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Woman Killed After Tree Splits in Half, Crushes Her Car

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A family was struggling to comprehend what happened after a 40-foot-tall eucalyptus tree knocked over by Santa Ana winds landed on a woman's car in Orange County, killing her Monday. 

"I saw her leave her house and say 'good morning, have a nice day,'" Danny McCabe, her neighbor, said. "I didn't even get to my house and heard the tree snap, and I turned around saw it fall."

Dennet Bermas, 34, was leaving for work in the 14000 block of Red Hill Avenue in Tustin at 9:15 a.m. when the tree "split in half" and landed on her car.

She was unable to get out, and died at the scene, the Orange County Fire Authority confirmed. 

Norma Milo said it didn't make sense. Her nephew called and said his wife had been killed by a falling tree.

"I don't understand what happened. When he told me his wife passed away I felt...shocked," she said. 

Neighbors said Bermas had just pulled out of the carport and was turning her car to go to work. She was a nurse at an assisted living facility. 

"And somebody else said, 'there's somebody in there,' and started yelling, 'lady, are you all right? Ma'am ma'am?' He reached for her pulse and didn't feel anything," McCabe said.  

Firefighters had to cut away branches to remove her from the car. In spite of its massive size, no other cars were damaged, and no others were hurt.

"Everybody says you always do what you want to do because you never know when your last day is. I know people take that for granted. I know I have," witness Ashley Chavez said.

Residents at the Waterstone Garden Apartments say this is the second eucalyptus to topple in three years. They say a tree fell over and onto the same carport, damaging the roof. 

This time the carport and a laundry room were red-tagged. City officials decided the mangled mess will have to be cleaned up later when the harsh Santa Ana winds subside.

Residents said Bermas was nice and friendly, and how even Monday morning she waved and said hello to others before she got into her car.

The accident was reported as meteorologists advised some of the strongest Santa Ana winds in years were expected to sweep through Southern California Monday with gusts topping out at about 70 mph in mountain areas.

The winds were to combine with dry air to raise the threat of wildfires, prompting a red flag warning for most of Los Angeles County.

In Orange County -- including mountain areas below 6,000 feet, the Cleveland National Forest and in valley areas -- winds of 20-40 mph with 60 mph gusts are expected, gusting to 80 mph in some areas amid 5-10 percent humidity. The red flag warning in Orange County will last from 3 a.m. Monday until 8 p.m. Tuesday.



Photo Credit: OCFA

San Diego City Council Votes to Ban Styrofoam Products

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The San Diego City Council voted 5-3 to ban Styrofoam products in the city Monday. 

The proposal restricts the sale of take-out food containers made with polystyrene and plastic foam. 

“500 dollars a day more is a lot of money for the restaurant owners in my district,” said Councilmember Chris Cate at the meeting Monday. “Even ten dollars a day is a lot for them. You don’t know people’s circumstances.”

The Environmental Services Department is to provide a list of safe alternative containers. Restaurants can petition the department for a waiver.

Under the ordinance, hardship waivers would be awarded on a case-by-case basis for restaurants that would have financial difficulty making the switch to alternative products. 

“I feel we need to move forward with this to protect our oceans, marine life and ourselves,” said Lorie Zapf. “We just have to do something.” 

Restaurant owners were divided as those for and against the ban gathered in front of City Hall before the city council meeting. 

"If I have to switch, that's definitely going to take me out of business,“ said Malford Wilson of Pete Mayo’s Original Waffleburgers on Imperial Avenue in San Diego. "I can't afford to pay 66 percent more on just buying the stuff to put my product out. I want to hire some people. That's taking away from that." 

Others said they wanted to reduce pollution and carcinogens that wash into seafood after marine life eats tiny pieces of plastic. 

"If we continue to use this culture of throw away it's polluting our ocean," said Mikey Knab, who owns Ponce's Mexican Restaurant. "Fish eat the microplastics and when we eat fish, we're eating plastic. For me, this is not a good way to do business in your community." 

