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San Diego Drivers Are 10th Most Courteous: Study

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 As it turns out, San Diego roadways are a pretty pleasant place to be, according to a new road rage survey.

San Diego has the tenth most courteous drivers among the United States’ 25 largest cities, according to the 2014 “In the Driver’s Seat Road Rage Survey.”

America’s Finest City has reportedly improved its street etiquette since 2009, when it was ranked 16th.

The study, commissioned by roadside assistance service AutoVantage, measured a wide range of driving habits. It surveyed drivers on what they do and see behind the wheel – as well as how they react to others.

San Diegans who filled out the survey were fifth least likely to see another driver run a red light, third least likely to notice another driver talk or text on a cell phone, and third least likely to honk their horn at another driver.

But it’s not all thumbs up and waving across the city.

San Diego tied with Minneapolis for the second-highest number of drivers who admit to bumping other vehicles on purpose if they believe those inside did something wrong.

The top five least courteous cities 2014 were Houston, Atlanta, Baltimore, Washington D.C. and Boston.

On the other side of the spectrum, Portland, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, San Francisco and Charlotte ranked as the most courteous.



Photo Credit: NBC Bay Area

NY Hammer Attack Suspect in Custody

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Police have a suspect in custody in connection with a string of hammer attacks on subway riders, authorities said.

The man is suspected in three attacks on riders, two at the same station near the MetroCard machine.

The latest victim, a 32-year-old man, was at the Rockaway Avenue C train station in Bedford-Stuyvesant at about 9:20 a.m. Wednesday when he was approached from behind and hit with the hammer.

The man fell to the ground and the suspect demanded his money. Once the victim handed over the cash, the robber took off.

In an attack on May 4, a 23-year-old man was trying to buy a MetroCard at the same C train station around 11 a.m. when he was hit on the back of the head with a hammer. 

And on March 5, a 26-year-old pregnant woman was struck with a hammer near a subway station in Briarwood, Queens. 

She told NBC 4 New York at the time that the suspect was wearing a black jacket and hoodie. She said she fell to her knees after he hit her, and handed him her bag. He ran off with it.

 

Local Soldier Dies in Afghanistan

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An Army solider from San Diego County has died in Afghanistan, according to the Department of Defense.

Chief Warrant Officer Deric M. Rasmussen, 33, of Oceanside died Sunday in a non-combat-related incident, according to the DoD. Defense officials did not give more details into Rasmussen’s death.

Rasmussen was deployed to Mazar E Sharif in northern Afghanistan.

The Oceanside man was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas and was a member of Company C, 1st Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

South Bay School Reports TB Case

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 A new case of tuberculosis (TB) has shown up at a South Bay school, and health officials believe the patient may have exposed others to the disease.

The San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency reported Monday that a person at Central Elementary School in Imperial Beach had contracted TB.

In response, the agency will offer free TB testing on May 13 for students who may have been exposed. The period of possible exposure was from March 17 to April 23, the HHSA said.

Symptoms include a persistent cough that lasts for at least three weeks, fever, night sweats, a feeling of weakness and unexplained weight loss.

TB is spread when an infected person coughs, sneezes, speaks or sings, and those germs can stay in the air for several hours, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

However, County Public Health Officer Wilma Wooten said most people who are exposed to TB never actually develop it.

“But when it does occur, it can be treated and cured with medication; that’s why it’s important to identify those who have been exposed,” said Wooten in a release.

Although not rare in San Diego County, cases of TB have decreased in recent years.

So far this year, 59 cases have been reported. In 2013, 206 people had TB – the fewest number of cases since a 1993 peak of 469, the HHSA said.

If you have questions about possible exposure, call Central Elementary School at 619-628-5000 or the county’s TB Control Program at 619-692-8621.

Fire Sparks Near Homes in Spring Valley

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Fire crews responded to a brush fire in a canyon behind some homes in Spring Valley early Monday.

The fire sparked around 3:30 a.m. in a riverbed near a condo complex along State Route 125 at Elkelton Boulevard and Quarry Road.

Crews quickly jumped on the fire that was in steep terrain and thick vegetation, holding the damage to about a quarter of an acre.

As of 8 a.m., the fire was surrounded by hose line. Officials said it would be several hours before the fire was under control.

