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Syrian Refugees in Canada Help Fort Mac Evacuees

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Some of the Syrian refugees who have resettled in Canada are stepping up to help those affected by the wildfire in Fort McMurray, NBC News reported. 

A call for donations was placed on the Syrian Refugees Support Group Calgary Facebook page. The group asked for help collecting diapers, toiletries, blankets and clothing as well as a $5 donation per person — if they could spare it. 

"Canadians have provided us with everything and now we have a duty we must do," group member Naser Nader wrote in Arabic. "Must help the people who lost their homes and everything in a fire (in) Oil City … Get ready, it's time to fulfill."

The Syrians have been able to collect six large hampers full of basic necessities for the evacuees so far. 



Photo Credit: Saima Jamal

Ritual Shrine Found in Jail Cell

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A ritualistic shrine was discovered in the Florida jail cell of a man accused of killing his wife and her two young children.

Luis Toledo is charged in the death of his wife, Yessenia Suarez, and her children, 8-year-old Michael and 9-year-old Thalia, NBC affiliate WESH reported.

Suarez and her children were last seen in October 2013, Voulsia County officials said. Their bodies have not been found.

Toledo allegedly admitted to killing Suarez "with a single blow," according to WESH, but denied hurting his stepchildren.

During a routine jail cell sweep on March 27, Daytona Beach jail officials found drops of apparent blood on pictures of Toledo's wife and children, as well as a newspaper clipping with a red mark through the name of Circuit Judge Raul Zambrano, the Volusia County Division of Corrections said. Zambrano will be presiding over Toledo's murder trial, WESH said.

Officers also found a cast with a nose and eyes drawn in red, a cross made from a ripped-up white T-shirt, and a paper cup filled with water, an orange and bread.

The items were arranged in what appeared to some form of ritualistic manner, possible "Santeria," according to a correction officer's report. Santeria is a religious tradition of African origin that spread through Latin America.

Toledo's next hearing is set for May 18.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.



Photo Credit: Volusia County Corrections

DA Releases Video in Officer-Involved Shootings

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Calling it "new territory", San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis released video evidence Friday in officer-involved shooting cases reviewed by her office.

"We recognize that times have changed," Dumanis said explaining the decision by law enforcement authorities to release personal body camera footage of officers involved in the shootings under investigation.

"We know we live in a world where all kinds of video evidence is becoming more and more prevalent," she said.

Dumanis said they are planning public feedback sessions later this month to discuss the new policy.

"Our ultimately goal is to have a video release policy that serves the public interest and preserves individual rights," said San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis.

The first case involved the death of a man in the Gaslamp Quarter on October 20.

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Lamontez Jones, 39, of Virginia, was shot and killed by SDPD officers in downtown San Diego. His family has filed a wrongful death claim against the City of San Diego, the police department and the two officers involved.

Investigators later determined an item Jones grabbed from his backpack was not a real firearm, but a steel replica with the same markings of a real weapon.

Both officers who fired on Jones failed to activate their body-worn cameras in time to capture the shooting, and the case gained a lot of criticism.

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In the second case, Michael Taylor was shot several times in the torso after he attempted to run over a law enforcement officer in Point Loma on March 12, 2014.

Four deputy U.S. Marshals and a San Diego police officer were injured while taking part in an undercover operation on Garrison Street.

Taylor survived his injuries.

In a third and final review, the DA investigated the shooting of a San Diego Police Officer on May 17, 2015.

Dennis Richard Fiel, 34, of San Diego, was shot and killed by police near Mesa College.

The video released by the District Attorney's Office showed the incident from an officer's body camera. 

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Teacher Hospitalized in Ireland ‘Gaining Strength’

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A San Diego teacher hospitalized with H1N1 on a school trip to Ireland is recovering overseas but “gaining strength” daily – continuing to make an impact on students, even from afar.

In mid-April, Westview High School English teacher Bob McHeffey accompanied a group of students, including his daughter, Delaney McHeffey, on a spring break trip to Ireland. A few days into the trip, McHeffey started to cough.

The cough escalated to various other symptoms, so he called doctors at his hotel and received medication over the next several days.

