An estimated 50,000 people gathered for a candlelight vigil Sunday night to remember the 49 people killed in Orlando, Florida, last week, event organizers said, NBC News reported. 

Throngs of people packed onto the banks of Lake Eola, near downtown Orlando, holding signs with messages like "Love always conquers hate" and "Free hugs."

It was a staggering display of support punctuated by a moment of silence, a rainbow and tens of thousands of attendees, each holding his or her own lighted candle.

"Wow, Orlando," Mayor Buddy Dyer told the crowd, The Orlando Sentinel reported. "You're showing your love, your compassion, your unity."

Republicans who do not support Donald Trump as their presidential candidate said that "intimidation" tactics were being used by party leaders against them to prevent any subversion at the party's convention next month, NBC News reported.

A North Carolina delegate said the delegates in her state "are very much under direct threat from our state with a $10,000 fine," adding that she had been "threatened" by the state GOP "vice-president" over Facebook and asked about the possibility of a legal fund being established to defend them.

"I think that that's definitely going to affect very many people who are not going to be willing to step up in front of the committeemen" and contest votes for Trump at the convention, she said.

She also noted that delegates in Arizona are required to sign a pledge committing to vote for Trump or they'll be barred from the convention.

Authorities have released 911 calls from the day an alligator dragged a 2-year-old boy into a lake at a Disney resort in Orlando, Florida.

Lane Graves was pulled into the lake while standing nearby with his father, who tried unsuccessfully to rescue the child. The boy's body was found nearly a day later following a massive search of the area.

Officials released two 911 calls Monday morning, hours before a vigil service was set to be held in Graves' home state of Nebraska.

In the first call, a dispatcher answers and is met with silence. In the second, a female bystander tells the dispatcher to send a crew to the Grand Floridian, saying someone had drowned in the lake. The woman, who was calling from a nearby pool, said she couldn't see much.

An autopsy showed the boy died from drowning and traumatic injuries. 

The beach at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa is across a lake from the Magic Kingdom. It had "no swimming" signs but no warning about alligators. The company added alligator warning signs on Friday.

The vigil for Graves will take place at 3 p.m. Monday at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Omaha. A funeral will be held at the church Tuesday morning.

It took more than two months, but a Temecula woman has claimed a winning Mega Millions ticket worth $802,153 sold at a Poway gas station in March.

Maureen Wilson had forgotten about the ticket she bought at the Arco AM/PM in Poway on March 1 until she stopped at the very same gas station on May 12.

She noticed the ticket in her wallet and had the store clerk check. Her ticket matched five of the six numbers, according to a news release from the California Lottery.

If she had matched all six numbers, she would had won $130 million.

The 58-year-old woman also said she decided on playing the Mega Millions by mere happenstance. She gave the clerk a dollar and asked him to choose the lottery game.

“I don’t have any luck, so I figure maybe the person choosing (the game) may have the luck,” Wilson said, according to the lottery’s news release.

Wilson, a quality engineer, said she’s out of a job whenever her short-term contract work expires.

She said that besides a trip to Wimbledon, the majority of the money will go into savings.

National City Police have located a stolen car with two kids inside. 

The incident began at 6:20 a.m. Monday on the 10 block of Osborn Street in National City when a witness at the Velero gas station said he suddenly heard a man yelling "stop the car...my kids are in there!"

A father driving a Nissan Rogue left the car running with his two kids in the back as he ran inside to grab an energy drink, the witness said. 

He came back outside to see a woman stealing his car, National City Police said. 

The witness said he called 911 and handed the phone to the father, who told dispatch what happened. 

National Police found the car with the children safely inside shortly after.

It is unclear if the suspect, later identified as 23-year-old Alexic Mattier, and victim knew each other. 

Mattier was booked into Las Colinas Detention Facility on kidnapping and auto theft charges. 

No other information was immediately available.

Temperatures in the Southwest are expected to reach 120 to 125 degrees this week in states already struggling with multiple wildfires that have scorched tens of thousands of acres, NBC News reported.

Excessive heat warnings and heat advisories were in effect across southern California, Nevada and Arizona, affecting some 25 million Americans, the National Weather Service reported.

