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Local Group Protests U.S. Military Action in Syria

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Holding signs and chanting anti-war slogans, a local group held a gathering Saturday in solidarity with worldwide calls for peace on the heels of President Barack Obama’s announcement that he will seek approval from Congress before launching any military action against the Syrian regime for allegedly using chemical weapons against its people.

Saturday morning, President Obama held a press conference detailing plans for military action by the U.S. in Syria in response to an alleged chemical attack that killed 1,429 people which may have been perpetrated by the Syrian regime under the leadership of Syria’s President, Bashar al-Assad.

At noon, shortly after the President finished his speech, locals held a gathering in Balboa Park asking the U.S. government to halt any proposed military action.

The event was held in solidarity with “No War With Syria,” a worldwide peace movement asking for people to protest, rally and mobilize to stop any military actions in Syria by the U.S.

“No War With Syria” supporters said they “denounce the United States Government’s complete disregard for the will of the American people as reflected in the government’s decision to start yet another war.”

"I'm not sure that the consequences of taking action would be a lot different from not taking action, especially this late in the game," said supporter, Robert Eliason.

The activists pointed to the recent recession and “perpetual wars” as two reasons why the U.S. shouldn’t allocate resources to a Syrian intervention, adding that the move will only further destabilize the Middle East.   

In a media release, the group said it “recognizes that peace cannot be reached through bombs, drone attacks, and murder; peace is created through compassion and forgiveness, which must come from within.”

Across the nation, conclusions on whether the U.S. should enter the Syrian conflict are mixed. Even at the gathering differing views were represented.

"If we were in the same predicament," said Yvette Richard, "wouldn't we want another country to come to our aid?"

Echoing her message were members of the Syrian-American Council who held a rally on Friday in downtown San Diego.

Chanting phrases such as “Free, Free Syria,” members of the Syrian-American Council said they wanted to call attention to the idea that a U.S. intervention would be welcomed by the Syrian people who were devastated by a chemical attack which killed thousands, including hundreds of children.

During his statement, Obama condemned Syrian President Assad's regime, describing the alleged chemical attack as "an assault on human dignity" that "presents a serious danger to our national security."

He added that any U.S. action in Syria would be of “limited duration and scope” and would not involve putting any boots on the ground.

President Obama also announced that he would seek approval from Congress before launching any military action in Syria.

"Over the last several days, we have heard from members of Congress who want their voices to be heard," Obama said. "I absolutely agree."

East County congressman, Rep. Duncan Hunter, who just returned from a visit to the Syrian border on Tuesday, released a statement to NBC 7 about the decision to involve Congress in the debate over Syrian intervention.

Through a spokesman Hunter said, "Given the situation at this time, the only responsible decision for the President was to request Congress make a decision on whether to authorize military action. In the coming days, Congress will review the same classified information the President has seen and both the House and Senate will be in a better position to make a judgment based on the facts."

Congress is set to return from a five-week recess on Monday, Sept. 9. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has said that the upper chamber would begin hearings on the issue next week, ahead of what he pledged would be a vote no later than the week of Sept. 9th.

Meanwhile, as the nation debates its involvement in Syria, violence in the war-torn country continues.

Just as President Obama wrapped up his speech and “No War With Syria” supporters gathered, Syrian army forces resumed their shelling of rebel-held Damascus suburbs, which had halted for several hours prior.

Watch NBC 7 at 6 p.m. tonight for more on this story.

 

 


34 DUI Arrests, 1 Death Over Labor Day Weekend: CHP

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Over the Labor Day weekend, one death and 34 arrests for drunk driving by California Highway Patrol officers occurred in San Diego County, according to CHP officials.

Across the county, numbers were down from last year when 46 DUI arrests were made and two deaths were reported, according to Officer Robert Catano of the CHP.

Statewide, 832 DUI arrests were made by CHP officers and 14 fatalities were reported.

In 2012, there were 892 DUI arrests and 11 fatalities during the same period in California.

The CHP report is based on information gathered from 6 p.m. Friday to Sunday at 6 a.m.
 

Man Resists Arrest, Bites Police Dog

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Man bites dog. That's the classic example of what makes news.

And it really happened. But the headline in this case should technically be "Man Bites Police Dog."

Santa Clara County Sheriff's spokesman Kurtis Stenderup said they took Frank Garcia, 34, into custody on charges of  resisting arrest, brandishing weapon,  felony vandalism, being under the influence of a controlled substance and injuring a police dog - all from a bizarre incident on Monday near San Jose.

"Ski," the German Shepherd, suffered some scraped paws but is expected to be OK and return to work soon.

Garcia's photo was not immediately available because he is recovering from self-inflicted injuries in the hospital.

