Perry, Romney Court Religious Conservatives

Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney told social conservatives Saturday "poisonous language has never advanced our cause" as both he and rival Rick Perry grappled with a flare-up over religion.

Romney, in remarks to the Values Voters Summit, a gathering of cultural conservatives in Washington, did not directly confront the words of a prominent Perry supporter who called Romney's Mormon faith a "cult." Indeed, he was criticizing another speaker at the meeting who is known for anti-Mormon and anti-Muslim rhetoric, and who followed him on stage.

But his cautionary words served as notice that attacks on faiths should, in his view, be off the table. He appealed to the social conservatives to support a presidential candidate who has the best record on the economy.

Perry planned a day of campaigning in religiously conservative northwest Iowa. On Friday, the Texas governor answered simply "no" when asked if he thought Mormonism was a cult. But that did not appear likely to be the last word on the subject.

Earlier in the day, Dallas pastor Robert Jeffress branded Mormonism a cult and said Romney is "a good moral person, but he's not a Christian," in remarks introducing Perry to a crowd. Perry accepted the introduction by saying Jeffress "hit it out of the park."

Before Romney's address in Washington on Saturday, former Reagan administration official Bill Bennett sharply criticized Jeffress. "You did Rick Perry no good, sir, in what you had to say," Bennett told the crowd. He called the pastor's remarks "bigotry."

Romney acknowledged Bennett's comments as soon as he took the stage. "Speaking of hitting it out of the park, how about that Bill Bennett!"

In urging conservatives to avoid poisonous rhetoric, Romney was referring specifically to "one of the speakers who will follow me today" -- a figure who he said "has crossed that line." That was Bryan Fischer, an American Family Association official who spoke after Romney.

For the latest on Rick Perry's run for the White House, click here to see our special Tracking Rick Perry section. View videos, photos, and stories on the Texas governor's presidential run.

California Dream Act Part II Signed by Brown

Illegal immigrants can now apply for state-funded scholarships and aid at state universities after Gov. Jerry Brown announced Saturday that he has signed the second half of a legislative package targeting such students.

AB131 by Assemblyman Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles, is the second half of the California Dream Act. Brown signed the first half of the package in July, which approved private scholarships and loans for students who are illegal immigrants.

Under current law, illegal immigrant students who have graduated from a California high school and can prove they're on the path to legalize their immigration status can pay resident tuition rates. The bill would allow these students to apply for state aid.

The contentious second half of the package requires that immigrant students meet the same requirements as all other students applying for financial aid at state universities but specifies that they only qualify for financial aid after all the other legal residents have applied.

The bills are different from the federal Dream Act, which includes a path to citizenship for the children of illegal immigrants.

Brown says the bill expands educational opportunities for all qualified students.

"Going to college is a dream that promises intellectual excitement and creative thinking," Brown said. "The Dream Act benefits us all by giving top students a chance to improve their lives and the lives of all of us."

Critics of the bills say it undermines immigration laws and encourages illegal immigration by granting access to state resources reserved for legal residents. Many Republican lawmakers say legal students have had their grants cut in light of recent budget cuts to higher education.

Supporters argue that children whose were brought to the U.S. illegally by their parents shouldn't be punished.

The state Department of Finance estimates that 1 percent of all Cal Grant funds, the state student financial aid program, will be affected by the legislative package when it goes into effect in January 2013. The department says that 2,500 students would qualify for aid under the bill and estimates the costs to equal $14.5 million of a $1.4 billion program.

Ryan Howard Out Until May or June: Eskin

Still recovering from a season-ending loss to the Cardinals on Friday, the Phillies were dealt another devastating blow on Saturday, according to Howard Eskin.

Eskin tweeted the following messages on his account:

Word I get from inside Phillies... Ryan Howard had MRI 2day and did reveal a torn Achilles tendon left leg. Likely out till next may or june

ryan howard out till at least may or june of next season

During the final out of Friday night’s game, Howard grounded out and injured his leg as he ran out of the batter’s box. He limped a few steps and then crumpled to the ground.

Howard told reporters that he felt a pop as he tried to run.

The Phillies confirmed Howards injury though they did not give a time frame for his return:

First baseman Ryan Howard's MRI revealed a rupture of the left Achilles tendon. He cannot have surgery until the swelling resolves and it has not been determined who will perform the surgery. Recovery time won't be known until after the surgery is complete and there is no guarantee he will be ready for spring training.

The Phillies also spoke on injuries to Ross Gload, Hunter Pence, Placido Polanco and Cole Hamels.

Gload will have his right hip re-examined and will likely have arthroscopic hip surgery.

Pence and Polanco will both have MRIs to evaluate the extent of their sports hernias. Polanco will likely have surgery while Pence's plan will be determined after his MRI.

Finally, Hamels will have loose bodies removed from his left elbow on October 14. He is also set to undergo surgery for an inguinal hernia the week after.

 

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Innocent Bystander Killed in Shootout

One woman is dead after a shooting in Philadelphia’s Overbrook section. 

It happened on Saturday around 7:52 p.m. on 58th Street and Malvern Avenue.

Witnesses say the 31-year-old woman was an innocent bystander caught between two different groups who were shooting at each other.

She was shot once in the left shoulder and once in the back. She was taken to Lankenau Hospital where she was pronounced dead shortly after 8:30 p.m.

No word yet on any suspects.

Man Struck, Killed by Train in Delaware

One man is dead after being struck by a train in Newark, Delaware.

The accident happened on the tracks behind the 200 block of Interchange Boulevard just off Elkton Road on Saturday, around 5:54 p.m.

Police say the man was struck by a southbound Amtrak train. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

No word yet on the man’s identity.

 

Aggies' Buses Vandalized in Lubbock

Texas A&M's team buses were vandalized before the Aggies played Texas Tech, with drivers finding manure inside and outside the four vehicles.

Texas A&M athletic director Bill Byrne said Saturday manure went "from one end to the other" inside one bus that couldn't be locked. The others had manure along the exterior. He tweeted that the outside of all the buses had vulgarities "spray painted" on them.

"Classy," ended his first tweet.

It wasn't immediately clear why vandals targeted Texas A&M, though the Aggies are planning to leave the Big 12 after this school year for the SEC.

The team was accompanied by school security and a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper and no official report was made to the agency, an email from Aggies spokesman Brad Marquardt said.

Texas Tech athletic director Kirby Hocutt called the vandalism "unfortunate" and that it doesn't "represent who we are as a group."

The Red Raiders play the No. 24 Aggies Saturday night.

Bush Misses Interactions with Troops

George W. Bush says that after eight years in the White House, he's happy to be back home in Texas and out of the spotlight.

