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Chicano Park Named National Historic Landmark

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The U.S. Secretary of the Interior announced Wednesday that San Diego’s iconic Chicano Park has earned designation as a National Historic Landmark.

The park – located in Barrio Logan, beneath the Coronado Bay Bridge, about 4.5 miles southeast of downtown San Diego – is one of 24 new National Historic Landmarks designated by the Interior Department’s Sally Jewell. According to the department, the places chosen for the honor depict a broad range of America’s rich, complex history.

San Diegans know the park for its vast collection of colorful murals dedicated to the cultural heritage of the predominantly Mexican-American community that makes up Barrio Logan. Much of the artwork represents the struggle of the Chicano movement.

“Representative of the Chicano Civil Rights Movement, Chicano Park has become a cultural and recreational gathering place for the Chicano community and is the location of the Chicano Park Monumental Murals, an exceptional assemblage of master mural artwork painted on the freeway bridge supports,” the U.S. Department of the Interior said in a press release Wednesday.

On April 20, 1970, San Diego residents occupied Chicano Park in a successful effort to prevent the construction of a California Highway Patrol substation on the land where the City of San Diego had promised to build a park for the community.

In 1970, late San Diego Chicano activist and musician Ramon “Chunky” Sanchez, wrote a song about the park – “Chicano Park Samba” – in which he sang about the culture, spirit and struggle of Chicanos in their fight for the creation of Chicano Park. The song became an anthem for the park and Barrio Logan. Sanchez died in San Diego in late October 2016 but his song and ties to Chicano Park will forever be remembered by the community.

Each year, the park hosts Chicano Park Day, a free community celebration. This year, that 47th annual party will be held on April 22.  The theme for the 2017 celebration will be dedicated to Sanchez, known as the heart of the barrio.

Though a colorful space often used for community festivals, darkness and chaos swept over Chicano Park on Oct. 15, 2016. On that day, DUI suspect Richard Anthony Sepolio lost control of his truck and drove off the Coronado Bay-Bridge, flying 60 feet and landing on a crowd below that had gathered at Chicano Park to enjoy a motorcycle festival with live music, food and art. Four people were killed and many others were injured in the tragedy at the park.

In addition to Chicano Park landing the Department of the Interior’s National Historic Landmark designation on Wednesday, these 23 other places across the nation also earned the honor:

• Medgar and Myrlie Evers House in Jackson, Mississippi
• Wyandotte National Burying Ground (Eliza Burton Conley Burial Site) in Kansas City, Kansas
• Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in New York City
• Greenhills Historic District in Greenhills, Ohio
• Casa José Antonio Navarro in San Antonio, Texas
• Neutra Studio and Residences (VDL Research House) in Los Angeles, California
• Keim Homestead in Oley, Pennsylvania
• Schifferstadt in Frederick, Maryland
• New York State Barge Canal
• Kimball Village Site (13PM4) in Plymouth county, Iowa
• Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission Chapel (McDonnell Hall) in San Jose, California
• Painted Desert Community Complex in Apache County, Arizona
• W. A. Young & Sons Foundry and Machine Shop in Rices Landing, Pennsylvania
• Davis-Ferris Organ, built for a New York City Episcopal church in 1846-1847
• Pauli Murray Family Home in Durham, North Carolina
• Eldean Bridge in Miami County, Ohio
• West Union Bridge in Parke County, Indiana
• Omaha Union Station in Omaha, Nebraska
• George Read II House, in New Castle, Delaware
• Biesterfeldt Site in Ransom County, North Dakota
• Walrus Islands Archeological District near Togiak, Alaska
• 48GO305, commonly referenced in archeological literature as “Hell Gap Paleoindian Site,” located in Goshen County, Wyoming
• Kent State Shootings Site in Kent, Ohio

“These 24 new designations depict different threads of the American story that have been told through activism, architecture, music, and religious observance,” said Secretary Jewell in a press release. “Their designation ensures future generations have the ability to learn from the past as we preserve and protect the historic value of these properties and the more than 2,500 other landmarks nationwide.”



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Hillcrest Hotel To Be Converted Into Apartments

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San Diego-based company, SENTRE, dba Whitson Hillcrest, LLC, recently acquired an 80-room hotel in Hillcrest. The company plans to convert the property, located at 606 Washington Street near State Route 163, into luxury apartments “with a vintage flair.”

Photo Credit: Rendering Courtesy of Carrier Johnson + CULTURE

UCSD's 24-Hour Dining Hall Offers Halal, Kosher Options

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UC San Diego students can now grab a bite to eat on campus at any time of the day: the university’s first-ever 24-hour dining hall opened Wednesday, complete with a new menu featuring kosher and halal dishes. 