Some of the scuffle was caught on a cell phone video, which shows a deputy - gun raised - trying to talk down a man in a confrontation on Raymond Avenue in unincorporated San Jose.

Garcia, armed with what deputies are saying was a knife, slashed a tire and smashed several car windows prompting more deputies to be called out for help.

Still, the video shows the man continuing to resist arrest, and then he stabbed himself three times, according to the sheriff's office. His injuries are not considered life-threatening.

The deputies then released "Ski," who Garcia allegedly choked, punched and bit. Deputies were at that point able to tackle and subdue him.

A relative said she was thankful that the officers did not open fire on her cousin.

"Can you please tell the officer thank you for not shooting my cousin," Maxine Gonzales said. "I appreciate that he was really good and he handled himself really good."

 Here is the six-minute video - sometimes shot sideways - by Max Dehart on YouTube.

NBC Bay Area's Kristofer Noceda contributed to this report.

 



Photo Credit: NBC Bay Area

Massive Blaze Guts Deli Meat Warehouse

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After more than 19 hours, firefighters from at least 44 different companies haven't been able to bring a massive 11-alarm food warehouse fire under control in South Jersey.

The fire broke out at the Dietz & Watson cold storage facility on Cooperstown Road in Delanco, Burlington County, N.J. around 1:30 p.m. Sunday and caused the roof, lined with thousands of solar panels, to collapse within hours. Thick, black smoke could be seen billowing from the facility miles away.

“It’s just an intense fire,” said Delanco Fire Chief Ron Holt. “It’s going to take some time, and we don’t know what it’s going to do."

By Monday morning, the blaze continued to burn and remained only 50 percent contained as water issues, the threat of electrocution and other factors hindered firefighting efforts. Crews began to arrive before 9 a.m. with new demolition machinery officials say could help put the fire out for good but the machines wouldn't be used until the fire marshal got inside to direct the work.

More than 200 firefighters from Burlington, Mercer, Gloucester, Camden and Atlantic Counties were brought to the distribution center which is about 300,000 square feet -- roughly the size of five football fields.

SOLAR PANELS POSE HAZARD

Firefighters had to pull back at some points because the fully-charged solar panels posed the risk of electrocution.

"With all that power and energy up there, I can't jeopardize a guy’s life for that,” said Holt.

Officials say the fire was focused between the trusses and solar panels on the roof. There have been two explosions so far and at least one wall collapsed.

In 2010, the company installed more than 7,000 solar power modules, which officials claimed would reduce the facility's energy use by nearly 20 percent. Buildings with solar power systems “can present a variety of significant hazards" for firefighters including poor air quality and electrocution, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

The Burlington County hazmat team was called to the scene to test the air quality and concluded that there is no hazard at this time. However, residents received a reverse 911 message from the Beverly and Edgewater Park Joint Office of Emergency Management which warned them to stay inside their homes, close their windows and avoid breathing in the smoke.

“Unless you’re standing right there and breathing, it's dissipating before it hits ground,” said Chief Holt. “That's why we called the health department and hazmat team... (If they say close your window) that's their expertise, that's what I go with.”

No residents were evacuated.

Around 5 p.m. Sunday, fire officials were concerned that the water and foam used to fight the blaze would cause the roof to collapse and called all firefighters out of the building as a precaution.

Two firefighters suffered minor injuries including Chief Holt who broke his foot.

“If the building collapses, it collapses…it can be replaced. I’m not sending a man in to lose a life," said Holt.

DRAINING THE PUMPS

The amount of water needed to douse the flames drained pumps, forcing crews to bring in extra from other areas.

Trucked-in water is being dumped into large temporary pools, which are then connected to hoses and sent spraying on the building.

The Camden Fire Boat crew also responded to the scene to help stretch a water pipeline from the Rancocas Creek.

New Jersey American Water asked customers in Edgewater Park, Beverley, and Delanco to limit their water usage as crews battle the blaze.

"Due to the large volumes of water being used by firefighters to tackle the six-alarm blaze, we ask that customers restrict their home water usage until such time as the fire is successfully brought under control. Additionally, you may experience periods of low pressure as we try to direct as much water to the firefighting efforts as possible,” according to Communications Director Peter Eschbach.

“That’s major because (without water) you are not putting the fire out,” said Holt.

ONLY MINOR INJURIES

The Delanco Riverside Bridge was closed around 7 p.m. Officials did not indicate when it would reopen.

Sandy Iwanicki, who lives near the warehouse, said she initially thought a plane had crashed.

“It looked to me like the kind of scene you would see if a plane crashed the black smoke was immense it was amazing,” said Iwanicki.

