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30-Acre Brush Fire Burns in Temecula

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A 30-acre brush fire sparked in unincorporated Temecula, California, Saturday, sending heavy smoke into the air visible from Interstate 15 in San Diego's North County.

According to Cal Fire officials, the fire broke out around 11:40 a.m. off Interstate 15 south of Temecula Parkway, amid scorching temperatures as Southern California experienced the first heat wave of the approaching summer season.

Authorities issued a SigAlert, shutting down all lanes of southbound I-15 at Front Street and Temecula Parkway as firefighters battled the blaze.

As of 1:15 p.m., California Highway Patrol (CHP) officials were trying to reopen two of those lanes. Traffic was backed up from California Oaks Road. Traffic was also very heavy on southbound I-215 in Riverside County past Clinton Keith Road, CHP officials said.

Meanwhile, a fire also burned in Pala, California, approximately 13 miles southeast of Temecula. That blaze, dubbed the Pala Fire by officials, scorched 70 acres and was 35 percent contained as of 8 a.m. Saturday. The Pala Fire has been burning since Tuesday. Winds and hot temperatures caused the blaze to flare up once again Friday night, prompting evacuations in the area.

As 1 p.m., no evacuations had been ordered for the Temecula Fire. Temecula is located approximately 60 miles north of downtown San Diego.

Check back for updates on the breaking news story.



Photo Credit: Elroy Spatcher/NBC 7 San Diego
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Photos: Temecula Brush Fire

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A 30-acre brush fire burned in Temecula Saturday off southbound I-15. Heavy smoke was visible from the freeway, homes and shopping centers in the North County.

Photo Credit: Elroy Spatcher/NBC 7 San Diego

Bernie Sanders to Rally in San Diego on Sunday

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Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders will visit San Diego again this weekend for another rally, a senior official from his campaign confirmed Thursday.

Sanders will hold his rally at 5 p.m. Sunday at the Northeast Parking Lot of Qualcomm Stadium, located at 9449 Friars Rd. in Mission Valley. The gates open at 3 p.m.

According to the Sanders campaign, the rally will include appearances by celebrities like George Lopez and Shailene Woodley, as well as Nahko and Medicine for the People, Michael Mowgli & The Altruists and Joel Rafael. Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, Kendrick Sampson and Dr. Cornel West will also join in support of Sanders.

The event is free and open to the public. Supporters can RSVP ahead of the rally here.

Parking is limited at Qualcomm Stadium, so attendees are advised to carpool or get dropped off at the event. Public transportation is also recommended, including taking the San Diego MTS trolley’s Green Line directly to Qualcomm Stadium.

If San Diego law enforcement issues road closures in the area, NBC 7 will bring you those updates in this article.

The U.S. Senator has already visited San Diego several times, including a two-day trip two weeks ago, when he rallied in National City on May 21 and in Vista on May 22.

Comedian and actor George Lopez joined Sanders at his National City rally, while “Divergent” actress Shailene Woodley introduced Sanders at his Vista event.

Sanders’ trip to San Diego comes within just days of the June 7 California Primary.

In recent weeks, Sanders' rivals have visited San Diego too, including Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.

Bill Clinton also rallied on behalf of Hillary Clinton's campaign in San Diego on May 21.



Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego

Allowing More Watering Days in San Diego

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Now, you can water your lawn any day you want in Santee.  

That's because the Padre Dam Municipal Water District just moved out of a Level Two Drought Watch to Level One, meaning there is no limit on the number of watering days per week.

"It relaxes the water use restrictions; allows homeowners to use more water," Padre Dam Water District General Manager Allen Carlisle said.

There are state mandated water restrictions throughout California, even though Allen Carlisle says some weren't necessary.

"Sacramento really doesn't understand our local needs and our specific siuation," Carlisle said.

San Diego County is better off than many other California counties because of arrangements over Colorado River water and the new desalinization plant.

Carlisle said because of that, local agencies should be allowed to determine the best route for their customers.

"We had sufficient supplies to meet our demand here in San Diego," he said..

But while Padre Dam Water District customers will be able to water any day of the week, they still have to follow a variety of drought rules rules such as not rinsing off your driveway, not watering after a rain and not using a hose without an automatic shut-off.

But will allowing customers to water their lawns and gardens more than two days a week cause water use to go way up?

