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Hillary Clinton Opens SD Organizing Office

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The Hillary Clinton campaign officially opened an organizing office in Bankers Hill Tuesday – the first in San Diego.

Local Clinton supporters Assembly Member Toni Atkins and Councilmember Todd Gloria, along with other elected leaders, hosted organizers and volunteers at the Hillary for America office.

“San Diego is ready,” Atkins said. “We are the second largest city in the state. We have a lot to contribute. We know how to do campaigns…I think it’s an exciting time to come together and say why it is we are supporting Hillary.”

Atkins said she worries some people in the country might take their right to vote for granted.

“In San Diego we have worked really hard, in a grassroots fashion, to make sure that we turn out the vote," she told NBC 7. 

Atkins said they would be out fundraising, knocking on doors and making phone calls from the office. Bill Clinton will also be in San Diego on Saturday, Atkins said.

“Hillary is the person with the experience, the person who knows how to make things happen for Californians,” Atkins explained. “Particularly when you look at some of the issues in this campaign it is about…building bridges, not being divisive and taking positions that tear people apart. And we know that Hillary can do that.”

Councilmember Todd Gloria said he thinks the Secretary of State has a plan to solve issues important to many Californians, such as wage inequality and the disappearing middle class.

“I think a lot of us have been supporters of Mrs. Clinton for many, many years, and the chance to put her over the top, gain the nomination, then move forward to the White House, I think that’s really exciting and historic for California,” Gloria said.

Secretary Clinton has a pledged delegate lead of nearly 300 over Senator Bernie Sanders.

The California Democratic primary is on June 7.



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Nanny Returns Missing NYC Toddler

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A New York City nanny was arrested and charged after she returned a missing toddler, police said. 

The NYPD said Wednesday that 55-year-old Fatima Alexander has been charged with kidnapping, endangering the welfare of a child and unlawful imprisonment. 

Police say she took 3-year-old Gabriella Russo, who went missing Tuesday morning, setting off a day-long police search. 

Both Gabriella and Alexander were unharmed and are in good condition, according to police. 

The girl left her River Terrace home in Battery Park City with Alexander at about 9:15 a.m. to head to her day care as usual, according to police sources. 

When the child didn't show up to her day care, the Preschool of America at 25 Market St., by noon, the school contacted her parents, sources said.

The nanny had been working for the family for about 15 years, according to the girl's aunt.

"She didn't make it to school," Rebecca Russo, Gabriella's aunt, said in tears Tuesday night. "We last saw her on surveillance cameras." 

"Just bring her home," Russo pleaded. "You see it happening on the news, and it's happening to us, our family." 


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State Treasurer Chiang Announces Bid For Governor

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California Treasurer John Chiang announced Tuesday that he will begin raising money to run for governor in 2018, marking an early start to his bid to become the state's first Asian chief executive.

Chiang, a Democrat, emphasized his experience managing the state's cash and pledged to "build the best California" that fulfills the aspirations of voters.

"I put greater accountability and transparency into the state's finances ... Frankly that's how you protect education, that's how you protect health care, that's how you protect other essential services," Chiang told The Associated Press. "You can't blindside people at the very end."

Chiang's announcement was not a surprise; he's been saying for months that he was strongly thinking about running.

He joins a potentially crowded field of Democrats seeking the state's top job.

Lt. Gov. Gavin Newson started banking cash more than a year ago, and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is expected to run.

Other potential contenders include former eBay executive and state controller Steve Westly, billionaire climate activist Tom Steyer and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.

Potential Republican candidates include San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer and Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin.

Chiang, 53, is the son of immigrants from Taiwan.

Asians can provide Chiang votes and campaign contributions, but he'll have to find broader appeal to win, said Karthick Ramakrishnan, a professor of public policy and political science who studies Asian-Americans at UC Riverside.

"This could be a game-changer in getting Asian-Americans more interested and involved in politics in California," Ramakrishnan said.

Asians comprise about 15 percent of California's population but only about 10 percent of registered voters.

Chiang, a former tax lawyer, worked for the IRS and the state controller's office before beginning his career in public office when he was appointed to the Board of Equalization in 1997. He was elected twice to the board then spent two terms as state controller.

As state treasurer since 2014, he has been responsible for managing and investing the state's money and serves on a variety of oversight boards.

