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Opponents Slam Proposed Plastic Bag Ban

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Opponents of a proposed plastic bag ban gathered Wednesday to call on the San Diego City Council to abandon the plan to remove plastic bags from local stores.

Community leaders, including Mark Arabo, president of the Neighborhood Market Association, held a press conference in front of Rainbow Market on Federal Boulevard in which they called the proposed ban a “tax scam” that will negatively impact working-class San Diegans.

“This is a terrible plan. It’s terrible because the solution is worse than the so-called problem,” said Arabo. “It’s a classic case of politicians attempting to do something for the environment, in part to appease some environmental groups, without seeing the bigger picture.”

The proposed ban would remove plastic bags from stores while imposing a paper bag tax on customers. Shoppers would be charged 10 cents for each paper bag they might need at a store.

“This ban will have reaching ramifications. It’ll cost taxpayers – mothers, fathers and brothers – more money when they go shopping for groceries,” said Arabo.

Though the ban is designed to reduce waste and help the environment, Arabo argued that plastic bags only make up one-third of one percent of the waste stream.

On the other end of the plastic bag ban debate, Sherri Lightner, San Diego City Council President Pro Tem, District 1, supports the proposed ban.

According to Lightner, the ordinance would help reduce the approximately 123,000 tons of plastic bags that Californians throw out each year. She said that according to a report by the City’s Environmental Services Department, 500 million single-use plastic bags are distributed annually in San Diego, but only 3 percent of those bags are recycled while the rest end up as trash polluting local neighborhoods.

Lightner said the bag ban would save the city $160,000 per year in landfill costs and would prevent plastic bags from winding up in the ocean, streets, parks and storm drains.

But, again, not everyone agrees with the plan.

George D. McKinney, founding pastor of the St. Stephen’s Ministries, stood alongside Arabo Wednesday and also argued against it, saying the paper bag tax that comes with the ban is unfair to local, working-class residents.

“In essence, it’s a tax – a multi-million-dollar tax a year – on San Diegans,” said McKinney. “And with the cost of living on the rise, I can tell you the last thing we need today from government is something that will make life even more difficult for people, especially working families.”

The plastic bag ban proposal was passed by the City Council’s Rules and Economic Development Committee back in October. The ban is currently under economic review.

It could be up to one year before the proposal is back in the hands of the San Diego City Council for a final decision.



Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego

Free Tickets Become Campaign Issue in Mayoral Race

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Councilman Kevin Faulconer wants to end a city program that allows the mayor and council members to dole out free tickets to Chargers and Padres games.

Faulconer's campaign also took opponent Councilman David Alvarez to task for handing out the most tickets of any councilman - 501 in 2013.

Alvarez's team fired back, saying the free tickets went to cancer patients and local charities.

The city owns two luxury suites - one at Qualcomm Stadium and the other at Petco Park. The mayor and councilmembers are allowed to use those seats or give them away to friends, supporters or non-profits they support.

Faulconer wants to end that program and try to produce revenue from the box seats by selling or renting them out. He says it's an issue of transparency and integrity, and he thinks the revenue could be put to better use.

"Rather than giving away free tickets, we could get back real revenue that we can reinvest back into our neighborhoods to spend it on something that benefits all San Diegans -- our streets, our parks, putting cops on the street -- are all a better use of the boxes," Faulconer said.

Special Section: Race for Mayor

Alvarez’s campaign pointed out that Faulconer accepted free tickets to sporting events funded by private corporations, which are reflected on the Faulconer’s state-mandated forms for reporting gifts.

"If Kevin wants to reform policies related to gifts, maybe he should take a look at the policies related to him receiving gifts versus the city giving Charges and Padres tickets out to kids who might not otherwise have a chance to go to these games," said Alvarez campaign spokesman Stephen Heverly.

Faulconer voted in 2009 to put many of the rules and procedures regulating how these tickets are handed-out into place.



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Shopper Robbed, Sprayed in Home Depot Parking Lot

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San Diego police are looking for the person who robbed a customer in a store parking lot Wednesday night.

The robbery happened outside the Home Depot in the 5900 block of Fairmount Ave. in Grantville at 5:37 p.m., according to police.

Police say the robber sprayed what's believed to be pepper spray in the victim’s face. The robber got away with the person’s cell phone.

A suspect description was not given. The customer was not injured.

Check back for updates.
 


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Sailor Sentenced in Fatal DUI Crash

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A Navy sailor who pleaded guilty to driving drunk in a crash that killed a Valley Center couple out on their early-morning walk will spend the next 11 years in prison for the deadly DUI.