"We don't believe so. We believe people understand that we live in a new era where water conservation is a way of life," Carlisle said.



Photo Credit: Consumer Bob

Pala Fire Flare-Up Now 35% Contained: Cal Fire

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A brush fire that burned in San Diego’s North County flared up once again Friday amid a heat wave, scorching 25 fresh acres and reigniting efforts on the fire line, officials said.

The Pala Fire, along the 38000 block of Pala Temecula Road in Pala, California, kicked up again at around 3:10 p.m. Friday, Cal Fire officials said. The winds in the area blew embers and fueled hot spots left over from a 45-acre blaze that firefighters had been tackling ever since Tuesday, when it initially sparked at a home on Pala Temecula Road and then quickly spread to surrounding vegetation.

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On Friday evening, the Pala Fire scorched another 25 acres, bringing it to 70 acres and forcing mandatory evacuations for residents on the east side of Pala Temecula Road. The San Diego County Sheriff's Department (SDSO) said northbound Pala Temecula Road at Pala Mission Road was shut down and would be closed through the night. 

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Cal Fire officials said 70 to 100 structures were threatened by the flames. Evacuations were ordered around 5 p.m. Friday as the fire crept towards Rancho Heights.

An evacuation shelter was established at Great Oak High School on Deer Hollow Way in Temecula for those impacted by the blaze. Humane Society volunteers were also on-hand to help evacuate livestock in the rural neighborhood.

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Some residents had to evacuate not just once, but twice over the course of both rounds of the Pala Fire, including John Almendarez.

"I couldn’t get home and my wife was there today and saw smoke again and saw flames from our property that were kind of across the canyon," Almendarez told NBC 7.

Multiple ground units and air tankers were sent to the fire line.

At around 10 p.m. Friday, evacuees were allowed to return to their homes, Cal Fire officials said, as firefighters held the Pala Fire at 70 acres. Just before 11 p.m., authorities reopened some roads in the area, but only to residents making their way back into their homes.

As of 8 a.m. Saturday, the Pala Fire was still holding at 70 acres and was 35 percent contained.

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Cal Fire and County Fire Chief Tony Mecham said the forward rate of spread of the fire had been stopped. At 10:30 a.m. Saturday, officials said Pala Temecula Road had reopened in both directions, for residents only.

Officials planned to fully reopen the roadway to all motorists at 8 a.m. Sunday.

"Drivers are encouraged to be extra cautious and drive slowly because firefighters are still working in the surrounding areas," fire officials added.

On Saturday, NBC 7 meteorologist Greg Bledsoe said the temperature in Pala was expected to hit a high of 91 degrees with winds at 5 to 10 mph, which could help in the fight against the Pala Fire.

"The good news for firefighters on the Pala Fire is that winds are not going to be much of a factor today and should stay down below 10 mph," said Bledsoe.

Cal Fire officials also assured they had an upperhand on the situation Saturday.

"Firefighters are making good progress. Please watch out for fire personnel and equipment nearby," officials said in an 8 a.m. update.

According to Cal Fire officials, the first round of the Pala Fire destroyed eight unoccupied outbuildings in the area. By the time Thursday evening rolled around, the fire was 95 percent contained.

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However, soaring temperatures and a heat wave in Southern California proved to be a setback in the fight against the fire Friday, when it reignited.

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Cal Fire officials said approximately 250 fire personnel from agencies in San Diego's North County and Riverside County worked together to fight the Pala Fire. Crews enlisted the help of seven water tankers and five helicopters.

Cal Fire spokesman Kendall Bortisser said the steep terrain where the Pala Fire sparked hasn’t burned since the 1940s, so fire crews were challenged with thick, heavy brush.

NBC 7 will keep an eye on the situation. Check back for updates on this developing story.

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Photo Credit: NBC 7
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Bank Robbery Suspect, 81, Arrested in Carlsbad

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A bomb squad was called to Carlsbad Friday after police discovered a suspicious device inside a car believed to have been involved in a bank robbery.

The San Diego County Sheriff's Department (SDSO) said deputies received a call of a bank robbery at the Chase Bank on the 1900 block of West San Marcos Boulevard near south Rancho Santa Fe Road in San Marcos around 5 p.m.

According to officials, the bank was robbed by a lone gunman who placed a black box on a teller’s counter and handed the teller a demand note. The note said he was armed with a gun and a bomb. The suspect then flashed a handgun, and teller gave him some cash.

