Top 5 Trick-or-Treating Neighborhoods

Get in on the sweet spots before the night ends.

If you want a high return on investment for your sweet tooth, you are in the right place. San Diego scored No. 13 in the top 20 trick-or-treating cities in the U.S., according to real estate blog Zillow's Trick-or-Treat Index.

Zillow also lined up the top five neighborhoods in which kids can reap the best Halloween candy crop. Here are the results:

1. La Jolla

2. Kensington

3. Del Mar Heights

4. Mission Hills

5. Ocean Beach

Surprised? Zillow's sugar enthusiasts took a mathematical approach to the rankings, comparing each city's median home value, walkability, population density and crime rate.

But for a bigger candy reaping next year, you may want to consider a trip to other highly ranked California cities. San Francisco took the top spot at No. 1, San Jose came in at No. 6 and at No. 8 was Los Angeles.

Did you get to visit any of the best neighborhoods here in San Diego? Tell us about your experience in the comments below, share with us on Twitter @nbcsandiego or comment on our Facebook page.

Magnablend Still Cleaning Up After Massive Fire

Workers remain at the site of a chemical plant in Waxahachie around the clock, still cleaning up after a massive fire four weeks ago.

The city just released stunning pictures taken by first responders and others that show the magnitude of the blaze at the Magnablend facility after they arrived.

"The first thing I noticed when I arrived was that I didn't have any black smoke coming out of the plant," Waxahachie fire Chief David Hudgins said. "It looked like steam -- not exactly like steam, it looked like clouds coming out of the building."

Since then, workers have already removed 1,000 tons of solid waste from the site and more than a million gallons of water, much of it used to fight the fire, the company said.

But drainage ditches soaked with rainwater that fell after the fire remain the biggest problem for cleanup crews.

"When you have to pick up wet dirt, well, you know, it turns into mud, so it's very hard to pick up and clean those ditches when they're wet," Hudgins said..

The smell from the site also remains a problem.

But in a statement, Magnablend CEO Scott Pendery said the company believes the odors will completely dissipate.

"We regret the inconvenience and annoyance this odor has caused, but we are confident that there are no associated health hazards," he said.

Air monitoring by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency detected no health hazard.

The company said the fire started when the production of a wastewater treatment product caused excessive steam and there was a spark near by.

Newly released documents show the plant passed all the local fire inspections in the last year prior to the Oct. 3 fire.

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Previous Coverage:

• Wastewater Treatment Product Sparked Chemical Plant Fire
• Water Runoff Biggest Problem After Chemical Fire
• Massive Industrial Fire Allowed to Burn Out

NYC Halloween Parade Filled With Occupy Wall Street Protesters

The streets crawled with spooky sights, from floating eyeballs and skeletons to Occupy Wall Street protesters dressed as budget axes, for the annual Halloween parade Monday.

As in years past, current events made their presence felt, as a contingent of about 200 anti-Wall Street demonstrators joined the 39th annual Village Halloween Parade wearing costumes that reflected their protest against economic inequality. Zombies and pink slips were some of their other themes. They carried signs that said "stop the vampire economy" and "foreclosure is scary."

"It's an opportunity for us to show that we're not so bad," said Kristin Fialko, who was marching with an Occupy Wall Street group dressed as everyday working-class heroes speaking out against greed and avarice.

Fialko said the parade was a good way for the protesters to counter negative media images of them.

"Part of social change is going to where the people are at," added Occupy Wall Street protester Mike Sapo, a carpenter from Baltimore.

The parade's artistic and producing director, Jeanne Fleming, said the event "is really a reflection, a microcosm, of what's going on in the world or in the city."

"Whatever's up is in the parade," she said.

Anyone can be a marcher in the parade as long as he or she is in costume. The parade goes along Sixth Avenue in lower Manhattan.

The lively audience, which included families and pets, dressed in a multitude of costumes, too. Stilt walkers, jugglers and musicians entertained the crowd.

George Dunlein, of Baltimore, watched the parade with his longtime companion while encamped in folding chairs.

"There's a lot of individual creativity," Dunlein said. "It's very nice. I like the costumes, the energy of the people, good music."

Besides the usual multitude of blood-soaked zombies, witches and ghouls, there were people dressed as late King of Pop Michael Jackson and as characters from films such as "Star Wars" and "The Wizard of Oz." Broadway musical characters also made a showing, along with patriotic-themed outfits.

Fleming said this year's parade theme is "I of the Beholder," a reference to the reality that people are quick to document everything they see on their smartphones and other devices.

"We noticed we weren't getting the applause we used to get," she said, worried that the caliber of the parade had declined, "but we realized that everybody was using a phone" to take pictures of the marchers going by.

Storms, and Damage, Seem Endless for NJ Residents

Two months after Tropical Storm Irene flooded him out, Dan Atkins is facing another headache caused by yet another storm.

The power in Atkins' Westwood, N.J., home went out Saturday after a freak October snowstorm knocked down trees and power lines. A 5,500-watt generator outside the kitchen has allowed him to keep some lights on and even power the television, and the gas fireplace has kept his family warm since Saturday's storm.

But, Atkins said Monday, "this has literally been the year from hell."

Twenty miles south of Westwood, the picture was much the same: there was a mangled mess of utility poles, branches and downed wires in the Morris County community of Boonton, one of several school districts that canceled classes for a second day Tuesday.

"It just keeps coming in and coming in," said Kevin Sweetland of Verizon. "Actually, it's probably worse than Irene."

The impression was confirmed Monday by Gov. Chris Christie, who said the damage to utilities in New Jersey after the weekend's storm was worse than the destruction caused by Irene in August.

Though cautioned against trick-or-treating while power lines were still on the ground this Halloween Day, some parents took their young children for quick tours around the neighborhood.

"We didn't really do much, a few houses," said Tracy Larson. "The trees being down were kind of scary, and the wires were scary too. We've been staying in the house."

Man Shoots Himself in the Leg On Train

One man is in the hospital after police say he shot himself on a Northbound SEPTA train.

It happened on Monday on the Market-Frankford line near Frankford Avenue and Church Street.

Police say the man shot himself in the right leg. He was taken into custody where he was questioned by police.

Authorities are currently investigating whether the man had a license to carry the weapon.

No word yet on the identity of the man or his condition.

 

Spreckels Mansion Sold to Investors

The Spreckels mansion, a landmark in one of San Diego's most exclusive neighborhoods, has been purchased by an investment group, according to real estate agent Scott Aurich.

Pharmaceutical company executive Jonah Shacknai approached Aurich earlier this month and asked him to find someone to buy the Coronado home located at 1043 Ocean Blvd. The deal for the 12,750 sq. ft. mansion was finalized this weekend.

“It was a manner of Jonah just couldn't come back in the house," Aurich said.

In July, Shacknai’s son Max fell down the stairs and died as a result of an injured spinal cord. Two days after the fall, Shacknai’s girlfriend Rebecca Zahau was found hanging nude by a rope around her neck from the second-story balcony above the home's courtyard. The death was later ruled a suicide by officials.

The group who purchased the Spreckels mansion has one local investor, who Aurich would not disclose. He also would not identify the total number of investors or the amount investors paid for the mansion.

The 12-room, 11-bathroom house is currently listed at $14.5 million. Aurich said Shacknai originally purchased the historic mansion for $12.75 million.

Texas Cracks Down on Internet Wine Sales

A Texas crackdown is under way on merchants who sell wine online without paying for proper permits and taxes.

The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission worked with FedEx and other shippers to identify incoming wine deliveries from companies that do not comply with state law.

“We sent them letters and asked them to cease and desist,” TABC Maj. Charlie Cloud said.

Texas alcoholic beverage sales operate under a three-tier system. Retailers must buy from licensed Texas wholesalers, which purchase from producers.

Licensed wineries are also allowed to sell directly to customers.

“What’s fair about some people obtaining their permit and doing it legally and other people not doing it legally? There’s nothing fair about that,” Cloud said.

La Cave Warehouse on Market Center Boulevard in Dallas has been selling wine to local customers for 34 years.

You might expect owners Francois and Anne Chandou to be pleased with the TABC crackdown on unlicensed competitors, but they said state laws protect wholesaler profits.

“They want Texas to be a captive audience to them,” Francois Chandou said.

The La Cave owners said customers would be better served if the system allowed people to purchase products anywhere, including from online, out of state merchants.

“They’re not necessarily getting away with something,” Anne Chandou said. “They’re shipping a product to a customer who wants that product and that customer should be entitled to get that product,” she said.

