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10 Arrests as Fast Food Workers Strike

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A group of protesters blocked a major intersection in San Diego Wednesday as part of a national strike aimed at raising awareness of fast food workers' wages.

The group sat with a large banner in the middle of University Avenue near Interstate 15 in the City Heights community east of downtown.

San Diego police could be seen detaining at least three of the protesters before picking up the banner and clearing the intersection for traffic. Officials later said 10 people were arrested.

The protest is part of a one-day nationwide strike against chains like McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's and Jack in the Box.

Two of the stores along University Avenue locked their doors as the group of protesters approached.

Employees are demanding pay of $15 an hour and the right to unionize.

Restaurants, like McDonald's, have said they respect people's rights to protest.

The company issued a statement that said in part,  "The topic of minimum wage goes well beyond McDonald's- it affects our country's entire workforce. McDonald's and our independent franchisees support paying our valued employees fair wages aligned with a competitive marketplace."

Wendy's also released a response to the protest saying, "We're proud to give thousands of people, who come to us for an entry-level job, the opportunity to learn and develop important skills so that they can grow with us or move on to something else."

A large group of protesters left the intersection and continued walking with signs along University Avenue until they reached the McDonald's. The action was causing a delay for commuters - a not-too-popular fact NBC 7 reports.



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Zombie Walk Crash Driver Claims Police at Fault

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The man behind the wheel in the crash at San Diego's "Zombie Walk" during Comic-Con has filed a claim against the San Diego Police Department and Chief Shelley Zimmerman.

A woman was injured when Matthew Pocci drove his car into a crowd gathered at 2nd and Island avenues in July 26.

Pocci has said he feared for the safety of his family and was confused by the crowd of people gathered for the "Zombie Walk," an event that takes place near Comic-Con but is not part of the official convention.

Pocci, who is deaf, did an interview with a news website that focuses on news for the hearing impaired community.

Using American Sign Language, he explained that when he honked his horn and moved slowly, one man punched his front window and another person opened a back door.

"That’s when I plowed my car through the crowd. I had to do this to save my family," the report quotes him as saying. "Once they broke my front window and the car door opened, I had to move my car quickly."

The 64-year-old woman struck by Pocci's car was treated for an injury to her arm.

In the claim filed by San Diego Attorney Dan Gilleon, Pocci said the organizers did not file a permit for the event. Because of this, Pocci claims "SDPD caused and created a confusing and misleading situation for motorists."

It includes a picture posted by the SDPD's official Twitter account showing Chief Zimmerman posing with zombies on the day of the incident with the caption: "Chief Zimmerman making sure the Zombies follow ALL the rules at #ComicCon2014."

Pocci wants to find a solution to the incident, he explained to NBC 7 Thursday.

"I don't want this to ever happen again to any individual. I'm not thinking about suing for money. I'm not trying to get rich," he signed. "The situation was dangerous and I think the situation should be taken care of."  ASL interpreter Keturah Holiday helped in the interview.

A San Diego Police spokesperson told NBC 7, "The case has been submitted to the DA for prosecutorial review and the City Attorney handles cases involving civil litigation."

NBC 7 heard from several witnesses to the crash who said Pocci floored his car and his tires squealed seconds before impact.

"The only reason he was surrounded by a crowd who was angry was because he was pushing his car through a crowd that was trying to watch the parade," said witness Sean Foley.

According to the Twitter page for the SDZombieWalk, participants of the event had nothing to do with the incident.  Organizers released another video that the group said shows "no zombies touching the car that we can see."

Warrants Detail Exhaustive Triple Homicide Investigation

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Dozens of search warrants obtained by NBC 7 Thursday reveal just how exhaustive the investigation has been on a baffling case that began last Christmas Eve involving the slayings of three San Diego residents.

Page after page, investigators detail their attempts to find out why someone would want to kill two high school sweethearts and their best friend and brother. Their search for a motive ranged from tracking calls to one victim’s employer to seizing and testing weapons owned by another’s father.

There’s even the theory from a lead investigator of a conspiracy: “I, and the rest of the investigative team, believe the three murders are related and likely carried out by more than one person,” the detective writes.

On Dec. 24, 2013, Ilona Flint and Salvatore Belvedere, both 22 years old, were found critically shot inside their car parked just outside a Macy’s department store at Mission Valley Mall. Flint, who called 911 to report the shooting and their location, died at the scene. Salvatore died a few days later.