Dietz & Watson officials released a statement on their website shortly after the blaze.

"Dietz & Watson suffered a setback to its Delanco Distribution center over the Labor Day Weekend. Other distribution centers, as well as all production facilities, were unaffected by this event. At this time, we are assessing the immediate needs of our customers; business remains as usual. The Dietz & Watson Family appreciates all of the support it has received during this time, and is thankful that no one sustained any injury. Further, the company appreciates the efforts of all emergency services," according to the statement.

There is no word at this time on how the fire will effect production at the facility or the impact it will have in your local grocery store. Dietz & Watson employees more than 130 workers at the facility.

As for the impact on Delanco, the mayor called the fire a loss for the town.

“This is a loss for Delanco, for all the employees, the economy and what have you… we ‘re going to take care of the firefighters and I just want to thank them all,” said Mayor Kate Fitzpatrick.

Officials say the facility was not operating Sunday. Two security guards were working outside the building.

The company, founded in 1939, opened the center in 2007. It is their main distribution center. They also have processing facilities in Philadelphia, Baltimore and Corfu, New York.

The cause of the fire likely won't be known until the blaze is extinguished and investigators can get inside.



Photo Credit: NBC10.com

Cabbie Stabbed 11 Times

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A fare nearly turned deadly for a Philadelphia cab driver overnight.

Two men stabbed the city taxi driver nearly a dozen times during a robbery at Front Street and Washington Avenue in the Queen Village neighborhood, according to Philadelphia Police.

The attack left the driver in the hospital, one of the alleged attackers under arrest and another on the loose.

Police say cabdriver let the men out of his cab around 1:15 a.m. near Front and Washington. According to police, one of the men stood by the driver's window appearing to get money from his wallet when the other man took a knife and began stabbing the driver.

At that time the other man also took out a knife and began attacking the cabbie through the driver's side window.

The driver fought back, grabbing one of the men's knives and stabbing him. At that time the other suspect stabbed the cabbie in the head. The taxi driver also suffered wounds to his arm, side and chest in the process, according to investigators.

The suspects ran away. Originally it was reported that they took $20 but police later clarified that they actually took $205. 

After the attack, the 37-year-old cabbie, who investigators haven't identified, managed to drive about eight blocks to Front and South Streets because he knew there are normally police in that area.

"Someone outside saw him and called police, and they responded quickly," said police Capt. Frank Llewellyn.

Despite being stabbed, the driver was able to give a basic description of his attackers.

Police picked up one alleged assailant -- a 21-year-old who they have yet to identify -- at 4th and Federal Streets. The other man got away, and police say it’s possible he was stabbed in the process of the attack.

The driver was taken to Jefferson University Hospital. He was believed to be in critical condition but police later said he was in stable condition with what investigators called "superficial" wounds.

Anyone with information on this incident should contact Philadelphia Police.



Photo Credit: NBC10

Rim Fire 60% Contained, Marijuana Grow Possibly to Blame

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Firefighters battling the stubborn Rim Fire near Yosemite finally contained more than half of the wildfire on Monday, reaching 60 percent containment.

Cal Fire spokesman Daniel Berlant issued the good news early on Labor Day, adding that the Rim Fire has now charred 228, 670 acres, or 357 square miles – more than seven times the size of San Francisco.

The containment should only grow, he added, as the weather forecast for Northern California should see cooler temperatures and even some possible rain. Still, the expected full containment date is Oct. 20.

The fire has been burning since Aug. 17 in the Stanislaus National Forest.  According to one fire official who is not officially charged with investigating the fire, it's possible that illegal marijuana growers could be to blame.

Todd McNeal, fire chief in the town of Twain Harte, west of Yosemite, said at an Aug. 23 community meeting, captured on YouTube, that officials "know it's human caused, there’s no lightning in the area. … (We) highly suspect that it might be some sort of illicit grove, marijuana grow-type thing.”    His comments come at the 6:24 minute mark of a 20-minute briefing, and he underscores there is no official cause, just that it's "highly suspect."

McNeal wasn't immediately available Monday when NBC Bay Area called seeking comment.

Officially, however, there is no cause listed for the fire according to the U.S. Forest Service. On Monday, Rim Fire spokesman Brian Haines told NBC Bay Area that the investigators have still not determine what sparked the blaze, and at this point, the marijuana theory is just "an opinion."

He did say that federal investigators had pinpointed the origin of the fire: The Jawbone Ridge in Tuolumne County, which sits on Groveland Ranger District land, at the point where the Clavey River and the Tuolumne Wild and Scenic River meet up. That spot, he said, is the focus of the investigation.

