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Weekend Events in San Diego

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Welcome to your weekend, San Diego. With patriotic parties aplenty, there are so many ways to celebrate the 4th of July weekend in America's Finest city.

Thursday, June 30

Double-Barrel Herradura Tequila Tasting
6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., AVANT at Rancho Bernardo Inn
Sip on handcrafted tequila at four tasting stations presented by Ruban Aceves, International Brand Ambassador of Herradura Tequila at this special event at AVANT at the Rancho Bernardo Inn. The tasters will be expertly paired with special bites created by AVANT’s Chef de Cuisine, Aaron Thomas. The mouthwatering menu includes crab cakes with blood orange, jalapeño aioli and micro cilantro, skirt steak with fire roasted tomato, peach and onion puree, traditional seafood ceviche, and more. This tasting event costs $50 per person; make reservations by calling (858) 420-9229.

Del Beach Bash
7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Hotel Del Coronado
The Hotel Del Coronado plans to celebrate the 4th of July a little early with this beach bash featuring a live band and fireworks. The shore shindig includes bonfire pits, s’mores (the gooey roasting goes down between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m.) and crafts and activities for kids. The fireworks start at 9 p.m. The patriotic party is free for overnight Del guests and $25 per person for day visitors.

Chris Distefano Performs Stand-Up Comedy
8 p.m., American Comedy Company
High-energy comedian Chris Distefano – who offers quips on MTV’s “Girl Code” and “Guy Code” series – will take the stage for three nights at American Comedy Company in downtown San Diego. His act includes portrayals of a variety of characters inspired by his life. Tickets are just $10.

Local Art, Beats & Beer at Andaz
6 p.m. to 10 p.m., Andaz San Diego Hotel
Downtown’s Andaz San Diego hotel (600 F St.) hosts an evening of local art, music and rooftop craft beer tasting. This event will showcase work from local photographer Adam Lewis Smith, best known capturing patterns in nature with his lens. Live music will be performed Stone Monkey and singer Arlene Wolff, and beer tastings will be poured by local favorite, Belching Beaver Brewery. This event is free and part of the hotel’s Andaz Salon series, which aims to highlight local culture.

A Night in the Caribbean Cigar Dinner
6:30 p.m., True North Tavern
A night of rum, cigars, Caribbean food and music awaits at this special dining event at True North Tavern (3815 30th St.) in North Park. The event includes a four-course dinner created by Chef Erik Miller of Urban Solace, specially-paired with cigars from Racine & Laramie Tobacconist. Latin soul music performed by Gabriela Y La Buena Onda tops off the night.

SoundDiego Suggestion:

Brian Wilson
7:30 p.m., San Diego County Fair
Brian Wilson celebrates the 50th anniversary of the release of his album, “Pet Sounds,” with a few special guests. Wilson will take the Heineken Grandstand Stage at 7:30 p.m., performing the album in its entirety, plus a few fan favorites from his 54-year career both with The Beach Boys and solo. Reserved tickets start at $16.

Friday, July 1

The Lafayette Hotel Turns 70
6 p.m. to 10 p.m., The Lafayette
San Diego’s cool retro hotel, The Lafayette (2223 El Cajon Blvd.), will celebrate its 70th anniversary with this free party open to the public. The bash will feature three areas: “The City Within a City,” a throwback to the days when the hotel included more than 20 different shops, stores and services; “The Home Away From Home,” a cocktail lounge with a 1950s-themed USO show; “The Soda Jerk,” an old school soda fountain and diner offering treats from the past. The 70th anniversary celebration will also include live music (a Beatles tribute band and more), and the closing of a time capsule meant to be opened in 30 years – on The Lafayette’s 100th anniversary. Attendees are encouraged to bring a small item to place inside the time capsule.

Park After Dark
5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Balboa Park
This summer, Balboa Park comes alive after 5 p.m. with extended evening hours at 10 museums, plus food trucks and entertainment throughout the landmark. The “Park After Dark” series runs every Friday through Labor Day weekend. Participating museums include the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, Mingei International Museum, The San Diego Museum of Art and the San Diego Automotive Museum just to name a few.

Friday Night Liberty
5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Liberty Station
Liberty Station hosts another edition of Friday Night Liberty, a free monthly art event featuring cool visuals and free bites and sips from some participating businesses, including THE LOT, the new luxury movie theater. Attendees can expect dancing, live performances and more as they stroll through the complex that’s quickly becoming a hub for San Diegans looking to unwind.

