What is it with Chargers and Bengals fans not buying tickets to games?

It took an extension from the league and a last-minute corporate buyout on Friday to ensure Sunday’s playoff game between the two teams was sold out and therefore not blacked out to local audiences in Cincinnati, per National Football League rules.

The Bengals host the Chargers at 10 a.m. local time.

The only other NFL game to be blacked out this season was the last time the two teams met in San Diego on Dec. 1. The Bengals won that game, 17-10. It turned out to be the Bolts’ last loss as they rattled off four straight wins to sneak into the playoffs.

P&G, a Cincinnati-based company, bought up the remaining tickets and will distribute them for free on Saturday to military veterans and active duty service members.

"Through the efforts from many of our business partners and fans across the region who stepped forward to buy tickets, our team is sure to have a great homefield advantage Sunday," Bengals executive vice president Katie Blackburn said.

The Chargers finished 4-4 on the road this year.

A grandfather was arrested in San Diego’s Chula Vista area overnight after he allegedly abandoned his 2-year-old grandson on a sidewalk for several hours while he went to a taco shop to eat a burrito.

According to the Chula Vista Police Department, a skateboarder spotted the abandoned toddler – fast asleep inside a jogging stroller – at around 11:30 p.m. in the 200-block of Quintard Street and called police.

When officers arrived on scene, they were unable to immediately locate the child’s parents and the boy was taken into protective custody while police launched an investigation.

Police said the little boy appeared healthy and showed no signs of abuse.

The Chula Vista Police Department issued an alert for the found toddler, described as a 2-foot-tall, 2-year-old boy weighing 25 pounds. He was wearing a jacket, sweatpants and shoes when police found him.

At around 2:45 a.m., police said the boy’s 17-year-old mother called authorities looking for her child.

Police said she was hysterical and told officials her son’s grandfather had taken the toddler out at 10 p.m. to get a burrito. At 1 a.m. the family went looking for the child and found the grandfather sitting at a local taco shop, eating a burrito.

Police said the grandfather – identified as 53-year-old Frank Moreno – told his family he didn’t know where the boy was and allegedly appeared to be under the influence of a controlled substance.

Chula Vista police officers took Moreno into custody on charges of child cruelty with the possibility of resulting in injury or death and being under the influence of drugs. He was booked into San Diego Central Jail and is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday.
 

The man who was struck and killed by an oncoming train while running after his dog near the train tracks Friday afternoon in Del Mar, Calif., has been identified as Louis "Lou" Terrell, a former mayor and city councilman.

San Diego County sheriff’s deputies say that around 3:30 p.m. on Friday, Terrell was walking his unleashed dog on the bluffs near the train tracks in the 100-block of 11th Street when a northbound Amtrak train approached the area and sounded its horn.

Investigators believe the horn spooked the dog, which darted across the tracks with Terrell running after his pet. The train hit Terrell, killing him on impact.

“He’s done this probably a million times,” said Nick Ovanessoff, a Del Mar resident. “For the train to come by like that is pretty tragic, we’re all kind of shocked. I’ve lived here for 20 years and never seen anything like this.”

Terrell was also a former political science professor and chairman at San Diego State University.

Emergency crews confirmed the Terrell’s death at the scene. Officials said it appears the man wasn't struck head-on by the train and may have been trying to get out of the way when he was fatally hit.

“It’s a horrible tragedy,” said Jeff Jonas, a Del Mar resident. “He was obviously chasing his dog, which any dog owner would obviously do and it just turned out terribly.”

Following the accident, Terrell's daughter gave a statement to NBC 7 San Diego before asking media to respect the family's privacy while they grieve.

“It’s a tragic and shocking loss," said his daughter. "He was beloved by his family and the community and former colleagues at SDSU.”

The family said the dog survived and is at the Terrell home.

No one else was injured in the collision, though officials did say the conductor of the train was extremely shaken up by the accident. This portion of the tracks in Del Mar is a popular crossing spot for surfers and walkers in the area.

The accident caused some train delays in San Diego's North County Friday, including some slowing with the COASTER train, according to the North County Transit District.

