Quantcast
Channel: NBC 7 San Diego - Top Stories
Viewing all 60603 articles
Browse latest View live

3.8 Quake Strikes Near Rancho Palos Verdes

0
0

A preliminary magnitude-3.8 earthquake struck 11 miles south of Rancho Palos Verdes Friday evening, according to the United States Geological Survey.

The quake was reported about 8 p.m.

There were no reports of injuries.


Guard Accused of Punching Student

0
0

Oakland High School students have started a petition in support of a staff member accused of handcuffing, punching and dumping a student with cerebral palsy out of his wheelchair.

According to a letter sent out to parents by school principal Matin Abdel-Qawi, the staff member -- named in an official complaint as security officer Marchell Mitchell -- has been arrested and charged with injuring a child, a felony. He was fired May 19, the same day as the incident.

Mitchell was arraigned last week and pleaded not guilty, according to the Alameda County District Attorney's office.

On Friday, some students started a petition in support of Mitchell, who was caught on video hitting the student in a wheelchair. Mitchell claims the student provoked him by spitting on his face at one point during the incident.

Students taped flyers to themselves, which read: "Spitting is a crime, you provoked this ... Spit on me get yo a** beat."

The Oakland Unified School District has released a video of the incident. According to the probable cause document filed in court, the student, 17-year-old  Francisco Martinez, has cerebral palsy and can't use his legs. Martinez said Friday that he's still traumatized by what happened last week.

"All I'm asking for is justice," he said. "It affects my studies because everybody is just watching."

Abdel-Qawi said that around 9 a.m. on May 19, two school security officers were urging students to go to class. But some of the students, including one in a wheelchair, continued to linger in the hallway.

When one of the security officers approached the student in the wheelchair and ordered him to move toward his next class, the student either refused or was slow to do so, Abdel-Qawi said.

The officer then proceeded to take the student’s chair by its handles and wheel him to class, at which point the student objected and attempted to slap away the security officer’s hands, Abdel-Qawi said.

The security officer handcuffed the student and continued to roll him toward class when the student turned around and spat on the officer’s face.

The security officer allegedly struck the student several times before dumping him from his wheelchair onto the floor face down.

Another security officer intervened to restrain his partner. A staff member arrived at the scene moments later and notified Oakland School Police, who detained the security officer and launched an investigation that included interviews with students, teachers and administration.

The student was transported to a hospital with injuries. He has since returned to school.

"We consider this behavior completely unacceptable, harmful to our school and community, and traumatic to our students and families," Abdel-Qawi said in his letter.

Police are still investigating the case but there was enough information to conclude that criminal behavior took place, resulting in the arrest of the officer by Oakland School Police for child abuse, Abdel-Qawi said.

Abdel-Qawi said that he had called a staff meeting on May 20 to respond to the incident. Oakland Unified’s legal office and Oakland School Police are also reviewing policies and training procedures related to school security officers, he said.

The school district is reviewing the surveillance video to determine whether other guards responded poorly to the incident as well.

The next court dates are scheduled for June 16 for pre-trial and July 11 for a preliminary hearing.

Additional reporting and photo of student protest by NBC Bay Area's Jodi Hernandez.



Photo Credit: Oakland Unified School District

51 Dogs Found in Dead Man's Home

0
0

The death of a man in his Hialeah home Friday left Miami-Dade County Animal Services with more than 50 small to medium sized dogs in need of adoption.

Hialeah Police responded to a call of a man passing away from natural causes Friday morning at a home on the 5900 block of East 6th Avenue. When police arrived, they found the body of a man along with his elderly parents and roughly 51 dogs in the home.

Police said the family loved animals and would pick up stray dogs from the street to try to help them. Hialeah Police said both parents appeared to be suffering from dementia and the dogs were taken by animal control to be put up for adoption.

Both parents were taken to Palmetto General Hospital for further evaluation.

The dogs are at Miami-Dade County Animal Services at 7401 NW 74 Street in Miami. The shelter waived all adoption fees for the dogs. The dogs are available this weekend from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday and Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.



Photo Credit: NBC 6 South Florida

Falcon Chicks Nest in NYC

0
0

Eleven peregrine falcon chicks are now fledging in nests high atop three city bridges. 

Officials from the city Department of Environmental Protection recently banded the birds as part of a state nesting program that gives the falcons, nearly wiped out in New York during the 60s, homes atop the Verrazano-Narrows, Throgs Neck and Marine Parkway-Gil Hodges Memorial bridges.   They also photographed the newest falcons.

