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18 to 22 Student Swimmers Rescued From La Jolla Cove

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Between 18 and 22 student swimmers from Moreno Valley were part of a mass rescue at La Jolla Cove on Tuesday.

Photo Credit: NBC 7

Exclusive: Marine Claims San Diego Deputies Beat Him

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U.S. Marine and Gunnery Sergeant Lucas Moore is suing the County of San Diego, and specifically Sheriff’s Deputy Derek Sanders, named in Moore’s civil complaint.

In April 2015, Moore was walking to his car with a woman on E Street in Encinitas. He said a marked sheriff’s vehicle pulled next to them and Deputy Sanders asked if there was a problem. Moore said no.

“He pulled up a bit more and said ‘I’m not done talking to you yet.’ I said, 'Ok we’re not doing anything wrong please excuse us,' and he said ‘Do you want me to get out of the car?’ And I said, 'You can do as you like, sir' and I guess that’s when I offended him,” remembered Moore .

Moore said the deputy tried to arrest him and then called for more units.

“I started walking toward them, waved saying, 'Hey' and trying to say it was a big misunderstanding. Before I could get arms-length reach of them, they grabbed me and then a bad beating happened,” he said. “While I was on the ground one of the [deputies] put his foot on my head and grinded it in the pavement and at this point I was bleeding pretty bad.”

Moore said he heard the deputies laughing saying, “Oh got another [expletive] Marine off the street.”

“That hurt my feelings. I just got back from abroad. I was gone for eight months and to be out there protecting the civil liberties that I hold true. That you hold true. That everyone holds true and to get back here and get those civil liberties robbed from you from the very same people sworn in to protect them is just so disappointing. It broke my heart,” he said.

Both the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department and the County of San Diego told NBC 7 they could not comment due to pending litigation. However, according to court documents, Deputy Sanders believed Moore and his friend may have been fighting and Moore appeared intoxicated and aggressive.

Moore disputes all those claims saying he blew "a zero" into the deputy’s breathalyzer. Court documents reflect there is a dispute between the two parties about this part of the incident. The woman told Sanders there was no altercation, according to the documents.



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Spotty Showers Arrive With Spring Storm

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A spring storm arrived early Wednesday covering San Diego roads with mainly light rain.

Moderate rainfall moved through the South Bay, during the morning commute.

Communities like Jamul and neighborhoods along State Route 94, in the east county, received moderate to heavy rainfall.

The storm will bring a 20 to 30 percent chance for thunderstorms on the coast, inland and in the mountains, through this evening.

Expect temperatures in the low to mid-60s.

“Like yesterday, bundle up and wear pants today,” advised NBC 7 meteorologist Jodi Kodesh. “Take a small umbrella, just in case.”

The mountains will see some winds with intermittent showers. Light snow flurries are possible above 4500 feet.

Deserts are expected to be mostly sunny and cool today, with wind gusts to 30 mph.

Download the free NBC 7 mobile app to get updates on the storm. 
 

Zika Virus Causes Brain Damage to Fetus: Study

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The Zika virus can cause brain damage to a fetus, despite normal ultrasound results early in pregnancy, according to a new study, NBC News reported.

There were no telltale signs of birth defects when researchers conducted an ultrasound of a Zika-infected pregnant mother at 13, 16 and 17 weeks. But later ultrasounds revealed other brain abnormalities.

"While this is a single case, it poses troubling questions that could inform future research," said the study's co-senior author, Dr. Adre du Plessis, director of the Fetal Medicine Institute and chief of the Fetal and Transitional Medicine Division at Children's National Health System in Washington, D.C.

The study also revealed that Zika can cause invisible damage to a fetus that could show up later, and that it made its way into developing muscle, liver, lung and the spleen.  



Photo Credit: AP

'Kitchenistas' Documentary Spotlights Healthy Latin Cooking

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A documentary screened this week at UC San Diego put a spotlight on local, Latin-inspired cooking and how traditional recipes can be turned into healthier dishes and, ultimately, into healthier habits.

UC San Diego hosted a screening Tuesday evening of “The Kitchenistas of National City.” The 20-minute documentary was followed by a discussion on how to use healthier Latin recipes to create healthier eating habits in a community plagued with health issues.

The documentary focuses on National City, a community approximately seven miles south of downtown San Diego, whose obesity and diabetes rates are among the highest in the state – and the highest in San Diego County.