A small plane landed on the Major Deegan Expressway in the Bronx Saturday afternoon, according to the city's Office of Emergency Management.

The plane landed near East 233rd Street, and the city said drivers should expect traffic delays and emergency personnel in the area.

Three injuries were reported in connection with the landing, FDNY officials said, but it was unclear if any of them were serious. Previous reports said four people were injured.

The injured were taken to St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx.

The plane had minor damage, according to the FAA, and was a four-seat, one-engine 1966 Piper PA. The plane is registered to an owner in South Salem, N.Y.

The circumstances surrounding the plane's landing are still unclear.

With the San Diego Chargers headed to the playoffs Sunday in Cincinnati, locals are ramping up the fandom – and practicing their best superstitions in hopes of a victorious outcome on game day.

So, Bolts fans, are you conjuring up some luck with your team jersey, cat, socks or hat? Whatever it is – if it works – you may want to keep doing it.

Earlier this season, the Chargers were 5-7. Then, suddenly, they won four games in a row.

The turnaround, at least according to one pair of fans, may have been because of “Sniffy,” a male cat that lives at the Hawk Watch Winery in Warner Springs.

At the onset of the Bolts’ recent winning streak, Sniffy’s owners began dressing him in a blue-and-gold San Diego Chargers Cheerleaders outfit.

Since then, the Chargers haven’t lost. The owners say Sniffy will be decked out in his lucky getup this Sunday, and hopefully the outfit’s magic continues to work in the Chargers’ favor.

As odd or silly of some superstitions might seem, local psychiatrist Dr. Clark Smith says fans practice superstitions because they want to feel like a part of the team – part of something bigger than themselves. Dr. Smith says people also have an illusion of control.

“I see that a lot in anxiety disorder problems, where it goes back to childhood. You have anxiety about your mother – well, ‘step on a crack, break your mother’s back.’ So, we have these little rituals to prevent bad things from happening,” Dr. Smith explained.

For their part, Chargers fans are no strangers to their own “lucky” rituals before game day. It seems Bolts fans follow a host of superstitions.

“Every time I watch the game with my roommate, we always lose, so I always make sure I don’t watch it with him so that we can win the game,” one local man told NBC 7 San Diego.

“I take the cats and I just curl up and I’m sort of listening [to the game] but I’m not watching. I don’t want to jinx them – they have to win, man,” said one San Diego woman.

And, even the littlest fans have their lucky habits.

“I wear my jersey, and it says ‘Rivers,’ and I wear my cap and socks,” one little boy told NBC 7.

But, interestingly enough, few local fans of losing teams practice superstitions.

Both a Chicago fan and a Cleveland Browns fan said they don’t do much on game day.

“I just watch them every Sunday and hope against hope that we’ll turn things around,” said the Browns fan.

Still, Dr. Smith says there’s nothing wrong with the occasional superstitious ritual – as long as it’s not taken too far.

“If you take it to extremes and you lose touch with reality, that’s not good. But, if it doesn’t cause any harm and your team keeps winning, who am I to judge?” he said.

“I do all the cheering – in my seat,” added one more Chargers fan. “My arms will go crazy but I don’t stand up. That’s the only thing I don’t do. I like it. Go Chargers!”

A public paddle-out memorial and church service will be held Saturday in Southern California for San Diego’s slain McStay family, according to a website managed by surviving family members.

The public paddle-out memorial is set for 2 p.m. at the San Clemente Pier. Loved ones plan to release four leis into the ocean during the beach ceremony – one for each member of the family: parents Joseph and Summer McStay, and their young sons, 4-year-old Gianni McStay and 3-year-old Joseph Mateo McStay.

Orchids will also be released into the water and candles will be lit in honor of the McStays. According to loved ones organizing the event, the family “loved the beach, ocean and others,” so the San Clemente Pier is the perfect place for the memorial.

Prior to the paddle-out, friends and family will gather at the Vineyard Community Church in Laguna Niguel, Calif., for a church service in remembrance of the McStays. That ceremony begins at noon at the church located at 27632 El Lazo.

