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Man Smokes Pot in Delivery Unit

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A Jupiter man was arrested after a nurse smelled marijuana being smoked in the delivery and infant unit of a Stuart hospital, authorities said.

A report of pot smoking on Tuesday, Feb. 4 brought authorities to Martin Memorial Medical Center, TCPalm.com reported.

David Bastin, 28, of Jupiter was busted and eventually charged with possession of under 20 grams of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to a Martin County Sheriff’s Office arrest affidavit. It wasn't immediately known whether he has an attorney.

The charge nurse had called and reported she could smell a strong odor of cannabis coming from the room where Bastin’s girlfriend was admitted, the affidavit said. When authorities spoke with Bastin in the lobby, they asked him to hand over the cannabis.

“The defendant reached in his right pocket and handed Officer Cernuto a black oblong device that the defendant called a vaporizer,” but when it was opened raw cannabis was found inside, the affidavit said.

Bastin was handcuffed and taken to the Martin County Jail. There Bastin refused to answer any questions the booking deputy was asking and became belligerent, the affidavit added.

He was held on $1,500 bond, but was released from jail on Wednesday, according to the sheriff’s office.



Photo Credit: Martin County Sheriff's Office

SDPD Misconduct Training Examined

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It’s been a tough time for the San Diego Police Department, and despite efforts to make changes, it may seem the situation is not any better.

In 2011, lurid details of stunning misconduct toward women sent former police officer Anthony Arevelos to prison.

Now, currect Officer Christopher Hays is facing accusations of sexual misconduct. 

Last March, Chief William Lansdowne explained what was being done to prevent more officer misconduct.

“We’ve put a lot of resources in to make sure we strengthen the department,” he said.

The changes included faster and more thorough investigations of alleged wrong doing, better training, a hotline to report misconduct and a special "wellness unit" to help officers get counseling before problems happen.

“It should be no different than walking into payroll to check the number of payroll deductions you have for tax purposes, or walking into our operational support office and asking for a flashlight battery. We’re another resource,” said Captain Sarah Creighton in March.

Psychologist Michael Mantel said Monday one cannot wait for officers to ask for help. The training must be given to everyone, and it must be preventative.

When asked, the SDPD did not explain how the training is conducted.

Former City Councilwoman Donna Frye who was instrumental in exposing the allegations against former San Diego Mayor Bob Filner, said when it comes to police officers assaulting women, it is not about training.

“If they need training to understand that it is wrong, they have no business being in office, or working as a police officer or in any other capacity in this city,” she said.

Interim Mayor Todd Gloria released this statement that reads, "While I ask all San Diegans to report any concerning activity they witness or experience so we can maintain a high quality public safety force, I must also state emphatically that Mr. Hays and Mr. Arevelos are anomalies in the San Diego Police Department. Our officers are upstanding citizens committed to the safety of our community. I have spoken with Chief Lansdowne about the current allegations against Mr. Hays and am confident in the Department's training and investigation protocols."

No one from the police department would comment on the issue. 

CHP Car Crashes During Pursuit

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A California Highway Patrol cruiser collided with another vehicle while chasing an SUV Monday evening, according to officials.

The pursuit started just after 5:30 p.m. CHP says officers tried to pull over a white Chevy Tahoe driving the wrong way on Sassafras Street, but the driver wouldn't stop.

The CHP cruiser chased the SUV onto northbound Interstate 5, according to officials. Just south of Old Town, the cruiser collided with another driver on the freeway.

The runaway driver exited on Old Town Avenue, where a new CHP unit tracked him down. The pursuit ended without incident in the 2700 block of Congress Street.

The suspect was taken into custody. His identity has not been released.

It is unclear what caused the crash involving the cruiser. CHP is investigating.

Check back for updates on this developing story.
 

Watch Live: NBC 7 News

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Major Explosion at NH Plant

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Authorities say between 13 to 15 people were injured in an explosion at a ball bearings factory in New Hampshire Monday, and at least two suffer from critical injuries.

The explosion took place at New Hampshire Ball Bearings on Route 202 in Peterborough, N.H. Emergency crews responded to a report of an explosion and burns just after 3:30 p.m. ET

Nearby businesses reported the explosion shook them as far as a half a mile away.

