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Rain Makes Way for Potholes in San Diego

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Although the rain is much needed in San Diego, along with it comes the issue of potholes.

In 2015, a report released by TRIP, a transportation research company based in Washington, D.C., stated that San Diego's roads were ranked the eighth roughest in the nation.

The City of San Diego launched an effort to fix 1,000 miles of streets over a period of five years. A reported by Cartegraph Systems Inc. released in 2016 showed that the condition of local streets had risen by more than 20 percent in the past several years.

It was the city's first assessment since 2011.

But San Diego residents are still concerned over the numerous potholes that still make for a bumpy ride on many local roads.

"They're terrible. They need to be fixed in this town," said Leslie Bently, a resident of La Jolla.

Like many other residents NBC 7 spoke with, Bently said she was worried the potholes were messing up the alignment on her car.

"There are too many of them and we're not doing enough to fix them," said Del Sur resident Roger White.

"My sister was visiting from Georgia and she said 'why are your roads in such bad condition?'" La Jolla resident Rebecca Jorgenson said.

The City says it recognizes the issue but they can't fix potholes without knowing where they exist. They have set up a hotline and a website where residents can report potholes.

Many drivers told NBC 7, they were not aware of such a program but would make use of it from now on.

To report a pothole, click here or call the hotline at (619) 527-7500.



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Report: Incumbent Roberts Concedes to Gaspar

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Incumbent Dave Roberts has conceded in the District 3 race, according to a campaign spokesperson for Encinitas Mayor Kristin Gaspar. NBC 7 has reached out to the Roberts campaign to confirm the report but has not received a response.

Roberts reportedly called Gaspar Monday morning to concede in the close race for County Board of Supervisors. The race has been close with just over 1,200 votes separating the two candidates.

"Supervisor Roberts called Supervisor-elect Gaspar this morning to offer his congratulations and graciously offered his assistance in the transition," according to a written statement from Gaspar's campaign.

Roberts has held the seat since 2012 when he beat out Republican Steve Danon, former chief of staff to Congressman Brian Bilbray. Roberts replaced Pam Slater-Price who retired after 20 years on the board.

Roberts was the only Democrat on the Board of Supervisors.

Kristin Gaspar, a Republican, has served as the mayor of Encinitas since 2014, and before that was a member of the Encinitas City Council.

The third district runs from northern San Diego up the coast to Encinitas and includes Escondido, Rancho Bernardo, Scripps Ranch, Carmel Mountain and Tierrsanta.



Photo Credit: NBC 7
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GOP Congressman Darrell Issa Narrowly Wins Seat: AP

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California's Darrell Issa, the wealthiest member of Congress, is keeping his House seat, the Associated Press reports.

The eight-term Republican and chief antagonist of President Barack Obama survived a fierce fight with political neophyte Democrat Doug Applegate in his coastal district north of San Diego.

Unofficial returns Monday show Issa holding a 2,300-vote edge, with only a small number of votes left to tally. Vote-counting extended for weeks after the election as officials tallied late-arriving mail ballots and those filled out at polling places.

Donald Trump's presence at the top of the ticket in Democratic-tilting California and changing demographics in the district made the contest much closer than expected.

Issa is the former chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

His fortune from a car-alarm manufacturing business has been estimated at more than $250 million.



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Gas Leak Reported in Spring Valley Neighborhood

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Approximately 150 students were briefly sheltered at an elementary school after a natural gas leak in Spring Valley Monday afternoon, Cal Fire confirmed.

The leak was reported around 3:36 p.m. on Jamacha Road and Darby Street, according to the San Diego Sheriff's Department (SDSO).

Cal Fire officials said 20 homes were initially evacuated but residents were allowed to return just after 4 p.m.

According to SDG&E, the leak began after a construction crew struck a gas line. 

Just before 5 p.m., Cal Fire reported that approximately 150 students were sheltered at Avondale Elementary. They were released to their parents around 5:30 p.m. after SDG&E cleared the area.

