Usa Local News: Oct 1, 2011

01 October 2011

Howard's HR Backs Halladay, Phils Win Game 1

Ryan Howard hit a huge home run, Roy Halladay overcame a shaky start and the Phillies beat the St. Louis Cardinals 11-6 Saturday night in the opener of their NL division series.

Howard shook off his season-ending strikeout last October to hit a go-ahead shot in a five-run sixth inning.

Halladay retired the last 21 batters he faced as the NL East champions began their all-or-nothing postseason run with a comeback win.

Game 2 is Sunday night, with Cliff Lee pitching for Philadelphia against Chris Carpenter, who is starting on three days' rest.

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Man Arrested for 65th Time Charged With Assault

A woman and her two small children escaped a home in unincorporated Northbrook after her attacker fell asleep, ending a week-long captivity during which the woman repeatedly beaten.

Francisco Tirado, 27, of the 3700 block of Salem Walk in unincorporated Northbrook, was charged Friday with two felony counts of aggravated domestic battery and one felony count of aggravated unlawful restraint, according to a release from the Cook County Sheriff’s office.

The arrest was the 65th since 2001, the release said.

Tirado was also charged with two counts of domestic battery and one count of interference with emergency communications related to domestic battery, according to the release.

Tirado returned to his home heavily intoxicated Sept. 22 and was confronted by the woman after he urinated on the bathroom floor, the release said. He then began to beat and kick the woman.

He also shoved her head into a toilet and hit it against it as well, the release said.

Tirado took the woman to the home of one of his family members in the Jefferson Park neighborhood the next day, where he chocked her until she nearly lost consciousness, the release said.

Tirado stopped the attack when he saw a family member approaching, but then ordered the woman to drive him back to his home, the release said.

The woman tried to drive to the Chicago Police Jefferson Park District station at 5151 N. Milwaukee Ave., but Tirado held a knife to her throat and held his hand across the neck of her 5-week-old baby.

Tirado spit in the child’s face as well as the face of the woman’s 16-month-old toddler and threatened to kill both children, the release said.

Two woman and her children escaped Tirado’s home Thursday after he fell asleep Thursday, according to the release.

Tirado appeared in Skokie bond court Friday, where Cook County Judge Marcia Orr set bond at $300,000, the release said.

The judge also issued an order of protection and barred Tirado from contact with the woman or her immediate family.

Tirado is schedule to appear in court again Oct. 7.

Tirado’s previous arrests include aggravated assault with a weapon, domestic battery and striking and spitting in the face of a law enforcement officer, the release said.

Cain Courts Tea Partiers in Schaumburg

Fresh off his victory in last week's Florida straw ballot, businessman and Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain was in Schaumburg on Saturday, courting attendees at TeaCon, the Midwest's Tea Party convention.

"This nation has become a nation of crisis that's dragging us down. We have an economic crisis. We have an entitlement spending crisis," he told audience of an estimated 700 people.

"Herman Cain's message is clearly resonating," Chicago Tea Party director Steve Stevlic said of the former Godfather's Pizza CEO.

While Tea Party members more closely-align themselves with Republicans, many of those at the convention on Saturday described themselves as independent thinkers who haven't yet chosen a candidate to support.

"I consider myself a member of the common sense party. Take in less than you spend. And I'm here because I thoroughly believe in that. I have to run my house that way. I think my elected officials should run their house that way," said one man.

Issues like ObamaCare are too costly and too intrusive, they say.

The convention at the Renaissance Schaumburg also featured remarks Rep. Joe Walsh (R-McHenry). Rep. Michelle Bachmann of Minnesota spoke via video.

The event comes on the heels of a recent poll that shows a decline in Tea Party support among Americans. The Opinion Research/CNN poll (.pdf), taken Sept. 23-25, found just 28 percent with favorable opinions of the Tea Party, while 53 percent took an unfavorable view of the movement.

Former Polish President to be Honored in Chicago

Former Polish President Lech Walesa will be honored in February with an award from the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library.

Walesa will accept the Lincoln Leadership Prize during a ceremony Feb. 9 at the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago.

The award recognizes people whose "lives and actions exemplify Lincoln's legacy of leadership," said the foundation's CEO, Carla Knorowski.

Walesa is a former shipyard worker and Nobel Peace Prize winner who in 1990 became the first democratically-elected president in Polish postwar history. He served until 1995.

He first became known for his struggles to win worker's rights in Poland.

"I am honored to be awarded the Lincoln Leadership Prize," he said in a statement. "This prize from the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation also pays homage to the Polish nation which more than two decades ago peacefully and democratically conducted an economic and social revolution. As a result of this transformation, Poland entered a period of prosperity and justice."

Walesa visited Chicago in January and October 2010 to support Republican Adam Andrzejewski in his campaign for the governor's office.

Past winners include Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Astronaut James Lovell Jr. and the late NBC television journalist Tim Russert.

A Pampered Pooch Can Live a Longer Life

The expression "it's a dog's life" comes from the assumption that there's just nothing better -- no clock to punch, no bills to pay, no worries, no stress.

But massage therapist Athena Arnado, who is used to finding stress and getting rid of it, said dogs can have bad days and stressful weeks, too.

"Loud noises don't bother us as much," said Arnado. "We know what loud noises are, where they are coming from. Dogs don't necessarily know that."

So Arnado took what she already knew and started applying it to dogs.

"Every time I was at the dog park, and a dog would approach me or pass by me, I would stop and I would basically ask his permission, basically communicate that I wanted him to come to me," said Arnado. "And the dog would come to me and I would start massaging him just using the human techniques that I had learned. And every one of them responded well to it."

She may not be the first masseuse for canines, but she may be one of the more generous. Arnado is eager to give her trade secrets away, even to her clients who actually pay the bills.

"Even just a five-minute massage a day can increase longevity and improve the quality of life for your dog," she said.

Arnado said it's just one more thing your pets will adore you for. And there is even a fast version, if they'll let you stop.

Arnado has created a video to teach pet owners how to massage their pets called "Take 5 for Fido," available through Arnado's website.

