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Video Shows Locals Escaping Nepal Quake

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Four local climbers are back in San Diego after a harrowing journey in Nepal during the country’s devastating earthquake.

Kathleen “Kat” Heldman, her husband Kevin Krough and her friends Oscar Olea and Brigida Martinez thought they were setting off on the trip of a lifetime: a hiking adventure through Asia to celebrate Martinez's 40th birthday. Little did they know, they’d be more than 12,400 feet above sea level in the small Nepalese area of Kyanjing Gompa when the quake would hit.

“We were in the tea room where we were going to stay. We were waiting for our lunch when the earthquake stuck,” recalled Olea, who spoke to NBC 7 upon his return home to El Cajon.

“First we didn't know what was happening when we heard the noise. Then we started feeling the movement and realized it was an earthquake,” he added.

Olea said everyone started running out of the building as rocks and bricks came crashing down, except their friend Martinez who was in the bathroom on the second floor.

Heldman’s husband captured video of his wife and guard calling for Brigida from outside the crumbling structure.

“Kat, in an act of incredible heroism, went inside to get her,” recalled Olea. “ A few seconds later they both came out of the building.”

When the shaking finally stopped, the group thought they were out of danger. The video shows them embracing each other and then suddenly looking around concerned.

“We thought we heard like a hurricane that was coming up the mountain.Then we saw a huge cloud coming down at an incredible speed,” said Olea.

“I realized it was an avalanche,” he said. “We started running for our lives…again.”

Everyone ran to safety, but when Oscar tried to move he says he felt a sharp pain in his thigh. He tried moving it, but it just would not respond.

“The power of the avalanche was pushing me down, so I couldn't do anything but lay down on the ground,” he recalled.

Snow and debris flew dangerously past his head as more snow piled around his legs and all the way up to his waist.

“My legs were getting buried in the snow. The avalanche lasted for a minute but it felt like an hour,” he recounted.

Olea survived the avalanche. His friends and village locals rushed to him and dug him out of the snow. It took four days for a U.S. Embassy-sent helicopter to fly them off the mountain to Kathmandu and then to Los Angeles.

On Tuesday, the San Diegans planned to hold a news briefing in Bankers Hill to talk about their story of survival. They also want to travel to Nepal again next year to thank those who helped them survive and hold a memorial for those who did not, Olea said.
 



Photo Credit: Oscar Olea

Tech Exec's Death Highlights Potential Treadmill Dangers

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Each day, runners in gyms and homes across the country turn to the treadmill to improve their physical fitness. But even the most well-intentioned workouts on the popular machines can have serious, and sometimes deadly, results.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that 24,400 injuries associated with treadmills were treated in emergency rooms in 2014. And at least 30 people were killed in accidents related to treadmills in the 10-year period that spanned 2003-2012, the CPSC reported, an average of three treadmill deaths per year.

The potential dangers returned to the spotlight this month, with news that tech executive David Goldberg, husband to Facebook executive Sheryl Sandberg, was found dead from severe head trauma next to a treadmill while vacationing in Mexico. A Mexican official told The Associated Press that the Survey Monkey CEO apparently slipped on the machine and fell.

Major factors that contribute to treadmill injuries include whether the user is distracted, what they’re wearing and whether they understand how to properly use the equipment, said Dr. Laura Miele-Pascoe, an expert in sport and recreation and injury prevention.  Still, Miele-Pascoe and other health and fitness experts stress that following easy steps can help exercisers stay safe while working out.

One top safety rule that users can follow is to stand on foot rails before turning on the treadmill, Miele-Pascoe said. Safety clips and lanyards are attached to many treadmills, offering support. If a user steps on a moving treadmill they can easily lose balance and “receive a significant injury.”

“People don’t look down,” she said. “Sometimes treadmills are left on and [people are] trying to engage their mp3 player and they step on to a treadmill as opposed to straddling and they step on the moving treadmill.”

Televisions, music players and phones are also big causes for injuries, Miele-Pascoe said. It’s important that a user sets up their music or television before beginning their workout.

“Unfortunately a lot of people press start before they turn the monitor on,” she said. The results are usually bad shoulder injuries, facial and skin burns, and chipped, broken or lost teeth.

Miele-Pascoe also advises users to consider their clothing before going for a run. Avoid loose garments and slip-on sneakers and check to make sure your shoes are tied.

