29 September 2011

Texas A&M Climatologist Says Drought Could Last Until 2020

Texas A&M Climatologist Says Drought Could Last Until 2020

A Texas A&M climatologist has predicted a dire forecast for Texas over the next decade.

John Nielsen-Gammon said the state could remain in a drought until 2020 because of warmer temperatures in the Atlantic ocean and cooler temperatures in the northern Pacific Ocean.

Meteorologists with the National Weather Service in Fort Worth said they understand the science behind the theory but said there no way to predict weather that far into the future.

"It's hard to say over, like, a decade what's going to happen, but at least it looks like through early 2012 we're likely to see drier than average conditions, which just means more drought for Texas," said Dennis Cavanaugh of the NWS.

Farmers across North Texas have been watching their crops wither in dry weather. In some cases, they say it's hardly worth it to plant seed.

"I thought 2006 was dry. This has even been worse than that," said Charles Huddleston, who farms land in northern Collin County. "It's hard to justify putting that expense in the ground when you really don't have much prospect of it coming up."

North Texas has gotten so little rain that farmers are lucky to get 60 percent of what's planted.

And the North Texas Municipal Water District has already activated it's Stage 3 drought plan, significantly limiting outdoor watering for its 1.6 million customers.

Huddleston said there's simply no way to irrigate or haul enough water for farmland for crops or ranches for cattle. He said he's aware of a number of farmers who are thinking of simply giving up and selling their lands to developers.

"All we can do is put the seed in the ground and ask God to send the rain," he said.

Banking Children's Teeth

Banking Children's Teeth

Forget the tooth fairy, now your child's tooth may be far too valuable to leave under a pillow.

“It has been recently discovered that there are stem cells in the pulp chamber of these teeth” said Todd Flower, the director of research at GeneCell International.

They say it's possible to remove those cells now, and freeze them. Then they would be available to treat a variety of diseases, as that child grows older.

But there's a catch.

You can't wait for the tooth to fall out, they must be extracted by a dentist to preserve the cells.

“Even though you know it’s going to come out at a future date, to pull it prematurely may be a tough sell for a lot of children," according to dentist Dr. Jeffrey Kane.

And the cost to store the teeth can be pricey.

The charge to store four teeth for a year is $695 for a year, and for 20 years the costs are $2,295.

And the director of the Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute at UM Miller School of medicine, Dr. Joshua Hare, said it's too early to say how much impact baby teeth can have on future medical breakthroughs.

"While the research is extremely encouraging, Hare said "we can't say right now for sure it would be useful in the future, but it doesn't hurt to bank these cells if cost is not a problem."

3 in Hospital After Bucks County Fire

3 in Hospital After Bucks County Fire

Three people are in the hospital after a massive three-alarm fire in Bucks County.

Firefighters were called to the scene on Thursday around 7:30 p.m. in Doylestown after a blaze began at a home on the 4200 block of Milords Lane.

The fire ended up spreading to two other homes. The original home was completely destroyed while the other two suffered smoke and fire damage.

Peco was also called to the scene for a gas line that was on fire while one of the homes burned.  One woman was flown to the hospital with burn injuries while another person was taken to the hospital for a heart condition. No word yet on their conditions.

Finally, a firefighter was taken to Doylestown Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The Southeastern Pennsylvania American Red Cross is assisting at least four families affected by the fire with food, clothing, shelter and other immediate needs.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

A New Recall: First Cantaloupes, Now Lettuce

Riverside resident Jessica Faldetta, doing her family's shopping Thursday, admitted that lettuce had now joined cantaloupe on her list of banned foods. At least for now.

"No more lettuce for me," she said, reluctantly.

Recent recalls mean her cart carries less.

"it worries me a lot. Especially, since I feed my family that everyday."

Thursday, a Northern California grower became the latest stricken with an incident of possible contamination.

Federal officials say True Leaf Farms sent Listeria-tainted, chopped Romaine lettuce to five western states, including California.

The grower is voluntarily recalling 90 cases in hopes of preventing human infection.

Steve Cockerham, a former Agricultural Operations Superintendent at the University of California Riverside, doesn't think people should overreact.

"It could be widespread in the field," said Cockerham. "But more than likely it's an isolated part of the field, and then it just happens to get into the load. It's an unusual thing."

In addition to the lettuce case, health officials are working to wipe out the deadliest spread of a food borne disease since 1998. Thirteen people have died, more than 70 sickened by Colorado cantaloupe contaminated by Listeria.

"Thirteen people dead, something like that," said shopper Chris Heidt. "Three hundred million people in America, odds are pretty good I'm safe. So I'm not to worried."

Cockerham thinks he's right.

"In general, the food supply is safer than it is in other countries," said Cockerham.

 

Bank of America Customers Brace for New Fees

Bank of America Customers Brace for New Fees

Some customers say they are unhappy with Bank of America's decision to charge customers a monthly fee for using a debit card.

Starting early next year, the bank will charge customers $5 per month to use a debit card connected to a nonpremium checking account.

"Everybody uses it out of convenience so they don't have to carry cash around, so I disagree with it," Jill Wright said.

Bank of America is following a popular trend. It will join the ranks of financial institutions such as SunTrust Bank, which charges customers a fee of $5 per month for debit purchases and payments attached to certain checking accounts. Regions Bank charges customers $4 per month for debit card purchases connected to certain accounts, as well.

"It's too much," said Wright.

Even Wells Fargo and Chase are testing $3 monthly fees for debit card use in several states outside of Texas.

But not all financial institutions are jumping aboard.

"We haven't even considered it," said Jerry Clancy, president of Lone Star Credit Union in Dallas.

With no shareholders or board of directors to answer to, credit unions such as Lone Star can keep fees low, causing some big-bank customers to make a change, he said.

"...A lot of our accounts that have signed up recently are coming over here because of the bank fees," Clancy said.

And some big-bank customers say one more fee would cause them to jump big-bank ship, too.

"I'm already getting charged monthly fees just for the use of the bank," Bank of America customer David Walker said. "And if you're not going to be able to use your card without another charge, I don't understand. I don't understand that. I'm not for that at all."

The banks currently charging or testing debit-card fees do not charge fees for ATM transactions.

Man Lures Girl, 12, to Midtown Office, Attempts to Rape Her

Man Lures Girl, 12, to Midtown Office, Attempts to Rape Her

A 12-year-old girl lured to a Midtown office with the promise of a job was instead attacked by a man who attempted to rape her, police said Thursday.

The girl told police she went to an empty office inside 28 West 44th St. at about 5 p.m. Tuesday and met a man in his 50s. The man had met the girl earlier in the day and offered to get her a job in an office, according to police.

Once the two were inside, the man pulled out a pair of scissors and attempted to rape the girl, police said.

The victim was able to run away and alert authorities, police said. The suspect fled the building through another exit.

The suspect is bald and appeared to be in his 50s, police said. He was wearing black shorts, a dark long-sleeved shirt and carrying a backpack.

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

Harlem Shooting Suspect Caught on Tape

Harlem Shooting Suspect Caught on Tape

Police have released surveillance video of shooting in East Harlem Wednesday, hoping the public can help identify the gunman seen in the footage.

Three men were shot in front of 212 East 122 St. at about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, according to police. An 18-year-old man was shot in the back, a 35-year-old shot in the buttocks, and a 49-year-old in the back, police said.

The victims were known to the suspect, according to police, but the motive was not immediately clear.

The victims were transported to Harlem Hospital, Metropolitan Hospital and St. Luke's Hospital, respectively. The 18-year-old was listed in critical condition, and the other two victims were in stable condition, police said.

The suspect is described as about 18 to 20 years old, wearing a black short-sleeved t-shirt, gray sweatpants and purple sneakers.

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

Mexican Firefighter Who Helped at Ground Zero Dies

Mexican Firefighter Who Helped at Ground Zero Dies

A Mexican firefighter who helped Hispanic immigrants who fell ill after cleaning buildings at ground zero was remembered Thursday for his work in getting them medical and economic help.

"We have lost a leader," Rosa Duque, a Guatemalan immigrant who suffers from respiratory and stomach problems, said at his wake in Corona.

Rafael Hernandez was found dead Sunday in his Queens home. The medical examiner will determine his cause of death.

The 49-year-old Hernandez had been working at an electronics shop near the World Trade Center on Sept. 11. He told The Associated Press in a recent interview that he rushed to the site and volunteered there for three months. He was later diagnosed with chronic respiratory conditions linked to exposure to ground zero.

In the years since, Hernandez emerged as an advocate for immigrants who were sickened after working at the trade center site. He led a biweekly support group called Frontiers of Hope where the workers discussed their illnesses. They also sought to cope with the long-term psychological effects of their time near the disaster site.

At his wake Thursday afternoon, many of Hernandez's friends from the support group gave emotional speeches and paying tribute in song. They recalled how he would accompany them to medical appointments or translate for them in court when needed.

Over the summer, Hernandez had intensified his efforts to urge workers to apply to the newly reopened Sept. 11 Victim Compensation Fund, which will start accepting applications next week.

Social worker Rosa Bramble-Weed, who ran the support group with Hernandez, said she and the cleaners had resolved to continue his work.

