Quantcast
Channel: NBC 7 San Diego - Top Stories
Viewing all 60603 articles
Browse latest View live

U.S.: Russian Jet Entered Turkish Airspace

0
0

The United States has independently confirmed Turkey's assertion that the Russian warplane it shot down last week violated Turkish airspace, a State Department official said Monday, NBC News reported.

Spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau would not describe how the United States confirmed the Russian craft's flight path. Instead, she said that diplomatic efforts should focus on easing tensions between Russia and Turkey.

Turkish forces shot down the plane on Nov. 24, saying it entered its airspace from Syria, where Russia is conducting airstrikes in support of Syrian President Bashar Assad. One of the plane's pilots was killed, as well as a Russian Marine on the rescue team.

Russia has said it was flying over Syria airspace and was struck unprovoked.



Photo Credit: AP

USC Hires Clay Helton as Head Football Coach

0
0

The University of Southern California announced Monday it has hired Clay Helton as permanent head coach of the football team.

The 24th-ranked Trojans (8-4, 5-3 Pac-12) beat archrival UCLA 40-21 to win the Pac-12 South title on Saturday, capping a seven-week surge under Helton, their interim head coach, with their first victory in the crosstown showdown since 2011.

USC advanced to the conference championship game against No. 7 Stanford and the chance to contend for a Rose Bowl berth — something that seemed highly improbable last month when athletic director Pat Haden fired Steve Sarkisian and promoted Helton to finish up a turbulent season for the second time in three years.

"After weeks of searching the collegiate and pro ranks, interviewing candidates, and speaking with head coaches, athletic directors, NFL executives, and very knowledgeable football people, and after observing Clay in action the past seven weeks, it became abundantly clear that what we were searching for in a coach was right here in front of us," USC athletic director Pat Haden said in a statement. "Clay Helton is the right man at the right time for the USC football program."

Haden said Helton signed a multiyear deal, and beating UCLA was not the reason he was hired.

"He was not hired because many current and former players voiced their support for him. And he was not hired because he is a Trojan. He is our choice because we believe he can win Pac-12 and national championships here. Clay Helton is the right man at the right time for the USC football program," Haden said.

Helton, 43, was named USC's interim head coach on Oct. 12 after serving as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

Helton has been at USC since 2010. Previously, he was an assistant coach at Memphis for 10 seasons.

"During my six years here, I have learned the standard of excellence that it takes to be a Trojan. I understand the expectations of this great university and welcome the challenge. I am so proud to have the chance to lead what I feel is the pinnacle of college football and to represent our Trojan Family," Helton said.

The move and the timing were surprising, but not a total shock.

There had been rumors and speculation that USC would make an attempt to lure Eagles coach Chip Kelly back to the Pac-12. Kelly helped turn USC rival Oregon into a national power before leaving for the NFL three years ago.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Target Website Temporarily Crashes for Many on Cyber Monday

0
0

Cyber Monday's digital door-busting sales broke more than purchasing forecasts, causing at least one of the country's biggest retailer's website to crash for many users.

Target's website went down at 10:00 a.m. ET on Monday, according to Catchpoint Systems, a web performance monitoring company. Around 10:40 a.m. ET the website began to come back "intermittently," but customers continued to encounter a "problem" message, Catchpoint spokesman Frank Cioff said, adding that "technically" the site was back up, but content wasn't available.

"Please hold tight. So Sorry, but high traffic's causing delays. If you wouldn't mind holding, we'll refresh automatically and get things going ASAP (sic)," the message read on Target.com. A corporate spokeswoman said customers were put in a "queue" and asked to check back later. 

Many expressed their frustration on social media, chiding the company for not being better prepared to handle the traffic surge that was expected to come on one of the largest online shopping events of the year.

 

In a statement, Senior Group Manager for Target communications Molly Snyder said, "We are seeing a tremendous response to today’s 15 percent off sitewide offer. The volume is already twice as high as our busiest day ever. We continue to receive and process thousands of orders from guests who are shopping the entire site and taking advantage of the discount coupled with free shipping. As we experience spikes in traffic, our systems place guests in a queue and prompt them to access the site later. We apologize to guests who experience any delays, we appreciate their patience, and encourage them to try again in a few minutes by refreshing their browser."