Flint’s fiancé and Salvatore’s brother, Gianni Belvedere, went missing around the same time of the killings. On Jan. 17, 2014, police found Gianni’s badly decomposed body stuffed into the trunk of his own car parked at a shopping center in Riverside, California, more than 100 miles away from San Diego.

He, too, had been shot to death.

For six months, police reported no breaks in the triple homicide case.

On June 20, the San Diego Police Department confirmed officers had arrested a suspect in the three slayings, 29-year-old San Diego resident Carlo Mercado.

At Mercado’s pretrial this week, new DNA evidence emerged linking Mercado to Gianni’s car and the bloody Riverside crime scene, while ballistics evidence linked a gun registered in Mercado’s name to the deadly shootings of Flint, Salvatore and Gianni. Prosecutors also presented evidence found on Mercado's phone and computers.

Although no motive has been determined for the killings, a judge ruled there is sufficient evidence to send Mercado to trial on the three counts of first-degree murder.

Still, a total of 38 search warrants reveal that detectives initially believed Mercado may not have acted alone.

“In order to carry out the murders of Ilona and Salvatore, abduct and/or kill Gianni, put the body in the trunk of the vehicle and dispose of it over one hundred miles away, it seems reasonable to assume more than one person would be needed to carry out the murders,” the warrant continues.

The documents show investigators cast a very wide net in their search for answers. They requested a multitude of phone records in connection with the case, examined surveillance footage recorded at Mission Valley Mall on the day of the shooting and spoke with several witnesses.

Investigators also questioned the victims’ family members – including the father of the Belvedere brothers and Flint’s step-father – checked family bank accounts and focused their attention on several dealers who provided drugs to the victims on a regular basis.

One drug dealer admitted he met Gianni on Dec. 23, 2013, around 11 p.m. – about two hours before Flint and Salvatore were shot and approximately 30 minutes before Gianni was last seen. The dealer told detectives he sold Gianni several tablets of Xanax in exchange for cash.

The documents said Gianni “was known to arrange clandestine meetings for the purpose of buying controlled substances.”

Another woman told detectives she would meet with Gianni almost daily to sell him several grams of marijuana for $100. She said she last saw Gianni on Dec. 23, 2013, at around 7:30 p.m.

By searching cellphone records, the documents show investigators traced Gianni’s phone to Mission Valley Mall on Dec. 23, 2013, between 11:28 p.m. and 11:43 p.m. Gianni’s father told detectives his son was there to pick Flint up from work.

The warrants say the last phone call Gianni made was to his cousin at approximately 11:35 p.m. on Dec. 23, 2013.

“During that call [the cousin] said Gianni appeared to be distracted by someone or something and the call was unexpectedly terminated,” a document states.

The cousin called Gianni back but was unable to reach him. Investigators said phone records showed
Gianni’s cell phone was turned off right after that call with his cousin.

The search warrants also reveal what investigators discovered on surveillance tapes recorded at the mall.

The documents say Flint can be seen on video leaving the mall on Dec. 24, 2013, at 12:22 a.m. being followed by an unidentified man. The man could be seen talking on a cell phone prior to following Flint out.

The documents say a similar man was described by witnesses who found the bodies of Flint and Salvatore in the parking lot about an hour later. Witnesses told detectives they saw an unidentified man walking away from the vehicle where the bodies of the victims were found.

Despite the hundreds of pages of search warrants, no clear motive is outlined and investigators continue to look for answers. This week, prosecutors said they hoped renewed interest in the case would bring forth new tips and information about why the trio was killed.

Anyone with information on this triple homicide case should contact the SDPD Homicide Unit at (619) 531-2293.



Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego

"Jackass" Star Facing Charges for Vandalizing SeaWorld Sign

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"Jackass" star Steve-O, a wild personality well-known for his pranks, may have to pay the price for his latest shenanigans in San Diego.

The California Highway Patrol announced Thursday it has submitted charges to the District Attorney’s Office, accusing Stephen Gilchrist Glover – a.k.a. Steve-O – of vandalism and trespassing for changing a freeway sign to read “SeaWorld Sucks” in May.

Steve-O took responsibility for the prank last month, publishing a YouTube video that proves it.

“I’m putting my foot down for Shamu,” the prankster and animal rights activist says at the beginning of the video.

The clip shows him unsuccessfully using rope – and then, more successfully, a ladder – to scale the exit sign on southbound Interstate 5 in broad daylight.

Once on the platform, he taped a banner that said “SUCKS” over the word “Drive” so the sign read “SeaWorld SUCKS.”

He encouraged his fans to share the video using the hashtag #SeaWorldSucks.

