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Dog Found Alive After Mudslide

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A Dachshund thought to have been lost during a mudslide that left her owners trapped inside their Camarillo Springs home Saturday was found by a neighbor the next day and returned to its owners in what firefighters called an "emotional reunion."

"Ventura, the animal has been extracted," said Captain Pete Jensen of the Ventura County Fire Department. Those words ignited cheers inside the Ventura County Fire Communications Center, according to a post on their Facebook Page.

Tinkerbell was sitting in a window of her owners’ home, which had been inundated by 2 feet of mud on Saturday, leaving the husband and wife unable to escape.

"You could hear, 'Help! Help! Oh, help me!" said Dorothy Rosenfeld, of the female voice coming from across the street.

The woman made her way out with the help of her son. However, firefighters used a chainsaw to remove the door to free her husband, said Tom Kruschke, a spokesman with the Ventura County Fire Department. The man refused medical treatment.

The neighbor said to have found the dog contacted the Ventura County Fire Department. Firefighters responded and carried out the rescue.

One of the Tinkerbell’s owners was contacted and arrived on the scene for an emotional reunion with his beloved pet.



Photo Credit: Ventura County Sheriff's Office

Slain Trick-or-Treaters Mourned

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Three girls killed in a hit-and-run while trick-or-treating on Halloween were identified by coroner's officials on Saturday as friends and family mourned their loss.

Twins Lexi and Lexandra Perez and their childhood friend Andrea Gonzalez, all 13, died Friday night when someone in an SUV struck them in a crosswalk about a block away from their home in Santa Ana.

The driver ditched the Honda CR-V about three blocks away before running off, police said.

Mourners, meanwhile, left candles, flowers, stuffed animals and notes on Saturday at Old Grand and Fairhaven avenues, near where the girls were hit.

"He shattered the dreams of my daughters and their friend," said Cynthia Huerta, the mother of the twins.

Brenda Gonzalez said she was very close with her sister, Andrea, and was angry at the driver responsible.

"I bought her costume," Brenda Gonzalez said through tears. "I felt like she was mine. I took care of her since day one.

Luis Perez Huerta, Andrea's brother, was angry.

"They don't deserve to live or be free," he said, before breaking down in tears. "They need to pay for what they did."

The twins' aunt Magaly Huerta placed pictures at a growing memorial.

"They came into this world together and they left together," she said. "They were great. They were really good girls, really happy, really outgoing girls that always wanted to help everyone."

Lexi wanted to be a veterinarian. Her sister loved kids and wanted to be a teacher. Andrea had been friends with the twins since the third grade.

"It's hard," Ashley Jimenez, 11, who knew the girls since she was 6 years old. "Now they're gone."

Family friend Jim Stevens said the family set up a Facebook page to raise money for the funerals.

"Right now, it's just too hard for everybody," he said. "On a night where people are supposed to have fun, but in the end, just ending like this ... it's just too much and terrible."

Joe Weatherley had driven by before the crash and commented to his wife about the lack of lighting on the street.

"It’s just sad," he said. "For them to do what they did and take off, that is cruel. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families."

Police were searching for a driver and possibly two passengers who were inside a Honda CR-V, with significant front-end damage, that police found abandoned at a nearby strip mall Friday night.

Weatherley's wife, Rose, placed stuffed animals and flowers at the makeshift memorial.

"This is someone’s children, someone’s sister, someone’s friend," Rose Weatherley said. "It just touches my heart."

NBC4's Melissa Etezadi and Katherine Hafner contributed to this report.

Chargers Shut Out by Dolphins

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On their first possession of Sunday’s game, the Chargers drove inside Miami territory before turning the ball over on downs at the Dolphins’ 23. Who knew that would be their best drive of the day?

It just kept getting worse for the Chargers, who couldn’t throw, couldn’t catch, couldn’t run and didn’t come close to making any sort of plays on defense, suffering a humiliating 37-0 road defeat. It’s the first time the Bolts were shut out since 1999 and continues a 33-year drought in Miami.

"We have no excuses," Chargers coach Mike McCoy said. "We didn't play good."

It’s their third straight loss and puts the Chargers in a precarious position in the playoff race as they head into their bye week. They drop to 5-4 on the season, now behind the Dolphins (5-3) and three other teams in the chase for the final AFC postseason spot.

