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TweetDeck Security Issue Gives Hackers Access to Accounts

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Users of Twitter's popular web app TweetDeck are encouraged to log out of their account right away.

Users reported on Wednesday morning that the app was creating pop-up alerts all by itself. The issue seemed to be affecting those who use TweetDeck on Google Chrome, but some reports show that other versions were affected as well, according to the tech blog Gigacom.

Mashable reported that the service has a security flaw that could allow hackers to gain access to user accounts. TweetDeck confirmed on Twitter in the afternoon that the issue has been fixed.

In addition to logging out of and logging back into the app, users are encouraged to remove access to TweetDeck from the Twitter app before using the service again.


World Cup: 10 Things You Should Know

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The World Cup opens Thursday in Brazil and along with the beautiful game that can be seen on the field, there's plenty of off-the-field action as well.

This year's tournament takes place in Brazil from June 12 to July 13, and the Latin American county has so far spent about $63 billion on infrastructure ahead of the games. This hefty spending in a country beset by poverty, corruption and crime means this World Cup is shaping up to be one of the most controversial events in FIFA history.

Here are 10 things you should know about the world's most popular sporting event.

Artistic protests

Street artist Paulo Ito painted an untitled work on an elementary school fence that captures the sentiments of Brazilians who think the World Cup should be disrupted in favor of social issues. An image of the painting was reportedly shared more than 96,000 times on Facebook, according to the LA Times. Protests have continued throughout the country as discontent grows over the amount of money spent on building and refurbishing the 12 stadiums, the cost of which have quadrupled from initial estimates, making the 2014 event the most expensive in FIFA history.

Photo credit: NELSON ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty Images

Art in the sky

Not all art work coming out of Brazil has been political. The Brazilian national team will get to travel on a plane made over by artists and identical twins Otavio and Gustavo Pandolfo, also known as "Os Gêmeos." They used 1,200 cans of spray paint to cover a Boeing 737 with faces that they say represent the diversity and color of Brazilian culture.

Photo credit: Douglas Magno/AFP/Getty Images

A whole new ball game

A new soccer ball will make its World Cup debut when Brazil and Croatia play in the tournament opener on June 12. Adidas says the "Brazuca" was tested by more than 600 of the world's top players, 30 teams and in more than 10 countries over two and a half years, according to The Associated Press. The ball is made with fewer panels, with each panel exactly the same shape and size, which means the ball is more accurate, according to an Adidas spokesperson.

AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano

Move over, Beckham

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo is the most marketable soccer player in then world, according rankings determined by sports marketing research company Repucom. Globally, 83.9 percent of people know of Ronaldo in Italy, Spain, Germany and Turkey. The figure goes up to 95 percent in Argentina. This is a boon for the 29-year-old, whose global appeal will surely be used to drive sales for big brands during the World Cup.

Photo credit: AP/Manu Fernandez

Team USA

The U.S. team arrives in Rio with low expectations, even from head coach Jurgen Klinsmann, who has said his team can't win the tournament. He's probably right considering the team's opponents in the first round – Germany, Portugal and Ghana - but fans likely would have appreciated a bit more optimism before play begins. Cutting the team's most recognizable player, Landon Donovan, who is also the all-time leading goal scorer for the U.S., didn't endear the German-born coach to Americans either. Perhaps Klinsmann is hoping to surprise rather than disappoint.

Ballsy demands

Brazilian newspaper Lance compiled a list of unusual requests from the soccer teams participating in this year's World Cup. SB Nation kindly translated the list here. France, for example, will only use liquid soap. No bar soap for the French. The Chilean team wants new beds and new TVs for every hotel room it stays in. Team Ecuador wants a basket of bananas in every room. And Portugal wants six bodyguards at all times, four of which are just for Cristiano Ronaldo.

The real just got real

Tourists craving a Big Mac a Coke or just a place to sleep will be in for some sticker shock. Hotel prices have more than doubled ahead of the World Cup, according to the AP, and so have prices for iPhones, Nikes and Levi jeans. But nothing beats the $6.70 Big Mac, which costs $8.90 with a Coke and fries, making it one of the most expensive Big Macs in the world, the AP said. The Washington Post's Brazil correspondent Dom Phillips tweeted a series of photos that capture the cost of popular everyday items with their sticker price in Brazilian real. Check them out here.

A four-legged World Cup predictor

An ocelot will give Paul the Octopus and his eight legs a run for his money this year when she makes her way to the world stage as the new World Cup predictor. PRI's The World launched a Twitter account on Monday for Isidoro, a Brazilian ocelot tasked with predicting the outcome of U.S. World Cup games. The team at PRI teamed up with the Franklin Park Zoo in Boston to get Izzy involved in this year's tournament. Her first prediction for the U.S. versus Ghana match on Monday will be announced on Friday.

#Hashflags

Twitter is bringing back hashflags, which they introduced in 2010, to pepper Twitter feeds with country flags that appear each time a user puts a hashtag in front of the relevant three-letter country code.

Cheer on your favorite teams like Shakira:

The vuvuzela of Brazil

Brazil took a page from South Africa's playbook and introduced their own noisemaker ahead of the World Cup. The caxirola (pronounced cah-she-rolla) was invented by Oscar-nominated Brazilian composer Carlinhos Brown specially for the tournament. The hand-held plastic shaker with finger grips has been certified by the Brazilian Ministry of Sports and FIFA. And much to the relief of everyone's ear drums, a report said that it would take 30,000 caxirolas to make the same amount of noise as one vuvuzela, which some have called an "instrument of torture."


