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Chief Out, Mayor In: Changes for SD

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Big changes coming to San Diego this week. Kevin Faulconer takes over as mayor while Police Chief William Lansdowne retires. NBC 7's Matt Rascon gives us a closer look at what it will mean for the city.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

SF to Vote on Bottled Water Ban

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San Francisco officials are set to vote on a bottled water ban this week.

The proposal would outlaw the sale of bottled drinking water on city property starting Oct. 1 for indoor events and in 2016 for outdoor events.

The proposal also calls for more drinking fountains and water bottle refilling stations.

Before the vote on Tuesday, a rally is set to be held on the steps of City Hall, including a blind taste test of San Francisco's tap water versus bottled water brands.

4 hikers saved from flooding

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Four hikers were rescued overnight after they became trapped by rising floodwaters in Malibu Creek State Park, sheriff's officials said Sunday.

The hikers were rescued around 3 a.m. and flown out by helicopter after a risky rescue, Los Angeles County sheriff's Capt. Mike Parker said.

The hikers were cold and exhausted but not hurt.

They had become trapped between a high wall and rising floodwaters at Malibu Creek in a remote area of the park.

One of the hikers called for help around 6:30 p.m. as it was getting dark and their cellphones were dying, the sheriff's department said.

A storm that has pounded California through the weekend is easing. But the risk of mudslides remains, and local creeks and drainage channels are swollen with water.



Photo Credit: Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

Tons of Mud Surround Foothill Home

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Crews attempted to clear mud that piled up in the backyard of a home in the foothills east of Los Angeles as workers in a coastal community repaired a sinkhole left behind by the first significant storms to hit Southern California in months.

In Azusa, about 25 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles, homeowners shoveled mud and debris from their foothill properties, many of which were under evacuation orders during the storms. Residents were allowed to return home just before noon Sunday.

City crews hauled about 200 tons of mud from the back of one house, where mud piled halfway up to  the rim of a family's basketball hoop and built up around the home's foundation. Firefighters dug a trench to relieve some of the pressure on the foundation.

"When we first saw it, it was little heartbreaking," said homeowner Amanda Heinlein. "We shed a few tears.

"But then, it's been 24 hours and the change has been night and day."

The area is just below a hillside that burned in January's Colby fire.

The 20-by-10-foot hole at Ventura Road at Hemlock Street in Oxnard was another reminder of the storms that began last week and continued to bring rain through Sunday. There were no reports of injuries of damage to vehicles, but traffic will be routed around the sinkhole until it is repaired.

In the Hollywood Hills, a mudslide blocked an entrance to homes and brought down a tree and power lines near Temple Hill Drive. Power was restored in the neighborhood.

Along the coast, storm-driven waves covered much of the mile-long Zuma Beach in Malibu with sand and kelp as water surged through a parking lot seawall. As the surf swelled over the Redondo Beach Pier Saturday night, The King  Harbor Yacht Club was evacuated and access to the area remained restricted.

Saturday's steady downpour dropped up to 6 inches of rain in downtown  Los Angeles and up to 3 inches in the coastal areas, but the storm that moved  in Thursday was said to be on its way out today, according to the National  Weather Service.

Expect dry conditions are warmer temperatures this week.

Food Truck Rules Approved

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Food trucks will now have to abide new rules approved by the San Diego City Council Monday.

The ordinance requires the food truck operators stick to set hours of operation while in residential areas. If the truck is within 300 feet of a home, it can serve between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

The rule is an effort to reduce late-night noise for residents, according to a release from City Council President Todd Gloria’s office.

Also under the ordinance, any private property owner who wants to host a food truck must first apply for an over-the-counter permit from the city’s Development Services Department.

Food truck operators themselves are not required to get the permits, and neither are schools, hospitals, religious facilities, construction sites or other industrial area property owners.

If they pick a space with “limited on-street parking,” the trucks will be required to move to private property to preserve the vehicle spaces and avoid pedestrian-vehicle crashes.