By the time Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers left the game with a hand injury late in the third quarter, the Bolts were already down by 30. He sustained the injury when he was hit and fumbled, giving the Dolphins the ball inside the Chargers 15. Ryan Tannehill found Jarvis Landry for a touchdown pass on the next play and any hope of a comeback was quickly dashed.

Rivers completed 12-of-23 passes for just 138 yards. In addition to the fumble, he threw three interception and was sacked three times. Meanwhile, Tannehill had a career day, throwing for 288 yards and three scores in just three quarters of action.

"I don't know that there's many guys that can say they've been beat like this, ever, going back to 5 years old," Rivers said. "It's one of those you gotta just chalk up and move on."

Donald Brown led an anemic rushing attack for the Chargers, gaining 23 yards on four carries. The rest of the team managed just 27 yards on 14 rushes.

Malcom Floyd led the Bolts with four catches for 60 yards. Keenan Allen added 47 receiving yards on four receptions.

"We just had a poor game," Allen said. "Just one of those days. Couldn't get anything right."

The Dolphins more than doubled up the Chargers in both rushing and passing yards, outgaining them 441-178.

It’s the Bolts' eighth straight loss in Miami, going back to an epic overtime playoff win in January of 1982.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

1 Injured, HAZMAT Called After Vista Fire

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Dozens of firefighters and HAZMAT workers responded to a fire in a Vista neighborhood Sunday afternoon.

Crews were called to the 1200 block of Alta Vista Drive around 12:15 p.m. They discovered a storage shed behind a home had caught fire.

“We were able to keep the fire to that storage area, although there was some smoke damage to the home as well,” said Deputy Fire Chief Ned Vander Pol with Vista Fire.

Fire officials told NBC 7 the fire started in a “workshop.” HAZMAT workers were called to handle unspecified chemicals found inside the shed.

“Due to some resins that were stored in that outbuilding that was on fire, we want to make sure we get them contained the right way,” Vander Pol said.

One person was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation, officials said. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Approximately 25 firefighters from Vista Fire, San Diego Fire, San Marcos Fire and Carlsbad Fire, as well as the County Department of Environmental Health and the San Diego city HAZMAT team, responded.

Check back for updates.
 



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Conn. Gov., GOP Challenger Debate

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While Connecticut's Democratic Gov. Dan Malloy and Republican challenger Tom Foley may have hugged it out before their last debate at the request of radio hosts Chaz and AJ, their battle for the governor's seat remains fierce a day before the election.

The debate started in Milford at 8:30 a.m. and aired live on "Chaz and AJ In The Morning" on rock radio station 99.1 PLR.

Just a day after unaffiliated gubernatorial candidate Joe Visconti announced that he is suspending his campaign, Foley said he welcomed the unaffiliated candidate's support.

"This is about guns," Malloy said in response Visconti's endorsement of Foley, referencing Foley's opposition to new gun control legislation in the state.

Answering the opening question about jobs in Connecticut, Malloy touted his job creation record but admitted the state workforce has been reduced by about 1,000 people since he took office.

Malloy said he has "no plans to eliminate future workers," but added that there is "always the possibility that the use of technology will allow us to do things more effectively."

Foley promised not to cut state workers' jobs and vowed to lower car and property taxes.

"People are feeling the big squeeze," he said. "I'm not happy and most people I'm talking to aren't."

After Foley criticized Malloy for tax hikes and spending increases, the incumbent defended his administration's decisions, saying he and Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman have budgeted responsibly. Malloy explained that he didn't cut the budget because it would have led to job losses, hospital closures and police and fire layoffs.

The governor also said he plans to reinstitute tax cuts on prescription drugs if re-elected.

"We've weathered tough storms and human tragedies. I'm asking for your vote," Malloy said.

With a day to go before the polls open, a new Quinnipiac University poll shows Malloy pulling support from 47 percent of likely voters to Foley’s 44 percent. Seven percent remain undecided. The results were released soon after Visconti suspended his campaign and endorsed Foley.

“Contrary to conventional wisdom, independent candidate Joe Visconti’s last minute exit from the governor’s race doesn’t look like it will help Republican Tom Foley,” said Douglas Schwartz, director of the Quinnipiac University Poll, in a statement.  

This is the second time the two candidates are in a battle for the governor's seat. In 2010, Malloy defeated Foley in the general election after a heated race.

