A Utah zoo and its remaining elephants are in mourning Saturday, when a very long-lived elephant was put down at 55-and-a-half years old, the zoo said.

Dari was the oldest African elephant in North America, far out-living the average life expectancy of her wild cousins, which is 42 years, according to Hogle Zoo, in Salt Lake City. She suffered from arthritis and her health began to decline in the last few months.

"She was starting to have more bad days than good and didn't have that fighting spirit. These are always difficult decisions," senior veterinarian Dr. Nancy Carpenter said in a news release.

Dari was euthenized after she was unable to get up on her own for a second day in the last few months, the zoo said.

Two other elephants remain at the zoo - 26 year-old Christie, and Zuri, nearly 6 – and they were allowed to grieve with Dari and are expected to continue mourning for some time, the zoo said.

Dari came to America in 1967, 48 years ago, according to the zoo. A zoo employer who took care of her credited her longevity to the great attention to care the zoo provided.

"That's what's so neat - it's generations of keepers and veterinarians that loved and took care of her. She touched a lot of lives," said elephant manager Eric Peterson, who worked with Dari for nearly 20 years, in the news release.

Dari, whose full name is Hy-Dari, could be a sassy but always graceful ambassador for Hogle Zoo, according to the release.

She was tough to train, Peterson said, but opened up once her trainers gained her trust: "She was the only elephant I've ever worked with that would seek out affection for no reason."

Ninety-six African elephants are killed every day for their ivory, the zoo said, asking that people hearing about Dari's death show their support by signing an anti-poaching petition at 96elephants.org.

A car and a motorcycle collided on northbound Interstate 805 in National City Saturday morning, prompting California Highway Patrol (CHP) officials to temporarily shut down part of the freeway.

The CHP said a SigAlert was in effect on northbound I-805 between 43rd and 54th streets as of 11 a.m.

Officials said a motorcyclist and driver crashed about 15 minutes earlier in the carpool lane. Both motorists were reportedly traveling at high speeds just before the collision, CHP officials said.

Passersby reported seeing tires and debris from the vehicles scattered along the freeway.

Officials said the motorcyclist sustained major injuries in the crash, though further details were not immediately available. The motorcyclist was transported to Scripps Mercy Hospital.

The lanes will remain closed until further notice, officials said. Drivers should expect delays and try to avoid the area. As of 11:30 a.m., traffic was backed up in the area and officials remained on scene investigating the accident.
 

San Diego Chargers fans gathered at Qualcomm Stadium Saturday for the 2015 Chargers FanFest, a free, annual event that has become a San Diego staple.

The stadium gates opened at 9:45 a.m. with 13 former Bolts players waiting inside to sign autographs for fans, including Rolf Benirschke, Willie Buchanon, Darren Carrington, Luis Castillo, Nick Hardwick, Raylee Johnson, Anthony Miller, Lorenzo Neal, Vaughn Parker, Billy Shields, Billy Ray Smith, Doug Wilkerson and Jamal Williams.

At 10:30 a.m., the 2015 Chargers Girls made their debut before the crowd. The Bolts then took the field for a full-pads practice, which for many fans, is the highlight of FanFest.

During practice, fans got their first up-close look at their favorite players, including quarterback Philip Rivers, tight-end Antonio Gates and safety Eric Weddle. Newcomers also took the gridiron for the first time as Chargers, including first-round draft pick Melvin Gordon and wide receivers Stevie Johnson and Jacoby Jones.

The annual, family-friendly event included free parking, activities for kids and $2 hot dogs and drinks – a true stadium steal. Fans also got a chance to scope out remaining season tickets.

For some fans, the event was bittersweet. If the Chargers leave San Diego for the proposed stadium in Carson, Calif., this could be the last FanFest at The Q.

A group of fans cheered next to a large banner that read "Los Angeles Area Chargers," but the sign didn't bother some.

“I try not to really think about that. It gets me kind of sad, Bolts fan Chris Van Luin told NBC 7. “Even if they move, I'm still going to be a Charger fan.”