Earl Smith Jr., 21, was sentenced Wednesday on charges of gross vehicular manslaughter in connection with the deaths of North County couple Carl Ackermann, 79, and Eunice Ackermann, 78.

In a statement issued through his lawyer during the sentencing, Smith apologized to the Ackermann family and said he wanted everyone to use his case as an example not to drink and drive.

On Jul. 7, at around 6:15 a.m., Smith struck and killed the Ackermanns on eastbound Old Castle Road. The couple was out on their daily walk in their Valley Center neighborhood when they were fatally hit by Smith’s car.

Smith – an active-duty Seaman E3 and just 20 years old at the time – had attended a house party in Fallbrook hours before the crash and was driving under the influence of alcohol.

He drifted off the driveway and slammed into the Ackermanns, who were walking with their backs to traffic. The couple was instantly killed upon impact, according to investigators.

Smith was not injured in the collision and was immediately arrested on suspicion of DUI. Days later, he was charged in the case and pleaded not guilty in a Vista courtroom.

Prosecutors said Smith was given a blood-alcohol level test an hour-and-a-half after the crash and it came back at .12, which prosecutors described as “well over the legal limit.”

Friends told NBC 7 that Smith had a prior DUI in 2012 and had been in the Navy for two years, living on a local base. On the morning of the fatal crash, friends said Smith had left the party around 3:30 a.m. and said he was going to sleep in his car.

On Oct. 16, Smith entered a guilty plea of gross vehicular manslaughter in connection with the case.

During Wednesday’s sentencing, a deputy district attorney read a statement from the Ackermann’s niece.

“The loss of my aunt and uncle is a terrible experience and the time I’ve lost with them cannot be replaced,” read the statement, in part. “This has been a tragic experience for all involved.”

According to neighbors who lived near the Ackermanns, the couple was known for walking together, hand-in-hand, every day.

“This couple, we saw them every day. I just saw them the other day walking. They were [always] around the neighborhood, and we’d wave at them. They were just always holding hands,” Valley Center resident Christina Rivera said.

Student Accused of Revenge Porn

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A high school student in Stamford, Conn., has been arrested after posting a sexually explicit photo of his ex-girlfriend on Instagram in a local case of a growing nationwide problem referred to as “revenge porn.”

Police said the 17-year-old boy took a photo of the two engaged in a sex act, without the victim's consent, and posted it online in retaliation.

The victim notified police on Monday after friends told her about it, police said.

Authorities quickly had the photo removed and took the suspect into custody. His name has not been released because of his age, but police said he has been charged with voyeurism and disseminating voyeuristic materials.

He has since been released to the custody of his parents and he'll be in court next week.

Police want to be clear that the incident did not happen on school grounds.

Similar instances have made headlines across the country, prompting experts to urge parents to educate their children on the dangers of technology.

"At that age, couples are breaking up all the time and they don't have the maturity to handle the issue," said Rich Hanley, an Internet expert and professor of journalism at Quinnipiac University in Hamden said. "The first instinct, the first impulse is to post something negative about the person doing the breaking up."

Two states -- California and New Jersey -- recently added anti-"revenge porn" laws to the books. Similar proposals are in the works in a handful of states and local lawmakers say they are looking into legislation to stem the problem in Connecticut.

State Rep. Gerald Fox said last month that he plans to combat this problem in the next session.

"But I think everyone would agree it's the type of behavior that shouldn't be tolerated," said Fox.

AGT Runner-up, Comedian Taylor Williamson Still Bitter?

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Comedian Taylor Williamson appears to still be bitter over his second place finish in America’s Got Talent. Or is he?

“Is this the Kenichi show?” Williamson asked, referring to Kenichi Ebina, the dancer who won America's Got Talent Season 8 with his video-game style dance performances.

He described the moment the winner was announced as horrible and complained that NBC 7 showing the clip at the start of the interview was like an intense therapy session.

Williamson and Ebina have toured together and the comedian has said the two are friends despite the outcome of the NBC reality show.

“I was just saying that to be nice, I hate Japanese people. They ruined my life,” Williamson said Thursday. Watch video

He later said the two men are actually friends and he thinks Ebina is “amazing.”

Known for dry humor, Williamson pokes fun of his own Jewish heritage in the interview and claims he has a huge ego but never thought he would make it past the audition.

Williamson said his career goal is to have a “bad sitcom on NBC.”

The Torrey Pines HS alum will be performing Dec 19 - 22 at the American Comedy Co. in the Gaslamp Quarter.

Man Falls, Gets Stuck on Midway Museum

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A man fell from the second deck of the Midway Museum and became wedged in a doorway on the deck below, officials said Thursday.

