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Family Responds to Officer's Apology for Daughter's Death

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A University of Southern California (USC) campus police officer will spend a month in jail for hitting and killing a graduate student from Carlsbad.

Officer Miguel Guerra was driving nearly 70 miles per hour when he crashed his police cruiser into Kelsey Dresser's car a year ago, the family said.

The victim's parents had one demand before agreeing to the plea deal Wednesday in court. They wanted the officer to apologize and take responsibility for their daughter's death.

For the first time, Mike and Jill Dresser stood face to face with the police officer whose actions led to their daughter's death.

“He said that there isn't a day that goes by he doesn't think about Kelsey and we're in his thoughts and prayers every day,” Mike Dresser said.

Those were the words the family said they had waited a year to hear.

“He showed real remorse. So yes, it did bring some closure,” Jill Dresser said.

The collision was recorded on a campus security camera.

Guerra had been responding to a stranger complaint in a parking garage before the crash occurred.

Family members claim Guerra was driving without lights or sirens at 70 miles per hour when he crashed into Dresser's red convertible.

“Anything can happen at any time. Tell people the way you feel about ‘em because it can change in a blink of an eye,” Mike Dresser said.

Kelsey was a first year grad student in the "Marriage and Family Therapy" program at USC.

“Always driven academically, she wanted to do well. Kelsey always worked hard and succeeded,” her father said.

Kelsey had great passion for life and many friends, her family said. She was the oldest of two sisters.

“We'll miss her smile. She had a beautiful smile, her love of animals, her love of sisters,” her mother said.

The family say they mourn her death but find courage and hope in the life Kelsey lead.

“She's not gone. She is with us every day and she is all around us,” Jill Dresser said.

Guerra began his jail sentence Wednesday. It includes 45 days of community labor and three years’ probation.

The family has also filed a civil suit against the officer and the university.


NY Family Survives House Explosion

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It's an amazing story of survival: a New York family's house was obliterated in a devastating explosion Nov. 29, but everyone escaped alive.

A week after the blast destroyed their home, Denise and Craig Kunish spoke exclusively to NBC 4 New York about what happened that day.

Speaking from a friend's house, Denise described how she had just walked in the door to their home on Wailing Road in the Pine Island hamlet of Warwick.

She was waiting for the couple's three children to arrive home on the school bus, but was overwhelmed by the smell of rotten eggs, even phoning her husband about it.

Then the explosion happened.

"I can't even describe it, it was just so loud and everything was crumbling around me," she said.

The power of the blast blew Denise out of the house and buried her under rubble in the back yard.

"There was a time I was just lying there I thought I was going to die," she said.

Craig arrived home in a panic, looking for only one thing - his wife. "I was running to find Denise," he said.

Luckily she was able to reach her phone, call her husband and climb out of the rubble, with only bruising to her face from the close call. The couple's "precious" wedding album also survived the blast, another reason to be grateful, they said. 

"I'm beyond blessed and thankful and trying to take it one day at a time," Denise said.

The Warwick community rallied to assist the family and raised almost $150,000 for them in the last week. 

"This is just the most incredible town and community and exactly where we were meant to be," Denise said.

The couple said they suspect the blast was related to the septic system under repair, but so far investigators have not determined the exact cause.

They family is currently living in a hotel, and friends in Warwick had offered them a place to stay over the holidays. 

I CAN'T EVEN DESCRIBE IT WAS JUST SO LOUD AND EVERYTHING WAS CRUMBLING AROUND ME.



Photo Credit: NBC 4 New York

IIHS' Safest Vehicles for 2017

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The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has awarded 82 new vehicles as the safest picks for 2017.

Of the 82 vehicles awarded Thursday, 38 earned the highest ranking of Top Safety Pick+. Those vehicles not only earned good ratings in five crash test evaluations but have effective features that can prevent crashes, the IIHS said.

Toyota/Lexus led among automakers with nine of its 2017 models making the Top Safety Pick+ list. Honda and its Acura division had five Top Safety Pick+ awards.

Meanwhile, 44 vehicles were in the Top Safety Pick category, one ranking lower. 

IIHS said that it toughened the criteria for Top Safety Pick+ to reflect headlight evaluations that it launched this year. Only seven of the vehicles in the top category earned a good rating for headlights.