CHP says when Caltrans removed the tape, it pulled off the reflective material on the sign – a reason he was charged with vandalism.

Steve-O took to Instagram to respond to the charges, posting an incriminating photo of himself by the sign, flipping off the camera.

"The California Highway Patrol has requested that the District Attorney file charges against me for helping out this sign," he said in the post. "Bring on the publicity, because #SeaWorldSucks #yeahdude #freesteveo."

Even if the DA charges him and he is convicted, Steve-O won’t be shouldering his punishment alone.

Anticipating the law enforcement action, PETA has already vowed to pay any fines levied against him as a result of this prank.

Steve-O has posed for PETA public service campaigns in the past.

His video has amassed more than 900,000 views since it was posted on Aug. 20, 2014.



Photo Credit: YouTube

Could Triple Homicide Suspect Face Death Penalty?

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The process to determine whether District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis will seek the death penalty in the triple murder case against Carlo Mercado begins now.

Wednesday, a judge determined there is enough evidence to send the defendant to trial in the shooting deaths of Salvatore Belverdere, Gianni Belvedere and his fiancée Ilona Flint, starting last Christmas Eve.

Mercado's charges include what are called special circumstances, so it's clear the district attorney's office believes this case at least potentially meets death penalty criteria, even though the decision is more than two weeks away.

By most accounts, the case against Carlo Mercado meets at least two death penalty criteria.

“It's egregious, first of all, and that it’s multiple killings,” said defense attorney Gretchen von Helms.

Von Helms said the DA considers everything before deciding to pursue the death penalty -- no matter the circumstances.

“She is very fair minded about this process. She meets with defense council. She meets with the victims of the various family members,” von Helms said.

Sometimes the greater hurdle to overcome is the cost to county taxpayers, the attorney said.

Mercado's attorney Gary Gibson urged the court Wednesday to better scrutinize the DA's case because it could result in his client’s death.

“What we don't know says more about this case then what we do know. In some respects, this case is still unsolved,” Gibson said.

Determining a verdict and securing the death penalty are two different processes, but the strength of the evidence matters in both.

The prosecution does not have a motive -- something juries prefer when ruling on a proper sentence.

“It helps to explain why this may have happened, but it is not necessary to obtain a conviction,” von Helms said.

The gun used in all three homicides is registered to defendant Carlo Mercado, prosecutors say. Investigators testified they have Mercado's DNA on and in the car truck where Gianni Belvedere's body was found.

Cell phone and computer records show an “RI.P.” entry in Mercado's smartphone calendar on the date Flint and Salvatore were fatally shot in a Mission Valley mall parking lot: Dec. 24, 2013.

Still Gibson says proving Mercado committed multiple murders will not be easy because the prosecution can't physically link the defendant to the Mission Valley scene.

“All of the DNA that was processed, not linked to Carlo Mercado. All the prints processed, no link to Carlo Mercado. All of the trace evidence taken from that scene showed no link to Carlo Mercado,” Gibson said.

According to California Department of Corrections data, San Diego County juries handed down death penalties nine times since 2000.

Nearly $10 million has been spent in the pursuit of executions during that same time period.

But any death sentence could be rendered moot if a federal ruling calling the state’s death penalty unconstitutional stands.

California's attorney general has vowed to appeal the decision that claims death penalties take too long to carry out.

Quake's Main Force at Napa: Experts

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Emerging data on last month's magnitude-6.0 earthquake shows it directed most of its force north toward Napa and the Napa Valley, hitting hard enough to move one side of the West Napa Fault north by 18 inches, the head of the U.S. Geological Survey's Earthquake Science Center said Thursday.

Scientists' ongoing study of the quake is helping explain why the city of Napa suffered so much of the damage in the Aug. 24 quake even though the epicenter was about 5 miles to the south, said Tom Brocher, head of Earthquake Science Center. Older buildings in downtown Napa that had been only partially reinforced against earthquakes, or not reinforced at all, incurred much of the damage, including some old chimneys and building facades that tumbled to the ground.

"The energy really pointed right on Napa,'' Brocher said. Additionally, vineyard-rich Napa Valley lies on soil and other, softer geological deposits, that shake harder and longer than bedrock, Brocher said.

He spoke by phone after a USGS seminar Tuesday for seismic experts to share data on the quake, the hardest to hit Northern California in 25 years.

Official damage estimates still are being tallied. Counts so far range from the hundreds of millions of dollars to more than $1 billion. More than 100 people suffered injuries serious enough to seek medical treatment, although no one died.