Arnold Schwarzenegger Speaks Candidly in New Vanity Fair Article

Former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger gave a freewheeling interview to writer Michael Lewis that appears in the latest issue of Vanity Fair.

It's part of a longer piece analyzing what ails the Golden State's economy.

In the article, Schwarzenegger said a number of things that might surprise people.

He told Lewis that when he announced he was going to run for governor on "The Tonight Show," it was an "impulse."

"This will freak everyone out. It'll be funny," he's quoted as saying. "And two months later, I was governor."

He told Lewis that he came into office with boundless faith in the American people, and figured he could always appeal to them.

Lewis went on a wild bike ride with the former governor in which Schwarzenegger rode the wrong way down one-way streets and shifted in and out of traffic. The ride turned into somewhat of a metaphor for the governor's life with Schwarzenegger telling him "no one has had this kind of crazy, wild ride."

No Guns for Medical Marijuana Users

Federal law states it is illegal to possess a firearm if you use a controlled substance. Marijuana -- even medical marijuana -- is considered a controlled substance.

In a response to multiple gun dealers, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives explained, "There are no exceptions in federal law for marijuana purportedly used for medicinal purposes, even if such use is sanctioned by state law."

Sixteen states, including California have legalized medical marijuana. The state has issued almost 57,000 medical marijuana cards, according to the California Department of Public Health.

Gun rights advocates and medical marijuana advocates are saying this policy is a violation of the second amendment right to keep and bear arms.

Licensed gun dealers cannot sell a gun or ammunition to anyone that indicates on the paperwork that they are using a controlled substance, or if the dealer has a "reasonable cause to believe" person uses drugs. Reasonable cause includes even talking about drugs.

In an interview with the Associated Press, Gary Marbut with the Montana Shooting Sports Association said this puts an unreasonable burden on gun dealers to police their customers.

"Their business is to be merchants, not to be cops. Unfortunately, the federal licensing scheme complicates that. It sounds as if the (ATF) is expecting them to drift further into the cop role," Marbut said.

The Justice Department however believes that part of the responsibility of selling guns is to keep them away from people who are prohibited from having them.

Philly Theater Stagehands Go on Strike

Theater stagehands and other workers at three Philadelphia venues have gone on strike, prompting three theaters to cancel all Saturday shows.

A contract between the Kimmel Center and the local chapter of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees expired at midnight Friday and the employees went on strike after bargaining failed to produce a new deal. The contract covers about 1,000 stagehands, ushers, wardrobe workers and box office staff at the Kimmel Center, the Merriam Theater and the Academy of Music.

Kimmel Center officials who announced the walkout said early talks with all four units ended without a deal. They also said all Saturday shows had been canceled. The Kimmel Center had already rescheduled Saturday's concert by singer Audra McDonald for Nov. 30.

“We no longer feel that we should be bearing the brunt of the excessive costs that it takes to manage this facility and maintain this structure,” union business agent Michael Barnes said outside the Kimmel Center on Saturday. Barnes said, however, that management had given his group what he called “the first significant counterproposal” just before midnight, and union officials were examining it and hoped to work out other issues during a bargaining session Saturday afternoon.

Union members have been seeking better wages and benefits, but Kimmel Center officials said money is tight, citing the weak economy and the bankruptcy filing by their biggest tenant, the Philadelphia Orchestra.

Kimmel Center President and CEO Anne Ewers said in a statement she's disappointed the workers decided to strike and that the work action “makes the financial pressures worse.”

“This contract expiration comes at a grave hour in Philadelphia's performing arts community,” Ewers said. “The bankruptcy of the Philadelphia Orchestra illustrates that fact wrenchingly.”

Ewers said the orchestra bankruptcy already has had effects on the Kimmel Center. She says the orchestra owes $1.4 million.

Frank Keel, a spokesman for the stagehands' union, said the Kimmel Center had not only refused to give stagehands “nominal” wage and benefit increases but was seeking concessions from the union, which prompted the walkout. He said the center was calling

for sacrifices despite what he called a “bloated highly paid management structure.”

“It won't be difficult to see where Kimmel management can find the cost savings to pay their union labor living wages with decent benefits,” he said in a statement.

Ewers said the Kimmel Center has been making difficult cuts, including reduced program offerings and cutting staff positions and salaries to save $1.5 million over the past two years. In addition, she said, management employees have gone without salary increases and pension contributions.

“This negotiation cannot simply be about what a union wants,” Ewers said. “It is about what the performing arts community can bear at a difficult time. We will be fair, but we cannot ‘buy peace’ by agreeing to terms that ignore the issues of the day or

the context of our times.”

Barnes said management negotiators appeared to have backed off a demand that could have allowed non-union workers to handle many center functions. He said the union was also seeking parity between stagehands and lower-paid ushers and wardrobe workers, who he said included disproportionately higher numbers of women, minorities and

lesbian and gay workers.

Michael Durkin, 50, of Philadelphia, was one of about two dozen people picketing outside the Kimmel Center on Saturday afternoon.

“I just want us all to get along well and do our jobs and produce great theater and arts,” said Durkin, who said he has been a stagehand on and off since 1983. “We're just people with families, and by and large we're very skilled, very dedicated craftspeople.''

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Del Mar Restaurant Damaged After Fire

An early morning fire caused significant damage to a Del Mar restaurant today, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department said.

Smoke was seen about 4:50 a.m. coming from a restaurant in the 1200 block of Camino Del Mar, near Del Mar Heights Road, according to Sheriff's Sgt. E. J. Dayrit.

Firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze, but the business sustained significant fire and smoke damage, Dayrit said.

Investigators from the Sheriff's Bomb/Arson Unit continued to investigate the cause and origin of the blaze, but did not suspect the fire was a result of arson, Dayrit said.

Algae Bloom in Tap Water Affecting Some in Southland

Metropolitan Water District officials were telling Southland residents Saturday not to worry about an algae bloom in part of the state water system that may affect the taste of tap water in parts of four Southern California counties for weeks.