The company kicked off its "Cyber Week" of sales Monday, calling it Target's "biggest and boldest yet."

"Target.com's site-wide 15 percent discount is pretty aggressive and likely the best offer we've seen," Keith Anderson, vice president of strategy and insight at Profitero, an e-commerce analytics firm, told NBC News

In addition to the site wide savings of 15 percent off, a first for the company, clothing is discounted at 30 percent, home goods at 40 percent, 30 percent off hundreds of toys. Target is also offering gift cards with certain big-ticket purchases and gave early-bird consumers nearly 75 percent off "e-door-buster" deals. 



Photo Credit: Courtesy Target.com
This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Slain Downey Police Officer Was 'Humble Man'

0
0

Family, friends and colleagues remembered Downey police Officer Ricardo Galvez as a humble man with an infectious personality at a funeral service on Monday.

The 29-year-old former U.S. Marine was honored at a 9 a.m. service at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in downtown Los Angeles. The service was followed by a graveside salute with full police honors at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier.

Downey Mayor Luis Marquez shared his sympathy with family members, describing Galvez as a positive influence on the Downey community.

"The world lost a caring individual and a hero," said Marquez. "We are so blessed to have been the beneficiaries of his service."

On Nov. 18, Galvez was was gunned down during an apparent botched robbery while sitting in his parked outside the Downey police station. Galvez had just returned from a training program and was not wearing his uniform when he was shot, according to Downey police.

Police Chief Carl Charles described Galvez as a compassionate and humble man with a "smile that would light up a room."

"Today we will not dwell on the circumstances that surrounded his death. Instead we will focus on celebrating his life," said Charles. "[Galvez] left a legacy of love and caring for for others."

Galvez, joined the department in 2006 as a police aide. He was hired as a police officer with the department in March 2010.

Three suspects in connection to the shooting are now in custody, including a 16-year-old Abel Diaz who has been charged as an adult with one count of murder.

Steven Knott, 18, and Jeremy Anthony Alvarez, 21, were also arrested. Their arraignment has been postponed until Dec. 17.

A number of streets were closed to traffic near the cathedral for the service Monday.

A rosary and viewing for Galvez was held Sunday at the Downey Civic Theatre.



Photo Credit: Toni Guinyard

Planned Parenthood Victim Tried to Save Others

0
0

The 29-year old Iraq War veteran killed in the Planned Parenthood attack ran back inside after being shot to warn others to take cover, his brother told NBC News.

Ke’Arre Stewart was hit after stepping outside the Colorado Springs clinic because he didn’t have cellphone service, brother Leyonte Chandler said.

Chandler said his brother tried to run back into the building and tell the others to take cover. Asked whether Stewart, a father of two, was a hero, Chandler said: “Definitely, definitely.”

Stewart was one of three people fatally shot by Robert Lewis Dear, who allegedly opened fire at the clinic Friday.



Photo Credit: Tony Fisher

Jury Selection in 1st Gray Case

0
0

As many as 80 potential jurors filed into a Baltimore courtroom Monday morning as the first trial in the death of Freddie Gray got underway.

Jury selection for Officer William Porter's trial began Monday. When asked by Judge Barry Williams, every juror called said they knew about the Freddie Gray case, were aware of the curfew imposed following the protests and knew about the $6.4 million settlement between the city and Gray's family. 

Gray, 25, suffered a mysterious injury in the back of a police transport van and died April 19, inspiring thousands to take to the streets to protest what they believed was the mistreatment by police of another young black man. On Monday, a handful of protesters could be heard chanting from inside the court building. 

In the weeks following the unrest, six police officers were indicted in Gray's death. Porter is the first to go on trial. 

The group of potential jurors was asked a number of questions to gauge their ability to be impartial. 

A dozen potential jurors said they were employed by a law enforcement agency while 26 said they had "strong feelings" about manslaughter or other misconduct by police. Almost 40 potential jurors said they or a family member had been either a victim of a crime or been investigated, arrested, charged or convicted of a crime.

