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Take a Pure Barre Class, Help Fire Relief

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A busy Saturday, spent this-and-that-ing?

You're going to get a lot of your errands done, most probably, from stopping by the grocery store, to running by the shoe repair, to returning to the grocery store, for that one thing you forgot, to making an exercise class at a neighborhood studio.

If this last must-do is always high on your Saturday roster, consider putting Pure Barre on your list, on Dec. 15.

For dozens of workout studios in the "boutique fitness" company, studios that can be found in several California cities, will hold donation classes, all to raise money for wildfire relief.

The donation-based classes will pop up in Brentwood, Pasadena, Newport Beach, Rancho Cucamonga, Westlake Village, and several other spots.

And adding to the give-back vibe? Look for "a discounted relief-specific retail capsule," too.

What's up at the Santa Monica studio, for instance? Find more info here.

All of the donations raised from the 75+ classes due to roll out on Dec. 15, as well as the relief-designated merchandise, will go to Red Cross CA Wildfire Relief.

How to begin?

Look for "CA Wildfire Relief — Donation Class" on a specific location's schedule at your nearest Pure Barre, and how the donation will work (in Beverly Hills, "...your account will be charged $20 and 100% of the proceeds will go directly to the Red Cross CA Wildfire Relief fund.")

Then attend that class, on Dec. 15, contributing to a larger effort to help bring relief during this time.



Photo Credit: Pure Barre

Photos: Downey Man's 'Beer Belly' Turns Out to Be 77-Pound Tumor

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Photo Credit: Hector Hernandez

Browse a 'Unique' Holiday Market at Santa Monica Pier

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Have that drawer, or the under-the-bed box, where you stash the items you purchase throughout the year, those perfect gifts for your nearest/dearest?

If only we were all as forward-thinking and time-efficient as those rare souls who think months ahead, and stock up on person-fitting presents, long before December arrives.

So it's a happy thing that Southern California is home to so many talented makers, those creative jewelers and clothiers and soap pros and paper artists and everyone who can take material and make it into something great, beautiful, and useful.

Happy because so many great giftables are readily at hand, even close to Christmas.

For dozens (and dozens) of those talented makers will be at Santa Monica Pier on Saturday, Dec. 15 and Sunday, Dec. 16 when Unique Markets pops up, for two days, at the salty-breezy setting.

Over 150 purveyors of pretty purses, animal accessories, headwear, grooming essentials, baby-cute gewgaws, teas, home goods, and more x 10 will be in the house.

Er, pier.

And, yes, do keep "10" in mind, for it's the 10th anniversary of this market, making the mid-December merriment even more merry.

There's a gift, too, for even buying a $7.50 ticket: Prepare to swagger out with an "artist-edition" Santa Monica tote, a free thank-you for attending. 

DJs, a DIY area, a glamp-worthy tented lounge, and a photobooth round out the non-shoppy portion of the party.

No sweat, honestly, if you haven't been browsing, here and there, for the people in your world, all year long. But if you want to treat them to a sweet package or two, come Christmas, best step it up, and consider stepping for Santa Monica Pier.



Photo Credit: Unique LA

Protest After Deadly Police Shooting in Gardena

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A vigil and rally were held to call for justice for a man shot and killed by Gardena police. Darsha Philips reports for the NBC4 News at 4 on Friday, Dec. 14, 2018.

Gun Deaths at Record High

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Gun deaths are at a record high. Nearly 40,000 people in the United States died by guns last year, 10,000 more than a decade ago, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Los Angeles County has seen a similar rise after many years of declines in gun deaths.

"The statistics are clear on this -- as gun laws go, so goes gun violence," LAPD Chief Michel Moore said.

Despite the strictest gun laws in the nation, California and LA County are not immune from violence and deaths.

The I-Team found after nearly 800 gun deaths in 2010 followed by a decline and then an uptick a few years ago, according to data provided by the LA County Department of Public Health.

In 2016, 792 people were killed by gunfire. The majority of the deaths over the six year span were men and 26 percent were African-American people. That group only accounts for just about 9 percent of the county's population.