On the Marine Parkway bridge the nest box is poised 215 feet in the air. The Throgs Neck box is 360 feet above ground and the Verrazano-Narrows box offers a view from 693 feet.   The urban falcons like to nest in bridges because their height offers a good vantage for hunting prey.

 “We frequently have to go to the top of the towers for maintenance work but we are very respectful of the falcons during nesting season and while the chicks are learning to fly,” said Verrazano-Narrows Maintenance Superintendent Daniel Fortunato. “The mama bird in particular is very protective so for the safety of our employees and the birds, we do our best to keep out of their way.”

 Photos: MTA

 

 

 

 

 

 



Photo Credit: MTA

Dangerous Rip Currents Expected Along County Coast

0
0

 Dangerous rip currents are creating treacherous conditions for swimmers at San Diego’s beaches, forcing a number of rescues Thursday and Friday.

Two young men are still in Scripps Encinitas Hospital’s intensive care unit after they were pulled unconscious from Moonlight Beach by a pair of junior lifeguards Thursday.

On Friday, another man was rushed to the hospital when his head hit the sand as he was tossed about in the water.

“Some of the rip currents that we have in San Diego County at certain times of the year with certain conditions – they’re so extreme that even the best of lifeguards and the best ocean swimmers are not going to be able to get in through that rip current,” said Capt. Larry Giles with the city of Encinitas Marine Safety Department.

Now, the city is working to make beachgoers more aware about the dangers expected over the next few days.

According to Giles, a southern swell is bringing more flashing rip currents across the San Diego County coast.

“They weren’t in one geographic area all the time throughout the day, so it was tough to predict where the rip currents were going to flash,” said Giles.

The sudden currents take people out to sea, and before they know it, they can’t get back to the beach because the pull against them is too strong.

Giles’ best advice if you get caught in one?

“Don’t fight the rip. You get into a rip current and you start fighting it, you fatigue out, and then you succumb to possible drowning,” said Giles.

Instead, you should swim parallel to the shore – down or up the beach – until you are out of the current. At that point, you can turn back toward the shore and swim in.

Avoiding those rip currents can be another challenge, and if you’re not a regular to the beaches, it can be hard to spot them.

Giles described them as sandy discolorations in the water that look like streams or creeks running out to sea, and they typically have white caps.

But the best way to tell is to ask a lifeguard.

“So we ask, first thing when you come to a beach, go to a beach that’s staffed by lifeguards,” said Giles. “Second is come to a lifeguard station, ask for information: where the rip currents are, where the best place is to swim that day.”

Lifeguards will often set aside safe areas just for swimmers, indicated by yellow flags.

Giles also recommends that you never swim beyond your means, always swim with a buddy and if you bring your boogie board, wear fins and the leash that attaches to your board.



Photo Credit: Matt Rascon

Wanted Fugitive May Go by Alias, Dress as Woman: Officials

0
0

 An allegedly armed and dangerous fugitive wanted for arson, domestic violence and criminal threats may be hiding out under a different name or even dressed as a woman, officials say.

San Diego County Crime Stoppers is working with other agencies to arrest Daniel Juarez Martinez, 33, on a felony warrant.

Martinez is accused of attacking and threatening his wife in February, later setting fire to their Bonita home. He then fled to Mexico in March, law enforcement officials believe.

However, they think Martinez has since returned to the San Diego area, possibly to connections in the South Bay. He is also tied to people in the Glendale area of Los Angeles County.

Authorities say Martinez is addicted to narcotics and is armed.

He was last seen driving a black 2010 Toyota Camry with California license plate 6KHS540, officials say.

The suspect is described as a Hispanic man, standing 5-foot-9 and weighing about 160 pounds. He has brown hair, brown eyes and several tattoos, including three black circles on his right arm and the letters “DD” on the side of his torso.

Authorities say Martinez has used a number of aliases like “Daniel Catavarrias” and “Daniel Juarez” and is known to dress like a woman.

Any information leading to an arrest could earn the informant $1,000 from Crime Stoppers. Call the anonymous tip line at 888-580-8477 if you know where Martinez may be. Anonymous emails and text messages can be sent to www.sdcrimestoppers.com.



Photo Credit: SD Crime Stoppers

New Charges in Student Molestation Case

0
0

The San Diego County District Attorney’s announced seven new criminal charges Friday against a man already accused of molesting students at the Army and Navy Academy in Carlsbad.

