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San Diego

San Diego Unified decreases budget shortfall by more than $60 million

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — San Diego Unified School District managed to reduce its projected budget deficit for the next school year by more than $60 million. “They’ve said can you cut off the top? And that’s exactly what we’re doing, we are looking at central office and thinking about what can we strategically abandon,” said Superintendent Dr. Fabi Bagula. Bagula says the district is doing everything possible to keep cuts out of the classroom by staying focused on four goals. “Literacy, numeracy, wellness, and also graduation, and so all of our budgetary decisions are being made to serve our students and to serve our schools,” Bagula said. Driving the number down from an original estimated $176-million budget shortfall, the district plans to save $25 million by leaving vacant jobs unfilled. There was also a big push for families to submit household income forms, which is expected to help the district qualify for $9 million more in state funding. The district is projecting $25 million or more in revenue increases for the district including from the lottery, interest, impact aid and home to school transport.

San Diego

Environmental groups threaten to sue SeaWorld over fireworks pollution in Mission Bay

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — It’s been a colorful tradition here in San Diego for as long as people can remember. The fireworks shows have been just as much a part of SeaWorld’s identity as the animal shows. But the fireworks could be coming to an end as environmental groups are once again threatening lawsuits to stop them. “The fireworks permit requires them to clean up their discharged waste. So the fireworks go up, they explode, and what explodes comes back down into the water. That includes shell castings, plastic, wires…. And they all wash up onto Fiesta Island,” said Natalie Clagett, attorney, Coastal Environmental Rights Foundation. While the fireworks shows are exciting, entertaining and a tradition, there is a price to the environment. Over the decades, tons of waste have floated from the sky and into the Bay — things that can be harmful to sea life and the ocean environment. “You couldn’t go a square foot without seeing fireworks debris and especially hazardous fireworks debris like wires and pointy, sharp substances. It’s everywhere. There’s foils, labels, plastic components that are just breaking down

San Diego

Family pleads for answers after son dies in San Diego Sheriff’s custody

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) – In the past 14 years, 185 have died at San Diego County jails. The most recent: a 29-year-old who came to Carlsbad for college then died in police custody just months later. Abdul Kamara moved to San Diego County in January to begin school at the Gemological Institute of America in Carlsbad. About two months later, he died. His family flew from Virginia to San Diego to try and get answers ahead of their first Christmas without their son. Kamara’s mother, Fredrika Nabbie, said she has been a nurse for 15 years and does not understand what happened to her son. According to a release from SDPD at the time of the incident, Carlsbad Police responded to a call at a restaurant in the 900 block of Carlsbad Village Drive about a man asking to call for an ambulance around 9:11 p.m. Paramedics arrived and took him to Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas where it’s reported he then walked away from the hospital. At around 10:55 p.m., SDSO got a call from the hospital asking to check the area because the

Los Angeles

Officials warn of dangerous fire weather, potential power shutoffs in Southern California

Across the Ventura County coast communities and the Santa Clarita and San Gabriel valleys Monday night, fire crews moved their engines outside and into position-ready for high winds and extreme fire danger. The National Weather Service put out an unusual warning on Sunday, calling this a Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS). According to NWS, the PDS Red Flag Warning is issued for Monday night through Wednesday as “a strong, widespread, and long duration Santa Ana event will bring widespread critical to extremely critical fire weather conditions to many areas of Los Angeles and Ventura counties.” (National Weather Service) NWS is predicting the most dangerous conditions to occur between 10 p.m. Monday and 2 p.m. Tuesday with wind gusts up to 50-80 mph, and humidities will drop to between 5 and 15%, increasing the chance for rapid fire growth. “Conditions are now so dangerous,” warns Andrew Rorke, a senior forecaster for NWS.  Rorke told KTLA’s Sandra Mitchell that this weather event brings a “heightened sense of danger,” warning residents to prepare. Just last month, under similar conditions, the Mountain Fire exploded in Ventura County, destroying almost 250

Los Angeles

LA Galaxy celebra título en el mismo lugar en el que fue boicoteado en 2023: el Legends Plaza