Lastly, Miele-Pascoe stressed the importance of following the manufacture’s recommendations. Facility operators should post signage that informs users of how equipment should be used and remain available in case users need assistance or find themselves in trouble.

Both gym operators and private treadmill owners should also make sure children do not have unsupervised access to the powerful machines. The danger the equipment can pose to children made headlines in 2009, when the 4-year-old daughter of boxer Mike Tyson died of injuries sustained when she choked on a treadmill cord.



Photo Credit: Getty Images/Westend61

Matthew Charged With Capital Murder

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The man charged in the abduction and killing of University of Virginia student Hannah Graham is now charged with capital murder in the case.

If convicted, Jesse Leroy Matthew Jr. could now face the death penalty in the death of 18-year-old Graham, who went missing last fall following a night out with friends. Her remains were found five weeks later.

A prosecutor said new forensic evidence led to the additional capital murder charge and prosecutors will seek the death penalty if Matthew, 33, goes to trial.

Matthew was previously charged with first-degree murder, a charge which carries up to a life sentence. He is also charged with abduction with intent to defile and two counts of reckless driving for incidents that occurred early in the investigation.

His jury trial had been scheduled to begin June 29, but in March, an Albemarle County circuit judge granted a request to postpone the trial. Tuesday's hearing had initially been scheduled to set that new trial date.

THE NIGHT HANNAH VANISHED

Matthew was the last person seen with Graham, authorities say.

The second-year U.Va. student met friends for dinner at a restaurant on the night of Sept. 12, a Friday, before stopping by two off-campus parties. Officials said she left the second party alone, later texting a friend that she was lost.

Surveillance videos showed her walking unsteadily, and at some points running, past a pub and a gas station and then onto Charlottesville's downtown mall very early that Saturday. She was also shown with a man whom police say is Matthew. In the video, the man is shown wrapping his arm around Graham.

Matthew was also accused of buying her alcohol.

Charlottesville Police Chief Timothy Longo said police have no reason to believe the two knew each other before that night.

Over the days and weeks that followed Graham's disappearance, search teams fanned out over Charlottesville and Albemarle County, and authorities asked property owners to check their land.

Graham's remains were found in a rural area Oct. 18, 2014, just miles from where she was last seen.

WHO IS JESSE MATTHEW?

At the time of Graham's disappearance, Matthew was an operating room patient technician at the University of Virginia Medical Center, according to the university.

He attended Liberty University in Lynchburg from 2000 to 2002, said officials from the school founded by the late Rev. Jerry Falwell. In October 2002, Matthew was accused of a sexual assault at Liberty, but charges were never filed, said Lynchburg's deputy commonwealth's attorney.

More recently, Matthew was a volunteer for a football team at a Christian school in Charlottesville. Officials said he underwent normal background and reference checks.

Online court records show Matthew was convicted of trespassing in 2010 but provided no details about the incident. Details also were unavailable for two other charges of assault and attempted grand larceny relating to a 2009 incident. Those charges were not prosecuted.

In late September 2014, Matthew was arrested on a beach in Galveston, Texas, and extradited to Virginia on a charge of abduction with intent to defile Graham. "Defile," in a legal context, means "sexually molest." Matthew was later charged with her murder.

LINKS TO 2005, 2009 CASES

Authorities say DNA evidence has also linked Matthew to a 2005 sexual assault and the 2009 disappearance and death of Virginia Tech student Morgan Harrington, whose remains were found in early 2010.

Matthew was already in custody in connection with the Graham case when he charged with attempted murder and sexual assault in the 2005 case. In that case, the 26-year-old victim was attacked while walking home from a grocery store in the city of Fairfax. She was dragged into a wooded area and sexually assaulted. Her attacker was interrupted by a passerby and then ran off.

Matthew pleaded not guilty in that case. His trial in Fairfax is scheduled to begin June 8.

Before Matthew was identified as a suspect, authorities said they had linked the 2005 Fairfax attack to the disappearance of Harrington, who went missing after attending a concert at U.Va. and getting separated from her friends.

Harrington had planned to find her own way home that night. Her remains were found in early 2010.

Authorities have said that DNA under a fingernail of the Fairfax victim provided a link to Matthew.

According to a search warrant obtained by NBC29, Charlottesville police found a "wooden tip from a cigar butt" inside Matthew's wallet; the document states that the DNA from that tip provides matches to both the Harrington case and the 2005 Fairfax case.

Matthew has not been charged in Harrington's death.