It follows the story of the “Kitchenistas” – Maria Aurora Torres and her granddaughter, 8-year-old Daisy – local residents who graduated from a program at Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center in National City called “Cooking for Salud!” that teaches healthy cooking and eating habits.

When Torres was in her 40s, she was diagnosed diabetic and later developed a high potential for kidney failure. She soon learned that the way she was cooking her traditional Mexican dishes was detrimental to her health and the health of her family.

In the film, she explains that diabetes has become an unwanted tradition, with many of her family members developing the disease at around the age 40.

“I want people to learn that they don’t have to be diabetic. I want to start with me and my family,” Torres says in the documentary.

Torres joined "Cooking for Salud!" to learn new, healthy ways to make her favorite meals.

Graduates of the program are affectionately known as “Kitchenistas,” a term also meant to signify the idea of being a professional within one’s own kitchen.

According to Blanca Meléndrez, Executive Director of the UCSD Center for Community Health, 60 percent of adults in San Diego County are overweight, and 15 percent of the population is considered food-insecure – not knowing from where their next meal might come, or whether it will be nutritious.

“The Kitchenistas” emphasizes health challenges such as an overabundance of fast food restaurants in National City, and how the area is considered a “food desert,” which means that fruits and vegetables are not easily accessible within one to 10 miles of where most people live.

It’s also a largely Latino community and one of the poorest areas in San Diego County, as City data shows that 22 percent of its residents earn income below the poverty level compared with 10.1 percent of the general population of San Diego County.

The film’s producer and director, Mary Ann Beyster, said she decided to pursue this story when she saw the Kitchenistas speak about the Cooking for Salud! program at the Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center.

At the seven- week program, local chefs donate their time to support healthier lifestyles by teaching nutritional recipes, organic gardening and cooking advice to a class of 15 students.

“I saw Maria present and found it really inspirational. I knew that this could start a dialogue,” said Beyster, speaking at the film screening. “It dawned on me later that the mothers are really social entrepreneurs.”

Beyster describes mothers as key family members who can be empowered to stop cycles of poor nutrition and break unhealthy habits.

The screening was followed by a lively discussion led by a panel of speakers who talked about the deeper themes in the movie. This included commentary from panelists Patty Corona, Beyster, Meléndrez, Healy Vidgerson and Dr. Martha Soledad Vela Acosta.

As another Kitchenista herself, Corona noted that people want to make changes, but they often do not have access to the tools or resources to alter their lifestyle.

“In two or three minutes when these women tell you all the illnesses in their families, you have to cry,” said Corona at the panel.

After describing the lack of access people have to nutrition education and how the program helps develop healthier practices, she later said, “What makes the program stronger is how the women who take it become leaders in the community.”

Meléndrez said the problems in National City are exacerbated by having cities designed for cars rather than physical activity, along with 50 percent of restaurants only offering fast food meals.

Dr. Vela Acosta finished off the panel by emphasizing the importance of taking a holistic approach to positive health practices.

“If you’re going to build a house, are you going to use cardboard? No, so how are we going to build our bodies?” she said.

Acosta talked about how the most important factor in eating habits often boils down to time, and whether or not people prioritize planning ahead for their meals.

“Maybe I don’t have enough time, but I can use a slow cooker and come home to a healthy meal at the end of the day,” said Acosta.

She also reminded everyone not to only prioritize physical health but to appreciate their mental state as well.

After the screening and panel, guests were treated to Kitchenista-inspired food.

This included cauliflower cerviche, baked mini chile rellenos and Baja California chicken quesadillas filled with veggies, herbs and jack cheese. Refreshments included coffee drinks and a sugar-free, icy fruit punch mixed with fresh lemon slices. Some of the dishes included healthy recipe handouts, as well as a Latin cookbook called “El Sabor De Mi Cocina.”



Photo Credit: Cassia Pollock
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Miss. Moves to Allow Guns in Churches to Avoid Attacks

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A proposal to allow people to carry guns in Mississippi churches is moving through the state legislature, NBC News reported.

“The Church Protection Act” allows houses of worship to designate members as security guards, who could obtain permits to carry concealed weapons to protect against attacks.

Supporters say the measure could prevent an attack similar to the June 2015 massacre in a Charleston, South Carolina, church that left nine members dead, while a gun-control advocacy group says the bill defies the will of a majority of voters who don’t see concealed carry permits as a priority.

The Mississippi Senate voted 36-14 in favor of the measure, which now heads to the House.  