SDG&E initially said it would take approximately two hours to repair the leak. Cal Fire officials reported the leak was over just after 9 p.m.

No other information was immediately available.



Photo Credit: NBC 7
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WATCH: New Drone Video Shows Apple 'Spaceship' Almost Done

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A new drone video released over the Thanksgiving weekend shows that Apple's new "Spaceship" building in Cupertino is nearly completed.

David Sexton, who runs Sexton Videography, made a trip from his hometown Chicago to California's Silicon Valley over the holidays. He sent his DJI Phantom 3 Advanced drone into the air over Apple's new campus.

"I'm an Apple fan boy," Sexton told NBC Bay Area by phone on Monday. "I was on vacation and no one was around, so I decided to do a flyover."

Sexton did the same thing last December, and noted how remarkable the construction changes were in a year's time. "It was just a shell," he said. "It's really blossomed."

His video, taken on Thanksgiving and posted on Nov. 25, shows aerials of Apple's 176-acre Campus 2, aka the Spaceship, being built between Homestead Road and Interstate Highway 280. The solar-paneled, space-age, circular building is slated to open in a few months, in early 2017.

The drone video also shows an underground auditorium, a huge research and development building, a tunnel with underground parking and a fitness center for employees.

A representative from Apple's Campus 2 media list did not respond for comment.

For more information on the project, click here.



Photo Credit: David Sexton/ Sexton Videography

Woman Runs Triathlon, Breaks Fingers, Delivers Baby in 1 Day

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A Tacoma, Washington woman has quite a story to tell after her unexpectedly hectic Thanksgiving. It started with a triathlon, took her to a hospital, and ended at the dinner table with baby pictures.

Rhonda DiCostanzo was up before sunrise on Thanksgiving morning. She kneaded some dough for the dinner rolls and headed out to participate in a YMCA triathlon.

As she was crossing the finish line, she tripped, fell, and broke two of her fingers. DiCostanzo works as a midwife at St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma. She hurried over to the ER, where she knows some nurses, to get her hand fixed up.

"And I heard this lady come in, and she was obviously in very active labor and was obviously going to deliver very quickly. You could just hear it," DiCostanzo said.

Jessica Morales could not wait a minute longer. The hospital delivery staff were still on their way. So DiCostanzo rushed over, with her hand still injured, and single-handedly delivered Morales's baby boy.

When all was said and done, DiCostanzo served Thanksgiving dinner to 16 people.

Chula Vista’s Holiday Parade to Light Up Downtown

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With twinkling lights galore, Chula Vista will kick off the holiday season this weekend with its longtime Starlight Parade in the heart of the community.

The Chula Vista Starlight Parade begins at 6 p.m. Saturday in the Third Avenue Village, on Third Avenue between E and H streets. The free community event – going strong for more than 50 years – features dozens of local school groups, bands, dance groups, car clubs and more marching downtown.

Parade participants compete for trophies in 12 categories including first, second and third place marching band, best presentation of a holiday theme, best use of lights and best dance, to name a few.

Organizers say this year’s parade will feature a “snack alley” where vendors will sell treats – from popcorn to funnel cake. From noon to 5 p.m., kids of all ages can play in the snow in an area dubbed “Frosty’s Snow Hill” near the parade route.

The Starlight Parade is the highlight of a day filled with festive events in Chula Vista.

Prior to the parade, the Third Avenue Village Association (TAVA) will host its 5th annual Holiday in the Village festival from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Memorial Park and at some participating merchants along Third Avenue.

The fest includes live music – including a 2:45 p.m. performance by the San Diego Youth Symphony – crafts and photo opportunities for the little ones with holiday characters. Attendees can also take part in an Ugliest Holiday Sweater Contest at 3:45 p.m.



Photo Credit: Chula Vista Starlight Parade/Facebook
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Group Calls for Trump to Speak Out More Against 'Outbreak of Hate'

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The Southern Poverty Law Center has documented 900 incidents of bias and violence in the 10 days since the elections and is calling on President-elect Donald Trump to more aggressively condemn what it calls "a national outbreak of hate."