Her mother, Gil Harrington, was in court Tuesday afternoon to show support for the Graham family. Before entering the courthouse, she said she hoped for justice.

REMEMBERING HANNAH GRAHAM

Graham was a second-year student at U.Va. and had graduated from West Potomac High School in the Fairfax County section of Alexandria.

She intended to pursue a career in global public health and wanted to help others, her parents said. They have said their hearts were broken that she would never get to pursue her dream.

On Oct. 24, 2014, Albemarle County authorities announced that the remains found on an abandoned property a week earlier belonged to Graham.

That day, her parents, John and Sue Graham, released a statement that read in part, "Put simply, Hannah lit up our lives, the lives of our family and the lives of her friends and others who knew her. Although we have lost our precious Hannah, the light she radiated can never be extinguished. We will hold it in our hearts forever and it will help sustain us as we face a painful future without her."

U.Va. President Teresa Sullivan also released a statement that day, saying Graham "brought immense energy and delight to her learning at the university, [where] she was a source of friendship and joy for so many people."

Devon Still's Daughter Begins Stem Cell Transplant

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Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Devon Still shared a photo on Instagram of his daughter preparing for a stem cell transplant on Tuesday, the latest update on Leah's condition since she was diagnosed with cancer last June.

The 4-year-old's cancer has been in remission for over a month but, according to Still's post, Leah needs the stem cell transplant to beat off any cancerous cells that might still be hiding in her body.

In the Instagram photo, Leah, who turns five on Wednesday, is pictured sitting on a hospital bed in a pink dress with her fists raised in the air, ready for the latest round in her fight with the disease.

"It's a very serious, scary and long treatment but it is a step in the right direction," Still said of process, which can take four to six weeks. "I'm definitely nervous about this because of the unknown of how her body will react and all the risk that come with the procedure but as you can see Leah is ready and I will gain my strength through her like I have since the beginning. Please send up a prayer for her!"

On March 25, Still announced Leah's stage four neuroblastoma cancer was in remission. He has continued to post updates on Leah’s progress using the hashtags #LeahStrong and #BeatCancer.

In an Instagram post five days ago, Still said Leah was sad about spending her fifth birthday in the hospital at first but then told him, "That’s ok! Can we just have cake and balloons in my room?'”

Instead the football player surprised his daughter with a weekend trip to her favorite place, Disney World.

“Although her only wish was for cake and balloons I couldn't let my baby celebrate her bday like that,” he wrote in the post.



Photo Credit: Getty Images
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Driver in Alpine Rollover Flags Down Help

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A military serviceman whose car rolled several hundred feet down a steep embankment managed to crawl back up to the highway and flag down help, according to a California Highway Patrol officer.

The driver was traveling along eastbound Interstate 8 after 10 p.m. Monday when he apparently fell asleep at the wheel and drove into the dirt median, San Diego police said.

The man overcorrected and traveled across three lanes and down the embankment off the highway.

The vehicle rolled over and landed several hundred feet down the hillside.

The driver was able to get out of the wreckage, climb up the hillside and wave down traffic, CHP Officer Jared Grieshaber said.

Grieshaber did not identify the driver but confirmed he is 20 years old and an active member of the U.S. military. He suffered cuts on his left hand.

The driver’s 19-year-old wife was pulled from the vehicle with the help of another driver.

Viejas firefighters and Cal Fire crews put the woman on a gurney and carried her up the embankment. She was transported to Sharp Hospital and is recovering with a collapsed lung, officials said.

The couple was traveling to Yuma where the husband is based, officials told NBC 7.
 

Driver in High-Speed Pursuit Nabbed in Santee

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A man was arrested Tuesday after leading a high-speed chase from National City to the East County.

California Highway Patrol and San Diego Police officers cornered the driver at Woodside Avenue and Shallow Hill Road after a half-hour pursuit through the county.

Officers with guns drawn took the driver into custody.

The man was accused of refusing to pull over for on Main Street at 2 a.m. The pursuit began west of Interstate 5 and south of State Route 15.

The pursuit reached speeds of 100 miles per hour, officials said.

No one was injured.

California Fell Far Short of Water-Saving Target: Regulators

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State water regulators say Californians conserved little water in March and local officials were not aggressive in cracking down on waste.

The update was presented Tuesday to the State Water Resources Control Board as it considers sweeping restrictions to protect water supplies in the drought.