Other fans agreed that distance won’t shake their loyalty to the team.

“If they go to L.A., I'll still go. It's not a long drive. It wouldn't be a sweat,” said fan David Garcia. “I'll be there for the Chargers.”

Fans of all ages filled the stands, excited about the upcoming season. This included the Aguirre family, and their three-month-old baby boy.

“The hype, pre-season, football – it’s all about football!” said Adriana Aguirre.

For now, at least, it’s all about the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium, and their dedicated fans.
 

Firefighters are heading to the scene of a car fire in Pacific Beach where flames reportedly shot through the roof of a car, fire officials said. 

The fire happened at 2 p.m. Saturday at Loring and Cass Street, where firefighters responded to a fully involved car fire. 

No further information was immediately available. 

The families of some of the teenagers who were allegedly abused at a police-run boot camp in San Luis Obispo say they plan to pursue legal action.

The allegations of physical and verbal abuse of 13 teenagers stem from their week-long stay at the Leadership, Empowerment and Discipline Program boot camp, which is meant to transform at-risk youth and is sponsored by the Huntington Park and South Gate police departments.

A two-month-long investigation by the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Department led to the arrests of two officers from each department. Detectives identified 13 children ranging in age from 12 to 17 who claimed to have been assaulted by the drill instructors.

"What sort of an adult would do that to a 12 year old? Put them in a closet and beat them, give them a towel and say 'Wipe the blood off' and kick them back out," said attorney Gregory Owens, who is representing the alleged victims seeking monetary damages.

Bridgit Salazar, the mother of a 13-year-old boy who was among the alleged victims, says she wants to see changes in the program.

"I wish I could go back in time because it's something I wish I can change," she said.

Detective Marissa Larios, 36, and Officer Patrick Nijland, 47, of the Huntington Park Police Department and officers Carlos Gomez-Marquez, 31, and Edgar Gomez, 35, of the South Gate Police Department.

All four officers, who face charges including willful cruelty to a child, criminal battery and abuse under color of authority, have been placed on administrative leave, officials from each department said.
 

Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders left a campaign event in Seattle without giving his speech Saturday after "Black Lives Matter" activists took over the podium, NBC News reported.

Two women approached the podium just as Sanders began addressing the crowd of several thousand, and demanded the microphone. Sanders stepped aside, and one woman got into an argument with an organizer, shouting "We are angry!"

After being given the microphone, and after the crowd booed, one of the women said, "I was going to tell Bernie how racist this city is ... but you already did it for me."

It is the second time in a month that activists protesting racial inequality have interrupted an event featuring the progressive candidate.

A San Diego-based U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) crew rescued three people at sea Saturday after the group’s fishing boat lost power and was able unable to return to land as expected.

USCG officials got word of the stranded boaters around 2:30 a.m. The sister of one of the mariners reported that she had lost communication with her brother’s boat. At the time of her last contact with him, the vessel was without power and had lost communication capabilities, she told officials.

The 36-foot trawler was stranded approximately two miles west of Imperial Beach. A USCG crew launched a 45-foot motor life boat and, using cellphone signals, was able to determine the location of the vessel.

When officials got to the boat, they determined it was indeed without power. The crew towed the boat into shore and moored the group safely at Marina Cortez around 7 a.m.

Officials said the boaters were seasick, but otherwise not injured.

The USCG urges the community to report any overdue vessels by calling (619) 295-3121.
 

A Vermont woman allegedly murdered her aunt, two cousins and a social worker after losing custody of her daughter, authorities believe.

Officials say 40-year-old Jody Herring fatally shot Vermont Department of Children and Families worker Lara Sobel outside an office building that housed the child-welfare agency in Barre Friday. Herring was detained by people in and around the building after the shooting, police said.

Saturday, in nearby Berlin, three bodies - believed to have been Herring's relatives, were found dead in a home - although Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin said an autopsy will confirm their identities.

"Lara's life was taken from her when she left work yesterday," said Shumlin. "It is our belief that Julie Anne Folzorano, who was the aunt of the accused murderer, and her cousins, Regina [Herring] and Rhonda [Herring], also had their lives taken from them."