About 100 firefighters responded to the scene, along with rescue personnel from 10 different towns. Crews are currently in a holding pattern since it's unknown what caused the explosion or where it originated from.

"Yeah, when it's a hazardous material situation, every fire department is trained to handle a hazardous material situation, and part of that training is knowing when not to go in." Eric Bowman of the Peterborough Fire Dept. said. "If you don't know enough, you're not going to put yourself in danger. Luckily, we have the Keene Hazmat team here, that is their expertise, they're going to handle any of those challenges and deem it safe before any body else goes in."

N.H. Governor Maggie Hassan released the following statement Monday evening: "My thoughts and prayers go out to those injured in today's explosion, to their families and loved ones, and to the entire Peterborough area where NH Ball Bearings is such an important member of the community."



Photo Credit: AP

Police Work to Close Pot Shops

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The Chula Vista Police Department is working to close several medical marijuana dispensaries that continue to pop up the South Bay, despite a 2011 city council ordinance that prohibits them within city limits.

On Monday, CVPD Captain Lon Turner told NBC 7 they’re working to shut down three marijuana shops, one of which is near Feaster Charter School.

That dispensary at the corner of Broadway and E Street is identified as the Nature’s Leaf Collective by flyers inside, but no outdoor signs give an indication of what the building might hold, and the windows are painted black.

Turner said the police department is aware of the shop and they’re working with the City Attorney’s Office to close it. The property’s owners were sent a cease and desist letter by the city attorney two weeks ago.

“In addition to the cease and desist order, there are also legal remedies through the civil process to take them to court,” said Turner.

The dispensary owner’s attorney, Lance Rogers, said his client hasn’t had any correspondence with the city.

According to Turner, the business plan for the dispensaries seems to be open without permission and operate as long as possible.

“Sometime they will open up businesses, and they will wait to receive attention from authorities, and then they’ll close their business down,” said Turner. “It can be profitable.”

Rogers would not say if his client received permission from the city to operate a marijuana dispensary.

NBC 7’s efforts to talk with the owner of the Nature’s Leaf Collective directly were unsuccessful.

Marine Corps Times Removed From Exchange Checkouts

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Marines and their families may have noticed a familiar newspaper missing from the checkout lines at base exchanges.

The Marine Corps Times, an independent newspaper that had been prominently displayed at base exchanges, has now been pushed to the back of the store, according to the paper’s managing editor.

Andrew deGrandpre told NBC 7 that military leaders removed the paper from checkout lanes last December. He said the newspaper learned about the decision through a distributor, not from the Marine Corps Exchanges.

“It’s a little unsettling only because we have a longstanding relationship with the exchange services,” deGrandpre said.

According to deGrandpre, Marine Corps leaders told the newspaper that the change is part of an effort to “professionalize” storefronts.

Besides being pushed to the back of the store, deGrandpre said the new policy also limits the number of copies that can be on display.

“There’s absolutely going to difficulty for Marines to not only find the product, but also to purchase one if they want,” he said.

On Monday, the Marine Corps declined to speak to NBC 7 about the issue.

However, people at the Marine Corps Times are wondering if the move was in response to an ongoing investigation into Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Jim Amos and his legal team.

“This stems from a YouTube video that surfaced in 2012 showing four Marine Scout Snipers urinating on the remains of dead insurgents in Afghanistan,” deGrandpre explained.

“(It) led to a pretty big outcry not only in Afghanistan, but also in the states as well. But it raised questions if the commandant and those close to him might have abused their authority to make sure these Marines were punished for what they did,” he said.

DeGranpre said the paper tried to resolve the issue over product placement with the military privately, but officials were uncooperative and the Marine Corps Times went public with the issue.

The retail director at the Marine Corps Exchange at MCAS Miramar said he could not comment.



Photo Credit: NBC10 Philadelphia

San Diego Athletes to Watch: Tues

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Every day NBC 7 will provide a quick look at the key events of the day as well as the local athletes who will be competing. Here are our “San Diego Athletes to Watch” for Monday, Feb. 10:

Special Section: Sochi 2014

San Diego’s two-time Olympic gold medalist Shaun White will compete Tuesday in the halfpipe.

