An Escondido youth sports league is climbing back from near-bankruptcy after a parent volunteer allegedly embezzled upwards of $100,000 from the league.

Carrie Richardson – a parent and trusted volunteer treasurer – is accused of stealing thousands of funds from the Escondido Pop Warner league over several years, and then bolting to the east coast in 2011.

She was recently arrested in Maine, and now there’s a push to have her extradited back to San Diego to face charges.

The Escondido Pop Warner football league has been around for 45 years, a milestone worth celebrating given the alleged blindside hit they took from their former treasurer.

On the field with the Escondido Wolf Park, accountability and team work take precedence.

I think it’s great here,” said Escondido Pop Warner president Frank Jungman. “To think that someone would steal from these children, I think it’s really sickening.”

It’s off the field where a financial loss still stings.

Pop Warner league parents say Richardson was a trusted part of the team for years, and the embezzlement allegations shook the team to its core.

“Our parents lost faith in our board, in our league,” parent Burnadine Nolan told NBC 7.

Following the embezzlement allegations, plans for a huge equipment shed for the team were scrapped as the league began the 2012 season in a $10,000 hole.

It didn’t end there. Participation then dropped from 600 to 300.

“I feel sad for her son. I feel sad for her that she did this. But I’m relieved [that she was caught and arrested],” said Nolan.

Richardson was recently arrested in Maine, accused of similar crimes there.

But back here in San Diego – where there is a warrant for Richardson’s arrest – questions still linger about whether or not she’ll ever face punishment for her alleged crime.

“This city and this county can’t afford to extradite her. There’s just no money left in our budgets from the cutting that’s gone on,” said Jungman.
The league president says police are working on extraditing Richardson from Maine to San Diego.

In the meantime, he’s working on building the league’s bottom line and reputation.

He says he has learned some important lessons on who to trust from this ordeal.

“You make sure, absolutely, you have two signers on the account. Your treasurer should never have access to the money, and you should see the bank statement at every meeting,” said Jungman.

Police say these types of crimes happen more often than most people think.

It’s a hard lesson learned from the sidelines, one this league won’t soon forget.

If police are able to bring Richardson back to the North County, the league would still need help pursuing a civil suit.

They’re looking for donations and legal assistance, should they get their day in court.
 

A pickup truck driver was killed and a tour bus driver was hospitalized in a crash Saturday that shut down the main artery between Los Angeles and Las Vegas for hours.

The 10:40 a.m. crash shut down northbound lanes of the I-15 in Baker, about 180 miles northeast of downtown LA. Some lanes reopened by 1 p.m., after CHP officers investigated the crash and crews cleared the debris, authorities said.

The tour bus driver was taken to University Medical Center in Las Vegas.

There was no immediate word on his condition.

Five bus riders suffered minor injuries, Martinez said. There were 29 tourists from China on the bus, Eagle Tours out of El Monte.

The truck crossed the median and crashed into the bus, before the truck burst into flames, Martinez said.

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State and local officials are warning drivers to avoid Interstate 805 in the South Bay this weekend.

From Sunday Aug. 18 at 3 p.m. until Monday at 5 a.m., Interstate 805 will be closed from State Route 54 to State Route 905.

It's being referred to as “DARmageddon” – a 14-hour shutdown on I-805 to expand the freeway.

During that time, the East Palomar Street Bridge will be removed to make room for a Direct Access Ramp, known as DAR, leading to the warning name “DARmageddon.”

A bridge will be gone after the overnight construction and motorists can already see the area being prepared.

Local transportation and city representatives from the South Bay announced the “Steer Clear” campaign to warn drivers now of the upcoming closure.

Drivers can use the South Bay Expressway, or the SR-125 toll road, for free during that time. Interstate 5 is also an alternate route.

The finished project will have express lanes for carpoolers and buses and begin the start of the East Palomar Street Transit Station and a Park & Ride station.

Community leaders say it’s a little bit of a headache now but positive for future.

“We will have to endure growing pain,” said National City Mayor Ron Morrison.

Hundreds of people watched Warren Hall fall to the ground Saturday morning at Cal State East Bay's Hayward campus.