The musty, earthy taste could persist for weeks but poses no health hazard, according to the MWD, the main water wholesaler in Southern California.

The problem could affect the smell and taste of tap water in parts of eastern Los Angeles County, as well as in parts of Orange County, western San Bernardino County and southwest Riverside County, according to the MWD.

"The earthy taste and smell stem from an especially large and persistent algae bloom in the east branch of the State Water Project," said Jim Green of the MWD.

"Metropolitan receives a major portion of its water through the SWP's east branch, which includes Silverwood Lake in the San Bernardino Mountains, and we are working with the state Department of Water Resources which owns and operates the state system to address the situation," Green said. "Consumers, however, can be assured that the taste-and-odor issues they may be experiencing in their tap water do not pose any health risks."

Green suggested refrigerating drinking water to help improve its taste until the problem diminishes.

For the third time in three weeks, DWR water quality experts Thursday applied copper sulfate to control the algae bloom. Officials stressed that the treated water is safe for consumers as well as boaters and swimmers at Silverwood and downstream at Lake Perris. Fish and wildlife also will not be impacted.

Metropolitan also has reduced deliveries from Silverwood Lake, which supplies the district's F.E. Weymouth Water Treatment Plant in La Verne and Robert B. Diemer plant in Yorba Linda, which together provide treated drinking water to about 7 million people in the affected areas.

According to the MWD, the cause has been identified as 2- methylisoborneal, or MIB, a compound produced from the growth of certain algae in freshwater throughout the world. Typically, MIB levels increase when warmer weather accelerates the growth of algae, Green said.

"Unfortunately, MIB is a noticeable needle in the haystack," he said.

"People with sensitive taste and smell can detect the compound in water levels as low as 5 parts-per-trillion. However, water from two treatment plants have experienced MIB concentrations as high as 20 parts-per-trillion," he said. "By comparison, one part-per-trillion is equivalent to just 10 drops of MIB in enough water to fill the Rose Bowl."

MWD supplies water to the city of Pasadena, Foothill Municipal Water District, Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District, Three Valleys Municipal Water District in eastern Los Angeles County; Inland Valley Utilities Agency and Cucamonga Valley Water District in western San Bernardino County; Eastern Municipal Water District in western Riverside County; and the city of Huntington Beach, the Municipal Water District of Orange County and Irvine Ranch Water District.

Tech Roars From Behind

Seth Doege passed for 366 yards and three touchdowns and Eric Stephens rushed for 112 yards and scored twice, helping Texas Tech come roaring back from a 20-point deficit and beat Kansas 45-34 Saturday in both teams' Big 12 opener.

Doege, who threw three touchdowns the week before against Nevada and set an NCAA record with a 90.9 completion percentage against New Mexico, was 29 for 46. The 6-foot-1 redshirt junior, playing his first full season since high school in 2005, was also intercepted for the first time this season but still turned in another virtuoso performance for the Red Raiders (4-0) to remain among the country's top passers.

Kansas' Jordan Webb, who also came into the game without an interception in his first three games, was picked off three times and each turnover led directly to a Texas Tech TD as the Jayhawks fell to 2-2.

1 Dead, 2 Injured in Olney Shooting

Philadelphia Police are investigating a triple shooting in the Olney section of the city that left one dead.

Authorities said the shooting took place at 5048 N. 5th Street at around 4 a.m.

All three of the victims were taken to Albert Einstein Medical Center, where one of the victims, a 43-year-old man, was pronounced dead after suffering a single gunshot wound to his chest. Another male victim was shot three times in the abdomen and is listed as being in critical but stable condition. A third male was hit in the ring finger of his right hand and is listed in fair condition.

Police issued a statement on Saturday afternoon identifying two black males as suspects in the case Both men are described as being in their early-20s. One of the men is described as having facial hair, while the other suspect is described as wearing jeans and carrying a firearm.

Indiana Soldier Killed in Afghanistan

A soldier from northwest Indiana has been killed while serving in the Army in Afghanistan.

Spc. James A. Butz, 21, of Porter, died Wednesday in Helmand province, the Department of Defense confirmed.

Chesterton football coach John Snyder, who coached Butz in high school, told The Times of Munster that relatives told him the Army medic was treating an injured soldier when their truck was hit by a roadside bomb.

Butz was a 2009 Chesterton High School graduate. He served in the 82nd Airborne Division based at Fort Bragg, N.C.

Snyder said Butz was a hard worker who would have thrived in the military.

His awards include the Purple Heart, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, a NATO Medal, a Combat Action Badge and a Parachutist Badge, according to the website FreedomRemembered.org.

Sorry Aggies You Lose

Tyler Wilson and Jarius Wright shattered school records for passing and receiving, and Broderick Green ran 3 yards for the go-ahead touchdown with 1:41 left as No. 18 Arkansas gave No. 14 Texas A&M a rude preview of what it can expect from the SEC next season in a 42-38 victory Saturday.

The Razorbacks (5-1) trailed by 18 at halftime, and hadn't led before Green squeezed through the left side of the line.This makes two straight weeks the Aggies (2-2) have thrown away a huge halftime lead. They were up by 17 at home against Oklahoma State last week.

Wilson was 30 of 51 for 510 yards and three touchdowns, and ran for a 2-point conversion that tied the game at 35. Wright caught 13 passes for 281 yards and two touchdowns. He also made a head's up recovery of a loose ball rolling into the end zone on the touchdown capped by Wilson's conversion.

Christine Michael ran for 230 yards and three touchdowns for A&M, but was stuffed on a fourth down to end his team's last chance.

Sheriff's Office vs. Police Dept

Watch Out For That Patrol Car

Two deputies were taken to JPS hospital in Fort worth early this morning after being involved in an accident. Investigators tell us the driver of a Tarrant County Sheriff's Office van collided with a Fort Worth Police car. Eight deputies were inside the van and were on their way back to the sheriff's office at the end of their shift. The accident happened on Allen just east of 35W. There was minor damage to both vehicles.