AP Photo/Fabio Pozzebom-Agencia Brasil



Photo Credit: AP

5th Victim Dies in Blythe Bus Crash

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A fifth person has died from last month's bus crash on Interstate 10 near the desert town of Blythe.

Thomas Madrid , 86, of Clairemont, man died Tuesday from injuries he suffered May 21.He was on the bus returning from a visit with family members in New Mexico.

“We know he's taken that trip many times, but we never expected him not to come home,” said Linda Madrid Lugo, Madrid’s daughter and eldest child. “Oh gosh, Dad was an honest, hardworking man. He loved his family.”

The bus, operated by El Paso-Los Angeles Limousine Express, crashed on Interstate 10 near Blythe.

Authorities say it struck metal pipes that fell from a jackknifed truck. Dozens of people were hurt.

Lugo says she’s shocked her father can go through so much in his 86 years, and yet have his life cut short by this tragedy. Her father is a purple heart recipient who served in the Korean War, the Vietnam War and as a drill instructor at Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego.

If there's one thing Lugo says she does know right now, it's that her father loved his family and his country.

“First and foremost, he was proud to be a U.S. Marine and a U.S. citizen and serve his country. That's my dad,” she told NBC 7.

Madrid is not the only local to have died from injuries suffered in that crash.

Jessica Garcia, 30, of Chula Vista was also among the victims.

Riverside County coroner's officials identified those killed in the crash as Los Angeles County reisdents Pablo Ramirez, 67, of Pico Rivera, Angel Hernandez, 49, of Hacienda Heights and Luz Rivera, 44, of Compton.

Madrid leaves behind a wife of 66 years, three children, 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
 



Photo Credit: Family photo

Wealthy Men Drugged, Taken to Strip Clubs: Officials

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A manager at a New York City strip club and four dancers who allegedly worked as his accomplices are accused of drugging unsuspecting wealthy men and taking them to Scores and another topless club, where they charged their credit cards for thousands of dollars.  

Investigators say the women, ranging in age from 26 to 30, were recruited to stalk doctors, lawyers and bankers at restaurants, slip drugs into their drinks, including ketamine and "molly," and take them to Scores and the Roadhouse NYC Gentlemen's Club in Flushing.

The women were not dancers at those clubs but had worked in others in the area, authorities said.

In all, more than $200,000 was billed to credit cards belonging to the victims during the alleged scam carried out between September and December last year. Some of the victims were charged on multiple cards in one night.

One man, a cardiologist in New Jersey, had more than $100,000 in charges on his card.

Prosecutors said some of the victims had no knowledge of even being at the clubs, and only learned of the charges after seeing their statements or hearing from their banks.

“This crime ring targeted wealthy men in the New York City area to extort hundreds of thousands of dollars," DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt said in a statement. "Four women and one man preyed on, drugged, endangered and robbed unsuspecting victims while they were under the influence of synthetic drugs used as a date rape drug."

When the victims later tried to reverse or cancel the charges, the suspects allegedly sent threatening text messages warning them not to contest the charges, officials said. In some cases they were told explicit photos of them would be released if they tried to get out of paying.

Officials said one Wall Street worker was fired because his corporate card was charged in the scam.

Authorities say the clubs paid the women as part the scam. But the establishments aren't facing criminal charges.

The five people are being charged with grand larceny, conspiracy, assault and forgery. An attorney for Karina Pasucci, one of the defendants, said she was not involved in the scheme. Lawyers for the others were not immediately reachable.

No one answered the phone at Scores Wednesday, and a message left at Roadhouse was not immediately returned.

 



Photo Credit: AP/NBC 4 New York/Facebook

New Bulletproof Blankets Offer Safety in Schools

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An Oklahoma inventor's podiatrist appointment sparked an idea and yielded an unexpected result: a bulletproof pad, released this month, to protect school children from shootings and tornadoes.

The Bodyguard Blanket is a bullet- and tornado-resistant blanket made of 5/16-inch thick ballistic fabric, with backpack-like straps that students and teachers can put on during a disaster.

"To say demand has been overwhelming would be the grossest understatement of my life," says Stan Schone, one of the blanket's inventors. His company took 1,000 orders the first day it offered them for sale, and they have sold briskly since, he says.

His podiatrist Steve Walker had first been inspired to create a protective blanket for children last year, shaken by the deadly Moore tornadoes and the Sandy Hook Elementary school shooting. Walker shared his prototype with Schone, who then teamed with Oklahoma State University professor Jay Hanan to develop the Bodyguard Blanket.

The Bodyguard Blanket has passed 3A armor testing, the same testing used for police officers' bulletproof vests. According to its maker, it can resist bullets of 90 percent of the types of guns used in past school shootings, like 9mm pistols, .357 magnums, 12-gauge shotguns and 22mm pistols.

The blankets are pricy — just under $1,000 each — but Schone says his aim is to partner with local companies, donors and other investors to provide the blankets for school districts, so schools themselves wouldn't have to pay for the protection.

He also points out that the dyneema blankets are much less costly than comparable bulletproof vests, which he says can cost more than $3,500.