On Nov. 11 – more than three-and-a-half years after mysteriously vanishing from their Fallbrook home – the skeletal remains of the McStay family were found in and around shallow graves in the high desert outside of Victorville, Calif.

Soon after the disheartening discovery, San Bernardino County officials positively identified the remains as all four missing McStay family members: Joseph, Summer, Gianni and Joseph Jr.

The family disappeared on Feb. 4, 2010, leaving few clues behind in a case that baffled San Diego law enforcement and captured international attention.

TIMELINE: The McStay Family Mystery

Over the years, Joseph McStay, brother, Michael McStay, has managed and updated a website documenting the case and search for his relatives.

Last month, an update was posted to the website about the public memorial service and beach paddle-out at the San Clemente Pier.

The invitation asked “all surfers to paddle out at the San Clemente Pier, light candles, release leis and enjoy the beach, as Joey & Summer, Gianni & Joey Jr. did.”

The post read, in part:

“We have finally been able to bring the McStay Family Home from the Coroner’s Office and are preparing to have the public memorial service and beach paddle out at the San Clemente Pier. My family is overwhelmed by the love and support friends and strangers have shown us from around the world, including the donations made on the family’s website.”

Though the grim discovery of the McStay family was a major break for officials, the case remains under investigation. Since the family’s sudden disappearance, the mystery has been filled with twists, turns and dead ends.

Days after the McStay family vanished, a group of four people resembling the McStays was captured on grainy surveillance video crossing into Mexico at the San Ysidro border crossing on Feb. 8, 2010.

This was the same day a white Isuzu Trooper belonging to the family was found illegally parked at a nearby strip mall. At the time, detectives felt it was “a very high probability” that the footage was of the missing family.

When officials showed the video to relatives of the McStay family, some recognized the white jacket the woman in the video was wearing. However, other relatives said they weren’t sure it was the McStays due to the poor quality of the video.

Since the family’s sudden disappearance, the McStays hadn't used their bank accounts, credit cards or cell phones, investigators have repeatedly said.

In April 2013, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department announced they were transferring the case of the McStay family to the FBI.

The sheriff’s department said they had “conducted an exhaustive missing person investigation in an attempt to locate the family” and hundreds of tips had been investigated without success. At that point, the sheriff’s department said they had reached a consensus that the family went to Mexico of their free will.

Until Nov. 11, there had been no major breaks in the case. Now, the investigation has turned from finding the McStay family to figuring out what exactly happened to them.

At a press conference in November, San Bernardino County Sheriff John McMahon said investigators had not yet determined the cause or motive behind the victims’ deaths, including if the family may have fallen prey to Mexican cartels.

“It’s too early to tell if it’s cartel-related or any other suspects,” said McMahon.

Last month at a press conference, an emotional Michael McStay vowed to figure out what happened to his beloved family.

“We’re going to find this individual, or individuals. I know the sheriff’s department, the FBI, everybody wants to bring this to justice. And, if it’s the last thing I do – I just want to know when it’s over,” he said.

A restaurant employee fired several shots inside a Vista eatery Friday night after two men allegedly attempted to rob the business while armed with their own guns, according to officials.

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department said shots were fired just after 9:30 p.m. at Uncle Tony’s Italian Cuisine located at 770 Sycamore Ave.

An employee called deputies to report that two men armed with guns had entered the restaurant.

Before the alleged would-be robbers could open fire, the employee said he retrieved his own handgun and fired at them in self-defense.

According to deputies, the restaurant employee told officials he fired eight shots from his handgun while the attempted robbery suspects were inside the eatery. The employee said he believed he struck both suspects in the upper-body area.

Once gunfire erupted, the suspects fled through the back door of the business. Nothing was stolen from the restaurant.

Deputies arrived on scene and began searching for the suspects but the men were not immediately located. The sheriff’s department issued a lookout alert in case the suspects showed up to any local hospitals with gunshot wounds.

Just after midnight, two men suffering from gunshot wounds arrived at the Tri-City Hospital emergency room, according to officials.

