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Sarah Palin Interested in Trump Administration Job: Sources

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Sarah Palin has been in touch with Trump transition officials about a role with the incoming administration, according to sources close to the former Alaska governor. While there is no confirmation what specific position she might be interested in, her son-in-law has dropped a hint, NBC News reported.

Dakota Meyer, a Medal of Honor recipient married to Palin's daughter Bristol, posted his appeal on Facebook, including a video that makes a glossy pitch for Palin as an advocate for America's veterans. 

"Governor Palin has relayed to the Trump transition team her offer to continue helping the next President either in the public or private sector," a Palin adviser said.

However, Trump transition officials declined to comment on what position, if any, for which Palin might be considered.



Photo Credit: AP

Cirque du Soleil Founder's Son Died

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The technician who died during the set-up of the Cirque du Soleil show "Luzia" in San Francisco was identified Wednesday by the company as the son of one of the company's founders.

In a statement, the Montreal-based company said it was "deeply saddened" about the death of Olivier Rochette of Montreal, Quebec, whose father, Gilles Ste-Croix, helped found the company in 1984, which bills itself as "largest theatrical producer in the world."

Cirque du Soleil performers wow and awe throughout the word with seemingly inhuman acrobatics, dancing and theatrics. Rochette's Facebook page shows what appears to be him standing on top of a huge cliff, his arms outspread to the sky earlier this month.

"I am heartbroken," Cirque du Soleil CEO Daniel Lamarre said in a statement. "Olivier has always been a member of our tight-knit family and a truly beloved colleague."

Just how Rochette died hasn't been fully explained, only that he was struck by a lift about 6:45 p.m. on Tuesday at the AT&T Park show in Lot A at Mission Rock and Third Street.

Wednesday night's show was canceled, the company said, as was Tuesday night's. The company said it would determine the status of Thursday's show at a later time.

Cal-OSHA officials were at the scene early Wednesday morning. They have up to six months to complete their investigation, which will study whether the company followed mandatory safety procedures. Cal-OSHA's investigation consists of checks and tests on safety equipment and work equipment as well as ensuring workplace conditions met all safety standards.

"The Cal-OSHA investigation is a very thorough process involving collection of evidence on scene ... as well as multiple interviews with witnesses, employees and managers," said Julia Bernstein, agency spokeswoman.

Rochette's was the third death in the Cirque du Soleil family since 2009, according to federal work records and news reports.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration records, Cirque du Soleil has four violations, including one death, cited in the last five years within the United States.

The most notable was on June 29, 2013, when Sarah Guillot-Guyard died during a show in Las Vegas. She had fallen 94 feet in front of spectators after the wire attached to her safety harness shredded during the production of "Ka." She was the second death during a Cirque show.

The first person to die on Cirque's watch was in 2009, the Guardian reported, when Ukrainian acrobat Oleksandr Zhurov, 24, died during a Montreal, Quebec rehearsal.

And just three days ago in Brisbane, Australia, acrobat Lisa Skinner was hospitalized, when she lost her grip on a ring during a "Kooza" performance, according to Courier Mail.

The other U.S. violations OSHA has on record occurred in Florida in October, and two others in Nevada, in 2013 and 2014.

Cirque du Soleil had zero violations in California over the last five years, according to OSHA records.

Emilia Flockhart was supposed to have attended Tuesday night's show, but couldn't because of the death. She told NBC Bay Area that "people were of course disappointed, but the atmosphere was generally OK and met with understanding."



Photo Credit: NBC Bay Area/Facebook
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Attempted Carjacking Victim Drove Into Suspect's Car

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A U.S. Marine veteran says he was waiting for his colleagues when an armed carjacking suspect attempted to carjack him at a parking lot in Temecula early Wednesday morning.

NBC 7 spoke with David Lebedeff, a 23-year Marine Corps veteran on Wednesday evening. He told us he had been waiting for his vanpool when a car pulled up next to his truck and a suspect wearing a bandanna over his face got out.

The man approached Lebedeff and tried to open his truck door but Lebedeff says he slammed it shut, knocking the suspect off balance.

The suspect had been carrying a handgun.

Unknown to Lebedeff at the time, the suspect along with the driver of the car and a woman riding in the backseat had been involved in a crime spree that spanned two Southern California counties.