"The people who are most vulnerable, those communities they get hit the hardest," Patti Giggans, the executive director for Peace Over Violence.

Advocates, police and others say gun violence is a public health issue, that starts with countering hate and stereotypes.

"Can we back off that ledge, that ledge of intolerance that we are on as a country?" Giggans added. A great focus is on mental health.

"Individuals that are suffering from various types of mental illness and their easy access to weapons can result in substantial violence not only in mass shootings but in individual attacks," Moore said.

Moore says even a misplaced social media post can set someone off, so it is critical to learn how to deal with various situations early on in life.

"It's important to develop values, behaviors, you know, basic relationships to the different elements of our environment," said Dr. Jonathan Sherin, Director of the LA County Department of Mental Health.

The county says having opportunities for a better education, a living wage job and access to healthy food -- so called "upstream factors" -- could help make crime scenes a thing of the past.

"We can't jail our way out of this violence," Giggans said.

Box Truck Explodes in Boyle Heights, Leaving Large Debris Field, Police Say

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A large debris field was left on a Boyle Heights street next to a Starbucks after a box truck exploded, police said.

The debris field at Olympic Boulevard and Soto Street caused a traffic mix-up after the box truck collided with a gas station.

A large crowd gathered in the area just before 6 p.m., as trucks and other vehicles were covered in materials. The hollowed out husk of what once was the box truck was parked at the Shell station after the blast. 

No injuries were immediately reported.

The Los Angeles Fire Department also said no active fire was reported.

LAPD said the explosion was possibly caused by a propane tank the box truck was hauling.

While police encouraged everyone to avoid the area, they said there was no risk or threat to the public. 

Federal Judge in Texas Strikes Down Affordable Care Act

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A federal judge in Texas on Friday struck down the Affordable Care Act, ruling that former President Barack Obama's signature domestic legislation has fallen down like a losing game of "Jenga."

U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor in Fort Worth sided with the argument put forward by a coalition of Republican-leaning states, led by Texas, that Obamacare could no longer stand now that there's no penalty for Americans who don't buy insurance, NBC News reported.



Photo Credit: AP

Honduran Family Seeking Asylum Walks 2,000 Miles to LA

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A mother and her four daughters seeking political asylum in the United States just completed a 2,000-plus mile long journey on foot from Honduras to Los Angeles.

The family's journey began back in October when Miriam Pérez and her four daughters fled Honduras to the U.S. in search of a better life.

The youngest daughter is only 8 years old, while the others are at an age where they were at risk of being forcibly recruited to join a gang in Honduras. 

Throughout these two long months, Pérez traveled with her daughters in a caravan of immigrants that left Central America for the U.S. 

Suffering through hunger and fear, they encountered the help and solidarity of Mexicans who gave them food and water, the family said. 

This was not an easy journey for them, and they witnessed the hardships that people experience on a trip such as this.

They walked so much that in only one day they surpassed the distance of a marathon.

"We would walk for 15 hours, up to 45 kilometers," Pérez said to NBC's sister station Telemundo 52.

The dangers of gang activity in Honduras were the main cause that led Pérez to bring her daughters to the U.S. 

Pérez admits that there were times when she felt like giving up, but for the sake of her daughters and their safety she was motivated to move forward.

Her daughters held the same strength and willpower of their mother, walking without giving up.

"They would cry to me and tell me that they couldn't continue. That was hard for me," Pérez said.

They arrived at Pérez's mother's house in LA. She had not seen her mother in 18 years her daughters had never met their grandmother before. 

Their reunion was sealed with a political asylum request on December 12.

"I just lifted my hands and said 'Holy Father! My daughter is here!'" Pérez's mother exclaimed.

Pérez -- who is currently wearing an ankle bracelet -- is awaiting an appointment with immigration with the hope that officials will accept her political asylum request.



Photo Credit: KVEA

Downey Man's Gut Turns Out to Be 77-Pound Cancerous Tumor

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Hector Hernandez thought he was "fat." Then he received some shocking news: What he thought was stomach fat was actually a 77-pound cancerous tumor.

