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Padres Trade Shields To Chicago

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James Shields has made the final start of his career with the San Diego Padres.

The Friars traded Shields to the Chicago White Sox on Saturday, just days after Executive Chairman Ron Fowler put his highest-paid pitcher in the crosshairs of a “I’m as mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore!” rant that was heard all across the baseball world.

“To have a starter like Shields perform as poorly as he did is an embarrassment to the team, an embarrassment to him,” Fowler said.

The trade rumors were swirling around Shields even before he gave up 10 runs in 2.2 innings against the Mariners in Seattle and coaxed the response from Fowler. That one start, however, did not scare of the White Sox, who needed another starting pitcher with experience. Chicago is also getting some cash from the Padres to offset the $21 million Shields is owed each year through 2018.

In exchange Chicago is sending over 26-year-old right-hander Erik Johnson and 17-year-old infielder Fernando Tatis Jr.

Johnson has gone 7-6 with a 4.50 ERA and 77 strikeouts and 49 walks over 18 Major League starts across parts of four seasons. He’s made a pair of starts for the Sox this year and will likely be added immediately to the Padres starting rotation.

Tatis Jr. is only 17 years old and was signed by the White Sox as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic last July.  He’s the son of former Major League infielder Fernando Tatis, who played for 11 years in the big leagues with the Rangers, Cardinals, Expos, Orioles, and Mets.  Tatis Jr. has yet to make his professional playing debut but according to Baseball America shows the potential to be a power source at 3rd base or a corner outfield spot.

Shields was given the largest free agent contract in Padres history, a 4-year, $75 million deal, before the start of the 2015 season but never had the impact on the pitching staff the team was hoping for. In a year and a half with the Friars he had a 15-14 record with a 4.01 ERA in 44 starts.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Padres GM: "We Haven't Been Good Enough"

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The Padres have not been to the playoffs since 2006. They also haven’t had a home-grown position player make any kind of significant impact since … well I’m actually not sure. Probably Benito Santiago, who was signed as an international free agent in 1982 and made a splash in San Diego in 1987 when he was named the NL Rookie of the Year.

So the Friars need fixing on two fronts: the Major League level and the minor league level. That means General Manager A.J. Preller is trying to multi-task.

While he’d like to build a contender right now, he still has to be conscious of making sure he re-stocks the farm. Make no mistake … it is a difficult line to walk, as we saw in 2015.

“When we went to the last off-season and we made the moves that we made we felt like we had some talent in the room that we wanted to build around and take a chance,” said Preller on Saturday after trading starting pitcher James Shields to the White Sox for a pair of prospects. “It wasn’t necessarily that we were saying this is all in on this one year, period. It was more of a situation where it was hey, look, let’s see if we can take a shot and compete and contend and win knowing that if that didn’t work out, at a point down the road we had the ability to pump the brakes and go in a different direction. We were going to have some assets that were attractive to other clubs.”

It was the latter that transpired so Preller went with Plan B, trading closer Craig Kimbrel to the Red Sox for a treasure trove of young talent and sending Joaquin Benoit to the Mariners for two more prospects. Then for 2016 they continued with the same philosophy, adding a few veteran pieces like shortstop Alexei Ramirez and outfielder Jon Jay in hopes they would get off to a great start and be in contention.

“We wanted to take advantage of the starters that we had. We wanted to get some excitement and see if we could put a contending club on the field.”

Again, that did not happen. Again, it was time to start parting with established players and bulking up in other areas.

“When you don’t go down there, then you’ve got to make decisions and that’s what led to [Saturday's trade of James Shields to the White Sox for two prospects].”

It must be noted that in their first run at a MLB contender in 2015 Preller gutted the Padres system, parting with most of their better prospects. In repurposing their big league talent the Friars have, by many accounts, actually bolstered their future with more higher-ceiling players (most notably Javier Guerra and Manuel Margot, both from the Kimbrel trade) in the minor leagues.

“Probably the biggest thing is we haven’t been good enough,” said Preller. “We haven’t been good enough as a group, as a team, as an organization. We talk about it a lot; it’s just building towards a championship-level organization.”