Last month, he opposed the California Public Employees' Retirement System's move to consider re-investing in tobacco stocks that were sold off 16 years ago at a loss of more than $3 billion.

Chiang's treasurer campaign account, which can be used for his gubernatorial campaign, had more than $3.2 million on April 23, according to campaign finance records.

Newsom had $5.4 million at the end of 2015, according to his most recent report.



Photo Credit: sco.ca.gov

Jelly Belly Family Sued After Man Crushed by WWII-Era Tank

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The family of a man crushed to death by a World War II-era tank is suing the Jelly Belly chairman and the tank driver over the accident last summer on the candy maker's California estate. 

The lawsuit, filed last week in California Superior Court, claims negligence and wrongful death after Kevin Wright, a 54-year-old contractor, was run over on Aug. 22. 

The accident occurred at Jelly Belly chairman Herman Rowland Sr.'s "Tank Barn" in Fairfield, east of Napa, where the fourth-generation jelly bean tycoon restores historic military vehicles.

Jelly Belly could not immediately be reached for comment.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Padres Bench Stepping Up Amidst Injuries

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The injury list continues to grow for the Padres. Skipper Andy Green confirmed pitcher Robbie Erlin underwent Tommy John surgery Tuesday morning and says everything went well. Right now there are eight Padres starters on the disabled list. It's been a tough schedule for the Padres, especially on the road, but players like Cesar Vargas, Travis Jankowski and Brett Wallace have been clutch over the last few weeks.

"I think these guys fight hard. I don't think you can question that at all,” says Padres Manager Andy Green. “Everybody out here goes out there every night with the expectation to win a baseball game. It doesn't matter who we're playing or who's out on the field for us. I believe we have enough out there to win a baseball game."

Stepping Up to the Plate

The Padres have won or split each of their last five series; many of those wins coming with strong performances from guys like Brett Wallace who was typically an off the bench player.

“I think it says a lot about who Brett Wallace has been,” says Green. “All of a sudden he’s hitting fourth in the middle of the order and doing a great job.”

Another stand out, especially over the last few road games has been outfielder Travis Jankowski. The Padres rookie has had some impressive catches this season. Offensively Jankowski is taking every at-bat seriously saying, "With the role I'm in you kind of have to seize those opportunities and just make the most of them, so I've been working hard for this and just have to go out there to do my best to compete and go out there and play well."

Jankowski was in the ninth slot in the batting order Tuesday night against the San Francisco Giants. Taking the leadoff spot in that game was Wil Myers. Jon Jay was out of the lineup with a sore shoulder. Green says Jay doesn’t have full range of motion and is feeling some stiffness after diving on a ball in left center field in Milwaukee during Friday night’s game. Jay had treatment the last few days but was not ready to play Tuesday night. He has not been place on the disabled list.

Injury Update

Last week pitcher Andrew Cashner was placed on the disabled list due to pain in his hamstring. Opening day starting pitcher Tyson Ross was in the clubhouse Tuesday afternoon but is still in the strength and conditioning phase of his treatment for his shoulder.

According to Andy Green, Jemile Weeks is still weeks away from another evaluation for his hamstring injury and Corey Spangenberg is back to the rehabilitation portion of treatment on his quad strain due to some swelling.

Utility player Alexi Amarista seems to be doing better. Green reports Amarista was set to begin a rehab assignment with Double-A San Antonio Tuesday night and would be playing nine innings. Third baseman Yangervis Solarte is also rehabbing in Double A and played seven innings recently.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

San Francisco Shuts Down Padres

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The short-handed Padres struggled to stay with San Francisco Tuesday as they opened up a 6-game homestand. 

Two Giants in particular thwarted the Padres efforts and helped the visitors pick up a 5-1 victory at Petco Park.

Brandon Crawford collected 5 RBI on a 3-run homer, a sacrifice fly and a double. 

Other than Crawford’s 3-run bomb in the 2nd inning, Padres starter Colin Rea held the Giants to just 3 other hits in 5 innings.

Tempers flared at the end of the 3rd inning when Giants starter Madison Bumgarner struck out Wil Myers.

Words were exchanged and Bumgarner appeared to be offended with Myers as he started to walk off the mound. 