Dallas Officer Fires at Suspect

Two off-duty Dallas police officers were working overnight in the 2000 block of commerce street when investigators tell us they heard gunshots being fired nearby. The officers went to check the situation out and saw suspects stopped at a red light at Pearl. Police say a passenger inside the car was firing a gun into the air and pointed his weapon toward one of the officers. Fearing for his life, and after telling the suspect to drop the weapon, the officer fired at the suspect and the vehicle took off. The vehicle was found abandoned a short time later. No word on the suspects or if anyone was shot.

Brush Fire Burns Near Julian Community

CAL Fire is reporting a brush fire burning near a community in Julian, Saturday afternoon.

The “Grade” fire was first reported at 12:53 p.m. near the community of Scissors Crossing.

The flames are located on the south side of Highway 78, officials said.

As of 2 p.m., 30 acres across a light grass area at the base of Granite Mountain have been burned, officials said.

Five to ten mile per hour east winds are pushing the fire slowly to the west away from structures, officials said.

Currently 17 engines, two fire crews, one bulldozer, four air tankers and helicopters, six water tenders, 100 firefighters and a chief officer are on scene or en route, officials said.

More Arrests as Occupy Wall St. Marches on BK Bridge

The Occupy Wall St. protest moved east Saturday across the Brooklyn Bridge, snarling traffic as thousands of protesters marched in both sides of the bridge.

Police have confirmed arrests, but would not release the number since the protest is continuing.

The Occupy Wall St. group was joined by various unions, including the Transit Workers Union and the United Federation of Teachers, in a "solidarity march" to Brooklyn.

Police have blocked the group on either end of the bridge.

The plan, according to the group's website, was to end the march at a gathering at Brooklyn Bridge Park at 5:30 p.m.

C&F Mortgage Settles Discrimination Suit

A Virginia mortgage company has agreed to revise its practices to settle a government complaint alleging that the company discriminated against black and Hispanic borrowers.

The Justice Department announced the settlement with Midlothian-based C&F Mortgage Co. Friday. The settlement requires approval of the federal court in Richmond.

The government's complaint alleged that C&F charg greater interest rate markups and gave smaller discounts on home mortgage loans made to black and Hispanic customers in 2007.

C&F has agreed to revise its pricing policies, conduct employee training and pay $140,000 to borrowers who were overcharged.

The consent order says C&F denied discriminating against minorities but agreed to the settlement to avoid the risks and costs of litigation.

Building From the Ice Up

Three straight non-playoff finishes leave the Dallas Stars in foreign territory. Once a Pacific Division power, the Stars have reached their low point since moving to the Sun Belt in 1993, matching the longest playoff drought in club history by the 1973-76 Minnesota North Stars.

The Stars are in bankruptcy and still without a new owner, they lost leading scorer Brad Richards to free agency, and general manager Joe Nieuwendyk fired coach Marc Crawford at the end of last season. But you're not hearing gloom and doom from Glen Gulutzan, promoted from the Stars' top minor league affiliate to succeed Crawford behind the bench with the aim of energizing the team.

There are some positives. The Stars improved their depth in the offseason with the signing of six veteran free agents, addressing an issue that led to their demise last season. Down the stretch, Crawford leaned heavily on his top-end players, especially No. 1 goaltender Kari Lehtonen, and the team had little left in the tank when the Stars fell two points short of playoff qualification on the final day of the regular season.

To that end, Nieuwendyk brought in, among others, right wing Michael Ryder and defenseman Sheldon Souray. Ryder, who had eight goals and nine assists in 25 playoff games for the Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins last season, is ticketed for the top line with center Mike Ribeiro and left wing Brenden Morrow. The Stars are looking for Souray to take over for Richards as quarterback of a power play that finished 14th in the league last season.

Center Vernon Fiddler, a faceoff specialist, was also added, along with forwards Jake Dowell and Radek Dvorak, and defenseman Adam Pardy. Nieuwendyk's hope is that those acquisitions make up at least in part for the loss of Richards, who registered 77 points in 72 games for Dallas last season before signing with the New York Rangers over the summer because the cash-strapped Stars were unable to offer a long-term deal.

For the Stars to contend, they'll need a big season from Jamie Benn, who had a breakout campaign in 2010-11. Benn is expected to center the second line with Steve Ott on the left wide and Loui Eriksson on the right.

"I think we recognize that he is a gifted young player who's going to be capable of raising the bar here," Nieuwendyk said of Benn, who had 22 goals and 34 assists last season after collecting 41 points as a rookie.

Fiddler, Dowell, Dvorak and Adam Burish all will have roles on the third and fourth lines. "We have to be hard to play against and we're developing that," Gulutzan said. "We have more depth and we have to utilize that. That's what we're reaching for here. We want that to be our identity, a hard-working team."

On defense, Alex Goligoski and Stephane Robidas project as the top pair. Goligoski was acquired last February from the Pittsburgh Penguins in a trade that cost Dallas high-scoring left wing James Neal and top-six defenseman Matt Niskanen.

Goligoski impressed teammates in his 23 games with the Stars with five goals, 10 assists and solid puck-moving skills. "He blew me away with how poised he was with the puck," Burish said. "He never panics. He holds onto it for that extra second to make a play. He was almost like a fourth forward for us." Trevor Daley and Nicklas Grossman should comprise the second pair, with Souray, Pardy and holdover Mark Fistric also in the mix.

Lehtonen remains the starter after carrying a heavy workload with 69 games last season. He was 34-24-11 with a 2.55 goals-against, hardly spectacular numbers, but at least Lehtonen showed he could remain healthy after playing in only 58 games because of injuries in the previous two seasons.

Backup Andrew Raycroft should see more action than the 14 starts he made in 2010-11. If the Stars are to return to the playoffs, they'll need contributions from up and down the lineup. "The little detail things are going to add up. If we're great at those,

Navy Student Jailed, Dismissed For Rape

A U.S. Naval Academy student has been sentenced to six months confinement and dismissal from the Navy for raping a female student.

