Fort Worth's Coyote Drive-In Closer to Opening

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Fort Worth's much-anticipated drive-in theater is much closer to opening.

The Coyote Drive-In, which is located just north of downtown and south of LaGrave Field, is expected to open in early May.

There was plenty of driving there Friday afternoon -- by construction workers in dump trucks and backhoes. Crews were busy moving dirt, piling up debris and staking out where everything will go in the next few weeks.

"We're super excited," said Brandt Wood, the drive-in's design chief.

NBC 5 was there on Oct. 12, 2012, when two of the three movie screens went up at the site. The screens have been teasing people driving down North Main Street ever since.

"People have been stopping by left and right," Wood said. "[We] just make sure they've got a hard hat with all this going on."

What's going on is a flurry of activity as the main pavilion goes up and the layout of the site is established.

"We're taking the food and beverage component of the drive-in, which traditionally would be the snack bar, and dressing it up a bit," Wood said. "[We're] sort of widening out the menu, have games and a playground for the kids."

The drive-in, which is really the first big piece of the Trinity Uptown puzzle, is nearly ready to open about a year after it was approved.

"We're about a month away from opening, and everybody is working hard," Wood said.

Wood said progress would really pickup at the site in the coming weeks, and it could include some nighttime projection work on the screens. In the meantime, the drive-in is busy hiring a staff.

"[We're] looking for some good guys and gals to serve all the people who will be at the drive-in," Wood said.

Friday was the second of three days of a job fair at LaGrave Field for potential candidates. Saturday's hours run from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Wood and his brother Brady, who owns the operation, say it will be an experience for workers and customers alike.

"You can ride a horse here, you can bring your dog, you can bring a baby -- those are things you can't do at a traditional movie venue," Wood said.

While there's obviously much to do in the next month, Wood said they feel good about where they are.

"We just couldn't be happier," he said. "It's been exciting. This will be 18 acres of a bit of old with the new, if you will."

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10,000 Expected for Rally Against Domestic Violence

Ken Kalthoff, NBC 5 News

10,000 people are expected at Dallas City Hall Plaza Saturday morning for the Dallas Men Against Abuse rally organized by Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings.

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Organizers expect 10,000 people to attend the mayor's Dallas Men Against Abuse rally on Saturday.

Former Dallas Cowboys and other well-known men will speak at the 10 a.m. rally to fight domestic violence being held at City Hall.

Mayor Mike Rawlings called the rally to launch a campaign against domestic abuse after a series of alarming murders and attacks the past year.

Churches and shelters are partners in Rawlings' campaign.

"It cannot end with the rally. The rally is only the beginning," said Bishop Kevin Farrell, head of the Catholic Diocese of Dallas. "All churches must be involved to eradicate this tremendous sickness from our society."

Farrell said people who know about problems too often choose not to get involved.

"We cannot afford to do that any longer," he said. "When we know that there is a situation, we need to have to courage and the fortitude to go and to get a person, usually the woman and the children, some kind of assistance."

Genesis Women's Outreach in Dallas has doubled its space for family counseling but still has 500 more on a waiting list.

"There aren't enough resources," Executive Director Jan Langbein said.

Langbein said the problem is growing, but the Dallas campaign against abuse might reduce the need for counseling and shelters.

"It's not enough just to say, 'I don't do it.' We need to have a community -- particularly men -- stand up and say, 'We don't do this.' And that's what the mayor is leading this city to do," she said.

Organizers suggest using Dallas Area Rapid Transit rail to avoid parking problems at the rally.

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15 Years to Life for Chef Who Killed Wife, Cooked Remains

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Chef's Murder Trial to Go Into 3rd Day of Deliberation

A jury in the murder trial of a Lomita chef accused of killing his wife then slow cooking her body its second day of deliberations without a verdict. The defense is making the case that his wife's death was unintentional - a tragedy, but not murder. Whit Johnson reports from Downtown LA for the NBC4 News at 5 p.m. on Sept. 26, 2012.

Guilty Verdict For Chef Who Cooked Wife

Jurors deliberated for nearly three hours over three days before coming to a verdict Thursday in the case of an LA chef accused of murdering his wife. David Viens was found guilty of second degree murder. Conan Nolan reports from Downtown LA for the NBC4 News at 5 p.m. on Sept. 27, 2012.

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A former chef who killed his wife and cooked her body for four days to dispose of her remains was sentenced on Friday to 15 years to life in prison.

David Robert Viens, 49, was convicted of second-degree murder for the slaying of his wife, Dawn, in 2009.

Before Viens was sent back into custody, the victim's sister, Dayna Papin, urged the court to continue to keep Viens locked up.

"He's going to continue to fight for his freedom, which I hope you don't give to him for a very long time," Papin said.

Viens attended his court proceedings in a wheelchair as a result of injuries suffered when he jumped 80 feet down Inspiration Point in Rancho Palos Verdes on Feb. 23, 2011, after a Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy tried to stop his vehicle and Viens' girlfriend tried to stop him from plunging from the oceanfront cliff by grabbing his clothes.

Viens said he argued with his wife and bound her mouth, hands and feet with duct tape because he didn't want her going out driving while intoxicated, prosecutors said.

After he found her dead the next morning, he concocted a plan to cook her remains, prosecutors said.

"I took some, some things like weights that we use and I put them on the top of her body, and I just slowly cooked it and I ended up cooking her for four days," Viens said, according to audio released in court from an interview with deputies.

He jumped off a cliff in a botched suicide after being confronted by Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies.

Defense attorneys argued that Viens did not intend to kill his wife.

Dawn Viens was reported missing by friends and family members three weeks after she was last seen at the couple's Lomita restaurant, the Thyme Contemporary Café, in October 2009.

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DNA Links 3 Lake Highlands Rapes to One Attacker

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Dallas police now say they are looking for only one person in connection with three sexual assaults in Lake Highlands that occurred over the last month.

The series of attacks took place Feb. 22, March 15 and March 19 at homes along Ferndale Road and Aldwick Drive.

Maj. Jeff Cotner said Friday that DNA evidence obtained from the cases all point to one attacker.

"Today, Southwest Institute Forensics Sciences (SWIFS) released their findings into forensic evidence collected from the March 15 and 19 sexual assaults in the Lake Highlands community of Dallas. The DNA profile from these offenses matched the DNA profile obtained from the Feb. 22 offense. We have one suspect," Cotner said. "The DNA profile has been entered into statewide and national databases. No match was identified. He is unknown."

DPD: Looking for One Attacker in Lake Highlands

Dallas police say they are looking for only one person in connection with three sexual assaults in Lake Highlands that occurred over the last month. The sketches, police say, are from the first two offenses on Feb. 22 and March 15.

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Cotner said they believe the man sustained injuries in the most recent attack and may have scratches on his face, cheeks and neck as well as bite marks on his hands and fingers. Police said the man may also have a deep laceration on one finger.

During a news conference Friday, police revealed two sketches of the attacker from the first two assaults. Victim descriptions of the attacker have varied and included references to the man being black or Latino, between 5 feet 6 inches tall and 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing between 140 and 200 pounds.

"Our victims provided this information to us," Cotner said. "They encountered a very violent attack. This information is through their trauma. Based upon the individual dynamics of their attack, this is what they can give us. Our suspect can be black; he can be dark-complected. He can be Hispanic. We don't know."

Despite the different descriptions, Cotner said DNA evidence indicates all three attacks were committed by the same person.

"The DNA profile tells us it is one guy for all three," Cotner said.