Operators are also required to clean 25 feet around their vehicle before serving.

“The ordinance is a fair approach to protect public health, safety and welfare while providing for mobile food truck operations on private property and in the public right-of-way, and I know food truck operators will benefit from having this clarity,” said Gloria in the release.

But some food truck owners are not as thrilled with the new restrictions.

When asked about the possibility of rules last month, Stuffed food truck owner Alex Gould spoke out against them.

He said he and his wife could be forced to move to a different city if the restrictions become too harsh. 

The city council is required to review the ordinance in one year to take into account its effectiveness, public input and potential changes.

Weekend Events: March 6-9

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Rained in last weekend? Make up for it this weekend by hitting up these local events.

Thursday, March 6

“The Fruit Hunters”
7 p.m. at UC San Diego
Foovie (noun)- Dinner and a movie rolled into one. Watch the documentary “The Fruit Hunters” and enjoy cuisine inspired by the film.

Friday, March 7

Rock in the Park
7 p.m.- 10 p.m. at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center
This isn’t your typical field trip to the science center. Listen to live music and explore more than 100 hands-on exhibits (minus the kids.)

Saturday, March 8

Ninth Annual Cherry Blossom Festival
10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Balboa Park
Bring the whole family to the Japanese Friendship Garden for authentic Japanese street food, a Beer and Sake tent, crafts and more.

Sunday, March 9

“Macbeth”
8 p.m. at Liberty Station
San Diego-based performance group The Trip puts a modern spin on the Shakespearean tragedy.



Photo Credit: AP

San Diego Keeps Close Eye on Ukraine Conflict

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San Diego, with its large military population, is paying close attention to Russia’s aggressive move in Ukraine. NBC 7’s military reporter Bridget Naso explains why the odds are strongly against a U.S. military response, at least for now. She also has reaction from the pastor at St. John the Baptizer Ukrainian Catholic Church.

Mayor Faulconer Sworn In

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Kevin Faulconer took the oath of office Monday, becoming the mayor of San Diego months after a sex scandal forced the mid-term resignation of former U.S. Congressman Bob Filner.

"We are one city. San Diego is not at its best until every community is at its best," Faulconer said to the standing-room only crowd in reference to the  different neighborhoods and cultures living within the city's boundaries.

"I will work tirelessly so every neighborhood has quality parks, libraries and community centers," he said.

He pledged to prioritize street repairs and promised to pave 500 miles of roads and invest $900 million over the next five years.

Faulconer also discussed his choice for police chief, Assistant Chief Shelley Zimmerman, saying she is the right candidate at the right time to replace outgoing Chief William Lansdowne.

He identified his administration's need to address the scandals happening inside the department as one of his highest priorities.

He also pledged to increase diversity in the force.  "It's part of a greater quest, to bring equal representation and fairness to neighborhood services," the new mayor said.

Mayor Faulconer, San Diego’s fourth Republican mayor since 1992, is ticketed to serve until December, 2016, when the remainder of Filner’s term is up.

After the San Diego City Council appoints someone to fill Faulconer's 2nd District seat, the new mayor may face a Democratic super majority through the end of the year. 

After his 9-point margin victory over fellow City Councilmember David Alvarez in February's Special Election, Faulconer told NBC 7's Politically Speaking host Gene Cubbison that he is intent on delivering just what he promised during his campaign – straightforward, reform-minded governance, a solid financial footing, and outreach across the partisan aisle on the City Council.

Beginning in July 2013, a number of different women levied allegations against then-mayor Bob Filner accusing him of inappropriate touching and sexual harassment.

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

He is currently serving a 90-day house arrest sentence that began Jan. 1. Per his sentencing, Filner will also serve three years probation and will still have to check in with his probation officer and be subject to unannounced searches and visits.


City Crews Clean Up After Weekend Storm

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San Diego city workers spent Monday cleaning up damage and debris left behind by a powerful weekend storm.

