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Applebee's to Close 100+ Stores

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The parent company of Applebee’s restaurants told investors Thursday it plans to close between 105 and 135 locations.

The company’s executives made the announcement while sharing plans to develop between 20 to 30 new locations internationally.

Prior to Thursday’s announcement, the company had planned to close between 40 to 60 Applebee’s restaurants.

Richard J. Dahl, Chairman and interim Chief Executive Officer of DineEquity, Inc. was quoted in a company news release as saying 2017 will be a transitional year for Applebee’s

“We are making the necessary investments for overall long-term brand health and expect to see improvement over the next year," said Dahl.

The closures will be determined on franchisee profitability, operational results and brand quality standards, the company’s website said.

There are six Applebee’s locations in San Diego County and four in Tijuana, Mexico. No word on if any of those locations are among the sites that will be closed.

Applebee’s saw a 6.2 percent decline in sales for the second quarter of 2017.


New Arrest in Valley Center Homicide Investigation

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Another person has been arrested in connection with the death of a man found unresponsive in his car in Valley Center in February.

Detectives with the San Diego Sheriff's homicide detail arrested Escondido resident Sandra Garcia on Thursday.

Two documented gang members were previously arrested in connection with the death of the same man.

Jonathan Gonzalez was arrested on Thursday, August 3, and Guillermo Bravo was arrested on Monday, August 7, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department (SDSO). Both are North County residents.

Gonzalez and Bravo were in custody at the San Diego County Jail on unrelated charges at the time of their arrests.

Deputies had been responding to reports of a fight on Feb. 27 when they found 28-year-old Jose Ortiz dead inside his car on Cole Grade Road north of Fruitvale Road. He had a gunshot wound to his torso, SDSO officials said.

First responders attempted to treat Ortiz, but he died shortly after.

Ortiz's death was ruled a homicide by the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office.

Detectives continue to investigate this case and are continuing to look for additional persons of interest.

Anyone with information can call the Homicide Detail at (858)974-2321 or Crime Stoppers at (888)580-8477. A $1,000 reward is being offered for any information leading to an arrest.

1 Killed After Car Overturns on I-15 in Rancho Bernardo: CHP

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One person was killed when their car overturned on Interstate 15 near Rancho Bernardo, California Highway Patrol (CHP) officials said. 

The crash happened at approximately 1:15 p.m. Thursday near W Bernardo Drive. 

A Sig Alert has been issued for the area, expect delays. 

No other information was available.

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

Camp Beyond the Scars

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Camp Beyond the Scars provides young burn survivors with a fun, safe, supportive, and inclusive camp environment that encourages healing, personal growth and character development within a natural setting.

Susan Day, Executive Director of the Burn Institute said the camp has proven to be a great experience. 

“Many times it’s the first time they get to meet a fellow burn survivor and share that common thread,” Day said.

This week, 45 young burn survivors, ages 8 to 17, will participate in a variety of activities and support sessions, specifically designed to help enhance self-esteem and coping skills.

Camp provides a nurturing atmosphere where each child can learn how to deal with the emotional and physical hardships they face as a result of their burn trauma.

“I’ve been here for a really long time so it’s nice to reunite,” said camper Madilyn Garcia. “It’s awesome to get the support every year.”

The object is to transform burn victims into burn survivors.

“Everyone understands everybody,” said camper Amy Grieshaber. “Everyone supports each other and there’s love and care.”

Many of the camp's counselors are off-duty firefighters and adult burn survivors who volunteer their time.

Established in 1987, Camp Beyond the Scars is one of the Burn Institute's most successful burn survivor support programs.

The Burn Institute is a local non-profit agency dedicated to reducing the number of burn injuries and deaths in San Diego and Imperial counties through fire and burn prevention education, burn care research and treatment, and vital burn survivor support services.

For more information call the Burn Institute at 858-541-2277 or visit www.burninstitute.org.



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Children Bond With First Responders at Park in City Heights

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Hundreds of children were all smiles as they learned about what police and firefighters do to keep the city safe at an educational event in City Heights Thursday.

The event was planned through the United Way of San Diego County and the city to help build a connection between first responders and the community.

About 300 children enrolled in the United Way "Reading in the Heights" program participated. 

A police chopper swirled across the sky, above Officer Jeremy Henwood Memorial Park.

Sirens from emergency vehicles were activated for the children to hear.