ProTecht is not the only armor manufacturer to shift its focus to civilian needs, and its bulletproof blankets are just the latest in a growing range of protective school equipment, following a tragic spate of school shootings — from Newtown, Connecticut, to the shooting sprees at Seattle Pacific University and near the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Maryland's Hardwire makes bullet-resistant whiteboards and door protectors and has sold a local county dozens of bulletproof clipboards and shields to provide security for officials and government workers.

Other companies, like Bullet Blocker, manufacture a range of bulletproof book bags, backpack inserts and briefcases.

But some security experts have cautioned that such safety supplies may be distracting from the need for schools to implement stronger safety procedures and may not be practical.

"There's feeling safer, and then there's actually being safer," school safety consultant Ken Trump told NBC last year. "Schools have limited resources, and they ought to use that money very wisely, put it into an additional school psychologist or a school police officer, train your staff and work with first responders. The most valuable school security tools are invisible."

Still, Schone feels his company's blankets, which cover the body almost completely, could help students stay safe. He says his company keeps prices close to cost and wants to work with non-profits to make Bodyguard Blankets part of their lockdown protocol.

"We didn't do this for the money. Making money was secondary. Protecting the kids was primary," he says.



Photo Credit: Courtesy of ProTecht

Ron Goldman's Dad: Son's Death "Is Like Yesterday"

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Members of Ron Goldman's family say their loss still feels fresh 20 years after O.J. Simpson was accused of murdering Ron alongside Simpson's ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson.

“It’s like yesterday, the loss is exactly the same, nothing has changed,” Fred Goldman, the victim's father, said Thursday on NBC’s Today show.

“It’s just become a new normal, minus my son, without any of the opportunity to share his life with him, his joys, his happinesses, his successes… all of that is gone."

Friday marks 20 years since the bodies of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman were found outside her townhouse in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles. O.J. Simpson was acquitted of the murders in an eight-month trial that captivated the nation.

Ron Goldman’s sister, Kim Goldman, who wrote a book recently entitled, “Can’t Forgive,” about her brother’s murder, told "Today’s" Matt Lauer that she had to force herself to reclaim her life after the tragedy.

“I had to find what was important to me again,” Kim Goldman said. “At the age that I was in, early twenties, to be walking away from what I was supposed be doing. After my brother died I didn't know what that was because everything shifted and I was lost for a long time. It was hard to find that place.”

Kato Kaelin, who was living in O.J. Simpson’s guest house at the time of the murder and was a witness during the trial, reflected Thursday on how his life changed from being in the spotlight.

“One day I’m in a courtroom, I walk out of the courtroom and everyone is shouting my name,” Kaelin said. “I became this public figure and everybody had an opinion. I was Kato the character. Still to this day I can’t believe some of the hate that can come over social media. If I work, they say you’re capitalizing, if I don’t then I’m a bum. I can’t win, it’s a difficult situation to be in.”


 



Photo Credit: AFP/Getty Images

Soccer Fan Drives from US to Brazil

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It's a long way from San Francisco to Brazil.

But a 1955 Chevrolet 235 pickup truck named "Nellie" got a Dutch soccer fan there in one piece.

Ben Oude Kamphuis drove Nellie nearly 13,000 miles to watch his team play in the 2014 World Cup.

"Four years ago when we, Holland, lost again in the final I was crying one more time -- that's three times that I cried in the final,” Oude Kamphuis said. “So I was telling my friends and family back in San Francisco, you know what, I'm driving old Nellie to Brazil."

His journey began on Jan. 15 and took him through 12 countries.

In Colombia, Oude Kamphuis took a boat to continue through Ecuador and Peru before arriving in Brazil's Praia do Forte on June 2.

Oude Kamphuis said he and Nellie developed a “special relationship.”

"Every morning it started. I went through the highest mountains, through the deserts, through the Amazon, the rainforest. She has never let me down,” he said.

Oude Kamphuis, 53, works with disabled children in San Francisco and said they helped him paint his truck.

The Netherlands' first World Cup match Friday is a repeat of the 2010 final and a chance for revenge against Spain.

Boy, 10, Earns High School Diploma

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A 10-year-old Northern California boy whose father said he "came out smart" has graduated from high school — eight years earlier than most people do.
 
Tanishq Abraham of Sacramento received his diploma at a private ceremony with 100 guests at the California Auto Museum on Sunday, and even got a congratulatory letter from the White House.

"It was really emotional," his mother, Taji Abraham, said on Wednesday. "He said he liked being home-schooled but really wanted a cap-and-gown ceremony. He worked so hard for it."
 
Tanishq was home-schooled because he got "bored" in regular school, and ended up graduating with a 4.0 GPA, completing his high school proficiency exam in March.

His mother, a veterinarian, put her own Ph.D studies on hold to teach him, though her son has been taking classes at American River College, a community college, in Sacramento since he was 7 years old.

His father, Bijou, a software engineer and Cornell University graduate who himself earned a perfect SAT score in math, said in an interview last year: "He came out smart."

Nobody seems to dispute that.

When he was 4, Tanishq joined Mensa International, a group for people whose IQ is in the top 2 percent of the population. His sister, Tiara, who is now 8, also joined Mensa and is now taking classes at American River College, his parents said.

