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Woman Gives Birth on the Highway During Presidential Traffic Jam

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A Kentucky woman gave birth on the highway while stuck in traffic caused by President Obama’s motorcade.

Officials received a call at 5:25 p.m. Thursday saying there was a woman who was in labor in the backseat of her car on Interstate 65, outside Louisville.

A nurse, who happened to be stuck in traffic nearby, delivered the baby boy with the help of an emergency worker, according to NBC affiliate WAVE 3 News.

Courtney Maloney, the Louisville Metro EMS worker, said she transported the mother and newborn to the University of Louisville Hospital.

“I pretty much had to ride the emergency lane all the way down,” Maloney told WAVE 3.

The presidential motorcade had arrived during rush hour, blocking traffic both on the highway and downtown. Obama was in town to highlight a jobs training program at a Louisville-based technology company.

EMS reported that the mother and her baby were doing well.

"She did say it was a story she would never forget," Maloney told WAVE 3.


Cop in Viral Uber Rant Video Sorry

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The NYPD detective seen on video screaming and cursing at an Uber driver in a roadside tirade earlier this week apologized Friday for his actions, telling NBC 4 New York in an exclusive interview that he hopes to buy the driver dinner.

"I apologize. I sincerely apologize," said detective Patrick Cherry, whose tirade was captured by one of the car’s passengers and posted on YouTube, where it has been viewed more than 3 million times.

Cherry’s apology comes after the detective was stripped of his badge and gun and transferred out of the FBI's elite Joint Terrorism Task Force. Police Commissioner Bill Bratton also admonished Cherry after the video went viral online, saying “No good cop can watch that without a wince”, and the NYPD and independent Civilian Complaint Review Board have been investigating the exchange.

"People shouldn’t be treated that way. I let my emotions get the better of me and I was angry," Cherry said. "My intention was to be courteous and then we got into an argument. There was no intention to berate or hurt deeply the driver."

Cherry told NBC4 New York that the video, which shows him cursing at the driver and screaming, “How long have you been in this country?” misses what prompted the confrontation. He said the driver pulled up fast behind him as he was trying to park his unmarked patrol car on a West Village street Monday. The driver was honking and gesturing angrily, Cherry said.

That was when he turned his emergency lights on to “clarify the problem.” He said the driver then refused to turn over his license and registration, and that’s when Cherry lost his temper.

"When I walked up, I was uptight. I wanted to know what the problem was," Cherry said. "I felt his driving actions were discourteous and impolite and when he stopped he said, 'I'm not going to give you anything."'

Sanjay Seth, the Uber passenger who filmed the incident from the back seat, responded to Cherry's account of the altercation in the NBC 4 New York interview, tweeting: "I question part of Detective Cherry's interpretation of the incident in his recent apology. "CCRB needs to sort out the facts," Seth said, referring to the Civilian Complaint Review Board.

Taxi drivers rallied Thursday to call for Cherry to apologize; they said they didn't want him to lose his job, but hope the fall-out from the altercation would spur better treatment for cab drivers from the NYPD. Another rally was planned outside New York Penn Station Friday.

The police union has defended Cherry, saying the reaction to the confrontation overstates its significance.

On the video, Cherry can be seen apparently imitating the driver’s accent and asking how many years he’s lived in this country. Asked about that, Cherry said race and ethnicity had "nothing to do with it."

“There’s no reasonable way to determine who is driving facing away from me,” he said. “No reasonable way to determine in a few short seconds where someone skin color race or religion is going to play a factor in something that short.”

Cherry said that he is willing to take the department’s punishment, and is willing to do whatever is asked of him in his new role. He also says that the three-minute video doesn’t reflect the way he or his fellow men and women in blue carry themselves on a day-to-day basis.

The incident comes as New York Police officers are being trained in how to engage courteously with the public. Cherry said he feels badly that his behavior will reflect on a department that is working hard on its public image.

“You can’t judge three minutes of tape that that is the common practice of the New York Police Department,” he said. “At the end of the day it’s simply one individual who got angry."
 