Then, two days before the group was due to return home to San Diego, McHeffey took a turn for the worse.

“I don’t generally get ill,” he told NBC 7 in a video interview Friday from his hospital room in Ireland. “I felt incredibly weak.”

An ambulance was called to his hotel and he was rushed to a hospital. There, he was diagnosed with H1N1 and double-viral pneumonia.

McHeffey has been hospitalized for the past 18 days, unable to be discharged or fly home due to his condition. The students on the school trip returned home, while McHeffey’s wife, Kay McHeffey, flew to Ireland to be by his side.

Now, his focus is on recovering and getting home in time to see their daughter go to prom.

“I’m feeling better than I was at the beginning. Little victories to get better – I’m gaining strength. I’m almost off the oxygen and able to breathe on my own,” McHeffey told NBC 7. “My body has been incredibly weak, so being able to have the strength and stamina to walk – right now I can’t walk 20 feet without oxygen.”

McHeffey said his body has been spiking fevers and doctors are trying to figure out what’s causing that.

“Once those [fevers] are taken care of, then we have a shot at being released and figuring out how to get me home,” he explained.

The teacher is very much missed by both students and faculty at Westview High School. Students and faculty created an 18-minute video for him earlier this week to cheer him up dubbed, “We Miss You, Bob!”

The sweet tribute features dozens of colleagues and students sending McHeffey their well-wishes and expressing just how much he means to them.

Many students in the video say class is not the same without McHeffey and credit him with deeply influencing their lives.

McHeffey – who has been teaching for the past 29 years, logging 12 years at Poway High School and about 15 at Westview – said he watched the video at the hospital and it made him cry.

He said he’s humbled by the support and messages from his students, and proud to have impacted their lives in some way.

“It’s nice to be affirmed in your life,” he said, smiling. “As teachers, you always know you have influence, but it’s not always good influence, too. But if you helped influence them to grow – that’s where it is.”

McHeffey said the influence of teachers on students is often more long-term than immediate, as in a teacher doesn’t always get to see students come into their own until they grow up.

“It’s nice to see that it [the impact] lasts. That’s the best part about teaching,” he added.

McHeffey has certainly made his mark on Westview High School senior Emmit Pert.

This week, the U.S. Department of Education named Pert among the 52nd class of 2016 U.S. Presidential Scholars. The 17-year-old is among just 160 high school seniors nationwide chosen for the prestigious honor and among seven from California.

The teen spoke with NBC 7 Wednesday and said one of the steps of the application process for the award included a letter of recommendation from an important teacher in his life.

Pert said that letter came from McHeffey, who has been very influential to him. Pert said he is just one of many students inspired by McHeffey.

McHeffey said hearing the news of Pert’s big award was a happy moment during such trying times. Pert was one of the students who traveled with McHeffey to Ireland last month.

McHeffey credited the student for working hard and earning the accolade.

“I doubt my letter had much to do with it,” said McHeffey. “Emmit is a tremendous kid -- insightful, engaging about everything. I take very little credit for Emmit’s success but I like basking in the fact that he is doing awesomely.”

“He is a great kid,” the teacher continued. “I love having conversations with him, and they range from politics to literature to ideas, to simple things in life. It’s nice – as someone who’s been teaching for a long time – I can talk to a 17-year-old and feel like we’re peers.”

McHeffey is supposed to travel to Washington D.C. with Emmit on June 19 to watch the student receive the Presidential Scholar award.

However, that trip all depends on the teacher’s recovery.

“We don’t know when I can get out of here to go home – and what it’s going to look like to travel – and whether I’ll be up to traveling again once I’m home,” McHeffey said.

For now, McHeffey said there is no date or timeline for his release from the hospital or trip home from Ireland. He said the next steps in his recovery include trying to breathe on his own and gain independence.

A close family friend started a GoFundMe fundraiser page online to help cover the costs of McHeffey’s medical care. As of Friday afternoon, more than $23,300 had been raised for the beloved teacher.

The page is flooded with messages for McHeffey and this outpouring of support, paired with the video from his students and the good news of Pert’s achievement, fills McHeffey’s heart with happiness.