Colombian immigrant Maria del Rosario Prada sang at the wake. Before working near ground zero, she had been a soprano, but she said the dust had taken a toll on her vocal cords.

"He told me: 'Sing for me when I go,'" she said. "And that's what I'm going to do."

 

5 Arrested for Port Richmond Triple Shooting

5 Arrested for Port Richmond Triple Shooting

Five people are under arrest for their role in a triple shooting in the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia

On Wednesday police say three people were shot following a fight on Weikel Street. A 28-year-old woman was shot once in the head, a 19-year-old man once in the left calf and a 50-year-old man once in the ankle. All three victims were taken to the hospital where they are currently in stable condition.

On Thursday police arrested 23-year-old Lydell Johnson, 17-year-old Aaron Devine, 34-year-old Phillip Gillard, 19-year-old Shawn Jones and 24-year-old Mahogany White for their connection to the shooting.

All five are charged with attempted murder.

Every Ennis High School Student to Get Tuberculosis Test

Every Ennis High School student will be tested for exposure to tuberculosis after more than 100 people have tested positive.

More than 800 students, staff members and anyone who has been in close contact with them have been tested after a teacher was diagnosed with the bacterial infection before the start of school.

The school district announced late Thursday that the students and faculty who have not been tested will get free tuberculosis screenings beginning Monday.

Frustrated parents told state health officials at a public meeting Wednesday night that every student needs to be tested.

The Texas Department of Health and Human Services reached out to Dallas County Health and Human Services for help.

Dallas County is one of few that has a dedicated Tuberculosis Elimination Division.

The county also wanted to get involved because it has received dozens of phone calls from parents and school districts concerned that the infection might spread between players at athletic events.

Concerned callers said they were worried that the infection could spread if one player's sweat is wiped on another. But Susan Kent, the nurse supervisor for the Tuberculosis Elimination Division said there is "no chance" of that happening.

"It is an airborne infection," she said. "It is not spread by body fluids. You have got to spend prolonged periods of time in a closed environment with someone who is coughing and spewing out those germs."

Kent also said people who have tested positive on a skin test but do not have an active case of tuberculosis are not contagious.

"Let's say if you do have someone on the football team with a positive skin test, he cannot give anything to anyone. He would have to have an active case," she said.

Positive skin tests indicate the person has been exposed to tuberculosis but do not mean that the person has the infection.

People with positive skin tests receive a chest X-ray. If the chest X-ray shows abnormalities on the lungs, it's possible the person has an active case of tuberculosis, and further testing is needed.

Dr. Garry Woo, medical director for the Tuberculosis Elimination Division, said the precautions some districts have told their students to abide by are unnecessary.

"Measures such as wearing masks, avoiding the athletic event, bringing your own water -- these are unnecessary," he said.


Previous Coverage:

  • TB Testing Round Two at Ennis High School
  • Dozens Test Positive for Exposure to Tuberculosis
  • Teacher in Ennis ISD Positive for Tuberculosis

Psychiatrists Testify in Tysons Toddler Death Trial

Friends and family testified for the defense Thursday in the trial of a woman accused of killing her 2-year-old grand-daughter outside Tysons Corner Center.

Lawyers for Carmen dela Rosa say she's not responsible for her actions last November, and in court Thursday, new details emerged about the relationship dela Rosa had with the child.

"My lovey" was the pet name friends and relatives said Carmela dela Rosa had for her granddaughter. Her cousin, Olga Achacoso, testified that dela Rosa was once "a proud grandmother, always saying, ‘Look how beautiful Angelyn is. She is so adorable.’"

But that cousin and others close to dela Rosa testified the suspect plunged into a deep depression.

"She's not the same Carmela anymore," thought one lifelong friend, who talked to dela Rosa by phone just days before the grandmother threw Angelyn Ogdoc off an elevated Tysons walkway.

Friend Susan Bogay recalled another depression in 2008, when dela Rosa suspected her teenage daughter, Kat, was pregnant with Angelyn. Dela Rosa called crying, exclaiming, “Oh my God! If she’s pregnant, I think I'm going to kill myself. I'm not a good mom."

Dela Rosa tried to kill herself twice in the months before the mall incident.

A succession of dela Rosa's doctors and psychiatrists who treated her after her suicide attempts and after Angelyn’s death also testified Thursday. Dr. Cynthia Gauss is among those who diagnosed major depressive disorder, but she and others say dela Rosa did not exhibit psychotic symptoms. One psychologist who assessed dela Rosa at the adult detention center after her arrest testified that “she didn't seem to know why she was here and what was going on around her."

Another psychologist at the jail said dela Rosa didn't initially respond to questions and she had to ask a jail guard to touch her to rouse her. The defense hopes that testimony bolsters its claim that dela Rosa was unaware of what she was doing when she threw Angelyn over the railing.

Prosecutors say dela Rosa's videotaped confession shows she planned the crime to get even with her son-in-law, whom she resented for her daughter’s out of wedlock pregnancy and for taking Kat from the family.

Dela Rosa is pleading not guilty by reason of insanity. The trial is expected to go to the jury next week.

Historic Lincoln Theatre's Future in Jeopardy

Board members overseeing Washington's historic Lincoln Theatre on U Street said it's uncertain how much longer the theater can stay open without support from the city.

For too many nights, the historic Lincoln Theatre on U Street NW sits empty, its beautiful interior a ghost of its storied past...

Now owned by the city, it's been a part of the U Street Corridor since it opened in 1922. It featured the nation's best African-American talents for decades before it closed after the 1968 riots. It reopened again in 1994 after a $10 million renovation.

At a last-minute press conference Thursday, members of the Lincoln Theatre board complained the city government has withdrawn funding for the theater -- about $500,000 a year -- and it doesn't have enough paid events to remain open beyond the next few weeks or months.

Board member Rick Lee, whose family has operated nearby Lees Flowers since 1945, said the theater has just $50,000 in cash on hand. But the theater's monthly operating costs are $60,000. The board is appealing to Mayor Vincent Gray to provide funding from the city's surplus tax revenue. The board is also asking donors to help the theater stay open.

Mayor Vincent Gray said he wants the nonprofit board to restructure itself to be more self-supporting, which angers some theater backers.

Longtime business leader Virginia Ali of Ben's Chili Bowl said the midsize 1,200-seat theater is a problem that requires fresh thinking.

“It is a facility that's too big to be small and too small to be big,” she said.

Burglars Hit Hollywood Hills Homes, Make Off With Millions in Jewels

Since July, several homes in the Hollywood Hills have been hit by burglars, who've now nabbed millions of dollars' worth of jewels, according to police.

At least six homes along Mulholland Boulevard between Laurel Canyon Boulevard and Dona Pegita Drive have been robbed in the past two months.

Adrienne Rodgers said her house was hit a couple months ago.

 

"Million dollars of jewelry and handbags," said Rodgers. "Prada, Louis Vuitton...everything."

Rodgers' neighbor was also hit, and again, thieves made off with a bundle of precious gems, said police.

 

"They come in through the bedroom. They either break a window or get in somehow and go right for the bedroom safe," said Rodgers.

Detectives are not saying if they have any leads and it's not known if police have been looking at pawn shops for the stolen jewels.

But Rodgers wishes things would move faster.

"I really don't feel better. I feel uptight. Every night I go to bed thinking of my mother and I just want to get the stuff back. I don't care how," she said.

Officers stress they are working on the case.

"My biggest fear is not getting my jewelry back...because I was not insured for a penny of it," said Rodgers. "It was millions and millions of dollars."

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SUV Overturns on El Cajon Freeway

An SUV overturned on I-9 Thursday, causing major traffic build-up in El Cajon.

The accident forced CHP officials to close two lanes of the eastbound I-9 on El Cajon Blvd. where the car overturned, according to a CHP spokesperson.

The passenger inside the SUV was able to get out of the car and was treated on the scene.

CHP issued a Sig alert for the traffic delays.

 

Ambulance Explodes in Prince George’s County

Ambulance Explodes in Prince George’s County

An ambulance in Mt. Rainier, Md. suddenly burst into flames and exploded Wednesday afternoon.

The explosion at about 2:30 p.m. was strong enough to blow the roof of the vehicle.

No one was inside the ambulance at the time.

It was parked in a lot at 38th St. and Rhode Island Ave. -- very close to a fire station. However, the crew from that station was away on another call at the time, according to STATter911.com

An engine crew from Bladensburg Volunteer Fire Department put out the flames. Chief Randy Kuenzli shot video of the fire, according to STATter911.com.

Education Nation Town Hall

Education Nation Town Hall

In our special Town Hall show at 6 p.m. Thursday, we look at our vision for the future of Education and the issues facing our children's education in San Diego.

What do we want our children to learn? Do they all need to go to college? We're working with Our Greater San Diego Vision to come up with some answers. Click the link to find out more. 

Panel guests specializing in education will answer some of these questions and more. Tune in!

 

Join the conversation and contribute some of your own commentsvia Twitter @nbcsandiego or add your comment to our Facebook page.