Chaz and AJ closed the debate by having Malloy and Foley participate in a more light-hearted battle – Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots.

Malloy's blue robot quickly defeated Foley's red one. The radio personalities quipped that when they asked the candidates to play four years ago, the winner of the game ended up also winning the election.

Monday's gubernatorial debate was the last before the polls open Tuesday.

National party leaders are maintaining a presence in the state in the hours leading up to one of the closest governor's races in the country.

President Barack Obama rallied support for Malloy in Bridgeport on Sunday, while New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie will appear in Windsor Locks alongside Foley this evening.

More Decision 2014 coverage is available here.



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

NY Man Kills Ex's Boyfriend, Self

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A man shot and killed a romantic rival with a shotgun before taking his own life in a Long Island restaurant parking lot late Sunday, police say.

Frank Panebianco and Jessica Kasten, both 28, were walking out of the L.I. Pour House Bar and Grill in Port Jefferson Station at about 11:30 p.m. after dinner with friends when police say her ex-boyfriend, Michael Skiadas, confronted them.

Police say the couple and Skiadas got into a “screaming match," and Skiadas went to his Jeep and grabbed a shotgun. One of Panebianco and Kasten's friends came into the parking lot to try to calm Skiadas down, and the couple tried to leave in their car, authorities said.

At that point, police say Skiadas hit the friend in the head with the gun, ran to the car and fired two blasts, fatally hitting Panebianco. Skiadas then returned to his own vehicle and took his own life, police said.

The friend who tried to mediate the fight had a head injury but is expected to be OK. Kasten was not hurt.
 

Boston Mayor Menino Mourned Monday

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The pews were filled with Boston sports stars and prominent political figures from New England and beyond. Frank Sinatra's "My Way" played as he left the church for the final time. The ceremony was everything longtime Boston Mayor Tom Menino wanted it to be.

That’s because the urban architect and consummate event planner pre-planned pretty much every detail, from his funeral at Most Precious Blood Parish in Hyde Park where he was baptized as a child to his burial at Fairview Cemetery around the corner from his home.

He even signed off on the list of roughly 1,000 people invited to attend his private funeral mass.

"The people-loving urban mechanic has gone to fix potholes in heaven," said Menino's successor, Mayor Marty Walsh. "I want to say, with all of Boston and for all of Boston, thank you, Mayor Menino."

Sitting front and center were his wife, Angela, his rock throughout his decades of public service, and their children, Susan and Tommy Jr.

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick was among the speakers.

"It hardly surprises me that half the city's residents have met him. What surprises me is that it was only half," quipped Patrick. "About his infamous mumbling — you always knew what he meant, and more importantly, that he meant what he said."

During the service, some of Menino's colleagues shared anecdotes about their time with Boston's longest-serving mayor.

"He never missed a marathon, but his doctors told him he would have to miss this one," said Patrick of the mayor before last year's bombings. "But he checked himself out of the hospital to be present with us and for us, and that show of strength and resolve helped Boston be strong again."

Former President Bill Clinton and current Vice President Joe Biden were also among the guests.

Cardinal Sean O’Malley presided over the service, but the homily was delivered by Rev. John Connolly Jr. from the mayor’s parish in West Roxbury, St. John Chrysostom.

"We give thanks to God for the gift of Tom's life, and we ask the Lord to comfort us," said Rev. Connolly. "He showed us in the aftermath of April 15, 2013 what it means to be a person of faith, hope and love."

Seven hundred people were seated in the main sanctuary, while 300 were in the basement chapel.

Menino's six grandchildren all played a role in the ceremony, serving as pallbearers and offering words of remembrance.

Granddaughter Samantha Menino shared her memories of her "Poppa."

"He always made sure he thought about other people before himself," she said. "Poppa, we are so proud of you, and we are who wee are because of you. I promise we will continue to honor you and make you proud."

As "My Way" played to close the service, celebrants of Menino's life were reminded that he always governed with his own unique style.

Before the funeral mass, Menino's body was driven through Boston and passed by several of the late mayor's favorite places, including Fenway Park, and other locations closely tied to his legacy.

The procession began at 10:45 a.m., when bells tolled 71 times. The procession began at Faneuil Hall and passed City Hall, continuing by the Parkman House, Boston University, Fenway Park, Dudley Square, Grove Hall, Franklin Park, Bowdoin, Geneva, the Mattapan Library, Roslindale Square and then Most Precious Blood Parish in Hyde Park.