“You like to know that you’ve had an impact on a wide range of people,” he said, holding back tears. “So, that’s been great; just great. I love the video from the school. I’ve got good colleagues, great students.”



Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego

Victim Sexually Assaulted Twice in Balboa Park: PD

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A woman was sexually assaulted twice in Balboa Park Thursday night by an unknown man wielding a knife, the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) confirmed.

Police said the alleged attacks happened around 10 p.m., the first encounter along the 1600 block of 8th Avenue, as the victim walked to her car parked on 9th Avenue.

As the woman walked, an unknown man confronted her and pulled a knife on the victim, police said. The man threatened to kill her if she didn’t follow his orders.

Police said the man demanded the victim walk with him into Balboa Park. As they made their way to the park, he continued to threaten the woman with the knife.

Once inside Balboa Park, the man sexually assaulted the woman, police said.

The suspect then forced the woman to walk back to the 1600 block of 9th Avenue. At that second location, he sexually assaulted her once more, police said.

The man fled the scene. When officers arrived, he was nowhere to be found.

SDPD Sex Crimes detectives said the suspect is described as a Hispanic male in his mid to late-20s. He had short hair worn slicked back and a thin beard along his jawline. According to the sex assault victim, the man had tattoos on both forearms and on his chest. He wore a dark T-shirt, dark blue Dickies-style pants and dark work boots.

No further details were immediately released. The investigation is ongoing.

Trump at Top of GOP Ticket: Dicey Decision for Republicans

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For many Republicans, this is a time of political soul-searching.

Do they climb aboard the Trump Train? Sit on the sidelines? Or actually sign on to the Democrats' ticket?

California isn't a state where "None of the Above" is a ballot option.

Otherwise, it might be a refuge for Republicans who don't like to leave "ovals" empty.

So the idea of "hold your nose while you cast your vote" figures to be common approach for many.

"Well certainly this has been an election cycle like no other, and Donald Trump is a candidate like no other -- and that has pluses, and that has minuses,” says Ron Nehring, former spokesman for Ted Cruz’s primary campaign.

“Now he faces a new challenge of trying to unite this party,” Nehring continued in an interview Friday, “ in the wake of a primary campaign that was particularly divisive, and involved a lot of language and rhetoric that makes it a little harder to bring people back together afterward."

Nehring pointed out that with Republicans needing to win 17 of 18 battleground states in November, the head of the GOP ticket can't be a drag on "down-ballot" candidates running for Senate, Congress, state and local offices.

"And if there's ever been a time that we need to make sure that we have a Republican House and a Republican Senate, it's now -- given what the present political dynamic is," Nehring said.

While dealing the downsides of the present Republican strategists already are looking to the political landscape of the future.

As Ryan Clumpner told NBC 7: "The Reagan Era coalition that has held the Republican Party together is falling apart -- and Trump is the person who had drawn attention to that, although you could say that's been happening for quite a while now. So if Trump is destroying the current paradigm, the question is, what comes next?

“There is a deep introspection that is happening in the Republican Party about how we got to this point, and what we want to look like when this is done and over. I think that most Republicans do not want the party to look like what it looks like right now."

On Friday, NBC 7 reached out to a number of prominent local Republicans, asking how they'll approach Trump on the ballot.

Only Mayor Kevin Faulconer responded.

"I am not endorsing Mr. Trump. I reject his divisive rhetoric, including that toward women and Latinos,” Faulconer said in a statement issued by his re-election campaign manager. “We need to be building bridges and bringing people together. That's how we do things in San Diego. Mr. Trump has not earned my vote."

To say the least, Team Clinton and the Democratic National Committee have to view all this as something they can work with.

Driver Convicted of Fatally Hitting Caltrans Worker Sentenced

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The son of a former Oceanside police captain convicted of fatally running over a Caltrans contractor was sentenced Friday in the North County division of San Diego Superior Court.

Reginald Grigsby Jr., 32, of Vista, was sentenced to six years in prison and must pay an $1800 restitution fine and court fees.

Grigsby drove off Centre City Parkway near Escondido, fatally hitting a worker who was fixing sprinklers along Interstate 15, killing him instantly in September 2015.

The victim, 21-year-old Leonardo Sandoval of Murrieta, had a one-year-old son and was engaged to be married, his family told NBC 7.

