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Who's in Charge of San Diego?

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Now that San Diego Mayor Bob Filner has made plans to enter behavioral counseling treatment facility for two weeks, who will be in charge of San Diego during that time?

The city charter does not outline a provision if the mayor leaves temporarily, meaning Filner maintains full powers, according to legal expert Dan Eaton.

"He's going to remain mayor," said Eaton.

Filner said that he will be at treatment full time, but will be briefed every morning and evening on city business.

Special Section: Mayor Under Fire

Those who have called for a recall issued a statement today said that if Filner does not resign by Monday, July 29, a formal recall effort will begin.

Timeline: Mayor Filner's Term as Mayor

The recall process is very difficult and costly, said Voice of San Diego editor Scott Lewis.

According to the process outlined by the City Clerk’s office, the clock starts ticking once there is a published notice of intention to circulate a recall petition.

Within 10 days, an affidavit stating that the notice has been published has to be filed with the City Clerk. Within five days, the mayor must be notified, and then, within 14 days, the mayor can respond.

Exactly 21 days after the published notice, the petition can be circulated among voters. The signed petition must be filed within 60 days after the notice of intent is published.

That leaves proponents 39 days to gather signatures from 15 percent of the voters in the city, meaning they need at least 100,001 signatures.


4 More Filner Accusers Go Public

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Four more prominent San Diego women came forward Thursday evening accusing embattled Mayor Bob Filner of sexual harassment.

The latest accusers – who include a retired Navy rear-admiral, a San Diego State University dean, the head of the Port Tenants Association and a businesswoman – told KPBS they have all been on the opposite end of unwanted sexual advances made by Filner over the years.

Special Section: Mayor Under Fire

The alleged harassment, the women said, included sexual advances, inappropriate touching and comments made towards them by the mayor.

Sharon Bernie-Cloward, president of the San Diego Port Tenants Association, said Filner approached her at an event in National City in 2010 when he was still a congressman. There, Filner allegedly told her she was beautiful and said he wanted to date her after his re-election.

Bernie-Cloward said she had a second unpleasant run-in with Filner at another event in San Diego in 2012. She told KPBS that Filner approached her after the event and gave her a hug.

“And then he touched me, actually groped me on my backside inappropriately,” Bernie-Cloward told KPBS.

She said the incident left her “startled and fearful.”

A second accuser, San Diego businesswoman Patti Roscoe, claimed Filner has put her in the now-infamous “Filner Headlock” several times. After putting his arm around her neck, Roscoe said Filner would try to kiss her.

Roscoe’s most recent run-in with the mayor happened just a few months ago.

“I turned and he just slobbered down my chin,” Roscoe told KPBS. "And I was so violated and so offended. It’s just such a terrible invasion.”

Meanwhile, retired Navy rear-admiral Veronica Froman recalled an encounter at Filner’s congressional office a couple of years ago in which he allegedly blocked the doorway after everyone except for her had left the room.

According to Froman, he got very close to her, ran his finger up her cheek and asked if she was in a relationship with anyone. He then made some jokes, and she left his office completely rattled.

“I got in the car with the two guys I was working with and I told them never to leave me alone in a room with Bob Filner again,” she told KPBS.

Finally, Joyce Gattas, dean of SDSU's College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts, said she’s had various interactions with Filner in which he held her too tight, kissed her cheek or touched her knee.

Gattas also claimed she’s seen Filner make sexual comments to others.

Bernie-Cloward, Roscoe, Froman and Gattas are the latest women to come forward with sexual allegations against Mayor Filner this week.

On Monday, Filner’s former communications chief, Irene McCormack Jackson, went public with accusations against the mayor, followed by Laura Fink on Tuesday and Morgan Rose on Wednesday.

The running tally of victims accusing Filner of sexual harassment is now at seven, and is expected to continue rising. The sheriff's department has established a special hotline where victims can report sexual harassment allegations concerning the mayor.

Filner, for his part, has not addressed the specific allegations brought to light this week.

After he was first accused by former allies, including Donna Frye, of sexually harassing employees earlier this month, Filner released a pre-recorded statement admitting he “needs help.”

However, he has maintained his innocence and demanded due process.