So far four people have died in heat-related deaths in Arizona, and a fifth was reported missing over the weekend.

It was hot enough in Arizona to fry eggs on the sidewalk, the Arizona Republic reported.

The deadly heat was also hastening separate blazes across the region. A fire in Arizona had consumed 12,140 acres by Sunday night, the United States Forest Service's information service reported. While a 7,890-acre fire in Santa Barbara, California, was 51 percent contained on Sunday night, officials said.

A new fire in San Gabriel, Calif., on Monday rapidly grew from 5 to 300 acres.

Authorities are working to save a patient trapped following a car crash in Stockton, San Diego Fire-Rescue Department (SDFD) officials confirmed. 

The crash happened at approximately 1:20 p.m. Monday at 32nd Street and G Street, fire officials said. 

Authorities are working to remove the patient. The extent of the injuries is unclear. 

Police are on scene as well. 

No other information was immediately available.

Check back for updates on this breaking news story. 

Crews are fighting a 1-acre brush fire in Spring Valley.

The fire was reported at about 2:40 p.m. Monday in a canyon in the area of Barcelona and Ledgeside streets.

By 3 p.m., the fire was held to 1 acre, officials said.

Officials said the fire is burning with a slow rate of spread, though there is heavy fuel in the area.

No evacuations or injuries have been reported. No word yet on a cause.

No other information was immediately available.

Check back for updates on this breaking news story. 

A man with a gun snuck into a Carlsbad apartment just before 5 a.m. on Monday morning, demanding cash and other valuables, according to the Carlsbad Police Department.

Police say they received an emergency call at 4:58 a.m. from a man living in an apartment in the 2600 block of Jefferson Street who was woken up by an intruder. The caller said that the suspect climbed into his living room after removing a window screen.

After confronting the intruder, the man pulled out a gun and started asking for cash and cell phones. He then exited through the front door after being given $25.

Officers arrived on the scene and searched for the suspect with help from a police tracking dog, but were unable to find him.

The suspect is described as a white male in his 20s, about 6 feet tall and 180 pounds.

Police say the investigation is still ongoing and that anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to call the Carlsbad Police Department.

Evacuations were ordered Monday afternoon as firefighters battled two brush fires burning in the Angeles National Forest above Azusa and Duarte, amid a record-setting heat wave, fire officials said.

The first fire erupted around 11:15 a.m. on Highway 39 near the Morris Reservoir dam north of Azusa, according to the U.S. Forest Service. The fire is believed to have been started by a vehicle that went off the road.

The blaze, dubbed the Reservoir Fire, was first reported at 5 acres and rapidly spread to 1,200 acres, the Los Angeles County Fire Department said. No structures were threatened. 

Mandatory evacuations were ordered for residents in the Mountain Cove and Rainbow Ranch neighborhoods along Highway 39 in Azusa, according to the Azusa Police Department. Voluntary evacuations were recommended for the Mirador and Crystal Canyon neighborhoods. 

The second fire broke out about four miles away, near Opal Canyon and Brookridge roads, bordering a neighborhood on the foothills near Duarte. Fire officials said the so-called Fish Fire had scorched more than 2,000 acres and was moving north, away from homes. 

Fire crews were attacking the flames by air and ground. 

The fires erupted on the hottest day of a Southern California heat wave, as red flag warnings were in effect in the region through Tuesday.

An evacuation shelter was set up at 1600 Huntington Drive in Duarte. Police said water and meals would be available, and service animals were welcome. Pet owners can take their small animals to Wonder Dog Ranch at 220 Taylor St. in Monrovia.

Large animals, such as horses, should be taken to the Pomona Fairplex at 1101 W. McKinley Ave, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

A motorcycle rider was killed late Sunday afternoon on State Route 78 in unincorporated San Diego County after being hit by another motorcycle rider traveling the opposite direction.

According to the California Highway Patrol, the deceased rider was traveling West on SR-78 past Spring View Road in a Harley Davidson motorcycle at about 4:50 p.m. when he mishandled a turn and was thrown into oncoming traffic. An eastbound rider on a Kawasaki motorcycle was unable to swerve out of the way and hit the fallen rider.