Grigsby, a former San Diego State University standout football star, had a history of mental illness. In 2009, he attacked his mother while his father tried to pull him away at the family’s Fallbrook residence.

Reginald Grigsby Senior, the defendant’s father, was then an Oceanside police captain. He said he was forced to shoot his son twice in defense of his wife’s life.

Prosecutors said Grigsby had therapeutic levels of his bi-polar schizophrenia medication in his system at the time of the crash that claimed Sandoval’s life.

The defense attorney argued for probation saying Grigsby was extremely remorseful, but the judge said he had to take into account that an innocent family would never be the same, and a little boy would grow up without his father.

Sandoval’s family told NBC 7 they planned to attend the sentencing hearing and hoped for justice.

“[Sandoval] loved my daughter, took care of her and my grandson," said James Sanchez, step-dad of the victim's fiancé. "It's a shame that one despicable man can change all that for a ton of people. I hope justice does what it's supposed to do."

In court Friday Sandoval’s brother-in-law said that only God knows what’s in the defendant’s heart, but if he is truly sorry then the family forgives him.



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Zika Virus Partly to Blame for Blood Shortage

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The San Diego Blood Bank (SDBB) is facing a donation shortage and is asking any eligible individuals of all blood types to donate.

There has been a drop in donations, partly because of the Zika virus travel deferral, according to the SDBB.

Anyone who has traveled outside of the United States has to wait 28 days after returning to donate blood.

SDBB says there is only enough supply for some blood types to last three days and O negative is at less than a two-day supply.

“Our inventory is at dangerously low levels. We strongly encourage donors to visit any of our 6 donor centers or blood mobiles and donate blood today,” said Robert Baracz, Vice President of Marketing at the San Diego Blood Bank.

SDBB is the main supplier of blood to a majority of hospital in the San Diego county, according the press release.

To be eligible to donate, individuals must be at least 17 years of age, weigh at least 114 pounds and be in good health. 15 and 16 years old may donate if they have permission from their parents.

For more information, visit the SDBB website.



Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Caught on Cam: Fire Engulfs Car on I-15

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Raging flames engulfed a car on northbound Interstate 15 Thursday night, the fire spreading into brush on the shoulder of the freeway, officials said.

The blaze sparked around 10:45 p.m. on I-15 at Rainbow Valley South in Rainbow, a community approximately 53 miles north of downtown San Diego.

California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers were sent to the scene for what was initially reported as a four-vehicle crash. When officers arrived, they discovered a car burning on the side of the freeway, flames shooting high in the air. Heavy smoke surrounded the scene. Three other motorists had pulled over on I-15 to help.

Officials said the car fire spread into nearby brush. CHP officers shut down all northbound lanes of traffic while firefighters worked to knock down the blaze. Flares lined the freeway, warning motorists of the dangerous situation.

Crews were able to quickly extinguish the fire. No one was injured, officials said. No further details were immediately released.



Photo Credit: SDNV

Big Rig Strikes CHP SUV , Injures 2 Officers

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Two California Highway Patrol officers were injured Friday when they were struck by an out-of-control vehicle on a rain-slicked highway in San Diego County.

A BMW was blocking part of the slow lane of northbound Interstate 805 near Bonita Road just before 4 a.m.

The two officers were sitting in their patrol vehicle with their emergency lights activated when they were hit from behind, CHP officials said.

A man driving a Freightliner tractor/trailer combination vehicle began to hydroplane.

The truck slammed into the CHP patrol vehicle, injuring the officers.

One officer complained of head and back pain. The other officer suffered neck and back pain. Both were transported to Scripps Mercy Hospital.

Officers Edgar Carrillo and Chris Hamilton have been released from the hospital. Each has been with the CHP for three years and work the overnight shift.

The truck driver was not injured.

Another incident was reported on the State Route 163 near Interstate 8 where another CHP officer was involved in a collision.

In this incident, an officer was standing outside his patrol car when an out-of-control car slammed into his vehicle.  The officer was not injured.

When CHP officers wake up and it's raining outside, they know they're in for a dangerous day, spokesperson Officer Jake Sanchez said.