Although the funeral was private, members of the public lined the procession route from Faneuil Hall to Most Precious Blood Parish.

"Thank You Mayor Menino" signs were available starting at 10:30 a.m. at City Hall and several other locations.

CA Campaign Mailer Photoshops Gun

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A State Assembly candidate says his opponent broke the law when he Photoshopped a gun into his hand and a hoodie onto his head for a campaign mailer whose message has come under fire from other politicians and community leaders.

"He took a hood, put it on my face, and put a gun in a fake hand, and he pushed it off as me," candidate Prophet Walker said of his opponent Mike Gipson. "Campaign laws forbid this type of thing."

The image of Walker's face was taken from a photo of him with a friend, and the mailer with it was sent to residents in the 64th Assembly District, which includes the cities of Carson and Compton, last week. Walker's campaign said it should have come with a disclaimer saying the image was altered.

On the mailer, the words "convicted felon" are stamped above Walker's head, while Gipson, a former police officer, is shown in uniform. The mailer asks which candidate will better protect voters.

Walker admits he was convicted of assault and robbery at the age of 16 but says he has "paid every single debt" to society and wants to use what he's learned to serve his community.

"This is the same imagery that has been etched in our minds, that got Trayvon Martin killed, that sparked so much in Ferguson," Walker said.

Gipson has apologized for the imagery on the mailer in a statement, blaming the "over-the-top visuals" on a campaign volunteer and his own judgment.

He said in a statement posted to his website Friday that his team didn't appropriately vet the ad, which he approved and which he said went to a "small" number of voters.

"In retrospect I realize that the volunteer’s graphic design elements went too far," Gipson said in the statement.

The district's congresswoman, Karen Bass, called the image "appalling" in a statement Friday.

Politicians and faith leaders renounced the mailer as an example of racial profiling at a press conference scheduled for 11 a.m. in downtown LA.

"We call on Mike Gipson and all those who support him to denounce this repugnant behavior," Pastor Xavier Thompson, of the Southern Missionary Baptist Church, said at the rally.

But others, like Hawthorne Mayor Chris Brown, don't think his mailer disqualifies him for the seat.

"I don't agree with the mailpieces all in all but at the day Mike Gipson is the one that can step in the job and do it today," Brown said.

The 64th Assembly District seat is open, with current holder Isadore Hall moving to the Senate next session.

Gipson and Walker's campaign to replace him was already negative before the mailer was sent out, according to the Sacramento Bee.


Scenes From Chargers Shutout Loss to Dolphins

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Photos from Sunday's ugly Chargers loss to the Miami Dolphins. The Bolts lost 37-0, their first time getting shut out since 1999.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Prof Who Killed Wife Faces Trial

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A trial in the civil case against a former University of Pennsylvania professor who bludgeoned his wife to death in their suburban Philadelphia home as she wrapped Christmas presents will begin Monday.

The case seeks compensatory and punitive damages from Rafael Robb, 64, a former Penn economics professor currently serving a prison sentence for the crime.

Robb beat Ellen Gregory Robb to death with a metal chin-up bar as she was wrapping Christmas gifts back in December 2006 in their King of Prussia home — in order to avoid a costly divorce, according to prosecutors. Their daughter, then 12, was also home at the time.

Ellen Gregory Robb's family wants her estate compensated and money provided for her daughter with the new civil case, according to attorney Robert Mongeluzzi.

“Robb still has a hefty pension fund and investments,” Mongeluzzi said.

The couple's daughter lived in South Jersey with an uncle after her mother’s death before she went off to college, according to Mongeluzzi.

Rafael Robb pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in November 2007 and was sentenced to five to 10 years in prison. He was initially paroled in November 2012, and the victim's family publicly protested the decision.

The victim's brother Gary Gregory told NBC10's Deanna Durante the family had tried over and over again to protest Robb's release in front of the parole board. Each time, he said, they were denied.

State Rep. Mike Vereb stepped in on the family's behalf and convinced the Chairman of the Parole Board, Michael Potteiger, to meet with the family. Vereb, a Republican, said after researching the case, he'd determined that the parole board likely broke the law and violated the family's rights by not allowing them to speak before the board.