Wine.com is one of the companies contacted by the TABC.

The firm claims more than 30,000 Texas customers.

To comply with Texas law, Wine.com is planning to open a Houston warehouse where the company will buy from Texas wholesalers and serve Texas customers.

“We’re realistic about the current laws,” said Rich Bergsund, of Wine.com.

“If they’re going to play by the rules, we welcome them,” Cloud said.

Several other online wine sellers have stopped deliveries to Texas since the TABC investigation.

D.C. Man Delinquent $17.8M in Income Taxes

The taxman has come calling for a D.C. man.

The District government decided enough is enough and caught up with a man the city says owes more than $17 million in back taxes.

“In this day and age, it’s very hard to stay hidden,” said Stephen Cordi, of DC’s Office of Tax and Revenue. 

It started after the News 4 I-Team asked for a list of the top tax delinquents from the District and Maryland. Virginia said it does not keep a list of delinquent taxpayers, but as of June 2011, taxpayers and businesses owed $1.9 billion, according to the Virginia Department of Taxation.

Maryland and the District provided a list of their biggest offenders. In D.C., most on the list owe between $200,000 to more than $850,000.

“You don’t end up on this list until we’ve made a claim, you had an opportunity to contest it, the contest is over and we have sent you a series of notices,” Cordi said.

The people on the list either ignored those notices or lost all of their appeals, he said.

Cordi said he has about 40 investigators who track down debtors and can place liens on property, garnish wages and intercept other payments.

D.C. Councilman Jack Evans (D-Ward 2), who chairs D.C.’s Committee on Finance and Revenue, said the District has started to work closely with the Internal Revenue Service to find delinquents.

“Our tax rates are quite high,” Evans said. “Certainly much higher than in Virginia or Maryland and other jurisdictions.  I think a lot of people try to avoid them, and our job is to make sure they don’t.”

One business on the list blames a bad accountant for its $337,000 debt.

A couple from Southeast told News4 they can’t pay the $725,000 because of medical problems.

All could lose their homes if the city takes the rare step of seizing their property.

The pressure is on in D.C. to collect. The city loses any money it fails to collect within a 10-year statute of limitations.

“People are in financial trouble,” Cordi said. “They owe more on their home than its worth. Seizing it guarantees nothing. So we’re better off waiting until they decide to sell on their terms in a good market and we get paid at the settlement table.”

But less than a half hour after interviewing Cordi, the News 4 I-Team got a tip.

Police and tax investigators rolled up to a house on Military Road in Northwest and seized it from Barry Morewitz, D.C.’s No. 1 one tax cheater, according to the city.

Multiple neighbors, including Mark Parr, said Morewitz is a stock broker and former attorney for the Securities and Exchange Commission.

“I know one thing,” Parr said, “I pay my taxes, and I tell you what, everybody is hurting right now.”

The city said it recently discovered Morewitz hasn’t paid his taxes in at least five years and owes more than $17.8 million in taxes and penalties.

“17.8 million dollars is a lot of money,” says Evans.  “When you put it into perspective you could probably hire another 100 or 200 police officers."

The District government isn’t allowed by law to disclose how Morewitz managed to tally up a $17.8 million bill.

News4 made multiple attempts to get his side of the story in the days before he lost the house, but as he told the police, he doesn’t want to talk.

Kids Get Paid for Their Halloween Treats

Did your kids get too much candy while trick-or-treating?

On Tuesday, a Dallas hospital will pay children to hand in their excess goodies.

Medical City Children's Hospital and one of its orthodontists are offering kids $1 for a pound of candy. But don't expect to rake too much extra cash -- the hospital is limiting trade-ins to only three pounds of candy per child.

Kids will also receive an "oral care goody bag" and be entered to win one of two $25 Visa gift cards.

Medical City Children's Hospital is holding the event in recognition of National Orthodontic Health Month. The hospital said tooth decay is the most common chronic disease in young children but it is 99 percent preventable.

The candy trade-in is from 3-6 p.m. in the hospital's atrium. The hospital is located at 7777 Forest Lane in Dallas.

What happens to the candy? It won't go to waste -- the hospital will send it to U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Rick Perry, Inadvertent Internet Star

Wacky. Animated.  

That's what some folks are saying about Gov. Rick Perry's speech last week in New Hampshire.

A writer for the National Review even said that the speech looked like it was given under the influence of pain medication from his recent back surgery. (Perry had back surgery in July).

A very animated Perry gave the speech to a crowd of about 400 attendees. What's getting attention is now WHAT Perry said, but HOW he said it.

The normally reserved, calm candidate was much more animated for the crowd.

In the video, Perry can be seen waving his hands around (much more than usual), making plenty of facial expressions and engaging with the crowd much more than in the past.

The video is not only making the rounds online, it's showing up on news outlets.

How it affects his campaign remains to be seen.

Sex Offenders Slapped with Halloween Restrictions

Making a home scary for Halloween is nearly as popular as decorating for December. On Monday night in some unincorporated regions of Riverside County registered sex offenders will be under the watchful eye of law enforcement.

A new ordinance passed by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors outlaws several Halloween rituals.

Sex offenders are not allowed to decorate their homes, have outdoor lighting turned on, or answer the door to children. The ordinance is in effect between 5:00 p.m. and 11:59 p.m.

The new law was proposed by Supervisor Jeff Stone.

"This is a public-private partnership. We're asking people to check the Megan's Law website and see if there are any violations nearby, and call 911," Stone said in a phone interview from his Menifee office.

Breaking the law is a violation of probation and registered sex offenders would be arrested.

The addresses of offenders are also known to police and Stone says deputies will be making spot checks.

 

The ordinance does not include enforcement in the city of Riverside.

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UTA Developments Bringing Downtown to Arlington

The $158 million College Park Center and District under construction in Arlington is expected to benefit students and the entire city.

The University of Texas at Arlington developments include 27,000 square feet of available retail space, residence halls with a total of 600 beds and 7,000 arena seats.

College Park Center is scheduled for completion by February.

"It's a state-of-the-art facility, because it has everything here," said Bill Amendola, of the University of Texas Systems Facilities. "It has not just a basketball floor here, it has practice courts [and] an academic center."

The arena will also serve as a concert venue for big-name artists, among other things.

"It'll be high-tech, loud and fun," UTA spokeswoman Kristin Sullivan said.

The College Park District, which is expected to be complete by August, is just across the street.

"This is Arlington's first mixed-use development," Sullivan said.

The district will have retail, restaurants and living space, as well as an 1,800-space public parking garage.

The city is footing the bill for the $18 million garage.

The university hopes the College Park District can give the city the "downtown" feel that some people suggest Arlington lacks.

"There was a time when there weren't restaurants and entertainment venues downtown and places to live," Sullivan said. "Now, all over the university, you see new residences bringing people downtown."

But some are already thinking beyond UTA's campus and the city of Arlington.

"This arena is really meant for the entire region," Sullivan said. "The North-Central Texas region doesn't really have a lot of mid-sized arenas that are good for concerts, commencements and other community events. We'd like to host a presidential debate here. It's going to be very unique for our region."

Sheriff: School Staff Cleared in Noose Bullying Allegations

An investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department found school staff members did not act criminally in an alleged hate crime involving three wrestlers at Santa Monica High School, according to a news release Monday from Santa Monica Police.

Students took pictures of a noose, which was allegedly used by two white members of the wrestling team to bully the victim, an 18-year-old black teammate, according to police.

But senior staff members, including several assistant principals at the school, ordered students to delete the photos from their phones, according to a report filed by USA LOCAL NEWS in June.

The sheriff’s department found that there was “no probable cause” to believe any staff members did anything that supports an allegation of criminal misconduct, according to the news release.

The alleged hate crime started in the school’s gymnasium and then moved to the locker room on May 4, according to Sgt. Richard Lewis, a spokesman for the Santa Monica Police Department.

“The victim came into the gym and he saw that one of the wrestling dummies had a noose around its neck,” Lewis said.

“Then in the locker room, the two suspects secured the victim to a locker by hanging him with the belt loops of his jeans and shouted racial slurs,” Lewis said.

The allegations angered parents, like Debra Shepherd.

“If it had been two black kids that held a Caucasian kid against his will, they would have left that campus in a squad car,” Shepherd told USA LOCAL NEWS in June.

While school staff members have been cleared of any wrongdoing in the sheriff's investigation, Santa Monica police are still investigating the actions of the students.

That case is still ongoing.

