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Company Involved in SD Zoo Incident Will Not Be Cited

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The company involved in a construction incident on San Diego Zoo property in July will not face any citations, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) officials said.

The construction incident, which happened on July 2, left four workers, contracted to work on the property through Rudolph and Sletten Inc., injured.

A statement from the San Diego Zoo following the incident said all four workers were "OK" after the incident. 

Two of the injured went to Mercy Hospital and another went to UC San Diego Hospital, according to San Diego Fire-Rescue Media Services Manager Mónica Muñoz.

Following the incident, Cal/OSHA opened an investigation into Rudolph and Sletten and Performance Contracting. 

"The division determined Rudolph and Sletten committed no violations related to the accident and issued a citation to Performance Contracting for hazards related to elevating work platforms," a statement from OSHA officials read.

The incident either occurred in the African Rocks area, a new exhibit that just opened Friday at the San Diego Zoo, or around a bridge construction area at the zoo, officials said. 

The zoo has called the African Rocks exhibit their most ambitious construction project ever.

A towering waterfall nearly 70 feet tall is part of an impressive display inside the $68 million exhibit. Zoo officials say it's the most expensive and complex exhibit they've ever made.


Dogs With Bad Raps Learn to Be Polite in LA Class

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While others are eating brunch, running errands or relaxing, a dedicated group of pet owners and volunteers spend Saturdays training "bully breed" dogs at a park in Sherman Oaks.

Troy Smith founded Los Angeles Responsible Pit Bull Owners (LARPBO) six years ago when he couldn't find activities to do with his beloved pit bull, Tito. He said people gave him strange looks for owning one of the controversial breeds.

"A pit bull is a dog. It has four legs, a head, teeth, it likes to run and play and wag its tail. It's the same as any other dog," Smith said.

In six years, LARPBO has grown from a dog-walking group to a nonprofit with more than 1,900 members that train 100 dogs each weekend, according to Smith. The organization hopes to keep dogs out of shelters by building positive behaviors for dogs and owners.

And classes aren't just for pit bulls. LARPBO accepts all breeds, backgrounds and training needs.

"We want people to come and be a part of their dog's life and change their dog's life, rather than putting them in the shelter and giving up on them," Smith said. "We think of our organization as a last resort before people turn their dogs in."

Wendy Williams joined LARPBO four years ago after another organization's trainer said her pit bull wasn't welcome.

"It's hard to find a place for pit bulls. They end up getting turned away because of their breed or their size," she said.

During her first class, she saw a woman with a nine-pound chihuahua and feared her pit bull's small-prey drive would be triggered.

"I remember thinking, 'Why is this woman here? She's going to be the bane of my existence,'" Williams said as she tried to hold back laughter. "We're now best friends...our dogs can go to lunch, sit in harmony and share a water bowl."

Two years after joining the nonprofit, she became a trainer. Now she leads classes on Sundays in Long Beach.

Both Williams and Smith estimate 90 percent of LARPBO dogs come from shelters, adding a second stigma to the already maligned breed.

"A rescue dog is a rescue dog because someone gave it up. That's all it is. It's not because they're a bad dog or from a bad situation necessarily," Smith said.

LARPBO offers $15 training classes on Saturdays in Sherman Oaks and Sundays in Long Beach. The nonprofit allows dogs and their owners to attend classes whenever they want, rather than being tied to a six- or eight-week program. Dogs can enter the program as beginners, pass a "good citizen" test and continue on to advanced training.

Smith said he hopes to open a LARPBO center in L.A. and eventually expand nationwide.



Photo Credit: Sean Myers/KNBC-TV
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Woman Being Sentenced in Texting Suicide of Boyfriend

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Found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in June, Michelle Carter could now be facing up to 20 years behind bars for the suicide of her boyfriend.

Conrad Roy, 18, poisoned himself with carbon monoxide in 2014. Following a bench trial, a judge ruled that Carter should be held responsible for his death, based on hundreds of text messages she sent urging him to commit suicide.