Before the vote, Councilmember Scott Sherman asked if this would apply to styrofoam products purchased in a city other than San Diego. 

"If I go to a donut shop in La Mesa and have coffee in a Styrofoam cup, do I have to switch the container by the time I get to San Diego City Hall?" he asked. He was told he would have to change the container. 

On Friday, a group of local restaurant owners gave 50 letters of disapproval to City Councilwoman Myrtle Cole's district office on Euclid Avenue. 

Multiple business owners said they would most likely be forced to shut down and go out of business if they have to use alternative containers. 

“It costs eight cents apiece for the containers I use now and the new containers are forty-five cents apiece,” said Aristotels Garcia, the owner of Wings Empire, a restaurant in San Diego. “That would be an extra $2,000 a month just for containers.”

Councilmembers said any restaurants that currently have a contract with styrofoam companies can petition the Environmental Services Department for a waiver so that agreements are not broken.

The restriction will take effect in January 2019. 

CVPD Investigating In-Custody Death of Man Arrested Friday

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The Chula Vista Police Department is investigating the in-custody death of a man who died at a hospital more than 12 hours after he was arrested.

CVPD said Jason Watts, 29 of Spring Valley, died at UCSD Medical Center Saturday afternoon. Watts was arrested around midnight after he got into a physical altercation with officers at a 7-Eleven store on Third Avenue.

Officers responded to the store at around 11:45 p.m. after the clerk and another witness reported Watts was refusing to leave the store and appeared to be under the influence of a substance. CVPD said Watts also called them and reported that people outside the store were threatening to shoot him.

When confronted by officers inside the store, Watts allegedly ran behind the counter and ignored officers’ commands. Officers attempted to talk to Watts and calm him before he punched a register and picked it up as if he was going to throw it at them, CVPD said.

At that point officers deployed pepper spray and Tasers. A physical altercation ensued and officers eventually took him into custody for assaulting an officer.

According to police, Watts was taken to Paradise Valley Hospital and was deemed “suitable for incarceration” after evaluation by medical staff.

“While being booked into the San Diego County Central Detention Facility, further evaluations indicated Watts may need additional medical treatment,” CVPD said.

Watts was then transported to UCSD Medical Center where he suffered further medical complications, according to CVPD. He was pronounced dead at the hospital from unconfirmed causes at 12:21 p.m.

CVPD’s Crimes of Violence unit is investigating Watts’ death, and the department said it would be working with the District Attorney’s office and the county Medical Examiner’s office.



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Oceanside Voters Question Allocation of Measure X Revenue

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Oceanside residents have a big decision to make when it comes to their local sales tax.

Measure X, which would increase sales tax .5 percent over the next seven years, made the November ballot with the City Council‘s approval months ago.

For some living in the area, the mere mention of a tax increase doesn’t sound appealing. Others, like Alex Taylor, are open to the idea under the right circumstances.

“I don't like to see any kind of tax increase unless I know exactly where the money is going in advance. I think signing up for a tax increase without some specific directions prior to making the commitment, is inequitable for people that are paying it”, explains Taylor.

But funds from Measure X aren’t earmarked for anything specific. The money could potentially be used for anything the overseeing committee deems necessary, even pay increases for city employees.

Oceanside Mayor Peter Weiss says this is not his intention.

“You don't want to put money into something like this to expand your operating costs. Then seven years from now, have to figure out how to reduce costs. That is why I would like to see it go into projects that will provide benefits to the city,” Weiss told NBC 7.

Some of the projects Major Weiss would like to fund with the money include an upgraded Oceanside Police Beach substation, better beach restrooms and road repairs.

Oceanside resident Manny Ginez, a Measure X supporter, has some of the same projects on his wish list.

“I think it would help the tourism industry. I mean, because if the city is nicely kept, I think you would have more visitors in Oceanside,” he said.

The measure outlines some steps to keep the spending transparent, including a separate account for all Measure X funds, an annual independent audit, and an annual spending plan.

An extension of the increase after year seven would need to be approved by voters.