San Diego Democratic leaders held a meeting Thursday night to discuss these most recent allegations against Filner and whether or not the mayor should resign.

After a 34 to 6 vote, the Democratic Party decided they will ask Filner to step down.

At a similar meeting last week, local Democrats were split on the issue and ultimately decided they wouldn't ask Filner to resign. On Thursday night, that all changed.

Meanwhile, Filner’s accusers and numerous former allies believe the mayor should resign, arguing that, at this point, he is simply unfit to run the City of San Diego.

Mayor Filner to Enter Rehab

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San Diego Mayor Bob Filner announced he will undergo intensive therapy for two weeks following several allegations of inappropriate sexual advances and sexual harassment but did not even mention the word resignation.

In front of a reporters and cameras, Filner announced "words are not enough" before a microphone failure interrupted the long-awaited statement.

Special Section: Mayor Under Fire

“It is simply not acceptable for me to try and explain away my conduct as the product of standards of a different generation,” Filner said, adding that he has apologized to his staff and citizens who have supported him.

“Most of all I apologize to the women I have offended,” he said.

Filner said he will enter a behavioral counseling clinic on Aug. 5 to address his behavior.

He called it a first step in a continuing program that will involve ongoing regular counseling.

"I must become a better person," Filner said.

Filner said he planned to stay updated throughout his rehab with morning and evening updates on city business, and will return to the job on Aug. 19.

Read: Who's in Charge of San Diego?

On Thursday, an interview with four San Diego women brought new allegations to light. With their stories, Sharon Bernie-Cloward, president of the San Diego Port Tenants Association, businesswoman Patti Roscoe, retired Navy rear-admiral Veronica "Ronne" Froman and Joyce Gattas, Dean of SDSU's College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts, described incidents with the mayor from his time as a Congressman to his run for San Diego's mayor's seat.

The women claimed Filner cornered or isolated them and attempted to kiss them or touch parts of their bodies inappropriately.

The new allegations are in addition to those already made public by political consultant Laura Fink, San Diego Unified School District psychologist Morgan Rose and former communications director Irene McCormack Jackson.

McCormack Jackson filed a lawsuit alleging sexual harassment for comments she said Filner made during her six months on his senior staff.  She has accused the mayor of repeatedly asking for a kiss and for sex, as well as suggesting she would do a better job if she worked without underwear.

Fink alleges that Filner grabbed her buttocks when she was working on his campaign. Rose claims Filner blocked her from leaving while attempting to kiss her during a private meeting.

Attorney Cory Briggs, one of the three longtime supporters who first brought the allegations to the public's attention, told NBC 7 that Filner has not reached out to apologize to any of his clients.

Briggs represents some of the women who claim to have been harassed by the mayor.

On Thursday night, San Diego County Democrats voted to ask Filner to step down.

The Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman-Schultz has also called for the mayor to resign.

"The misconduct Mayor Bob Filner has been accused of is reprehensible and indefensible. I am personally offended by his actions and I firmly believe no employee should face a hostile environment or harassment at their place of employment. There is no place for this type of conduct in the workplace and certainly not in our city halls and public offices. For the good of the City of San Diego, I call on Mayor Filner to resign."

Timeline: Mayor Filner's Term in Office

 

Bay Bridge Reopens Following Closure

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A report of a suspicious device on a Bay Bridge off ramp caused a full closure of the bridge Friday afternoon.

Crews were able to clear the device quickly, but the damage was done. A ripple effect from the 30 minute closure made for a traffic nightmare for Friday night commuters.

Bay Area roadways were already expected to be jam-packed tonight because of sports and music events.

Jay-Z and Justin Timberlake were playing at Candlestick Park and both the A's and the Giants hosted home games Friday night.

Along with the usual commuter traffic, nearly 150,000 additional vehicles were expected to use the bridge to get to San Francisco and Oakland for the events. Aaron Siuda, vice president of Live Nation Northern California, said that between the Legends of the Summer tour at Candlestick Park, a John Mayer concert at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, and A's and Giants home games, "it's a really big week for the Bay Area."