UC San Diego celebrated the grand opening of its Oceanview Dining Hall on Scholars Drive North, also known as Oceanview Terrace. It’s the first and only dining hall in the University of California system to offer 24/7 service.

After going through extensive renovations, the eatery features three kitchens, a 24/7 coffee bar and a gelato bar. In addition to items like stone hearth pizzas and salads, the dining hall’s new menu now boasts halal and kosher dishes – making it lso one of the UC system’s first dining halls to feature this type of cuisine.

Dishes include a Berbere Beef Meatball and Rotisserie Harissa Chicken, both kosher and $6.

The kitchen is a collaborative effort spearheaded by the Muslim Student Association, the Union of Jewish Students and Housing, Dining, Hospitality, as well as UCSD’s Thurgood Marshall College.



Photo Credit: Google Maps

Biden Delivers Address on Nuclear Weapons

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Vice President Joe Biden will deliver a speech in Washington, D.C., on the Obama administration's achievements addressing the dangers posed by nuclear weapons.


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Southwest Adds New Nonstop Destinations From San Diego

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San Diegans looking for a new getaway this summer are in luck! 

Southwest Airlines has announced it will add nonstop service from San Diego to five new destinations in just a few months. 

Starting June 4, locals will be able to fly to Boise, Idaho and Salt Lake City, Utah year-round from San Diego International Airport. The flights will be once a day

The airline will also add seasonal nonstop flights to three new destinations: Newark, Spokane and Indianapolis.

The new service to those three locations will be offered through the end of the airline's current summer schedule, which runs through Aug. 14. Details are available on the Southwest website.

At the moment, Alaska Airlines is the only airline flying nonstop to Boise. United Airlines and Alaska Airlines fly direct to Newark, a popular hub for New York City travelers. Delta Airlines and Alaska are the only two airlines that fly nonstop to Salt Lake City right now. 

Zachary Mensen, of Southwest Airline's Business Performance & Planning department said the new service additions are part of the airline's ongoing mission to be the hometown carrier for San Diego travelers "to every place that San Diegans want to fly."

"That means offering more nonstop service than anyone else to the places San Diegans want to go. As the largest domestic carrier, and the biggest airline in the West, the list of nonstop destinations is already long. Our additions to the summer schedule help us to cross off more destinations on the wish list and put them onto Southwest.com as options for travelers," Mensen said.

Currently, Southwest Airlines says it carries more than 3,100 passengers daily, each way, traveling to and from San Diego International Airport within California. With the airline's summer schedule, Southwest will offer San Diego travelers nonstop service to 30 destinations.

Travelers looking to nab a sweet deal to these new cities from San Diego should hurry - the airline is offering a promotion with fares as low as $89 to Boise and fares as low as $59 to Salt Lake City, so long as travelers purchase them before midnight on Jan. 26. Travel under that deal will be valid June 4 through Aug. 14.



Photo Credit: AP

First Look Inside SDSU's South Campus Plaza

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San Diego State University’s South Campus Plaza is a $143 million mixed-use student housing and retail development located on the college campus, between Hardy Avenue and Montezuma Road.

Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego

Motorcyclist Accelerates Toward Officer, Striking Him: CHP

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A motorcyclist using a shoulder lane to pass traffic on State Route 52 accelerated into a California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer, striking him, officials confirmed to NBC 7 San Diego. 

The incident happened at approximately 3:15 p.m. Wednesday on eastbound State Route 52 at Summit near San Diego's Tierrasanta neighborhood, according to CHP officer Catano. 

At the time, three officers were responding to another accident when one standing on the right shoulder spotted the motorcyclist trying to pass everyone, according to officials on scene. 

One officer put his hands up to try and stop the motorcyclist, but instead, the motorcyclist accelerated and went straight for the officer, hitting him. 

Investigators believe the incident was intentional and are carrying on the investigation as assault on an officer. The suspect has been taken into custody. 

Medics were requested for one patient. An initial report showed the officer suffered minor injuries, though that could change pending a complete evaluation. 

Traffic on EB SR-52 came to nearly a standstill for afternoon commuters. 

No other information was immediately available.

Check back for updates on this breaking news story. 



Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego

Fact Check: Trump Repeats False Claims at Press Conference

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In his first press conference since July, President-elect Donald Trump repeated some false and misleading claims on jobs, health care and his tax returns.