Common Pleas Court Judge Paul Tressler, who oversaw the case, called Ellen's murder one of the most horrific in the history of Montgomery County. He also wrote to the parole board to protest Robb's release. His letter included information about Robb's treatment of his daughter:

"Even more telling is his [Robb's] attempt to manipulate his grieving daughter into continuing her relationship with him by threatening to withhold financial support for her future. I fear his prison conduct and your judgment. About him not being a threat to the public is another example of his manipulation, this time to the parole board."

The board denied breaking any laws and said the responsibility of notifying families about appearing before the board belongs to the Office of the Victim Advocate. However, in January 2013, the board rescinded their decision, just four days before Robb was set to walk free. He remained in prison.

Robb’s daughter will testify during the trial, with Hon. Thomas M. Del Ricci presiding. Rafael Robb will also face cross-examination. Jury selection and opening statements are scheduled for Monday.

"The family of Ellen Gregory Robb has waited eight years to have its day in court," Mongeluzzi said.

Mongeluzzi said he and his co-counsel will illustrate that the death of Ellen Gregory Robb was “so brutal, so heinous, it is beyond human comprehension.” Mongeluzzi also said Ellen Robb’s family would not be able to find any closure or justice until “the circumstances of the killing and the facts of the case have finally been presented to a jury.”

"We have never lost faith in the American justice system and while we know the trial will be terribly painful, especially for my niece, this is what our beloved Ellen would have wanted,” Gary Gregory said.

Rafael Robb will remain incarcerated locally during the trial. The claims against him were brought under Pennsylvania’s wrongful death and survival acts.

Suspect in Islamic State Case Held

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A 19-year-old suburban Chicago man on Monday was ordered to remain in federal detention until an arraignment on charges he knowingly attempted to provide material support and resources to a foreign terrorist organization, namely ISIS.

Inside a packed courtroom at the Dirksen Federal Building, Asst. U.S. Attorney Matt Hiller offered 21 government exhibits they claim proved Mohammed Hamzah Khan was a "danger to his community" who has "been radicalized… and is not is just a misguided teenager."

"They were seeking to provide support to a terrorist organization," said Hiller.

"They" refers to Kahn and his two younger siblings, a sister who is 17 years old and a brother who is 16 years old.

"He (Kahn) had a sophisticated and discreet plan to bring his siblings half way around the world," said Hiller.

Among the evidence were the three round trip plane tickets Kahn purchased to Istanbul, Turkey for $2,679.00. Prosecutors said he worked all summer at a big box retailer to pay for the tickets. Evidence also included several notebook entries, found in books all around their Bolingbrook home, that highlighted their hate for so-called western values and their desire to fight for ISIS.

Hiller finished saying the case against Khan was about strictly about the teen's actions.

"He is not being prosecuted for his thoughts," he said. 

Kahn’s attorney, Tom Durkin, responded saying prosecution’s case was "absurd and weak." 

He argued the case "can’t really be classified as an attempt to provide material support (to terrorists), when they were stopped at O”Hare."

"He’s a 19-year-old kid. We can’t give up on these kids because they had bad thoughts and didn’t like filth," he said, repeatedly insisted they were just going to travel to Syria to live in religious caliphate in order to "fulfill religious obligations."

He's previously said the teen's parents did not know of their son's plans, and in his plea to keep Kahn out of custody, Durkin told Judge Susan Cox that his parents would agree to electronic monitoring and supervise him for 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

But the judge ruled Kahn's parents were not a viable option since they didn’t even know the 19, 17 and 16 year olds were not in their house when the FBI arrived to search it. Instead, the teens were already at O’Hare International Airport with boarding passes in hand.

"The evidence (for Kahn) to leave the US to join a terror organization and provide support is strong," Cox said. "He was prepared to abandoned his home, family, community and country to join ISIS," she said, and he was going to bring his siblings in the fray.

In the end, Cox deemed Kahn a flight risk and a danger to community.

"The notebook writings show he is not stable and in control of his own actions," she said. "He is clearly willing to take significant steps to obtain his beliefs."

A future court date was not set.



Photo Credit: Facebook

Weekend Events for Nov. 6-9

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Whether your idea of the perfect weekend involves enjoying a few drinks or taking in the local culture, you’re in luck. San Diego is rich in both. This weekend showcases local breweries, wineries, music, art and much more.

