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Former 'Teacher of the Year' faces new charges involving second minor

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:47:37 GMT

CHULA VISTA, Calif. -- A former National City "Teacher of the Year" is facing new charges of sexual misconduct involving a second minor.An amended complaint filed this week by the San Diego County District Attorney's office accuses Jacqueline Ma, 34, of committing a lewd act with the student, who was under the age of 14.The ex-Lincoln Acres Elementary School teacher appeared in a Chula Vista courtroom Wednesday for a readiness conference.Ma, who is being held without bail, was first arrested in March after a parent suspected her 13-year-old child was having an inappropriate relationship with her.She now faces 19 total charges.

Hot temperatures to ease up by end of weekend for San Diego County

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:47:37 GMT

SAN DIEGO — A few more days of hot conditions are in store for San Diego County before a subtle cool down early next week.Above-average temperatures will continue through Saturday, while inland and mountain heat advisories are expected to expire by Friday evening. On Wednesday, Ramona topped out at 102 degrees, tying the daily temperature record from 1977. Palm Springs also tied a record for July 26th , with a whopping daytime high of 119 degrees. Arizonans don't want to hear any complaining from Californians about the heat because every day in July so far has been above 110 degrees in Phoenix.  People flocking to San Diego coast to beat the heat Here in San Diego County, high temperatures will continue to reach five to ten degrees above average for inland areas into the weekend. Beaches are the coolest spot in the region, relatively speaking, as the marine layer has helped to moderate temperatures at the coast.Friday temperatures at the coast will reach upper 70s to low 80s,...

2 Sumatran tiger cubs born at Safari Park

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:47:37 GMT

ESCONDIDO, Calif. — Two Sumatran tiger cubs were born recently at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, zoo officials announced Thursday.According to the San Diego Zoo Wildlife alliance, the cubs were born on July 12 to Diana, a first-time mother. The pair of tiger cubs are the first to be born at the Safari Park's Tull Family Tiger Trail habitat in seven years.The Sumatran tiger is a critically endangered species, with only an estimated 400 to 600 tigers remaining on Earth. Rare and remarkable sight: Red panda cub makes historic debut at San Diego Zoo The two cubs, a boy and girl, appear strong and are nursing frequently, according to wildlife care specialists who are monitoring them. Diana has been reported to be an attentive and gentle mother for the cubs.“These births are so important to the conservation of this species," said a quote attributed to San Diego Zoo Safari Park Executive Director Lisa Peterson. "Our hope is these cubs will provide an opportunity for our guests to gain a ...

Bronny James discharged from hospital as LeBron sends thanks and says family is 'safe and healthy'

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:47:37 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Bronny James has been discharged from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and is resting at home, three days after the 18-year-old son of LeBron James went into cardiac arrest.Dr. Merije Chukumerije, a consulting cardiologist for Bronny James, said in a statement issued by the hospital Thursday that James was “successfully treated for a sudden cardiac arrest." Chukumerije gave credit to “the swift and effective response by the USC athletics’ medical staff” after the incident Monday at the University of Southern California's Galen Center, where the incoming freshman guard was participating in basketball practice.“He arrived at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center fully conscious, neurologically intact and stable," Chukumerije said. "Mr. James was cared for promptly by highly-trained staff and has been discharged home, where he is resting. Although his workup will be ongoing, we are hopeful for his continued progress and are encouraged by his response, resilience, and his family and...

Arizona teen Alicia Navarro missing since 2019 shows up safe at Montana police station

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:47:37 GMT

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — An Arizona teenager who disappeared days before her 15th birthday nearly four years ago is safe after walking into a small-town police station in Montana this week, authorities announced Wednesday.Alicia Navarro, now 18, showed up alone Sunday morning in Havre, Montana, a city of 9,200 people about 40 miles (64 kilometers) from the Canadian border and identified herself to authorities there as the missing teenager from Glendale, a suburb of Phoenix, according to authorities.“Alicia appeared to be fine and in good health,” the Havre Police Department said in a statement.Her disappearance in 2019 sparked a massive search that included the FBI. Glendale police spokesperson Jose Santiago said over the years, police had received thousands of tips.Her mother, Jessica Nunez, raised concerns that Navarro, who was diagnosed as high-functioning on the autism spectrum, may have been lured away by someone she met online.The name of the town wasn’t immediately disclo...