Both dugouts cleared and the pitchers even came racing in from the bullpens, but no punches were thrown and no suspensions are expected.

Bumgarner wound up going the distance, finishing with a complete game and 11 strikeouts. He only allowed 5 hits.

One of those was by Matt Kemp. The rightfielder smashed his 10th homer of the season to help the Padres avoid the shutout. 

It looked like the Padres were headed to their 10th shutout of the year when Kemp drove an 0-2 offering from Bumgarner off the West Metal Supply Company building. But that was the extent of the Padres offense on this night.

Padres reliever Tayron Guerrero also made his Major League debut in the 8th and gave up one run in 2 innings of work.

San Diego continues its string of 12 straight games against division opponents when Drew Pomeranz opposes San Francisco’s Johnny Cueto at 7:10 p.m.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Over 200 Families Feared Buried by Landslides in Sri Lanka

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Massive landslides triggered by torrential rains crashed down onto three villages in the central hills of Sri Lanka, and more than 200 families were missing Wednesday and feared buried under the mud and debris, the Sri Lankan Red Cross said.

Sixteen bodies have already been recovered and about 180 people have been rescued from the enormous piles of mud unleashed at around 5 p.m. Tuesday, according to military spokesman Brig. Jayanath Jayaweera.

Villagers recalled hearing and seeing the torrents of muddy water, tree branches and debris crashing down around their homes.

"I heard a huge sound like a plane crashing into the earth," said 52-year-old A.G. Kamala, who had just returned to her house in Siripura village when the landslides hit. "I opened my door. I could not believe my eyes, as I saw something like a huge fireball rolling down the mountain and again a huge sound."

More than 300 soldiers were joined by local residents digging through the mud with their hands, sticks and shovels to search for survivors in the farming villages of Siripura, Pallebage and Elagipitya in Kegalle District, about 72 kilometers (45 miles) north of Colombo, Jayaweera said. Heavy fog and continuing rain, along with electricity outages and the instability of the ground, were complicating rescue efforts.

Some 220 families were reported missing, the Sri Lankan Red Cross said in a statement. Officials could not give the village populations, but such villages typically include about 1,000-1,500 residents each.

As anxious family members waited for news about missing loved ones, officials said the full extent of the tragedy was still unclear.

One woman, 70-year-old A.G. Alice, said all nine of her children were unaccounted for. "I don't know what happened to me after" the landslides hit with "a thundering sound I have never heard in my life," she said.

A man said his wife, mother-in-law, son and daughter-in-law were all in his house in Siripura when the landslides hit. "I still can't locate my family," M.W. Dharmadasa said. "I still don't know what happened to them."

State broadcaster Rupavahini showed images of huge mounds of earth covering houses, while cascades of muddy water gushed from hilltops above. Villagers said 66 houses had been buried or damaged, according to local journalist Saman Bandara.

More than 1,000 people who escaped the disaster were sheltering and being treated for minor injuries at a nearby school and a Buddhist temple, according to government official Mahendra Jagath.

The same rains that unleashed the mudslides have also caused severe flooding in cities including Colombo, the capital, where tens of thousands of homes were at least partially inundated. Schools were closed due to the bad weather.

Sri Lanka's disaster management center had reported 11 deaths from lightning strikes and smaller landslides elsewhere in the Indian Ocean island nation on Monday and Tuesday. Nearly 135,000 people across the country have been displaced and were being housed in temporary shelters.

Officials warned that more landslides and lightning strikes could occur in the countryside, as more rain was forecast along with rough seas along the coasts.

Mudslides are common in Sri Lanka during the monsoon season, with heavy deforestation to clear land for agriculture leaving the countryside exposed.

During heavy rains in December 2014, Sri Lankan authorities evacuated more than 60,000 people from thousands of homes damaged or destroyed by floods or landslides. Two months before that, dozens of tea plantation workers were killed when mudslides buried their hillside homes.



Photo Credit: AP

Students Lock Peer in Fridge: PD

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Three students at a Manhattan high school specializing in culinary arts locked a classmate in a refrigerator and threatened to kill him, police said Tuesday.

The trio, all 16 years old and students at the Food and Finance High School on West 50th Street, blocked the door to the room to prevent anyone from releasing the victim from the commercial fridge May 6, investigators said. They also draped a T-shirt over the freezer window.