At a hearing at the San Diego Superior Court downtown, Jeffrey Barton, 56, was formally charged with these additional crimes. Prosecutors also revealed there is now an additional victim in the case. These new allegations are the product of a secret Grand Jury hearing, the results of which were unsealed before the hearing.

Barton pleaded not guilty to the new charges. After the hearing Barton's attorney, Dan Greene, told reporters his client will be found not guilty of all charges when a jury hears the evidence at trial.

A judge also doubled Barton's bail to $6 million Friday agreeing with the prosecutor that Barton remains a danger to young boys and a flight risk.

District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis had scheduled a news conference immediately following Barton’s court appearance.

She was supposed to be joined by Deputy District Attorney Tracy Prior, who is prosecuting the case, Carlsbad Police Chief Gary Morrison, and Carlsbad PD detective Patty Para.

Barton’s former attorney, Jim Pokorny, who represented Barton when he was first charged with the molestation crimes last year, questioned both the timing of Friday’s hearing and Dumanis’ decision to involve a Grand Jury in the case.

“This is a thinly-veiled attempt to garner publicity for something that’s old news,” Pokorny told NBC 7.
Pokorny also said he is “outraged” by the timing of the new charges, and Dumanis’s decision to hold a news conference after the hearing.

Dumanis is running for re-election in Tuesday’s primary election.

Pokorny said “there is no question” that Dumanis is using the case to gain publicity and votes in her election campaign.

“There are two business days until the election,” Pokorny said. “Why else would she be doing this now?”

Pokorny told NBC 7 Greene had similar concerns about the timing of today’s hearing and DA’s news conference. Pokorny and Greene scheduled a news conference for later Friday to expand on Pokorny’s comments.

However, plans for both sides changed abruptly Friday afternoon, with both sides cancelling their news conferences.

At the hearing, Barton’s attorney argued that Dumanis violated his client’s right to get publicity for her re-election. The judge, however, said he sees “no political motivation” here.

Prosecutor Prior denied that Dumanis manipulated the Grand Jury system on this case, adding, “We care only about the victims. We care only about justice.”

The charges against Barton first came to light in October 2013 when police accused the longtime administrator of the Carlsbad boarding school of sexually molesting at least six former students. Barton worked at the Army and Navy Academy from 1995 to 2013 and was the Head of Schools.

Carlsbad police began investigating Barton in June 2013 after an alleged victim, now an adult, reported sexual abuse.

At the time, Barton was arrested and charged with 16 felony charges, including forced oral copulation and sodomy.

At his arraignment a few days later, prosecutors revealed that Barton had allegedly given his victims drug-laced brownies to incapacitate them prior to the sexual molestations. Barton’s baked goods became known around campus.

Prosecutors said Barton’s victims spanned three separate decades, three separate boarding schools and seven separate school years.

“All when the defendant was in a position of trust to his victims,” Deputy DA Tracy Prior said. “It doesn’t get more serious than this.”

Prosecutors said all six victims are now between 28 and 42 years old and were too ashamed to report the alleged crimes when they happened.

All of the alleged incidents took place in Barton’s private cottage at the Army and Navy Academy, in his car, in his office and on overnight trips. Barton pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Carlsbad police believed there could be more victims and said the investigation was ongoing.

Besides the school in Carlsbad, Barton has also worked at schools in Tennessee and South Carolina.



Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego

Threat Cancels High School Film Festival

0
0

 A San Diego high school’s film festival was shut down Friday by a threat to one of its staff members by one of its students, according to school officials.

Students at La Jolla High School have been spending many after-school hours creating films they planned to showcase next Thursday night at the annual festival.

But Friday morning, teachers were instructed to read a statement from Principal Chuck Podhorsky to their students, announcing that the film festival was canceled due to “safety concerns.”

It said a staff member at the school had received threats.

“My first concern is always for the safety of our staff and students at La Jolla High and decisions will always be made with this focus,” said Podhorsky’s statement.

Karen Ventimiglia, the mother of an LJHS student, said she’s upset because the event was closed down without much explanation.

"This is one of the very few activities that the student body at La Jolla High School take and rally around,” said Ventimiglia, “and I know just in the few hours since this announcement was made, it's really upsetting to again, not just the filmmakers, but many of the student body who were looking forward to next Thursday's film festival."

She told NBC 7 Friday afternoon that her daughter was frustrated because the project she worked on all year now won’t be shown.

Another mother, Sharon Franks, asked why many students should be punished when just one student is believed to be in the wrong.

“My first thoughts were simply that if this was, as my understanding, an opportunity for the students who produced films to showcase their work, their hard work and their talents, what a shame it will be if such an event were canceled and they didn't have the opportunity," said Franks.