Marijuana, Massage Parlors Shut Down in North Park

Marijuana, Massage Parlors Shut Down in North Park

A building in North Park that housed four marijuana dispensaries and about 12 adult massage parlors has been forced out of business by a court order.

The owner, Steven Greenwald, agreed to evict the businesses in the building on the 4000 block of Park Blvd. after a court ordered him to cease their operation, according to Jonathan Heller with the city of San Diego.

The city forbids marijuana dispensaries, as well as massage parlors in that particular zone. Greenwald signed a settlement with the city, and agreed to pay $10,000 in civil penalties, and has already paid the city over $4,000 in investigative expenses.

A pastor at a nearby church complained about the building to city officials, saying in a court declaration that customers of the dispensaries would hang out near the church playground, sometimes urinating on church property.

Also, a police officer witnessed what he believed to be transients panhandling for marijuana outside the building.

The court ordered that the dispensaries cease business within 60 days.

 

96 Percent of Va. Public Schools Fully Accredited

96 Percent of Va. Public Schools Fully Accredited

Virginia education officials said 96 percent of Virginia's public schools are fully accredited after meeting state benchmarks, down from last year because the state imposed tougher standards that require high schools to account for graduation and completion.

The Virginia Department of Education said Thursday that all but 70 of the state's 1,768 schools met objectives on 2010-11 Standards of Learning tests and other statewide assessments in English, mathematics, science and history -- and, for high schools, graduation. That's down from 98 percent last year.

Among high schools, 86 percent meet full accreditation standards, down from 99 percent. This is the first time the state included high school graduation and completion among its accountability measures.

“Whenever standards are raised, there are schools that require time to meet the new expectations,” state Superintendent of Public Instruction Patricia Wright said Thursday.

State education officials say 298 of 309 middle schools and 1,157 out of 1,174 elementary schools are fully accredited.

To gain full accreditation, 70 percent of students in each middle and high school must pass all four Standards of Learning subject areas.

High schools also must also attain a point value of at least 85 on a newly implemented “graduation and completion” index. The annual index assigns certain point values to different types of diplomas, GEDs or other credentials, and factors in on-time graduation, dropouts and students transferring in and out of the school.

In elementary school, 75 percent must pass English tests and 70 percent must pass math tests in the third through fifth grades to gain full accreditation. Also, 70 percent must pass fifth-grade science and Virginia history (which can be offered in fourth or fifth grade), and 50 percent must pass third-grade science and third-grade history.

Adjustments are allowed for English learners, students who undergo remediation after failing reading or math tests, and students who recently have transferred into a state public school.

J.E.B. Stuart Elementary School in Petersburg earned full accreditation after falling short for three straight years, officials said.

The state denied accreditation to two schools because of chronically low student achievement: Petersburg's Peabody Middle School, for a sixth straight year; and Ellen W. Chambliss Elementary School, for a third straight year.

Thirty schools are accredited with warning, up from 15 last year. Such schools have to undergo academic review and are required to come up with school-improvement plans. Thirty high schools are provisionally accredited -- meaning they achieved the required pass rates in the four content areas and had a completion and graduation index in the 80 point to 84 point range.

Five schools have conditional accreditation because they're new schools, officials said, and the status of three schools undergoing efforts to improve student performance after being denied accreditation will be determined by the state Board of Education.

Required pass rates will be raised in 2012, when 75 percent of students in testing levels must pass English for schools to be accredited. Pass rates in science and history will be raised to 70 percent for elementary students. The Standards of Learning math tests will become more rigorous this school year, and the English tests will follow suit next year.

Wright expects accreditation rates will continue to fall as the state adopts higher standards.

“But raising standards is the right thing to do, and I am confident that our teachers and schools will rise to the challenge, and Virginia students will be better prepared as a result,” she said in a statement.

Local Stores See Drop in Cantaloupe Sales

Local Stores See Drop in Cantaloupe Sales

Timothy Quinn says the cantaloupes in his store are perfectly safe but sales are still down nearly 25 percent.

"People ask all the time because they hear something, they think all of them are bad," said Timothy Quinn with Stumps Family Marketplace in Point Loma. 

But Quinn says his fruit comes from California farms -- not from the Colorado farm that is linked to a listeria outbreak.

So far, at least 16 deaths have been linked to the cantaloupe. The nationwide recall of fruit is the worst outbreak in more than 10 years. The cantaloupe comes from Jensen Farms of Holly, Colorado. 

Even though there has been no other farm linked to the recall, shoppers are hesitant to buy the melons at Stumps.

"I think I'd stay away just to be on the safe side," said shopper Caroline Januario.  But shopper Elynor Snyder is convinced there is not problem.

"It's been all over the news so I'm pretty confident," said Snyder.

Texas Has 3 Days to Pick Up Vince Young Impostor Suspect on Sex Offense

A man suspected of posing as Vince Young will be released in three weekdays unless Texas authorities come get him on a more serious sex offense charge.

Police suspect Stephan Pittman, of Fort Washington, of posing as the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback and accepting money to make appearances, saying the money was for charity.

He appeared in court on a felony fraud charge Thursday. He allegedly told a woman her donation would go toward equipment and sporting goods for a Prince George’s County, Md., charity and promised to put the woman on the charity’s payroll. She said he pressed her and made her feel intimidated so she gave him the money.

If Texas doesn’t want him, Pittman will be released without bond but under supervision. He’ll have a 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew, will have to check in with parole once a week and undergo regular drug testing. He’s also been ordered to stay away from any victims.

Ambulance Explodes Outside Wal-Mart in El Cajon

Ambulance Explodes Outside Wal-Mart in El Cajon

An ambulance parked outside the Westfield Shopping Center in El Cajon burst into flames and then exploded several times Thursday afternoon.

Tanks inside the ambulance caused it to explode at about 4 p.m., according to a representative for the Hearthland Fire Department, but officials do not know what started the blaze.

No one was reported injured in the explosion, which occurred outside the entrance to the Wal-Mart at 415 Parkway Plaza.

The EMTs who drove the ambulance said they attempted to access the extinguisher inside, but the fire was too close, so they could not reach it, according to witness Jesse Yuhas.

Heartland Fire Department extinguished the fire shortly after the explosion.

Marines and Sailors Practice ‘Dawn Blitz’ Landing at Pendleton

Marines and Sailors Practice ‘Dawn Blitz’ Landing at Pendleton

Marines and sailors will storm Camp Pendleton Friday to practice combative beach assaults and disaster relief.

The Marines and sailors boarded two ships Wednesday for the exercise, called “Dawn Blitz 2011.” They practiced evacuations, live-fire shoots and other operations. Friday, they will practice a beach landings similar to those used in World War II, according to the North County Times.

"We are not going to see landings like we had at Inchon (Korea) or Iwo Jima, but the usefulness and need for a Navy and Marine Corps amphibious force is not going away," said Maj. Gen. Melvin Spiese, deputy commander of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, to the NCT.

In the past several years since operations in Afghanistan and Iraq started, the military has placed a decreased emphasis on this type of training, since those are land wars. Yet the Marine Corps wanted to renew the training, and make sure its forces could respond to a diverse array of crises.

The exercise will also be a rare chance for the Navy and the Marines to work and practice the amphipious landing together, a Marine Corps official said.

Dawn Blitz began Wednesday and will be finished by Sunday. Troops taking part in the exercise are assigned to Camp Pendleton's 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade, which is part of the base's more than 40,000-troop 1st Marine Expeditionary Force.

 

Fort Worth City Council Could Expand

The Fort Worth City Council could be getting bigger.

Numbers from the 2010 Census show the city grew by 38.6 percent over the last decade, and the City Council could add two council districts.

"This is all about governing people," Mayor Betsy Price said. "We want the people to have the say so. We want the input on that whether we stay at eight plus the mayor or whether we go 10 plus the mayor."

In a citizens' satisfaction survey completed in May, Price said most residents were leaning toward the expansion, a move that comes with some tricky issues.

"There really are pros and cons. All of it is going to take some redistricting," Price said. "We know we have to shift people around, but it's whether we want to add extra council member or not."

Price said she hasn't decided one way or the other just yet, preferring to be guided by public opinion.

Opinions on the council certainly vary. Councilman Sal Espino, who represents the Northside, is in favor of adding two districts. But Councilman Frank Moss, who represents parts of east and south Fort Worth, is leaning toward keeping the present system.

"With going to 10, you would cut some of the diversity within some of the districts," Moss said.

Moss said that going to 10 would force districts to represent narrower areas that have narrower concerns. He said it would be better to have districts that cover the diversity the city offers in terms of growth, wealth and race.

Moss, one of two blacks on the council, said he isn't sure if adding a second district would add a minority vote to the council.

It would be the council's first expansion since 1975, when the city adopted the current single-member eight districts and citywide mayor.

Adding council districts would come with a cost. A special charter election costing $500,000 would have to be held. And there would also be staffing costs for council aides and staff, the council members themselves and superficial changes to where the council meets.

"We'd have to redo the table, have a bigger dais, there's a lot that would need to be done," Price said. "But that doesn't mean we won't be willing to do it if that's what Fort Worth wants."