According to the report, schools have been the most common sites of the spike in harassment and bullying.

The SPLC drew its numbers from submissions to its #ReportHate website and reports in the press. It did not count online harassment. NBC News has not independently verified the incidents.

Anti-immigrant sentiments made up the largest share of incidents reported by motivation, followed by anti-black, anti-Semitic, anti-LGBT and anti-Muslim.

Brenda Abdelall of Muslim Advocates said that Trump's call on "60 Minutes" for supporters accused of harassment to "stop it" is "a step in the right direction - but there must be more."



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Rudolph, Penguins Visit Rady Children's Hospital

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Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and a mini penguin parade from SeaWorld San Diego paid a visit to the young patients at Rady Children’s Hospital on Tuesday.

Rudolph and his four-legged friends handed out toys and sang Christmas songs.

Some of the young patients said it finally felt like Christmas.

The roughly 200 young Rady patients are often unable to leave, and the Rudolph visit allowed them a chance to escape their hospital beds.

In addition to singing Christmas carols, the children also took part in a coloring art project.

“It’s more exciting because it’s a lot of people here. And the little kids are smiling,” said Rady patient Vanessa.

Penguins along with a beaver, two-toed sloth and some cockatoos, all from SeaWorld San Diego, visited the hospital as part of the Christmas celebration.



Photo Credit: NBC 7

1 Dead After Train Collides With Pedestrian in Del Mar

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One person has died after a train and pedestrian collided near Seagrove Park in Del Mar, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department. 

The incident occurred at 11:22 a.m. near 15th Street and Coast Boulevard, near Seagrove Park in Del Mar.

A man in his 60s or 70s stepped toward the railroad tracks at the designated pedestrian crossing right before the collision, deputies said. 

The train turned on its emergency breaking, but struck the man right as he stepped onto the tracks, deputies said. He was pronounced dead on scene. 

The incident is under investigation. 

Train service in the area was delayed around noon Tuesday. Train 573 was delayed as a result of the collision between Sorrento Valley and Solana Beach, the Pacific Surfline tweeted. The train was cleared from the incident scene two hours after the crash. 

Train 777 and Train 768 were also delayed as a result. 

Authorities do not have details on how the crash happened. 

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the Sheriff's Department's non-emergency line at (858) 565-5200.

No other information was immediately available.



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Activist Dorothy Height Among 12 Additions to Forever Stamps

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Civil rights activist Dorothy Height, who dedicated her life to fighting for racial and gender equality, is among 12 new additions to the U.S. Postal Service's 2017 forever stamps. 

Height will be featured on the 40th stamp in the Black Heritage series, according to a release from the Postal Service. A Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, she was a leading member of the civil rights movement. Height also founded the National Women's Political Caucus with Gloria Steinem, Shirley Chisholm and Betty Friedan in 1971.

She worked with the likes of Martin Luther King Jr. and John Lewis on civil rights initiatives, too. 

"Although she rarely gained the recognition granted her male contemporaries, she became one of the most influential civil rights leaders of the 20th century," the organization said of Height. 

Also featured on one of the new stamps will be Robert Panara, "an influential teacher and a pioneer in the field of deaf studies."

Panara will be featured on the 16th stamp in the Distinguished Americans series with a photo of him signing the word "respect."

"During his 40-year teaching career, Panara inspired generations of students with his powerful use of American Sign Language," the Postal Service said.

The statehood anniversaries of Nebraska and Mississippi will be celebrated as part of the Statehood stamp series.

"2017 will be an exciting year for the Postal Service’s stamp program," said Mary-Anne Penner, the director for stamp services in a statement. "This amazing collection of stamps features beautiful art, distinguished Americans and historic events."

Other forever stamps feature images of flowers, such as the "celebration boutonniere" and the "celebration corsage." Stamps paying tribute to nature and pollinators, like bees and butterflies, will also debut.

Henry David Thoreau, an acclaimed American thinker and writer, will also be featured on a 2017 forever stamp.

