San Diego County health officials issued a warning this week about counterfeit versions of botulinum toxin, often referred to as Botox, after a possible local botulism case. A woman from San Diego County purchased what appeared to be Botox online from an unlicensed source and took it to a “Botox Party” in Mexico, where she was injected with the product last month, the county said in a news release on Tuesday. The next day, she experienced a headache, blurred vision, voice hoarseness and felt weak, which are symptoms consistent with botulism: an illness caused by a toxin that attacks the body’s ..read more

The Los Angeles Police Department detained several demonstrators at a pro-Palestine protest Wednesday at the University of Southern California campus, where officers clashed with participants as tensions rose. Police officers clashed with protesters who set up encampments on the campus of USC as the students took part in the pro-Palestine demonstrations that were growing across the U.S. on Wednesday. According to LAPD, about 93 arrests were made as of 10 p.m. Amid the unrest, USC closed its campus gates after students and protests began an “occupation” of USC’s Alumni Park Wednesday to call fo ..read more

A Long Beach man who brought two teenage girls to the San Diego area to have them work as prostitutes was sentenced this week to nine years in federal prison. Deonathan Abdul Gaston, 26, transported the girls — ages 15 and 16 — to San Diego last summer, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors said Gaston was stopped by National City police on Aug. 13 “in a high-crime area known for prostitution,” and police did not let him drive away because he didn’t have a driver’s license on him. He called his “girlfriend” to come pick up the car and the girl who arrived turned out to be a teen ..read more

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said they seized 1.1 million fentanyl pills and 523 pounds of meth during the past week. Gretchen Burns Bergman, an addiction recovery and advocacy nonprofit co-founder, said fentanyl has replaced heroin as the new street drug. She has two sons who struggled with heroin addiction. The Scourge of Fentanyl fentanyl Dec 2, 2022 Poison Pill: San Diego County's Battle Against Fentanyl China Apr 16 House panel says China subsidizes fentanyl production to fuel crisis in the United States San Diego Apr 8 ..read more

Dozens of Logan Memorial High School students with megaphones, left class Wednesday in Logan Heights to protest potential teacher layoffs. The San Diego Unified School District has confirmed it may lay off teachers because of budget cuts due to declining enrollment and the end of COVID-19 relief funds. NBC 7 spoke with students, teachers and parents about the walkout and their goal to get the district to re-consider layoffs.    “Students feel safer and more connected with certain teachers, and they feel some of these teachers are the ones that advocate for these students,” said ..read more

San Diego County prison inmate Shawn Brown, who is at the center of a bribery trial involving the smuggling of diamond and gold dental “grill” into Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility and the bribery of a former guard, was in federal court on Wednesday to learn his fate. During the legal proceedings on Wednesday, the inmate, also known as HighClassJefe and BSmash, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for his role in the case. Brown, who was originally sent to Donovan after a conviction for first degree murder, pleaded guilty in connection with the case in November of last year and agreed ..read more

San Diego County prison inmate Shawn Brown, who is at the center of a bribery trial involving the smuggling of jewel-encrusted dental “grill” into Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility and the bribery of a former guard, was in federal court on Wednesday to learn his fate. During the legal proceedings on Wednesday, the inmate, also known as HighClassJefe and BSmash, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for his role in the case. Brown, who was originally sent to Donovan after a conviction for first degree murder, pleaded guilty in connection with the case in November of last year and agreed t ..read more

Eleven Republicans who submitted a document to Congress falsely declaring that Donald Trump beat Joe Biden in Arizona in the 2020 presidential election were charged Wednesday with conspiracy, fraud and forgery, marking the fourth state to bring charges against “fake electors.” The 11 people who had been nominated to be Arizona’s Republican electors met in Phoenix on Dec. 14, 2020, to sign a certificate saying they were “duly elected and qualified” electors and claiming that Trump carried the state. A one-minute video of the signing ceremony was posted on social media by the Arizona Republican ..read more

WARNING: This story may have disturbing details. Discretion is advised. A man who allegedly sexually assaulted a 5-year-old girl at a Linda Vista home, then returned to the residence three days later, pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges that include lewd acts on a child. Alejandro Jose Confesor, 22, is accused of entering a home near Linda Vista Road and Mesa College Drive at around 1:45 a.m. last Thursday and sexually abusing the child. Previous coverage: crime Apr 18 Intruder sexually assaults girl, 5, in Linda Vista home; Suspect search underway, SDPD says Crime and Courts Apr 22 ..read more

A U.S. Marine was killed Tuesday evening during an operation at Camp Pendleton’s air base, the U.S. Marine Corps said Wednesday. The Marine was stationed with the Marine Light Attack Helicopter Training Squadron 303, Marine Aircraft Group 39, which is part of the Camp Pendleton-based 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. The identity of the Marine was not released pending family notification, nor was a cause of death. It was not clear what type of military operation was being conducted at the time of the death but the USMC described it as routine. It was also not known if other personnel were involved. No ..read more