One student tapped on the fridge with knives and threatened to kill the 16-year-old victim, police said.

The teen used his cellphone to call his mother from inside the refrigerator. She immediately called the school.

The victim was in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes.

Students told NBC 4 New York the incident was a prank.

"They were all playing around and thought it was cute, but that's not something you play around with," said Indiana Mirabal.

The three students responsible were each charged with menacing and unlawful imprisonment.

The city Department of Education issued a statement stressing that student safety is a top priority and that the school will punish the three students.

"The school followed protocol in responding to the incident that was reported and the students involved were disciplined appropriately," the statement added.

School officials declined to elaborate on how the students will be disciplined.



Photo Credit: NBC 4 New York

Dog Dies in Care of Groomer

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Confusion and outrage continued Tuesday over the death of a dog, allegedly at the hands of a groomer, at a San Mateo PetSmart store.

The dog's owner, identified only as a 47-year-old San Mateo resident, has declined to comment. But the regular groomer for Henry, a 1-year-old Dachshund, said she couldn't understand how such a mild-mannered dog could go in for a nail trim and end up dead.

"He was always submissive, always in a happy mood. ... I'm just devastated," said Adeline Martinez as she held Henry's sister while talking with a reporter. Martinez was feeling guilt-stricken after she and Henry's owner had a minor scheduling conflict Sunday, she said.

Henry died Sunday at the store in the 3500 block of South El Camino Real. Early X-rays showed he suffered broken ribs and a punctured lung. The groomer, 38-year-old Juan Zarate was arrested on suspicion of animal cruelty and subsequently released on bail.

San Mateo police determined Zarate's deliberate actions contributed to the dog's death.  It's not clear if Zarate has hired an attorney.

Zarate could not be reached for comment, but friends of his have said he is a gentle man and not capable of violence.

The Humane Society will conduct a necropsy on Henry to determine his cause of death.

PetSmart said in a statement Monday it is "heartbroken over the loss of Henry."

"Nothing is more important than the health and safety of pets, and we take full responsibility for the pets in our care," PetSmart said.

The company said it is conducting an internal investigation, and Zarate is suspended pending the outcome.

"Any incident of animal cruelty goes against everything we believe as a company and as individual pet parents," PetSmart said in the statement. "No words can express our deep sorrow for the family, and we will continue to work with the pet parent during this difficult time."

Other possible cases at the same location have surfaced. Hillary Kerns says she called police April 13 to the same PetSmart store because she brought her dog Macy in for a flea dip, and the dog had been injured.

"The doctor came in, and in fact, (Macy) did get burned at the groomer," Kerns said. "And when they shaved her stomach, they cut her. So, to add insult to injury, they cut her while they were treating her."

Hannah Hartman, who said her dog was maimed a couple years ago at another pet store, was devastated to learn of Henry's death but said she wasn't entirely surprised.

"My dog was almost killed and had to have a major hip surgery," she said.

Hartman, who has taken up the cause, said there is no law in California regulating pet groomers. While some are licensed, Hartman said, it's not mandated by the state.

A bill dubbed "Lucy's Law" was proposed in 2012 after a dog was severely injured by a groomer. Lawmakers rejected the measure, and Hartman has been fighting to revive it ever since.

"If the groomer is no longer working in that salon, he could be grooming a mile down the street," she said.

Teri DiMarino, president and founder of the California Professional Pet Groomers Association, said "Lucy's Law" is not the answer.

"Legislation and licensing is not going to do a whole lot of good because as with any licensed industry, there is no standard and no test for carelessness and stupidity,” DiMarino said.


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Zuckerberg Meets With Conservatives

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Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg will sit down with about 15 conservative Republican leaders Wednesday at company headquarters in Menlo Park, California, amid allegations that the social media site censored right-wing stories.

Guests will include Glenn Beck, a conservative TV and radio host; Barry Bennett, former adviser to Ben Carson and current adviser to Donald Trump; Zac Moffatt, former digital director to Mitt Romney and co-founder of Targeted Victory; Arthur Brooks, president of the American Enterprise Institute; Jim DeMint, president of the Heritage Foundation; and Dana Perino, who hosts "The Five" on Fox News, a Facebook spokesman told NBC Bay Area on Wednesday.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Kristen Soltis Anderson, a Republican pollster and Washington Examiner columnist; and Jonathan Garthwaite, vice president and general manager of Townhall Media, which oversees conservative news sites including RedState.com; will also attend.

