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TB Cases at 2 Local Schools

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The San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency reported today that two people, one from High Tech High Media Arts near Loma Portal and another from Southwest High School in Otay Mesa West, have been diagnosed with tuberculosis.

The two cases are unrelated, according to the County Communications Office, and it is unconfirmed whether the two patients are students or school staff.

The period of potential exposure in the case at Southwest High is between March 5 and May 15. The person diagnosed with TB has recently started treatment. Students who may have been exposed at Southwest High will be offered free testing on campus on June 1 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The period of potential exposure at High Tech High is from February 20 to May 15. Students who may have been exposed at High Tech High will be offered free testing on campus on June 7 from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.

The HHSA is working with officials from both schools to notify those who may have been exposed.

“Symptoms of active TB include persistent cough, fever, night sweats and unexplained weight loss,” Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County public health officer said in a written release. “Most people who are exposed to TB do not develop the disease, but when it does occur, it can be treated and cured with medication.”

San Diego has seen 74 reported cases of TB in 2016, and 234 cases were reported in 2015.

For more information on TB and the potential exposure, call the County TB Control Program at (619) 692-8621.



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Haiti-Born Cadet Weeps at His West Point Graduation

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A powerful image of a West Point cadet standing at attention, tears streaking his face, has come to symbolize the raw emotion surrounding graduation from the prestigious military academy.

"At this moment, I was overwhelmed with emotions," 2nd Lt. Alix Schoelcher Idrache, who came to the U.S from Haiti in 2009, wrote in a comment on West Point's Instagram post.

Idrache was one of nearly 1,000 cadets honored at West Point commencement on May 21. The academy's top-ranking physics graduate, Idrache will attend the Army Aviation Center for Excellence in July to pursue his dream of becoming a pilot. 

That dream was born years ago in Haiti, where Idrache watched in awe as Chinooks on humanitarian missions descended on his native Port-au-Prince, according to the Army. 

"People where I'm from don't grow up to be pilots right? Like they don't dream of flying a helicopter, that's not something you do," Idrache said in an interview posted on the Army's website. 

Inspired and motivated by his father, who dropped out of school at 14 to provide for his family, Idrache devoted himself to his studies. In 2009, he joined his dad in the U.S. and enlisted in the Maryland Army National Guard, where he served until 2012.

While in the National Guard, Idrache was drawn to West Point, but applying there, he thought, was a shot in the dark. Four years later, he graduated with honors.

He paid homage on Instagram to the cadets who have gone before him.

"Men and women who have preserved the very essence of the human condition stood in that position and took the same oath. Men who preserved the Union is a dark period of this country's history. Men who scaled the face of adversity and liberated Europe from fascism and nazism," he wrote. "Women like CPT Griest, LT Haver, MAJ Jaster who rewrote the narrative and challenged the status quo to prove themselves worthy of being called Rangers."

The image — posted on Facebook and Instagram — has garnered thousands of likes, shares and comments. Idrache thanked those who shared kind words and said he would never forget that moment.

"Knowing that one day I will be a pilot is humbling beyond words. I could not help but be flooded with emotions knowing that I will be leading these men and women who are willing to give their all to preserve what we value as the American way of life. To me, that is the greatest honor."



Photo Credit: U.S. Army/Staff Sgt. Vito Bryant

Puppies Found Abandoned to be up for Adoption

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Seven newborn puppies found abandoned with their mom in an alley will soon be up for adoption.

A man walking through an alley heard strange noises coming from a box. When he went to go take a look, he discovered Polly, an eight-pound Terrier mix and her seven newborn puppies.

The man brought them to a Department of Animal Services shelter in Mission Valley.

Polly and her seven puppies were transferred to Rancho Coastal Humane Society in Encinitas where they have been recovering.

According to a spokesperson for the Rancho Coastal Human Society, Polly was not producing milk and the puppies have been bottle fed in private foster care.