Dallas police said an anonymous donor has increased the reward from $5,000 to $25,000 for information leading to an arrest and indictment in the case. To be eligible for the reward, the tip must be received through Crime Stoppers by calling 877-373-8477.

Officials said more than 100 tips have been received in the case, and they urge the public to continue reporting anything suspicious. They urge citizens to call 911 if the situation requires an immediate response. An additional tip line is available at 214-670-4415, though tipsters using that number will not be eligible for the reward.

Timeline of Attacks

Feb. 22 attack on Ferndale Road: A woman was assaulted in her home after a man broke in at about 12:45 a.m. and assaulted her in her bed at knife-point. Police said the attacker entered the home through a window and was described as 35-years-old, black with bald or short hair and that he spoke with an African accent. He is estimated to be about 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs about 180 lbs.

March 15 attack on Ferndale Road: A woman was assaulted at about 10 p.m. inside her home on Ferndale Road after a man entered the home through a window. The man was described as Latino and in his 20s with a round, chubby face and a buzz cut. He was clean-shaven and spoke English with a Spanish accent. He is estimated to be about 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighs about 200 lbs.

March 19 attack on Aldwick Drive: A woman was assaulted at about 6:45 a.m. inside her home on Aldwick Drive after a man kicked in the front door. The man is described as Latino, in his early 20s with light skin, a thin build and a thin mustache. He is estimated to be 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs about 140 pounds. The man spoke English with a Spanish accent and wore a gray hoodie and black leather gloves. Police said the man may have a scratch on his body.

Residents on Edge

Despite the heavy police presence in the area, Lake Highlands residents say they are not letting their guard down.

Kristi Manning said she has armed herself in case the worst happens.

"Every time I get out of my car, I look both ways," she said. I have my keys out -- they say that's one of the best ways to defend yourself."

She said she also has started carrying mace for the first time.

One of the assaults happened a few blocks from Seth Harrington's home. He updated his alarm once the rapes started in the neighborhood.

"My alarm was working before; that didn't mean I set it every day," he said. "But now, I make sure every time I leave, I set my alarm. And I actually made sure the window-break system was working, as well."

NBC 5's Omar Villafranca contributed to this report.

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Iraq War Veteran Finds Solace Through Horses

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A local Iraq War veteran is using her experience with post-traumatic stress disorder to help other veterans.

Crystal Wayne, of Denton, started a new program for veterans at SpiritHorse Therapeutic Center in Corinth where military veterans can work with the horses and other animals to ease the stress of war.

"It's kind of like my church, my cathedral, the smells, the sounds it's just comfort," said Wayne.

Wayne first came to SpiritHorse for her own personal therapy after returning from the Iraq War.

"Ten years," said Wayne reflecting on her time in the war, "it only feels like five."

Wayne joined the Army in 2003, shortly after the start of the war. At the time she was 31 years old and just made the age cut for active duty. She would end up being the second oldest person to graduate boot camp at the time.

She had just graduated from the University of North Texas in Denton and had hoped to use her degree to work with FEMA or American Airlines, but the changes set on by the September 11, 2001 terror attacks forced her to make the tough decision.

"I needed a crash course in leadership, organization and what-not, and I thought what better way than the military," said Wayne.

So she graduated boot camp and went to South Korea for a short time before shipping out to Iraq as a nuclear weapons specialist.

She was assigned to operate a specialized vehicle to search for weapons of mass destruction, but when none were found, her commanding officer retrained her and reassigned her to a new role: security.

"I didn't tell my family what I did," said Wayne admitting she still hasn't told them. She was worried they'd just fear for her safety.

Wayne was posted behind a gun on an armored vehicle driving through populated portions of Iraq. She said it was an adrenaline rush, but also came with the unnerving task of guarding some of the most notorious detainees of the war.

"He was the head assassin for the Mahdi Militia," she said cringing at the memory. "After what he told me he did, I never asked that question again. That was evil reincarnated."

When Wayne returned from active duty to the US she actually went back to the Army to continue her work, but in 2007 was discharged for good when she was diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder.

"They told me I could never wear the uniform again," she said.

She said that's when things got very tough for her. She found comfort in teaching at a local middle school, but still shut herself in at night and closed herself off from others.

She tried mental health counseling at the Veterans Administration, but said her case was simply too unique being an older female who had seen combat.

"Everyone was prepared for men to come back, nobody was prepared for women," she said. "I was told, 'we don't know what to do with you.'"

Then a student mentioned SpiritHorse: a Corinth based group that offers therapy to folks with special needs, mostly autism, through riding and care for the animals.

"I went right away after school," she said with a laugh.

Having grown up on a farm, Wayne said she finally felt comfortable again simply cleaning up or talking to the horse she quickly bonded with: Rossini.

"They just listen," she said brushing Rossini.

Since starting her work at SpiritHorse, Wayne has branched out and joined the American Legion where she's encouraged other veterans to face their scars as well.

"You learn to deal with it and handle it, but it's going to be a part of me forever," she said.

She encourages any veterans who need help and don't know where to turn to contact her at the therapy center.

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2 Arrested in Slaying of 79-Year-Old Woman

Eric King, NBC 5 News

Dallas police have arrested two men in the slaying of a 79-year-old woman who was killed in her East Dallas home. David Herron, 29, and Daniel Brooks, 28, will be charged with capital murder.

2 Arrested in East Dallas Slaying

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Dallas police say they have made two arrests in the slaying of a 79-year-old woman who was killed in her East Dallas home two weeks ago.

Police found the body of Avanell Cowgill in home home in the 11300 block of Earlywood Drive on March 9 after her daughter asked officers to check on her.

Dallas police said late Friday night that David Herron, 29, and Daniel Brooks, 28, will be charged with capital murder in Cowgill's death.

"It was a brutal murder," Maj. Jeff Cottner said. "It was a clearly irresponsible and just dasterdly deed. We don't know why. They took a life of a grandmother, needlessly."

Police said Brooks was in custody at DPD headquarters, while Herron was at a hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. Officials did not elaborate on his injuries or what caused them.

Investigators said Herron and Brooks took Cowgill's purse and used her credit cards to buy an electronic device at Wal-Mart, a purchase that was captured on surveillance video.

Dallas police last week released surveillance photos and video of two men at a Wal-Mart who used Cowgill's credit cards.

Surveillance video also recorded Herron and Brooks attempting to withdraw money from Cowgill's account at an ATM, police said.

Police learned where Herron and Brooks sold the electronic device they had purchased with Cowgill's credit card and then learned the identity of Brooks. Investigators then determined that the two had been arrested Wednesday and were being held in the Richardson jail on an unrelated theft charge.

Investigators have said that Cowgill left church at approximately 3:30 p.m. on March 7 before going to a store and then home. Police have said she may have been killed that night.

NBC 5's Eric King contributed to this report.

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CDC: No Flu Shot in Most Pediatric Flu Deaths

Kevin Cokely, NBC 5 News

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 90 percent of the 105 children who have died from the flu this season nationally were not vaccinated for the flu.

Vaccines Urged After Report on Pediatric Fl...

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Dallas health officials are urging everyone to get the annual flu vaccine after a federal report shows that most of the children who died of the flu this season did not get a flu shot.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 90 percent of the 105 children who have died from the flu this season nationally were not vaccinated for the flu.