The SDSO said the suspect walked out of the bank with the stolen money and drove away in a silver Toyota sedan. A bank employee was able to jot down part of the suspect’s license plate number before he sped off.

Around 5:15 p.m., a Carlsbad Police Department patrol unit spotted the suspect's vehicle on Palomar Airport Road near Interstate 5 in Carlsbad.

The officer pulled the vehicle over and the driver – 81-year-old Michael Lehman – was detained. Officials said witnesses identified Lehman was the man who had allegedly robbed the Chase Bank in San Marcos.

Lehman was arrested at the scene.

As officers searched the suspect’s car, the black box he had carried into the bank earlier was found inside the vehicle. As a precaution, bomb squad officials were called to the scene to investigate the box.

A robot was deployed and officials ultimately determined the black box was not a bomb.

Officers also found a handgun in the passenger seat of Lehman's vehicle, as well as the cash believed to have been stolen during the bank robbery.

No one was injured in the bank robbery. The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information on this case can call Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Muhammad Ali: The Greatest Showman

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Muhammad Ali’s impact, as reams of obituaries correctly noted upon word of his death Friday at age 74, stretched far past the 80-inch reach of the gloved fist that staggered the likes of Joe Frazier and George Foreman.

But Ali’s genius rested not only in his ability to deliver a wallop beyond a ring built for destruction, but in the legacy he forged as an unstoppable creative force – a powerhouse alchemist who melded the worlds of sports, entertainment, politics and media to redefine celebrity.

Boxing might have been his first platform, but Muhammad Ali, during a six-decade public life as the planet’s best-known human, emerged as the greatest in a sport of his own invention.

Born in the era of radio as Cassius Clay, Muhammad Ali was made for the TV age. Sure, previous athletes, Babe Ruth among them, used charm and a knack for playing the press to become household names as media made its ways into homes in new ways in the first half of the 20th Century.

But Ali, who bedazzled fellow fighters with his footwork, proved himself always a few steps ahead of anyone who crossed his path. Ali crafted his own catchphrase – “float like a butterfly and sting like a bee” – and even his own heady nickname – “The Greatest.” The ultimate showman was just as focused on controlling his image as he was the action on the canvas.

Ali’s relative lack of formal education growing up in segregated Kentucky belied a brilliance that manifested itself in a capacity to deliver words, wise, humor-laden and otherwise, in flurries faster than his hands flew in his prime. He verbally sparred with everyone from Carson to Cosell, always coming out on top, via endless quips playing off his braggart persona: "I should be a postage stamp – that's the only way I'll ever get licked!"

For all his wit, Ali expertly practiced at the art of drama, both in and out of the ring. The Thrilla in Manila and the Rumble in the Jungle lived up to their epic build-ups, which included Ali’s merciless taunts of his opponents.

He presaged an era in which the drama behind major sporting events has become an integral part of the show. But while many of today’s pre-game reels come off as manufactured hype, Muhammad Ali was never anything less than himself ­– a man, as he once put it “in a world of my own.”

He showed as much in perhaps his greatest act: giving up his stage and his livelihood by refusing to serve in the Army, citing religious principle.

The substance behind the spectacle of world’s greatest boxer refusing to fight in Vietnam made the show all the more powerful, and provided fodder for an enthralling comeback story as he later reclaimed his boxing title. Ali eventually gained widespread acceptance as a hero beyond the fight game, earning the Medal of Freedom, the country’s highest civilian honor, in a 2005 ceremony led by President George W. Bush.

Perhaps his most gripping drama played out in a script more Shakespeare than Ali. Parkinson’s disease, a possible product of absorbing too many blows, slowly robbed the rope-a-dope king of his ability to share his thoughts with his trademark gusto.

Still, Ali’s condition didn’t dull his impact – his public moments became fewer, if no less memorable. After 9/11, the world’s best-known Muslim spoke out, haltingly but with conviction, to defend his religion and decry terrorism.

It’s telling that Ali’s iconography extends from him derisively standing over a fallen Sonny Liston in 1965 to images of him bravely battling tremors while carrying the Olympic torch for his country to kick off the 1996 Games in Atlanta.

Muhammad Ali set the world on fire with a blaze of glory that he lit on his own terms, leaving an eternal flame fed by memories of a transcendent figure with charisma to burn.