A Cal Fire spokesperson said the fire was likely started in a homeless encampment.

“There’s at least four homeless encampments that stretch between the Spring Valley swap meet and where this current fire is,“ said Malcom Gettmann with the Spring Canyon Homeowners’ Association.

“We’ve been after the county and law enforcement for at least the last five years to do something about this because we’re fearful this will happen again and again,” Gettmann said.

Firefighters told NBC 7 they were looking at one of those camps as the possible location for the start of the fire but there was no cause released.

San Diego County was under a red flag warning Monday through Wednesday with periods of strong and gusty Santa Ana winds.

NBC 7's Meteorologist Jodi Kodesh called for Monday to be windy at times for our local mountains and coastal foothills with northeast winds from 15-25 mph and gusts to 45 mph possible. 

Source of "Smelly" Tap Water Revealed

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Over the past few days, some San Diego residents have noticed an odd odor in their tap water.

Now, the San Diego County Water Authority (SDCWA) says an algae bloom is to blame.

Lake Skinner in Riverside County is one of San Diego County's water sources. According to SDCWA, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) noticed the musty odor Thursday and determined on Friday that the smell was linked to an algae outbreak in a smaller reservoir that feeds Lake Skinner.

Mike Lee with SDCWA said our area has stopped getting water from Lake Skinner.

“MWD switched the Water Authority to a different source of water -- specifically, Colorado River water -- until the algae bloom is resolved. The Water Authority alerted its 24 member agencies about the algae bloom so they could alter their water treatment regimes as necessary,” Lee said in a statement Sunday.

Algae can change the taste and the smell of water, but does not impact water quality, according to Kirk Kidman with the City of San Diego Public Works Department.

MWD says the water is healthy and safe to drink, but suggests refrigerating tap water if customers want to improve the taste.

Read the MWD's official news release here.

Lee said the smell may linger for a few more days. He said it’s unclear how many how many customers have been affected.

Scripps Ranch resident Bill Feather said he first noticed the strange smell last Thursday.

“Sulfury, strong, just not fresh water smell,” Feather described.

"Not something you’re expecting to come out of your tap when you go to get a drink of water,” he said.

NBC 7 Facebook viewers in Mira Mesa, Vista, Oceanside, El Cajon, Clairemont, Serra Mesa and Escondido have also reported an odd odor in their water.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Woman's Body Found in Carlsbad

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A woman’s body was found lying in the brush near a dead-end road in Carlsbad, police said Monday.

Officers were called to the 3700-block of Haymar Drive in Carlsbad just before 7:30 p.m. Sunday.

The undeveloped area, just south of State Route 78 and west of College Boulevard, was the spot where officers found a woman in her 50s with multiple stab wounds to her chest.

Carlsbad police Lt. Matt Magro said a knife was found in the area but investigators are not sure if the woman's wounds were self-inflicted.

There were no signs of struggle, he added.

Investigators are calling the discovery a suspicious death and are attempting to contact the woman’s next of kin.

Check back for updates on this developing story.
 

No Water for San Diego's New Waterfront Park

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Two days after the opening of a new, free waterfront park in downtown San Diego, residents looking to cool off found the splash fountain turned off.

Construction cones blocked off part of the new public space at Pacific Highway and Harbor Drive, between Grape and Ash streets on Monday. 

"A backup in the drain system" led to the water in the splash fountain being turned off Monday,  contractor Jim Dorsey told NBC 7.

The subterranean drainage system was overtaken by the amount of water, amount of kids, amount of activity and created some mud that ended up being a bit of a problem, he explained.

"There was just more kids diverting more water from the jets than anyone had anticipated," Dorsey said.

A county spokesperson says children sitting on the jets redirected water out of the pond onto the decomposed granite bed outside of the pond.

An image captured over the weekend (see below) shows the mud that collected near the pond.

The decomposed granite then seeped into the draining and filter system.

The pond area was drained as part of a weekly maintenance schedule but because of the decomposed granite, the system is being back flushed and the pond is staying drained longer than anticipated.

County officials say they may turn the water back on as soon as Monday afternoon.  Meanwhile, the county said they will be looking at long term solutions to the problem with the jets.

Residents who headed to the park to find some escape from the heat were disappointed.

Dawn Johnson of Mira Mesa said the park was great but, "It'll be even better when the water's working."