Photo Credit: NBC 4 New York

Fire Destroys 2 Homes in Spring Valley

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Fire destroyed two homes in Spring Valley overnight.

Flames broke out around 12:30 a.m. on Tarleton Street near Warbollen Street, a block behind Mt. Miguel High School south of Interstate 8 and east of State Route 125. 

When the first fire engines arrived, crews immediately called for more help since there was not one, but two fires and they were growing.

There were also two homes behind the fire that were threatened, according to a Cal Fire spokesperson.

At one point, the fires got so large that firefighters were instructed to get off the roof where they were trying to make holes to let the heat escape out so crews could get inside.

“Once the fire escalated, they were pulled off the roof immediately,” said Cal Fire Capt. Kendal Bortisser.

Two families were displaced. Some people complained of smoke inhalation, officials said.

The San Diego chapter of the American Red Cross was called in to help.

Crews from San Diego Fire-Rescue, Heartland, Bonita and Cal Fire San Miguel all battled the fire.
 

Chatting Courtside with an NCAA Player

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Manhattan College's Emmy Andujar talks about what it's like to play in the NCAA tournament, his favorite teammate and getting pedicures.

How to Maximize College Financial Aid

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As if college applications weren't stressful enough, students readying for college face another nerve-wracking challenge: finding financial aid.

Paying for a college education can be daunting: A four-year public university can cost $19,000 a year on average, while the priciest private nonprofit schools can cost near $70,000, according to The College Board.

But even if students and their families are disappointed by paltry financial aid packages, there are still numerous sources of financial aid that can help students pay for an education.

And with more scholarships available from an assortment of sources, “families and students need to be proactive in looking for them,” said Rachelle Feldman, the assistant vice chancellor and director of financial aid and scholarships at the University of California, Berkeley.

Here are a few ways that prospective students and their families can get a slice of the financial aid that is available:

Fill Out the FAFSA, No Matter What

Most universities required applicants to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by early or mid-March, but the federal deadline isn't until June 30. That means applicants still have a chance to claim some federal grants, even if they don't think they qualify.

“Families who aren’t the poorest of the poor sometimes think, ‘Well, I shouldn’t even bother filling this out,’” she said. “The truth is, there’s a wider range of financial aid available — from institutions, from the state, from the federal government — for people at a variety of income levels.”

And while the FAFSA form can seem daunting, completing the form only takes about 20 to 30 minutes, said Feldman.

It's time well spent: Justin Draeger, the president of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, cited a recent analysis from financial site Nerdwallet that indicated high school seniors who graduated in 2013 missed out on $2.9 billion in federal grants simply because they didn’t complete the FAFSA.

Look Outside Universities, Too

A number of professional societies, corporations and foundations offer scholarships for students from particular backgrounds or who are planning on pursuing certain subjects in school. The Society of Women Engineers (SWE), for example, last year awarded 230 scholarships collectively worth more than $700,000 to students pursuing engineering degrees, according to Karen Horting, the society's executive director and CEO.

“We know that for women and underrepresented minorities, financial barriers are a larger hurdle,” Horting said. “For us, it’s a natural fit with our mission to offer scholarships and help more women into the engineering field."

Students can rely on scholarship search engines to sort through the options based on subject, grades, location and applicant background. Available search tools include NerdScholar, BestColleges.com's scholarship database and the College Board's Scholarship Search. Some, like College Scholarships Foundation and Niche, even offer their own scholarships.

But be careful of services that charge for scholarship searches, Draeger said. The FAFSA is free, as are almost all scholarship applications.

Search In-State

Many states offer both need-based and merit-based financial aid, although those grants are often limited to in-state universities. Florida residents, for example, can apply for the non-need-based William L. Boyd, IV, Florida Resident Access Grant or one of three scholarships in the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program; both grants can only be used at Florida universities.

One notable exception is the DC Tuition Assistance Grant (DC TAG) program, which provides up to $10,000 to cover the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition at public four-year colleges across the U.S.

There’s Help for Undocumented Students

Some states and several private universities offer financial aid to undocumented U.S. residents. California Dream Act grants, for example, help fund in-state college tuition for students who meet eligibility requirements.