The old 13-story administration building was imploded at around 9 a.m. because it was the most seismically vulnerable building in the California State University system. Separately, scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey were also on hand for a quake study. 

The Bay Area demolition was done with a bang, several actually - and took about 10 seconds followed by applause and cheers from the crowd.

A huge cloud of dust lingered on the campus for several minutes.

The implosion was proceeded by a warning horn 10 minutes before, 2 minutes before and one minute before the blast. 

The building, which housed administrative officers and classrooms for four decades, was too tall to be taken down by crane, so the demotion team used 430 pounds of high explosives to blow up one side of the building. Gravity did the rest, experts said. 

While most were interested in the explosion, scientists at the USGS were watching what happened underground after the building hit the ground.

Scientists seized the occasion to install nearly 600 seismic sensors within a 1.5-mile radius around the building to help them map fault lines and get a clearer look at the shaking caused by seismic events. The implosion was expected to create an effect similar to a 2.0-magnitude quake.

"We are trying to measure ground motion," Geophysicist Rufus Catchings said before the demolition. "When the building comes down there will be a thump that will put seismic energy into the ground."

The nearby Hayward fault was expected to amplify that energy.

Catchings said the sensors will help map where the fault is underground.

"Just because there is a ground break on the surface doesn't mean that is where the fault is underground. It's a zone, we want to see the width of the zone. We want to see how many strands are coming toward the surface," he said.

The information can then be applied all along the Hayward fault, from Milpitas to San Pablo Bay, and will tell scientists more about what will happen during an earthquake.

Rufus called it a rare opportunity.

"There is a tremendous number of things we need to learn about the fault zone if we understand that then we have a pretty good idea of what will happen in a much larger earthquake," he said.

Scientists said it would take several months to organize and analyze the data.

The building's occupants moved to a new Student Services Administration building on the east side of the campus and Warren Hall stood empty for about two years prior to this morning's demolition.

The CSUEB campus is set to reopen at 6 a.m. Monday.

The effort to recall embattled Mayor Bob Filner officially kicks into high gear on Sunday.

To that end, there are several recall-related events happening around San Diego.

At 1 p.m., recall organizers will host a “Recall Signature –Gathering” kick-off event in the Pacific Ballroom at the Town & Country in Mission Valley from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Those who attend will be able to learn how to become a volunteer for the recall effort, as well as pick up petitions to sign and mail back to organizers.

Special Section: Mayor Under Fire

An event notice created on the official Recall Bob Filner Facebook page reads:

“We need your help to prove that it's NOT impossible for the public to rise up and remove from office a man that has proved he is not worthy or capable of leading our city. Let's show Filner the door.”

A special march and rally are also set 2 p.m. at the Civic Center Plaza in downtown San Diego.

READ: Key Players in Bob Filner Scandal

Meanwhile, to get the ball rolling quickly, recall volunteers will also pass out petitions at the finish line of the America’s Finest City half-marathon in Balboa Park Sunday.

Recall organizers need to collect and turn in more than 101,000 valid signatures by Sept. 26 to qualify for the ballot.

The makers of Iams dog food last week recalled several types of dog food due to possible salmonella contamination.

Products affected include Eukanuba brand dry dog food and Iams dry dog and cat foods, both of which are owned by Procter & Gamble. Click here for a full list of affected products and instructions on how to receive replacements.

The dog food was distributed across the U.S., mostly the East Coast. All retailers have been notified and is working to remove them from stores, the company said.

Pets with salmonella poisoning can experience fatigue, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

A La Mesa man was sentenced to 40 years to life in prison Friday for the 2011 murder of a taxi cab driver.

Demetrius Sissac, 21 -- a known gang member – was convicted of murdering taxi driver Jalaludin Hamrah in Lemon Grove on October 30, 2011.

Investigators say Sissac – just 19 years old at the time -- took a ride in Hamrah’s cab and shot him at the end of the ride.

A deputy found Hamrah inside his taxi, which had rolled over and crashed on Main Street in Lemon Grove just before 4 a.m. The deputy called paramedics and soon realized Hamrah had suffered a bullet wound to his upper body.

Sissac had fled the scene, but was arrested a few days later and booked into jail on a murder charge.