"Prevention works wonders, so we can minimize complications of the flu," said Dr. Christopher Perkins, Dallas County medical director. "The flu vaccine, it's not 100 percent effective. It varies on a person's background as far as age, underlying or chronic health issues, but if you get the flu shot and get infected with the flu, then you'll have minimal symptoms as a result if you had not gotten a flu vaccine."

Three children in Dallas County died of flu complications this season. None of them had a flu shot.

"We encourage everyone to get the flu shot," Perkins said. "Unfortunately some people do not and as a result, you put yourself at increased risk of having complications from the flu", says Dr. Perkins.

The CDC recommends the flu vaccine for all children 6 months to 18 years of age, but says that nationally, only 52% of them got the vaccine during the 2011-2012 flu season.

The 2012-2013 flu season runs through May.

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Teen With Down Syndrome Treks to Everest Base Camp

The Elisha Foundation

Elisha "Eli" Reimer, 15, trekked to base camp at Mount Everest to raise money for orphans with Down's syndrome and families who have been marginalized because of their loved ones' disability.

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A 15-year-old boy with a passion for sports and an infectious smile became the first person with Down syndrome to stand at the base camp of Mount Everest, and he's returning to Southern California Friday night to what promises to be a jubilant welcome.

Elisha "Eli" Reimer is scheduled to land at Los Angeles International Airport Friday night after making the 70-mile trek, which was more than a goal – it's what Eli's father calls the family's mission.

Bundled up against the frigid temperatures, Eli, his father and six others made the journey to benefit the Elisha Foundation, based in Oregon.

Named for the high school freshman who made the 17,600-foot climb, the Elisha Foundation was started in 2005 as a way to give families of children with disabilities "practical and emotional support" through free retreat programs, fully funded by donations.

The organization also raises awareness and money for orphans with disabilities.

And instead of seeing his son's Down syndrome as a disability, Justin Reimer calls it his "uniqueness." The Elisha Foundation seeks to impart that compassion in communities where Down syndrone causes families to be marginalized.

Dozens of well-wishers are expected to greet Eli and his hiking crew at LAX Friday night with balloons, signs and cheers.

"We will be screaming our heads off to welcome home Team Eli," wrote Kristen Isaacs, with the Eli Foundation.

The trek has generated $85,000 in donations so far. Their goal is $100,000.

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Prenuptial Agreement Will Stand in Sanders Divorce

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The prenuptial agreement between Deion and Pilar Sanders will stand. The arbitrator in their divorce confirmed both of them signed the agreement.

Pilar Sanders' attorneys claimed the document was partially forged. The ruling settles the division of property between the estranged couple as spelled out in the agreement.

A Collin County judge also ruled Deion Sanders does not have to pay any more child support, that's because a jury ruled the couple will have joint conservatorship of their daughter and he would be the sole conservator of their two sons.

Jury Returns Verdict in Sanders Custody Battle

Deion and Pilar Sanders will have joint conservatorship of their daughter, but Deion Sanders will have sole conservatorship of their two sons.

Deion Sanders Gets Custody of Sons, Shares Custody of Daughter

A North Texas jury has awarded Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders primary custody of his two sons by estranged wife, Pilar, pending the couple's divorce. The Collin County jury also awarded joint custody of their daughter, but the former Dallas Cowboys star can decide where she lives.

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Conservators have the right to make decisions for the children, such as their primary residence, education and extracurricular activities. However, the court determines visitation rights.

Next, the pair must finalize their divorce.

Divorce drama extends for more than a year

Deion Sanders announced his split from Pilar Sanders on Facebook in December 2011.

Since then, both sides have argued over everything from the prenuptial agreement to alleged assaults and criminal mischief, child support payments and child custody.

NBC 5's Ray Villeda, Catherine Ross, Kendra Lyn and Randy McIlwain contributed to this report.

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Lake Highlands DNA Not a Match for Jailed Man

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Lake Highlands DNA Not a Match for Jailed Man

DNA from Fernando Munoz, inset, does not match forensic evidence collected in the Feb. 22 assault, Dallas police said Wednesday. Police have not been able to determine if the attacks were carried out by one man or separate individuals.

Police Patrols Continue in Lake Highlands

Dallas police continue to patrol the Lake Highlands area after forensic evidence collected from a Feb. 22 sexual assault on Ferndale Road does not match the man they named a suspect in the attack. The suspect is still at large.

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Dallas police now say forensic evidence collected from a Feb. 22 sexual assault on Ferndale Road does not match the man they named a suspect in the attack.

The latest information is based on findings from The Southwestern Institute of Forensic Science, or SWIFS, that indicate Fernando Munoz's DNA profile does not match the evidence collected at the February crime scene.

In a news conference Tuesday afternoon, Police Chief David Brown said Munoz was linked by DNA evidence to at least three sexual assaults in 2008 and 2010 and was a strong suspect in the assault in Lake Highlands on Feb. 22.

While being held in the Dallas County Jail since March 1 on outstanding warrants, Munoz was never a suspect in two other sexual assaults that took place in the same Lake Highlands neighborhood on March 15 and March 19.  As such, those incidents were considered by investigators to be unrelated to the Feb. 22 attack.

With varying descriptions of the attackers and DNA analysis not yet concluded, police have not been able to determine if the attacks were carried out by one man or separate individuals.

Police said as recently as Wednesday morning that they were looking for as many as two men in connection with the March attacks. Now, without a suspect in the February assault, the number of Lake Highlands rape cases increases to three with an unknown number of perpetrators.

Wednesday night, Dallas police addressed residents about the attacks at a meeting at Lake Highlands High School.

Officials said DNA analysis of forensic evidence from the March 15 and March 19 offenses is ongoing and will be compared to the evidence from the Feb. 22 offense.

Timeline of Attacks

Feb. 22 attack on Ferndale Road: A woman was assaulted in her home after a man broke in at about 12:45 a.m. and assaulted her in her bed at knifepoint.  Police said the attacker entered the home through a window and was described as 35-years-old, black with bald or short hair and that he spoke with an African accent.  He is estimated to be about 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs about 180 lbs.

March 15 attack on Ferndale Road: A woman was assaulted at about 10 p.m. inside her home on Ferndale Drive after a man entered the home through a window. The man was described as Latino and in his 20s with a round, chubby face and a buzz cut. He was clean-shaven and spoke English with a Spanish accent. He is estimated to be about 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighs about 200 lbs.

March 19 attack on Aldwick Drive: A woman was assaulted at about 6:45 a.m. inside her home on Aldwick Drive after a man kicked in the front door. The man is described as Latino, in his early 20s with light skin, a thin build and a thin mustache. He is estimated to be 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs about 140 pounds. The man spoke English with a Spanish accent and wore a gray hoodie and black leather gloves. Police said the man may have a scratch on his body.

Crime Stoppers is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the cases. Anyone with information is asked to call the police tip line at 214-670-4415.

Dallas police and SWAT team members continue to patrol the Lake Highlands area.

NBC 5's Ray Villeda contributed to this report.

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14-Pound Bass Caught in Lake Amon G. Carter

Johnny Spuriell caught the nearly 14 pound bass from Amon G. Carter Tuesday, March 19.

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One of the biggest bass of the season was recently caught in a North Texas lake.

Johnny Spuriell caught the nearly 14-pound largemouth bass from Lake Amon G. Carter Tuesday morning.

The bass will be entered into the Texas Parks and Wildlife competition for largest fish. The bass will also be submitted to the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center's Toyota ShareLunker Program.

Anyone legally catching a 13-pound-plus largemouth bass from Texas waters may submit the fish to the program.

