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Video Shows Officers Using Stun Gun

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Passengers on an early Monday morning Metra train to Elgin, Illinois, got a first-hand lesson in law enforcement when an officer used a stun gun on a passenger the transit agency says was intoxicated and resisting arrest. The officer is also seen locking the man’s head between the officer’s legs and telling him to "shut the f--- up."

Video of the incident, which was posted to YouTube Wednesday, has sparked debate and added more to the national dialogue of how police respond to tense situations.

This happened on Milwaukee West Line train No. 2725, the last train from Chicago's Union Station to Elgin on the Sunday schedule. Metra spokesman Michael Gillis said a group of "apparently intoxicated" passengers were on the upper level of one car. Two of them were using "obscene" language, he said. 

When the train pulled into the Western Ave. Station, at 420 N. Artesian Ave., the conductor spotted two officers at the station and asked them to remove the two passengers from the train.

One of the passengers, who remained unidentified Thursday because he is a minor, came down to the lower level after repeated demands. The other man, identified as 20-year-old Ryan Hutchinson, of Bloomingdale, was recorded questioning why police were arresting his friend and refusing to come down from the upper level.

"I don’t need to come down. I’m not doing anything wrong," Hutchinson is heard saying.

Police tell the man he needs to come down the stairs because officers "told him to." One of the officers then comes up the stairs and tells the passenger to get up before pulling out a pair of handcuffs.

A scuffle and argument ensued and Hutchinson eventually told the officers, "I’m done."

The officers told Hutchinson to stop resisting, and then stun him with the stun gun. Passengers are heard yelling at the officers as the Hutchinson shouted "I’m not resisting."

But Gillis said that while Hutchinson said he wasn't resisting, he was, in fact, not allowing the officers to put him into handcuffs. It wasn't until after the officer used the stun gun on Hutchinson that officers were able to place him in handcuffs and remove him from the train.

In a brief conversation with NBC Chicago, Hutchinson called the officers’ actions "uncalled for."

Hutchinson was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. His court date was scheduled for July 27.

Metra said in a statement, "Metra has a responsibility to maintain a safe environment for its riders. The incidents could've been avoided if Mr. Hutchinson had complied with the conductor's request to stop using obscene language."

The Metra train was ultimately 50 minutes late in reaching its destination in Elgin.



Photo Credit: Chris Marston, YouTube

Comic Con: "We Would Hope to Stay" in SD

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Talks are ongoing to keep San Diego’s largest convention – and one of the largest comic book conventions in the world –here through 2018, a Comic Con spokesman said Thursday.

“We are currently in negotiations and are grateful that all parties are still moving forward,” Comic-Con International marketing director David Glanzer said in a statement.

His statement came a day after The San Diego Union Tribune reported that San Diego Mayor Kevin Falconer has continued to meet with Comic-Con International’s board of directors to secure a new deal to keep the convention here through 2018.

The Union Tribune said officials would announce the extension by the end of this month.

Comic Con is under contract to remain here until next year, and the new deal would extend that contract two more years.

The convention has long been lured to relocate to Los Angeles and Anaheim – both are Southern California cities with larger convention centers.

NBC 7 reached out to the mayor’s office and the San Diego Tourism Authority, but both offices declined comment.

Glanzer said Comic Con organizers “hope” to stay in San Diego.

“We were born here, we've been here all these years and we would hope to stay here,” he said in the statement.

Hoteliers told the Union Tribune that they were asked by Comic Con to not raise their rates for 2017 and 2018 and to maintain the same number of discounted hotel rooms for the convention.

Comic-Con is a huge asset for San Diego drawing more than 130,000 attendees over the four-day fest and contributing more than $180 million to the city's economy, city officials have said.



Photo Credit: Brad Streicher

Hope Arising on Mean Streets of East Village

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NBC 7's Gene Cubbison has this analysis on the redevelopment of East Village.

Street crime like Wednesday’s knife attack on two San Diego firefighters has been a longstanding and growing problem in East Village.

It's gone far beyond something that law enforcement can properly manage.

Since redevelopment began overtaking the old warehouse district of East Village in the '80s, high-end residents, businesses and hotel guests have come face-to-face with people of the "mean streets": criminals, drug addicts, mental health patients, all manner of homeless.

Finally, "degrees of separation" are being created.

Take, for starters, Alpha Square, a six-story, $50 million full-service housing complex that'll open later this summer at the southeast corner of Market Street and 13th Street -- three blocks away from where the firefighters were stabbed.

It’ll offer longterm if not permanent housing to a lucky 200 people usually found on the streets.

It's just a promising start on a more comprehensive strategy to reduce the problems in a community caught between the 20th and 21st century.