They will meet with Zuckerberg and Facebook’s head of global public policy, Joel Kaplan, the Wall Street Journal reports.

The 2:30 p.m. PT meeting comes after technology blog Gizmodo reported May 9 that Facebook news curators who cultivated the "trending topics" feature intentionally bypassed conservative views for political reasons. The meeting is closed to the media.

Zuckerberg has denied allegations of censorship. In a May 12 post, he touted Facebook's hope of serving a "diverse community" and said he found "no evidence" that Facebook contractors suppressed stories with conservative viewpoints.

Two days earlier, South Dakota Sen. John Thune wrote a letter to Facebook requesting information on how the site sorts its trending topics.

"If Facebook presents its Trending Topics section as a result of a neutral, objective algorithm, but it is in fact subjective and filtered to support or suppress particular political viewpoints, Facebook's assertion that it maintains 'a platform for people and perspectives from across the political spectrum' misleads the public," wrote Thune, who chairs the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.

After political focus was placed on Facebook’s trending topics, Democrats hit back at Republicans and implied that their attention was misplaced. 

"The Republican Senate refuses to hold hearings on [Supreme Court nominee] Judge [Merrick] Garland, refuses to fund the president's request for Zika aid and takes the most days off of any Senate since 1956, but thinks Facebook hearings are a matter of urgent national interest," Jentleson said. "The taxpayers who pay Republican senators' salaries probably want their money back."

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Photo Credit: AP, Getty Images
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Navy Investigates 17th Threat in Long Series

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Authorities surrounded Naval Base San Diego Tuesday morning to investigate another threat to the facility – once again at portable bathrooms.

Navy Region Southwest officials said the threat was made in a portable bathroom at Pier 7 around 8:10 a.m. As a precaution, officials roped off Pier 6, Pier 7 and Pier 8 while military K-9 officers sniffed out the area. Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) officials were notified.

By 10:50 a.m., all three the piers were deemed safe and the area was cleared, officials confirmed. No further details were immediately released.

This marks the fourth such threat at U.S. Navy facilities in San Diego this month alone, the third at this exact location – a portable toilet on a ship at Pier 7. The other two incidents at Pier 7 happened on May 1 and May 11. On May 2, a written threat was found on the wall of a ship at BAE Systems Ship Repair, Navy officials said.

Since November, 17 separate hoax bomb threats have occurred at Naval Base San Diego, BAE Shipyards and NASSCO, according to the U.S. Navy. These false threats have stumped investigators and prompted emergency responses, searches and, at times, evacuations. The threats have also resulted in work stoppage to maintenance and repair work being conducted in U.S. Navy ships.

The modus operandi is always the same: a handwritten threat on the wall of a ship or written on the wall inside a portable toilet on a pier.

According to the U.S. Navy, the other threats occurred as follows:

Nov. 6, 2015: a threat written inside a portable toilet on a ship at NASSCO
Nov. 16, 2015: a threat written inside a portable toilet on Pier 13 at Naval Base San Diego
Nov. 23, 2015: a threat written inside portable toilet on a pier at BAE Systems Ship Repair
Dec. 9, 2015: a threat written on wall inside a portable toilet at BAE Systems Ship Repair
Dec. 11, 2015: a threat written inside a stairway on a ship at BAE Systems Ship Repair
Dec. 15, 2015: a threat written on the wall of a bathroom stall on a ship at BAE Systems Ship Repair
Jan. 19, 2016: a threat written in a portable toilet at Pier 6 at Naval Base San Diego
Feb. 4, 2016: a threat written on a wall inside a ship at BAE Systems Ship Repair
Feb. 9, 2016: a threat written on a wall and desk of a ship at BAE Systems Ship Repair
Feb. 17, 2016: a threat written on a portable toilet at Pier 5 at Naval Base San Diego
Feb. 22, 2016: a threat written on a wall inside a ship at BAE Systems Ship Repair
April 7, 2016: a threat written in a portable toilet at Pier 7 at Naval Base San Diego
April 12, 2016: a threat written in a portable toilet at Pier 7 at Naval Base San Diego 

The culprit or culprits responsible for the threats have not been arrested. Officials have now doubled the reward -- set at $10,000 -- for information leading to an arrest and prosecution of the suspect or suspects. Anyone with information can call NCIS at (619) 556-1364.