Two dozen potential jurors said they could not serve for reasons including a planned trip or or a medical condition preventing them from sitting for more than an hour.

The judge then began meeting privately with 66 members of the pool, which was likely to continue through the afternoon.

A verdict will likely set the tone for the city: If Porter is acquitted there could be protests and possibly more unrest. A conviction could send shockwaves through the city's troubled police department.

"Everything is at stake. The future of the city is at stake,'' Police Commissioner Kevin Davis said.

Porter faces charges of assault, manslaughter, reckless endangerment and misconduct in office. He is accused of checking on Gray during several stops the van made during its 45-minute trip from the Gilmor Homes in Sandtown-Winchester, where Gray was arrested, to the Western District station house, where officers found Gray unresponsive and he was taken to a hospital. He died a week later.

Gray was initially handcuffed. Later during his van ride, his legs were shackled and he was placed back in the van without a seatbelt, a violation of department policy, prosecutors have said.

The judge said a jury will be seated in the next day or two. 

More than 150 people are listed as witnesses for the trial, including dozens of police officers and other personnel.

The trial is expected to be complete by Dec. 17.

3 Children Trapped in Fire, 1 Dies

0
0

A child died Monday when fire trapped him and two other children in a bedroom while they were in the care of a babysitter, San Diego Fire-Rescue officials said.

Firefighters were called a little after midnight to the home at J and Toyne streets in the Mount Hope community, south of Market Street and west of Interstate 805.

Flames were seen throughout the home and shooting from the attic, officials said. 

Officials were told there were five people in the home – two adults and three children. Crews were told the children were trapped in a back bedroom. Firefighters were able to pull two children from the home. Those victims were said to be in critical condition. A third child died in the fire. He was identified as a 10-year-old boy.

Battalion Chief Mike McBride said crews tried everything they could.

“Everything was done to put these kids in the best, to give them the best chance they could have,” he said pausing before adding, “Can’t always win.”

McBride said the children transported to the hospital were between the ages of 5 and 7 years old.

An adult male, identified by fire officials as the babysitter's boyfriend, was in the home at the time it went up in flames.

Officials say the man suffered burns as well after making it out of the house on his own.

The injured were taken to UCSD Medical Center in Hillcrest.

Two firefighters were also injured - one with burns to his ears, the other with a knee injury, according to officials. They have been released from the hospital.

Neighbor Grover Williams said one man was able to pull one of the babysitters out but he could not get into the home to rescue the children.

“He knocked out the windows and he kicked the door in,” Williams said. “But the smoke was so great he couldn’t get in.”

Williams said the babysitter told him a portable heater may have been placed too close to a mattress. Officials have not confirmed the cause of the fire.

Neighbor Robert Tapia said he heard the noise of glass breaking from across the street. When he found out what was happening he ran to help.

"It was heartbreaking," he said. "I wanted to help but I just couldn't."

Suzanna Reyes told NBC 7 she's a longtime friend of the woman who lives in the home. Reyes said her friend was taking her eldest child back to college when the fire broke out.

"Being a single mother with six kids, I know she's going to need a lot of support," Reyes said.

Reyes and her husband tried to spray down the house with water, open the windows and doors but there was only so much they could do.

McBride said grief counselors would be available for firefighters and other first responders.

Check back for updates to this developing story.
 

December Nights: What to See, How to Get There

0
0

One of San Diego's most iconic landmarks will officially kick off the holidays this weekend with one bright and epic event: 2015 Balboa Park December Nights, a multicultural celebration of the season.

Running strong for 38 years, December Nights brings more than 350,000 visitors to Balboa Park for two days of festive, family-friendly fun, including live music, arts and crafts, photos with Santa Claus, free entry into select museums, drinks and food from across the globe and, of course, plenty of shiny holiday lights.

This year, the free event runs from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and 12 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday. In the spirit of the holidays, some participating Balboa Park museums will open their doors to visitors free of charge from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. both evenings. This includes the San Diego Museum of Art and San Diego Air & Space Museum.