A survey of local water departments shows water use fell less than 4 percent in March compared to the same month in 2013.

Overall savings have been only about 9 percent since last summer, even though Gov. Jerry Brown set a voluntary 20 percent target.

Brown is now ordering mandatory conservation. Regulators are considering rules to set water reduction targets of as much as 36 percent for some communities.

The board is also tracking enforcement of water rules. Most communities reported sending fewer than 20 warnings in March.



Photo Credit: FILE/Getty Images

Mother’s Day 2015 Events in San Diego

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There are many ways to celebrate mom in America’s Finest City. From a traditional brunch outing to a 5K or 10K run, here are some Mother’s Day events happening this weekend in San Diego.

Saturday, May 9:

Chula’s Mission “Once Upon and Apron”
Green Acre Campus Pointe Restaurant
10300 Campus Point Drive
San Diego, CA 92121
(858) 450-9907
12 p.m. – 3 p.m.
$50 each
Chulasmission.org
This event benefits girls who have lost their mothers. Lunch is provided, along with activity stations where mothers and daughters can design their own aprons, jewelry and cookies to take home. A panel of working mothers will be featured at this event, including NBC 7 meteorologist Jodi Kodesh, who will discuss the challenges and triumphs of juggling kids and a career. Proceeds from ticket sales go toward services provided by Chula’s Mission, including group counseling, mentoring and basic cooking classes.

Sunday, May 10:

Rancho Bernardo Inn Brunch and Petting Zoo
17550 Bernardo Oaks Drive
San Diego, CA 92128
$45-$68 each
6 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Ranchobernardoinn.com
This grand buffet will boast carving stations and made-to-order omelettes, among other things, with three venues serving different options at varying price points. Mom can enjoy live music with her mimosa while the kids take part in pony rides and a petting zoo.

Coronado Historic Homes Tour
$45 each
11 a.m. - 4p.m.
Coronadohistory.org
Take mom on a historic six-home tour in Coronado showcasing various styles and architecture throughout the city’s 125-year history. The tour is self-guided by the historical association will provide map brochures featuring details on each home’s unique history. Tickets can be purchased online ahead of time or on the day of the tour at the Coronado Museum located at 1100 Orange Ave.

San Diego Mother’s Day Run
$35 each online
7 a.m. – 10 a.m.
De Anza Cove
3000 N Mission Bay Dr.
San Diego, CA 92109
Sdmothersdayrun.com
This 5K and 10K run organized by the Mission Valley Sunset Rotary Club is a great way to celebrate the day with your active mom. Kids under 10 can participate for free in the Little Tykes 100-Meter Dash. Last year, this run raised $9,000 for the San Diego Rescue Mission and its programs, including services for homeless women and children.
 


Water Cutbacks Could Impact Local Businesses: Study

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Drought-related water cutbacks could affect several San Diego-area industries, according to one new study.

Agriculture, breweries, dry cleaners, food manufacturers and construction firms could suffer in the face of water cutbacks, A National University System Institute of Policy Research (NUSIPR) study found, as those industries tend to use more water, though cutbacks will likely only have a limited impact on the city businesses otherwise.

The study looked at a data set on water consumed by different industries in the region.

The study found on average, non-agricultural businesses annually use 54,000 gallons of water per employee for outdoor landscaping, health and hygienic uses. Cutbacks will likely not have an impact on those businesses’ employment, though they will impact the heavier water users.

The agricultural sector consumed an average of 34 times more water per worker and cutbacks in acreage under production could have a negative impact on employment in the sector.

“Restrictions are likely to be felt among a handful of industries, which use water in core processes,” W. Erik Bruvold, President of NUSIPR, said in a statement. “First among these will be agriculture, but we could see negative impacts on a half dozen other industries based upon this data."

San Diego’s “Professional, scientific and technical services” industry, which includes the much of the city’s high-tech and life sciences industries, use 45 percent more water on a per employee basis.



Photo Credit: NBC 7

"The Blob" Over Pacific Ocean Offers Weather Mystery

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San Diego scientists are working to figure out how to explain “the blob,” a nine degree temperature increase in the North Pacific Ocean that is leaving scientists with a lot of questions.

On Tuesday, the scientists met for the first of a two part workshop at UC San Diego during the 2014 to 2015 Pacific Anomalies Science and Technology Workshop.

“This is the super bowl of climate anomaly," Art Miller, PhD with Scripps Institution of Oceanography, said.