A military judge sentenced 20-year-old Patrick Edmond on Thursday. According to the Baltimore Sun, Edmond, will serve out his sentence at the Navy brig in Norfolk, Va. The former midshipman 3rd class had previously been convicted by a seven-member military panel after a three-day court-martial earlier this week at the Washington Navy Yard.

Prosecutors said Edmond exploited a previous relationship with his victim to trap her and force her into a sexual encounter in her dorm room last October. Edmond, of Jackson, Miss., had testified that the sex was consensual.

Edmond, who had continued to attend classes right up until his conviction, also was found guilty of making a false statement to investigators, but was acquitted on a charge of sodomy. His case is the first court-martial for sexual assault at the Naval Academy since 2008.

Elderly-Looking Suspect Robs Grocery Store Bank

San Diego police are reporting that an armed elderly-looking man robbed a bank inside a grocery a store in La Jolla on Friday evening.

At about 6:30 p.m. the thief entered a Wells Fargo Bank located inside a Vons at 7544 Girard Avenue, officials said.

The suspect was reportedly armed with a black revolver and wearing large glasses with a gray suit over his thin build.

The man was said to be in his 70s, though he could have been wearing makeup or a prosthetic over his face, according to a report.

No official word was given on what the man took from the bank, nor on the direction he headed as he fled the scene.

Police did not say whether the robbery was connected to a crime spree committed by another elderly-looking suspect, “The Geezer Bandit.”

No injuries were reported during the robbery.

Two Rescued From Columbia Apartment Fire

Two women had to be rescued from a two-alarm fire that broke out early Saturday afternoon in Columbia.

Howard County firefighters were called to the 12000 block of Little Patuxent Way at around 12:30 p.m. and found the first-floor apartment engulfed in smoke. Two women who lived on the upper floors of the building were rescued by emergency personnel. One of the women was evaluated for smoke inhalation, but refused treatment.

The blaze was brought under control 30 minutes after firefighters arrived on the scene. The cause has not yet been determined.

Dallas County District Attorney's SUV Stolen

Dallas County's district attorney truly took his work home with him Thursday night.

District Attorney Craig Watkins confirmed that his black 2003 Mercedes-Benz G-Class 500 was stolen from his garage.

DeSoto authorities said he called 911 at about 7:30 a.m. after he discovered his sport utility vehicle had been stolen. The gate to a security fence was smashed.

But Watkins also admitted that he is partially to blame.

Watkins, who lives on a gated piece of property in DeSoto, said he often leaves his keys inside his rare luxury sport utility vehicle and his garage door open.

DeSoto police said thieves took advantage of that at about 7:22 p.m. Thursday. They drove the SUV right out through the front gate of Watkins' property.

Watkins said neither he nor his wife heard anything because their bedroom is on the opposite side of the house.

Brand-new Mercedes G-wagens cost more than $125,000 now. Watkins has had his vehicle since 2003, when the approximate price was in excess of $82,000.

Desoto police said they are following several leads in the case, and Watkins has expressed confidence in their investigation.

1 Dead as Overturned Car Catches Fire on 101

One person was killed and a woman suffered burns to least 80 percent of her body when a vehicle overturned and caught fire Saturday on the Ventura (101) Freeway in Calabasas, the California Highway Patrol said.

The crash on the southbound 101 at the Malibu Canyon-Las Virgenes Road overpass was reported to the CHP at 8:32 a.m.

CHP officers said impatient drivers were making illegal turns on the freeway and exiting the freeway on the Kanan Road onramp, three miles in advance of the crash. Traffic reporters were advising L.A.-bound motorists on U.S. 101 to detour via Malibu or Simi Valley to avoid the blockade of the only major road between the Conejo and San Fernando valleys.

CHP Officer Ed Jacobs said a passenger may have died in the crash and resulting fire. He said the motorist was able to get out of the vehicle.

A Los Angeles County Fire dispatcher said paramedics rushed a woman -- with burns to 80 percent of her body -- to an area hospital.

A SigAlert was issued at 8:47 a.m. when officers closed all lanes of the eastbound freeway under Las Virgenes Road for an unknown duration, Jacobs said.

"All vehicles are exiting at Las Virgenes (Road)," he said.

After being routed through the signals at Las Virgenes, eastbound traffic was allowed to re- enter the freeway at the same interchange.

Pavement Collapses After Flood Damage in Fallbrook

A broken water line in Fallbrook caused flooding and water damage to an alley on Sunday morning.

The flooding was first reported at 8:05 a.m. in an alley near the 2500 block of Olive Hill Road, according to the California Highway Patrol and the Fallbrook Public Utilities District.

The flooding prompted water service to be turned off in the area, which mainly affected nurseries, according to Chris Miller, spokesman for the Fallbrook Public Utilities District.

Officials said no homes were without water and businesses were notified.

A 10 by 20 foot area of asphalt in the area began to collapse due to the flooding, said Miller. "The pieces are slowly falling in,” he added.

The repairs were expected to be finished later in the day on Saturday.

Government: Longer Hinckley Visit Proposal "Premature"

A proposal to let the man who attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagan go on weeks-long visits to his mother's home and live there eventually is "premature and ill-conceived,'' government attorneys said Friday in a court document.

John Hinckley, who was found by a jury to be insane at the time of the 1981 shooting, has spent the last three decades largely confined to St. Elizabeths Hospital in Southeast. In recent years, however, he has been allowed increasing amounts of time outside the facility, including multi-day visits with his family.

When a judge last reviewed the conditions of his confinement in 2009, he was permitted to go on a series of 10-day visits to his mother's home. According to a court document filed Friday, the

hospital wants a judge to extend the visits to 17 and 24 days and then let the hospital decide if he should be allowed to live full-time at his mother's home. It was not clear, though, how soon

that step might come.

"The Hospital's proposal for expanded conditions of release is premature and ill conceived,'' prosecutors said in a 13-page document filed late Friday in federal court in Washington.

But Hinckley's lawyer, Barry Levine, said Friday that he agrees with the hospital's proposal and there is no evidence Hinckley is a danger to himself or to others.

"Not one bit. There is no evidence of him being dangerous, not a little bit, not marginal evidence. None. And they know it,'' Levine said of prosecutors.