Naval Base San Diego, also known as 32nd Street Naval Station, is located at 3455 Senn St., across 1,600 land acres and 326 acres of water. The facility is the principal homeport of the Pacific Fleet, consisting of 46 Navy ships, one Coast Guard cutter, seven Military Sealift Command logistical support platforms, several research and auxiliary vessels.



Photo Credit: NBC 7
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San Diego Doctor Dies in Plane Crash

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A San Diego doctor died Sunday when the plane he was piloting crashed in the Angeles National Forest.

Thomas C. Bruff, M.D., 57, loved to fly and was an experienced pilot, one of his employees told NBC 7 Tuesday.

"He loved to fly," Gina Montoya said. "That's one of the biggest things that he loved to do and he did it often, almost every weekend and multiple times during the week."

Gina Montoya worked as Bruff’s assistant for four years. When he didn't show up for work Monday at his office on Waring Road, she says she knew something bad had happened.

The Los Angeles County Coroner confirmed Tuesday that Bruff was the pilot killed in a  Cessna 182 single-engine light plane that crashed Sunday morning near Mount Wilson Road and State Route 2.

Bruff was flying from Montgomery Field Airport to Santa Monica Municipal Airport when the plane lost contact 17 miles east of Van Nuys, according to a Federal Aviation Authority spokesman. 

Bruff also had an office in El Centro. The Imperial Valley Occupational Medicine office posted a notice to its patients informing them of the news.

"We are all saddened by Dr. Bruff's sudden passing. We remain committed to providing quality medical care to your employees and injured workers," the statement reads.

Montoya said Bruff was good father, a good friend and a Padres fan who also found time to volunteer.

"He volunteered after the earthquake in Ecuador and in Nepal, and he took care of a lot of people and did a lot of medical expeditions like that, and he was just a great person," she said.

"He was just a really great man and everyone loved him," Montoya said.

The San Diego-based plane is owned by Tom Reid, who leases it to experienced pilots.

The cause of the crash will be determined following an FAA investigation.

Most Fuel Recovered in Tanker Spill: Officials

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Wildlife officials say they’ve recovered most of the 3,700 gallons of diesel fuel that spilled when a tanker truck overturned near Mission Bay Park’s Southern Wildlife Preserve.

“There was a fair amount of soil contamination,” Robert Wise with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Tuesday.

Just a "small amount" of the fuel landed in the San Diego River, Wise said.

Workers have been on the site for four days removing the contaminated dirt and putting into dumpsters.

Emergency responders kept the spill from reaching the storm drain. As a result, 85 percent of the oil was recovered in the first day according to Kris Wiese, with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

“It’s been a really phenomenal cleanup,” Wiese said.

The San Diego Audubon Society was concerned about the different habitats in the preserve.

However, officials said Tuesday there is no threat to wildlife or endangered animals and no threat to drinking water.

The SOCO Petroleum truck driver lost control on a ramp from Interstate 8 to Morena Boulevard on May 13 at 6 p.m. He suffered minor injuries. The cause of the crash hasn’t been determined.

Angus McDonald, President of The SoCo Group, attended the news conference Tuesday and thanked the federal, state and local agencies for their help in the cleanup.

Cleanup in the preserve may take up to a month with brush and soil removal, according to the County Department of Environmental Health.

Chargers Pick Up Backup QB Mettenberger

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The Bolts added  Zach Mettenberger off waivers Tuesday to help back up Philip Rivers, a day after the 6' 5" quarterback parted ways with the Tennessee Titans.

The move reunites the 24-year-old Mettenberger with his former head coach in Tennessee, Ken Whisenhunt, who is now in his second stint as the Bolts’ offensive coordinator.

Mettenberger was originally picked by the Titans out of LSU in the sixth round of the 2014 draft.

He started 10 games with Tennessee but went 0-10 at the helm.

Before that, Mettenberger was a backup to former Titans starter Jake Locker and last season again served as the #2 option behind rookie Marcus Mariota.