The CHP said at 12:52 p.m. a suspicious device was reported on the eastbound Interstate 80 off ramp to Treasure Island.  A bomb squad was called in and traffic was stopped on the busy bridge right as the Friday afternoon commute was beginning around 2:45 p.m.

Traffic cameras showed all lanes stopped at the toll plaza. Cars were parked in the lanes with some drivers getting out of their cars.

Lanes reopened at 3:15 p.m. The CHP said they could open the bridge because the bomb squad had moved the device.

The CHP said no more shut downs were anticipated, adding the scene had been cleared.

"Out of Office" Email Gets Political with Vacation

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Remember the good ol' school days? When it was guaranteed that there would always be three months off for summer, one week off in the spring and a host of "teacher work days" in between? In this stressful working world, they probably seem like a lifetime ago.

Americans, living as they do in the only developed country that does not nationally mandate paid vacation, savor rare days off.

Co.Exist reported Friday that Working Families Party communications director Joe Dinkin wanted to share his vacation appreciation with the world — and in this digital age, what better way to do that than through his auto-reply email?

His creative auto-reply, published on Co.Exist, is anything but a standard "I am out of the office" response, but rather a self-reflective, informative email that lets the reader know that Dinkin has got it pretty good.

Hello,

Thanks for your email. I’m on vacation this week…

It occurs to me that I’m lucky to be able take a vacation. After all, almost one in four Americans don’t get any paid vacation time at all. Around a third don’t get any paid sick days. On top of that, Americans are working more hours -- family work hours are up more than 10% since the 1970s. And even though productivity and corporate profits are high, household income is stagnant or declining for everyone but the top 1%.

Here in New Brunswick, workers are guaranteed two weeks vacation time. And in addition to Canada’s famous single payer healthcare system, the minimum wage is $10 an hour. (No funny math with conversion rates -- that’s $9.65 in US dollars.) Oh, and don’t forget about the employment insurance-paid sick leave and maternity leave.

Sounds pretty good, right? It’s also supposed to be 10 or 15 degrees cooler here.

-Joe Dinkin

Couple of 75 Years Die a Day Apart

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Born on the same date and married for 75 years, a Long Beach, Calif., husband and wife died one day apart earlier this month.

Helen and Les Brown, high school sweethearts who celebrated three-quarters of a century together this year, died July 16 and July 17, respectively.

At Ma N' Pa Grocery in Belmont Heights, the store where Helen went every day, the couple’s story – published in the Long Beach Press-Telegram – is posted for all to read.

Owner Renee Henderson noted how rare such long-lasting love stories are.

"You don't see that these days; it's like one in a million," Henderson said.

She recalls one day when Helen walked into the store, where she fancied the chicken wings, and her husband, the mashed potatoes and gravy.

"She put her hand on his face and said, 'Isn't he the most beautiful man ever?' And that kinda stuck with me," Henderson recalled.

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Helen and Les Brown were born on the same day in December 1918; they were 94 when they died.

"It was a real love match, wasn't it?" their oldest son, Les Jr., told the Press-Telegram. "They were together every day for 75 years."

The two met at Huntington Park High School and eloped in 1937, marrying against their parents’ wishes, the newspaper reported. They moved to Long Beach in 1963.

A public service for the pair will be held 2 p.m. Saturday at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 5852 Belgrade Ave., Garden Grove.

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Local Cases Gone Cold

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Years, or even decades, may have passed, but police continue to search for leads in unsolved local cases that have grown cold. Here's a look at those compelling cases waiting to be cracked. If you have any information on any of these cases, contact the SDPD at (619) 531-2293 or the Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at (888) 580-8477.

Photo Credit: SDPD/ NBC 7 San Diego

7 Poway Businesses Burglarized Within 5 Days

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Deputies are searching for the suspect or suspects responsible for burglarizing at least seven businesses in Poway within a span of five days.

According to officials from the Sheriff’s Department’s Poway station, this commercial burglary series happened between Jul. 19 and Jul. 23.

Investigators say all seven burglaries happened along a couple of streets in Poway’s business park area between the overnight hours of 5 p.m. and 8 a.m.