The next chance to strengthen the system comes this week in the MLB Draft and this will be the first time we get to see how Preller attacks it. He arrived in August of 2014, missing the Draft by a couple of months, and a year ago the Friars did not have a first round pick.

This time around the Padres pick 8th, 24th, 25th, 48th, 71st and 85th. That’s three selections in the first round and a tremendous opportunity to truly start building a perennial contender. The Yankees know a thing or two about that.

Between 1990 and 1992 New York drafted 204 players. Only a handful of them actually made it to the Majors in a Yankees uniform and most had little to no impact. However, three of them were Andy Pettitte, Jorge Posada, and Derek Jeter. In 1990 they also signed an international amateur free agent by the name of Mariano Rivera.

You don’t have to hit on all your picks. You just have to hit on a few and all of a sudden you have a dynasty on your hands. The Padres have a chance to find a few domestic superstars and are expected to go big on the international market when that signing period opens in July. If Preller is able to find just a couple of those difference-makers, he won’t have to worry about multi-tasking anymore.

The Major League portion of the task would be in perpetual good hands.

Pope Proclaims 2 New Saints in Canonization Mass

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Pope Francis proclaimed two new saints on Sunday: A Lutheran convert who hid Jews during World War II and the Polish founder of the first men's religious order dedicated to the immaculate conception.

Francis called Swedish-born Elizabeth Hesselblad and Stanislaus Papczynski "exemplary witnesses to this mystery of resurrection" during the canonization Mass in St. Peter's Square. Poland's President Andrzej Duda and first lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda attended the ceremony.

Hesselblad saved the lives of 12 Jewish members of the Piperno-Sed families by hiding them in the convent in Rome where she was superior from December 1943 until the capital's liberation on June 4, 1944.

Israel's Holocaust center Yad Vashem bestowed on her the title "Righteous Among the Nations." It said Hesselblad never tried to convert those she saved but, "rather insisting that they say their Hebrew prayers and fulfill other obligations of their religion."Hesselblad, who was baptized in the Reform Church, migrated to the United States where she worked as a nurse and converted to Catholicism. She later moved to Rome, where she became a nun and dedicated her life to her religious order. She died of natural causes in 1957 and was beatified in 2000.

She is Sweden's second saint in 625 years, following Saint Bridget, who was canonized in 1391.

Her canonization comes ahead of Francis' scheduled trip to Sweden later this year to mark the 500th anniversary of the start of the Protestant Reformation.

Stanislaus of Jesus and Mary, as he is known, supported hospitals and shelters for the poor and cared for the sick in 17th Century Poland. In his early years he himself experienced serious sickness and begged in the streets.

"Papczynski preached mercy and encouraged people to do acts of mercy," the Polish Episcopate said on its website.

His crowning achievement was founding the order of Marian Fathers, which preached the cult of Holy Mary.

Papczynski was born in 1631 to the family of an ironsmith in the village of Podegrodzie, in southern Poland. He had one brother and six sisters, and died in 1701.



Photo Credit: AP

Memphis Officer Struck, Killed by Triple-Shooting Suspect

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A Memphis police officer, who was struck by the fleeing vehicle of a triple-shooting suspect, died Saturday night, police said.

Officer Verdell Smith was taken to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries, Memphis Police Director Mike Rallings said. The 46-year-old was an 18 year veteran of the Memphis Police Department, NBC News reported.

Police said two people were taken to the hospital in critical condition after being shot by the suspect just before 10 p.m. at a downtown bar called Westy's. They say the suspect then ran across the street and shot a third man who was hospitalized in non-critical condition.

Police said the suspect then fled in a vehicle and later struck Smith. The unidentified suspect then fled briefly on foot but was apprehended by police, taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and is expected to face charges.



Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto

Smoke May Be Visible From MCAS Miramar Prescribed Burns

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Drivers heading past Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Saturday and Sunday may see smoke or flames as part of controlled prescribed burns in East Miramar, the base said. 