“Santa Monica police have a very close working relationship with the school district,” said Sgt. Richard Lewis, a spokesman for the police department.

“That is why we asked the sheriff to investigate allegations aimed at staff members, to avoid conflict of interest,” Lewis said.

The Santa Monica Police Department has turned its case over to the district attorney’s office, according to Lewis.

Neither the police department nor the sheriff’s office were able to provide further comment.

Sandra Lyon, superintendent for the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, provided a statement late Monday.

"The district did not believe the staff engaged in any criminal activity and we are glad the sheriff supports that in its findings," Lyon said.

A third-party investigator will begin an investigation into whether policies were properly followed after the incident, according to Lyon.

"It's been a very painful time for our district and the community," Lyon said.

"We are optimistic we will learn a lot from this experience."

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Police Search for Escaped Prisoner

Police are searching for a man who they say escaped from a local prison.

Lenwood Burell Douglas, 28, was last seen in the Philadelphia area around 12:55 a.m. on Monday.

Police say Douglas failed to report to a new facility in Philadelphia which he was being assigned to. They also say he failed to return to Wernersville Community Corrections Center in South Heidelberg Township, Berks County, where he was previously staying.

Police describe Douglas as a black male standing 5-foot-8 and weighing 168 pounds.

If you have any information on his whereabouts, please call Pennsylvania State Police at 610-378-4011.

 

Floating Dorm Delayed at Least Another Day

A big move at St. Mary's College in southern Maryland hit a snag Monday, leaving dozens of students in limbo.

They were supposed to move on to a cruise ship after officials found black mold in their dorms, but they’ll have to wait at least another day or two.

Sea Voyager, the 300-foot cruise ship that will serve as a floating dorm, has to moved further from shore because the water where it docked was too shallow.

Students have been living in far-away hotel rooms and taking a bus to and from campus.

Some say the uncertainty makes it hard to concentrate and is affecting their studies.

Credit Card Processor Sends Fees to School Districts

 In and around North Texas, federal and state cuts to the education budget have left hard choices.

“We end up hiring more teachers to educate our kids, but we have fewer resources in our classrooms,” said Jason Smith, Melissa Superintendent.

Now, credit card processing company School Spirit Pays is creating a bridge between the private sector and public education.

“The needs schools have now are greater than ever,” said founder and president Denise Senter.

Senter explains that with every purchase, banks, credit card companies and credit card processors take a cut of a fee businesses pay to use the service.

Within that fee, a portion is left over to compensate a marketing company, which recruits businesses.

However, School Spirit Pays replaces those commission-based sales people with volunteers from, for example, local PTAs, allowing them to redirect that small portion of the purchase amount to a local school district or education foundation.

It’s something Senter says costs the participating business nothing – because they’re already paying the credit card service fee.

“Instead volunteers go and say, 'we’re partnering with School Spirit Pays, we want you to do your credit card processing with them, they will pay a percentage of your processing fee to our organization,'” she said.

In McKinney, Michael Oliver and his wife have signed on with School Spirit Pays and say they’ve only seen involvement grow.

“With us being a local business that is directly related to a lot of the schools and PTAs, it’s something that’s helped us and we really think it will really help others,” Oliver said.

On average, the merchant contribution comes out to about $25 per month.

“It adds up and it adds up quickly,” said Senter.

In the meantime, School Spirit Pays is looking to expand to other districts and say they’re in talks with several in North Texas.

They are also in the process of recruiting more business involvement.

Trial Opens in Parking Fight That Put Woman in Coma

When a man and a woman locked horns over a Manhattan parking space last winter, their fight put her in a coma and him under arrest.

The man, Oscar Fuller, was only protecting himself after the woman attacked him, his lawyer told jurors as Fuller's trial opened Monday. But prosecutors said Fuller acted out of rage and retaliation, not self-defense.

Fuller, a 35-year-old electrician, was heading to a birthday party his family was throwing for him when he got into an argument with Lana Rosas on Feb. 25.

He was trying to park his van in a spot in Manhattan's East Village. Rosas, who was planning to go out to dinner with her boyfriend, was standing in the space to save it for him.

Prosecutors say Fuller punched the petite Rosas — who's 8 inches shorter and 50 pounds lighter than he — in the face so hard that she was knocked unconscious and off her feet. She fell and hit her head on the pavement, suffering a skull fracture and spending almost a week in a coma, Assistant District Attorney John "Artie" McConnell said in his opening statement.

Fuller drove away and went to the birthday party, the prosecutor said. He was arrested four days later.

"This was a deliberate, intentional, unwarranted attack by a grown man against a 25-year-old woman who isn't even 5 feet tall," McConnell told jurors.

But Fuller's lawyer, Thomas A. Kenniff, said the electrician was justified in using force after Rosas ran up and attacked him, hitting him repeatedly. Fuller's face was cut and bloodied, he said.

"Big or small, male or female, no one has the right to put their hands on anyone else" in such a situation, Kenniff told jurors in his opening.

McConnell said it wasn't clear who struck the first blow, but regardless, he said Fuller's actions were unjustified.

Rosas spent months in various hospitals, still faces further procedures and doesn't remember much of the last year, McConnell said.

Fuller told reporters in March he was "very, very sorry for the situation she's going through."

If convicted, he could face up to seven years in prison.

Magic Castle Fire a Message From Houdini?

It's strange that the Magic Castle in Hollywood would catch fire on Halloween -- perhaps even a bit spooky.

Related: "Not a Trick: Hollywood's Magic Castle Catches Fire"

Keeping with the Halloween spirit, some people might take this as a message from Harry Houdini, himself, who died on Halloween in 1926.

Each year on Halloween, members of the Professional Magicians' Fraternity conduct a séance in New York City, with the goal of connecting with the spirit of Houdini.

Houdini, who spent a great deal of time debunking spiritualists, once promised if it were possible to come back from the "other side," he would do so.

For 10 years on the anniversary of his death, Mrs. Houdini conducted a séance in Los Angeles in accordance with her husband's wishes -- but she never received the secret sign that the couple had agreed upon.

She gave up after 10 years, but the Society of American Magicians has continued the tradition.

Here in Los Angeles, some believe the so-called "Houdini Mansion," located at 2435 Laurel Canyon Blvd. by Lookout Mountain, will be the site of the famous spirit's reappearance.

That actual mansion burned down many years ago, but still fans show up there every year.

This is the 85th anniversary of Houdini's death.

Maybe this year, he really did send a message. Spooky, no?

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Shark Spotted in Encinitas

A surfer reported a shark sighting in Encinitas Monday afternoon, according to lifeguard Capt. Larry Giles.

The surfer called lifeguards just after 3:30 p.m. to report he had seen a shark while surfing alone at Beacon's Beach. He said the shark was about 8 to 10 feet in length.

Lifeguards put a watercraft and have warned beachgoers of a shark sighting, but did not clear the water.

Customers Cashing Out of Big Banks

Big banks might be a little less occupied come Nov. 5.

Bank Transfer Day is calling for people to close accounts at for-profit banking institutions.

The event page says it acknowledges the Occupy Wall Street movement, but has chosen not to endorse the movement. But Occupy San Diego is encouraging people to participate in Bank Transfer Day by leaving big banks in favor of credit unions.

“A lot of our participants have already moved their money out of big banks,” said Occupy SD organizer Kali Katt.

The group plans to distribute fliers and rally in front of for-profit banks on Nov. 5 in support of Bank Transfer Day.

“It is a way to show the 1 percent … if we can take their power away, we’re going to,” Katt said.

Credit unions are taking advantage of big bank dissatisfaction to bring new customers, and San Diego County Credit Union has seen a huge increase.

“In the last three weeks, plus this week, over 200 percent increase in new account openings for us,” said President of San Diego County Credit Union Teresa Halleck. “They’ll see that we don’t play the games that some of the big banks play.”

Finance professor at SDSU Tony Cherin said this is an opportune time for credit unions to get out even more.

“[There is] this move against large banks because they know that their CEOs and upper management are getting huge salaries, they are the one percenters,” Cherin said.

More information about Bank Transfer Day can be found on its Facebook page.

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Costumed Men Rob Patients at Northwest D.C. Dentist’s Office

Two men donned Halloween costumes to rob a dentist’s office in northwest Washington Monday morning.

About 11 a.m., a gunman wearing a Frankenstein mask and a man wielding a knife with an Afro wig and bandana hiding his face entered the office in the 800 block of Butternut Street NW and ordered everyone to the ground, News4’s Pat Collins reported. They systematically robbed the dentist, the staff and the patients, including a woman in her 80s.