The vehicles that got a good headlight rating are: Chevrolet Volt small car, Honda Ridgeline pickup, Hyundai Elantra small car, Hyundai Santa Fe midsize SUV, Subaru Legacy midsize car, Toyota Prius v midsize car and Volvo XC60 midsize luxury SUV.

"The field of contenders is smaller this year because so few vehicles have headlights that do their job well, but it's not as small as we expected when we decided to raise the bar for the awards," IIHS President Adrian Lund said in a report.

The 2017 report also found that autobrake features are becoming more common, with 21 of this year's winners including a standard front crash prevention system with automatic braking capabilities. 

Here’s the complete list of this year’s winners.



Photo Credit: Getty/File

'Going to Be a Shock': Polar Vortex to Send Temps Plunging

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The first arctic blast of the season has hit mainland United States, blanketing parts of the Rockies and Plains with subzero temperatures early Thursday, NBC News reported.

But meteorologists are warning about a second, perhaps even colder freeze that could spread into the East Coast and possibly portions of the South late next week. A shift in a weather system known as the Polar Vortex may be partially to blame, according to The Weather Channel.

For now, parts of Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and the Dakotas were bearing the worst of it, with temperatures as low as minus 14 overnight.

By Friday evening these frigid temperatures were expected to have swept most of the U.S. with temperatures in the 20s from Albuquerque to Buffalo, and from Atlanta to Seattle.

New York, Washington, D.C., and Boston were also expected to flirt with freezing temperatures Friday night.

"It's going to be a shock," said Kevin Roth, senior meteorologist at The Weather Channel. "The fall was closest to the warmest on record so this is really back to reality."



Photo Credit: AP

Teen Girl Suspected in Family Member’s Shooting

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Police have arrested a suspect in the strange shooting of a woman in her home in La Mesa: the victim’s 17-year-old family member.

The La Mesa Police Department (LMPD) said Wednesday that the teenager was arrested Tuesday, just before 9:30 p.m., in the 200 block of 50th Street in San Diego, in connection with a shooting earlier in that day that left the teen’s family member wounded.

At 11:42 a.m. Tuesday, police officers discovered Susan Pierce, 59, hurt and on the ground near the door of her home on Keeney Street. Pierce had been shot in the back.

The victim herself had called 911 to report that she may have been shot, police said. Pierce also reported that her white Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck was missing from her home.

Pierce was taken to a local hospital. On Wednesday, the LMPD confirmed she is expected to survive her injuries. LMPD Capt. Matt Nicholass told NBC 7 the victim is recovering, and beginning to talk.

About 10 hours after the shooting, LMPD detectives and U.S. Marshals officials located and arrested Pierce’s teenage relative and identified her as a suspect in the shooting. The teen was booked into Juvenile Hall on a count of attempted murder, police said.

No further details were immediately released, including specifics on the relationship between the suspect and victim. Due to her age, the suspect's name was not released. The motive behind the shooting was also not disclosed.

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with details can call the LMPD at (619) 667-1400.



Photo Credit: NBC 7

UCSD Staffer With MS to Run 7 Marathons on 7 Continents

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A UC San Diego staff member with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) isn't letting her disease stop her from what she loves to do: run marathons. 

Cheryl Hile, 42, is on her way to becoming the first woman with the disease to run seven marathons on seven continents in a single year.

Hile, a fund manager in the Computer Science and Engineering department, will run the Honolulu Marathon next week - the third marathon in her journey since she started the year of running in September. 

Since September, Cheryl and her husband Brian have run a marathon in Cape Town, South Africa in September and another in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in October. 

Since she was diagnosed in 2006, Cheryl has run more than 30 marathons. 

Completing a marathon is a difficult endeavor for people diagnosed with MS because the condition weakens a runner's ability to pick up his or her foot after each stride, making them more susceptible to falling or stumbling. 

To help offset this, Cheryl partnered with Encinitas-based maker of orthotics, Ara Mirzaian, who fit her with a standard brace and an ankle-foot orthotic made of lightweight carbon graphite. The brace helps her use less energy and complete marathons, Mirzaian said. 

After her race in Honolulu, Cheryl and her husband will be flying down south in January to run in a marathon in Antarctica. The trip will be the most expensive of her year-long adventure, tapping in at $8,950 for race registration alone. However, Mirzaian, and the company he works for, Hanger Inc., is sponsoring the journey to Antarctica. 

