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Social Media Comedian Accused of Supplying Fentanyl to Overdose Victim

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Court documents reveal a popular social media influencer and comedian arrested this summer in San Diego County may have supplied the drugs that led to a Ramona woman's suspected fatal overdose.

San Diego Police Department officers arrested Michael Steen II, the man behind the social media personalities "Yung Poppy" and "Kiesha Red," which have a combined 2.6 million followers on Instagram, in July on drug possession charges.

According to a probable cause document submitted to the court so investigators could obtain a warrant to search Steen's phone, his arrest was the culmination of an investigation launched by detectives with the SDPD and the San Diego Sheriff's Department's joint Narcotics Task Force.

Task force investigators were called to a Ramona home on July 10 of this year after a woman was found dead of a suspected drug overdose.

Investigators found heroin and M30 Oxycodone pills in her room and said the pills she had were believed to be counterfeits containing the deadly drug fentanyl.

The woman's boyfriend told investigators that she smoked both heroin and crushed oxycodone pills, according to the document.

Investigators searched the woman's phone and found a text conversation from the day before with a person under the contact name "Yung" who identified themselves as "Yung P."

The woman and Yung P organized a meetup at her workplace to buy Oxycodone pills, the document said.

Investigators took to social media to research Yung P's identity and found multiple profiles on several social media platforms for both "Yung Poppy," also known as Yung P, and "Kiesha Red." A Facebook page implied that Yung Poppy and Kiesha Red were personality's portrayed by the same actor, and a LinkedIn page for Yung Poppy suggested the actor's name was Michael Steen, 25, born in Chula Vista.

Investigators also found a narcotics ad on Craiglist that listed the same phone number Yung P used to communicate with the overdose victim.

An SDPD detective posing undercover messaged the number and set up a meeting to buy eight Oxycodone pills for a total of $650.

According to the document, the detective met with a man who identified himself as "Yung" and they exchanged the drugs and money in the man's Mercedes Benz.

The document says the undercover detective got out of the car and signaled to staged officers that the transaction was complete, and authorities arrested the man and his girlfriend who was also in the car.

Yung was identified by police as Michael Steen. Officers searched his vehicle and found 144 additional Oxycodone pills, marijuana, a scale and $8,300.

Steen and his girlfriend were charged with transportation of a controlled narcotic and possession of narcotics for sale.

A former neighbor to Steen at an apartment complex in Chula Vista said there was frequent commotion at Steen's place.

"I would be woken up at 2, 3 in the morning. 4:30," the neighbor who didn't want to be identified said. "There was times when there would be arguing out in the plaza."

She said she was home when investigators raided his apartment.

The neighbor described Steen as having a lot of ambition and "seemed like he was going to conquer the world."



Photo Credit: Getty Images for BET

Trump Confides to Friends He's Concerned About Impeachment

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President Donald Trump has told people close to him in recent days that he is alarmed by the prospect of impeachment, as the consequences of federal investigations involving his associates and Democratic control of the House sink in, multiple sources told NBC News.

On Wednesday, federal prosecutors announced an agreement with American Media Inc, in which the publisher of the National Enquirer admitted to making a $150,000 payment in 2016 to silence a woman alleging an affair with Trump, in coordination with his presidential campaign, to prevent her story from influencing the election. That revelation came after Trump's former personal lawyer Michael Cohen admitted that he violated campaign finance laws by arranging hush payments to women in 2016 at the direction of Trump.

“The entire question about whether the president committed an impeachable offense now hinges on the testimony of two men: David Pecker and Allen Weisselberg, both cooperating witnesses in the SDNY investigation," a close Trump ally told NBC News.

Weisselberg is the chief financial officer for Trump organization who was allegedly in the center of the hush money operation. He was reportedly granted immunity for his testimony. Pecker is the chief executive at AMI.

Melania Trump Claims 'Opportunists' Not Recording History Properly

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First lady Melania Trump said that the most difficult part of her time in the White House is watching "opportunists" use her family's name to advance their careers, claiming they're not recording history properly, NBC News reported

"I would say the opportunists who are using my name or my family's names to advance themselves, from comedians to journalists, to performers, bookwriters," she said in an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity which aired Wednesday. "The problem is they are writing the history and it's not correct." 