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Vista Voter Wary After Getting Four Ballots in Mail

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Like millions of voters across the nation, Mariya Alcazar got her ballot in the mail last month at her Vista apartment.

But what happened next gave her doubts about the integrity of the state and county election systems.

There was a surprise every few days when she opened her mailbox. First, she received a ballot addressed to Mariya Swella, which is her maiden name. Then a second to her new, married name.

Then a third ballot, also for Mariya Alcazar. And then a fourth ballot sent to Mariya S. Alcazar.

“I don't even know who I am,” she joked. “I'm kind of in the middle of a name purgatory."

But Alcazar also sees a serious, troubling side to these multiple ballots. While she would never vote more than once, she worries that other voters might exploit this mistake and cast multiple ballots for their favorite candidates.

Getting four ballots, each with what appear to be unique voter identification numbers, has shaken Alcazar’s faith in government.

“If they can’t even manage to do this, then how can I trust them, as a citizen, to manage my tax money, or decide my health care?” Alcazar wonders.

Alcazar said she was just following the rules, when she re-registered to vote in May after moving to Vista. But she didn't get a ballot at her new address, and couldn’t vote in the June primary.

So Alcazar updated her registration at the DMV in August after she married and took her husband’s name. She said she checked the county’s voter rolls last month to make sure she was registered to vote in the November general election.

Alcazar said she found no record of her registration under either name at either her old or new address, so she registered again.

A few weeks later, the first ballot arrived, then the second.

"When I got the third one, that's when I started thinking, ‘OK, this is a little funny. I shouldn't be getting this.’ And that's when I posted on Facebook. And then the day after, I received the fourth one,” she said.

Michael Vu of the County Registrar of Voters told us that his records show that Alcazar registered four times: once in May, once in August, and twice in November.

Regardless, Vu said his department’s system has safeguards in place to prevent the recording of duplicate ballots by the same voter.

“Our office and the statewide system run duplicate checks to determine (voter) matches or potential matches,” Vu explained. “We would have merged the duplicate records prior to counting and allowed only one ballot to be counted.”

Still, Alcazar thinks the system should have spotted the duplications before mailing her the multiple ballots and she’s still worried that other voters might exploit a similar problem.

“It’s not a party or political issue,” she said. “It’s an American citizen issue. And if we cannot continue to protect the integrity of our voting, we cannot protect the rest of our rights.”



Photo Credit: NBC 5 News

Affordable Housing for Those with Developmental Disabilities

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A groundbreaking ceremony kicked off construction for new affordable apartments in the Otay Mesa area for people and families with developmental disabilities.

Pacifica at Playa del Sol will house 42 apartments, 12 of which are set aside for those with developmental disabilities.

“This project is an example of what we need to do more and more of around the San Diego county region,” said County Supervisor Greg Cox.

Across the complex’s three buildings, three will be single-bedroom apartments, 15 will be two-bedroom, and 24 will be three-bedroom.

“Adults with developmental disabilities desire what [those who don’t] desire – good jobs, benefits, good pay, and a nice affordable place to live,” Executive Director of the San Diego Regional Center Carlos Flores said. “Most people with developmental disabilities, adults, survive on an income less than $1,000 [per month].”

Rent will range from $730 to a little more than $1,500 per month, based on the apartment’s floor plan.

The apartments are promised to remain affordable for 55 years, according to Stefanie Benvenuto, Vice Chair of San Diego Housing Commission.

It budgets for San Diego families making up to 60 percent of the area’s median annual income of $58,380 for a family of four, Benvenuto said.

“There are few things that are more treasured in life than the ability for people to have their own home. It brings stability, warmth, and security to the family,” Cox said.

The county is currently investing $25 million in projects to create more than 500 new affordable housing units, according to Cox.

The complex was funded, in part, by the California Housing Finance Agency, the County of San Diego, the Richman Group, Banner Bank, and the Foundation for Developmental Disability.

The project's total cost was roughly $17.3 million.