Set your alarm - qualifying runs begin at 2 a.m. PT with semifinals starting at 7 a.m. PT.

Finals are scheduled for a more comfortable viewing time of 9:30 a.m. PT. Get results here

American luger Erin Hamlin was among the athletes who trained at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista. On Tuesday, she’s going to try and make history for the U.S. Luge Team by medaling in women’s singles.

Run 3 begins at 6:30 a.m. PT and Run 4 is scheduled for 8 a.m. PT.  Get results here

Watch: How to Relax at 90 mph

There are also events scheduled in men’s and women’s curling, women’s biathlon 10km pursuit and women’s ice hockey.

Athletes in men’s and women’s cross-country and women’s ski slopestyle will compete in finals Tuesday.

In figure skating, the pairs short program kicks off Tuesday night at the Sochi Iceberg Palace (7 a.m. PT) with the competition concluding on Wednesday.

Read: Lipnitskaya Uses Pressure As Fuel for Big Performance

Olympic speedskaters Emily Scott and Jessica Smith will begin their pursuit for a medal in the women’s 500m at 4:45 a.m. PT.

Both women spent some time in San Diego training before their trip to Sochi, Russia.

Two more Olympic Training Center athletes, Lindsay Van and Jessica Jerome, will compete in the women’s individual normal hill event at 9:30 a.m. PT

More Sochi 2014 Coverage:



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Padres Reach Deal with Time Warner

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After a standoff that lasted two years, Fox Sports San Diego and Time Warner Cable announced Monday that they have reached an agreement.

TWC will begin offering Fox Sports SD by March 30, just in time for the start of the 2014 San Diego Padres season. The channel position has not yet been determined.

“We’re happy for the many Padres fans who are Time Warner Cable customers who now will be able to follow their hometown baseball team on TV all season long,” said Henry Ford, Fox Sports San Diego Senior Vice President and General Manager in a statement issued jointly with Time Warner Cable.  “With this agreement, Padres baseball will now be available in more homes in San Diego than ever before.”

Time Warner Cable services about 22 percent of households in San Diego County. In recent months the Padres have been executing a plan to widely engage fans. Monday's announcement will certainly help that cause.

“The Padres are thrilled about today’s agreement between Time Warner Cable and FOX Sports San Diego," said Padres Executive Chairman Ron Fowler. "We thank our fans for their long-standing patience for the last several years. We also thank FOX Sports San Diego for their diligence in making this partnership happen. And finally, we thank Time Warner and welcome them back to the Padres family. We’re excited to bring San Diego Padres baseball into every home in San Diego County. We are also pleased that our broadcast will now be available for the many Padres fans in Hawaii as well. This is a great day for Padres fans everywhere.”

 



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Sochi Day 3: Mancuso's Medal Streak

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Things got hot in Sochi Monday — well, a lot warmer, at least. And that created soft, potentially dangerous conditions in the competitions on the slopes — not to mention on the highly criticized snowboard halfpipe.

But the softening snow actually may have helped American Julia Mancuso. And the Canadian athletes didn't seem to mind, either.

Those were among the biggest developments of Day 3 of the Winter Olympics.

Mancuso happy with bronze

Alpine skier Julia Mancuso won a gold medal in Torino, two silvers in Vancouver. And on Monday, she became the first American Alpine athlete to win medals in three consecutive Olympics — this time with bronze.

Mancuso, 29, finished third in the women’s super combined — a mix of downhill and slalom — and wasted no time celebrating. She laughed and hugged her rivals at the slalom finish line, looking as if she had won.

This was indeed a triumph for Mancuso, who had struggled of late. She was fastest in the downhill leg of the competition, and held her own in the slalom depsite it being her first time competing in the event all season.

Germany's Maria Hoefl-Riesch won gold in the super combined, and Austrian Nicole Hosp took silver.

Russia’s medal surge

After getting shut out on the first day of the Olympics, the host Russians have stormed back in the medal standings.

Their four medals on Sunday topped the field, and on Monday they won two more. When competition ended Monday, Russia stood in sixth place, with a total of six medals.

Canada, which had a big day in the moguls ski competition, overtook Norway for first place, closing out the day with seven total medals, including three golds.