Judge Lawrence Moniz will have to decide Thursday what sentence to impose on Carter, and it is a question legal analysts say is not easy to answer.

“She's looking at the judge having various options,” explained Michael Coyne, Dean of the Massachusetts School of Law.

Carter was charged as a youthful offender, which gives the judge some latitude in her punishment. According to Coyne, she could face probation, prison or even a combination of sentences. If the latter were to happen, it could mean Carter is sent to juvenile detention until she is 21 years old, followed by probation. Because she is already 20, Coyne does not expect that to happen.

The judge could also combine a juvenile detention commitment with an adult sentence, or can give her an adult sentence of anything from probation to the maximum 20-year term.

“The manslaughter conviction means that her actions resulted in the death of a young man,” Coyne said, “There should be some level of incarceration that attaches to that.”

While the range is lengthy, Coyne believes the sentence could be closer to 2-5 years. Guidelines from the Massachusetts Court System recommend 40-60 months for her conviction.

Carter’s sentencing is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. at Taunton Juvenile Court. NBC Boston will broadcast the proceedings live.


The Associated Press contributed to this report.



Photo Credit: Glenn C.Silva/AP, File

Man Gets $650k After Fighting LA Parking Ticket

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The Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday approved a $650,000 payout for a man who successfully fought how the city of Los Angeles processes challenges to parking tickets.

Cody Weiss, who sued the city in 2014 after he received a parking ticket, argued that the city unlawfully allows a private for-profit company to process challenges to tickets. A Los Angeles Superior Court judge ruled in his favor last year, and the decision was upheld by the Second District Court of Appeal.

City Attorney Mike Feuer petitioned the California Supreme Court to review the appellate decision, but the state's high court denied the petition in November and upheld the lower court's decision ordering Los Angeles to change its practice of allowing the Xerox company to handle reviews of challenges to parking tickets.

Caleb Marker, an attorney for Weiss, and the Los Angeles City Attorney's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Weiss argued that his ticket, which he received for parking longer than the posted time limit, was wrongfully issued. The court found a problem with the fact that the initial review was handled by a company called PRWT, a subcontractor for Xerox. An investigation by NBC4 found that PRWT automatically denied most ticket appeals, even when strong evidence was presented that someone was wrongly ticketed.

In 2014, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James Chalfant wrote in a tentative ruling, which was eventually upheld, that only the city "as issuing agency" can conduct initial reviews, "and it may not delegate that task to its processing agency, Xerox." Chalfant cited a 1995 change in state law that said only the agency that issues a citation can conduct reviews.

"The judge correctly applied the law," Marker said in 2014 about Chalfant's ruling. "The city and Xerox have been in violation of the law since 1995, when the law changed."



Photo Credit: KNBC

Agents Seize $2.8M in Cocaine, $500K in Cash From 2 Cars:CBP

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Border Patrol agents at the San Ysidro and Otay Mesa ports of entry seized million of dollars worth of cocaine and more than $300,000 in cash in two separate incidents, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) confirmed.

The incidents occurred at different times on Aug. 1.

At approximately 1 a.m., agents stopped a 33-year-old woman driving a 2007 Nissan Titan at the Otay Mesa port of entry after a canine alerted them to her vehicle.

During an inspection, agents noticed anomalies in the spare tire of the vehicle through the port's imaging system.

Twenty-eight packages containing cocaine, weighing 106 pounds, were discovered in the spare tire, CBP said.

The woman, a U.S. citizen, was arrested and turned over to the Homeland Security Investigations.

Around 3:30 p.m. the same day, agents stopped a 2014 Nissan Versa for inspection on Interstate 5. They found 50 bundles of unreported cash—worth nearly $300,000— inside both front doors and the driver's side back door of the vehicle.

The 24-year-old woman was arrested and turned over to the Homeland Security Investigations, CBP said. She is a U.S. citizen.



Photo Credit: U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Kelly Calls Sessions to Assure AG Position is Safe: Source

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New White House chief of staff John Kelly recently called Attorney General Jeff Sessions to assure him that he is safe in his job, a source familiar with the call confirmed to NBC News.