Rafael Luis, El Cajon said the plan was to head west with the kids and find some water to stay cool.

“We’re like it’s hot, let’s go,” Luis said. “ We get here and nice park, really nice park, no water but it’s okay. It’s the first few days so you know they got to work out the kinks.”

Thousands of locals flocked to the grand opening event on Saturday to check out the playground, shaded benches, gardens and interactive fountain.

Melissa Maher of Point Loma said the park is a great addition but needs some fine tuning.

“I’m a little bit concerned about the slickness of the slides with no padding or anything underneath,” Maher said. “Also with the no shading, means the slides are going to be really, really hot.”

The new park spans 12 acres, eight of which used to be parking lots north and south of the Administration Center.

To learn more about the park, visit the County of San Diego website.



Photo Credit: Artie Ojeda

Caught on Cam: Truck Veers into Car, Flips Over

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 A dramatic truck rollover was caught on dashcam video on Interstate 8 over the weekend.

The incident started when two women in separate vehicles got into some sort of altercation while driving along westbound I-8 near College Avenue just before 4 p.m. Saturday, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The video posted to YouTube shows a green Toyota Tacoma-- driven by 33-year-old Stephanie Pontarolo-- pulling up alongside 21-year-old Kelsey Shakespeare, who was driving a silver Volkswagen Jetta.

The CHP says for an unknown reason, the Tacoma veered to the right and hit the Jetta, sending both vehicles shooting to the freeway shoulder.

As they reached the north embankment, the truck rolled.

Pontarolo suffered minor lacerations to her face, arm and foot, officials say, while Shakespeare complained of injuries to her back.

The incident was initially investigated as possible road rage, but CHP investigators say they are treating the incident as a traffic collision at this point.

If they find out there was an intentional act to harm another person, the driver could face separate charges such as attempted murder or assault with a deadly weapon, the CHP says.

A recent road rage study found that San Diego drivers ranked second most likely to acknowledge purposely bumping other drivers who they think did something wrong.



Photo Credit: N.E.O. on YouTube

Girl Dies Day Before Turning 5

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Cynthia Jimenez was on her way to Disneyland with her family to celebrate her fifth birthday when the car she and her family were in was crushed by a delivery van in a Southern California desert city.

The family of five died on Mother's Day.

On Monday, relatives were in shock.

"We were in a little argument," Kenya Garcia said of her sister, Angelica Garcia. "But I love her to death.

Cynthia and both of her brothers, Ivan, 2 and Freddie, 9, died along with her mother and father, Angelica Garcia and Gerardo Jimenez.

The family's car was crushed by a delivery van that was on its way to pick up flowers for Mother's Day.
The crash happened at a stop sign at Main Street and Balsam Avenue in Hesperia just before 7 a.m.

Sheriff's investigators say the driver of the van was heading east on Main when he lost control. His van rolled onto the family's car.

The children's grandfather, Quirino Garcia, drove by the wreck, but didn't know his family was involved in the crash.

"I don't feel angry," he said in Spanish. "I feel like my heart is destroyed."

Shannon Kack said he spoke to the driver just after the crash. Kack said the driver told him he had only looked away for a second.

Investigators are still looking for answers to why this happened, but residents say speed is a big problem on Main Street.

Speed is a big problem on Main Street.

"They fly by here like crazy," said Irene Salazar. "They need to slow down. They really need to think about putting a light here."

2 Ex-Qualcomm Heads Accused of Insider Trading

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 Two former Qualcomm sales directors have been charged with insider training, according to a federal court indictment unsealed Monday.

Derek Montague Cohen, 52, and Robert William Herman, 52, are accused of four counts of securities fraud for allegedly purchasing and selling off securities from a company later bought by Qualcomm.

They are also facing simultaneous civil insider trading charges from the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Cohen was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport Saturday as he was returning from the Philippines, but Herman remains at large, according to U.S. Attorney Laura E. Duffy.

At his arraignment in Los Angeles federal court Monday, Cohen pleaded not guilty and was released on a $100,000 bond.

According to the indictment, the two suspects were working in Qualcomm’s North America sales department in early 2011, just before the company acquired Atheros Communications, Inc.

At the same time, Cohen and Herman were part of an informal stock trading group that shared tips about the stock market.