Jere Hester is Director of News Products and Projects at the City University of New York Graduate School of Journalism. He is also the author of "Raising a Beatle Baby: How John, Paul, George and Ringo Helped us Come Together as a Family." Follow him on Twitter.



Photo Credit: Getty Images
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Weekend Forecast: ‘Excessive Heat’

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The first heat wave of the almost-summer season is in full effect in San Diego County this weekend, bringing with it a warning of excessive temperatures.

According to NBC 7’s Greg Bledsoe, Saturday will likely be the warmest day, with the potential for inland temperatures to soar 15 degrees above normal and desert temps at scorching daytime highs around the 111-degree mark.

“Today will be one of those days we see a huge temperature gradient from west to east. Some of San Diego’s beaches could be 40 degrees cooler than the desert,” Bledsoe explained. “The good news is it will not be exceptionally dry, thanks to a very weak onshore flow that should continue all weekend.”

The National Weather Service (NWS) says an excessive heat warning for San Diego County will remain in effect through 8 p.m. Sunday, although Sunday will not be quite as hot. The warning expands to Riverside and Imperial counties in Southern California as well.

The warm weather could cause heat related illness, especially in elderly residents, children and animals. Time spent outdoors should be limited and, when possible, strenuous activities should be done in the morning or evening, once it cools down. Light and loose-fitting clothing should be worn and San Diegans should drink plenty of water while weathering the heat wave, the NWS says.

For a list of “Cool Zones” in San Diego County, click here.

Bledsoe said warm temperatures are expected to linger after the weekend, only dropping a few degrees each day through the middle of next week.

For weather updates from NBC 7, click here.


Fried, Flavorful 2016 Fair Food

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The San Diego County Fair is synonymous with flavorful, fried food. Here's a look at what patrons can expect to munch on at this year's fair -- from chicken wings topped with Kool-Aid to deep-fried pizza.

Photo Credit: Monica Garske

Joe Schloss Way Unveiled in North Park

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The access road leading to Morley Field near Balboa Park is now officially Joe Schloss Way. 

“It means the world that Joe is continued to be remembered by everyone...and he would have loved it,” Barbara Schloss, Joe’s widow told NBC 7.

The street, named after Joe Schloss who coached Little League for more than 50 years, was unveiled Saturday.

Schloss coached for the North Park Little League and by the end of this career had reached legend status. When he passed away last November, naming the street after him was a no-brainer.

"We don't rename streets often,” Councilmember Todd Gloria said. “We usually reserve it for exceptional San Diegans or Americans…and now Joe Schloss.”

Schloss coached and mentored thousands of San Diego Youth during his five decades in the dugout.

“Joe taught me most everything I know about baseball,” 14-year-old Alec Bennett said. “It was nice to have someone who was so experienced teach me baseball.”

Aside from Little League Joe was also very active in the North Park Lion’s Club, San Diego High School Foundation and he worked with blind children.

“North Park Little league has something to remember [him] by and hey we had Joe Schloss here, the legend, and that's pretty cool to have,” Bennett said.

His widow explained her husband wanted the kids to learn to play baseball properly, to respect each other and the umpires and to just have fun. She remembered how he was always telling the kids to turn their hats around and not wear them backwards. “I’m sure all his players remember that,” she laughed.

“With Joe Schloss Way his memory will never be lost and people for many years to come will know that Joe Schloss was an important San Diegan,” Gloria said.



Photo Credit: North Park Little League/Facebook
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Glimpse at SD County Fair

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The 2016 San Diego County Fair starts on June 3 and runs for 26 wild, indulgent days. The theme is "Mad About the Fair," a combination inspired by Lewis Carroll's "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" and the artistic movement known as "Steampunk."

Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego

Woman Says LAPD Roughed Her Up

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A woman has filed a claim against the Los Angeles Police Department alleging she was beat up by officers in her church parking lot.

Ok Jin Yun alleges the incident happened when she drove to church for a prayer service on April 14 at 5:30 a.m.

"She's scared. She's scared," said her son, David, translating for her from Korean.

The incident was captured by surveillance cameras at Oriental Mission Church.

Yun was followed into the parking lot by two officers — male and female — in a police SUV with no siren and no roof lights visible.

She said she doesn't know why they followed her, but believes it may have started seconds earlier, when she had pulled up behind their patrol vehicle, southbound on Western Avenue.