Vista detectives were called. During an interview with detectives, the men claimed they had been shot while walking near John Landis Park in Oceanside. However, officials said neither man could provide an exact location of the alleged shooting or a suspect description to detectives.

Oceanside police checked the park for evidence of the shooting but said no crime scene was found.

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department said detectives determined that the gunshot wounds sustained by the men were consistent with the shooting described by the employee at Uncle Tony’s Italian Cuisine.

The injuries were non-life threatening, deputies said. The incident remains under investigation. The names of the employee and suspects were not released.

Chula Vista police have identified a 26-year-old man as the suspect who vandalized and set ablaze an empty high school cafeteria on Thanksgiving Day. 

Four people were displaced after a single-story Vista home caught on fire Saturday afternoon.

The blaze occurred at a residence in the 1700 block of Hilo Drive at about 2:40 p.m., according to North Comm Fire Department officials.

About 20 firefighters and nine units were able to knock down the flames just before 3:10 p.m.

Crews managed to salvage a piano and some personal photos and memorabilia from the home. Officials estimate the damage caused by the blaze to be around $300,000.

No one was injured in the fire and the cause was under investigation.
 

The North County is dealing with major loss after the death of a San Diego State University professor and former Del Mar mayor.

A memorial Sunday morning at the Powerehouse Community Center honors Louis “Lou” Terrell, who died when he was struck and killed by a train while chasing his dog on Friday.

Those who knew him called him Lou. They say he gave countless hours to the community as a professor, a politician and an activist. They also say he loved dogs, especially his lab, Abe, who he was trying to save on these train tracks when he was killed.

“It's just a sense of loss I think that people say here's a person who dedicated many hours of his life to the community good,” said Joel Holliday, a good friend of Terrell.

On Friday, the former mayor and council man was walking his dog Abe unleashed on 11th street when an Amtrak train sounded its horn. Investigators believe that spooked his dog, sending him across the tracks causing Terrell to run after him. The train killed Terrell on impact.

“Hard to believe,” said Gordon Clanton, a friend and fellow professor at SDSU. “It takes time to adjust something like that. …  He took his dogs with him to school in his car and had them in his office”

But more than a dog lover, those who knew him say he was a leader. He started the Del Mar Foundation.  He was the president of Planned Parenthood San Diego County. He was the chair of the political science department as San Diego State.

He was a man not many will soon forget. “You don't find too many Lous,” Holliday said.

Terrell's family released a statement saying: "It's a tragic and shocking loss. He was beloved by his family and the community and former colleagues at SDSU."

Del Mar lifeguards took the family for a tribute to Terrell on Sunday morning at the beach on 19th Street. Terrell was an avid boogie boarder and spent a lot of time at the beach.

One person died and another was critically hurt after a large fire broke out in a midtown Manhattan high-rise Sunday morning, officials say. 

More than 200 firefighters worked to put out the three-alarm blaze, which began on the 20th floor of the 40-story building at 500 West 43rd St., on 10th Avenue., according to the FDNY.

Crews were able to get to the scene quickly, within 5 minutes, but it took some time for firefighters to get to the upper floors.

"In a building this size, it takes a lot of firefighters to get up to the upper floors," said FDNY Assistant Chief Sudnik. "It requires a lot of resources and it takes time." 

It took firefighters about an hour and 40 minutes to get the fire under control, according to the FDNY. It is unclear what sparked the fire. The occupant of the apartment in which the blaze started said he had stepped out to get something from the store when it started.

An FDNY official said two people were found in a stairwell near the 31st floor, seriously hurt from smoke inhalation and some burns. The victims, who may have been trying to escape the fire on their own, were taken to nearby hospitals in critical condition, and the NYPD later said that one had died.

"If people would have stayed in and opened a window in their apartment and stayed near the window and waited for the fire department to come, they would have been better off," said Sudnik. 

Seven other residents and some firefighters had some minor injuries. 

One person who lives in an apartment 12 floors above where the fire started said there was smoke damage in his unit.

"First thing I thought it was fog," said George Galey. "Then I couldn't see the building across street. I knew it was more than fog, it was smoke."