City crews are calling it "Storm Condition B" – an official name for the cleanup after a major storm.

The focus is not only on debris left on the roads but also cleaning out storm drains for leaves and other debris washed away by two days of on-and-off rain showers.

The Ocean Beach Pier was closed after suffering some damage along the railings on the pier’s south side.

OB resident Ed Gunn said he runs the pier every morning and noticed the closure on Sunday. “Everyone was just standing there watching the waves go over pier. It was nuts,” Gunn said.

A sign at Shades Oceanfront Bistro was knocked down by the heavy winds and some residents sent NBC 7 images of cars covered by dropping palm fronds.

The morning after, locals say they’re grateful for the rain even if it was inconvenient.

“I’ve been stuck in my house for a couple of days in the rain. Just looking forward to a day out,” said OB resident Tyler Montgomery.

“Great for sure, great for the environment, it was much needed,” said OB resident Julian Garcia.

Mark Lugo pointed out that the rain will help with his monthly budget. “Much needed. It will save me a little on my water bill for my lawn,” he said.

City workers will have time on their side when it comes to completing the task. NBC 7's Whitney Southwick said there is no rain in the forecast for the rest of the week.

Del Cerro Grocery Store Catches Fire

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An organic market in the San Diego neighborhood of Del Cerro caught fire Monday night.

Firefighters initially responded to Windmill Farms for a medical emergency.

An electrician, working on the main electrical box, was burned by an electric shock, according to officials.

The shock spread to nearby dry goods, prompting a two-alarm fire.

“Basically inside there was an explosion in the meat department, which started some flames, obviously a lot of smoke,” witness James Seastrom said."The fire alarm was pulled."

Ten employees were evacuated.

The electrician was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, officials said.
 



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Seahorse Spotted in San Diego Bay

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Now this is a horse of a very different color.

A bright yellow Pacific seahorse rode into the San Diego Bay last week, stirring up some excitement for the man who snapped the photo above: Neal Matthews.

Matthews said during a low tide Thursday, he was exploring shoal water in the bay – an area normally too deep for a snorkelers to get a good look.

As he floated along the eelgrass, he caught a flash of orange. He took a closer look and saw the lone seahorse sitting in the blades, a sight he’d been hoping to see since last August.

It’s not something your average San Diego snorkeler could see.

““It’s kind of rare. We’ve found [seahorses] throughout the years, but it’s seldom when you really see them,” said Acting Aquarium Curator Fernando Nosratpour with Birch Aquarium.

After taking a look at Matthews’ photos, Nosratpour said this creature is part of the largest seahorse species, ranging between 12 and 14 inches.

They’re typically found between central Baja California and northern Peru, so this little guy wound up in the northern part of their range.

Camouflage techniques makes them difficult to see, but divers have found seahorses in the San Diego Bay around pier pilings, hanging onto seaweed on the beach and just sitting still amid the grass. There’s no single area they are usually found, Nosratpour said.

So where exactly did Matthews find this seahorse?

“The exact location has to remain confidential,” said Matthews in an email. “Otherwise, they’d be poached.”

But if you can’t stand the thought of never seeing one in person, Nosratpour said Birch Aquarium has two tanks dedicated to San Diego Bay marine life, including the Pacific seahorse.



Photo Credit: Neal Matthews

San Diego Company Producing Controversial Drug

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A San Diego-based company is producing a new painkiller that some lawmakers are asking the FDA to revoke.

Zohydro- Extended Release the same ingredient found in Vicodin called hydrocodone, except this pill comes with a much higher concentration.

Unlike Vicodin, the drug does not come mixed with Acetaminophen, which is the same ingredient as Tylenol.

"It's still Vicodin. It's just you got to take one instead of five to get the same effect," says Jeff Cox, an addiction counselor at Lasting Recovery.

This ensures users don't get liver toxicity-- a common side effect of taking too much acetaminophen.