Among the stuff they stole was gold jewelry and about $1,300 in cash, Collins reported.

An ambulance was called to the scene to treat one person.

Two Shot Outside Shopping Center

Two people were shot outside a Canyon Country shopping center Monday afternoon.

The shooting was reported at 3:08 p.m. near Soledad Canyon Road and Sierra Highway.

The two victims were rushed to a trauma center with gunshot wounds. One person was in full arrest and another was in critical condition, a county fire inspector said.

Police are looking for three black male suspects who were seen running from the scene, according to the Santa Clarita Sheriff's Station.

It was not immediately clear what prompted the shooting.

 

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Man Killed in Officer-Involved Shooting in Lakewood

An investigation continues into the circumstances surrounding a fatal shooting Monday that involved an off-duty Santa Ana Police Department officer, Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau detectives said.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department did not immediately disclose the name of the officer.

The involved off-duty officer was at a residence in the 20700 block of Studebaker Road in Lakewood at about 6:30 a.m. when he heard noises coming from outside, detectives said. When he peered out the window, two white adult males were breaking into a vehicle across the street.

When attempting to confront the unidentified suspects and identify himself, one suspect fled the scene on foot while the other drove off in a white compact car, described as possibly being a Honda by the sheriff’s department.

After calling 911, the officer located the suspect’s car near Rynerson Park via his personal vehicle.

The suspect did not comply with commands by the officer to stop running and to raise his hands, instead choosing to get into the officer’s vacant vehicle without authorization, according to the Sheriff’s Department.

The officer again asked the suspect to comply. The suspect then reached for his waistband, at which time the officer fired shots, detectives said.

The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene, in the driver’s seat of the officer’s vehicle.

No weapon was found on the suspect, Sheriff’s Deputy Lilian Peck said.

The Santa Ana off-duty officer was not injured.

The Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau is asking anyone with information about the unidentified suspect to contact investigators at 323-890-5500.

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Highest Paid NY Schools Superintendent Makes $506,000 a Year

The Syosset schools superintendent draws the top school salary in New York state, earning a reported $506,381 a year, according to a report by Gannett's Albany bureau.

The next 10 highest-paid superintendents, all in Long Island, earn about $360,000 to $434,000 a year, reports Gannett. Meanwhile, the lowest-paid school superintendent, in Binghamton, earns $166,360 a year.

The huge difference in salary reflects the wide disparities in teacher and administrators' pay across the state, with Westchester and Putnam counties ranking first and second for highest average full-time salary, while Otsego and Yates counties rank last, according to Gannett.

The average salary statewide was $57,971 in the 2010-2011 school year for all employees in the Teachers' Retirement System as of June 30, according to a review of records obtained by Gannett. (The average salary was $72,422 for employees who earned more than $15,000 during the school year.)

In the wealthy Scarsdale school district in Westchester County, the average salary for full-time teachers and administrators was $126,261. Countywide, the average salary was $96,088.

Scarsdale superintendent Michael McGill told Gannett, "Part of it is regional cost of living and part of it is a very conscious decision on the part of boards of education going back at least three or four decades to try to pay salaries that would attract the strongest candidates to the district."

Otsego County's average school salary was $50,039, and Yates County's average salary was $49,872, the lowest in the state.

School salaries, especially administrators' pay, have been under increased scrutiny as the state continues to deal with a budget crunch that has led to a decline in school aid, Gannett reports. Gov. Andrew Cuomo had unsuccessfully sought a cap on administrators' salaries.

Union officials said teacher salaries are based on a number of factors, including education level, seniority of the workforce, and cost of living. One superintendent pointed out to Gannett that school salaries "don't tell of a full picture of the responsibilities a teacher of administrator may take on."

Students Drop 400-Pound Pumpkin from High-Rise

UCSD students dropped a gigantic 400 pound candy-filled pumpkin from the top of an eleven-story building on campus Monday.

When the pumpkin dropped from Tioga Hall on Muir College Campus, faculty and students measured the splat in an attempt to beat the school’s record of over 100 feet in 1995.

This year’s splat created an 85-foot wide splat, according to the La Jolla Light – not quite the record, but an impressive splat nevertheless.

The 37-year long tradition brings together residents in the building, who rushed over to the pumpkin’s remains Monday to pick up the candy and measure the splat.

They named the pumpkin"Dead Gorgeous."

Mortgage Schemers Plead Guilty

Three women pleaded guilty on Monday for a mortgage fraud scheme that cost mortgage lenders more than $1.9 million in fake loans.

Patricia Smith and daughter Jamilah Smith of Irvington, NJ pleaded guilty to counts of the Superseding Indictment, which charged them and the third women, Carol Ashley, with wire fraud.

According to the statements made in court both Patricia and Jamilah Smith served as “straw buyers” for condominiums in North Wildwood. However, when they lacked  financial resources they turned to creating false bank statements, W-2 forms and pay stubs from Carol Ashley’s company, Exclusive Entertainment Production in the Los Angeles area.

Ollie Thaxton, the fourth defendant in the scheme has also pleaded guilty for wire fraud and is scheduled to be sentenced in January.

The charges could sentence all three women with 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine.

 

Family Raises Money for Baby’s Brainstem Implant

Two North County parents held a special fundraiser over the weekend to help their daughter have a normal life.

Two-year-old Amelia Heston was born with multiple abnormalities.

She's able to see out of one eye with glasses, but cannot hear.

Yesterday, Amelia's parents put on a fundraiser at an Escondido restaurant to help pay for an auditory brainstem implant that will allow her to hear.

But there's a catch. The family will have to go to Italy for the procedure because it's not FDA-approved for children younger than 12 in the U.S.

The fundraiser at Tango Restaurant included a silent auction and special displays.

Restaurant owners also gave clients an opportunity to experience what Amelia struggles with.

“We have something that we're calling the Amelia Experience where people can put in some ear plugs, put on some glasses because she does have some seeing problems and kind of see the world through her eyes,” said Jennifer Knotowicz of Tango Restaurant

The family hopes to raise $100,000 to pay for the surgery and trip to Italy.

 

Parents Charged in Virginia Girl's Hotel Drowning

The parents of a 1-year-girl who drowned in a Westin Hotel room in Virginia last month turned themselves in to police Monday afternoon.

Wafy Abdullah Almutiri, 27, and his wife, 21-year-old Maryam Masaad Almutiri, are charged with felony neglect.

Their daughter, Wreef Wafy Almutiri, died at the Reston hotel Sept. 18.

Her parents are being held at the Fairfax Detention Center.

Costa Mesa Man Dies in Half-Marathon

The runner who died in Sunday's half-marathon was Charles Whitmore Riske of Costa Mesa, the Los Angeles County Coroner's office told NBC LA on Monday.

Riske, 37, had been running for two hours when he collapsed on Olympic Boulevard during the Rock 'n' Roll half marathon on Sunday. He died soon after.

An autopsy has not yet been performed, coroner spokesman Ed Winter said Monday, and the cause of Riske's death has not yet been determined.

About 15,000 runners and walkers participated in the half-marathon, which began and ended at L.A. Live.

Robbers Target Teen Girl: Cops

New Castle County Police in Delaware are currently investigating a strong arm robbery that happened Sunday night in Phillip Heights.

Police say the victim, a 15-year-old girl from Wilmington, was walking around Phillip Heights when she was approached from behind by two men who stole her belongings.

According to the victim, one man held her while the other began to take items from her pockets on the 700 block of Phillips Road and then fled toward Marion Avenue.

Police are still searching for the suspects.

Anyone with information regarding this robbery should contact the New Castle Police Department at (302)-395-8110.

 

Nine Occupiers Charged in Richmond

Police cleared out a downtown Richmond plaza early Monday that had been home to Occupy Wall Street protesters, ordering out dozens of people who had encamped there since Oct. 17 and charging nine with trespassing or obstructing justice.

Officers began clearing the park about 1 a.m. and most of the protesters left peacefully, police spokesman Gene Lepley said. The nine were either arrested or cited when they refused to move. The arrests followed other police crackdowns around the country in places including Oregon, California, Texas, Tennessee, Atlanta and Denver.

The occupation, inspired by the anti-Wall Street protests in lower Manhattan, had blossomed into a tent city, with dozens scattered around Kanawha Plaza in the city's financial district. The site also included a library, a volleyball net and a large blue tarp strung up on three magnolia trees.

One of the protesters, Ira Birch, said the park was surrounded by a “huge line of cops” and police cruisers with their blue lights flashing. An officer read ordinances that the protesters were violating and told people to gather up their possessions and leave. She described the scene as “pretty peaceful.”