Beyond the immediate shock that moved the west side of the West Napa Fault 18 inches, afterslips -- slips on a fault after an earthquake -- have shifted it another few inches, Brocher said. Scientists found cracks in the ground over a 10-mile distance.

Earthquake experts have called the quake a successful test of an early-quake warning system, ShakeAlert, which the USGS is testing in conjunction with universities. ShakeAlert monitors in San Francisco picked up the first waves of the Napa quake eight seconds before the main force of the shock reached San Francisco, scientists at Thursday's briefing said.

In the case of a longer, bigger quake along the San Andreas fault, for example, seismic experts believe the warning system could provide up to a minute of warning before the main shock hit San Francisco, Brocher said.

For the latest earthquake information visit earthquake.usgs.gov.

Kids' Sunglasses Recalled

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A Rhode Island-based sunglasses company on Thursday issued a recall of more than 200,000 sunglasses due to an excessive amount of lead in the paint.

The glasses are made by FGX and feature designs from Disney movies, TV shows and some comic book characters.

CVS and Walgreens stores were among those that sold the sunglasses from December 2013 to March 2014 for between $7 and $13.

According to the company website, the recall includes: 

Style# Brand Colors

  • S00014SVS999 -- Marvel Spider-Man Red, blue
  • S00014SVSBLU -- Marvel Spider-Man Blue
  • S00014SVSRED -- Marvel Spider-Man Red
  • S00021LKC999 -- SK2 Sears /Kmart Private Label Blue
  • S00021SVS999 -- Marvel Spider-Man Red/black, silver/blue
  • S01551SDB999 -- Disney Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Red/white, silver/black
  • S02964SJN440 -- Disney Jake and the Never Land Pirates Blue
  • S02964SJN999 -- Disney Jake and the Never Land Pirates Blue
  • S03683SDC999 -- Disney Cars Blue, black, red
  • S04611SDC001 -- Disney Cars Red/black
  • S04611SDC080 -- Disney Cars Red/Silver
  • S04611SDC400 -- Disney Cars Blue/teal/yellow
  • S04611SDC999 -- Disney Cars Blue/teal/yellow, red/black, red/silver
  • S07786SMS500 -- Disney Doc McStuffins Purple/pink
  • S07786SMS650 -- Disney Doc McStuffins Pink/blue
  • S07786SMS999 -- Disney Doc McStuffins Purple/pink, pink/blue
  • S07840SDC999 -- Disney Cars Red/black
  • S07841SDC001 -- Disney Cars Black/silver
  • S07841SDC440 -- Disney Cars Blue/red
  • S07841SDC999 -- Disney Cars Blue/red, black/silver, black/red

Customers can contact FGX International toll-free at 877-277-0104 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday to arrange a replacement or refund.



Photo Credit: FGX

San Diegans React to Gubernatorial Debate

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NBC 7's Omari Fleming joined a Republican watch party for Thursday night's debate between Gov. Jerry Brown and his challenger Neel Kashkari.

Photo Credit: NBC 7

Balboa Park Suspect Pleads Guilty to Attempted Robbery

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The suspect who attacked a woman on a Balboa Park trail – and was accused of attempting to sexually assault her – has pleaded guilty to attempted robbery.

Ameen Bryant, 22, originally went to trial last month on a charge of assault with intent to commit rape, but the judge declared a mistrial when the jury became deadlocked 8-4.

Bryant has a previous conviction for robbery from 2012 and is currently on parole. Because of that offense, he faces up to 11 years in prison at his Oct. 2 sentencing.

Prosecutors added the attempted robbery charge when Bryant told the court he grabbed the woman to steal her phone, not rape her.

The District Attorney’s Office said it would have been hard to retry the case because it is difficult to prove a defendant’s intent.

Instead, the prosecutors and defense attorneys worked out a plea deal in which Bryant admits to trying to rob her.

The charges stem from an incident on Jan.14, when Bryant attacked the victim walking along Bridle Trail in broad daylight.

The woman told the court he put his hands on her and forced her to the ground. She believed he intended to sexually assault her.

Taking the stand in his own defense, Bryant told the jury he only grabbed her because she tried to fight back. Otherwise, it would have never happened, he said.

When the woman screamed rape, the defendant panicked and tried to stuff dirt in her face, according to the defense.

Two strangers walking on the path then came upon the scene, so Bryant bolted.

As she was cross-examined, the victim admitted Bryant never said he wanted to rape her, and he never touched private areas of her body.