Levine called the prosecutors' court filing "shameful fear-mongering without any factual basis.'' He said it was unfair to his client that the proposal by St. Elizabeths Hospital is confidential while the government responded in a public document. Because the hospital's proposal is confidential, Levine could not discuss its contents, but he said his client is not a danger.

"The record is replete with uninterrupted success for over two decades. There hasn't been a shred of evidence of danger as a result of mental disease. Not a shred,'' he said.

Prosecutors, however, opposed what they said were "sweeping expansions'' of Hinckley's current privileges. They said Hinckley is "a man capable of great violence'' and "still not sufficiently

well to alleviate the concern that this violence may be repeated,'' though his mental health is better.

In addition, prosecutors said St. Elizabeths should not be allowed to decide independently if Hinckley can live full-time at his mother's home. They also expressed dissatisfaction with the proposed visits, saying the U.S. Secret Service would not be able to adequately monitor Hinckley during times he is allowed to be alone because they would not be given advance notice of his plans for that time.

A hearing is scheduled in Hinckley's case for the end of November.

Brain Injury Study Under Way at Camp Pendleton

A half-dozen Marines with brain injuries from combat in Afghanistan or Iraq will crawl inside a hyperbaric chamber at Camp Pendleton next week to begin eight weeks of treatment breathing pure oxygen to see if it speeds their recovery, reports the North County Times.

Up to 100 base troops eventually are expected to take part in the study trying to find the best treatments for what is known as traumatic brain injury.

Many other troops suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder from their battlefield experiences also are expected to take part in the study to see if it helps them heal.

Read more about this story from our media partner, the North County Times.

Officials Release Names of Two Fallen CA-Based Marines

On Friday, the Department of Defense today announced the deaths of two California-based Marines killed while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

Staff Sgt. Nicholas A. Sprovtsoff, 28, of Davison, Mich., and Sgt. Christopher Diaz, 27, of Albuquerque, N.M., were killed Wednesday while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, according to the Department of Defense.

Diaz was assigned to Headquarters Battalion, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, at Twentynine Palms.

Sprovtsoff was assigned to 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command, at Camp Pendleton.

Alexandria Plant Power Down Won't Harm Grid

A regional power transmission organization has certified Alexandria's coal-burning power plant can close without making the area's electrical grid less reliable. Officials say that means the plant will close within a year.

Houston-based GenOn Energy reached an agreement with city officials in August to close the Potomac River Generating Station, depending on how it would affect the power grid.

After the confirmation from PJM Interconnection on Friday, a GenOn spokeswoman tells The Washington Post that the plant is set to close no later than Oct. 1, 2012.

The coal-burning plant has been considered the single biggest source of air pollution in the region. It also sits on prime riverfront property, which Alexandria wants to redevelop.

But Pepco owns the land and will decide its fate.

Md. Woman Sues Cantaloupe Producer, Distributor

A Catonsville woman who said her 87-year-old father died from listeria is suing a Colorado farm and Texas distributor.

The suit was filed Thursday in U.S. District Court against Jensen Farms of Holly, Colo., and Frontera Produce of Edinburg,Texas, the cantaloupe producer and distributor. It was brought on

behalf of Donna Kay Wells Lloyd, the daughter of Clarence Wells, a retired printer for the Department of Defense.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said that as many as 17 deaths have been linked to listeria in cantaloupes and more than 80 people have become ill after eating Colorado

cantaloupes. Jensen Farms recalled its cantaloupes Sept. 14 after the farm's melons were linked to the outbreak.

Listeria generally only sickens the elderly, pregnant women and others with compromised immune systemes. The CDC said the median age of those sickened is 78 and that one in five who contract the disease can die from it. Symptoms include fever and muscle aches, often with other gastrointestinal symptoms.

According to the suit, Wells ate cantaloupe on multiple occasions in the weeks before he fell ill and died, including one listeria-contaminated cantaloupe manufactured, distributed and sold

by the defendants. His symptoms began around Aug. 23, when Lloyd noticed that her father began to gain weight from retained fluids and two days later he had trouble breathing, according to the suit.

After Lloyd took her father to a hospital, his condition deteriorated and he died on Aug. 31.

On Sept. 12, Lloyd received a letter addressed to her father from the Baltimore County health department that confirmed that a blood sample taken the day Wells died tested positive for listeria.

County and state health officials later told Lloyd that the strain that infected her father was indistinguishable from the one involved in the nationwide outbreak, according to the suit.

The suit, which seeks unspecified damages, accuses the defendants of breaching their duty to sell reasonably safe food and says Wells was injured because of their acts and negligence.

The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene said late Friday that no other cases of listeria have been reported in the state.

US Fugitive Claims New Identity to Prevent Extradition

The lawyer for George Wright says the captured American fugitive will claim a new identity to prevent the U.S. from extraditing him.

Lawyer Manuel Luis Ferreira had told The Associated Press that Wright became a Portuguese citizen, called Jose Luis Jorge dos Santos, in 1991 after marrying a Portuguese woman.

Ferreira said in an interview Saturday that Wright's new identity was given to him by West African country Guinea-Bissau when it granted him political asylum in the 1980s and was accepted by Portugal.

The U.S. is trying to extradite Wright to serve the remainder of his sentence for a 1962 murder in New Jersey.

But Ferreira said his client insists he has the right to serve the time in Portugal because he has Portuguese citizenship based on his new identity.

Lightning Strikes Cause Fires in East County

A fire burning in the East County near Highway 79 has grown, according to CAL fire officials.

The Chihuahua has now burned 75 acres near the community of Sunshine Summit in an area off of Chihuahua Vally road. The blaze is said to be have a moderate spread, burning south toward Highway 79, according to officials. It began at 4:25 p.m and as of 6:50 p.m. was said to be only five percent contained.

Another fire located at Tierra Del Sol Road and Tierra Real Lane in Boulevard, called the Border fire, has been fully contained after burning 15 acres. That blaze was first reported at 4:24 p.m.