Kelly told Sessions on Saturday that the White House was supportive of his work and wanted him to remain the attorney general. The Associated Press was the first to report the call.

President Donald Trump has publicly criticized Sessions recently over his decision to recuse himself from Russia-related investigation.

In an interview on Fox News, Sessions said the criticism was "kind of hurtful" but that he intends to stay in the job as desired by Trump.



Photo Credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images, File

Burglars Target Lakeside Youth Football League's Snack Shop

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Burglars broke into a youth football league’s snack shop in Lakeside Monday, taking off with treats and damaging the store.

The Lakeside Youth Football and Cheer snack shack is open four days a week for practice and games on the El Capitan High School playing field.

It brings in approximately $7,000 a year—money that is used to run the league.

"It looks like the point of entry was here and they used some sort of chisel or screw driver,” league president John Vance said.

Photos of the shop after the break-in show many of the treats trampled on or stolen, equipment trashed and the door and lock so damaged they must be replaced.

"It’s super unfortunate that anyone would do this and take away from the kids,” said Vance.

"I was angry a little confused kind of in disbelief,” parent and coach Ben Mathe said.

Vance told NBC 7, he reported the theft to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department (SDSO). But he believes recovering the stolen things will likely not happen.

"The money supplies the kids with new updated gear to play with and the equipment they need out on the field,” Vance said.

But a local restaurant has jumped into help, donating snacks. Parents and volunteers also brought goodies to sell and donated money.

"We're a family. When one of us is in need, that's what we do—we go out of our way to help each other out," Mathe said.

Vance said SDSO investigators have few leads but there are two security cameras on the campus that may have recorded the break-in.


Doc. With History of Drug Abuse to Continue Treating People

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A San Diego doctor with a history of drug and alcohol abuse and a felony conviction for prescription fraud can continue practicing medicine, after settling her discipline case with the Medical Board of California.

According to a 22-page settlement and disciplinary order that took effect July 28, Dr. Leonor Alcaraz Ordonez can still practice but must abide by strict conditions of probation for six years, including drug testing, attendance at drug addiction support groups, and paying an independent physician to supervise her medical practice.

In addition, Ordonez cannot write any prescriptions for controlled substances or recommend medical marijuana for her patients. Ordonez, whose office is in Mission Valley, must abstain from drug and alcohol use, undergo psychological counseling, and complete a medical ethics course, among other restrictions.

The Medical Board outlined its case against Ordonez in an accusation filed in December 2016.

That document describes how a federal drug agent learned Ordonez had prescribed controlled substances, including addictive pain medications, for her husband, but "divert(ed) the prescription medication for personal use." A Medical Board investigator dug deeper and discovered Ordonez had written at least 15 prescriptions for her husband, including Tylenol/codeine, diazepam, and hydrocodone, from April 2013 to July 2015.

According to the accusation, Ordonez told investigators that in one seven month period, she wrote nine prescriptions for an opioid for her husband, with each prescription for 90 pills. Ordonez admitted taking “two to three pills a day of her husband’s pain medicine, and "further stated that she peaked using at about four pills of hydrocodone a day."

The evidence in the accusation -- which Ordonez admitted was accurate when she signed the disciplinary order -- includes her admission that she prescribed the controlled substances for her husband to help him cope with a rotator cuff injury, even though that injury happened 15 years ago and her husband had never seen a doctor for a follow-up exam or treatment.

A pharmacist at the CVS store on East Palomar Road in Chula Vista told investigators in July 2015, he saw Ordonez waiting for a prescription for controlled substances for her husband. The pharmacist told investigators he "confronted" Ordonez about the medication order, and asked her if she had written that prescription.

According to the accusation, "(Ordonez) replied no, took the prescription, walked out of the store and has not returned since."

Two months later, in September 2015, Ordonez was charged with 20 felonies in San Diego Superior Court, including seven counts of prescription fraud, one count of obtaining a narcotic by a forged prescription, and 12 allegations of insurance fraud. Ordonez later plead guilty to two felonies, including one count of prescription fraud, and was sentenced to three years probation.