Emergency responders made it to the scene in time to provide medical attention to the rider of the Harley Davidson, but the 37-year-old man from Carlsbad died at the scene.

The rider of the Kawasaki, a 43-year-old man from San Diego, was taken to Palomar Hospital and treated for minor injuries.

CHP is still investigating the accident, but says that drugs or alcohol do not appear to be a factor. Both riders were wearing helmets.

NBC 7 spoke with some residents who left their homes while crews continue to battle the fast-moving Border Fire on Monday.

The fire began Sunday morning and had grown to 1,900 acres by Monday.

Mandatory evacuation orders issued Sunday afternoon for the City of Potrero still stand.

Cal Fire officials issued additional evacuations for Forest Gate, Star Ranch, Cowboy Ranch, Dog Patch and Canyon City due to extreme fire behavior and activity. The communities are east of Potrero and west of Campo.

Evacuee Mary Hall told NBC 7 she was working at the library when Border Patrol told her to evacuate.

“As we were leaving Potrero, directly across the library we could see the flames starting to come over that hill,” Hall said. “I didn't think it could get over to my house but when I saw those flames coming over that hill...I mean they could go anywhere from there.”

Another resident said he spent six days at an evacuation center in 2007 during a wildfire but he hopes it wouldn’t be as long this time.

“As we came out of Potrero, there was fire on both sides of the road. So I guess it was a good thing we got out when we did,” Andy Lindsay said.

Some people left their homes to get away from the smoke but had not evacuated Monday.

“The smoke is what gets to you,” Sid Lehman said. He told NBC 7 they loaded up their vehicles and left Monday morning when the wind from the fire picked up.

He said he will have a lot of cleanup to do when they can get back but he’s hoping his house will be okay.

“We have our toiletries, our medications, family photos,” said Pat Lehman. “It’s just enough to keep us through in case they kick us out for a while.”

“We’re not evacuating. We’re just coming down here to get out of the smoke. The fire is on the other side of the fence,” resident Duane Faulhaber said.

But Faulhaber said it's not about saving his propery or the money.

"Lives [are] what's important," he said.

There is an advisory evacuation in place for Lake Morena. Officials have also issued an evacuation advisory near Campo and Buckman Springs.

Evacuating residents can make their way to Golden Acorn Casino at 1800 Golden Acorn Way. The spot has been set up as a temporary evacuation point. It is not a shelter. An evacuation advisory is voluntary.

San Diegans may soon be in line to vote on a ballot measure that would impose sales taxes on the city's marijuana businesses -- if state voters, in November, legalize "recreational" pot use.

City Council members who are advancing the idea toward the November election say it's time San Diego got "ahead of the game".

Right now, it's behind 16 California cities in charging sales taxes on pot outlets, to offset the cost of regulatory and enforcement actions.

“While I'm not holding my breath for the passage of an adult marijuana-use law in the state of California, it is a possibility. So how are we going to address these issues?"

This morning the City Council's Rules Committee endorsed a measure that would provide for an eight to 15 percent tax rate on recreational marijuana sales. 

But its sponsor, Mark Kersey, said the full Council could drop the minimum levy to as low as 1 percent for starters and phase in higher rates. 

San Jose is recouping about $3 million a year from its pot dispensaries. 

But marijuana-use critics say taxation sends the wrong message. 

"Marijuana is a big business with a lot of money to be made by other people,” said Carol Green. “Mostly -- I believe -- at the expense of our children."

While Kersey's proposal would exempt sales tax for "medical marijuana" patients, owners of the city's 14 legal "medicinal" outlets warned that even a rates as low as six percent could prompt more black-market traffic which would put them at economic risk.

“This proposal is a double-edged sword,” said Phil Rath, representing the United Medical Marijuana Coalition – owners of the city’s legally approved medicinal outlets. 

And the Committee heard other cautionary notes. 