"The wrap-around services are in the building,” said Bob McElroy, founder of Alpha Project for the Homeless, who’s spent three decades of activism on the issue.

“The neighborhood all had to buy in to develop this building,” added McElroy in an interview Thursday. “It's obviously more conducive to the neighborhood, to folks inside and outside. Living in peace and harmony.

“All their case management. They don't have to go through the community to get to their clinics and medications. It's all in one place."

It’s a concept East Village residents and business can get behind -- unnerved as they are about Wednesday’s firefighter stabbings.

"Words can't even describe the negative impact that events like that can have on a small business,” said Jon Wantz, an East Village resident who manages the Stella Public House and Halcyon Coffee bar on lower 14th Street.

"It's a sad day for SDFD; it's a sad day for East Village," Wantz told NBC 7. “A lot of the talk about East Village right now is about how it's gentrifying and it's growing and expanding -- and this just knocks it down a few notches."

Warns McElroy: “Until we have a place for everybody, we're going to continue to chase people around the streets. We literally herd the folks from one block to the next … I mean, it's an endless cycle."

There’s no time to waste, because there's concern in neighboring communities -- Barrio Logan, Golden Hill and Sherman Heights -- about the problems spreading there.

New Rainbow Crosswalks Support Philly's LGBT Community

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Rainbow-colored crosswalks have been painted in Philadelphia's Gayborhood.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports the walkways made up of six red, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet stripes are in support of the city's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

The crosswalks appeared Thursday morning. Backers say they were planned for some time.

Philly Pride Presents senior adviser Chuck Volz says the crosswalks were completed at a cost far less than the initial $26,000 estimate.

Independence Visitor Center employee Albert Lee says the crosswalks show tourists that Philadelphia is a gay-friendly city.

The rainbow crosswalks will be dedicated at the Annual Reminders Block Party on July 5 honoring the 50th anniversary of the first wave of U.S. LGBT rights group demonstrations.
 



Photo Credit: AP

Downtown Housing Manager Arrested for Child Porn

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The manager of a downtown San Diego affordable housing complex for seniors was arrested on more than 60 counts of child pornography possession after investigators say they found illicit images and videos on his work computer.

Roy Brown, manager of the Luther Tower Apartments, was taken into custody Monday and pleaded not guilty to all charges against him in federal court Tuesday.

Details of the investigation into Brown were revealed in a federal warrant unsealed Thursday.

According to the warrant, Brown had been receiving child pornography for the past year, at times using an email address associated with the Luther Tower Apartments to receive these images.

The San Diego Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Cyber Crimes group had been working undercover on an online network called ARES, identifying people who may be trafficking child pornography through peer-to-peer software, the warrant states.

Through an IP address, agents were able to connect Brown to one of the computers from which they downloaded child pornography images and videos.

According to the warrant, on March 13, HSI Special Agents conducted an interview with Brown where he admitted to having the images on his computer. He told investigators he did not believe it was illegal to view these kinds of images.

During the interview, Brown told investigators he believed it appeared that the children’s involvement was not forced and that the children were the ones instigating it, according to the court document. Brown also stated that the images came from overseas and that it may be legal in those countries.

Agents seized Brown's laptop, and after obtaining a search warrant, they found 19 photos and 63 videos of child pornography in the computer's files.

Brown is scheduled for a detention hearing in federal court Friday morning.

Luther Tower Apartments, located on Second Avenue, is owned by First Lutheran Development Inc., according to the San Diego County Assessor’s office. It is managed by Royal Property Management.

Another property run by Royal Property Management, the Hotel Sandford, was the subject of an NBC 7 Investigates story about its former manager, who is being investigated on possible charges of embezzlement.

Royal Property Management’s website lists Brown as the main point of contact for the Luther Tower apartments.

Calls for comment to Royal Property Management and First Lutheran Development Inc. were not returned.
 



Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Fair Awaits 1 Millionth Visitor

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The San Diego County Fair is 20 days deep into its season and about to celebrate an annual milestone: the one millionth visitor will soon walk through those gates and into the fairgrounds.

According to fair spokesperson Linda Zweig, the 2015 fair guest count will likely reach the big 1 million mark this weekend.

The San Diego County Fair has managed to reach the milestone 26 times in its history – or every year since 1989 – and this year should be no different.

Fair organizers say the lucky millionth patron will be celebrated with “special VIP pomp and circumstance,” including confetti cannons, noisemakers and a huge crowd of onlookers.

But wait, there’s more.

The special visitor will receive lots of prizes, too, including a lifetime fair admission pass, concert tickets of their choice for any of the remaining 2015 fair shows, tickets for a Clubhouse visit to the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, fair food vouchers and other fair gifts and goodies.