Construction began in September and is expected to be completed by July 2019.

Md. Officer Arrested on Charges of Raping an Undocumented Woman

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A Prince George's County police officer in Maryland has been arrested on rape charges after a woman living in the United States illegally told police he pulled her over and attacked her. 

Officer 1st Class Ryan Macklin, a six-year veteran of the department, was arrested on charges including rape and assault, Chief Hank Stawinski announced Monday night. The officer has been suspended without pay. 

The woman told police the officer pulled her over about 1 a.m. Thursday on University Boulevard in Langley Park. Then, she said he forced her to perform a sex act in her car in a nearby parking lot. 

She is an undocumented immigrant, sources told News4.

"The charges against this officer are highly troubling. Officers take an oath to protect others, not to abuse their authority in order to victimize someone," Stawinski said." Those who live and work in Prince George’s County deserve the very best from the men and women of this department."  

Police do not believe the officer targeted the woman because of her immigration status, the chief said. 

It was not immediately clear if Macklin had a lawyer. 

Donelan stressed that police were taking the allegation seriously.

"Within hours of the woman coming forward and telling us the events of what she says occurred to her, our officer was suspended. He is no longer a police officer. He can't act as a police officer. His police powers have been suspended," she said.

The officer has been stripped of his gun, badge and marked cruiser, Donelan said.

People living in the U.S. illegally are uniquely vulnerable to abuse by authorities, said Nick Katz, a lawyer with CASA de Maryland, an immigration advocacy and assistance organization.

"When the police are viewed as a gateway to immigration, to deportation, you're afraid to report crimes, especially something as intimate as sexual assault," he said.

Prince George's County police are looking into whether the officer may have assaulted more than one person.

Anyone with information on the attack or other attacks is asked to call 301-772-4795. Help in English and Spanish is available. 



Photo Credit: Prince George's County Police Department

Car Hits Pedestrian, Major Injuries Near Rancho Bernardo HS

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A car struck a pedestrian in Rancho Bernardo Monday night, leaving the person with major injuries.

The incident occurred near Bernardo Heights Parkway and Calle Pueblito, less than one mile away from Rancho Bernardo High School.

The San Diego Police Department and San Diego Fire-Rescue responded around 6 p.m.

The driver stayed at the scene with the pedestrian, SDPD said.

No other information was available.

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



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Man Arrested in Little Italy Sexual Assault Case: SDPD

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San Diego police arrested a man in connection to a Little Italy sexual assault claim Monday afternoon.

Christopher Merron, 28, was taken into custody at 1:30 p.m.

He was found near Fenton Parkway in the City of San Diego.

Merron faces charges of assault with intent to commit a sex crime, sexual battery, false imprisonment, burglary, brandishing a deadly weapon, criminal threats, and auto theft, according to SDPD.

On Sunday, a custodian was attacked by a man who attempted to sexually assault her while she was working at Cafe Italia in Little Italy.

The armed suspect entered the building around 4:33 a.m. and pushed the victim into a back room, according to SDPD. The woman was able to fight him off and ran out of the building.

The suspect then took the victim's car keys and stole her tan 1998 GMC Jimmy.

The car and weapon were later recovered by police.

Anyone with information can call SDPD's Sex Crimes Unit at (619) 531-2210 or the Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at (888) 580-8477.

Campa-Najjar Responds to Letter Saying He's Security Risk

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A letter signed by three retired Marine Corps generals warns that should 50th Congressional District candidate Democrat Ammar Campa-Najjar be elected to Congress, it would put U.S. military troops at risk.

Campa-Najjar, who worked in the U.S. Labor Department under President Barack Obama, told NBC 7 the letter marked at the top with the words “Security Alert,” is a “pretty political piece of mail.”

“I think it’s clear that I’m not a security risk,” he said. “I got clearance from the FBI to work at the White House and they went through all my family connections.”

The letter is the latest piece of campaign material that calls into question Campa-Najjar’s heritage and alleged link to terrorism. A recent controversial Duncan Hunter campaign ad revealed to many that Campa-Najjar’s grandfather, now deceased, was allegedly behind the Munich Massacre.