Photo Credit: NBC 7

2 Dead, 2 Hurt in Md. Shootings

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Prince George's County Police have charged the man suspected of killing two people and injuring two others at shopping centers on Friday, after killing his wife with first-degree murder and related charges in the fatal shooting of his estranged wife.

The suspect, Eulalio Tordil, 62, was arrested Friday afternoon, after he was suspected of terrorizing the Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C., for two days. Montgomery County police announced his arrest at a press conference on Friday afternoon, announcing the end to the manhunt that forced officials to heighten security at schools and government buildings. 

Tordil, a Federal Protective Service employee shot and killed his estranged wife on Thursday when she went to pick up her children from the High Point High School, police said. A good Samaritan who came to her aid was also shot. Police identified him as Malcom Winffel.

Dramatic surveillance video shows officers in unmarked cars swarm Tordil's car and surround the Federal Protective Service employee with guns drawn. Live video on News4 showed officers take him into custody.

Earlier Friday, two people were killed and two others were injured in shootings at a mall and a shopping center in Montgomery County, Maryland. Police have said they have reason to believe all the shootings are related.

The shootings Friday struck fear in the D.C. suburbs. Students and staff at all Montgomery County schools sheltered in place for some time Friday. Lockdowns were in place at other institutions in the area, including Suburban Hospital in Bethesda.

The National Institutes of Health main campus was on "heightened alert," a spokesman said.

In a ghastly coincidence, the shopping center is within sight of the scene of one of the 2002 Beltway sniper shootings, which remain all too fresh in the memory of many people in the D.C. area.

Two Sets of Shots Ring Out
Police patrolling Westfield Montgomery mall in Bethesda, Maryland, about 11 a.m. Friday happened upon the shooting scene in the parking lot, police said.

Police said they believe the victims at the mall did not know the shooter. A woman appeared to have been shot first. The gunman shot two men who came to her aid, police said.

One witness told News4 the woman was walking toward Macy's when a man approached her and asked where she was going. When the woman didn't answer, the suspect reached into his car, pulled out a gun and began firing.

The woman was shot in the shoulder, the witness said.

"We have no reason to believe the victims knew the suspect," Montgomery County Assistant Chief Darryl McSwain said. "But we are certainly looking at all angles."

The woman suffered non-life-threatening injuries. One of the men died. The second man was in grave condition Friday afternoon, police said.

As police investigated that scene, they received a 911 call reporting a shooting outside the Giant grocery store on the 13000 block of Connecticut Avenue in Aspen Hill, Maryland, about 8 miles northeast of the mall.

A woman there was shot and killed, police said.

Police have not identified any of the victims.

Watching the Suspect, Making the Arrest
The anxious hours ended when Montgomery County police officers in plainclothes spotted Tordil's car. It was parked in a shopping center across Connecticut Avenue from the shopping center where the second shooting occurred Friday, Montgomery County Police Chief Tom Manger said.

Officers then spotted Tordil himself going from business to business, including into a Boston Market, where he ate, and into a Dunkin' Donuts.

Officers watched Tordil, choosing to surround his car and wait. 

"Knowing that the suspect was armed, knowing that the suspect had made statements about what he intended to do, we needed to make sure the public was safe when we took him into custody," the Montgomery County Police Chief said. 

"Our fear was that he was armed. Since he had already shot four people, we certainly did not want any other bloodshed here," Manger continued. "The plainclothes officers waited until it was safe to take him into custody, and that's what they did."

Surveillance video shows Tordil walk to his car with what looks like a bag of ice. He steps into the car, shuts the door and then officers in unmarked cars surround him, bumping the car and effectively forcing him to stay inside. 

Officers took Tordil into custody and drove him away from the scene.

The First Victim?
On Thursday, police believe Tordil shot and killed his estranged wife, Gladys Tordil, and shot and injured a man who tried to help her about 4:40 p.m. Thursday at High Point High School in Beltsville, Maryland.

Gladys Tordil, who was 44, was a chemistry teacher at Parkdale High School in Baltimore County, Maryland, the school said in a letter to parents.

"Ms. Tordil was a beloved staff member. Students will be deeply affected by her death," the letter said.