"I just thought I was fat," said Hernandez of Downey, California. "I’ve always been a big guy, so I didn’t really put too much worry into it."

Hernandez told NBC4 he would get a lot of stares in public because of his large stomach, which caused him to stop using the Metro.

"I always wore big jackets. I got in the Metro, and a police officer came and tapped me on my jacket and asked me what I had in my jacket," Hernandez said. "He just looked at [my stomach] and kind of just felt bad and walked away."

Hernandez began to exercise and started losing weight all over his body — except his stomach, which felt rock hard. But he said he did not feel any type of pain.

"That’s when I knew there was something wrong," he said.

Editor's note: An image of the removed tumor is at the bottom of this article. Viewer discretion is advised. 

At the time, Hernandez had high blood pressure, shortness of breath and diabetes. His doctor performed an ultrasound, did a CT scan and some bloodwork in hopes of figuring out what Hernandez had. But despite all the tests, it still wasn't clear what was wrong.

His local doctor referred him to surgical oncologist Dr. William Tseng at Keck Medicine of USC.

Dr. Tseng told Hernandez that it was not weight gain. In fact, he had Retroperitoneal liposarcoma, a rare cancer formed in fat cells.

"We don’t know what causes it," Tseng said. "It has nothing to do with obesity."

He added that it can happen to anyone. 

Tseng is one of the few people who specializes in treating sarcomas and said this type of rare cancer can actually develop anywhere in the body, and it does not come with specific symptoms.

Hernandez’s tumor was in the back of the abdomen, Tseng said. He explained that because it was in that particular location, the body adapted to it as it grew.  It was able to grow to such a large size without the patient noticing because from the outside, it just appears as if the abdomen is bloated, or as Hernandez thought, it just looks like weight gain.

Tseng added that doctors who are not specialized in this field can misdiagnose the tumor or even completely miss it.

The surgical oncologist encounters this type of tumor on a regular basis and said Hernandez's wasn't anything out of the ordinary. But, it was "definitely the biggest one" he had come across.

The removal of the 77-pound tumor required a six-hour surgery where Hernadez’s kidney had to be removed as Tseng couldn’t separate it from the tumor.

Now, Hernandez says he feels more confident.

"I’m glad my arms are back, my shoulders are back, my face is plump. I just couldn’t be any happier," he said, adding that when he began exercising and losing weight, his body was not proportional. 

Hernandez has to get CT scans every four months along with frequent checkups.

"Even though we got everything out completely, statistically it will come back in some point in his life," Tseng said.

The sarcoma specialist told NBC4 that for the vast majority of patients, it does show up again. 

"Because the tumors are so big, you really can’t get rid of the microscopic disease. There’s no way of getting all the cells out," he explained.

If you would like to contribute to Hernandez’s medical expenses, you can do so here at his GoFundMe account. 



Photo Credit: Courtesy Hector Hernandez
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Enjoy Adoption Discounts at LA Animal Services

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Maybe you just pulled your favorite afghan from the cupboard, the one knitted for you by a favorite cousin, the blanket that's now a bit holey, and stretched, but the perfect weight for a cool Southern California night.

But alas: There's room on the blanket, and under it, for something a bit wee, something that has paws, a critter that rocks a set of whiskers or floppy ears or all of the above.

Perhaps you've been wanting to share that afghan, and your time, and your affection, and your whole entire life with a little lovebug, but just haven't made time to go meet some sweeties in need of a home.

That can change, on Dec. 15, 16, 22, and 23, should you stop by one of the six animal shelters overseen by LA Animal Services.

Of course, you can always visit a shelter, whenever you desire, all to coo, to admire, and to go fully head-over-heels for a hound or kitten.

But, over the four aforementioned dates, there shall be discounts afoot, in the adoption fee arena, so consider timing your shelter stop-by thusly. 

On Dec. 15 and 16, adoption fees for dogs, puppies, and kittens will be halved, with the fee for dogs standing at $51 (rather than $102), puppies at $75 (rather than $150), and kittens at $25 (instead of $50).