The kids got a chance to climb on a fire truck and meet with the firefighters and San Diego police officers.


One SDPD officer, Laura Smith, who helped plan the event, said she hopes the children were able to see the officers in a different light.

"I hope that they just enjoy that time, and they get to build that bond with the officers that are honestly serving their community," said Smith. "And all of us, we just enjoy getting to help them and building a good relationship versus something that’s negative."

Officers also let the kids hop in the back of a patrol car. The children giggled as they quickly learned there are no handles on the inside of the doors. The other children rushed to open the doors from the outside.

While this unfolded, one SDPD officer said, "Oh your friends helped you escape. Look at that!"

This marked the second "Police Day" event held by the program. The event has grown from only 50 kids last year to hundreds this year. Organizers hope to plan another event like this next year.

Some of the children come from low-income families. Others may need additional support in school. After the event, some of the kids said they'd like to become police officers or firefighters when they grow up.



Photo Credit: NBC 7
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Google to Hold 'Town Hall' After Controversial Gender Memo

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Google will be holding a company town hall on diversity Thursday afternoon following days of scrutiny over a controversial memo on the company’s diversity initiatives written by engineer James Damore.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai is expected to lead the town hall with other members of the company’s leadership.

Pichai has since released a memo of his own addressing the importance of self expression in the workplace while being aware of the company’s code of conduct.

“To suggest a group of our colleagues have traits that make them less biologically suited to that work is offensive and not OK,” said Pichai in the memo sent to Google employees Tuesday. “ 

In the controversial 3,000 word memo sent by Damore, the 28-year-old engineer blamed the gender pay gap in the tech industry on biological differences between men and women. He also criticized what he called a politically correct bias in the Google culture.

“People get offended because it goes against the left’s ideology,” Damore said during an interview on a conservative talk show. “And then they just think, ‘OK, it offends people, therefore it’s wrong and there it’s an opinion.”

The town hall will take place at the Google Campus at 4 p.m. PST.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Arson Suspect Sought for Setting Car on Fire in Vista

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Investigators are looking for a suspect who intentionally set a car on fire in Vista, according to San Diego County Crime Stoppers.

The Sheriff's Bomb/Arson Unit has asked the public to help find the suspect who started the fire last Friday, said Crime Stopper officials.

On Aug. 4,  at about 1:15 a.m. deputies from the Vista Sheriff's Station responded to reports of a fire on Cherrywood Street, near Alderwood Circle and west of Interstate 78. Firefighters were requested and put out the fire.

The fire destroyed a Toyota Sequoia, two Jet Ski's, a trailer and surrounding brush. A person was seen driving away from the area in a dark-colored sedan shortly before the fire was lit.

Any witnesses can contact Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at (888)580-8477 or investigators at (580)580-8477, said Crime Stopper officials.

Anyone with information that helps lead to an arrest may be eligible for a reward up to $1,000.



Photo Credit: San Diego County Crimestoppers

Parents say DA Investigating Harmony International

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“It’s one of the most important experiences of my life, honestly,” said Jeremiah Carreras, “I plan on being a musician in my future.” 

Jeremiah said music is his passion so when his Miami, Florida high school band director announced a chance to play at Carnegie Hall, Jeremiah said he jumped at the opportunity. 

Harmony International was the company behind the trip. Jeremiah said his mother paid about $1,000 in online payments to the company. 

But in April, Jeremiah said he and other students learned the trip to New York City wasn’t going to happen. When their parents asked about refunds, they were directed to Harmony International’s attorney. 

Miami students are not alone. The circumstances surrounding the trip are similar to what happened with parents and students from four high schools in San Diego County. 

To read more about the local Harmony International trip to Japan that was canceled, click here

Last week, Dallas Morning News reported on 56 local families that are owed refunds for a canceled Harmony International trip to Europe. The paper says the reason given for the trip’s cancellation stemmed from fears of terrorism. 

Harmony International has filed for bankruptcy. In a Miami courtroom last month, the company’s owners, Brad and Margie Matheson refused to speak to our reporter. 

In court, the couple said they did not set aside any of the money trip participants paid towards these trips. According to the state Attorney General’s office, that’s a possible violation of California law. 

To read more about the state’s requirements for ‘sellers of travel tours’, click here

Parents of local students contacted NBC 7 Responds saying the San Diego County District Attorney’s office is investigating Harmony International. Documents shared with NBC 7 Responds show the DA’s office sent a letter and questionnaire to local band parents and students who claim to be owed money by the company.