"There's a market to that,” Cox says. “There's a benefit to that. One of the problems is it has an abuse potential, and it can be crushed up and injected and producing the effect of taking more than one Vicodin."

But it’s that potential for abuse that has critics calling for the FDA to revoke its approval of the drug.

"We have to ask why we have so many of these pain medications to begin with. In the United States, we use the most opiate pain medication on the planet," Cox explains.

The San Diego-based company Zogenix produces the drug and declined an interview with NBC 7, but said in a statement:

The safety of Zohydro ER is based on clinical studies of more than 1,100 people living with chronic pain (and) was found to be generally well tolerated (with) adverse reactions in ≥ 2% of patients.

But Cox says the new drug provides even more access for addicts.

"It's easier for the insurance industry and the medical industry to prescribe these potentially addictive medications which not everybody becomes addicts, but a lot of people do," he said.

A New York Senator has called on the U.S. Health and Human Services to overrule the FDA and pull it from shelves.

Zogenix says it is working to develop an abuse-deterrent version of the drug.

DUI Driver Gets 10 Years for Crash

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A judge handed down a ten-year prison sentence to the driver who admitted to being high on methamphetamine when he crashed his car into a fire truck, killing the aspiring model riding with him.

Robbie Gillespie, 45, showed little emotion as he received his sentence, at times appearing to close his eyes and drop his head as if dozing off.

His defense attorney argued in court that Gillespie suffers from mental illness and has a history of drug addiction.

In June 2013, Gillespie ran a red light on Poway Road, colliding with a fire engine. The truck hit the car’s passenger side, killing 19-year-old Evelyn Courtney.

A judge cited Gillespie’s lack of remorse and criminal history as he gave the driver the maximum sentence for vehicular manslaughter while under the influence of drugs and possession of methamphetamine.

In court, Courtney’s father Wade read a lengthy prepared statement, which said in part, “Evelyn is on our minds every minute of every hour of every day. Gone is her raucous laughter, her boisterous sense of humor, her impressions and her practical jokes.

“No more do I wake up in the middle of the night to find her watching old black-and-white movies or writing songs or drawing pictures. Now I wake up in the middle of the night sweating, pacing the house and finding silence,” Wade continued.

The father said he accepted the sentence but believes it’s not nearly enough, and it will never bring back his daughter.

Gillespie’s wife also made a statement in court, tearfully turning to the Courtney family and apologizing.

 

DUI Driver Who Killed 2 Sentenced

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Monday was an emotional day inside an El Cajon courtroom.

Sunny Hall was sentenced to nine years in prison.

Hall admitted to crashing her car along Interstate 8, killing a UC San Diego student just days before her graduation and an El Centro teacher who pulled over to help.

One victim’s family says Hall’s sentence isn’t enough.

"She (Hall) still has the opportunity because she's alive. The people she that plowed down don't have the opportunity to do anything, and they were valuable people," said Dawn August, the mother of college student Angela August.

On Monday, at least 30 of Angela's family and friends filled the courtroom, each wearing a button that said, “For Love of Angela.”

On June 11, 2012, Angela rolled her car on Interstate 8 west of Tavern Road. Jimmy Arevalo, a teacher from El Centro, pulled over to help.

That's when Hall, driving over 70 mph, crashed her car into Angela's, killing both she and Arevalo. Hall had a blood alcohol level about twice the legal limit.

Instead of throwing a graduation party, Angela’s mother had to plan a funeral.

“I had to pick out her clothes to be buried in. I picked out her favorite green dress, and she was buried in her honor sash from UCSD. She also had her pre-engagement ring before the casket was closed," she said.

Angela's family said the 25-year-old was planning to become a teacher.

“She lost the potential to contribute to society, and I assure you she had much to offer. She always said she wanted to help people and wanted to make a difference,” Dawn August said.

Hall read a prepared statement during Monday's sentencing, stopping several times to choke back tears. The statement read, in part:

...I am not a monster. I am a woman who made a terrible mistake, and I struggle each and every day to find a way to live with what I have done.