But the former commander-in-chief tells The Associated Press there's one aspect of his presidency he still misses: interaction with U.S. troops. And Bush, who sent them to wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, says that despite his desire to remain largely out of the public eye, he wants to make sure veterans and military members know they still have his support.

"I was a little concerned that our veterans don't think that I still respect them and care for them a lot," Bush told the AP. He added later, "There's nothing as courageous in my judgment as someone who had a leg blown off in combat overcoming the difficulties."

Bush is hosting next week's Warrior Open golf tournament in suburban Dallas, an event featuring members of the U.S. Armed Forces wounded while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, including those who lost limbs and suffered brain injuries. Bush joined more than a dozen wounded military members in the Warrior 100 -- a 62-mile mountain bike ride he hosted in West Texas last spring.

These public appearances are the exception to the lifestyle Bush has led in his post-presidency.

After leaving office two years ago, Bush and former first lady Laura Bush bought a house in Dallas and started work on the George W. Bush Presidential Center, slated to open in 2013. He has attended select events relating to the center, as well as a ceremony with President Barack Obama marking the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. But he has largely remained out of the public eye.

Bush said he doesn't want veterans to mistake his private nature with a lack of appreciation for what they've done on the battlefield.

"They hadn't seen me and they hadn't seen me with the troops," he said. "So therefore I am using mountain biking and golf to stay connected with the military, people who served during my presidency."

Military members and veterans groups have generally held Bush in high regard, despite the nationwide protests and international controversy that grew more fervent as the American death toll grew in Afghanistan and Iraq under his command.

More than 1,680 military members have died in Afghanistan since the U.S. began bombing there in October 2001, while more than 4,470 military members have died in Iraq since the war began there in March 2003. Another 46,000 have been wounded in both campaigns.

"What I'm concerned about is that Americans forget the sacrifice," Bush said. "I don't think they are right now, but one of my objectives is to make sure they never do."

Bush, who since leaving office also has made appearances at events for organizations that benefit troops, said he gets inspiration from meeting members of the military who have overcome serious injuries. He said there's not much he misses about the presidency, but added he does miss being commander-in-chief because he has "great respect for those men and women who wear the uniform."

Brian "Ski" Donarski, 43, is among the veterans Bush has invited to the two-day golf tournament that starts Monday. The Army first lieutenant was seriously wounded when a mine blew up in Iraq in 2006 and spent 13 months rehabilitating from a traumatic brain injury, a fracture in his neck, bulged disks in his back and undergoing shoulder surgery.

Though Bush has spent most of the past couple of years out of the limelight, Donarski never doubted the former president's commitment to the troops.

"I know he didn't forget us," he said.

David Hartley, police chief of the small southeast Texas town of Hempstead, also supports Bush, even after losing his 25-year-old son, Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Lee Hartley, in 2008 in Iraq. For the last two years, the chief has organized the Watermelon Run for the Fallen in Hempstead to raise money for organizations that help veterans and their families. Hartley, whose last run drew about 3,500 people, also said he's never doubted the Republican president's commitment to the troops.

"The man literally cares for our troops and I have the upmost respect for him," Hartley said. "Everything he does, he does from his heart."

Besides interacting with veterans and service members, Bush plans to stay involved in public policy through his already-active institute, which focuses on education reform, global health, human freedom and economic growth.

But, he makes clear, "I don't miss the fame." He said he and Laura are content with their life back in Texas, where he served as governor for six years before winning the presidency.

"We've got a lot of friends down here," Bush said. "It's been fun to reconnect with them."

Coach Sentenced for Sexual Abuse

A 35-year-old soccer coach at a private school has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for sexually abusing a child.

According to a report in The Dallas Morning News, the now 16-year-old girl, who testified Friday, told Matthew Alan Adams that "you took my innocence away."

Adams also taught P.E. and health at Fairhill School, a private school in Dallas that specializes in teaching children learning disabilities. The girl Adams abused is dyslexic.

Adams had a sexual relationship with the girl beginning when she was 13 years old. He pleaded guilty as a jury was being selected for his trial.

A judge sentenced Adams to 12 years on two charges of aggravated sexual assault of a child under 14 as a part of a plea agreement

OU Blows Out Texas with Defensive TDs

Landry Jones and the Oklahoma Sooners made a strong case Saturday to return to the top of the college football poll.

Having slipped from first to second to third over successive weeks, the Sooners showed they deserve to be considered the best in the land with a 55-17 thrashing of No. 11 Texas.

Oklahoma stomped its top rival almost as easily as it did lowly Ball State the previous week, getting three touchdown passes from Jones, a 64-yard touchdown run by Dominique Whaley and three defensive touchdowns.

The Sooners (5-0, 2-0 Big 12) scored the first four times they had the ball. They were up by 24 points at halftime and by 45 midway through the fourth quarter on the way to their most lopsided win in this series since 2003, when they won by a series-record 52 points.

The Longhorns (4-1, 1-1) were trying to figure out how far they've come since being 5-7 last season. Now coach Mack Brown's knows just how far his squad still has to go, especially on offense.

Sophomore Case McCoy and freshman David Ash had their share of rookie mistakes at quarterback, such as McCoy fumbling twice (one returned 19 yards for a touchdown by David King) and Ash throwing two interceptions (one returned 55 yards for a touchdown by Demontre Hurst).

McCoy and Ash couldn't keep drives going. The Sooners swarmed running plays and the youngsters were only able to complete short passes. The longest completions before the game turned into a joke were a screen for 15 yards and an 18-yarder along the sideline against a prevent defense in the final seconds of the first half.

How silly did it become? Late in the third quarter, Texas let a first-and-10 at the Oklahoma 15 turn into a fourth-and-49 from its own 47. The ensuing punt didn't even reach the first-down marker.

Texas' only touchdowns came on a kickoff return late in the first half, and a pass in the final minutes. The Longhorns also had an early field goal that had gotten them to 6-3.

The Sooners were so ready for the Longhorns that they let them know it before kickoff. Oklahoma players lined up between the 30s and hollered at Texas players as they ran onto the field. Coaches and officials scrambled to maintain peace.

OU drove inside the Texas 10 on its first two series, but settled for field goals of 26 and 24 yards, seemingly bothered by the noise at the end of the field occupied by Texas fans. The Sooners moved into the friendly end for the start of the second quarter and, on the first play, Jones threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Kenny Stills.

An interception by Tony Jefferson -- a linebacker who picked off passes on three consecutive series against Ball State -- gave Jones another series. After threading a 30-yard pass between two defenders on a third-and-25, Jones hit Ryan Broyles with a 5-yard pass just inside the right front corner of the end zone.

The play had to be reviewed, and Oklahoma fans used the break to start chanting "Boomer! Sooner!" Longhorns fans answered with their chant "Texas! Fight!" Their cries lasted longer and were louder than their foe's, only to end with the news that the touchdown stood.