Ultimately, how citizens want to move forward is the greatest factor for her, Price said. She said she wants more public input in the process.

Friday is the last day to submit written public comment to the city, but a public hearing will be held Oct. 18. The council will make a decision Nov. 1.

"When we hear from 10, that's not a good representation," Price said. "We need to hear from a lot of people. We need a lot of people to weigh in on this decision."

Christie Reconsiders Promise Not to Run in 2012

Christie Reconsiders Promise Not to Run in 2012

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie appears to be backtracking on earlier vows not to run for the GOP presidential nomination, despite pleas by many in his party to do just that.

USA LOCAL NEWS has confirmed that the Republican in his first term is now considering a run for president, after months of adamantly denying he would get into the 2012 race.

Sources tell NBC New York he's reconsidering his past denials due to what he felt was a strong outpouring of support during appearances throughout the country this week, especially during his stop at the Reagan Presidential Library in California on Wednesday.

Christie was with Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal Thursday to raise money for the state GOP, and also made appearances in Missouri this week. The buzz about him entering the race has grown louder in recent days.

Amid this decision to reconsider, his closest advisers -- who are normally accessible to the media -- have been told to shut down their access, and not respond for "the next couple of days."

Indications are he will make a decision by early next week.

The filing deadline to appear on the Florida primary ballot is Oct. 31.

Christie's denials of any interest in a 2012 run have not been flimsy. Last January he said he had made a pledge to Garden State voters to be their governor.

In May, he said he was "thrilled" by the attention, but added "I just don't want to do it."

A month later, he said he was "100 percent certain" he would not run next year, adding that he was making the decision "based on whether I believe in my heart that I'm ready to be president of the United States."

Watch a video of his many denials here.



 

Names Released in Murder-Suicide Shooting at Patriot High School

Names Released in Murder-Suicide Shooting at Patriot High School

The victims in Wednesday's shooting at a Riverside County high school we're married, according to the Riverside County Coroner's office.

On Thursday, the coroner identified them as Donaciano Aguirre, 64, and his wife, Maria Celia Aguirre, 61. Both lived in Jurupa Valley.

On Wednesday, at 10:40 a.m. police received a 911 call reporting a shooting in the parking lot at Patriot High School, in the Jurupa area of Riverside County.

The shots were heard by a school resource officer. The campus was locked down, and two shooting victims were found in the parking lot. The crime was quickly labeled a murder-suicide, but it was unclear if the shooting victims were related.

Detectives believe Donaciano Aguirre shot his wife and turned the gun on himself. While the homicide investigation continues, there are no other suspects, according to investigators.

What provoked the shooting is still unknown. No students at Patriot High School were injured.

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AC Casino Worker Falls Off Ladder

AC Casino Worker Falls Off Ladder

A worker at an Atlantic City casino is in the hospital after falling off a ladder, according to the press of Atlantic City.

It happened early Thursday afternoon at the Revel Casino. The AC Press reports that the man fell and hit his head. His condition is unknown at this time.

This is the second accident at the Revel this month. On Thursday, Sept. 15, a man working on the roof of the casino died after getting struck by lightning.

The Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the incident, according to the AC Press.

California Teens May Be Banned From Tanning Beds

California Teens May Be Banned From Tanning Beds

Teenagers in the Golden State may stop looking so golden this winter if Gov. Jerry Brown approves legislation that would bar anyone under the age of 18 from using tanning beds.

Senate Bill 746, authored by Ted Lieu (D-Torrance), was passed by the state senate earlier this month and is awaiting Brown’s approval. If enacted, the law would take effect Jan. 1, 2012.

Currently, anyone between the ages of 14 and 18 must get consent from a parent before using the tanning bed. The bill would eliminate that option, completely prohibiting the minors from using the beds at all.

Many tanning bed business owners are opposed to the bill. The state will not be required to reimburse these owners for the lost business.

The California Medical Association was active in the debate of the bill. The group cited studies which show that the risk of skin cancer increases with the use of indoor tanning beds.

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Red Fever's Favorable Impact on Arlington

Red Fever's Favorable Impact on Arlington

The Texas Rangers are back in the playoffs and local businesses already see dollar signs.

"We are super excited," said Carmen Barron, manager at Humperdink's Restaurant. "I mean the business is going to be insane, we're ready to go for another world series, definitely."

 

Rangers fans and meeting planners are also cheering another year in the national spotlight.

"The visibility is unbelievable," said Jay Burress with the Arlington Convention and Visitors Bureau. "People from around the country and the world get to hear the name 'Arlington' and 'Ballpark in Arlington' over and over. It opens many doors for us with meeting planners around the country."

Arlington rakes in $13,000 in sales tax revenue from every sold-out game at Rangers Ballpark.

"It's visibility, but it's also merchandise sales, it's sales tax, it's hotel occupancy tax," said Burress.

The 2010 playoffs proved to be a real bonanza for the city, which netted an additional $1.3 million dollars in sales tax revenue, extra revenue that went straight to the city's bottom line.

"This year's budget will have a $4 million surplus in 2012, this current budget. And last year it was about a $3 million surplus" said Arlington Mayor Robert Cluck. "So each year we've had surpluses, which is uncommon in North Texas right now."

Organizers at a local job fair Thursday say the Rangers continued success, along with Cowboys Stadium, improves the local job picture, especially at hotels and restaurants.

"We have had growth in our hospitality industries," said Judy McDonald with Workforce Solutions For Tarrant County."So there's usually always job opportunities. We've had like the Omni, the Gaylord, the Sheraton all still looking for people."

 

Cab Driver Killed in La Jolla Was Hard Worker: Friends

Cab Driver Killed in La Jolla Was Hard Worker: Friends

The cab driver shot and killed in La Jolla Wednesday was remembered by fellow cab drivers as a hard worker.

A 68-year-old self-employed cab driver was found laying on the sidewalk in the 6800 block of La Jolla Scenic Drive after 11:30 p.m, dead of several gunshot wounds according to San Diego homicide investigators.

Witnesses told police they saw a green and white taxi pulled over on the side of the road, heard an argument and then gunfire.

The cab then drove off heading northbound on La Jolla Scenic Drive North police said. The empty taxi was found around 2:20 a.m. Thursday parked on Coast Boulevard near the Children's Pool.

Police have not released the name of the victim but fellow cab driver Sal Nasery said he was a hard worker who would read or write while waiting for fares at the airport.

“It happened in the nicest part of San Diego, La Jolla. It’s very strange,” Nasery said.

The airport is usually a safe area to pick up passengers he said but cab drivers in San Diego are always on guard.

They never know who they are picking up. They cannot ask questions about who they are picking up and can’t discriminate against passengers or refuse fares because how a customer may look.

“The job is dangerous. We’re all constantly in danger of being robbed,” Nasery said. “We have to watch out for ourselves.”

The cabbie still had his wallet on him when officers arrived. They have not released his identity pending family notification.

How many people were involved is still unclear. Investigators have not released a suspect description.

Cab driver Ali Jillal wants San Diego police to be more vigilant to help protect cab drivers working on city streets.

“Now, we are asking ourselves ‘Who is next?’ Our friend is gone. We don’t know who is going to be next now,” Jillal said.

Police have asked that anyone with information about this case call the Homicide Unit at (619) 531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.

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How to Get to Yankee Stadium for the Playoffs

How to Get to Yankee Stadium for the Playoffs

A special vintage train is being rolled out this week in honor of the Yankees making the playoffs.

The MTA's four-car "Nostalgia Special" is scheduled to leave 42 Street-Grand Central approximately one hour before game time for all three games.

For Friday, the train will be leaving Grand Central on the uptown side of the 4 line at about 7:15 p.m., making stops at 59th, 86th, 125th, 138th/Grand Concourse, 149th Street/Grand Concourse and 161st Street/Grand Concourse.

The cars were originally operated by the Interborough Rapid Transit (IRT) system, entering service in 1917 and worked into the early 1960s.

A word of warning: The old trains won't be air conditioned, though the MTA assures: "There will be plenty of fans on board -- Yankees fans, that is."

The MTA has also outlined other ways of getting to Yankee Stadium during the playoffs:

Metro-North Railroad



Metro-North will offer plenty of direct, fast and convenient “Train to the Game” service to the ALDS via the Hudson, Harlem and New Haven Lines as well as frequent shuttle service from Grand Central Terminal/Harlem-125th Street Stations throughout all games. Post-game direct trains are timed to depart 20- to 45-minutes after the last out.

Schedules for trains to Game One are posted at >and Metro-North will post schedules for Game Two on Oct. 1 and (if necessary) Game Five on Oct. 6 when the game times are announced.



New York City Subway & Nostalgia Train

Fans can always take the B, D or 4 train to 161 St-Yankee Stadium. Additional trains and crews will be on hand with capacity crowds of more than 52,000 fans expected to attend each of the games. After each game, trains are queued along the center track of the Jerome and Concourse Lines and then called into 161 St-Yankee Stadium and filled one by one until the last Manhattan-bound customers are on their way. This system will be in place for all Yankee playoff games.