In his NFL career, Mettenberger has thrown 12 career touchdowns and 14 interceptions with a quarterback rating of 66.7.

Whisenhunt clearly sees attributes that he likes in the young thrower and feels he can still help make him a better NFL player.

Mettenberger fits the Chargers profile for a quarterback – a tall, strong armed athlete that prefers to stay in the pocket and sling the ball around the field.

If you’re thinking Mettenberger could be a possible replacement for Philip Rivers, you shouldn’t be very concerned.

Mettenberger is more of a developmental prospect who can benefit from learning from a veteran like Rivers.

Rivers signed a 4-year, $84 million contract extension last year and has stated that he hopes to still be the starting quarterback when the Chargers open up their next stadium. 

Rivers has not missed a regular season start with San Diego (a franchise-record 160 starts in a row) since taking over under center in 2006. He has also started 9 playoff games for the Bolts.

The Chargers now have 4 quarterbacks on the roster: Rivers, Mettenberger, Kellen Clemens, and undrafted rookie Mike Bercovici from Arizona State.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Shuttle Fuel Tank Arrives for Final Leg of Journey

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The lone remaining external fuel tank from NASA's space shuttle program arrived early Wednesday in Marina del Rey for the final leg of its journey to the California Science Center.

The rust-color tank, aka ET-94, was transported on a barge during a monthlong sea voyage from a NASA assembly plant in New Orleans. The 15-story, 32 1/2-ton tank was never used and will become part of the Science Center's display that features the retired Endeavour space shuttle -- which made its own celebrated trip on Los Angeles' streets to Exposition Park after a spectacular Southern California flyover on the back of a jumbo jet.

ET-94 began its journey to Los Angeles on April 10 when it was pulled out of NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility in Louisiana. Two days later, it was tugged into the Gulf of Mexico to begin a sea voyage that took it through the Panama Canal.

The transport crew made headlines during the trip when they helped rescue four people who abandoned a sinking sportfishing boat off Baja California.

A tugboat pulled ET-94 out of San Diego waters Tuesday morning, and the barge floated out of the fog and toward the dock around 6 a.m. Wednesday in Marina Del Rey. The tank will remain there until about midnight Saturday, when it is scheduled to begin a slow, 12-mile journey to the Science Center that will likely continue into Saturday night.

"With the transfer of ET-94 from NASA, we will have the ability to preserve and display an entire stack of flight hardware, making the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center an even more compelling educational experience," said Science Center President Jeffrey N. Rudolph. "With the same outpouring of community support we saw with the arrival of Endeavour, we look forward to celebrating this gift from NASA as it journeys from the coast through city streets to the California Science Center."

The caravan will travel -- at about 5 mph -- down Lincoln and Culver boulevards, to Westchester Parkway, then through Inglewood on Arbor Vitae Street to La Brea Avenue, past the Forum, and north on Vermont Avenue to the museum.

The external tanks, which provided the shuttles with the propellants needed to enter space, were designed to detach from the shuttles and disintegrate as they plummeted back to Earth. It is actually made up of three tanks -- one for oxygen, another for hydrogen and a third collar-like intertank that connects the two other tanks.

The external tank also provided structural support for the shuttles and booster rockets when they were upright on the launch pad.

The ET's skin was coated with polyisocyanurate foam, which protected the tank from heat and helped maintain the proper temperature for the propellants that it contained. Its job was done about 8 1/2 minutes after launch when it was jettisoned from the shuttle.

Most of the tank disintegrated in the atmosphere, the rest splashed into the ocean.

NASA used three types of external tanks for the space shuttle program -- standard weight, more advanced lightweight tanks and super lightweight tanks. ET-94 is considered a lightweight tank, commonly used throughout the 1990s.

ET-94 was delivered to NASA in January 2001 and, although it was never used in flight, investigators looking into the 2003 Columbia disaster examined the tank in search of possible problems that might have led to the re-entry break-up that killed seven crewmembers. The team dissected foam coating from parts of the tank, which explains why there are pieces of foam missing from ET-94.

The tank will be restored before it joins Endeavour on display.



Photo Credit: KNBC-TV

Houston Boy Killed by Stranger

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Police are searching for the man accused of stabbing and killing an 11-year-old boy while he was walking home from school in Houston on Tuesday.