Texas fans were hardly heard from again. Once Oklahoma got its third defensive score -- a 56-yard return of a fumble by Jamell Fleming with 11:22 left -- most folks in burnt orange headed out to drown their sorrows at the State Fair going on all around the Cotton Bowl.

Jones was 31 of 50 for 367 yards and no turnovers. He improved to 2-0 against the Longhorns, and gave Oklahoma its third win in five years against its Red River rival.

Broyles caught nine passes for 122 yards, leaving him four receptions shy of the NCAA career record. Stills caught five passes for 51 yards and two touchdowns.

Whaley ran for 83 yards on 13 carries.

McCoy was 9 of 16 for 116 yards with three sacks. Ash was 11 of 20 for 107 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions and four sacks.

Jaxon Shipley caught nine passes for 89 yards, including a 4-yard TD pass from Ash with 2:31 left.

Fozzy Whitaker had the 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, tying the school record set by Johnny "Lam" Jones in 1978. He also ran for 43 yards and caught a pass for 15.

Del. Woman Leaves 7-Year-Old Son on Road: Cops

Delaware State Police say a 32-year-old woman from New Castle has been arrested for leaving her 7-year-old son on the side of a highway after an argument.

Authorities said in a news release that Nicole F. Evans has been charged with endangering the welfare of a child and was released on $500 secured bond.

Police say the incident happened Friday evening. A person reported seeing the boy walking south by himself on the shoulder of U.S. 13. Authorities say during the one-hour time period in which the boy was found, Evans did not contact 911 to report that her child was missing.

Officials say the boy was turned over to family members.

Protestors Mark 10th Year of Afghan War

A crowd of hundreds of people gathered downtown around midday Saturday to protest the war in Afghanistan, now in its 10th year.

With signs and banners emblazined with the words "troops home now" and "bring out money home now," several groups gathered near Michigan Avenue & Congress Parkway before marching throughout the area and making a stop outside President Barack Obama's 2012 campaign headquarters.

Many of the protesters merged with about 100 people affiliated with another group -- Occupy Chicago -- which has been rallying in the financial district against corporate influence in government for more than two weeks. That group is a spinoff of anti-wall Street protests in New York.

Chicago police reported no arrests.

A similar anti-war event was held at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

In Washington, protestors forced the closure of the National Air and Space Museum when they tried to protest a drone exhibit.

1 Man Arrested, 1 Sought for Death of NJ Dad

ice identified and charged two suspects for the death of a 19-year-old Woodbine father.

Boris Curwin, 19, and Andre Gross, 27, both of Millville, NJ are charged with murder, kidnapping and other related offenses.

The body of Khalil Wallace was found on Thursday in a Cumberland County lake.

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If you have any information on his whereabouts, please call the New Jersey State Police Woodbine Station at 609-861-5698.

Occupy Philly Marches to Liberty Bell

Hundreds of demonstrators marched from a makeshift camp outside Philadelphia's City Hall to the site of the Liberty Bell to dramatize their call for an end to corporate influence on politics.

The protesters carried signs and marched Saturday afternoon to the chants such as “This is what democracy looks like” and “Banks got bailed out, we got sold out.”

They have been outside City Hall since Thursday in an “Occupy Philadelphia” demonstration modeled on similar events in New York City and other cities.

Once on Independence Mall, speakers addressed the crowd, their remarks repeated by the chanting crowd so that those in the back could hear.

One woman told the crowd “We will not continue to support a government that supports big corporations over people and community.”

 

Body Found in Mission Bay

San Diego Lifeguard officials are reporting that a body was found in Mission Bay, Saturday afternoon.

Lifeguards received the call sometime after 12 p.m., officials told City News Service.

Initially the incident was reported as a drowning near the Mission Bay Visitors center located at 2888 East Mission Bay drive, officials said.

However, once authorities arrived on scene they reportedly found a deceased person face down in the water.

The San Diego Medical Examiner was on the scene shortly before 2 p.m.

No information was given about the deceased person.

Check back for updates on this ongoing story.

 

Mayor Mandates Public Transit for City Employees

Mayor Rahm Emanuel hasn't been quiet about his use of public transit, and he wants city employees to get comfortable using it too.

Under new travel mileage and reimbursement policies outlined Saturday, those who work for city government are required to use Chicago Transit Authority buses and trains as their main mode of transportation once they've clocked in.

If that's not feasible due to location, timing or security reasons, the employee will have to provide reasoning on reimbursement forms.

The policy was crafted after Emanuel ordered City Comptroller Amer Ahmad to conduct a thorough review of past mileage and travel practices to increase accountability and efficiency across city government, a release from the mayor's office said.

In his report, Ahmad said he identified several systemic weaknesses including unsupported or limited support for reimbursements, inadequate management review and follow up, unclear monitoring and audit controls, and questionable or inconsistent usage of other local transportation modes, the release said.

Ahmad found instances of employees being reimbursed for car washes, transportation to jury duty, parking tickets, excessive parking costs and even late fees on personal credit cards, the release said.

"Across the board we found inconsistency in the policies and enforcement in our departments and sister agencies,” Ahmad said. "This new policy provides the necessary structure to ensure that city travel is efficient and above all an appropriate use of city resources."

Emanuel's office said the polices are expected to save the city about $1 million next year.

Earlier this year Ahmad conducted a detailed review of all City expenditures and reimbursements that cut the number of city credit cards from 500 to approximately eight.

D.C. Air National Guard Members to go to Afghanistan

More than 175 members of the District of Columbia Air National Guard are set to deploy for Afghanistan this weekend, an occasion coinciding with the tenth anniversary of U.S. military action in that country.

The deployment marks the first time that an Air National Guard unit is sending F-16 fighter jets to Afghanistan. Pilots, aircraft maintenance crews, and other support staff began leaving Friday. The main group of more than 100 members are due to depart Saturday evening from Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland.

Some members of the deployed group are expected to return to the U.S. in late December, while others will be in Afghanistan for longer.

Judge Says NJ Lawyer Charged with Bribery Won't Have To Wear Security Bracelet

A federal judge says a prominent New Jersey defense lawyer accused of trying to set up the murder of a witness won't have to wear an electronic security bracelet during his upcoming trial.

    

But U.S. District Judge William Martini warned Paul Bergrin that he would reconsider the ruling issued Friday if he acts "inappropriately" in court.

 

Bergrin -- whose former clients include entertainers Queen Latifah and Lil' Kim _ was arrested in 2009 and charged with a host of offenses including bribery and prostitution. He's accused of arranging the murder of a government witness in Newark and trying to hire a hit man to murder another witness.

    

A judge threw out racketeering charges against him last year.

 

But a federal appeals court reinstated the charges in April.

    

Bergrin will act as his own lawyer during the trial, which will start with jury selection on Tuesday.