The indictment says the two learned about the impending acquisition of Atheros through their Qualcomm jobs, so the day before the company made the announcement, they allegedly placed more than $500,000 in trades on various Atheros securities – including stock purchases and option contracts.

Cohen also covered a short position that he maintained, against company policy, on Qualcomm stock, prosecutors say. That short position was designed to increase its value only if Qualcomm stock decreased.

The next day, Atheros shares shot up in value when the New York Times’ DealBook blog leaked news about the acquisition.

Cohen and Herman are accused of then selling off their securities and gaining a nearly $230,000 profit.

According to the indictment, in-house Qualcomm lawyers and staff questioned the two men about the trades, and the suspects claimed they made the trades based on leaked news, not before it. Duffy said trading records show that is impossible.

If convicted of all four counts of securities fraud, the men face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $3 million fine.

They would also have to forfeit any money made from the suspected insider trading.

Last year, former president of Qualcomm’s Global Business operations Jing Wang was accused of using a secret brokerage account and a phony company to hide similar insider trading.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

UConn Suspends Frat for Hazing

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UConn has imposed a five-year suspension on the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity for a hazing incident at a party in March, days after a sorority was suspended over the same incident.

The university announced the sanction on Monday, the second suspension of a Greek organization on campus in less than a week.

Sigma Alpha Epsilon was put on notice last month that the school's Community Standards panel was investigating an incident that took place on March 6 at the fraternity's off-campus house on Route 195.

The members of the fraternity are accused of forcing students to drink alcohol, act like animals and sizzle like bacon by lying on the floor and wiggling.

Members of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority also took part in the alleged hazing at the same party, according to university officials. Last week, UConn suspended Kappa Kappa Gamma for four years.

The university began investigating the Greek organizations after a sophomore came forward to say she was forced into a night of heavy drinking and passed out.

Hillary Holt said she woke up in a hospital bed and was told she had a blood alcohol level of nearly three times the legal limit to drive.

Sigma Alpha Epsilon is accused of endangering the health and safety of students and distributing alcohol to individuals under the age of 21.

UConn released a statement about its decision on Monday:

"Fraternities, sororities and other organizations play a vital and valuable role in the life of a great university -- by UConn will not accept hazing or harmful treatment of students by anyone, under any circumstances."

A spokesperson for the national Sigma Alpha Epsilon chapter said the fraternity has a zero tolerance for hazing, but may appeal the length of the suspension.



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

Goalie Risks Career, Saves Stranger

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Goalie Chris Seitz’s biggest save required putting everything, including his career, on the line.

The 2012 Major League Soccer playoffs were looming when the FC Dallas player got the email asking for help. 

A bone marrow donor drive he participated in about four years and four teams earlier, when the wife of a former teammate in Utah was diagnosed with cancer, had led to a potential match: a stranger in a hospital bed thousands of miles away who was in dire need of a transplant.

That stranger was Philip Richiuso, a leukemia patient in Erie, Pennsylvania, who doctors feared was close to death after his treatment was failing.

“I was on the phone almost crying, thinking that someone else would give their life to someone they didn’t know,” Richiuso said.

Further testing showed Seitz was a match. But extracting the needed bone marrow required a painful procedure that included a needle poking more than 60 holes in a bone in his lower back. The recovery would take months. That meant Seitz, who was in the middle of a contract year with a pregnant wife at home, would be signing up to miss the rest of the FC Dallas season.

“His trainer said, this could be the end of your career. His comment was, I want to save a life more than play soccer,” Richiuso said.

But for Seitz, the decision was simple. He went to his coach and team, who he said “got behind me and really helped me and gave me the space and opportunity to do it.”

“It's kind of surreal. You don’t know what you’re getting into. You listen to the doctors, they tell you everything they’re going to do,” Seitz said. “I had 52 holes in my lower back. You feel really weak…. But it’s worth it. You’re giving someone a chance to fight and win the battle.”

Seitz has returned to the field following an intensive rehab process, and is now playing his best professional season with FC Dallas.

“There’s been no residual effects of anything for me, I’m back 100 percent and I'm almost even better,” he said.

And the news for Richiuso is even better – he’s remained cancer-free since the transplant. Now, he's hoping they'll get to meet face-to-face for the first time when the FC Dallas plays in Columbus next month.

"If we can get out there, I'd love to see him," he said.