Che Lajuan Calhoun, 31, has been charged with murder in the death of Josue Flores. He is not in custody and is wanted by police.

Calhoun is accused of approaching Flores on Tuesday afternoon. Houston police said a citizen flagged down officers around 4:45 p.m. and told them the child had been stabbed. The officers stopped and found Flores lying in the grass.

Investigators said Flores was walking home from school when he was confronted by a strange man, later identified as Calhoun. Witnesses told police they heard screaming and saw the man and boy struggling. Flores then collapsed and the man ran away.

Police said Flores was taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital, where he was treated for multiple stab wounds. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.

The motive for the attack is unknown.

Police are searching for Calhoun and ask anyone with information to call 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477 (TIPS).



Photo Credit: Houston Police Department/Getty Images

Chula Vista Mulls Half-Cent Sales Tax Hike

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City leaders in Chula Vista are considering putting a sales tax increase on the November ballot.

The Chula Vista City Council voted 4-1 Tuesday to look into the advantages and disadvantages of proposing a half-cent sales tax increase for 10 years.

Officials are also considering a ballot measure so voters can choose where those funds would be spent.

Staff will put together a proposal and present it to the council in June.

Chula Vista’s sales tax rate stands at 8 percent, the same as the City of San Diego and Imperial Beach but less than National City’s 9 percent sales tax rate.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

San Diego High School Teacher on Leave, Investigation Underway

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A teacher at San Diego High School has been placed on paid administrative leave but district officials have not released details on what prompted the decision.

The San Diego Unified School District told NBC 7 that an investigation has been launched but would not go into details as to why, saying it's a personnel issue.

No other details have been released, including the teacher's name.

College Area Family Cited for Cluttered Garage

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A family in the College Area learned the hard way about a little-known law – and it’s now costing them $160 a month to resolve.

A neighbor reported the Tatum family to the city’s code enforcement for having a cluttered garage.

Say what?

According to San Diego’s municipal code Chapter 14, Article 2, Division 5, regulations require San Diegans to keep their garage open for parking two vehicles.

The family violated code by keeping too many storage items in their garage and were given a warning of a $500 penalty if they didn't declutter their space.

“We live an active lifestyle here in San Diego,” Susan Tatum said. “We’ve got boogie boards. We’ve got the full array of what families have: sporting equipment, fishing gear, tools.”

Tatum said she’s baffled by the ordinance.

“There’s probably hundreds of thousands, if not more, of people who use their garage for storage,” she said.

Apparently the Tatums aren’t the only rule breakers in the neighborhood.

A city spokesperson admits the cluttered garage violation is a fairly common occurrence, and while code compliance officers aren’t upping enforcement tactics, they do respond to complaints.

Now, the family must pay $160 a month for a storage locker to keep their odds and ends. But their garage is tidy and open.

Lesson learned, at a price.



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Bernie Sanders Plans Visit to San Diego

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Democratic presidential candidate U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders may be in San Diego this weekend, NBC 7 learned Tuesday.

“We are tentatively planning to be in San Diego Saturday, but nothing is concrete just yet,” a senior Sanders' campaign official told NBC 7.

National City Mayor Ron Morrison told NBC 7 the Sanders' campaign team approached them Tuesday about a visit.

The National City Council approved the visit in a meeting Tuesday night. 

A rally is being planned for Saturday, with a tenative start time of 7:00 p.m. at Kimball Park, Morrison said.

The city is expecting "thousands" to turn out for the event, he said. There will be heavy security, handled by the Secret Service.

Morrison says National City staff will meet with officials from Sanders' campaign to discuss details Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Bernie Sanders is already in Southern California, speaking to thousands of supporters at Cal State Dominiguez Hills in Carson. 

NBC 7 has also confirmed former President Bill Clinton will be in town this weekend. Clinton is expected to hold an event at the Rancho Bernardo Inn on Saturday night.

The Hillary Clinton Campaign opened up an office in Bankers Hill Tuesday.

Local Clinton supporters Assembly Member Toni Atkins and Councilmember Todd Gloria, along with other elected leaders, hosted organizers and volunteers at the Hillary for America office.

Both Democratic candidates are ramping up their efforts to reach out to supporters ahead of the June 7th primary in California.



Photo Credit: AP
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