Teachers apart of the Santee Teachers Association (STA) will rally ahead of a Santee School Board meeting Tuesday, asking for higher salaries and better benefits to retain better teachers.

An hour before the 7 p.m. Board meeting Tuesday, teachers will gather to support their bargaining team’s position, saying that lower salaries and lacking benefits put the school, community and students at risk of losing highly qualified teachers.

"I think for us, when we look at costs and benefits, we need to stay competitive; $18,000 a year for myself and family, that's a lot of money coming out of my pocket when other districts are offering much better benefit packages," said teacher and union member Chris Stanley. 

Stanley and other teachers say teachers are paying between $12,000 and $15,000 a year out-of-pocket for health coverage for their families. 

According to the union's website, the district will pay an extra $600 a year into the benefit package, up about half a percent from the year before. 

Teachers say the cost of health care is just too high, especially for those new to the district. 

"It makes it impossible to stay in the district if you're five years or under," said Kathryn Ducharmes, a teacher and union member. "You're going to go to Poway and get full benefits or San Diego and get full benefits for your family." 

A school district representative said their goal is the same as the teachers. The Superintendent said they are looking at the compensation package, which includes an increase in what district pays for employee health care, up from a $7,200 cap per year to a $9,000 cap in three years . 

She says teachers can opt for a plan that is as low as $8,000 a year, and $18,000 is the highest out-of-pocket plan offered. 

"In the end, it's about ensuring every student receives a high quality education. We can do this by appropriately compensating our high quality teaching force," said STA President Lori Meaux in a statement.

Negotiators say that in 2015, the conditions offered by the district were “unacceptable” and did not include a future salary schedule plan to reflect gains to keep district competitive.

A fugitive shot and killed by a police officer in El Cajon following a high-speed pursuit in a stolen car driven by another man on the run has been identified.

Kelsey Rose Hauser, 25, of Conifer, Colorado, was in a stolen red Toyota with three men in the 1300 block of E. Main Street around 1:25 a.m. when officers from the El Cajon Police Department (ECPD) tried to stop the car. The driver, identified as fugitive Geoffrey H. Sims, of Golden, Colorado, pulled over near Walter Way and Main Street.

However, when officers approached the car, Sims hit the gas and fled northbound on Second Street, then drove onto westbound Interstate 8.

A high-speed chase ensued. With emergency lights and sirens activated, ECPD officers pursued the Toyota. At one point the pursuit reached speeds of 90 mph, police said. Officers called for backup from California Highway Patrol.

Eventually, the stolen car exited the freeway at West Main Street and continued to South Pierce Street, which is a cul-de-sac.

As the car reached the dead end, police said the driver made a U-turn, bringing the Toyota head-on with pursuing officers. Sims’ car came to a halt and an officer again tried to contact the four people inside.

According to the ECPD, as the officer got out of his patrol car, the suspect allegedly drove the stolen vehicle towards the officer. The officer fired four rounds at the suspects’ vehicle investigators; he said he was fearing for his life.

The gunfire struck Hauser, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, as well as a dog inside the car.

The driver kept moving, ramming the stolen car into another police vehicle that was approaching the scene, officials said. The stolen car then finally came to a stop, police said.

Officers swarmed Sims’ car and arrested him and two men in the back seat. One has been identified as Brian Alan Blafield of El Cajon. Hauser was taken to a local hospital. She died a short time later from injuries suffered in the officer-involved shooting, the police department confirmed. The dog also died.

The ECPD said Blafield and another passenger were booked into County Jail on suspicion of narcotics possession. The passenger was released without being charged. Blafield was booked into County Jail on substance charges. 

Sims was wanted in Colorado on two felony arrest warrants. He was booked into jail on charges of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer likely to create great bodily injury and felony evading. The vehicle had been reported stolen out of Denver on Aug. 11, 2015. 

Hauser was also wanted on felony warrant in Colorado, though it is not clear for what crime. 

ECPD officer Samson Pak, who was involved in this deadly shooting, is assigned to the Patrol Division and has been an officer for three years. Pak has been put on administrative leave, as is standard for officers involved in a fatal incident, the department said. 

No officers were injured in this incident and there are no outstanding suspects, police said.

A complete investigation by the agency with jurisdiction for the area will take place, as is protocol for investigating an officer-involved shooting. The San Diego County District Attorney's office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation will also review the incident. When investigators present evidence to those agencies, they will show in-camera video recorded, ECPD said. 

Anyone with information on this case should call the ECPD at (619) 579-3311 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.

A six-month-old tiger cub found roaming the streets of Hemet, Calif., last year before being taken in by an animal rescue facility in San Diego County has died, the facility confirmed Tuesday.

Himmel – a Bengal-Siberian cub – first arrived at the Alpine-based nonprofit, Lions, Tigers and Bears (LTB), on Sept. 5, 2015, malnourished, declawed and suffering from an umbilical hernia.