Those fish submitted are used to breed other fish and the offspring are then placed back into the lake. Click here for more about the ShareLunker Program.

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Couple Planned Babysitting Business to Cover Sex Abuse: Feds

NBC 4 New York

A Brooklyn couple has been arrested and accused of plotting to babysit children as a cover to drug and sexually abuse them, federal prosecutors said. Brynn Gingras reports.

BK Couple Planned Babysitting Business...

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A New York couple has been arrested and accused of plotting to babysit children as a cover to drug and sexually abuse them, federal prosecutors said.

Special agents with the FBI and NYPD detectives arrested Bebars Baslan, 35, and Kristen Henry, 25, Tuesday night at a hotel in Jersey City, N.J. Prosecutors say they believed they were going there to meet an acquaintance and three children, including a 1-year-old and a 3-month-old baby, that the group was planning to drug with children's Benadryl and take sexually explicit photos.

Prosecutors say that acquaintance was actually an informant who had contacted authorities last month to report that the couple possessed child pornography and were planning to open a babysitting business to find victims to abuse.

According to the criminal complaint, the informant then began working with the FBI to record phone calls and obtain other evidence.

In one recorded conversation, Baslan allegedly told the informant about drugging children before abusing them: "Trust me, all what I'm doing, nothing is going to be, no memories, nothing."

The meeting planned for Jersey City was so that Baslan could get incriminating pictures of Henry before they began the business, the complaint said. He wanted collateral, and wanted to take pictures of her sexually abusing the baby.

When the informant said he was concerned about the effect of the abuse on the baby, Baslan allegedly told him "if it's one minute he won't even know what's going on." 

The pair are charged with aggravated sexual abuse and face 30 years to life in prison. Their lawyers had no comment.

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14-Year-Old Girl Dies After Inhaling Computer Cleaner

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A 14-year-old honor student from Northridge, California died this week after inhaling computer keyboard cleaner, a growing trend among students as young as eighth grade.

"I'm positive my daughter didn't realize it had the potential to kill her," Carolyn Doherty said.

A straight-A student at Nobel Middle School, Aria Doherty died Monday. She'd been home alone for a couple hours when she inhaled the duster. Her parents believe it was her first time huffing – also known as bagging or dusting.

Her older sister found Aria in bed with a can of compressed air still attached to her mouth, her nostrils taped shut. A plastic bag was found nearby.

"I would give anything to have her back," said Richard Doherty, Aria's father. "It just took her, like that."

"I just miss her. I wish she was here. It doesn't seem real," he said through tears.

The Doherty's kept no dangerous weapons in their Porter Ranch home, stored prescription drugs under lock and key, and recently purged their home of all alcohol. They talked to their teen daughters about the dangers of substance abuse.

But authorities said the practice of huffing does not involve the typical chemical culprits. Inhaling household cleaners, paint or glue offers a quick high and they're accessible.

"Death can happen very quickly. It can happen the first time," said Kezia Miller, a counselor with the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Counselors are available at Nobel Middle School and are planning an inhalant education program for Aria's peers.

"These are substances that are poison," Miller said. "They're toxic and they're being ingested."

Long-term effects of inhalants include damage to the kidney, liver and brain. Short-term dangers include heart problems.

"When you mess with the cardiac system, the electrical system of the heart, you can have a lot of issues, like arrhythmia," said Dr. Michael Lewis, with Northridge Hospital Medical Center.

It's possible the computer cleaner caused cardiac arrest or the teen asphyxiated. An autopsy is pending.

The Doherty's said they want their daughter's death to be a message to other parents to be aware of this developing threat.

"We didn't know," Carolyn said. "But clearly, the kids do know."

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Neighborhood on High Alert for Sexual Assaults

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Lake Highlands DNA Not a Match for Jailed Man

DNA from Fernando Munoz, inset, does not match forensic evidence collected in the Feb. 22 assault, Dallas police said Wednesday. Police have not been able to determine if the attacks were carried out by one man or separate individuals.

Police Patrols Continue in Lake Highlands

Dallas police continue to patrol the Lake Highlands area after forensic evidence collected from a Feb. 22 sexual assault on Ferndale Road does not match the man they named a suspect in the attack. The suspect is still at large.

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Dallas police are continuing increased patrols in an area of Lake Highlands where three unsolved sexual assaults have neighbors on high alert.

Police now have two squad cars patrolling the area 24 hours a day while other officers will be out on bikes and horses. There are also undercover operations that neighbors can't see.

Police say all three sexual assaults have taken place within a mile of each other in the past three-and-a-half weeks. All the victims in the attacks are identified by police as white woman in their early 20s or early 30s. In all the cases, no children were home during the assaults.

The attacker never uses the front door, instead breaking a window or entering through another door. In two of the three cases, police say weapons were not used.

Police do not know if they are searching for a single rapist or three separate attackers. One suspect identified in an attack has been cleared by DNA evidence. Forensic evidence has been gathered from all three sex assaults and is currently being investigated by the crime lab.

Neighborhood Informational Meeting Held

Hundreds of neighbors turned out for a information meeting held by the Dallas Police Department on Wednesday night.

Police recommended turning on porch lights and other outside lighting and securing windows and exterior doors.

Neighbors like Peggy Dillon say they're being increasingly vigilant.

"I'm very conscious about my surroundings, I do a lot of what they say. I have an alarm, I keep lights on, I always keep my doors locked whether I'm inside or outside," said Dillon, after the meeting. "I've upped my alertness a little bit, I feel like I do a pretty good job at some of the things they were talking about."

Self-defense experts were also on hand during the meeting to demonstrate some options for fending off attackers.

One expert summed up how to defend from an attacker when sitting in a chair by bluntly saying, "keep fighting like hell."

DNA Clears Suspect in Feb. Attack

Dallas police now say forensic evidence collected from a Feb. 22 sexual assault on Ferndale Road does not match the man they named a suspect in the attack.

The latest information is based on findings from The Southwestern Institute of Forensic Science, or SWIFS, that indicate Fernando Munoz's DNA profile does not match the evidence collected at the February crime scene.

In a news conference Tuesday afternoon, Police Chief David Brown said Munoz was linked by DNA evidence to at least three sexual assaults in 2008 and 2010 and was a strong suspect in the assault in Lake Highlands on Feb. 22.

While being held in the Dallas County Jail since March 1 on outstanding warrants, Munoz was never a suspect in two other sexual assaults that took place in the same Lake Highlands neighborhood on March 15 and March 19.  As such, those incidents were considered by investigators to be unrelated to the Feb. 22 attack.

With varying descriptions of the attackers and DNA analysis not yet concluded, police have not been able to determine if the attacks were carried out by one man or separate individuals.

Police said as recently as Wednesday morning that they were looking for as many as two men in connection with the March attacks. Now, without a suspect in the February assault, the number of Lake Highlands rape cases increases to three with an unknown number of perpetrators.

Wednesday night, Dallas police addressed residents about the attacks at a meeting at Lake Highlands High School.

Officials said DNA analysis of forensic evidence from the March 15 and March 19 offenses is ongoing and will be compared to the evidence from the Feb. 22 offense.

Timeline of Attacks

Feb. 22 attack on Ferndale Road: A woman was assaulted in her home after a man broke in at about 12:45 a.m. and assaulted her in her bed at knifepoint.  Police said the attacker entered the home through a window and was described as 35-years-old, black with bald or short hair and that he spoke with an African accent.  He is estimated to be about 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs about 180 lbs.