The Dustbowl Revival in Carlsbad
6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Stagecoach Parks
Part of Carlsbad’s annual TGIF Concerts in the Park series, The Dustbowl Revival – a vintage bluegrass and country group – will perform at Stagecoach Park (3420 Camino De Los Coches). The event is on baseball field #1, on the park’s upper level. The field opens at 4 p.m. and the free concert starts at 6 p.m. There is plenty of free parking one block away at the La Costa Canyon High School parking lots and at the LDS Church parking lot, both on Camino De Los Coches.

Saturday, July 2

Steering Small
9 a.m., San Diego Maritime Museum
The newest exhibit at the San Diego Maritime Museum, “Steering Small: The Wonders of Nautical Models,” debuts Saturday. The educational exhibit showcases teeny, tiny, intricate models of ships in all their glory including Navy identification models that were made to inform the military and help save lives.

Family Fringe Day: San Diego International Fringe Festival
12 p.m. to 5 p.m., City Heights Performance Annex
The San Diego International Fringe Festival will hold its Family Fringe Day at the City Heights Performance Annex (3795 Fairmount Ave.), a day of free live performances and visual art specifically geared at younger audiences. The lineup includes dance, music, theatre, poetry, circus acts and puppetry. Art activity booths will also keep the kids busy, as well as a theatre workshop.

Oceanside Independence Parade
10 a.m., Coast Highway and Wisconsin
Start your Fourth of July early in the North County by heading up to Oceanside’s Independence Day parade. This year’s Grand Marshal, Chris Gow, a longtime Oceanside resident, has volunteered and worked across Oceanside. The parade, which is “volunteer” themed, will have more than 100 entries coming down the historic 101 Coast Highway. Attendance is free. For more information about the parade, please call MainStreet Oceanside at (760) 754-4512.

OB Pier 50th Anniversary Celebration 
10 a.m., Ocean Beach Pier
Fifty years ago, Ocean Beach’s now-iconic Pier opened. Come out and celebrate the pier’s history by taking a stroll, enjoying the beautiful view and taking part in special activities like a special pier postcard stop, starting at 10 a.m. At 11 a.m., officials will hold a short ceremony to honor the pier. Leonard Teyssier, the contractor who built the pier, and Chuck Bahde, who served on Peninsulans, Inc., will be at the pier Saturday as well to answer questions and meet community members. A free shuttle will take visitors from the foot of Niagara Avenue to the end of the pier.

Kids Rock Out Expo
11 a.m., Parkway Plaza
Magicians, obstacle courses, speakers and martial arts demonstrations are just a few of the fun activities kids will get a chance to partake in when they come out to this first-ever expo. Kids Rock Out is a non-profit foundation that helps children become strong and confident leaders with unique programs. The expo will take place near the carousel. Tickets are $25.

San Diego Symphony: Star Spangled Pops
7:30 p.m., Embarcadero Marina Park South
Spend your 4th of July weekend in Downtown San Diego, next to the beautiful bay as the sun sets, listening to the melodic sounds of the San Diego Symphony. Ring in the 4th with hits from movies, Broadway runes and popular music, as well as a military salute and a grand fireworks finale. Pre-concert activities for children start at 6 p.m. Tickets begin at $20.

Flight of the Conchords Sing Flight of the Conchords
8 p.m., Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre at SDSU
What’s better than re-watching Flight of the Conchords? How about hearing it live? The duo behind the cult classic stops by San Diego this Saturday. Tickets begin at $35.

Sunday, July 3

San Diego Red, White And Brew PubCrawl
2 p.m., Taste and Thirst
Put on your best red, white and blues and head out to this popular San Diego pubcrawl the Sunday before the 4th. More than a dozen bars in San Diego’s Gaslamp neighborhood will have drink specials to write home about. This pubcrawl will also take place Monday. Participants must be 21 or over. Tickets start at $10.

Goodnight Moon the Musical
2 p.m., Casa Del Prado Theatre at Balboa Park
It’s everyone’s favorite bedtime story, Goodnight Moon – but instead of flipping through pages, watch the story unfold before you. The musical, presented by the San Diego Junior Theatre, tells the story of a bunny who wants to delay going to bed for as long as possible, so he says goodnight to every object in his room. Watch all of the objects spring into action. Tickets start at $11.

Summer Sundays 
5 p.m., Village Walk at Eastlake in Chula Vista
Come out and enjoy your summer evening with music from Lady J and Soulful knights at this family-friendly event. For kids 12 and under, there will be craft activities, free face painting and free balloon sculptures. Merchants will be giving away free food samples and giveaways.