Birch grabbed her laptop, a modem and other belongings. But a pile of tents, sleeping bags and other possessions was left outside the plaza as police cruisers with flashing lights remained on the streets surrounding it. Several cruisers were parked on the plaza at noon, and yellow police tape kept visitors out until public works crews could clean up the space.

A bulldozer was called into to clear the plaza of trash, furniture and other items that piled up over two weeks.

Mayor Dwight C. Jones visited the Occupy encampment last week and told the protesters he would have city officials meet with protest representatives to discuss the continued occupation of the grass-and-concrete park in front of the Federal Reserve Bank high-rise.

Lepley declined to say who ordered the police in two weeks after the occupation began, calling it a “tactical issue.” State police also provided support.

Birch said the Occupy protest was surprised and disappointed by the city's actions.

“The mayor said they wanted to talk and we thought that was a positive sign,” said Birch, a Virginia Commonwealth University student from Timberville. “I think everybody's pretty sad.”

A spokesman for the mayor did not return a message left by The Associated Press.

The mayor has also angered tea party members, who said the city had issued a list of demands and fees when they held rallies on the plaza. They submitted a bill for $8,500 to City Hall on Friday.

Birch said the police action had only strengthened the resolve of protesters, who have cited a litany of complaints but generally have targeted what they call corporate greed and income inequality. Activist filmmaker Michael Moore had tweeted the Richmond police action, which Birch said pleased protesters.

About 30 protesters returned to the sidewalk at the edge of the plaza before noon. They planned to rally at the VCU campus about one mile away and return to the plaza, they said.

Padres Name New GM

The San Diego Padres have introduced Josh Byrnes as their third general manager in just more than two calendar years.

He replaces Jed Hoyer, who made a lateral move to the Chicago Cubs to work under Theo Epstein.

Byrnes was given a five-year contract with an option year to try to turn around a team that finished last in the NL West at 71-91 and has struggled offensively at spacious Petco Park.

Byrnes is a GM again under CEO Jeff Moorad.

Moorad hired Byrnes as GM in Arizona in 2005 and gave him an eight-year contract extension in February 2008. In 2010, a year after Moorad moved to the Padres, Byrnes was fired by the Diamondbacks. He joined the Padres' front office in December.

Moorad says that if Byrnes hadn't been with the Padres, he wouldn't have given the Cubs permission to interview Hoyer.

“Josh is one of the most respected and credentialed baseball executives in the game,” said Moorad. “His proven record and extensive background in scouting and player development make a great fit for continuing the same focus that we’ve had for two years.

Originally from Washington, D.C., Byrnes attended Haverford College in Pennsylvania. He and his wife Charity, a San Diego native, have two daughters, Avery and Darby.

Is this a good move for the Padres? Let us know what you think. Comment below, send us your thoughts via Twitter @nbcsandiego or add your comment to our Facebook page.

NJ: Tropicana Allowed 14-Year-Old to Play Slots

New Jersey casino regulators are considering fines against several gambling halls for allowing people to gamble who shouldn't have, including a 14-year-old boy who played slots at the Tropicana.

The state Division of Gaming Enforcement is preparing to act on complaints filed by the state Attorney General's Office against several casinos for allowing underage or self-excluded gamblers to play. They also involve other violations of casino regulations.

The Tropicana is accused of letting a 14-year-old boy play slots in August. According to the state, a casino security guard walked right past him without doing anything.

The boy was questioned by DGE investigators and admitted he was just 14. The state didn't reveal how much he lost or won.

Gamblers must be 21 to wager in New Jersey casinos.

 

Woman Captures Union Square Subway Groper's Photo

A quick-thinking woman was able to take a picture of the man who groped her on a subway platform in Union Square last week, giving police a clear shot of their suspect.

The incident happened last Sunday, Oct. 23, at about 9:30 a.m. on the southbound platform of the 6 train at Union Square.

According to police, the suspect grabbed the 19-year-old victim by the shoulder, lifted up her dress and grabbed the victim's buttocks and private area.

They both boarded the next train, and that's when the victim took a picture of the suspect, police said.

Anyone with information on the incident or the suspect is asked to contact NYPD Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS or at usa-local-news.blogspot.com.

3 Exposed to Carbon Monoxide, Taken to Hospital

At least three people in a Rockland County home were taken to the hospital after being exposed to carbon monoxide Monday afternoon.

Emergency responders were called to a home on Washington Street in Spring Valley sometime after 3 p.m., according to officials.

The residents taken to the hospital were in stable condition, according to police.

A window was open on the upper floor of the home, as seen from News Chopper 4.

People who breathe in carbon monoxide can die from the gas, which is especially insidious because it is odorless and colorless, making it difficult to detect.

Carbon monoxide is found in combustion fumes, small gasoline engines, stoves, lanterns, burning charcoal and wood, and gas ranges and heating systems, according to the Center for Disease Controls. When built up in enclosed or semi-enclosed spaces, they can be deadly to people and animals. 

McKinney Skips NTMWD Recommended Water Restrictions

The city of McKinney says they will not require residents to follow Stage 3 watering restrictions recommended by the North Texas Municipal Water District.

The district recommends that residents only water their lawns twice a month.

On Monday, McKinney told NBC 5 that they will not be following that recommendation and that businesses and residents in the city are allowed to water once weekly on their designated trash and recycling day.

Both residents and businesses are encouraged to not water all if possible.

McKinney's once weekly watering restriction goes into effect on Tuesday, Nov. 1.  For a complete list of McKinney restrictions, visit mckinneytexas.org/waterrestrictions.

Dallas Mavericks Want New, Gently-Used Coats for Homeless

The Dallas Mavericks are partnering with Dave & Buster's to help the homeless stay warm this winter.

Anyone who brings in a new or gently used coat or blanket to the restaurant will receive a card worth $10 of games at Dave & Busters.

Donations will be accepted during the month of November at all Metroplex Dave & Buster's locations.

Additionally, the Mavericks are challenging local elementary, middle and high schools to host their own coat and blanket drive throughout the month of November.

The school that collects the most articles will receive a special Mavs pep rally.

Upon completion of the program, Mavs representatives will personally deliver the items to a local homeless shelter.

For more information, visit mavs.com.

 

Powerball Jackpot Rises High

Dreams of one day becoming a millionaire may not be too far off this upcoming Wednesday night for local residents.

So far one person in Pennsylvania and one in New Jersey have only matched the Powerball numbers, each winning $200,000.

There has been no such luck so far however in matching all the numbers and winning the grand prize of up to $245 million.

That current amount is the largest prize since February of 2006.

So get up and get playing. Your chances of winning a prize this time around are 1 in 35.

 

Mom Says Suspect Arrested in Flight Attendant Son's Death

Among the list of messages on Anita Aaronson’s Facebook page is one that confirms authorities have made an arrest in the murder of her son, Nick Aaronson, a Phoenix-based US Airways flight attendant whose body was found at the Hilton Hotel in Mexico City Saturday.

“They caught the bastard who killed my son,” wrote Aaronson Sunday, who lives in Los Angeles, according to her page.

Nick Aaronson was found dead in his hotel room early Saturday with signs of beating and strangulation, according to investigators.

US Airways’ flight attendants union said preliminary findings in the investigation “do not indicate a safety breach at the hotel,” according to a message on its website.

The union also encouraged its members to contact an incident response team if they needed support.

“While an investigation is underway, our priority at this time is to provide support for Nick's family and our crewmembers,” the message read.

Aaronson’s casket is scheduled to pass through Phoenix on its way to California, according to his mother’s Facebook page.

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Man Slashes Stepson to 'Unite Him With Jesus': Cops

Police arrested a Camden man for allegedly attacking his stepson with a knife.

Investigators say shortly before 3 a.m. on Sunday, Darrell Flood, 25, slashed the throat of the 6-year-old boy. The boy’s mother noticed the injury and called 9-1-1.

The family told police that Flood threatened to kill himself on Saturday. They also say Flood talked about “uniting the child with Jesus” after injuring him.

Flood was arrested on Sunday and charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of a child. He is currently being held in Camden County Jail.

The boy was taken to Cooper Hospital where he underwent surgery. He is expected to recover.

 

Tug Pilot Faces Prison for Fatal Duck Boat Crash

A distracted tug boat pilot who sunk a tour boat in Philadelphia will be sentenced Tuesday in the deaths of two Hungarian students.