The puppies should be available for adoption in three weeks.

In the meantime, Rancho Coastal Humane Society is asking the public's help with the medical costs.



Photo Credit: NBC 7

$104,486 Salary Needed to Buy Home in SD: Study

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A salary of $104,486 is needed to buy a home in San Diego where the median price sits at $554,300, according to a study by HSH.com, a mortgage information site, which looked at data from the first quarter of 2016.

The monthly payment for this type of home would be $2,438, the study estimated.

The analysis determined how much of a person’s salary it would take to afford the base cost of owning a home (principal, interest, taxes and insurance).

Home affordability improved in 22 of the 27 metro areas in the analysis. San Diego was not one of them, falling into the most expensive category with San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York and Boston.

Mortgage rates fell in every metropolitan area except San Diego. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate in San Diego sits at 3.91 percent, up 0.01 percent from the fourth quarter of 2015.

The more affordable metropolitan areas from the analysis are Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Cincinnati, St. Louis and Detroit.



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San Diegans Paying Millions in Police Misconduct Settlements

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When faced with a lawsuit, it's the San Diego City Council that decides if the city should fight or settle a case. If there's a payout, it isn't the San Diego Police Department or the individual officers that are held financially responsible. It’s taxpayers.

“It's a matter of risk management," Frederick Schenk, personal injury attorney said. "The members of the City Council have to weigh the merit of the case, the likelihood of outcome and whether the plaintiff is going to have credibility with a jury. Then they have to weigh that against what is the cost of going to trial versus the cost of settling the case." 

NBC 7 Investigates reviewed every settled lawsuit involving SDPD since 2008.

Payouts, categorized by fiscal year, range from $1.1 million in 2008 to nearly $5 million in 2013, and $9.5 million in 2015.

"If you look at it, there are two years where there are peaks and it’s reflective of incidents that occurred. Otherwise the numbers aren't particularly burdensome,” Schenk said.

Car accidents, property damage, insurance claims and police officer misconduct allegations are just some of the incidents settlement payments have covered, according to city data.

On average, according to the date, SDPD settles 177 claims per year, the majority being for $10,000 or less.

The data shows some of the biggest individual payouts involve police officer misconduct allegations.

In 2013, Ashley Brooks received $350,000 dollars after she said she was slammed to the ground by an SDPD officer outside Qualcomm Stadium during a Chargers game.

The data shows Pablo Gomez was paid over $5 million in damages between 2010 and 2012. He said he fractured his skull as he was knocked to the ground by an officer.

Last year, the annual settlement amount increased to $9.5 million dollars. One woman receiving more than $2 million after former SDPD officer Christopher Hays pleaded guilty to illegally detaining and groping her and three other women.

Another victim, paid $5.9 million after former cop, Anthony Arevalos was convicted of sexually assaulting her and other women while on duty. The victim said the 18-year police veteran lead her to a convenience store bathroom, assaulted her and asked for her underwear in exchange for letting her go without a DUI arrest.

Attorney Joseph Dicks represented that victim. He said, “if there is any outrage to be had it should be had at the conduct underlying the settlement. Not the settlement, not the courageous person who dared to stand up against a very strongly entrenched governmental agency.”

Neither the City of San Diego or SDPD would comment on the settlement data.

Last year a federal review of SDPD found, "gaps in policies and practices, a lack of consistent supervision at many levels, and a failure to hold personnel accountable within SDPD led to the series of misconduct cases.”

Click here to read full audit. http://ric-zai- inc.com/Publications/cops-w0756- pub.pdf

Schenk, who was not involved in any of the large settlements but has represented people with claims against the SDPD, says SDPD has already implemented some of the recommendations made in the report.

“Chief Zimmerman has instituted important changes. There is mandatory reporting for misconduct on part of another officer. She has also instituted a review process that looks at misconduct that was not there before and she also instituted the body cameras.”