In the interview, Trump also said that sometimes she doesn't agree with her husband's tone "and I tell him that."



Photo Credit: AP

Apple to Bring Small Campus, 1K Jobs to San Diego

Del Monte Recalls Cans of Corn Because They Could Spoil

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Del Monte has recalled more than 64,000 cases of corn because they could spoil and lead to life-threatening illnesses if eaten. 

Cans of Fiesta Corn seasoned with red and green peppers were shipped to 25 U.S. states, including: Alaska, Alabama, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.

The cans of corn were under-processed during the sterilization process, which could result in contamination by spoilage organisms or pathogens. 

The company has not received any reports of illness, according to Tuesday's announcement from the FDA, but consuming the product could result in a life-threatening illness.

The affected cans are 15.24 ounces and have the number "24000 02770" printed on the label.

Customers who purchased the product are encouraged to return it to the place they purchased it from for a full refund or exchange. 

The cans were also shipped to 12 international locations. 

Millions of Airline Miles Needed for Make-A-Wish San Diego

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CALL NOW: 619-578-0566

Make-A-Wish San Diego estimates it will need more than 25 million airlines miles to fulfill the more than 140 wishes that will involve travel this year.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation is a unique program that grants wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions.

  • Impact of Wishes – based on a study conducted by Make-A-Wish America…
  • 89% of doctors, nurses, social workers and child life specialists say they believe that the wish experience can influence wish kids’ physical health.
  • 74% of wish parents observed that the wish experience marked a turning point in their own children’s response to treatment.

Thursday, December 13th from 4P-10P Make-A-Wish NBC 7 and Telemundo 20 will again partner to collect as many airline miles as possible from Delta Airlines, Alaska and United Airlines. The Wishes in Flight Mile-A-Thon kicks off a year of collecting donated miles to keep sending Wish Kids on the trips of their dreams.

Donating to the Mile-A-Thon is easy, just have your frequent flier number ready and know how many miles you have to donate. Donors can expect some exciting giveaways throughout the day.

The miles donated will never expire and will be used to grant wishes to children in San Diego.

You can also donate your miles anytime online on the Make-A-Wish website. Make sure you know your frequent flier account number and the number of miles you want to donate when you log on.

Money Rains Onto New Jersey Highway From Armored Truck

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An armored truck rained money onto a New Jersey highway Thursday morning, causing several crashes as drivers attempted to collect the cash scattered across several lanes. 

Videos posted on social media show a Brink’s truck parked on the side of Route 3 in East Rutherford.

East Rutherford Police said they started receiving reports about the spill around 8:30 a.m. 

Drivers leaving their vehicles to pick up the cash caused "multiple" accidents, police said. 

In one video, a person can be seen attempting to collect some of the currency from the roadway. It wasn’t immediately clear how the cash ended up on the highway.

Brink's "provides U.S. and global security services including secure logistics, cash management, payment and retail back office solutions," according to its website. 

A vice president for the company said he could "confirm that there was an incident with one of our trucks this morning which we are investigating," without elaborating.



Photo Credit: Sabrina Quagliozzi

Ray Chavez, Oldest Pearl Harbor Vet, to be Laid to Rest

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A funeral procession fit for an American hero will travel down the streets of San Diego Thursday in honor of the late Ray Chavez, who was the oldest veteran survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Chavez died peacefully in his sleep on Nov. 20, 2018. He was 106. 

On Thursday, the Navy sailor will be laid to rest at Miramar National Cemetery following a service for loved ones at St. Michael's Catholic Church at 11:30 a.m. 

Residents who wish to pay their respects to the Navy sailor can line the streets of San Diego between 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., when a procession of Patriot Guard riders leads the casket carrying Chavez' remains to and from the church. 

During that time, traffic will be halted as the procession travels on Pomerado Road and Twin Peaks/Camino Del Norte before merging onto Interstate 15. Delays will also occur on State Route 163, SR-52, I-805, Nobel Drive and Miramar Road, according to the city of Poway. 

Chavez served missions on a minesweeper and attack transport ship 77 years ago and responded to Pearl Harbor on the morning of Dec. 7, 1941.