The Netherlands, which swept the men's 500m speedskating competition, moved into second place, with seven medals, and overtook Norway for first place, with three golds and three silvers. Norway fell to third, with seven total medals, including two golds.

In fourth is Team USA, with five total medals, including two golds.

Feeling like spring

Remember, Sochi is a seaside resort.

The weather there Monday crested at 61 degrees, making for springlike conditions that caused problems with the snow sports and served as a reminder that the seaside city, when not hosting the Olympics, is a popular sub-tropical resort.

Some skiers were seen putting snow in their suits to cool off. Ski jumpers landed in slush. Sunscreen, instead of hats and mittens, became a necessity.

Many jumps at the RusSki Gorki Jumping Center were postponed because of the abundance of soft snow in the landing area, the Associated Press reported.

Temperatures are expected to drop in the mountains of Sochi on Tuesday, then climb again Wednesday, perhaps to 63 degrees.

Fortunately, Olympic organizers have planned for such a circumstance. For months, they've been storing stockpiles of snow.

The Vancouver Games in 2010 suffered from a problems with warm temperatures and rain wreaking havoc on competitions.

Hockey romp for Team USA

Fifty-five seconds.

That’s how much time the U.S. women’s hockey team took to score three goals against Switzerland on Monday.

They didn’t look back, finishing with a 9-0 victory that puts them one step closer to the gold medal they’re expected to face off with Canada to win.

The opening sequence was the quickest three-goal sequence in Olympic history, according to the AP.

The Americans, with a 2-0 record, is headed next to the medal round. Their closest rivals, Canada, will be their next opponent in the opening round-robin.

Snowboarders on halfpipe: Not stoked

Sochi's snowboarders have some harsh words for the Olympic halfpipe, where competition begins Tuesday.

One called it "garbage." Another, "brutal." A third, "lame."

In other words: the course isn't in proper shape.

The complaints began Saturday, after the first round of training runs, and focused on the 22-foot walls' steepness. Designers from Development Snowparks of New Zealand made fixes but apparently created new problems. After Sunday, riders said the bottom of the halfpipe was too bumpy.

Organizers moved the third training run from Monday morning to Monday evening and said they'd talk to athletes for guidance in making sure the course will be ready for competition Tuesday.

American snowboarding star Shaun White said he had faith it would.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Officer Faces Serious Allegations

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The San Diego Police officer arrested Sunday for sexual battery and false imprisonment charges denied all the allegations against him, according to his attorney. 

Officer Christopher Hays is accused of giving improper pat downs to five women and coercing a sixth to give him oral sex. 

His attorney Richard L. Pinckard released a statement Monday, saying accusations are not evidence. 

"He is a decorated officer, having demonstrated selfless courage by entering a burning house and rescuing people from inside. The character traits for that level of valor are wholly inconsistent with the nature of these allegations," said Pinckard's statement. 

The response came in light of another attorney's announcement Monday, which gave more details about Hays' alleged encounter with his sixth accuser.

Attorney Dan Gilleon’s client alleges that Officer Christopher Hays forced her to give him oral sex in exchange for letting her walk free from an incident in Oct. 2012.

“He convinced her that he could, if he wanted to, arrest her,” said Gilleon. “But there was a way out of it for her and that would be to give him oral sex.

Gilleon would not say what Hays suspected the woman of doing, but he did say that Hays came across her when she was by a car that had broken down.

Hays gave the woman a ride home, and as he parked in front of her house, she complied with his request inside his patrol car, Gilleon’s client told him.

Gilleon said the woman did not report it because she did not believe the police would believe her.

However, after seeing media reports last week that other alleged victims had come forward, she decided to do the same. Gilleon said she called the police but never received a call back, so she looked for an attorney.

On Sunday, SDPD Chief William Lansdowne announced five alleged victims had contacted the police to accuse Hays of improper pat downs and the sixth woman had gone to Gilleon. Lansdowne said there was no skin-to-skin contact in the first five cases.

"In the course of the detention, officers search people, and in this case we believe the searches were done improperly, but it didn't go underneath inside the clothing -- it didn't go there," said Lansdowne on Thursday.

However, he confirmed Sunday there was alleged “sexual contact” in the sixth case.