Since 2014, the north Pacific Ocean has seen a nine degree jump in its waters, leaving scientists with a lot of questions – some of which they hope to answer on Tuesday and Wednesday.

More than 100 scientists and researchers from Mexico and Canada are participating in the workshops to provide research and development questions based on “the blob.”

The goal of the gathering is to ultimately form a community-wide effort that will help scientists better understand and predict the anomalies.

“The blob” could be the reason so many starving sea lions have washed up on shores. These warmer temperatures are killing off the smaller fish that sea lions depend on for food.

Researchers will be looking into these topics: 

  • Observing changes in physical and biogeochemical variable in the Northern Central and Eastern Pacific Ocean
  • How “the blob” impacts fisheries and other ecosystems
  • Variations in coastal sea level, currents, temperature, salinity and winds
  • Large-scale climate, ocean, and atmospheric processes and their relation to physical and biogeochemical variations
  • Structure of the California Current System and its interaction with the larger North Pacific system
  • Atmospheric and ocean processes that may translate warming signals between the open ocean and coastal regions
  • Connection of the observed responses to climate processes, such as the El Niño Southern Oscillation and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation
  • The abilities of global and regional models to detect ocean variations seen in observations

Acceptance of Same Sex Relationships at All-Time High: Study

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Acceptance of premarital sex and homosexuality has reached an all-time high, according to a wide-reaching study by researchers at San Diego State University.

More than 33,000 adults were examined between 1972 and 2012 in the study from data from the General Social Survey during the study, led by SDSU Psychology professor Jean M. Twenge.

Their results revealed a generational shift between in beliefs between sex and sexuality.

Millennials born between the 1980s and 90s were more accepting of premarital sex and same sex marriage than their parents born before the 1960s.

“The changes are primarily due to generation, suggesting people develop their sexual attitudes while young, rather than everyone of all ages changing at the same time,” said Twenge in a statement.

Researchers observed the largest change between those born in the early 1990s and those born between the 1940s and 50s.

Acceptance of premarital sex grew 42 percent from 2000 to 2012 and acceptance of same-sex relationships more than tripled between 1990 and 2012, jumping from 13 percent to 44 percent. 

"Millennials are more accepting of premarital sex than any previous generation, yet have had fewer sexual partners than GenX'ers. This is consistent with their image as a tolerant, individualistic generation accepting others' choices and making their own,” Twenge said.

Researchers said their data was analyzed before the federal ruling recognizing same sex marriage.

“It'll be interesting to see, especially with the Supreme Court decision coming up, the next data collections,” said Twenge. “My best guess is that we'll be moving to a majority position and people saying it's not wrong at all."

Researchers say the changes between 1972 and 2012 are mostly generational, suggesting many people may develop their sexual attitudes at a young age.

Twenge said she believes the shifts in attitudes are linked to growing cultural individualism in the nation.

"When the culture places more emphasis on the needs of the self and less on social rules, more relaxed attitudes toward sexuality are the almost inevitable result,” Twenge said.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

JetBlue to Offer Flights From NYC to Cuba

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JetBlue has announced it will begin offering roundtrip flights to Cuba out of New York's Kennedy Airport each week.

The Queens-based airline becomes the first major carrier to announce a new flight to Cuba from New York since travel restrictions were recently eased. The flights will begin July 3. 

The flight to Havana will leave JFK at noon each Friday, with a scheduled landing time of 3:30 p.m. at Havana's Jose Marti International Airport. A return flight each Friday departs Havana at 4:30 p.m. and lands in New York at 8 p.m. 

While operated by JetBlue, the flight is being offered by Cuba Travel Services, and travelers should make arrangements directly with the carrier service provider at cubatravelservices.com. 

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said his recent trade mission to Cuba was aimed to developing new economic opportunities, and "JetBlue's exciting announcement today is proof that our approach is delivering results for New York businesses." 

Thet JetBlue charter flight to Cuba will be on an Airbus 150-seat A320.

3 Persons of Interest Sought in Santee Arson

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The San Diego County Sheriff’s investigators are searching for three persons of interest in connection with a house fire later determined to be arson.

Leslie Love Sr., Katrina Love and Leslie Love Jr. are wanted for questioning in the Oct. 2, 2014 blaze.

That day, a house caught fire at 10320 Prospect Avenue at about 5 p.m. No one was injured, but sheriff’s fire investigators discovered someone had intentionally ignited the flames.