The tiger was first found on Sept. 3, 2015, abandoned in Hemet, northeast of Temecula. A woman turned him into the Humane Society in San Jacinto County, and California Department of Fish and Wildlife officials then sent the cub to LTB in Alpine, where he had been living ever since.

On Tuesday, the facility announced Himmel had died.

“It is with a heavy heart and incredible sadness that we must share with you the news that Himmel, the young 6 month old tiger cub, has tragically passed away,” the statement from LTB said.

According to the big cat and exotic animal rescue facility, the tiger cub underwent a routine procedure last week to be neutered, vaccinated and to repair his hernia under the lead of LTB’s veterinarian, Dr. Jane Meier.

“The surgery went well and was uneventful. As Himmel was transitioning into surgical recovery, he suffered profound respiratory failure and collapse,” LTB explained. “Despite the best resuscitation efforts of the veterinary team and animal care staff, Himmel did not recover.”

Dr. Meier believes the most likely cause of Himmel’s death was “a severe allergic reaction, anaphylaxis, which occurred in response to one of the injections Himmel was given at the end of his surgery.”

“This is the most serious type of allergic reaction and is often fatal. It is the same kind of reaction cause by peanut allergies in people and can happen so quickly and severely that even aggressive treatment is ineffective," the vet added.

When the abandoned cub first arrived at LTB, staffers knew the animal had potential underlying health issues in addition to the hernia and being malnourished and declawed.

However, LTB said staffers thought that with care and proper nutrition, the once-frail, 25-pound cub could morph into an active tiger. Still, animal care experts knew the cub – though happy and playful – had a long road ahead of him.

Following this procedure, LTB says Himmel was also scheduled to have reparative surgery on his declawed paws next month.

LTB says that any decision to perform medical procedures on its animals comes with careful weighing of the risks and benefits, and much planning, always putting the patient’s well-being first.

“The sudden loss of Himmel is a stark reminder of how even after thoughtful and thorough consideration of the benefits and hazards, you can never completely eliminate the risks of a medical procedure,” the facility said. “Himmel's passing is not only a blow to our sanctuary team, but one of the tragic consequences that stem from the indiscriminate captive breeding of exotic animals. With no family history to reference, it is hard to pinpoint an animal like Himmel's underlying issues.”

Himmel was named after longtime San Diego newscaster and LTB supporter Larry Himmel after an online naming contest in October 2015.

LTB described the cub as “playful, goofy, awkward and sweet” and “chock full of personality,” despite all he had endured.

“Himmel could always bring a smile to your face with his contagious pure bliss attitude on life,” the facility added. “Himmel may not have been with us for long, but he left boundless paw prints on our hearts that will last forever.”

LTB said the tiger’s passing will continue to fuel the sanctuary’s passion to stop exotic animal trade and help animals live safely and peacefully on its 94-acre property in east San Diego. Experts believe Himmel is one of many tigers bred only for profit and then abandoned.
 

The San Diego Chargers have applied to trademark the names "Los Angeles Chargers" and "LA Chargers" as the team considers a possible move to join the Rams at a stadium in Los Angeles.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office application was filed two days after NFL owners voted to allow the Rams to relocate from St. Louis, where they moved from Southern California after the 1994 season, to the Los Angeles area. The Chargers were given a year to consider joining the Rams in LA.

The trademark applications would cover a wide range of products, such as football helmets, golf balls, mobile apps, decorative magnets, calendars, clothing and jewelry.

If the Chargers choose not to move to Los Angeles, the Oakland Raiders have a one-year option to consider a move.

Ram owner Stan Kroenke is behind the stadium project in Inglewood. The team will play at the LA Coliseum until the new stadium is built.

San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer confirmed Tuesday there are no meetings scheduled between the City and the Chargers when he appeared on a local television news program to discuss the stadium negotiations.

Nobody could’ve predicted what happened in Houston on Jan. 12, the mayor said when describing how NFL owners rejected the Chargers/Raiders joint-use stadium project planned for Carson, near Los Angeles.

Rams owner Stan Kroenke will move his team to Inglewood and the Chargers have a year to decide whether they want to join the Rams in the Los Angeles area. The two teams were expected to begin formal negotiations Monday.

The mayor’s first interaction with Spanos after the NFL vote was a 5-minute phone call that Faulconer described as “cordial” when he appeared on KSWB Tuesday.

Faulconer wants to get back to the table with the Chargers, but Spanos was “not open” to meeting at this point, the mayor said.

The Chargers owner wanted to go through the negotiations with the Rams, according to Faulconer.

The two teams wrapped up Monday's meeting with a statement saying they would not be issuing statements on the developments.

When asked if San Diegans would even support a ballot initiative for a new Chargers stadium, the mayor admitted it’s been a difficult year. However, he said, “We have to be able to get back to the table. People have to see it. People have to believe it.”

When it comes Chargers Special Counsel Mark Fabiani, Faulconer said it’s up to Spanos who will be on the other side of the table.

“It’s a decision that Dean Spanos is going to have to make,“ the mayor said.