Folzorano was in her 70s, Shumlin says, and her daughters were in their 40s.

Shumlin said Jody Herring is thought to have gone to the home on Airport Road first, fatally shooting her three family members, before heading to Barre to kill Sobel.

The public is not believed to be in any danger Gov. Shumlin said.

"There's no reason at all to believe that anyone's safety is threatened right now," he said.

As Sobel was involved in the custody battle over Herring's 9-year-old daughter, the incident is believed to have been isolated and not a threat to other state workers.

"I think that all Vermonters are as shocked, dismayed, horrified and grief-stricken as all of us are," said Shumlin. "I cannot remember in my lifetime four people being murdered in Vermont by the same alleged perpetrator."

The DCF has dealt with recent criticisms over its handling of cases, which prompted a new law.

A special legislative committee was set up to investigate the state child welfare system after the deaths last year of two toddlers who had been involved with DCF, 2-year-old Dezirae Sheldon, of Poultney, and 15-month-old Peighton Geraw, of Winooski. Murder charges are pending against Dezirae's stepfather and Peighton's mother, who have pleaded not guilty.

The new child safety law shifts the state's priority in protecting children, focusing on their well-being instead of on an imperative to reunite them with their families.

Herring is expected to be arraigned Monday.

Content from the Associated Press was used in this report.

The southbound I-5 Encinitas on ramp is closed after a driver hit a woman, Caltrans San Diego said in a tweet.

The woman was hit just after 8 p.m. Saturday and has been taken to Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla with major injuries.

California Highway Patrol officials said the crash was not a hit-and-run incident. The driver told officials he did not see the woman, even though she was in the middle of the crosswalk. 

Officials said they do not suspect alcohol played a role. 

There was no further information immediately available. 

Police were searching for a man who fled the scene of a two-car crash that critically injured seven people, including three children, in Hollywood on Saturday night, officials said.

The crash took place in the 1000 block of North Orange Drive, according to a Los Angeles Fire Department tweet.

The injured included a 1-month-old boy, a 2-year-old boy, a 16-year-old girl, a 19-year-old man, a 20-year-old woman, a 50-year-old man and another man whose age was not immediately known, firefighters said.

Police were searching for a man in his early to mid 20s who was last seen heading eastbound on Santa Monica Boulevard.

No further details were immediately available.

Fighting fires in drought-stricken California and across the West Coast has become more and more costly, according to a new report by the U.S. Forest Service.

For the first time in 110 years, the Forest Service will spend more than 50 percent of its budget fighting wildfires, according to the report earlier this week, pushing the agency to a “tipping point.” Severe wildfires have burned across California, exacerbated by severe drought conditions and extreme weather.

Those drought conditions, in addition to climate change and other factors, have led to a spike over the past 20 years in the portion of the Forest Service’s budget dedicated to firefighting.

"Climate change and other factors are causing the cost of fighting fires to rise every year," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in a statement. "But the way we fund our Forest Service hasn't changed in generations. Meanwhile, everything else suffers, from the very restoration projects that have been proven to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires in the future, to watershed projects that protect drinking water for one in five Americans, to recreation projects that support thousands of jobs and billions of dollars of economic activity.”

Within the decade, the Forest Service, part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, will likely spend more than two-thirds of its budget battling wildfires, the report estimates. By 2025, that number could top 67 percent of its annual funds, which would mean pulling $700 million from non-fire programs.

The spending comes at a cost to programs that may prevent wildfires to begin with, such as forest restoration and watershed and landscape management. Cultural resources and the maintenance of programs and infrastructure that support rural communities on forest lands have suffered.

A series of wildfires across the state have burned thousands of acres of land, destroyed homes, closed major highways and local roads, and prompted evacuations. In California, the site of multiple large-scale fires in the past several years, fire season now lasts for most of the year. 

To fight these fires, the agency has had to pull from their maintenance resources and dedicate time and money to staffing more firefighters, aircrafts and other assets needed to protect lives and property from the fast-moving wildfires.