En el mismo lugar en el que los aficionados del LA Galaxy le habían dado la espalda a su equipo en marzo de 2023, sirvió para la celebración del sexto título de la franquicia angelina en la MLS. Cientos de hinchas se habían congregado reclamando un cambio del rumbo de la escuadra galáctica y 21 meses después, el Legends Plaza se vistió de fiesta para que el equipo más condecorado de la liga estadounidense volviera a reclamar su trono tras 10 años de espera. El onceno angelino derrotó a los Red Bulls de Nueva York el sábado en el Dignity Health Sports Park y prendió la fiesta en Los Ángeles que se llevó desde la cancha a los vestidores y el domingo a la plaza que una vez pidió la cabeza de Chris Klein, el gerente general en ese entonces. Riquie Puig, la estrella del LA Galaxy, fue el gran ausente de la final ante el Red Bulls debido a una lesión, pero dejó en claro a los aficionados presentes que este triunfo no fue un accidente. “Tengo que decir a los aficionados que nos

Los Angeles

Disgraced Southern California city officials caught in massive cannabis bribery scandal

Two disgraced former city officials in Baldwin Park and Commerce pleaded guilty to participation in a scheme involving bribes in exchange for votes and influence in Baldwin Park’s cannabis permitting process, the U.S. Department of Justice announced late last week.   The charges against Edgar Cisneros, 42, a resident of Montebello who served as Commerce’s city manager from Nov. 2017 to Dec. 2023, and Robert Tafoya, 62, a Redondo Beach resident who served as Baldwin Park’s city attorney from Dec. 2013 to Oct. 2022 were unsealed on Dec. 6, according to a DOJ news release.   Federal prosecutors said that shortly after Baldwin Park began issuing cannabis permits in June 2017, then-Baldwin Park City Councilman Richard Pacheco began soliciting bribes from companies seeking those permits.   In an agreement where Cisneros would receive some $235,000, the former Commerce city manager helped a company obtain a Baldwin Park cannabis permit through an estimated $45,000 in bribes.   A budtender (right) shows cannabis buds to a customer at the Green Pearl Organics dispensary on the first day of legal recreational marijuana sales in California. (ROBYN BECK/AFP via

Bay Area

Californians have dim view of Newsom’s handling of economy, poll finds

Most Californians are pessimistic about the state’s future and disapprove of how Gov. Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers are handling the economy, according to a wide-ranging poll released late Monday. But a majority of Californians are optimistic about their own financial future and aren’t planning to leave the state, according to the poll by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California in San Francisco. At the same time, low-income residents reported higher rates of struggling with the costs of housing, food and health care. “Most people are doing reasonably well,” said Mark Baldassare, the institute’s survey director. “Not everybody.” Pollsters at the institute surveyed 2,344 adult Californians in five languages between Nov. 6 — one day after Election Day — and Nov. 22. The margin of error was plus or minus 3.1 percentage points for the total sample group. Asked if they approved of the way Newsom is handling jobs and the economy, 50% said no, 48% approved and 2% didn’t know. Disapproval of state lawmakers’ performance was higher, at 54%. The institute has asked voters these same questions annually since 2020; this is the first

Bay Area

Bay Area man back in federal custody after nearly 8 years on the run

FRESNO – A 55-year-old San Francisco man is back in custody nearly eight years after escaping from a high-security federal prison in Merced County, according to authorities. Investigators arrested Eric Pree in Walnut Creek in October, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a news release. Last week, a federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment charging him with escape from custody. If convicted of the charge, Pree faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Pree was convicted in 2012 of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft charges. He was sentenced to nearly 8½ years in prison and transferred to U.S. Penitentiary Atwater. On Jan. 29, 2017, Pree was discovered missing from the prison. “Pree did not have permission to leave the Atwater facility and remained at large until his arrest,” prosecutors said. At the time of his arrest, Pree allegedly had several cellphones, ID cards, debit and credit cards in different people’s names, multiple drivers’ licenses and a fake Harvard University ID. Pree is back in federal custody serving the remainder of his original sentence while also facing his new indictment