The Rams will play in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum before moving into a new stadium in Inglewood at the start of the 2019 season. The move was announced last week after an owners meeting in Houston.

The team launched a season ticket waiting list Monday, offering fans a chance to put their names on a waiting list for the tickets. The team reported more than 5,000 deposits in the first five minutes that the site was live. Within about 45 minutes, more than 8,000 had been sold.

Kroenke, a billionaire land developer married to a Walmart heir, is building more than a football stadium with the reported $1.86 billion Inglewood project, which also includes office space, shops, a concert venue and innumerable other enticements.

Kroenke said his new stadium will host Super Bowls and Final Fours, which he has already discussed with the NCAA.

A group of Oceanside residents, spurred by the death of a boy killed while riding his bike, is urging the city council to make North County roads safer for cyclists and pedestrians.

Advocates are backing a proposal to reduce South Coast Highway to two lanes between Oceanside Boulevard and Morse Street to make room for a bike lane.

The area is where 12-year-old Logan Lipton was killed during his bike ride to school on Oct. 22.

"Our main priority with the bike path initiative is to honor Logan, to remember this incredible amazing kid,” said Regis Rae, family friend of the Liptons. “Our second thing is that we want to create something for the future for all of the kids - for families for Oceanside."

A driver in a pickup truck accidentally ran into Logan as he pulled onto South Coast Highway. The boy became lodged under the truck, and he was later pronounced dead at a hospital.

"I mean, in the midst of this tragedy, we wanted to see something come out of it that would honor Logan. Honor his life,” said Rae.

Together, the Lipton family and friends have created the “Logan Lipton Bicycle Initiative.”

In addition to the bike lane, the group is calling for a crosswalk in the middle of South Coast Highway near Kristy Lane, in an area locals call “The Dip.” 

Proponents will discuss their plan at a community meeting Tuesday at St. Mary Star of the Sea School, and the Oceanside City Council is expected to take up the issue as part of a larger traffic plan on Wednesday, possibly to vote on it.

The location of the crosswalk concerns Cole Sampson, whose family has owned Paradise RV Resort for nearly four decades. The business sits at the proposed crosswalk.

He hopes the city will move the crosswalk a few feet north of his entrance, directly in front of the beach access trail, so his guests can safely pull in and out of the driveway in their RVs and motorhomes.

“As a parent and a family business owner, our hearts are broken too, but we want to come up with a good solution and a solution that's best studied and that makes sense for everyone,” Sampson said.

Gary Rosenberg, an Oceanside resident, rides his bike through the city for about eight miles a day, five days a week.

He said sadly, he’s surprised fatal accidents with cyclists don’t happen more often.

"The cars are so close to you and often times exceed the speed limit, very little regard for the bicyclists,” Rosenberg said.
 

 Concerns about artificial turf fields and their impact on children and athletes are coming into play in San Diego during a week-long conference. 

The fake grass on some parks and fields has come under fire, as opponents of the fake grass say the grass has chemicals in the rubber -- and others say there is evidence to support its safety. 

John Sorochan, a turf grass professor at the University of Tennessee, conducts his research on making fields safe for athletes and has a Ph.D in turfgrass science from Michigan State University. Sorochan is one of many in San Diego this week for the Sports Turf Manager Association Conference at the San Diego Convention Center, where artificial turf is one of the items discussed. 

Critics and supporters of artificial turf haven't been able to agree whether it is harmful for people who play on it.

One downside to having a natural grass field is the difficulty with maintaining it and keeping it alive, but when comes to artificial turf fields, the question some people have is whether or not the turf is safe.

“That’s what people are worried about, is the compounds that may be associated with the recycled car tires,” said John Sorochan. “When you look at some of the research that's been done, there hasn't been any findings that there's any toxicology or toxic effects from that that there's a risk for human exposure when they use these surfaces.”

Some coaches, doctors and parents have raised questions about the chemicals found in the rubber infill that sometimes winds up stuck to athletes’ skin, shoes and clothes.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), mercury, lead, benzene and arsenic are among other chemicals found in tires, but no research has officially linked crumb or shredded rubber to cancer or other harmful impacts.

Sorochan says the EPA has not really stepped up to do an investigation on any potential risks.

“When you look at some of the research that's been done, there hasn't been any findings that there's any toxicology or toxic effects from that, that there's a risk for human exposure when they use these surfaces,” he said. “When you think about it, when there's 250 million cars in the streets in the U.S., that's a billion car tires. We have to replace our car tires because they grind down to a fine, fine powder -- a lot finer than they use on artificial turf, and anytime it rains it washes that rubber into our water supply.”

However, he said, for those that have concerns about the field, he thinks the artificial turf fields are safe. His kids play on either fields, he said, and he feels confident letting them do so.

Others, like Carmel Valley resident and neurologist Emily Engel, don’t always feel the same.