Campa-Najjar said his grandfather was killed before he was born. He told NBC 7 in the days after the ad debuted that Hunter "knows I'm not responsible for my family's actions, just like his wife isn't responsible for his."

The letter claims Campa-Najjar’s father, a Palestinian living overseas, was heavily connected to the Palestine Liberation Organization. Campa-Najjar, raised primarily by his mother of Hispanic descent, said he and his father "Don’t have that kind of father-son connection.”

Tony Krvaric, Chairman of the San Diego County Republican Party, told NBC 7 he thinks “the average, fair-minded voter knows what's over the line.”

The party is still behind Rep. Hunter, according to Krvaric.

“We’re denouncing him as a candidate who doesn’t fit the district,” Krvaric said of Campa-Najjar. “He’s way too far left for the district.”

Campa-Najjar said that if there’s one person in the race that’s a national security risk it’s his opponent, who is under indictment facing federal charges he misused $250,000 in campaign funds.

Hunter and his wife, Margaret Hunter, have pleaded not guilty to charges in an indictment alleging they used the campaign funds to finance family trips to Italy and Hawaii, golf outings, school tuition, theater tickets and even fast food purchases.

The indictment, unsealed in August, alleges the couple attempted to conceal the illegal spending in federal records.

Krvaric argues the indictment isn’t an issue at all.

“Whatever the charges are, you’ve heard from one side that’s going to be dealt with on the other side of this election,” Krvaric said.

In a statement released to NBC 7, a spokesperson for the U.S. Marine Corps said: “The policies governing political activities by active duty members of the armed forces do not apply to retirees or former Marines. As private citizens, they have the same rights as every other citizen. The Marine Corps does not take political positions.”

SDPD Searching for Juvenile Who Ran From Foster Home

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San Diego police are looking for a missing juvenile who reportedly ran away from her foster home in Bay Terraces.

The San Diego Police Department said 12-year-old Quentasia Heights jumped a fence at her foster home on Nebraska Avenue at around 2:45 p.m. Monday and ran southbound on Alsacia Street where she may have gotten into a vehicle.

Heights is described as 5 feet 2 inches tall weighing 100 pounds. She has braided black hair with blonde highlights and has brown eyes.

Police say she was last seen wearing a gray or burgundy shirt, burgundy leggings, and silver slip-on shoes.

Anyone with information regarding Heights' whereabouts can call SDPD at (619) 531-2000 and refer to event number 18100025494.

No other information was available.

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

Man Killed in Shed Collapse Was 'Careful to a Fault,' Family Says

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For the first time, the family of the man who died after a shed collapsed on top of him last week is speaking publicly about the accident.

Paul Sandoval, 33, was demolishing a shed Wednesday in La Mesa when the structure collapsed while he was inside.

When Heartland Fire Department medics found Sandoval in the collapsed structure on Johnson Drive, he had no pulse. They were able to resuscitate him on the way to the hospital but ultimately his life could not be saved.

The beam that ran along the pitch of the shed’s roof landed on his back near his lungs and suffocated him, Sandoval’s family said. 

The lack of oxygen severely damaged his brain, his younger brother Jimmy said.

"Paul was my best friend since birth. I looked up to him. I was very inspired by him," Jimmy said.

Jimmy described Sandoval as careful to a fault.

He was working alone on the shed, though, and in those precious moments, no one was there to help him.

Jimmy said he’s worked with his brother on many construction jobs. From what he's been told about the accident, it appears Sandoval was either trying to run out of the structure at the time of the collapse, or the material came down on top of him while his back was turned to it.

Sandoval had three children and a wife of nine years, Mariah. They’ve shared countless adventures together, including English teaching stints in Thailand and Morocco.

“He just did well. He was just good and you could tell when you talked to him," Mariah said.

Their third son, Paul Jr., was born this year just before the couple's 10th anniversary.