Puppy Helps Cheetah Cub Recover From Surgery

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On Wednesday, a concerned puppy in San Diego nuzzled and licked her best friend, a cheetah cub, to make sure he would wake up from his leg surgery this week.

With his spotted forelegs wrapped in blue bandages, the little cub Ruuxa is recovering from an growth abnormality operation.

His legs were starting to bow because the growth plate in his ulna stopped growing before the radius, so veterinarians wanted to correct the problem before it caused pain.

The young cheetah was sedated for the surgery at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park’s Harter Veterinary Medical Center.

Raina, the brown Rhodesian ridgeback puppy who has been Ruuxa’s constant companion, accompanied her friend. She sat nearby through the whole procedure.

The pup even laid by his crate while he was recovering from the anesthesia.

“Raina appeared very concerned about Ruuxa when she saw he was sleeping and she couldn’t wake him,” said Susie Ekard, the park’s animal training manager. “She licked him and nuzzled him, and when he awoke, she lay with him and seemed very content to know her cheetah was OK.”

The dog’s presence made it less stressful for the cheetah, Ekard said.

The two were paired together through the Safari Park’s animal ambassador program. Ruuxa was rejected by his mother – which is often the case when a single cub is born – so Raina steps in to help the cub navigate the outside world.

The goal is to develop a kinship between the two animals so the dog can keep the cheetah calm in public settings.

The Safari Park says Ruuxa and Raina should be up to their normal roughhousing soon when the cub makes a full recovery.

According to Ekard, the surgery will help Ruuxa have a better quality of life because he won’t have further leg problems down the road.

“So I’m very thankful that we were able to have the technology and the expertise and the facilities and everything to do this,” said Ekard.



Photo Credit: San Diego Zoo Safari Park

SDUSD Appeals Ruling on I.B. Fees

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San Diego Unified School District students waiting to get the money back that they paid for International Baccalaureate exams may have to wait longer.

I.B. is an educational program that focuses on critical thinking and respect for other cultures. Students pay $149 to apply for the tests and then typically take five tests, each with a $94 fee according to one parent.

After parents filed a complaint with the California Department of Education challenging the fee, the CDE found the fees to be illegal and ruled the district must return the money by Sept. 14.

However, the fees are paid directly to the international IB Organization, not to the district according to a SDUSD spokesperson.

“We have been operating under past advice from CDE that our program was consistent with California law,” said SDUSD spokesperson Ursula Kroemer.

The district is waiting for a response to their appeal filed on July 22.

Students had to pay $600 to $700 to complete the program.
 

Rivers Considered "Joan of Arc" for HIV/AIDS

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Her caustic humor brought her fame on stage but in San Diego, comedian Joan Rivers was known for more.

“When it comes to HIV and AIDS she stands out as our own little Joan of Arc,” said City of San Diego Human Rights Commissioner Nicole Murray- Ramirez. “She was not only Joan Rivers but for the HIV/AIDs community she was Joan of Arc.”

Ramirez presented Rivers with a commendation from the city back in 2008 for her work with the HIV and AIDS community.

“She not only had a big mouth, she had the biggest heart,” Ramirez said.

Rivers' death on Thursday came one week after she went into cardiac arrest during an outpatient surgery. It’s still unclear exactly what happened before the 81-year-old stopped breathing.

Rivers came to San Diego often, performing at places like the Balboa Theater, where Don Telford got to know her on a personal level.

“She was absolutely delightful. So funny, so bright, so quick,” said Telford.

“From the moment she walked in, I greeted her and said ‘Joan we’ve been looking forward to this and it’s going to be a great night.’ And her comment back was ‘You never know some nights I’m hot, some nights I’m not.’”

At the Comedy Store in La Jolla, where a tribute to Rivers was up on the marquee, those were those who never had the chance to meet the comedian but understood what she meant to the industry.

“You’ll never have a repeat of Joan Rivers,” said Russell Brock.

He said she paved the way for so many comedians.

“She always said what was on her mind. She was always unapologetically Joan and that’s what made her this giant colossal orb that everyone in comedy circled around.”



Photo Credit: Courtesy Nicole Murray-Ramirez

Could the Vacant Pernicano's in Hillcrest Be Sold?

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Chances are you’ve seen this dilapidated, vacant building in Hillcrest. After all, it’s been there for nearly 30 years.

Now, sources from city hall have told NBC 7 that the owners of Pernicano's Restaurant want to sell it.

The Pernicano's restaurant and parking lot on Sixth Avenue between University and Robinson Avenues closed in 1985, locked up tight with six-foot fences surrounding the complex.