The businesses hit in the series include: Phone.com in the 14000 block of Danielson Street; Teledyne RD Instruments in the 14000 block Stowe Drive; Core in the 13000 block of Danielson Street; Vet‐Stem in the 12000 block of Danielson Court; Sierra Nevada Corporation in the 13000 block of Stowe Drive; Orca Systems in the 13000 block of Danielson Street; and CEVA Logistics in the 13000 block of Danielson Street.

In each burglary, the suspects entered the businesses by smashing glass windows or glass doors. Once inside, the thieves nabbed laptop computers.

Investigators say the only two cases that differed were the incidents at Phone.com and Orca Systems, where no property was reported stolen, just damage to the businesses.

To date, the suspect or suspects have stolen approximately $8,000 worth of laptops and caused $3,500 in damages to windows and doors.

On Friday, officials released a photo of the commercial burglary suspect captured on surveillance tape in hopes of identifying and locating him.

Anyone with information on the suspect is urged to call the Sheriff’s Poway station at (858) 513-2800 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477. Tipsters can remain anonymous.

Meanwhile, officials want to remind business owners to keep their laptops out of sight, away from windows, and to close window blinds so potential thieves can see inside a business. Installing an alarm system or good quality video surveillance system is also important.



Photo Credit: San Diego County Sheriff's Department

5 Awkward Press Conferences from Political Sex Scandals

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San Diego Mayor Bob Filner raised eyebrows on Friday when, instead of announcing his resignation, he told the press that he will check himself in for two weeks of intensive therapy amid allegations of inappropriate workplace behavior.

Filner, however, is not the first politician whose clumsy mea culpa made headlines in recent history. He is currently in good company with New York City mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner, who is on the other side of the country trying to sidestep his own sex scandal. Weiner confessed to sexting more women after he resigned from Congress in 2011.

Here is a look back at other awkward press conferences by politicians embroiled in sex scandals:

Weinergate Part 1
Anthony Weiner's first sexting scandal began in May 2011 when, during his tenure in Congress, he sent a sexually suggestive photo to a woman through Twitter. Although the embattled politician eventually confessed to his bad behavior, he at first denied that he posted the photo and blamed the tweet on hackers.

Larry Craig
The former Senator from Idaho was arrested on June 11, 2007 for lewd behavior after he solicited sexual activity from an undercover police officer at a Minnesota airport restroom. At the press conference following his guilty plea, he gave an awkward and robotic speech where he said he regretted his confession. "I am not gay. I never have been gay," he said. "In June, I overreacted and made a poor decision. I chose to plead guilty to a lesser charge in hopes of making it go away."

Jim McGreevey
The former New Jersey state senator outted himself and resigned on August 12, 2004 amid threats of a sexual harassment lawsuit from his gubernatorial campaign aide Golan Cipel. "I am a gay American," McGreevey said at the news event. He also confessed that he had "engaged in an adult consensual affair with another man," who many suspected was Cipel.

Mark Sanford
The former South Carolina governor admitted in a news conference in June 2009 that he had an extramarital affair with a woman in Argentina after his whereabouts became the source of national attention. During his disappearance, one of his aides said he was hiking on the Appalachian Trail. The news conference began rather oddly with Sanford talking on about his "love for the Appalachian Trail" and his need to get away from the public eye. After rambling on for several minutes, he issued apologies to his family and staff for his indiscretion and lies.

Bill Clinton
After the story broke that Bill Clinton had engaged in an affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky, the former president attempted to squash the scandal by speaking out about it at a press conference about -- of all topics -- his education initiatives. His adamant denial became one of the most well-known soundbites in his presidency. "I did not have sexual relations with that women," Clinton said.



Photo Credit: AP

Top News Photos of the Week

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View weekly updates on the very best photos in domestic and foreign news.

Photo Credit: AP

Can the Mayor Really Change With Treatment?

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Mayor Bob Filner says he’ll enter an intensive therapy program beginning Aug. 5, but can treatment really help the mayor change his behavior? And, can he stay focused on his job while undergoing therapy? NBC 7’s Lea Sutton speaks with local psychiatrist Clark Smith.

Dispatcher Helps Dad Deliver Baby Along Interstate 91

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A state police dispatcher talked a new dad through the delivery of his newborn daughter early this morning along Interstate 91.