The accusations brought by Gilleon’s client have now been handed over to the District Attorney’s Office, which will attempt to corroborate her story.

According to Gilleon, the DA will use circumstantial evidence like GPS and radio calls to try to place Hays with the alleged victim, as they did in the case of another former officer caught up in a sex scandal: Anthony Arevalos.

The DA has not filed any charges in Hays' case so far.

Gilleon called his client a credible young woman who is not excited about the fact that she has to share a “degrading and humiliating” story.

“This is not what she thinks of as enjoyment, this is actually very embarrassing for her,” said Gilleon.

Hays was booked into the San Diego Central Jail on two felony counts of false imprisonment with violence and three misdemeanor counts of sexual battery, all stemming from the first four women’s accounts.

The alleged incidents took place between Nov. 12, 2012 and Dec. 23, 2013, and the women range in age from 20 to 30 years old.

Hays posted his $130,000 bail Sunday, and his arraignment is scheduled for Feb. 18.

Pinckard's full statement on Hays' behalf is included below: 

"Making a detailed statement without the benefit of the facts is neither prudent nor conducive to the fair and effective administration of justice. I am confident that most intelligent people reasonably understand that accusations are not evidence, regardless of how salacious the accusations might be.

"In the days and weeks to come, we will be carefully reviewing the information gathered during the police investigation with a specific focus on the credibility and motivations of the people providing the information.

"What I know at this point is that Officer Hays denies the allegations. He is a decorated officer, having demonstrated selfless courage by entering a burning house and rescuing people from inside. The character traits for that level of valor are wholly inconsistent with the nature of these allegations."

City Settles Filner Civil Suit for $250K

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The City of San Diego announced Monday it has reached a $250,000 settlement in one of three civil cases involving former Mayor Bob Filner. 

The lawsuit, brought by Irene McCormack Jackson, alleges that Filner harassed her several times while she worked as his communications director, once asking her to come to work without underwear on.

City Attorney Jan Goldsmith and McCormack Jackson's attorney Gloria Allred negotiated the settlement, and it holds the city as an employer strictly liable for Filner's actions.

Goldsmith said Filner signed off on the agreement on Friday, which releases him and the city from further liability.

"Nothing will come out of [Filner's] pocket," said Goldsmith. "This is the city's responsibility under the settlement."

The terms of the settlement were unanimously approved by the San Diego City Council Monday. The $250,000 covers all claims -- including attorney fees and claims against Filner -- and will be paid in one lump sum from the city treasury, as well as possibly insurance coverage.

"Both sides won because we resolved it early, before a year of very expensive litigation plus a trial at the end. I think this is an example of good lawyering on both sides," said Goldsmith.

The case had been scheduled to go to trial on Feb. 2015, and Goldsmith expected it would have gone for weeks, costing both sides more than the settlement amount.

McCormack Jackson, who is currently on unpaid leave, will leave city employment effective April 1, 2014, on her own will. She is expected to hold her own news conference Tuesday with Allred, her attorney.

Two other lawsuits are still pending against the city: one by a Parks and Recreation employee, and another by a Marine veteran and nurse based on a single incident.

When asked about his reaction to the settlement, Interim San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria released this statement:

I am pleased that a settlement has been reached in this case and that our City can continue to move forward beyond the actions of our previous mayor. I thank City Attorney Jan Goldsmith for working diligently to resolve this matter. Further, Irene McCormack-Jackson deserves the gratitude of our City for standing up courageously against treatment no one should ever endure.

On Tuesday, San Diegans will vote to elect a new mayor. Either Democrat David Alvarez or Republican Kevin Faulconer will fill the spot left by Filner.

"We're in a better place now. We are all moving on," Alvarez said in response to the settlement. "Tomorrow, we'll have a new mayor, and that will determine the future of our city."

Faulconer did not respond to NBC 7's requests for comment.

Special Section: Race for Mayor

McCormick Jackson’s allegations in July led to a number of different women coming forward and eventually led to Filner stepping down from office. McCormack Jackson was the first to publicly identify herself as a victim by name.

"It’s really a very difficult situation for her," said Goldsmith. "She handled it with dignity and I wish her well."

Former City Councilmember Donna Frye, who was the first to accuse the mayor of sexually harassing women, said she's glad McCormack Jackson is getting "some long overdue justice."