    

Martini had ruled last month that Bergrin must remain at a fixed podium when speaking during the trial and told him he would have to wear a shock-delivering electronic bracelet that would have been controlled by U.S. Marshals in court.

    

But the judge reconsidered that decision during the two-hour court hearing on Friday to cover pretrial issues, noting Bergrin has apparently not acted out or posed a threat during his two years in pre-trial lockup or while appearing at multiple court hearings.

 

Red River Rivalry Revs Up

Even rivals can break bread at the Red River Rivalry. In a sea of red and orange, fans were streaming into Fair Park hours before kickoff.

"This is the game of the year every year," said Longhorn Brad Gephart.

Those with extra tickets tried to sell them to those still looking for a seat at the game. But plenty of people opted to watch the Texas-OU game on TV screens around Fair Park and while tailgating in parking lots outside the Cotton Bowl.

"If you don't go to the game, you can just eat fried food and watch the game on the big screen and not have to deal with trying to get in and out of the game," said Sooner fan Jenna McCarthy.

Everywhere you looked, the battle lines were drawn and colors displayed.

But at one big tailgating party, the rivalry runs in the family which makes for quite a sizzling game day. The father, Doug Turpin, had to wear a hat and shirt from both teams to please his wife and daughters who attended competing colleges.

"Everybody wants favoritism, but you know, that'll get old pops in trouble. So I'm just trying to straddle the fence today," said Turpin.

Not everyone opted for an elaborate tailgating setup. Two ladies kept it simple by just sitting in lawn chairs and listening to country music blaring from their car speakers.

"This is us. We're more laid back," said OU fan Bridgett Mizer.

And for a group of old friends from high school tossing bean bags by their tents, going to different colleges doesn't mean separating for good.

"No matter what's going on in our lives, we all make a promise to get back together," said OU fan Rick Synrod.

They say the Texas-OU game is like Christmas. In the end, it's all in the name of friendly rivalry and fun.

Widow of DPW Shooting Victim Sues City

The widow of a Washington D.C. sanitation worker who was fatally shot last year at a Department of Public Works facility has sued the city, alleging negligence.

Shadone Taylor-Hutchins filed her suit in D.C. Superior Court Friday, according to The Washington Post. Taylor-Hutchins claims that the city failed to implement security measures that had been recommended months before her husband was killed in Oct. 2010.

Larry Hutchins, 51, of Suitland, was killed while preparing for his route in the trash truck lot of a Department of Public Works site at 1241 W Street NW in the early morning hours of last Oct. 13.

His widow's suit alleges that the site lacked functioning security cameras and had not stationed a 24-hour guard at the site entrance. Nor, the suite alleges, had the city improved lighting, repaired fencing, or trimmed trees on the site's perimeter.

According to the Post, the filing includes a copy of a security review of the W Street facility, which was done in March and April of 2010.

Hutchins' murder remains unsolved.

California Dream Act Part II Signed by Brown

Gov. Jerry Brown has signed a bill allowing illegal immigrant students applying to state universities to receive state-funded scholarships and financial aid.

AB131 by Democratic Assemblyman Gil Cedillo of Los Angeles is the second half of the California Dream Act. Brown, a Democrat, signed the first part in July, which approved private scholarships and loans for illegal immigrant students.

The bill requires the immigrant students to meet the same requirements as others but specifies they would only qualify for financial aid after all the other legal residents have applied.

Brown says the bill gives top students a chance to expand their educational opportunities.

The package is different from the federal Dream Act, which includes a path to citizenship for the children of illegal immigrants.

Brown's office announced the signings Saturday.

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Marathon: Why They Run

What drives a person to take on the personal challenge of a marathon. It's 26.2 miles of pavement pounding under what can sometimes be brutal weather conditions.

For many, it's a personal challenge to themselves, but many others are driven by selflessness.

For the last two weeks, NBC Chicago has profiled several runners and organizations that will be among the thousands traversing through 26 Chicago neighborhoods on Sunday.

We also put out calls on our Facebook and Twitter accounts to learn of other heroes and inspiring stories.

Eileen Quinn, 28, Chicago

"I'm running my first marathon in honor of my Dad. He was a 5-time Chicago Marathon runner and he passed away a year ago. In my long training runs when I want to give up, he is the first thing my mind goes to. I know he'd be thrilled that I am doing this and I wish he was around to cheer me on."

David J. Haffner

Haffner has already ran three marathons and is making Sunday his fourth. He said he was struck by a "mixture of excitement and memory and fear" when a fellow nurse asked him if it was hard to run the race.

"Excitement won that day, and I signed up," he said.

This year, Haffner said he qualified for a faster start corral, which was a confidence booster.

"But it's a trap, I tell you. Then you're like, 'Could I get into the next corral up next year? So I'm in and I might be ready. I'm never ready til' I'm on the starting line. Cause' then you're like a bullet, nothing left to do, nowhere left to go but ahead. Through this beautiful city of Chicago with a bunch of your family."

Gretchen Wro

Wro told NBC Chicago her hero was her friend Joe Massow, who has run the Bank of America Chicago Marathon for the last four years and has raised more than $40,000 to fight leukemia and breast cancer as well as supply toys to Children's Memorial Hospital and Comer Children's Hospital at the University of Chicago.

Massow is motivated by the loss of his best friend, who died in 2010 to leukemia.

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Donat Ratell

Ratell will be running Sunday in his first-ever marathon. Driving him: his 5-year-old son, Brendan. Brendan is living with a genetic disorder called Neurofibromatosis, which causes tumors -- both benign and malignant -- to grow.

His parents have made it their mission to raise awareness and money to fight the condition. Ratell took on the personal commitment to run in honor of his son and trained alone, all while working full time and taking care of his family.

Ratell has been raising money but is a bit short of his $5,000 goal.

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Tina Brennan

Brennan says her father, Fernando Pedroza, has become addicted to the adrenaline he feels while running. Sunday's race will be Pedroza's 15th marathon, and he says he's motivated by the beer he knows he'll get soon after crossing the finish line.

Team World Vision is an organization aimed with providing clean water for kids living in poverty in Africa.

 

Team Paws Chicago is running the 2011 Bank of America Chicago Marathon to support the area's largest no kill adoption and humane organization.

 

Team Sweetness: This year the Walter Payton Foundation and Jarrett Payton Foundation team up to help enrich the lives of youth through charity fund raising.

 

Two-time women's wheelchair champion Amanda McGrory shares her educational and inspirational story.

 

Allen Chong says he returned from a tour in Afghanistan with the Illinois National Guard lacking goals. He set several, and is running the 2011 Bank of America Chicago Marathon to benefit Catholic Charities.