Thursday, Nov. 6

Revenge of the Green Dragons
7 p.m. at Reading Cinemas Gaslamp
Don’t miss the San Diego premiere of “Revenge of the Green Dragons.” Executive produced by Martin Scorsese, this gritty crime drama tells the story of two immigrant brothers who survive poverty by joining a Chinatown gang. Stars Justin Cho and Leonard Wu are expected to make an appearance. It’s all part of the San Diego Asian Film Festival, which plays through Nov. 15.

Friday, Nov. 7

San Diego Beer Week
All day at various locations across San Diego County
Friday begins a 10-day celebration of San Diego’s stellar craft beer community. Each day is (six) packed with events for brew enthusiasts, like the Rare Beer Breakfast at 9 a.m. at Stone Brewing in Escondido and BYOB (Brew Your Own Brunch) at 9 a.m. at Karl Strauss downtown. For a complete list of events, click here.

6th Annual Clairemont Uncorked
5 p.m. – 8 p.m. at the Ramada San Diego Ballroom
Swirl. Sniff. Sip. Repeat. That will be the order of events at Clairemont’s premiere wine tasting event. Your $25 ticket gets you five wine tastings and a sampling of savory hors d’oeuvres and delicious desserts. The event is sponsored by the Clairemont Chamber of Commerce. Cheers!

SoundDiego Suggestion: Scott Weiland and the Wildabouts
8 p.m. at Sycuan Casino
It’s sure to be a “big bang, baby” at Sycuan on Friday when Scott Weiland & the Wildabouts perform. The former Stone Temple Pilots frontman and his band also have a new album dropping this month.

Saturday, Nov. 8

4th Annual Reach the Peak
9 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Black Mountain Open Space Park
Are you the outdoorsy type? Then this is the 5K (or 10K) for you. The course takes runners up scenic Black Mountain in the Cleveland National Forest. Best of all, proceeds benefit Outdoor Outreach, which helps underprivileged kids experience The Great Outdoors.

SoundDiego Suggestion: Point Music Festival
Starts at 11 a.m. at the Tenth Avenue Arts Center downtown
Head to the Point Music Film Festival Saturday to see some music-based documentaries – one of which was worked on by our NBC 7/SoundDiego videographer Tom Zizzi! Scope the film he co-produced with Clint Burkett about Steve White, the singer/songwriter you never knew you should know.

Acorn Harvest Festival
1 p.m. – 4 p.m. at Louis A. Stelzer County Park in Lakeside
Learn about the Kumeyaay people and their traditions at the Acorn Harvest Festival. You and the kids will enjoy acorn grinding, a mock archaeological dig, Native American storytelling, crafts and more.

Sunday, Nov. 9

9th Annual UH Arts Open/Taste of University Heights
11 a.m. – 4 p.m. in University Heights
Come to University Heights for a relaxing afternoon of fine art and food. Start by viewing work from some of San Diego’s best artists, then go on a self-guided walking tour of 16 delectable restaurants. Taste of UH tickets run $20 in advance and $25 at the door. The UH Arts Open in free to the public.



Photo Credit: shutterstock
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Man Arrested in Halloween Hit-Run

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Numerous witnesses and police surveillance led investigators to the Stanton motel where they arrested a 31-year-old man after a hit-and-run that killed three teen girls Halloween night in Santa Ana, police said Monday.

Jaquinn Ramone Bell was found at a Motel 6 on Sunday with his two children and two other adults after a multi-agency investigation, Santa Ana Police Chief Carlos Rojas said.

Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido had said Sunday that five people were arrested in connection with the hit-and-run, but police announced Monday that they had arrested only Bell and had released the two adults. Bell's children were taken into protective custody, Rojas said.

The search for Bell began when Andrea Gonzalez and her twin friends Lexi and Lexandra Perez, all 13, were fatally struck by an SUV that was later found ditched about three blocks away Friday night. Police said the girls were walking in a crosswalk when they were hit.

After leads brought police to the Stanton Motel 6, a surveillance team discovered Bell was staying there. He was arrested on suspicion of felony hit-and-run causing death.

"He did not attempt to stop or render aid to the children that he hit," Rojas said. "There's no doubt in my mind that anybody who was driving in a vehicle that impacted three individuals in a crosswalk and had significant damage to the vehicle probably knew ... they hit something."

Bell was previously arrested in August for hit-and-run and DUI, and his license was suspended in October, 17 days before the crash. According tp court documents, Bell had been in and out of jail for a dozen years. 