NBC 7 Responds reached out to the District Attorney’s office regarding the letter and questionnaire sent out to parents. In an email, a spokesperson told us the office cannot confirm or deny an active investigation. 

According to the letter, the District Attorney’s Consumer Unit is trying to determine “if they were a victim of a crime” and included a two-page questionnaire, asking a number of questions including how much money was paid to the company and what promises were given about trip insurance policies. 

In a video shared with NBC 7 Responds, shot at the initial meeting with parents where the local trip to Japan was pitched, Brad Matheson discussed trip insurance policies. 

“If you register before March 1st with this group, you will receive free trip cancellation insurance,” Brad said, “We wanted to include that as an incentive to get you to register as early as possible.” 

Parents tell NBC 7 Responds the incentive worked. Parents say they felt confident they would get their money back if the trip was canceled. At the court hearing last month, Brad and Margie Matheson said no insurance policies were purchased. 

NBC 7 Responds reached out to an attorney representing Brad and Margie Matheson for this report but the attorney told us the couple has no further comments at this time.


Chopper the Biker Dog Visits Injured Off-Duty Deputy

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An off-duty deputy injured in a shooting when he jumped in to help his younger brother got a visit from a special friend Thursday.

Chopper the Biker Dog spent some time with San Diego County Sheriff's Deputy Jason Philpot, who was shot three times in the shoulder in the Gaslamp area of Downtown San Diego early Monday morning.

Philpot jumped in to help when one suspect pulled out a gun at his younger brother. The brothers, along with several of law enforcement officers, were leaving a Metallica concert when the incident occurred.

According to Chopper's Facebook page, he arrived to visit Philpot in style, riding on his little Harley. He spent some time with Philpot and his daughter at their home.

SDSO officials said Philpot is in good spirits and recovering well.

Philpot is an 11-year veteran of the San Diego County Sherrif's Department (SDSO) and currently serves in the Emergency Services Division, which includes the SWAT team, Search and Rescue and the Helicopter Squad.

Meanwhile, the search continued for suspect Ray Pitoau, wanted in connection to the shooting. 

NBC 7 learned Thursday, this is not the first time Pitoau has had problems with the law.

He has a 20-year criminal history and has been in prison at least twice since 1998, according to court records.

Wednesday evening, Pitoau was believed to the suspect holed up inside a home in Spring Valley in a five-hour long standoff.

San Diego police (SDPD) officers used flash bangs and a K-9 team to try and bring Pitoau out of the home. A robot was sent into the home next. After that, when SWAT officers entered the home, they found no one inside.

"If [Pitoau] was armed during that shooting, there are chances that he's still armed," said Officer Ernesto Servin with SDPD. "We want to make sure that if someone sees him, that they don't approach him, they call the police immediately, they can call 911 if they do happen to see him."

San Diego police said they are collaborating with other law enforcement agencies from San Diego County and other counties in their search for Pitoau.



Photo Credit: Chopper the Biker Dog
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Woman Files Claims with Two Cities After Grisly Bike Crash

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A Lemon Grove woman has filed a claim with two cities after she hit a pothole and flew off her bike, a fall she believes was caused by bad road conditions. 

Rosie Vazquez told NBC 7 she was riding her bike last May on 69th Street when the crash happened. She wanted to gauge the time it would take her to ride her bike from her home to work.  

"I was on my way down and up at the stop sign over there I noticed that the street was a little bit, you know, disheveled," Vazquez recalled.

As she is riding her bike down the road, she said, she decided to try and avoid the road. As she dealt with traffic conditions, she said, she struck a pothole. 

"And unfortunately, I hit a pothole of some sort, at which point it caused my bike to turn, and I flipped and landed somewhere down there," Vazquez said. "I skid; I skid quite a ways, I still have the marks from the skidding."

The impact of the crash knocked her out. When Vazquez came to, she noticed the blood first. 

"The first thing I noticed was the blood," she said. "And then my teeth. I had broken my teeth. I thought I had lost all of my teeth."

The fall left her with several fractured ribs and broken teeth, in addition to bruises. 

Vazquez has filed a medical bill claim with both the city of Lemon Grove and San Diego.

It's still unclear who is responsible for the road repairs, but she says something needs to be done.