Photo Credit: AP

Sanders May Be Off DC Ballot After Dem. Party Filing

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Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders' name is not on the primary ballot in Washington, D.C., after the D.C. Democratic Party submitted registration paperwork a day late and a voter filed a challenge, News4 has learned.

D.C. party officials called the problem a minor administrative dispute.

The Sanders campaign, as well as Hillary Clinton's campaign, each submitted registration fees of $2,500 on time earlier this month in advance of the June 14 Democratic primary.

But D.C. Democrats did not email the candidates' registration information to the D.C. Board of Elections until a day after the registration deadline of March 16, News4's Tom Sherwood was first to report on Twitter.

A Democratic voter in D.C. filed a challenge against the Sanders campaign's registration. No complaint was filed against Clinton's registration.

"We did what D.C. law requires in order to get Bernie on the ballot, and we are confident he will be on the ballot," a Sanders spokesman said in a statement to News4.

Board of Elections rules call for a hearing to be held on the challenge against the inclusion of Sanders on the ballot. The hearing is expected to occur as early as next week, sources said. 

D.C. Democratic Party Chairwoman Anita Bonds said the issue may be resolved through an emergency vote by the D.C. Council, if necessary. The Board of Elections could rule it was an administrative error and correct it. 

A Board of Elections representative could not be reached immediately.

News4's Andrea Swalec contributed to this report.



Photo Credit: Getty Images, File

Family Sues for $200K in SDPD Shooting of Pet

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A family is demanding $200,000 in damages after their dog, Grizzly, was shot and killed by a San Diego police officer.

Four complaints were also filed with SDPD Internal Affairs against the officers connected to the case.

When officers went knocking after midnight Feb. 22 at the Fuentes home, the family said police ignored two things — the "Beware of Dog" signs posted on the fence and their better judgment.

Owner Alfredo Fuentes said Grizzly was shot three times by SDPD Officer Robert Meiselmen.

"Grizzly was a member of our family and he's very special to us," said Alfredo Fuentes Sr.

Fuentes said he and and his wife were jolted awake by the knocking, then gunshots. It took 40 minutes for the 7-year-old husky-pit bull mix to bleed to death, the family said.

"Our family has been very hurt and very sad. Myself, I have had problems at night," Fuentes said.

The officer wasn't responding to a call for help, but rather canvassing the neighborhood for information about an assault and stolen car case.

"He had a Taser. He had pepper spray and he had a gun. He pulled his gun and repeatedly shot this dog," said family friend and advocate Sundi Sage.

San Diego police called animal control but help did not come, Sage said. A police lieutenant later apologized to the dog owners.

"An apology is not acceptable. They killed a family member and you apologize: 'Oops sorry, we shot your dog three times,'" Sage said.

Sage helped the family file the formal complaints.

The Fuentes are demanding $200,000 for their grief.

They intend to use it to cover whatever costs they might incur convincing the state legislature to create a law that holds police accountable for killing pets.

"The family has no interest in money. They just want justice. They want to make sure this does not happen to another animal another family," Sage said.

In an email response to an NBC 7 San Diego interview request, an SDPD spokesperson wrote, "It would be inappropriate to comment on this claim while it is still under investigation."



Photo Credit: NBC 7

2 More Dead Parrots Found Outside Church

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Two parrots were found dead on Easter Sunday outside a Point Loma church and authorities are continuing their investigation into the string of bird shootings plaguing the Ocean Beach and Point Loma areas.

The parrots will be evaluated Wednesday to confirm the cause of death, said Dan DeSousa, deputy director of San Diego County Department of Animal Services.

Meanwhile, animal control officers canvassed the neighborhood where the birds were found, but have so far not tracked down any leads.

The parrots were found outside All Souls Episcopal Church on Catalina Boulevard on Sunday, The San Diego Reader reported.

In the last month, seven parrots, identified as endangered Lilac Crowned Amazons and Red Masked Conures, have been found dead in neighborhoods in OB and Point Loma. Five of those were killed by BB's and pellets fired from air guns.

A reward of $6,500 has been offered for information leading to the arrest of the suspect or suspects.

San Diego police are investigating the string of parrot shootings as an animal cruelty case and anyone with information should contact them.

Killing an endangered bird is a federal crime and could be punishable with jail time and $20,000 fine.

One-Third of Headlights Don't Work Well: Safety Group

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Headlights on a third of U.S. midsize car models do a poor job, according to results released Wednesday from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Reuters reported.

This was the first time the group rated vehicle headlights. It tested midsize cars to see how well they illuminate the road and if they create excessive glare for oncoming vehicles.