Dicks says he believes it's not enough.

“This audit was a nice start. It didn't go nearly far enough. It didn't demand change it only made suggestions. The problem is we don't have complete transparency.”

4 Airmen Rescued After Fighter Jets Collide

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Four airmen have been rescued after two F-18 fighter jets collided off the North Carolina coast Thursday morning, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

Three of the four airmen involved were uninjured. The fourth suffered a minor leg injury, Coast Guard officials said.

The F/A-18F Super Hornets — assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 211 in Virginia Beach — suffered an "in-flight mishap" around 10:40 a.m. Thursday during a routine training mission, according to the U.S. Navy.

The airmen were taken by helicopter to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, the Coast Guard said. All crew members are accounted for, according to the Navy.

Navy officials said authorities will conduct a safety investigation to determine the cause of the incident.



Photo Credit: AP - File

Trump Reaches the Magic Number to Clinch Nomination

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Donald Trump on Thursday secured the number of GOP delegates needed to clinch the Republican nomination for president, NBC News has confirmed.  

Trump passed the 1,237 mark after unbound delegates from North Dakota pledged their support for him. NBC News declared Trump to be the presumptive Republican nominee after his GOP rivals dropped out of the race in early May.

There are still 303 delegates at stake in five state primaries on June 7. Trump will not officially become the nominee until he accepts the nomination at the Republican convention in Cleveland in July.



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Pursuit Driver Surrenders After Standoff With Police

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A driver who led police on a low-speed pursuit into Seal Beach Thursday morning was arrested after a standoff in which he took swigs of beer and yelled at crisis negotiators.

The chase of the stolen Mazda SUV was first reported in Westminster and ended on Pacific Coast Highway just south of Seal Beach Boulevard.

As the man communicated with officers from the driver-side window, a female passenger got out of the SUV and walked backward into the custody of officers.

The relationship between the man and his passenger was unclear.

Police believed the driver could be armed with a gun. An armored vehicle pulled up to the front of the car while crisis negotiators tried to convince the man, who was drinking from a bottle, to surrender.

The man got out of the car, took off his shirt and continued yelling at officers before he was taken into custody.



Photo Credit: KNBC-TV

4 Sought in Brutal Mission Beach Attack: SDPD

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Images of four people wanted in the brutal beating of a University of San Diego student in Mission Beach were released Thursday by San Diego Police.

Three men and one woman got into an argument with two men on San Luis Rey Place at 2:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 21, police said.

The fight moved into the alley near Strandway at Asbury Court where it was captured on surveillance video.

One USD student was knocked to the ground, beaten and kicked. His head was stomped on the concrete and the blow caused a brain bleed and a concussion, police said.

"One of the suspects jumped into the air and landed both of his feet on top of one of the victim’s head, rendering him unconscious," according to a San Diego CrimeStoppers alert.

Another student was kicked and hit but suffered no serious injuries. The whole incident lasted less than a minute.

Residents heard screams and rushed to help.

“Just painful screams and people yelling stop you're going to kill him,” witness Misha Osinovskiy.

In a statement released Tuesday, University of San Diego administrators said they have contacted the students involved in the incident.

"We are committed to working with students on being responsible citizens wherever they live," Pamela Gray Payton, MSEL, Asst. Vice President, Media Communications said in a written statement.

She said the university "will follow up accordingly" after the SDPD investigation is complete.

Police have made no arrests in connection with this fight.

Witnesses say besides those involved were from out of town and had been renting a house nearby for the weekend but have already returned home. 

Male suspects are described as in their 20s, 5-feet, 10-inches to 6-feet tall with brown hair. Other information includes full beard, with burgundy t-shirt, light colored pants, and black shoes; Thin build, with a black hooded sweatshirt, long sleeved white t-shirt, black shorts, and black shoes; Wearing black hooded sweatshirt with “High Times” written on the back, brown pants, and black shoes.