The Midway Museum is a retired aircraft carrier docked along San Diego’s Embarcadero.

San Diego Fire-Rescue said they were called just after 8 a.m. to rescue the man on the third deck of the ship.

Battalion Chief David Connor said the 71-year-old man fell about 15 feet down a hatchway.

After he fell, the man said he could not free himself because he was injured, officials said.

Using pulleys and ropes, it took firefighters 15 minutes to rescue the man.

He was transported to UCSD Medical Center. No details on his injuries were released at this time.

The man is associated with the museum according to fire officials but they did not know he was doing at the time of the fall.

Firefighters described the doorway as a hatchway, often used to provide access to the floor or deck below.

Gay Olympian "Proud" to Be Delegate

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Two-time Olympic medalist and openly gay athlete Caitlin Cahow appeared on the "Today" show on Thursday and said she is "very proud" to be part of the U.S. delegation for the Sochi Games selected by the White House earlier this week.

"I am going to Sochi to represent a country that has made the most dramatic shifts on some of these issues in the last few years and I am very proud to be representing that kind of diversity," Cahow said, referring to recent strides made in gay rights in the U.S.

Cahow, who medaled in ice hockey in Turin and Vancouver, received a call from the White House with an invitation to join a delegation that includes another openly-gay athlete, tennis great Billie Jean King. The move was made amid much public conversation about Russia's anti-gay laws, even though President Vladimir Putin insists his country's first priority as host is to provide "equal terms" for all athletes.

Cahow told host Matt Lauer that mixing politics and sports is inevitable at the Olympics and hopes she can make the best of what she perceives as her "John Carlos moment," a nod to the U.S. track and field Olympian who, along with fellow athlete Tommie Smith, raised their fists in a Black Power salute on the podium during their medal ceremony in 1968 in Mexico City.

"Honestly, I think that my John Carlos moment right now is going to Russia and being present and representing the United States," she told Lauer. "This delegation represents so much more than just LGBT diversity."

President Barack Obama will not attend the games in February, but the White House said in a statement that the delegates will "showcase to the world the best of America -- diversity, determination and teamwork." This marks the first Olympics since the Sydney games in 2000 that a U.S. president, vice president, first lady or former president is not part of the U.S delegation.

Cahow and King will be accompanied by former Homeland Security Secretary and current president of the University of California Janet Napolitano, speed skater Bonnie Flair and figure skater Brian Boitano.

 



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Look Inside the UCSD Chancellor House

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Renovations at the Audrey Geisel University House at UC San Diego are almost complete.

Photo Credit: NBC 7

Family of Murdered OB Man Wants Justice

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The mother of an Ocean Beach man found dead in Humboldt County is speaking out.

Pam McGinnis says her family wants justice.

29-year old Garret Rodriguez's body was found buried along a road in Harris. The Ocean Beach native had recently moved to Humbolt County, but when family and friends hadn't heard from him after a couple of months, a missing persons report was filed.

McGinnis says the family felt the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department wasn’t doing enough, so they hired private investigators.

"Early July, they informed us that there were very, very strong rumors and tips that Garret had been murdered. We kind of knew that that was highly likely,” she said.

Just when the family was starting to accept they may never have closure, they received a call saying that remains found most likely belonged to Rodriguez.

“Most of us were overwhelmed with relief, but mostly with grief because it really put finality to it,” McGinnis said.

Now, his mother says true closure will come when detectives find who killed her son.

"An evil person did this, and he deserves to be brought to justice, and that's what we hope will happen now.”

The cause of Rodriguez’s death is still unknown. McGinnis says the FBI has joined the investigation.

Armed Suspect Robs Church Bingo Hall: PD

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Police are investigating an armed robbery at a bingo hall in Chula Vista.

Around 9:45 p.m. Wednesday, officers responded to reports of a man with a gun at the Church of the Most Precious Blood in the 1200 block of 4th Avenue.

According to Chula Vista police, the suspect came into the church hall, lifted his shirt and showed a gun. Witnesses told police he was in and out within 10 seconds.

Police say he stole between $4,000 and $5,000. No one was hurt.

Officers are now searching the area for the suspect, who was seen leaving the church on foot. He is described as a man in his 30s, 5-foot-11 and wearing black clothing and a Chargers beanie.

Check back for updates on this developing story.
 


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Photo Credit: NBC 7

Car Strikes Gas Meter in National City

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SDG&E crews worked to turn the gas back on after someone accidentally hit the gas meter with their car on S Kenton Ave in National City early Thursday. Workers had to dig up the street to fix the gas line and they evacuated the home next door to the leak. NBC 7's Sherene Tagharobi reports.