Chavez did not often share stories about the attack on Pearl Harbor but, on one occasion, the sailor recalled being called to active duty as one of the most important memories of his life.

"War. Being in right in the middle of it," Chavez said. "It was quite a surprise. I saw everything. Smoke and fire."

Chavez's daughter, U.S. Navy veteran Kathleen Chavez, said he had not wanted to reflect on his WWII experience until recently because, really, he was a bit shy. Kathleen is grateful, however, that Chavez was able to share his story in recent years.

As the oldest living veteran of the attack, Chavez flew to Honolulu to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Pearl Harbor in December 2016. He was accompanied by his daughter and escorted by San Diego firefighter Mitch Mendler and retired New York firefighter Joe Torillo, a survivor of the 9/11 attacks.

In July 2015, Chavez reunited with Jim Downing, 102, in San Diego more than 74 years after they served together in the military. Together, the duo reflected on their unbreakable bond.

Last March, the Poway resident celebrated his 105th birthday with a solid workout at his gym. A couple of days later, a big party was held for him on the flight deck aboard the USS Midway.



Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego

Alzheimer's Response Team Brings New Approach to Emergencies

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San Diego County officials hope to expand a pilot program operating in East County that trains first responders to help some of the tens of thousands of San Diegans with dementia.

The Alzheimer's Response Team (ART) — a coalition of San Diego County Sheriff's deputies, Grossmont Healthcare employees and other first responders— was created to prevent those with Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia from unnecessarily ending up in a hospital or jail.

ART team members look for warning signs, like confusion or lashing out and, instead of handing the individual off to a hospital, calls adult protective services to evaluate their needs and connect them with long-term resources through Alzheimer's San Diego, according to the organization.

The team, funded by Grossmont Healthcare District and San Diego County, has been operating in Santee, Lakeside and unincorporated El Cajon since June but Alzheimer's San Diego hopes to expand the program county-wide.

During that time, Alzheimer's San Diego has been referred 50 cases, of which 22 have signed on to the program. 

The non-profit also provides support for caregivers, including a program that allows them to take a break, while a volunteer keeps their loved one company.

Supporting someone with dementia can be taxing for caregivers like Lashaunda Gaines, whose uncle cared for her grandmother when she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. 

"He provided care to her, but that meant he had to stop his work to do that so then their whole family was affected," Gaines said. "So it's not a disease that just affects the person who has it. It trickled throughout our whole family." 

More than 84,000 San Diegans are living with Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia and more than a quarter-million others are caregivers to someone with the disease, according to San Diego County Health and Human Services statistics from 2015, the last year data was available.

The county estimates that by 2030, 115,000 San Diegans 55 and older will be living with ADRD — an increase of 36 percent from 2015.

New Era for Escondido Cheered With Mariachi Music

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In Escondido, a mariachi band was on hand to celebrate the beginning of a new era in the city's leadership. 

Democrat Paul McNamara was sworn in Wednesday to replace two-term mayor Sam Abed who supported a proposed border wall and fought the concept of sanctuary cities.

Abed was elected mayor in 2010 and served on the City Council for six years in a community where more than 51 percent of the population identifies as Hispanic or Latino, according to U.S. Census figures.

McNamara, a 20-year Escondido resident, told our sister station Telemundo 20 that the Hispanic or Latino community no longer should feel they will be treated as a problem by the city's leadership. 

"We're going to celebrate the fact that we're so rich in that culture," McNamara said after he was sworn into office.

On Election Day, Abed had bragged that Escondido was a cornerstone for conservatives in the county.

Also sworn into office was Consuelo Martinez as City Councilmember for District 1. Martinez defeated councilmember Ed Gallo in the November election.



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Theatre Box Brings Hollywood Cinema to San Diego's Gaslamp

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Standing two stories tall and spanning an entire city block, the newly-erected Theatre Box entertainment complex has garnered curious glances during its months-long construction in the Gaslamp Quarter.

Those inquisitive eyes will for the first time get the chance to look inside the ornate theater, dining and entertainment complex when the Theatre Box makes its debut Friday on Fifth Avenue and G Street, with a grand opening party featuring the likes of Pitbull, Nick Cannon and local influencers.