Prosecutors accept that pilot Matthew Devlin had a true family emergency, but say he should have had someone else take the wheel.

Instead, Devlin spent most of the hour before the July 7, 2010 crash on his cell phone or laptop.

He rammed a huge barge into a stalled duck boat, sending 35 people into the Delaware River.

The 35-year-old Devlin, of Catskill, N.Y., faces about three to four years in prison under federal guidelines. He has pleaded guilty to misconduct of a ship operator causing death.

His lawyer will argue for a reduced sentence. He says the crash has devastated Devlin and his family.

 

Maryland Feeding-Tube Case Pits Wife Against Mother

A judge in Frederick, Md., must decide whether a brain-damaged man should continue receiving sustenance through a feeding tube at his mother's behest, contrary to his wife's instructions.

The court will hear arguments Wednesday in the case involving 55-year-old Daniel Sanger of Rohrersville, Md. The unemployed computer technician lost much of his speaking ability and mobility after a July heart attack.

His mother Phyllis Sanger, of Colonial Beach, Va., obtained a temporary restraining order Oct. 20. The order to restore Daniel Sanger's feeding tube came four days after it was removed with his wife Leta's consent.

Her lawyer contends that only she has authority to make health care decisions for her husband.

His mother and brother want the tube permanently restored. They also are seeking custody so they can direct his care.

Suspicious Powder Found at Prison

Fire and police crews are on the scene at the Philadelphia Prison System after investigators say suspicious powder was found.

Police say the powder was discovered inside the mailroom of the prison on State Road and Rhawn Street.

As of now, no one has been evacuated from the building.

 

Storm Wreaks Havoc in Central Park, Prompting Marathon Concern

Workers cleaning up after a freak snowstorm raced Monday to clear fallen branches and splintered trees from paths and roads in Central Park in time for this weekend's New York City Marathon, which ends in the park.

Only 2.9 inches of snow fell on the park, but it was so wet and heavy that it weighed down leaves and branches to the breaking point. After Monday dawned sunny, tourists snapped photos of branches littering the ground.

"The park looks sad with all the trees down," said Nathalie Pienoel, of the Normandy region of France. "But it's also beautiful."

The storm damaged about half the park's 800 acres and could end up costing it 1,000 trees, said Dana Libner, spokeswoman for the Central Park Conservancy, which runs the beloved urban reserve. It could cost $500,000 to repair the damage and replant.

About 100 conservancy workers were clearing and assessing the damage, and private contractors were being called in to help. Trees as large as 3 to 4 feet across were felled, Libner said. Many paths were blocked by yellow hazard tape MondayStaff members are "stretched between preparing the park for the marathon and responding to storm damage, but we'll be ready for the marathon and all related events," she said.

The area around the shuttered Tavern on the Green restaurant, where the marathon ends, was busy Monday, with workers erecting bleachers at the finish line and others feeding fallen branches into a chipper.

"We feel very comfortable that things will be ready" for the race, said Richard Finn, a spokesman for the New York Road Runners, the group that organizes the marathon.

A five-mile kickoff race that had been scheduled for Sunday was canceled, but Finn said he is confident the other events leading up to the coming Sunday's ING New York City Marathon will proceed.

Tim Zagat, founder of the Zagat restaurant guide, commented on the damage as he took his morning walk.

"It's sort of amazing to see such a lot of devastation caused by a couple of inches of snow," he said. "It reminds you that in some ways it's still a wild place."

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NYC Gets 7 Proposals for Applies Sciences Campus

Mayor Michael Bloomberg says the New York City received seven proposals in a search for a new engineering and applied sciences campus.

Bloomberg said Monday that one of the projects will be selected in January. The winner will receive access to city-owned land and up to $100 million in city capital.

Seven qualifying proposals from a total of 17 institutions were submitted. Most institutions partnered to form consortiums.

City officials will consult an advisory committee of business and university officials as they choose the winner.

Columbia University, Stanford University and the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology are among the participating schools. The complete list of institutions that submitted proposals for sites include, according to the Mayor's Office:

• Amity University (Governor’s Island)
• Carnegie Mellon University/Steiner Studios (Brooklyn Navy Yard)
• Columbia University (Manhattanville)
• Cornell University/Technion-Israel Institute of Technology (Roosevelt Island)
• New York University/University of Toronto/University of Warwick (UK)/The Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay/City University of New York and Carnegie Mellon (Downtown Brooklyn)
• New York Genome Center/Mount Sinai School of Medicine/Rockefeller University/SUNY Stony Brook (Midtown Manhattan)
• Stanford University/City College of New York (Roosevelt Island)

The schools said they will focus on areas including information technology, digital media, sustainable urban growth, electrical engineering, public health, genome sequencing and computer science.

The Mayor's Office said the partnership is estimated to generate $6 billion in economic activity over the next 35 years, create more than 30,000 permanent and construction jobs for New Yorkers, and roughly $1.2 billion in direct and indirect taxes for the city.

Lesbian Couple Crowned Homecoming Royalty

A high school couple made history when they were elected homecoming king and queen on Oct. 28.

Senior student Rebecca Arellano was voted the school’s first female homecoming king during the homecoming football game.

Arellano’s girlfriend, Haileigh Adams was, announced homecoming queen the following night during the dance, according to school officials.

The senior girls are the school’s first same-sex couple to win the nomination.

Patrick Henry High School’s Facebook page had dozens of people comment on its page after someone posted, “Patrick Henry just voted a female homecoming king.”

Most of the comments were supportive, saying the election results were “amazing” or “exciting.”

“Hearing about this story at PHHS, makes me very proud of where I came from,” wrote Karen Williams.

Others were critical of the homecoming vote.

“All I am saying is the court is a monarchy and a king should be a male from the student body and a queen a female,” posted one person.

On Monday morning, San Diego Unified School District school board superintendent Bill Kowba read a statement after the school board presser declaring support of the lesbian couple.

Tell us what you think. Comment below, find us on Facebook or talk to us on Twitter @nbcsandiego.

Coyote Sightings Spike Near Lombard

An increase in the number of coyote sightings in Lombard has police and the forest department encouraging greater vigilance among residents.

"Regionally here we've seen that numbers have definitely gone up," said Dan Thompson, an official with the DuPage Forest Preserve District.

Last week, police were called to Madison Elementary School after a coyote was seen sunning itself nearby. The animal was gone by the time police left.

"A school is going to be an area with a lot of activity, but they are also places with a lot of open area," Thompson said. "Especially now, when the days are going to be cooler, it's not surprising that they would be basking in the sun. They aren't there waiting to prey on the kids though."

Thompson added that more sightings tend to occur at this time of year because the pups are dispersing, and thus, are more visible. He advised residents to keep their pets indoors or on a leash while outdoors. A full list of precautions can be found on the forest preserve's website.

 

Royse City Water, Sewer Rates Going Up

Residents in Royse City will be paying a little more than normal for their water and sewer service beginning Nov. 1.

The city received a letter from the North Texas Municipal Water District indicating they used 50 million more gallons of water than they were allotted to use.

The district was originally contracted to use 470 million gallons of water.  By using 520 million, they now owe the district as much as $95,000.

The rate increases for residents will increase between $3 and $9.

Without the increase the city's water and sewer revenue would barely exceed expenses, forcing the city to dip into their reserve fund.

NBC 5's Tammy Mutasa contributed to this report.

Slow Growth Ahead, But No Recession: Economists

Any hopes of starting the New Year with a more optimistic outlook were crushed Monday by experts presenting next year’s economic forecast.

The UCLA Anderson Forecast's outlook revealed slow growth for California in 2012 that will likely extend into 2017.

Local economists say we can expect the same slowness here.

In San Diego, unemployment will likely dip down slightly next year, but it will still hover at around 9 percent, said economics professor Alan Gin, who compiles San Diego’s index of leading economic indicators.

About 9.7 percent of the labor force is unemployed in San Diego as of the end of September, Gin said.

“It’s a little bit of movement but the situation is still pretty bad,” Gin said. The job growth barely keeps up with the growing labor market.

Following along with the unemployment rate, home prices may weaken as well. Median home prices in San Diego will decline an additional 4 percent next year, the report states.

Yet, with incentives such as the Obama Administration’s tax credit for first time homebuyers, housing should pick up next year. Already since April 2009, prices for homes have increased, Gin said.

Two sectors of San Diego’s job market are rising above the rest of the country: leisure and entertainment and professional and business services. Since San Diego is both a vacation spot and a hub for technological advances, these sectors will thrive. On the other hand, manufacturing will decline in San Diego even as it rebounds in the rest of the country.