Buses

Yankee Stadium is served by the Bx6 and Bx13 local buses. The Bx1, Bx2, and BxM4 stop at 161st Street and the Grand Concourse, a short four-block walk from the stadium.

It's Hot, Record Hot

It's Hot, Record Hot

It may be fall, but the temperatures have been unseasonably warm/hot this week.

On Thursday, North Texas hit a new record high at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport -- where all records for the area are recorded.

The mercury hit 100 degrees just before 3 p.m. breaking the Sept. 29 record of 99 set back in 1953.

The high also marked the 71 days of temperatures at or more than 100 degrees in 2011, according to NBC 5 Meteorologist Grant Johnston.

The good news is a cold front arrives Thursday evening bringing cooler temperatures for the weekend, according to Johnston,  just in time for the opening of the State Fair of Texas and the beginning of the ALDS.

Consecutive 100° Days
Rank # of Days Year
1 71 2011
2

69

1980
3 56 1998
4 52 1954
5 48 1956
6 46 2000
7 44 1952
8 43 2006
9 40

1951

10 38

1963

Car Crashes Into Schuylkill River

Car Crashes Into Schuylkill River

Rescue crews are searching for a woman whose car crashed into the Schuylkill River.

It happened Thursday afternoon as the woman was driving along Ferry Road and Kelly Drive.

Witnesses say the woman's vehicle smashed through a wall and into the river. Her car was last seen floating downstream.

We'll have more details as this story develops.


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Beltway Ramp Closing Permanently

Beltway Ramp Closing Permanently

Some major changes are coming to the Beltway at the exit for I-66.

The exit from I-495 North to I-66 West is scheduled to close permanently to regular traffic on Friday, Sept. 30. As part of the HOT lanes project, the entire interchange will be rebuilt.

Once construction is complete, the former exit will be transformed into a HOT lanes ramp. The project includes 10 new bridges and four new HOT lanes.

In the meantime, traffic heading north on the Beltway will be shifted to new outer lanes from Lee Highway to I-66.

The HOT lanes construction project has three phases. It was started in 2008 and is expected to be completed some time in 2012.

Police Release Photo of Jacket Similar to Sex Attack Suspect's Coat

Police have released a photo of the type of jacket worn by the suspect in an attempted Brooklyn sex attack last March.

The attack was captured on surveillance video outside a house on 16th Street, and the woman's chilling screams can be heard as the man attempts to grab her around 11:30 p.m. on March 20.

The man is seen trying rip down the woman’s pants as he pulls down his own. She cries “get off me” and screams for the duration of the assault – about 45 seconds.

The jacket is pictured here, and police are hoping that someone will recognize it and give them information to track down the suspect.

The attack is among a string of several in Brooklyn that have residents on edge.

The police are urging anyone with information about the attack or the suspect to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).

Boeing Workers Busted in FBI Prescription Drug Raid

Boeing Workers Busted in FBI Prescription Drug Raid

More than three dozen people have been charged in a prescription drug sweep that included a raid on a Boeing plant near Philadelphia that makes military helicopters.

Agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration swooped in Thursday morning at the 5,400-employee plant in Ridley Park.

Federal authorities say 37 people are charged with illegal distribution of a prescription drug. All but one is an employee or former employee of the plant.

The drugs the Boeing employees were allegedly distributing includes fentanyl (Actiq), oxycodone (Oxycontin), alprazolam (Xanax) and buprenorphine (Suboxone), according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The charges allege that each defendant either sold a controlled substance to an FBI cooperator or bought what was believed to be a controlled substance from the cooperator but which was, in fact, a placebo, according to the U.S. Attorney.

“This investigation and prosecution focused not only on the sellers, but also on the users because of the critical role that these employees play in manufacturing military aircraft,” said United States Attorney Zane David Memeger.  “Prescription drug abuse has been on the rise in our community, and this is just one example of how pervasive the problem is."

Workers there build aircraft including the H-47 Chinook helicopter and the V-22 Osprey. The plant is part of the Defense, Space and Security unit of the Chicago-based Boeing Co. It is also the headquarters for its Rotorcraft division.

An official with Boeing's Military Aircraft division at the plant declined to comment.

Gov. May Bar Minors From Tanning Beds

Gov. May Bar Minors From Tanning Beds

Teenagers around the country may be a little paler this winter if Gov. Jerry Brown approves legislation that would bar anyone under the age of 18 from using tanning beds.

Senate Bill 746, authored by Ted Lieu (D-Torrance), was passed by the state senate earlier this month and is awaiting Brown’s approval. If enacted, the policy would take effect Jan. 1 2012.

Currently, anyone between the ages of 14 and 18 must get consent from a parent before using the tanning bed. The bill would eliminate that option, completely prohibiting the minors from using the beds at all.

Many tanning bed business owners are opposed to the bill. The state will not be required to reimburse these owners for the lost business.

The California Medical Association was active in the debate of the bill – they cited studies which show that the risk of skin cancer increases with the use of indoor tanning beds.

 

Do you think the governor should sign this bill into law? Or, should parents continue to have a say in their children’s tanning bed usage? Comment below, send us your thoughts via Twitter @nbcsandiego or add your comment to our Facebook page.

$1 Million in Cocaine Seized from Plane at JFK

$1 Million in Cocaine Seized from Plane at JFK

A plane carrying 18 brick-shaped packages of powder cocaine landed at Kennedy Airport last month, setting off an investigation into the drugs that continues today, according to authorities.

When the plane landed in New York City Aug. 25, a team of K-9 dogs alerted customs officers to the possible presence of illegal drugs, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman Anthony Bucci.

A search turned up 44 pounds of packaged cocaine concealed inside the cargo-hold bulk head door. The street value of the drugs was estimated at about $1 million.

Bucci said the agency could not release further information because the investigation was still active and could not be jeopardized by details released to the public.

He added the seizure was unusually large and highlighted the work of Customs and Border Protection officers, whose rigorous attention to detail in their work helped result in the seizure of the drugs.

The investigation is ongoing, with several agencies involved, said Bucci.

Man Tries to Lure Girl, Exposes Himself: Cops

Man Tries to Lure Girl, Exposes Himself: Cops

Police are searching for a man who allegedly exposed himself to an underage girl after trying to lure her into his vehicle.

Police responded to the girl’s report Thursday morning around 6:45.

The girl told police that she was approached by a man while waiting at her bus stop on Rosedale and Ceredo Avenue in West Goshen.

The man allegedly gestured toward the girl repeatedly to get her to come into his car. When she refused, the girl says the man then exposed himself to her.

The girl ran back into her home and informed her parents who contacted police.

The girl described the man as a clean-shaven white male in his late 20s to early 30s with short brown hair, wearing a black t-shirt. His car is described as an average sized, “sparkly” blue vehicle.

Investigators say they showed the girl a picture of a neon blue Honda Civic that was involved in a separate incident in West Chester on September 22. The girl believes the car is the same one that the man was driving.

Possible Vehicle of Suspect

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Rash of Firebombings Probed in Baltimore

Rash of Firebombings Probed in Baltimore

Baltimore police and fire officials are urging people to be on the lookout for suspicious activity after a string of firebombings across the city in recent weeks.

Officials announced Thursday that there have been nine arson incidents involving Molotov cocktails in the city since Sept. 13, but there have been no serious injuries or property damage.

Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said in most cases the firebombs were thrown through first-floor front windows of homes between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. He said that since the firebombings have happened all over the city and there doesn't seem to be anything linking the victims or structures that were targeted, investigators don't believe one person is responsible.

Authorities ask anyone who sees someone carrying gasoline, particularly in glass bottles, to contact police.

NJ Police Chief Orders Parking Ticket for Wife

NJ Police Chief Orders Parking Ticket for Wife

A New Jersey police chief says no one is above the law, not even his wife.

Lodi Police Chief Vincent Caruso ordered an officer to ticket his wife after she double parked while dropping off their 5-year-old son at school.

Caruso told The Record newspaper he didn't want her to get any special treatment because of who she is.

The chief paid the $54 ticket.

It's not the first time for Paula Caruso. The chief ordered another officer to ticket her two years ago after she forgot to move their vehicle for street cleaning.

The chief told the newspaper he loves his wife and she's very busy driving their four sons around.

NinjaVideo Piracy Site Operator Pleads Guilty

NinjaVideo Piracy Site Operator Pleads Guilty

An operator of what had been a popular underground website for downloading pirated movies has pleaded guilty in an Alexandria, Va., courtroom to a copyright-infringement conspiracy.

Hana Beshara, 29, of Las Vegas admitted her role Thursday in running NinjaVideo, which at one point allowed millions of users to illegally download movies and television programs.

Federal prosecutors in Alexandria estimated NinjaVideo users submitted more than 1 million requests a week for pirated movies and TV shows before the site was shut down last year.

In court documents Thursday, Beshara admitted that she personally profited by $210,000 for operating NinjaVideo between 2008 and 2010. While most content was available for free, some required a subscription fee. Users also made donations online.

Beshara is the second person linked to NinjaVideo to plead guilty. Three others still face trial.