Last year, the one millionth guest was Encinitas Tania Cotta. As she walked through the O’Brien Gate and into the fairgrounds, she was surprised with loud cheering, bells, whistles and a big crowd celebrating her arrival. Cotta, at the fair with a friend, had no idea she was the lucky one millionth and was definitely in the right place at the right time.

Fair organizers said 1,457,130 people attended the San Diego County Fair last year and they expect to break or reach the 1.4 million mark again this year. The highest attendance on record was reached in 2012 with 1,517,508 visitors. With those large attendee numbers, the San Diego County Fair continues to be one of the top 10 fairs in the United States and Canada.

The fair runs through July 5 at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in the North County.

If you're planning a trip this weekend, check out this list of highlights happening behind those gates.
 



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Man Sentenced for Tasing, Robbing Craigslist Date

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A man will spend four years in prison after tasing and robbing a 74-year-old man he met through a personal ad on Craigslist.

Lucas Churchill Holmes, 20, was sentenced Thursday for robbery and elder abuse charges, stemming from a break-in last April.

The victim, a Parkinson’s patient who wanted to be identified as just Bill, told NBC 7 he met Holmes through Craigslist, and they soon planned a date. But when Holmes didn’t show up, Bill said he went home and forgot to lock his door.

He woke up at about 1:20 a.m. to find Holmes standing over him, donning a grey stocking cap. The suspect tased Bill until he was on the floor, tied up his hands and feet and dragged him to the bathtub.

But Bill said Holmes showed a hint of empathy by bringing him pillows so he would be comfortable in the tub. The defendant claimed he didn’t want to do this but needed money for his sick daughter, according to Bill.

City News Service reported that at the time, Holmes was a transient living out of his car, his defense attorney said.

Bill told NBC 7 Holmes took his debit and credit cards, as well as about $600. He promised Bill that he would come back in half an hour to untie him and call police.

However, once Holmes left, Bill said he was able to squirm out of his ties and call 911 himself.

Investigators were able to identify the suspect using the phone number and email address he had used to contact Bill, and they arrested him later that day.

Woman Wakes Up to Find Intruder Exposing Himself

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An El Cajon woman was met with a disturbing sight as she woke up to find a strange man exposing himself in her bedroom, according to El Cajon police.

The 30-year-old woman was sleeping with her husband and 1-year-old daughter when she realized an intruder was standing over her bed early Sunday morning.

When he realized she was awake, the man ran out of the house, located in the 500 block of Tamarisk Way. Though officers soon searched the neighborhood, they were not able to find the intruder. Police say the suspect left bodily fluid and a blue latex glove behind.

As they launched their investigation, police discovered there had been recent reports of a possible prowler in the same area, wearing clothes similar to what the victim described: a blue sweatshirt, jeans and a white baseball cap.

Detectives say they dug up surveillance video that shows a man, matching the suspect’s description, trying to break into a home about a block away, just hours before he got into the Tamarisk home. According to officers, the video also gave them a vehicle associated with the suspect.

Investigators linked this case to another on June 16, 2015. A 17-year-old girl had called 911 to say a man was following her and hiding when she looked back at him. That day, officers contacted Von Ryan Manago, 32, but they determined no crime had been committed.

With that information in mind, detectives determined Manago was a suspect in the indecent exposure case. They arrested him Monday as he was sleeping in his car in the 6400 block of High Knoll Road.

Police say when they took him into custody, Manago had a box of rubber gloves – similar to the one found in the 30-year-old woman’s room, and his black Toyota Camry matched the one seen in the surveillance video.

Manago was booked into county jail on suspicion of burglary and indecent exposure after entry into an occupied dwelling. Detectives say there is a chance more criminal charges will be filed against him as they continue their investigation.

It's unclear if Manago has obtained an attorney. His arraignment is scheduled for Thursday.

If you know anything about the cases, call the El Cajon Police Department at 619-579-3311.


Firefighter Stabbing "Went Bad Very, Very Quickly"

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The man accused of attacking two on-duty firefighters in downtown San Diego has been identified by law enforcement officials.

Ryan Allen Jones, 34, faces charges of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon and resisting arrest.

Jones is accused of stabbing two firefighters multiple times Wednesday afternoon as emergency personnel treated a patient in East Village. 

The investigation is ongoing but it appears when firefighters arrived, the suspect was asked several times to move back. When he continued to interfere, "an altercation occurred," officials said.

"This thing went bad very, very quickly," said Fire Chief Javier Mainar who described the incident as a "near death" experience for two veteran firefighters.

