Sam Bergum
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Producer @abc7newsbayarea. @USCAnnenberg alum. Focused on covering emergency alerts, wildfire & climate. Big fan of books, cats and coffee.
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Articles by Sam Bergum
Colorado researchers call for statewide emergency alert strategy
DENVER — Nearly two years after the Marshall Fire exposed gaps in Colorado’s emergency alert system, researchers are recommending statewide changes to make life-saving messages more consistent and accessible. A draft report by CU Boulder’s Natural Hazards Center cited 9NEWS’ reporting pointing to inconsistent alert systems and support across counties, and proposed statewide standards to improve how the state communicates in emergencies.
Colorado misses goal for WEA emergency alert access
COLORADO, USA — In the hours after a man ran over two parole officers in Colorado Springs, killing one, first responders initiated a statewide manhunt. But it was not just law enforcement carrying out the search. Cell phones across the state went off at 6:17 p.m. on Sept. 28, with details on a crime that would soon turn deadly. A “Blue Alert” activation instructed Coloradans to look out for 41-year-old Justin Kula. “Please do not approach vehicle or subject and call 911 if seen,” the alert read.
FCC adopts improvements to lifesaving Wireless Emergency Alerts system
WASHINGTON — The Federal Communications Commission is adopting changes to the emergency alert system responsible for sending AMBER Alerts and other life-saving information to cell phones, following through with part of a slate of improvements endorsed by emergency managers in Colorado.
Summit County shelter-in-place message was an error, county says
SUMMIT COUNTY, Colo — Summit County said an alert that went out to cell phones across the county Sunday morning, telling people to shelter in place and turn off their heating and air conditioning, was a mistake. The alert was meant to go out to the entire county, emergency officials said, but the language was a mistake. The alert went out around the time law enforcement shot and killed a man who witnesses said was waving a firearm and banging on residents' doors in the Summit Cove neighborhood.
How to find out about your phone’s emergency alert capabilities
COLORADO, USA — In the decade since its launch, the federal Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system has developed new technology to make alerts more detailed, geographically precise and accessible in Spanish. But many older phones don’t have the new capabilities. The newest version of WEA, dubbed WEA 3.0, launched in November 2019. Phones built with that capability can receive AMBER Alerts and other emergency notifications geo-targeted to them within 1/10th of a mile.
Newly released report analyzes Marshall Fire spread and response
BOULDER COUNTY, Colo. — A report released Thursday gives an in-depth look into the chaotic first hours of the Marshall Fire. The report, known as a facilitated learning analysis, was requested by the Mountain View Fire Department, Louisville Fire Department and Boulder County. It was led by the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control.
Next phase of Marshall Fire cleanup on hold after lawsuit
A newly-formed nonprofit is suing the county, claiming it broke open meetings laws and wasn't transparent when it picked a contractor to remove debris. BOULDER COUNTY, Colo. — Boulder County says the next phase of cleanup after the Marshall Fire is on hold because of a lawsuit. A newly-formed nonprofit is suing the county, claiming it broke open meetings laws and wasn't transparent when it picked a contractor to remove debris as part of its Private Property Debris Removal program.
Talking to kids about online red flags can save their lives
The 11-year-old girl involved in an AMBER alert first met the man arrested for her disappearance on Craigslist. DENVER — It's something advocates worry parents leave out of "The Talk" - what healthy, safe relationships look like and the red flags to watch for. Project PAVE works with kids in Denver to prevent violence and start conversations about healthy relationships.
Estes Park coffee shop helps fire evacuees and first responders
In the first hours of the Kruger Rock Fire, businesses jumped in to help people evacuating and first responders fighting the fire. DENVER — When our communities are threatened by wildfire or other disasters, a Mr. Rogers quote often points to comfort. "Look for the helpers," he said. Estes Park, a community threatened by wildfire two years in a row, has plenty of helpers. Amy Hamrick woke up and saw the Kruger Rock Fire from her house.