Fireworks in Oceanside
9 p.m., El Corazon Senior Center
Oceanside will ring in the 4th a day early – on Sunday, July 3 – with its fireworks display at 9 p.m. staged north of the El Corazon Senior Center (3302 Senior Center Dr.). Limited parking is available at Ocean Ranch Business Park; no parking is available at the El Corazon Senior Center. Rancho Del Oro Boulevard will be closed from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Music and food trucks will line the area from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Bonus: Monday, July 4 - Happy 4th of July!

Many San Diego communities will host patriotic celebrations Monday for the 4th of July. Here are a few picks from across the county. For our full 4th of July Fireworks guide, click here.

Big Bay Boom
9 p.m., San Diego Bay
San Diego’s biggest 4th of July fireworks show, the Port of San Diego’s Big Bay Boom, returns to the waterfront this year. Fireworks will launch at 9 p.m. from four barges along the San Diego Bay. Prime viewing locations include: Shelter Island; Harbor Island; North Embarcadero; Marina District; Seaport Village and South Embarcadero; Coronado Ferry Landing. Wherever you are watching from, get there early with your lawn chairs and blankets. The Big Bay Boom draws a huge crowd year after year.

San Diego County Fair Fireworks
9 p.m., Del Mar Fairgrounds
The 2016 San Diego County Fair will end with a bang on July 4th with a long lineup of patriotic events, including a 9 p.m. fireworks show visible throughout the fairgrounds. Fair, fireworks and fried food? Sounds like summer for sure.

Chula Vista 4th Fest
9 p.m., Chula Vista Olympic Training Center
What could possibly be more patriotic than watching Independence Day fireworks at the Olympic Training Center (OTC)? The Chula Vista OTC (2800 Olympic Parkway) will put on a fireworks show at 9 p.m. set to tunes from five radio stations: 91X; Magic 92.5; 100.78 KFMB BFM; AM 760; Z90.3. Launched from the athlete training grounds, the best spots to watch this show are at the OTC and Mountain Hawk Park (1475 Lake Crest Dr.). Gates to the OTC open at 6 p.m.; parking at the visitor’s entrance is limited to 500 cars and costs $10. Parking is also available at the New Hope Community Church (2720 Olympic Parkway). Each viewing venue holds about 3,000 people.

Fireworks in Ocean Beach
9 p.m., OB Pier
Ocean Beach will celebrate the 4th with a dazzling fireworks show off the OB Pier. Free parking will be available at the Main Beach Lot and the Pier Parking Lot. The show will be synched to songs from KyXy 96.5. In year’s past, the Ocean Beach July 4th celebration also included a “marshmallow war” but the sticky mess left behind – and a whole lot of controversy – led to the end of that. Now, attendees are free to eat marshmallows, just not throw them.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Donald Trump 'Not Trying' Yet: Gingrich

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Newt Gingrich said Saturday that Donald Trump is “not trying” in his bid for the White House, NBC News reported. 

Gingrich made the comments to a crowd at the Aspen Ideas Festival in Colorado. He later explained his remarks to NBC News, saying Trump is well-positioned heading into the fall, even though he trails Clinton in swing state polling. 

He also suggested Hillary Clinton’s campaign is “wasting a lot of money while allowing” Trump to “think through how he wants to run in the fall campaign.” 

Gingrich continued to deny having conversations with Trump about taking the VP slot — and also told the crowd in Aspen that Trump needs to work with Republican leaders in Congress.

"The first thing Trump's got to think about is, 'Gee, I'd like to appoint a cabinet.' The first person you have to talk to about appointing the cabinet is the Senate majority leader," Gingrich said.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Pedestrian Hit by Car at Ocean Beach Crosswalk

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A pedestrian was hit by a car and badly injured as he walked against the red hand signal at a crosswalk in Ocean Beach early Saturday, police said.

According to the San Diego Police Department (SDPD), a 43-year-old man was crossing the 4400 block of east Nimitz Boulevard near West Point Loma Boulevard around 3 a.m., as the crosswalk signal flashed the red hand warning symbol.

As he walked against the warning, he was hit by a 21-year-old woman driving north on Nimitz Boulevard in a 2013 Ford Focus that police said is a Lyft ride service vehicle.

Police said the pedestrian suffered a major head injury and internal injuries from the collision. He is in critical condition.

The road was closed to traffic for several hours following the accident. Glass from the broken windshield of the Focus was strewn in the street.