Compared to the rest of the state, San Diego’s unemployment rate is low. Inland California cities will continue to see the highest unemployment rates in the state. This is because there is an excess of housing and a “contraction in government employment.”

The disparity between Coastal and Inland economies is so large, author Jerry Nickelsburg called the regions “two Californias” in his chapter of the report.

The San Joaquin Valley saw net job loss of -1.1 percent in the last four months, compared to the Bay Area, San Diego and Orange County’s averaged annualized growth of over 1.7 percent, according to the report.

The report concluded on the cheery note that the U.S. is not facing another recession, as many have predicted. GDP will grow between 2.5 percent and 3 percent by the middle of 2012, and about 150,000 jobs will be created per month, the report states.

 

Police Search for Missing Teen Girl

Police are searching for a missing Moorestown teen.

Investigators say Taline King, 15, left her house on the 100 block of Pheasant Fields Drive around 1:45 a.m. on Monday after an argument with her parents.

Police also say King requires medication for medical issues.

Taline is a white female, standing 5-foot-6 and weighing 120 pounds with a thin build, long brown hair and green eyes. She was last seen wearing a white hooded sweatshirt with the words “Portsmouth New Hampshire” written on the front and gray sweatpants.

If you have any information on Taline’s whereabouts, please call police at 856-234-8300.

Suspect in 35 Robberies Caught in Fort Worth

Police say a suspect in nearly three dozen North Texas store robberies has been arrested following a weekend traffic stop.

Fort Worth police on Monday declined to release the name of the man in custody, saying the investigation continues into the Tarrant County robberies.

Sgt. Pedro Criado told The Associated Press that convenience stores, sandwich shops, check-cashing businesses and title loan companies were robbed by a man with a gun.

Police say the 35th robbery since Sept. 1, allegedly linked to the suspect, happened last Thursday. Nobody was hurt in any of the holdups.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports the suspect was pulled over Sunday during a traffic stop, was allowed to leave, but was later arrested at his Fort Worth residence on aggravated robbery charges.

Stolen Porche Turns Up at Port

A gleaming red vintage Porsche – reported stolen in 1988 – was seized at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach as it was waiting to be shipped to a new owner overseas.

The 1976 Porsche 930 Turbo – minus its engine – was spotted by customs officials during a routine check of its registration at the ports last week.  It was the 25th stolen car nabbed by vigilant port inspectors in about a year.

“We check the vehicle identification number of every car being exported out of the country on a daily basis,” said Marlene Figueroa, a supervisor who was part of the team that found the car. “Sure enough, there was a record in the system that indicates that the car was stolen back in 1988.”

The car – popular with collectors – was on its way to an individual in the Netherlands, Figueroa said. Law enforcement officials are investigating whether that person knew it had been stolen.

With its engine, the car would have been worth about $80,000 Figueroa said. The car was in excellent condition, and it’s possible that the shipper had removed the engine to send separately.

“We speculate that maybe the engine was already smuggled out of the country in another shipment,” she said. Without the engine, the car was worth about $27,500.

But perhaps in an effort to deflect attention from the car as it was being shipped, the sender had declared its value to be about $12,500.

The rightful owner of the car is the insurance company that paid off on it when it was reported missing in Las Vegas 23 years ago, Figueroa said. Investigators have not yet released the identity of the original owner.

 

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Cubs to Introduce Jed Hoyer and Jason McLeod

Jed Hoyer and Jason McLeod officially will be welcomed to Wrigley Field on Tuesday.

Newly minted president of baseball operations Theo Epstein will introduce Hoyer as the Cubs new executive vice president/ general manager and McLeod as senior vice president/ scouting and player development.

In a joint statement issued Thursday, the Padres announced Hoyer and McLeod would leave San Diego to accept positions with the Cubs.

The press conference takes place at 3 p.m. Tuesday at the United Club at Wrigley Field.

When Epstein was introduced last week, he told reporters that winning a World Series would take the efforts of fans, players and fans. He said changes are coming for the Cubs staff and he wants to focus on scouting, player development and a change in the front office to create success.

Hoyer and McLeod are expected to lead those efforts.

2 Giraffes, Other Animals Die in NJ Zoo Fire

A fire has killed a mother giraffe, its 3-week-old calf and a collection of exotic birds at a New Jersey zoo where the owner's wife died in a fire months ago.

Animal Kingdom Zoo owner Burton Sipp says three dogs and four cats also perished in Sunday night's fire.

It's the second fire to strike the private zoo in central New Jersey's Springfield Township this year. Bridget Sipp was killed in April when a fire burned the couple's log cabin on the property. No animals were hurt then.

Burton Sipp says he flew home from Phoenix early Monday after hearing about this weekend's fire. He says the zoo's seven remaining giraffes are being moved to the Six Flags Great Adventure amusement park for now. He says he hopes to rebuild.

Man Owes D.C. Almost $18M in Taxes

D.C. took legal action against its top delinquent taxpayer.

The Office of Tax and Revenue seized Barry A. Morehouse’s interest in property at 3943 Military Road NW. Morehouse owes the city $17.8 million in individual income taxes.

“We have taken this action after our earlier attempts to resolve this outstanding tax matter were ignored,” OTR Deputy Chief Financial Officer Stephen Cordi said.

News4’s ITeam will have an exclusive report on this tax scofflaw on News4 at 11 p.m.

Ben’s Chili Bowl Buys on H Street

After a long courtship, longtime H Street NE clothier George Butler finally found a buyer—the guys behind Ben's Chili Bowl.

Butler's store at 10th Street had been on the market for $1.4 million, but Nizam and Kamal Ali bargained him down to $900,000; the deal closed on October 11.

It won't necessarily be another Ben's, though. The Alis say they're doing some market analysis over the next three months to figure out what concept might fit the neighborhood best, and what kind of renovations will be possible.

In the mean time, they're still on the lookout for more locations—so it appears the future is full of half smokes.

Ben’s Chili Bowl Buys on H Street was originally published by Washington City Paper on Oct 31, 2011

2012 Presidential Debate Schedule Announced, Long Island to Host 1

Long Island will host one of the three general-election presidential debates next year.

The Commission on Presidential Debates announced Monday the three locations of the 2012 debates.

The first will be in Denver, Colo., on Oct. 3.

The second will be at Hofstra University on Oct. 16, and the third will be Oct. 22 in Boca Raton, Fla.

A vice-presidential debate will also be held Oct. 11 in Danville, Ky.

Embattled Suzi Schmidt Won't Seek Re-Election

Embattled State Sen. Suzi Schmidt won't step down, but she won't seek re-election either.

Sen. Mark Kirk said Monday the move has "opened up the gate" for Republicans, and Illinois GOP party chairman Pat Brady in reaction to the news said, "We are going to win that seat."



Schmidt recently came under scrutiny after comments she made to a police dispatcher and officers during recent domestic disturbances at her home.

The Lake Villa Republican, representing the state's 31st District, was heard on a 911 tape released last month asking Lake County sheriff’s deputies during a call on Christmas Day not to respond to her home if her husband called them.

"I'm having a little problem with my husband right now," she was heard saying on the tape. "But it’s fine, so if he calls you, you can ignore him."

Under pressure from her party last month to resign, Schmidt refused and even said she would run again. 

But in a statement released Monday, Schmidt said she needs to focus on her personal life.

“I deeply appreciate the encouragement I have received from friends and constituents over the past few weeks as I deal with personal issues and while I continue to work hard for the people of the 31st Senate District. I am grateful for the outpouring of support," Schmidt said in a statement. "However, at this point in my life, my personal life and my family are my priority, and I hope to dedicate more of my time with them in the coming months and years. Therefore, I will not be a candidate for re-election in 2012.”

Landslide Reported at Wis. Power Plant

A landslide and bluff collapse were reported Monday morning along Lake Michigan at a power plant in Oak Creek, Wis.

No injuries were reported, but at least two semi-trailers appeared part of the landslide at We Energies, chopper footage from the WTMJ affiliate showed.

"We have a report of a bluff failure on the south end of our Oak Creek power plant property," Rick White of We Energies told WTMJ. "We're investigating it now."

The landslide occurred about 11 a.m. near the construction site of a new air quality control system. Tool and equipment storage trailers slid down the bluff, but operations at Oak Creek site were not affected, according to the We Energies.

The company confirmed all employees and contractors have been accounted for.

Police on the scene continued to search for the cause of the landslide along with power plant officials.