Bay Area

Sharks trade analysis: Grier (again) turns bargain into bigger return

SAN JOSE – Mackenzie Blackwood was acquired by the San Jose Sharks from the New Jersey Devils in June 2023 for a sixth-round pick in that year’s draft. It was unclear at that point how much the Sharks would get out of Blackwood, who struggled with injuries during the latter stages of his Devils tenure. But given how well he knew Blackwood, Sharks general manager Mike Grier had faith the 6-foot-4 goaltender could stay healthy and turn his career around. Working with Evgeni Nabokov and Thomas Speer, Blackwood would later become the Sharks’ No. 1 goalie, posting solid numbers for a team in the nascent stages of a rebuild. Monday, Grier sent Blackwood, forward Givani Smith, and a 2027 fifth-round pick to the Colorado Avalanche for goalie Alexandar Georgiev, winger Nikolai Kovalenko, the Avalanche’s 2026 second-round selection, and a conditional fifth-round draft selection in 2025. It was a tidy bit of work for Grier, who once again turned a minimal investment into a bigger payoff. Grier’s made some blockbusters, such as the Erik Karlsson and Timo Meier trades that have aged well. But in June

Bay Area

Man killed in solo-car crash Monday in San Jose

SAN JOSE – A man was killed in a crash Monday morning in San Jose, according to police. The solo-vehicle collision happened around 9:50 a.m. near the intersection of Snell Avenue and Truckee Lane, San Jose Police Department spokesperson Stacie Shih said in a news release. A preliminary investigation revealed the man was driving a 1989 Ford Mustang southbound on Snell Avenue when he left the roadway and hit a tree, according to Shih. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene. The Santa Clara County Medical Examiner-Coroner’s Office will release his identity after it is confirmed and his next of kin is identified. There were no signs another driver or pedestrian was involved in the crash, Shih said. The death marked the 47th traffic fatality of the year on city streets. At this time last year, San Jose had recorded the same number of roadway deaths. Anyone with information related to the case can contact Detective Rachel Bowen at 408-277-4654 or 4461@sanjoseca.gov. Check back for updates.

Los Angeles

Angel City FC Fires Coach

Angel City Football Club Monday announced the firing of coach Becki Tweed four days after announcing it “mutually parted ways” with general manager Angela Hucles Mangano. ACFC was 7-13-6 in Tweed’s lone full season as coach, finishing 12th in the 14-team National Women’s Soccer League. “Becki has been an integral part of Angel City FC, demonstrating an exceptional work ethic, a deep care for her staff and players, and an unwavering desire to learn and grow,” ACFC technical director Mark Wilson said in a statement. “Her commitment to personal and professional development reflects Becki’s dedication to the game and ability to positively influence those around her. “Despite the challenges and results of a tough season, Becki’s resilience and determination leave a lasting impression. She departs ACFC well-respected, and we have no doubt wherever she lands next, her talents and character will make a significant impact. We thank Becki for her contributions over the past two seasons and wish her the very best in her journey ahead.” Tweed was promoted to interim coach on June 15, 2023 after Freya Coombe was fired when the team was

Los Angeles

Woman Pleads Guilty to Helping Killer Get Away

A 44-year-old woman pleaded guilty Monday and was immediately sentenced to 200 hours of community service for helping her friend get away from the scene of a fatal stabbing in a Laguna Niguel bar. Elizabeth Anne Thornburg pleaded guilty to a felony count of being an accessory after the fact. She accepted a plea deal from Orange County Superior Court Judge Andre Manssourian, according to court records. Thornburg was placed on two years of formal probation and ordered to perform the community service at a location “focused on racial sensitivity,” according to court records. Co-defendant Craig Matthew Tanber was sentenced in February 2020 to 56 years to life in prison for killing 22-year-old Shayan Mazroei at Patsy’s Irish Pub Sept. 6, 2015. The deadly conflict with Mazroei started when Thornburg got into a dispute with the victim. Mazroei had been playing billiards with friends when he stepped outside to smoke a cigarette and got into an argument with her, Senior Deputy District Attorney Mark Birney said in Tanber’s trial. Thornburg shared “her views of Persians and of people from the Middle East” with Mazroei and