Group Claims Princeton Labs Mistreat Animals

Group Claims Princeton Labs Mistreat Animals

An anonymous whistleblower says labs at Princeton University are regularly and badly mistreating their animals.

The anti-animal research group Stop Animal Exploitation announced the complaints were announced on Thursday. The group has asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture's animal welfare enforcement arm to investigate.

The complaint says the serious violations date at least to 2003.

Among the most serious are claims that marmosets were killed when they were sent along with their cage through a high temperature washing machine.

The report also says that a marmoset that escaped was clubbed.

The group says many of the biggest problems apparently went unreported. That would also be a violation of the federal Animal Welfare Act.

A Princeton spokesman says the university had not seen the allegations.

Rockville Man Accused of Theft From National Archives

Rockville Man Accused of Theft From National Archives

A former employee of the agency that safeguards the nation's records has been charged with stealing from the agency over 10 years.

Leslie Charles Waffen, who worked at the National Archives and Records Administration for 40 years, was charged Tuesday with theft of United States property.

A document charging Waffen said officials seized 955 "sound recording items'' from his Rockville home in October 2010, though it does not specify what was taken.

Court documents suggest a plea deal is in the works. A telephone message left Thursday at Waffen's home was not immediately returned, and no attorney was listed in court documents. Theft of government property carries a possible sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 or more.

Disease Kills Ducks in Lake Forest Area

Disease Kills Ducks in Lake Forest Area

Wildlife specialists are attempting to combat an unknown toxin in Lake Forest that is killing ducks.

Katie Ingram, a spokesperson for the community outreach team at OC Animal Care, has received phone calls reporting sick and diseased ducks in the area.

"We suspect that it’s botulism," said Ingram. "But we have not confirmed that yet."

Botulism, a neurotoxin that causes paralysis, grows in environments low in oxygen. This scenario can happen almost every summer or end of summer, said Debbie McGuire, the wildlife director at the Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center in Huntington Beach.

"It’s just the environment. For some reason, in Lake Forest, if it is botulism, something is triggering it to bloom," she said.

Residents who find a sick bird should report it immediately.

"The best way we can fight it, if it’s out there, is if we pick up the carcasses and incinerate them," said McGuire. "The ones that are sick – they need to get into care right away.

"Whatever is happening is happening acutely, which is right away, as opposed to chronically."

The Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center is treating birds by giving them IV or oral fluids, depending on how sick they are. Some ducks need additional care.

"Sometimes, they need to be put on medication for secondary injuries if the botulism hits them mid-flight and they drop out of air," said McGuire. "And when it hits them, they call it limber-neck disease, because the ducks can’t hold their heads up. They lose their ability to blink, and if it’s real bad, they might lose their ability to respirate."

The cause of the deaths is still under investigation by the Orange County Vector Control District.

"The preliminary tests came back and showed whatever killed the ducks was an acute onset of something -- and botulism comes high on that list, or another toxin," said McGuire.

Please contact OC Animal Care at 714-935-6848 to report a sick duck. 

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NY State Mulls Medicaid for Transgender Surgery

NY State Mulls Medicaid for Transgender Surgery

A state Medicaid advisory group has proposed covering surgery and therapy for transgender New Yorkers, procedures currently excluded from the program that paid $53 billion last year for low-income residents' health care.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo appointed a task force to overhaul the Medicaid system and cut costs. Its working group examining disparities in coverage is expected to decide next week where the transgender proposal fits on its list of priorities.

Advocates say there's limited data, but the change could affect thousands of New Yorkers and help cut Medicaid costs for their mental health and drug abuse treatment.

California and Minnesota already provide Medicaid coverage for transgender surgery and hormone replacement therapy, which the American Medical Association calls medically necessary.

Cuomo will consider task force recommendations in his budget next year.

Virginia Quake Damage Could Top $85 Million

Virginia Quake Damage Could Top $85 Million

Damage estimates are still coming in, but the earthquake on Aug. 23 appears to have caused at least $85 million in damage to Virginia so far, according to a report in the Free Lance-Star.

Louisa County and the towns of Mineral and Louisa – all in the vicinity of the epicenter of the magnitude 5.8 quake – have suffered the worst economic hit by far. Louisa County is reporting at least $80.6 million in damage.

Almost $64 million of the Louisa total pertains to damage to schools. Elsewhere in the county, private homes sustained an estimated $14.7 million in damages; commercial buildings, $1 million; government buildings, $690,000; religious structures, $475,000.

Louisa has received more than 1,120 damage reports, of which about 680 have been assessed by damage teams.

Damage in Culpeper County is estimated at almost $5 million. Fredericksburg estimated $711,000 in damage, and Stafford County reported about $100,000 in damage, the Associated Press reported.

Many of the losses were not covered by insurance, making the impact on individual businesses much worse.

Gov. Bob McDonnell last week requested federal disaster designation for Louisa from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Individual Assistance Program. The designation would make funding available for homeowners and renters in the form of grants and low-interest loans, as well as disaster housing assistance.

The governor also requested disaster unemployment assistance, legal services and crisis counseling for the county. Other localities could be added as new or further damage is identified, the governor’s office said.

New Traffic Safety Laws Take Effect In Maryland Saturday

New Traffic Safety Laws Take Effect In Maryland Saturday

A triad of new traffic safety laws take effect in Maryland Saturday.

Reading a text or email message will be against the law. It’s already a violation to write or send a text while driving.

Two other new laws close what safety officials describe as critical and long-standing loopholes.

Starting the first of the month, there will be stiffer penalties for motorists who kill someone.

“Before this law was passed, many drivers who killed with a motor vehicle often only faced fines and many were not even required to appear in court,” said Lon Anderson, of AAA Mid-Atlantic. “House Bill 363 will make it a misdemeanor for a person to cause the death of another as a result of the person’s driving, operating or controlling a vehicle or vessel in a criminally negligent manner.”

The third law expands the number of people affected by Maryland’s mandatory Ignition Interlock System Program – a program designed to keep drunken drivers off the road.

Starting Saturday, the locking system will be required for repeat offenders, for drivers under 21 convicted of driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.02 or higher and for those drivers convicted at the 0.15 level. (Maryland’s legal limit is 0.08.)

The interlock system is a mechanism that works like a Breathalyzer. It’s installed on the dashboard. Before the vehicle’s motor can be started, the driver must first exhale into the device and “pass the test.”

The expanded interlock law is expected to affect 4,700 additional motorists across the state.

Washington Monument Daredevils Remove Chunks of Marble

Engineers have resumed a daredevil exterior inspection of the Washington Monument to look for damage caused by last month's earthquake.

Dan Lemieux, manager of the monument project, said team members pulled off two dictionary-sized chunks of marble from the top of the monument that were loosened by the quake. The pieces weighed more than 10 pounds and were larger than what the team expected to remove from the structure, he said, noting that visitors would have been endangered if a chunk that big fell.

Team members began climbing out of the windows of the monument about 10:30 a.m. Thursday.

During the inspection, the climbers will work their way up and down the sides of the monument, snap photos with a digital camera and tap the stones with a soft mallet to listen for indications of damage. The work is expected to last several days.

One of the engineers, Emma Cardini, 32, said Thursday that the job is the highlight of her career. She said she got the opportunity to learn how to climb up and down buildings several years ago and loves it.

Cardini said she became hooked on the line of work after her first climb of the Bank of America building in Providence, R.I., six years ago. The Melrose, Mass., resident said that working on

the Washington Monument is by far the most exciting job she's had so far, and that she appreciates the view from the monument's observation deck.

"It's really cool to see the planes flying under you,'' she said.

But Cardini said she doesn't do any sightseeing once she gets out onto the monument.

"The only thing I'm looking at is the stone in front of me,'' she said.

Cardini said she receives annual training with her company -- the engineering firm Wiss, Janey, Elstner Associates Inc. of Northbrook, Ill. -- as well as with the Society of Professional Rope

Access Technicians. She also recently completed a training course for international certification.

So far she's rappelled down columns on Panama's Bridge of the Americas, dangled from rope inside the Old South Church in Boston and inspected the Gothic spires at the top of Chicago's Tribune Tower.

"There must be something wrong with my inner ear,'' she said, explaining that she has no fear of heights.

She said she and the team were impressed with the original construction of the Washington Monument, which was built between 1848 and 1884.

"For an engineer," she said, "it's like Disney World.''

Stay with News4 and usa-local-news.blogspot.com for more information throughout the day.

"Security Issue" Sends St. Charles North Students Home

A "security issue" at St. Charles North High School on Thursday sent students home early and forced the cancellation of all on-campus after school events, school officials said.

School officials said they don't believe there is an imminent threat, but cleared the school and said they were going to be searching all student bags.

"We are merely just exercising caution," said School District 303 spokesman Jim Blaney, according to the Kane County Chronicle.

Blaney could not comment on what specifically prompted the clearing of the school, at 255 Red Gate Road, in the western suburb.

Students Find Hidden Camera in Dressing Room

Students Find Hidden Camera in Dressing Room

A Junior ROTC instructor at a San Antonio high school has admitted to police placing a video recorder in a storage room where female students sometimes changed clothes.