The three suspects first fired shots at a tow truck diver in the area of Gopher Canyon road and East Vista Way around 4 a.m., the San Diego County Sheriff's Department (SDSO) said. The tow truck driver, fearing for his life, drove off and the suspects crashed their vehicle at a hill while attempting to pursue him.

When a Good Samaritan pulled over to help them, the three suspects carjacked her 2005 Grey Doge Neon and drove off.

Just after 5 a.m., the suspects encountered Lebedeff at the parking lot of The Promenade in Temecula.

"He wanted me out of my truck," said Lebedeff. "I wasn't going to get out."

"It pissed me off. You throw a shot gun in my face, hell. At 23-years in United States Marine Corp, it just pissed me off," he added.

Instead of backing off, Lebedeff says he drove his truck into side of the car and the suspect fired at him. The bullets hit his truck.

“It just made me mad that someone was going to come into my town and basically try to take something away from me, from the community that I live in," he told NBC 7, adding that Temecula was usually a safe city.

Lebedeff says he wasn't scared but has just one regret.

“Thinking back on it, would I have done anything different? Probably not—I just wish that I would have hit him twice and just got a hold of them.”

As of Wednesday night, the woman and two men are still outstanding, SDSO said.

One of the suspects is described to be in his mid-20s, 5-feet 10-inches tall with a medium build, light complexion and facial hair on his chin. 

Colombia's Congress Ratifies Peace Deal With FARC Rebels

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Colombia's Congress approved a new peace deal with FARC rebels late on Wednesday, despite objections from former President and now Senator Alvaro Uribe, who said it was still too lenient on the insurgents who have battled the government for 52 years, NBC News reported. 

The agreement was approved in the lower house by 130-0, a day after the Senate ratified it 75-0. Lawmakers from Uribe's Democratic Center party left the floors of both houses in protest just before voting began.

The new agreement to end Latin America's longest insurgency was put together in just over a month after the original pact — which allowed the rebels to hold public office and skip jail — was narrowly and unexpectedly defeated in an Oct. 2 referendum.

The government and FARC worked together in Cuba for four years to negotiate an end to the region's longest-running conflict that has killed more than 220,000 and displaced millions in the Andean nation.



Photo Credit: AP Photo/Ivan Valencia

SDPD Chief Zimmerman Responds to Racial Profiling Study

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San Diego Police (SDPD) Chief Shelley Zimmerman acknowledged bias in the department after a study by San Diego State University (SDSU) found that police are racially profiling Black and Hispanic drivers.

"If you're a human being you are going to have bias, so we need to make sure at the police department, that with our training, whatever bias anybody has that it never interfers with our fair and impartial policing and our constitutional policing,” Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman said.

According to the study, San Diego police officers are three times more likely to pull over Hispanic and Black drivers and perform a search of their vehicles.

The City of San Diego and SDPD claim the results of the independent study are flawed by incomplete data. However, Zimmerman and critics say they are convinced SDPD is on a more positive path to accountability and transparency.

But Chief Zimmerman's admission seemed lack luster to critics who say they wanted a more specific acknowledgment of the issue.

“I really would have liked a stronger stand and recognition that there is a problem and we are going to work together to solve it,” said Haniff Mohebi, Excutive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).

“We need the Chief, if we are going to begin the healing process. If we are going to heal the disparity together, there has to be an acknowledgment of it,” said Cornelius Bowser, Organizer for Dreaming of Violence-Free Everywhere (DOVE).

SDSU's study analyzed a quarter million vehicle stop cards, which officers are required to fill out to explain the circumstances of each traffic stop they perform. 

The results of the the study were released the day before Thanksgiving, which also raised some concern among critics.

“What we are talking about at its core is the public's trust in what we do and how we police our neighborhoods. The process that lead us to this day undermines everything we are trying to accomplish,” said Councilman Todd Gloria, of the 3rd Congressional District.

Zimmerman and council members say they are taking the findings of the report in stride--as well as some of its reccommendations, which include more training and a more thorough record keeping.

Zimmerman announced that the department is committed to both, saying the traffic stop cards will likely be replaced with a computer data entry. SDPD has already implemented training for the news system.

You can read the full report here.



Photo Credit: Monica Garske

USC Knocks Off USD

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Wednesday’s contest against the USC Trojans was a great opportunity for USD head coach Lamont Smith to see how his team stacked up against a Pac-12 opponent.