Cats normally carry an adoption fee of $25, but that fee will be $0, as in no fee.

Do note that dogs still will require a $20 license fee.

And on the following weekend, Dec. 22 and 23? All the same discounts will apply, with one big change: Dog adoption fees will be totally waived, save the $20 license fee, courtesy of Casa Automotive.

LA Animal Services points out that this time of year can be an optimal time of year to welcome a new family member, as many people may have a few extra days off from work.

That will give you the time to settle your new sweetie pie into your home and routine, and get her acquainted with her bed, her food, her toys, and, most especially, you.



Photo Credit: LA Animal Services

Prada Pulls Figurines from NYC Store Amid Blackface Outcry

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Luxury fashion company Prada has pulled a set of monkey trinkets from its lower Manhattan store amid outcry that the items depict blackface.

In a statement Friday, Prada said that the images have been removed from the windows of its flagship in Soho and that it "abhors racist imagery." 

But it added that the items -- which are part of the brand's Pradamalia line and depict a monkey with a black face and bright red lips -- are "certainly not blackface."

"Prada Group never had the intention of offending anyone and we abhor all forms of racism and racist imagery," the company concluded in its statement. "In this interest we will withdraw the characters in question from display and circulation."

Backlash to the items grew quickly after Chinyere Ezie, an attorney for the Center for Constitutional Rights, posted to Facebook that the items bore a resemblance to blackface imagery used in Jim Crow-era minstrel shows and illustrations.

"I don’t make a lot of public posts, but right now I’m shaking with anger," she wrote.

She was in such disbelief that she sent the photos to family and friends to verify what she was seeing. 

"I messaged my mother of all people, 'Hey, is this blackface?'" she said. "Everyone who saw those images was as shocked as I was." 

Ezrie added that when she confronted store workers, they told her "a black employee had previously complained about blackface at Prada, but he didn't work there anymore."

Since Ezie's post Thursday, thousands of people have tweeted using the hashtag #BoycottPrada. Groups have also begun picketing outside the store. 

"That's unacceptable," said Brittany Cooper, a passerby in the area. "That's blatantly obvious that's blackface." 

"Prada is trash for this," said Althalie Paynting. "They know better. We all know better. I'm a white person; we know better." 

Ezie also was unmoved by Prada's explanation and apology.

"That sounds no more realistic than people who say Confederate flags are about southern heritage," she said. "We have an obligation to be educated about historical legacies of racism." 

New York City Councilman Jumaane Williams, also a candidate for public advocate, has also called on the store to donate proceeds to anti-bigotry groups. 

"The question is who the hell approved this," he said. "They have to apologize. They need to come out and say we fucked up."  



Photo Credit: Andrew Siff / News 4
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Cool: 'Slime Mania' Oozes into Orange County

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Southern California may boast more sunbeams than seasonal pop-up markets, but, by golly, do we have a lot of those, too.

For it seems like special happenings multiply in December, either to connect with those people looking for gifts that truly fit their loved ones or anyone seeking a different and delightful sort of day out, one that might take on a particular theme or focus.

And the theme at the Anaheim Business Expo Center on Sunday, Dec. 16 will be quite sticky, and highly gooey, and majorly neato, and did we mention gooey already? For the first-ever Slime Mania is pouring into the center for several hours of all-things-Slime-y.

Look for "your favorite slimers" to be in the house, the Slime pros currently rocking major views on YouTube and other social channels, including Slime Queen Karina Garcia.

There'll also be multiple Slime shops selling the popular stuff, which has become a favorite crafttime pursuit for many kids and adults. 

Of course, there are those fans who just like to play with Slime, too, and collect it, and leave its creation to someone else.

Tickets? More info? The chance to wear an Ugly Christmas Sweater and visit Santa and Slime up your life? 

Find all the Slime-tastic details at the event's ticket page. It's an afternoon affair, by the by, with a start time of 2 o'clock, giving you all morning to go over your own Slime collection to determine what Slime-y additions you need next.