Ordonez did not return a phone call to her Mission Valley office. Her attorney, Robert Frank, told NBC 7 Investigates Ordonez "...is happy to be back providing patient care with the Medical Boards' blessing and supervision."

Despite her admitted history of drug abuse, two doctors who evaluated Ordonez last year concluded she is not a threat to her patients, if she remains alcohol and drug-free.

"Dr. Ordonez has potential for re-addiction if she does not participate in the treatment programs," one of the physician experts concluded. "(Her) participation in these programs, as well as monitoring and random drug testing, will be a layer of safety which is needed for Dr. Ordonez to be considered safe to practice medicine."

Frank said Ordonez now provides care for homebound patients, something he said most doctors are unwilling to do. He also said his client has been "clean and sober" and may ask the Medical Board to relax the terms of her probation, or terminate supervision altogether. According to Frank, Ordonez can petition the agency for reconsideration in 2019.

NBC 7 Investigates is reporting on medical professionals accused by the public and the California Medical Board of wrongdoing in order to bring information to the public and increase transparency of medical practices in the San Diego region. Currently, this information is reported by the Medical Board on its website.

Medical professionals are not required to disclose this information to their patients.



Photo Credit: Stock Image

Heated Debate on Target's Possible Move to Ocean Beach

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Tempers flared during an Ocean Beach Planning Board meeting Wednesday night where many residents expressed their anger and concern over a Target store opening in their neighborhood.

A Target Express store could make the move into the Antique Center on Newport Avenue.

And it's not sitting well with most residents.

During Wednesday's meeting, many held signs reading "No Target in OB," protesting the store's potential move.

Many residents said they are concerned Ocean Beach's free-spirit character and it's aesthetic uniqueness could disappear.

Business owner Paul Bearce said he is making "No Target in Ocean Beach" shirts because he is concerned about his James Gang printing company going out of business.

"Our retail side will pretty much be impacted by it, I believe, which could force us to go," Bearce said.

"I’ve gone to OB hardware and wasn't sure if a tool was the right size," said Courtney Walters. "They let me take it home to see if it fit and come back on my word to pay them for it. That’s not going to happen at Target."

Target representatives said they tailor stores that try not to compete too much with local retailers. They also spoke of how their research shows shoppers have a desire not to want to leave their community to get goods and services.

Resident Diana Webster said understands that all too well.

"Hopefully we can get a Target in there. One of these days, I may not be able to drive anymore and I’d like to be able to walk to Target or ride a cart," she said.

The Ocean Beach Planning Board has no power to keep a landlord from leasing space to Target but it can make the company's decision more difficult.

In a symbolic move Wednesday night, the group voted to not allow any new licenses that would let liquor be taken off premises.

"Cut the head off the snake, don’t let them have alcohol and they may consider not coming," said planning board member Numan Stotz.

The Alcohol Board Control has the power to grant licenses but will take the board’s decision into consideration--especially since the board says the area is 300 percent oversaturated with liquor licenses. There is also a high number of alcohol related crimes.

Target Express is just in the planning stages and no decision has been made on whether it will occupy the Antique Center space. 



Photo Credit: NBC 7

MLS Commissioner Gives Update on Projected Expansion

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During halftime of the Major League Soccer All-Star game, commissioner Don Garber went on the Fox Sports1 broadcast and gave an update on MLS expansion.

From a San Diego perspective, it was discouraging to hear America's Finest City not mentioned specifically among the communities vying for four new franchises.

“I don’t know where exactly yet,” explained Garber during the broadcast. “I know that we’ve got 12 markets and those 12 markets are all very interested for those four spots. We’ll pick two in December."

"You have Nashville, Cincinnati, Sacramento and Detroit – all who are really energized - surprising us all," added the commissioner. "But then you have Charlotte and Raleigh and Tampa and so many other markets. So we’ll be in December with two to pick and we’ll have two great cities and then two more picking sometime after that.”