In life, Sandoval was a dedicated family man, a hard worker and a provider, his family said.

In death, Mariah says her husband was still providing for others.

"They were able to take both kidneys and his liver and they were super healthy and his kidney was just transplanted into somebody today at 3 p.m.,” Mariah said.

Video Shows Rats Take Over NYC Apartments at Infested Building

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Hordes of rats are brazenly taking over homes inside a New York City public housing building, stomach-turning video shows, and even worse, may have bitten a baby Monday morning. 

Hordes of rats are brazenly taking over homes inside a New York City public housing building, stomach-turning video shows, and even worse, may have bitten a baby Monday morning.  

Tenants at NYCHA's Claremont Rehab in the Bronx say the giants rats have been taking over their apartments after a basement garbage compactor was shut down last week, driving the rats upward. 

One video taken last week shows a group of rats popping out from behind a washing machine and scampering across the kitchen sink, one right after another. The family in that apartment boarded up the kitchen, fearful the rats would attack their dog. 

Another tenant showed video of two drowned rats in his toilet. 

"We're getting tired of this every day -- look, wake up and we see rats, not even mice, in our toilets," he says. "It's disgusting. We pay rent every month on time, and this is why we pay rent for?"

Worst of all, Asia Clemente said she found a rat biting her 1-year-old son's stomach while the child was sleeping Monday morning, and showed photos of the bloody wound. She took her son to the hospital, where he was placed on antibiotics. 

"Every mother's worst nightmare when you have a child, especially a sick one,' she said. "You can't do nothing, you helpless." 

Clemente thinks the rat was gnawing at the feeding tube attached to baby Daniel's stomach. She said it was the second time that the boy, who suffers from multiples health conditions, has been bitten by a rat. She's worried now that the rats will chew through her son's oxygen tube: "My son's not getting no air" if that happens. 

Clemente said she can't leave because the family was already transferred once this year. They arrived at Claremont to escape rats in another NYCHA building. 

NYCHA tenant leader Daniel Barber said Con Edison workers won't even go into the basement because the rat infestation was so bad.

In a statement, NYCHA spokesman Michael Giardina said, "Our residents should not have to live in these conditions. Since this first came to our attention, we have taken aggressive steps to address the current infestation by eliminating rodent access to the building and the apartments, which will also keep future rodents away. We apologize to our residents and will continue to vigilantly monitor this situation."

NYCHA says staff have been stationed at the building throughout the weekend to inspect and address the conditions, and are plastering walls to block any passageways for rats to get in. Exterminators are also treating the basements, and four compactor rooms have been closed while work is being done down there, NYCHA says. 



Photo Credit: Maria Forbes

DC Catholic Archdiocese Names Priests Accused of Child Sex Abuse

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The Archdiocese of Washington has released the names of 28 former members of clergy who they say were "credibly accused of sexual abuse of minors" dating back as far as 1948.

The Catholic archdiocese said it assembled the list on the orders of Cardinal Donald Wuerl, who is set to resign next month after a Pennsylvania grand jury report said he allowed priests accused of sexually abusing children to be reassigned or reinstated when he was the bishop of Pittsburgh.

Wuerl said in a statement that there had not been a credible allegation of abuse of a minor by a priest of the archdiocese in almost 20 years, and that no priest in active ministry had ever been accused.

"This list is a painful reminder of the grave sins committed by clergy, the pain inflicted on innocent young people and the harm done to the Church's faithful, for which we continue to seek forgiveness," Wuerl's statement said.

The names of the priests can be found on the archdiocese's website. A number of the members of clergy were convicted of crimes, and many have died.

SNAP, a national network of sexual abuse victims, said they suspect the list is incomplete. 

"It's hard to believe that we only had 28," David Lorenz of the organization told News4.

The Pennsylvania grand jury report found that some 300 priests abused more than 1,000 children since the 1940s, and Wuerl is one of a string of bishops in six dioceses the report says covered up for them.

Most of the victims were boys. Some were teens, while others were prepubescent. Several alleged victims were lured with alcohol or pornography. Afterward, they turned to substance abuse and even suicide to escape the lingering trauma.