In a statement released to NBC 7, the principal said the La Jolla High administration is working with police to investigate and resolve the issue.

They will not release any more information about when the threat was made. 

On Friday night, the festival's organizer told NBC 7 the show will go on. 

Now called "The La Jolla Film Festival," the student productions will be shown on June 6 at the La Jolla Museum of Contemporary Art at 6 p.m.


Outage Knocks Out Power to Thousands in Mid-City

0
0

An outage left thousands of residents without power in San Diego’s Mid-City area Saturday morning, according to San Diego Gas & Electric.

According to officials, the power went out just after 9:30 a.m., leaving approximately 3,500 customers in the dark in portions of communities like Kensington, Talmadge, City Heights, Chollas Creek and Oak Park.

By 10:45 a.m., much of the problem had been fixed and roughly 400 customers remained without power. SDG&E expects to have power fully restored to all residents by 12:30 p.m.

The cause of the outage has not yet been determined and is under investigation.
 



Photo Credit: Noel Powell, Schaumburg, Shutterstock

San Diego Ranked Top Summer Destination

0
0

With sunny skies and bountiful, picturesque beaches, many travelers are planning to visit San Diego this summer, according to a travel survey recently conducted by TripAdvisor.

Results from the popular travel website's survey show that 89 percent of travelers are planning to take a vacation this summer, with 66 percent traveling domestically. Of the top 10 destinations in the U.S. for a summer escape, San Diego ranked No. 8.

America’s Finest City is certainly in good company.

The other top summer vacation destinations in the U.S. are, in order: Myrtle Beach, S.C.; Las Vegas; New York City; Destin, Fla.; Ocean City, Md.; Orlando; Virginia Beach, Va.; San Francisco; and Key West, Fla.

According to the survey, 9 percent of respondents cited last winter’s harsh weather and polar vortex as inspirations for their summer vacations. In San Diego, visitors clearly won’t have to worry about dipping temperatures, snow jackets or anything of that nature.

With the economy improving, 36 percent of travelers said they plan to spend more on their leisure summer trips this year than last year. The most popular types of summer getaways include beach or ocean escapes (45 percent), a city vacation (42 percent) or a visit to a National Park (21 percent).

As for summer activities, shopping is on the agenda for 54 percent of travelers, while 49 percent opt for swimming or watersports and 49 percent plan to visit a historical site or attend an event.

Finally, what’s a vacation without a tasty treat or nice, cool drink?

The survey says 18 percent of travelers would splurge on ice cream while on vacation, while 14 percent indulge lobster and 9 percent savor some juicy, seasonal watermelon. To quench that thirst, 16 percent of travelers will reach for a beer, 11 percent will have a margarita and 9 percent will enjoy a glass of lemonade.
 



Photo Credit: Monica Garske

Daughter, One Other Arrested in Death of DC Nurse

0
0

The Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of two suspects in the homicide death of a D.C. nurse, including the arrest of the victim’s daughter.

Sheriff Roger L. Harris said Christina Brown, 25, and Alaina Mercer, 25, both of King George County, were arrested Friday evening and charged with felony conspiracy to commit murder in the death of Nancy Mercer. Alaina Mercer is the daughter of the victim. 

The suspects are being held in the Rappahannock Regional Jail without bond.

Nancy Mercer was found dead after she didn’t show up for work at MedStar Washington Hospital Center on May 18. Police have not released a motive in the death.

 

Man Fined for Selling Endangered Fish Online

0
0

A San Diego man was sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine after he posted an ad on Craigslist in which he tried to illegally sell endangered fish to an undercover agent.

According U.S. Attorney Laura E. Duffy, Michael Loo pleaded guilty to selling the endangered Asian arowana fish online. Loo admitted he posted a Craigslist ad offering the fish and tried to sell them to an undercover agent for nearly $2,800.

The U.S. Attorney’s office said this is the second sentencing for the illegal sale of Asian arowanas in this region.

Kiem Tran, owner of the Fish Warehouse in Westminster, Calif., was sentenced on May 16 to two years of probation and a $1,000 fine for engaging in transactions with Loo involving the planned transportation of Asian arowanas between Westminster and San Diego.

Investigators said Tran was aware the arowanas in the transactions with Loo were an endangered species and had been brought into the U.S. illegally. During the investigation into Loo’s and Tran’s fish trafficking, U.S. Fish and Wildlife agents seized 13 Asian arowanas.