The crash is under investigation but police do not believe alcohol was a factor.



Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego

Wildfire Burns Quarter-Acre at Viejas Reservation

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A brush fire sparked Saturday in a campground at the Viejas Reservation in San Diego’s East County, scorching approximately one quarter-acre of land, officials said.

The wildfire, dubbed the Brown Fire by authorities, started around 2:20 p.m. at 29 Browns Road, approximately 36 miles east of downtown San Diego.

Officials at the Cleveland National Forest said flames and smoke could be seen billowing from the campgrounds. The blaze initially spread at a moderate rate, but fire crews were able to quickly build a containment line around the flames.

By 3 p.m., firefighters had the upper-hand and canceled several units headed to the scene. No injuries were reported.


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Myers Earns National Award

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If there was any doubt whether or not Wil Myers was going to be on the All-Star team, it was pretty much erased on Saturday.

The Padres 1st baseman was named the National League Player of the Month for June. All he with the 26 games he played was lead the Major Leagues with 33 RBI and 21 extra-base hits while being tops in the NL in total bases (75), home runs (T-1st, 11) and runs scored (T-1st, 25). His .765 slugging percentage ranked second among National Leaguers.

This is his first monthly honor for Myers, who is the first Padres position player to win one since Chase Headley earned Player of the Month in September of 2012.

The NL Pitcher of the Month is Cubs lefty Jon Lester, who went 4-0 with a 1.41 ERA and 44 strikeouts in six starts, and the NL Rookie of the Month is Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager. He hit eight homers and drove in 20 runs while hitting .343.

Astros 2nd baseman Jose Altuve was named American League Player of the Month. All he did was hit .420 with a .492 OBP. A pair of Indians won the other two awards. Danny Salazar earned the Pitcher of the Month honor (5-0 record, 1.91 ERA, 35 strikeouts) and outfielder Tyler Naquin takes home the Rookie of the Month award. Naquin led all AL rookies in triples, extra-base hits and slugging percentage.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Ocean Beach Pier Celebrates 50th Birthday

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On July 2, 1966 the Ocean Beach Pier opened to great crowds, parades, and bathing beauties; fifty years later it’s still going strong.

The pier celebrated its fiftieth birthday Saturday with more crowds, nostalgic photos and a backdrop where people could take a selfie to make it look like they were at the opening. The original contractor and the man who commissioned the pier, both in their late 80s, were also on hand to answer questions.

In 1966 there were only about 600,000 people living in San Diego and 7,000 of them showed up for the opening.

“Today’s a big day because it’s not only the year of the pier, it’s the day of the pier,” Barbara Iacometti, President Ocean Beach Main Street Association, told NBC 7.

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A pier was going to originally be built in the ‘40s out of stainless steel, but when the war broke out stainless steel was rationed so the project was scrapped.

While the pier was under construction the community decided to raise an extra $100,000. They brought it to the contractor and said ‘can we have more pier?’” Iacometti said.

Originally called the San Diego Fishing Pier, it is 1,971 square feet, and is the second longest pier on the west coast. It is also likely the longest concrete pier in the world.



Photo Credit: NBC 7
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World Leaders Pay Tribute to Elie Wiesel

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Condolences and tributes began pouring in after Holocaust survivor and Nobel Prize winning writer Elie Wiesel died at the age of 87. 

President Barack Obama issued a statement Saturday, calling Wiesel "one of the great moral voices of our time."

“Elie was not just the world's most prominent Holocaust survivor, he was a living memorial,” he said. “I was also honored and deeply humbled to call him a dear friend. I'm especially grateful for all the moments we shared and our talks together, which ranged from the meaning of friendship to our shared commitment to the State of Israel.” 

Former President George W. Bush said he was grateful for Wiesel’s insight on the “value of human life.” 

Wiesel, who was appointed founding chairman of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council in 1980, led the effort to conceive the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.

“The world feels incomplete with the loss of Elie Wiesel,” Museum Chairman Tom A. Bernstein said in a statement issued by the museum. “He was a transformative figure who exemplified the very ideals that the Museum encourages all to aspire to—that memory calls us to action. We all bear the tremendous responsibility to carry on his legacy.” 

Boston University, where Wiesel was a professor of humanities since 1976, posted a tweet about the news. 

“We are heartbroken at the passing of Elie Wiesel. BU is losing an iconic teacher who we were privileged to know. He will be deeply missed.”