"With his personal example of simple living, his criticism of materialism and the questions he raises about the place of the individual in society and humanity's role in the natural world, Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) continues to inspire readers," the Postal Service said.

Ezra Jack Keats' book "The Snowy Day" will appear in a stamp booklet as well, along with a Christmas Carols booklet. Artist Andrew Wyeth's paintings will also be featured on a stamp.



Photo Credit: US Postal Service

La Jolla Preps for Christmas Celebration

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Sleigh bells by the sea, anyone? A festive tradition returns to the streets of La Jolla this weekend, filled with bright lights and holiday cheer.

The 59th Annual La Jolla Christmas Parade & Holiday Festival takes place Saturday from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. along Girard Avenue and Prospect Street. The parade starts at 2 p.m. and ends around 4:30 p.m. at the La Jolla Recreation Center at 615 Prospect St.

There, the Holiday Festival awaits revelers with the 4:30 p.m. lighting of the Community Christmas Tree on the lawn, live music and dance performances, a Kids’ Zone and lots of fun activities. This year’s theme is “Christmas in the Future.” The festival schedule, seen in full here, includes an hour for photos with Santa Claus, from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., too.

The event’s website includes a map of the parade route and information about “No Parking” zones, which include the following areas to avoid on the day of the parade:

• Both sides of Ivanhoe Avenue, between Ivanhoe Avenue East and Torrey Pines Road
• Both sides of Girard Avenue, between Torrey Pines Road and Kline Street.
• Both sides of Kline Street, between Ivanhoe and Fay avenues.
• Both sides of Herschel Avenue, between Torrey Pines Road and Silverado Street.
• Both sides of Torrey Pines Road, between Herschel Avenue and Virginia Way.
• Both sides of Girard Avenue, between Kline and Prospect streets.
• Both sides of Prospect Street, between Girard Avenue and La Jolla Boulevard.
• Both sides of Draper Avenue, between Silverado and Kline streets.

The parade will include grand marshals and local dignitaries, including San Diego Police Department Chief Shelley Zimmerman and San Diego City Council President Sherri Lightner.



Photo Credit: Amapola Photography
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Charges Dropped in 2010 Report of Attempted Abduction

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A man once accused of attempted kidnapping at two Solana Beach-area schools no longer faces charges in one of the alleged incidents.

A San Diego judge has dismissed two charges against Jack Doshay, a member of an affluent San Diego family, in connection with a September 2010 incident reported at Solana Santa Fe Elementary School.

Doshay was arrested after a similar kidnapping attempt on the campus of Skyline Elementary School in March 2015.

A man tried to tape a 7-year-old girl and take her from the campus at approximately 3:15 p.m. as children were leaving the Solana Beach school.

The girl’s screams and kicks caught the attention of staffers at the school and the girl managed to escape unharmed.

After Doshay's arrest in the Skyline School incident, prosecutors accused him of an alleged incident five years earlier.

In September 2010, San Diego County Sheriff's Deputies investigated the attempted kidnapping of a 5-year-old girl near the baseball fields at Solana Santa Fe Elementary School. In that incident, the girl was allegedly lured behind a shed after school and told she was going to see a bunny. Deputies investigated the report that a man grabbed the girl by her hips, unzipped her pants and tried to remove them. The girl allegedly screamed and kicked the suspect to escape.

On Monday, a San Diego judge dismissed the two felony charges connected to the 2010 incident, according to Doshay's defense attorney Paul Pfingst.

A sheriff's deputy who investigated the complaint at the time declared it to be  unfounded but that information was not disclosed to the grand jury who indicted Doshay, Pfingst said.

"The prosecution said they were unaware of and had not considered the information provided by the deputy sheriff back in 2010," Pfingst said. "The judge said you had a duty to be aware of [it] and to show [it] to the grand jury."

Doshay still faces eight charges including kidnapping and assault with intent for sexual conduct, child abuse and a variety of false imprisonment charges regarding the 2015 Skyline School incident.

Pfingst said his client may appeal some of those other charges because of what he described as a lack of evidence of any sexual motive.