Hot housing market in Denver signals return to normalcy
After months of bidding wars, rising prices and extreme concessions by buyers, realtors said the market is starting to look normal. DENVER — Frustrated would-be homebuyers who gave up on their search this spring may find more success now – a new market trends report by the Denver Metro Association of Realtors (DMAR) found. In the group's analysis of the metro area's housing market in July, realtors noted a return to normal behaviors after more than a year of extremes.
Wild horses in Moffat County have a water problem
Drought has limited the water sources for the horses of the Sand Wash Basin. Advocates say it's leading to horse fights and sustainability concerns. MOFFAT COUNTY, Colo — A non-profit that tries to protect the wild horses of Moffat County said the drought has cut off some of the horses' limited water sources. Hundreds of horses live in the Sand Wash Basin Herd Management Area, about 45 miles west of Craig. The Bureau of Land Management controls the 245-square-mile space - one of four in Colorado.
Mountain towns struggling to hire seasonal workers
COLORADO, USA — A long-awaited, hopefully-almost-normal summer is just around the corner. Mountain towns like Frisco are planning to bring back programs and services they had to scale back last year. But town leaders say a shortage of workers could get in the way of their summer plans.
These are the 5 most destructive wildfires in Colorado history
2020's East Troublesome and Cameron Peak fires each burned down more than 300 homes. DENVER — 2020 was a historic year for wildfires in Colorado. More than 500 million acres burned and the state saw three of its largest fires in recorded history, all within a few months. The toll for communities in Larimer and Grand counties was devastating. According to state and county data, the Cameron Peak and East Troublesome Fires were not just the largest in size, they were also some of the most destructive.
Denver Police Department enacts changes after protest investigation
The recommendations aim to address mistakes in the department's response to protests last summer. DENVER — The Denver Police Department has made many of the changes recommended after an investigation into police tactics during protests last summer, Chief Paul Pazen said. Pazen provided an update on his department's response to recommendations from the Office of the Independent Monitor at a quarterly forum for the city's Citizen Oversight Board Wednesday night.
Custer County Board of Health won't bring back restrictions despite outbreak
All three of the Board of Health members say they've tested positive after their vote to drop all restrictions. CUSTER COUNTY, Colo. — The Custer County Board of Health will not bring back COVID-19 restrictions, even after an outbreak that led to all three of its members testing positive. Two of the three Board of Health members, who are also county commissioners, voted at the beginning of March to drop all restrictions and leave the state's dial entirely.
Custer County Board of Health votes to end all COVID-19 restrictions
The board voted to leave Colorado's COVID-19 restrictions dial and go 'back to normal.' The governor's office is now reaching out to the county. CUSTER COUNTY, Colo. — The Custer County Board of Health wants to drop all its COVID-19 restrictions and leave the state's COVID-19 dial. The board voted 2 to 1 Wednesday to go back to "normal" and let all the county's businesses open up as much as they want to. The county would still suggest people wear masks and social distance.
How Coloradans 70+ can get in line for the COVID-19 vaccine
More parts of the state are expanding COVID-19 vaccinations to seniors. But you can't just show up and appointments in some places are going fast. DENVER — While some parts of the state work to finish Phase 1A of COVID-19 vaccinations, more counties and hospitals are expanding plans for the beginning of Phase 1B, which includes first responders, more healthcare workers and those 70 and older.
The story behind Annenberg Media’s investigation into…
Editor’s note: Annenberg Media recently published a months-long investigation into the circumstances leading up to the stabbing death of USC Professor Bosco Tjan in December 2016. Cole Sullivan and Sam Bergum have been covering the case since the night of the stabbing. Sam is the executive producer of Annenberg’s live nightly newscast, Annenberg TV News, where Cole is an on-air reporter.