"“For Irene, it was never about the money," said Frye. "But there still have to be consequences for people’s bad behavior.”

In October, 2013, Filner pleaded guilty to felony false imprisonment and two misdemeanor charges of battery.

He was ordered in December to 90 days home confinement as punishment for the three charges that ended his term as San Diego mayor.

Under the terms, Filner was put on probation for three years with six months of custody stayed.

He must agree not to seek or hold public office, undergo treatment as recommended by a licensed psychiatrist or psychologist and surrender his city retirement.

For the first 18 months he has to report periodically to a probation officer. If there aren't any problems, he will be unsupervised though still on probation.

Frye said while the outcome of the settlement is good for McCormack Jackson, it’s bad for the San Diego taxpayers, who will essentially be footing the bill. She referred to other recent city settlements involving former police officer Anthony Arevalos

"If a sworn police officer or the mayor of the city does not have the common sense and needs training to know you don’t put your hands up a woman’s pants or you don’t grab her breast or grope her, if they need training to understand that is wrong, they have no business being in office or working as a police officer and in any other capacity in this city," said Frye.

She said the public needs to let their elected officials know that this type of behavior is unacceptable. 

 

Best of the Sochi Olympics: Day 4

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The fourth day of the Winter Olympics in Sochi kicked off on the snow and ice. Click to see the best photos from the competition.

Photo Credit: AP

Seamus O'Connor Competes in Halfpipe Contest

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San Diego's Olympic gold medalist Shaun White is viewed as the favorite entering the halfpipe event Tuesday as he goes for his third straight Olympic gold.

Special Section: Sochi 2014

However, there's another San Diegan to watch. Sixteen-year-old Seamus O’Connor is also competing in this event.

In Sochi he’s one of just a few snowboarders in the world good enough to compete in both slopestyle where he was the youngest competitor and halfpipe.

"I was really anxious, I was shaking,” O’Connor said about the slopestyle competition. “All I wanted to do was go and snowboard and like that was definitely a lot more different to other contests."

O'Connor made the finals in slopestyle and ended up finishing 19th. One thing he’s very proud of from his performance was his first-ever triple cork.

O’Connor met up with NBC 7 just outside the Athlete’s Village. With green shoes and clothes, O'Connor is showing his Irish roots.

“Everyone hangs out, trades pins, that’s a big thing. Trading pins is huge here," O’Connor said.

The Ramona teenager has discovered his Irish pin is a hot commodity as is his talent, evident from an early age at Big Bear.

Read: Ramona Teenage Competes Among Snowboarding Elite

His favorite part of the Sochi experience so far has been Opening Ceremony. "It was something special,” he said. “I'm never gonna forget that."

But make no mistake this teenager is All-American and raised in Ramona.

"I want to say to all my teachers back in Ramona, you guys are amazing and the support from Ramona has just been phenomenal. As well as all my friends down in San Diego,” he said adding in a hello to his girlfriend, Brittney.

"So everyone back home, even people I haven't talked to in years, has been writing on my wall, messaging me, calling me, getting Skype messages, good luck videos, cards, it's been amazing," he said.

His parents now live in Point Loma and when they're not traveling with him around the world they welcome him home for about 4 months a year.

"I do surf, but to be honest I have a little bit of phobia of sharks in the ocean, I'm more used to the frozen water," O’Connor said.

A local teenager with a license to shred - even if he still hasn't passed his drivers test.



Photo Credit: NBC 7 News

Lauer to Fill in for Bob Costas

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NBC's Bob Costas will be taking the day off from primetime Olympic coverage Tuesday because of an ongoing eye infection. Today show's Matt Lauer is relieving him.

"Reluctantly, I was trying to throw a complete game here, but I think we're going to have to go to the bullpen, and I don't know if you're aware of this or not, but you're Mariano Rivera, at least tonight,'' Costas told Lauer by phone on Tuesday.

Lauer sounded surprised: “So I’m stepping in for you tonight, the master of Olympic prime time?”

"Let's hope it's only tonight," Costas said. "I'm walking around, I might as well be playing 'Marco Polo.' I have no idea where I am."