Get in Touch With the Financial Aid Office

Even though the financial aid process can seem daunting, applicants shouldn’t be afraid to ask for guidance. Some private universities even negotiate — within reason — on financial aid packages, Feldman said.

“You can always call the institution you’re applying to and ask for help,” Feldman said. “Financial aid officers are often happy to help prospective students with the application process, even if they’re not full-time students yet.”

Look Around the University

Not all financial aid is offered by the financial aid office. Departments outside the financial aid office may offer money in the form of prizes, honors scholarships or special stipends — especially for students in their sophomore, junior or senior years. Prospective students and current students need to be especially proactive in seeking out these sorts of opportunities, Feldman said.

Keep Applying

Even if students don’t receive scholarships as freshmen, they can keep applying for financial aid. And universities sometimes offer grants or stipends that may help defray the cost of tuition or special studies, like research projects or foreign travel.



Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto

PD: Parents Locked Kids in Room

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EDITOR'S NOTE: Information on how to send donations to the children is available at the bottom of this article.


A Spotsylvania County, Virginia, couple has admitted to locking their three small children in a room 24 hours a day and feeding them through a homemade gate.

Scott Suggs, 28, and Brandy Kangas, 36, pleaded guilty Tuesday to three counts of felony child neglect.

In December, authorities found the couple's children -- a 17-month-old boy, and girls ages 3 and 4 -- locked in a messy room stained with human waste after receiving an anonymous tip about child abuse and neglect.

Authorities immediately removed the children with a key found in the home.

Suggs and Kangas were arrested at the scene.

"This was an abhorrent situation that the children were living in and it breaks my heart to see this kind of treatment of small children," Spotsylvania County Sheriff Roger L. Harris said in a release Friday. "Saving these kids from this type of neglect is why all of us are involved in public service."

The Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office says the children lacked social skills when found. They are now thriving with foster parents, but are still afraid of closed doors.

Suggs and Kangas have been sentenced to a suspended sentence of six years, 10 years of good behavior and indefinite supervised probation. They were also ordered to comply with the foster care plan, and may not have unsupervised contact with the children.

Anyone wishing to make a donation for the children may contact:

Safe Harbor Children's Advocacy Center
P.O. Box 56
Fredericksburg, VA 22404
540-891-6280



Photo Credit: Spotsylvania Co. Sheriff's Office
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Widow of James Brady Dies at 73

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Sarah Kemp Brady, who became a prominent gun control advocate after her husband, former White House Press Secretary James Brady, was shot during the attempt on President Ronald Reagan's life in 1981, died Friday after battling pneumonia, her family said in a statement. She was 73.

"Sarah courageously stepped up after Jim was shot to prevent others from enduring what our family has gone through, and her work has saved countless lives," the family's statement read.

John Hinckley Jr. was found not guilty by reason of insanity of the attempted assassination of President Reagan and of related charges. James Brady, Reagan, police officer Thomas Delahanty and Secret Service Agent Timothy McCarthy were shot March 30, 1981, as they left the Washington Hilton Hotel. Shot in the head, Brady suffered the longest lasting injuries.

He had been partially paralyzed and in a wheelchair since the assassination attempt, and his speech was slurred. James Brady died in August at age 73. The medical examiner's autopsy found the cause of death to be the gunshot wound and its consequences.

In 1989, Sarah Brady, who was an elementary school teacher, became affiliated with Handgun Control, Inc., which was renamed the Brady Campaign and the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence in 2001. She became chair in 1991.

"Our nation has lost a great hero, and I have lost a dear friend," Brady Campaign and Center to Prevent Gun Violence President Dan Gross said in a statement. "I am certain that she would want nothing more than to know we are carrying on her and Jim’s legacy with the same fiery compassion and dedication that made her so remarkable."

The Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, known as the Brady Bill or the Brady Law, was signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1993. It required a five-day waiting period and background checks for handgun purchases.

"There are countless people walking around today who would not be were it not for Sarah Brady’s remarkable resilience, compassion and – what she always said she enjoyed the most – her hard work in the trenches with this organization, which she continued right up to the very end," Gross said.

