing a number of new features that give people more flexibility when watching videos, whether you're watching a video in News Feed on-the-go or sitting down to enjoy multiple videos back-to-back," wrote VP of product management Will Cathcart in a blog post.

Videos you watch will be followed by options to continue watching related content — like YouTube.

Videos you watch will be followed by options to continue watching related content — like YouTube. You'll be able to save videos to watch later — like YouTube. There will soon be a dedicated video section with videos from friends, brands and pages you follow — like YouTube.



Photo Credit: File--AP

Halloween Costumes Set on Fire in CA Walmart: PD

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Someone sprayed a rack of Halloween costumes with lighter fluid and set them on fire inside a Bay Area Walmart store on Tuesday afternoon, police said, forcing the store to close and customers to evacuate while authorities investigated.

The suspect took the lighter fluid from a store shelf before using it to douse the Halloween section before starting the fire, police said. Frightened witnesses called 911.

The suspect, a 40-year-old man police believe is from Oakland, was arrested on suspicion of arson after the fire was set inside the store at about 1:30 p.m., San Leandro police Lt. Robert McManus said.

Store security managed to apprehend the suspect before police arrived, Lt. McManus said.

The store, at 15555 Hesperian Blvd., has since been closed while San Leandro police and Alameda County firefighters investigate. According to McManus, there is still a strong odor from the fire at the store.

“We are still reviewing surveillance video from the store, interviewing witnesses and evaluating evidence, hoping to piece this incident together,” Lt. McManus said. “Although we don’t know how many customers and employees were in the store when the fire started, we do know that it was a very dangerous situation that placed others in danger."

A Walmart spokesperson confirmed the store was evacuated but referred further questions to San Leandro police.

Video posted to Twitter by user @JustPaulMiller appeared to show a store employee extinguishing the blaze.

“A lot of families were in the store purchasing items for Halloween,” Miller said. “That’s something that’s heartbreaking.”

No one was injured, authorities said.

The motive for the arson is not yet known.



Photo Credit: Paul Miller
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