In all, officials have reported four fires caused by lightning strikes in the East County. No injuries have been reported.

Two earlier fires in the area have been contained.

This includes the Cain Fire which burned one acre north of the Manzanita Indian Reservation at about 2:33 p.m. and the Lucky Fire which burned 1/4 acre off of Sunrise Highway in Mt. Laguna just after 3 p.m.

No structures were threatened in either fire and a threatened structure warning for the Border and Chihuahua fires have been abated.

We will update this story once new information is made available.

Foreclosure Prevention Help in Montgomery County

Free one-on-one counseling is available Saturday for homeowners facing foreclosures in Montgomery County.

The event is being held in Gaithersburg from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Bohrer Park Activity Center, located at Summit Hall Farm, 506 S. Frederick Avenue.

“Unfortunately, at a time when homeowners facing foreclosure are under a huge amount of stress, there has been a proliferation of unscrupulous scam artists who prey on them, sometimes charging them thousands of dollars to get a loan modification service that never arrives,” said County Executive Ike Leggett.

Homeowners will receive one-on-one foreclosure prevention counseling offered by trained representatives from four County-approved housing counseling agencies—Asian-American Homeownership Counseling, HomeFree USA, Housing Initiative Partnership and the Latino Economic Development Corporation.

In addition, pro bono legal advice will be available at the event.

LI Man Arrested After Fleeing Police with Kids in Car

A Long Island man was arrested Friday after fleeing from police and crashing his car through a fence with his two young children in the car.

Police say Cornell James, 25, was driving erratically Friday evening in Central Islip when they attempted to pull him over.

James continued to drive, and the police officers initiated a brief pursuit, as the suspect knocked over a stop sign and crashed through a fence on a residential street.

The driver then left his 1 and 6-year-old sons in the car and fled on foot before taken into custody in the backyard of a home.

James was charged with\ two counts of endangering the welfare of a child and unlawful fleeing a police officer in a car, along with other charges. He was also issued numerous traffic summonses, including failing to have a child in an authorized car seat.

The two children were released to their grandmother.

Washington Monument Climber Thrown by Wind Gust

The National Park Service says one climber inspecting the Washington Monument, Erik Sohn, was blown about 30 feet off the monument wall Friday by a gust of wind about 6 p.m.

The gust blew him from the west face of the monument to the south side. The park service says Sohn wasn't hurt.

"This is not unusual in these kinds of operations," said Dan Lemieux, project manager from the architectural firm WJE. "Our guys are trained to deal with this kind of event. Erik's fine, and I think he even kind of enjoyed the ride."

The National Park Service and an engineering firm inspecting earthquake damage on the Washington Monument have suspended their operations because of the weather.

The planned inspection Saturday was called off amid rain. The park service says work will resume Sunday. The team has been rappelling down the monument, removing loose pieces of stone and mortar and documenting damage.

Sick Pilot Diverts Chicago-Miami Flight to Nashville

An American Airlines spokesman says a Boeing 777 made an emergency landing at the Nashville International Airport Friday afternoon after the pilot became ill.

Airline spokesman Tim Smith said the airplane was headed from Chicago to Miami on Friday when it was diverted to Nashville around 1:30 p.m. Smith said the first officer landed the plane safely.

He said the pilot became ill during the flight, but it's not clear what caused it. The pilot was taken to a hospital and Smith said another pilot was on his way to Nashville to continue the flight.

Boeing 777 is considered the world's largest twinjet airliner. It has seating for 245 passengers. Smith said 213 passengers and 10 crew members were on the flight.

A Pampered Pooch Can Live a Longer Life

The expression "it's a dog's life" comes from the assumption that there's just nothing better -- no clock to punch, no bills to pay, no worries, no stress.

But massage therapist Athena Arnado, who is used to finding stress and getting rid of it, said dogs can have bad days and stressful weeks, too.

"Loud noises don't bother us as much," said Arnado. "We know what loud noises are, where they are coming from. Dogs don't necessarily know that."

So Arnado took what she already knew and started applying it to dogs.

"Even just a five-minute massage a day can increase longevity and improve the quality of life for your dog," she said.

Arnado said it's just one more thing your pets will adore you for. And there is even a fast version, if they'll let you stop.

Arnado has created a video to teach pet owners how to massage their pets called "Take 5 for Fido," available through Arnado's website.

Mega Millions Ticket Sold in Cypress Park Store

A Mega Millions ticket sold at a Los Angeles store in Cypress Park is worth $56.6 million.

The $1 ticket -- with the winning numbers 3,19, 21, 44, 45 and mega- number 29 -- was sold at Convenience Retailers at 2250 N. Figueroa St., lottery officials said. The store will get a bonus of $282,500 for selling the ticket. The winner has 60 days to claim the prize and can choose a one-time payout of roughly half the total or payments over 26 years. A second winning ticket sold in North Carolina will take the other half of the $113 million jackpot.

Three other tickets sold in Los Angeles County -- Van Nuys, Long Beach and West Covina -- matched five of six numbers, and the ticket holders will split $433,041 three ways.

The jackpot in the multi-state lottery was the first to exceed $100 million since June and the 16th Mega Millions jackpot won by a Californian. The last big winner was a Morro Bay resident who won $135 million.

Fatal Shooting in Northeast D.C.

D.C. police are investigating a fatal shooting in Northeast Washington.

It happened just after midnight on Saturday in the 5300 block of Dix Street.

Police discovered a man who was suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead shortly after.

Right now, police do not have a suspect or a motive in the shooting.

Is There an Alternative to Big Bank Fees?

A nickel here, a dime there, and now it's five bucks a month -- but if you don't want to pay Bank of America's new monthly debit card fee, where do you go?

How about a smaller bank? Farmers & Merchants has 22 branches in Los Angeles and Orange counties. Keep $500 in your account and checking is practically free.

"There's no charge for your debit card," said CEO W. Henry Walker. "In fact, we have debit cards now for the youth, 12-18, and to the college students up to 26, and those checking accounts are entirely free."

Bank officials said they make their money off loans and gain customers by word of mouth. The trade off? You won't find their ATM machines on every corner.