"Where are our tax dollars going? I asked myself," she said. "Because I should be able to leave my house with my child and we should be able to ride our bike to the store or ride my bike to work."

She said she worries about children like her own, who see a downward sloping road and only think about how fun of a ride it will be.

“My child coming down that road is not going to think to slow down," Vazquez said. "She’s going to think, ‘weee,’ this is fun. Any other kid is.”

"The streets need to be fixed," Vazquez added. "That's it."

 The City of Lemon Grove said they cannot talk about pending claims, and the City of San Diego stated that they have done repairs to the street, but they cannot comment on the claim. 



Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego

Firefighters Use New Technology to Combat Brush Fires

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When a devastating brush fire strikes, you want to know where the fire is going in real time.

“The San Diego Fire Rescue will be the first in the nation to have cutting edge technology that will revolutionize how we combat wildfires," said Mayor Kevin Faulconer at a press conference Thursday.  

Using aircrafts from the company General Atomics, equipt with radar and high-tech sensors, firefighters will be able to tell if fires are headed towards homes quickly.


“We’re gonna be able to leverage technology so that if we need to do evacuations we can do it so much more efficiently," said San Diego Police Department Chief Shelley Zimmerman.


Radar technology from the airplane allows firefighters to draw a perimeter around the fire and then change it in real time based on where the fire is going. Firefighters can also tell in the moment what kind of change the fire makes after water is dropped onto it.

 
The radar will also allow firefighters to see through smoke like never before.

The trial period will not cost taxpayers any money, according to Mayor Faulconer. The bill will be footed by General Atomics.

Firefighters said if the trial run is successful, they are hoping to integrate the system across California and the nation.



Photo Credit: NBC Bay Area

Investigation Into Inappropriate Sexual Behavior at School

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Child Protective Services is investigating a report of an incident at an elementary school in La Mesa involving three boys -- one of whom is a first grader.

The incident allegedly happened Thursday at Northmont Elementary School during an Extended School Services program run by the La Mesa-Spring Valley School District. The program is described as a summer camp where parents from across the district send their children to summer day care.

NBC 7 has confirmed that three boys -- a 6th grader, a third grader, and a first grader -- slipped away during recess, went into a classroom and engaged in inappropriate contact.

"The incident was reported to us, we did an investigation. It doesn't appear there was any crime and the incident was reported to Child Protective Services and the school did exactly what it was supposed to do," said Lt. Chad Bell with the La Mesa Police Department.

The alleged incident happened during recess at the Northmont Elementary School, and there were no adult witnesses; one of the students told his parent.

School District Superintendent Brian Marshall said because of confidentiality rules, he cannot even confirm an incident occurred.

But he spoke generally about social media and cautioned parents, saying that in “2017, inappropriate material is more prevalent than it's ever been."

"We encourage all of our families to be very vigilant with their children and their children's use of electronic media and the internet, their iPhones and other smart devices. We really want parents to be very aware of what their children are accessing on social media," Marshall said.

It is unknown whether social media played a role in the alleged incident. The inappropriate behavior may have been learned at home.

CPS is investigating the incident. Meanwhile, the District is also investigating why the three students were able to slip away from recess without notice.

It is not known at this time whether the supervisor of the summer program was on campus at the time of the alleged incident.



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Boil Water Order Issued for Calexico Trailer Park

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The County of San Diego detected E. Coli in the water of High Land East Trailer Park and issued a Boil Water Order Thursday.

The water system, located at 39375 Old Highway 80, may be contaminated with human or animal wastes, according to laboratory tests that confirmed the presence of E. Coli.

E. Coli infection affects the gut and can lead to urinary tract infections, pneumonia and illnesses like meningitis.

Symptoms can include diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, loss of appetite, fever and fatigue.

High Land East Trailer Park has ten recreational vehicle (RV) sites, ten spaces for mobile homes, public restrooms, showers and a swimming pool.

The Boil Water Order will remain in effect until laboratory tests confirm the absence of bacterial contamination, according to the County.

Infants, children, elderly and people with compromised immune systems are most at risk for complications with the bacteria.

The Boil Water Order is to help ensure water is not contaminated, according to a County statement.

Caught on Cam: Man Apparently Poisons Drinking Water

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San Diego police have opened an investigation to find a man responsible for tampering with a homeowner's drinking water in an incident caught on camera. 