  • Trump falsely claimed that there are “96 million really wanting a job and they can’t get [one].” There are roughly 96 million people not in the labor force, but that includes retirees, students and others who don’t want jobs. Only 5.5 million of them want work.
  • Trump said that “you learn very little” from a tax return. But experts told us there’s plenty of information to be gleaned from tax returns — such as potential conflicts of interest, charitable giving habits and effective tax rates.
  • Trump claimed that “some states” have seen health insurance coverage on the Affordable Care Act exchanges increase by 100 percent. Only Arizona has an average increase that high, and 84 percent with marketplace coverage in 2016 received tax credits to purchase insurance.
  • Trump continues to oversimplify the rise of the Islamic State by blaming President Obama for “leaving at the wrong time” from Iraq. President George W. Bush set the withdrawal date. More important, there were numerous factors in the rise of the terrorist group.
  • Trump claimed that “nobody even talked about it” when hacked emails showed that Hillary Clinton’s campaign got debate questions in advance. Actually, there was plenty of press coverage when it was revealed that former CNN contributor Donna Brazile shared questions with Clinton’s campaign.

Trump hasn’t held a press conference since July 27, 2016, during the Democratic National Convention. The purpose was to discuss how he would arrange to handle his business affairs while he is president. Trump will take the oath of office on Jan. 20.

But the Republican president-elect was asked a variety of questions on a host of issues, including Russian hacking, the Affordable Care Act and his cabinet appointments. In several cases, Trump repeated some of the same claims that he had made during the campaign.

Trump on Jobs

Trump wrongly claimed, once again, that there are “96 million really wanting a job and they can’t get [one].” There are roughly 96 million people “not in the labor force,” but only 5.5 million of them “currently want a job,” according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Trump cited the statistic in the context of a border tax on “these companies that are leaving [the U.S.] and getting away with murder.”

Trump, Jan. 11: And if our politicians had what it takes, they would have done this years ago. And you’d have millions more workers right now in the United States that are — 96 million really wanting a job and they can’t get. You know that story. The real number — that’s the real number.

According to the latest figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 95.8 million people “not in the labor force” in December. But Trump is wrong to lump them all in as “really wanting a job.” According to BLS, only 5.5 million of them “currently want a job.” Those not looking for a job include millions of retirees, teenagers and stay-at-home parents. For example, there were 18.3 million people age 75 and older who were not in the workforce in December, BLS says.

Throughout the presidential campaign, Trump argued that the “real” unemployment rate was higher than the official one, because he said it did not include those so frustrated by the labor market that they simply gave up looking for work. Indeed, the labor force participation rate has been on the decline, and the Congressional Budget Office attributed some of that recent decline to workers so discouraged by the slow recovery from the recession that they stopped looking for work. But CBO estimated about half of the decline was due to long-term structural trends, mainly aging baby boomers reaching retirement age.

The Tax Returns, Again

Trump said that “you learn very little” from a tax return and that “the only one that cares about my tax returns are the reporters.”

But experts told us there’s plenty of information to be gleaned from tax returns — such as potential conflicts of interest, charitable giving habits and effective tax rates. And polls show that a majority of Americans say Trump should release his tax returns.

Trump was asked if he would release his tax returns to prove that he has no business dealings in Russia. He responded: “I’m not releasing the tax returns because as you know, they’re under audit.” That was Trump’s stance during the campaign as well.

Also during the campaign, when he was facing questions about releasing his returns — something many 2016 presidential candidates and every major party nominee since the late 1970s had done — Trump claimed that “there’s nothing to learn” from his tax returns. He repeated a version of that claim in his press conference, claiming, “you learn very little [from] a tax return.”

When we wrote about this in May, experts cited several details voters could learn from a candidate’s tax returns, including sources of income, deductions taken, potential conflicts, overseas income and how a candidate’s tax proposals could affect his or her personal tax situation.

Joseph J. Thorndike, director of the Tax Analysts’ Tax History Project, wrote in a May 12 blog post on taxnotes.com that “[r]eturns can shed light on the way a candidate lives his life. It can tell us about charitable giving as well as personal borrowing and investment activity. Returns can also illuminate the complicated business arrangements that often provide the bulk of a candidate’s income, especially for a real estate mogul like Trump.”

And the returns “tell us a lot about how candidates conduct themselves in the gray areas of the tax law,” Thorndike wrote.

Trump also claimed in his press conference that reporters were the only ones that cared about his tax returns. A reporter followed up: “You don’t think the American public is concerned about it?”

Trump replied: “No I don’t think so. I won, when I became president. No, I don’t think they care at all. I don’t think they care at all.”

Polls show that, in fact, the American public does care. A Pew Research Center poll, conducted Jan. 4-9, found 60 percent of respondents said Trump has a responsibility to release his tax returns.

Those who identified as Democrats or leaning Democratic more strongly supported this view: Seventy-nine percent said Trump had a responsibility to release the returns, while 38 percent of Republicans or those learning Republican had that view.

Other polls have shown similar results. A CBS News poll conducted Dec. 9-13, 2016, asked whether it was “necessary” for Trump to release his tax returns. Sixty percent responded that it was necessary. A Quinnipiac University poll taken Aug. 18-24, 2016, asked likely voters: “Do you think Donald Trump should publicly release his tax returns, or not?” Seventy-four percent said he should release them, including a majority (62 percent) of Republicans.