It appears his young Toreros still have a ways to go.

San Diego never led from start to finish and ultimately succumbed 76-55 to the visitors from Los Angeles.

USD has never beaten USC in six tries.

USC is coached by Andy Enfield who took Florida Gulf Coast to an unexpected trip to the Sweet 16 a few years ago. He has the Trojans off to their best start since the 2000-2001 campaign with a 7-0 record.

Tyler Williams scored USD’s first eight points but the visitors quickly built a 21-12 lead. Fellow sophomore Olin Carter III nailed a trey a couple minutes later to cut the deficit to 23-17, but USD would never get any closer after that.

Carter finished with a game-high 21 points and made five threes. He’s developed into a solid scoring threat from the perimeter and can take it to the basket when he sees an opening.

Senior Brett Bailey supplied some support on the offensive end with 17 points and Williams finished with 10.

Meanwhile, Chimezie Metu led the Trojans with 19 points and 13 boards while Elijah Stewart chipped in with 15 points.

Local product Bennie Boatwright started for USC but sprained his left knee barely three minutes into the contest. Enfield said the team’s second-leading scorer would have an MRI exam Thursday.

“We're hoping for the best,” admitted Enfield. “He'll certainly be out for a while. We're hoping it's a few weeks vs. the season.

San Diego's next game is Saturday at Northern Arizona before their next home contest which is Wednesday against Cal State Fullerton.



Photo Credit: usdtoreros.com

Gulls Notch 7th Straight Victory

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Gulls radio broadcaster Craig Elsten remarked shortly after Wednesday’s victory: “Seven straight, feels great!”

Well said.

The Gulls extended their franchise-record winning streak to seven games after earning a 5-1 decision over the first-place Tucson Roadrunners (Arizona Coyotes affiliate).

Rookie Kevin Roy has been really impressive the past few weeks and tallied his team-high 8th goal of the season.

Scott Sabourin scored once and Kenny Ryan added a goal and an assist in his season debut.

San Diego’s Nick Sorensen also set up two more goals by feeding Antoine Laganiere and Kalle Kossila to close out the scoring.

Gulls netminder Dustin Tokarski (7-2-0-0) made 19 saves and only allowed one puck past the line.

Tokarski’s stellar outing gives him a personal five-game winning streak in the crease.

San Diego improved to 7-2-0-0 at home in front of an announced crowd of 5,555.

The Tucson Roadrunners twitter account also thanked San Diego fans for showing their support for Tucson captain Craig Cunningham.

Cunningham was hospitalized after suddenly collapsing on the ice before a Roadrunners game back on Saturday, November 19 and has not played since.

According to Elsten, the last updates from the franchise are that Cunningham remains in the hospital and in intensive care.

Due to the serious nature and unorthodox circumstances, that November 19 Roadrunners game was postponed as were the following two games last Tuesday and Wednesday which were supposed to feature the Gulls playing in Arizona.

Tucson adapted a #CunnyCan movement for fans to show their support for their captain.

The Gulls also wore a #14 decal on their helmets to honor Cunningham.

Next up for the Gulls is a trip to Stockton to face the Heat (Calgary Flames affiliate).

San Diego plays Stockton Friday and Saturday night (7:30 p.m. faceoffs) and then returns home to play Bakersfield on Tuesday at 7 p.m.



Photo Credit: Tucson Roadrunners

Brewery Sells Rare Beer at Deep Discount for Food Donations

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A San Diego brewery is tapping into its rare reserve to drive donations for locals in need, offering a special beer at a deep discount to those who give to others. 

Societe Brewing Company, located at 8262 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., is running its Holiday Food Drive now through Dec. 31 to benefit the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank. The brewery is offering this sweet deal to all who donate: a bottle of The Urchin, a red wine barrel-aged, cranberry-infused sour ale for just $5 a pop.

The sour ale is described as a dry, balanced beer with a “subtle cranberry tartness leveled out by tannins extracted from the wood of the wine barrels in which it matured. The deep crimson ale is light on the palate and finishes with a touch of tinder-box spice.”

Normally, the brewery sells the rare beer for $50 per 500-millimeter bottle. Now, it’s serving as an incentive for locals to donate food that will be distributed to families in need.

And so far, the perk is working.