French Cheese Recalled for Possible Salmonella Contamination

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A French cheesemaker is recalling two of its offerings from the U.S. market because they could be contaminated with Salmonella.

Ste Fromagere du Livradois is recalling its Haut Livradois brand Raclette and Monboissie cheeses with lot No. 350. They were distributed in supermarkets and gourmet stories nationwide between March 10 and May 6, according to the Food and Drug Administration.

Both cheeses come as a 13-pound wheel and are usually cut and wrapped.

The voluntary recall was initiated after a routine sampling program by the FDA found the presence of Salmonella in some products.

Consumers are urged to contact their distributor or retailer for a full refund.



Photo Credit: FDA

Sterling Blasts Magic Johnson

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Donald Sterling said in a televised interview Monday that Magic Johnson is not a good role model for children and has done nothing for black people, even as the embattled Los Angeles Clippers owner asked for forgiveness after being banned from the NBA.

Making his first public comments since TMZ Sports released an audio recording in which the 80-year-old billionaire made racist remarks, Sterling told CNN's Anderson Cooper that Johnson, who is HIV-positive, "should be ashamed of himself."

"Well, what kind of a guy goes to every city, has sex with every girl, then he catches HIV? Is that someone we want to respect and tell our kids about?" Sterling asked. "I think he should go into the background. But what does he do for the black people? He doesn't do anything."

Sterling also blamed Johnson for his delayed apology, saying he held off because the legendary NBA player told him to remain silent.

"He thought the whole thing will be resolved in two weeks," Sterling said, according to the CNN report. "What has he done? Can you tell me? Big Magic Johnson, what has he done?"

Sterling said he respects and admires Johnson, and that the Hall of Famer's role in the scandal is "irrelevant."

"I'd rather be talking about these great NBA Playoffs than Donald Sterling's interview," Johnson tweeted Monday night.

"After this week, no more Sterling talk. Just the NBA Playoffs, my @Dodgers and my @LA_Sparks!" he added.

In response to the interview, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver released a statement reiterating that the league was moving swiftly to remove Sterling as owner of the Clippers.

"While Magic Johnson doesn't need me to, I feel compelled on behalf of the NBA family to apologize to him that he continues to be dragged into this situation and be degraded by such a malicious and personal attack," Silver's statement said in part.

On the recording, which has not been authenticated by NBC News, Sterling can be heard criticizing girlfriend V. Stiviano for posting online about bringing black friends to Clippers games. He is also heard chastising her for posting a photo on Instagram with Johnson.

Reacting to the recording, Johnson said Sterling's comments about black people were damaging to the NBA.

"I'm disappointed, I'm hurt, I'm outraged, I'm everything," Johnson said. "First, my name being associated, he singled me out personally. Then he singled out African-Americans. Again, I'm always gonna fight for myself as well as my people."

Silver banned Sterling, fined him $2.5 million and urged owners to force him to sell the team.


San Diego Democrat Atkins Sworn in as Assembly Speaker

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 San Diego Democrat Toni Atkins, whose Appalachian roots have given her a powerful affinity for the plight of the working poor, was sworn in Monday as the 69th speaker of the state Assembly.

Atkins assumes the reins of the 80-member chamber amid negotiations over a nearly $107 billion state budget and an $11 billion water bond that all sides want to change before it goes to a statewide vote in November. She praised the state's efforts to retain businesses and a recent deal brokered by the governor and legislative leaders to revamp a rainy day fund to save money and pay down debt.

At the same time, the native of Virginia's poor mountain region also implored lawmakers to invest in education and opportunity for poor and lower-income Californians. That is expected to cause tension in budget negotiations as lawmakers and Gov. Jerry Brown weigh restoring social services and paying down debt.

"We cannot forget that too many Californians have not made it out of the recession," Atkins said in remarks after her swearing-in. "They've been holding on with white knuckles, with so much at stake. Their dreams have been put on hold."

She identified affordable housing and ending homelessness as top personal priorities.

Atkins, 51, becomes the first open lesbian to lead a California legislative chamber and succeeds Los Angeles Democrat John Perez, who was the first openly gay lawmaker in the role. She was sworn in by U.S. Rep. Karen Bass, the first Democratic woman to lead the California Assembly, during a ceremony that was attended by the governor and Atkins' wife, Jennifer LeSar, who consults on affordable housing.