Costas has been dealing with the eye infection since the Olympics kicked off last week. The infection, which started in his left eye, has now spread to his right eye. On Monday's broadcast, Costas' eyes appeared red and watery with his left eye nearly closed. The veteran anchor, who normally wears contacts on air, has been sporting a pair of glasses.

Despite his eye problem, Costas still managed to have some fun during Monday night's broadcast when sharing a drink with NBC analyst Mary Carillo.

"I'm not really that much of a vodka guy,'' Costas told Carillo. "I'm looking at it this way, though. My eyes can't get any redder, no matter what I do."

"By the way, I will be doing the shots of vodka starting in about 15 minutes,'' Lauer joked on Tuesday after learning he would be stepping in.

It’ll be the first time since 1998 that Costas won’t be hosting an Olympic broadcast in prime time, according to NBC Sports.

Costas had some advice for Lauer on Tuesday.

"Just remember, Tatyana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov,'' he said. "There's your Russian dancing pair. After that, you're on your own."

 



Photo Credit: TODAY; NBC Olympics

"Legal Alternative" to Medical Pot?

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A San Diego company is producing and selling what could be a legal alternative to medical marijuana.

HempMedPX is creating hemp oil rich in CBD or cannabidiol. Unlike THC in marijuana, CBD does not cause the “high” effect. Rather, recent studies indicate “CBD to be well tolerated and safe” and is being tested to treat children with uncontrolled seizures.

Dr. Joshua Hartsel tests the products of HempMedPX and says they contain less than 1 percent THC and up to 90 percent CBD. He says the products are tested three to five times and at least once at a third-party lab.

“It’s tested not only for the THC and CBD levels, it’s tested for pesticides, pathogens, anything that could be really harmful to the consumer,” Hartsel said. “We produce CBD on a large scale. Right now, no one is doing that."

NBC 7 spoke to Dr. Steven Poceta who is a neurologist at Scripps Clinic Torrey Pines and the president-elect of the San Diego County Medical Society. He says some patients with epilepsy are using CBD, and there is some suggestion that the component is effective.

“There is at least one basic science study that suggests CBD could be an effective anticonvulsant,” he said. “It has some promise, but at this point, unfortunately, it's not well studied enough to understand side effects and the long term benefits ratio of using this.”

Poceta says in extreme cases, it may be reasonable for patients to consider trying CBD after consulting their doctor.

One of those extreme cases is out of Orange County. Blake Zika, 22, has suffered from frequent seizures since he was four years old. His illness has left him developmentally challenged.

There have been times Blake would have a seizure every half hour, and his mother, Stacy Lynch, would worry how he would get through the night.

“He had 200 seizures Monday through Thursday, so bad he lost his swallowing reflex,” Lynch said. “I have 25 known drugs that he had to be put in a medically induced coma and these are all FDA approved and the side effects are just horrible.”

In August, she learned online about CBD and obtained hemp oil from a friend of a friend. That oil happened to be high in THC and made Blake have more seizures. In search of a safe, consistent product, Lynch found HempMedPX. She put the CBD-rich hemp oil into a pill for Blake to ingest.

Since then, she says he has had far fewer seizures and is able to sleep through the night.

The oil is not cheap. According to Charles Vest, the Vice President of Communications for HempMedPX, a week’s worth of their most potent oil cost about $400 to $500.

“What we would like is to get that to like a month’s supply for that amount of money,” Vest said. “We want nothing more than to have the cost be the same as sugar or salt. More and more people find out about it, the lower the price will go.”

Poceta remains cautiously optimistic about the benefits of CBD. He says the California Medical Association has called for increased regulation of the medical marijuana industry to allow for more research and more information for the public.

Hit-and-Run Car Made U-Turn After Deadly Collision

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A San Diego man died after he was struck by a vehicle and left in the road with life-threatening injuries officials said late Monday.

National City police officers said the man, identified only as a 49-year-old San Diego resident, was struck on Highland Avenue near East 30th Street around 10:30 p.m.

When officers arrived, they found the man suffering from injuries consistent with a car collision.

He was rushed to a nearby hospital but died before arriving.

Video: 3 Recent Hit-and-Run Deaths Investigated

According to police, the man appears to have been pushing a shopping cart westbound across Highland Avenue in the middle of the block when he was hit by a vehicle traveling northbound.