The fish were forfeited to the government and have been kept at SeaWorld San Diego and the San Diego Zoo during the cases.

Prosecutors said the Asian arowana fish is found in the rivers of Southeast Asia and was listed among the most restrictive species in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in 1975.

The fish is also known as the “bonytongue” or “dragon fish,” and can grow to three feet in length. It is identified by large metallic scales, double barbels on the jaw, and large pectoral fins that make it look like a dragon in flight.

The fish are symbols of prosperity and luck in the Asian culture and are believed to preserve its owner from death by dying itself. The fish is commonly green but the rare red or golden arowanas are highly prized by collectors, selling for thousands of dollars, according to prosecutors.

The species has experienced loss of habitat and over-fishing for aquarium collections, leading to its endangered status.
 



Photo Credit: Hengky.S via flickr

Marriage Equality for Illinois

0
0

Same-sex couples in Illinois will soon be able to legally wed.

Gov. Pat Quinn signed legislation last year allowing same-sex marriage in Illinois, and the law takes effect June 1.

The day marks the first day all of 102 counties in Illinois can issues marriage licenses to same-sex couples and couples with civil unions can convert to marriage.

Several Illinois counties have already been issuing marriage licenses after a federal court ruling in February, however, many consider Sunday a historical day for the state.

“Today is a special day and I thank everyone who worked so hard to pass marriage equality and put Illinois on right side of history,” Quinn said in a statement. “All couples across Illinois can now receive the rights and protections under the sacred vow of marriage. The Land of Lincoln has always been a place to embrace all people and today we stand as an example for the rest of the nation.”

Cook County Clerk David Orr said he has already issued nearly 1,600 marriage licenses to same-sex couples in the last three months, though officials said the office will not be open Sunday and will resume issuing marriage licenses Monday.

Wedding planners said the industry is seeing a major boost as excitement over marriage equality booms.

“We’ve seen a huge uptick already,” said Tracy Baim, owner of Keith House in Chicago’s South Loop. “Really it’s a pent up demand. We have people together 30-40 years that never had a chance to get married.”

Baim says she’s seen about a 20-percent increase in her bookings and economists predict big money in Illinois thanks to a same-sex wedding boom.

“Between 50 and 100 million dollars in economy for all things associated with weddings whether that’s hotels or the booking, the venue, the flower, the bakeries,” Baim said.

Wedding planners point out that many of the same-sex couples set to hear wedding bells are older, established couples with money to spend on the occasion.

At luxury hotel JW Marriott in the Loop, a new sales package includes “Jeff and Jeff”—the first gay couple to get married at the venue last year.

The package includes an elegant array of food and the venue has even planned for cake toppers with two men or two women.

“We wanted to make sure when couples came they had something that spoke to them,” said Miranda Thomas with the JW Marriott Hotel. “They’re not trying to fit in to a segment they don’t belong.”

Illinois' health insurance marketplace is allowing gay and lesbian couples to enroll for private coverage.

Get Covered Illinois announced it will open up special enrollment periods for gay couples.

Married same-sex couples and their children can enroll as a family and may qualify for financial help.

The Affordable Care Act requires insurance companies to offer the same coverage to people in same-sex marriages as they do to opposite-sex spouses.

Under the law, marriage is a qualifying life event that makes people eligible for a special enrollment period. The period lasts two months in the state's marketplace and one month under an employer's marketplace plan.

(The Associated Press contributed to this report)

Aquanauts to Stream 31-Day Journey

0
0

It's a challenge very few have undertaken: Discovering the mysteries that lie under water. Less than 5 percent of our oceans have been explored.

On Sunday, a team of ocean explorers will dive in, just off Key Largo as part of Mission 31. At the helm, a man for whom adventure runs in the family.

"It's hard to turn your back on the ocean, once you have been immersed in it, because it's such a fantastic world," said Fabien Cousteau, the first grandson of famed underwater explorer Jacques Cousteau.

Like his grandfather, Fabien Cousteau is an ocean explorer and documentary filmmaker. He will pay homage to a mission his grandfather led nearly 50 years ago in the Red Sea. Ocean explorers then spent 30 days living in an underwater village. Now a new generation of aquanauts will do so for 31 days.

"It's freedom, to me its my home," he said.

That home will be the Aquarius, an 81 ton living reef. It is 63 feet below water. The world's only underwater research lab. The space is the size of a school bus, so the crew will be in tight quarters. It includes six bunk beds and a mini-kitchen. It even comes equipped with air-conditioning, but not a whole lot more.