 

Mingo Perez is running his first marathon with the group "Back on My Feet." The nonprofit organization promotes the self-sufficiency of those experiencing homelessness by engaging them in running as a means to build confidence, strength and self-esteem.

 

Girls On The Run's mission is to inspire young girls to be joyful, healthy and confident through running

 

Mark Johnston says he's running in the Bank of America Chicago Marathon for Ronald McDonald House Charities to give back to families who have children in the hospital.

 

Jenn Peterson says she's competing in the Bank of America Chicago Marathon for Friends of Prentice, which helps support uninsured women and premature babies.

 

Full Coverage: 2011 Bank of America Chicago Marathon

Coverage of Sunday's race begins at 7 a.m. on NBC 5 in Chicago. Live video will also be offered on NBCChicago.com, NBC Chicago Nonstop, NBC Chicago's Facebook page and on mobile devices.

Detour Alert: SH 360 and Division in Arlington

The north and southbound lanes of state Highway 360 at Division Street in Arlington were shut down Friday night for the demolition of old railroad bridges.

The Texas Department of Transportation hopes to reopen the highway by 3 p.m. so it shouldn't impact people heading to the Ballpark for Game 1 of the ALCS or to the Taylor Swift concert at Cowboys Stadium.

Until then, however, drivers are cautioned to seek alternative routes.

Spanos Family "Grateful" for Al Davis

The black at Al Davis' funeral will bear a proud streak of silver.

On Saturday, the NFL legend and Oakland Raiders owner passed away at 82.

As shockwaves of the news, promulgated Saturday morning on the Raiders team website, rippled across the league, Chargers president Dean Spanos released a statement on behalf of the Spanos family.

Davis broke into pro football coaching in 1960, his first job as an offensive end coach for the Los Angeles Chargers of the AFL. He followed the team to San Diego and continued through the 1962 campaign.

“Al Davis is one of the main reasons our family is in the NFL today," Spanos said. "Al approached my dad (owner Alex Spanos) about getting involved in the NFL and was very helpful to us through the process. He had great insight into the league, both the product on the field and the business off the field. He saw the potential for growth. He was very much a visionary. Our family will always be grateful to Al for his friendship."

Davis, born on July 4, 1929, captained the sport's emergence as America's most popular pasttime.

His roles covered the gamet: scout, assistant coach, head coach, general manager, commissioner, team owner and team CEO.

He fathered the Raiders swagger and is synonymous with its aura, from in-game physicality and intimidation to spikes and facepaint in the Black Hole stands.

"Al is also a big reason for the strong rivalry between the Raiders and the Chargers and its popularity among both teams’ fans," Spanos said. "He personified the image and mystique of the Raiders, and that image has helped build the strength of our rivalries and the popularity of our game. There has been no one in the NFL like Al Davis.

“The NFL and NFL fans everywhere – not just Raiders fans – owe Al Davis for helping to build the game we all love so much. He will be missed.”

Car Crash Leads to Shooting Investigation

A car accident in Camden has led to a shooting investigation.

The crash happened early Saturday morning on 26th and River Avenue.

Police believe a car clipped the steps of a building, flipped over and rolled down the block.

A man inside the car suffered a gunshot wound in the abdomen. He was taken to Cooper Hospital. No word yet on his condition.

 

Three Suspects Arrested for Robbery Spree

Three Spring Valley residents were taken into custody Friday night in connection with a string of pedestrian robberies that spanned over a few weeks around the city.

Two men, aged 22 and 23, along with a 38-year-old female were arrested for several robberies which took place between September 21 and October 6 in Pacific Beach, University Heights and Hillcrest, said Lt. Andra Brown in a media release.

Investigators said the crime spree began between September 21 and 28 when three robberies occurred in the same fashion in Hillcrest and University Heights.

During one of the incidents, the suspects were said to have fled the scene in a white vehicle driven by a heavy set woman.

As those crimes were taking place, a group of suspects were using a knife to threaten their victims during similar robberies in the Pacific Beach area from September 21 through October 4. The incidents usually happened between 11 p.m. and midnight, Brown said.

The final two robberies in the series occurred on Thursday night and began when a person was accosted as he walked across a bridge at 800 Robinson Avenue, according to a media release.

The victim was on his cell phone when he was reportedly grabbed from behind by a suspect who demanded his phone and wallet. The victim screamed, at which point the suspect threatened to stab him, but no weapon could be seen, Brown said .

The victim struggled with the suspect and was then pushed into the way of an oncoming vehicle as the suspect fled northbound onto 8th Avenue. The victim wasn’t injured and the suspects did not end up taking any property, according to Brown.

Only minutes later, another person was attacked with a knife to his throat after a suspect reached around him as he was walking on in the 1400 block of Tyler Avenue, police said.

The suspects allegedly pushed the man to the ground, punched and kicked him before taking his cell phone. The suspects got away, heading west on Tyler and then turning south onto Maryland Street.

Patrol officers were alerted of the robberies and decided to go to areas where previous cases had had been reported in order to look for possible suspects. That’s when they located the two male suspects in the intersection of Dawes and Missouri Streets.

Police said one of the men dropped a knife as officers approached him.

The female suspect was found nearby in the driver’s seat of a small white car, Brown said.

After an initial investigation, all three suspects, whose identities have been withheld, were arrested on for robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery.

 

3 Dead, 20 Wounded in Overnight Gun Violence

At least three people are dead and 20 others, including 10 teenagers, were wounded in apparently separate shootings during a bloody 13 hours throughout the city Friday and early Saturday.

The first murder happened Saturday night in the Lake View neighborhood.

A 29-year-old man -- identified by the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office as Louis Cotto -- was standing with a group of people on a corner in the 3900 block of North Ashland Avenue when he was shot in the chest and back about 1:20 a.m. in a possible drive-by shooting, police said.

About 4 a.m., a male was shot dead in the 400 block of South Pulaski Road, police said. Further details were not immediately available.

One female was killed and another was wounded in a Saturday morning shooting in the Logan Square shooting.

The females were shot in the head about 4:45 a.m. in the 2300 block of North Harding Avenue, police said. Few details were available Saturday morning, but police said at least one of the victims was dead on the scene. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s office could not yet confirm the death as of 5:30 a.m.

About 3:45 p.m. Friday, a 31-year-old man and a 14-year-old boy walking home from school were shot near East 77th Street and South Kingston Avenue, police said. The man was arguing with the gunman, who began shooting and also struck the teen boy.

The teen was shot in the torso and taken in critical condition to the University of Chicago Medical Center, police said. The man was shot multiple times and taken in critical condition to Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

About 9:30 p.m. Friday, a 20-year-old man was “handling” a gun that accidentally discharged and shot a 15-year-old boy in the 7900 block of South Christiana Avenue, police said.

The boy was taken in fair condition to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn with a gunshot wound to the abdomen area, police said.