"#ElieWiesel taught at @BU_Tweets Boston University for nearly 40 yrs. on Literature of Memory. His students loved him. We will miss him," read a tweet from the Elie Wiesel Center for Jewish Studies at Boston University.

Messages also came in from prominent world leaders.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wiesel "personified the triumph of the human spirit over the most unimaginable evil." 

"His life and work were a great blessing to the Jewish people, the Jewish state and to all humanity," he said in a statement. 

"The Jewish people and the world lost a larger than life individual - Holocaust Survivor, Author and Noble Prize Laureate Elie Wiesel," Israeli President Shimon Perez tweeted. 

Wiesel’s son, Elisha Wiesel, confirmed his father’s death Saturday, saying the family was observing Shabbat and was requesting privacy. The family said a press release from Wiesel's foundation will be released at the end of Shabbat. 



Photo Credit: AP
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Boat Sinks Near Fiesta Island

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A boat sank near Fiesta Island Saturday afternoon, San Diego police confirmed. 

The call came in around 5:30 p.m. 

Fortunately no one was injured in the incident. 

No other information was immediately available. 


Cow Tramples Boy to Death

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An 8-year-old boy was trampled to death by a cow Saturday in Georgetown, Massachusetts, authorities confirmed.

Police responded around 12:45 p.m. to Jewett Street, where the young boy had been trampled.

The child was taken to Anna Jacques Hospital in Newburyport, where he was pronounced dead.

According to the Essex County District Attorney's Office, the boy was helping his father exercise the family's cattle. They have about 20 that they show at fairs.

At one point, officials say, the cow got spooked and trampled him.

A family friend said the boy was very experienced around the animals.

The DA's office said foul play is not suspected. The boy's identity has not been released.



Photo Credit: The George Carter Memorial Fund
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5 Dead in Florida Crash

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Five people were killed and 25 were injured when a bus carrying farmworkers collided with a tractor trailer causing both vehicles to burst into flames Saturday on a highway in the Panhandle, sheriff's officials said.

Deputies responded to a gruesome and chaotic scene as the front and the back of the bus were on fire when they arrived.

The Blue Bird bus from Georgia, carrying about 34 adults and children, ran a flashing red light before hitting the tractor trailer, spinning around and hitting the semi again. 

One of the bus passengers killed was a small child. The driver of the semi-truck, Gordon Sheets, 55 of Copiague, New York, also died, said Wakulla County Sheriff Charlie Creel.

"Our deputies are heroes ... our deputies got on the bus and started pulling people off, people that were not able to get off by themselves. They pulled out two deceased victims,'' Creel said.

According to Creel, deputies continued to rescue victims until the bus was fully engulfed in flames, forcing them to stop.

"If these deputies had not done that, we would have had a lot more fatalities,'' the sheriff said in a phone interview.

Fire officials had to wait for the area's power to be shut off in order to douse the flames as both vehicles were resting against live wires. The two vehicles eventually burned out, Creel said.

The Tallahassee Democrat reported the intersection was strewn with bloody medical gear, clothing, pillows and coolers packed with food littered the road. The accident happened on US-98, a highway that follows the Florida coast around the Gulf of Mexico.

No one on the bus spoke English and authorities had to bring in interpreters, Creel said.

Florida Highway Patrol officials were also investigating the wreck and were in the processing of notifying victims' family members.

The driver of the bus, 56-year-old Elie Dupiche of Belle Glade, was hospitalized in critical condition. A passenger in the semi-truck, 21-year-old Rafael Nieves of Sound Beach, New York, was not injured, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Historic Lafayette Hotel Turns 70

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San Diego’s cool vintage hotel, The Lafayette Hotel, Swim Club & Bungalows (2223 El Cajon Blvd.), is celebrating its 70th anniversary. The North Park landmark rang in the milestone with a party Friday night.

Photo Credit: The Lafayette Hotel

Multi-Vehicle Crash Temporarily Backs Up Traffic on I-5

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A driver looking at his GPS hit another car, causing a chain reaction on northbound Interstate 5. south of Via de la Valle for several hours Saturday evening. 

The multi-vehicle crash caused heavy traffic in an area already congested by San Diegans heading to the San Diego County Fair. 

The crash happened around 7:45 p.m. and blocked the right two lanes of the freeway, California Highway Patrol officers said. 

There are no serious injuries, but it is unclear how many vehicles were involved. 

Traffic is no longer congested in the area. 

No other information was immediately available.



Photo Credit: Getty Images/File

Former Aztec Whitney Ashley Qualifies for Rio

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The scarlet and black of San Diego State University is joining team red, white and blue.