There were signs of life four years ago when the eatery’s parking lot opened. At that point, a spokesman for the owner said it was the first step in a redevelopment of the block.

Still, the building remained vacant ever since and has drawn attention over the years, as some have wanted to legally shut it down using neighborhood codes of compliance.

Opened in 1950, the restaurant was a staple in the San Diego community, and very popular with Hollywood celebrities.

We’ve reached out to the owners of the pizzeria, but have not heard back.

Live from Cupertino: Apple Will Live Stream Sept. 9 Event

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Is it a phone, a watch, a wallet? All eyes will be on Cupertino Tuesday for Apple's next big announcement. Apple will also be live-streaming the "special event" on Apple.com starting 10 a.m. Sept. 9.

The Apple website already features a countdown clock counting down to the magic hour.

Announcements on both the iPhone 6 (with apparently a bigger screen) and the iWatch (or iBand?) are expected, reports indicate, but there's also the "what else" aspect.

Reports from both Re/code and Bloomberg indicate that the debut of a wearable device is in the cards. There are also reports that the tech giant might unveil its own mobile-payment system -- possibly an iWallet? Apple is also reportedly working on a new, taller iPad.

Apple's invitation to media last week didn't say much, except for a one-line teaser: "Wish We Could Say More." The company stock reached a new all-time high following the announcement and sent social media abuzz.

Apple opted to switch venues for the event, opting for the Flint Center for the Performing Arts in Cupertino, instead of its usual Moscone West venue in San Francisco.

On Friday, Apple CEO Tim Cook announced plans to add extra security to iCloud, following a celebrity photo hacking incident last week.

According to Apple, live streaming Tuesday's video from its website will require Safari 5.1.10 or later on OS X v10.6.8 or later; Safari on iOS 6.0 or later. Streaming via Apple TV requires second- or third-generation Apple TV with software 5.0.2 or later.

Follow NBC Bay Area on Twitter @nbcbayarea for live coverage of the event.



Photo Credit: Getty

Rady Kids Get to See Stanley Cup Up Close

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It’s a rare thing for a hockey player to get to hold the Stanley Cup and even rarer if you’ve never put on skates or carried a stick.

On Friday however, patients and staff at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego got the honor thanks to the NHL Champion Los Angeles Kings.

One after another, the children not only got to get close to the decades-old trophy but there were even a few touches and even a hug.

One 8-year-old who lined up to see the trophy said, "I don't even watch hockey." Even so, she stood near the legendary cup with her dad, a New York Islanders fan.

The experience was made possible by Jeff Solomon, Vice-President of Hockey Operations with the LA Kings.

Solomon's wife Kathy was a nurse at Rady Children's for many years in the pediatric intensive care.

His son Drew was a resident at the hospital when he had open-heart surgery 15 years ago.

So Solomon wanted to do something special and bring the impressive trophy to the children and staff at the hospital.

Hockey fans will remember the Kings won the NHL championship on June 13 in a double overtime victory against the New York Rangers.


Meet Chuck Todd of Meet the Press

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Chuck Todd makes his debut as moderator of "Meet the Press" on Sunday, and has landed President Barack Obama as his first guest. On Friday, Todd took to Reddit to introduce himself.

The Miami native, who attended George Washington University, was previously NBC’s chief White House correspondent and political director. Despite his years in Washington, the sports lover remains committed to teams outside D.C.; he has been a fan of the Miami Hurricanes and the Green Bay Packers since birth.

Here, from his Reddit “Ask Me Anything,” are five things we learned about the famed political junkie.

When will he shave his facial hair?

Don’t hold your breath — even if, as suggested, it would improve his ratings. When he looks in the mirror, he sees his late father, he says. Shaving his beard would be like getting rid of that piece of his father that he carries with him

Who is one person, now dead, that he would have loved to have interviewed?

Richard Nixon, because it would have been a challenge

How does he see his role as a reporter and moderator?

His job is to push back against bloviation and talking points by being grounded in facts, and to get to the nut of the debate.

How does he feel about his name?

He hates having two one syllable names, and has given both of his children multiple-syllable first names. “I’ve been ‘ChuckTodd’ with every coach and teacher during my childhood,” he wrote on Reddit.

Does he ever get nervous interviewing high profile guests?

He's always a tad nervous. "Any moment can be a career ender," he wrote.

What did he think about the University of Louisville’s football win over Miami on Monday?