Photo Credit: Slime Mania

Woman Attacked By 3 Dogs In Anza

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A woman suffered serious injuries and had to be airlifted to a hospital when she was attacked and mauled by three dogs in the unincorporated county area of Anza today.

The attack was reported just after 9:40 a.m. in the 55000 block of Mitchell Road, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.

A responding officer for the Riverside County Department of Animal Services described the victim's injuries as "severe,'' according John Welsh, a spokesman for the department.

"All three [dogs] were pit bulls or pit bull mixes and there is a known owner,'' Welsh said.

The dogs involved in the attack were impounded, he said.

The name or age of the victim was not disclosed, and her condition was unknown.

Animal control officers and deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff's Department were investigating the incident, according to a tweet from the fire department.



Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Structure Housing Cars Collapses in Orange County

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A structure housing four carports collapsed in Mission Viejo Saturday, but no one was injured, the Orange County Sheriff's Office said.

The incident occurred on the 27200 block of Los Altos. It was not immediatley clear why the structure fell onto the parked vehicles.



Photo Credit: Newschoper4 Bravo

LeBron and Lonzo Each Get Triple-Double in Win

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Double Triple-Doubles. 

LeBron James and Lonzo Ball each had a triple-double, and the Los Angeles Lakers stung the Charlotte Hornets, 128-100, on Saturday night at the Spectrum Center. 

James finished with 24 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists, and Ball had 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, as they became the first Lakers duo since Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul Jabbar on Jan. 22, 1982 against the Detroit Pistons to each have a triple-double in a game.

"We just tried to do a little bit of everything to help our team win," said James. "We're one in the same when it comes to our playmaking ability. We're always looking for our teammates. Anytime you can put yourself in the conversation with Laker history, and all guys who have come through this franchise, it's pretty special."

The last time it occurred in the NBA was in 2007 when Jason Kidd and Vince Carter each had a triple-double for the New Jersey Nets. 

"I know it's not easy," joked head coach Luke Walton of the accomplishment. "There have been a lot of good players in Lakers history and I figured Walton (Luke) and Kobe (Bryant) would have done it a few times."

The Lakers essentialy led from wire-to-wire, as they opened the game up in the second half, taking a seven-point lead into the lockerroom, and turning it into a 30-point lead by the end of the third quarter. 

James was particular unstoppable when penetrating to the hoop, helping the Lakers outscore the Hornets 40-17 in the third quarter, as he did not need to play in the fourth quarter.

"We pride ourselves on not losing two in a row," said James after the team lost to the Houston Rockets two nights prior. "We had a tough one in Houston. We knew they [Hornets] played last night and took a bad hit late in that game, and we just to hit them again. We started from the start to the finish."

Ball played into the fourth quarter to earn his third career triple-double of his career, finishing 7 of 11 from the field, with five steals, helping hand the Hornets their worst loss of the season on the second night of a back-to-back.

"They told me at the start of the fourth they wanted me to get it and I got it for them," Ball said of the triple-double. "It's a dream come true."

James noticed the stellar play of his point guard and admitted the team goes as Lonzo goes.

"He's the head of the snake," said James. "It was a great game for him."


Javale McGee had 19 points and three blocks despite being sick with the flu, and Kyle Kuzma had 14 points in the victory. 

"You can't let little things like the flu keep you from doing your job," said McGee, who admitted he had gotten IVs before the game. "I just wanted to make sure I gave it my all."

Malik Monk led the Hornets with 19 points off the bench and rookie Miles Bridges chipped in a career-high 17. 

Kemba Walker, who scored 60 points earlier this season, had an off-night, shooting 2-for-13 from the field for just four points. 

"He's had a couple of nights where he has struggled shooting the ball but he'll continue to shoot. We trust him," Borrego said. "His confidence is still there. I think he'll kick it back into gear real soon. He's having to work a lot out there. The way teams are guarding him and the way he's having to defend. For whatever reason he just hasn't seen the ball go through the net right now. "

TIP-INS

The capacity crowd of 19,461 fans was the largest to ever see an NBA game at the Spectrum Center, a fact easily attributed to LeBron James and the Lakers.