The 73,000 square-foot entertainment complex brings the glamour of Hollywood's famed TCL Chinese Theatre to San Diego with a dine-in cinema, the entertainment complex's focal point.

Housed at the same location will be a Sugar Factory American Brasserie restaurant and the Chocolate Lounge dance venue. Nick Cannon's Wild 'N Out Sports Bar and Arcade and a rooftop beer garden are set to open in the Theatre Box’s second phase. 

The Theatre Box, the brain-child of TCL Chinese Theatre President Alwyn Hight Kushner and Sugar Factory founder Charissa Davidovici, is meant to give San Diegans an "innovative movie-going experience that is modern, fun and luxurious," Hight Kushner said.  

The entertainment complex sits at 701 Fifth Ave., the location of the former Reading Cinema, which suddenly shuttered in 2016. The cinema was the location of several local film fests and movie-themed events. Theatre Box representatives say their venue will continue the tradition of hosting movie premieres and other cinema-centric events. 

Upon entering the Theatre Box, guests will be greeted by a towering 45-foot tall entryway with the TCL's iconic handprint and footprint flooring. On Friday, Armando Christian Perez, known commonly as Pitbull, will be the first to receive a traditional "hand and footprint" ceremony at the San Diego TCL Chinese Theatre location.

Before making their way into one of eight theaters, guests can pick out sweet treats — from more than 500 classic movie-going candies to baked pastries, gelato and more — popcorn concoctions and signature cocktails, according to the Theatre Box. 

The theaters themselves feature reclining seats that will already have guests' pre-ordered items ready to go. Late-comers will still be able to order menu items from their seat at the touch of a button. 

Many of the cinema's dishes will come from the Sugar Factory American Brasserie restaurant, which will be accessible to theatre-goers and the general public. The restaurant will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, featuring lavish concoctions like the Sugar Factory’s famous candy goblets and "Insane Milkshakes" topped with candy pieces and, in one case, a slice of cheesecake. 

Films screening at the Theatre Box this week, at $15 for adults and $12 for kids under 12 and seniors, include: "Bohemian Rhapsody," "Creed II," "The Grinch," "Mortal Engines," "Green Book" and "Spiderman: Into the Spider-Verse." 

Tickets can be purchased through the Theatre Box website and mobile app, or on Fandango, all of which will go live this week. Guests with questions can call (619) 814-2225.

Reservations to the Sugar Factory and the Chocolate Lounge can be made through the Theatre Box website.  



Photo Credit: Wicked Creative

Man in Stolen Park Ranger Truck Prompts High-Speed Chase

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A man stole a San Diego park ranger’s work truck Thursday morning near Balboa Park and led police on a high-speed pursuit through streets surrounding Mission Hills.

The San Diego Police Department (SDPD) said the city worker reported that his work truck – a white Ford Ranger – had been stolen just before 7:30 a.m. at Village Place and Park Boulevard near Balboa Park.

At around 7:35 a.m., police spotted the truck in traffic on northbound State Route 163, heading toward the Quince Street exit. Sirens blazing, police began pursuing the truck as the driver got off the freeway and fled onto city streets at speeds in excess of 60 mph.

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The suspect drove west through Mission Hills. He stopped the truck at Ibis Street and West University Avenue, got out and started running. Police gave chase and quickly captured the suspect in a canyon near the 4100-block of Hawk Street, the SDPD said.

The man was arrested and loaded into the back of a police car.

Witness Madeline Crisci was home when she noticed the pursuit coming to an end in her neighborhood. She said officers were swift in taking the suspect into custody without further trouble. No one was hurt during the pursuit.

"They were really nice to him, you know? He didn't even have shoes or socks on; he was barefooted," Crisci told NBC 7. "Isn't that weird?"

Inside the stolen truck, a pair of flip-flops was scattered on the seat. The crust of a sandwich was left near the sandals.

The park ranger who had his truck stolen told NBC 7 the only thing the suspect took from inside the vehicle was a sandwich he had packed himself for lunch.

At this point, it is unclear how the man was able to steal the city truck. The suspect's name was not immediately released by police.