Former Aztec Whitney Ashley qualified for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro by winning the women’s discus throw at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Track and Field in Eugene, Oregon.

Ashley, who’s been on two world championship teams, had the winning toss of 204 feet, 2 inches with her fifth toss to secure a spot on her first Olympic team. She’ll be joined by other first-timers Shelbi Vaughan and Kelsey Card.

She’s the 13th SDSU Track and Field Olympian and the first since 2004 when Marla Runyan made the U.S. Track and Field Team in the 5K.

With the Aztecs, Ashely won the 2012 NCAA outdoor national title in discus, was a two-time First-Team All-American and owns the school record for discus throw of 196 feet, 10 inches that she set in Des Moines, Iowa at the NCAA Championships.

You can catch Ashley and rest of Team U.S.A. on NBC 7 with the Rio Olympics Opening Ceremony August 5th. Women's discus starts August 15th and the final takes place the 16th.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Clinton 'Eager' to Meet With FBI

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Hillary Clinton said she was “eager” to meet with the FBI, telling NBC News’ Chuck Todd that she was pleased at the chance to help the department reach a conclusion. 

But during her first interview since meeting with the agency, Clinton declined to comment on reports that charges will not be filed against her. 

She also said she first learned of the meeting between her husband and Attorney General Loretta Lynch “from the news,” calling it a “chance meeting” at an airport tarmac. She said the two did not discuss the Department of Justice’s review and that they “wouldn’t do it again.” 

"Hindsight is 20/20," Clinton said. 

Clinton reiterated what she has said previously, that she "never received nor sent any material that was marked classified."



Photo Credit: Getty Images
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Severe Weather Threatens to Flood Fourth of July

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Severe weather was threatening large swaths of the Midwest on Sunday, with forecasters warning that heavy rains and potential flash floods could put a damper on the holiday weekend, NBC News reported.

Between 2 and 6 inches of rain had fallen in parts of Missouri and eastern Kansas by early Sunday morning, flooding parts of Wichita, Hesston, Newton and Moundridge, overnight, according to the Weather Channel.

Flash flood watches were in effect for other parts of the central Plains and mid-Mississippi Valley — including St. Louis and parts of Ohio, the Weather Channel added.

The storms will spread eastward on Monday into the mid-Atlantic — leaving Fourth of July festivities in flux.



Photo Credit: NBC News
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Fourth of July Weekend DUI Arrests in San Diego Down: CHP

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California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers have arrested few people driving under the influence (DUI) in San Diego County this holiday weekend so far than they have in previous years, according to newly released statistics. 

From 6 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Sunday on Independence Day weekend, CHP officers arrested 42 people for driving under the influence. 

In 2015, officers arrested 47 people. Last year, one person died in a DUI-related crash, compared to none in San Diego this year, officers said. 

Statewide, CHP officers have arrested 673 people for DUI in the same time period, compared to 803 in 2015.

CHP officers have arrested 43 drivers for DUI this holiday weekend, compared to 55 last year. 

Twelve people have died across California in DUI-related crashes, compared to 18 in 2015. 

No other information was immediately available.

Paddle Out Held for Surfer Who Died in His Sleep

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Nearly 100 surfers gathered at Imperial Beach Saturday to remember a surfer who spent every day he could over the last 30 years riding the waves.

Walter Llanes, 43, died in his sleep last week. He was a real estate broker, but his family said he loved to surf.

“Every morning he would wake up to go surf,” his widow Cynthia told NBC 7. “This was his true passion, and I’m so happy and blessed that everyone could be here. Especially his children…and see how much people loved and supported their dad.”

Cynthia said she wanted her husband to be remembered for his beautiful spirit, and as a man who never backed down from a challenge or a wave. 

“It’s just something so surreal, you don’t want to believe it," close friend Eric Von Sydow said. "Everyone gets so tied up in the rat race that sometimes we forget to make contact and tell our friends, especially our longtime friends, that we love them, “added Von Sydow.

Llanes had two young children, a daughter and a son. Cynthia said they don’t completely understand what’s going on yet, but are asking a lot of questions. “Everything we’re taking day by day. It’s a lot,” she explained.

“Every single day he’d go surfing with my brother and me,” his daughter said.

Cynthia explained her husband was in good health and his cause of death is still being investigated by the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s office.

“I’m just so overjoyed and thankful," she said about the paddle out. "It’s so good for the kids and our friends and family to see that he was loved no matter what and won’t be forgotten.” 