The woman was described as in her early 20s, with a thin build and wearing a light colored t-shirt and black shorts.

Anyone with information on the identity or location of the suspects can call SDPD’s Northern Division at (858) 552-1700 or the Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at (888) 580-8477.



Photo Credit: San Diego Crime Stoppers
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Grocery Stores Shrinking for Success

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The popular high end grocery chain Gelson's Market opened it's 25th store in San Diego. But the store is less than half the size of the last store they opened here. The Gelson's in Del Mar is nearly 50,000 square feet but the store in Pacific Beach is less than 18,000.

"So we have to squeeze in all our bells and whistles into this smaller box," said Gelson's CEO Rob McDougall.

The smaller box is called the "footprint" of the store.  That's the shoppable space inside a store, the area that people push their grocery cart.

Whole Foods is opening up a series of smaller stores named "365".  The first just opened in the Silver Lake district of Los Angeles.  Many feel it is an attempt by Whole Foods to compete with smaller size stores like Trader Joe's.

"The smaller footprint allows people today to kind of cherry pick where they want to go," said Miro Copic, marketing professor at San Diego State University.  He says it's cheaper for a chain to open smaller spaces and allows them to find locations where they couldn't establish a full retail store.

"Customers need a larger store at different times," said Copic. "They like a smaller store for very specific things."

The smaller Gelson's was largely dictated by the size of the store space, a former Haggen's and Albertson's.  But the company CEO says he sees more Gelson's adopting this compact design.

"This has been a change for us as we continue to refine our model," said McDougall.

German based Aldi has recently expanded into the Southern California area. It also sets up in smaller size footprints. Fresh & Easy attempted to do the same thing but failed.



Photo Credit: Consumer Bob

Teen's Glasses Used for Art Prank

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A prank by a San Jose, California, teen has gone viral and made news around the world.

TJ Cruda and his friends put a pair of glasses on the floor at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art earlier this week. The reaction from museum attendees was something Cruda and his friends could not believe.

Visitors pondered the glasses as if they were part of the exhibit and some even took photos.

Cruda, who graduated from Evergreen Valley High last week, posted pictures of the stunt on Twitter, quickly getting tens of thousands of retweets. Some observed that Cruda himself is now a "post modern artist."



Photo Credit: TJ Cruda
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17-Year Old Stabbed in Spring Valley, Investigation Ongoing

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The San Diego Sheriff’s Department (SDSO) is investigating a stabbing in Spring Valley that left a 17-year old in the hospital on life support. 

SDSO said Jeffrey Quirino’s injuries are so severe, he is not expected to survive.

On May 23rd, deputies from the Rancho San Diego Station responded to reports of a fight around 4:30 p.m. on the 8900 block of Delrose Avenue near Elkelton Boulevard.

Neighbors, who wished not to appear on camera, told NBC 7, that Sheriff's deputies have been called to that corner a number of times for underage drinking and fighting among the teenagers who hang out there.

According to SDSO, when deputies arrived on scene, they discovered someone had already transported Quirino to a local hospital.

No one else was at the scene.

Nearby where the incident took place, a sidewalk shrine is growing. Residents in the area, young and old, are dropping by to leave candles, flowers and cards.

Lieutenant Ken Nelson from the Sheriff’s Homicide Detail said they have not found weapon right now but they can confirm that Quirino was stabbed.

Nelson said the person who transported Quirino to the hospital did what he or she thought was best at the time.

However, he did advise waiting for emergency responders.

“Obviously we would ask that, not knowing what the situation is, with the abundance of caution, probably calling 911 and getting medical staff there that know exactly what hospital to take them to, as far as trauma care is involved would probably be the best way to go,” he said.

Quirino is still in the hospital, being treated for his injuries.

SDSO says they are not releasing any other information since the investigation is ongoing.

Nelson said right now, the investigation is focused on finding the suspect and any piece of information is valuable.