Sarah Brady is survived by her son James "Scott" Brady, Jr. and her stepdaughter Melissa "Missy" Brady Camins. 



Photo Credit: AP Photo/Ron Edmonds

78% of Drivers Caught on Phone: CVPD

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More than 100 drivers were cited in Chula Vista Thursday for using their cell phones behind the wheel, the Chula Vista Police Department confirmed.

The citations were issued during the department’s “Distracted Driving Operation” from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.

During that six-hour span, officers stopped 140 motorists. Of those, 65 drivers were ticketed for using their cell phone while driving and 45 drivers were cited for texting behind the wheel. One minor was cited for using a cell phone while driving.

The police department said this was the first of five operations this month centered on distracted driving. Other communities in San Diego will conduct their own similar operations too.

In Carlsbad, for instance, police will conduct high-visibility enforcement on April 15 to reduce distracted driving on local streets.

Nationwide, April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. According to the National Safety Council, though 80 percent of driver think hands-free devices are safer than using a handheld phone, more than 30 studies show hand-free devices are no safer because the brain remains distracted by the conversation.

The California Office of Traffic Safety says 80 percent of all traffic collision involve distractions of some sort. These crashes claim the lives of nearly 3,000 people nationwide each year.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 3,154 people were killed on
America’s highways in 2013 in distracted driving crashes.

The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) said there were more than 426,000 handheld cell phone and texting convictions in the state in 2013. More than 57,000 tickets were issued in April alone.

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department said deputies are cracking down on texting and cell phone use all month long – and beyond – with a “zero tolerance” policy toward drivers caught using a handheld phone.

Those caught will be cited and will face a minimum fine of $161 with subsequent violations being higher, the sheriff’s department said.

Officials said distracted driving accidents can be prevented by following these tips:

  • Never text and drive
  • Turn off your phone when you get behind the wheel
  • Don't text or call someone when you know they are likely to be driving
  • Make a pact with your family, spouse and caregivers never to use the phone with kids in the car
  • No eating or drinking while driving
  • Don't program your GPS, MP3 player or other devices while driving
  • Pull over and stop to read maps
  • No grooming
  • No reading
  • No watching videos
  • If something falls to the floor, pull over before trying to reach it


Photo Credit: Getty Images

Victim Recounts Zombie Walk Hit-and-Run

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San Diegan Cyndy Campbell says her life hasn’t been the same since the day she became the victim of a high-profile hit-and-run last summer during a Comic-Con event dubbed “Zombie Walk.”

“What happened to me on that day was actually life-altering,” Campbell told NBC 7 in an interview Thursday.

On July 26, 2014, Campbell was taking photographs as a spectator at a Zombie Walk event in downtown San Diego. In an instant, she became the victim of a hit-and-run when the driver of a black Honda Accord struck her near 2nd and Island avenues.

"There was a stoppage in the road with the car honking, so I'm of course going through this kind of quickly. I had the sense of being hit. I went down. I came to in a very chaotic environment,” Campbell recounted.

“I realized something bad had happened but I wasn't really clear of the details,” she continued.
The whole ordeal was recorded on cell phones by other spectators at the Zombie Walk.

It’s been eight months since the accident and even now Campbell says the footage is difficult to watch.

“The first time I watched it was very powerful for me. The audio was very powerful as well,” she said.

This week Campbell filed a lawsuit against the City of San Diego and Michael Pocci, the deaf driver charged in the hit-and-run. Pocci faces a felony count of reckless driving resulting in a serious injury.

He has pleaded not guilty, saying the crowd was out of control and he feared for his family's safety. During an interview with NBC 7, Pocci offered an apology to Campbell.

When asked how his explanation and apology made her feel, Campbell responded, "I really don't even have an opinion at this point.”

Today, Campbell says her focus is on healing the physical and emotional scars left behind by the accident.

"Emotionally it's altered who I was, who I used to be,” she explained. “I'm much more cautious; I don't feel as safe as I used to.”

“The ramifications and the impact – it’s been eight months and it’s challenging to do some things physically, emotionally,” she added.