Tanishq and Tiara Abraham (Courtesy Bijou and Taji Abraham)

The boy's college astronomy professor, Paulo Alfonso, said Tanishq is "thirsty for learning" and is "different, in a positive way," in an interview on THINKR, a YouTube station that produces stories about prodigies and "extraordinary people,"  when Tanishq was just 9.

His geology professor, Steve Sterling, said in the video that Tanishq "retains difficult concepts better than any other student I've ever had."
 
At the time, Taji said the most fun thing for her son is "learning... and people just can't understand that."

In the interview, both Tanishq and his parents acknowledged that it is hard for him to make friends, and so he joined the San Francisco Boys Chorus to socialize with others his own age. His mom said his family has been driving the round-trip three-hour comjute twice a week from Sacramento because he loves singing with the troupe.

The bright boy's Twitter profile lists himself as an aspiring doctor, scientist and U.S. president, and his hobbies include social media, programming and, of course, playing.

He also has two cats, one of which he named Bili, which in Hindi means "cat." His own name means "jewel" in Sanskrit, reflecting his parents' Indian roots.
 
Tanishq's post-high school plans do not including flipping burgers.

He has his sights set on medical school at the University of California, Davis, and finding a cure for cancer.

Tanishq Abraham, 9, of Sacramento (left) talks with friends from the San Francisco Boys Chorus while waiting to sing the National Anthem in 2013. (Courtesy Bijou and Taji Abraham.)

 


Father’s Day Activities in North San Diego

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This Sunday it’s time to celebrate Dad in all his glory! Scoop up the man of the house and take him out for some fun activities in San Diego’s North County. Show your love by visiting these businesses and events found on Yelp, where you’ll find everything from beer adventures to the perfect golf swing for Dad.

Temecula Valley Polo Club (Temecula)
In honor of Father’s Day the Temecula Valley Polo Club is celebrating all things Dad with its “Father’s & Fedoras” event on Friday at 5 p.m. Come out wearing your best fedora or borrow one from ol’ pops. You have options at this party: snag a tailgate spot and gather up Father’s favorites for a picnic or don’t stress, as the soiree offers food, beer and wine for purchase. Make it a whole day affair with music between chukkers and dancing into the night. If you’re keeping your stride along the coast and pops is a polo fan, continue the celebration with matches on Sunday at the San Diego Polo Club in Rancho Santa Fe, too.

Green Dragon Tavern + Museum (Carlsbad)
Take a trip to the Tavern this weekend, featuring Father’s Day brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday and celebrate not only your father, but also all the Founding Fathers. The museum features early American history and houses documents from the Colonial and Revolutionary War eras. The menu is modern, with a throwback twist. You can order the “Benjamin Franklin,” a prime flat-ironed steak on a potato bun with tomato chutney and peppercorn aioli or a classic like the New England clam chowder. The whole family will be in foodie heaven with the lump crab cakes and comforting cast iron skillet mac & cheese.

St. Mark Golf (San Marcos)
This Semi-Private course has gorgeous greens and scheduling a round here for the man of the house will make his special day a hole-in-one.
After shooting like a pro and working up an appetite, stop by the pro shop for the Father’s Day Back Yard BBQ. For $15 per person, enjoy The Grill spread that includes all of Dad’s summer favorites such as burgers, hotdogs, BBQ, potato salad, coleslaw and corn on the cob. As a bonus, a 12-ounce beer is even included. Tee times must be scheduled ahead of time and are subject to availability. Father’s Day is typically one of the busiest golf days of the year so contact St. Mark Golf or your other favorite north San Diego course ASAP to make sure you get a swing in.

K1 Speedway (Carlsbad)
Do you best to beat your old man on the racetrack! K1 Speedway is a 60,000-square-foot indoor track that’s great for the whole family. It’s the perfect thrill to make Dad’s weekend complete. You need to be at least 4-foot-10 to race the 20hp DC electric motor carts and children between 48 and 58 inches in height can participate in Jr. Racing. Plasma TVs, a snack bar and a super comfy lobby make this both an exciting and relaxing way to spend this special Sunday. The speedway is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Battle it out for the fastest lap with your family and friends. After all, bragging rights are on the line.

Scavengers Beer and Adventure Tour (Features several stops in the North County)
Sign up for beer tour this week to prost with papa at local north San Diego breweries. If you can’t snag a spot for Saturday suds on the company’s Swiss Military vehicle, tours purchased for the future make the perfect gift to use at a later date too. The 99 packages offered here include Phil’s BBQ, a Scavengers logo tasting glass and tasting at three craft breweries. The tour stops range and feature popular North County businesses like Iron Fist, Port Brewing/Lost Abbey, Latitude 33, Belching Beaver and Barrel Harbor Legacy. Groups of eight people or more can reserve a private event, so the whole 21+ family can get on board!
 

Trish Sanderson is the community manager and marketing director for Yelp North County San Diego. She leads the local community of Yelp reviewers both online and off.



Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego

Supporters Want Justice for Dog Strapped With Fireworks

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Hundreds gathered outside a Van Nuys courtroom Tuesday in support of Indy, a dog who suffered severe burns after a man allegedly strapped fireworks to the pup on the Fourth of July and then abandoned him in an alley in Winnetka.

Carlos Duarte, 41, was arrested in February on suspicion of animal cruelty, seven months after someone found the abandoned pup with third-degree burns over half his body. Doctors believe the dog was strapped with fireworks and lit ablaze.