"She honked, thinking it was, you know, a black SUV," her son said.

The video shows officers getting out and approaching Yun. Words are exchanged. And then she appears to be forced to the pavement. Photos taken after the incident show facial lacerations that she said came from the altercation.

"They injured her back, her neck, her shoulders," said Antonio Kizzie, Yun's attorney. "She still feels some pain nowadays."

Yun admits she attempted to make a cellphone call during her interaction with officers, which may have played a role in what followed. Her son says she speaks enough English to turn over license and registration, but not much more.

"Who was she calling on the phone? She was calling 911, requesting a Korean language speaking officer," Kizzie said.

"I was beyond angry," Yun's son added. 

David Yun said he contacted police for an explanation after his mother was released from the hospital. She was neither arrested nor charged.

"Their reaction was that the officers were trying to 'help' my mom," David said. "Help her? Do you believe that? I don't."

A LAPD spokesman said a use-of-force investigation has been launched, but would not comment further, pending a complaint Yun is filing.

She claims excessive force and unreasonable detention.

The department spokesman said there is dashcam video from the police vehicle with sound that tells a different story about Yun's interaction with the officers that morning. But it will likely not be released.



Photo Credit: Antonio Kizzie

Ex-Marine Charged in Stabbing Death of Houston Boy

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A former Marine has been arrested in the fatal stabbing of an 11-year-old Houston boy who was attacked while walking home from school last month, NBC News reported. 

Andre Timothy Jackson Jr., 27, was charged with murder Friday following his arrest at a Salvation Army where he was living, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said.  Jackson was discharged from the Marine Corps in 2011.

On May 17, witnesses heard loud screaming and saw a man and the boy, identified as sixth-grader Josue Flores, struggle before Flores collapsed. The boy died from multiple stab wounds.

Another man was originally arrested and charged with murder, but was later released when his alibi checked out. Surveillance video released by police led to a tip of another video, which led investigators to Jackson. He was being held on a $100,000 bond at the Harris County Jail.



Photo Credit: Houston Police Department

SoCal Brush Fire Forces Evacuations

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A massive brush fire Saturday in the Calabasas area forced mandatory evacuations as rapid flames consumed 516 acres and threatened 3,000 homes, the Los Angeles County Fire Department said.

"This is a fast-moving, dangerous fire," Los Angeles County Fire Chief Dennis Cross said. "It's hard for people to see where this fire is because of the dense canopy and the canyons." 

The fire forced the mandatory evacuations of 5,000 people in the Highlands, Eddingham and Adamsville neighborhoods, fire officials said.

"Nobody can sit in their driveways or sit in their houses and ride this out. They need to get in their car and evacuate immediately," Cross said. 

As of 6:45 a.m. Sunday, the blaze was 30 percent contained, Capt. Keith Mora said.

Homeowners were emotional as they packed their cars with anything they could grab and were forced to evacuate. 

Deputies grabbed hoses and began defending strangers' townhomes before firefighters arrived. 

Residents living as far away as Studio City found ash sprinkled on their cars as smoke permeated through SoCal. 

The fire was reported at 4 p.m. in the area of 23062 Mulholland Highway, and began edging closer to homes.

Old Topanga Boulevard was closed between Pacific Coast Highway and Cezanne Avenue as 1,000 firefighters, three water-dropping helicopters, and 24 engines were working to extinguish the blaze. 

At least three homes were damaged, fire officials said, in addition to a nature conservancy building at Mulholland Highway and Old Topanga Canyon Road that was completely gutted by the blaze.

The fire was ignited after a driver lost control of a sport utility vehicle and crashed into power poles, downing lines in three different places, Mora said. All of the hot spots merged into one massive blaze, dubbed the "Old Fire." 

A propane tank exploded into flames in front of Calabasas Klubhouse Pre-School as the heat from the fire crept closer to the structure, located at 3655 Old Topanga Canyon Road. A team of firefighters was defending the preschool.

Initially, a few thousand Southern California Edison customers experienced power outages after the car slammed into the power pole, David Song of SoCal Edison said. By 7 p.m., fewer than 200 were experiencing outages. Song said power should be fully restored by 3 p.m. Sunday. 