“My understanding of the Adult Use of Marijuana Act is it has something in there that contemplates a prohibition on medical marijuana taxes, and contemplates some kind of a tax recoupment system," said attorney and medical marijuana patient Mara Felsen. "And I don't imagine that will be of no cost to the city.” 

For 15 years, the state has been taxing sales at "legal" medicinal pot shops -- the rate in San Diego is eight percent. 

The full Council will review the measure and suggested refinements next month, facing an August 12th deadline to have a proposition ready for the general election.

The Southern California grocery strike of 2003/2004 was long and brutal.  It lasted 141 days and opened the door for non-union grocery stores to steal business away from Ralphs, Vons and Albertsons.

Now the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) is voting on authorizing a strike once again.

"We have to go through these strike votes for the employees to negotiate seriously," said the UFCW Local 135 president Mickey Kasparian.

This is the fourth union contract since the epic strike. Since that strike, there's been a shift in shopping demand, stores like Trader Joe's, Walmart & Target have stolen away a large percentage of shoppers.

On top of that, stores like Aldi, Winco, Grocery Outlet and Smart & Final have either moved into town or expanded.

Still, grocery clerk and long time union member Andrea Oldakowski says they can't sit back and take cuts to their existing contract.

"I'm a native San Diego so I know the prices are only going to go up," said Oldakowski. "The cost of living is going to go up and our wages need to improve."

Carlos Illingworth with Vons/Albertons said by email: "We remain committed to negotiating a contract that is fair to all parties, including our employees, and will continue to work to achieve that."

"A strike authorization vote is premature and only serves to cause concern for associates and customers," said Kendra Doyel with Ralphs. "We encourage union leadership to return to the table on our agreed upon upcoming dates and work out an agreement that is good for our associates and allows us to remain competitive in the market.”

"Dangerously hot" temperatures" on Monday prompted energy officials to issue a flex alert across Southern California. 

"We are experiencing this abnormal heat, because we are under a strong dome of high pressure. It is coinciding with the summer solstice, which means the sun is directly overhead. Those two, combined, have made a dangerous recipe for heat," said NBC 7 Meteorologist Jodi Kodesh.

The hot temperatures caused electricity supplies to tighten in Southern California.

The state agency that regulates the power supply says SoCal residents should implement "flex alert" procedures. The Independent System Operator called the alert for Monday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

A flex alert calls for voluntary conservation measures, such as turning off unnecessary lights, postponing use of major appliances and keeping thermostats at 78 degrees and higher.

By Monday afternoon, a number of heat records had been shattered. El Cajon saw a high temperature of 105, smoking the previous record of 94. Ramona hit 108 degrees, surpassing the former record of 106.

And Borrego Springs saw a sizzling 118 degrees.

The National Weather Service (NWS) says an excessive heat watch will be in effect for parts of San Diego County, including valleys, mountains and deserts, from Sunday morning through next Thursday evening.

Communities that will feel the heat the most include: El Cajon; Santee; La Mesa; Poway; Pine Valley; Julian; Escondido; San Marcos; Lake Arrowhead; Big Bear.

So how did locals beat the heat? At the El Cajon kickboxing and MMA club Undisputed, workers kept cool by blasting industrial fans.

"Because we are green conscience, we put some industrial fans behind us, creating a wind tunnel, and it's really been helping with cost savings along with less utilization of electricity," said Stuart Sun of Undisputed Gym.

By Tuesday, San Diegans may see some relief. 

"The area of high pressure over the southeast will begin to break down Tuesday, but even then, we’ll stay warmer than normal all week," Bledsoe said.

The warm weather could cause heat-related illness, especially in those partaking in strenuous outdoor activity. If you plan on spending time outside, reschedule activities to early morning or evening and wear loose fitting clothing. Also, drink plenty of water.

 For a list of Cool Zones in San Diego County where you can go to beat the heat, click here.

Officials have issued additional evacuations for several communities near the Border Fire as triple degree heat fuels the fast-moving 1,900-acre fire quickly tearing through the area around Potrero, east of San Diego near the U.S.-Mexico border. 