“We’re imploring to public to come forward with any information that they might have, however small that puzzle piece might be,” he said. “Because it just might be the piece of information that cracks open this case." 

If you have any information, you are asked to contact Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.



Photo Credit: NBC 7

People Respond to Questions Over Serra High Principal's Degree

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It seems to have hit a button and many people have emotional responses.

Numerous comments have been posted to NBC 7's Facebook page regarding our stories questioning the legitimacy of a principal’s Ph.D. Some defend Vincent Mays, saying he has the credential to be an administrator at Serra High, and that’s all that matters.

Others say it's a question of ethics, an issue of what an educator is modeling for his students.

According to the principal's resume found online, Mays received his doctorate from Stamford Hill University. A former FBI agent, who specializes in what is known as diploma mills, says the school does not exist.

NBC 7 also investigated and found no record of the school.

“To me, it's kind of like cheating,” said Kim Nguyen, a parent of a student at Serra High.

Another parent, who says he likes Mays and thinks the principal is doing a good job, says he still wants the San Diego Unified School District to get to the bottom of this sooner, rather than later.

“They hired him. It's their job to take care of it, and they need to set an example for our kids, other parents, staff,” said Dan Sehlhorst. 

School Board President, Doctor Michael McQuary said Mays is "credentialed and qualified" to be principal.

He said when someone is doing a great job, they will always “bump into issues and concerns.”

McQuary also said Mays is doing a great job, and the district says the controversy stems from a group of disgruntled staff members at Serra.

Three staff members filed a complaint with the district’s Office of Quality Assurance.

McQuary says that office will look into the complaint.



Photo Credit: Twitter profile photo

School on Serra HS Principal's Ph.D. 'Doesn't Exist': Ex-FBI Agent

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“It’s a mirage. It’s smoke and mirrors, nothing more, nothing less.”

That’s how one former FBI agent, who specialized in investigating diploma mills, summed up a website for Stamford Hill University.

The school “doesn’t exist,” said Allen Ezell.

NBC 7 asked Allen Ezell to look into the school after three teachers at Serra High School questioned whether their principal’s Ph.D. was from a legitimate school. They have filed a complaint with the San Diego Unified School District’s Office of Quality Assurance.

According to his resume found online, Vincent Mays says he received his Ph.D. from Stamford Hill University.

Ezell also discovered what NBC 7 found: there was no record of the school from the U.S. Department of Education, no record of the school from the Florida State Department of Education and no business licenses, now or in the past.

The San Diego Unified School District released this statement about its vetting process:

“San Diego Unified fully investigates the teaching and instructional credentials of all our teachers and principals. Our policy is to verify only those aspects of an applicant’s background that relate directly to their qualifications to teach or serve as an administrator — time in the classroom, state certifications, etc. We do not research additional academic credentials that are not related to their eligibility to hold the position for which they have applied.”

It stressed “Doctor Mays has a bachelor’s degree from Seton Hall, a Master’s Degree from Montclair State University, more than 25 years in the classroom and as an administrator, and a certification to serve as a teacher/administrator in the state of California.”

Since last week, NBC 7 has been asking Mays for comment. The district has said Mays will not talk about this, because he feels it is the doing of disgruntled employees.

Numerous comments have been posted to NBC 7's Facebook page regarding our stories.

“To me, it's kind of like cheating,” said Kim Nguyen, a parent of a student at Serra High.

Another parent, who says he thinks the principal is doing a good job, said he wants the district to get to the bottom of this sooner, rather than later.

“They hired him. It's their job to take care of it, and they need to set an example for our kids, other parents, staff,” said Dan Sehlhorst.

Get in on the discussion here.



Photo Credit: Twitter profile photo

Former Uber Driver Facing 19 New Charges

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A former Uber driver accused of raping a passenger is facing 19 new charges in San Diego County after El Cajon police found other alleged victims, including a 13-year-old.