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Photo Credit: Liberty Zabala
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Entrepreneur Won’t Let Eco-Opportunity Go to Waste

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Last year after a holiday dinner, Marina Qutab’s father asked her what she hopes her legacy would be. She shared with him her dream of launching a zero-waste kit that provides users the ability to reduce waste in their everyday lives. The kit would include reusable replacements for some of the utensils that generate a lot of waste, including disposable forks and straws. So, they brainstormed, and she researched and in January 2018, the Zero Waste Kit Co. was officially born.

Qutab, who lives on an Encinitas organic food farm, is all about an eco-conscious life. At 24, she says she’s been living a zero-waste life for the last three years. Across her social media channels, she is known as “Eco Goddess” and has over 350,000 followers. She teaches people how to make their own makeup and their own house cleaning products, among other eco-friendly, do-it-yourself things. So, when it came down to figuring out what to include in the Zero Waste Kit, she had a pretty good idea.

After months of searching for the perfect manufacturers and suppliers, Qutab narrowed the contents of the kit down to: an ethically-sourced bamboo fork/spoon; a stainless-steel straw with eco-friendly silicone tip along with a compostable straw cleaner; and a napkin made of 100 percent upcycled fabric and handsewn by a local seamstress. These items will go inside an all-purpose glass jar source from a company in Chicago; with an organic, biodegradable bamboo lid made by a wood artisan in Portland, Oregon; and a sustainable cork sleeve handcrafted by a designer in New Orleans.

If there were any doubts up to that point of the impact this kit could have on the planet, Qutab did some market testing among friends and family and the findings were chilling for her.

“What we found was that they were able to reduce their waste by as much as 70 percent every single day,” she said.

In November, the University of Massachusetts Amherst graduate launched a Kickstarter campaign that had raised $19,136 as of Dec. 3 and counting. Her goal is $25,000. This will not only pay for manufacturing but also to help create what Qutab calls an “ecological footprint fund.” The fund will be used to donate to other environmental organizations and cut down on her own company’s carbon emissions that come with shipping some of the kit components from overseas.

The last few weeks of 2018 will consist of a final push to a list of influencers, those in her personal circle and friends in the industry, Qutab says, in hopes of reaching that goal.

Today, Zero Waste Kit has four employees and is working toward becoming a B-corp.

Although Qutab doesn’t know exactly yet how she will be streamlining the product — maybe setting up headquarters in Mexico — she plans to finalize all assembly of the kits by February and begin fulfillment in March. She also hopes to have the Zero Waste Kit available in stores across the country by next year. She will target stores like Whole Foods, Jimbo’s…Naturally and Sprouts Farmers Market. Currently, a basic kit goes for $50 but will increase to $56.99 once in stores.

“By 2023, I hope to create a global shift in consciousness and a lifestyle change around the global waste crisis,” she said, “And, by 2030, my dream is to reduce the amount of waste per person per day by 20 percent.”

May the zero-waste legacy live on.



Photo Credit: Zero Waste Kit
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Boy Scouts Explore Chapter 11 Bankruptcy: Report

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The Irving-based Boy Scouts of America has retained the services of a law firm and is exploring the option of filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal.

The move would be an attempt to stave off a wave of sex abuse lawsuits — no fewer than 140 have already been filed — that allege wrongdoing against scout masters or adults in the program.

In a statement, Michael B. Surbaugh, the Chief Scout Executive, noted that news reports about the BSA’s financial position are speculation. But he also acknowledged that the organization is working “with experts to explore all options available to ensure that the local and national programming of the Boy Scout of America continues uninterrupted.”

“We have a social and moral responsibility to fairly compensate victims who suffered abuse during their time in Scouting, and we also have an obligation to carry out our mission to serve youth, families and local communities through our programs,” Surbaugh said.

Filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection would halt the civil proceedings against the Boy Scouts, giving the organization an opportunity to negotiate settlements, according to a report in The Dallas Morning News.

Pitbull Cements Legacy at SD Theater

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Talk about making an entrance: The grand opening of the new Theatre Box in San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter might've already been cause for celebration among downtown residents -- but now it's an even bigger deal. Grammy Award-winning international music superstar Pitbull will be honored in person at the theater's inaugural "Hand and Footprint Ceremony" on Friday, Dec. 14.