Crews have been working overnight to contain the fire, which spread from three acres at noon to 1,500 acres in a matter of hours Sunday. Monday morning, Cal Fire officials said the wildland fire had burned through 2.94 square miles, or 1,900 acres, and was five percent contained.

Mandatory evacuation orders for the City of Potrero still stand. Cal Fire officials issued additional evacuations for Forest Gate, Star Ranch, Cowboy Ranch, Dog Patch and Canyon City due to extreme fire behavior and activity. The communities are east of Potrero and west of Campo. 

There is an advisory evacuation in place for Lake Morena. Officials have also issued an evacuation advisory near Campo and Buckman Springs due to the Border Fire. Evacuating residents can make their way to Golden Acorn Casino at 1800 Golden Acorn Way. The spot has been set up as a temporary evacuation point. It is not a shelter. An evacuation advisory is voluntary. 

Residents are encouraged to evacuate to Buckman Springs Rest Area at Buckman Springs Road and Interstate 8.

A mandatory evacuation order was issued for the city early Sunday afternoon. The city of Potrero has a total population of 693 people in 207 units, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2014 American Community Survey.

Homes along Highway 94 between Emory Road and Plaskon Road were also evacuated. Highway 94 is closed from Highway 188 to Potrero Valley Road. It is unclear when the road will be open again. 

Mountain Health, the only community clinic in Campo and the Mountain Empire Region, has opened up their community center in Campo for displaced residents. The center is located at 31115 CA-94 in Campo. 

Residents in need of emergency assistance evacuation should call 9-1-1.

Evacuees from other temporary evacuation shelters were being directed to Campo Elementary School at 1654 Buckman Springs Road, which was open overnight and will be open again Monday night. 

Additional temporary evacuation points were set up at the Campo Community Center, at 300 Sheridan Road and Dulzura Community Center at 16985 State Route 94.

The Red Cross has set up a shelter at Campo Elementary School, located at 1654 Buckman Springs Road in Campo. Forty four people stayed at the shelter overnight, SDSO officials reported.

Residents looking to cool off near the fire can go to the Campo-Morena Village Library, open today from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is located at 31356 Highway 94 in Campo. The Potrero Library is closed Monday due to the fire. Find a complete list of cool zones here.

As of 8 a.m., there were still big flames burning on the east portion of the fire. 

Four outbuildings have been destroyed, but no homes have been damaged as of Sunday night. One firefighter suffered heat-related injuries while working in triple degree heat, but is expected to be okay. Another firefighter suffered heat-related injuries and another suffered a knee injury.

Monday, 40 engines and 15 to 20 hand crews will assist in the fight against the fire, which moved quickly over the rugged and steep terrain near Potrero, 45 miles east of San Diego.

San Diego Sheriff's officials (SDSO) said 48 of their deputies are assisting with security patrols and traffic controls in the evacuated and fire areas. Two ASTREA Bell 205 fire-rescue helicopters are making water drops; each copter has a 375-gallon belly tank. 

Cal Fire officials said the biggest challenge Monday will be the heat and making sure crews stay safe.

Schools in the Mountain Empire Unified School District will be closed Monday, the district announced.

The fire broke out Sunday morning around 11:30 a.m. near Highway 94 and Highway 188, north of Tecate, Mexico, and west of Campo. 

At first, Cal Fire crews reported the fire at 3 to 5 acres with a slow rate of spread, not threatening any structures. The fire jumped Highway 94 in a matter of hours and continued rapidly spreading from there. 

"As we came out of Potrero, there was fire on both sides of the road, so I guess it was a good thing we got out when we did," evacuee Andy Lindsay said at the evacuation location on Sheridan.

Lindsay spent six days in an evacuation center during the Harris Fire in 2007. In 2007, the Harris Fire burned more than 90,000 acres in the same area, killing one person and badly burning another. The fire also destroyed 253 homes. 

"Hopefully we won't be here for five or six days like we were last time," he said.

Sunday night the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help ensure the availability of vital resources to suppress the fire. 

The FMAG also enables local, state and tribal agencies to recover eligible costs.