"They thought they were being punched and before they knew it they realized they were being stabbed," he said.

Firefighter/Paramedic Benjamin Vernon, 32, received multiple stab wounds in the back and suffered a collapsed lung. He was in serious condition and expected to be hospitalized for several days.

Firefighter Alex Wallbrett, 37, rushed to help his colleague and was stabbed more than once in the upper torso. He was released from the hospital Thursday, according hospital admissions.

Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) officers used pepperspray to subdue Jones and take him into custody. He does not appear to have any relationship with the man who was being treated by firefighters.

The stabbing shocked senior supervisors and captains who, Mainar said, were visibly shaken to the point of tears.

There was nothing about the call that would suggest it was a dangerous situation for fire crews, what the department refers to as a “stand back” situation, the chief said.

No motive for the attack has been determined, according to Chief of Police Shelley Zimmerman.

Mainar said the suspect may have been trying to advise firefighters on how to treat the patient.

Chief Zimmerman said SDPD detectives recovered video evidence and a folding knife from the scene.

Anyone with additional information or video can contact San Diego Police at (619) 531-2000 or (858) 484-3154 or NBC 7 Investigates at (619) 578-0393.

Vernon and Wallbrett are part of engine company Fire Station 4 and Medic 36. They are veteran firefighters, hired before July 20, 2012 according to the firefighters union president.

Alan Arrollado President San Diego City Firefighters said the job is an extraordinarily dangerous one and Wednesday's attack really brings that fact home.

"We get comfortable with the risks that we take and sometimes when these things happen, we realize the risks that we're taking," Arrollado said

Mayor Kevin Faulconer visited both firefighters last night and the department has received many calls and well wishes from elected officials, according to the fire chief. 

“This is nothing I’ve faced in my 35 years,” Mainar said. “It is quite difficult when you really just come to work that day hoping to help someone.”

Chief Mainar said he hopes this incident will remind crews in the field to be vigilant.

5 Men Hold Up Food Truck Driver in Logan Heights

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A woman who pulled her food truck over in Logan Heights to serve five men was instead met with a gun and demands for money, according to San Diego police.

On Thursday, the worker for El Sazon De Mama Restaurant was making her rounds, selling food from her company vehicle.

As she drove in the 1800 block of Kearny Avenue, five men flagged her down.

The driver stopped and began to open the back of the truck, ready to sell them food, when one of the men pointed a handgun at her, police say.

The woman handed over an undisclosed amount of money, as well as her wallet and cellphone.

All were able to escape, but the woman was not hurt.

The SDPD's robbery unit has taken over the investigation.

Ex-Marine Charged With Murder in Deaths of Wife, Baby

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A former Marine accused of fatally stabbing his caregiver wife and their infant son made his first court appearance Thursday, two days after he surrendered in an Orange County park pond following a brief pursuit.

Kwame Carpenter could face the death penalty in connection with the slayings of his partner, Moureen Carpenter, and their 6-month-old baby Kyan, which happened in Anaheim Monday. He was captured in a park pond after a pursuit in Fountain Valley Tuesday morning.

Carpenter did not enter a plea to the charges of two counts of murder with special circumstances at his first court hearing Thursday.  He is being held without bail, and jail records show he is on suicide watch.

The district attorney has yet to reveal whether the death sentence will be sought.

The 24-year-old man was in the U.S. Marine Corps for almost two years, and was awarded service medals for global terrorism and national defense for his work as an intelligence specialist. He never rose above the rank of private.

"The character of his service was incongruent with Marine Corps' expectations," Marines Core deputy public affairs officer Yvonne Carlock said.

Carpenter had worked as a security guard, but had been unemployed at the time of the attack.

His wife was a nursing student who came to the United States from Kenya as a teenager. She had been working as a caregiver, and her family said she was thrilled to be a new mother. 

"Moureen was a girl who lived life. She always had a smile on her face, she was always positive," her brother, Jimmie Guatha Kariuki, said. "We're in pain but what we want to do is remember her… the times we spent with her, the memories she's left us with. Above all our faith in Christ has really helped us."

"She came here, she found family, she found friends and she found people who were doing well and that's what she was aspiring to do," family friend Kimani Patrick said.

Her family is trying to raise money for two burial plots and to bring more relatives here to say goodbye.

Cyclist Dragged 500 Feet in Fatal Hit-and-Run

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A cyclist died after being dragged around 500 feet down the street in a high-speed hit-in-run crash in Highland Park early Friday.

The man was struck at the intersection of Marniom Way and Figueroa Street by a black Nissan sedan traveling at more than 80 mph just before 3 a.m, a Los Angeles Police Department spokesman said.