The San Antonio Express-News reports that the Wagner High School instructor, who wasn't identified, resigned Wednesday.

Students the day before had found the recorder in a room that held equipment and uniforms for the Junior ROTC program. The area was sometimes used as a dressing area for students.

Judson school district spokeswoman Aubrey Chancellor says students at first thought they'd found a flash drive, but turned it over to another instructor after realizing that it was actually a tiny video camera, which held inappropriate images of a minor female student.

No charges have been filed.

Groupon Watch: Competitors "Un-Groupon" Themselves

Groupon Watch: Competitors

In a sense Groupon has become a leper in the industry it pioneered: Some competitors are trying to “un-Groupon” themselves with customer loyalty programs. Where does that leave the company with its own version, Groupon Goods?  

Still, Groupon’s ahead of its competitors with money made from daily deals.

And one firm that grabbed on to the daily deal model is claiming that its sales staff will soon surpass that of Groupon. That boasting might fall a little flat in the business community.

Read more:

  • BuyWithMe tries to distance itself from Groupon. (Boston Business Journal) 
  • Revenue from deals is still way ahead of its rivals. (Wall Street Journal)
  • Companies who grabbed the daily deal model are now boasting about a bigger sales staff. Is this a good thing? (Venture Beat)
  • One person’s opinion: Groupon is “the laughingstock of the IPO world.” (TheStreet)
  • Today’s Deal: $39 for One-Hour Massage at Diversey Health Centers ($80 Value)

Emirates to Begin Nonstop Service Between Dubai-DFW

Emirates to Begin Nonstop Service Between Dubai-DFW

DFW International Airport is adding another new international destination to it's roster of departures.

Beginning Feb. 2, Emirates Airlines will launch daily, nonstop service between DFW and Dubai International Airport (DXB)

Emirates will serve the route with Boeing 777-200LR aircraft that can carry 266 passengers. The route, which will take about 16 hours, is the first nonstop flight to the middle east out of Dallas.

"This monumental announcement from Emirates brings a new and highly valued international airline partner to Dallas/Fort Worth," said Jeffrey P. Fegan, CEO of DFW International Airport. "Emirates daily nonstop service between DFW and Dubai connects two global super-hub portals for U.S. travelers to the Far and Middle East, the Indian sub-continent and Africa on a trendsetting airline."

Officials with the airport estimate the DFW-DXB connection is worth about $227 million a year in economic impact.

Emirates is also adding Seattle as part of their U.S. expansion. The airline will operate Boeing 777 aircraft seating 354 passengers on the 15-hour flight from SEATAC to DXB.

The only other U.S. cities served by the international carrier are Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York-JFK, and Houston.

The DFW-DBX route is the ninth new international route DFW has added this year.

Overturned Cement Truck Closes 710 Freeway Near Downtown LA

Overturned Cement Truck Closes 710 Freeway Near Downtown LA

An overturned cement truck shut down the southbound 710 Freeway near downtown LA Thursday for more than three hours.

Traffic was backed up for miles while motorists were directed off the freeway at Florence Avenue in the Bell area.

The California Highway Patrol closed southbound lanes of Interstate 710, south of downtown, at 3:50 a.m. The wreckage was cleared and the freeway reopened at 7:15 a.m.

The trucker was not injured.

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Blackhawks Season Preview: Bryan Bickell

Blackhawks Season Preview: Bryan Bickell

Bryan Bickell is kind of one of those false oasis things you always see in Bugs Bunny cartoons when someone is baking in the desert. It looks like everything you want, and may even provide some relief, but in essence you're drinking sand.

There are some who will look at Bickell's size, that toothless grin, his wicked wrist shot, and the 17 goals he potted in his first full season last year and say the Blackhawks have themselves a true power forward at a bargain basement price. But this isn't baseball, and you can't just look at numbers and declare whether a player is what you think he is or not.

And Bickell's not.

With where he spent most of the year, on the top six, the Hawks needed a mauling, drooling forward who spent almost all his time close enough to the other goalie that merely Bickell's scent would drive that netminder into a psychotic frenzy.

What the Hawks got instead was a lumbering forward who was more than content enough to float around the outside of the attacking zone and wait for a chance to unleash that wrist shot from 40 feet or more. It worked for a couple months, but they have these things called "scouting reports," which probably told opponents to close down Bickell's space.

Bicks only had three goals in the Hawks last 22 games, but toward the end and in the playoffs, two things happened. Bickell started to get it, if only just a little, and his role changed to that on a checking line.

We did see some hard drives to the net, and with his 6 foot, 4 inch, 233-pound frame should be unstoppable. And he clicked with Dave Bolland, being responsible in his own end and providing the cow-catcher to open up space in the other.

That's what the Hawks must've been expecting this year, but they're already not getting it, as Bickell was called out by Coach Joel Qunneville Wednesdsay in the Chicago Sun-Times.

Bicks had better pay attention, because unlike last year, the Hawks could easily plug a revitalized Rusty Olesz (if he is so) or Viktor Stalberg or Ben Smith in that role and Bickell could find himself bemoaning the coffee in the pressbox.

The Hawks need Bickell to be a poor man's (a really poor man's) Andrew Ladd, if he's going to stick on that third line.  A physical force who can accept a defensive role and chip in from the other team's crease. Frolik and Bolland will do the work on the outside, they need someone on the end-boards and the blue paint.

Whether Bickell is that or not, we'll just have to wait and see.

Man Who Robbed Same Downtown Bank 3 Days in a Row Nabbed: Cops

The brazen burglar who robbed the same downtown Manhattan bank three days in a row was finally nabbed by police on Thursday, authorities said.

Police say Charles Burnett, 29, is accused of stealing more than $26,000 from the same branch before cops managed to stop his bizarre heist spree.

Burnett allegedly first hit the Sovereign Bank on Gold Street Monday morning.

Police say the robber, believed to be Burnett, walked up to a teller, moved aside a female customer in the middle of a transaction and passed the teller a note demanding an unspecified amount of cash.

The note also indicated he had a gun, police said. The teller gave him the money and he fled. No one was hurt.

The next day, he returned to the bank just before 11 a.m. and demanded more money. Police say he walked out with about $14,000. Again, no one was hurt.

Less than 24 hours later, Burnett allegedly returned to the bank for a third time, demanding money and leaving with more than $10,000.

Workers even recognized him as the same suspect who robbed the bank the day before, reports The New York Post.

This time, however, police spotted Burnett walking out of the bank, carrying a dark backpack. They recognized him from the wanted poster that had been tacked up in police stations after the second heist and took him into custody.

Burnett, a New Jersey native, was charged with three counts of robbery. He is awaiting arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court.

It wasn't immediately clear if Burnett had an attorney.

Brothers Sought in Teen's Shooting Death

Two brothers are being sought by Chicago Police in connection with the drive-by shooting Sunday that left a 15-year-old dead and his mother wounded.

The brothers are 26 and 28 years old, police said in an alert, and may be driving a white 2000 Cadillac STS with Illinois license plates. Police are not publicly identifying the men as they have not been arrested or charged.

The shooting occurred around 4 p.m. in the 700 block of North Springfield in the East Garfield Park neighborhood. 

Antonio Johnson, who was on the front porch with his family, was struck in the head and pronounced dead later Sunday night. His mother, Annette Johnson, was wounded in the arm.

Antonio's organs were later donated to his grandmother, according to the Chicago Tribune. His grandmother is paralyzed after being struck years ago by a stray bullet.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call police.

Woman Attacked By Dogs, 1 Still on the Loose

A woman was attacked by pit bulls as she walked the track behind a Long Island school Thursday, and police are warning residents to stay inside after one of the canines got away.

The attack by the two dogs was unprovoked, according to Nassau County police. Officials identified the dogs as pit bulls.

The victim, identified by a neighbor as Sashi Sharma, 62, called 911 during the attack. Three officers arrived and opened fire on the dogs, killing one.

The other escaped and is still at large. Police are warning residents in North Merrick to stay in their homes.

"This dog is vicious," Detective Lt. Kevin Smith.

The dogs bit her face, head, legs and arms, mangling her left arm badly. She was undergoing emergency surgery, Smith said.

NY state police are aiding in the hunt for the dog.

A 67-year-old Merrick man was also attacked by two dogs Wednesday night in the same area.

It's unclear if it was the same dogs.

The unidentified man was riding a bike at the time, and used it to fend off the dogs. He suffered minor cuts and bruises, according to police

 

Northbrook Man Accused in 'Erectile Pumps' Scheme

Northbrook Man Accused in 'Erectile Pumps' Scheme

A Northbrook man plans to plead guilty in Rhode Island to charges he shipped unwanted "erectile pumps" to diabetes patients as part of a Medicare fraud scheme, federal prosecutors said Thursday.

Gary Winner, 49, is accused of purchasing $26 penis enlargers from an adult website, repackaging them and shipping them to patients with information claiming the devices helped "bladder control, urinary flow and prostate comfort."

Prosecutors say he then charged Medicare $284 each as part of the scheme, claiming the pumps treated erectile dysfunction.