Families Escape Flames in Apt. Fire

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Fire destroyed a two-story apartment and forced seven people out of their homes in National City early Thursday.

The fire broke out at 2:45 a.m. in the Kimball Willows Apartments at 1135 E Ave.

Soon after, law enforcement officers were knocking on the doors of residents telling them to get out quickly.

It took firefighters 15 minutes to control the blaze.

Seven people were evacuated from three other apartments because of smoke and power issues.

The woman at home at the time of the fire was not injured.

The cause of the fire was under investigation but does not appear to be suspicious, officials told NBC 7.

National City Battalion Chief Larry Silva said the fire appeared to be coming from the kitchen and may have originated on the stove.

By 7 a.m., residents were back in their homes.



Photo Credit: NBC 7 News

IB Approves New Social Host Law

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Several cities in San Diego County have social host ordinance laws but a revised law passed Wednesday night in Imperial Beach has new requirements for homeowners and parents.

The city has had a social host law in place for about 10 years but so far it has been ineffective and in 2006, it was successfully challenged on appeal.

Under the revised law approved by the Imperial Beach City Council, adults hosting parties now have to check the ages of their guests and control the availability of alcohol.

The list of those who could be held responsible for a violation has also expanded to more than just the home owner.

“It’s going to be an administrative citation versus a misdemeanor citation,” said Public Safety Director Tom Clark. “We’re not interested in criminally penalizing somebody but getting them to change their behavior through education.”

The initial ordinance approved in 2003 was a model used by other communities.

Clark said the revised ordinance is consistent with those in effect in other communities around the county and provides the ability to enforce the law to San Diego County sheriff’s deputies who respond to calls of noise and parties.

Gabriel Mateus, a sophomore at Hilltop High School, thought the changes in the law were necessary to keep minors safe.

“We heard about the social host and there are some pretty scary facts, in 2011 only 16-percent of parents actually knew that this law existed so we needed to make sure that people were notified,” Mateus said.

If an adult is caught violating the new rules, they could face up to a $1,000 fine.

The new ordinance will go into effect in 30 days.
 

School Cuts "Christ" From Song

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A Long Island school board is apologizing after a fifth-grade chorus left out some of the lyrics of "Silent Night" during a concert performance, including the line about "Christ the Savior."

The children at Ralph J. Osgood Intermediate School did not sing the line "'round yon virgin, mother and child," or the line "Christ the Savior is born."

The two-minute version of the 19th-century German carol performed by the school chorus on Dec. 12 was a mix of the first and second stanzas of the song.

The children's version did include references to "heavenly peace" and "holy night."

The Kings Park Central School District Board of Education said it "sincerely apologizes to our community members who were offended" by the change.

"This action was not approved by the Board of Education or district administration, nor is it their role to approve the songs chosen for our concerts," the statement said.

The Board of Education said it, too, was offended by the children's song.

The school superintendent did not immediately return a call.



Photo Credit: Frank Heinz, NBC 5 News

Hammer Used by Suspected Shoplifter

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Suspected shoplifters at a San Diego-area grocery store used a hammer to attack the employees who chased after them police said.

Chula Vista police were called to the Northgate Market on 3rd Avenue around 10 p.m. Wednesday.

Two men believed to have stolen items from the store turned on two employees according to police.

One worker was hit in the head, a second was struck in the shoulder, police said.

Both employees were transported to nearby hospitals for treatment. No word on their conditions.

The suspects were last seen taking off in a gray minivan.

Officers described the men as Hispanic males, in their 20s. One was wearing a red shirt and gray pants. The second man was wearing a red hat and a long gray shirt with a stripe.

Chula Vista police investigators were checking for surveillance footage but do not have any at this time.

Anyone with information can contact the Chula Vista police at the non-emergency number 619-691-5151.
 

Fla. Congressman Won't Resign

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Florida Congressman Trey Radel said Thursday that he will stay in office, shortly after he left a Naples rehab facility.

Radel, who is on leave from Congress, said he plans to keep serving his constituents, but he would not give a timeframe for his return to Washington.

“Politics and re-election are the absolute last thing on my mind right now," he said in a news conference at his Cape Coral office.

Radel entered the Hazelden addiction treatment facility in Naples on Nov. 21 after he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor cocaine possession charge. But he said Thursday that he is working to recover one day at a time as he is treated for alcoholism.