Cheryl has raised approximately $44,000 to travel and run in all seven races through the crowdfunding website Crowdrise, a total that is about 80 percent of her goal. 

At this point, Cheryl said, she has raised enough to get through the race in Tokyo, Japan. 

She continues to fundraise for the remainder of the trips: races in Vienna, Austria in April and Christchurch, New Zealand in June. 

At her current pace, Cheryl says, she is set to complete the adventure in just eight months. 

if you would like to donate, click this link.



Photo Credit: UC San Diego
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Body in Bay Ends 2-Year Search for Missing Navy Wife

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The body of a San Diego woman, a Navy wife, was pulled from the water near Liberty Station two months ago, two years after she was reported missing, investigators confirmed Wednesday.

Elizabeth Sullivan, 31 and a mother of two, was last seen near her home in Liberty Station on the night of October 13, 2014. A text message sent that same day was the last contact anyone had from her.

Sullivan was reportedly spotted near the soccer fields at Liberty Station just two days after her disappearance was reported. But investigators said leads did not turn up any clues for Sullivan’s whereabouts.

A private investigator told NBC 7 San Diego on Tuesday that Sullivan’s body had been found.

And on Wednesday, San Diego police confirmed Sullivan was found in San Diego Bay in early October.

NBC 7 reported on October 5 that a woman's body had been pulled from the water.

Homicide investigators were on the East Coast looking into possible leads. NBC 7 has learned there have been no arrests in the case.

No other information was immediately available.

Sullivan was married to a Navy service member. Her father traveled to San Diego after her disappearance to help search for her.

"It can happen to you. When it does, it gets very personal, and it takes on a whole new light when it happens to you," Edward Ricks told NBC 7 at the time. 

Check back for updates on this developing news story. 



Photo Credit: San Diego Police Department
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Sig Alert Issued After Crane Tips Over Near SR-56, I-15

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A Sig Alert was issued for a major North County freeway connector after a crane, with more than 160 gallons of hydraulic fluid, tipped over, stalling traffic.

The crash happened at approximately 4:45 p.m. Wednesday on the State Route 56 eastbound onramp to southbound Interstate 15 near San Diego's Sabre Springs neighborhood. 

A Sig alert has been issued for the area. The onramp connects two major San Diego freeways, usually heavily congested during the evening time. 

Approximately 40 gallons of fluid spilled on the ramp, prompting a Hazmat response. 

At the time of the crash, the crane driver was going 15 miles an hour, officials said. No alcohol or drugs were involved and the crash happened because of a simple malfunctioning issue, officials said. 

California Highway Patrol (CHP) officials say an extra crane will be needed to lift the crane out. 

Fire officials told NBC 7 they expect crews to be on scene until 3 a.m. Thursday.

No other information was immediately available.



Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego

Free Appliance Checkups Prevent Carbon Monoxide Leaks: SDG&E

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SDG&E has announced to residents across San Diego County that this holiday season it's imperative to have your gas appliances checked and prevent the hazard of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Free appointments are available to have a service crew member visit your household and assess the safety of various gas appliances, ranging from furnaces to water heaters, said an SDG&E official.

“We just want to make sure our community is nice and safe out there,” Daniel Wade, an SDG&E Gas Operation Instructor, told NBC 7.

The company's first priority is to make sure there isn't any possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning. At the free gas appliance checkups SDG&E crew members will take a visual inspection, check the gas connectors, make sure there's no scorch marks or fire hazards, check the filter and look for gaps at the base of the furnace, said Wade.

If there are any gaps at the base of the furnace, the SDG&E crew member will patch it up at no charge, as long as it's not too big, said Wade. It's part of the free gas appliance checkup to fix gaps.

“Especially with the time of the holidays, it’s cold outside and a lot of us are going to be inside with our families, and we want to make sure all of our customers are safe during the holidays," said Wade.

Flames on a furnace should burn in small cones, uniform in shape and mostly blue with slightly orange tips, said Wade. If the orange flames flit upwards, that's called 'lifting up flame' and is an indication of problems. If it scorches upward forming a large yellow blaze, that's called 'yellow flame.'

Yellow flame can be a sign the fire is producing carbon monoxide -- a silent, scentless and tasteless but deadly gas. Whether gas appliances are new or old, this is a very important annual check to have, said Wade.