Many museums will host special events also during December Nights. For instance, the San Diego Natural History Museum’s “Fossil Mysteries” will be set to holiday music in the atrium during the event, while the San Diego History Center hosts screenings of the documentary “Balboa Park: The Jewel of San Diego” and book readings of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” both evenings.
With festive lights strung throughout the park – from the Plaza de Panama canopy to the picturesque Botanical Building – revelers will feel the holiday cheer.

Activities throughout December Nights include lively musical and dance presentation from performers with the San Diego Junior Theatre and San Diego Civic Youth Ballet, among other troupes in the spotlight.

Meanwhile, over at the House of Pacific Relations Cottages, the International Christmas Festival will feature foods from around the world served by different cottages, including traditional fare from France, Mexico, China, Norway, Peru and Sweden, just to name a few worldly stops.

Also, a new addition to December Nights this year is a large children's interactive area, where kids can partake in hands-on crafts, games and entertainment. This area will be located adjacent to the Botanical Building.

This new area will also include a community mural where families can contribute to a giant-sized coloring book page depicting Balboa Park. After December Nights wraps, the community mural will be on display at the park throughout the holiday season.

Visitors can also get some of holiday shopping done at December Nights as local artisans and vendors offer their one-of-a-kind goods. The Centro Cultural de la Raza will have artisanal Mexican holiday gifts for sale both days – just one example of the items to be found at the big event.

Due to the massive turnout for this annual event, parking will be limited at Balboa Park. For this reason. December Nights organizers encourage visitors to use free off-site shuttles to get to the park or take public transportation. Visitors are also urged to avoid southbound State Route 163 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on both nights, as the freeway will be very congested. Alternate routes to get to the park will be more efficient. Maps can be seen here.

As for the free shuttle service, all December Nights shuttles will run from 3 p.m. to midnight Friday and 11:30 a.m. to midnight Saturday. The last shuttle heading to the park leaves all sites at 8:30 p.m., while the last shuttle leaving the park leaves at 11:45 p.m.

The shuttle sites include:
 

  • City College (parking lots between 16th and B and C streets): Parking is free here and there are more than 1,500 parking spaces. The shuttle drops off at 6th Avenue and Laurel Street, very close to Balboa Park. City College is also about a quarter-mile from Balboa Park, so parking there and walking to the park is also an option.
  • Downtown San Diego (parking lots on Ash Street, between 5th and 6th avenues): Numerous parking lots in this area cost $5 per vehicle. There's also free parking downtown after 6 p.m. The shuttle from here also drops passengers off at 6th Avenue and Laurel Street near Balboa Park.

Organizers say there will be no shuttle service from Petco Park this year.

As for other modes of public transportation, the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) will offer its normal bus and trolley service. If taking the trolley, riders can exit at the City College Station downtown and walk from there, or exit there and then transfer to the MTS Route 7 on 11th Avenue to Park Boulevard.

Riders can also take the Orange Line trolley to the 5th Avenue Station downtown and walk two blocks north to the free shuttle that will then take them to Balboa Park. For more info on MTS services, visit the MTS website.

Visitors can also opt to ride their bikes to the event. Bicycle corrals can be found at Balboa Drive and Laurel Street on the west side of the park and also in the Cascades area adjacent to Park Boulevard and the footbridge.

Finally, those who choose to drive to Balboa Park can park for free at the San Diego Zoo parking lot, but it does get very busy and fill up quickly. There are 156 free disabled parking spaces in the lot at the Ruben H. Fleet Science Center on Park Boulevard. The Federal lot at Park Boulevard and Presidents Way also has 33 disabled parking spaces available during December Nights.

Organizers say there is a paid parking option at Balboa Park's Natural History Museum lot and the South Carousel lot, both accessible from Park Boulevard and Village Place. It costs $25 per car to park at those lots. The Inspiration Point parking lot accessible from Park Boulevard and Presidents Way will also offer paid parking at $20 per car.

That's it. Everything you need to know to get jolly at December Nights this year.