“We believe the prosecution relied upon inadmissible evidence to try to prove that,” Pfingst said. “The judge disagreed with us and we’re now assessing whether we wish to appeal that.”

Up to four charges could be included in a future appeal, he explained.

Pfingst said he has not discussed a plea deal with the prosecution as a result of Monday’s motions.

Doshay’s parents are Glenn and Karen Doshay. Glenn is a minority stakeholder of the San Diego Padres.

Jack Doshay had been accepted into a university 10 days prior to the 2015 alleged attempted kidnapping.

Glenn suspected his son may have been involved based on the vehicle description, grand jury transcripts said.

According to the documents, Glenn told investigators he had also looked at his son’s computer and found online search history on how to “tape” someone up using duct tape.

There were also searches on the laptop for the terms “child erotica,” “little girls modeling” and “Japanese schoolgirl teens” under Jack Doshay’s log-in.

As Glenn pieced things together, he hired Pfingst to represent his son, the documents stated.

Karen’s statement in the transcripts echoed Glenn’s story about how they believed their son was a suspect in the March 2015 alleged kidnapping.

Doshay was out on bail and under 24-hour supervision, Pfingst said.

A trial date has not been set.



Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego

Changes in Store for Kaaboo

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The times they are a-changin’. While that phrase applies to the world in general on a daily basis, it also pertains microcosmically to the San Diego megafest Kaaboo Del Mar.

For the past two years that the multi-day music/art/food festival has been in existence, event organizers have made tweaks and added amenities in an effort to create the "ultimate weekend escape." (Heck, they had me at flushing toilets, to be honest.) But for their 2017 installment, already scheduled to take over the Del Mar Fairgrounds and Thouroughbred Club on Sept. 15-17, plans have evolved, thanks in no small part to patron feedback, safety issues brought to light by last year’s fest and a desire to increase guests’ comfort and enjoyment.

In a recent press release, Kaaboo organizers took aim at improving several aspects for 2017: Venue location, traffic, security, safety, parking, restrooms, cleanliness and the number of bars.

According to an NBC7.com report in September, concertgoers at one point tried to force their way into a stage area that was already at capacity (hip-hop star Ludacris and DJ Steve Aoki were slated to perform). The scene turned unruly and some concertgoers reported that sheriff’s deputies used pepper spray and tasers to disperse the crowd. Kaaboo organizers took the incident seriously, hiring a new director of security with large venue experience -- including stints at two NFL stadiums -- as well as relocating some of the stages to improve accessibility and safety.

Anyone familiar with the San Diego County Fair can also attest to the nasty gridlock traffic that plagues the area on peak days, and the experience at Kaaboo was no different (according to another September NBC7.com article, patrons waited "anywhere from two to three hours to get out of the parking lot”).

In response, festival planners announced this week that they were looking at "several options to mitigate traffic jams and provide an organized and safe entrance/exit from the parking lots with a better defined flow and additional training for our parking attendants." Organizers also said they brought a leading consulting firm on board to help improve traffic flow around the venue, using "detailed modeling" to eliminate bottleneck. When it comes to traffic around Del Mar, any help is welcome.

Last but certainly not least: Restrooms. With Kaaboo Del Mar being the only big festival in recent memory to bring in actual flushing toilets, they've already got a leg up on the competition. Apparently they're not satisfied with resting on their laurels and plan on adding more restrooms, including a centralized restroom area -- and are increasing their janitorial staff to ensure that "they remain stocked, clean and comfortable." Huzzah!

The 2017 incarnation of the festival could be a vast improvement over its previous two -- and considering the size and scope of the venture already, that’s saying something. It remains to be seen if these changes will be instituted or if they’ll even prove to be helpful, but the fact that organizers are addressing these issues at all is promising, to say the least.

Dustin Lothspeich books The Merrow, plays in Diamond Lakes, and runs the music equipment-worshipping blog Gear and Loathing in San Diego. Follow his updates on Twitter or contact him directly.