The event was also to help raise funds for Llanes’ family. A close friend of LLanes has set up a place to donate on Paypal



Photo Credit: NBC 7
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Man Takes Life, SWAT Standoff Ends

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SWAT officers with the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) were called to a neighborhood in City Heights Saturday after a man – believed to be armed and suicidal – barricaded himself inside a home.

Heavy police activity filled 45th and Quince streets around 12 p.m. The SDPD said a man in his 20s, possibly armed with weapons, had holed himself up inside an apartment in the 4400 block of Quince Street.

A SWAT unit was called to the scene and a standoff ensued.

SDPD Lt. Charles Lara said officers were called to check the welfare of the suicidal man around 10 a.m. Officers asked him to surrender and tried to negotiate with him for several hours.

Ultimately, Lara said the man called 911 and then killed himself.

No one else was injured. He was home alone at the time of the incident.

During the standoff, residents in the area were ordered by SWAT and police officers to shelter-in-place.

Such was the case for Lindsay Nissan, who has lived in the neighborhood for about a year.

Nissan told NBC 7 she left her apartment around 10:40 a.m. to walk her dogs. As she stepped outside, she noticed an officer perched on her neighbor's patio. 

The officer, staking out the suspect's apartment, told Nissan to go back inside her home. About 20 minutes later, Nissan looked out her window and saw dozens of SWAT officers parked all over her street, guns in hand.

Nissan said many of the officers had surrounded a staircase leading to an apartment complex across the street from her home.

“They were blocking the staircase to make sure everyone in our units was safe. They had our residents go inside of our houses and stay in the back part of our apartments to make sure he didn’t have access to us,” she explained.

Nissan said her unit is very close to the apartment where the man was holed up. She said SWAT officials, fearing for her safety, told her she needed to evacuate as a precaution.

SWAT officers escorted her out safely and she waited for a friend to pick her up. Nissan was grateful that police acted swiftly and that no bystanders were hurt.

She said she has seen some safety improvements to City Heights over the past year, but situations like this are extremely frightening.

“When things like this happen, it doesn’t make me want to stay," she told NBC 7.

The man's name was not released. Lara said he was a member of the U.S. military.



Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego

Padres Break the Bank on International Market

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There is making a splash. Then there is doing a cannonball in to the kiddie pool. The Padres did the latter on the opening of Major League Baseball’s international signing period on Saturday.

The Padres cut a deal with 13 players, all from Latin America, but even more impressive than the volume of signings is the quality the Friars are adding.

Baseball America and MLB.com both make lists of the top international talent and San Diego was able to land eight players who show up in the rankings, including six of the top 30 and two of the top five. If this was a college football recruiting class the Padres would be Alabama.

So how did they get all of these guys? By spending a whole lot of cash. The Padres have already dropped upwards of $25 million on the 13 players. They only had $3.3 million for their pool allotment and will pay a dollar-for-dollar tax on anything over that. Add it up and the Friars spent about $50 million bucks on players on Saturday alone. . Keep in mind, this franchise has never spent more than $5 million in any single international signing period.

"It's a significant investment from ownership,” said Padres International Scouting Director Chris Kemp. “We're going to look to add to our talent base. We talked to ownership about potentially going beyond that allotment and it shows the commitment from our ownership to build a championship level organization. Give them credit for putting faith in our scouting department. We wanted to go get impact guys."

They gave Dominican shortstop Luis Almanzar, the number two prospect in Baseball America’s rankings and number three for MLB.com, a $4 million bonus, an international record for the organization.

“The first thing that comes to mind is the bat,” said Kemp of Almanzar. “Tremendous swing. You've got a savvy kid in the box that just knows how to hit. They say hitters are born and he looks like a natural hitter."

Believe it or not, Kemp also says the Padres are not done yet.

"I think every player that's available is going to be scouted heavily. We have a plan in place to keep scouting. We're going to be digging in the bushes in every country possible to find impact players."

July 2 is only the start of the international signing period. It extends in to the beginning of 2017.

“There are going to be plenty of players over the next year that we're going to have interest in,” said Padres General Manager A.J. Preller. “From our standpoint this is the start of the window. Throughout the year we're going to use the window to add as much talent as we can to the system."

The Padres are reportedly in the mix for a trio of top Cuban players, as well, but they have not been cleared by MLB yet. There is no doubt this is a gamble. The Padres are handing out lots of cash to a bunch of 16-year-old kids who may or may not pan out. It’s a high-risk, high-reward proposition but the majority opinion around MLB talent evaluators is if ever there was a year to go nuts with international signings this was it.