Flames and smoke may be visible from MCAS Miramar east into West Sycamore Canyon all the way to Scripps Ranch along the freeway corridors. No visibility restrictions are expected. 

The burns are aimed at removing hazardous fuel growth to reduce the risk of a wildfire. The base said setting the fires is part of the annual vegetation-management program.

For additional information, call the Public Affairs Office at (858) 577-6000 or follow @MCASMiramarCA on Twitter.



Photo Credit: Megan Tevrizian

Padres Edge Rockies, Win Series

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Baseball is a funny game. The Padres spent the first part of their week getting throttled by the Mariners and their owner. They have a chance to spend the last part of their week sweeping a division rival.

The Friars beat the Rockies 4-3 on Saturday night at Petco Park. There was a good vibe right from the first inning when Wil Myers, the second batter of the game, hit his 9th home run of the season to left-center field to put San Diego up 1-0.

Colorado took the lead right back in the top of the 2nd when Charlie Blackmon hit a 2-out double off starting pitcher Andrew Cashner to bring in a pair of runs. Cashner has had trouble getting back on track when things start heading south but he was able to right the ship on Saturday. Cash gave the up three runs in 5.2 innings to get his first win in a month (also against the Rockies).

It helped that his offense got him the lead right back. In the bottom of the 2nd Derek Norris ripped a 2-run homer to left, his 6th homer of the year. Norris and Myers combined to go 5-for-8 with a pair of homers, three RBI and two runs scored.

In the third inning Matt Kemp padded his team RBI lead with a single to bring in Jon Jay with what turned out to be the game-winning run.

After Cashner left the Padres bullpen, which has been less-than-stellar of late, came up big. Kevin Quackenbush, back from a stint at Triple-A El Paso, threw 1.1 innings with three punchouts. In the 8th inning Padres Manager Andy Green made good on his promise to make changes to the way he’s utilizing his bullpen.

Brandon Maurer allowed a single to Nick Hundley but struck out the next hitter. With Blackmon, a dangerous left-handed hitter, coming up Green went to the mound and pulled Maurer. In the past he likely would have let his 8th inning specialist try and finish up but this time he went to the closer.

Fernando Rodney got out of the inning then tossed a perfect 9th to get his 11th save of the season. Rodney still has not allowed an earned run in 2016.

The Padres can sweep the Rockies on Sunday behind … well, a whole lot of people. James Shields was the scheduled starter but since he’s now a member of the White Sox organization the Friars will go with Luis Perdomo, get as much out of him as they can, and start using up arms. It's the same process they used in Milwaukee in a win over the Brewers earlier this year.

Keep in mind the game starts at 6:10 because the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon will be run in San Diego on Sunday morning.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Brown on Ali's Lesson: 'Money Is Not God'

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NFL legend Jim Brown said Muhammad Ali's biggest opponents were prejudice and bigotry.

"I'd like to make one thing very clear, Muhammad Ali loved people, and he had white friend as well as black friends — and the only thing that he hated was discrimination and racism," Brown said Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press."

Asked by "MTP" moderator Chuck Todd what lesson today's athletes should take from the pair for the things they did for them '60s," Brown said, "Money is not God, and human dignity is very important."

"Your integrity is way up there. And as a single human being, if you carry yourself in a certain way you can defy all evil that comes at us," he added.



Photo Credit: 'Meet the Press'
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Airstrikes Launched Against ISIS From USS Harry Truman

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AF/A-18 Super Hornet strike fighter jets and E-2C Hawkeye airborne early warning aircraft launched from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) from the Mediterranean Sea Friday to help in the fight against ISIS.

It’s the first time airstrikes have been conducted from the Mediterranean since the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

The airstrikes are aiding Iraqi troops who are fighting to retake Fallujah, Iraq and a northern border city in Syria from ISIS.

The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group is deployed in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, and the carrier is homeported in San Diego. 



Photo Credit: US Navy

Bay Terraces Couple Held at Gunpoint in Their Garage

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A Bay Terraces couple, who preferred to remain anonymous, recovered Saturday after being robbed at gunpoint Friday night inside the garage of their home in the 7200 block of Brookhaven Road.