The event is co-produced by the City of San Diego and the Balboa Park Conservancy and will close out the year-long “Celebrate Balboa Park 2015,” the centennial of the 1915 Panama-California Exposition.

For more details on 2015 December Nights, visit the Balboa Park website.

A map of Balboa Park and the December Nights activities can be seen here.
 



Photo Credit: December Nights courtesy photo

Embattled SDSU Prof Allowed to Leave Quietly: Colleague

0
0

A former San Diego State University professor who sexually harassed at least four female students benefited from a cover-up of similar unprofessional activity at the University of Delaware (UD), according to a former colleague.

Documents obtained by NBC 7 Investigates confirm Vincent Martin sexually harassed female students who took his Spanish literature classes at SDSU. According to the documents, he was suspended for 30 days as punishment

One document from the subsequent arbitration proceeding also notes Martin resigned his prior post at UD in 2010, after he was accused of sexually harassing a female student.

The former Spanish professor is no longer employed by SDSU. University administrators have not clarified whether Martin resigned or was fired, only confirmed he no longer works at the school as of November 19.

Jan Blits, a retired UD professor, told NBC 7 Investigates campus administrators “tried to cover-up” the harassment allegation against Martin.

Blits, who was awarded the UD’s Excellence in Teaching Award and served as a Distinguished Fellow at the U.S. Naval Academy, chaired UD’s Faculty and Welfare Privileges Committee at the time Martin faced that allegation. The committee is empowered to review and pass judgment on allegations of unprofessional conduct by University of Delaware faculty.

In Martin’s case, Blits said, “the administration bypassed the committee and evidently struck a sweetheart deal with the accused (Martin)." Blits claims UD administrators short-circuited his committee’s investigation and covered up Martin’s alleged wrongdoing because “they want to hide the fact that there are problems at” the University of Delaware.

“We were tough,” Blits said of his faculty committee. “They (university administrators) didn’t want to have to fire a faculty member for sexual misconduct. They try to suppress problems rather than deal with them properly. ”

UD administrators declined to comment on Blits’ allegations because, they said, it involves a “personnel issue.” Martin and his attorney have both declined to answer questions about the allegations against Martin at SDSU and UD, and will not comment on the terms of Martin’s departure from SDSU.

Blits said his recollection of the specifics of Martin’s alleged misconduct at UD are vague. But he distinctly recalls being troubled by the content of flyers and advertisements for the Spain study abroad program Martin organized at UD, which is where he believes the alleged harassment occurred.

“Word was out that it was a ‘party trip’, and he advertised it that way,” Blits said. He confirmed with a colleague that Martin’s advertisement for the study abroad program included a photo of Martin “with his arms draped around two female students (at) a table with empty sangria pitchers… The message was ‘Study abroad and party with me.’”

Bilts said that photo was taken in 2006 and appeared every year thereafter on Martin’s UD homepage.

Avoid Cyber Crime During Holiday Shopping Season

0
0

With the holiday shopping season in full swing, the FBI is reminding consumers to be wary of criminals who target buyers.

They often offer brand name merchandise for deals too good to be true or gift card incentives if you buying something first.

Consumers should never provide their personal information to an unknown party or website.

Emails presenting items at huge discounts or special coupons are often rip-offs as well as emails that advocate an urgent response.

Instead of clicking on links from emails that supposedly go to a company’s website, shoppers should go to the website directly. Consumers can end up paying for an item, giving away personal information and getting nothing in return.

Criminals also use bait and switch tricks where buyers receive a product that is different from the one advertised.

When shopping for gift cards online the FBI urges consumers be wary of auction sites offering discount or bulk deals and in the store make sure no one has tampered with the protective scratch off area on the back of the card.

Criminals also use apps designed to steal personal information from smartphones. Often these apps are disguised as games that can be downloaded for free. Research the company selling or giving away the app and look online for third party reviews before installing it.

The FBI recommends not posting to social media pictures of theater or concert tickets received as gifts. Ticket holders should protect the barcode like a credit card because fraudsters often scour social media sites to create a new ticket from the barcode and resell it.