Duarte appeared at the Van Nuys Courthouse Tuesday for a preliminary hearing. Outside, a large group gathered with signs and t-shirts in support of bringing "justice for Indy." Indy himself was also present. 

"We’re hoping that (Duarte) does get prison time," Steve Spiro of the Shelter Transport Animal Rescue Team (S.T.A.R.T.) said. "Often times there aren’t enough stricter laws for animals and we’re really hoping that the judge sees that this was an innocent victim and punishes him to the full extent of the law."

Supporters hope their presence will influence the judge to take the case seriously and not minimize it just because the crime involves a dog and not a person.

"The voiceless need to be heard and the only way for that to happen is by the community getting together, like a strong support today, to show the court system that, listen, we won’t stand for this, we want justice," Spiro said.

Nicknamed Indy because he was rescued during the Independence Day holiday, the 3-year-old pit bull captured the hearts of many across the Southland, with supporters donating to his lengthy recovery.

"This is one of the most severe cases of animal abuse I personally have ever been closely involved with and I, it just breaks my heart," Indy supporter Gloria Butler said.

The person who found Indy initially took him to S.T.A.R.T. Indy was then transferred to the WestlakeVillage Animal Hospital, where he underwent at least four surgeries and skin grafts, some performed by Dr. Richard Grossman, a well-known surgeon who typically operates on humans. 

"He’s still got the scars to show from his trauma, he was in the hospital for almost half a year," Spiro said.

Indy's stay at Westlake Animal Hospital included a visit from comedian Ellen DeGeneres and her wife Portia de Rossi.

After six months of recovery, Indy was adopted by Jenny Mandel, a veterinary technician at Westlake Village Animal Hospital who helped him make an "unbelievable" recovery.

"You know, the dog is doing much better, and this is also part of the recovery – seeing justice for Indy, seeing this man who did such a horrendous, horrendous act of animal abuse get punished," Butler said.

Police had been looking for the man who was seen on surveillance footage yanking Indy by his collar out of a truck bed on July 4, 2013. Officials said that the public helped lead police to the truck which led to the arrest of Duarte.

"I’m hoping (that) it shows other people that if you abuse an animal, you’re going to jail," Spiro said. "I really hope that (Duarte) is sorry for what he did and I really hope that he can learn a lesson from this."

 

Rare Pilot Whales Spotted Off Orange County Coast

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For the first time in nearly two decades, dozens of rare pilot whales were spotted off the Orange County coast as onlookers watched in awe.

A group of whale watchers aboard Captain Dave’s Dolphin and Whale Watching Safari saw the pod of nearly 50 pilot whales during a Saturday afternoon tour.

A video captured by one of the boat's captains showed newborn pilot whales swimming near the boat alongside their mothers.

“I’d never thought I’d see these in my whole life,” an excited spectator said in the video.

Due to an El Nino that warmed the waters in 1988 and drove out their primary food source from the area, the pilot whales left over three decades ago and have been rare in the area ever since -- the most recent sighting nearly 20 years ago.

“They were relatively common animals to be found out here,” said Captain Dave Anderson of Dolphin Safari. “They kind of disappeared.”

Anderson said he has never seen pilot whales in the wild and has been to numerous places trying to capture them on camera.

“It is like the holy grail for me, because I keep trying to film them,” said Anderson, who did not get to witness the rare sighting this weekend because he was filming a lone, bottlenose dolphin in Ireland.

With the squid population having increased in recent years, the pilot whales remain to be a rarity in Southern California waters, but scientists and enthusiasts hope that with the increase of squid, more will return to the area.

“We are hoping to spot them again and we are all out looking for them,” Anderson said. “My hope is that they find a lot of food and stick around.”

Though the whale’s population has been depleted in some areas, it is not considered to be endangered, and both the long and short-fin pilot whales can be found throughout the world, according to the American Cetacean Society.

The pilot whale, also known as the blackfish, is the second largest member of the dolphin family and second only to the killer whale in size. Males can grow up to 20 feet in length and weigh 3 tons.

The pilot whale is considered social and highly intelligent. One was trained by the US Navy to retrieve items from the ocean floor as deep as 1600 feet, and older female pilot whales are one of the few animals that take care of calves that aren't theirs.

Anderson said that in addition to the pilot whales, minke whales, blue whales, and large pods of dolphins have also been spotted this year.

In January, an amorous pair of gray whales was spotted rolling in the surf about 2 miles off the Dana Point coast -- a ritual suggestive of courtship and possibly mating, and usually seen farther out in the ocean.

“It’s been quite an amazing season for wildlife,” Anderson said.

 



Photo Credit: Dale Frink, David Anderson/DolphinSafari.com

Slain Cop's Partner Fights Killer's Parole

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Slain SDPD Officer Archie Buggs' partner is trying to keep convicted cop killer Jesus Cecena behind bars.

Cecena killed Buggs with a bullet to the head more than 30 years ago.

Time is supposed heal old wounds. But try telling that to former police officer Jesse Navarro.

“I held him in my arms,“ said Navarro fighting back tears.

Nearly 36 years later, the memory was still too much for Navarro who teared up thinking about what happened on November 3, the night his brother-in-blue was gunned down execution style in the line of duty.

“He executed Archie by shooting him in the head," Navarro said.

"I get here hoping, praying I could save him."