His late father-in-law was a star quarterback at Louisville, so criticism of Louisville is off-limits in his house. He’s not upset about Louisville, he says, but about the University of Miami being unprepared.
“It’s time for the ‘State of Miami’ to return, meaning that the best players in the best high school football factories in the country go to Miami,” he wrote.

5 Keys to Chargers Success This Season

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So many factors go into a successful NFL team. For the Chargers, there are a few keys that will determine how far they make it this season. Here are five important aspects to the game that coach Mike McCoy will need his team to execute for success in 2014.

Win the turnover battle: After forcing just six turnovers in the first 10 games of the season, the defense had an impressive 11 takeaways in the final eight, including the playoffs. It’s no coincidence they won six of those – or that they had four takeaways in a playoff win over the Bengals. They must improve on that over minus-2 for the season, and that starts with the defense making plays.

Convert on third down: The Bolts were at the top of the league in third-down efficiency last year, converting an impressive 49 percent (101 of 206). They also converted five of six fourth-down opportunities, second to only the Broncos. One of the keys to converting is keeping it to short yardage on third down and giving the three-headed running back group a chance to move the chains. If they lead the league in third-down efficiency again, that will bode well for Philip Rivers and the offense.

Keep Philip Rivers upright: No offense to Kellen Clemens. He was admirable as an emergency fill-in starter in St. Louis last year. But he’s not going to lead this team to the playoffs. They need Rivers – coming off one of his better seasons with 4,478 yards passing and a 32-11 touchdown-to-interception ratio – to lead this offense. Make no mistake: This offense runs through Rivers. The bolo must be feared!

Finish the job: Kicker Nick Novak tied a team record with 34 field goals last season, missing just three kicks all year. While that’s great for him, it means a lot of touchdowns that didn’t materialize for the offense. Those FGs will have to turn into TDs for this team to be competitive.

Dominate the division: Yes, the defending AFC champ Denver Broncos are the cream of the West and will be a formidable foe both times they face the Bolts. The key is to handle the rest of a weak division – the Chargers will most likely be favored in both matchups with the Kansas City Chiefs and Oakland Raiders. Win those four games, and shooting for a split with Denver, will be a huge advantage in securing another playoff berth.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Rapper Released From Jail, No Kidnap Charge Filed

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A San Diego rap artist who was arrested this week after a $1.5 million warrant was issued -- in which he was accused of kidnapping, human trafficking and porn -- has been released from the Marin County Jail.

A jail spokeswoman told NBC Bay Area on Friday that Charles LaSean Mitchell, professionally known as Mitchy Slick, was set free about 7:30 p.m. Thursday. No charges are pending against him at this time.

At about midnight, the rapper, who has more than 19,000 followers, tweeted: "If u thought I kidnapped and held somebody captive u dumb as [f---]!"   On Friday morning, a picture of Slick sitting in a red car in front of a Bad Boys Jail Bonds storefront was posted on his Facebook fan page.

Slick did not respond immediately to NBC Bay Area when asked for a comment through Twitter. A spokesman for the president of Wrongkind Records, which appears to be Slick's music representative, did not respond for comment, either.

A Hayward, California-based lawyer, Fred Remer, called NBC Bay Area on Friday, saying that his client Slick was "falsely accused" in a "character assassination." The attorney added that Slick had no known felony criminal history "that I know of."

Marin County Chief Deputy District Attorney Barry Borden on Friday said the case is "under active review" but he would not elaborate on whether he plans to charge Slick in the future.

There is still an air of mystery to the case.

That's because Sheriff's Lt. Doug Pittman said there is a "major safety concern for the victim." He said a judge issued the arrest warrant for Slick after police said he abducted a woman from Southern California, allegedly holding her captive in San Anselmo, a small town about 20 miles north of San Francisco. Pittman would not release the age of the woman, her connection to the rapper, the length of time she was allegedly held, nor how investigators became aware of the alleged kidnapping.

Pittman also added that "how Mitchell is associated with the Sleepy Hollow residence or its legal owners" is still under investigation. Remer told NBC Bay Area that Slick was renting the San Anselmo house but hadn’t been there in a month.

Pittman said the 40-year-old rapper is suspected of being an active member of the Lincoln Park Bloods gang in San Diego. The gang, Pittman said, has a history of drugs and weapons violations and pimping, as well as assaulting and trying to kill police officers.

Armed with a search warrant for his arrest, Pittman said a special response team went to an Oak Knoll Drive address in a neighborhood called Sleepy Hollow on Aug. 22, looking for Slick, who wasn't there. Authorities were looking for him until he decided to turn himself in on Tuesday.

