A Long Shot: Deer Sighting in Atlantic City

A city known for gambling was dealt a rare hand Friday morning.  Atlantic City residents spotted a deer running around their neighborhood.

Police said a very large white-tailed buck was spotted in the Chelsea Heights neighborhood around 3:30 in the morning.

One witness said he saw the deer jump over a car and nearly get hit by a bus.

At one point, the deer was spotted on West End Avenue before it ran off into a near-by marsh, where it disappeared.

A wildlife officer from the Department of Environmental Protection was called to the area in case the deer re-emerged.

 

A&M Coach Takes Time Off for Medical Condition

Texas A&M coach Billy Kennedy is taking time off at the recommendation of his doctor because of an undisclosed medical condition.

The university said in a release Friday night that he will undergo some testing and be evaluated by his doctor before returning to coach the Aggies.

Associate head coach Glynn Cyprien will be in charge of the team until Kennedy returns. Cyprien led the players through their first practice on Friday and will be with the team at Midnight Madness.

In the release Kennedy said, "Don't worry, I'll be back soon."

The 47-year-old was hired from Murray State in May after Mark Turgeon left to become Maryland's coach.

4-Year-Old Commandeers Family SUV

A 4-year-old somehow got behind the wheel of his mom's SUV and went on a wild ride Thursday in Fullerton.

The SUV struck a hydrant, a fence and a tree.

"We just heard the impact and then we just started running over there," said Edgar Guzman. "I didn't know at the time who was driving."

Guzman happened to be working on the grounds of a nearby pre-school, where the youngster is enrolled.

"We were in shock," said Guzman. "We saw the little boy inside. Nobody else was in the car. That was a shock to us."

Right before the 4-year-old went on his wild ride, his mother had parked in the lot at nearby Summit House Restaurant, to answer a cell phone call, said police.

"She got out of her car and while she was out of her car, her 4-year-old child somehow got to be in the driver's seat and the car started moving," said Sgt. Andrew Goodrich of the Fullerton Police Department.

The pre-schooler managed to go about half a mile down State College Boulevard. The boy sideswiped one car, hit some trees and then hit a fraternity house fence. 

P.J. Swartz said he was sitting at a picnic table on the other side of the fence.

"I'm lucky to be alive," said Swartz. "Thank goodness for a tree."

Swartz and Guzman immediately took the child out of the SUV.

"He just had a big bruise on his chest and he was bleeding from the nose and mouth," said Guzman. "Other than that, he was fine."

The child, who is expected to recover, was not restrained, said police. Airbags may have minimized his injuries, said police.

Investigators have not ruled out filing some type of charge against the youngster's mother. But right now, everyone is just glad nobody was killed or seriously injured.

Guzman said he'll never forget what a firefighter asked the boy.

"The fire guy asked him, 'are you going to drive again?' He said no. That's all he said. He was in shock. He was really scared. He was crying," Guzman said.

Follow USA LOCAL NEWS for the latest LA news, events and entertainment: Twitter: @USA LOCAL NEWS // Facebook: USA LOCAL NEWS

Education Becoming High-Tech

The Los Angeles County Office of Education set up the conference to introduce teachers to the future.

Forget about blackboards and chalk.

Tomorrow is going to be electronic -- at least to some degree.

Teachers who gathered at the 21st Century Learners Symposium at Cal State Los Angeles got to check out robotic Legos, mini production studios, laptops and iPads.

The nearly 700 attendees spent the day learning how to fit these gadgets into their lesson plans.

The symposium was organized by the Office of Education's Instructional Technology Outreach program and the California Technology Assistance Project.

"The walls of the classroom come down when you use these tools," said Jason Seliskar, a 4th grade teacher at Rowland Elementary in West Covina.

His students showed off their mini-production studio.

"They’re growing up with this technology. We’re the ones who need to catch up," he said.

"We have to find ways to integrate it into the classroom, so we can engage them, communicate, create and collaborate," he added.

The symposium included a lot of talk about "blended learning" where students learn both in the classroom and online. A recent report predicted half of all high school students would be involved in blended learning by 2019.

It was a sentiment echoed by Raymond Chavez of the County Office of Education.