March 15 attack on Ferndale Road: A woman was assaulted at about 10 p.m. inside her home on Ferndale Drive after a man entered the home through a window. The man was described as Latino and in his 20s with a round, chubby face and a buzz cut. He was clean-shaven and spoke English with a Spanish accent. He is estimated to be about 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighs about 200 lbs.

March 19 attack on Aldwick Drive: A woman was assaulted at about 6:45 a.m. inside her home on Aldwick Drive after a man kicked in the front door. The man is described as Latino, in his early 20s with light skin, a thin build and a thin mustache. He is estimated to be 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs about 140 pounds. The man spoke English with a Spanish accent and wore a gray hoodie and black leather gloves. Police said the man may have a scratch on his body.

Crime Stoppers is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the cases. Anyone with information is asked to call the police tip line at 214-670-4415.

Dallas police and SWAT team members continue to patrol the Lake Highlands area.

NBC 5's Ray Villeda, Kendra Lyn, and Frank Heinz contributed to this report.

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Woman Fatally Shot by Father of Her Child

Homicide detectives are investigating a possible murder in a south Fort Worth apartment complex.

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Fort Worth police say a woman is dead after being shot by the father of her child.

Officers arrived to the Prima Vera Apartments at 2201 East Berry St. in Fort Worth around 11:20 p.m. Wednesday night to find a deceased black female in the courtyard. The woman suffered an apparent gunshot wound.

Police also found a man they have identified as Raheem Smith in the courtyard with an apparent gunshot wound. Smith was transported to an area hospital in critical condition, but is expected to survive.

Investigators say they believe Smith confronted the victim in the apartment's courtyard area, shot the woman, and then shot himself. Authorities have obtained an arrest warrent for Smith with a murder charge.

Police say the deceased woman and Smith had a child together. The deceased woman's name has not yet been released.

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Dallas Promotes Legal Graffiti

NBCDFW.com

The City of Dallas wants local graffiti artists to showcase their art in a legal way.

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The City of Dallas wants local graffiti artists to showcase their art in a legal way.

A special event will be held March 21 at the American Airlines Center to showcase the works of art made by local graffiti artists who pledge not to create unlawful artworks.

John Barr, who was appointed by Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings to help reduce unlawful graffiti, said he hopes the event will lead to new success for artists.

"To participate, all artists sign a written pledge to cease unlawful graffiti, and in turn, we will help promote those with artistic promise," said John Barr. "The City of Dallas will hopefully set a new pathway to success for these artists."

It's not the first time the city has encouraged taggers to do legal public artworks -- last year, the city allowed artists to paint pillars under the Commerce Street Bridge during the Trinity River Wind Festival.

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Missouri Man Breaks Into Church Kitchen, Steals Ice Cream

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A Missouri man was arrested and charged with three felonies for allegedly breaking into a church kitchen and stealing ice cream.

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Sometimes that craving for ice cream hits in the middle of the night. And sometimes it's so powerful that it makes you break into a church freezer.

A Missouri man was arrested and charged with three felonies for allegedly breaking into a church kitchen and stealing ice cream on March 8, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

Police found Andrew Steven Jung, 23, walking approximately three blocks from St. Peter's Catholic Church in St. Charles. He was very intoxicated and had ice cream smeared all over his face and clothing.

During his videotaped interview with the police, Jung proclaimed himself an "ice cream junkie." He was charged with burglary, stealing and property damage and ultimately jailed on $30,000 bond.

Police said they found a shattered church kitchen glass door, a damaged deep freezer, and an "undetermined amount of ice cream that had been taken." Jung's baseball cap was also left in the church kitchen, according to court records, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

Jung was already on probation for his 2010 burglary of another church in the area, at the time of the break-in, court documents show.

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Frisco House Explodes After Standoff, Fire

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Standoff Comes to Explosive End in Frisco

Police say William Coleman threatened his fiancé with a gun and then set her house on fire.

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Frisco police say several small explosions damaged a home after a man set it on fire during a standoff with police on Monday night.

Police say William Chad Coleman, 38, refused to leave a home at 6106 Arlington Drive after police responded to a domestic disturbance call around 9:49 p.m.

The call began when the suspect's fiancee drove to the Frisco Police Department and reported that Coleman chased her from the home and into her vehicle. The victim also said that Coleman pointed a handgun at her in a threatening manner, police said.

Responding officers observed Coleman carrying several firearms while inside the home. Officers contained the area and brought in tactical units while making contact with Coleman through 911.

Coleman allegedly threatened to come out "blazing fire," police said. Officers reported hearing loud noises from within the house, the breaking of windows and several small explosions coming from the garage where a fire began.

"I saw police running up and down the alley here," neighbor Steve Benhoff said about the incident. "I heard several explosions. ... One rattled my window a little bit."

Another neighbor, Susan McDermott, said the police contacted her with a warning about the situation next door.

"[They said] 'stay away from the windows; don't let anyone out,'" she said.

An hour later, they came with another warning.

"They came pounding on my door to get out of my house because the house next door was on fire," McDermott said.

After the start of the fire, Coleman evacuated the burning house and surrendered to police without incident, investigators said.

"All the sudden, the guy come running out of the house, they all yell, 'get down,' he bends down in the front yard, and they handcuffed him," Benhoff said. "Then, the back of the house was pretty much engulfed in flames."

Coleman was transported to Centennial Medical Center in Frisco and treated for smoke inhalation.

Coleman has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and is in the Frisco jail on a $150,000 bond. He could also be charged with arson once the fire investigation wraps up in Frisco.

NBC 5's Kendra Lyn contributed to an earlier version of this report.

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Crippled Cruise Ship Won't Return to Sea Until June

Ben Russell, NBC 5 News

A setback in the planned repairs for crippled cruise ship Carnival Triumph is forcing the cancellation of 10 additional cruises.

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A setback in the planned repairs for crippled cruise ship Carnival Triumph is forcing the cancellation of 10 additional cruises.

Carnival Cruise Lines announced Tuesday that the ship is not expected to return to sea until June 3.

The company initially said that repairs after the mid-February fire that stranded the Triumph in the Gulf of Mexico would keep it out of service until April 17.

It was bad news for an Aledo couple whose late-March cruise had been moved to the last week of April.

Jean Petty and her husband learned on Tuesday that they would have reschedule again.

"The best-case scenario for me, for my husband and I, would be if we could just go on a vacation," Jean Petty said. "That's really our goal. We don't care what ship we're on. We enjoy Carnival. We just really want to go on vacation."

Petty, who is a retired schoolteacher, said her husband would have difficulty scheduling yet another vacation week off from work.

The Triumph is one of three Carnival ships that recently have had issues.

The Carnival Legend encountered propulsion problems while at sea, forcing the cancellation of a scheduled stop at Grand Cayman, according to the cruise line. And the Carnival Dream became stuck in port at St. Maarten when a generator encountered problems.

Local travel agents who have spent a lot of time trying to get refunds for their clients said the problems are causing concern.

"That's not to say it couldn't happen to any cruise line; it's just, unfortunately, Carnival's gotten stuck with three bad cruises here, one right after the other," said Pam Kempen, of Fort Worth-based TravelCorp. "And now they're just going to have to build people's faith back up and give them some incentive to do it."

In a press release Tuesday, Carnival announced that it would provide full refunds for affected customers. The company also said it would reimburse people for their travel costs and would offer a 25 percent discount on certain future cruises.