John David Sanchez, 52, is accused of raping a vomiting, intoxicated female passenger in February and sexually assaulting five other victims between 2011 and 2014.

A spokesman for the district attorney's office said there are a total of seven victims in the case. Four have been identified by police, but three remain unidentified.

Prosecutor Kerry Conway said Sanchez is accused of being a serial rapist, with his youngest alleged victim only 13 years old.

The charging documents indicate Sanchez may have recorded his alleged crimes and saved the videos.

The new charges include a count of performing lewd acts on a child under the age of 14, trying to prevent a witness from reporting a crime and employment of a minor to perform prohibited acts.

A deputy district attorney told NBC 7 the final count pertains to the production of child pornography.

"Anytime we see charges like this, even if it's one victim, we take it very seriously," Conway said. "When we see cases where there are multiple victims over this type of time frame, that is something that is taken very, very seriously by our office."

NBC 7 has learned Sanchez worked as a DJ and ran a "video production and distribution" company. 

Sanchez pleaded not guilty to the new charges. He is being held on $1 million bail. He faces a maximum of 37 years and four months in prison, if convicted on all the charges.

Sanchez's attorney, Peter Blair, said his client denied all charges. Blair said he couldn't comment further until he reviewed the discovery materials in the case.

Sanchez was first arrested March 29 and was terminated from Uber immediately. He pleaded not guilty and posted bail.

The ride-hailing company issued a statement after Sanchez's initial arrest, saying "Uber takes safety incidents like this very seriously" and has "been working closely with law enforcement."


Israel Transgender Pageant Unites Christians, Muslims & Jews

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"Miss Trans Israel 2016" beauty pageant begins Friday and it will be the first of its kind in the Middle East country.

The competition in Tel Aviv brings together Jews, Christians and Muslims in a region known more for its deep divisions, NBC News reported.

"Here I don't feel Muslim, Jewish, Christian," Caroline Khouri, an Arab, said. "All of the people are together and the transsexual [people], they love together."

Pageant judge Efrat Tilma agrees that the event is "bonding people."

"We can show the world that we are really for peace, this competition is for peace," the 70-year-old added.



Photo Credit: AP

Heir B&B: Princess Diana's Estate to Give Orphans a Boost

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Princess Diana's brother Earl Spencer and his wife Karen Spencer are opening the Althorp family home for guests to stay a couple of nights in order to raise money for orphanages around the world, NBC News reported.

Diana grew up in the 500-year-old mansion with a priceless art collection, 88 fireplaces and bedrooms named for the royalty who slept there, and Althorp also serves as her final resting place.

Wannabe aristocrats willing to pay between $25,000 and $40,000 to stay in the 100,000-square-foot home about 75 miles north of London. For $250,000, a group of up to 18 people can take over the stately spread.

Proceeds will benefit the Whole Child organization, which worked with or advised 85 orphanages in Nicaragua and is undertaking a new project in El Salvador that will involve 365 children's centers.



Photo Credit: Jake Whitman/Getty Images
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American Girl in Legal Bid to Return Death-Row Dad

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Menabe Andargachew, a 9-year-old American girl, is suing the British government for not pushing Ethiopia to release her father, a British citizen and an outspoken critic of Ethiopia's regime, NBC News reported.

Andargachew "Andy" Tsege disappeared while catching a connecting flight through Yemen in June 2014. The political activist was snatched and forcibly taken to Ethiopia, where he had been sentenced to death for opposition work.

So far, the U.K. government hasn't demanded his release. Now Menabe and her family are trying to force their hand. They filed a legal challenge alleging that approach is "unlawful."

Both the U.N. Human Rights Council and the European Parliament have called for Tsege's release. The British government has expressed "deep concern" over his case. But thus far, it hasn't followed suit in demanding Tsege be freed — instead focusing on getting him "due process."