Curt Walker was driving his wife, Natalie, to St. Francis Hospital for the delivery of their baby around 3 a.m. on Friday when mom went into active labor, police said. 

Walker called 911 and was connected with State Police Dispatcher Paula Freeman at the Troop H Barracks in Hartford, who had luckily dealt with this type of emergency in the past. 

Dad pulled over to the side of the road to help his wife and Freeman talked him through the delivery, police said.

Within minutes, little Rian Madison Walder was born.

Soon after, an ambulance arrived and brought the mother, father and baby to an area hospital. 

“Dispatcher Freeman did an outstanding job calming the situation and giving directions as the delivery progressed,” Lt. Ed Bednarz, Commanding Officer of Troop in Hartford, said in a statement.

This is the third baby Freeman has helped deliver in her 27 years as a Connecticut State Police dispatcher.

Rian checked in at 6 pounds, 5 ounces.  Mom, Dad and baby are all doing well.
 



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

Judge Orders Feds to Return Stripper’s $1M

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An exotic dancer from Southern California will get back her more than $1 million in life savings that a Nebraska state trooper seized during a traffic stop last year, after a federal judge said authorities failed to prove the money was connected to drug activity.

Friends of Tara Mishra, 33, of Rancho Cucamonga, were traveling across country on March 3, 2012 as part of a business deal that fell through for a nightclub in New Jersey when they were stopped by a state trooper for speeding on Interstate 80 in North Platte, Nebraska, court documents said.

The trooper seized the more than $1 million in cash, which was bundled in bags in $10,000 increments, after a consensual search of the car.

Nebraska state troopers turned over the money to the federal government for a federal civil forfeiture action. Mishra hired an attorney who filed claim to get the money back. A judge ruled in her favor on July 18.

"We’re very happy,” said Roger Diamond, Mishra's Santa Monica attorney. “We won the case. People said we wouldn’t be able to do it."

U.S. District Court Judge Joseph F. Bataillon wrote in his judgment that "the government left too many unanswered questions."

"There is no nexus between the currency and any illegal activity," he wrote.

As an exotic dancer for years, Mishra had saved the money in bank safe deposit boxes with the hope of one day buying a business so she could quit her job as a stripper, court documents said.

Mishra, an ex-con who served prison time for felony transporting controlled substances in 2003, testified in court that she had her friends drive the money across country because she didn’t want to risk driving herself and getting robbed.

The U.S. government has 60 days from the date of the judgment to file an appeal, said John Higgins, an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Drug Enforcement Unit in Nebraska. 

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Shirtless Man Goes on Restaurant Rampage

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A shirtless man vandalized a posh Beverly Hills restaurant Thursday night, hurling wine bottles at customers and damaging a television, before casually walking out and being arrested, police said.

No one was hurt, but nearly two dozen patrons at Enoteca Drago at 410 Canon Drive ran for cover after the man walked into the Italian restaurant before 10 p.m., went behind the bar counter and began throwing bottles - about 40 of them - without speaking.

A few minutes later, the suspect identified as 29-year-old Kishane Karim Almendarez, left the Italian restaurant through a back door.

"Very random. I've asked a lot of our patrons and a lot of our employees both here and our restaurant next door and nobody's ever seen this gentleman before," said the restaurant's owner, Steven Piano. "I can't explain it."

Almendarez allegedly continued his rampage by breaking windshields on parked cars, but was soon met by police and arrested for felony vandalism.

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Shoppers Seek Back to School Bargains

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David Trevizo walked through the aisle at Walmart looking for binders and pens.  The high school sophomore starts school tomorrow in Chula Vista.  Not far away, school teacher Maria Hoover loaded up on markers. Hoover said now is a good time to find bargains.

"I'm shopping for school stuff for my class," Hoover said.

While school doesn't actually start for weeks for many students, back to school bargains are already filling the shelves.  Walmart started setting up its special school supply bins two weeks ago.

The back to school shopping season is one of the busiest times of the year in the retail world.  Many stores are offering deep discounts, even loss leaders, to get shoppers in the the door.

Bargain shoppers said now is a good time to take advantage of the supply and the prices, even if school won't start for another month or two.