“There has been evidence artificial turf contains lead and other toxic components that have been associated with lymphoma and neurological problems,” said Engel, who is opposed to artificial turf fields. She previously told NBC 7 San Diego she believes the turf poses a long-term health risk.
Sorochan said when it comes to artificial turf, the biggest concern is temperature.

“An artificial turf field, temperature is the probably the number one problem to be concerned about,” he said. “So in San Diego in the summertime, if its 90 degrees, it could be 150 on that surface.”

In November, California announced it would spend $3 million to study whether artificial turf made of recycled tires is a health risk.

State officials hope the study will provide answers after mounting concerns of the so-called "crumb rubber" on artificial turf is linked to causing cancer.

The "Los Angeles Chargers" made in the news in a splashy way on Tuesday.

Wait a second – it’s already a done deal?

Not yet.

But the still-San Diego Chargers believe it's worth protecting the LA Chargers name as a registered trademark.

It's a mystery why the Chargers didn't file a trademark application before last Thursday. The move just came to light Tuesday.

Is it a market signal that they're as good as gone -- a formal announcement to follow next week? Or just a precaution?

"Well, it seems like every little nugget, little kernel, little bread crumb of news is being made out be this giant thing,” says Liam Dillon, assistant editor of NBC 7’s media partner Voice of San Diego. “We've been living through whether the Chargers are going to LA for 15 years, roughly. They're certainly closer now than they've ever been."

Closer to "pay dirt," figuratively speaking.

This all stems from a potential NFL marriage -- not exactly made in heaven-- with Rams owner Stan Kroenke, to occupy a $1.9 billion stadium in the unfashionable LA suburb of Inglewood.

But Kroenke aims to make it a fashionable "destination" with what's called "ancillary development" around the stadium that'll pack in customers besides game-day football fans.

Will he give Chargers President Dean Spanos more than just second-fiddle treatment?

The two sides are still talking to each other, with both maintaining media silence for now.

As for that LA Chargers trademark business?

"It sounds to me like they have good lawyers covering their bases in case it comes to pass,” says downtown attorney Donald Rez.

Could it also, however remotely, signal that the team is leaning hard toward Inglewood?

"No,” Rez insisted. “I think it just means they have good lawyers."

Still, couldn't they have thought of it earlier?

Either way, the trademark application won't be reviewed by a federal agency examiner until April 14-- two weeks' after the deadline for the Bolts to tell the NFL they're moving.
 

San Diego experienced an increase in violent crime reports in the first half of 2015, according to FBI crime statistics released Tuesday.

Between January and June last year, there was a 9 percent jump in violent crimes, compared to the same time period in 2014.

The rise matches a national trend, though across the U.S., the uptick in violent crime rates was smaller – 1.5 percent.

Every year, the FBI collects crime statistics from 13,000 law enforcement agencies. The categories considered violent crimes are murder, rape, aggravated assault and robbery.

“There are other local agencies that do their own crime reports, but this is the only one that’s done at the national level, regional level and local level,” said Special Agent Darrell Foxworth.

He explained all categories of violent crime saw an increase nationwide: 9 percent for rape, 6 percent for murder and 2 percent for aggravated assaults.

The figures are used to help law enforcement and inform the public.

“It’s used for a number of purposes. It gives the community and law enforcement a snap shot to say ‘OK, well, do we need to look at where our resources are dedicated?’” Foxworth said.

Locally, one type of crime was just slightly down. San Diego police documented 17 murders in the first half of 2015 compared to 19 homicides in the first half of 2014.

According to Foxworth, the increase in violent crimes was mostly centered in the aggravated assault category.

“So, the violent crime rate increased in San Diego approximately 9 percent, which was basically 254 more offenses reported to law enforcement,” Foxworth said.

He stressed the 9 percent violent crime increase amounts to only 254 more incidents.

“Just because we say we have a 9 percent increase in the violent crime rate, there again when you look at the overall population of San Diego as 1.3 million, and we’re looking at an overall increase of just 254 offenses, I don’t want people to become too excited about that,” Foxworth said.

These numbers are preliminary. When the final report comes out later this year, the FBI calculates the percentages on a per capita basis so law enforcement agencies can get a better feel for any areas that need improvement.

A robotic mannequin that helps doctors practice delivering babies could usher in a new era of health care, some doctors believe.

The technology, dubbed “Victoria,” made an appearance Tuesday at the annual meeting of the Society for Simulation in Healthcare in San Diego.

The lifelike robot is shaped like a woman and made with parts simulating a woman’s reproductive system.

Victoria can be programmed to have a normal birth, emergency caesarian section or a breech delivery. The robot simulates labor contractions and even says “My belly hurts.”

Doctors can monitor Victoria’s vital signs and fetal heart tones with real medical equipment.

And if something goes wrong, they can start again.

“You get to do everything wrong, hit the reset and learn how to do it right and you didn't have to affect anybody,” said Dr. Mario de las Cuevas with the society. “You didn't have to look over anybody's shoulder and you get practical experience in a real setting."