Eleven out of 21 models tested earned an acceptable rating, while 10 were poor. Nine were rated marginal. Only one — the Toyota Prius v — performed well enough to earn a good rating.  



Photo Credit: DP

Woman Pinned Under Car, Freed: SDPD

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 A bicyclist pinned under a car has been freed, San Diego Police (SDPD) said.

The collision happened at 6:05 p.m. Wednesday on the 2600 block of Torrey Pines Road when authorities responded to a car versus bicyclist collision, Capt. Amador said. 

The extent of the woman's injuries are unclear. She is being evaluated. 

No further information was immediately available.

Refresh this page for updates on this breaking news story.



Photo Credit: Getty Images/File

House Plan to Fix Puerto Rico Meets Criticism

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Critics of a draft plan to help Puerto Rico fix its fiscal crisis say there’s much that needs to be changed, NBC News reported.

The plan, released by House Republicans, sets up a federal oversight board of five appointed members and allows the territory to restructure about $70 billion worth of debt in some cases.

Those critical of the plan is a far cry from protecting people’s liberties from the government. Bondholders have also criticized the plan, saying it would allow Puerto Rico to walk away from its debts. 

Under the proposal, bondholders would not be able to sue to recoup their money for 18 months. The proposal also allows the federal minimum wage to be eiliminated for workers under 26 years old, eliminates the right to strike and new federal overtime rules would not apply.

The plan will be tweaked before it goes to hearings for possible vote in two weeks. 



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Migrant Workers in Qatar Mistreated: Amnesty International

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Amnesty International slammed the Qatari government Wednesday for its alleged abuse of migrant workers building stadiums for the 2022 World Cup, NBC News reported.

In a 52-page report, Amnesty said every one of the 231 construction and landscaping owners it interviewed reported some form of abuse including bad living conditions, lower pay than originally promised and threats to silence complainants.

Most of the workers are from Bangladesh, India and Nepal. 

The group also called in major sponsors like Coca-Cola and McDonald’s to pressure FIFA, the organization that runs world soccer, to clean things up.  



Photo Credit: AP

Residents Pack Room to Discuss Controversial Bike Path

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Encinitas residents packed a a City Council room Wednesday night, looking to voice their opinions on a change to a controversial bike path which some residents say would change the community. 

Last year, the Encinitas City Council approved a plan that would put the developed trail on San Elijo and Vulcan Avenues rather than Coast Highway 101. One member has since then retracted her approval, but others agree it would help make the area safer for bikers and walkers. 

As it stands now, the Encinitas section of the Coastal Bike trail is planned to run along San Elijo and Vulcan Avenues, but not everyone is happy about it. 

"Ultimately, it will change the character of Cardiff," said Kimberly Alkhas, an opponent of the bike path change. 

The dirt trail across the street from Alkhas could soon become a developed bike path, a two mile section of the planned 44-mile Coastal Rail trail that will eventually run from Oceanside all the way to Santa Fe Depot. 

Proponents of the trail say the change would be a positive addition to the community.

"We do, in our minds, have our own path that we've created and we felt that that is sufficient for this part of the neighborhood," said Jeff Sims, a resident and supporter. 

Alkhas said she worried about traffic, parking, beach access and the view should the trail go on as planned. 

"At the end of the day, I think that a lot of the Cardiff locals just like Cardiff the way it is," said Blaize Alkhas, an opponent of the change. "We want to preserve it."

City officials are expecting Wednesday night's meeting to go long as members of the public pack the hall. 



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Aztecs Reflect On Season Coming To A Close

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SDSU coach Steve Fisher & senior Skylar Spencer reflect on the Aztecs season.

Clinton, Sanders Attack Trump in MSNBC Special

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In wide-ranging interviews on MSNBC, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders slammed Donald Trump for suggesting that women be punished for having abortions. 

The interviews aired as part of a special with MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow on Wednesday. The Democratic candidates spent much more time pummeling Republicans than each other during the special.  

"What Donald Trump said today was outrageous and dangerous and you know I'm constantly just taken aback at the kinds of things that he advocates for," Clinton said.

Sanders said that to call Trump's comments "shameful is probably understating that position."

"I don't know what world this person lives in," Sanders told Maddow. "To punish a woman for having an abortion is beyond comprehension. I — I just — you know, one would say what is in Donald Trump's mind except we're tired of saying that?"