The Los Angeles County Fire Department reported that one firefighter suffered a minor injury while battling the blaze.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Lost Hills Station was in charge of evacuations. Residents were being evacuated to Agoura High School at 28545 West Driver Avenue.

Anyone with large animals was asked to evacuate to Los Angeles Pierce College at 6201 Winnetka Avenue in Woodland Hills.

The mandatory evacuations were extended to the zones in Old Topanga Canyon area until 8 a.m., the California Highway Patrol said.

Residents in the Calabasas area would be allowed to return home by 2 a.m., but power may still be out, LA County Fire officials said.

The large fire came as NBC4 Meteorologist Shanna Mendiola warned of excessive heat warnings across SoCal, along with dry winds. 

A second fire began burning at 4:20 p.m. in the West Hills area, the same time as the Old Fire. Light wind was fueling the two-acre blaze, pushing it downhill into a ravine at Kittridge Street and Valley Circle, according to LA County Fire. 

The blaze was about five miles north of the Calabasas blaze, and was extinguished by 6:40 p.m., with no injuries or homes burned.

Earlier in the morning, a brush fire in Temecula put drivers on high alert as it scorched 70 acres, forcing a closure of lanes on the southbound 15 Freeway. By the evening, and it was 20 percent contained. 

Another smaller blaze was reported in the Santa Clarita area amid rising temperatures, burning one-eighth of an acre near Decoro Drive and McBean Parkway.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department compiled tips for what do if confronted with a fire. Experts advise to not stop to gather your belongings — just get out of the house if mandatory evacuations are ordered. "Call the Fire Department from a neighbor’s telephone after you are out of the house," a tip sheet read.

Calabasas is a city of about 24,000 residents in the hills west of the San Fernando Valley and northwest of downtown Los Angeles. It is home to several affluent gated communities and numerous celebrities.

Read more here.



Photo Credit: KNBC-TV

Trump's 'My African-American' Supporter Not Offended

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An African-American man singled out by Donald Trump at a rally in California on Friday said he was not offended by the “odd” episode, NBC News reported. 

Gregory Cheadle said he was the man singled out in the crowd, as the presumptive Republican presidential nominee boasted of his support among African-American voters. 

"I didn't take offense at all because of what he said afterward," Cheadle later told NBC News. "I liked what he said about his black supporter fighting off a man dressed as a klansman at his rally." 

Cheadle, who describes himself as a Republican, said he wouldn’t necessarily vote for Trump even after attending his rallies.



Photo Credit: AP

Clinton Projected Winner in Virgin Islands Caucus: NBC News

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Hillary Clinton moved a small step toward securing the Democratic nomination Saturday night by winning the Virgin Islands caucus, NBC News projects. 

Only seven delegates are up for grabs, which have yet to be distributed between Clinton and rival Bernie Sanders. 

Clinton is less than 70 delegates away from the 2,383 majority needed to be declared the presumptive Democratic nominee. 

Sixty delegates are up for grabs when Puerto Rico Democrats hold their primary on Sunday. In both island territories, delegates will be awarded proportionally based on the results. 

Six last states — including delegate-rich New Jersey and California — hold their primary contests Tuesday.



Photo Credit: AP

'Considerate, Thoughtful': Colleague on Trump U. Judge

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Donald Trump has been railing against U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel for months, calling him everything from “negative” to a “hater” to “very hostile."

Most recently, in an interview with the Wall Street Journal last week, Trump said Judge Curiel’s “Mexican heritage” created “an absolute conflict” in the Trump University case.

"I'm building a wall. It's an inherent conflict of interest," Trump told the Wall Street Journal.

Judge Curiel is presiding over two of the three lawsuits against Trump University in San Diego.

Trump has brought up the judge’s heritage before, but this is the first time he has said it creates a conflict of interest in the case.

“You’ll be very hard-pressed to find anybody to say anything negative about [Judge Curiel],” Federal attorney Guadalupe Valencia told NBC 7. “He’s one of those people who are just really considerate, thoughtful and compassionate. He’s a judge who…is extremely fair to both sides.”

Valencia said he has known Judge Curiel the entirety of his 17-year-career, and when Curiel was a federal prosecutor he had an “extremely good reputation for being a really good trial lawyer.”

Valencia and Curiel met at the Federal Defenders Office when Valencia was starting as a federal defense lawyer. He explained when Curiel was part of Narcotics Enforcement in the 1990s “There was an assassination plot against him,” by the Tijuana drug cartel. “There were some phone calls intercepted that there had been approval to assassinate him as a result of his work.” He even had U.S. Marshall protection for a time because of the threat.