The man, Clifton Barnes, of the 7900 block of South Christiana Avenue, was charged with one count each of reckless conduct and not having a valid Firearm Owner’s Identification card, police said.

About 9:50 p.m., a 16- and 17-year-old boy sitting in a purple Dodge Caravan were shot in the 3200 block of Cermak Road by somebody in a passing vehicle, police said. Both were in “guarded but stable condition.”

Just before 10 p.m. Friday, a male was shot in the 800 block of North Noble Street, police said.

About 11 p.m. Friday, a 24-year-old man was shot in the abdomen area during an argument near South Carpenter Street and West 84th Street, police said. The man was taken in “stable” condition to Christ Medical Center.

A short time later, police said a 17-year-old boy sitting in a vehicle stopped at a light in the 7900 block of South South Chicago Avenue was shot in the neck and drove himself to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, where he was listed in fair condition.

About 11:30 p.m. Friday, a 41-year-old man was shot in the buttocks near East 40th Street and South Indiana Avenue during an argument about a past debt, police said.

About 12:35 a.m., a gunman in a passing sport-utility vehicle shot a 16-year-old boy and 22-year-old man in the rear of a building in the 2600 block of South Ridgeway Avenue, police said.

The boy was shot in the leg and the man was struck in the chest and ankle, police said. Both were taken in “stable” condition to Mount Sinai Hospital.

About 1:25 a.m., a 17-year-old boy in the back seat of a vehicle in the 7400 block of South Blackstone Avenue was shot by a gunman who approached the vehicle on foot and opened fire, police said.

Witnesses drove the boy to University of Chicago Medical Center, and he was later transferred in serious condition to Mount Sinai Hospital, police said.

About five minutes later, three men approached a 56-year-old man in the 4100 block of West Adams Street and shot him in the right leg and left arm, police said. He was taken to Mount Sinai in “stable” condition.

Around the same time, a 16-year-old boy and 20-year-old man standing in the 13200 block of South Langley Avenue when a group of males chasing another group opened fire on them, police said.

The boy was shot in the leg and taken in good condition to Roseland Community Hospital, while the man was shot in the abdomen area and taken in good condition to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, according to police.

About 2:15 a.m., a boy and girl, both 17, were shot while walking in the 1300 block of East 75th Street, police said.

The girl was shot in the foot and boy suffered a graze wound to the leg, police said. Both were taken in good condition to Jackson Park Hospital and Medical Center.

About 30 minutes later, a male was shot in the 7100 block of South Halsted Street, police said.

About 4:30 a.m., another male was shot in the 2100 block of South Western Avenue.

Zsa Zsa Gabor Hospitalized

Zsa Zsa Gabor has been hospitalized after slipping out of consciousness at her Los Angeles-area home.

Gabor's husband, Frederic Prinz von Anhalt, said Saturday that the actress had a high fever and was bleeding from a tube in her stomach.

Paramedics rushed Gabor from her Bel Air mansion to UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center.

The 94-year-old Gabor has been hospitalized repeatedly since July 2010, when she broke her hip falling from bed. Most of Gabor's right leg was amputated in January because of gangrene.

She appeared in films ranging from "Moulin Rouge" in 1952 to "Queen of Outer Space" in 1958. She also appeared on TV specials, game shows, and guest-starred on various TV series, often playing herself.

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Pianist Roger Williams Dies at 87

Pianist Roger Williams, who played for nine presidents starting with Harry Truman, died Saturday at his Encino home of complications from pancreatic cancer. He was 87.

Known for his 1958 hit "Autumn Leaves," the song was the only instrumental to ever reach No. 1 on the Billboard pop charts. In 1966, he had another hit with "Born Free"' the soundtrack to the movie of same name.

Born Louis Wertz in Omaha, Neb., Williams started playing piano at age 3. He eventually studied jazz at the Julliard School of Music in New York City before embarking on a concert career.

By 9, he was said to have been able to play any piece upon one listening.

"I had a piano teacher growing up who would never play a song for me," he once said. "She would make me play it from sheet music so I could learn to read music."

While playing a show for a Des Moines, Iowa, radio station, he met Ronald "Dutch" Reagan, the sports announcer, and the two developed a friendship that lasted 60 years.

Williams was discovered by David Kapp of Kapp Records who had him change his name Roger Williams, after the founder of Rhode Island.

Williams served in the Navy during World War II, returning to earn a mechanical engineering degree from Idaho State University. But he always returned to music.

His first album with Kapp in 1954, "The Boy Next Door" was a solo effort and went nowhere. Kapp, struggling to find a road for success for the young pianist, asked him record "Autumn Leaves."

Williams' second album contained the hit "Autumn Leaves" and sold more than 2 million copies. It remains the best selling piano record of all time.

Other hits included "The Impossible Dream," "Yellow Bird" and "The theme from Somewhere in Time."

Eventually, he would record 18 gold or platinum albums. Williams was also the first pianist to be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He also received the Lifetime Achievement Award for Steinway & Sons pianos.

As "pianist to the presidents," he played most recently at the White House in 2008 for a luncheon hosted by then-first lady Laura Bush.

During a concert swing in the Midwest, Williams was invited to play for Truman at his office in Independence, Mo. A White House invitatin followed, and Williams performed for President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

On his 75th birthday, he played a 12-hour marathon at Steinway Hall in New York City, a stunt he repeated several time in the following years.

Funeral plans are pending.

Williams is survived by his daughters, Laura Fisher and Alice Jung, and five grandchildren. His son Jim died in 2004. He and his first wife, Joy, divorced in the mid 1970s. He and second wife Louise DeCarlo divorced in 1985.

2 Killed in Crash near MacArthur Park

An allegedly-drunk motorist smashed his pickup truck into a cement wall in the Westlake District Saturday, killing two of his passengers and injuring a third, police said.

"The story is that they were leaving a bar," said Los Angeles police Sgt. Jeff Siggers of the Central Traffic Division.

The motorist, David Young Lee, 27, of Garden Grove, was booked on suspicion of murder. Paramedics rushed Lee, who was suffering from critical injuries, to an area hospital.

Siggers said Lee had a broken leg. The crash at Wilshire Boulevard and Park View Street occurred about 1:20 a.m., said Los Angeles Fire Department Capt. John Sullivan.

Police identified the dead as Garden Grove residents Ioane Lui Nuumau II, 28, and Ryan Faiga Tauilili, 24. A 23-year-old man, also from Garden Grove, suffered only minor injuries and was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.

Lee, driving eastbound on Wilshire Boulevard at Park View Street, lost control of a white GMC 4X4 with an extended cab and allowed it strike a park cement wall. One passenger died inside the truck and another passenger was killed after being ejected from the vehicle.