Wuerl has asked for prayers and forgiveness for what he calls his lapse of judgment in dealing with reports of abuse by priests.

The archbishop recently called for a "Season of Healing," inviting parishes and parishioners to observe six weeks of Friday prayers in recognition of the pain of the victims and the need for healing.

Last month, a man stood in a Mass Wuerl was celebrating in D.C. and yelled "Shame on you" after Wuerl asked parishioners to keep Pope Francis in their prayers.

The Washington Archdiocese urges anyone aware of suspected sexual misconduct to report it to authorities or call the Office of Child Protection and Safe Environment for the Archdiocese of Washington at 301-853-5302.



Photo Credit: Shutterstock

2 Rushed to Hospital in Mission Beach Fire

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Two people were injured when a building along the Mission Beach boardwalk caught fire Tuesday.

The fire produced a large column of thick, black smoke into the air that was visible for miles.

San Diego Fire-Rescue crews responded just before 7 a.m. to the two-alarm fire at 712 Ventura Place between Hamel's and the Sandbar, across the street from the parking area for Belmont Park. 

Firefighters found two people inside the building which is mixed-use with living space on the second floor and businesses on the ground level. The victims were transported to a nearby hospital. No details were given on the extent of their injuries.

Mo Pope lives nearby and said she was terrified when she heard an unusual number of sirens.

“There was a giant smoke coming out of the top of the building,” Pope said. “It was just pouring out of the side of the windows.”

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The multiple-story building is home to Dreyer's Ice Cream on the first floor.

Firefighters used ladders and a ladder engine to access the building's roof.

Battalion Chief Ed Kinnamon said a metal stairwell was energized from nearby electrical lines so crews put up ladders to get to the roof from the street level.

The age of the building also created a challenge for firefighters.

“These old buildings are made out of plaster so it’s not the easy drywall. So it’s physically intense to pull the stuff just to confirm the fire is out,” Kinnamon said.

The fire was burning so close to other buildings, that firefighters were concerned about exposure.

“There is damage to the initial room of origin but it could’ve been a lot worse,” the battalion chief added. 

Three ambulances were called for, according to an SDFD spokesperson.

Crews had the fire knocked down at 7:25 a.m. but were still on scene. 

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A chaplain was headed to the location as well, according to the fire department spokesperson.

No other information was available.

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



Photo Credit: Peggy Peattie
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Mega Millions Jackpot Balloons to Record-Breaking $667M

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The Mega Millions jackpot has surpassed the previous record for the largest prize in the game's history, ballooning to $667 million ahead of Tuesday night's drawing. 

The previous all-time record for Mega Millions was $656 million for a drawing on March 30, 2012.

The lucky ticket that matches all six numbers on Tuesday and chooses the lump sum will take home $380 million.

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“It’s always a thrill to have both jackpots rolling, but there’s an extra spark now with Mega Millions reaching a new record,” Gordon Medenica, Mega Millions' lead director, said in a release. “Everyone is talking about the jackpot and running out to buy tickets for tonight’s drawing.”

Mega Millions' jackpot has been growing since July, when a group of California office co-workers won $543 million. 

Three other Mega Millions jackpots have been won this year – $451 million on January 5 (Florida), $533 million on March 30 (New Jersey), and $142 million on May 4 (Ohio).

It costs $2 to play the game and the odds of matching all six numbers and winning the jackpot is one in 302.5 million.

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Mega Millions drawings are held Tuesdays and Fridays at 11 p.m. ET. The game is played in 44 states as well as Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. 

The largest lottery jackpot in U.S. history was a $1.6 billion Powerball jackpot won in January 2016 by players in three states. That would make the estimated jackpot for Tuesday's Mega Millions drawing the third largest overall. 



Photo Credit: Getty Images, File

Dry & Windy: Santa Ana Conditions in San Diego

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Santa Ana conditions were expected Tuesday with humidity in single digits and winds in the 20 to 30 mph range.