Hamrah, originally from Afghanistan, worked for Main Cab Company. He primarily drove his cab in the El Cajon and Lakeside areas.

At Sissac’s sentencing Friday, nearly two years after the fatal shooting, more than a dozen of Sissac’s friends and family members pleaded for a lesser punishment in court.

Sissac’s mother also spoke out, saying how much she misses her son.

“Not having Demetrius home is like a big void in my life right now. It’s like missing a piece of my heart,” his mother said, as Sissac looked down in court.

Sissac was convicted of second-degree murder earlier this year.
 

Rebecca Christensen has four children and knows the value of a good discount.

"If I can find a bargain, I'm all about finding a bargain," said Christensen.  She says she likes to shop at discount chains and was excited to find a Grocery Outlet opening up in her Escondido neighborhood.

"I probably saved $150 from the regular grocery store," said Christensen.

She says she grew up near the discount chain store in the Bay Area but just saw the new store opening up in San Diego County.

"Everybody is on a tight budget," said Frank Williams, the franchise owner for the Escondido Grocery Outlet.

He says the store carries package overruns, discontinued items along with items with packaging changes and label mistakes.

"We buy opportunistically," said Williams. But he said that can be a challenge for shoppers because discounted items may be limited and not back on the shelf after the current supply runs out.

Grocery Outlet had only two stores in San Diego County until recently. Now, there are eight stores including locations in Poway, Point Loma and Spring Valley.

The Escondido store opened in August, while a new store in San Marcos opens in September.

Store owner Marcey Williams says frugal shoppers are attracted by the deep discounts.

"The shopper, I believe, has changed dramatically over the last couple years," said Williams.

She says higher costs in gas and electricity have people looking to save money in other areas, including groceries.  Besides Grocery Outlet, San Diego County has seen a growth in Dollar Tree  and 99¢ Only stores and also the Wal-Mart grocery chains.

Kathy Mochel went to the Escondido store for the first time, "I tend to stay away from the big grocery stores anymore."  Is the grocery shopper cheap?  "No, I'm frugal," said Mochel.

San Diego kidnap survivor Hannah Anderson spoke out on-camera Saturday for the first time since the 16-year-old was rescued, thanking supporters as she left a car wash fundraiser with her father in Lakeside. 

When asked by NBC 7’s Steven Luke if she had anything to say to the public following her story, Hannah simply said, “Just thank you. Thank you.”

Wearing a black knee brace on her left leg, Hannah had greeted her friends at the fundraiser and gave out hugs.

NBC 7 spoke exclusively with her father, Brett Anderson, at the event and he said his daughter felt compelled to attend the fundraiser and give her personal thanks to organizers and supporters.

“It’s wonderful that [the community] is out here helping her. She just wanted to come out and thank these people personally,” Brett said.

He said his daughter is still going through a lot, but the overwhelming support from the community – particularly her hometown of Lakeside – helps.

“[Right now things] are very difficult. Every moment is difficult for her,” Brett added.

After a few moments, Brett told Hannah they had to go.

“We have to go? Oh, okay,” said Hannah, as she hugged and said goodbye to other children at the car wash. “I’ve gotta (sic) go, bye guys.”

Before leaving with her father, Hannah walked over to one of the organizers of the fundraiser, Traci
Paulson. She gave Paulson a big hug and said thank you, before walking back to her father’s car and speaking to NBC 7.

The car wash fundraiser was held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Lakeside's Living Hope Christian Fellowship church on Los Coches Road in the San Diego County community to benefit Hannah and her family.

The money raised at the car wash – about $1,000 -- will be donated to the Anderson family and will help cover funeral expenses for slain Lakeside residents Christina Anderson, 44, and her son, Ethan Anderson, 8.

The funds will also help cover ongoing therapy expenses for Hannah.

Saturday’s event was organized by Traci Paulson and Bonnie Barker, neighbors of Christina, Ethan and Hannah Anderson.

Paulson said it marked the first time she had seen Hannah in person since her return to San Diego.

“It’s amazing to see her. It made my day,” said Paulson.

The teen’s appearance, albeit brief, was the highlight of the day for organizers and participants – kids who grew up playing with Hannah and her late little brother, Ethan, in their Lakeside neighborhood.