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Missing Mother, Children Found Safe

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Mother and Four Children Missing

Dallas police are investigating the disappearance of Katrina Hernandez mother and her four children. They left their southeast Dallas home two weeks ago.

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The search for a Dallas mother and her four children has ended with all five found safe, according to the woman's brother.

Kenneth Gordon tells NBC 5 he was contacted by a Dallas detective who told him his sister, Katrina Hernandez, and her four children were located and are okay. Gordon said he was given no more information and is still waiting to hear from his sister directly.

Hernandez told her brother two weeks ago that the family was leaving their southeast Dallas home to buy a car and leave for Michigan. The family was traveling with an unknown friend, police say.

Gordon said his sister told him that she was first headed to Fort Worth with at least $4,8000 in cash to buy a car in Fort Worth that she had found on Craigslist.

Gordon had a couple of phone conversations with Hernandez early in the trip, but there has been no communication in two weeks.

But neighbors say no one has lived in Hernandez's southeast Dallas home in about two months. The house is completely boarded up, and neighbors say they have not seen the family since January.

Neighbors say Hernandez's former husband or former boyfriend was recently deported to Mexico.

"It's kind of sad, but I don't think she's missing," neighbor Nancy Tapia said. "I think she went after her boyfriend in Mexico."

But police have not released any information that suggests Hernandez or her children have crossed the border.

Gordon said it was not something his sister would do.

"It's not like her to disappear like this," he said. "She would have called."

NBC 5's Eric King contributed to this report.

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Prenuptial Agreement Will Stand in Sanders Divorce

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The prenuptial agreement between Deion and Pilar Sanders will stand. The arbitrator in their divorce confirmed both of them signed the agreement.

Pilar Sanders' attorneys claimed the document was partially forged. The ruling settles the division of property between the estranged couple as spelled out in the agreement.

A Collin County judge also ruled Deion Sanders does not have to pay any more child support, that's because a jury ruled the couple will have joint conservatorship of their daughter and he would be the sole conservator of their two sons.

Jury Returns Verdict in Sanders Custody Battle

Deion and Pilar Sanders will have joint conservatorship of their daughter, but Deion Sanders will have sole conservatorship of their two sons.

Deion Sanders Gets Custody of Sons, Shares Custody of Daughter

A North Texas jury has awarded Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders primary custody of his two sons by estranged wife, Pilar, pending the couple's divorce. The Collin County jury also awarded joint custody of their daughter, but the former Dallas Cowboys star can decide where she lives.

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Conservators have the right to make decisions for the children, such as their primary residence, education and extracurricular activities. However, the court determines visitation rights.

Next, the pair must finalize their divorce.

Divorce drama extends for more than a year

Deion Sanders announced his split from Pilar Sanders on Facebook in December 2011.

Since then, both sides have argued over everything from the prenuptial agreement to alleged assaults and criminal mischief, child support payments and child custody.

NBC 5's Ray Villeda, Catherine Ross, Kendra Lyn and Randy McIlwain contributed to this report.

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Too-Sheer Lululemon Yoga Pants Pulled From Shelves

Associated Press

Yoga-inspired clothing giant Lululemon Athletica yanked their black bottoms from shelves March 2013, saying they were too sheer to wear, suffering a hit in the stock market.

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The popular, high-end yoga clothing company Lululemon took a sizeable hit in the stock market after it yanked yoga pants from shelves over the weekend, saying the pants were too see-through to meet company standards.

Lululemon Athletica Inc., which sells premium yoga-inspired clothing and boasts an almost fanatical following, ended with a closing stock price of $64.08, dropping 2.76 percent since the "recall" announcement.

The company's stock initially saw a bigger drop of more than 5 percent in early bidding hours Tuesday morning.

The drop came after the company announced Monday that their black Luon bottoms fall "short of our very high standards."

The company makes pants that range in price from $88 to $128, according to its retail site. Lululemon brought in $1 billion in revenue last year.

The Vancouver, B.C.-based company said in a statement that it promised to replace the affected 17 percent of pants on shelves as soon as possible.

Lululemon said it became aware of the problem with the nylon and Lycra spandex pants during a conference call with store managers.

"Some of our store managers expressed concern over the sheerness of some of our women's black luon bottoms," the company said in an FAQ on its website.

A Lululemon's Brentwood store employee said they pulled the pants from the shelves per the company's instruction. She declined to comment further, saying the company instructed its employees not to answer questions about the pants.

The company has used the same Taiwan-based factory since 2004, Lululemon said in the statement.

"We are working closely with our manufacturing partner to understand what happened during the period this specific fabric was made," the company said in the FAQ.

Customers who purchased the thin stretch pants after March 1 either online or in stores are invited to get a full refund or exchange.

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Sheriff Seeks to Replace Jail Cells With Classrooms

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The gutting of Men's Central Jail cells to be replaced with inmate classrooms is one element of a dramatic re-envisioning of the Los Angeles County jail system as proposed by Sheriff Lee Baca.

During his tenure, Baca has expanded educational opportunities for county inmates. Gutting the old central jail to make room for inmate classrooms would take the program to a new level.

Inmates who obtain their high school graduate equivalent degrees (GEDs) are more likely to find work when released into society, and less likely to re-offend, Baca is convinced.

The response to the county's inmate educational program is "like nothing I've seen in my 47 years in law enforcement," Baca told reporters Tuesday outside the County Hall of Administration.

"It's a good idea," said one man following his release from Men's Central Jail after serving a week for a drug violation. "Not everyone, but a lot of the men want to change."

"Education can help," said the former inmate, who declined to give his name.

Other aspects of his plan include building a new central jail, repurposing Lancaster's Mira Loma detention center, and transferring women inmates out of the Century Regional Detention Facility, either to Mira Loma or to the Pitchess Detention Center in Castaic.

The estimated cost would be about $1 billion, according to a 21-page letter sent to the County Board of Supervisors by Baca and William T. Fujioka, the county's chief executive officer.

The proposal was on the agenda for Tuesday's Board meeting, but was removed after two Supervisors brought a motion calling for additional research and analysis before the county considers approving a comprehensive jail plan.

It's expected a private consultant will have the report ready in two months, said Supervisor Michael Antonovich, co-author of the motion with Supervisor Gloria Molina.

Removing the plan from the agenda did not deter members of activist groups from speaking against jail expansion during the public comment period Tuesday.

"Put a moratorium on all jail expansion plans," said Sheila Pinkel, of the group LA No More Jails, which encourages the county to seek alternatives to incarceration, particularly for female inmates.

The Century Regional Justice Center which currently houses women in Lynwood was designed as a men's jail. Transferring women to another facility would make room for male custodies and enable the facility to be more fully utilized, Baca said.

An earlier sheriff's proposal had envisioned a "women's village" to be built at the Pitchess complex in Castaic. A recently proposed alternative location, at Mira Loma, became available at the end of a federal government lease for detaining undocumented suspects facing deportation.

That arrangement ended last November, and for now Mira Loma is empty. The facility has barrack-style housing.

Just northeast of Downtown Los Angeles, aging Men's Central Jail, with rows of cells for more than 3,000 inmates, is regarded as the nation's largest jail, and one of California's oldest, marking its 50th year.

Linear rows of cells have been supplanted in more modern jail design by so-called "modular" cellblocks, in which the cells wrap around a central jailers' station, enabling guards to see into any cell at any moment, improving safety and emergency response.

A modular style central jail would also be more efficient and less costly to operate, Baca said. As currently envisioned, with a capacity of 3,456 inmates when housed two to a cell, the replacement central jail would not provide any increase in capacity.