It is unknown if the victim, who is in his mid 20s, was walking or riding the bike at the time of the crash. A witness claimed the vehicle did not apply the brakes despite the man being dragged underneath. 

"He just went for him, he went for the biker and kept going, and he didn't hit the brakes once.You didn't hear any screeching," a witness said.

"All you heard was the body... He was bouncing under the car... just like a basketball," the witness added.

Another person with a bike who was traveling with the man was not hit.

The vehicle, which had been traveling north on Figueroa Street, fled the scene and the driver is still outstanding.

Investigators are in the process of trying to get surveillance footage of the crash in the hope of identifying the driver's license plate

Figueroa Street will be closed for several hours as an investigation into the crash is taking place.



Photo Credit: RMG News

Big Rig Crashes Off Freeway, Slams Into Building

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A big rig crashed off the side of a Southern California freeway Friday morning and slammed into a building.

The driver was hospitalized with burn injuries, according to authorities. Details regarding the victim's condition were not immediately available.

The crashed was reported at about 5 a.m. on the 60 Freeway in the Rowland Heights area. The cab slammed into an auto service business and spilled its cargo of bottled water.

Refresh this page for updates.



Photo Credit: KNBC-TV

Police Cruiser Stolen While Cops Chase Man on Bike

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A police cruiser was stolen while officers chased a man on a bicycle in El Monte late Thursday as they responded to a burglary report.

The officers responded to the report in the 9600 block of Telstar Avenue at around 11 p.m, an El Monte Police Department spokesman said.

They eventually caught the man after he fell off his bike and attempted to run away, but then discovered their cruiser had disappeared when they tried to take him back to the station.

An El Monte PD helicopter found the vehicle parked on the shoulder of the Stewart Street eastbound 10 Freeway onramp. The vehicle was unoccupied and all equipment and police weapons were accounted for.

 A witness reported seeing a possible suspect running in near the cruiser, however the individual was not found despite a search.

An investigation into the theft is ongoing.



Photo Credit: LoudLabs

2016 Hopefuls on Gay Marriage Ruling

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The presidential candidates’ reactions to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in favor of same-sex marriage broke down predictably along party lines — with Democrats tweeting about love and equality and Republicans criticizing the justices.

Hillary Clinton’s reaction was short and colorful: “HISTORY” in the rainbow colors.

Clinton came out in favor of same-sex marriage in 2013 after stepping down as secretary of state. When she ran for president in 2008, she opposed gay marriage.

Martin O’Malley praised the people of Maryland for leading the way on human dignity and equality.

He tweeted a photo of then 3-year-old Will Lewis-Benson laughing between his mothers, Amy Lewis and Tricia Benson on the day the Maryland House of Delegates approved same-sex marriage in 2012.

“There’s no greater human right than love," he said.

Former Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee congratulated the Supreme Court for a good ruling.

And Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent running for the Democratic nomination, said the Supreme Court had fulfilled the words engraved on its building, "Equal justice under law."

"For far too long our justice system has marginalized the gay community and I am very glad the Court has finally caught up to the American people," he said.

But Gov. Bobby Jindal accused the court of following opinion polls and trampling on states’ rights.

“Marriage between a man and a woman was established by God, and no earthly court can alter that,” he said in a statement.

He predicted the ruling would open the way for an assault on the religious rights of Christians who disagree with the decision.

“The government should not force those who have sincerely held religious beliefs about marriage to participate in these ceremonies,” he said.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee blasted the decision as judicial tyranny and vowed he would not acquiesce to an “imperial court.”

"The Supreme Court can no more repeal the laws of nature and nature's God on marriage than it can the laws of gravity,” he wrote.

Like other conservatives, former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania accused the Supreme Court of redefining marriage and said leaders do not accept bad decisions that they believe would harm the country.

"The stakes are too high and the issue too important to simply cede the will of the people to five unaccountable justices," he wrote in a statement.

Now the public must respond, he said.

Carly Fiorina called the court an activist one that was ignoring its constitutional duty to say what the law was, not what it should be.

She said in a statement that although she was in favor of all Americans receiving equal benefits and rights from the government, she did not believe the court could or should redefine marriage.

“I believe that responsibility should have remained with states and voters where this conversation has continued in churches, town halls and living rooms around the country,” she said.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who might run but says he has not made up his mind, said when asked at a press conference that he agreed with Chief Justice John Roberts: This was not a decision for five lawyers.

Donald Trump wrote, referring to former President George W. Bush and his brother Jeb, another  Republican presidential candidate: "Once again the Bush appointed Supreme Court Justice John Roberts has let us down. Jeb pushed him hard! Remember!"

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who might run for the Republican nomination, told residents of his state that the government would not coerce them to act against their religious beliefs.