“Oh my God,” exclaimed neighbor Edna Santiago. “We didn't know that. We didn't hear anything. "

Investigators said three men with dark bandanas over their faces committed the robbery, pistol whipping the man and demanding money.

According to police the couple left their garage door open and were returning home when the attack happened.

One suspect was already inside, and two others rushed in from behind stealing the couple's cell phones and a purse.

Neighbor Mona Rodriguez called the criminals “cowards,” saying “they don’t want to earn their way in society. They need God in their lives."

In the Bay Terraces neighborhood, where many residents have already fenced themselves in for protection, Friday's gunpoint robbery is a violent reminder of what can happen. 

“My husband always says lock the doors. Now I’ll lock the doors,” Rodriguiz said.

The husband and wife are shaken but okay. Investigators said the men were between 20 and 30 years old. 



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Puerto Rico Votes in Democratic Primary

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Puerto Ricans frustrated by the island's economic crisis voted Sunday in the U.S. territory's Democratic presidential primary and local elections, as front-runner Hillary Clinton drew closer to securing the number of delegates needed to win her party's White House nomination.

After a blowout victory Saturday in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Clinton was just 60 delegates short of the 2,383 needed to win the Democratic nomination and advance to the November general election, according to an Associated Press count.

There were 60 pledged delegates at stake in Puerto Rico, and Clinton would need a commanding performance to get them all.

But voters' focus was mostly on the island's economic crisis.

Clinton and her rival, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, have visited Puerto Rico and pledged to help as the island's government tries to restructure $70 billion worth of public debt the governor has said is unpayable.

"This is one of the most important political moments for Puerto Rico," said Emanuel Rosado, a 29-year-old Clinton supporter. "I'm taking action as a result of the economic crisis."

Two weeks before the primary, Sanders criticized a rescue deal, negotiated by U.S. House leaders and the Obama administration, as having colonialist overtones.

In a letter to fellow Senate Democrats, Sanders said the House bill to create a federal control board and allow some restructuring of the territory's $70 billion debt would make "a terrible situation even worse."

"That bill is anti-democratic and it's not in the best interest of Puerto Rico," said Jorge Gaskins, a 67-year-old farmer who supports Sanders and opposes a control board. "What we have now is a colonial relationship with the U.S."

Clinton has said she has serious concerns about the board's powers, but believes the legislation should move forward, or "too many Puerto Ricans will continue to suffer."

Nearly 2.9 million people are registered to vote. Turnout was expected to be high given that Puerto Ricans also were narrowing down their choice for the next governor, as well as senators, representatives and mayors.

Polls closed at 3 p.m. Some voters waited in line for hours in the heat, fanning themselves and requesting chairs.

Juan Carlos Rosario, a 40-year-old designer and Sanders supporter, said he was disappointed about the House bill.

"I haven't seen anything that would help improve Puerto Rico's economy," he said. "The thing I'm most worried about is lobbyists aligning themselves with some candidates who obviously are not seeking what's best for Puerto Rico, but what's best for those who have donated to their campaigns and made them rich."

While they can participate in presidential primaries, Puerto Ricans do not vote in the November presidential election.

No matter, said former Gov. Anibal Acevedo Vila. He supports Puerto Rico's current political status as a commonwealth and urged voters to participate in the primary.

"Many in the past and today think that these presidential primaries are a 'sham' without consequences," he said. "But given the threat that comes from the North and the powerful allies it has here, not taking advantage of this 'sham' to make our voice heard could be a precious wasted opportunity."

Among those voting was Democratic Party superdelegate Andres Lopez, one of the insiders who can vote for the candidate of their choice at the summer convention. He had remained uncommitted, but said Sunday he will support Clinton.

Clinton has 1,776 pledged delegates won in primaries and caucuses; Sanders has 1,501. When including superdelegates, her lead over Sanders is substantial — 2,323 to 1,547.

It takes 2,383 to win.

With Lopez's endorsement, all seven of Puerto Rico's superdelegates have pledged their support for Clinton.

"It is time to focus on squashing 'El Trumpo,'" he said, referring to presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.