Photo Credit: Alex Matthews

Grand Opening Details for 24-Hour Drive-Thru Dunkin' Donuts

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A shiny new Dunkin' Donuts location in National City will officially open its drive-thru window for business early next month.

Part of the popular chain of eateries headquartered in Massachusetts, this new Dunkin’ Donuts store is slated to open on Dec. 6. It is located at 2139 East Plaza Boulevard and Interstate 805, and is highly visible from the freeway.

Boardwalk Development, Inc., signed a lease with Dunkin' Donuts to create the new 24-hour sweets shop. The site had been under construction for several months, with sweet signs of the shop's opening grabbing the attention of locals. Now, the opening date is so close, National City residents can practically taste it.

In late July, Ron Bamberger, president of Boardwalk Development, Inc., told NBC 7 the shop's proximity to the freeway is a substantial benefit and will be convenient for morning commuters who want to pop in and out of the location quickly as they grab a doughnut on their way to work.

Bamberger said the business is on the morning side of the freeway -- the side of the street where the bulk of morning rush hour traffic occurs.

"The expectations are that it will be a very busy location," said Bamberger.

According to Sonya Modi, public relations specialist from Havas Formula, the company representing the project, this store will be the second Dunkin’ Donuts drive-thru in San Diego County.

She said the eatery's grand opening celebration will include free samples and giveaways for patrons, plus photo opportunities with “Cuppy,” the mascot of Dunkin’ Donuts. The first guest in the drive-thru and walk-in lines on Dec. 6 will receive $250 worth of Dunkin’ Donuts cards. The first 50 people to walk into the eatery will be gifted with a travel mug and a $2 Dunkin’ Donuts Perks card. The ribbon cutting ceremony goes down at 11 a.m. that day.

The first local Dunkin’ Donuts drive-thru is in Ramona, though that location is a Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins combo store, so this National City shop will be the first freestanding local Dunkin’ Donuts drive-thru in San Diego County.

In late July, Modi told NBC 7 the National City location is expected to create about 100 new jobs for local residents. Bamberger said positions would include front and back-of-the-house, as well as management.

The new shop is locally owned and operated by the disabled U.S. veteran-owned business, Burton Restaurants, LLC, Modi said. Franchisee Talisin Burton and operators Gregory Dono, Daniel Gomes and Frank Garner are all retired or current members of the U.S. Marine Corps.

Burton Restaurants, LLC also owns and operates four other Dunkin' Donuts locations in San Diego: Camp Pendleton, MCAS Miramar and Balboa Naval Hospital, as well as a store at Embassy Suites in downtown San Diego.

Two years ago, Dunkin Donuts announced it planned to open its first traditional restaurants in California over the coming years. This plan included 14 restaurants San Diego County, with the first opening in 2016.

Modi told NBC 7 that after the National City location opens, there are two other San Diego County Dunkin’ Donuts slated to open this year: one in El Cajon and the other at Naval Air Station North Island.

Currently, San Diego County is home to these other Dunkin’ Donuts locations: an outpost at the Embassy Suites Hotel in downtown San Diego (601 Pacific Highway); a shop at Naval Medical Center San Diego’s Building 1 (34800 Bob Wilson Dr.); a shop at MCAS Miramar’s Building 5305; the Camp Pendleton location; and the Ramona Dunkin’ Donuts/Baskin-Robbins location (1410 Main St.).

Dunkin' Donuts was founded in 1950 by Bill Rosenberg in Quincy, Massachusetts. Today, the company has a cult following as the world's leading baked goods and coffee chain, serving more than 3 million customers daily and selling 52 varieties of doughnuts.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

'Modern Nativity' Ruffles Feathers

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A San Diego-based company is ruffling feathers with a new product: the “Modern Nativity,” a reimagined, 2016 version of the birth of Jesus, complete with hipster-style Wise Men and all of the bells and whistles of the millennial age.

Touted on the company’s Shopify page as “the coolest Nativity set you’ll see all year,” the modern-day scene includes Joseph – rocking a man bun and a denim shirt – taking a selfie of his family as he kneels next to baby Jesus in his manger and Mary, who is holding a latte cup and striking a “Duck Face” pose. The roof of their little stable is equipped with solar panels.