Following in the longstanding imprint-cementing tradition of Hollywood's TCL Chinese Theatre (a partner in the venue's recent renovation), the 73,000-square-foot luxury theater, dining and entertainment complex will host "Mr. Worldwide" himself in honor of the chart-topping star's illustrious career. 

Following Pitbull's imprint ceremony, the new theater (located at 701 Fifth Ave.) will roll out the red carpet for a star-studded arrival event and host a special DJ set at 10 p.m. by San Diego-native actor/comedian/musician Nick Cannon, who will also see his namesake Wild'n Out Sports Bar & Arcade unveiled in the complex.

Pitbull's prints will be the start of a new display at Theatre Box, conceived as a spinoff of sorts of the Hollywood Walk of Fame right here in San Diego. The complex includes an eight-screen movie theater boasting seat-side food and drink service, a sports bar "with the biggest television screens in San Diego," a Sugar Factory American Brasserie and Chocolate Lounge, rooftop bar, and more. For even further details on Theatre Box, check out this NBC 7 preview.

For more information on grand opening reservations and Pitbull's cement imprint ceremony, head to theatrebox.com.



Photo Credit: Getty Images for iHeartMedia

Sweetwater Union: Nearly 100 Teachers to Retire This Month

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Close to 100 teachers will be retiring from the Sweetwater Union High School District this month with an additional 50 retiring at the end of the school year, the teachers union told NBC 7 Thursday.

A total of 300 district employees agreed to take the early retirement offer. Those include certified and classified employees. 

The district recently made cuts to fill a $30 million budget gap. Along with offering eligible employees incentives to retire early, the district added two work furlough days for employees. 

The County Office of Education, which is in charge of making sure school districts can pay their bills, approved the district’s revised budget that was submitted last month.

The approval comes with conditions, including sending a financial adviser to help the district.

Sweetwater Education Association President Gene Chavira said 144 certified employees including teachers and counselors have taken the option for early retirement.  Of those, 94 will leave at the end of 2018. The remaining 50 will leave at the end of the 2018-2019 school year, Chavira said. 

Sweetwater Union High School District spokesperson Manny Rubio said the district does not have exact numbers about who took the option for early retirement and when those retirements would take effect.

He also said it was not a done deal and that the SUHSD Board of Trustees has to give final approval at a meeting on Monday, Dec. 17. 

New teachers will be hired to replace those retiring.

Chavira estimates a new teacher will earn between $50,000 and $60,000 annually. 

A veteran teacher with tenure in the district could earn up to $100,000, Chavira said. 

There are more than 2,000 teachers in the district, according to the SUHSD spokesperson. 



Photo Credit: Steven Luke

Authorities Respond to Bomb Threats Across United States

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Law enforcement authorities around the United States on Thursday were responding to a wave of bomb threats, many of them sent by email.

Bronx Science said it evacuated its building at 11 a.m. after it received a bomb threat by phone. The school said students were "currently well supervised at neighboring schools."

The New York police department confirmed it received a call about the threat and responded to the school. The department later tweeted it was monitoring "multiple bomb threats that have been sent electronically to various locations throughout the city."

Nearly a dozen threats were received at businesses throughout South Florida, including in Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Pompano Beach. At least three others were reported in Orlando.

Massachusetts State Police are investigating after multiple bombs threats were allegedly mailed to "numerous businesses in the state." Authorities said the MSP Fusion Center is tracking the activity.

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department was working a number of threats called in from San Marcos, Vista and Lakeside, all small communities north and east of downtown San Diego.

All appear to be private businesses, deputies said.

One reporting party stated he was told to provide $20,000 or a bomb would be detonated.

An employee at a Chicago-area hospital told authorities they received an email about a bomb threat to the building Thursday around noon. Police confirmed they were responding to the report but did not provide more details. Other reports of bomb threats began surfacing on social media in the Chicago area but those incidents could not immediately be confirmed.

State police in Connecticut were investigating what they called several “suspicious incidents” across the state, including at a school in Griswold, the National Shooting Association and a plaza in Seymour.