As of Monday, the Rim Fire remained the 4th largest wildfire in California's history, edging out a 222,777-acre fire that burned in Ventura County in 1932. The third largest fire is now the Zaca fire in Santa Barbara, which burned more than 240,000 acres in July 2007.

The Rim Fire is just one of seven major wildfires being battled across the state. Berlant said that a new fire ignited Saturday on the Tule Indian Reservation in Tulare County, burning 250 acres.

Also on Saturday, the smoke in Yosemite Valley was so thick it was difficult to see Yosemite Park's Half Dome. On Sunday, however, air quality in the Valley improved, but people there are still being told to avoid any strenuous outdoor activity.

Some of the nearly 5,000 firefighters, including strike teams from San Francisco and Mountain View, returned home this weekend after spending days on the fire lines.

MORE: Rim Fire Incident Command Page

Despite the containment, a total of 5,500 structures still remained threatened, and so far, 111 buildings were damaged - 11 of them were homes, despite earlier reports that 31 homes had burned.

Check out an interactive map via Esri.com.




Photo Credit: Getty Images

Gunshots Heard in Mount Helix

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San Diego County sheriff’s deputies are responding to reports of gunshots heard in Mount Helix, according to officials.

The incident started around 10:20 a.m. Monday in the 9900-block of Grandview Drive. Deputies have blocked off Grandview Drive to Angels Point.

NBC 7 has a crew heading to the scene. Check back for updates on this developing story.
 


View 9952 Grandview Dr in a larger map

WATCH: Diana Nyad About to Complete Record-Breaking Swim

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Endurance swimmer Diana Nyad is closing in on the coast of Key West as she nears success in her effort to become the first person to swim from Cuba to Florida without a shark cage.

Thousands of fans gathered at Smather's Beach in Key West, where the 64-year-old was expecting to finish the 110-mile journey Monday afternoon.

The Coast Guard was escorting her as she neared the beach, and her team was being ferried by dinghy ahead of her, they tweeted.

Earlier, around 10:40 a.m., she had stopped to tread water and thank her team. "I am about to swim my last two miles in the ocean. This is a lifelong dream of mine, and I'm very very glad to be with you," she told them.

Nyad was still going strong as she dodged jellyfish, whose stings had hampered her last attempt at the historic swim. This time, she is wearing a protective suit and "sting stopper" gel on her skin, and divers are swimming ahead of her to make sure her path is clear of jellies, according to her blog.

Earlier, a cruise ship had made way for Nyad just as the sun rose over the horizon, according to her team's blog.

Nyad's doctors reported Monday morning that her tongue and lips were swollen, causing her speech to be slurred, and that they were concerned about her airways and about exhaustion. They did not intervene, however.

Because she had gotten very cold, she was not stopped for food and water overnight, in the hopes that swimming would keep her warm, her doctors said.

During feeding earlier, Nyad had mentioned pressure in her lungs. Doctors had checked her vitals and reported that her blood pressure was normal and her lungs were clear.

Nyad had made it through her first night in the Straits of Florida with almost no sightings of jellyfish.

This is Nyad's fourth attempt at the feat of crossing between Cuba and Florida without a shark cage in the last three years. She also made an unsuccessful try with a cage in 1978.

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Photo Credit: AP

Former UCSD Dean of Clinical Affairs Dies in Africa

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The University of California San Diego’s former dean of clinical affairs, Thomas ‘Tom’ McAfee, has died, NBC 7 confirmed.

According to Debra Kain, director of Health Sciences Research Communications at UC San Diego, McAfee recently died in an accident while on vacation in Tanzania, Africa. His cause of death has not yet been released.

Kain says McAfee’s last day with UC San Diego was fairly recent. He was set to begin a new job at the University of Southern California this Tuesday, Sept. 3, as the CEO of the Keck Medicine of USC Medical Foundation.

NBC 7 reached out to several of McAfee’s colleagues on Sunday regarding his unexpected death.

In an email, Mounir Soliman, assistant vice chancellor and executive director of Health Sciences International at UC San Diego, called the news of McAfee’s death a tragedy.

“It’s a true tragedy and great loss to all of us at UCSD. We are planning several events in celebration of Dr. McAfee's life,” said Soliman.

In his roles at UC San Diego, McAfee was the dean of Clinical Affairs for the UC San Diego Health Sciences, as well as chief executive officer for UC San Diego Faculty Practice. He provided leadership for UC San Diego Medical Group, an inpatient and outpatient physician practice. He also served as president of UC San Diego Ambulatory Surgery Center.

According to his official UCSD biography, McAfee was recruited in 2002 as UCSD Health Sciences’ first physician-in-chief. Prior to joining UCSD, he served as associate chief medical officer at UC San Francisco.