'Ghostbusters' Actor Harold Ramis Dead at Age 69
Jim Staahl, Harold Ramis' friend and Second City understudy, remembers him as a force in the world of comedy. Harold Ramis, the actor, writer and director best known for his work in "Ghostbusters" and "Groundhog Day," is dead at age 69. He died on Monday morning in his Chicago-area home.
Announcing The Spring 2015 Anchor Team
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Steve Sarkisian Named New USC Head Coach
The Torrance native most recently worked as the head coach for the University of Washington. Former University of Washington coach Steve Sarkisian will be the next head coach of USC's football team, the school announced Monday. Sarkisian is a former USC offensive coordinator and was hired as an offensive assistant by USC in 2001 under coordinator Norm Chow. He was the quarterbacks coach from 2002-2003 before leaving briefly for the NFL.
Religious Leaders Call For Change On Skid Row
The Black and Jewish Justice Alliance gathered in front of the LAPD headquarters Wednesday to demand more oversight on deadly cases involing police officers. The Black and Jewish Justice Alliance gathered in front of LAPD headquarters Wednesday. Members of the organization demanded more oversight on deadly shootings that involved police officers. They outlined their demands in a letter addressed to Mayor Eric Garcetti and LAPD Police Chief Charlie Beck.
USC Film Students Launch "New Netflix"
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USC Alumni Win Big With Super Bowl Commercial
We sat down with actress and USC alumna Michelle LaRue '11 to talk about starring in one of the Super Bowl's hottest commercials. USC School of Cinematic Arts alum Scott Zabielski won $1 million through Doritos' "Crash the Super Bowl" sweepstakes.
Sign Up For Workshops
The Media Center is getting ready for a new semester! Whether you have a shift for class or you want to volunteer, you'll have to attend a few workshops to get started. Sign up for workshops here. Not sure which workshops to take?
Holiday Bowl - USC vs Wisconsin Post-Game Press Conference
After a tough 23-21 loss to the University of Wisconsin in the 2015 Holiday Bowl, head coach Clay Helton was joined by two Trojan Senior players, Cody Kessler and Delvon Simmons, in the team's late-night post game press conference. The USC Football team capped off the end of their 2015 season with a tough loss to the University of Wisconsin on Wednesday night suffering a 23-21 loss at the Holiday Bowl.
Willow Bay Trains The Anchors
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The New Media Center Executive Editors
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Join The Media Center
Come to the Media Center Open House on 1/14 to find out more! Are you interested in journalism? Do you want to learn how to make videos for social media? Are you curious how TV news gets made? Come learn, play and do the news with us at USC Annenberg Media! The Media Center offers opportunities to work in video, audio, text, digital, social media and public relations. If hard news isn't your thing, join our USC sports show, SportSCene, or our entertainment show, The Buzz.
Su'a Cravens: "It's the players that need to step up"
The USC Football team capped off the end of their 2015 season with a tough loss to the University of Wisconsin on Wednesday night suffering a 23-21 loss at the Holiday Bowl. For junior linebacker, Su'a Cravens, the bowl game marked the last time the Trojan captain would take the field in Cardinal and Gold. Cravens ended his USC career with 9 total career interceptions and over 110 tackles in this season alone.
Darreus Rogers: "It comes down to the players"
Junior wide receiever Darreus Rogers discusses the bizarre play that ended the Trojans chance at a victory in the 2015 Holiday Bowl on Wednesday night and looks back on the past season as a whole. The USC Football team capped off their 2015 season with a tough loss to the University of Wisconsin on Wednesday night suffering a 23-21 loss at the Holiday Bowl.
USC Football To Face Wisconsin In Holiday Bowl
The USC Football team will head to San Diego this December to face the University of Wisconsin at the Holiday Bowl. The USC Football team will return to the Holiday Bowl on December 30th to face No. 23 Wisconsin at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego. This will be the second-straight trip to the Holiday Bowl for the Trojans, who just last year defeated the University of Nebraska, 45-42.