In remarks on the floor before the swearing-in, Assemblyman Rich Gordon, D-Menlo Park, said Atkins' rise to one of the most powerful positions in state government would be an inspiration.

"There are many in the state today who are struggling to come to grips with their sexual orientations," he said. "They will see in you hope and possibility."

Atkins was elected to the Assembly in 2010 after serving on San Diego's city council and will be termed out in two years. Assembly Republican Leader Connie Conway of Tulare issued a statement seeking bipartisan cooperation and noting that Atkins' rise marks the first time a California legislative body had two female leaders.

Atkins takes office in a time when two Democratic state senators face federal corruption charges, prompting a flurry of reform legislation including a partial fundraising blackout during the legislative session and whistleblower protection for staff.

Atkins would not say in a press conference if she supports introducing similar rules in the Assembly, as Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg has called for in the Senate. She said public financing of campaigns lacks support and called on lawmakers to follow existing laws.

"How to take money out of politics? I am not a magician, and this is not a simple task," Atkins said. "We have work to do to restore faith in the voters."



Photo Credit: CA State Assembly

Heat Wave Shortens School Days in National City

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Most schools in the National School District will be operating on limited schedules amid this week’s heat wave.

From Tuesday, May 13 to Friday, May 16, most schools in the district will be releasing students early.

Students at Ira Harbison, Las Palmas, Lincoln Acres, and John Otis will be released at 1 p.m. Those at Central, El Toyon, Kimball and Olivewood will be released at 1:25 p.m.

Palmer Way and Rancho de la Nación, which both have air conditioning, will operate on their regular schedules.

The district is also putting special policies in place, including providing bottled water to students and staff, canceling all gym classes and keeping kids off metal playground equipment, according to Superintendent Christopher Oram, Ed.D.

The San Diego Unified School District has a similar hot weather modification plan.

Temperatures in National City could pass 100 degrees by Thursday.

Dr. Shrika Gillin with Rady Children’s Hospital says children can still learn in hot conditions, but parents need to make sure their kids have plenty of water and dress them appropriately.



Photo Credit: NBC10 Philadelphia

Shelly Sterling: I'll Go "As Far as I Can Go" in Fight

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The estranged wife of embattled Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling pledged Tuesday to go "as far as I can go" to fight what she characterized as the NBA's sexist move to remove her as a co-owner of the team in response to her husband's racist remarks.

"Would an owner’s wife say the same thing and would the owner be asked to leave the NBA? Or would they just say, well, she’s only the wife," Rochelle Sterling said in an interview with "Today."

Sterling said while derogatory remarks about African Americans her husband made in a recording released last month, as well as new controversial comments he made in a CNN interview that aired Monday, make her sick, she said she doesn't think she should be targeted in the NBA's push to force a sale of the team. She recalled attending a game recently where she said fans were giving her high fives and saying" Go girl, don't give up."

“I’m very angry and I’m very hurt and I even cried listening to that because I just feel bad," she said. "And then I feel bad, why am I the victim when he’s the perpetrator. If somebody kills somebody, does the wife have to stand trial, too?”

The NBA has pledged to oust Donald Sterling, who has owned the team for 30-plus years, in light of audio recording published by TMZ last month. Sterling also faces a $2.5 million fine and a lifetime ban from the NBA.

In response to similar vows Rochelle Sterling made last week about keeping her share of the team, the NBA released a statement that said if a controlling owner's interest is terminated by a three-fourths vote of the other league owners, "all other team owners' interests are automatically terminated as well. It doesn't matter whether the owners are related as is the case here.  These are the rules to which all NBA owners agreed to as a condition of owning their team."

The statement cited the NBA constitution and bylaws, a more-than-90-page document that outlines the commissioner's broad powers when it comes to terminating ownership of a team.

At his first news conference as the team's interim CEO, Richard Parsons said Monday that he has not had any conversations with Sterling or his estranged wife. The NBA's hand-picked team supervisor said there is "not much" he can do about the team's ownership situation and will be focused on acting as a "conservator" for the franchise.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver reiterated the league's intent to move quickly again this week after the 80-year-old billionaire team owner found himself under fire yet again for blasting Johnson during his first public interview since the scandal broke.