Lorah Smith, events manager & director of charitable giving at Societe Brewing Company, said that in the first week of the food drive, the brewery has already collected nearly 8,000 pounds of donations for the San Diego Food Bank – far surpassing last year’s total donations for the Holiday Food Drive. 

“It’s pretty exciting,” Smith told NBC 7 on Wednesday. “It’s an incredible feeling to be able to help out our community – the people who live around us.”

Smith first spearheaded the brewery’s food drive in 2013. That first year, Societe Brewing Company collected about 250 pounds of food. In 2014, Smith said they gathered 500 pounds of food donations.

Last year, they were able to collect just under 5,000 pounds of food, and the growth of the food drive fueled Smith’s drive to go even bigger this year.

“This year, we’re pulling out all the stops including offering this incentive,” she explained. “We want to be able to give back to our community.”

Smith said she believes San Diegans have giving hearts and the brewery’s food drive has given them an outlet to donate.

“It’s amazing to watch one person walk through the door with 200, 300, 400 pounds of food,” she said. “It’s bringing out the best in people, and we’re happy to help facilitate that in any way that we can.”

The food donations are accepted at Societe’s Clairemont tasting room. When cutomers walk in, their donations are weighed out on a giant homemade food scale. When it balances out to 50 pounds, the customer gets the deal on The Urchin.

Smith said some patrons come into the tasting room with smaller donations, unaware of the beer-for-food deal. Once they see the scale and learn the details, some patrons leave to buy more food and return with the donations and to buy the $5 bottle of beer.

And, while patrons are very pleased to snag special sour, Smith said most people are just happy to be able to pay it forward through the food drive.

“It’s more about helping others than about the bottle of beer – but that is kind of a cool perk,” she added.

Smith and her husband, Societe Brewing co-founder and brewmaster Travis Smith, personally weigh the food donations on the homemade scale at the tasting room and later deliver the donations to the San Diego Food Bank.

The most needed food items this year include canned meats and tuna, canned soups, rice, spaghetti, peanut butter and infant formula.

Those who don’t quite make it to the 50 pounds on the scale will still get a kickback for donating: anyone who gives items from the most needed items list will get $1 off each full beer purchased at the tasting room on the day of their visit.

Travis Smith said Societe’s specialty beers are highly-anticipated by their customers, and he’s glad to be able to use the arrival of The Urchin as a tool to give back to the community.

“We hope connecting it to our food drive helps boost donations and make a positive impact on families in need of a helping hand,” he added.

Societe Brewing Company was founded in 2012. It's craft beer offerings include hoppy “Out West” ales, Belgian-inspired “Old World” ales and lagers and “Stygian” ales, as well as its maturing stock of “Feral” barrel-aged sours.



Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego
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Bill to Honor Fallen SDPD Officer De Guzman Passes House

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A bill introduced by a local Congresswoman to honor fallen San Diego Police Officer Jonathan "J.D." De Guzman has passed the House of Representatives. 

De Guzman, 43, was killed in the line of duty on July 28 when he was shot multiple times point-blank during a traffic stop by a man now charged in his death. 

De Guzman's partner Officer Wade Irwin was injured in the attack.

The bill, authored by Congresswoman Susan Davis and co-sponsored by the entire San Diego congressional delegation, would designate the postal facility on Kuhn Drive in Chula Vista as the "Jonathan 'J.D.' De Guzman Post Office Building." The post office is near where De Guzman lived. 

“Officer De Guzman was an exemplary public servant who represented the very best of San Diego and its law enforcement community,” said Rep. Scott Peters (CA-52), an original cosponsor of the bill, in a statement. "I was honored to meet Officer De Guzman’s wife and children at a thank you event for the law enforcement community and other San Diegans who stepped up in a big way in the wake of this tragedy to provide resources, support, and kindness."

The bill was introduced in September after Davis met with the De Guzman family and community. 

"The naming of this post office will help preserve the memory of Officer De Guzman’s service and sacrifice, and provide a constant reminder of the dangers that our law enforcement officers face every day keeping our communities safe," Peters said in a statement. 

Ecstasy Caused Deaths at Music Festival: Coroner

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The deaths of three young people attending a summer music festival in Fontana were caused by an overdose of MDMA, the San Bernardino County coroner confirmed Wednesday.

One of those who died was a 21-year-old woman from Chula Vista.