Angelina Pellegrino, 12, has fond memories of playing with the Andersons – and one chilling memory of hanging out with Hannah the day before she disappeared with accused abductor James Lee DiMaggio.

“We had camp the day before she got kidnapped. We hung out with her the entire day and the next day, she was gone,” Pellegrino told NBC 7. “The girls who were with her – we feel like we have to do this.”

With the help of dozens of volunteers, fundraiser organizers raised nearly $1,000 for the Anderson family – a family still in shock.

“I wanted to do something to help the family and this is my way of helping,” said one participant.

Alex Ramirez, a senior at El Capitan High School and fellow schoolmate of Hannah, said the brief encounter with Hannah was a welcome surprise.

“It was crazy. I didn’t expect her to come,” said Ramirez, adding that it was good to see Hannah.

Even better for Ramirez: the chance to do something for the Anderson family, one car and one donation at a time.

TIMELINE: The Search for Hannah Anderson

This was the second fundraiser this week for Hannah and her family.

On Thursday, a large fundraiser was held at a Boll Weevil restaurant in Lakeside. In her first public appearance since her kidnapping and rescue, Hannah attended the event along with her family.

Hannah's father, Brett Anderson, issued a brief statement outside Thursday’s event, thanking the public for their support and giving a short update on his daughter.

“Hannah sends her love. She’s doing good day by day. We’ll just keep moving forward from here," Brett said. "We're just looking for her future and to get her settled."

In addition to these fundraisers, an Anderson Family Memorial Fund has been established at Wells Fargo. The account number for that fund is 3224408462, and anyone can donate.

NBC 7 has confirmed that funeral services for Christina and Ethan Anderson are set to take place at 11 a.m. Aug. 24 at the Guardian Angel Roman Catholic Church in Santee. As of right now, the service will be open to the public, unless the Anderson family decides otherwise.

Christina and Ethan Anderson's charred bodies were discovered by officials on Aug. 4 at the burned out property of kidnap and murder suspect James Lee DiMaggio in the community of Boulevard, near San Diego.

According to search warrants, investigators believe DiMaggio – a longtime friend of the Anderson family – “tortured and killed” Christina and Ethan on Aug. 4 before allegedly kidnapping Christina’s daughter Hannah.

DiMaggio then fled San Diego with Hannah, sparking an Amber Alert that spanned across six states.

The pair ended up in the rugged Idaho backcountry near Cascade and Morehead Lake, where they were spotted by a group of horseback riders on Aug. 7.

After seeing the Amber Alert, the riders reported the sighting to authorities, leading more than 200 federal, state and local law enforcement officials to the rural community in Idaho in search of Hannah and DiMaggio.

The pair was ultimately found by an FBI tactical team near Morehead Lake on Aug. 10.

Hannah was rescued safely by officials. DiMaggio was shot at least five times and killed at the scene.

Hannah has since reunited with her family and returned home to San Diego. Days after her rescue, the teen was fielding questions about her kidnapping on social media. On Thursday, she made her first public appearance since her rescue at the fundraiser in Lakeside.

The teenager’s family has asked for privacy as Hannah continues to recover.

A brush fire that temporarily threatened structures in the East County on Saturday has stopped spreading, Cal Fire officials said.

As of about 12:45 p.m., Cal Fire officials said crews had a handle on the blaze and the fire had been stopped.

The fire began around 11:15 a.m. Saturday near a shopping center off eastbound Interstate 8 at Los Coches Road. Officials reported large flames -- between 100 to 200 feet -- initially stemming from the area, which is about 500 yards from a Vons grocery store.

Crews from multiple agencies -- including Heartland Fire & Rescue -- rushed to the scene to tackle the fire via ground and air resources.

According to an update posted on the Lakeside Fire Protection District's Twitter page around noon, Lakeside Fire units also assisted in fighting the blaze, which scorched approximately 5 acres.

At 12:15 p.m., Cal Fire officials said the fire was temporarily threatening nearby structures at Lotus Lane and La Cresta Road. However, crews were able to surround the fire before it could spread to any structures.