Pocci faces three years in prison if convicted. He has filed a lawsuit against the City of San Diego for poor crowd control during the event.



Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego

Step-Mom of "Cancer Patient": Things Didn't Add Up

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The step-mother of a California woman accused of pretending to have cancer is sharing her story for the first time.

Margaret Hudson says her family was fooled because they lived thousands of miles away when her step-daughter claimed she had cancer.

Meaghan Hudson, 25, of Chula Vista, will appear in court this month to face charges of theft by deception and grand theft. Investigators say she claimed to have cancer and accepted thousands of dollars in donations from strangers, family and friends for more than a year.

In the summer of 2013, Meaghan Hudson sent a text to her friends and family with the saddest of news. She said it was cancer, multiple myeloma, and chances for survival were low.

“She did call us with very detailed information about her supposed chemotherapy and experimental drug treatment,” Margaret Hudson wrote in a statement to NBC 7.

Friends from across the U.S. offered money, shaved their heads and got tattoos to support Meaghan.
Hudson's parents started an online fundraiser that garnered $5,000 in support.

After a few months Margaret said things started to not add up.

“She shaved her head because she claimed chemo was causing it to fall out, however I noticed there were no thinning or bald spots on her head,” Margaret said.

Margaret says when she confronted Meaghan, Meaghan denied the allegations.

Chula Vista Police however say Meaghan admitted she had made up her illness when they confronted her as part of their investigation.

“I just think it was a lie that got out of hand, “ Chula Vista Police Lieutenant Fritz Reber told NBC 7 earlier this week.

Meaghan will appear in court April 29 to face a judge.

Hudson's stepmother and father live in Texas. They have posted an apology on the fundraising page and promised to refund the donations.

Margaret told NBC 7 Thursday that her family has since repaid about half of the people who donated.

McStay Murder Hearing Postponed

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The pretrial hearing for a man accused of killing the McStay family of Fallbrook has been postponed because the suspect – who is acting as his own attorney – is not yet fully prepared.

On Friday, a judge in San Bernardino, Calif., postponed the preliminary hearing for Charles Merritt until May 19. He'll also appear in court on May 15.

Merritt’s hearing was supposed to begin this Tuesday but the judge ruled that he is not ready to represent himself in the courtroom.

Merritt is accused of murdering his former business partner, Joseph McStay, along with Joseph’s wife, Summer McStay, and the couple’s two sons, 4-year-old Gianni McStay and 3-year-old Joseph Mateo McStay in 2010.

The Fallbrook family was reported missing on Feb. 4, 2010. The case of their disappearance baffled the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department and remained a mystery for years.

In November 2013, the skeletal remains of the family were uncovered in shallow graves in a very remote desert location in Victorville, Calif.

One year later, in November 2014, Merritt was arrested in connection with the mysterious murders.
He has chosen to serve as his own attorney because he only has six to eight months to live due to congestive heart failure and could not afford his own attorney.

A judge offered a court-appointed attorney at no cost, but Merritt declined.

In February 2015, Merritt complained to a judge that he wasn’t receiving the documents needed for his defense. He asked for prosecution discovery documents and files on a computer that was seized by investigators, according to U-T San Diego reporter Teri Figueroa.

Merritt’s upcoming pretrial hearing is expected to include key, never-before-seen evidence in the McStay family murder case.

Merritt released a written, one-page statement to the media Friday asking the media, public and law enforcement to remember the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.

The statement read:

“We all feel the gravity of this situation, in that the entire family and its counterparts have experienced a horrific act of depravity. Joseph, Summer, Joseph Jr. and little Gianni all not here to find and see their injustice.

Although law enforcement has significantly made errors in their investigation which will become abundantly clear in the trial, they are the ones who must none the less take on this grievous task of finding and bringing to justice the person(s) responsible for the death of my good friend and his family.

I only ask that we all remember in this great country there is the presumption of innocence until proven guilty. It seems that some of us including law enforcement have forgotten this very important fact.