Hall said she wanted to become an addiction counselor when her sentence is complete.

Before Hall was escorted from the courtroom by sheriff’s deputies, she looked back at the August family and apologized. The family says they do not believe she was sincere and are still heartbroken by the loss of Angela.

“I go usually every two or three days to the grave, and I’ve grown flowers. That’s what’s soothing for me,” Russ August, Angela’s father, said through tears.

Bicyclist Killed in Crash with Stolen Car

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A bicyclist has died after a man in a stolen vehicle crashed into him in Chula Vista.

The crash happened Monday around 4:15 p.m. near East J St. and Dennis Ave.

According to Chula Vista Police, 29-year-old Michael Reyes was driving westbound on East J St. when he cut across oncoming traffic for an unknown reason.

He hit a bicyclist who was riding the opposite way, drove up onto the sidewalk and struck an electric pole and tree.

The bicyclist was taken to the UC San Diego Medical Center, where he died.

The victim has been identified as 44-year-old David Voigt of Chula Vista.

Reyes was also taken to the hospital for non-life threatening injuries.

Police said he admitted to drinking before the crash. The vehicle he was driving -- a Nissan Maxima – had been reported stolen out of National City earlier Monday, and officers said they found property inside the car that had been stolen in previous vehicle burglaries.

Reyes has since been arrested on multiple charges.



Photo Credit: Steven Luke/NBC 7

Soldier Joins Son in Cancer Fight

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A U.S. soldier cut his second deployment to Afghanistan short in order to be with his son, who’s battling a rare form of bone cancer called osteosarcoma.

As with any big fight, this one includes moments of hope and setbacks.

One of those setbacks came Monday, when 6-year-old J.J. Orecchia was supposed to have his right leg amputated. The surgery was expected to prolong his life by four to five years, but an infection has now forced the doctors at UCSF’s Children’s Hospital to call off the operation.

Just a year ago, the Hayward, Calif. boy was a healthy and active 5-year-old. Today, he’s fighting for his life.

“J.J. is feisty,” said Andrew Foster, a friend of the boy’s father, Will. “He’s a feisty young boy, a lot of love.”

Foster is among those at UCSF’s Children’s Hospital to support J.J. He is in the same Army unit as the boy’s father, who returned home from a second tour in Afghanistan early to be near his little boy.

“We’re gonna keep praying, and we’re gonna get through this,” Foster said.

But word that a potentially life-prolonging surgery is no longer possible comes as a blow.

“His parents are devastated, heartbroken and they can’t breathe,” said Susana Maumalanga, J.J.’s aunt. “They’re taking it one day at a time.”

For now, the family is trying to focus on the moments of joy and the time they have together.

“I wanted the Bay area to think about J.J. today, and to see his fight, and to see us wearing yellow, teaching about osteosarcoma,” Maumalanga said.

J.J. is now expected to undergo more chemo. His family has insurance, but insurance only covers so much.

Family members said they are trying to raise money to pay their share of J.J.’s medical bills, which have already reached $100,000.

In addition to an online crowdfunding effort, they are working to set up a foundation so people can donate.



Photo Credit: Monte Francis

5 Things to Know About Pancake Day

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Each year hungry customers pour into IHOP restaurants around the country for National Pancake Day. But the holiday is about more than freebies at America's most famous pancake chain.

It's a nationally recognized holiday in England.
In fact, the English have been flipping pancakes for hundreds of years. They were tossing them way back in the 15th century. It was an efficient way to get rid of old butter, milk and eggs before these foods had to be given up for Lent. The day became known as Shrove Tuesday and is the day before Ash Wednesday, which precedes the Lent fast for Catholics.

Shrove comes from the old English word shrive.
Shriving is the process by which a person would confess his or her sins to a priest and then receive penance for it, according to the Essex Chronicle. The tradition goes back over 1,000 years. Shrove Tuesday is a day of celebration but also a day of repentance. It's the last day to indulge on savory foods like fats and proteins that likely won't keep through the 40 days of Lent.