The three Wise Men are all riding Segways – each sporting a trendy style, including suspenders and a bow tie. They come bearing gifts for Jesus, packaged in Amazon Prime boxes. The Nativity also features a teenage shepherd, holding his smartphone and wearing earbuds and skinny jeans. His animals include a sheep clad in a festive holiday sweater and an organic-branded cow chomping on gluten-free feed.

The Modern Nativity is the brainchild of the Wright Brothers, who run their office out of B Street in downtown San Diego. They came up with the Nativity scene back in August and began selling the product, which is priced at $130 per set, about a week ago. In an interview Tuesday, the brothers told NBC 7 they've sold several hundred sets daily since launching their product.

But despite the high volume of sales, not everyone likes the Modern Nativity.

The creators said some people are criticizing the product for being sacrilegious and mocking the story of Christmas.

“We’ve gotten everything from, ‘Oh, you’re going to Hell’ to ‘You guys are totally reinventing the way we think about Christmas,’” Modern Nativity co-founder Casey Wright told NBC 7.

The Wrights are also being called out by millennials and hipsters who don’t agree with how the Nativity characters were styled.

Wright told NBC 7 he and his brother were raised in a Christian household and the product is all in good fun, and was not designed to offend those who are religious.

In San Diego, some residents told NBC 7 they found the Modern Navity hilarious, while some found the idea of the reimagined scene disrespectful.

"I believe it's offensive and we have to respect each other’s' beliefs and religion," said one San Diegan.

"I think it's cool. Definitely modern day," said another passerby. "I'm not offended at all."



Photo Credit: Modern Nativity
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2.5 Million Dehumidifiers Recalled Over Fire Risk

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About 2.5 million dehumidifiers were recalled following reports of 450 fires and $19 million in property damage, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said Tuesday.

The recall by manufacturer Gree involves several models of dehumidifiers under 13 different brands, including Frigidaire, GE, and Kenmore.

The recall was first announced in September 2013, updated in October 2013 and expanded in January 2014. The company announced it again Tuesday morning.

This recall involves 20, 25, 30, 40, 45, 50, 65 and 70-pint dehumidifiers with brand names Danby, De’Longhi, Fedders, Fellini, Frigidaire, GE, Gree, Kenmore, Norpole, Premiere, Seabreeze, SoleusAir and SuperClima.

A full list of recalled model numbers and date codes are available here.

The dehumidifiers were sold at AAFES, HH Gregg, Home Depot, Kmart, Lowe’s, Menards, Mills Fleet Farm, Sam’s Club, Sears, Walmart and other stores nationwide and in Canada, and online at Amazon.com and Ebay.com, from January 2005 through August 2013 for between $110 and $400.

The brand name and the pint capacity are printed on the front of the dehumidifier. The model number and date code are printed on a sticker that could be found on the back, front or side of the unit.

The dehumidifiers are white, beige, gray or black plastic and measure between 19 and 24 inches tall, 13 and 15 inches wide, and 9 and 11 inches deep.

CPSC urged customers who have one of these units to immediately unplug and stop using it, and contact Gree for a full refund at 866-853-2802 or online at www.greeusa.com.



Photo Credit: CPSA

Local Couple Sentenced For Holding And Forcing Woman to Work

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A San Diego couple was sentenced to three years of probation on Tuesday for locking up an Indonesian woman at their home and forcing her to work without pay, the U.S. Attorney's Office confirmed.

Firas Majeed, 45, and Shatha Abbas, 39, were arrested on April 8, 2016 after the victim slipped a note to a health-care worker who visited the home in El Cajon. The note, written in the victim's native language, begged for help.

The woman was rescued by agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigation on March 22. 

Majeed and Abbas plead guilty on August 18 to holding the woman's passport illegally so that she was forced to work for their household between November 2015 and March 2016, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

The victim reported that she had been forced to work for Abbas' relative in Dubai, United Arab Emirates for five years before she was forced to leave to the U.S. 