In addition to asking for forgiveness for his earlier remarks, Sterling slammed Johnson as a bad role model for children who does nothing for the black community. He told CNN's Anderson Cooper that Johnson, who is HIV positive, should be "ashamed of himself" for having sex with women given his diagnoses. Sterling could be heard in the original recording, which has not been authenticated by NBC News, chastising companion V. Stiviano for bringing black people to a game and posting an Instagram photo with Johnson.

Rochelle Sterling, who goes by Shelly, said the latest comments support her belief that her estranged husband is suffering from early stages of dementia.

“Why would he bring Magic Johnson into the issue about what’s happening now?" she said. "I mean that’s where I felt pity because he couldn't get all the dots together. He couldn’t connect the dots.”

Donald Sterling's comments about Lakers legend Johnson drew yet another response from Silver, who said in a statement, "I just read a transcript of Donald Sterling's interview with Anderson Cooper and while Magic Johnson doesn't need me to, I feel compelled on behalf of the NBA family to apologize to him that he continues to be dragged into this situation and be degraded by such a malicious and personal attack. The NBA Board of Governors is continuing with its process to remove Mr. Sterling as expeditiously as possible."

As for Johnson, he tweeted Monday: "After this week, no more Sterling talk. Just the NBA Playoffs, my @Dodgers and my @LA_Sparks!"

NBCLA's Jonathan Lloyd contributed to this report.



Photo Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS

Criminals Target Teens, Women for Smuggling Ops

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The leader of a family-run drug trafficking organization that was known to recruit young women to smuggle drugs into the U.S. was sentenced Monday to 15 years in prison.

Jesus Manuel “Chuy” Rivera-Villareal, 32, of Corona pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to import meth, cocaine and heroin.

He hired at least five young women from Riverside to smuggle cars filled with drugs, from Mexico into the U.S., believing agents at the border crossing were less likely to suspect a woman.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security officials say over the last several years, criminals on both sides of the border have been targeting “unlikely” smugglers to sneak drugs and people into the U.S.

Statistics provided by Homeland Security Investigations reveal, since 2010, 681 teenagers were arrested for smuggling at the Otay Mesa, San Ysidro and Tecate border crossings.

Currently, meth is the most common drug smuggled.

According to Deputy Special Agent Joe Garcia, teenage girls are the most common smugglers for that drug.

“The cartels are going to recruitment of these teenagers because they’re trying to get away from any sort of stereotypes they think law enforcement may have as who would be a likely courier,” Garcia told NBC 7.

“We’ve seen 14-year-olds, and we’ve seen people in their late 70’s. You have men, women, kids. You have grandparents, uncle aunts. Anybody.”

NBC 7 spoke to three different women living in San Diego who were arrested for smuggling. They shared their stories to educate the public about the problem.

Melissa’s Story

Melissa Stover, 23, says she always looked up to her father.

“He was like my best friend. He always took care of me. Always provided for me,” the Vista resident told NBC 7.

Her father became ill a few years ago, and Stover says she needed money. She had just moved out of her family’s home to live on her own.

Stover says her father recognized she was going through a hard time and told her “If you need to be caught up, here’s a financial opportunity for you.”

He told her about a friend he had that could offer her a paid assignment. All she had to do was drive a car.

Stover admits the offer sounded suspicious, but she was at a point where she’d do almost anything for money.

So Stover and one of her friends agreed to help in an operation that involved driving illegal immigrants from close to the border north to just past Interstate 8 in San Diego County.

“I woke up in my house that morning and like the car was already outside of the house waiting for us to take it," she said.

Stover says they also provided her a phone and map of where to go. That morning, when she and her friend made it to a checkpoint, U.S. Border Patrol agents pulled their vehicle over.

“They said can you open the trunk and we looked at each other and knew we were in trouble,” she said.

Stover was arrested at that checkpoint and admits what she did was wrong.

Her father passed away last January. Stover says she’s still dealing what happened.

She says she knows first-hand how criminals recruit young people in San Diego.

“I feel like they’re targeting us because we don’t know what we’re getting into,” she said. “They kind of take advantage of the innocence, and I feel like that’s what happened to me.”

Sam’s Story

Samantha Kurdilla, 23, has a full-time job in downtown San Diego. That may not be a lot to some people, but she says to her, it means the world.