"It won't really set in until you sit down that first night, that galley window and you look outside and see all these fish swimming around. I'm living underwater right now. This is really cool experience," said Florida International University PHD candidate Andrew Shantz.

He has taken part in a shorter mission. That one was 7 days. But opportunity to do what he'll do in June is rare. His team will spend most of its time conducting research on the impact of climate change and the impact pollutants like plastic have on marine life. He'll have very little downtime, and little space to indulge in it.

"I have my headphones to bring down, three books," he said. "Everything else will be work space."

While so much has changed in the time the senior Cousteau led his underwater mission, many things are similar like the way food, electronic equipment and towels are delivered to Aquarius. Divers use pressurized painting pots. One thing Fabien's father did not have is WiFi.

"Being able to do Twitter chats, and Facebook posts and Instagram, to be able to share this experience is something my grandfather was never able to do," Cousteau said.

Their adventures will be streaming live on Mission-31.com. Through Skype in the Classroom sessions, students from across the globe will be able to vicariously join the explorers.

It's a mission that honors a legacy of connecting human beings to the vast unknown under water.

"My grandfather used to say, 'If one person for whatever reason has a chance to lead an extraordinary life, he or she has no right to keep it to themselves,'" Cousteau said.



Photo Credit: NBC 6 South Florida

Students Gets Perfect SAT Score

0
0

Most juniors fret about it. It is a test with so much riding on it. From college entrance applications, to prestige and honor in the home and community, the Scholastic Aptitude Tests, better known by three little letters, SAT, can cause many to worry. One Methacton High School junior can now rest easy. She’s done the nearly impossible task. Lucy Jai, a Methacton 11th-grader, scored a perfect score on her SATs.

The Methacton School board of directors recognized Jai for her accomplishments during a presentation on May 27 during its public board meeting.

“Lucy Jai has brought considerable recognition to her school community by obtaining a perfect score of 2400 on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), a rare and significant accomplishment, therefore be it resolved that the Methacton School District board of directors go on record this 27th day of May, 2014, honoring the spirit of the exemplary performance,” read board president S. Christian Nascimento. Nascimento was joined by Methacton School District Superintendent Dr. David A. Zerbe in congratulating the teen.

A citation was given to Jai, who attended the meeting with her mother and father, Tuesday night. A proclamation and presentation were given in her honor.


This story was published through a news content partnership between The Alternative Press of Lower Providence and NBC10.com



Photo Credit: Melissa S. Treacy

Poll: Voters Vexed by CA Political Corruption Probes

0
0

 California voters are alarmed by a string of corruption scandals in Sacramento, but most feel any wrongdoing is not widespread, a poll indicated Saturday.

The University of Southern California Dornsife-Los Angeles Times poll says 84 percent of voters are either very, or somewhat, concerned about corruption in the Legislature.

But most believe the trouble is limited to a small number of lawmakers, a sentiment that cuts across party lines.

"While a significant number of Californians are concerned about corruption in the state Legislature, voters are more likely to blame a select few rather than make a blanket judgment on their elected officials," Matt Rodriguez, co-director of the poll and a Democratic strategist, said in a statement.

The findings come a few days before the state's Tuesday primary election, which has been shaded by the cases that all involve Democrats.

Sens. Ronald Calderon of Montebello and Leland Yee of San Francisco have been indicted on federal bribery and corruption charges. Sen. Rod Wright of Inglewood was convicted of perjury and voter fraud in January for lying about his legal residence in Los Angeles County.

Voters are split on lawmakers' overall performance, with 41 percent approving and 40 percent saying they are failing. That's not a ringing vote of confidence, but their standing has increased since the state has slowly climbed out of recession.

Most voters support overhauling the Legislature's ethics rules. Ninety percent favor expelling legislators who had been convicted of corruption or other serious crimes, and three of four favored banning legislators from accepting gifts from special interests and lobbyists.

About two of three favor requiring candidates to accept campaign contributions only from people who live in their districts.

The survey of 1,500 voters conducted in late May has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.9 percentage points.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Renters' Rights: Getting Back Your Deposit

0
0

When Eric Babajanian's landlord kept his security deposit, he was not happy.

"We have to repaint your whole apartment and we have to replace your carpet," said Babajanian, "I'm like, there's nothing wrong." 

In fact Eric had cleaned his apartment himself and thought everything looked fine.  But his landlord said it wasn't enough.

"You know a hundred dollars here and there means half a month's food for me," said Babajanian.

But now Eric doesn't take any chances.  He makes sure when he moves in to make a detailed list of the condition of the apartment and takes lots of pictures.