“More tangibly, here’s exactly what I know: alcohol does not work for me," Radel said. "It was selfishly fun, but it became a problem, and it led to poor choices, and more than that, missed opportunities. It never interfered with my congressional obligations, but it let me down a path that slowly but surely chipped away at my relationship with my wife, my child, and God. And it led to really bad decisions which put me here today.”

Radel said that he used cocaine a handful of times.

Radel, a freshman Republican who represents the 19th Congressional District in southwest Florida, thanked members of the public for their prayers, support and encouragement.

“While I’m thankful, I am still remorseful. I made a mistake, and I know that. I let you down. I let our country down. And again for that, I am sorry," Radel said. "I will do everything in my power to make it up and to regain your trust.”

Radel said he is focused on his family, rebuilding trust with his constituents and having a great new year.

The House Ethics Committee is investigating Radel.

"It is my hope, through this process, I will come out a better man. I will work hard to gain back the trust and support of my constituents, friends and most importantly, my family," Radel said in a statement when he entered rehab.



Photo Credit: NBC 6 South Florida

Suspects Wanted in Series of Home Burglaries

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Investigators are looking for two suspects wanted in a string of North County home burglaries.

Investigators with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department and San Diego police as asking for the public’s help to identify two suspects they say have entered 10 homes in Poway, Rancho Bernardo and Scripps Ranch in the past two months.

The thieves get in through unlocked windows or doors, and in some cases break a window. They usually take jewelry and other small items.

Officials believe the suspects drive a silver sedan and a black motorcycle.

Anyone with information on this case should call the Poway Sheriff's Station at (858) 513‐2800.  A $1,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest.

Kraddick Battled Cancer: Report

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Beloved radio show host David "Kidd" Kraddick secretly battled lymphoma in 2009, according to a newly published magazine article.

The cover story for the January 2014 issue of D Magazine details the late DJ's hidden battle with the disease. According to the article, Kraddick kept his diagnosis and treatment a secret from listeners, close friends, and even his daughter, Caroline.

The story states that only Kraddick's best friend, attorney Toby Wilson, knew of his diagnosis and treatment that included aggressive chemotherapy as well as stem cell treatments that left him frail and thin.

According to the article, Kraddick worried about what would happen to his syndicated radio show, "Kidd Kraddick in the Morning," if it was revealed he had cancer.

Kraddick's death in July 2013 was ruled as by medical examiners as caused by cardiac disease.



Photo Credit: 106.1 KISS FM

Metro-North Workers Falsify Time Sheets: NYT

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Metro-North is in a negative spotlight again amid new questions about the commuter rail line's workers and what they're doing when they're supposed to be on the clock.

An internal investigation found padded time sheets, including workers who took trips to Pennsylvania for cigarettes and fireworks while they were on the clock, according to The New York Times.

The New York Times, which first reported on the investigation, says the information is contained in a draft letter, dated Dec. 3, from Inspector General Barry Kluger.

Metro-North Spokesman Aaron Donovan released a statement Thursday saying the report "is a draft that was never delivered to Metro-North Railroad, so we cannot comment on its particular findings." But he said the rail system "has been working closely with the Inspector General during his investigation and will aggressively take appropriate disciplinary action when we receive a final report. "

"All Metro-North employees are expected to work a full day for a full day's pay. We will not tolerate any behavior that falls short of that standard. We are installing GPS on all our vehicles in response to an earlier report from the Inspector General, and we have also initiated a comprehensive review with both the Inspector General and MTA Auditor General to strengthen internal controls within Metro-North's Maintenance of Way department," he said.

Still, some commuters couldn't believe the scathing internal report released on Metro-North.

"That's mismanagement no matter where it happened whether it happens at Metro North or a private company it's just mismanagement," said Melissa Ciotoli of Westport.

Mismanagement is just a small bit of what the inspector general uncovered, according to State Sen. Toni Boucher.

"This is using taxpayers money in a fraudulent way. Falsifying time sheets, public automobiles for private use," Boucher said.

Boucher is troubled by the apparent lack of oversight, especially at a time when safety is of an utmost concern to riders after a series of accidents, mostly recent the one in the Bronx in early December that left four dead.

"And it should not be tolerated. Not at all. People's heads need to roll with regards to something like this," said Boucher.

The investigation revealed one crew was driving aimlessly when they were supposedly doing overtime.

"As much as that sounds problematic I'm much more focused on the timeliness of the trains," said Sam Walker of Weston. Walker said he feels the trains have deteriorated in terms of service since the derailment in Bridgeport in May and a worker was struck and killed by a train in West Haven later the same month.

"You'd be kidding yourself if you're not a little more terrified each time you hear a bump or a turn or a twist," Walker added.

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