What exactly prompted deputies to search the home, and why Slick self-surrendered hasn't been fully spelled out.

Former SoundDiego blogger Quan Vu called Slick the "San Diego rap godfather" and wrote in San Diego City Beat that the city's "most famous rap export" had a gang injunction issued against him in 1999 by the San Diego City Attorney’s office.

Slick release a self-titled debut in 2001, then began an eight-year hiatus from solo projects in 2005. He was still creating music during that period, however, including the album "Stereotype," by his group Strong Arm Steady, which came out in 2011. Last year, Slick ended the drought, dropping multiple releases, including "Feet Match the Paint" and "Won't Stop," which was originally titled "Won't Stop Being a Blood." He has been nominated for a 2014 San Diego Music Awards as Best Hip-Hop Artist and for Best Hip-Hop Album, for "Call of Duty (South East Edition)," and its songs like "Coulda Been You" and "Get Away" that reflect his gangster roots and stories of urban survival.
 

8 Kids Found at Risk in North County Drug Sweep

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San Diego County Sheriff’s Deputies removed eight children from homes in the North County because of drug activity by their caregivers.

Eighteen people were arrested when deputies performed a drug sweep in the Escondido and San Marcos areas Thursday.
Deputies say one of the main goals of the Operation Tip the Scale is to get addicts help and lower the meth problems in San Diego.

More than 50 deputies and drug counselors performed probation and parole checks, warrant searches and saturation patrols in known hotspots for drug-related crime.

Officials with the San Diego County Methamphetamine Task Force say meth-related deaths have more than doubled in the last couple years in our region.

In all, 18 people were arrested but four were sent to treatment centers to try to help them with their meth-related drug addictions.

San Diego County Probation Department Director Jason Druxman said the team looks for addicts between 18 and 24.

"We like to focus on those youth because they’re often more receptive to treatment and resources," he said.

Studies say that taxpayers save more than $7 in criminal justice costs for every $1 invested in treatment resources for drug users.

Therapist Accused of Sex With Ex-Patient

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Respected San Diego psychologist Michael Mantell is accused of having sex with a former patient, violating ethics laws, according to a complaint filed by the state Attorney General's office.

The 16-page complaint claims Mantell sent instant messages to the former patient on Oct. 30, 2010 advising her to “deny, deny, deny” and to destroy evidence of their relationship.

Mantell is a familiar face on local television news, often available for interviews on stories involving people accused of crimes for several stations including NBC 7. He has served as chief psychologist at Rady Children's Hospital and the San Diego Police Department and has worked as a faculty member at UC San Diego's Department of Psychiatry.

He faces several violations including sexual relations with a former patient; dishonest, fraudulent or corrupt acts; unauthorized communication of information received in professional confidence; gross negligence and violating ethical standards.

When contacted Friday to discuss the allegations, Mantell said, "In 40 years of practice this is the first complaint like this.”

He said the investigation has had no effect on his professional schedule and then added,“ I don’t want it said that I am refusing to answer questions. My attorney asked that I refer questions to him.”

Mantell is accused of having a sexual relationship with a woman who originally sought counseling in January 2010 with her then-fiance. Mantell treated the couple as individuals and as a couple to work out trust and infidelity issues, documents show.

Five months later, the couple broke up. However, the female patient continued treatment until she ended therapy on July 12.

Two weeks later, the claim alleges the married psychologist and the former patient began a sexual relationship that lasted four months.

The complaint alleges the pair had sex at Mantell's office and at the former patient's home. They also spoke on the phone or texted nearly every day.

When the woman's former fiance consulted another therapist about the alleged affair, that launched an investigation into a possible ethics violation.

In an instant message on or around Nov. 1, Mantell allegedly told the woman that he was risking his license and prison time because he violated a "two year rule." 

Mantell, who has held a license to practice in California since 1977, could lose that license if the Board of Psychology Department of Consumer Affairs finds he violated the Business and Professions Code by having sexual contact with a patient within two years of termination of therapy.

Mantell's attorney Joel Douglas described the relationship as a “loving, caring friendship” that carried on beyond treatment but was not inappropriate or unprofessional.

"When you are out there helping people and people come to you, you are vulnerable," said Douglas. "I think that this may prove to be found to be a case of no good deed goes unpunished."

The attorney said Mantell may plead guilty to not using the best judgment in all cases, but at an administrative hearing, they intend to prove the relationship did not violate the “accepted standard of treatment” expected of psychologists/therapists.



Photo Credit: NBC 7
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