During the holiday shopping season remember to check your credit card statement routinely (many banks offer online checking), cover your credit card number at stores and contact your bank immediately for any suspicious purchases on your account.

Victims can file a complaint at the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Mutant Protein Research Could Pave Way for Cystic Fibrosis Treatment

0
0

 San Diego scientists’ work on a mutant protein responsible for most cases of cystic fibrosis may pave the way to treating the root cause of cystic fibrosis.

Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) scientists working with the mutant protein – called cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) -- discovered the protein frequently “talks” to the wrong cellular neighbors.

The protein becomes so busy talking to the wrong neighbors, it stops functioning normally and is prematurely degraded. In most patients with the mutated CFTR gene, called ΔF508, the gene that encodes the protein stops it from folding correctly. In turn, the protein is not processed correctly in cells.

“The proteins and the interactions we’ve identified really fuel the pipeline for new drug targets to treat cystic fibrosis,” said Casimir Bamberger in a statement. Bamberger is a research associate in the lab of TSRI Professor John R. Yates and co-first author of the new study with TSRI Staff Scientist Sandra Pankow.

People diagnosed with the disease suffer from persistent infections and mucus build-up in their lungs. Antibiotics can treat the infections resulting from the disease, but there is no treatment to date to fully restore lung function.

In their study, researchers built upon previous studies showing the mutant gene regains its function at low temperatures.

Freezing people is not a practical treatment, of course, but this showed us mutant CFTR can be functional,” said Pankow in a statement. “So the idea behind our new study was to find new drug candidates that could mimic what we see at low temperatures.”

Co-Purifying Protein Identification Technology (CoPIT) helped scientists analyze cell samples and identify the proteins CFTR interacted with.

In studying the mutant protein, they found that it created an entirely new “disease-specific” interaction network. For comparison, most mutant proteins only lack one or two crucial interactions, researchers said.

“Three hundred proteins changed their level of interaction, and an additional 200 proteins interacted with the mutated CFTR,” said Pankow in a statement. “It’s like the wrong people are talking to the mutated CFTR all the time.”

TSRI scientists narrowed the “disease-specific” interactions to eight key proteins that disrupted the mutant protein and used a gene silencing technique to block the mutant protein’s interactions with them. By doing so, they found the CTFR returned to partially normal functions.

Next, scientists will search for small molecule drug candidates that can target those eight disruptive proteins, in hopes of finding a treatment.

The CoPIT data has been publicly released by TSRI researchers so others can look into clinical implications.

Diego Calzolari, Salvador Martínez-Bartolomé, Mathieu Lavallée-Adam and William E. Balch of TSRI also worked on the study.

The study was published in the Nov. 30, 2015 issue of Nature.



Photo Credit: The Scripps Research Institute

Counselor in Foster Case Files Claim Against District

0
0

A head counselor at a local school has filed a claim against the San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD), alleging she was improperly punished and retaliated against for writing a negative college evaluation about the son of school board President Marne Foster.

In a claim dated Nov. 28, Kim Abagat, the head counselor at the School of Creative and Performing Arts (SCPA), says Foster abused her authority as an SDUSD trustee to benefit her son. Abagat, who describes herself as an African American educator, was suspended for nine days after writing the assessment—a punishment that she alleges was racially motivated.

Foster is the center of an independent investigation, ordered by the school board, to determine if the trustee orchestrated a $250,000 complaint filed against the district by her son’s father. Foster is also accused of holding a private fundraiser for her sons’ college tuition and of using her influence to get SCPA’s former principal Mitzi Lizarraga removed from that position.

Abagat serves as the adviser for all SCPA senior class students, but Foster specifically requested another counselor, Megan Blum, act as counselor for her son. Her request was granted.

Still, according to the claim, Foster sent an email to Abagat in October 2013, asking that she help Foster’s son with his college application process, known as the Common Application. For part of the application, Abagat had to write an assessment of Foster’s son’s performance, which she completed after “consulting with other SCPA employees and administrators,” the complaint states.

Foster’s son waived his right to see the application – a common move so that counselors may honestly and confidentially evaluate students. But three months later, the claim says Foster obtained a copy of the evaluation from Blum.