They are now asking anyone who has seen the Loves to call the sheriff’s department at 858-565-5200 or Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.

Sheriff’s officials say Leslie Love Sr. is a 53-year-old African American man with black hair and brown eyes. He stands 5-foot-2-inches and weighs about 210 pounds.

Katrina Love is a 41-year-old African American woman with green eyes and brown hair, standing 5-foot-4-inches and weighing 260 pounds.

Leslie Love Jr. is a 23-year-old African American man, who stands about 5-foot-7-inches and weighs 190 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes.
 



Photo Credit: San Diego County Sheriff's Dept.

22 San Diego-Area Schools Given Prestigious Honor

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Twenty two schools in San Diego County were among the nearly 400 schools in California awarded the Gold Ribbon Schools award to commemorate academic success and performance.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson made the announcement Tuesday. Some of the local schools given that award include Steele Canyon High, Lakeside Middle School and Mountain Valley Academy.

“These schools are academically successful, vibrant, and innovative centers of learning and teaching,” Torlakson said in a statement. “They provide great examples of the things educators are doing right—embracing rigorous academic standards, providing excellence and creativity in teaching, and creating a positive school climate.”

The Gold Ribbon award is presented to schools based off how well they model standard-based activities, projects, strategies and practices implemented by the State Board of Education. Schools had to apply for the award based on how closely they met those standards.

Out of the 22 schools that were recognized in San Diego County, 10 of those were distinguished for being a Title 1 Academic Achieving School. These schools receive Title 1 funds to assist in meeting the educational needs of students living at or below the poverty line.

Here are the San Diego schools that received this recognition: 

  • El Cajon Valley High
  • Monte Vista High
  • Steele Canyon High
  • Lakeside Middle School
  • National University Academy
  • Mountain Empire High
  • Meadowbrook Middle
  • Olive Peirce Middle
  • Mountain Valley Academy
  • Health Sciences High and Middle College, Inc.
  • Junipero Serra High
  • Patrick Henry High
  • Preuss School UCSD
  • San Diego Global Vision Academy Middle
  • Scripps Ranch High
  • Oak Crest Middle School
  • San Elijo Middle
  • Hilltop Middle
  • Olympian High School
  • Southwest Middle
  • Vista High
  • Vista Magnet Middle School

 

In addition to the Golden Ribbon award, certain schools in the state were also recognized as having an Exemplary Program in Arts Education, Career Technical Education, or Physical Activity and Nutrition. 

The Golden Ribbon award is in place of the California Distinguished Schools Program, which is being put on hold while the state creates new assessment and accountability systems.



Photo Credit: Getty Images/Flickr RF

Drug Policy Change for Mass. Town

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Police in Gloucester, Massachusetts, are shifting their approach in how to battle the growing abuse of opioids and other substances in their community.

Beginning in June, addicts who surrender their drugs or drug paraphernalia and ask for help will not be charged, The Gloucester Police Department said.

"Instead we will walk them through the system toward detox and recovery," Gloucester Police Chief Leonard Campanello said in a Facebook post annoucing the new policy. "We will assign them an 'angel' who will be their guide through the process. Not in hours or days, but on the spot."

Addicts will be offered treatment in partnership with Lahey Hospital and Medical Center and Addison Gilbert Hospital.

“I’ve never arrested a tobacco addict, nor have I ever seen one turned down for help when they develop lung cancer, whether or not they have insurance,” Campanello said. “The reasons for the difference in care between a tobacco addict and an opiate addict is stigma and money. Petty reasons to lose a life.”

Nasal Narcan, an antidote for an opiate overdose, has also just been made available at local pharmacies without a prescription. Police have entered into an agreement with Conley's Drug Store and are working on one with CVS.

"We are poised to make revolutionary changes in the way we treat this disease," Campanello said.

Campanello will travel to Washington, D.C., on May 12 and 13 where he will meet with Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey and Congressman Seth Moulton.

"I will bring the idea of how far Gloucester is willing to go to fight this disease and will ask them to hold federal agencies, insurance companies and businesses accountable for building a support system that can eradicate opiate addiction and provide long term, sustainable support to reduce recidivism," says Campanello.

Last year, more than 1,000 people died from overdoses of heroin and other opioids in Massachusetts, according to state health officials.



Photo Credit: FILE - Getty Images

UCSD Graduate Chosen to Lead Blue Angels

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A UC San Diego graduate will soon take off as the next commanding officer of the Navy’s Blue Angels.