“I don’t think that or anything Donald Trump is saying about him ever deterred him or …is going to deter him,” Valencia said. “He’s a determined lawyer, prosecutor and judge who really believes in what he does.”

Valencia called Trump’s comments about Curiel’s heritage “offensive” and “illogical”.

“I think to attack a judge’s race and say that’s the reason he’s ruling against you…is pretty ignorant,” Valencia said. “Race has no place in…any court.”

Curiel was appointed to the state supreme court by Republican governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, and was later appointed to the federal district court by President Obama.

“He treats every single lawyer with respect,” Valencia explained. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard a lawyer complain about him being rude or not thoughtful or not being fair. He is among the fairest judges in this town. He’s a really smart person. He’s got a long history of being involved with very serious cases and I don’t think there’s any litigant that you’re going to find in this town…who’s going to say he was unfair somehow.”

Valencia explained if Trump feels the judge is biased he needs to articulate specifically what ruling is unfair.

“In this particular case Donald Trump is bringing into the arena the fact that he’s of Hispanic heritage,” he said. “That’s irrelevant.”

He said he’d be shocked if Trump’s lawyers put in a motion wanting to recuse Judge Gonzalo because of his ethnicity. “Obviously this is a lot of nonsense. This is an issue Donald Trump has tried to create…but I’m certain the judge is unmoved by this.”

Judge Curiel will continue to focus on the case and not be bothered by Trump’s comments, he said. Valencia also pointed out that targeting the judge’s race is offensive because Curiel is an American who was born in the United States. He has a brother who is a federal prosecutor and another brother who served in Vietnam. Curiel was born the son of immigrants in East Chicago, Indiana.

“For someone to point out that his parents come from another country is pretty offensive,” he said. “In fact [Trump’s] family comes from another country and everybody in the United States, their family at some point came from another country also, so I just don’t see the relevance.”

He explained under Trump’s argument no one would ever be able to preside over a case involving a person from another race or ethnicity.

“Trump’s statement should be offensive to all Americans,” Valencia told NBC 7. “[Judge Curiel] has served this country honorably.”



Photo Credit: Getty Images, US District Court Southern District of California

Strikes, Protest Disrupt France Ahead of Euro 2016

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France is bracing for a third week of strikes while grappling with floods and also preparing to host the 24-nation Euro 2016 championship — Europe's largest soccer tournament — amid ongoing terror alerts, NBC News reported.  

Train services are paralyzed, flights have been canceled and there have been hours-long lines for gas as unions protest workplace reforms. Power has been cut to homes in some areas, and street protests have forced the closure of roads.

Over 2.5 million fans mostly from overseas are expected to attend the soccer tournament. The State Department last week warned Americans traveling to Europe of the risk of terror attacks and said Euro 2016 stadiums and fan zones were all "potential targets."

The French government has already extended the state of emergency declared following the terrorist attacks in Paris that left 130 people dead in November 2015.



Photo Credit: AP
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Stem Cell Experiment Stuns Doctors

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In a recent medical study, Stanford researchers say a new stem cell experiment is transforming the lives of stroke patients.

The use of stem cells is allowing patients with little hope for recovery to suddenly talk and walk again, according to the study published in the Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases.

“We did not expect to see significant recovery,” said Dr. Gary Steinberg, chief of neurosurgery at Stanford University School of Medicine. “We were quite startled by the remarkable recovery some of the patients showed.”

Steinberg and a team of researchers released the study on Thursday.

Researchers did not anticipate seeing results this early in the process. The test was meant to be an initial phase in the study, and only included 18 patients of varying ages and who had strokes at least six months before.

The study included now 36-year-old Sonia Coontz of Long Beach. She had a stroke at 31, and two years later when she participated, could barely move her arm.

Doctors drilled a small hole in Coontz's and the other patients' skulls, and then injected modified adult stem cells directly into the region of the brain impacted by stroke.

Only a day after Coontz’s surgery, she could raise her arm above her head.

“She was what we call one of our miracle patients. She showed some improvement within 24 hours. By the next day she was already moving her arm well. Over the next month, she started talking better, walking better. Within 6 months, her lifestyle was completely changed. She got married and now she’s pregnant,” Steinberg said.