"We know Men's Central needs to be replaced, that's on the table," Antonovich said.

Even though the jail plan did not come up formally, Sheriff Baca appeared before the board with a follow-up report on his response to recommendations last year by the Citizen's Commission on Jail Violence.

Baca was joined by Terri McDonald, the department's new assistant sheriff in charge of the jail system. McDonald served previously as Undersecretary of California's Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Operation of most every county jail in the state has been complicated by the AB 109 realignment, steering the sentences for many felony convictions from prison to jail.

"The sheriff was candid" in describing the issues facing LA County's jail system, McDonald said. "I love a challenge."

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Rare Chinese Bowl Picked Up for $3, Sells for $2.2 Million at Auction

AP

This undated photo provided by Sotheby's Auction House in New York shows a 1,000-year-old Chinese bowl from the Northern Song Dynasty.

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A family from New York didn't know it then, but they essentially hit a jackpot when they picked up a Chinese ceramic bowl at a garage sale for $3 back in 2007, The Associated Press reported.

On Tuesday, the bowl, which turned out to be a 1,000-year-old treasure, fetched for $2.2 million at a Sotheby's auction in New York.

London dealer Giuseppe Eskenazi, who is regarded as one of the world's foremost dealers of Oriental art, bought the 1,000-year-old piece. The bidding process was so fierce, that it drove the price of the item far above the presale estimate of up to $300,000, Sotheby's said, the New York Daily News reported.

Sotheby's said the bowl – white in color,  with a saw-tooth pattern engraved around the outside and measuring 5-inches in diameter – was from the Northern Song Dynasty, which ruled China from 960 to 1127 and is known for its cultural and artistic accomplishments, according to NBC News.

The seller had displayed the bowl in the living room for several years and grew increasingly curious about its origins, according to the AP. The bowl was put up for sale after consulting with experts. The auction house would not reveal the seller's identity.

The unique item was part of the opening session of Sotheby's fine Chinese ceramics and works of art auction, the AP reported. The only other known bowl of similar size and design has been in the collection of the British Museum for more than 60 years, Sotheby's said.

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DPD Releases Info in Lake Highlands Sex Assaults

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Dallas police said a woman was sexually assaulted in the Lake Highlands area on Tuesday morning, the third attack in less than a month.

Police said the man kicked in the door of a home on Aldwick Drive at about 6:45 a.m. and sexually assaulted a woman in her bed. The woman's husband had just left for work, police said.

The woman described her attacker as a Latino man in his early 20s with light skin, a thin build and a thin mustache. The man spoke English with a Spanish accent and wore a gray hoodie and black leather gloves. Police said the man may have a scratch on his body.

Officials said the victim lives just blocks away from Ferndale Road, where police are investigating two other sexual assaults, one on March 15 and one on Feb. 22.

Lake Highlands Residents Attend Meeting, Address Sex Assaults

Lake Highlands residents packed a previously scheduled crime watch meeting at the Dallas Assembly of God Church on Tuesday night.

Dallas Police Investigate Third Sex Assault

The Dallas Police Department is investigating a third sexual assault in the Lake Highlands area, this time the victim fought back.

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Police say a man who has been in police custody on other charges since early March is suspected in the Feb. 22 case.

On March 15, a woman was assaulted at about 10 p.m. inside her home on Ferndale Drive by a man she described as Latino and in his 20s with a round, chubby face and a buzz cut. He was clean-shaven and spoke English with a Spanish accent.

In a news conference Tuesday afternoon, Police Chief David Brown said Fernando Munoz, the man suspected the Feb. 22 attack, has been linked by DNA evidence to at least three other sexual assaults in 2008 and 2010.

Brown said the public should be aware that the Lake Highlands attacks are not all related.

"We want the public to be clear that some of the offenses that have occurred, we attribute to Munoz, and he's in jail and won't be getting out," Brown said. "We want the public to be concerned about the right things. Today's incident and the March 15 incident have outstanding suspects that we need to catch, and we need their help."

Brown said investigators have not yet determined if the attacks on March 15 and March 19 are connected, saying there could be two potential attackers. Brown said police need to further speak with the victims to learn as much as they can about their attackers, and that takes time.

Meanwhile, police are contacting all known sexual assault offenders in the area who match the description of the attackers and have beefed up patrols in the area, Brown said.

Lake Highlands residents packed a previously scheduled crime watch meeting at the Dallas Assembly of God Church on Tuesday night.

Officers tried to reassure residents that their efforts to catch those responsible for the attacks are constant, including increased patrols in cars and on bikes. Much of the meeting was devoted to the previously planned agenda for the crime watch meeting, such as upgrades on technology, social media, crimes statistics and other information.

Some residents left feeling satisfied with the police departments efforts, while others said they wanted more specifics on the attacks and what they can do to protect themselves and their neighbors.

Neighbors are now looking out for each other as concern grows about whether or not  a sexual predator may strike again.

"Our doors are locked, our windows are locked, and we're just, we're just looking out for each other," said Lake Highlands resident Ashley Jones.

Some suggested that another meeting was necessary to specifically address concerns on the sexual assaults. No such meeting has been scheduled, but police say they are open to listening and responding to any concerns.

A dozen schools in the Richardson Independent School District were placed under a "caution lockdown" Tuesday while officers searched for the attacker.

Police officials said they did not request the "caution lockdown" of the 12 campuses, which was implemented by the school district as a precaution.

Tim Clark, with the school district, described a caution lockdown as one in which students are not allowed to leave the building. He said the district was just being cautious because of the police activity. School officials said all campuses dismissed at the normal time.

Crime Stoppers is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the cases. Anyone with information is asked to call the police tip line at 214-670-4415.

NBC 5's Randy McIlwain and Ray Villeda contributed to this report.

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Fire Damages Richardson Apartments

Keaton Fox, NBC 5 News

A fire destroyed one apartment and damaged five others along the 500 block of Spring Valley Road Wednesday.

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An apartment fire seriously damaged several apartments in Richardson Wednesday morning.

The 1-alarm blaze was called in at about 5:30 a.m. at the 500 block of Spring Valley Road. 

According to firefighters, the man living inside the apartment where the fire started saw light smoke coming from the heating vents. Not thinking it was a fire, he called maintenance.

When maintenance arrived, they opened up a vent on the furnace and saw flames.

The fire destroyed that apartment and damaged five others nearby.

No one was injured.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

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Atheists Challenge Rowlett City Council Prayer Policy

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The city of Rowlett is under scrutiny for its invocation policy at the start of city council meetings. 

Prayers read before Rowlett City Council meetings are being criticized from local residents and an atheist group that wants the prayers gone.

Rowlett resident and Atheist, Chad Aldridge, is among a group of North Texas Atheists challenging the city's prayer policy before council meetings, saying it's too pro-Christian, and not inclusive.

Instead, the atheists want a moment of silence or the invocation taken out of meetings.

"How would they like it if they were forced to pray to Muhammad or Allah or Ganesha the Hindu God--any of the others out there, because that's what they're doing to us," said Aldridge. "They just don't see the error that they are oppressing a smaller minority in us the atheists, the Hindus, any Muslims or even Jews in this town that don't believe in Christ's divinity and don't want it enforced on us at the meetings."

The atheists say they will keep fighting for the change.

Meanwhile, a prayer vigil is scheduled to precede Tuesday's 7 p.m. city council meeting at Rowlett City Hall.