Police: Man Attempted to Drive Car into River

A 24-year-old man attempted to commit suicide by driving his car into the Schuylkill River early Saturday morning, according to Philadelphia police.

The man, whose name has not been released, was transported to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania after driving his car into the river at the intersection of Kelly Drive and Strawberry Mansion Bridge Drive in Fairmount Park.

According to police, the man swam to shore and was helped out of the river by civilian bystanders. He is listed in stable condition and will be held for psychiatric evaluation.

19 Hospitalized After Wal-Mart Bleach Fight

One person was arrested and nineteen were transported to hospitals after two women threw bleach and other chemicals on each other during a fight at an Arbutus Wal-Mart.

The Baltimore County Fire Department said that the store at 3601 Washington Boulevard had to be evacuated for nearly two hours Saturday after the department received reports of people throwing bleach and ammonia at each other.

Baltimore County Police said that their department responded to a report of a fight shortly before 11:00 a.m. They determined that two women began fighting and had begun to throw chemicals on each other in the course of their dispute.

Most of the injuries were not serious, though one person was transported to the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins University. However, it is unclear just how serious that particular injury is. Baltimore County Police also said that two people were transported to Baltimore Washington Medical Center, and one woman has been arrested.

 It is not known at this time exactly what the women were fighting about, though it is believed that the two had prior knowledge of each other. 

San Diego-Based Marine Killed Afghanistan ID'd

A 24-year-old Texan based at Camp Pendleton became the latest Marine to die in combat in Afghanistan, it was reported Saturday.

Lance Cpl. Benjamin Whetstone Schmidt of San Antonio, killed Thursday in Helmand province, was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment.

Schmidt was the son of Dr. David Schmidt, an orthopedic surgeon and team doctor for the San Antonio Spurs basketball team. His mother, marriage and family therapist Becky Whetstone, is a former columnist for the San Antonio Express-News.

Schmidt was on his second deployment to Afghanistan and left Texas Christian University to enlist in the Marine Corps in 2008.

Before his most recent deployment, Schmidt told his family he wanted to be buried at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio if he was killed.

 

Ex-NJ Official Cleared in Corruption Probe

Two years after being forced from office during a sweeping statewide corruption investigation, a longtime New Jersey official has been cleared in the matter. 

 

The Star-Ledger reports federal prosecutors have notified Joseph Doria that they will not bring any charges against  him.

   

Doria, a former state Assembly speaker and longtime mayor of Bayonne, led the state's Community Affairs Department under Gov. Jon Corzine. But he resigned that post in July 2009 at Corzine's request, shortly after FBI agents seized documents from Doria's home and office.

    

Neither Doria nor the U.S. Attorney's office would comment on the newspaper's report.

   

But the Star-Ledger said it obtained a letter that prosecutors had sent last month to Doria's attorney, John Azzarello of Chatham, notifying him that the investigation had been closed.

Pr. George's Police Investigate Apparent Murder-Suicide

Prince George's County Police are investigating an apparent murder-suicide case in Chillum this weekend.

Shortly before 3:00 Friday afternoon, police responded to a call regarding a man lying on the ground next to a car in the 600 block of Ray Road, near the Takoma Park border.

When police arrived, they found a man lying next to the car with a gun beside him. Inside the car was a woman with a gunshot wound. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene before police determined that the man also had a gunshot wound, but was still alive. The man was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Police have confirmed that the man and woman, whose names have not been released, did have a relationship and a motive is being investigated.

Police Investigate Fatal Md. Bike Accident

Police are continuing to investigate a fatal accident that left a bicyclist dead Friday night on Veterans Highway in Millersville.

Police responded to the scene just after 7:30 to find 40-year-old Matthew Young lying unresponsive in the right lane. Investigators said Young had been pedaling his bike north on Veterans Highway, just north of the intersection with West Benfield Road, when he was struck from behind by a 2000 Buick LeSabre driven by Larry Vespermann, 64, of Dunkirk. The impact apparently threw Young into the windshield of Vespermann's car.

Young was taken by helicopter to the Shock Trauma Unit at the University of Maryland Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Investigators do not believe that either speed or alcohol were factors in the crash. They have cited "bicyclist visibility" as the apparent cause of the accident, and noted the fact that the accident occurred at a particularly dark location on Veterans Highway, as well as the fact that Young was wearing dark non-reflective clothing.

Inmate Death Investigated at "Twin Towers"

An 18-year-old robbery inmate at the Twin Towers Jail in Downtown LA died after being punched in the face by a sheriff's deputy during an altercation, a sheriff's captain said today.

George Rosales was found unresponsive in his one-person jail cell in downtown Los Angeles at 12:42 a.m. Thursday, said Capt. Mike Parker of the Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau.

Jail medical staff performed CPR on Rosales before he was taken to County-USC Medical Center, Parker said. Rosales was arrested for robbery on July 27, 2011 by the Century Sheriff's Station, said Parker. Details of the robbery were not made available.

Sheriff's records show Rosales injured himself twice while exercising in his housing area in September, Parker said. He was seen by medical professionals on both occasions, and taken to a hospital on one occasion.

During an altercation on Tuesday, Rosales was punched in the face by a deputy, Parker said.

``He was handcuffed, taken to be seen by a jail medical professional, and cleared to return to jail housing,'' Parker said.

A custody assistant reported seeing Rosales drinking water in his cell around 12:30 a.m. Thursday, Parker said. A jail nurse found him in medical distress about 12 minutes later.

The cause of death is not known and will be determined by the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office, Parker said.

Highway Collision Leaves One Dead in Escondido

A motorist died in a collision near State Route 78 in Escondido on Saturday, according to California Highway Patrol dispatch.

A Ford Aerostar blue van and white Hyundai Sonata collided at the Bear Valley Parkway near SR 78 occurred shortly before 2:30 a.m. according to the CHP.

Officials reported one arrest; however further details were not immediately available.

 

A SigAlert, blockling all lanes of  Bear Valley Parkway was briefly put into effect and later removed.

Raiders Owner Al Davis Dies

Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis has died, according to Raiders.com. The team did not disclose the cause of death and said a statement would be released later Saturday.

The site listed the date of his death as Saturday, Oct. 8. Davis was 82 years old.

Davis was one of the most storied owners in NFL history. Under his tenure with the Raiders, he won three Super Bowl titles.

He was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in the Class of 1982 and did not slow down in the nearly 30 years since.

Davis holds the record for the person who gave the most NFL Hall of Fame induction speeches. He has been asked to speak for nine players and coaches over the years, including Raider great John Madden.

His Hall of Fame page notes Davis is the only person to have served in the pros in the following capacities:

1. player personnel assistant
2. assistant coach
3. head coach
4. general manager
5. league commissioner
6. the principal owner and chief executive officer of an NFL team

The team was in Houston, Texas preparing for a Sunday game against the Texans when the death was announced. It was not clear where Al Davis was when he died. 