Pulido said Sunday that investigators worked around-the-clock to close the case.

"We've done a very strong effort, 24 hours nonstop, in order to find individuals that are associated, and we believe that one of them was the driver," Pulido said. "This is a street where cars can go fast, it's just the nature of the street. So we're going to see what we can do to make it safer."

Andrea’s mother Maria Gonzalez spoke out after the first time after hearing about the arrests.

“She was my whole entire life, my little angel,” Gonzalez said.

Online donations totaling more than $40,000 had been raised as of Monday morning as a memorial of candles, flowers and notes continued to grow for the teens at Grand and Fairhaven avenues.

“It’s hard. I’ve known them since I was six, and now they’re gone,” friend Ashley Jimenez, 11, said. “They would always be smiling, happy all the time.”

Friend Paige Flynn added that her friend Lexi had a "beautiful smile" and that she and Lexandra sat near eachother at school and would "always talk.'

"I'm very sad, but I'm glad that they're in a better place now," Flynn said.

 

Anyone wishing to donate to the girls’ memorial funds can visit the following links:

Hetty Chang contributed to this report.

Tape Measure Falls 50 Stories, Kills Man in NJ: Cops

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A worker in his 50s died after being hit in the head by a tape measure that fell 50 stories from a construction site in Jersey City Monday, authorities say.

The man, identified in a police report as Gary Anderson, of Summerdale, delivered Sheetrock to a 50-story apartment building under construction on Christopher Columbus Drive near Marin Boulevard shortly before 9 a.m. He parked his truck near the Christopher Columbus Drive entrance, got out and stopped to speak to someone on his way to the building.

Anderson stuck his head inside a vehicle to talk to the person and as he pulled his head out, a 1-pound tape measure fell off the belt of a contractor working on the 50th floor, bounced off a piece of metal construction equipment about 10 feet off the ground and hit him in the head, police said.

Anderson was knocked out and later died at the hospital. Police said he went into cardiac arrest as doctors were treating him.

He was not wearing a hard hat, though he did have one in his car, according to police. The Jersey City Department of Public Safety said anyone working at a construction site must wear a helmet at all times.

It wasn't clear what company Anderson worked for, but Living Right, LLC was written on the side of the truck he drove to the site. A person who answered the phone at the company said it was a difficult time.  



Photo Credit: Shutterstock

No Leads in Missing Woman Case

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There have been no new leads in the case of a San Diego woman last seen three weeks ago, San Diego Police reported Monday.

Elizabeth Michelle Sullivan, 31, was last seen at her home near Liberty Station on Oct. 13.

On Sunday, Oct. 19 someone reported seeing Sullivan at the soccer fields in Liberty Station. She was described as wearing a gray sweatshirt with black leggings or "black stretch style cloth pants," police said.

Investigators say they have no new sightings since then.

Sullivan is described as an African American woman who stands 5-foot-3 and weighs 130 pounds. She has dark hair and dark eyes.

A text message sent on Oct. 13 was the last contact she's had with friends or family. Her phone has since been turned off. Her vehicle was found at home.

If you know anything about Sullivan's whereabouts, you are asked to call the SDPD Missing Persons Section at 619-531-2277 or Det. James Hunter at 619-531-2327.



Photo Credit: SDPD

Man Accused of Tossing Puppy Over Gate

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The man accused of tossing a pit bull puppy over a fence has been charged with the crime.

Gary Sartor of Ramona is charged with one count of animal cruelty and one count of animal abandonment, according to the county. He faces six months in jail and a $1,000 fine for each misdemeanor.

Officials said a caller tip led them to Sartor.

The incident happened Aug. 28 at a business in the 1100 block of D Street in Ramona. Surveillance video shows a man in a red Adidas shirt walking on the property with a puppy following him. The man stops in front of a gate, picks up the puppy, tosses her over the gate and walks away, leaving the dog in the sweltering heat.

The puppy, now named Dolly, was taken to the San Diego County Department of Animal Services and has since been adopted.



Photo Credit: County News Center

Phil Mickelson Selling Rancho Santa Fe Home

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World-renowned golfer Phil Mickelson is taking another swing at the San Diego housing market, hoping to sell his Rancho Santa Fe estate for nearly $6 million.