Shrove Tuesday is also known by its French name Mardis Gras.
The French name means "fat Tuesday" and echoes the need to use up all the fats before they go bad. Pancakes became associated with this day because they're an easy way to get rid of butter and eggs.  All you have to do is add some flour and you're all set. In Iceland the day is known as Sprengidagur, which means "bursting day." And in Greece it's called Apokries, or "from the meat," a last farewell to fleshy foods before the fast.

The holiday likely has its roots in pagan festivals.
The celebrations before Ash Wednesday go back to pre-Christian times. Ancient tribes of Europe would have festivals to mark the change between winter and summer and the agricultural rewards the transition brings. The Romans would also celebrate the Spring Equinox with festivities, including a circus festival worshiping the pastoral deity Lupercus.

The English don't just stuff their faces on Pancake Day, they also get some exercise. Pancake races are common in England on Shrove Tuesday. They're believed to have begun in 1445, according to the BBC. A woman was getting her pancake on in her kitchen when she heard the church bell ringing to call the townsfolk to a shriving service. Rather than miss confession — or her newly made pancakes — she took the grilled pile of dough with her, frying pan and all. One of the most famous pancake races is in Olney in Buckinghamshire. This year marks the 569th year the town has had an annual pancake race. Generations of families in the town have taken part over the centuries.



Photo Credit: The Washington Post/Getty Images

Runners Honor WWII Veteran: Video

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When Mercury News reporter Julia Prodis Sulek woke up Sunday morning, she wasn't sure why she heard all the clapping and cheering outside her San Jose home.

Then she peeked outside. She saw dozens of runners zipping by, up on the sidewalk, as part of the 408k Race to the Row, which benefits the Pat Tillman Foundation.

All the commotion was for 95-year-old World War II veteran Joe Bell, who came outside in full military dress to root on the runners. But it was Bell who soon began getting all the attention.

Runners spontaneously ran up to the elderly man fully decked out in his U.S. Army Airborne brown uniform, shaking his hands, shouting, "Thank you for your service."

"It just kept happening in waves," Sulek said. "Over and over again. The runners were wonderful to give Joe that kind of respect."

Even though it was her day off, Sulek grabbed her iPhone and documented the organic tribute to this veteran, who also happens to be her neighbor in his last decade of life. And it was even more fitting because the Pat Tillman foundation is named for the late NFL star killed while serving the U.S. Army in Afghanistan in 2002.

Since she's also a reporter, she sent the video into work.

It was a good decision.

As of Tuesday afternoon, nearly 1 million people had seen it on the Mercury News website. The Today Show featured her video and a story online. Nightly News and NBC Bay Area also used Sulek's short footage and interviewed Bell about his service.

For his part, Bell was taken aback that so many young people are interested in the story of a man who was born in Shanghai, survived the Rape of Nanking, was a "demolition jumper" for the Army in the 1940s and retired as a tool and dye maker.

"I'm surprised," he said. "I didn't know there were that many people interested in WWII."

What's an odd touch of irony is that Sulek is a print reporter. But like most reporters these days has learned multimedia skills, and her video is now being sought after by television stations. Runners World, USA Today, Yahoo News and other media outlets ran with the story.

Sulek told NBC Bay Area that she's stunned at the response, and that she's extremely busy fielding calls from producers who want her now-viral video.

"Jim often talks about how he doesn't expect to live much longer," Sulek said. "And I wanted to capture this moment for him and his family. It's thrilling that it's touching so many people."

NBC Bay Area's Bob Redell contributed to this report.



Photo Credit: Screengrab from Julia Sulek Prodis/Mercury News video

Family Shares Cost of Drunk Driving

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It’s been nearly one year since a head-on collision on State Route 52 killed one driver and injured four members of a San Diego family.