The obituary below was up on Raiders.com:

An unyielding total commitment to excellence has marked the three-time World Cham- pion Raiders monumental rise during the last 48 years to the very top of the profes- sional sports world.

In these memorable 48 years, the Raiders have had 28 winning seasons, including 16 in a row from 1965 through the 1980 World Championship season. In 34 of those seasons, the Raiders earned a record of  .500 or better.

Al Davis’ six-decade professional football story, from assistant coach of the Chargers, to head coach and general manager of the Raiders, to Commissioner of the American Football League and finally to principal owner and president of the general partner of The Oakland Raiders — is a standard that no one in the history of professional football can match for winning and excellence.

In April 1966, the then 36-year-old Davis, head coach and general manager of the Raid- ers, became Commissioner of the American Football League. This was a post he accepted reluctantly, for first and foremost, Al Davis was a football coach and knew that assuming the Commissionership would in all probability mean an end to his coaching career.

But AFL owners, in their battle with the rival National Football League, prevailed on Davis to accept the position. He was described by AFL President and Buffalo Bills Owner Ralph Wilson as “a coaching genius and astute administrator.”

Just eight weeks later, when pro football’s two major leagues put an end to their six-year war, Davis was acclaimed nationally as the driving force who brought the leagues to merge . In 1969, he was once again a prime force in the dramatic realignment of professional foot- ball when two, 13-team conferences — the AFC and NFC — were formed for 1970.

As a member of the NFL Management Council’s Executive Committee, Davis has been a major factor in achieving collective bargaining agreements with the players.

Al Davis first came to the Raiders in January 1963, dedicated to rescuing the faltering Oakland franchise and building the finest organization in professional sports. Just 33, Davis was the youngest man in pro football to hold the demanding dual positions of head coach and general manager.

But Davis already possessed 14 years coaching experience. He had been tabbed a “young coaching genius” by Sports Illustrated and “the most inventive mind in the country” by Scholastic Coach Magazine.

The Raiders — “picked to finish dead last” — thundered to a 10-4 record and just missed the Division Championship . In 1963, Davis was named Pro Football Coach of the Year.

Perhaps his most singular honor is having made a record nine presentations of inductees to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio . The nine great enshrinees to have selected Al Davis to make the presentation speeches on their behalf are Lance Alworth, Jim Otto, George Blanda, Willie Brown, Gene Upshaw, Fred Biletnikoff, Art Shell, Ted Hendricks and John Madden.

Davis himself became enshrined on Aug . 1, 1992 when he was presented for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame by Madden. In May of 1991, Al Davis became the very first recipient of the NFL Players Association’s Retired Players Award of Excellence “for his contributions to the men who played the game .” Born July 4, 1929, Al Davis was raised in Brockton, Mass. and moved at an early age to Brooklyn, N .Y . He attended Wittenberg College and Syracuse University, earning a degree in English while participating in football, basketball and baseball. Al Davis received a Letterman of Distinction Award from Syracuse University . In March of 1998, Davis was inducted into the NFL Alumni’s “Order of the Leather Helmet,” presented annually to “Individuals who have made significant contributions to the game of professional football.”

On Dec . 29, 1999, the Oakland Tribune and the Alameda Newspaper Group named Al Davis as the Bay Area’s most significant sports figure of the 20th Century on a list that in- cluded such greats as Joe Montana, Willie Mays, Joe DiMaggio and Bill Russell. The Orange Bowl inducted Davis into its Hall of Fame in 2001.

In 1950, Davis was named line coach at Adelphi College in New York. He then went into the Army, being assigned as head football coach at Ft . Belvoir, Va . There he molded a na- tional power service team and capped one season by defeating the University of Maryland, National Collegiate Champions, in a squad game.

Davis next served on the staff of the NFL’s Baltimore Colts in 1954, at age 24, concen- trating on player personnel work . During 1955-56, he was line coach and chief recruiter at The Citadel . He then spent three years at the University of Southern California as line coach.

In 1960, Head Coach Sid Gillman hired Davis as offensive end coach of the newly formed Los Angeles Chargers . After two Division Championships in just three years there, it was on to meet the challenges with the Raiders of Oakland in 1963.

Based on personal achievement, team achievement and contributions to the game, no one has had a more profound and lasting impact on professional football . In recognition of his status in pro football annals, NFL Films produced a film entitled, “AL DAVIS, NO . 1 FOR ALL TIME .”

 

South Bay Teacher Accused of Child Porn Possession

A South Bay elementary school teacher was arrested Friday after being accused of possessing child porn, according to officials at the Federal Bureau of Investigations.

Gary Delaney Phillips, 54, was taken into custody from his College area home at about 8:30 a.m., said Darell Foxworth, Special Agent with the FBI.

Philips has taught 6th grade at Clearview Elementary for the past two years.

"He's a great teacher, a great guy, we all like him,” said Miriam Guerrero, a kindergarten teacher at the school, "I know he's single and he has cats, but that’s pretty much all I know about his private life."

FBI agents said they know a lot more about Phillips private life, and that's why on they busted through the front door of his college area home and arrested him on child porn charges.

Agents said they zeroed in on Phillips after finding emails he allegedly sent to child porn traders on the internet.

In those emails, investigators said Phillips expressed a sexual interest in children, and that he already owned some child porn images, which agents said they found at his home.

During the search images depicting children engage in sexually explicit conduct were found, according to a media release.

“Shocking it's shocking, I have goosebumps.. I can't believe it, I wouldn't suspect anything about it,” said Guerrero, "doesn't sound like the type of person who would have that kind of accusation."

On Tuesday, school is will begin at Clear View Elementary, which is the same day Phillips is set to be arraigned in Federal Court.

 

Police Hunt iPhone Thief Identified on Photo Security App

Police are looking for the iPhone thief whose photo was snapped by a security application after he stole the phone in Queens.

The phone was stolen Monday when the suspect bumped into a 31-year-old woman walking on Liberty Avenue in South Richmond Hill. Police say the suspect reached into her front pocket and pulled out the black iPhone 4 phone.

 

The victim later remembered she downloaded a security application called iGotYa, which takes a photo whenever someone enters the wrong passcode on the locked screen.

 

The thief's photo was emailed to the woman, who brought it to police and told them it was the man who stole her phone.

 

The iGotYa app is accessible only on "jailbroken" iPhones, which allow users to download apps not approved by phone manufacturer Apple. Users download such apps at their own risk.

 

The suspect is desrcibed as a hispanic male in his 20s, approximately 5'8", with dark, close-cropped hair and an earring in his left ear. 

 

Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call Crime stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).  The public can also submit tips by logging onto the Crime stoppers website at (CRIMES).  All calls are strictly confidential.