The District Court of Maryland for Prince George's County ordered Tordil in March to stay away from his wife, her home, her workplace and High Point High School -- where police said he killed her, court documents show.

Gladys Tordil told the court Tordil beat her, and sexually and physically abused two children. In 2010, he slapped her so hard her glasses broke on her face, she told the court. She had filed for divorce, court documents say.

The court allowed Tordil to use his work-issued firearm while he was at work. He was instructed to leave it at work during non-work hours.

Tordil is being held without bond. He's due in court Monday. It was not clear if Tordil had an attorney.

Stay with News4 for more details on this developing story.



Photo Credit: Alex Brandon/AP
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Trump: Clinton Was 'Nasty Enabler' of Husband's Affairs

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Donald Trump ramped up his attacks on Hillary Clinton Friday, calling the Democratic front-runner an "unbelievably nasty, mean enabler" who "destroyed" the lives of her husband's mistresses, NBC News reported.

The comments, made during an evening rally in Eugene, Oregon, marked the sharpest tone he's taken against  Clinton since becoming his party's presumptive nominee.

Without citing specific examples, Trump asked the audience: "Have you ever read what Hillary Clinton did to the women that Bill Clinton had affairs with? And they’re going after me with women? Give me a break, folks."

His comments came as part of a defense against recent attacks from Democrats focused on his controversial comments and stances on women's issues. Trump told the crowd "nobody respects women more than me." 



Photo Credit: AP
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London Elects Its First Muslim Mayor

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Labour lawmaker Sadiq Khan was elected mayor of London, becoming the first Muslim elected to lead a major Western city.

The official announcement was made early Saturday morning local time. Khan won with 1,310,143 votes, beating Conservative rival Zac Goldsmith, who got 994,614 votes, NBC News reported.

In a speech after the announcement, Khan said he was "humbled" by the result and promised "to always be a mayor for all Londoners."

Khan, 45, was a favorite to replace flamboyant Conservative Boris Johnson as mayor. His victory makes him London's first Muslim mayor and breaks the Conservatives' eight-year hold on City Hall.



Photo Credit: AP

Donald Trump to Testify in San Diego

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Donald Trump will testify and attend the trial in the Trump University class-action lawsuit scheduled for November 28 in San Diego, his attorney said Friday.

The trial is scheduled for after the presidential election, something Trump’s attorney, Daniel Petrocelli argued against in court. The plaintiff’s attorney suggested a July or August timeframe for a trial date.

“We strongly prefer for trial to be after the inauguration if Trump were elected," Petrocelli said. “The trial should not become a political tool." He asked the judge for a trial date in early 2017.

In the class action lawsuits, Trump University is accused of misleading students with unfulfilled promises of teaching them the secret to being successful in the real estate business. The allegations outlined in court documents include Trump University, which took in over $40 million, was fraudulent and deceptive. Students paid up to $35,000 for real estate seminars, according to court documents.

Trump denies the allegations in the lawsuits. His attorney, Petrocelli said, “the case is unwarranted; (Trump) will defend himself fully."

Two class-action lawsuits against the now-closed Trump University are being heard in San Diego courtrooms, another lawsuit is based in a New York court. The San Diego cases include: Cohen v. Trump, a nationwide class action lawsuit and Makaeff v. Trump, a class action in California, Florida and New York.

In court Friday, U.S. Federal Judge Gonzalo Curiel said a 14-day trial seems possible. Petrocelli said he thinks it could take that amount time just for jury selection.

Curiel said he is not inclined to have a 12-person jury but would like to see an eight or nine-person jury. Both parties have agreed on a jury questionnaire and have permission from Curiel to move forward with that process. According to Curiel, the questionnaire is needed to get a pool of jurors that is unbiased.

Petrocelli told NBC 7 Investigates Trump plans to attend most, if not all of the trial and will testify. Trump “has strong feelings about the trial," he said. 

Right now, there are around 300 exhibits entered into the court record, whittled down from more than 1,000.

One of those exhibits is a deposition of the presumptive GOP Presidential nominee. When asked about releasing that deposition to the public, Petrocelli said it would "not be a good idea."