Just a few years ago, Kurdilla was a heroin addict. Her addiction led to her arrest at the San Ysidro Port of Entry in a case that gained international attention.

Kurdilla’s mother passed away when she was 12 years old. She says that emptiness contributed to her addiction. When her drug dealer asked her to travel from Pennsylvania to San Diego last year, she agreed.

“I was just living to use. I had no other purpose in life at that point,” Kurdilla told NBC 7.

Kurdilla says she was told they were “going to try new drugs.” At that point, she had no idea he wanted to use her to smuggle cocaine across the border.

The two met up at a Tijuana bar where she says she shot up and almost overdosed.

“And then he said we need to get this across the border and you need to pack this inside you. I still had no idea that was the plan was,” Kurdilla said. “I'm walking arm and arm with him [at the pedestrian crossing] and as soon as dog sniffs me he tries to walk away and say he wasn't with me.”

After Kurdilla was arrested her story rivaled tabloid headlines.

In a rare move, especially given the seriousness of her case, she was allowed to enter into the Southern District of California's Alternative to Prison Solutions. The program only exists in San Diego where upon completion, felony charges are dismissed. Judges, prosecutors and the government agreed she deserved a second chance. Even those prosecuting her say she is doing a phenomenal job.

“I call them my A-Team, the prosecutor my lawyer, the judge. Everyone looks at the court in a negative way but all they’ve ever done is helped me," she said.

Kurdilla has kept clean ever since. She has a stable job and for the first time in a long time, she says she wants to live. Kurdilla is even expected to graduate early.

NBC 7 asked what she thinks her mom would think of her after all she’s been through.

“She'd be so proud of me. I know she’s always with me and I believe she had a lot to do with the place I am at right now,” she said.

Lisa’s Story

Escondido resident Lisa Dolan, 50, is a mother of two young women. She is not someone anyone would think would be arrested for smuggling. Her story is a little different from others. She says she did not do it for the money.

“I have a hard time saying no,” she told NBC 7. Dolan says a woman she met through a friend told her about a man in Mexico whose daughter was undergoing heart surgery in the U.S. and he wanted to be there with her.

Dolan says that person took advantage of her emotions, so much so that she plotted the operation herself. She rented a van, pretended to work for an animal rescue group and drove to Tijuana.

She say when she got to the location where she was going to pick up the man, she didn’t even get out of the car.

“They did it all. which was should’ve been a red flag,” she said.

Dolan was arrested at the border and faces felony charges.

Watch "Unlikely Smugglers: Part II" for a look at what's being done to combat the problem on NBC 7 News at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 13.

SDHS Cell Tower Proposal Concerns Parents

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A group of parents are demanding that San Diego school administrators create a policy banning cell towers on school grounds. 

A San Diego Unified School District representative told parents that AT&T has proposed putting a tower on the grounds of San Diego High School.

The issue that was listed on an upcoming board agenda was discussed Monday at a regularly scheduled meeting between San Diego High School parents and SDUSD Executive Director of District Relations Moises Aguirre.

“If it were to happen, this is something that needs to be done pretty carefully,” Aguirre assured the parents. "This is not something that would be done in the middle of the night."

“It’s not just something that would be done without more conversation about it,” he added.

However, some parents are worried the district would act over the summer without contacting parents.

At the "coffee with the principal" meeting, some San Diego High parents cited scientific studies and made it clear they're opposed to the idea.

“There are rays that do come off of cell phone towers, and I think there are studies that show there are health long term, cancer, Alzheimer’s, brain issues,” said parent Christine D’Amico. “It just isn’t worth gambling with."

The American Cancer Society offers a look at concerns about cell phone towers and cancers on its website.

The organization says radiofrequency waves (RF waves) can heat up body tissues at very high levels (for microwave ovens, for example) however the levels of energy used by cell phones and towers are much lower.

The National Cancer Institute also published a collection of study results as well as official statements on the topic from leading government agencies like the FCC, USDA and CCDC.

Aguirre assured parents they wouldn't see a tower once school starts back up in the fall but that he couldn't make promises beyond that.

The amount of money the school would receive from the deal and potential health hazards would be taken into consideration before the tower would be built.

A similar controversy surfaced in the Bay Area when AT&T approached an elementary school about adding a cell phone tower near its playground.

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