Organizers of the event say one third of medical errors by trainees involve obstetrics and gynecology patients, so Victoria, made by Gaumard Scientific, addresses a need to practice deliveries.
 

A sports bar honoring late San Diego Padres icon Tony Gwynn is slated to open later this year at the site of a brand-new casino in San Diego’s East County.

When Hollywood Casino Jamul-San Diego opens in mid-2016 on State Route 94, about 20 miles east of downtown San Diego, it will boast several new restaurants and lounges, including Tony Gwynn’s Sports Pub, a bar dedicated to the life and legacy of “Mr. Padre.”

The pub – a project by Jamul Indian Village and Gwynn’s wife, Alicia Gwynn – will showcase a large collection of Gwynn memorabilia, including Golden Glove and Silver Slugger awards, uniforms used at games and personal mementos from the popular Padres player.

This is the first Tony Gwynn-themed eatery or pub to open in San Diego County. Gwynn died on June 16, 2014, after losing his battle to cancer.

Alicia Gwynn says the new sports bar will give fans a chance to connect with their beloved No. 19 and relive some of the highlights of Gwynn’s long career.

“I am so excited to share Tony's legacy with Jamul Indian Village and the future visitors of Hollywood Casino," said Alicia. “Not only was Tony a great player, he was an exceptional man. It will be wonderful to have his accomplishments highlighted in East County.”

Jamul Indian Village says the three-story casino facility will also include several other dining options: an American steakhouse dubbed Final Cut Steak & Seafood; a dim sum and Cantonese eatery called Emerald Chinese Cuisine; Tres Taquerias, a Mexican restaurant specializing in tacos and burritos; and a Ruby’s Diner, serving burgers and root beer floats.

The casino will also house a Pizza Port where devotees of the San Diego fan favorite can grab a slice and a pint.

Hollywood Casino Jamul-San Diego is a nearly $400 million, three-story facility featuring approximately 1,700 slot machines and 43 live table games and a parking lot with about 1,800 spaces. Jamul Indian Village worked with Penn National Gambling, Inc., to develop the casino. Penn National will also operate the facility on the American Indian band’s six-acre reservation.

Over the years, the casino has faced much opposition from Jamul residents and homeowners.
 

A San Diego County man was arrested Tuesday in connection with the slaying of a teen girl in the parking lot of a Marina Del Rey shopping center in an apparent botched robbery.

Cameron Frazier, 21, was arrested by the FBI's Fugitive Task Force outside of his San Diego-area home in Vista, according to an LAPD statement.

Frazier is accused of shooting 17-year-old Kristine Carman outside of a Jerry’s Deli Jan. 6.

Neighbors say more than a dozen law enforcement agents staked out Frazier's home at the Shadowridge Meadows apartment off South Melrose Drive.

“I came outside to take out trash and there were FBI agents and police all over. They had lined up the whole driveway," said one woman who wanted to remain anonymous. "They were all in their tactical gear and it said FBI on the back."

Carman was in California visiting her sister for the first time from her home in Texas at the time of the shooting. Her family said she was considering a move to California.

"It was her first time visiting and she saw how beautiful it was," her father John Carman told NBC4 days after the shooting. "She had just come out of Texas for the first time. She's only 17 so she really had some high hopes."

Carman died after she was shot in the head while sitting in a car at the Villa Marina Marketplace parking lot.

Kristine was in an SUV with three other girls, including her sister, when an armed man approached their vehicle and an altercation ensued, according to LAPD.

Surveillance video from the shopping center showed a man fleeing the scene of the shooting.

Frazier will be held without bail, according to LAPD, and the case will be presented to the LA County District Attorney’s office for filing consideration.

Robert Kovacik contributed to this report.

Smart & Final is opening its first store in San Diego County this week at the site of a former Haggen store.

The chain plans 10 more new locations across San Diego. In total, there will be 27 Smart & Final stores in the county.

On Tuesday, the store had a grand opening at its Carlsbad location in the 900 block of Carlsbad Village Drive. The store is more than 25,000 square feet and will offer produce, organic food products and deli and meat sections.

In addition, 50 new jobs will be available as part of the store’s opening.

Smart & Final acquired a number of Haggen stores after the latter grocery chain filed for bankruptcy last year and announced it was departing from California.

Smart & Final is also opening up in Chula Vista on East H Street, Coronado on B Avenue, El Cajon on Camino Canada and Fletcher Parkway, La Mesa on Avocado Avenue, Tierrasanta on Tierrasanta Boulevard, Mira Mesa on Westview Parkway, San Diego on University Avenue, Santee on Magnolia Avenue and San Ysidro on W. San Ysidro Boulevard.

Company officials say they will have all 11 stores opened in San Diego by June 2016.

A shopper on Tuesday told NBC 7 she liked the selection at Smart & Final and that it seemed cheaper than Haggen.

“I heard that (Haggen) was a pricey store, so I avoided it,” Kathy Blair said. “When it was Albertsons prior to that, I had been here quite a few times.”