Tsege's Maryland-born partner Yemi Hailemariam, family and lawyers say he was kidnapped — a victim of rendition carried out by Ethiopia, which has labeled him a terrorist and enemy of the state. Ethiopia says he was "extradited."



Photo Credit: Cassandra Vinograd / NBC News

Mayborn USA Recalls 3.1M Sippy Cups Over Risk of Mold

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Mayborn USA is recalling 3.1 million Tommee Tippee Sippee spill-proof cups after nearly 70 children became ill drinking from moldy valves, the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) said Friday.

Mold can develop on the removable, one-piece, white valve inside the cups when it remains wet or moist and is infrequently cleaned, according to the recall alert.

Mold ingestion can cause gastrointestinal symptoms and infections in people with compromised immune systems, according to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The Massachusetts-based Mayborn USA has received 3,066 reports of mold in the removable valve, including 68 reports of children experiencing diarrhea, vomiting or other symptoms associated with drinking from a cup with mold in the valve.

Five types of spill-proof Tommee Tippee Sippee cups all with a removable, one-piece white valve are involved in the recall: First Sips Transition cup, Trainer Sippee cup, Sippee cup (including Cute Quips), Sportee bottle and Insulated Swiggle/Sippee tumblers.

The plastic drinking cups have spill-proof tops, easy-grip sides with detachable handles and were sold in clear with colored lids and a variety of colors and character prints. Some of the cups include short phrases on the front of the cups including: “You Pour I’ll Fling,” or “Drink Drop Repeat.” The cups have a 7 to 10 oz. capacity and were sold for children ages 4 to 12 months.

The cup were made in China and sold at BuyBuy Baby, CVS, Giant, Kohl’s, Marco Baby, Marshalls, Meijer, Sam’s Club, Ross Stores, Target, Bealls Outlet, Walgreens and Wal-Mart and other stores nationwide and online at Amazon.com, Babyhaven.com, and Diapers.com from December 2014 through May 2016.  

Consumers who bought the cups should stop using them and contact the company to receive a free replacement cup at www.tommeetippee.us or 877-248-6922. 



Photo Credit: CSPC

Va. Taxi Driver Helped ISIS: Feds

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A 26-year-old taxi driver from Virginia was indicted Thursday on charges he tried to help a friend join ISIS fighters, the U.S. attorney's office said.  

Prosecutors said Mahmoud Amin Mohamed Elhassan, 26, of Woodbridge, conspired with Joseph Hassan Farrokh to provide material support or resources to ISIS. Elhassan's attorney, however, has accused the FBI of creating cases against young Muslim men.

Both men were arrested earlier this year after Farrokh tried to board a flight to Chicago at Richmond International Airport, investigators said. Officials said Farrokh intended to board a flight to the Middle East once he reached Chicago.

Elhassan drove Farrokh to Richmond and later lied about where Farrokh was going, court documents said.

But Elhassan's lawyer, Ashraf Nubani, has claimed his client is a victim of prejudice against Islam or Muslims.

"The issue is the way the government goes about these cases," Nubani said. "They had three informants in this case who were looking for people that they can get in trouble. They thought that they found someone, and my client is only charged with aiding and abetting that someone."

Elhassan has been charged with conspiracy to provide material support to ISIS, aiding and abetting the provision of material support to ISIS, and false statements. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 48 years in prison.

According to criminal complaints, Farrokh had been trying to leave the U.S. and join ISIS in Syria since Nov. 20, 2015. Elhassan allegedly introduced Farrokh to a person whom Elhassan believed had connections to individuals engaged in jihad overseas.

That person was an FBI informant cooperating with law enforcement as part of a plea deal for a reduced sentence in a criminal case, according to the complaint. 

Elhassan's next court appearance is scheduled for June 3. 

Farrokh pleaded guilty in March to conspiracy to provide material support to ISIS and admitted he had planned for months to join the terror group in Syria, The Washington Post reports.



Photo Credit: AP
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