Record-breaking heat across San Diego County is expected to continue Monday as a heat wave passes through Southern California. NBC 7 Meteorologist Jodi Kodesh forecasts valleys in the low 100s, mountains in the upper 90s and deserts with highs at 119. 

The National Weather Service says an excessive heat watch will be in effect for parts of San Diego County and Imperial County, including valleys, mountains and deserts, from Sunday morning through next Thursday evening.

Communities that will feel the heat the most include: El Cajon, Santee, La Mesa, Poway, Pine Valley, Julian, Escondido, San Marcos, Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear.

If you have photos or videos of the fire, please send them to isee@nbcsandiego.com.

The National Frozen Food Corporation is recalling frozen green peas and frozen mixed vegetables after the company's tests revealed a potential listeria contamination, the company announced. 

The recalled items include frozen mixed vegetables and peas packaged by Bountiful Harvest, First Street, Great Value, Live Smart, Market Pantry and Sprout.  

The products being recalled were distributed in retail stores nationwide between Sept. 2, 2015 and June 2, 2016. The recalled items can be identified by the date codes printed on the back of the retail sized bag or the side of the master case. Click here for a full list of products being recalled. 

There have been no reported illnesses attributed to the recalled items, according to the National Frozen Food Corp. 

Following the cooking instructions on products can reduce infection risk, the company said. The elderly, children, pregnant women and those who suffer from weakened immune systems are the most susceptible to listeria. People who contract it usually show signs of a fever, muscle aches, nausea and diarrhea. Infection is liable to spread into areas of the gastrointestinal tract and the nervous system, and some infections can cause death.

Consumers who purchased products affected by the recall should not consume them. They may return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Consumers can also contact the company at 1-800-253-8269 Monday – Friday 8.am to 5 p.m (PT).

Hundreds of protesters were expected to descend on Times Square Tuesday as presumed Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump met with Christian leaders at a midtown hotel.

Trump and former GOP presidential candidate Ben Carson led a discussion with hundreds of evangelical leaders at the Marriott Marquis on Tuesday morning as Trump works to win their support in November.

My Faith Votes and United in Purpose are organizing the "Conversation About America’s Future." In a press release, the groups said the event aims to help Christian leaders "better understand [Trump] as a person, his position on important issues, and his vision for America’s future." They said it will also help Trump "better appreciate matters of importance to the faith community."

Several groups announced plans to organize protests in midtown to coincide with the event. They said they expected hundreds of protesters to turn out. The exact turnout numbers weren't immediately clear.

PICO Action Fund and Faith in Public Life said they were teaming up to hold a "Faith Over Fear Prayer Vigil" outside the Marquis at 9 a.m. Bend the Arc Jewish Action said it was going to hold a vigil outside Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue, then marching to the hotel and protesting outside. 

The groups, which include Christian, Muslim and Jewish activists, said they’re protesting the GOP candidate’s "hateful narratives" and "terrifying anti-Muslim, anti-immigrant, anti-woman and violent agenda."

Trump’s meeting with religious leaders comes a day after he fired campaign manager Corey Lewandowski in a dramatic shake-up designed to calm panicked Republican leaders.

Lewandowski’s approach of "Let Trump be Trump" fueled the billionaire businessman’s unlikely rise in politics, but has also led to a souring relationship with the Republican National Committee, donors and GOP officials in recent days.

Anyone brave enough to plunge down a glass slide 70 stories in the air will get their chance this Saturday when an observation deck off the side of the West Coast's tallest building opens to the public.

The 45-foot slide transports riders from the 70th floor of the U.S. Bank Tower at 633 West Fifth Street in downtown Los Angeles to an open-air observation deck on the 69th floor of the building.

Made of clear glass 1 1/4-inch thick, the slide was airlifted onto the tower in March. The public opening of both slide and deck will be commemorated by an all-day block party on Saturday.

Individual tickets to the deck and slide range from $8 for children to $48.

The 1,018-foot-tall U.S. Bank Tower, owned by Overseas Union Enterprises Limited, will lose its title as the tallest building on the coast when the nearby Wilshire Grand Tower is completed in 2017. That 73-story building, developed by Korean Air, will be 1,100 feet high.