A car drove over a small cliff near the Cabrillo National Monument Tuesday night.
The accident happened just before 7 p.m. near 200 Catalina Boulevard in Point Loma. Officials said the car drove through a fence and onto Department of Defense property.
Aerial pictures showed rescue crews treating at least one person at the bottom of the hill. The extent of injuries are unknown.
Check back for updates on this developing story.
San Diego Gas and Electric is sending thousands of letters and emails about pending rate increases scheduled to happen this fall.
Roughly 350,000 residential and business customers, about a quarter of SDG&E’s customers, are receiving the notification this week. Those customers live mainly in warmer, inland areas of San Diego, according to company spokesperson Stephanie Donovan.
The company said it is using these letters to alert customers before prices go up on Sept. 1.
Donovan said the rate increase will be the same, but the bill impact will be different based on each customer's usage. The example within the letter stated that the impact will be $15 more for a bill typically costing $100, and $75 more for a bill normally costing $250.
The closure of San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station has “created an untimely reduction in our region’s energy resources," explained SDG&E in the letter.
California Public Utility Commission's pending approval of the SDG&E General Rate Case (GRC) is part of the reason for the bill impact. Donovan stated the issues that prompted the rate increase are: "Higher costs of renewable power, more stringent environmental mandates and enhancements to SDG&E's electrical infrastructure related to infrastructure, reliability and cybersecurity."
She also said the bill impact is 30-50 percent greater than what it would have been if the General Rate Case had been approved last year.
SDG&E said that will give customers time to reduce their energy use and make homes more energy efficient to save money, which is why they sent the notification in June.
For more information on the rate increase, visit the SDG&E 2013 Rates website.
Authorities released new video Wednesday showing an at-large shooter believed to have ambushed two detectives at a Los Angeles Police Department station earlier this week.
Clad in dark-colored clothes, a man is seen on the video (embedded below) quickly walking past cameras set up near the Wilshire Community Police Station about 4:30 a.m. Tuesday.
“We consider this individual to be an extreme danger to the community,” LAPD Chief Charlie Beck said at a news conference Wednesday afternoon.
Beck asked the public to help authorities find the gunman described as a black male with a medium build, mustache and goatee. Police believe a dark object seen in his right hand is a revolver.
The images were captured by a surveillance camera set up across the street from the police station, where a pair of detectives was attacked from behind while returning to the station from an investigation in the San Fernando Valley.
The detectives exchanged fire with the shooter, but the gunman escaped, prompting the hours-long shutdown of the Mid-City area.
Businesses in the 25-square blocks around the Wilshire Community Police Station were closed and residents were ordered to shelter in place while police combed the neighborhood.
The early morning shooting in Mid-City Tuesday was the second attack on police officers in Los Angeles in a 15-hour span.
During a home probation check, an LAPD officer was shot in the face about 7 p.m. in the 2200 block of East 117th Street. The shooter was hiding in the attic while Los Angeles County probation and LAPD gang unit officers swept through the home.
A 12-hour standoff between the shooter and police ended early Wednesday in the gunman’s death.
The officer who was shot in the jaw was in stable condition Wednesday, Beck said. A county probation officer suffered a graze wound to his leg and was treated at the scene, according to the LAPD.
Anyone with information about either shooting is asked to call 1-800-222-8477 or 1-877-LAPD-247.
Two Irving women who sued the Texas Department of Public Safety after being subjected to a roadside cavity search have settled their lawsuit.
Charles Soechting, the attorney for both women, told NBC 5 Wednesday that his clients have settled for $185,000.
On July 13, while driving along state Highway 161, Angel Dobbs, 38, and her niece Ashley Dobbs, 24, were stopped for littering by State Trooper David Farrell.
In the dashcam video released by the women and their attorney, Farrell can be heard telling the women they would both be cited for littering for throwing cigarette butts out of the car.
Farrell then returned to his cruiser and, in the video, can be heard calling female Trooper Kelley Helleson to the scene to search both women, whom he said were acting weird.
While waiting for Helleson to arrive, Farrell asked Angel Dobbs to step out of the vehicle and began questioning her about marijuana use. In the video, the trooper is heard telling Dobbs he smelled marijuana coming from the vehicle while asking her several times how much pot was in the car.
After Helleson arrived, she can be seen in the dashcam video putting on blue latex gloves to conduct a search of both women. According to the lawsuit, when Angel Dobbs asked about the gloves, Helleson "told her not to worry about that."