Photo Credit: Getty Images

SD Gets First Look at Downtown Stadium Initiative

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The San Diego Chargers unveiled their plan for a new downtown stadium Wednesday, releasing the 110-page initiative they hope to get on the November ballot.

San Diego voters got their first look at the San Diego Stadium Initiative - the team's proposal for a new stadium on a 12-acre site in the East Village. The parcel of land is located between K Street and Imperial Avenue and between 12th Avenue and 16th Street.

The project "requires a private sector contribution of $650,000,000 be provided for the Stadium and that a covenant an d agreement be secured requiring a professional football team leasing the Stadium to agree not to relocate for a period of 30 years."

It would also require $350,000,000 from Transient Occupancy Tax funds.

The hybrid stadium and convention center facility presents a tricky set of logistical and environmental challenges. 

An MTS bus yard will need to be acquired, relocated and the underlying property “remediated” of residual pollution.

An historic building – the old Wonder Bread factory that now houses Mission Brewery – will also have to undergo the same process.

In a statement released late Wednesday, the San Diego Convention Center Corporation said they prefer an on-site contiguous expansion.

"A separate building, any number of blocks away, does not provide the preferred meeting model that will serve our existing and future clients," the statement reads.

Team officials say they are committed to gathering signatures to qualify the measure for the November ballot.



Photo Credit: NBC 7
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9-Year-Old Dies of Influenza; 2nd Pediatric Death in County

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A 9-year-old has died from influenza B, marking the second pediatric death resulting from the flu in San Diego County this season, County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) officials said.

The boy, who had underlying medical conditions, died March 26, bringing the total of reported influenza-related deaths to 56. Last week, a 16-year-old teen with underlying medical conditions died as a result of the flu, HHSA officials said Wednesday. 

“A child dying from influenza is tragic,” said Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County public health officer. “Our sympathy and condolences go out to the family for their loss.”

Five other flu deaths were reported in the week ending March 26.

That figure is significantly less than the 91 flu deaths reported at this same time last year, the HHSA says. The ages of those who have died from the illness this season range from 9 to 98 years old. The HHSA says seven of those people had no known underlying medical conditions. 

Officials previously said they believe that flu season peaked in mid-March. 

Last week, the HHSA says the number of lab-confirmed flu cases throughout the county tallied 281 – down from the 395 reported last week. To date this season, there have been 5,599 lab-confirmed cases in the county, compared to 6,612 last season.

The HHSA says six percent of all emergency department visits last week in San Diego were patients experiencing influenza-like illness.

Wooten says people should still get vaccinated and take other precautions to avoid getting sick, including frequent and thorough hand-washing and staying away from anyone who is ill.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends everyone six months and older get a flu shot every year.

The CDC says vaccination is especially important for those at high risk of developing complications from the flu, including people with chronic medical conditions, pregnant women, people age 65 and older or people who live or care for others who are at higher risk.

The flu vaccine is available at doctor’s offices and pharmacies. Those without health insurance can get the vaccine at a public health center. Call 211 or visit the 211 San Diego website for more information.
 



Photo Credit: CDC

Trump Releases Curious Letter on Tied-Up Tax Returns

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Donald Trump's campaign quietly published a letter from the real estate mogul's tax counsel regarding the state of his tax returns, bolstering claims made by Trump that he is continuously audited by the IRS due to the complexity and breadth of his returns, NBC News reported.

"Your personal tax returns have been under continuous examination by the Internal Revenue Service since 2002, consistent with the IRS' practice for large and complex businesses," the letter reads.

It also states that Trump's returns from 2009 forward are still under audit, but that audits on returns from 2002 to 2008 have been "closed administratively."

The GOP front-runner has previously bristled at the state of his tax returns when pressed by reporters.



Photo Credit: AP

ISIS Leader's Ex-Wife Saja al-Dulaimi Speaks

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The ex-wife of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi revealed in an interview with Swedish newspaper Expression that life with the world's most-wanted terrorist was "shallow." NBC News was not able to independently verify its contents.

Saja al-Dulaimi described a marriage to a "normal family man" who spoke little other than to give "orders." Al-Baghdadi was her second husband after her first husband died in an Iraqi resistance group.

Her new husband was mysterious and would "sometimes disappear" for days, al-Dulaimi explained. She said she decided to leave him after just a few months while pregnant with a daughter. 

Al-Dulaimi told the paper she didn't understand who her "lecturer" husband had become until she was arrested in Lebanon in December 2014 for crossing into the country illegally with her new husband using forged identity cards. 



Photo Credit: Getty Images
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