I only beg the place for this trial is in the courtroom. Outside of which the defendant has no right to compel the attendance of witnesses or cross examine sources of evidence. To do otherwise cannot be redressed by our courts and therefore the defendant’s rights to a fair trial are destroyed. This is an evil which no defendant can contend.

My prayer is that through the upcoming trial and the devotion of all of us we will come to find the truth, and that the real killer or killers of my friend and his precious family will be exposed.

If this is accomplished I bear no malice.”



Photo Credit: NBC 4

Appeals Court Rules in Encinitas School Yoga Case

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In a decision announced Friday, the California Court of Appeal ruled a California school district's yoga program doesn’t violate religious freedoms and should continue.

The appeals court ruling affirmed a previous judgment by the state Superior Court.

The Encinitas Union School District was sued by a group that claimed the instruction of yoga on school grounds and as part of the school curriculum was too religious.

A group of parents wanted the district to end its Ashtanga yoga program but the district argued the program was meant to promote health and wellness, with no religious agenda.

In its decision, the court said a reasonable observer would know that "as implemented, the District's yoga program is clearly not Ashtanga eight-limbed yoga" and that there was "no evidence of any religious indoctrination in any of the written curriculum."

The court also states, "...while yoga may be practiced for religious reasons, it cannot be said to be inherently religious or overtly sectarian." 

Read the decision

here.



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Man Charged in Deadly Logan Heights Shooting

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San Diego police have charged a suspect in the killing of a man who was gunned down in front of homes in a Logan Heights neighborhood last month, officials confirmed.

On Friday police said Antoine Heratio Brown, 27, had been charged with murder in the fatal shooting March 10 of Jason Coney, 28.

Coney was shot several times in the lower torso in the 2200 block of Ocean View Boulevard. He collapsed from his wounds on the street in front of homes.

Coney was taken to a local hospital but died shortly thereafter.

According to police, Brown was already in custody on another count when investigators linked him to Coney’s murder. Brown will appear in court Tuesday.

The shooting remains under investigation but police said witnesses heard an argument between several people in the area before gunfire erupted. SDPD Lt. Paul Rorrison said the scene was “chaotic,” and several people were seen running away from the area after the shooting.

Anyone with further information on the case should call the SDPD at (888) 580-8477.
 



Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego

Schwarzenegger "Furious" Over Ind. Religious Freedom Law

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Former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger blasted Indiana's controversial religious freedom law, saying he was "furious" Republicans supported it and that it's “bad for the country” and bad for his Republican Party.

“As an American, I’m incredibly concerned about what happened in Indiana this week and the threat of similar laws being passed in other states," Schwarzenegger wrote in a Washington Post op-ed published Friday morning. "As a Republican, I’m furious. Divisive laws like the one Indiana passed aren't just bad for the country, they're also bad for our party."

On Thursday, lawmakers in Indiana and Arkansas approved revisions to the laws to include protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals from discrimination, after a widespread outcry from businesses and gay-rights groups.

Schwarzenegger, who served as California's governor from 2003 to 2011, said focusing on such measures “neglects” a large number of “critical” voters. As an example, he noted that since the battle over California's Proposition 8 in 2007, the percentage of registered Republican voters dropped from 35 percent to 28 percent today.

“Maybe that’s a coincidence,” the action-movie star said. “But there is no question that our party is losing touch with our voters, especially with the younger ones who are growing the registration rolls.”

Schwarzenegger said in order for the GOP to grow, the party must focus "on real solutions to problems Americans are facing," like infrastructure, cost of airport delays, the need to higher graduation rates and clean air.

Schwarzenegger cited the social media response to Indiana’s measure, saying it didn't just come from “eccentric” California but rather from across the country: "According to Zignal Labs, as of Wednesday night, #StandWithIndiana had been tweeted 5,571 times. Meanwhile, #BoycottIndiana was tweeted 430,728 times."

He urged the GOP to learn from NASCAR, the NBA and businesses like Wal-Mart who opposed the legislation.

"Those businesses are doing the right thing, but they have also done the math. As a party, we need to take a similarly realistic look," Schwarzenegger wrote.

"What happened in Indiana should be a teachable moment for us," he added.