No injuries were immediately reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Officials from the Lakeside Fire Protection District say the fire originated on the south side of the freeway and then made its way into parts of La Cresta Road.

Officials say residents in the area should be prepared for delays throughout the day, as there are a large number of fire suppression vehicles still at the scene.

Check back for updates on this developing story.

After weeks of asking and then demanding that Mayor Bob Filner resign, San Diego’s city leaders are banding together to find a legal way to oust him from office.

Special Section: Mayor Under Fire

“There’s at least the appearance of extreme recklessness,” City Council President Todd Gloria said while discussing the council’s next moves on NBC 7’s “Politically Speaking.”

He was referring to the alleged sexual misconduct that has dominated news headlines for weeks as well as the mayor’s permit approval process, credit card use and travel.

Gloria, Councilmember Scott Sherman and City Attorney Jan Goldsmith said they are working on a legal alternative to the recall campaign currently underway.

A section of the City Charter may be used to remove Filner from office amid allegations of sexual harassment and misuse of city funds.

“If this is a legal avenue that’s available to us and it meets the very high thresholds that should be in place then I think we may proceed with it,” Gloria said.

Filner charged nearly $1,000 on a city-issued credit card and has yet to reimburse the city Goldsmith said.

Councilmember Kevin Faulconer has called for an expansion into the investigation over $22,000 of charges on Filner’s credit card for a trip to Paris in June.

“We can’t figure out any city business that was conducted and we’ve been asking,” Goldsmith said of the Paris trip.

WATCH: "Politically Speaking" on Sunday, Aug. 18 at 9 a.m. PT 

Municipal government expert Erik Bruvold from National University says it will be a tough sell to a judge.

“As I read Section 108 on its face, it’s designed for a situation of a city manager coming in and using the city treasury to buy a Maserati. Or a deputy director coming in and writing a check to support his personal business - clear cases of misuse of funds. Is charging a lunch on the company credit card, that type of action?” said Bruvold.

Bruvold doesn’t think it rises to that level. He also said attempting to remove the mayor utilizing that particular section of the city code may sway public opinion back in favor of Filner.

Mayor Filner has been absent from the public eye since he reportedly left therapy Aug. 10. His top aide said he’s taking some personal time before returning.

In that time, the City Attorney interviewed employees who were more willing to answer questions without the mayor’s presence.

Councilmember Scott Sherman described the mayor’s dealings with Centerpoint and Sunroad as “shaking down” businesses and developers.

“He does what he wants. He hopes he doesn’t get caught. If he does get caught, says he’s sorry, lies about it, blames somebody else and hopes it goes away,” Sherman said.

The City Council will be presented the case for Filner's removal in closed session on August 28 and if they sign off, it'll go to a "due process" hearing before the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court.

As Sherman suggested, a lengthy legal battle is sure to follow.

“I think the last mark that Bob Filner is going to leave on San Diego are those fingernail marks on the desk as they drag him kicking and screaming out of here,” Sherman said.

It was a gold medal win, sealed with a controversial kiss.

Two female athletes on the Russian track and field team shared a kiss that was caught on camera at the World Athletics Championship on Saturday.

The gesture has launched a debate on whether 4x400 meter relay winners Kseniya Ryzhova and Tatyana Firova were protesting their country's new anti-gay law or if the pair were merely exchanging celebratory kisses.

The subject of gay rights has been hotly debated since the Russian government in June adopted a law that made it illegal to give minors information about homosexuality. Critics have since called for a boycott of the Winter Olympics in Sochi as well has the consumption of Russian vodka.

The contentious kiss comes on the heels of another Russian gold medalist's comments about her stance on the new law. Pole-vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva sparked an angry reaction when she criticized athletes who rallied against the law.

Isinbayeva later backtracked and said she was "misunderstood."

"What I wanted to say was that people should respect the laws of other countries particularly when they are guests," she said in a statement. "But let me make it clear I respect the views of my fellow athletes, and let me state in the strongest terms that I am opposed to any discrimination against gay people on the grounds of their sexuality (which is against the Olympic charter)."

The World Athletes Championships, taking place in Moscow, ends on Sunday.

Portions of State Route 52 will be intermittently closed for the next few weeks in order to repair dips in the pavement, Caltrans announced.