In past years, firefighting has cost more than expected, the report detailed. Halfway through the year, officials would have to take away resources previously allocated for other programs and move them to pay for firefighting as a “fire transfer.” Congress generally will refill the funds after a period of time but the transfer lead to delays in work and progress, the report said.

In 1998, the majority of the service’s staff was dedicated to managing the National Forest System lands and the service only had a small portion of firefighters. By 2015, however, the number of firefighters on staff outnumbers the number of non-fire personnel.

By 2025, firefighting costs are expected to grow to nearly $1.8 billion for the Forest Service, according to the report. In 2014, the ten largest fires the service battled cost more than $320 million.

Ten states have had their largest fires on record since 2000. In July, Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency in response to severe wildfires burning across California.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump wasn't backing away Sunday morning from his "blood" comment regarding Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly, that prompted the host of the conservative gathering RedState to withdraw his invitation to the event over the weekend.

Trump said Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press" that he "doesn't mind apologizing" when he is wrong — but insisted he's not wrong. He claimed his controversial statement criticizing Kelly's questioning during Thursday's Fox News primary debate was justified.

Asked to clarify on whether he realized he was making a "demonic or animalistic" comments, or references to hormones, Trump said his statement was taken out of context.

"All I said is there is blood pouring out of her eyes and there was blood. And then I said you know what, I'm going to get on to the next sentence because frankly I don't have to talk about the blood coming out of her ears and her nose. It's a very common statement," Trump said.

Two men found dead in the wreckage of a small plane that crashed in a remote area of Southern California Friday have been identified.

Pilot David Martz, 58, and passenger Birger Greg Bacino, 56, both from San Diego, were in a single-engine Cessna 182 heading from Lompoc in Santa Barbara County to McClellan-Palomar Airport in San Diego County when it crashed in a remote area of the Los Padres National Forest near the Don Victor Trail.

The plane took off from the San Luis Obispo Airport at approximately 9 p.m. before the pilot apparently made a mayday, according to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) spokesman Ian Gregor says the pilot reported loss of engine power about 18 miles northeast of Santa Barbara.

The plane was spotted early Friday on a mountainside 30 to 40 miles north of Ojai.

Martz was hired by Bacino to fly him to a business meeting in San Luis Obispo, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s officials said.

In 2009, Martz had his license revoked for allowing adult film actress Puma Swede to perform oral sex on him while he flew over San Diego. In 2010, he told NBC7 he has successfully passed the helicopter pilot's license test and was fully licensed. 

The National Transportation Safety Board and FAA are investigating the incident.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

The female co-chair of Donald Trump's Iowa campaign slammed those who have criticized the real estate mogul's remarks about Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly as sexist and inappropriate.

Trump sparked outrage when he said Kelly, who moderated Thursday's GOP debate, had "blood coming out of her eyes, blood coming out of her wherever." The remarks also cost him an appearance at the conservative gathering RedState.

Tana Goertz, Trump's Iowa co-chair, said she did not interpret the comment in the same way critics have, and was not offended. "I've always been treated with dignity and respect," she said.

Trump has said the questions at the debate were unfair, and he bristled at Kelly's questions about remarks he has made about women.

Goertz dismissed the critics and said Trump "is bulletproof" and that he is projecting his strength during the campaign.
 

Two people were burned after a stove explosion, one extensively, at a Chula Vista church, police said. 

The incident happened at Calvary Chapel on the 1700 block of E. Palomar. 

A man tried to use a shift stove with lighter fluid, Chula Vista Police said. There was an explosion and fluid spill. 

Two men were burned as a result. The victims were taken to UC San Diego Medical Center. 

The fire was out when fire crews arrived, police said. 

Firefighters are checking the building as a precaution. 

No further information was immediately available. 

Induction weekend at the Pro Football Hall of Fame is an electric time for football fans. Typically fans of teams that have players entering the Hall that year pack Canton, OH, and that's certainly the case in 2015.