Photo Credit: AP

Man Kills Self at Universal Studios

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A man died from an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound near the new "Despicable Me" ride at Universal Studios Friday afternoon, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

The shooting was reported just before 3 p.m.

Aerial footage showed rides had been stopped and that area of the park had been cleared of parkgoers.

"LA County Sheriff's has confirmed there was a possible suicide on our property. We are working closely with law enforcement and corporate security," a spokesperson for the theme park said in a statement.

"The safety and security of our guests is always of utmost importance. Business remains open."

No one else was injured. It's not clear if the man was an employee or a park visitor.

The gun shot was heard by park goers, but the body was discovered in an area not visible to parkgoers.

Universal Studios is owned by NBCUniversal, the same parent company as NBC 4.



Photo Credit: KNBC

"Don't Kill Me, Man: Victim Begged

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The man who says he was the victim of a baseball bat attack after a crash in Miami-Dade, Florida, said he pleaded with his attackers for his life.

"Don't kill me, man," Roger Flores, 55, said he told his attackers, whom police have identified as Brian Boyd, 19, and Rovantai Payne, 20. Both men face a bond hearing Saturday.

Despite the violent assault, Flores said he is a forgives his accused attackers. "I'm a father, I have sons and I forgive," he said.

Police say Flores' truck was hit from behind by a car driven by Boyd, with Payne as his passenger, near Southwest 112th Street and U.S. 1 around 5 a.m. Thursday.

Boyd came up to Flores' truck, started pounding on the window and told Flores to drive away, according to an arrest affidavit.

When Flores refused, Boyd jumped into the bed of his truck and smashed the back window, then crawled into the truck and began choking and punching Flores, police said.

Meanwhile, Payne grabbed a baseball bat and started hitting the truck, smashing the windshield and passenger window, the affidavit said.

The men got in the truck and started hitting him with the baseball bat at one point, Flores said. He later told officers he was about to lose consciousness when he saw police lights approaching.

When the officers arrived, Payne and Boyd were in the bed of the truck. Both jumped out but Payne started hitting the truck with the bat in front of the officers, the affidavit said.

After they were arrested, Boyd struck an officer twice, kicked out the rear window of a police cruiser, and later, at the police station, threw chairs, struggled with officers and threatened to "f--- each one of y'all up," police said.

Boyd and Payne are scheduled to appear in bond court Saturday to face charges including burglary with aggravated battery and criminal mischief for their alleged attack on Flores.

Payne was also charged with resisting an officer without violence, while Boyd was charged with battery on a law enforcement officer and threats to a public servant.

It was unknown if they have attorneys.



Photo Credit: Miami-Dade Corrections

Crews Tackling 5-Acre Fire East of Ramona

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Fire crews were battling a 5-acre wildland fire on Friday afternoon about 13 miles east of Ramona.

A Sig Alert has been issued for State Route 78 between Old Julian Highway and Magnolia, troopers said. All lanes of traffic have been closed until further notice.

Residents in the area reported seeing smoke. The fire started just before 4 p.m. in the Witch Creek area, which is about halfway between Julian and Ramona, north of State Route 78.

Fire crews reported there was no threat to any structures, but did say there was a moderate rate of spread.

As of 4:15 p.m., air tankers were on their way to the fire, but were then told to stand down.

This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.



Photo Credit: Animus Studios

Man's Throat Slashed, Left in Car

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Fort Lauderdale Police are investigating the brutal killing of a young father whose body was left inside a car with his throat slashed, and was later discovered by a group of children in Florida.

The victim, 24-year-old Jamai Francis, is described by family members as a dedicated father to a five-year-old little girl. Speaking exclusively to NBC 6 South Florida, Francis' family, still reeling from the news of his death, say he was a fun person who was all about family.

"Every time you use to see him, he's always laughing, smiling, cracking jokes. Just a fun person to be around," sister Elizabeth Aderly says.

Aderly also shared a video of her late brother at a birthday party for his daughter making cotton candy and jumping around inside the bouncy house.

Francis' other sister, Kadisha Davis, was too emotional to speak on camera.