Employees at the Jewish Community Center and multiple branches of the Fire Credit Union in San Francisco were evacuated after reports of emailed bomb threats, NBC Bay Area reported. Police are investigating. 

A spokesman for the Oklahoma City police told NBC News that individuals in and around that city have gotten 10 to 13 specific email bomb threats, with specific addresses.



Photo Credit: yo_co - stock.adobe.com

20 Years in Prison for Pa. Teen Killer After Tear-Filled Hearing

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A Chester County courtroom was moved to tears on Thursday as the parents of a teenage girl who was murdered in a road rage shooting last year demanded maximum prison time for the man who ended her life.

David Desper will serve at least 20 years in a Pennsylvania prison for the murder of 18-year-old Bianca Roberson. Common Pleas Judge Anne Marie Wheatcraft sentenced the 28-year-old to a maximum of 40 years, but he will be eligible for parole in 2038. 

Desper, of Trainer, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in September to shooting the college-bound teen in the head as they jockeyed for position along Route 100 in June 2017. Roberson was killed instantly with her car running off the highway and into the woods. Desper fled to a friend's house in Delaware where he hid out for several days before turning himself in.

At first, Roberson's family thought she died in a tragic accident, but days later learned it was a bullet that claimed her life. 

Her parents, Rodney and Michelle Roberson, delivered heartbreaking statements to Miller and the court Thursday morning saying dreams for their daughter were ripped apart the day she was killed.

"I hate you," Michelle Roberson said to Desper. The judge and courtroom staff wiped away tears as the mother spoke, recounting happy moments with Bianca that she'll never experience again.

"All I have left of Bianca is my memories," Rodney Roberson said in a separate statement.

"My questions for the defendant are simple. Why in God’s name did you shoot my daughter? Because she was young? Because she was black? Because she was a girl? Because you wanted to go first on the road? Because you had a bad day?"

Desper looked down and also cried as the parents spoke.

Bianca's grandmother, family friends and a school administrator also delivered statements. Emotions ran so high in the courtroom at one point that the judge called a short recess.

After a recess, Desper addressed the courtroom, his hands shackled as he choked back tears. He sobbed while attempting to apologize to the Roberson family, who shook their heads during his statement. Roberson’s mother abruptly left while he spoke.

"I am so sorry," Desper said. "I would do anything to take it back."

Earlier, family and friends described the convicted murderer as a "gentle giant" who was kind and willing to help. His mother, Wendy Desper, said that she wanted to speak with Roberson’s mother "mom to mom."

"She’s not a mom today because of what my son did," Wendy Desper said.

But the judge, who also cried during her statement, said that Desper could never take back what he did.

"I don’t believe you were afraid," Judge Wheatcraft said. "I believe it was anger."

 


 

Here's Rodney Roberson's full victim impact statement:

Dear Judge Wheatcraft,

My name is Rodney Roberson. I am, and forever will be, the father of Bianca Roberson.

Everybody thinks I am a tough guy. I was raised in West Philadelphia. I enlisted in the United States Army, served honorably, then enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, and served honorably again. When I finished my service with the Marines, I returned to West Philly, but I quickly saw that there was nothing but trouble there. I then joined the United States Merchant Marines, where I have worked for the last 28 years. We move big ships around the country and world. My work is hard, but it is honest work. So maybe I am a tough guy.

But not when it came to Bianca. She was my youngest child, my baby. She always could make me smile and make life a little brighter. 

Let me tell you about my little girl. Bianca was a child who was always happy, and she brought that joy to everyone around her. With adults, she was shy and respectful. With her friends, she was kind, gentle, and funny. To me, she was the smartest and most beautiful young woman in the world. 

When you are a father, you laugh at your sons, but you worry about your daughters. Who will be there to protect them when you are not around? Will they always be safe? What can you do to make sure they don’t get hurt? Nothing hurts a dad more than his daughter’s tears. 

Bianca was hard-working and generous. She got a job at the McDonald’s on Gay Street in West Chester. I would go there to eat just to see her working, proud that she had a job. She would whisper to me, “Dad, you have to go home!” But I would just sit and watch her working, smiling at my little girl. Then, when she got her first paycheck, she insisted on taking me out to dinner, just to say thank you for being her father. I told her that I would pay, but she refused, her quiet way of telling me she loved me and that she was growing up. 