Rhode Island U.S. Attorney Peter F. Neronha said the Illinois resident also agreed to forfeit $2 million that he collected in the fraud, which began in 2005. Winner and his defense attorney did not immediately return messages on Thursday.

In a plea agreement signed Tuesday, Winner has agreed to plead guilty to five charges, Neronha said, including health care fraud, the introduction of an adulterated and misbranded medical device into interstate commerce and money laundering.

Prosecutors say Winner targeted Medicare beneficiaries through his medical equipment company, Planned Eldercare, based in Buffalo Grove and persuaded patients to provide their Medicare information by offering free medical equipment and supplies.

The plot targeted arthritis and diabetes patients through telemarketing, prosecutors said.

A change-of-plea hearing has been scheduled for Oct. 18. Winner faces up to 33 years in prison and $760,000 in fines, prosecutors said.

Brizard Surprises School with Target Gift Card

Woodlawn Community Elementary School got a surprise Thursday morning -- a visit from schools chief Jean-Claude Brizard and a $3,000 Target gift card.

The school was rewarded for having 99.18 percent attendance during the first week of school, the highest in the city's most truant areas. The gift card can be used to purchase school supplies and staff supplies.

"The principal, teachers, and staff here at Woodlawn Community School understand that getting students to class on the first day is critical to their success," Brizard said Thursday in a statement.

As part of Brizard and Mayor Rahm Emanuel's Back to School campaign, Chicago Public Schools launched an “attendance challenge” as an incentive to encourage attendance in areas with the highest truancy rates.

Woodlawn Community Elementary School teaches 232 students from grades Pre-K to 6th grade. Brizard said he will accompany the principal and a few teachers on their shopping trip.

Trump Casino Offers $25K Plastic Surgery Prize

Trump Casino Offers $25K Plastic Surgery Prize

The Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort plans to give $25,000 worth of plastic surgery to a winner from a player's card contest. The lucky one can mix and match surgeries including breast enhancements, tummy tucks, liposuction and face lifts until the total hits $25,000.

“We wanted to change the face of a typical casino promotion, and with this one we are literally doing it,” said Kathleen McSweeney, senior vice president of marketing for Trump Entertainment Resorts.

“Many people have something they want to change; a nip and tuck here, a lift there, but the cost of these procedures can be quite costly,” McSweeney said. “This promotion will allow the winner the opportunity to get the procedures of their choice.”

Indeed it is. According to the website infoplasticsurgery.com, which the casinos cite in their promotion, an arm lift can cost $5,000 to $6,500; Botox treatments range from $200 to $400 per area; breast augmentation surgery costs from $5,000 to $8,000; chin or cheek implants cost $3,000 to $4,500; and liposuction can range from $2,500 to $10,000.

A face-lift costs $7,000 to $9,000; nose surgery $5,000 to $6,000; and eyelid tucks $4,000 to $5,500 (upper and lower included).

“People often want this surgery but they're reluctant to spend their own money to do it,” McSweeney said. “Whether it's kids' tuition, or the mortgage or they just don't have that kind of money, this is their opportunity to get it done.”

Players can earn credits toward the contest from Oct. 2 through 29. The winner must be present with his or her player's card inserted into a machine when the prize is awarded on Oct. 29.

The winner can opt for the $25,000 prize in cash if he or she doesn't want the surgery.

Blagojevich Banned From Graceland

Blagojevich Banned From Graceland

*What else could go wrong for convicted former governor Rod Blagojevich? Ted McClelland takes a satirical look at the coup de grace.

The world keeps turning its back on former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

A day after the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission asked the Illinois Supreme Court to suspend the convicted politician’s law license, the estate of Elvis Presley announced that Blagojevich has been banned for life from Graceland, the Memphis mansion that has been maintained as a shrine to Elvis since the singer’s death in 1977.

“Due to the egregious breadth of Blagojevich’s conduct while governor of Illinois, he is no longer welcome on any Presley family properties,” Elvis’s daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, said in a statement. “He is also prohibited from singing ‘Treat Me Nice’ in public, or impersonating Elvis in any way.”

Following the family’s lead, the international Elvis community moved swiftly to dissociate itself from Blagojevich. Elvisinsiders.com, the official online Elvis fan club, suspended Blagojevich’s account and asked him to stop displaying the membership decal on his SUV.

This is not the first time a musical act has attempted to dissociate itself from a politician. Smith’s guitarist Johnny Marr told British Prime Minister David Cameron he was “not allowed” to like the ’80s pop band. Miss Presley is taking a similar attitude toward Blagojevich.

“We’d actually prefer that Gov. Blagojevich just throw away all his Elvis CDs,” she said. “Being associated with a convicted felon is bad for dad’s image. We’re worried that some young person may first hear about Elvis in a story about the governor, and decide he doesn’t want to listen to the same kind of music as an impeached and convicted politician.”

Blagojevich reacted bitterly to the Presley family’s snub.

“Like Elvis, I’m a guy who’s had a lot of ups and downs in his life,” Blagojevich said. “I grew up in a poor family, but rose to the top of my field. I’ve never been a fair weather Elvis fan. I own the DVD of every Elvis movie -- even Clambake. I don’t just listen to Love Me Tender. I listen to bootlegs of Vegas shows when Elvis was so bloated and sedated he could barely gasp out the words to ‘All Shook Up.’ So for the Presley family to turn their backs on me goes against everything Elvis stands for. In fact, one of Elvis’s biggest hits was about convicts who deal with their imprisonment by forming a rock band -- which is just what I plan to do in prison.”

Blagojevich then announced he would defy the family’s wishes by watching Elvis’s 1968 Comeback Special, a favorite since his impeachment.

 

   

   

 

Herman Cain to Make TeaCon Cameo

Herman Cain to Make TeaCon Cameo

Joe Walsh is getting some company at the Tea Party's Midwest convention this weekend.

Presidential candidate Herman Cain will participate in TeaCon's presidential candidate forum, scheduled for 1-4 p.m. Saturday at the Renaissance Hotel in Schaumburg, organizers said Thursday.

Cain, former CEO of Godfather's Pizza, has popped into the spotlight after winning the Florida straw poll last week and ranking third in a Fox News poll of Republican candidates. He's due on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" Friday before setting off for Chicago's suburbs.

"Herman Cain's message is clearly resonating," said Chicago Tea Party director Steve Stevlic in a statement announcing Cain's TeaCon cameo. "And clearly, Herman Cain recognizes that the best place to keep building momentum is addressing Tea Party activists at TeaCon 2011."

Cain is no stranger to Tea Party rallies or straw polls. Following the candidate forum, TeaCon attendees will vote in its own straw poll "where Cain will seek to capture his second major victory in as many weeks."

For Walsh's part, he'll be the special speaker during the convention's Saturday lunch.

 

Nassau DA: Better SAT Exam Security Needed

Nassau DA: Better SAT Exam Security Needed

A New York prosecutor who charged seven teenagers in an SAT cheating scandal says more can be done to secure the test system.

Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice says photographs should be taken of every person taking the exam.

She also says colleges should be notified when a student is caught cheating on the SAT. That is currently not done.     

Six current or former Great Neck North High School students allegedly paid a college student to take the SAT for them.     

The 2010 Great Neck North graduate, Sam Eshaghoff, spent his freshman year at the University of Michigan before transferring to Emory University in Atlanta.     

Rice says more arrests are possible.     

Officials at the company that administers the SATs believes the cheating problem is not widespread.     

Mutilated Kittens Found in Chester County

Mutilated Kittens Found in Chester County

Four dead kittens, three of which were mutilated, have been found at a residence in Coatesville, Pa. in the past two weeks, Chester County SPCA reports.

All of the dead kittens were found at a home of “a cat colony” on robin Road, where the property pwner feeds, spays, neuters and cares for outdoor cats, according to the SPCA.

The lower half of one kitten was found near the woman’s trashcan. Another kitten with massive head trauma was found on her porch. A third kitten was disemboweled  and its remains were found in a pile on her porch as well, the SPCA says.

The fourth dead kitten was found near the property, but the cause of death is unknown.

Chester County SPCA’s Animal Protective Services is investigating the mutilations, as the acts constitute animal cruelty.

The SPCA is asking for anyone with information to call 610.692.6113

 

NYC Under Severe Thunderstorm Warning

NYC Under Severe Thunderstorm Warning

All five boroughs in New York City are under a severe thunderstorm warning this afternoon.

The storm is capable of producing quarter-size hail and damaging winds of 60 mph and greater.

It's another day of warm and muggy conditions, with showers of varying intensity throughout the tri-state.

The heaviest rains so far have been across northwest New Jersey and up into Orange and Sullivan county in New York. Flood watches stay in effect in these areas into the late afternoon, as any additional downpours on the already-saturated ground could lead to some flooding.

For the rest of the area, anticipate showers and some isolated thundershowers to break out, especially this afternoon and early evening. Some could briefly be heavy, but flooding is not likely to be an issue around the city.

The skies clear out later tonight and Friday.

Much chillier air will push in over the weekend. Clouds will build Saturday and a couple of showers are possible later in the day and at night.

High temperatures will go from the 70s today and Friday into the low 60s Saturday and maybe only in the 50s for Sunday.