Sacramento

What we know about Luigi Mangione, Ivy League grad and suspect in CEO’s murder

NEW YORK — A University of Pennsylvania graduate is charged in the targeted attack of Brian Thompson, the CEO of major insurance group UnitedHealthcare who was fatally shot outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel ahead of an investor conference, police said Monday. Luigi Mangione is a suspect in the fatal shooting, authorities confirmed Monday night during a press briefing in Altoona, Pennsylvania, where he was apprehended after an individual at a McDonald’s recognized him from the wildly circulated images of the suspect sought in the shooting. Booking photo of Luigi Mangione after he was arrested by police in Altoona, Pennsylvania, Dec. 9, 2024. Pa. Dept. of Corrections Here’s what we know about the case: He was an Ivy League graduate and the valedictorian of his class at a private all-boys high school in Baltimore, where his wealthy family is prominent in the real estate business and owns country clubs and golf courses. Despite having a privileged background, Luigi Mangione was described by friends as “humble” and believed to be destined for a “bright future.” But all that changed on Monday when the 26-year-old Mangione was named

Sacramento

Suspect charged with murder in UnitedHealthcare CEO’s NYC shooting death

NEW YORK — GET LATEST COVERAGE HERE The New York Police Department has filed second-degree murder and other charges against Luigi Nicholas Mangione in connection with the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, according to an online court docket. The docket shows 26-year-old Mangione is also charged with possession of a loaded firearm, possession of a forged instrument and criminal possession of a weapon. The forged instrument is the fake New Jersey driver’s license he allegedly used to check into the hostel on the Upper West Side. Mangione remains in the custody of the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections after being arrested at a McDonald’s on Monday morning, pending his extradition to New York. Mangione has also been charged with five crimes in Pennsylvania, including carrying a gun without a license, forgery, falsely identifying himself to authorities and possessing “instruments of crime,” according to a newly released criminal complaint. At a press conference, officials announced that the suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO has been charged with weapons, forgery and other charges in Pennsylvania. The charging document alleges that Mangione lied about his identity

Sacramento

Fresno State professor uses virtual reality to help students learn parts of the brain, sees success

Tuesday, December 10, 2024 2:48AM A Fresno State professor is seeing success by having her students learn with the help of virtual reality. FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — A Fresno State professor is seeing success by having her students learn with the help of virtual reality. Fresno State Biology Professor and neuroscientist Anahit Hovhannisyan teaches students about human brain anatomy, which can be a complicated class. “For me, it was always like, this thing, what can I do to help them to learn?” Hovhannisyan said. That’s why when she saw a syGlass virtual reality demonstration at a conference, she figured it could help. She borrowed virtual reality headsets from the engineering department, the school had high-end laptops for students to use, and she solicited funding for the program. One thing she didn’t predict was the learning curve. “There is a misunderstanding in general that because the students nowadays are so technology-driven, it will be easier for them to learn to use the technology. It’s not true.” Hovhannisyan said. She says it took quite a bit of time for students to understand how to operate the technology

Sacramento

Madera County Government Services office opens in Oakhurst

Tuesday, December 10, 2024 2:40AM People who live in the foothills of eastern Madera County no longer need to drive down to the Valley floor to access government services. OAKHURST, Calif. (KFSN) — People living in eastern Madera County’s foothills no longer need to drive down to the Valley floor to access government services. Monday morning, a new county government office opened in Oakhurst. “This building is going to provide tons of services that we provide in the county. But here, for people in eastern Madera County, the drive to Madera is about an hour,” said Robert Poythress of the Madera County Board of Supervisors. The building off Highway 49 and Junction Drive will house satellite offices for Madera County Public Health, Social Services, Public Works and others. Soon, it will have an elections office, and there’s room for expansion. “We’re excited to strengthen partnerships with workforce development hopefully to bring more services to people in eastern Madera County,” said Supervisor Bobby Macaulay. This building was years in the making, in total it cost the county close to $7 million dollars. It goes a long

Sacramento

Woman accidentally shot and killed by her 2-year-old child in northeast Fresno, police say