A U.S. Navy corpsman accused of killing a toddler in Alpine will be held without bail, a San Diego Superior Court judge ordered Tuesday.

During a video arraignment, Brett Brown, 29, pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and assault on a child with force likely causing death. He is accused of killing 19-month-old Lucas Orlando, who died from multiple skull fractures, the medical examiner’s office determined.

Lucas also had a broken arm and leg, Deputy District Attorney Chantal de Mauregne revealed in court.

She told the judge Brown would occasionally care for Lucas, his girlfriend’s son. The prosecutor said "there had been injuries to the toddler over some time," but she would not say if Lucas lived in constant abuse or if his mother knew about it. Brown has two children of his own.

"When it's a child of any age, but especially a child under five years old, the vulnerability aspect is astronomical, especially considering they have no way of protecting themselves at all," said de Mauregne.

On Jan. 11, sheriff’s deputies responded to the Alpine Oaks condominium complex on Arnold Way, where they were told Lucas had fallen.

Deputies immediately started performing CPR on the boy before paramedics arrived to take him to the hospital. He died two days later.

The medical examiner later determined Lucas’ cause of death was blunt force trauma, and the manner of his death was a homicide.

Brown was arrested on Jan. 14. A Navy spokesperson told NBC 7 Brown is a corpsman attached to the Naval Medical Center San Diego.

His next court appearance is scheduled for Feb. 29.
 

Former vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin on Tuesday endorsed Donald Trump for president in 2016, calling him a "master of the art of the deal" who isn't beholden to business interests in Washington.

"This is going to be so much fun. Are you ready to make America great again?" said Palin, who also served as governor of Alaska, at a rally in Iowa Tuesday night.

The endorsement comes after a day of swirling rumors that she was going to endorse the billionaire real estate mogul, stoking the rumors by sharing her daughter's own endorsement of Trump on social media.

The rumors were so pervasive that Twitter users were on Tuesday scouring flight information between Palin's home state of Alaska and the key primary battleground of Iowa.

Palin spoke for about 20 minutes, touting Trump's ability to lead the country, and its military, and asked the crowd to "stump for Trump." She railed as much against the Republican establishment than Democrats in a speech that, more than anything, decried America's political system.

"(Trump) builds things, he builds big things, things that touch the sky, big infrastructure that puts people to work," Palin said. "He doesn't get his power, his high, off the opium of the people's money, like a lot of dopes in Washington do."

Trump embraced Palin after she finished her speech, saying "This is a woman that, from day one, I said if I ever do this, I have to get her support."

Her endorsement of Trump was first reported by The New York Times.

The announcement was one of several wins for Trump on Tuesday, who is jockeying for position with Sen. Ted Cruz ahead of the Iowa caucuses. Besides the Palin endorsements, the state's governor said a Cruz win at the Feb. 1 caucus "would be very damaging to the state."

Palin's daughter Bristol, 25, said she hopes her mom will endorse Trump for president, she wrote in a blog post on Patheos.com, a religious discussion site. Her mother, the former governor of Alaska and the Republican 2008 vice-presidential candidate, shared her daughter’s post on her Twitter and Facebook.

Years removed from her campaign, Palin still commands the respect of a sizable chunk of the Republican base, and her endorsement may be boost Trump's conservative bona fides.

Palin has spoken glowingly of Trump in the past, saying in a July opinion column that he "tapped into America’s great populist tradition by speaking to concerns of working class voters.”

Earlier Tuesday, when Trump grabbed the endorsement of John Wayne’s daughter, he alluded to another, major endorsement that would come later on Tuesday.

"I think you'll be impressed with the endorsement we get later on," he said, referring to a "tremendous" campaign event. Reporters on the campaign trail were already wondering if Palin was about to offer Trump her support.

The endorsement from the younger Palin came after Rick Tyler, spokesman for Ted Cruz’s campaign, said endorsing Trump would be “a blow” to the former vice presidential candidate. Tyler argued that a Trump endorsement is inconsistent with Palin's conservatism.

Bristol Palin deemed this a “slam” against her mom. Though she said she likes Cruz, her blog post was entitled, "Is THIS Why People Don't Like Ted Cruz?"

“After hearing what Cruz is now saying about my mom, in a negative knee-jerk reaction, makes me hope my mom does endorse Trump,” Bristol Palin wrote.

Her mother, she wrote, was a supporter of Cruz in his senate campaign, and Cruz has spoken positively about Palin before. But the younger Palin has decided that Trump's message of American strength is what the country needs.

"We need someone who has a vision for economic prosperity, who won’t let us get kicked around in the world, and who will fight for our future," Palin said.

In an effort to diffuse the tension over being bashed in the post, Cruz responded to the situation via Twitter. The Texas Republican said he loves Sarah Palin.

"Without her support, I wouldn't be in the Senate," Cruz wrote. "Regardless of what she does in 2016, I will always be a big fan."