Besides discount stores like Walmart and Target, department stores like Macy's and JC Penny are setting up for school shoppers. 

But traditional retail stores aren't the only place to look for deals: Thrift stores are busy just before school as well.  Cheryl Masters shops with her children at Goodwill.

"You can find fantastic name brands for just a fraction of the price," Masters said. 

Kelly Hallet was looking there for clothes with her daughter, Georgia.  She said you may not find exactly what you came into the store looking for, but you will rarely walk away empty-handed.

"Every time I find one or two things for her," Hallet said.

The key for back to school shopping is to get an early start, make a list and shop around.  For parents who want to save money, the deals are out there; it just takes a little work to find them.


Padres Recap: That Was Not Very Fun

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After taking three of four games in Milwaukee to win their first road series since May, the Padres opened a weekend set in Arizona with good juju working. There was no reason to believe that would change at Chase Field.

The Friars are 15-6 in their last 21 games against Arizona. They'd won nine of 13 games in Phoenix, hitting 15 homers and averaging nearly six runs a game in that span.

So, in true baseball fashion, the Padres got shut out 10-0 in Phoenix.

23-year-old Diamondbacks starter Randall Delgado wasn't around for any of his team's previous frustrations against San Diego. Delgado tossed a complete-game, 3-hitter.

Padres starter Eric Stults allowed seven runs on 11 hits in five innings to take the loss.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Thousands of Bees Attack North Texas Woman, Kill Horses

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A North Texas woman is recovering following an attack from a swarm of bees that killed her two horses.

The attack happened Wednesday evening behind a Pantego home in the 2500 block of Miller Lane, directly across the street from the police department.

Kristen Beauregard told NBC 5 she was working with Chip, her prize miniature horse, in the backyard when -- unprovoked -- thousands of bees swarmed her and the horse. The insects are suspected to be Africanized bees.

The pain from the stings was like being stabbed with hundreds of knives and torched with a flamethrower at the same time, she said. She still has some visible welts on her eyelids from the attack.

Chip quickly became covered with bees and began thrashing wildly around the yard in pain, she said.

She and the horse both jumped into the backyard swimming pool in an effort to escape the bees, but even that provided little relief. The bees hovered above the water and stung Beauregard's face when she would come up for air, she said.

Eventually her boyfriend, who heard her screams, brought her into the house and called 911.

"I've been in Pantego for 26 years, and this is the first time I've seen anything like this," said Police Chief Thomas Griffith, who helped respond to the incident.

Pantego is a town in Tarrant County near the city of Arlington.

Several Pantego firefighters, paramedics and police officers responded to the scene.

Firefighters used foam to douse the bees, while paramedics and police officers wearing only button-up shirts helped Beauregard pull Chip and her Shetland show pony, Trump, away from the swarm.

Chip was stung hundreds of times and his body was covered in welts, Beauregard said. He died from his injuries that night.

Trump initially survived but succumbed to his injuries Thursday.

Emergency responders tried to provide oxygen to the animals using breathing masks and administered epinephrine injections and Benadryl in an effort to stop the swelling, Griffith said.

Beauregard, whom paramedics estimate was stung approximately 200 times, praised the efforts of the emergency crews who risked their lives in an effort to save her and her animals.

A beekeeper removed on Thursday the approximately 6-foot-tall beehive that was home to an estimated 30,000 bees. It was located in a shed about 30 yards from the scene of the initial attack.

Beauregard told NBC 5 that neither she nor her horses did anything to provoke the bees prior to the attack.

She said she had seen some bees going in and out of the shed as early as February and had asked the woman she leases the land from to have an exterminator called in. The work was never done, Beauregard said.

Beauregard said she now encourages anyone who sees bees or a potential hive to have them eradicated to prevent an incident like what happened to her.



Photo Credit: Kristen Beauregard

Ramona Man, 22, Killed in Motorcycle Crash

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A 22-year-old man was killed in a motorcycle crash in Ramona Thursday, California Highway Patrol officials said.

The fatal accident happened just before noon on State Route 78, east of Magnolia Avenue.

CHP officials say a motorcyclist – identified by the county medical examiner as Ramona resident Sean Cullen – was riding a Kawasaki Ninja 650 on eastbound SR-78 when, for unknown reasons, he lost control of the motorcycle.