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — Police now say a woman was killed by her 2-year-old child during an accidental shooting in northeast Fresno last week. The Fresno Police Department has identified the victim as 22-year-old Jessinya Mina. The shooting happened Friday night on Fresno Street and San Jose Avenue at the Butterfly Grove Apartment complex. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Woman dies in accidental shooting at Fresno apartment complex, police say Police say Mina’s toddler was able to reach an unsecured gun inside the apartment. “The firearm was stored in a location where the toddler accessed the firearm, and at some point, in time, while handling that particular weapon, the toddler was able to manipulate the trigger, and it actually struck Mina as she was lying in bed,” said Lt. Paul Cervantes with the Fresno Police Department. When officers arrived at the apartment complex, Mina’s 18-year-old boyfriend, Andrew Sanchez, was starting to take her to the hospital. First responders then stepped in and took Mina to the hospital, where she later died. In a statement to Action News, Mina’s sister says Sanchez neglected Mina’s requests not to keep a

Los Angeles

Dame Judi Dench | 60 Minutes Archive

Dame Judi Dench | 60 Minutes Archive – CBS News Watch CBS News In 2002, Ed Bradley spoke with actress Judi Dench, then 67, about her life and career. Despite having worked steadily for over 40 years, at the time Dench told Bradley that she still feared never getting another job. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On

Los Angeles

Two students stabbed at high school in Tujunga; one assailant was 14, source says

Two students were stabbed on campus Monday at Verdugo Hills High School in Tujunga. Both students were hospitalized with injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening, and a suspect was detained by police, according to a school district update. The stabbings took place at about 1:45 p.m., said Los Angeles Police Department Public Information Officer Tony Im. Im said that as many as four people were involved in the attack against the two students and that they fled the area in an automobile after the violence. The officer confirmed that two students were transported to a hospital for treatment, although he had no information about their conditions. A 17-year-old suffered stab wounds or lacerations to the head, shoulder and back, said a school district source with knowledge of the incident who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to release information. The second student was injured after intervening to help the first, the source added. One of the attackers, possibly the one wielding the knife, is 14 years old, the source reported. There is concern that the incident is gang-related, the source said. The

San Diego

Months after her son died, grieving mother demands answers from sheriff

The grief, television cameras and knowing her son died just steps away proved overwhelming on Monday for Fredrika Nabbie, who fainted and collapsed outside the Vista Detention Facility during a rally called to demand answers about what killed him early this year. Nabbie’s son, Abdul Kamara, 29, died during an encounter with sheriff’s deputies more than nine months ago. She recovered after a few minutes and went on to urge officials to disclose details about what happened to her child. She and other members of Kamara’s family requested that the Sheriff’s Office release body-worn camera footage, documents and other evidence related to the death last March. “I’m asking for justice,” said Nabbie, who traveled from her home in Virginia to attend the protest organized by Saving Lives In Custody California, a nonprofit group that works to improve how law enforcement treats people in jail and in the community. “I want to see the body camera (video) from the police on the day they arrested my son, the day they killed my son,” said Nabbie, a nurse who said she had spiraled into a deep depression since

San Diego

How to prepare for a wind storm: Charge your devices, trim your trees and secure Santa

Powerful Santa Ana winds will tear across much of San Diego County, but there are steps residents can take to prepare — including securing any freshly installed outdoor Christmas decorations. A red flag warning was issued for areas east of Interstate 15, and San Diego Gas & Electric preemptively shut off power to tens of thousands of customers. Here’s how you can prepare — for the wind storm and for any potential power outages. Secure your home Before the winds pick up, make sure outdoor patio furniture and lightweight yard accessories are tied down or brought indoors. Philip Gonsalves, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in San Diego, especially warns about outdoor umbrellas, which he says can “become projectiles” with strong gusts of wind. Gonsalves also advises residents to safely fasten outdoor Christmas decorations. Lights that are securely attached to the roof should be fine, he said — but East County residents with lights and ornaments in trees and bushes may consider taking them down until the winds calm later this week. And inflatable Christmas decorations are a definite no. You’ll risk seeing Santa