Officials said it would be awhile before residents were allowed back in the building, primarily because the elevators were still out of service. Red Cross was on the scene assisting. 

Delays and cancellations are adding up at the San Diego International Airport, but are not nearly as bad as the rest of the country.

As of 1 p.m. Sunday, the airport officials reported 11 flight cancellation and 90 delays ranging from 15 minutes to 3 hours. Flights to Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco and Houston have been reported.

Ground delays are reported across the eastern half of the country after a massive storm dropped more than a foot of snow on many cities.

John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York is open again aftger shutting down Sunday morning because of a plane that had landed at the airport skidded while exiting a runway.

There have been record low temperatures throughout the Midwest. And this deep freeze is reaching as far as the Gulf Coast. Meteorologists are predicting as low as 31 below zero in Minnesota and 15 below zero in Indianapolis and Chicago.

El Cajon police are asking the public for help in identifying a suspect behind two armed robberies and an attempted armed robbery committed at local restaurants.

The crimes have occurred at El Cajon restaurants over the past few weeks, according to Lt. Frank La Haye of ECPD.

At around 11 p.m. on Dec. 30, the suspect (pictured above) is said to have robbed a Subway located at 220 W. Main St. after entering the restaurant and displaying a handgun.

Days later, on Jan. 1, the suspect reportedly struck again, this time at a Rally's Burger at 1261 E. Main St. at about 7:30 p.m. Police say the man again brandished a handgun, but did not successfully rob the restaurant.

In the aforementioned robberies, the suspect is said to have worn a gray and black hooded sweatshirt and dark pants.

One day after the attempt on Jan. 1, police believe the same suspect, this time in different clothing, robbed a Little Cesar's Pizza located at 111 W. Washington Ave.

Witnesses have described the man as being in his early 20s and standing about 5 foot 8 inches tall.

A reward of $1,000 is being offered for information regarding the man's identity. Anyone with information was asked to call the Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at (888) 580-TIPS.

If defense wins in the playoffs, the Bengals should be in good shape. They have one of the best units in the NFL, which is interesting because they don't really have that standout, superstar, Ray Lewis, Ronnie Lott kind of guy.

They're just good everywhere. And one thing they do really, really, really, ridiculously well is take the ball away from the other team.

"That team thrives off of that defense," said Chargers tight end Antonio Gates. "That defense being able to create turnovers, get 11 hats to the football. To me, that's what stands out the most about Cincinnati, is that all 11 guys compete every single play."

That is the Calling card of a Marvin Lewis-coached defense. Over the last decade (since Lewis took over as Cincinnati's head coach) the Bengals have the fifth-best turnover ratio in the NFL, the fourth-most takeaways in the league, and the third-most points off turnovers.

"They've very disciplined," said Chargers head coach Mike McCoy. "The details matter to them, obviously, the way they play football. They have always created turnovers, very sound football team. It's been that way since Marvin's been there."

Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer is every bit the mastermind Lewis is. Zimmer, who has been Cincinnati's D.C. since 2008, has found a way to bottle up Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers. In 4 meetings against San Diego, Zimmer's defenses have held Rivers to five touchdowns, forced five interceptions, and sacked him nine times.

"It's very clear that, the system they run, those players know it very well," said Rivers. "They have a handful of those guys that have been together now a number of years, mixed in with some additions they've made the last couple. They play together, they know what they're doing, they believe in what they're doing, and those things added with the fact they've got really good players makes a heck of a defense."

NFL teams that win the turnover battle win the game, on average, 79 percent of the time. Just a plus-1 differential gives you a 69 percent chance to win. Have we made this abundantly clear yet?

In their last meeting, a 17-10 Bengals win a month ago, the Chargers turned it over three times, two of them inside the 25 yard line. The Bolts know they can't have the same kind of sloppy performance, especially in sloppy conditions.

"I think we just shot ourselves in the foot," said Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen. "I don't think it was too much of them stopping us. We caused turnovers for ourselves. Hopefully we can turn those turnovers in to touchdowns."