The current wait for an appointment is about six days in the middle of the busy holiday rush, according to SDG&E. Residents can schedule a gas appliance checkup by going to their website or calling 1(800)401-7343.

SDG&E wants to ensure all their customers are safe this holiday season, especially in the winter season when residents spend more time at home to stay warm. California homeowners are all required to install carbon monoxide detectors in their homes.



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Largest Floating Dry Dock in California Headed to San Diego

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A new dry dock to be installed for BAE Systems Ship Repair, a San Diego shipyard, will be the largest floating dry dock in California.

At 950 feet long, the dry dock is capable of lifting 55,000 long tons, according to a BAE Systems official. The shipyard is located on one of the U.S. Navy's mega-ports in the San Diego Bay, adjacent to the U.S. Naval Station.

BAE Systems officials say the dry dock will help maintain the growing U.S. Navy fleet in San Diego, such as the new U.S.S. Zumwalt which just arrived back at its homeport

The dry dock arrived overnight and was placed at a temporary anchorage point close to Harbor Island and the U.S.S. Midway carrier museum, according to BAE Systems. 

At about 11 a.m. Thursday morning, the dry dock was towed from its temporary storage area. According to BAE Systems, it took about two hours to move the dry dock past the city's waterfront skyline and underneath the San Diego-Coronado bridge.

BAE Systems provides ships with repair and maintenance services, along with modernization, conversion and overhaul for the Navy, said a BAE Systems official. About 2,000 workers staff the full-service shipyard.



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Infant Found Dead in Alpine Has Been Identified: SDSO

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An 18-month old baby girl found dead in an Alpine motor home has been identified, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department (SDSO) said. 

Paramedics first responded to a 911 call for an infant, identified as Leah Brown-Meza, who was not breathing inside a motor home parked on the property on the 300 block of Hunter Lane Tuesday, deputies said. 

The 21-year old mother woke up to find the baby girl not breathing, SDSO said. 

Despite life-saving efforts, the infant did not respond and was pronounced dead. She did have injuries on her body, but it is unclear if the injuries are related to her death, SDSO said.

"Based on the totality of the circumstances, we decided to take over the investigative responsibility for the case," said SDSO Lt. Kenneth Nelson.

Homicide and Child Abuse investigators are on scene, looking into the incident as a possible suspicious death. 

Nelson says they are calling this a suspicious death until the Medical Examiner releases information on the cause of death.

The infant's mother and her boyfriend's family are cooperating with detectives, Nelson said.

The autopsy report has been sealed. 

No other information was immediately available. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Homicide Detail at (858) 974-2321, or after hours at (858) 565-5200. You can also remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.



Photo Credit: NBC 7

US Fighter Pilot Found Dead After Ejecting Near Japan

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A U.S. Marine Corps pilot who ejected from an F/A-18 fighter jet near Japan Wednesday has been recovered and pronounced dead a day later, officials said. 

The jet suffered a mishap, prompting its pilot — identified Thursday as Capt. Jake Frederick — to eject, according to a news release from the Marines.

Search-and-rescue teams looked for the pilot, who ejected southeast of Japan's Shikoku island, according to an earlier military statement.

The F/A-18 was part of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing based in Okinawa, Japan and was flying a regularly scheduled training mission.

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Frederick was recovered by a Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force ship, the Japanese Ministry of Defense confirmed to local media Thursday, the statement said. "Our deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of the pilot. The cause of the crash is still unknown."

It remains unclear what caused the crash.

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Photo Credit: Cpl. Kevin Crist and Pfc. Maxwell Pennington/Marine Corps Air Station Miramar / 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
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Former Astronaut John Glenn Dies at 95

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Former astronaut and U.S. Sen. John Glenn died at the age of 95 on Dec. 8, 2016.

Photo Credit: Getty Images, File

'Aren't Many Heroes Left': World Reacts to John Glenn's Death

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John Glenn was once called "the last true national hero America has ever made," and when the astronaut-turned-senator died Thursday at 95, it prompted an outpouring of condolences from all walks of American life.