The former San Diego police officer's pain compounded by the state parole board's decision to release Jesus Cecena who had received a life sentence behind bars.

They had many an encounter on the streets of Southeast San Diego.

"He was just violent, vicious and mean. No regard for anyone including his family," the officer recalled.

According to parole hearing transcripts one of the reasons for Cecena's release at the age of 52 is that officials believe he has matured to a point he doesn't pose a violent risk.

Navarro is crafting a letter to appeal the parole board’s decision.

If not for him, he says, then for the deceased officer and soldier who thought of his family in his dying breath.

”'If something happens to me please take care of my mom and sister,'" Navarro says Buggs asked of him.

The DA’s office, the head of the police union and other police are writing letters to the governor who has the ability to over-ride the parole board's decision.
 



Photo Credit: Courtesy Jesse Navarro

Poinsettia Fire Sparked on Golf Course

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NBC 7 Investigates has learned that the Poinsettia Fire that damaged homes and threatened businesses in Carlsbad started just north of the seventh green on the Omni La Costa Golf Course.

It's what some locals have long suspected.

On May 14 at 10:30 a.m., landscaper Adam Jordan used his phone to capture the first images of a soon-to-be raging fire.

"It was so rapid and fast, it was like there was gasoline already on the things, on the trees, on the bushes, it lit up so quick," Jordan told NBC 7.

Moment's later the video shows the fire jumping Poinsettia Lane and the thick black smoke rising higher.

Strong winds pushed the flames faster into neighborhoods on a day when nine fires threatened homes around San Diego County.

The Poinsettia Fire would go on to burn 600 acres and destroy 23 homes and apartments in Carlsbad.

Carlsbad Police Lt. Mike Larson said that although the fire’s origin has been determined, the cause is still under investigation.

Lt. Larson said investigators haven’t ruled out arson, but so far, the fire doesn’t appear to have been set intentionally.

Early in the investigation, there were reports that a golfer’s cigar may have started the fire. Lt. Larson said this did not prove to be true.



Photo Credit: Adam Jordan

Weekend Planner: San Diego County Fair

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The San Diego County Fair is heading into its second weekend and there is a lot to do, see and savor on the agenda. For weekend fairgoers, Friday, Saturday and Sunday will be all about horses, live music, wine and most importantly, coming together. We think the Fab Four would approve.

Charity Fair Horse Show
(Friday, June 13, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday, June 14, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
In its 30th year at the San Diego County Fair, the Charity Fair Horse Show takes place at the Del Mar Area. The show features several breeds, including American Saddlebred horses, Hackney and Roadster ponies, Morgan horses, and Friesian horses, plus equitation and medal classes. The show also doubles as a benefit for the Pet Encounter Therapy and Therapeutic Riding programs at the Helen Woodward Animal Center and the Don Diego Scholarship Foundation. Get details on the show here.

Darius Rucker
(Friday, June 13, at 7:30 p.m.)
The founder of Hootie & The Blowfish has built a solid career as a country artist and will showcase his pipes on Friday night at the fair’s Heineken Grandstand Stage. Tickets to this all ages show must be purchased in addition to regular fair admission and range from $23 to $77 depending on the seats you choose.

Electronic Fridays
(Friday, June 13, from 9 p.m. to 11:45 p.m.)
Fond of a good late-night dance party? Then head to the Ford Dealers Paddock Stage for some energetic mixes from DJ ManCat, who’s played across San Diego County and the U.S. Known for his fancy feast of danceable music and party anthems, DJ ManCat is known to wear a collection of masks and sometimes even a full-on cat suit. Royal Zeven will follow ManCat, keeping the electronic music bumping until 11:45 p.m. The shows are free with fair admission.

Hunter Hayes
(Saturday, June 14, at 7:30 p.m.)
This young country music crooner takes the Heineken Grandstand Stage at the fair on Saturday night, playing hits such as “Storm Warning” and “Wanted.” Tickets to this show must be purchased in addition to regular fair admission and range in price from $33 to $68.

Out at the Fair
(Saturday, June 14, from 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.)
This all-day event will celebrate the LGBT community with musical entertainment and activities throughout the day at multiple locations: San Diego Pavilion from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Ford Dealers Paddock Stage from 12:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Coors Light Rock On Stage from 9 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Toast of the Coast Wine Competition & Festival
(Saturday, June 14, from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.)
Toast of the Coast will feature the finest wines from licensed wineries in California and Baja California. Each ticket ($58, including fair admission) gets you unlimited 1-ounce samples of wines entered in the 2014 Toast of the Coast Wine Competition. Upgraded tickets are also available, such as the Winemakers’ Tasting which includes half-hour early admission to the festival and five food pairings with five of the top-performing wines.

Fair Flower Festival
(Sunday, June 15, from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.)
Amid the many attractions at the fair, you may want to take some time to stop and smell the flowers. This event includes the 5th Annual Floral Design Competition as well as floral exhibits and design demonstrations by industry experts, design schools, top local growers and garden clubs. The Flower Festival will be held throughout the Paul Ecke, Jr., Flower and Garden shows, stages and surrounding areas near O’Brien Hall.

Ramon Ayala
(Sunday, June 15, at 7:30 p.m.)
A legend of norteño music, this four-time Grammy-winning artist will hit the Heineken Grandstand Stage at 7:30 p.m. The show is free with fair admission for unreserved sears on the third and fifth levels. Otherwise, standing room and reserved ticket prices range from $24 to $35.