Premium Cherry-Picking

Trump claimed that under the Affordable Care Act, “some states have over a hundred percent increase” in premiums. Actually, only one state has an average increase in exchange premiums that high: Arizona.

Premiums on the ACA exchanges — for individuals who buy their own insurance — have jumped up an average 25 percent from 2016 to 2017 among the 38 HealthCare.gov states, and that’s substantially higher than the 7.2 percent average increase from 2015 to 2016.

The variation in the change in premiums among states, and even within states from county to county, is also substantial, with Arizona, at the high end, seeing a 116 percent average increase, while Indiana, at the other extreme, has an average 3 percent decrease. The median increase is 16 percent.

These figures, which do not include subsidies available to lower-income individuals, are for the average second lowest-cost silver “benchmark” plans for a 27-year-old, and they’re part of a report released by the Department of Health and Human Services in October.

As the chart below shows, some states had average premium changes in the single digits, others in double digits, and Arizona had the distinction of a triple-digit average increase. As we wrote before, the wide disparity on the numbers makes the report ripe for cherry-picking.

At least one county had a nearly 100 percent increase (see Table 13 of the report). In Medina County, Texas, the average increase is 99 percent, from an average $201 monthly premium to $399. Texas overall, however, had an 18 percent average increase.

Massachusetts, which has a state-based exchange (not the federally run HealthCare.gov), saw an average 3 percent decrease, while Minnesota’s state-based exchange had an average 59 percent increase — again, showing the contrast across the country. Adding in four state-based marketplaces plus the District of Columbia’s — for which HHS had data — brings the nationwide average increase down to 22 percent.

The vast majority of Americans who buy coverage through the exchanges get tax credits, which shelter them from these premium increases. The credits cap the amount a person must contribute toward a benchmark plan based on income. The HHS report says 84 percent of the 10.4 million Americans with marketplace coverage in the first half of 2016 received tax credits, and that 77 percent of current enrollees can find plans for $100 or less, after factoring in tax credits. An estimated 7 million Americans buy their own insurance but do so outside of the exchanges.

Trump on Obama Creating ISIS

Trump continues to oversimplify the situation by placing the entirety of the blame for the creation of ISIS on Obama’s decision to withdraw troops from Iraq.

Trump, Jan. 11: I mean if you look, this administration created ISIS by leaving at the wrong time. The void was created, ISIS was formed.

This is yet another variation on Trump’s campaign claim that Obama “founded ISIS,” and Clinton was a “co-founder.”

Back when we wrote about that false claim in August, experts told us the expansion of the Islamic State can’t be pinned on the troop withdrawal alone — if at all. Blaming Obama for the timing of the troop withdrawal also ignores that President George W. Bush had signed the agreement and set the date for that withdrawal.

Trump himself supported withdrawing troops from Iraq as early as 2007, telling CNN in a March 16, 2007, interview that the U.S. should “declare victory and leave, because I’ll tell you, this country is just going to get further bogged down. … [T]his is a total catastrophe and you might as well get out now, because you just are wasting time.”

Experts have pointed to a variety of actions that could have contributed to the rise of ISIS, including: the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003; the decisions by the U.S.-led provisional coalition government in 2003 to disband the Iraqi army and dissolve and ban the Baath Party, which drove Sunnis into militant groups; the rule of Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, whose Shia government further ostracized Sunnis; the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq by Dec. 31, 2011; the weakening of the Iraqi army, which abandoned posts in 2014 rather than fight ISIS; and the Syrian civil war, which began in 2011.

Debate Questions

Trump claimed that “nobody even talked about it” when WikiLeaks released emails from the Clinton campaign showing that “Hillary Clinton got the questions to the debate and didn’t report it.”

Not so. There was plenty of press coverage in October when emails allegedly obtained from the account of Clinton’s campaign chairman, John Podesta, revealed that former CNN contributor Donna Brazile shared several town hall and debate questions with members of Clinton’s campaign.

According to the emails, Brazile sent multiple questions to the Clinton campaign before a CNN town hall in mid-March last year, and she sent at least one question to Clinton’s campaign prior to a Democratic debate earlier that month.

However, there is no evidence that Clinton herself received any questions.

Trump: We talk about the hacking and hacking’s bad and it shouldn’t be done. But look at the things that were hacked, look at what was learned from that hacking.

That Hillary Clinton got the questions to the debate and didn’t report it? That’s a horrible thing. That’s a horrible thing.

Can you imagine that if Donald Trump got the questions to the debate — it would’ve been the biggest story in the history of stories. And they would’ve said immediately, “You have to get out of the race.” Nobody even talked about it. It’s a very terrible thing.

Politico and others reported that the hacked emails showed that Brazile sent an email on March 12, 2016, to Clinton campaign Communications Director Jennifer Palmieri with the subject line, “From time to time, I get the questions in advance.”

In the email, Brazile wrote “here’s one that worries me about HRC,” referring to Clinton. She then provided the text of a question about the death penalty. Clinton was later asked a similar question by an audience member introduced by TV One host Roland Martin, who was the co-moderator of the CNN town hall on March 13.

The emails show that Brazile wrote that she would “send a few more” questions to the campaign, which she did. According to Politico, an additional email shows that Brazile forwarded the campaign at least two more town hall questions — one about unions and another about income inequality. Clinton was asked the question about unions, and Sen. Bernie Sanders was asked about income inequality in the town hall.

There were also multiple news reports on another instance of Brazile tipping off the Clinton campaign to a potential question the day before a Democratic debate between Clinton and Sanders on March 6 in Flint, Michigan. In that email, Brazile tells Podesta and Palmieri that “one of the questions directed to HRC tomorrow is from a woman with a rash.” Brazile added: “She will ask what, if anything, will Hillary do as president to help the ppl of Flint.”

During the debate, Lee-Anne Walters, whose children experienced health problems after exposure to contaminated water in Flint, asked Clinton and Sanders “will you make a personal promise to me right now that, as president, in your first 100 days in office, you will make it a requirement that all public water systems must remove all lead service lines throughout the entire United States, and notification made to the — the citizens that have said service lines.”

What we don’t know is whether Clinton, herself, was ever made aware of the questions, as Trump claimed.

In her reply to Brazile’s email about the question on the death penalty, Palmieri indicated that that was a question that Clinton was already prepared to answer because she had heard it before.

“Hi. Yes, it is one she gets asked about. Not everyone likes her answer but can share it,” Palmieri wrote. She then asked another campaign official to forward to Brazile Clinton’s standard response on the death penalty.

CNN cut all ties with Brazile, the acting DNC director, on Oct. 14, three days after the first press reports on the controversy.

“We are completely uncomfortable with what we have learned about her interactions with the Clinton campaign while she was a CNN contributor,” a CNN spokeswoman said in a statement.

FactCheck.org is a non-partisan non-profit organization that will hold candidates and key figures accountable during the 2016 presidential campaign. FactCheck.org will check facts of speeches, advertisements and more for NBC.



Photo Credit: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

911 Call Wait Times Have Improved

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Good news in San Diego: wait times for 911 calls have greatly improved in the past few months.

They are now exceeding the national standard but that wasn't always the case.

Less than a year after promising to improve a troubled 911 system, the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) says they are now consistently meeting or exceeding the national standard.

The national standard is a wait time of 10 seconds or less, 90 percent of the time.

Back in April, only 67 percent of calls in San Diego met that standard.

But since November, that standard has been met.

Last spring, San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer said increased call wait times were the result of budget cuts, staffing shortages and an increase of non-emergency calls.

SDPD Captain Jerry Hara told NBC 7, since then, among other things, they have increased dispatcher's base salaries, hired and retained new dispatchers and addressed staffing issues.

Now they would like to improve wait times on their non-emergency line.

“70 percent of the calls on the non-emergency line is answered in less than 2 minutes, but say we can get that down to even under a minute that would be great,” Hara said.

If you do call the non-emergency line, to report something like graffiti or a pothole, keep in mind that the busiest hours are from noon to 6 p.m., where wait times are the longest.

If you'd like to view San Diego's 911 monthly performance stats, you can find that information here

Testimony in Grizzly Fatal Suspected DUI Crash in Ramona

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The family of a 21-year-old driver struck and killed by a suspected drunk driver with a blood-alcohol level four times the legal limit last September struggled in court as they relieved the moment they first realized they lost their loved one. 

At a preliminary hearing for suspect Paul Schenk, law enforcement authorities and witnesses recounted witnessing the grizzly head-on crash and responding to the scene. 

Schenk is facing several charges in the death of 21-year-old Racheal Guarneros-Callahan, including Gross Vehicular Manslaughter while Intoxicated, 2 counts of Felony Child Endangerment, DUI Causing great bodily injury as well as Driving with a Measurable amount of Alcohol and injury to a child under 5 years old. He previously pleaded not guilty.

Sandra Khoury, the victim's sister, recalled that the day of the crash, the family was waiting for an emergency helicopter to airlift their loved one to the hospital. 

Khoury said they finally realized Mercy Air was not coming -- because her sister had already died. 

"I think just reliving everything," she said. "Just remember being on the side of that road, and seeing those cars up there. It's like, this is not going to be over until it's over."

The crash happened on Sept. 12 when Schenk picked up his 5-year-old and 4-year-old from school, Deputy District Attorney Callie Bright said in court. He put his 5-year-old in the front seat and 4-year-old in the back seat without seat belts, according to Bright. 

At the time of the crash, he drove with his kids in the back seat with a blood-alcohol level approximately more than four times the legal limit, at 0.33, according to Bright -- the equivalent of 17 drinks. 

Bright said Schenk crossed the shoulder near Vista Ramona Road and E Old Julian Highway and over-corrected, smashing into the victim's car head-on at approximately 4:30 p.m. 

The impact of the crash instantly killed Guarneros – Callahan, 21. Family members say she had just finished work at the Riviera Oaks Resort and was on the phone with someone when the collision occurred.

"She was just a beautiful person," Khoury recalled. "She just had a big heart and just doted on her family. My daughter, her niece, and her other best friends. So it's just a huge hurt."

A San Diego County Sheriff's Deputy happened to hear the crash come over his radio on his way to another call and was the first on scene. He got out and went to Guarneros-Callahan's car first, worried it may burst into flames 

"I jumped in the backseat and pulled her seat belt off, and that's when I noticed the steering wheel was wedged in her chest," the officer testified. 

When he went around to the Ford involved in the crash, he found the driver wedged between the seat and steering wheel. 

"He just kept saying, 'I messed up,'" the officer recalled during testimony. 

CHP Officer Brian Kattke, who responded to the crash soon after, said that when he first arrived on scene, he spoke to Schenk, who he identified as the driver in court.

"His first statement to me though was a question," Kattke testified. "He asked, "am I going to jail?'"

Kattke said he did not respond, but the question lead him toward a different path in his further questioning and investigations: that some other factor may have been involved in the crash besides driver's error. 

When he returned to get a more detailed statement later, Kattke testified that he could smell alcohol coming from Schenk from two to three feet away. 

"At that time I noticed his eyes were red, I could smell some alcohol in his breath," Kattke testified. "I then asked him if he had been drinking alcohol, and he replied, 'yes.'"

Schenk's attorney, Paul Pfingst, has argued that his client is a veteran with a 21-year service career pulling wounded warriors from combat. Because of his past, he suffered mentally, Pfingst has argued.

However, the victim's family told NBC 7 that's an excuse that means nothing to the family. 

Six days before the crash, Schenk went to VA Hospital in San Diego asking for help, but was turned away, according to Pfingst. 

"In addition to regular mental health appointments, we offer our Psychiatric Emergency Clinic which is a walk-in clinic for Veterans in distress or if feel they need urgent care," a partial statement from the VA San Diego read.  

The 4-year-old involved in the crash was ejected from the backseat and had to be airlifted to Rady Children's Hospital, where he received stitches for his injuries; the 5-year-old was taken to Palomar Hospital.

Bail was previously set at $2 million.

A judge will decide after hearing testimony at the preliminary hearing if the case should go to trial.  

If convicted, Schenk could face 18 years in prison. 



Photo Credit: Family photo

Jessica Alba's Honest Company Recalls Organic Baby Powder

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The Honest Co., co-founded by actress Jessica Alba, is recalling all bottles of its organic baby powder sold in the U.S. because of concerns it could cause skin or eye infections.

The California-based company said during recent testing of the product, possible contaminations from microorganisms — including some species associated with skin infections or eye infections — were found.

The recalled Organic Baby Powder comes in a 4-oz. container with the UPC #817810014529.

The Honest Co. said it is voluntarily recalling this product “out of an abundance of caution.” No other products of The Honest Company are impacted by this recall.

Customers may return the affected products for a full refund. Customers with questions may call 1-888-688-8653 Monday – Friday 5 a.m. PT to 5 p.m. PT, or email support@thehonestcompany.com with subject line “Baby Powder.”



Photo Credit: The Honest Company

Wanted Homicide Suspect Caught Trying to Cross Into Mexico

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A wanted homicide suspect was caught trying to cross into Mexico at the San Ysidro Border Crossing Monday, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers said. 

Victor Manuel Valdovinos, 31, a U.S. citizen, walked up to the San Ysidro pedestrian border crossing at approximately 3:20 p.m. Monday, CBP officers said. 

Valdovinos gave authorities his valid California birth certificate and an expired California driver's license, according to officers. 

Authorities ran a routine query of law enforcement databases during the inspection and discovered a possible match for an active warrant out for his arrest. 

When officers took his fingerprints, they confirmed the man was Valdovinos and that he did indeed have an outstanding warrant for a homicide charge as well as a warrant for assault with a deadly weapon, according to CBP officers. 

The warrants were issued out of the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department, in Northern California. Bail had been set at $1 million.

Valdovinos was arrested and booked into the San Diego Central Jail to await extradition.  