After the crash, officers said the car made a U-turn and headed southbound on Highland.

Investigators believe it’s a gold or silver vehicle with front-end damage, last seen driving westbound on State Route 54.

NCPD says the investigation is continuing, and they will be checking nearby businesses for surveillance video.

Anyone with information about the accident can call National City PD at 619-336-4411 ext. 0.

Fans React to Shaun White's Finish on Social Media

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San Diegans have followed Shaun White's career for years since he first competed in Torino in 2006. On Tuesday, many fans watched online as White tried for a third gold medal in the snowboarding event that made him a household name.
 
But, it wasn't to be. White finished fourth in the finals early Tuesday (PT) and the news spread quickly across social  media. Here are just some of the comments we captured on the shocking results.
 
 


Photo Credit: NBC Sports/Getty Images

Shaun White's Halfpipe Run -Spoiler

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San Diego Olympian Shaun White finished fourth, ending his run for a third gold medal in Olympic snowboarding's halfpipe competition.

White landed hard on the edge of the course on the first of his two final runs. He finished his final run cleanly and then waited for results at the finish line.

The American superstar, who was raised in San Diego's North County, faced off with Swiss athlete Iouri Podladtchikov, 15-year-old Ayumu Hirano from Japan and fellow U.S. rider Danny Davis in search of a record third consecutive gold medal.

White's final score, 90.25, put him in fourth position - off the medal stand.

Read: Fans React to White's Fourth Place Finish

Podladtchikov, known as I-Pod, threw down the gauntlet when he earned a 94.75 score.

Hirano was then guaranteed a medal after he scored a 93.50.

With White's final run, Japanese rider Taku Hiraoka earned the bronze with a score of 92.25.

In the qualifying runs, White appeared to be on his way to new heights - scoring 95.75 out of 100 on his first of two runs.

In an NBC exclusive, White discussed the burden of expectation and how he stays motivated to compete.

Watch: Crashes, Injuries Can't Keep Shaun White Down

Just one week ago White stirred up controversy by dropping from the slopestyle snowboarding event to focus exclusively on the halfpipe.

Officials postponed training on the halfpipe Monday because of warm weather and slushy conditions.

Later that night, White discussed course conditions with reporters calling the pipe "not the best."

Watch: White: Halfpipe Course Not Up to Par

White's parents and siblings, who have followed along with him on the ride to super stardom, were on the mountain for the final run.

Check back for updates on this developing story.

Weekend Events: Feb. 13-16

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From the shore to the stage, love is in the air this weekend in San Diego. Here are some ways to spend it with your special someone. (And if Valentine’s Day is the last thing you want to celebrate, we have some suggestions for you, too.)

Thursday, Feb. 13

Circus Vargas
7:30 p.m. in Mission Bay Park
Prepare to feel amazed (and out of shape) as you watch acrobats and trapeze artists fly through the Big Top. "Magikaria Extreme" also features tightrope walking, fire juggling and of course, magic tricks.

Friday, Feb. 14

Anti-Valentine’s Day Party
5 p.m. in the Gaslamp Quarter
There are plenty of romantic restaurants to take your date this Valentine’s Day. (Here are some suggestions.) But if this Hallmark holiday isn’t your thing, head to the Shout! House for drink and appetizer specials. The party's motto? Love Stinks – Let’s Drink!

Saturday, Feb. 15

Valentine’s Harbor Cruise
Boarding begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Embarcadero
Picture this: Sipping champagne and watching the sunset from a yacht in the San Diego Bay. What could be more romantic?

"The Elixir of Love"
7 p.m. at the Civic Theater
Join the cast of the San Diego Opera for opening night of "The Elixir of Love." You’ll laugh watching Nemorino discover whether or not love potion actually works.

Sunday, Feb. 16

The Winter’s Tale
2 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Old Globe Theatre
Instead of the typical movie date, why not take your date to a live performance? This Shakespearean love story is Barry Edelstein’s directorial debut at the Old Globe.

Acro-Cats
3 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Victory Theatre
Have you ever seen a cat play the drums? How about balance on a ball? These talented felines may inspire you to go home and teach Fluffy some new tricks.

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