Photo Credit: AP
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Pedestrian Crossing Against Signals Struck by Car: PD

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A 23-year-old man crossing the street against traffic signals in San Diego's Mountain View neighborhood suffered serious injuries when he was hit by a car, San Diego Police (SDPD) said. 

The pedestrian, who has not been identified, was walking westbound on the south side of National Avenue at 10:30 p.m. Saturday, police said.

When he crossed at the S. 43rd Avenue crosswalk, against traffic and pedestrian signals, he was struck, SDPD officers said. 

The 76-year-old driver behind the wheel of a 2004 Dodge pick-up heading northbound on S. 43rd Street struck the man, police said. 

The pedestrian suffered serious injuries and was taken to UC San Diego Medical Center. He has intra-cranial bleeding and a fractured left femur. 

The crash is under investigation. 

No other information was immediately available.



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Unlicensed Suspected DUI Driver Strikes Pregnant Driver: PD

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A pregnant woman is in critical condition after an unlicensed driver, suspected of driving under the influence, collided with her car on a San Diego freeway early Sunday, Escondido Police said.

Police responded to the crash at Broadway and Highway 78 in Escondido, about 33 miles north of Downtown San Diego, at approximately 2:05 a.m. Sunday.

The suspect, identified as 33-year-old Jose Uriostegui, was driving a black 2005 Ford F150 eastbound on Highway 78 at Broadway it collided with a grey 2013 Nissan Altima heading northbound on Broadway, according to witness statements and physical evidence police gathered at the scene.

The driver of the Altima, a 27-year-old woman who is six months pregnant, was transported to Palomar Hospital with serious, life-threatening injuries, police said. A second passenger in the Altima, a 24-year-old woman, was also taken to the hospital to be treated for non-life threatening injuries.

Uriostegui tried to flee the scene of the crash on foot and was detained by Good Samaritans, who held him until police arrived. Uriostegui was treated for minor injuries at the scene and arrested.

He was charged with felony DUI, felony hit-and-run and driving without a driver's license. He was booked into the Vista Detention Facility.

The investigation is ongoing and police are asking anyone who may have witnessed the crash or have additional information to call officer Mike Nelson at (760) 839-4407.

Mission San Antonio de Pala Celebrates Bicentennial

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Mission San Antonio de Pala celebrated its bicentennial Sunday.

The Mission was established on June 13, 1816 as one of the "sub-missions" to nearby Mission San Luis Rey in Oceanside.

San Diego Bishop Robert McElroy celebrated a special bilingual outdoor Mass at the Mission, attended by a crowd that overflowed the grounds.

The Mission continues to serve local Native American tribes, including the Pala, Pauma , Rincon, Pechanga and San Pasqual.

The congregation participated in a traditional one-third-mile procession on the streets around the church after the Mass.

The mission is located on Pala Mission Road in Pala. 



Photo Credit: NBC 7

David French Won't Run for President

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Conservative writer and lawyer David French says he will not seek a White House bid, NBC News reported.

In an article posted on the National Review’s website Sunday night, French said he’s opposed to both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, but after “serious study,” determined he was not the right candidate for the job. 

"[G]iven the timing, the best chance for success goes to a person who either is extraordinarily wealthy (or has immediate access to extraordinary wealth) or is a transformational political talent. I'm grateful for the opportunity to serve my country, and I thank God for the successes I've had as a lawyer and a writer, but it is plain to me that I'm not the right person for this effort," he wrote. 

Bill Kristol of the Weekly Standard hinted that anti-Trump forces were about to put a major candidate forward to run as an independent. News broke last week that Kristol was considering French.

Had he ventured with an independent run, French would have had the daunting task of raising massive funds while entering the arena with virtually no name recognition.



Photo Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS

3rd-Grader Can't Wear Trump Hat

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A California third-grader wishing to sport his favorite hat at school is being denied, but he isn't going down without a fight.

Logan Autry loves Donald Trump and his signed "Make America Great Again" cap, but school officials at Powers-Ginsburg Elementary School in Fresno, California, told the young boy to take it off, according to NBC affiliate KSEE.