Of course, all weekend long fairgoers can enjoy rides, games, food and tons of other fun activities, too. Don’t forget, there are plenty of ways to save money at the fair, too, just check out these deals and discounts before heading to Del Mar.
 



Photo Credit: San Diego County Fair

Boat Falls Off Trailer, Causes Traffic Jam

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Commuters endured heavy traffic near West Mission Bay Drive Wednesday afternoon after a boat fell off a trailer, leaving behind a lot of debris on the roadway.

The incident happened around 3:40 p.m. on Ingraham Street and West Mission Bay Drive. California Highway Patrol officials said the boat was on a trailer being towed by another vehicle when it somehow fell off the trailer. Debris from the boat wound up in the middle of the road, impacting traffic as officers worked to clear the roadway.

At 4 p.m., there was severe traffic congestion in the area.
 



Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego

Strike Vote in Chula Vista Teachers Contract Talks

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As teachers in Chula Vista continue to negotiate a new contract, members met this week and authorized a strike vote if necessary.

Manuel Yvellez, president of the teachers’ union Chula Vista Educators, said 95 percent of members that cast a vote authorized a strike if necessary and 93 percent agreed to honor a picket line.

The union leader said they are still in the process of negotiations and under the law must go through mediation and fact-finding before any strike can be called.

“Teachers are not happy,” Yvellez said. “This vote was the biggest in memory with over 85 percent of members participating.”

The union has rejected the district’s proposal of a 2 percent salary increase on schedule for 2013-14 and a 2 percent off schedule one-time payment for 2013-14.

Teachers are also upset that the district plans to use grant money to hire administrative staff and not educators.

The district has said it will go into deficit spending if they meet the union’s asks.

"We value and appreciate our teachers. We are still in the negotiations process," the district said in a statement to NBC 7 Wednesday. "We are hopeful that with the help of a mediator we will come to a settlement with the teachers' bargaining group. It also is important to understand that teachers cannot legally strike while we are in this process."

In addition, students are on summer break, and classes resume for the 2014-15 school year in late July.

The main sticking points in negotiations are salaries and health care.

The district is offering a 2 percent increase to the salary schedule and a 2 percent one-time bonus. It is also offering to increase the amount the district contributes to employee health care coverage by $1,000, which would be an approximate $8,500 cap on the amount paid out per employee.

The union’s counter offer is a 5 percent salary schedule increase for the 2013-2014 school year, and an additional 5 percent salary increase for the 2014-2015 school year. The approximately 1,000-member union wants to cap health care contributions at $10,000.


 

Teen Suspect Escapes Escondido SWAT

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A six-hour SWAT standoff ends in Escondido and the 17-year-old suspect is nowhere to be found.

Escondido police officers spotted the teenager in the 900-block of East Mission Ave around 6:30 p.m. He was a known suspect in a recent assault with a deadly weapon.

When officers went to try to arrest him, the suspect ran into the Hidden Villa Apartment Complex.

That's what started a six-hour standoff. No residents were allowed into or out of the complex.

SWAT officers surrounded the apartment complex because the suspect had been known to be armed with a gun.

Around midnight, SWAT tried to enter one of the apartments that the teen had barricaded himself inside, they realized that the teen had left.
 



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Enviromentalists Offer Plan to Stretch Water

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Drought-plagued California could stretch its available water supply as much as 30 percent  by making more effective use of existing resources, according to a new analysis released by the Pacific Institute and the Natural Resources Defense Council.

 

The study projects gleaning as much as 14 million acre-feet a year, enough to slake the thirst of every city in the state.

 

The water would be found by expanding use of such existing strategies as conservation, water recycling, rainwater capture, and more efficient agricultural irrigation techniques.  Agriculture accounts for some three-fourths of the water consumed in the state.

 

"We have an unprecedented opportunity to do more with less, and we need to take every possible step to do so," said Robert Wilkinson, professor of environmental studies at UC Santa Barbara and

report co-author. 

 

In January, after the driest calendar year in the state's history, Gov. Jerry Brown formally proclaimed a statewide drought emergency, and called on Californians to reduce water usage by 20 percent.

 

"As climate change brings more extreme weather, including drought, ramping up forward thinking solutions now will help us be more resilient," said Peter Gleick, president of the Pacific Institute, in a statement issued in conjunction with the report, entitled The Untapped Potential of California's Water Supply.  "With widespread adoption of available water conservation and efficiency improvements, demand can be met more readily, less expensively, and with less pressure on our tapped-out rivers and groundwater basins."

 

Since the early 20th century, sustaining Southern California's population growth and agricultural industry has required importing water from the Colorado River and from the Central Valley's Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers.  Importing water was intended to reduce the drawing down of groundwater, but in an average year, California consumes 1 to 2 million more acre-feet of groundwater than is replenished, the drawdown even more severe in drought years, the study found.

 

Desalination remains an option for acquiring drinking water from the ocean, but because the existing technology is so energy-expensive, desalinated water is far more expensive than water from other sources.

 

Major water districts have long advocated conservation, and for decades have encouraged the installation of low-flow shower heads and toilets that require less water to flush. As those features have become widespread, water districts are seeing diminishing conservation returns. The next big leap in conservation gains will require homeowners to replace grass lawns with artificial turf, drought-tolerant plants, or other less thirsty alternatives.