"Just because there are more Christians in Rowlett, does not give them the right, in the United States, to leave others out," said Terry McDonald from the Metroplex Atheists.

In 2010, the city made changes to their prayer policy, after someone anonymously complained to the Freedom from Religion Foundation.

Under the modified policy, any established religious group can pray before council meetings, but the city said Rowlett is made up of predominately Christian groups.

"The established bodies of religion in Rowlett are Christians," Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Michael Gallops. "There's a Catholic church here, there are multiple denominations of churches but there aren't any from other religions."

City leaders said they are inclusive – welcoming people from all beliefs. They say they have no plans to make changes to the policy.

"There is no reason for us to change the policy, the policy is constitutional, the policy is neutral, it's non-discriminatory we're gonna stick with it," said Gallops. 

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Officers Patrol Dallas Neighborhood After Sexual Assault

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Dallas bicycle officers are patrolling a neighborhood where a woman was sexually assaulted Friday in the second attack in three weeks.

The victim was sexually assaulted in a home along Ferndale Road in Lake Highlands at about 10 p.m.

Investigators do not believe the attack is related to the first sexual assault. In that case, a woman was raped at knifepoint by an intruder in her home in the 10800 block of Ferndale Road on Feb. 22.

Fernando Munoz, who police say is a "strong suspect" in the Feb. 22 assault, was in custody at the time of the most recent attack. Police also said that the descriptions of the attacker in the two assaults do not match.

Munoz was arrested earlier this month in Lewisville on suspicion of burglary. He was charged in a 2010 Dallas sexual assault after DNA evidence linked him to the attack, police said.

Police are testing DNA evidence to see if Munoz is connected to several rapes dating back to 2008, including the Feb. 22 assault in Lake Highlands.

Dallas police said the bike patrols are a direct response to Friday's attack, but residents say it is little comfort.

"It's very frightening," Melissa Hairston said.

Hairston said the attacks have her feeling vulnerable.

"I don't know if the rapists are getting some idea that we're easy pickings over here," she said. "I don't know what the deal is."

"We've always locked our doors. We never keep our garage doors open," she said.

The president of the Lake Highlands Estate Neighborhood Association said people are constantly calling, wondering if there is an update on the Friday attack.

Joe Sides, a landscape contractor in the area, said the usually friendly neighborhood has become understandably guarded.

"This morning, they're barely opening the door," he said.

Police said the attacker in the Friday case was a man in his 20s who was about 5 feet 8 inches tall with a chubby, clean-shaven face and a short, buzz haircut. Police said the victim also said he wore gray shorts and a jacket and spoke English with a Spanish accent.

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Dallas Councilman Proposes Plastic Bag Ban

Omar Villafranca, NBC 5 News

The city of Austin just started a plastic bag ban and Dallas City Councilman Dwaine Caraway wants to put forward a similar ordinance.

Dallas Councilman Wants to Ban Plastic...

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Is Dallas trying to be like Austin?

When it comes to plastic shopping bags, yes.

A ban on plastic shopping bags went into effect this month in Austin. 

The office of Dallas City Councilman Dwaine Caraway confirms that Caraway is working on a similar ordinance for the city of Dallas. No details have been released yet.

But before the ordinance is even discussed, a state lawmakers is pushing the "Shopping Bag Freedom Act", which would stop all plastic shopping bag bans.

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House Explodes in Frisco

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Frisco police are working at the scene of a house that reportedly exploded early Tuesday morning.

A home in the 6000 block of Arlington Drive in Frisco has massive damage including portions of the roof and walls of the home that were blown off.

The explosion shattered windows at the home and sparked a fire. A home next door to the one that exploded suffered some minor damage.

Firefighters left the scene before 4:40 a.m. and police units that remained at the damaged home did not immediately confirm information.

Police are considering the area a crime scene and don't plan to be leaving the area for some time.

Public information officers for the department say they don't plan to release additional information until after 8 a.m.

Police are questioning a woman believed to be the homeowner about the incident. That woman did not want to talk about the incident with NBC 5 crews.

As this is a developing story, some details may change as more information comes into the newsroom.

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Polyurethane Spill Closes I-35E in Waxahachie

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Interstate 35E is back open after a crash involving an 18-wheeler in Waxhachie.

Waxahachie police closed Interstate 35E southbound at West 287 Business early Tuesday morning when a truck overturned and spilled polyurethane on the roadway around 3:40 a.m.

Police say they believe the driver misjudged the exit and over-corrected.

No injuries were reported.

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AMR, US Air CEOs Testify in D.C.

NBCDFW.com will stream live video of this hearing starting at 9:00 a.m. Central time.

AMR CEO Tom Horton and US Airways CEO Doug Parker will appear in front of a Senate antitrust committee Tuesday morning.

According to official notices, the Senate Committee on the Judiciary has scheduled a hearing of the Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights entitled "The American Airlines/US Airways Merger: Consolidation, Competition, and Consumers" starting at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time.

Witnesses scheduled to attend include Horton and Parker, as well as Diana L. Moss, Director and Vice President of the American Antitrust Institute, and William McGee, a consultant for the Consumers Union.

American Airlines released the following statement on Horton and Parker's prepared testimonies.

We wanted to let you know that today, Thomas Horton, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of American Airlines, and Doug Parker, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of US Airways, will be testifying before the Senate Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights on why the combination of American Airlines and US Airways represents a compelling opportunity for customers, employees, shareholders and communities of both airlines. In their prepared testimony, Mr. Horton and Mr. Parker explain how the new American Airlines will be good for competition, offering consumers more choices and increased service.

• Discussing how the merger is the best path forward for both companies and the airline industry, Mr. Horton notes:
  "…Our merger with US Airways will create the new American Airlines, a global competitor worthy of bearing the name of our country as America's flag carrier. Flying under the iconic American Airlines brand, it will be positioned to compete - not just against other domestic carriers but against the best the world has to offer."
• Mr. Parker highlights how bringing together each company's complementary networks will improve service and enhance competition:
  "By combining American and US Airways, the new American Airlines will build the network that passengers have told us they want, one that will compete more effectively with the other networks airlines, as well as low cost carriers… By combining these networks, we will provide thousands of passengers better alternatives by creating over 1300 new connecting opportunities and the potential to access numerous cities world-wide served by one carrier but not the other."
• Mr. Horton also stresses that the new American Airlines will be a stronger, more competitive company:
  "The new American will take flight in what continues to be one of the most intensely competitive industries in the world. There is nothing that our people want more than to put American back on top as a fierce competitor that will set a new standard of excellence, and that is exactly what this merger will do."
• This merger brings with it significant benefits for employees and has unprecedented support from both companies' labor unions, which Mr. Parker highlights:
  "That financial stability also will provide very significant benefits to our employees including better pay and benefits; more jobs and greatly improved job security; and better opportunities for advancement."

In connection with today's hearing, leaders from five major unions representing American Airlines and US Airways employees reaffirmed their strong support for the merger in a letter to the Senate Subcommittee.

The union letter and the prepared testimony for both Mr. Horton and Mr. Parker are available on the joint website: www.newAmericanarriving.com.

Previous Testimony in Committee

Executives from both American Airlines and US Airways made their case about their proposed merger to a congressional committee in February.

The airline executives testified before the Regulatory Reform, Commercial and Anti-Trust Law subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee on Feb. 26.

The hearing examined the proposed merger's effects on competition and consumers in the airline industry.

The executives answered questions about how the merger would affect ticket prices and how the new airline's hubs would work.

Read more on that testimony by clicking here.

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