Red Tide Makes "Oceanic Serengeti"

Undersea wildlife is making itself known up and down the California coast in recent days thanks to a so-called "red tide."

One man had a close encounter with two humpback whales and another with a great white shark.

Experts describe the waters off the Santa Cruz and Monterey coast as "oceanic Serengeti" referring to the region in Africa that hosts the largest mammal migration in the world.

Red tide is caused by the under water critters that swim to the top of the ocean and form a red-ish shadow on the water.

"October is regarded as shark-tober and that persists right through January with the peak of the Elephant seal landings and then in February and March most of the sharks are moving off shore into the deep sea,"  said shark expert Sean Van Sommerman.

 The extra wildlife brings in all kinds of sea creatures. Just last week, a photographer caught two breaching humpback whales coming within a few feet of a kayaker.

 For the kayaker, the moment was bliss.

 

For a Monterey man, the interaction was less than blissfull.  Eric Tarantino, 27, was out surfing this friends early Saturday morning when he was attacked by a great white shark.

Tarantino nearly lost his life. Dr. Michael Gynn at the Regional Medical Center in San Jose said Tarantino was lucky, because the shark missed all major vessels. Gynn said Tarantino is expected to make a full recovery and could be out of the hospital Monday.

In response to the attack, beaches up and down Monterey County will be closed to surfers this week, after a Monterey man was attacked by a shark at Marina State Beach.

Warning signs tell surfers that they should stay out of the water through next weekend, according to the Monterey Herald. 

Tarantino's damaged surfboard became an instant tourist attraction as it sat in the back of a state park ranger's patrol car in the beach parking lot. The teeth marks left on the surf board were 19 inches across.

Expert: Murray Deviated from Standard of Care

Michael Jackson's personal physician deviated from the accepted standard of care by giving the singer the powerful anesthetic propofol at his rented Holmby Hills mansion, a defense expert on the medication testified Monday under cross-examination.

Special Section: The Conrad Murray Trial

In the involuntary manslaughter trial of Dr. Conrad Murray, Deputy District Attorney David Walgren asked defense expert Dr. Paul White if he had ever heard of anyone administering propofol in a patient's bedroom.

"No, I have not," White responded.

White gave the same answer when asked if he had ever done so.

Walgren also asked White if he thought Murray had made an extreme deviation from the standard of care by not keeping accurate medical records of the medications he had given the singer.

"I think it's a deviation from the standard of care. ... I would say it's perhaps between minor and serious, not extreme in my opinion," White answered.

White also conceded that if he had been in Murray's position, he would have "immediately" called for help when he discovered that the singer had stopped breathing, adding that he could not justify any delay in making such a call.

But he added, "I think he should have called 911 sooner. ... I do not, however, think it would have made any difference in the outcome of this case."

He also said that given Murray's statement that Jackson had expressed familiarity with propofol and how to use it, that a doctor should be careful about giving such a patient access to the medication

"It would certainly make me careful about allowing access to (propofol)," he said. "... No, I would not leave the room."

Murray, a 58-year-old cardiologist, faces up to four years in prison if convicted of the felony charge stemming from Jackson's death on June 25, 2009, from acute propofol intoxication.

Prosecutors allege Murray gave the singer a fatal intravenous dose of propofol, then spent about 45 minutes on the phone or sending emails instead of monitoring him. Jackson was in Los Angeles rehearsing for a series of 50 concerts in London dubbed "This Is It."

In his opening statement, defense attorney Edward Chernoff countered that the evidence would show Jackson "self-administered a dose of propofol" after Murray left the room, which "created a perfect storm" and "killed him instantly."

Murray told police he only left Jackson's side for about two minutes to use the bathroom after giving the singer a small amount of propofol.

White testified last week that he believed the evidence showed the entertainer had rapidly given himself 25 milligrams of propofol less than an hour after Murray slowly infused 25 milligrams of the anesthetic into his system. He also said Jackson had taken eight tablets of the sedative lorazepam in the hours leading up to his death.

The exchange between Walgren and White on Monday got testy at times. At one point, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor became agitated and sent the jury out of the courtroom, after which he chastised White and the defense team for making comments about evidence that is not before the jury.

The judge's comments came after White indicated on the stand that while Murray did purchase a large amount of propofol, Jackson apparently had his own supplier. That prompted Walgren to ask where in Murray's statement to police it had ever been mentioned that Jackson had a propofol supplier.

Pastor then stepped in, and after the jury left the courtroom, he told the defense team that White was deliberately trying "to add in other material."

White has already been ordered by Pastor to come to court Nov. 16 for a possible contempt hearing for making comments to the media about the case outside the courtroom -- against strict rules set down by the judge.

On the stand Monday, White said he has been paid about $11,000 for his work for Murray's defense.

Asked by Walgren about Murray's failure to tell paramedics or emergency room doctors about giving the singer propofol, White said it could have been a simple oversight.

"It's often difficult to recall details in that kind of situation... It can be overlooked," he said. "... I don't think it was done in a devious fashion."

White is expected to be the defense's final witness. The seven-man, five- woman jury could feasibly be given the case to begin deliberating late this week.

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Jay Cutler, Meet Jay Cutler

Though Jay Cutler has been on Twitter for more than two years, he hasn't immersed himself in the technology as much as his teammates until recently.

His fake counterpart, on the other hand, has had us laughing from the very first tweet. "Not Jay Cutler" has created a fake persona for Cutler, riffing on the QB's perceived personality with usually vulgar tweets.

It seemed like the real Jay knew nothing of the fake Jay, until Sunday. Cutler tweeted:

@notjaycutler just saw you got a new follower. @Kristincav likes your style I guess.

Amazing. Not only is Jay Cutler's on-again, off-again girlfriend Kristin Cavallari following the fake Jay, but Cutler got a laugh out of having a fake. Kudos to the genius behind "Not Jay Cutler" for responding quickly to the real thing.

@JayCutler6 So clingy, bro.

This season, Cutler has loosened up. His teammates have noticed a difference, and Cutler has even been more laid back with reporters. Using Twitter to tease teammates and take a little teasing of his own is the latest step in the relaxing of the QB. His demeanor has nothing to do with how he plays, but it is much easier to cheer for this Cutler than the one who seemed so closed off for so long. 

Chargers' Jammer Takes a Compliment

The way this season has gone so far, San Diego Chargers cornerback Quentin Jammer should be blushing every time he walks off a football field and into a post-game locker room.

No NFL player is receiving so many compliments.

Entering Week 8, quarterbacks had targeted Jammer 10 times all season, the fewest among any cornerback who has played at least a quarter of his team's snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. The steady Jammer has played 87.8 percent.

He has been thrown at 12 times altogether — when including two pass interference calls last week against the New York Jets, at least one of which was dubious — and allowed six catches for 62 yards with two pass deflections and no touchdowns.

Jammer believes quarterbacks will soon buck the trend, and it could start Monday night when the Chargers face Matt Cassel and the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. The game begins at 5:30 p.m. PST.

"I take it as a compliment," Jammer, 31, said. "I think here, in the next couple of weeks, I'll get tested. "I definitely think that Kansas City will try to get (Dwayne) Bowe going. He's a great receiver. Why wouldn't you? And then Greg Jennings and that (Green Bay Packers) offense. They throw the ball everywhere. Then we got the Raiders, but I'm just looking at these next two games. I'm pretty sure I'll get my share of chances."

The Jets were the only team to try Jammer more than three times in a game. The Minnesota Vikings in the season opener and the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 3 — when he played less than half the contest due to a calf injury that forced him to miss his first start since 2007 — didn't target him at all.

By comparison, on the opposite side, cornerback Antoine Cason has been targeted 39 times, including 20 targets in the last three games. Cason allowed only eight catches for 55 yards in that recent span but, after conceding three short touchdowns to 6-foot-5 Jets wide receiver Plaxico Burress, will not start Monday in favor of rookie Marcus Gilchrist.

Chargers wide receiver Vincent Jackson says he's not surprised Jammer has been ignored in other teams' gameplans, calling him a "big, strong cornerback" who is either breaking up passes or making a physical tackle after the catch.

But Jammer, a 10-year veteran, has never recorded more than four interceptions in a single season, the major talking point for why fans have yet to vote him to a Pro Bowl.

That's OK, Jackson says.

The oft-ignored cornerback earns his compliments elsewhere.

"That (Pro Bowl) selection process, it is what it is," Jackson said. "I think he's respected in the league. I think that's more important: that other coaches, other teams and other players respect him and know the kind of player he is. He definitely has that."