That would be a great idea. Under Lewis, the Bengals are 55-13-1 in games where they win the turnover battle. When Cincinnati gives it away more than they take it away, they're 12-54.

Hold on to the ball, and the Chargers have a real good chance to hold on to their hopes of a Super Bowl trip.

The Chargers, after making it to the playoffs this year for the first time since 2009, are moving on.

San Diego went into Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, where the Bengals had a perfect record at home this season, and came out victorious, 27-10. They will now face Denver next Sunday at 1:40 p.m. local time.

It was a game where turnovers mattered, as expected. Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton, who threw 20 interceptions in the regular season, lost the ball three times (once on a fumble and twice on interceptions). Cincinnati running back Giovanni Bernard was stripped of the ball in the second quarter by linebacker Donald Butler.

Big plays happened when big plays mattered.

In a game where it was supposed to snow -- (it didn't, just rained in the fourth quarter) -- the Chargers silenced the critics who didn't give them a chance all week, who said they didn't really deserve to be in the playoffs.

Here's how it went:

The Chargers lost the coin toss and the Bengals deferred, giving San Diego the ball first. Rivers was sacked five plays into the opening drive and the Bengals took the ball, but stalled on their first possession.

On the next drive, the Chargers did what they do best -- they controlled the clock on an 11-play methodical drive that was punctuated by a Danny Woodhead run up the middle for a touchdown.

In the second quarter, the Bengals tied the game, marching 60 yards down the field in 10 plays.

Chargers linebacker Donald Butler made a big play at the end of the second quarter when he stripped Bengals running back Giovanni Bernard near the red zone, forcing a fumble. Cornerback Richard Marshall recovered the fumble and the Chargers received the ball with less than two minutes before halftime.

The Bengals forced a three-and-out on the next drive and, on the following possession, kicker Mike Nugent converted a 46-yard field goal. The Bengals led the Chargers 10-7 going into halftime.

The Chargers didn't pick up a single first down in the second quarter.

But adjustments were made in the locker room.

In the third quarter, Rivers finally connected with a wide receiver for the first time in the game, hitting Keenan Allen for nine yards. The offense found a rhythm and a few plays later, Eddie Royal caught a 33-yard pass. On the next play, Rivers threw a touchdown to Ladarius Green and the Chargers took the lead, 14-10.

After attempting only six passes in the first half, Rivers went 6-for-6 for 68 yards and a touchdown in that third quarter drive.

On the Bengals' next drive, Andy Dalton fumbled the ball on a head-first slide, giving San Diego possession at Cincinnati's 46-yard-line. The Chargers capitalized this time with a 25-yard field goal by Chargers kicker Nick Novak, making it a seven point margin.

Dalton turned the ball over again on the next drive, picked off by cornerback Shareece Wright for the third turnover in five drives. The Bengals held San Diego to a field goal, but the Chargers were up by two scores.

Another interception by Dalton on the next drive (this time, picked off by linebacker Melvin Ingram) made it near impossible for the Bengals to come back, and a touchdown by Chargers running back Ronnie Brown with a little more than two minutes to play sealed the win for San Diego.

Traffic delays are being reported for Highland Avenue in National City after the Chargers’ playoff victory on Sunday.

Police say numerous fans are cruising the street, causing backups around the main strip.

The Chargers beat the Cincinnati Bengals on the road in a game that ended around 1:30 p.m. They play next Sunday in Denver against the Broncos at 1:40 p.m. local time.

A 25-year-old woman was killed Friday evening after being hit by a vehicle in Kearny Mesa, according to San Diego police.

The accident occurred at around 10:40 p.m. as the woman was walking southbound, in eastbound lanes, in the 5400 block of Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, according to Officer David Stafford of SDPD.

As the woman walked, she crossed in front of and was hit by a Ford Escape driven by a 38-year-old man headed who was headed eastbound on Clairemont Mesa Boulevard.

Stafford said the woman was later pronounced dead at the scene.

The Ford’s driver was not cited or arrested. "There will not be any enforcement taken on this accident," Stafford said in a media release.

The SDPD Traffic Division was said to be investigating the accident.