Mass Shooting In San Bernardino
The FBI is now investigating the San Benardino attacks as act of terrorism. The attacks left 14 killed and more than 20 injured. Suspects 27-year-old Tashfeen Malik and 28-year-old Syed Rizwan are believed to have been radicalized in the months leading up to the attack. Police have identified the two gunmen involved in the mass shooting in San Bernadino that killed 14 and wounded 21, plus two police officers.
USC Basketball Knocks Off Rival UCLA 89- 75
VIDEO The USC Trojans earned a road win against cross-town rival UCLA on Wednesday night, defeating the Bruins 89-75. Jordan McLaughlin led the Trojans in scoring with 23 points, hitting five of eight 3-point shots. Freshman Chimezie Metu had the best game of his young career scoring 21 points and grabbing 8 rebounds. Katin Reinhardt also chipped in 14 points. USC improves to 15-3 overall and boasts a 4-1 record in PAC-12 play.
The 30-Day Race To 50,000 Words
In the outdoor courtyard of a small coffee shop there is conversation and laughter. It’s a cool December dusk. The sun sets below the cool canopy of lush green trees. The atmosphere is light. But it’s quite the contrast from just one week before. In the month of November, many of the same people were gathered at an old Pasadena Du-par’s diner where they furiously typed behind the white glow of laptops.
LAUSD Closes All Schools Because Of Email Threat
After 12 hours of investigation, officials concluded it was safe to reopen schools. The LAUSD will reopen its schools tomorrow after today's district-wide closure in response to an emailed threat. Late last night, L.A. Police Chief Charlie Beck said school district administrators received an email threatening violence against all LAUSD schools. He said the email mentioned backpacks, explosive devices and assault rifles.
Rams To Move To L.A.
A 30-2 vote by league owners will allow the Rams to move to a proposed Inglewood stadium. The NFL owners approved plans today for the St. Loius Rams to move to a planned stadium in Inglewood, Calif. Under the plan, the Rams could share the stadium with the San Diego Chargers, if the Chargers can't reach a stadium deal in San Diego. The Oakland Raiders also wanted to move to L.A., but according to ABC7, they have withdrawn their request to relocate.
We've Moved! | ATVN
We've Moved! By Sam Bergum 1453403351 PST 17 Visit us at uscannenbergmedia.com! USC Basketball Knocks Off Rival UCLA 89- 75 By Scott Cook 1452758754 PST 17 USC defeats UCLA with stellar play from their Freshmen. We detected that you might be on a mobile device such as an iPad or iPhone. Sorry, at this time the video box is only visible on desktop computers. Marie Agnello
Trojans Fall to Wisconsin in the Holiday Bowl 23-21
Down 23-21 with just over 2 minutes left to play in the fourth quarter, the USC Trojans and quarterback Cody Kessler had a chance to write the perfect ending to their bizarre season. San Diego, CA – Down 23-21 with just over 2 minutes left to play in the fourth quarter, the USC Trojans and quarterback Cody Kessler had a chance to write the perfect ending to their bizarre season.
Students Plead to Revamp the Lyon Center
Students participate in a new campaign lobbying for facility improvement at the Lyon Recreation Center. ATVN's Latifah Al-Hazza reports. Wellness Affairs of USC's Undergraduate Student Government is sponsoring a campaign called "Revamp Lyon" that aims to not only reconstruct the Lyon Recreation Center, but to redefine fitness and recreation as a whole at USC.
Does Ted Cruz Appeal To Young Voters?
One expert says young voters won't turn out to vote in the same numbers they did in 2008 or 2012, period. Senator Ted Cruz used Twitter to announced his candidacy. Many say this may be part of his campaign strategy to win younger voters. L.A. GOP Board Member Gary Aminoff believes Millennials find Cruz very attractive and has a big following on his side. "I think what they like about him is that he isn't the typical establishment candidate," he said.