UP NEXT

The Lakers won't have time to catch their breath as they fly to the Nation's capital to face the Washington Wizards on Sunday night at 3:00PM PST. 

HIGHLIGHTS

 

All quotes courtesy of Spectrum Sports Net. 



Photo Credit: AP Photo/Nell Redmond
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Hospital in Whittier Goes on Lockdown After Report of Person With Gun Inside

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A hospital in Whittier was temporarily under lockdown Saturday night after a report of a possible person with a gun inside, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

The Whittier Police Department was the agency investigating the incident at PIH Health Hospital located on the 12400 block of Washington Boulevard, according to LASD.

The Whittier Police Department took to Facebook and confirmed that officers investigated an incident of "a man with a gun" at approximately 8:40 p.m. at PHI Health Hospital.

The note on Facebook stated, "The hospital was placed on lockdown for a short time while officers conducted an area check. However, they were unable to locate the subject in question and the claim there was a gun was unsubstantiated."

The department's note was posted on social media at 9:45 p.m.



Photo Credit: Newschopper4 Bravo

More People Say Trump Isn't Truthful on Russia Probe: Poll

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Six in 10 Americans say President Donald Trump has been untruthful about the investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential campaign, while half of the country says the investigation has given them doubts about Trump’s presidency, according to a new national NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll.

The survey, conducted a month after the results of November’s midterm elections, also finds more Americans want congressional Democrats — rather than Trump or congressional Republicans — to take the lead role in setting policy for the country. 

And just 10 percent of respondents say that the president has gotten the message for a change in direction from the midterms — when the GOP lost control of the U.S. House of Representatives but kept its majority in the U.S. Senate — and that he’s making the necessary adjustments.

“The dam has not burst on Donald Trump,” said Democratic pollster Peter Hart, whose firm conducted this survey with Republican pollster Bill McInturff. “But this survey suggests all the structural cracks [that exist] in the dam.”



Photo Credit: Getty Images, Files

ACA Health Care Enrollment Deadline Extended in CA

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The deadline for California residents to enroll in health plans through the Affordable Care Act has been extended to Friday, Dec. 21 amid potential confusion stemming from a recent court case in Texas that ruled the law unconstitutional.

California is one of seven health insurance marketplaces - six states and Washington D.C. - to extend open enrollment for plans that take effect on Jan. 1, which was scheduled to end on Saturday. Customers who enroll between Dec. 21 and Jan. 15 will have their coverage start Feb. 1.

A recent decision from a federal court in Texas ruled the Affordable Care Act unconstitutional. That ruling is expected to undergo an appeals process in higher courts and may ultimately end up before the Supreme Court.

In a statement, Covered California said the decision has no impact on the current enrollment period.

"While we have been considering a deadline extension for some time, the potential confusion surrounding this ruling means giving our consumers more days to enroll is the right thing to do," said Covered California Executive Director Peter Lee.

Eligible customers can sign up for plans on the Covered California website.

"805 Strong 5K" Benefits Fire and Shooting Victims

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A 5K run was held in Thousand Oaks to benefit victims of the Woolsey Fire and Borderline Bar shooting. Gene Kang reports for Today in LA on Sunday, Dec. 16.

Trump's 'Tantrum' Over Wall Is Leading to Shutdown: Schumer

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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer Sunday said President Donald Trump is preventing a deal to avert a partial government shutdown because of a “temper tantrum” over his demand for more funding to build a border wall.

Appearing on NBC’s “Meet the Press” just five days before funding deadline to keep several key federal agencies open, Schumer, D-N.Y., said that he and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., are standing firm in their offers to Trump and that it’s up to the president to come to the table.

"We Democrats, Leader Pelosi and I, offered the president two options as to how to avoid the shutdown,” he said.

“We should not let a temper tantrum, threats, push us in the direction of doing something even our Republicans colleagues know is wrong," Schumer said.



Photo Credit: Getty Images
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