But this year there's something just a little bit different happening. Just inside the main entrance of the Hall of Fame is a display honoring each of the members of the 2015 class. While Pittsburgh is a two hour drive, the Jerome Bettis spot is certainly popular.

After that, just about everyone who looks at the display lingers a little bit longer on the Junior Seau section. Instead of simply glancing at the photos and perusing the paraphernalia they take the time to read and really explore the Seau setup.

There seems to be a reverence for Junior, and not just among Chargers fans. Vikings fans, Steelers fans, Chiefs fans, Bengals fans ... even Raiders fans are, in their own way, paying respects to a man they hated playing against but still loved to watch play.

"Junior Seau stood up for being a great football player so most Raider fans have a love/hate relationship with him" said Matthew Phillips, a longtime Raiders fan making his first trip to Canton to see wide receiver Tim Brown enter the Hall of Fame. "I loved Junior Seau, the way he performed on the field and the way he performed off the field. I am a Junior Seau fan."

That sentiment was confirmed by several other Raiders fans I spoke to on Saturday afternoon. Oh, and it was also the belief of Tim Brown himself.

"Junior was the one player that, during my career, I hated to play against," said Brown. "He was such a destructive force for our offense. It didn't matter what the defense was you knew that Junior was always going to be able to do whatever he wanted to do. Our offensive line was always in a flux of trying to figure out where this guy was going to be on a down-to-down basis."

Brown shared a story about how the Chargers wanted to take Brown out of a game, so they had Seau cover him whenever he lined up in the slot.

"Junior is 6'3", 240 (pounds), one of the greatest athletes I've ever played against. Me, at that time, being less than 200 pounds, it was not too much of a battle. I tried going in short motion, cross motion, it didn't matter where I went. If I ended up in the slot he was right over my head and I had probably one of the worst games of my career."

That is just how good Junior Seau was. That is why football fans from all 31 NFL cities are honored to see him take his rightful place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It's going to be one heck of a night in Ohio.

A woman in central Florida lost part of her arm Saturday afternoon when an alligator attacked her in a river.

The attack happened in the Wekiva River north of Orlando around 3:30 p.m., at a time when many people were swimming nearby, NBC News reported.

Seminole County Fire Rescue said 37-year-old Rachael Lilienthal was swimming upstream away from a crowded beach area when she felt something grab her arm and pull her under the water. Her right arm was severed above the elbow, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokesperson Karen Parker said.

Kayakers nearby heard the woman call for help. One kayaker struck the alligator with a paddle, causing the animal to release Lilienthal, Parker said. The two kayakers then brought her to shore.

"It was very scary," a witness told NBC affiliate WESH. "Her arm was gone and there was blood everywhere.

Paramedics rushed the woman to the trauma center at Orlando Regional Medical Center where she underwent surgery, WESH reported.

FWC officials searched throughout the evening for the alligator responsible for the attack. It was captured and killed just after midnight.

Alligator attacks have happened in the Wekiva River before, according to FWC officials.

Police on Sunday morning were still searching for a gunman shown on surveillance video running out of a Kensington, Philadelphia, barbershop armed with a rifle and opening fire.

One man was killed in the shooting, police said, and two others were injured.

In surveillance video obtained by NBC10, the gunman, wearing a white T-shirt, can be seen running on E Street just north of Allegheny Avenue firing a black rifle.

A witness told NBC10 the unidentified suspect walked into a barbershop on the block Saturday afternoon carrying a large box. The man sat down as if he was going to get a haircut but pulled out a rifle from the box minutes later, according to the witness. The man then allegedly started an argument, ran outside the barbershop and opened fire.

A 46-year-old man, 59-year-old man and 33-year-old man were all struck in the shooting.

The 46-year-old was struck once in the chest. He was taken to Temple University Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 2:48 p.m.

The 59-year-old was struck once in the left arm and twice in the left side of the chest. He was taken to Temple where he is currently in stable condition.

The 33-year-old man was struck once in the back. He was taken to Temple where he is currently in critical condition.

No arrests have been made. The suspect wore a white t-shirt and blue shorts. Police continue to investigate.