"Most people go to their grocery store, swipe their card and get cash back, and that is always free," said Walker.

Credit unions often offer free checking and no-fee debit cards, but you have to be accepted as a member.

Wells Fargo announced it is testing a $3 a month charge for purchases on debit cards.

About 64 percent of Americans said they would move their money to another bank if fees continue to increase, according to Bankrate.com.

"I think it's crazy," said customer, Mark Mahoney. "I wouldn't pay it; let's put it that way."

Bankers said switching banks is a mindset. Customers weigh convenience and cost and then make a choice.

"We get all these added fees, and with this economy, it really does make it difficult," said Norma Samuelson, a customer of Bank of America.

But would Samuelson move to another bank?

"No, I wouldn't."

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South Philly Residents March, Pray for Peace

What began as a vigil soon turned to a rallying cry for peace among South Philly residents fed up with a seemingly countless stream of violence.

That violence has affected both the old and the young, including 2-year-old Aasiiyah Owens.

Aasiiyah, along with her 10-year-old brother Siyair Owens, 59-year-old grandmother Andrea Pointer and an unnamed 25-year-old man were all victims of a shooting on Tuesday on South Bucknell Street in the Point Breeze section of the city.

Police say a fight between high school girls escalated into a shootout which wounded the four innocent bystanders. While Siyair, Andrea and the unnamed man were released from the hospital, Aasiiyah remains in a hospital bed.

“She’s still on a breathing machine but we expect her to make a full recovery,” said Kenya Mason, Aasiiyah’s godmother. “Prayer, much prayer, much power.”

It was just one of several violent incidents in South Philadelphia within the last few days. On Wednesday two separate shootouts occurred within five blocks of each other on Tasker Street, resulting in two people dying and four being sent to the hospital.

With all the recent gun violence, residents have had enough and are calling for change.

“If we don’t have the courage to step up and start turning in the tyrants that don’t care about our babies then we have no one else to blame but ourselves,” said a community leader during Friday’s gathering. “We all know who’s doing the shooting.”

The residents marched from Wharton and Bucknell Streets all the way up to 32nd and Tasker, holding candles and praying for peace.

“It’s tiresome,” said Terrez McCleary. “All the parents here in South Philadelphia, we have to get together and do something about the violence that’s going on. It’s very sad.”

Among the marchers was Gary Pointer, husband to Andrea and grandfather of Siyair and Aasiiyah.

“Adults, we have to start listening,” said Gary. “Go to the kids, talk to them. Hopefully the kids will learn from us.”

Community leaders are offering a $12,000 reward to anyone with information on Tuesday's shooting. Police currently have no suspects.

Office Manager Indicted on Fraud Charges

An office manager in Sterling, Virginia is accused of embezzling nearly half-a-million dollars from her employer.

LeeAnn Dove, 48, was indicted by a federal grand jury on 15 charges including mail, wire and bank fraud.

Prosecutors say that Dove took about $490,000 from Great Falls Landscapes between 2004 and 2010.

According to the indictment, Dove added names of fake employees to the company payroll. She then allegedly deposited the fake employees’ paychecks into her own personal bank account.

Dove is also accused of using company credit cards to buy concert tickets, electronics and thousands of dollars in gift cards.

Dove faces up to 30 years in prison for each of the eight bank fraud charges and 20 years for each mail and wire fraud charge.

Body Found on Metro Tracks

Metro Transit Police are investigating a body found on the tracks this morning near Rockville Metro Station.

Police say the 37-year-old man from Gaithersburg was found around 3:00 a.m. just a couple hundred feet from the station by a maintenance crew.

Investigators say there is no evidence of foul play and no trauma to suggest the man was hit by a train. They are still investigating his cause of death and how he wound up on the tracks. Stay with usa-local-news.blogspot.com throughout the morning for more updates on this story.

Bronx Teen Dies After Falling Out Window

Police say a 15-year-old teenager has died after falling five floors out an apartment window in the Bronx while trying to put up a curtain rod.

Police say Johan Hernandez of the Bronx was standing on a chair at a friend's home when one of the legs broke, sending him tumbling out the window. He was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead at about 5:30 p.m. Friday.

No other information was immediately available.

Black Population Concentrated in South: Census

The majority of the United State’s population that identifies itself as black or African American is concentrated in the southern states, according to a new report by the Census Bureau.

According to the new analysis, the DMV is home to one of the largest populations that identify as black or African American in the country.

In the most recent Census survey, respondents could check more than one box on the questionnaire surveying race. In its report, the Census Bureau counted those respondents that only checked the box that read “Black or African American” as black alone. Those that checked the box and also another race category are considered black-in-combination.

The Census report found that most of those (60 percent) who counted themselves as black or black-in-combination with another race were concentrated in just 10 states.

Maryland, with a population of 1.8 million that counts itself as black alone-or-in-combination, and Virginia, with a population of 1.7 million identify as black alone-or-in-combination, are among those 10 states.

In Census population reports, the District gets treated as a state in. When compared to the other 50 states, D.C. has the highest percentage black alone-or-in-combination population, at 52 percent. The size of the black population in D.C. has actually declined by 10 percent since 2000, according to Census data, but increased in every other state.

Florida is the state where the population identifying as black-alone-or-in-combination grew fastest in 2010.

In cities of 100,000 or more people, the highest percentage of black alone-or-in-combination was in Detroit, with 84 percent. Baltimore was 5th on that list, with 65.1 percent identifying as black alone-or-in-combination.

According to the Census Bureau, 14 percent of Americans identified themselves as black alone-or-in-combination in 2010, a total of 42 million people. Over the past decade, that number has grown by 15 percent, faster than the country's overall population growth. Since 2000, the U.S. population increased by 9.7 percent.

The year 2000 was the first time respondents could choose more than one race to identify themselves.

The Census Bureay says it collects data on race in part to assist both state and federal government to enforce laws like the Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Act.

In addition, the Bureau says it asks about race because “data on race are critical for research that underlies many policy decisions at all levels of government.”