The overnight closures include portions of SR-52 between Interstate 805 and State Route 163, and will take place Sunday through Thursday nights, from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Caltrans says the first closure happened this Sunday night (Aug. 18) on westbound SR-52 between Kearny Villa Road and Convoy Street, through Thursday.

Posted signs will advise motorists of the closures and nearby detours will be available.

For information on road closures around the county, visit this website.

Get traffic updates here.

An elderly man and a woman died after being caught in rip currents in Miami Beach, officials said Sunday.

The two were swimming at the beach on Collins Avenue and 64th Street when they were likely pulled under, according to Miami Beach Fire Rescue.

They were transported to Mt. Sinai Hospital after they both went into cardiac arrest and were later pronounced dead, authorities said.

The two have not yet been identified and their relationship is unknown.

Weather Forecast: Hot and Mainly Dry Sunday in South Florida

Officials said there were more than 50 other incidents related to rip tides in Miami Beach Sunday, one on 49th Street and one on 60th Street.

Additional details were not immediately available.

The National Weather Service in Miami warns that there is a very high risk of rip currents along the Atlantic beaches in South Florida for the remainder of the day.

Stay with NBC6.com and NBC 6 South Florida for updates.

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The oldest profession in the world is getting a modern makeover.

Zurich is opening up its first sex drive-in -- also called "sex boxes"-- later this month in an effort to keep tabs on its sex workers.

Partially enclosed stalls that resemble those at self-service car washes are equipped with decorative lights -- for ambiance -- and alarms, so prostitutes can contact police quickly if they are in danger.

Patrons drive in through a marked route where up to 40 prostitutes will be stationed, according to The Local, Switzerland's English-language news site. Once a rate is negotiated, they will drive into one of the stalls to have sex.

Voters approved the so-called "sex box" business model in March 2012 and the site cost $2.2 million to build. It will officially open on Aug. 26.

Prostitution is legal in Switzerland and the sex stalls are the country's latest effort in ensuring the safety of prostitutes while fighting the underground sex trade. Its remote location in an industrial zone also satisfies residents who grew tired of sex workers plying their trade in the streets, according to The Local.

A Michigan City-area man reportedly survived with just a few broken bones after being struck by a Chicago-bound Amtrak train traveling 110 mph Friday.

Darryle See, 22, was alert and talking to police after being thrown 20 feet from the tracks near U.S. 12 east of Michigan City, Ind., according to LaPorte County Police Maj. John Boyd.

See was listening to music with headphones while walking west on the tracks around 11:45 a.m. Friday, officials said.

Police said conductors claim they sounded the train’s horn multiple times before the emergency brakes were applied and See was hit by the locomotive.Train officials said they were traveling at 110 mph at the time of the accident.

Police were alerted to the accident after someone ran into the streets to flag down a patrolling officer saying they saw a body near the tracks and heard screaming.

Boyd said that during his career in law enforcement he’s never heard of anyone living after a full-impact hit by a train while on foot.

“It was absolutely amazing,” he said. “I’ve seen a number of people get hit by trains and it’s never a good thing."

He said See had what appeared to be a broken arm and was bleeding, but was sitting up and was able to tell them what happened.

Family told the Northwest Indiana Times that See was at a hospital in South Bend, Ind. on Saturday with “one or two” fractures to his pelvis and injuries to his neck, but said his injuries were non-life threatening.

The train was reportedly heading from Port Huron, Mich. to Chicago, according to Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari.

Boyd said the high-speed train route from Detroit to Chicago was implemented in the area just over a year ago.

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The Marine Corps says 17 people have been punished for placing ads on the Internet seeking sex while they were deployed to Afghanistan.

Those punished included 11 military personnel and six civilian employees of the Department of Defense.

The ads were discovered during a 2012 investigation. Those who placed the ads were deployed to Camp Leatherneck in Helmand province, which was then under the command of the Camp Pendleton-based 1st Marine Expeditionary Force.

The investigations were revealed by the Marine Corps Times, which noted that military personnel were specifically told not to place sex ads on websites.

Punishment for the military personnel was meted out by their unit commanders, with possible loss of rank, extra duty, fines and restriction of privileges.

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