He called the decision a grave mistake.

Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry said he was disappointed with the decision. Marriage laws should be left to the states, he said.

"Our founding fathers did not intend for the judicial branch to legislate from the bench, and as president, I would appoint strict Constitutional conservatives who will apply the law as written," he said in a statement.

Ben Carson wrote that he strongly disagreed with the Supreme Court's decision, but that the ruling was now the law of the land. He said he supported same-sex civil unions but to him marriage was a religious service.

"I call on Congress to make sure deeply held religious views are respected and protected," he said in a statement. "The government must never force Christians to violate their religious beliefs."

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham said he believed that the people of each state should have the right to determine their marriage laws. But he also said he would respect the court's decision.

"Furthermore, given the quickly changing tide of public opinion on this issue, I do not believe that an attempt to amend the U.S. Constitution could possibly gain the support of three-fourths of the states or a supermajority in the U.S. Congress," he said.

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said that he believed in traditional marriage and thought that the justices should have left the decision to the states.

But he added, striking an inclusive tone, "I also believe that we should love our neighbor and respect others, including those making lifetime commitments. In a country as diverse as ours, good people who have opposing views should be able to live side by side."

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio said the right to change marriage laws should lie with the people not the justices.

"This decision short-circuits the political process that has been underway on the state level for years," he said.

The next president must make it a priority to nominate judges and justices who will apply the Constitution as written and originally understood, he said.

He also called for respecting those who disagree.

"A large number of Americans will continue to believe in traditional marriage, and a large number of Americans will be pleased with the Court's decision today," he wrote. "In the years ahead, it is my hope that each side will respect the dignity of the other."



Photo Credit: Getty Images
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California Company Targeted in Alleged Terror Probe

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The factory targeted in an alleged terror attack Friday in southeastern France is part of a company with several branches in California, NBC News has learned.

A severed head found posted on the gate of an Air Products factory in southeastern France has been identified as a French businessman, according to the Associated Press.

Two attackers arrived in a car, bearing banners written in Arabic, and set off an explosion. One of the attackers was arrested.

A car rammed the factory gate Friday in southeastern France and plowed into gas canisters, touching off an explosion.

A decapitated body and flags with Arabic writing were found at the entrance.

A security official, who was not authorized to speak to the media and requested anonymity, said the victim was the head of a local transportation company and was believed to have been killed before the explosion. His name was not released.

Authorities had said his body was found near the site of the attack.

The company, which has locations in Carlsbad, El Segundo, Long Beach, Santa Clara, Wilmington and Los Angeles, says it has accounted for all of its employees.

A company statement said:

"We can confirm that an attack occurred at our facility in L'Isle-d'Abeau, France this morning. We are deeply saddened by the loss of life and want to express our sympathies to the family of the victim of this unspeakable tragedy.

Emergency services are on site and have contained the situation. All individuals working at the site have been evacuated. The site is secure. Our crisis and emergency response teams have been activated and are working closely with all relevant authorities.

Security has been increased at locations around the world as a precautionary measure."

Air Products, which is based in the U.S., makes gases used by a wide range of industries, including food production, medicine and the oil and gas. It has more than 20,000 employees in 50 countries, mostly in the Americas, Europe and Asia.
 



Photo Credit: AP

Detroit EMT Fired After Refusing CPR on Baby: Officials

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A Detroit EMT has reportedly been fired amid outrage that she refused to perform CPR on a baby who later died. 

Ann Marie Thomas was originally suspended then fired from the Detroit Fire Department Wednesday, after refusing to answer a call regarding an 8-month-old baby who had trouble breathing, according to NBC Detroit affiliate WDIV.  The baby, who was taken to the hospital by a crew that arrived 19 minutes after the original call, died the following day.

Despite originally answering the call with her partner from less than a mile away, Thomas wanted to wait until another crew arrived because she was worried the family was hostile, the station reported. Her supervisors said the scene did not have any indication of hostility, and asked four times for Thomas to respond to the call.

An internal report into the incident quotes Thomas as saying she didn't want to be on the scene for 10 minutes doing CPR because "you know how these families can get."

While Thomas was fired, she is currently not facing any criminal charges.
 



Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Future NBA Stars' Fashion Sense Shines at Draft

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One of the NBA's biggest nights provides the stars of the show a chance to display their best (and sometimes wildest) suits.

Each year, it seems, draft picks step up their fashion game, and the 2015 NBA Draft, held Thursday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, was no exception. 


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Take Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, from the University of Arizona Wildcats. While he was selected 23rd overall by the Portland Trail Blazers, the attention might have been focused on his red and black checkered pants.  The color scheme was a perfect fit for the Blazers, but the match was short-lived. He was traded soon after to the Brooklyn Nets.