 

The West Basin Municipal Water District, Los Angeles County Sanitation, and the Orange County Water District, among others, have expanded recycling plants, which remove contaminants from sewage, the resulting filtered water being used mainly to replenish ground water.  It cannot be put directly into municipal water systems, so called "Toilet to tap" not permitted under California law.

The study's authors believe recycling can be expanded further.

 

"Our current approach to water use is unsustainable, but that doesn't mean there isn't enough water  to met our needs," said Kate Poole, senior attorney with the NRDC's water program.

 

Though the strategies advocated by the report are widely accepted, there is some skepticism that the projected gains are attainable without enormously expensive investment.  The study offers no cost estimates.

 

The study's perhaps most controversial section deals with the Sacramento - San Joaquin River Delta, from which millions of acre-feet of water are diverted to the San Joaquin Valley and Southern California.  The study contends California, on average, diverts five million more acre-feet than is needed to preserve the Delta's ecosystem, and calls that the major component in a "water deficit."

 

Others contend court decisions limiting diversions have given too much weight to environmental concerns, to the point of hurting agriculture and municipal water supplies.  During this drought year, growers have fallowed  hundreds of thousands of acres of San Joaquin Valley farmland irrigated in years past by water from the Delta.

 

A plan supported by Gov. Brown would build new twin tunnels beneath the tunnel to deliver water south. It is now undergoing environmental impact review.  The NRDC has opposed the governor's plan as now outlined as too aggressive, suggesting one tunnel would do.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Children Raped, Punched, Kicked in BP Custody: Complaint

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A coalition of advocacy groups is demanding immediate action to end mistreatment of unaccompanied minor immigrants at the hands of U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agents.

Among the more than 100 allegations, children claim they have been punched, kicked and raped while in custody. Others say they were fed only frozen sandwiches, forced to drink toilet tank water or forced to use toilets in front of other detainees.

In a complaint filed Wednesday, one in four children reported some form of physical abuse varying from sexual assault, beatings, and the use of stress positions.

Five victims' advocacy groups jointly filed the complaint with the Department of Homeland Security on behalf of 116 unaccompanied immigrant children, ages five to 17 years old.

There were multiple claims of sexual or racially-charged insults and strip searches.

A third of the children reported that money and personal belongings were confiscated and not returned.

There’s also the lack of basic care – in cases documented from March to May of this year, 80 percent of the children said they didn’t get enough food or water.

In a 2014 report that involved interviews of 224 young detainees, more than half of them said they were held in wrist and ankle shackles.

CBP officials say "mistreatment or misconduct is not tolerated" among its ranks. According to an official statement, "While in temporary custody, CBP strives to protect unaccompanied children with special procedures and safeguards."

The agencies' complaint lists personal stories from teenagers who say they had a far different experience.

A 13-year-old boy taken into custody in Texas claims he was molested by two adult men in the holding cell where he spent the night.

A 17-year-old mother from Guatemala told the coalition that she and her one-year-old daughter were held for nine days. She said she didn’t receive diapers or food for the infant until the third day.

Another detainee, a 16-year-old male, said he and 40 other detainees were given a gallon of water to share.

Other minors claimed they couldn’t tell how long they were in custody because the lights in their holding cells were never turned off.

Federal officials deny allegations that food and water are withheld from minor detainees, saying in a written statement, "children are provided meals regularly and have access to drinks and snacks throughout the day."

Under the 2008 Trafficking Victims Protect Reauthorization Act (TVPRA), children in custody of USCBP should get two hot meals every 24 hours. They are to be fed within eight hours of detention. Also, all children, toddlers, and babies and pregnant women are to have regular access to snacks, milk, and juice at all times.

No juvenile is to be held beyond five days.

CBP officials say the agency "does everything within its power to process these children as quickly as possible in order to transfer them to the Department of Health and Human Services within 72 hours absent exceptional circumstances, as required by law."

"In the face of overwhelming numbers of unaccompanied children crossing the border in South Texas," the statement continues, "U.S. Border Patrol agents have taken extraordinary measures to care for these children while in custody and to maintain security in overcrowded facilities."

The coalition wants the Department of Homeland Security to ensure no child is detained for more than 24 hours.

They also want CBP facilities to be staffed with people who are trained in child welfare and adopt a zero-tolerance policy for employees who abuse juvenile detainees.

“The sheer volume and consistency of these complaints reflects longstanding, systemic problems with CBP policy and practices,” the complaint reads.

The advocacy groups involved are the National Immigrant Justice Center, Esperanza Immigrant Rights Project, Americans for Immigrant Justice, Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project and the ACLU Border Litigation Project. 

Hiker Bitten by Rattlesnake

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A woman hiking at Black Canyon Falls was bitten by a rattlesnake on Wednesday morning.

Fire officials said the 24-year-old woman was hiking near the 2130 block of Black Canyon Road in Ramona when she was bitten on the foot just before noon.

Witnesses said the woman had been surprised by a rattlesnake tucked in behind a rock. They said the woman was fortunate the incident happened in a spot with good cell service, as she was able to quickly call 911.

A Mercy Air helicopter arrived 30 minutes later and took the hiker to Pomerado Hospital.

It wasn’t immediately known the severity of the snake bite.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

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