While at the couple's El Cajon home, the victim was required to work up to 18 hours a day, every day of the week without pay. She was also not allowed to leave the home alone.

“Forcing someone to work under these horrible conditions is slavery, pure and simple. Victims of domestic servitude live in misery and fear. We stand ready to rescue victims and investigate and prosecute these crimes, but we need the public’s help to recognize and report these crimes," said U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy, in a statement.

The victim's identity was not released.

On Tuesday, the couple were sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to pay more than $18,000 in restitution to the victim.



Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto

Paradise Hills Homeowners Survive Fire

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Popping noises, not the installed smoke alarms, alerted a Paradise Hills homeowner when fire broke out inside her home.

Jose Fletes said a loud noise awakened his wife Tuesday morning.

He credits his wife for nudging him from going back to sleep, lulled by the smoke.

“If it wasn’t for her, I’d probably be dead right now because she woke me up,” Fletes said.

Their home was filled with thick, black smoke and there were flames in their kitchen so they went to a neighbor’s home to call for help.

San Diego Fire-Rescue Battalion Chief Steve Salez said the homeowner told firefighters he had a fire in the fireplace but they have not determined the cause of the fire.

The couple has lived in the home on Calle Trepadora for 27 years.

“A lot of stuff in the living room that I had is destroyed,” Fletes said. “A lot of memories.”

Fletes said he thanks God he survived the fire.

He said the home does have a smoke alarm but he didn’t check the battery on the alarm recently.

Salez said homeowners should check the batteries on their smoke detectors when the time changes in the fall.

“It’s a good reminder for everyone to look things over and just be fire safe,” Salez said.

Fletes agreed. “Make sure that they check their batteries,” he said. “It could save your life.”

Trump, Carrier Reach Deal to Keep 1K Jobs at Indy Plant

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United Technologies has reached an agreement with President-elect Donald Trump to keep close to 1,000 factory jobs at Carrier’s Indianapolis plant in the United States, the company confirmed Tuesday evening in a tweet.

A source tells CNBC's David Faber that Trump will visit Indiana Thursday for an event with Carrier to unveil the deal, which includes new inducements from the state. Vice President-elect Mike Pence, the former Indiana governor, who spear-headed the agreement, is also expected attend the event alongside company officials. 

Trump confirmed the meeting on Twitter late Tuesday, promising a "Great deal for workers!"

The details of the agreement were unclear.

In Feburary, the air conditioner-maker said it would close its Indianapolis plant and move 1,400 jobs to Mexico on a three-year timetable. United Technologies Electronic Controls also announced earlier this year that it planned to move its Huntington manufacturing operations to a new plant in Mexico, costing the northeastern Indiana city 700 jobs by 2018, The Associated Press reported. 

During the presidential campaign, Trump repeatedly cited the decision by Carrier and it's parent company, United Technologies, as an example of the types of "bad" trade deals brokered by Democrats that hurt U.S. workers. 

Trump vowed to pressure Carrier to stay in the U.S. if elected president, and last week said he was "making progress" on trying to get Carrier to stay in Indiana.

“I am working hard, even on Thanksgiving, trying to get Carrier A.C. Company to stay in the U.S. (Indiana). MAKING PROGRESS - Will know soon!” Trump tweeted.

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders called on Trump to use United Technologies' defense contracts with the U.S. government as leverage in negotiations, urging his supporters and Trump's Rust Belt base to hold the president-elect accountable "to make sure that he keeps this promise." 

"I call on Mr. Trump to make it clear to the CEO of United Technologies that if his firm wants to receive another defense contract from the taxpayers of this country, it must not move these plants to Mexico," Sanders wrote in a statement on Saturday.

The Hartford, Connecticut-based company saw $6.8 billion in federal government contracts in 2015, $6.7 billion of which came through the Department of Defense. Its Pratt & Whitney division supplies the engines for several planes and fighters for the Air Force, the New York Times reported.



Photo Credit: Bloomberg via Getty Images
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