Surveillance video shows the man tip toeing across a Rolando front porch at 12:39 p.m. Tuesday morning.

The man, seen with a cigarette tucked behind his ear, crouches down and removes the cap of a five-gallon Sparkletts water jug.

Investigators believe he poured liquid concentrate plant fertilizer from a bottle sitting on the porch into the water jug.

"It's bizarre," said homeowner Kristina Gagne, who does not recognize the man. Her only explanation is that he confused her house for one belonging to someone else.

"At first I was mad, but when people started saying 'he tried to poison you, this is attempted poisoning,' that's when I got kind of scared," Gagne told NBC 7.

San Diego Police detectives took several items from the porch and will carefully examine them for evidence.

Investigators also went through the neighborhood asking other homeowners if they have surveillance footage to identify the man better.

If found, the suspect could face a felony poisoning charge.

2 Stabbed in Mira Mesa: SDPD

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Two people were stabbed in Mira Mesa Thursday evening, San Diego police confirmed. 

The stabbing happened at approximately 7:39 p.m. on the 8600 block of Flanders Drive, just around the corner from Mira Mesa High School and Mason Elementary School. The location is blocks away from the busy Mira Mesa Shopping Center and off Mira Mesa Boulevard. 

Police do not have details on what happened leading up to the stabbing. 

The victim flagged down an officer, who called medics to the scene.

The victims suffered non-life-threatening wounds. 

No other information was available.

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


Man Enters and Wrecks Hotel Room in Mission Valley

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A man is facing felony vandalism charges after he entered and damaged a hotel room in Mission Valley Thursday.

The incident began at 1:30 p.m. inside Extended Stay America on the 7400 block of Mission Valley Road just off State Route 163, San Diego police confirmed.

The man was able to enter the room while the door was open during cleaning. Staff reported the incident to police.

He was arrested and taken by medics for evaluation.

The area is near Fashion Valley Mall.

No other information was available.

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

Body on Miramar Believed to Be Missing Scripps Ranch Man: PD

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Authorities believe they have found the body of an 85-year-old Scripps Ranch man missing since June.

Hundreds of volunteers have been looking for Taiheng Sun since he was last seen on June 15. The man spoke little English and had Alzheimer's disease. His family said he was taking medication for depression.

On Thursday at approximately 2:30 p.m., Naval Criminal Investigative Services (NCIS) notified local officials that they found human remains on the eastern edge of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. 

Though the body has not been identified, authorities believe it is the body of Sun, as the clothing found at the scene are consistent with clothing worn by Sun when he was reported missing. Sun was last seen wearing a dark-colored baseball cap, a white fleece windbreaker, and dark-colored pants.

The San Diego County Medical Examiner will need to conduct forensic testing to positively identify the body. 

Sun left his home on June 15 in Rancho Encantada and headed east on Stonebridge Parkway and Via Santa Pradera, police said. When he did not return from his walk, his family reported him missing.

The last time anyone saw Sun was at 8 a.m. that day, police said. Video surveillance caught him walking east on Stonebridge Parkway, entering Mission Trails Regional Park. 

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the Missing Persons Unit at (619) 531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.

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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Former Poway Supe Pleads Not Guilty to Felony Charges

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The former superintendent of Poway Unified School District pleaded not guilty to four felony counts of misappropriated public money at his arraignment Thursday. 

John Collins, the district's former superintendent, was fired in July 2016 after the district hired a forensic auditor, who found Collins collected more than $300,000 in unauthorized pay by padding his salary, collecting unauthorized vacation payouts and taking off-the-books time off, according to search warrant affidavits seeking all financial records.

Collins was originally facing a fifth felony charge for allegedly filing a false financial disclosure, according to a court charging document. He was not arraigned on that charge Thursday.

The prosecutor said the case is moving forward with just the four charges related to misappropriating funds.

Collins is accused of taking unauthorized pay and vacation with the district's funds, as well as using a district credit card for personal expenses. 

In their investigation, the forensic auditor found Collins collected more than $300,000 in unauthorized pay by padding his salary, collecting unauthorized vacation payouts and taking off-the-books time off, according to documents.

Victor Pippins, his defense attorney, said Collins is being treated differently than any other public official for going to doctors appointments, which all public officials do, including prosecutors and judges. 

Prosecutor Leon Schorr said he is being treated the same as anyone else caught allegedly stealing public funds.