As the first American to orbit the Earth, Glenn's was one of the most instantly recognizable faces in the United States at the start of the Space Age. It was author Tom Wolfe who dubbed him the nation's "last true national hero," and Glenn rode that fame and love like a rocket into the U.S. Senate, serving Ohio for 24 years before returning to space again in 1998 at 77 years old — another first.

Both the president and president-elect marked the moment Thursday.

"When John Glenn blasted off from Cape Canaveral atop an Atlas rocket in 1962, he lifted the hopes of a nation. And when his Friendship 7 spacecraft splashed down a few hours later, the first American to orbit the Earth reminded us that with courage and a spirit of discovery there's no limit to the heights we can reach together," President Barack Obama wrote in a statement. "John always had the right stuff, inspiring generations of scientists, engineers and astronauts who will take us to Mars and beyond—not just to visit, but to stay."

Trump tweeted that Glenn is "a great pioneer of air and space" who will be missed.

Former astronaut Buzz Aldrin, the second person to walk on the moon, and who was released from a New Zealand hospital Friday after falling ill, paid tribute as well to his "friend and world space icon."

"I’m saddened again to hear that we have lost the pioneer of space flight for the United States," Aldrin wrote on his website. "I am very sorry that he has departed us with his wisdom. I join that crowd of people and the entire nation and the world in paying homage to his service."

Many took to social media to mark Glenn's outsized life.

"Aren’t many Heroes left," astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson wrote on Twitter shortly after his death was announced.

"As we bow our heads and share our grief with his beloved wife, Annie, we must also turn to the skies, to salute his remarkable journeys and his long years of service to our state and nation," Ohio Gov. John Kasich wrote.

NASA, famed Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield and many others said goodbye online as well:



Photo Credit: Getty Images, File
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The Life of Astronaut John Glenn


Man Used 9 Debit Cards to Steal More Than $3,700: PD

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Carlsbad police are asking for help identifying a man accused of using nine different stolen debit cards in San Diego's North County, reportedly stealing more than $3,700. 

The man used the debit cards at ATM locations throughout Carlsbad and Encinitas between Sept. 8 and Nov. 16, Carlsbad police said. He used the cards at 12 various Carlsbad ATM locations and one occasion in Encinitas. 

Police do not know how he obtained the victims' debit card and PIN information.

He is described as a man with a thin build, approximately 25 years old, with brown hair and a Fedora hat.

Anyone can help identify the suspect is asked to contact Detective Adam Young at (760) 931-2143 or adam.young@carlsbadca.gov.



Photo Credit: Carlsbad Police Department

US Stock Indexes Close at Record Highs

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Major U.S. stock indexes are closing at record highs for the second day in a row, as a post-election rally continued following a key monetary policy announcement from the European Central Bank, CNBC reported.

The Dow Jones industrial average briefly rose more than 100 points before closing 65 points higher, with Goldman Sachs contributing the most gains.

The S&P 500 closed 0.2 percent higher while the Nasdaq composite rose 0.4 percent.

"This really is the Trump trade," said Phil Blancato, CEO of Ladenburg Thalmann Asset Management. "This trade is about the potential for a more pro-business economy."



Photo Credit: Getty Images

New Website Plans to Make County Services More Efficient

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The County of San Diego is currently developing a new website that will make it easier to access county services, by improving communication and customer service.

A new county website, dubbed Connect Well San Diego will be up and running by 2017, according to County Health and Human Services. The website will take advantage of new technologies to create an electronic information sharing hub.

The hub will allow County staff and contractors to communicate better with each other as well as customers. County Health and Human Services officials say this will help speed up customer service.

By looking at overall reports in the new system, County Staff will aim to have an improved understanding of what services the community needs the most. This should help enable the county to more effectively provide those services.

The program manager for Connect Well San Diego, Carrie Hoff, told NBC 7 that it is designed to help families focus on their daily lives.

"When you think about a family, they often have multiple needs when they are coming here for services. Typically, they have to get themselves to multiple places, navigate multiple applications, and figure out the process of getting there," Hoff said.

She added that the program will offer services such as counseling, child welfare, and alcohol and drug treatment. 

Customers can make their own personal access code and log in to the website to navigate to other services. 

Coff says the program is comparable to a department store, where a family can have access to everything they require to address their personal needs in one place.

The current website is in its pilot phase of development, so there's a still a lot of possibilities to explore in its design, said county staff.