Aderly says she just spoke to her brother early Thursday. The two spoke fondly of upcoming plans for Easter weekend.

"We were just standing right here talking and laughing," she says.

According to his sisters, Francis left for his girlfriend Vonisha's house located in the 200 block of 24th Avenue in Fort Lauderdale Thursday evening.

Vonisha could not speak through tears, but her mother, Veronica Williams, said Francis was kind and always treated the family well.

"He was happy, sweet and always smiling," Williams said.

From there, the women say he left the house for unknown reasons Thursday evening just after dark.

A few hours later, the neighborhood turned into a crime scene as police responded to calls about a dead body left in an idling car.

According to neighbor Myrtle Blakey, children were outside playing basketball around 10 p.m. in the area of 228 Southwest 22nd Avenue in Fort Lauderdale. That's when they spotted the car going around in circles.

"All of a sudden the car stopped. They went up to see the car, what was going on, and he was laying back. His throat was cut," Blakey says.

The group of children also claim to have seen another man running out of the car. This claim has not been verified, but the police investigation into the death is ongoing.

Anyone with information is urged to call Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS.



Photo Credit: Courtesy of Vonisha Williams

Which Community Uses More Water?

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Water use is top of mind to many in San Diego County since the governor announced Wednesday he’s issuing mandatory restrictions aimed at reducing water use by 25 percent by year’s end.

When it comes to conserving water, some communities are doing better than others, according to Equinox Center, a not for profit research and policy center that focuses on environmental issues in San Diego County.

The Santa Fe Irrigation District in the communities of Rancho Santa Fe and Solana Beach recorded the highest jump in water use between 2010 and 2014, according to the center.

The Rainbow Municipal Water District recorded the largest drop in water use over the same time period. The agency serves the communities of Rainbow, Bonsall, Oceanside, and a portion of Fallbrook.

A spokesperson for the Equinox Center added that among the local districts doing well when it comes to conserving water are Helix, San Diego, Escondido and Sweetwater.

If you want to see how your local water agency has conserved water over the last four years, you can access the data from the Equinox Center here.


 

$2K Reward Offered in City Heights Arson Series

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A $2,000 reward is now being offered for information leading to an arrest in a series of arson cases that have plagued City Heights, San Diego investigators announced Friday.

Over the past month, the Mid-City community has endured more than a dozen small fires intentionally set in dumpsters, alleyways, trash cans, beds of pickup trucks and flatbed trailers.

Most recently, someone set fire to two mattresses in an alley near an apartment building. Half an hour later, a fire was set inside a nearby dumpster.

Investigators from the Metro Arson Strike Team (MAST) are still trying to determine who IS responsible for the arson series.

Officials released this list of the fires, in order, and their locations:

• March 4, 2015, 11:44 p.m. (5200 Rex Avenue)
• March 5, 2015, 12:24 a.m. (5200 Landis Street)
• March 5, 2015, 12:53 a.m. (5300 Wightman Street)
• March 5, 2015, 11:56 a.m. (5000 Wightman Street)
• March 5, 2015, 12:59 a.m. (5200 Ogden Street)
• March 13, 2015, 2:38 a.m. (5100 Wightman Street)
• March 13, 2015, 3:01 a.m. (3800 Shiloh Road)
• March 13, 2015, 3:16 a.m. (3600 Knoxie Street)
• March 13, 2015, 3:51 a.m. (3700 Shiloh Road)
• March 15, 2015, 11:33 p.m. (6300 University Avenue)
• March 17, 2015, 11:16 p.m. (5200 52nd Place)
• March 22, 2015, 3:20 a.m. (5300 Wightman Street)
• March 24, 2015, 1:00 a.m. (5200 Landis Street)
• March 31, 2015, 12:58 a.m. (5200 Landis Street)
• March 31, 2015, 1:34 a.m. (5100 Landis Street)

Anyone with information on the arsonist involved in these fires should contact MAST at (619) 236-6815 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477. A map of the locations can be seen below.

The reward in this case is being offered by both Crime Stoppers and San Diego City Council President Pro Tem Marti Emerald.
 



Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego
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