The fact that Garber was rather vague on a current deadline for the potential 27th and 28th teams is encouraging for San Diegans rooting for a franchise.

Soccer City representatives such as spokesman Nick Stone and retired USA star Landon Donovan are still hoping MLS will #WaitForSD in 2018 but as Garber confirmed, certain cities already have a leg up on San Diego.

When prompted by former USMNT player and current broadcaster Stuart Holden, Garber also addressed the implied number of 28 as the final number of MLS franchises under his watch.

"At 28 we will be the largest league in the world, said Garber. "We’ve got a lot of work that we need to do to on-board all those teams. Figure out our competitive format. Ensure we have the right players. Ensure we have the right relationship with all those communities. 28 in my tenure, that’s for darn sure.”



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Coast Guard Chief Vows to Support Transgender Members

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The head of the Coast Guard expressed strong support for transgender service members despite President Donald Trump's tweets last week that transgender individuals would not be allowed to serve in "any capacity." 

Commandant Adm. Paul Zukunft said that his office contacted 13 members of the Coast Guard who self-identify as transgender in a show of solidarity in response to the ban. The comments came in a speech to a Center for Strategic and International Studies forum in Washington, D.C., The Hill reported. 

"That was the commitment to our people right now," Zukunft said. "Very small numbers, but all of them are doing meaningful Coast Guard work today."

Among the transgender Coast Guard personnel who were contacted was Lt. Taylor Miller, the Coast Guard's first openly transitioning officer. Miller was profiled in a Washington Post article.

"If you read that story, Taylor's family has disowned her," Zukunft said. "And I told Taylor, I will not turn my back. We have made an investment in you and you have made an investment in the Coast Guard and I will not break faith."

A spokesperson for the Coast Guard told NBC they will "follow the [Department of Defense] closely on human resource policies" and will be in contact about future changes in policy.

The Coast Guard falls under the jurisdiction of the Department of Homeland Security but would be subject to the transgender ban as a branch of the U.S. Armed Forces.

President Trump's three tweets announing that the military "will not accept or allow Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity" reportedly came as a surprise to leaders at the Pentagon.

Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford said in a memo to military leaders that the current policy regarding transgender individuals in the military will not change until the president issues an official directive.

The top Air Force officer, Gen. David Goldfein, said in another note that he and Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson "emphasize that all airmen will be treated with dignity and respect as we work through the potential policy changes" of the ban.

Attorneys general in 18 states and the District of Columbia, meanwhile, called for Congress to protect transgender service members from discrimination. 



Photo Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images, File

Doc. With History of Drug Abuse to Continue Treating People

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A San Diego doctor with a history of drug and alcohol abuse and a felony conviction for prescription fraud can continue practicing medicine, after settling her discipline case with the Medical Board of California.

According to a 22-page settlement and disciplinary order that took effect July 28, Dr. Leonor Alcaraz Ordonez can still practice but must abide by strict conditions of probation for six years, including drug testing, attendance at drug addiction support groups, and paying an independent physician to supervise her medical practice.

In addition, Ordonez cannot write any prescriptions for controlled substances or recommend medical marijuana for her patients. Ordonez, whose office is in Mission Valley, must abstain from drug and alcohol use, undergo psychological counseling, and complete a medical ethics course, among other restrictions.

The Medical Board outlined its case against Ordonez in an accusation filed in December 2016.

That document describes how a federal drug agent learned Ordonez had prescribed controlled substances, including addictive pain medications, for her husband, but "divert(ed) the prescription medication for personal use." A Medical Board investigator dug deeper and discovered Ordonez had written at least 15 prescriptions for her husband, including Tylenol/codeine, diazepam, and hydrocodone, from April 2013 to July 2015.

According to the accusation, Ordonez told investigators that in one seven month period, she wrote nine prescriptions for an opioid for her husband, with each prescription for 90 pills. Ordonez admitted taking “two to three pills a day of her husband’s pain medicine, and "further stated that she peaked using at about four pills of hydrocodone a day."