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Devin Booker wore a bright blue suit as his name was called by the Phoenix Suns, who took him with the 13th overall pick. His orange tie matched the Suns hat he donned on stage for the photo opportunities.

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Perhaps one of the most animated players, Ohio State point guard D'Angelo Russell, pointed above as he wore a red and white suit with a checkered shirt (although Buckeye fans would call the suit "scarlet"). He was selected second overall by the Los Angeles Lakers, so he didn't quite match his new team's color scheme. 

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Breaking away from bright colors and going toward patterns, Karl-Anthony Towns wore a gray, black, and white chevron-patterned suit jacket. The former University of Kentucky Wildcat, who was selected first overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves, broke from tradition by showing up without a tie.

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Now that the draft is out of the way, the players can focus on basketball.  The 2015-16 season will start on October 27.



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Where to See Fireworks in San Diego

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The skies around San Diego County will fill with fireworks Saturday night as Americans celebrate the 4th of July.

One of the largest celebrations will be the Port of San Diego's annual Big Bay Boom 4th of July Fireworks Show.

Hundreds of thousands of people will line San Diego Bay to see the show which kicks off at 9 p.m. For those who've never experienced the holiday here in San Diego, fireworks are launched simultaneously from barges around the bay.

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Crowds can tune in to choreographed music on MAX 105.7 FM and MIGHTY 1090 AM.

With so many people all heading to the same place on a weekend night, you may want to plan ahead. Free shuttle service will be offered to Harbor Island and Shelter Island. Get pickup and drop off locations here.

In addition, MTS will be offering expanded trolley and bus service. There should be free parking available at Qualcomm Stadium with an MTS Trolley Ticket.

There are a number of events and fireworks shows scheduled for the holiday. Here's our list:

Chula Vista
No fireworks are planned for Olympic Training Center

Coronado:
All-day event, plus 9 p.m. fireworks
Coronado will host an all-day 4th of July celebration that begins with a morning 5K run, followed by tons of activities. At 10 a.m., a parade will be held along Orange Ave from 1st Street to Churchill Place. At 9 p.m., enjoy fireworks over Glorietta Bay sychronized to music from KYXY on 96.5 radio. No SEAL demonstration is planned.

El Cajon
Saturday, 9 p.m.
Kennedy Park, located at 1675 East Madison Avenue
Free, family-friendly celebration 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Escondido
Saturday, 9. p.m.
Grape Day Park
Free entertainment begins at 4 p.m. with a fireworks display to begin at 9 p.m. From 4 to 7p.m. the Escondido History Center will be open with projects for children of all ages.

Imperial Beach Fireworks
Saturday, 9 p.m.
Best view: From Palm Avenue to Imperial Beach Boulevard.
Choreographed music on KYXY 96.5 FM.
Paid parking available in Mar Vista High School's parking lots at 505 Elm Ave.
MTS service available from Imperial Beach Boulevard

Julian
Saturday, Noon Parade
Main Street
After the parade, there will be a BBQ and music at the American Legion for a fee. No fireworks listed.

La Jolla
Saturday, 9 p.m., La Jolla Cove
The display starts at 9 p.m. at the Ellen Browning Scripps Park.

LEGOLAND California, Carlsbad
Red, White and BOOM!, Saturday, 8:30 p.m.
The park hosts its own fireworks show at 8:30 p.m. after a day with some all-American picnic games like burlap races and water-balloon tosses along with the park’s usual attractions.

Mira Mesa:
All-day event, plus fireworks at 9 p.m.
Mira Mesa will host a 4th of July parade, plus a Family Fun Day in the Park, which begins at 11:00 a.m. At 9 p.m., the park party will culminate with a fireworks extravaganza.
The annual 4th of July Parade steps off at 11:30 am from the corner of Mira Mesa Blvd and Greenford Drive, traveling down Mira Mesa Blvd to Camino Ruiz. 

Mission Hills
Mission Hills will host it 4th of July Extravaganza from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Pioneer Park. No fireworks at this event, but plenty to see and do, including a parade, BBQ competition, games, prizes and a concert.

National City
Saturday, 9 p.m.
The 4th of July Carnival will be held July 1 - 5 from 5 to 11 p.m. at Kimball Park located at 12th St & 'D' Ave. Fireworks will be 9 p.m. Saturday only.

Oceanside
Friday, July 3
The City of Oceanside will have its fireworks show a day early, on July 3, at the El Corazon Site at Rancho Del Oro Road. Bring a lawn chair and enjoy the display from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Ocean Beach
Saturday, 9 p.m.
Watch the sunset and then enjoy the fireworks set off from the OB Pier. Free parking at Main Beach Parking Lot as well as Pier Parking Lot.