Cullen’s bike crossed the parallel yellow lines and into the westbound traffic lane.

Just then, a woman was driving a BMW X5 on westbound SR-78. CHP officials say when Cullen crossed into the westbound lanes, his motorcycle sideswiped the BMW and he sustained fatal injuries in the collision.

The driver of the car suffered minor injuries.

CHP officials are still investigating, and believe Cullen was traveling at 60 mph at the time of the fatal crash. Investigators have not yet determined whether alcohol or drugs contributed to the accident.
 



Photo Credit: Getty Images

West Nile Virus Infects Calif. Man

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An elderly man in Northern California is the latest person to have West Nile virus, adding to the six cases reported this week in Los Angeles County and Sacramento, state officials said.

An elderly resident in Glenn County was infected with West Nile, which is carried through mosquitos and can be fatal, said Dr. Ron Chapman, director of the California Department of Public Health.

The person was hospitalized, but is recovering.

The case was a reminder that the public must take precautions against mosquito bites, Chapman said.

"West Nile virus activity is greatest during the summertime," he said.

To date in 2013, West Nile virus has been detected in 31 of the 58 California counties.

Five others were infected across the LA County, including the South Bay and San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said on Thursday.

The two hospitalized patients were a healthy adult with no medical history and an elderly person with chronic health conditions, the department said.

Last year, 174 human cases of the virus were found in LA County, the second-highest count since 2004.

One other human case had been reported in California -- in Sacramento County -- according to state figures.

Mosquitoes get the virus by biting birds that are carrying West Nile Virus. Birds cannot transmit the virus to humans.

Most people infected with the virus do not become sick or have only mild symptoms including fever, headache, nausea, body aches, and a mild skin rash.

Symptoms usually occur within three to 12 days after infection. The elderly and those with weak immune systems are most at risk for developing severe symptoms, the department said.

Dead birds may be reported by calling 877-968-2473 or at the department's website. Stagnant swimming pools or "green pools" should be reported to the Public Health Environmental Health Bureau at 626-430-5200, or by calling a local vector control agency.

More information on West Nile Virus is available at 800-975-4448 or on the state's website

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Photo Credit: Getty Images

Reaction to Rehab for Embattled Mayor Filner

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San Diego Mayor Bob Filner announces he'll enter a two-week rehab to correct his behavior and the reaction rolls in.

San Diego City Council President Todd Gloria: “Bob Filner’s announcement that he will be taking a leave of absence prolongs the pain he is inflicting on our city at a time when San Diegans are calling for an end to this civic nightmare. The Mayor has finally acknowledged his very serious disorder which prevents his ability to govern and seriously affects his ability to interact with people. As would be the case with any leader in government or business, the standard he has to uphold is greater than to simply get treatment.

San Diego City Councilmember Mark Kersey: “Mayor Filner needs to wrestle with his demons as a private citizen—not on the public's time or the taxpayer's dime.”

San Diego City Councilmember Kevin Faulconer: “Two weeks of therapy will not end decades of bad behavior. Bob Filner should leave to receive the help he obviously needs, but he shouldn’t take the office of the mayor and San Diego city government with him. He needs to resign and seek long-term treatment as a private citizen.”

San Diego Councilmember Lorie Zapf: “At the end of the day, Mayor Filner continues to put his needs in front of the needs of his victims and the needs of citizens of San Diego. He is the mayor of the 8th largest city in the country and he must be held to a higher standard. By not stepping down, it is an insult to the victims, and an insult to women everywhere.”

San Diego Councilmember Scott Sherman: “San Diegans should accept nothing less than Bob Filner’s resignation and/or arrest.”

High-profile attorney Gloria Allred, who’s representing Irene McCormack Jackson, one of Filner’s alleged victims: “Mayor Filner has harmed many women including my client Irene McCormack Jackson. He should resign immediately. I view his decision to seek therapy as a ploy to stay in power and to try to gain sympathy. If he feels that he needs therapy, he should resign first and then seek it. It is ridiculous to think that he needs therapy in order to understand that women deserve respect and should not be treated like pieces of meat.

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