On Sunday, McAfee’s UC San Diego colleagues, David Brenner, MD, Paul Viviano and Larry Friedman, MD, released the following email to faculty and staff at UC San Diego Health Sciences:

“It is with regret and personal sadness that we inform you that Dr. Thomas McAfee, until very recently, the Dean of Clinical Affairs for UC San Diego Health Sciences and CEO for UC San Diego Faculty Practice, was killed in an accident while on vacation in Africa. We have no other details at present.

Dr. McAfee served us and worked alongside us for more than 11 years, and his death is a great loss – both to many of us personally, and to the field of health care which would have benefited enormously from his talent and dedication in coming years.

Dr. McAfee was adventurous in spirit, loved to visit new places and to meet new people. A celebration of his life will be held in coming weeks for the Health Sciences community.”

NBC 7 also reached out to USC, McAfee’s new employer, regarding his sudden death.

Leslie Ridgeway, director of media relations for Keck Medical Center of USC, released the following statement Sunday afternoon on behalf of Thomas Jackiewicz, senior vice president and CEO of USC Health:

"We are devastated by this news," said Jackiewicz."Tom was a dear friend of mine and a respected colleague. His contributions to health care were numerous, and he was excited about the opportunity to begin a new chapter of his life and career helping us propel USC forward in its health-care growth. The world has lost a kind and talented individual far too soon."

At this point, no official details have been released regarding how McAfee died. Check back for updates on this developing story.

Gunman Fires Shots in La Mesa Hookah Lounge Fight

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A fight at a hookah lounge in a La Mesa strip mall escalated quickly Saturday night, leading to a suspect firing shots towards the business.

According to La Mesa police, the shooting happened around 7:30 p.m. near the Vanish Hookah Lounge in the 7500 block of El Cajon Boulevard and Park.

Witnesses told investigators that a fight started inside the hookah lounge and then spilled out into the parking lot. At that point, a black man wearing dark clothing pulled out a gun and began firing shots towards the business.

Police say no one was injured in the shooting.

The gunman fled the scene, and witnesses last saw him running away from the hookah lounge northbound on Comanche Drive.

Police immediately set up a perimeter around the strip mall and began searching for the suspect by ground and air. During the search, officers located the gun used in the shooting.

However, police were unable to immediately locate the gunman, who remains at large.

Police describe the suspect as approximately 6-feet-tall and 250-pounds. He was wearing a blue shirt and dark pants at the time of the shooting.

Witnesses say the shooting sent people running for cover at the Mesa Plaza strip mall. One person at a nearby restaurant told NBC 7 that at least 10 shots were fired.

Witnesses say some people ran into the bathroom of a restaurant next door to the hookah lounge, fearing for their lives when the gunfire erupted.

Restaurant manager Stephanie Zepada says the scene was chaotic, with people panicking and running.

“Our customers were running to the bathroom crying. The moms were scared for their kids and other people from the hookah lounge were all on the floor, basically scared for their lives,” recalled Zepada.

Following the shooting, several bullet holes could be seen in the windows of the hookah lounge.

Police say the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information on this incident should contact the La Mesa Police Department at (619) 667-1400 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-TIPS.

1 Killed, 2 Injured in Miami-Dade Lightning Strike

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One man was killed and two others were hospitalized after they were struck by lightning in southwest Miami-Dade Monday, authorities said.

The incident happened around 2 p.m. at 17198 Southwest 212th Street, according to Miami-Dade Fire Rescue.

The two survivors were taken by ground to Kendall Regional Medical Center where they were in stable condition.

Friends identified the deceased victim as Andres Telles, who was in his 30s. The other men were identified as Fidelmar Montero and Miguel Lopez

According to Miami-Dade Fire Rescue officials, the men were hiding under a tractor trailer to escape the lightning when the trailer was struck by lightning. It's believed the electrical charge then hit the men.

"We went outside and all three of them were on the ground," said witness Janet Suarez, who said the men were power-washing a truck.

Her son, Dominic Rodriguez, tried to help Telles.

"His body was very hot, his face wasn't a normal color," he said.

Rodriguez said he was able to help Lopez.

"I put my hand behind his head because he was bleeding," Rodriguez said. "When he came back, he didn't remember anything, he was saying in Spanish that he was going to hit me but he didn't know anything."

Officials said the medical examiner will determine the exact cause of death.

The National Weather Service had issued weather advisories for frequent to excessive lightning for portions of Miami-Dade before the incident.

"Anytime you have a thunderstorm, no matter where you are, we do advise individuals to seek some type of shelter, we do recommend that you do not stand underneath a tree or close by metal objects," Miami-Dade Police spokeswoman Robin Pinkard said.