 Then when he moves out, he asks for a "Pre-Move Out Inspection" to see what his landlord wants fixed, and then Eric does the work.

"I've been very, very thorough when it comes to speaking with landlords," said Babajanian, and since then, he has received all of his deposit money.

Steven Kellman is the founder of the Tenants Legal Center in San Diego. 

He said landlords are slow to hand over your money because in most cases, they have already spent it. 

But landlords are not able to charge you for damages caused during "normal use." That's why it is important to document the home or apartment before you move in.

"Because if things wear out while you are there, you don't want the landlord to blame you," said Kellman.

By holding a Pre-Move Out Inspection, or initial inspection as it's called in the law, you are able to identify things that need to be repaired. 

It gives the tenant the chance to avoid security deposit deductions by making  the repair yourself.

That could include hiring your own cleaning company, carpet cleaner, filling holes in the wall or even replacing a toilet seat -- things you could probably do cheaper on your own.

But how clean does your home or apartment have to be when you leave?

"Under the law you have to leave it as clean as you found it," said Kellman, "That is why you document it when you move in as to the level of cleanliness."

Also, under state law, a landlord must document what they did with your security money.  Deductions need to be in writing with receipts for anything over $125.

Another Child Left Behind On School Bus

0
0

A Lakeside mother is coming forward tonight with concerns that there may not be enough controls in place to make sure kids are properly accounted for on school buses.

Her 3-year-old son with autism, Edan, was left alone and forgetten on a parked Lakeside Union School District special needs school bus for more than an hour.

The incident happened about a year ago. Loretta Watkins said she worked with school district officials and was satisfied with their response to the problem.

However, when she saw an NBC7 story on Thursday night about a San Diego Unified student who was also left unattended on a school bus for at least 30 minutes, she felt she needed to come forward.

"I thought, 'Wow, I can't believe another person in an almost identical situation,'" Loretta Watkins told NBC7. "And I thought this has really got to be made aware at least statewide that they need to change something because this is happening in more districts than just mine."

Watkins said her son is seen in bus surveillance video, which was shown to her by the school district, trapped inside the bus for more than an hour on a hot East County day.

She said it shows him trying to get off the bus and actually exiting it twice. The final time he left the bus, he was wandering the bus terminal and headed for a busy street when he was discovered, she said.

The school district declined to release the surveillance video to NBC7. About the incident, Superintendent David Lorden, Ed.D., sent the following statement:

"Student safety is the upmost concern and focus of the District. To this end, the district does not tolerate conduct inconsistent with this core value," Lorden's statement read. 

Watkins said she first hestitated coming forward to the media because she felt the district had adequately handled the problem.

"I just wanted to make a change so this wouldn't happen again," Watkins said.

Upon hearing about 4-year-old Zia Estrada, who is also midly autistic and was discovered May 22 alone inside a parked school bus in a San Diego Unified bus yard, Watkins said she could not help but try to find out how often mistakes like this occur.   

"I was told that nothing like this had ever happened in 14 or 15 years," Watkins said. "I mean, seriously - how often does this happen?" 

Both Watkins and the district said the bus driver in the Lakeside incident could not have followed proper procedures for ensuring that all of the kids correctly exited the school bus at the drop-off location.

"She had at least four or five probably checks she should have done, and she obviously couldn't have done any one of them. She would have had to pass him on the bus to get to the seats behind him to let (other) children off," Watkins said. "If the people doing the job don't want to do their job,then something needs to change." 

Neither Edan nor Zia were injured during the two incidents.

Elder Abuse Suspect Dons Disguise to Get to Victim

0
0

A La Jolla woman, in disguise and armed with a pen and legal documents, tried to visit the elderly man she’s accused of abusing, family members told NBC 7.

Robert Stella and family members recently filed a restraining order request against Victoria Turner after a surprise visit at the care facility where Stella is undergoing treatment.

Stella, who just turned 91, was rescued from the garbage and filth in his own home last March. Family members claim his estranged wife, Turner, kept the home cluttered and filthy and – at times – tied Stella to his bed.

When Stella was removed from the home malnourished and dehydrated, he was hospitalized in ICU for days.

He is now recovering at a rehab facility where, according to daughter Michelle Redfield, Turner used a disguise and fictitious purpose to get close to him.

NBC7 Investigates obtained a copy of the security video and the restraining order affidavits connected to the April 5 visit.

In them, Turner appears to have worn a grey wig and dark glasses and held a large vase of wild flowers in front of her face as she entered Stella’s rehab facility.