MDMA is the methylenedioxy derivative of methamphetamine and is also known as ecstasy or "E."

Alyssa Dominguez died after she was transported to the hospital from the HARD Summer Music Festival held July 30 and 31, approximately 50 miles east of Los Angeles.

Dominguez was a former student of Olympian High School and San Diego State University.

Derek Lee, 22, of San Francisco and Roxanne Ngo, 22, of Chino Hills, also died of an MDMA overdose, the coroner reported.

The three deaths were ruled accidental and are not related, the coroner's office said.

Nearly 150,000 people attended HARD Summer this year, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.

The Festival was moved from its 2015 location at the Los Angeles County Fairground in Pomona to a new spot after two college students -- including a Coronado High School graduate -- died of drug overdoses.



Photo Credit: Facebook/Alyssa Dominguez

San Diego Sees Median Home Price Sail Past $500K

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Take a deep breath, San Diego. The median home sale price in the county has exceeded $500,000.

The price surge is the highest since November 2005, when the median home price was $517,500, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

The median price of $507,500 in October was an 11 percent increase from a year ago, according to figures from CoreLogic released to the U-T.

Home prices have long been a source of stress for home buyers in San Diego, as cost of living here is frequently close to the top of many national real estate lists.

A separate study reported by CNN showed that San Diego ranks second behind just San Francisco for the salary needed to buy a home ($108,654).

In addition to San Diego being an attractive, sunny market, the U-T report pointed out that limited supply was a factor and that a surge of newly built homes has raised the median price.

Bicyclist Not Expected to Survive Crash: SDPD

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One bicyclist suffered serious injuries to the head after colliding with another bicyclist in Clairemont on Wednesday.

According to the San Diego Police Department (SDPD), one rider attempted to pass another cyclist in the bike lane, resulting in the crash.

The incident around happened 1:50 p.m. on Balboa Avenue near Clairemont Drive.

Both bicyclists were not wearing helmets, police said.

One suffered multiple skull fractures and he is not expected to survive. The other bicyclists, identified to be an 18-year old man, has injuries to his spine and feet. Both were transported to Scripps La Jolla Hospital.

The eastbound lanes of Balboa Avenue between the 4200 block and the 5000 block was shut down to traffic. The closure was expected to last for about an hour.

No other information was immediately available.



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Doc Accused of Prescribing Painkillers for Sex Pleads Guilty

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A San Diego County doctor pleads guilty to illegally and fraudulently prescribing painkillers to some patients who did not have a medical need for them, the U.S. Attorney's office announced on Wednesday.

Dr. Naga Raja Thota, M.D., 62, was arrested at the Pain Management Center in El Cajon. He was accused of attempting to hook patients onto painkillers and prescribing the pills in exchange for sex once those patients were addicted.

According to a press release by the U.S. Attorney, Laura Duffy’s office, Thota pleaded guilty to seven counts of, “superseding information.” He admitted to illegally prescribing patients with oxycodone and hydrocodone tablets, sometimes writing the prescription under the names of a brother and father of one patient.

One of the patients had been a sex partner, Thota admitted in his plea agreement.

According to Tom Lenox of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the federal investigation into Thota dates back several years, involving three patients who were prescribed painkillers by him and developed sexual relationships.

After Thota’s arrest more than two dozen people had come forward, accusing him of prescribing painkillers to them in exchange for sex, according to Amy Roderick with the DEA, who spoke with NBC 7 in September.

“This defendant abused his power to prescribe and exploited the desperation of his opioid-addicted patients when abuse and overdose are at crisis levels. We are going after doctors who are not worthy of a patient’s trust,” said U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy.

If convicted, Thota faces up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine.



Photo Credit: Google Maps/Vitals.com

Buzz Aldrin Stable After Medical Evacuation From South Pole

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An ailing Buzz Aldrin, the second man to walk on the moon, was evacuated from the South Pole to New Zealand where he was in a hospital on Friday in stable condition.

Aldrin, 86, was visiting Antarctica as a tourist when he fell ill. He was flown to Christchurch from McMurdo Station, a U.S. research center on the Antarctic coast.

Tour company White Desert said Aldrin has fluid in his lungs, but was responding well to antibiotics. He'll remain hospitalized overnight for observation. His manager Christina Korp, who accompanied him, said he was in good spirits.