Check back with NBC 6 South Florida and NBC6.com for updates.

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Photo Credit: NBC6.com

Commuters Rave About New Bay Bridge

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Commuters who drove between Oakland and San Francisco on the Bay Bridge before the sun came up on Tuesday only had glowing things to say about the $6.4 billion engineering masterpiece, which took more than a decade to build and came in at $5 billion more than first projected.

"It was incredible, man," Nhua Rodriguez told NBC Bay Area. "Nice, clear, no traffic. Very good, man."

Omar Hassan also liked his ride: "I thought it was excellent. Spectacular. I was blown away."

And from the early morning tweets and Instagram photos taken - hopefully by passengers,  not drivers - other commuters were loving the wide open vistas and views. What people liked most was the "cathedral-like" effect of the clean, simple suspension bridge, compared to the cantilever beams on the old section of the bridge, which boxed drivers in like a cage.

MORE: What People are Saying About the Bay Bridge

Bridge traffic was smooth in the early morning hours of Tuesday, though westbound 80 in Berkeley was jammed approaching the bridge. By 10 a.m., though, the California Highway Patrol announced officers removed one motorist from the cantilever section of the bridge because he went around the contruction zone to try to take pictures.

Caltrans and the CHP opened up the new eastern span of the bridge to traffic at about 10:15 p.m. Monday night - about seven hours earlier than planned. The bridge was scheduled to be reopened by 5 a.m. Tuesday but the work was finished faster than anticipated, Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty said.

On Labor Day afternoon, authorities held a chain-cutting ceremony at 3 p.m.  to officially welcome the new bridge.

California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom cut the ceremonial chain with a blowtorch - just like they did when the bridge opened in 1936 - setting off a procession of California Highway Patrol motorcycles and other vehicles across the new bridge. Gov. Jerry Brown was noticeably absent from the pomp and circumstance. He was in Michigan with his wife for a family reunion.

PHOTOS: Bay Bridge Opening Ceremony

A collection of 20 cars, ranging from vintage models to modern electric vehicles were also part of the first motorcade to begin crossing the new span at about 5:40 p.m. Horns honked, drivers cheered, and the mood seemed like New Year's Eve.

MORE: 20 Cars to Give Bay Bridge a Test Spin

The workhorse bridge of the Bay Area has been closed since Wednesday night, so that Caltrans workers could get ready for the new  2.2-mile eastern span that took 11 years to build following the safety concerns after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. The original pricetag was about $1 billion, and the road to building the bridge was full of political football and controversy, including recently when bolts on the bridge were discovered to have had problems that have since been addressed.

But all's well that ends well.

The construction to open the bridge went off with little to no public hitches. Caltrans had given regular media tours throughout to show the public that all was going well. Crews furiously worked to pave the roadway on east and westbound portions of the new span, installed barriers, power-washed the Treasure Island tunnels, polished lights, and demolished part of the old approach to the eastern span from Oakland.

"We haven't encountered any problems beyond the occasional slowdown that you'd expect with any construction project," spokesman Andrew Gordon said of work taking place since the bridge closed Wednesday night.

RAW VIDEO: Early Ridealong Tour on the Bay Bridge

Even traffic didn't become the headache many had feared. Despite the five-day closure of the Bay Bridge, motorists made their way around in sluggish, but tolerable, commutes.

NBC Bay Area's Kyle Bonagura, Terry McSweeney, Mike Inouye and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

Man Accused of Bashing Woman Into Clothes Dryer

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A south suburban Chicago man was being held in an Indiana jail Monday night, accused of felony aggravated battery after a fight over the sole clothes dryer at the Jellystone Campground.

Michael Patrick Zimny, 54, of Glenwood, Ill., is accused of leaving a woman in critical condition after he bashed her head against the dryer.

Zimney's grandson told NBC Chicago there's no way the allegations against his grandfather are true.

"It does not sound right," said Gage Walters. "He'd never do anything like that. He's not that type of person. He's a hard worker."

The victim, a 24-year-old woman, has been in an out of consciousness, and her account of what happened at the campground in Pierceton, Ind., is unclear.

"It's my understanding that we weren't able to get a direct statement from her," said Sgt. Chad Hall.

Walters said Zimny, a tow truck operator, rarely takes vacation but goes to the Jellystone Campground when he needs time away.

Zimny was being held without bond by the Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s Office.

 

Fire Prompts SigAlert near Escondido

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A brush fire started just after 4 p.m. Monday near Interstate 15 and Deer Springs Road in unincorporated Escondido.