The PGA pro has re-listed his 9,176-square foot mansion, built on 4.55 acres, for the sixth time, dropping the price down from his $6.95 million listing in 2013.

Mickelson, a World Golf Hall of Famer, and his wife first put the Tuscan-style property up for sale in 2008 after reportedly moving to a larger home nearby.

Replete two guest casitas, a pool and a three-hole putting green, the estate’s design incorporates walnut flooring, custom light fixtures, mosaic tiles and other customized features, according to Redfin.com.

The 5-bedroom, 6.5-bathroom house has a coffee and juice bar, a spa bath, an exercise room, seven — count them, seven — fireplaces and an executive office, which Mickelson undoubtedly used as a trophy room to hold his three Masters titles, PGA Championship and Open Championship awards. 

The Mickelsons scooped up the lavish, private home in 2001, two years after it was built.

The LA Times reports Jordan Cohen of RE/MAX Olson and Associates Estate Brokerage and Linda Sansone of Linda Sansone & Associates co-listed the property.

Bargain Deals Offered in November

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Maribel Lara likes to find bargains but doesn't like waiting for Black Friday.

"Just get it all done before it's too late before everyone is packed in the stores and get ahead of everybody," Lara said.

That's getting easier these days as more and more retailers start their holiday shopping deal the day after Halloween.

"I look online and then go get it," said shopper Rebecca Greene.

She's been noticing online deals starting earlier. In fact Walmart, Amazon, Office Depot and other stores have already started offering Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals weeks before the traditional starting point.

But there are always deals in November even without Black Friday. According to dealnews.com, this month is a good time to shop for a host of products.

Cookware is often discounted before Thanksgiving, which includes cutlery, bakeware and small appliances. Tools begin to go on sale in November and December.

Halloween candy will never be cheaper than right now, but supplies are not expected to last long. Other November deals include big-screen TV's, Android and Windows tablets and 13-inch laptop computers.

Bike Sharing Program Gets Rolling in San Diego

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There will soon be another option for public transportation in some parts of San Diego. That is, if you're willing to climb on board a rented bicycle.

On Monday, the first of what will eventually be 180 bike-sharing stations went up on the corner of Sixth and E Streets downtown.

If all goes according to plan, enough stations will be set up by the end of the month for the city of San Diego's bike-sharing program to get rolling.

"People are crying out for alternate modes of transportation. People do want to ride their bikes," said Linda Marabian with the city transportation department.

The bike sharing program will be operated by the privately owned DecoBike. The company has a 10 year agreement with the city, which will receive approximately $2.6 million on revenue generated from the program.

It's designed for short commutes in specific areas. Stations will eventually be set up from San Ysidro to Downtown to the beach communities.

"It gets people out of their cars. It's an extremely healthy, alternative mode of transportation to get from point to point," said David Silverman of DecoBike.

Coat of renting a bike starts at $5 a half hour, to $7 for a full hour. Yearly memberships are also available for $125, and monthly passes run $20.

Renters will pick up a bike from one station and are free to drop off the bicycle at any other station.

Silverman says the bike sharing targets local residents living in urban areas and tourists who want to explore the city without having to rent a car.

Victim, 22, in Death Investigation Remembered

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A 22-year-old woman found dead in her Spring Valley home is being remembered by family and friends.

Victoria Lynn Lyman was found dead at a house in 9100 block of Circulo Margen Saturday morning. Because her body showed signs of trauma, homicide detectives are investigating the case as a suspicious death.

“It's devastating because when someone passes away that young, its' a rock heavy on everyone’s heart,” said neighbor Al Robinson.

Robinson met Victoria after she married Dennis Lyman’s son and moved in across the street. Sometimes she worked at her father-in-law’s tire shop to earn extra cash.

Dennis is remembering his daughter-in-law for her compassion.

“Sympathetic to others. Always had an open ear. Just a tragedy she had to die so early,” Dennis said.

Friends say Victoria attended Steele Canyon High School and described her online as a hippie and a nature lover.

Dennis says her cheerful spirit is what he’ll miss the most.

“She used to bring a smile to everyone's face around her. If they were frowning, she would cheer them up,” he said.

Officials would not give details of Victoria’s traumatic injuries. Results of an autopsy conducted Sunday have not been released.

Investigators say Victoria's husband and roommate were at home when she was found dead. Officials say this is currently a death investigation, so no suspects are in custody.

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