“It’s my favorite hat,” Autry said. “The First Amendment says I can wear my hat.”

"They told me to take my hat off because it brings negative emotions to the other children who don’t like him,” he said.

Autry was confronted by other students opposed to Trump, which triggered school officials to jump in and tell the young Trump fan to remove his cap in order to keep everyone safe, KSEE reported.

“They were saying they didn’t like Trump, they were saying he was stupid,” Autry said. “I had to explain to them what Donald Trump was actually doing.”

According to district rules, hats may be worn outside of the classroom, but must be taken off if they create a distraction, KSEE reported.

The district released the following statement:

“Our job as educators is to facilitate a safe learning environment where we encourage robust conversations of diverse and thoughts. We are proud that in this case, our school achieved that goal by allowing the student to wear his hat for several days. However, it is also our responsibility to take precautions when the discourse begins to impact our school climate and interrupt school operations.”

Autry told KSEE that he plans to keep wearing his hat despite all the controversy.



Photo Credit: KSEE
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Soldiers Killed in Tx. Floods ID'd

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The U.S. Army has identified the ninth soldier who died, along with eight others, during a training accident a Central Texas Army post on June 2 as Spc. Yingming Sun.

The 25-year-old from Monterey Park, California, entered active-duty military service in October 2013 as a motor transport operator and has been stationed in Fort Hood, since August 2014.

The soldiers died when their tactical vehicle was washed away while crossing the rain-swollen Owl Creek on the Fort Hood Army post.

Staff Sgt. Miguel Angel Colonvazquez, 38, Brooklyn, New York, Spc. Christine Faith Armstrong, 27, Twentynine Palms, California, Pfc. Brandon Austin Banner, 22, Milton, Florida, Pfc. Zachery Nathaniel Fuller, 23, Palmetto, Florida, Pvt. Isaac Lee Deleon, 19, San Angelo, Texas, Pvt. Eddy Raelaurin Gates, 20, Dunn, North Carolina, Pvt. Tysheena Lynette James, Jersey City, New Jersey, Cadet Mitchell Alexander Winey, 21, Valparaiso, Indiana, were also killed Thursday.

Three more soldiers were injured in but survived. They were released from Fort Hood's hospital Friday.

The mother of Pvt. Gates spoke with NBC affiliate WRAL-TV.

"I'm hoping that this is still a dream, that's what I'm really hoping for. She is always defending someone else," Gates said. "That has been her nature to defend someone else."



Photo Credit: James Family/West Point/Yolanda Armstrong

Dallas Signs: 'Gorilla Deserved It'

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For the third time in eight days, someone altered electronic road signs on Dallas-area roadways, this time to say "Gorilla deserved it."

The latest message is an apparent reference to the fatal shooting of a gorilla named Harambe at Cincinnati Zoo after a child fell into its exhibit on May 28.

An NBC DFW viewer tweeted a photo of a portable sign early Sunday morning on Cedar Springs Road between the Katy Trail and Carlisle Street in Dallas.

Similar incidents were reported on Saturday, May 28 in Cockrell Hill — when signs said "Donald Trump Is a Shape-Shifting Lizard" and "Bernie for President" — and on Tuesday, May 31 in West Dallas, where a third sign read "Work Is Canceled — Go Back Home."

TxDOT officials said those signs belonged to a contractor performing work along Interstate 30, and the hacking was only possible by physically opening a control panel on the sign.

Tampering with such signs is a third-degree felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

If you notice suspicious activity around portable signs, especially when there is no construction, contact TxDOT or local police.



Photo Credit: NBC DFW
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Pedestrian Hit in Kearny Mesa

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A pedestrian was hit by a car in Kearny Mesa Sunday evening, San Diego police confirmed. 

The person was struck at the intersection of Linda Vista Road and Mesa College around 9:45 p.m. 

The pedestrian is being evaluated for possible major injuries. 

The driver stayed at the scene. 

An investigation is underway. 

No other information was immediately available.

Check back for updates on this breaking news story. 