A SigAlert has been issued. Currently, only two lanes of southbound I-15 are open, and one lane of the northbound side is closed.

Thick smoke is blowing across a portion of the freeway, potentially making it difficult for drivers to see, according to the California Highway Patrol.

CHP and Cal Fire crews are on scene. Check back for updates on this developing story.


View Deer Springs Rd & Interstate 15 in a larger map

Officer-Involved Shooting in Oceanside

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A man was shot by an Oceanside Police officer during a standoff Sunday, according to officials.

Just after 6 p.m., a woman called 911 and said she had been attacked by her adult son. A man in the background was heard threatening to kill the woman, according to police.

When officers arrived at a home in the 4500-block of Milano Way, the suspect, 56-year-old Gregory Foley, refused to come out and refused to put down his knife.

According to police, an officer shot Foley after other methods didn’t work.

Foley and his elderly parents were taken to the hospital. Foley is now charged with attempted murder and elderly abuse.


Motorcyclist Dies in Santa Ysabel Accident

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One person died in a motorcycle accident on Labor Day.

A truck and a motorcycle collided around 9:30 a.m. Monday. The crash happened outside a gas station on State Routes 78 and 79 in Santa Ysabel.

The motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene. No one inside the truck appeared to be hurt.

There is no word yet on the victim’s identity.

Threats on Video of Westlake Footballers' Fight

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A threat to "f- you up" can be heard during the angry Honolulu encounter that led to a police investigation of Westlake High school football players, according to cellphone video obtained by NBC4 News.

The video appears to have been recorded by one of the five freshman who were confronted by seniors in a hotel room at the Honolulu Hyatt Place. The football team members, along with coaches, and many parents, had traveled to Hawaii for pre-season games.

An allegation that one freshman had been sexually assaulted triggered the law enforcement investigation. No charges have been filed, and the school district's own investigation found no evidence of a sexual assault, according to Jeff Baarstad, superintendent of the Conejo Valley Unified School District.

The confrontation came after seniors felt that a freshman had acted disrespectfully, the district concluded. Six seniors were suspended for one to five days, and will remain on athletic suspension for three games before they can appeal, Baarstad said.

That does not send a strong enough message, according to one Ventura County parent who has seen the video and brought it to NBCLA's attention.

The video had been posted briefly on Instagram before it was removed.

"The superintendent is playing this down," alleged the parent, who asked not to be identified.

In the 21-second video, a young man can be heard saying, "They're trying to hit me."

Later, he addresses an unnamed "coach," presumably expected to be shown the video at some point. Jostling of the camera produced blurry video, and even with repeated viewings, it is virtually impossible to make out who is doing what.

At one point a football jersey is glimpsed briefly. During the video, the "N" word is heard twice. It's not apparent who said it.

District investigators concluded there was no racial element to the confrontation. None of those who was present and interviewed reported hearing slurs, Baarstad said.

NBC4News has learned there were African-American student athletes among both the seniors and the freshman.

Some Westlake parents said they believe one of the freshman, from a well-to-do family, in effect baited the seniors. Baarstad said the seniors needed to take the issue to their coaching staff, not take matters into their own hands.

None of the freshmen involved in the incident were disciplined. The District's investigative work has been turned over to the Ventura County Sheriff's Department for review "out of an abundance of caution," Baarstad said.

Baarstad said the district does not have a copy of the video obtained by NBC4, and requested one for investigators to examine.

More Southern California Stories:

Woman Sues LAPD After Falling from Patrol Car

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A woman is suing the Los Angeles Police Department after she suffered critical injuries in March when she fell out of a moving patrol car.

Kim Nguyen, 27, and her attorneys said officers are at fault because after arresting her on suspicion of public intoxication, they failed to secure her with a seat belt and did not use an outside lock on the door.

Nguyen was in a medically induced coma after the fall, and still suffers complications from a broken jaw and brain injuries she received.

LAPD officials declined to comment on the case, saying they don't comment on ongoing litigation.

In March, Nguyen was waiting for a designated driver in a Koreatown restaurant when police arrested her, according to her attorney, Arnoldo Casillas.

She never made it to the police station, her attorney said.

Nguyen, still handcuffed, fell out of the patrol car near the intersection of Grand Avenue and Olympic Boulevard (map), suffering serious injuries.

A Fire Department report showed that officers claimed she fell after the patrol car stopped at a light and began accelerating. A security camera video apparently contradicts that account, Casillas said.

"The video shows that the statement that the police officers gave the paramedics is an unabashed, unequivocal lie," Casillas said. "The light's green. They do not stop."

Nguyen, a Loyola Marymount University accounting and marketing graduate student at the time of the incident, said she still might have to have brain surgery as a result of the fall.