Sand Fire Postpones Nearby Weddings
The Sand Fire is forcing one couple to put off tying the knot. At least one wedding this weekend has been postponed because of the Sand Fire. Robinson Ranch Golf Club, located in Santa Clarita on Sand Canyon Road, was under mandatory evacuation this week because of its proximity to the fire. The club had two weddings scheduled for this weekend. Though the mandatory evacuation has since been lifted, club employees said one couple decided to postpone because of the fire.
Kids Sell Lemonade for Grandma's Cancer Battle
A Hemet family is trying to raise money to replace their stolen car so their grandmother can get to her cancer treatments. Their method of choice: a lemonade stand. Kimberly Hust's mother, Marsha Long, was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2014, Hust said. After undergoing surgery, the family thought she was in the clear. But earlier this year the doctors told her the cancer was back. "We were sad and heartbroken," Hust said.
South El Monte Mayor Admits to Bribery
The mayor of South El Monte pleaded guilty to bribery Thursday as part of a plea agreement, according to a press release from the United States Attorney's Office. Mayor Luis Aguinaga was charged with bribery for accepting money from a contractor who was doing work for the city and accepting a bribe during an FBI undercover operation. Aguinaga admitted he took bribes from a contractor from 2005 to September 2012. The bribes started out at $500, and eventually increased to $1,000.
Firefighters Use Drone to Catch Illegal Fireworks
The Rialto Fire and Police departments took to the skies to fight illegal fireworks this Fourth of July. This year they added a drone to their effort to stop illegal displays. Firefighter Ryan Cathy was the pilot. He said the anti-fireworks taskforce decided to use the drone as an experiment. "We wanted to use it as a test to see how it would work," Cathy said.
Deaf Dogs Rescued From Sand Fire Find Temporary Home in Prison
Nearly 50 deaf dogs threatened by the Sand Fire have found a temporary home: behind bars. The rescue dogs are waiting out the fire in the Lancaster prison. The owners of Deaf Dog Rescue of America decided to evacuate the animals from their Santa Clarita kennel Sunday night, after the fire started moving closer and closer to the property. Though they were not under mandatory evacuation, Mark and Lisa Tipton decided they were better safe than sorry.
Rams Single-Game Tickets to Go on Sale Thursday
A limited number of Los Angeles Rams single-game tickets will go on sale Thursday morning through Ticketmaster. Rams season tickets sold out at the beginning of July. About 56,000 people put down deposits for season tickets, and the team ultimately sold about 70,000. Fans who placed deposits but did not get season tickets were given priority for single-game tickets sold over the past few weeks. The team held back some of those tickets so that other fans would have the chance to see a game.
Police Ask for Public's Help Finding Riverside Sexual Assault Suspect
Riverside police were asking for the public's help in locating a suspect in at least two sexual assaults involving two girls. Police identified the suspect as Domingo Juan Andres, a Riverside area man between the ages of 18 and 20, about 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighing around 160 pounds. He may also go by "Junior," they said. Andres is the suspect in the sexual assaults of a 12-year-old girl and a 15-year-old girl, police said.
Powerball Jackpot Hits $422 Million
Get your lucky numbers ready: the Powerball jackpot has grown to a whopping $422 million ahead of Wednesday night's drawing. It is the eighth largest prize in the game's history and the 11th biggest in the U.S. The jackpot amount has rolled over 22 times since the last lucky winner. On May 7, a New Jersey family purchased a ticket matching all six numbers, winning more than $284 million. Marvin and Mae Acosta were the last Californians to win the Powerball.
Rising Temps Cause Transformers to Overheat in San Bernardino County
The hot weather isn't just creating fire conditions in the foothills — it's also contributing to fires in residential neighborhoods. At least five transformer fires have been reported this month in San Bernardino County, firefighters said. One fire Tuesday night on Lancewood St. melted the front of an SUV. Firefighters said the fire started in an underground vault holding a power transformer. Luis Soto saw the flames shooting up from the sidewalk outside his house and called Rialto firefighters.
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