In the lawsuit, Dobbs said the trooper conducted the cavity search on the roadside, illuminated by the police car's headlights, in full view of any passing motorists. The lawsuit further alleged that Helleson performed searches on both women, touching both their anus and vaginas, without changing the latex gloves between searches.
After the story was published, the Department of Public Safety terminated Helleson and she was later indicted on two counts of sexual assault and two counts of official oppression.
Trooper Farrell remains suspended with pay and has been indicted on a theft charge, according to the DPS.
After searching the entire car and finding no narcotics, Farrell then administered a DWI test that Dobbs passed, the lawsuit said. The women were then issued warnings for littering and released at the scene.
Homicide detectives are investigating the suspicious death of a man whose body was found in Mission Bay Park Wednesday morning.
At around 6 a.m., police were called to a parking lot in the Bonita Cove area in the 800 block of West Mission Bay Drive to investigate reports of a man down.
When officers arrived at the scene, they found a deceased 40-year-old man in the grass area west of the parking lot. The victim appeared to have sustained trauma to his body, police confirmed.
The county medical examiner’s office will conduct an autopsy and determine the victim’s cause of death at a later time. The man’s identity has not yet been released.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information on this case is urged to call the San Diego Police Department’s Homicide Unit at (619) 531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
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A gorilla at the Dallas Zoo got the last laugh scaring some kids who were taunting him.
The 21 second video posted under the user name lazeelong shows the gorilla named B'Wenzi sitting by the glass as children yell and make gorilla gestures at him.
After about 15 seconds B'Wenzi gives the kids a scare by putting his face and hands up on the glass.
The original video posted April 25 has more than 400,000 views, and has been copied and replayed all over the internet.
The Dallas Zoo addressed the video in a statement posted on the zoo's official Facebook page:
A video getting heavy views on social media shows one of the Dallas Zoo's male gorillas, B'Wenzi, reacting to a group of jeering children by throwing his hands up against the exhibit glass.
It’s important to note that B'Wenzi's actions aren't aggressive; they’re actually playful. Much like people, gorillas will mirror actions they see, and they enjoy a good prank now and then.
The Dallas Zoo's Jake L. Hamon Gorilla Conservation Research Center habitat is very large and the animals have ample opportunity to avoid the observation windows. Yet several of our gorillas will leave their grassy expanse to go to the windows, turn away and wait for guests to move closer. Then they’ll spin around and slap their hands on the glass. When the guests laugh and scream, the gorillas calmly stroll away. Our regular guests see this behavior often and recognize it as entertaining for the gorillas.
"This is normal, well-adjusted behavior for a teenager," said Dr. Lynn Kramer, vice president of animal operations for the Dallas Zoo. "They do this for one reason, and that’s to get a reaction." (B'Wenzi is 11 years old.)
The Dallas Zoo's world-class animal staff is committed to the welfare of our charges and monitors their physical and emotional health at all times.
Our staff and volunteers also monitor guest interactions with animals. However, as the largest zoo in Texas with more than 2,000 animals and nearly 1 million guest visits per year, we can't be with each one at all times. We constantly try to educate guests that the best way to enjoy the Dallas Zoo is by showing respect for the animals and not heckling, banging on the glass or feeding them human food. We hope this video helps us teach the proper way to approach animals at any zoological park.
Thank you for your support of the Dallas Zoo!
A man was taken to the hospital after flipping his car in La Mesa, according to officials.
The accident happened around 9 a.m. Thursday near a shopping area in the 5600 block of Lake Murray Boulevard. Officials said the car went down an embankment, rolled onto its side and hit a tree.
Several teams of firefighters responded. There is no word on the extent of the man's injuries or what caused him to crash.
Check back for updates on this developing story.
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Firefighters tackled a brush fire that sparked Wednesday near Camp Pendleton, officials said.
The blaze started around 4 p.m. just north of the San Mateo area. No structures are threatened and no injuries have been reported. Smoke was visible from a distance as crews worked on knocking down the fire.
On Thursday morning, fire officials said the blaze has scorched about 490 acres and was full contained.
Fire crews from Orange County assisted local firefighters during the incident.
A suspicious device is being investigated by firefighters in Normal Heights, according to officials.
The metallic object was spotted in front of Fire Station 18 at 4676 Felton St.
Crews are investigating.
Check back for updates on this story.