While deciding when the trial should take place, Curiel said he considered three things: making sure everyone receives a fair trial, the trial takes place in a reasonable amount of time and that waiting too far after the November presidential election, if Trump were to be elected, would mean a sitting president is spending time defending himself, taking away from his time serving the country.

Earlier this year, Trump said Curiel is prejudiced against him, claiming the judge has shown "tremendous hostility" to him.

"I think it has to do with perhaps the fact that I'm very, very strong on the border," Trump said on Fox News in February. "Now he is Hispanic, I believe. He is a very hostile judge to me."

Trump said the judge is biased because of Trump’s call to build a wall along the border.

Friday, Petrocelli said they will not be asking the judge to recuse himself.



Photo Credit: AP

Person of Interest in Custody After Armed Man Robs NY Hospital

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Police were interviewing a person of interest Saturday after an armed man entered a hospital outside of Niagara Falls, New York, claiming he had an explosive device, NBC News reported.

Lockport police say a man entered Eastern Niagara Hospital early Saturday morning armed with two rifles and demanded drugs from staff. The suspect also claimed to have a bomb, according to authorities.

Officers arrived within minutes, and the man fled on foot and dropped the two guns and a backpack in the hospital parking lot, police said.

Hospital officials said in a statement that staff did provide the man with a "limited amount of drugs" and that no shots were fired inside the facility.

Witnesses described the suspect as a white male with blonde hair, about 6 feet tall and in his early 20s.



Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto

'I Got Blindsided' By Paul Ryan's Comments: Trump

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Donald Trump says he was blindsided by Paul Ryan’s recent comments that he’s “just not ready” to support the presumptive nominee. 

Trump told NBC News’ Chuck Todd that he doesn’t know the House Speaker very well, but called Ryan a “very good guy.”  

“He called me three weeks ago, and he was so supportive. It was amazing. And I never thought a thing like this. I got blindsided by this." 

Ryan’s office said the two are set to have a meeting on Thursday in Washington D.C.

The full interview with Trump airs Sunday morning on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”



Photo Credit: NBC News
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New Art Center Under Construction

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The prototype for what will eventually be a collection of tiny homes in Sherman Heights in which local artists will live and work is now being designed and built by local teens. 

Students from Chula Vista's High Tech High School are hard at work constructing one of the tiny homes for artists in a parking lot in downtown’s East Village which will transform into a new art center called Space 4 Art.

The 9th grade students are working with architects and professional builders on the temporary tiny home. The framework is made entirely of wood and the home measures 16 by 20 feet. The ceiling is 16 feet high and a loft upstairs will increase the living space.

"A big thing of this is making a lot of windows, so [residents] feel that it's a bigger space with more natural light," said Regina Kruglyak, a teacher at High Tech High who is helping to oversee the project.

"We also want to make sure [residents] are not getting too much heat, because that will waste a lot of electricity. So we were very strategic in where the windows were placed," she added.

Every piece of furniture built into the home is modular and will serve at least two purposes.

"You would never have a piece of furniture in a tiny house that only does one thing," explained Kruglyak. "You would never just sleep in a bed. You would want a bed that flips up and turns into a desk, with probably a storage underneath."

Students have been working on the project since fall 2015. They collaborated in small groups to present their design for the tiny homes to teachers, architects, parents and even future residents. 

For the students, seeing one of their designs become reality is motivating.

"It's cool that you're building something that's going to be used and not just built and be put there," said Enrique Dominguez, a freshman at High Tech High.

"We had a system where the students constructed the panels and another system where they put in the sheathing to keep all the walls structurally-sound," said Cynthia Viveros, a designer at Space 4 Art.

"It's not every day that you get to take a full week out of your high school and come and build a house for artists. It's very different. A very cool experience," added Dominguez.

The students are even creating some of the artwork that will hang on the walls. They're working together to make a mosaic mural.

"My group, we get along so well, and our artists are just great. So we've had a lot of fun designing the tiny homes for our artists," said Cayla Maltman, a High Tech High student.

The 9th graders are also becoming more aware that the choices they make in their day-to-day lives affect their surroundings.

"We've been learning how the tiny home movement is big for the environment because you're not using as much stuff as you are when you're living in a bigger home," said Maltman.