On Twitter, she said the past 24 hours had been grueling. She posted side-by-side photos of Aldrin — one on a stretcher giving a thumbs-up with a purple knit cap on his head, another in a hospital bed, on oxygen and with an IV in his left arm.

Aldrin and Neil Armstrong became the first men on the moon, on July 20, 1969. Armstrong died in 2012.

Just three weeks ago, Aldrin was at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida for the unveiling of a new astronaut exhibit. The ceremony coincided with the 50th anniversary of his launch with Jim Lovell on Gemini 12, the last of the two-man Gemini flights. Both were present and looked as energetic as usual.

Aldrin has crisscrossed the globe in recent months and years, pushing hard for human exploration of Mars and promoting space and science education. His latest book, "No Dream Is Too High: Life Lessons from a Man who Walked on the Moon," came out in April. And year, he teamed up with Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Florida, now home to the Buzz Aldrin Space Institute. Aldrin lives in nearby Satellite Beach, Florida, not far from Cape Canaveral and its launch pads.

"We wish Buzz a speedy recovery," the London-based White Desert said in a statement.

Aldrin was part of an Antarctica sightseeing tour, along with son Andrew. The elder Aldrin was clearly excited about his adventure to the bottom of the world: "South Pole here I come!" he said via Twitter on Nov. 28. The group departed Tuesday from Cape Town, South Africa, on a trip that was supposed to last just over a week. Doctors agreed an evacuation was prudent after Aldrin's condition deteriorated, according to his staff in Florida.

The National Science Foundation helped provide the air lift via a ski-equipped LC-130 cargo plane from the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station to McMurdo, and then on to New Zealand on another plane.



Photo Credit: AP
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TRICARE’s Pharmacy Changeover: Walgreens In, CVS Out

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A pharmacy changeover for a health care program for U.S. military service members and their families went into effect Thursday, with one pharmacy joining the network and another one leaving.

TRICARE said Walgreens pharmacies had joined the TRICARE retail pharmacy network, effective Dec. 1. CVS pharmacies, including those inside Target retail stores, have left the network.

TRICARE said the revised network includes more than 57,000 pharmacy locations. About 98 percent of TRICARE beneficiaries will still have a network pharmacy within five miles of their home, the company said.

Express Scripts, Inc. (ESI) manages the TRICARE retail pharmacy network under a contract with the Department of Defense. ESI’s website has more information on the network and how beneficiaries can find a network pharmacy near their home. Beneficiaries can also call ESI at (855) 778-1417 for help locating a nearby network pharmacy.

Starting Thursday, TRICARE urged beneficiaries to transfer their prescriptions from CVS to Walgreens, or any other pharmacy in the network. Those who fill a prescription at a CVS pharmacy after Thursday will have to pay the full cost of the medication up front and then file a claim for partial reimbursement, according to the TRICARE website.

TRICARE is managed by the Defense Health Agency, under the leadership of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs).



Photo Credit: AP

$750K Grant Helps San Diego Become Greener

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The City of San Diego will soon be looking a little greener thanks to funds from a $750,000 grant.

The city plans to plant 1,800 new trees using funds from the CAL FIRE Urban & Community Forestry Program. The project may help San Diego reach its Climate Action Plan goal.

A new study shows that 13 percent of San Diego is covered with trees. The goal is to increase that number to 15 percent by the year 2020.

Sherman Heights resident Peter Smith supported the project.

“Trees are always good for the air, so it’s definitely a good thing. We need more trees instead of cutting them down,” Smith said.

Mayor Kevin Faulconer was on hand Thursday as he announced the project and then helped to plant a Modesto Ash.

Five hundred trees will be planted in Sherman Heights, Lincoln Park, Grantville and other neighboring communities. Residents will see the trees along Market Street, Imperial Avenue, Ocean View Boulevard, 25th Street and 47th Street.

“Trees help to reduce our carbon footprint, but more importantly they contribute to beautiful, walkable neighborhoods and communities,” Cody Hooven, the City’s Chief Sustainability Officer said in a city news release.

“The fact that they're going to you know take the initiative to plant some trees and make it a little greener it a really, really good idea,” said resident Carla Zuniga.

The funds will also be used to hire consultants to look at current trees lining San Diego streets.



Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego

Little Italy to Light 2 Holiday Trees at Festival

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Little Italy will go big with holiday cheer this Saturday with not just one tree lightning, but two in the heart of the colorful community. Bellissimo!

The 18th Annual Little Italy Tree Lighting and Christmas Village festival takes place Saturday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. along India Street. For the first time ever, the event will boast two tree lighting ceremonies: the lighting of a 25-foot tower of more than 1,000 poinsettias in the middle of Piazza Basilone and the lightning of a new 25-foot tree in front of the new Piazza Della Famiglia.

India Street will be closed to traffic during the occasions. The lightning ceremonies begin at 5:30 p.m. on West Fir and India streets and then move to India and West Date.

The holiday celebration includes photos with Santa Claus until 6:30 p.m., carriage rides and lots of vendors selling seasonal stocking stuffers and gifts. Some Little Italy Mercato vendors will also line up to sell goods along India Street, between Cedar and Grape streets. Attendees can also expect plenty of holiday decorations, live music and festive snacks at this free community event.

Buon Natale, San Diego.



Photo Credit: Little Italy Association/Facebook

Nestle Touts New Way to Reduce Sugar in Chocolate

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Kitkat and Aero bar maker Nestle said it has found a new way to reduce sugar by up to 40 percent without affecting the taste of its products, Reuters reported.

Nestle said the process works by changing the structure of sugar particles so each dissolves faster on the tongue.

Nestle said it would begin to use the new sugar in 2018.



Photo Credit: Bloomberg via Getty Images

Schultz Stepping Down as Starbucks CEO

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Starbucks Chairman and CEO Howard Schultz will leave his post as the company's chief executive, the company said Thursday.

Schultz will become the company's executive chairman, and current President and COO Kevin Johnson will become Starbucks' next CEO.

The changes will take place on April 3, the company said.

Starbucks shares dipped about 4 percent in after hours trading following the news of the planned leadership transition.

Schultz first joined Starbucks in 1982 as director of operations and marketing when the company only had four stores, according to Starbucks.



Photo Credit: AP

Local 'Makers' Band Together for Holiday Market

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Dozens of local artists and vendors will unite Sunday at a hotel in North Park to host a holiday market focused on goods made in San Diego.

San Diego Made, an artists collective organization that aims to increase awareness of local arts, will host its 3rd annual San Diego Made Holiday Market at the Lafayette Hotel, Swim Club & Bungalows (2223 El Cajon Blvd.) from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The event will boast handmade goods for sale from about 50 local makers, plus holiday-themed food stations, seasonal craft cocktails and beer stations. As shoppers peruse the goods, they can also enjoy activities like outdoor games in the courtyard, a free mid-century themed photo booth, live music, Tarot card readings, raffles and more. The first 100 people to visit the Holiday Market will receive a free swag bag, organizers said.

There will also be a couple of crafty workshops led by artists with The Tiny Bloom and Local Home Girl: a fresh holiday wreath lesson and a handmade stamp workshop, respectively.

The 90-minute wreath workshop will teach you to design and assemble a 12-inch wreath using fresh, seasonal greens, berries and ribbon. Tickets to attend this workshop cost $36 per person, and will happen four times throughout the event in the Conservatory at the Lafayette Hotel: at 11:30 a.m.; 1 p.m.; 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. 

The 50-minute stamp workshop costs $24 per person and teaches the basics of using foam board to create unique stamps in different shapes and patterns. This crafting class, also in the hotel’s Conservatory, includes sticking the stamps onto recycled wood pieces and vintage wood spools. Each student will make three stamps and take home their art. The four time slots for this workshop are: 11:30 a.m.; 12:50 p.m.; 2:10 p.m.; 3:30 p.m.

Organizers say patrons are encouraged to dress in their most dapper duds, as the theme of this year’s marketplace is “A Mid-Century Holiday.” Attendees can expect lots of vintage décor at the venue to set the tone.

Tickets to the San Diego Made Holiday Market cost $5.25 per person, and can be purchased here. For the full list of makers participating in the event, click here.

San Diego Made was founded in 2014 by local artists, craftsmen and makers Brittany Kaszas, Brook Dailey, Sarah Lowry, Kristin Dinnis and Eva Zuzuarregui, who were inspired to create a united coalition of local artists in San Diego.



Photo Credit: San Diego Made/Facebook
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