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Nazi History Hunters Set Sights on Hitler's Secret Nukes

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Hobby historians in Germany believe they have an urgent case of potentially catastrophic proportions — secret nuclear bombs leftover from the Nazis. 

Deep inside the Thuringian Forest, 70-year-old Peter Lohr and two friends have been scanning the surface with "earth radar" and "geomagnetic" technology after one of Lohr's companions found Allied aerial surveillance photos of what they believe is a Nazi storage facility.

"What did the Nazis really do here? There are so many unanswered questions," said 67-year-old Walter Boegenhold, a local resident interested in military history who has heard stories about Hitler's secret projects in the region since his teenage years.

The team's initial surface scans produced colorful images of what appears to be bomb-shaped metal housing, which led Lohr and Boegenhold to partner with explosive ordnance disposal expert Ralf Ehmann, 60.



Photo Credit: AP

Chaos Over Kanye in NYC

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Hundreds of people packed the streets outside Webster Hall in Manhattan's East Village after Kanye West teased a surprise concert there early Monday — but the concert was ultimately canceled as the crowd grew and grew, leading to a frenzied scene that left behind smashed cars and piles of trash. 

Despite high energy at the unplanned event and a heavy police presence, no one was arrested, according to the NYPD.

Photos and video posted online show hundreds, possibly thousands, of people gathered outside the concert venue. Some fans climbed on top of cars and others scaled poles and light posts. East 11th Street was jam-packed end to end down the block as people clapped and cheered. 

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A police car and a taxi cab could be seen trying to make their way through the throng of people. East 11th Street was ultimately closed between Third and Fourth avenues as more fans streamed in. 

Concertgoers said other rappers and West's management gave clues something would happen at Webster Hall around 2 a.m. Within minutes, the streets were packed with fans and police. 

West took to Twitter at 1 a.m. to announce that the 2 a.m. pop-up concert had sold out. But by 1:45 a.m., Webster Hall tweeted, "There is no late show at Webster Hall tonight. Please get home safely." 

A Webster Hall employee said the concert was never officially scheduled. One employee was seen with a bullhorn telling the crowd: "Go home! Go home!" 

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No official announcement was made about what led to the show's cancellation, but it was likely the enormous crowd, which ballooned quickly after word of the concert got out.

"It was an energy. It wasn't that people were bugging out, but it wasn't that people were calm. People just saw their idol, so it was almost like excitement," said Dante Moreno, from New Rochelle.

As the energy grew, West appeared on top of a car that was quickly surrounded by fans. The musician could be seen driving by amid a wave of cellphones as fans tried to get a photo of the Grammy Award-winning musician. 

By 3:30 a.m., East 11th Street had cleared out and re-opened to traffic — but smashed cars were left behind. Some of the vehicles had shattered windows and others had dented roofs. The crowd also left heaps of trash.

Nareem Rigaud, of Brooklyn, said despite some destruction, a positive atmosphere surrounded the event.

"It wasn't a crazy riot or anything. People was just eager to see Kanye. The energy was high but there wasn't fighting or anything like that," Rigaud said.

But East Village resident Michael Gomez saw it differently. He said that both of his cars were vandalized during the chaos. Now, he said, he's stuck paying his insurance deductibles. 

"They are animals," Gomez said. "No reason to do something like that. No reason at all."

It's unlikely West or Webster Hall will be culpable for any of the damages, however. Attorney Michael Bachner said that he could have let police know he was going to announce the performance, but there was know way he could have predicted the crowd's behavior.

"The only way to hold Kanye West liable would be to prove he had knowledge or intention or at least acted negligently," he said. 

Later on Monday, Mayor de Blasio tweeted to West and his wife, Kim Kardashian, urging them to plan future events with the city.

".@kanyewest @kimkardashian Great block parties are planned. @Chirlane & I can throw one w/ you to benefit NYC kids," he tweeted.

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West's surprise announcement came after the third day of the Governors Ball Music Festival was canceled due to stormy weather. West was scheduled to perform at the Randall's Island event before it was rained out. 

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Photo Credit: @fl0w_316/@chefboyardede/Instagram
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