Photo Credit: AP

Suspect Wanted for Armed Robbery Near an ATM in Vista

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Authorities are asking for the public's help to find a suspect in connection to an armed robber in Vista.

The incident occurred on Tuesday around 7:15 p.m. near the Bank of American ATM on Bobier Driver in Vista, according to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department (SDSO).

The suspect approached the victim and demanded money at gunpoint. He then ran away towards the Vista Royal Lodge trailer park near the bank ATM, SDSO said.

He is descirbed to be approximately 30-years old, around 5-feet 9-inches with a light brown bearch. He was last seen wearing a long gree hooded coat and tan pants.

SDSO said he was carrying a black semi-automatic handgun, similar to a Glock.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Vista Sheriff's Station at (760)940-4551 or Crime Stoppers at (888)580-8477.

Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.

65 Years After Death, Veteran's Body Buried in San Diego

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More than six decades after his death, a U.S. military veteran who served in the Korean War was finally buried at home in San Diego. 

The body of U.S. Army Major Jack Griffith was laid to rest with full military honors at Fort Rosecrans Wednesday morning. 

The veteran died 65 years ago while in captivity as a Prisoner of War in Korea. Surviving POWs reported Griffith’s death but his death certificate showed there were no remains to prove it.

For his family, his death was a painful mystery for decades.

Thanks to modern DNA analysis and dental records, family members recently learned of his body buried inside a grave in Hawaii.

On Wednesday, a military funeral honors team helped move the coffin, covered in an American flag, from the Hearst to Fort Rosecrans Cemetery. 

At the ceremony, Griffith was awarded full military honors posthumously. 

His nephew, Jake Griffith, said the return of his body and the ceremony Wednesday was something he never thought he would see. 

"It’s overwhelming to our family to have the remains recovered – all the efforts that went into it – to finally come back and have him come here and rest in San Diego, his hometown," he said.

He said his uncle, Jack, had been a story to him his whole life. His father --Jack's brother -- died five years ago knowing his brother's body would likely never be brought home. 

"It's amazing what our government does to bring back our fallen soldiers," Griffith said. "This is 65 years later, and they spent a lot of money, spent a lot of time and resources, to bring him and many others back."

Last year alone, DNA technology helped identify 166 Korean War veterans. There are still more than 7,700 Americans unaccounted for. 

Last week, San Diego International Airport's runway came to a brief standstill when Griffith's body finally returned home in a long overdue homecoming. 



Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego
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Former UK Spy Wrote Explosive Trump Memo

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An explosive 35-page memo on Donald Trump's relationship with Russia, which contains unverified allegations and which Trump called a "complete fabrication," was written by a former British intelligence officer working for Orbis Business Intelligence, Ltd., two people familiar with the matter told NBC News.

Separately, Rohit Kachroo, security editor for NBC News British partner ITV News, reported that his name is Christopher David Steele, a former officer with MI6 who was posted to Moscow in 1990.

The memo was originally generated on behalf of Republican opponents of Trump but was later shopped to the media by Democrats.

Orbis director Christopher Burrows told the Wall Street Journal he wouldn't "confirm or deny" that Orbis had produced the report, and a neighbor of Steele's told the newspaper he would be away for a few days.



Photo Credit: Seth Wenig/AP

Chargers Set to Announce Move to Los Angeles: Report

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According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, San Diego Chargers Chairman and Owner Dean Spanos will announce the team’s move to Los Angeles on Thursday.

The report comes after years of failed negotiations between the City of San Diego and the owners of the NFL franchise.

Schefter, who sites league sources, tweeted the news just hours after NBC 7 SportsWrap reported that the NFL had extended the deadline for the team's decision from Jan. 15 to Jan. 17. 

Unconfirmed reports of a possible announcement have been circulating all week. However, there is no word on a possible timeline with the move. 

According to the ESPN report, the Bolts have notified NFL commissioner Roger Goddell and other league owners of their intent to move for the 2017 season. 

However, the report goes on to state a formal relocation letter has not been sent. 

"But as one league source cautioned Wednesday night, Chargers chairman Dean Spanos has yet to send a formal relocation letter to the NFL, yet to notify public officials in Los Angeles or San Diego of the team's move, or even tell the members of the San Diego organization about his plans. The source insisted nothing is final," Schefter writes in his report.

A spokesman for the San Diego Mayor confirmed the Chargers have not contacted their office. 

NBC 7 has reached out to the Chargers organization for comment. We will update this story when they reply. On Tuesday, a team representative told us that “nothing is planned at this time.”

ESPN’s Jim Trotter reports Dean Spanos has called a meeting for Thursday morning to reportedly inform the staff on the decision.

The Chargers possible relocation has been a hot button issue for years. At the center of the problem is the Chargers dilapidated home stadium. Since 1967, the Chargers have played at Qualcomm Stadium in Mission Valley. Multiple efforts between the Chargers, NFL, city and county officials have failed to provide a stadium solution, either a new stadium or a remodeled Qualcomm Stadium.