My wife and I decided to raise Bianca in Chester County because it was safe. We didn’t want to risk the violence of West Philadelphia. We wanted her to grow up around nice people in a nice place. 

We wanted everything for Bianca. I wanted her to go to college, something I never got to do. She was going to Jacksonville University on a scholarship, ready to study crime scene forensics. I wanted her to graduate and get a good job, working in an office and getting paid good money without breaking her back working on the docks. I wanted her to fall in love, get married, and then have kids. She always told me that she was going to have six kids -- three boys and three girls. I wanted to live long enough to spoil my grandchildren.

All my dreams for Bianca were coming true. Until the day that the defendant murdered by daughter.

My questions for the defendant are simple. Why in God’s name did you shoot my daughter? Because she was young? Because she was black? Because she was a girl? Because you wanted to go first on the road? Because you had a bad day?

How do you think your family would feel if somebody had murdered you like you murdered my daughter?

All I have left of Bianca is my memories. She had a special song that she said was her song just for me – “Dancing With My Father” by Luther Vandross. It is a song about a child whose father died, and about how that child is praying for one more dance with her father. I always teased her that it was such a sad song and I planned on living forever anyway. Here is a little bit of the song: 

Back when I was a child
Before life removed all the innocence
My father would lift me high
And dance with my mother and me
And then
Spin me around ‘till I fell asleep
Then up the stairs he would carry me
And I knew for sure
I was loved

If I could get another chance
Another walk
Another dance with him
I’d play a song that would never ever end
How I’d love love love
To dance with my father again 

Your Honor, I would love to dance with my daughter again. But I never will.

Respectfully,
Rodney Roberson


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Threats Called in to San Diego Law Enforcement

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A series of threats were called into law enforcement agencies in San Diego County amid a wave of bomb threats reported across the U.S. 

As of noon, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department was responding to multiple calls from private businesses reporting bomb threats in communities like San Marcos, Vista and Lakeside. 

One reporting party stated he was told to provide $20,000 or a bomb would be detonated.

The San Diego Police Department told NBC 7 they have received calls from more than 10 locations ranging from Miramar, Carmel Valley, Sorrento Valley, Otay Mesa, Kearny Mesa and Mission Beach. 

Law enforcement authorities around the United States were responding to a wave of bomb threats, many of them sent by email.

The New York police department was monitoring "multiple bomb threats that have been sent electronically to various locations throughout the city."

Nearly a dozen threats were received at businesses throughout South Florida, including in Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Pompano Beach. At least three others were reported in Orlando.

Massachusetts State Police are investigating after multiple bombs threats were allegedly mailed to "numerous businesses in the state." Authorities said the MSP Fusion Center is tracking the activity.

An employee at a Chicago-area hospital told authorities they received an email about a bomb threat to the building Thursday around noon. 

State police in Connecticut were investigating what they called several “suspicious incidents” across the state, including at a school in Griswold, the National Shooting Association and a plaza in Seymour.

This is a developing story



Photo Credit: Monica Garske

Accused Russian Agent Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy

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Russian operative Maria Butina, who is accused of infiltrating politically powerful U.S. organizations, including the National Rifle Association, in an effort to push Moscow's agenda, pleaded guilty Thursday to a conspiracy count, NBC News reported.

Butina has agreed to cooperate with federal prosecutors and pleaded guilty in a Washington, D.C., courtroom to one count of conspiracy to violate the law governing foreign agents operating in the United States. The felony carries a five-year prison term, but the estimated sentencing guideline range is from zero to six months in prison.

Butina was arrested in July and has been held without bail and could face deportation after serving any prison sentence. She had been in the U.S. on a student visa and Judge Tanya Chutkan on Thursday that Butina could face supervised release if she stays in the country.

Thursday's guilty plea means she is admitting to conspiring with an unnamed American to act at the direction of a Russian official "to establish unofficial lines of communication with Americans having power and influence over U.S. politics … for the benefit of the Russian Federation," according to a plea agreement.



Photo Credit: AP, File
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