“Because Foster was upset at the contents of her son’s application, Blum completed a replacement common application for Foster’s son, which was fraudulent and contained multiple misrepresentations regarding Foster’s son’s academic achievement and disciplinary history,” the claim says. Abagat says the new, more positive evaluation was done to please Foster.

In response to this story, SDUSD officials said they cannot comment on pending litigation. NBC 7 has reached out to Foster but has not heard back.

SDUSD Cindy Marten addressed the assessment issue in a statement released in September. She said she received a call from a very angry Foster in December 2013, who started to explain that she was unhappy with her son's evaluation. Marten asked if she was calling as a parent or trustee, and when Foster replied, “as a parent,” Marten told her she must bring the issue up with the school’s principal or the district’s head of counseling and guidance.

After her complaints, the SCPA contracted an independent investigator to look into Foster’s allegations that Abagat should not have prepared an “inaccurate” and “harmful” evaluation of her son.

In his report, the investigator wrote that Abagat completed the report “in a manner not meeting professional school counseling standards” by not gathering enough information about Foster’s son from others.

Abagat was then suspended for nine days without pay. Abagat’s claim calls the report a “sham” and says “the outcome of the investigation was a forgone conclusion and conducted only to give the false public perception that Foster had not abused her authority as SDUSD trustee for the benefit of her son.”

Marten previously told NBC 7 that Foster had every right as a parent to try to resolve issues with her son’s education and that administration changes at SCPA had nothing to do with Foster. In September, Marten released private, personnel documents to show there were concerns about SCPA’s leadership before Foster became involved, she said.

Abagat’s claim, filed by her attorney Dan Gilleon, seeks more than $10,000 in damages. The district has 45 days to respond. If it does not, Abagat can file a lawsuit.
 

Jungle Bells Is Wild With Holiday Cheer

0
0

Jungle Bells returns to the San Diego Zoo again this year on Saturday, December 12.

The holiday tradition will brighten up the park with twinkling lights reminiscent of some of the guests’ favorite animals.

Festive foods and different holiday performances are scheduled nightly. Dr. Doolittle will present his version of 'The Night Before Christmas' at Koalafornia, The Alley Cats will entertain guests with a brand new show ‘Jungle Bell Rock’ at Wegeforth Bowl and the Jingle Brass will have guests just entering the park already in the holiday spirit.

Santa’s elves are so excited they'll be jumping up and down on a trampoline at the 'Toy Shop Hop” and guests can even visit Santa inside an igloo at the Discovery Outpost.

Guests can enjoy the decorations from the Twinkle Lights Trolley or ride the ‘Polar Express’ to the North Pole, just like in the children’s book.

The animals are even getting in on the festive fun! For each night of Jungle Bells the raccoon or the arctic fox in Polar Bear Plunge will receive a special holiday treat.

Visitors will also be able to enjoy their own festive treats from hot chocolate and cookies to sautéed artichoke hearts and sweet potato fries on Albert’s Happy Holidays Happens Menu.

Jungle Bells runs December 12 through January 3 and is included with admission. The Zoo stays open until 8 p.m. each night of Jungle Bells.
 

Trump Proposes $5 Million Ransom for Showing Up at CNN Debate

0
0

Donald Trump is threatening to change his joking-style because he says it results in him being misrepresented, NBC News reported.

The GOP frontrunner also said he’s putting a price tag on his appearance at the upcoming debate that will be hosted by CNN.

"I won't do the debate unless they pay me $5 million, all of which goes to wounded warriors or goes to vets,” he told a crowd in Macon, Georgia.

Trump also took jabs at eight of his Republican rivals, Hillary Clinton and President Barack Obama, saying history would remember him as a “horrible president” who “didn’t know what the hell he was doing.”



Photo Credit: AP

Clinton Basks in Glow of Women Senators, With One Absence

0
0

Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren was absent from Monday’s fundraiser for Hillary Clinton’s campaign, according to NBC News.

Warren was invited, but did not attend the event, one of the largest of Clinton’s 2016 campaign, as she is not yet backing Clinton or any candidate in the 2016 Democratic Party.