A man found dead inside his Flinn Springs home was bludgeoned to death while lying in a hospital bed, prosecutors said in court Tuesday.

Bren Fisher, 64, was found dead Jan. 7 in his home on Bridon Road, north of Interstate 8 near the Harbison Canyon/ Dunbar Lane exit. The medical examiner said Fisher died of blunt force trauma that resulted in a skull fracture among other injuries.

Rory Patrick Fay, 31, was arrested one week later on allegations of murder.

When facing an El Cajon judge Tuesday, Fay pleaded not guilty.

Prosecutor Andrew Aguilar said Fisher was asleep in a hospital bed when he was bludgeoned to death. Fisher had recently begun using the hospital bed because of illness, Aguilar said. 

Also, items stolen from Fisher's home allegedly led police to Fay.

Fay and Fisher lived in the same neighborhood but prosecutors have not released a motive in the killing.

Fay was convicted in 2013 for two years for possession of a firearm while in possession of drugs. The county's fugitive task force arrested him on a warrant related to his parole.

Fay was held on $1 million bail. His next court appearance was slated for January 29.

One of the victim’s friends told NBC 7 Fisher was a wonderful man who enjoyed playing guitar. Neighbors said he would often wave to them as he drove by in his truck in the rural area.

Anyone with information can call investigators at (858) 974-2321 or after hours at (858) 565-5200.

A San Diego man who sent explicit material to an 11-year-old girl featured on the reality TV show "Dance Moms" was sentenced Tuesday to three years in prison.

Phoenix Sundown, 37, pleaded guilty to sending harmful material to a minor with intent of seduction and to a charge of animal cruelty.

The animal cruelty charge was connected to a YouTube video showing Sundown lighting a mouse on fire.

When Judge Herbert J. Exarhos asked Sundown if there was anything he'd like to say before sentencing, the defendant made several statements unrelated to the case.

"Vote Hillary Clinton for President," the defendant said adding that he felt his experience with Paris Jackson "made all this worth it."

Sundown has a tattoo on his neck of Jojo Siwa, a cast member of the Lifetime show featuring the Pittsburgh-based dance school. Her nickname is "JoJo with a Bow Bow" for her fondness of hair bows and shiny accessories.

State and federal investigations are underway into a deadly bus crash that killed two women Tuesday in the San Francisco Bay Area and tied up traffic on a busy highway until late in the evening.

National Transportation Safety Board investigator Jennifer Morrison told reporters Wednesday a camera was recovered from the Greyhound bus that flipped onto its side during the rainy morning commute. She said the agency hasn't viewed the video yet.

The two women killed — identified Wednesday by the Santa Clara County Coroner as 51-year-old Fely Olivera, of San Francisco, and 75-year-old Maria De Jesus Ortiz Velasquez, of Salinas — were thrown from the windows of the bus.

Olivera's son, Antonio Olivera, said his mother was returning home to San Francisco from Los Angeles, where she had visited his two brothers. He said his mother had immigrated to California from the Philippines in September and that she had made that trip at least three times before.

"I thought she would die from getting sick and not from being ejected from a bus," said Olivera, 25. "I haven't seen her body. I'm still hoping it's a different person." Other passengers described a harrowing experience.

As the two funerals are being planned, the California Highway Patrol's Coastal Division Multi-Disciplinary Accident Investigation Team is beginning to lead the investigation into the fatal crash. At the same time, the NTSB is conducting a parallel investigation.

Morrison said investigators hope to interview the driver, who reported being "fatigued" before the crash.

Morrison declined to discuss possible causes of the wreck, saying she and seven other investigators arrived late Tuesday and have just started their inquiry. She says they'll examine the 2014 MCI motor coach for mechanical and structural defects while looking into road conditions and the driver's actions before the crash.

Federal data show that officials inspected 1,882 Greyhound vehicles and 3,065 drivers over the past two years and that Greyhound buses were involved in six deadly accidents during that period. The deadly accidents do not include Tuesday's accident in San Jose.

Authorities said bus driver Gary Bonslater, 58, of Victorville, lost control of his rig around 6:30 a.m. Tuesday on U.S. Highway 101 at the state Route 85 connector in South San Jose. Nine of the 20 people on board, including Bonslater, were taken to the hospital. By Wednesday, all the patients had been released from three hospitals, except for one person, listed in good condition at Regional Medical Center of San Jose, officials said.

The bus was towed to a yard in Gilroy. Investigators said they would be reviewing the on-board surveillance video in an effort to determine the cause of the crash.

Bonslater told the CHP he had not fallen asleep, but stopped for coffee before the crash in hopes it would make him more alert, officials said. Until Tuesday, he had a clean driving record. 

"We do apologize," Greyhound spokeswoman Lanesha Gipson said. "Safety is the cornerstone of our business."

While Gipson wouldn't speculate on whether the bus driver had been fatigued, she did say Greyhound requires that drivers get "nine hours of rest" after each 10-hour shift. 