The evidence in the accusation -- which Ordonez admitted was accurate when she signed the disciplinary order -- includes her admission that she prescribed the controlled substances for her husband to help him cope with a rotator cuff injury, even though that injury happened 15 years ago and her husband had never seen a doctor for a follow-up exam or treatment.

A pharmacist at the CVS store on East Palomar Road in Chula Vista told investigators in July 2015, he saw Ordonez waiting for a prescription for controlled substances for her husband. The pharmacist told investigators he "confronted" Ordonez about the medication order, and asked her if she had written that prescription.

According to the accusation, "(Ordonez) replied no, took the prescription, walked out of the store and has not returned since."

Two months later, in September 2015, Ordonez was charged with 20 felonies in San Diego Superior Court, including seven counts of prescription fraud, one count of obtaining a narcotic by a forged prescription, and 12 allegations of insurance fraud. Ordonez later plead guilty to two felonies, including one count of prescription fraud, and was sentenced to three years probation.

Ordonez did not return a phone call to her Mission Valley office. Her attorney, Robert Frank, told NBC 7 Investigates Ordonez "...is happy to be back providing patient care with the Medical Boards' blessing and supervision."

Despite her admitted history of drug abuse, two doctors who evaluated Ordonez last year concluded she is not a threat to her patients, if she remains alcohol and drug-free.

"Dr. Ordonez has potential for re-addiction if she does not participate in the treatment programs," one of the physician experts concluded. "(Her) participation in these programs, as well as monitoring and random drug testing, will be a layer of safety which is needed for Dr. Ordonez to be considered safe to practice medicine."

Frank said Ordonez now provides care for homebound patients, something he said most doctors are unwilling to do. He also said his client has been "clean and sober" and may ask the Medical Board to relax the terms of her probation, or terminate supervision altogether. According to Frank, Ordonez can petition the agency for reconsideration in 2019.

NBC 7 Investigates is reporting on medical professionals accused by the public and the California Medical Board of wrongdoing in order to bring information to the public and increase transparency of medical practices in the San Diego region. Currently, this information is reported by the Medical Board on its website.

Medical professionals are not required to disclose this information to their patients.



Photo Credit: Stock Image

Nearly Half Don't Buckle Up in Back Seat of Hired Rides: Survey

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A new survey shows more Americans are getting in the back seat of a car without buckling up, especially if those passengers are in an Uber or using other ride-hailing services.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found just 72 percent of 1,200 adults surveyed buckle up while in the back seat of a car, CNBC reported. By comparison, 91 percent said they use a seat belt while riding in the front seat.

The survey revealed even fewer passengers — just 57 percent — are using seat belts while taking Uber, Lyft or other hired rides.

The Insurance Institute said the main reason people ignore buckling up in the back seat is that they believe it's a safer place to be during an accident. The research found drivers are twice as likely to be killed when someone in the back isn't wearing a seat belt during a crash.

Texas is among the 29 states that requires people in the back seat to wear seat belts. Passengers caught without it can be fined up to $2,000.



Photo Credit: Getty Images, File

Amrita Protein Bars Recalled for Listeria Risk

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A brand of protein bars has been recalled by its manufacturer because it may be contaminated with listeria.

Amrita Health Foods, which is based in Pleasantville, New York, voluntarily recalled a limited number of Amrita Bars after a supplier reported that sunflower seeds and sunflowers seed butter sold to the company could be contaminated.

The recalled Amrita Bar were distributed to retail stores across the country. The following products have been recalled:

  • Amrita Chocolate Maca Bar, 60g (UPC 853009004056) : Best Buy date between 04/24/2018 to 05/31/2018
  • Amrita Dark Chocolate Quinoa, 60g (UPC 853009004438) : Best Buy date between 04/24/2018 to 05/31/2018
  • Amrita Sunflower Seed Butter, 60g (UPC 853009004414) : Best Buy date between 04/24/2018 to 05/31/2018
  • Amrita Chocolate Chip Coconut, 50g (UPC 853009004391) : Best Buy date between 04/24/2018 to 05/31/2018
  • Amrita Mango Coconut, 50g (UPC 853009004018) : Best Buy date between 04/24/2018 to 05/31/2018
  • Amrita Apricot Strawberry, 50g (UPC 853009004056) : Best Buy date between 04/24/2018 to 05/31/2018
  • Amrita Pineapple Chia, 50g (UPC 853009004025) : Best Buy date between 04/24/2018 to 05/31/2018
  • Amrita Apple Cinnamon, 50g (UPC 853009004049) : Best Buy date between 04/24/2018 to 05/31/2018
  • Amrita Cranberry Raisin, 50g (UPC 853009004032): Best Buy date between 04/24/2018 to 05/31/2018


Listeria monocytogenes can cause serious infections in young children, the elderly, and anyone with weakened immune systems. Symptoms include fever, nausea and diarrhea.

Anyone with questions about the recall can call Amrita Health Foods Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 4p.m. at 1-888-728-7779. Or click here for more information.  



Photo Credit: necn

'We Cannot Fight Nature': Miami, Miami Beach Mayors Plan for Next Flood

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A day after widespread flooding left parts of Miami-Dade inundated with rain water, the mayors of Miami Beach and the City of Miami said they're working to put systems in place to help prevent another potential disaster.

Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado said around five and a half inches of rain fell in a matter of a couple hours in the Brickell City Center area Tuesday afternoon, damaging homes and businesses and leaving cars full of water.

"What we saw yesterday was extraordinary. It took everybody by surprise," Regalado said at a news conference on Wednesday.

Regalado said there was also major flooding in Little Havana and several cars were damaged by flooding in front of AmericanAirlines Arena. He said the Brickell City Center garage was still closed Wednesday, while part of the courthouse was also damaged.

Regalado said there are already several water pumps in Miami but that more construction is underway that will provide better drainage to help with sea level rise. The pump system is scheduled to be fully installed by end of the year.

"This is the consequence of nature. We cannot fight nature but we can do something to remedy the consequences," Regalado said.

Meanwhile, in a statement Wednesday, Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine said he has directed city staff to immediately pursue emergency procurement procedures to install two generators for pump stations to prevent future flooding.

The purchase of the emergency generators was approved in February but Levine said the process to get them has been "bogged down in bureaucratic paralysis."

"As you can understand, this is extremely frustrating and the delay has clearly impacted the progress we've made to address flooding in our city," Levine said.

The heavy rain Tuesday pounded Miami Beach, transforming roads including Collins Avenue into rivers. Levine said the pump system drained the city's flooded streets quickly Wednesday morning. But more needs to be done, he said.

The Miami-Dade Office of Emergency Management is collecting information on the impacts of Tuesday's flooding on the business community.

Business owners who experienced damage or were forced to close their businesses due to flooding were told to report that information through the Business Damage Assessment Survey.

Reports should include insured and uninsured losses to determine if Miami-Dade County meets eligibility requirements for government assistance. When completing the form, owners should select Tropical Storm Emily under the Event/Incident category.



Photo Credit: NBC 6
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Pedestrian Struck In College Area

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A driver struck a male pedestrian in the College area early Thursday morning.

It happened about 5:30 a.m. at College Avenue and El Cajon Boulevard.

Officers with the San Diego Police Department said the pedestrian was not responsive, and was taken to a hospital with head injuries.

The driver remained at the scene.

Officers have blocked off traffic in the area during the investigation.

No other information was available.

Please refresh this page for updates on this story. Details may change as more information becomes available.



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Trump Is Probably Right — The U.S. Is Losing in Afghanistan

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President Donald Trump has expressed frustrations regarding the war in Afghanistan, and recently suggested firing the war’s top military commander, NBC News reported.

In a meeting last month, Trump told senior administration officials “we aren’t winning. We are losing.”

By most measures, the president is correct.

The nearly 16 year long war — the longest in US history — has resulted in 2,216 American deaths and cost taxpayers an estimated $714 billion.

Meanwhile, the U.S. backed Afghan government controls less than 60 percent of the country, according to a report from the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan reconstruction, a government watchdog group.