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Goodwill’s ‘Little Black Dress’ Sale Returns

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Fashionistas, rejoice: Goodwill’s popular “Little Black Dress” (LBD) sale returns Friday, offering the beloved wardrobe staple at very, very low prices.

Goodwill’s Clairemont location, at 4220 Balboa Ave., will open its doors at 9 a.m. for its “Little Black Dress” sale. It will serve as the main hub of this year's LBD sale, though all Goodwill stores across the county will participate.

The event – happening for the past five years at the second-hand stores – features racks upon racks of black dresses, including designer brand pieces. Goodwill works exclusively with NBC 7 and Consumer Bob to organize and promote the annual affair.

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Most dresses are marked down between 75 and 90 percent off their original price tag, ranging between $10 and $50. Select shoes, purses and accessories are also included in the sale.

Darlene Cossio, director of communications for Goodwill Industries of San Diego County, said the bargains are “significant” and draw huge crowds to the store.

“It’s been a great reaction; a line waiting out in front of the store before we open – a lot of excitement, and people leaving with that Little Black Dress,” said Cossio.

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Cossio said Goodwill prepares the entire year for this big sale, collecting hundreds of LBDs donated by people across San Diego County specifically for this occasion.

When patrons walk into Goodwill stores on Friday, Cossio said they will find LBDs all in one section, waiting to be bought. Customers are not limited on the number of LBDs they can take home, she said.

The sale comes at a perfect time: the holiday season, which is often filled with cocktail parties for which an LBD would certainly come in handy and, of course, New Year's Eve. And, as a classic that never goes out of style, the LBD can also be worn year-round.

“The Little Black Dress is a staple – everyone needs one. This is a treat,” Cossio added.

Cossio said the sale will boast a variety of LBDs in all sizes and styles, “Short, long, sequined, plain, silk, taffeta – from [size] 0 to 24.”

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Tanya McAnear, fashion instructor at the Fashion Institute of Design, said Goodwill’s LBD sale is an excellent opportunity for women to snag a stylish piece that will work for anyone, anytime.

“If you’re a curvy girl, if you’re a very thin and straight girl, there’s a dress for you out there,” said McAnear. “[The LBD] is a go-to piece.”

McAnear said the Little Black Dress can get expensive, so going to Goodwill for this deal is a smart strategy.

“You’re going to save a lot of money by shopping at the Goodwill,” she added. “People will never know where you bought it – unless you want to share that with them.”

A Betsey Johnson brand LBD, for instance, with its original $138 price tag was marked at $14.99 when NBC 7 visited Goodwill Thursday to check out the inventory ahead of the big sale.

That dress certainly caught McAnear’s eye.

“This dress is phenomenal. It’s velvet; it’s a heavyweight dress; it’s a beautifully-made dress,” she said, admiring the piece.

Another LBD soon grabbed McAnear’s attention.

“You know, this dress was probably $160 at Banana Republic, and now it’s $6.99,” she added.



Photo Credit: Bob Hansen
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78 Dogs Should Be Available for Adoption By Christmas

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A rescue puppy sounds like the perfect Christmas gift.

The 78 dogs rescued from an extreme hoarding situation in El Cajon are expected to be available for adoption the week of Christmas.

Officials with the San Diego Humane Society shared new details in the highly publicized case on the humane society’s Facebook page on Thursday.

The dogs, which include Chihuahuas, dachshunds and terrier mixes, were rescued last week from the home. The conditions were extremely unsanitary, officials said: the floors were completely covered in urine and inches of dog waste, and the dogs were seldom let outside.

Stephen MacKinnon, chief of the humane society’s law enforcement, said officials declined to charge or cite the owner of the dogs because he was extremely cooperative in forfeiting the dogs and sought help for a mental health condition.

The owner of the home, an employed man in his 60s, was going through a tough time dealing with a death in his family and, while he realized that things had gotten out of control, didn’t know what to do, McKinnon said.

Friends of the owner have offered him a place to stay in the meantime.

As for the dogs, officials said in the Facebook live video that they continue to undergo medical care, but are in otherwise good condition. The medical costs for the dozens of dogs have topped $100,000, so the humane society is seeking community donations. You can donate here by clicking on 'donate.'

The shelter has also received about 3,000 pounds of blankets for the dogs’ bedding, but officials say they still need more blankets and towels.



Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego
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