Navy officials announced Monday that Cmdr. Ryan Bernacchi was chosen to lead the flight demonstration squad headquartered in Pensacola, Florida, succeeding Capt. Tom Frosch.

"It is an absolute honor to have been selected for this prestigious position," said Bernacchi in a news release. "There is a legacy of tradition and excellence within the Blue Angels squadron, and I look forward to maintaining the high standard of excellence set before me by Captain Frosch."

A native of Los Altos, Bernacchi got his Bachelor of Arts degree from UC San Diego in 1996. He received his commission through the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps Program.

Since then, Bernacchi has logged more than 3,000 flight hours and 600 carrier-arrested landings. He flew F/A-18 Hornets in five squadrons and was deployed to support Operations Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

He will now serve as the CO and flight leader for the 2016-2017 Blue Angels air show season, looking after 130 personnel. It also means he gets to fly the #1 jet.

A selection panel made up of 10 admirals and former commanding officers picked Bernacchi to serve in the role. Leading the panel was Chief of Naval Air Training Rear Adm. Roy Kelley.

"We prioritized selecting an officer who is an outstanding example of the pride and professionalism of the Navy and Marine Corps," said Kelley. "Commander Bernacchi has a proven record of excellence and will be both a strong flight leader and commanding officer for the 2016 team."

Training begins in Florida in September, and Bernacchi will take the helm by November. His team is scheduled to perform 69 shows in 36 locations in 2016.

Bernacchi has been awarded a Meritorious Service Medal, Individual Air Medal with combat V, three Strike/Flight Air Medals, four Navy Commendation Medals (one with combat V), three Navy Achievement Medals and more.



Photo Credit: Navy

Picking the Right Bicycle Helmet

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No question, a bike helmet can be a real lifesaver. Ninety percent of the bicyclists killed in the past two decades were not wearing a helmet.

Consumer Reports just tested 23 helmets and found good choices for both adults and children.

The magazine crash tests helmets to see how well they will protect you in an accident. A sensor detects how much force would be transmitted to the rider’s head in a crash. A second Consumer Reports test checks the strength of the chin strap.

One helmet, the Cannondale Teramo, didn’t pass and may pose a safety risk because it could come off in an accident. In four of the five samples tested, the buckle snapped or broke into pieces.

Consumer Reports is not aware of any injuries as a result of the Cannondale Teramo buckle issue.

The company says it stands behind its third-party independent test results, but Consumer Reports does not recommend buying the Cannondale Teramo.

However, Consumer Reports did find several good choices. Top-rated is the Scott Arx Plus for $150. It scored Excellent in impact resistance and fit adjustments. It was Very Good for ventilation, and it’s also a lightweight helmet.

And Consumer Reports found several other Best Buys that cost far less, including the Lazer Cyclone for $45 and the Schwinn Merge for just $12.

Consumer Reports also tested children’s helmets, and top rated the Bontrager Solstice Youth for $40.

Consumer Reports says be careful how you handle your helmet. Don’t just toss it into the trunk of your car, because heat can affect performance. And you don’t want to get even minor dents into the lining, which is what absorbs the impact.

If you are ever in an accident, even if you can’t see any damage to your helmet, replace it. You can get information on the right way to fit a bike helmet on ConsumerReports.org.



Photo Credit: NBC 5 News

Plane With Decompression Issues Lands at Lindbergh

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A plane with decompression issues had to turn back to San Diego Tuesday evening, landing safely after emergency crews were put on standby.

The Atlas Air Boeing 767, bound for Phoenix, took off from Lindbergh Field at about 6:30 p.m. but soon started having problems, according to the FAA.

When the pilot reported the mechanical issue, the DHL cargo flight was ordered to return to San Diego.

The airport called in its police and fire departments, as well as a San Diego Fire-Rescue crew, to monitor the plane's descent.

The flight landed safely at about 7:20 p.m., the airport says. Neither the pilot or copilot were injured, according to shipping company DHL. The DHL flight was operated by Atlas Air.

The decompression problem is being investigated, and the plane will be grounded until crews can fix the issue.

Delivery of the plane's cargo will most likely be delayed since DHL does not plan to put it on another flight.

PUC Vote on Carlsbad Gas Plant Due

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A tug-of- war over the future of electrical power for coastal North County is coming to a head this week.