The conditions prompted a fire weather warning through 8 p.m. for San Diego County’s valleys, mountains and all of Orange County, from the National Weather Service

A red flag warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly.

Peak gusts measured as of 4:00 p.m. Monday occurred in Valley Center (68 mph), near Fallbrook (51 mph) and near Cuyamaca Peak west of State Route 79 (45 mph). Boulevard, Palomar Mountain lookout and Campo had 40 to 42 mph gusts. Carlsbad and Oceanside airport reported 33 mph and 32 mph peak gusts respectively.

"Winds diminish later today and turn onshore along the coast in the afternoon," said NBC 7 Meteorologist Sheena Parveen.

She added there may be a slight chance for a shower will exist mainly for the desert and mountains for this weekend.

Conditions are considered Santa Ana when temperatures are higher west of the mountains than east of the mountains in the desert communities. The combination of high temperatures, low humidity and strong winds creates dangerous fire conditions. 

SDG&E turned off the power to roughly 360 customers in the Cleveland National Forest area for public safety Monday. The utility said around 8:45 p.m. that power was restored.

Cal Fire has increased staff across the state as a precaution

Cal Fire advises residents to exercise extreme caution when in or near open areas to prevent sparking a fire. 

  • Don’t mow or trim dry grass on windy days
  • Never pull your vehicle over in dry grass
  • Target shoot only in approved areas, use lead ammunition only, and never at metal
  • Ensure campfires are allowed, and if so, be sure to extinguish them completely
  • Report any suspicious activities to prevent arson 

For more fire prevention tips and evacuation steps visit this website.

Stay up to date on changing weather conditions by downloading the free NBC 7 mobile app and selecting weather as your home screen.



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Dozens Evacuated After Car Crashes Into Gas Line

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Dozens of residents have been evacuated in Sherman Heights after a car crashed into a gas line causing a leak overnight. 

The car took off after crashing into the gas line at 25th Street and Imperial Avenue at about 3 a.m. 

More than 40 people were evacuated from an elderly care facility and two residences due to the rupture but the majority of the residents were allowed to return home within the hour, the San Diego Police Department said. 

Eight San Diego Gas & Electric customers would remain evacuated while the utility company made repairs, SDPD said.

The residents were taken to SDPD central division, which was located across the street from the evacuated buildings, until they could receive aid from San Diego/Imperial County Red Cross. 

The road near 28th Street and Imperial Avenue would remain closed for about four hours while repairs were conducted.

The gas line was expected to be working by 8 a.m., SDPD said. 

No other information was available.

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

Escondido Middle School Attendance Error Causes Confusion

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Parents are frustrated after an automated message saying their kids were not at school was accidentally sent by the Escondido Union High School District.

The alert was sent to hundreds of families with students at Mission Middle school in Escondido on Monday. 

Parents called the school for information on their missing children but the phone lines were full and they couldn't get through.

"It was actually really scary because I drop her off at seven... I watch her walk off and head into the campus and so it freaked me out," said Maria Sanchez, who has a sixth-grader at the school. "When I called the school, I just kept getting a busy tone."

Many parents, including Sanchez, began showing up at the school to see that their children were in fact there,

EUHSD spokesperson Suzy Villegas said they sent out a follow-up alert that informed parents the message was an error. The district was looking into the incident.

Trump's Already Raised Over $100 Million for His Re-Election

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More than two years before the 2020 election, President Donald Trump has already raised over $100 million for his re-election bid, with almost $47 million still in the bank, NBC News reported.

The Federal Election Committee filings show a historic amount of money that comes from many small-dollar donations as well as large donors, including $250,000 from venture capitalist Peter Thiel.

The campaign spent $7.7 million over the last three months, according to the data. It also donated $2,000 to more than 100 separate Republican candidates nationwide.

By contrast, President Barack Obama had yet to announce his re-election campaign at this point in his presidency and had just $2.3 million in his bank account.



Photo Credit: Evan Vucci/AP, File
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