Larry Hanley, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union, which represents Greyhound bus drivers, told NBC Bay Area he did not have firsthand knowledge of the accident early Tuesday morning. Hanley did say that the union has been pushing Congress to include bus drivers in the Fair Labor Standards Act.

On average, inter-city bus drivers earn about $13 an hour. They can work 70 hours a week and they get overtime pay past 40 hours, according to the union. Every 10 hours, they must take a break.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, fatigue has contributed to about 3 percent of all fatal crashes nationwide since 2005. Thirteen percent of all big rig and bus crashes were caused by driver fatigue in 2006 and 2007.

Lengthy shifts behind the wheel were also one of 2014's top violations for truckers and bus drivers, federal officials found. Most drivers have multiple jobs and are often fatigued, Hanley said.

"There’s a crisis in America," Hanley said. "The bus industry is forcing drivers to work too many hours to make a living wage."

Friends and family of anyone who was on Greyhound bus No. 6876 can call 1-800-972-4583 to check passengers' status.

NBC Bay Area's Terry McSweeney, Kristofer Noceda, Marianne Favro, Michelle Roberts, Cheryl Hurd, Rhea Mahbubani and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

Oil prices have plunged over the last year and a half, a result of a slow-down in the global economy and ramped-up production.

U.S. domestic production has nearly doubled since 2008, forcing producers elsewhere to drop prices. Oil-producing countries, among them Nigeria and Brazil, are facing economic strains, Saudi Arabia and other gulf countries are resisting calls to cut production and Iran, with the completion of the nuclear agreement, is re-entering the market.

Meanwhile in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday, the head of the International Energy Agency warned that the drop in prices threatens efforts to improve energy efficiency and expand renewable energy plants, the Associated Press reported.

Countries agreed in December to limit the rise in global temperatures, but the incentives are disappearing as fossil fuels become cheaper, Fatih Birol said.

"For renewables, life will not be easy,” Birol said.

There are different measures of oil prices, depending on where it is produced. Here is a chart of prices from OPEC, or the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, that shows the slide. 

A class-action lawsuit filed in federal court Tuesday accuses Chipotle of trying to cover up a norovirus outbreak that sickened at least 234 people who ate at the Mexican fast food restaurant in Simi Valley, California.

The lawsuit, which seeks a trial by jury and unspecified damages, was filed Tuesday on behalf of six Grace Bretheren School students and one parent who fell ill after eating at Chipotle's Simi Valley location in August.

According to the lawsuit, a kitchen manager suffered gastorintestinal symptoms while at work Aug. 18 but allegedly continued handling and preparing food until he saw a doctor Aug. 20 and was diagnosed with norovirus.

That day, Chipotle shuttered its Simi Valley restaurant and enacted its "Norwalk Protocol," a procedure initiated when at least two customers complain of foodborne illness symptoms. The restaurant's corporate office, however, did not immediately contact health officials or customers, the lawsuit alleges.

"Chipotle chose instead to try and conceal all evidence of the outbreak by disposing of all food items, bleaching all cooking and food handling surfaces and replacing its sick employees with replacement employees from other restaurants before notifying county health officials of the outbreak," the suit claims.

The manager of the Ventura County Environmental Health Division's food safety program is quoted as saying authorities "didn't have the opportunity to sample food or do some of the things we normally do to investigate a foodborne illness outbreak."

The lawsuit alleges Chipotle tried to cover up the outbreak because it was also dealing with "another public relations disaster" linked to a foodborne illness outbreak in Minnesota and "wanted to protect its stock price from plummeting by putting corporate profits ahead of public health and safety."

Chipotle spokesperson Chris Arnold declined to comment on the lawsuit Wednesday morning, saying in an email to NBC, "As a matter of policy, we do not discuss details surrounding pending legal actions."

Arnold added, however, that Chipotle "took all appropriate actions when this incident began, including reporting it to health officials in Ventura County." The lawsuit claims Chipotle waited to report the outbreak.

The chain's founder and CEO, Steve Ells, told the "Today" show last month he was "deeply sorry" for outbreaks of norovirus and E. coli that have plagued customers around the country over the past several months. He vowed to make Chipotle "the safest restaurant to eat at."

Ells said in a statement Tuesday the chain has "been implementing an enhanced food safety plan that will establish Chipotle as an industry leader in food safety." He said much of the plan is already in place, adding that food suppliers are also subject to rigorous, "unprecedented" safety standards.

Last year's norovirus in Simi Valley came on the heels of a salmonella outbreak linked to tomatoes in Minnesota. E. coli connected to Chipotle sickened dozens of people in nine states last November, and five more cases were reported in December. Also last month, 141 college students contracted norovirus at a Chipotle restaurant in Boston, prompting a Massachusetts woman to sue on behalf of her son, who fell ill.

Federal officials recently launched a criminal investigation into the restaurant chain and Chipotle was subpoenaed shortly after.

The company has announced plans to launch a new marketing campaign in February and will close restaurants nationwide for three hours Feb. 8 to brief employees on food safety.