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Gloria, DeMaio Plan Mayoral Campaign Announcements

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San Diego's special-election race for mayor figures to widen Tuesday with the addition of two major candidates.

Of the 15 people who have filed paperwork so far, only one is a real contender.

Bob Filner resigned as mayor Friday after nine chaotic and scandal-plague months in office.

For the next few months, potentially, the job of chief executive will be carried out on an interim basis by Todd Gloria, having just moved up from Council president.

Now, he's eyeing a run at serving out all the time left in Filner's term. Gloria should get plenty of visibility in the political pinch hitter’s role.

But he'd be crossing paths with serious competition, from the likes of Carl DeMaio, the former Councilman who lost last November’s mayoral race to Filner and is currently a Republican Congressional candidate in California’s 52nd District.

DeMaio is expected to announce his intentions Tuesday, as is Gloria.

"Whoever else is in the race doesn't bear on my decision,” Gloria told reporters Monday at Petco Park, where he was on hand for first-pitch ceremonies involving Medal of Honor recipient S/Sgt. Ty Carter (U.S. Army) before the Padres’ game against the Giants.

“I'm making my decision on what I think is in the best interest of the city,” Gloria added. “Spent the weekend doing that, talking to a lot of folks in addition to learning my new job. And it's been a long weekend and I'm prepared to make a decision tomorrow."

Gloria described input from San Diegans with whom he’s spoken about running for mayor as “generous, really a sigh of relief, it seems, from folks who want to put this bad chapter (the Filner scandal) behind us. I'm here to do that, and I think everyone's anxious and hopeful that better days are here for our city -- and I think that's true."

As for DeMaio, said political consultant John Dadian: "He thinks he can say 'I told you so' to the people who voted for Filner and can move the city forward. So there's no doubt in my mind that he's running for mayor."

On Saturday, DeMaio’s political team released a media advisory which said: “Contrary to a report in Politico, Carl DeMaio is continuing to weigh whether he will enter the Mayor’s race – and is spending the weekend with his family before making a decision. DeMaio has scheduled a press conference for Tuesday, Sept. 3 at 11 a.m. to announce a final decision.”

Former Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher -- who finished third in last year’s mayoral primary after switching from Republican to Independent -- is the frontrunner among those who have filed, having become a Democrat.

Other notable prospects: Former Assemblywoman Lori Saldana, County Supervisor Ron Roberts, City Councilmembers David Alvarez, Marti Emerald and Kevin Faulconer.

The short time window of the election cycle -- starting November 19th and continuing for up to 49 more days to a runoff, if there’s no majority winner – makes speed of the essence for the cause of raising funds and gathering endorsements.

"We're not looking at a process that will be drawn out a year,” Faulconer said Friday in an interview with NBC 7. “We're looking at a process that will be concluded in a matter of months. That's good news."

Voters interviewed Monday at Petco Park said, in general, that they're looking for proven leadership.

"You've got too many dumb things going on,” Point Loma resident John Perry said. “Let's focus on a couple of things. First of all, the budget -- number one. Maintaining the streets, number two. Let's look at it this way. If we can't work together as Republicans and Democrats, we might as well call ourselves the 'San Diego Dummies'."
 

Team USA Curling Seeks Most Creative Fan

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Team USA is looking to send a social media savvy fan to Fargo, N.D., for the the 2014 U.S. Olympic Team Trials

Are you a fan of one of the Winter Olympic Games most popular sports? We're not talking about downhill skiing, figure skating or hockey. We're talking about curling. If you are, the "Fargo FANdango" is just the thing for you.

"We hope that the Fargo FANdango will help draw a little more attention to curling's Olympic Team Trials and the great athletes involved in the event," said Terry Kolesar, director of communications with USA Curling.

USA Curling is looking for its biggest fan to travel to Fargo for the 2014 U.S. Olympic Team Trials.

"Fargo has a unique and warm community that we are hoping to highlight as part of this great trip to North Dakota," said Kolesar. "While many of us may think about going somewhere warm for the winter months, we'd like to change those thoughts to:  'Why not head to Fargo to watch curling?'"

But before you grab your stone and push broom and put on those funny looking pants there are a few requirements you must meet. USA Curling is looking for a social media "skip," who knows at least one fact about Fargo or North Dakota, eh!

"The Fargo FANdango contest is a fun way for our fans to have an opportunity to see some of the best curlers in the U.S. while showing off their social media skills," said Kolesar.

You also have to come up with a video that shows off your passion for the sport. If you are interested in carrying out your curling dream? Check out more on the competition and deadline here.



Photo Credit: USA Curling
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