The crash on March 17, 2013 killed Santee resident Matthew T. Leonardo, 30, and left Alisa Cunningham and her three daughters, Jayden, Logan and Taylor, with major injuries.

On Monday, the family spoke in front of students at Point Loma Nazarene University. They shared their story to warn them of the dangers of drunk driving.

“Wanted to let everyone know the severity of what can happen,” said Cathedral Catholic High School (CCHS) coach Will Cunningham.

After seeing a clip of the accident, the husband and father of four was clearly emotional.

At one point his daughter, Taylor, showed pictures of her recovery. She suffered two broken wrists, a fractured pelvis, a broken right hip and traumatic brain injury.

She was in a coma for 17 days and spent a total of 75 days in the hospital.

“Like tying your shoe is harder now, way harder and getting dressed, taking a shower...a lot harder,” Taylor Cunningham said.

Alisa suffered broken ribs, a traumatic brain injury, a partially severed foot, smashed left hand and bruises.

Logan, their youngest daughter, suffered lung damage, a fractured coccyx, deep lacerations and a concussion.

Jayden sustained a fractured neck, fractured scapula, deep lacerations and a concussion.

Nine days after the crash, Jayden and Logan were released from Rady Children’s Hospital.

NBC 7 spoke to student Sarah Leveque who said hearing the Cunninghams speak at her school had an impact on her.

“What hit me was how one bad decision can lead to such an incredibly bad situation,” she said.

On March 17th, the actual anniversary of the accident, Alisa Cunningham says they’re planning a celebration to thank those who’ve helped them through this difficult process.

Immediately after the crash, the CCHS and San Diego communities rallied around the family holding fundraisers and a special mass to support their recovery.



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Gold Coins Spark Speculation

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Just where the $10 million in 19th century gold coins a Northern California couple found buried on their land came from is still a mystery, as theories abound and experts disagree on how the haul wound up there.

One curious historian thinks he may have solved the mystery, and if he's right, a turn-of-the-century heist at the U.S. Mint in San Francisco may be involved. But the agency itself said Tuesday that it has no information linking the coins to any U.S. Mint facility.

The gold coin bonanza, which an anonymous couple found buried in rusty canisters on their land while walking their dog, has been drawing fevered speculation on par with California in 1848.

Tuesday's statement from the mint came after self-appointed historian Jack Trout spotted a brief news item in an industry publication from 1900 that he considered a clue to how the rare coins ended up in the Sierra Nevada foothills, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Monday.

"The sum of $30,000 in gold coin has recently been stolen from the vault of the cashier of the San Francisco Mint. No trace has been found of the missing gold," that item from the Bulletin of the American Iron and Steel Association read.

According to the Chronicle, a few factors support the theory that the coins came from the mint — namely, that the coins were were mostly uncirculated and mostly in chronological order, suggesting they were unused.

Trout said that one coin in particular pointed to that heist: An uncirculated 1866 Liberty $20 gold coin, missing the usual phrase "In God We Trust," according to the Chronicle. He said he didn't believe the coin had ever left the Mint before the robbery and that its presence in the hoard linked it to the heist.

But rare coin expert David McCarthy, a senior numismatist for Kagin's, told NBC News that the theory that the coins came from that 1900 heist was "provably incorrect."

Among his reasons: The hoard contains some heavily circulated coins, though the mint would have melted them down rather than storing them. The found coins don't have what experts call "bag marks," he said.

All of the coins in the couple's hoard are dated 1894 or earlier, also, meaning they would have been stored for at least six years if they were from the mint heist. McCarthy said it was unlikely the mint would have hung onto those coins for so long.

A more likely, if less exciting, explanation might be that a miserly person buried the treasure and unexpectedly died before he could dig up the cans, McCarthy said — a theory that experts interviewed by the Chronicle thought more probable, too.

They noted that paper money wasn't in common use in California until the end of the 19th century, and at the time, someone wary of banks and with plenty of cash might well count both circulated and brand new coins among his savings.

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