After the U.S. Supreme made the decision to strike down the Defense of Marriage Act and not take up an appeal in the case involving voter-approved Prop 8, San Diegans reacted to the news that same-sex marriage will return to California.
The local gay community and their supporters said this decision by the Supreme Court is a step in the right direction, giving equality to everyone.
Ira Bauer-Spector said today he finally feels like a citizen of this country.
“My love is as good as any other love and I'm grateful to the Supreme Court for writing the ruling the way that they did,” said Bauer-Spector.
Ira says he called his husband immediately when he heard about the Supreme Court's decision. He married his husband in three different states: The couple had a commitment ceremony in Michigan, a civil union in Colorado and got their marriage certificate in New York.
Bauer-Spector said today's decision to make marriage legal again in California makes his union feel real, and more than a piece of paper.
Local same-sex marriage supporters in Hillcrest agreed with the court’s decision.
“I think it’s about equality. Everyone should be able to choose who they want to marry--man or woman,” said San Diego resident said Sara Solomon.
Meanwhile, San Diego Mayor Bob Filner had this to say about Wednesday's ruling:
"This marks a long over-due end to federally sanctioned discrimination and the beginning of a bright, loving future for millions of Americans. I am proud to be a part of today’s celebration of equality which unites us toward a future where all Americans are truly equal."
But supporters of the original Prop 8 gay marriage ban said they are disappointed with the court’s decision.
“This is not the outcome we were looking for,” said Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse from The Ruth Institute. “But as we look at it closer there are some rays of hope in these decisions.”
Morse said she’s happy this isn’t the “Roe vs. Wade of the marriage movement” and she’s pleased there isn’t a federal right to same-sex marriage.
Local pastor Chris Clark from Clairemont Southern Baptist Church agreed, and said he will continue to advocate for marriage between a man and a woman.
“I am by no means giving up,” he said. “What I can do is continue to speak on the biblical definition of marriage.”
Many San Diego leaders released statements of support today following the court’s decision.
San Diego City Council President Todd Gloria said he is especially proud to be an American today.
“I am grateful to every person who loved and lived proudly and who worked hard and sacrificed to make this justice a reality,” he said in a statement. "I will be asking the City Council's Rules Committee to examine all of the City's policies to make sure they are consistent with post-DOMA federal regulations and that our employees are afforded proper benefits."
Former mayor candidate Carl DeMaio said he is very pleased with the decision to strike down DOMA.
"With today's court decisions, we took a big step forward for full equality,” he said.
LGBTQ groups are planning rallies tonight, one at 5 p.m. at the Hillcrest Pride Flag and another at 6 p.m. in Oceanside at the North County LGBTQ Resource Center.
Texas State Sen. Wendy Davis fired back Thursday afternoon at Gov. Rick Perry, after he took aim at her past a single teen mom and her marathon 11-hour filibuster to block new abortion restrictions.
"Rick Perry's statement is without dignity and tarnishes the high office he holds. They are small words that reflect a dark and negative point of view. Our governor should reflect our Texas values. Sadly, Gov. Perry fails that test," Davis said in a statement released to the media.
Gov. Perry, in a speech at the National Right to Life Convention in Dallas, had taken aim at the woman behind the "mob tactic" that blocked the passage of Senate Bill 5's new abortion restrictions.
"What we witnessed Tuesday was nothing more than the hijacking of the democratic process," Perry said, before aiming squarely at Davis.
"Who are we to say that children born into the worst of circumstances can't grow to live successful lives?" Perry asked the crowd.
"In fact, even the woman who filibustered in the Senate the other day was born into difficult circumstances as the daughter of a single woman. She was a teenage mother herself. She managed to eventually graduate from Harvard Law School and serve in the Texas Senate. It's just unfortunate that she hasn't learned from her own example that every life must be given the chance to realize its full potential and that every life matters."
(Watch Perry's statement on Davis in the video to the right, or see his entire speech in the video at the top of the page. Those on mobile devices will need to access the full site to see all video.)
When questioned by a reporter, Perry continued to question Davis' history as the daughter of a single mother.
"I'm proud that she has been able to take advantage of her intellect and her hard work, but she didn't come from particularly good circumstances. What if her mom had said, 'I just can't do this?'" Perry responded. "At that point in time, it becomes very personal."
Perry has called a second special legislative session beginning July 1 to work on bills covering abortions, transportation, and juvenile setencing.