"In terms of being treated any differently, we just look at what the individual did," Schorr said. "It's not the position they're in or who they are or what they got paid."

In an affidavit asking a judge for permission to review Collins' finances, a District Attorney investigator reported Collins used the district credit card on a 2013 trip to Disneyland with his wife that had nothing to do with school district business.

"Dr. Collins repeatedly violated Poway Unified School District cardholder agreement by using the school district credit card to pay for personal expenses not associated in any way with the school district," Investigator Vincent Giaime wrote in the affidavit. Giaime reported to the judge Collins personal expenses totaled approximately $24,000. 

NBC 7 Investigates launched a thorough review of Collins credit card expenses in early 2014. The district's then-counsel, Dan Shinoff, wrote that NBC 7 was "crafting a cruel and vicious tale" about Collins' expenses, which topped other superintendents in the area

The affidavits list the Disneyland trip as an example of a personal expense billed to the school district. 

Collins' defense attorney Paul Pfingst has previously said that his client made the one accounting error during a 30-year career with the district and he paid it back before the bill even became due.

Pippins said his team is confident they will be able to prove his innocence. 

"Mr. Collins is obviously disappointed in where this has gone, but Mr. Collins is resolute," he said. "He stands firm in his innocence and we're starting the process of proving that to everyone."

Community members Kim and Christopher Garnier said they have been fighting for years to expose the corruption at the school district, and they credited the media for helping make it happen.

"This is where journalism is just at its pinnacle," they said. "We've had journalists around the community. I have to especially commend Ashly McGlone, from the Voice of San Diego, and journalists around town who knew that there was a story here."

Still, they say, there is more work left to be done to fix the problems at Poway Unified.

"Poway Unified has this stellar reputation and no one wants to believe that something like this is happening there. And community members are speaking but our voices only reach so many," they said.

At the time he lost his job, Collins was the highest paid school superintendent in the county, earning $308,900 per year, with total compensation of $457,347 including extra pay, benefits, and retirement.

If convicted, Collins faces seven years in prison. 



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Bear Turns Up at Metrolink Stop in Pomona

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A 450-pound bear wandered far away from home Thursday morning, turning up at a Metrolink stop in Pomona.

He was also spotted at the Pomona Fairplex about three miles away. Both locations are about six to eight miles away from the closest habitat for a bear and south of the 210 Freeway, Department of Fish and Wildlife officials said. The bear would have had to cross the freeway to make it there.

Bear experts say that the search for food likely caused the bear to come down so far.

The bear was tranquilized and and transported to nearby wilderness by the Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Jessica Bisuano, who shot a video of the bear, said she wasn't worried by the sighting.

"As I was parking in my usual spot I realized there was this big black bear right in front of me over the fence," Bisuano said. "I thought he looked really cute."



Photo Credit: Jessica Bisuano

Woman Awarded $85K After Officer Forcibly Removes Hijab

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A Muslim woman has won $85,000 in damages from the city of Long Beach after her religious head scarf was forcibly removed by a local police officer, according to court papers obtained Thursday.

Kirsty Powell filed a federal civil rights complaint after police officers forcibly removed her hijab in view of other male officers and dozens of inmates. Powell wears the hijab as part of her religious beliefs and was forced to spend the night without the covering while in custody. She described the experience as deeply traumatizing, according to the complaint.

The Long Beach City Council voted Tuesday to approve the settlement.

After the suit was filed, the Long Beach Police Department amended its policy to accommodate religious head coverings for persons in custody. Long Beach joins neighboring jurisdictions of Orange and San Bernardino counties, which both adopted similar policies following lawsuits.

"We commend Kirsty Powell for choosing to defend her right to religious freedom and taking action," said civil rights attorney Marwa Rifahie of the Los Angeles chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

Powell was arrested during a traffic stop in May 2015 on outstanding warrants. During the arrest, she was told by the officers that she would have to remove her hijab. Powell made several requests for a female officer to search her and was denied requests to continue wearing her hijab in custody. The officers informed her that she was "not allowed to wear her hijab" and that they were "allowed to touch a woman," the lawsuit states.

"I would never want anyone to go through what I felt from this experience," Powell said when the suit was filed last year in Los Angeles federal court. "I want my Muslim sisters to always feel comfortable and safe wearing a hijab and to stand up for what's right."



Photo Credit: Getty Images
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