Clinton's backers are convinced she'll come on board eventually. "Elizabeth, I think in her course of time, she's going to come out for Hillary," California Sen. Barbara Boxer told MSNBC's Steve Kornacki Monday afternoon.

Despite Warren’s absence, there were 13 chairs lined up on stage behind Clinton’s podium Monday night, one for each Democratic woman in the Senate — all of whom already endorsed Clinton.
 



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Newly Elected Mayor of Juneau, Alaska, Found Dead in Home

0
0

Greg Fisk, the new mayor of Juneau, Alaska, was found dead in his home, according to police.

Officials say they received a 911 call that there was a dead person at Fisk’s residence.

Police wouldn’t comment on the cause of death, and haven’t determined whether his death was considered suspicious.

Juneau Police Department spokeswoman Erann Kalwara said in a statement that investigators were "aware of rumors that an assault occurred in connection with Fisk's death" but described them as "speculation."

Fisk, 70, was a longtime civic activist and served on numerous Juneau boards and commissions over the past decade. He was elected mayor of Juneau last month.



Photo Credit: City of Juneau, Alaska

Oregon Mountain Climber Dies After Falling Into Crevasse

0
0

A 32-year old hiker died after falling into a crevasse in Oregon’s Cascade Mountains over the weekend, according to authorities.

Thomas Fountain and his wife, Alison, 29, were hiking the mountain, when he fell on Sunday, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office said in a release.

More than a dozen rescue climbers and a Coast Guard helicopter were dispatched to find them. The couple was stranded in difficult terrain.

By the time crews found Thomas on Monday morning, he died from injuries sustained from the fall. Alison, who was not injured, was airlifted from the mountain, NBC affiliate KGW reported.
 



Photo Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS

Colorado Officer Helps Stranded Driver, Is 'Viciously' Attacked

0
0

Police in Aurora, Colorado, say a man who appeared to be a stranded driver sliced an officer’s head open, stole his patrol car and led police on a high-speed chase, NBC News reported.

"I have absolutely no qualms in believing that this suspect meant to kill our officer,” Chief Nicholas Metz said, calling the attack “unprovoked” and “vicious.”

The officer spotted a vehicle near downtown Aurora. The assailant, who was not identified, “tackled him from behind and struck him with a sharp object,” according to Lt. Scott Torpen.

The man jumped into the officer’s vehicle and took off. Patrol cars responded, giving chase and striking the vehicle. Police fired several rounds at the man, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

The officer, who was also not named, is in hospital with a “very serious head injury,” Metz told reporters.



Photo Credit: Valeria Gonzalez

Accused Planned Parenthood Gunman Could Face Death

0
0

The man accused of killing three people at a Colorado Planned Parenthood clinic made his first court appearance Monday, where he was told that he could face the death penalty, NBC News reported.

If convicted of first degree murder in the shooting, which left three dead and nine wounded, Robert Lewis Dear would face a minimum sentence of life in prison and a maximum of death, the judge said.

Dear, 57, allegedly held the Colorado Springs clinic under siege for five hours before surrendering Friday afternoon.

He said little as he spoke to the judge via closed circuit TV, answering the judge's yes-or-no questions in a raspy voice with his public defender at his side. Dear is due back in court Dec. 9.



Photo Credit: Daniel Owen/The Gazette via AP, Pool
This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Third Winter Storm Zeroes In on Minnesota, South Dakota

0
0

More snow is likely to hit Minnesota and South Dakota on Tuesday, where some cities have declared snow emergencies, NBC News reported.

A new system is gathering over the northern Plains, centered over South Dakota and southern Minnesota.

While much of the country was clearing, in that area, "we've still got plenty of moisture to work with and certainly a lot of cold air," said Danielle Banks, a meteorologist for The Weather Channel.

Oklahoma was bracing for more snow accumulation, and is still cleaning up after freezing rain, ice and sleet began on Thanksgiving. The state is under a state of emergency. Parts of Kansas could also see more snow and ice through Tuesday.



Photo Credit: AP
Viewing all 60603 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images