The Taliban maintains a strong hold over much of the other territory.



Photo Credit: Scott Olson / Getty Images

Lyft Customer Claims Driver Attacked Her

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A woman who hailed a Lyft from Pacific Beach to Carlsbad said she was attacked by the driver and now San Diego police are investigating the incident.

The woman called 911 from a gas station at the corner of Rancho Bernardo Road and West Bernardo Drive just before 5 a.m.

Officers say the woman told police the driver of the ride-hailing service Lyft picked her up for a ride but stopped somewhere else.

She said the driver sexually assaulted her and then dropped her off at the gas station in Rancho Bernardo where she then called 911.

The driver was said to be using a white Toyota Prius, police said.

An employee of a 7-Eleven at the gas station told NBC 7 the woman never went inside the store.

Father Pries Open Bars on Window to Help Family Escape Fire

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A father bent the metal bars on the window of his City Heights apartment to get his family to safety, after a fire started inside, early Thursday. 


That's according to firefighters with the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department.

Firefighters were called out to Central Avenue, south of El Cajon Boulevard, a little after 3 a.m. 

Two adults, a child, and two dogs escaped injury.

Crews quickly put out the fire, which was contained to the living room. 

Firefighters said a couple of laptops plugged into the same outlet may have sparked the fire, which spread to the couch.  

The Red Cross was called in to help the family find another place to stay temporarily. 

No other information was available.



Photo Credit: Monica Garske

Maryland Soccer Star, Brother Deported to El Salvador After Check-In Call

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Two brothers from the D.C. area were deported to El Salvador Wednesday, the same day the youngest sibling was scheduled to check in to college.

Lizandro Claros-Saravia, 19, and Diego Claros-Saravia, 22, grew up in Maryland and both of them graduated from Quince Orchard High School in Gaithersburg.

Lizandro played soccer for the Bethesda Soccer Club and had received a partial scholarship to attend Louisburg College in North Carolina in the fall. Diego was set to go with him and work to help his brother pay for the rest of his college expenses.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained the brothers on Friday after Lizandro called ICE to let them know of the move and to request that his yearly check-ins with the agency be moved to an office in North Carolina, NBC News reported.

They were deported five days later.

"They were trying to get a future of dreams that they had in mind. A future to help my parents to live a better life not just for my parents, but for them too," said Lizandro and Diego's brother, Jonathan Claros-Saravia, at a news conference Wednesday.

ICE says the brothers, who were detained by customs officials in 2009 after trying to enter the U.S. illegally using fraudulent passports, were issued final removal orders by an immigration judge in November 2012. They were released pursuant to an order of supervision, ICE spokesman Matthew Bourke said.

They were both granted a one year stay of removal in 2013. But two subsequent applications for stays were denied, ICE said.

The brothers didn't qualify for President Barack Obama's 2012 deferred action for childhood arrivals (DACA) program, which limited eligibility to individuals who entered before June 15, 2007, and who were born on or after June 16, 1981. They had hoped to get deportation relief under expanded DACA protections in 2014, but that program was stopped in the courts after Republican officials from 26 states file a lawsuit, according to NBC News. Under expanded DACA, individuals would have qualifed if they have lived in the U.S. since Jan. 1, 2010 regardless of their current age.

Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C, and Dick Durbin, D-Ill., have been working on reviving stalled legislation to grant legal status and a path to citizenship for young immigrants like the Claros brothers. But White House officials last month indicated it was unlikely Trump would support it, The Washington Post reported.

Since 2016, Bourke said, ICE deportation officers in Baltimore instructed the Claros brothers to purchase tickets for their departure.

Gustavo Torres, executive director for immigration advocacy group CASA, said the Trump administration has wrongly portrayed its immigration crackdown as focusing on criminals. 

"Together we want to send a very strong message to this administration. You're lying to the American people that you are focusing on criminals," he said. "Lizandro and Diego were not criminals. They were extraordinary human beings who were young." 



Photo Credit: Courtesy of the Claros family
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