“They were completely wilted, white roses so they were mostly brown. [Staff members] all agreed it was creepy,” Redfield said.

When asked her name, "She simply said ‘Church’ and kept walking," a certified nurse assistant said in a statement.

“Her face was hidden behind a vase of flowers and it appeared to me that she was trying to cover herself," the staffer said.

They also say she brought a pen, pair of reading glasses and legal documents for Stella to sign.

The unwanted visitor may have temporarily slipped past staffers but she did not get by the security camera view.

“To see him in that video, I just, it was like a child looking so vulnerable,” Stella’s daughter said.

Normally Stella has been in good spirits but Redfield said that mood changed during this encounter with Turner, his estranged wife.

“My father recognized her. Once she left and we had shown pictures to the nurses. They knew it was her,” Redfield said.

While she has not been charged with a crime, Turner, nearly 40 years her husband’s junior, is the subject of a San Diego Police elder abuse investigation and county animal neglect and cruelty investigations.

At family court, when questioned about the rehab center visit, Turner did not answer and quickly walked the other way.

In the center’s surveillance video, obtained by NBC 7 Investigates, Turner found Robert in his wheelchair alone in the cafeteria.

Stella told his daughter that Turner put reading glasses on his face and a pen in his hand.

Eight times, Turner told him to sign changes to his will, give her control over his medical treatment and add her to his estate trust, Stella told his daughter.

“She starts really moving in on him physically and you see him moving, moving further away from her,” Redfield said of the surveillance video.

Stella refused to sign any documents and the commotion drew nearby staffers.

They escorted Turner to a nearby hallway while she tried to make a phone call.

The video doesn't show it but Redfield says Turner took off while staffers went to get an administrator.

According to the nurse assistant’s statement in the affidavit, Turner was able to gain access to the patient by coming in the back way earlier than most people would arrive.

She was able to bypass security measures put in place to protect Stella that included a fictitious name on the door of his room and a password requirement for visitors.

The Redfield’s don't blame administrators for the security breech but the incident has put the rehab facility on high alert.

NBC 7 Investigates is showing only parts of the recording from multiple cameras. We are not identifying the rehab facility nor staff members
 

North County Gives Big Thank You to First Responders

0
0

 North County first responders felt the strong appreciation of an entire community Saturday through words, brush strokes, videos and even tears.

“There’s nothing that we could say to thank them for all their help. They did an amazing job. They did an amazing job, and we’re forever grateful,” said Sheerien Arno, choking up.

She and her family were evacuated ahead of the Cocos Fire, but thanks to the diligent work of fire crews, their home was saved.

In recognition, she and other San Marcos residents put on a show and created banners at Mission Hills High School to celebrate its firefighters, police and deputies.

Sheerien’s son, Antonio, brought along pictures he and his classmates drew to represent the firefighters’ work.

“I did ‘Thank you Escondido and San Marcos firefighters,’ and I tried to draw a little fire,” the boy said as he pointed to his drawing.

Leonard Sanchez, a firefighter with the San Marcos Fire Department, told NBC 7 it’s great to know they make a difference and that all their efforts are appreciated. But for him, the residents don’t need to go out of their way to show their appreciation.

“Just a wave and a smile and a ‘thank you’ pretty much does it for me,” said Sanchez. “After 25 years, I love my job more today than probably the first day I started.”

That sentiment was echoed over in Carlsbad, where the city was holding a day of appreciation at the Safety Training Center for all involved in the Poinsettia Fire.

"We're here to take care of business, and to be told thank you for doing what we do is -- it's an unbelievably awkward position," said Mike Davis, fire chief for the city of Carlsbad.

Instead, he wanted to make the day about showing residents how much the fire department appreciates them.

The city gave back through free hot dogs, a tour of their base camp and a chance to check out police and fire vehicles.

"I'm extraordinarily proud of the firefighters who work for the city of Carlsbad and all of the North County,” said Davis. “As you can see, all of the engines over here are from our neighboring cities. We cannot do with without their help."

In one part of the center, people could record their stories and a “thank you” on video.

Eight-year-old Avery Vriones was more than happy to share her account. The Poinsettia Fire spread dangerously close to her school.

“There’s this soccer field or baseball field, and some of the fence got on fire, so they were the first one – this department was the first one to arrive,” she said.

When asked what she would say to the firefighters, she told NBC 7 “I would say, ‘Thank you for saving my school. You did a great job. I’m really proud of you guys.’”

Viewing all 60603 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images