“We think a bunch of guys are going to be ready,” said Preller. “They're fairly well advanced. Sometimes in Latin America you're dealing with raw athletes. This year I think we got more polished baseball players."

Here is the full list of players the Padres inked on Saturday (all deals are pending physicals):

•    SS Luis Almanzar – Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
o    Ranked No. 2 on Baseball America’s Top 50 International Prospects List
o    Ranked No. 3 on MLB.com’s Top 30 International Prospects list

•    SS Gabriel Arias – Maracay, Venezuela
o    Ranked No. 4 on Baseball America’s Top 50
o    Ranked No. 5 on MLB.com’s Top 30 International Prospects list

•    OF Jeisson Rosario – Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
o    Ranked No. 6 on Baseball America’s Top 50
o    Ranked No. 9 on MLB.com’s Top 30 International Prospects list

•    SS Jordy Barley – Boca Chica, Dominican Republic
o    Ranked No. 15 on MLB.com’s Top 30 International Prospects list
o    Ranked No. 50 on Baseball America’s Top 50

•    SS Justin Lopez – Bobare, Lara, Venezuela
o    Ranked No. 27 on MLB.com’s Top 30 International Prospects list
o    Ranked No. 28 on Baseball America’s Top 50

•    OF Tirso Ornelas – Tijuana, Mexico
o    Ranked No. 28 on MLB.com’s Top 30 International Prospects list
o    No. 34 on Baseball America’s Top 50

•    C Alison Quintero – Venezuela
o    Ranked No. 22 on Baseball America’s Top 50

•    RHP Michael Miliano – Dominican Republic
o    Ranked No. 48 on Baseball America’s Top 50

•    RHP Jose Manuel Guzman – Dominican Republic

•    INF Tucupita Marcano – Venezuela

•    RHP Martin Carrasco – Mexico

•    CF Augustin Ruiz – Mexico

•    RHP Luis Patinio – Colombia

They can still add players for top dollar this year but exceeding their pool money so dramatically means the Padres will not be able to sign any international players for more than a $300,000 bonus in 2017 or 2018.

You might have noticed nine of the 13 players are position players and four of them are shortstops. That is by design. Preller says the strength of this year’s MLB Draft was pitching, so the Padres took pitchers with 10 of their first 12 selections. Now the picture is a little more complete.

“We'll start getting some balance between the guys we took in the Draft and the guys we signed internationally,” said Preller.

The next step for the 2016 international class is to start training at the Padres Dominican Republic Academy. They’ll start working with Kemp and the Padres coaching staff soon. Odds are it will take at least five years before any of them will be seen in a regular season game at Petco Park, and that’s if their development is accelerated.

But if the Padres have found even one player the caliber of a Miguel Cabrera (international class of 1999) or Miguel Sano (2009) then it all might end up being worth it.



Photo Credit: Matthew Wood/NBC7

Upton Walks Off The Yankees

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The Padres have not swept a series in 2016. If they get their first one against the New York Yankees, it will probably have just a little extra special meaning for San Diego baseball fans who still remember the 1998 World Series.

Melvin Upton Jr. put the Friars in a position to pull it off. Upton hit his third walk-off home run of the season on Saturday night, a solo shot leading off the 9th against Yankees reliever Andrew Miller, to give San Diego a 2-1 win and their second straight one-run decision against the Yanks.

Upton has been the Padres’ best position player not named Myers and his big moment was made possible in part by San Diego’s best pitcher.

Lefty Drew Pomeranz made his second straight stellar start. Pomeranz went 7.0 innings, allowing one run and striking out seven. In his last two starts he’s gone 14.0 innings with just one run allowed, potentially rekindling his chances of getting a spot on the All-Star team.

The Padres got their first run in the 6th inning on a Matt Kemp RBI double that scored Wil Myers and tied the game 1-1. That’s how it stayed until the bottom of the 9th.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi had closer Aroldis Chapman ready to go but chose to stick with Miller, is setup man who is likely going to be on the American League All-Star team. Apparently Girardi did not check his stat sheet. Upton came in to the game with a .400 average and two home runs in his career against Miller.

Perhaps it should be no surprise, then, that Upton hammered the first pitch he saw in to the left field seats to send the Friar Faithful home happy. The Padres can complete that sweep on Sunday if Andrew Cashner can come off the disabled list and beat Chad Green.



Photo Credit: Getty Images
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