Misleading clients on abortion could cost Illinois pregnancy centers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:47:37 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois crisis pregnancy centers, which often pop up near abortion facilities to offer information about alternatives, could face penalties if they disseminate misleading or untruthful information.The move is another Democratic effort to insulate the state’s virtually unfettered access to abortion, even as neighboring states restrict it. Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzke signed legislation Thursday to immediately apply the state’s consumer protection statute to the pregnancy centers, non-medical facilities that offer some services to pregnant women and girls, such as ultrasound. They often discourage abortion by using counseling, material support and/or housing in an effort to persuade women to bring their pregnancies to term.The pregnancy centers wasted little time challenging the law’s constitutionality. The National Institute of Family and Life Advocates, a national network of pregnancy help centers; and several centers in Illinois filed a f...

A Tennessee city can drink its tap water again, a week after a fuel spill tainted its supply

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:47:37 GMT

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — A Tennessee city told its 40,000 residents Thursday that they can drink their tap water again, a week after they were ordered to stay away after diesel fuel spilled into a reservoir at a treatment plant and tainted the Memphis suburb’s supply.Officials in Germantown said those who live and work in the city must flush their plumbing systems before they can resume the normal use of the water that flows into their homes and businesses. The order to avoid using city water forced residents to drink bottled water and seek other places to shower and clean their dishes. The city said July 20 that the diesel fuel spill at a treatment plant contaminated the water supply system. The order came after residents reported a fuel smell in their water. A generator being used at the plant because the facility lost power during recent storms spilled the diesel fuel into a reservoir, officials said.As a result, people were told to stop using water for everything except flush...

Lainey Lui to leave CTV’s ‘The Social’ end of August, appear full-time on ‘eTalk’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:47:37 GMT

TORONTO — Lainey Lui is leaving CTV‘s “The Social.”The gossip maven says her last appearance on the daytime talk show will be at the end of August.She made the announcement flanked by co-hosts Melissa Grelo, Cynthia Loyst and Jess Allen.Lui says she’ll move full-time to CTV’s celebrity news magazine “eTalk,” where she is a senior correspondent.The announcement adds more daytime shakeup to the CTV schedule after longtime morning host Marilyn Denis signed off in June.Lui says she’s excited to be able to devote more time to “eTalk” and her website Lainey Gossip, as well as other pop culture projects she’s working on.She thanked fans of “The Social” for “listening to my rants, putting up with my vanity and disagreeing with me when you think I’m in the wrong — and telling me my outfits are weird.”“When I was growing up I couldn’t imagine a Chinese-Canadian woman on a national daily talk show…. being able to share her...

Victims of Nova Scotia flooding include 6-year-old girl and member of local rock band

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:47:37 GMT

HALIFAX — A musician in a local heavy metal band and a six-year-old girl who loved dressing up like a princess have been identified as two of the victims who died during a torrential rainstorm last weekend in rural Nova Scotia.Nicholas Anthony Holland, 52, of Windsor, N.S., was the bassist in Hogtooth and father of two children.His former wife, Julie Giffin Holland, confirmed to The Canadian Press that Holland died trying to escape the floodwater. “He died a hero and should be remembered as that,” she said in a text message.Holland was one of four people, including two young children, who went missing early Saturday after the vehicles they were in were swept off a road and submerged as they fled their homes.A funeral home death notice identifies one of the children who died as six-year-old Natalie Hazel Harnish of Brooklyn, N.S. The notice directs people to a fundraising page that says her family “lost everything” during the July 22 flash floods.It describes ...

Rain allows ‘slight reset’ in B.C. wildfire fight but drought persists

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:47:37 GMT

VANCOUVER — Recent rainfall has allowed for a “slight reset” of the wildfire fight in northern British Columbia but “doesn’t erase all the challenges” of this year’s historic fire season, Emergency Management Minister Bowinn Ma said Thursday.“While the rain did give our hardworking firefighters a chance to take a deep breath, the wildfire and drought situation remains largely unchanged due to the drought conditions we have been seeing since last summer,” she told a news conference on Thursday.The wildfire danger rating has dropped to moderate or low in all but the southeastern corner of the province, however Ma warned that the recent rain and cooler weather don’t ease severe drought conditions across B.C.The BC Wildfire Service was reporting 395 active wildfires as of Thursday afternoon,  down by about 90 since Monday. Twenty-one highly visible or potentially threatening fires were listed on the service’s website, with just...