The stem cells do not replace brain cells. In fact, they die within a couple of months, according to Steinberg.

However, within that time, the stem cells somehow trick the brain into thinking it’s much younger than it is.

“In a sense, we think they are turning the adult brain in to a neonatal or infant brain that recovers very well after a stroke or other types of injury,” Steinberg said. “In the past we thought patients with chronic stroke had circuits which were dead or irreversibly damaged. We never thought they would ever work again no matter what we did. And this tells us that’s simply not true.”

About half the patients made improvements authors considered clinically significant, “meaning it changed their lifestyle,” Steinberg said.

Many of the rest made significant improvements, but a few in the patient group did not improve.

“While not every single patient improved – and you wouldn’t expect that – it was quite remarkable that so many of the patients improved to the extent that they did,” Steinberg said.

However, doctors say larger studies are needed before we get too excited.

“There’s a lot of hype about stem cells. And while we think there’s a lot of hope, we also want to be cautious in how we proceed,” Steinberg said.

Stanford researchers are currently conducting a larger study with 156 people, and another study using stem cell therapy on chronic traumatic brain injury patients.

Doctors say in the future, stem cells could help other neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s, ALS or even Alzheimer’s.



Photo Credit: NBC Bay Area

A San Diego Boxing Family Remembers Muhammad Ali

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Muhammad Ali always got up.

In his 61 professional fights Ali only hit the canvas four times and every time he got back up. He suffered only five defeats, only one by a knockout, but even then it was because his corner stopped the fight when a 38-year-old Ali, likely already in the early stages of Parkinson’s disease, was losing badly to a much younger Larry Holmes.

Even in that fight Ali was never on his back. Muhammad Ali always got back up. So when Ali was admitted to a Phoenix-area hospital this week I just expected him to get back up.

But this time it wasn’t meant to be. Muhammad Ali passed away on Friday night at the age of 74.

“It kind of takes your breath away from you for a short period of time,” said Billy Moore.

Billy is the son of Archie Moore, another one of boxing’s greatest champions who was Ali’s first professional trainer. You see, before Muhammad Ali was The Greatest of All Time … or even before he was Muhammad Ali … he was Cassius Clay, an Olympic champion as a light-heavyweight.

Clay’s professional career started outside San Diego, in the hills of Ramona, where he went to train with Archie Moore. He even lived with the family for a time. From the very beginning it was obvious to Billy Moore that his new housemate was special.

“You knew it from the day that he stepped in to the yard,” said Moore. “You knew he was different, and not only as a boxer. He was different as a human being. This guy was probably one of the most outrageous humanitarians you’d even want to meet.”

Tales of Ali’s benevolence are as legendary as his adventures in the ring and Billy Moore saw it all first-hand.

“We were in Portland, OR. He sat in the back of a limousine and signed autographs for over four hours. People were lined up, coming out of buildings downtown. He was everybody’s champion; black, red, white, yellow and brown. He was a caring person and he cared about people and he cared about this country. It was natural for him. It was God-given to him. I don’t think there will ever be another one like him.”

With apologies to Michael Jordan and Cristiano Ronaldo, even today Muhammad Ali is probably the most recognizable athlete on the planet. The man had an aura about him that few individuals have ever possessed.

“He would be sitting in a room and you wouldn’t even have to look around and see; you would just feel the presence,” said Moore. “You could just feel the atmosphere in the room change. That’s the way he was.”

Ali’s personality was, like the man, larger than life. Now Billy is faced with losing a true living legend … and a man he called a friend.

“I don’t even want to think about it, to be truthful with you. That guy was something else. He was something else. And when you spent time with him you’d never forget it.”

The author can confirm that. I was able to meet Muhammad Ali just once, at a charity boxing event in Phoenix several years ago. He came down the red carpet and granted an interview, and I started babbling like an idiot, completely star-struck.

The Champ touched my shoulder and said “Son are you going to ask me a question or tell me how great I am? Because I already know.”

Muhammad Ali made a young reporter feel at home in the presence of greatness. His impact on the world will never be forgotten. Billy Moore and I had a nice smile thinking about old St. Peter because that guy has no idea what kind of hurricane force of a personality is about to come through those pearly gates.

RIP, Champ. The lives you touched are better for having known you … even if it was for just a moment.

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