Chargers owner Dean Spanos made no secret he preferred a downtown stadium site and asked San Diegans to keep an open mind regarding a proposed ballot measure.

In November, San Diego voters rejected the latest stadium proposal, a ballot measure that would have raised hotel occupancy taxes to help pay for a proposed $1.8 billion downtown stadium project. Measure C needed a two-thirds vote to pass but it received only 43 percent approval.

The Chargers have been in San Diego for 56 years, since moving here from Los Angeles in 1961. The team joined the National Football League in 1970 as part of the NFL-AFL merger.



Photo Credit: Getty Images
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Locals Share Thoughts on Trump's Cabinet Picks

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Wednesday marked the end of the second day of Senate confirmation hearings for President-elect Trump's cabinet.

Around San Diego, there is no shortage of opinions when it comes to these nominees, their qualifications or possible conflicts of interest.

"It scares me," said Maryann Mills-Lassiter. "It's unpredictable what will happen next."

Others were more optimistic.

"I'm going to have to give them the benefit of the doubt and see what they can do," said Randy Brueck.

Independent of opinion, history says there's a very good chance many of these nominees will get approved. Since the Carter Administration, only once has the Senate voted against a confirmation.

Sen. John Tower lost his nomination to be secretary of defense in 1989.

There have only been a handful of nominees that have withdrawn too.

Add to that the fact Republicans control the Senate and 51 votes are needed to reject a nominee. That makes it all but impossible for Democrats to torpedo any Trump picks by themselves.



Photo Credit: AP

Nearly 2,000 Bus Parking Permits Requested for Day of Women's March

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About nine times more permits to park tour buses in D.C. have been requested for the day of the Women's March on Washington than on Inauguration Day, according to a D.C. councilmember.

Councilmember Charles Allen told News4 about 200 permits were requested for the inauguration on Friday, Jan. 20. The city has received about 1,800 permits for the following day, Jan. 21, when thousands are expected to attend the Women's March on Washington in protest of President-elect Donald Trump.

More than 183,000 people said they will be going to the women's march, according to the event's Facebook page.

Allen said D.C. officials discussed the permit requests at a community meeting Tuesday night. He is set to hold a hearing on inauguration preparedness Thursday morning.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Oceanside Chooses Treasurer After Election of Dead Man

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The City of Oceanside chose a new treasurer to serve on the the City Council Wednesday after a dead man was elected to office during November election.

Dr. Rafe Trickey Jr. was selected to serve as the treasurer over candidate Nadine Scott, who lost the election by a six percent margin to her opponent, Gary Ernst.

Ernst had died on Sept. 23, 2016 but there was not enough time to remove his name from the November ballot.

He earned more than 17,000 votes.

Scott spoke with NBC 7 after the election, saying she believed the voters had not been informed of Ernst's death because some city leaders wanted to appoint a different candidate.

NBC 7 reached out to Scott on Wednesday following the announcement. 

“My appointment in the race was not legally on the ballot,” Scott told us.

She added that she did not expect to be selected as the new treasurer but is planning on running for council in the future.

Trickey sent NBC 7 the following statement:

“I am delighted, honored, and humbled. I love our beautiful city and I was extremely pleased that we had 11 very good and talented Oceanside citizens who applied to be considered and were willing and ready to serve. I look forward to serving as Oceanside City Treasurer and I will do everything in my power to represent the city as its treasurer and serve my fellow citizens with skill and integrity. I feel very fortunate and blessed to have been appointed with all five members of City Council voting to approve my appointment.”

Suspect Wanted in Connection to 3 Separate Bank Robberies: FBI

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Authorities are asking for the public’s help to identify a suspect wanted in connection to three bank robberies across San Diego.

The latest attempted robbery occurred on Wednesday afternoon at approximately 1:43 p.m. at the Wells Fargo bank on the 9900 block of Scripps Ranch Boulevard.

According to the San Diego Police Department (SDPD), the suspect gave a demand note to the bank teller and said he had a gun. When the teller did not comply, the suspect ran away.

He was described to be approximately 5-feet 9-inches tall, around 180 pounds and in his 20s. He was wearing a black and red beanie, a red hooded jacket and dark colored pants.

Although the suspect stated he had a gun, SDPD says no weapon was seen.

The FBI and local law enforcement agencies identified the man as a suspect in two other robberies in the San Diego area.

One robbery was reported at the US Bank on Federal Boulevard on Jan. 3 and another on Dec. 28, 2016 at the Wells Fargo Bank on Garnet Avenue.

Surveillance video captured the suspect on two separate robberies.

Anyone with information is asked to the FBI at (858)320-1800.

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