In dispute is how big a role solar power and other renewable energy sources should play in combination with a new, natural gas power plant in Carlsbad.

Branded the Carlsbad Energy Center, it’s a $2.6 billion facility that’ll serve 800,000 households starting sometime in 2017, once the ancient Encina power plant is taken offline.

The ultimate goal is to replace the power lost when the San Onofre nuclear plant was shut down in 2013 by steam generator failures.

North County residents and clean energy providers are pushing the state Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to require that renewables such as solar power make up at least a quarter of the San Onofre power gap, and they want San Diego Gas & Electric to entertain outside bids for even more.

"I actually think it can help their bottom line,” said Solana Beach city councilman Peter Zahn. “Renewable energy has gotten to the point where it is just as cost-effective as natural gas and other fossil fuels. But they really don't come from that place -- that's not their history."

Green energy activists are taking that message to lawmakers who have pushed back against the PUC, questioning what they believe is the commission's deference to the oil and petroleum industries in energy production and rate-setting issues.

"We want to take control of our power. We feel very strongly about this,” said Carlsbad resident Mary Oren in an interview following at a Solana Beach news conference convened Tuesday by the Sierra Club and other groups.

"I think that as more technology is available, like battery storage,” Oren told NBC 7, “it's only a matter of time before citizens say 'Enough's enough' -- and somebody's got to listen."

Other north coast residents raised doubts about the potential output from solar sources during cloudy or inclement weather spells.

"I'm kind of 50-50 in this; I do believe in renewable sources,” Carlsbad resident Jeff Marasso remarked as he strolled along stretch of coastal road across from the Encina plant site.

However, Marasso added: “You know, Germany is overcast a lot, but they're about 80 percent renewable. So if we could come to some kind of a balance … anything that helps the city of Carlsbad, I'm all for."

Zahn, meantime, offers a case that renewables make for good local-business development.

"We have tremendous start-up activity with new ventures in San Diego,” he said “San Diego is becoming -- and could become much more of -- a hotbed for clean technologies."

The power replacement issue is scheduled for a PUC vote Thursday in San Francisco on a compromise plan by the commission’s president.

That alternative, according Sierra Club activists, would provide for a reduction in natural gas generation by about 17 percent, while allowing a boost in the component of renewables in the remaining mix by up to 50 percent.

For its part, SDG&E is seeking a postponement of the action in order to study other options.

In comments filed with the PUC Monday, the utility cited a processing delay in its application and outsource bids that prompted SDG&E “to encourage the commission to review them.”

As the delay persisted, the firm said, “we began to see other regulatory and legislative events that gave us pause for some level of concern.”
 



Photo Credit: Gene Cubbison

Bill to Improve Security Guard Licensing Approved

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A bill to clean up California’s security industry was unanimously approved by the Assembly Business and Professions Committee Tuesday, moving it one step closer to becoming law.

Assemblymember Jim Cooper (D-Elk Grove) introduced the bill, AB 1042, after seeing an NBC 7 Investigates story exposing the local underground industry of untrained, unlicensed security officers.

The story came after two local deaths involving bouncers – one where the bouncer was arrested and charged for involuntary manslaughter and the other where the death was ruled a homicide. The San Diego Police Department forwarded that investigation to the San Diego County District Attorney’s office for review.

Click here to see the complete investigation.

If adopted, the bill would further professionalize the security guard industry and protect public safety.

“If a guard or bouncer wears a uniform or performs a security role, they should have to meet minimum professional standards and pass background checks,” Cooper said in a press release about the bill. “AB 1042 will ensure individuals providing security services are properly licensed, trained and certified,” he added.

NBC 7 Investigates original story, exposed two issues in the security industry:

  • If a security officer/guard isn’t wearing a uniform, he or she does not have to be licensed in the state of California.
  • Many of security guards are getting state-issued security guard registration cards (also known as guard cards) and getting jobs but may be completing only a fraction of the curriculum.

AB 1042 updates the definition of a Proprietary Private Security Officer and adds examples of security officer duties to ensure individuals employed by a business such as a bar or restaurant and who provide security services are not unlicensed.

The bill is supported by the California Association of Licensed Security Agencies, Guards and Associates and will next be heard on the Assembly floor.

NBC 7 Investigates is working for you. If you have more information about this or other story tips, contact us: (619) 578-0393, NBC7Investigates@nbcuni.com. To receive the latest NBC 7 Investigates stories, subscribe to our newsletter.

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