Poway
Saturday, All-day event, plus 9 p.m. fireworks
Old Poway Park will host a family-friendly event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with gun fighting re-enactments, free crafts, and old-fashioned games.
Then, at 9 p.m. Poway High School will put on a fireworks show. Admission $5 per person at the gate. Children 11 and under are free. Gates open at 6 p.m.

Rancho Bernardo
Saturday, 9 p.m.
Celebration opens at 6:30 p.m.. at the Athletic Field of Bernardo Heights Middle School at 12990 Paseo Lucido.

Rancho Santa Fe:
1 p.m. Parade and Picnic
Rancho Santa Fe will host an Independence Day parade beginning at 1 p.m at Rancho Santa Fe High School. A picnic will folo. No fireworks here.

San Diego County Fair:
All day event, Del Mar Fairgrounds
Opening ceremony kicks off the day at 9:30 a.m. at the O'Brien Gate. Noon pie eating contest. At 7 p.m., see a Hometown Heroes Parade from Family Funville to the Grandstand.
Fireworks begin at 9 p.m.
Best Viewing: Anywhere within fairgrounds 

San Marcos
Saturday, July 4
Bradley Park
The city's 4th of July Fireworks Celebration called "This Is My Country" includes musical entertainment beginning at 6 p.m. Fireworks at 9 p.m. Bring chairs or blankets for lawn seating. Carnival games, jumpers and food sales available on-site.

Santee
Saturday, 3:30 to 10 p.m. with fireworks at 9 p.m.
Town Center Community Park
Paid parking available (cash only) at locations near the park. Free shuttle service from the Costco parking lot

Scripps Ranch:
10 a.m. parade, 11 a.m. event
Scripps Ranch will host a parade and community event with the theme "Anchors Aweigh." No fireworks are planned.

SeaWorld San Diego
Friday, 9:50 p.m., Saturday, 10:30 p.m.
Show lasts five minutes. Best viewing: Shamu Stadium, along the bay near Mission Bay Theater, and at the park entrance.

Vista:
All-day event, with fireworks at 9 p.m.
Vista’s Moonlight Amphitheatre and Brengle Terrace Park will host an all-day 4th of July event. Admission to the Amphitheatre is $5 per person. Children 5 and under and active and retired military and their immediate family get in free. Park opens at 7 p.m., fireworks start at 9 p.m. Parking in the park is $15 per car and $30 per recreational vehicle.


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Cadaver Dog Detects Possible Remains in 1997 Cold Case

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Eighteen years after Kristen Modafferi finished her shift working at a coffee house in San Francisco and disappeared, possible new evidence has emerged in this Bay Area cold case thanks to a cadaver dog.

On Thursday, a black Labrador named Buster, and his handler, identified by the San Francisco Chronicle as Paul Dostie, visited the Jayne Avenue home in Oakland where the then-18-year-old had been living when she disappeared. Dostie had been hired by Modafferi's parents, who haven't given up on finding her, as evidenced by a meticulous website with search updates and an offer of a $50,000 reward for information related to the case.

The dog got a hit in the basement, Modafferi's family said by phone, of what appeared to be decaying human remains. Oakland police also visited the home on Thursday, and police spokeswoman Johnna Watson said that her officers would be communicating with the dog's handler on what the results end up revealing from the smells the dog unearthed. The dog perked up at smells in the basement as well as some soil inside, the Chronicle reported.

Modafferi vanished from San Francisco on June 23, 1997, after clocking out from her shift at Spinelli's Coffee Shop in the Crocker Galleria in San Francisco. Modafferi, a North Carolina college student who had been living in Oakland for just weeks, was supposed to start a summer course in photography at UC Berkeley the day after she went missing.

"I know in the beginning there was investigation done -- just don't know how thorough it was," her father, Bob Modafferi, said in a phone interview with NBC Bay Areaon Thursday. "I felt more should have been done back then in my opinion."

Modafferi said analysts will try to determine how old the remains are, and if they are linked to his daughter.

"We just don't have any answers, so this would give us needed closure," he said. "Would be great for our family. It's hard to live without that."

Modafferi's disappearance was in the news earlier this year when her name surfaced in connection with the Robert Durst case. A recent HBO documentary linked him to several murders over the years. Police looked at Durst in connection to Modaferri's case, but nothing came out of it.

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Anyone with information should call Oakland police at (510) 238-3641 or (800) VANISHED. The Modafferi family has set up a web site.



Photo Credit: NBC Bay Area
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