While students are learning about conservation and engineering principals, it's a different type of lesson that's leaving the strongest impression.

"I had to be more patient, work out things," said Dominguez. "I've learned how to cope with more people."

"It's a ton of teamwork. This whole project is a ton of teamwork," said Maltman. 

The teachers also want their students to see how much money and time they would save by living with less.

"Our parents' generation- what they needed and what they were able to afford is very different than what we are able to afford these days," said Kruglyak. "I want to give these kids a future that's realistic, but also full of passion and excitement."

In a few weeks, the students and teachers will put the finishing touches on the framework and work on the home's interior design.

The plumbing and electricity for the prototype will all go in later, at the art center's future location in Sherman Heights. That's where builders will also put up the insulation and metal siding.

A Kickstarter fundraiser brought in $18,000 to pay for the building materials for this first tiny house. Among the donations was $10,000 from Qualcomm and $3,000 from The New Children's Museum. An anonymous donor pledged another $5,000 for the project. Space 4 Art is also applying for grants to cover the rest of the costs.

Space 4 Art is working with the City of San Diego Planning Department to obtain the necessary permits for the permanent building, and hope to break ground by the end of next year.

"We like to create spaces that get people together, that embody a sense of community," said Viveros.

Space 4 Art will host a grand opening for the tiny home prototype on June 10.



Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego

Man Arrested After Crashing Stolen Vehicle

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Sheriff’s deputies chased a 22-year-old suspect in a stolen car in Spring Valley Friday night before the suspect crashed the car into a Toyota on Bancroft Drive and Tyler Street.

The suspect, Jose Reyes, was arrested at the scene around 9 p.m. The driver of the Toyota was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. Reyes was also taken to the hospital with minor injuries then booked into the San Diego Central Jail for driving a stolen vehicle and evading law enforcement.

The car with originally stolen from the 10000 block of Jamacha.

The investigation is ongoing.

GI Film Festival Returns for 2nd Year

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The GI film festival will return to San Diego for the second year from September 14 to 18.

In partnership with KPBS and the Film Consortium of San Diego the festival will feature films for, about and by service men and women.

“We are excited to bring the GI Film Festival to San Diego for a second year,” said KPBS General Manager Tom Karlo. “Last year’s festival proved without a doubt that compelling, authentic, and insightful content for and about our local military was important. KPBS looks forward to showcasing more amazing films and giving the audience an even deeper appreciation for our service members and the sacrifices they make.”

Dramas, documentaries, shorts and narratives will be included as well as the local film showcase, which features stories about the local military experience.

Local films can be made by people currently serving, veterans or if more than half the crew, cast or locations are from San Diego or Imperial County. The film must have been completed after January 1, 2011.

Filmmakers need to fill out the online submission form. The early bird deadline is June 1 and the final deadline is June 20.

"With such a large population of both active and former military in San Diego, I'm excited to start tapping into all the diverse military stories that we have here,” said Jodi Cilley, founder and president of the Film Consortium San Diego. “We look forward to seeing what already exists for military themed films produced in San Diego as well as help inspire and mobilize filmmakers to start telling these rich stories."

The 2015 festival included a family movie night aboard the USS Midway, panel discussions, and the local film showcase awards ceremony.

Many of the events will be open to the public with special discounted opportunities for active duty personnel and veterans. Additional information is available on the festival’s website.



Photo Credit: GI Film Group

'El Chapo' Transferred to Mexican Jail Across US Border Town

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Drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman was transferred Saturday morning from central Mexico to a prison located across the from U.S. border town El Paso, Texas, NBC News reported.

Mexico’s National Security Commission said the move was not related to his extradition, even though officials began the legal process to deport him to the U.S. shortly after his capture. He is currently being held in Ciudad Juarez in the Mexican state of Chihuahua.

A U.S. government official also confirmed to NBC News that his move wasn’t related to his extradition to America, where at least five jurisdictions — including New York, Chicago and San Diego — are vying to prosecute Guzman on charges from drug trafficking to money laundering to murder conspiracies.

Guzman tunneled his way out of a maximum security prison in Mexico last July and was finally recaptured in January.



Photo Credit: AP
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