Students these days he said "are pretty good with smart phones, laptops and such so we need to provide an opportunity 24/7 not just within the confines of the school building or school day."

One of the most popular workshops at the symposium was on the iPad.

The teacher who runs the computer lab at Evergreen Elementary in Boyle Heights said his students are learning how to do Excel spread sheets and PowerPoint presentations.

"I think the main thing is not to get in their way," said Frank Rendon. "You think they can’t do it, but they can and once they get it, they toll with it."

Armed Suspects Caught on Tape in Alexandria Robbery

Police hope surveillance video of a bold gas station holdup will lead to arrests.

In the video, you can hear the clerk plead for his life.

The robbery happened about 5 a.m. Sunday in Alexandria, Va. Authorities said two masked men stormed into the Shell gas station on Edsall Road and demanded money.

One man was armed with a gun. The video shows him rummaging through the register. The suspects then ran out of the store, jumped into a car and left the scene. The 27-year-old clerk was not hurt.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Solvers by phone at 1-866-411-TIPS/8477, email at >

Occupy SD Groups Split Up, But Seek Reunification

After a week of protesting, the Occupy San Diego movement has become divided, with three separate locations in central San Diego.

A handful of people who left the original occupation in Civic Center Plaza said the group had become too radical, and their resistance to police strayed from the intent of the movement.

The organizers of the alternate occupations also wanted to provide a safe place for protesters to move in compliance with police demands, according to Anthony Muni, an activist with the movement.

Several occupiers began collaborating at the USS Midway Thursday night. Another group gathered at Balboa Park on Presidents Way.

In an effort to reunite the three camps, Occupy San Diego is organizing a march at 4 p.m. Friday from the USS Midway through downtown, to the Civic Center Plaza. Then, the march will move to Balboa Park.

At 7 p.m. Friday, Occupy SD organizers will hold a “Unity Concert” in Balboa Park near the World Beat Center. The concert will feature music from Liquid Blue.

“Let’s celebrate – It’s been one week since Occupy San Diego started,” the group said on its Facebook page.

Muni agreed that San Diego occupiers could be more unified. Though members of the movement may want to achieve different goals, change is more likely to happen when the group is organized.

“I don’t agree with their views,” he said, referring to Friday’s conflict with police, “but I admire their dedication.”

“They are really passionate people, and that’s something to be proud of.”

 

Annual Los Angeles Walk Raises Funds for HIV/AIDS

Thousands of Anglenos will heel-toe it in West Hollywood for the 27th annual AIDS walk Sunday to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS.

All donations and proceeds for the annual walk at West Hollywood Park will go to AIDS Project Los Angeles.

The APLA works to improve lives of people affected by the disease, reduce the number of cases and advocate for fair and effective HIV-related public policy, according to its website.

In addition to spreading awareness and providing health services, APLA finds housing, supplies down payments and helps pay utilities costs for those families who have been severely affected by the disease.

The APLA has been helping people with AIDS and their families since 1983. Lisa Mendez, an air force veteran and single parent is one of those people.

Mendez contracted HIV from a man she was dating. He never told her he had the disease for fear that she would leave him.

Mendez lost her job when she became too sick to go to work. At a time when Mendez was out of money and her son,Hunter, was in foster care, APLA was able to provide housing for her.

She said she now hopes to be happy in life and "raise her son to be strong, smart and good."

The HIV/ AIDS disease was first discovered in the United States 30 years ago and there have been 56,091 reported AIDS cases in Los Angeles County.

The walk, sponsored by NBC4 News, will benefit APLA and 24 other HIV/AIDS programs and services in the Los Angeles area, including APLA International, residential services and treatment programs.

Those who wish to be part of this cause will walk alongside at least 30,000 other walkers and many celebrities who will come out to be part of the movement to combat this deadly disease.

As of Friday, funds raised online have reached $2,074,772. Donations can also be given at the Aids Walk Los Angeles website.

Registration is still open at the event website. Those who wish to walk will also be able to sign up the day of the event by 8:30 a.m. The 6.2 mile walk will start at 10 a.m. at the corner of Melrose Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard.