On Friday the Chargers released a new video, something they’re calling a “sizzle reel,” to try and drum up support for their Downtown San Diego stadium/convention center initiative.

Entitled, “The Heart of San Diego,” it is the first video of the proposed project in the East Village and runs nearly five minutes long. It’s narrated by Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Fouts, who makes an attempt to pull on the heart strings of San Diegans.

“I am honored to be a part of this project,” said Fouts in a statement.  “I love San Diego and I believe whole-heartedly in this vision and what the new facility can do for downtown and the future of the community.”

The video begins with beauty shots of San Diego then moves in to brief look at the Chargers on the field, showing some of the franchise’s greatest players and moments and paying homage to “our passionate sports fans.” The video is definitely attempting to create an emotional bond between the team and the fan base.

Almost 90 seconds in the moving pictures of the stadium start up. There are multiple aerial views and sweeping shots of the proposal, both of the stadium and the convention center proposals. Fouts talks about how the Chargers believe this project will benefit the city and people of San Diego.

However, the renderings are all labeled with the disclaimer, “Conceptual Design, Subject to Change.” That means this video still does not represent the full, final vision the Chargers are putting on the November ballot, which is in some way to be expected. Many projects undergo design changes after a vote.

The discouraging part is there is no mention of the number of luxury boxes or whether or not it will have a retractable roof or other important design elements that many fans (and City Hall) have been waiting on. It also does not address parking or traffic questions that have persisted. The video, while impressive, looks like a lot of repurposing of photo renderings we have seen previously. When asked if the video includes any new looks at the stadium concept a Chargers spokesperson replied, “It’s the first video of the project.”

At the end of the video Chargers Chairman Dean Spanos offers a few words, as well. Here it is in its entirety (video courtesy the San Diego Chargers):

[[390008191,C]]

NBC 7 looks over the massive schedule of events from the 2016 Rio Olympics for Saturday, August 13 and brings you seven moments to watch:

WOMEN'S EIGHT HAS DAY WITH DESTINY

The United States women’s rowing eight have had their eye on Aug. 13 for quite a while. It's the date of the Olympic final on the waters of Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas.

Stanford University graduate Elle Logan leads the crew including Amanda Elmore, Tessa Gobbo, Meghan Musnicki, Amanda Polk, Emily Regan, Lauren Schmetterling, Kerry Simmonds and coxswain Katelin Snyder. Simmonds is a resident of Carmel Valley/Del Mar area of San Diego, California. Her teammates trained on Otay Reservoir through the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista.

How to Watch: Set your alarm for 4:50 a.m. PT and catch the live stream here.

USAIN BOLT READY TO STRIKE A GOLDEN POSE

Usain Bolt, the fastest man alive and defending gold medalist in the 100m, 200m and 4x100, looks to add to his immense gold stockpile as he competes in the Men’s 100m preliminary rounds.

Bolt is seeking to accomplish an unprecedented “Triple-Triple” by becoming the first athlete to win all three titles at three consecutive games. He’s certainly not lacking for confidence.

“I’ll win all three gold (medals),” he told CNN. “There’s never anything else for me when it comes to a championship."

How to watch: Catch Bolt begin his chase for history during track and field coverage live online at 5:30 a.m. PT.

WOMEN’S WATER POLO FACES HUNGARY

Coming off of a dominant 12-4 victory of China, the U.S. women’s water polo team looks to keep its streak alive against Hungary on Saturday.

The win over China was the second consecutive dominant win for the U.S. team, which is looking to defend its 2012 gold medal. On Tuesday, they defeated Spain 11-4 in their Rio Games opener.

How to watch: See the women’s water polo team live online or on NBC’s daytime coverage at 9 a.m. PT.

GOODBYE MR. PHELPS

Is this really goodbye forever? Michael Phelps’ last Olympic swim in Rio, and perhaps last Olympic swim ever, is expected to be the 4x100 medley relay, as he looks to add a golden finishing note to a legendary career.

But is this really goodbye? His mom is already talking about the 31-year-old returning for the Tokyo Games in 2020.

How to watch: See Phelps final swim live online at 6 p.m. PT.

WOMEN’S FIELD HOCKEY TEAM LOOKS TO REMAIN UNDEFEATED

Team USA stayed perfect in pool play with 6-1 rout of Japan Wednesday and a 3-0 win over India Thursday. They’re atop the Pool B standings, and now have Great Britain in their sights in their final pool play match.

They’ll need another standout performance from Katie Bam to remain unblemished. Bam played like a machine against Japan, collecting a hat trick.

"Games like this are statement games for us," Bam said. "It's easy to step up and play the people that are ranked higher than you. It's hard to step up and bury a team like we just did that's ranked lower than you."

How to watch: See Bam and U.S. women’s hockey team face off against Great Britain live online at 2 p.m. PT, or on CNBC.

MEN’S VOLLEYBALL TEAM TAKES ON FRANCE

It’s the USA versus France Saturday as the U.S. volleyball team comes off a much-needed win.

After early losses against Canada and Italy, the team rebounded Thursday with a win over host Brazil. Now they’ll need to keep the momentum going against France.

How to watch: See the U.S. men’s volleyball team and local David Lee face France live online at 1 p.m. PT.

VINCENT HANCOCK GOES FOR HIS THIRD STRAIGHT OLYMPIC GOLD IN MEN’S SKEET

One of the top-ranked skeet shooters in the world, Vincent Hancock took home gold in both of his previous Olympic appearances. He looks to complete the golden trifecta Saturday.

The youngest-ever shooting world champion at the age of 16 in 2005, Hancock entered the Rio games as a favorite to stand atop the Olympic podium.

But his Rio Games started slowly: After Day 1 of qualifying on Friday, he was in 12th place. Can he mount a comeback?

How to watch: Catch the Men’s skeet final live online at 11 a.m. PT, or on NBC Sports Network

Seeing the political handwriting on the wall and looking to make a graceful exit from San Diego’s District 1 City Council race, Republican businessman Ray Ellis has bowed out of the Nov. 8 runoff campaign.

Without a “viable path to victory”, Ellis said in a statement released to news outlets early Friday, “I cannot in good faith ask supporters to finance another effort.”

Ellis’ withdrawal assures a continuation of the Democrats’ 5-4 majority on the council into late 2018, barring unforeseen developments.

That balance of power in policy and lawmaking, is subject to mayoral vetoes that take six votes to override.

Ellis finished second nearly 15 points behind the frontrunner in the June primary, while spending about $200,000 -- almost twice as much money.

In announcing he was dropping out of the race, Ellis said he couldn't ask supporters to contribute more, given the district's heavy Democrat voter registration and "toxicity" of Donald Trump's Presidential candidacy.

He added that he could have “the greatest impact” serving as a community volunteer, focusing on homelessness, education, foster children and neighborhood issues.

Citing a family emergency on Friday, Ellis declined an NBC 7 interview request.

His Democratic rival, businesswomen Barbara Bry, said Ellis had asked her on Tuesday to meet with her Thursday afternoon at a Mission Valley campaign, and keep the their conversation confidential until Friday.

"He congratulated me on running a good campaign,” Bry told NBC 7. “He said he didn't see a path forward for him, and he thought it was in the best interest of everybody that he withdraw from the race."

But Ellis' name is still on the ballot, so Bry's campaign won't stop until election day, November 8th.

"I will continue to be visible in the community,” she noted, “talking to as many residents as possible to learn more about the district and the issues that are important to the voters here."

Now a question around City Hall is, who will become the next resident of the City Council -- a Democrat, obviously.

"This a big position,” says Voice of San Diego editor Scott Lewis, “and if it's used, if it's leveraged as much as it can be, it can be a very big check on the power of the mayor and the influence of the mayor."

Likely contenders?

Progressive David Alvarez, who's often at odds with Mayor Faulconer; and moderate Myrtle Cole, much less so.

Bry says she has more immediate priorities to focus on: "I've made no commitments to anybody about who I will vote for, for council president."

The only contested council campaign left is between two Democrats in District 9, where Ricardo Flores finished 3 and a half points ahead of second-place finisher Georgette Gomez in a four-way June primary race.

A teenager wearing a “Batman” hat allegedly stabbed a homeless man at San Diego’s City College Friday, campus police said.

The San Diego Community College District Police Department said the assault happened at around 1:15 p.m. north of the M200 building at City College. The campus is located at 1313 Park Blvd. near downtown San Diego.

Police said that, for unknown reasons, the young suspect – described as being about 13 or 14 years old, wearing a “Batman” hat, black T-shirt and black shorts – stabbed a transient. The victim was taken to a local hospital.

College police searched the campus for the suspect but did not immediately locate him. The case was reported to the San Diego Police Department, whose officers are also now on the lookout.

The incident is under investigation. Anyone with information can call college police at (619) 388-6405, SDPD at (619) 531-2000 and Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-TIPS.

The San Diego Community College District Police Department said safety escort services are available at the City College campus 24-hours a day, seven days a week. To arrange a safety escort, call the department at the aforementioned phone number.

A toddler found dead inside a duffel bag carried by a Southern California couple trying to cross the U.S.-Mexico border into Tijuana was drowned, a San Diego Deputy District Attorney said Friday.

Deputy DA Kurt Mechals said the girl, who was approximately two years old, died from a "residential-type drowning." An autopsy determined the tot also showed signs of malnutrition, dehydration and trauma, Mechals said.

The prosecutor said the investigation is ongoing and he could not release any further details on the toddler's death. He said investigators have theories on the motive but that information is not being released at this time.

On Friday, the couple accused in this case — Johnny Lewis Hartley, 39, and Mercy Maria Becerra, 43, both of Whittier, California — were arraigned side-by-side in a downtown San Diego courtroom.

Each defendant faces one count of first-degree murder in the death of the little girl, as outlined in this complaint filed in court Friday.

If convicted, Mechals said they each face 25 years to life in prison.

Standing next to one another with their heads hung low, both Hartley and Becerra pleaded not guilty. A public defender was appointed for both suspects. A judge set bail at $2 million for each of the suspects.

Mechals said the drowning of the tot happened in Whittier.

Investigators are still trying to determine the relationship of the suspects to the victim, Mechals said. Hartley and Becerra are not the child's parents, but the parents also live in Whittier and know the suspects.

The San Diego Police Department said Hartley and Becerra were arrested at the pedestrian border crossing at the San Ysidro port of entry Tuesday around 12 p.m. after they attempted to cross into Mexico.

SDPD Lt. Ray Valentin said the duo was stopped by Mexican authorities and sent to a secondary inspection point.

Hartley was carrying a duffel bag. When officials scanned his bag in an X-ray machine, they discovered the body of the little girl inside the bag, police said.

At that point, Valentin said Becerra tried to run away from authorities, but was quickly apprehended and taken into custody. Hartley was also arrested. They were deported back to the U.S. side of the border and turned over to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

The SDPD’s Homicide Unit arrived at the port of entry and took custody of Hartley and Becerra, booking them into jail in San Diego on suspicion of child cruelty and first-degree murder.

After interviewing the suspects, Valentin said SDPD Homicide Unit detectives determined that whatever happened to the little girl occurred in Whittier, which is about 127 miles north of Tijuana.

SDPD detectives are working closely with detectives of the Whittier Police Department on the case.

Mechals said there is still much work to be done. At the suspects' arraignment on Friday, the prosecutor said details were still being developed, including whether the toddler's death was premeditated.

"There are a lot of moving parts," Mechals said of the case.

On Thursday, Valentin told NBC 7 it appears someone drove Hartley and Becerra to San Diego, possibly dropping them off at the pedestrian border crossing. He also said there was no missing person report filed on the toddler out of Whittier.

At this point, Mechals said there are no indications of additional arrests in this case. The name of the toddler has not yet been released. For now, court documents refer to the child as "Jane Doe."

According to the complaint against the suspects, Hartley has a prior conviction on his record from June 23, 2010, out of Orange, California.

An Instragram account for Becerra confirmed by NBC 4 Los Angeles earlier this week said the suspect is a mother of nine. The social media account has since been deleted.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information can call the SDPD Homicide Unit at (619) 531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.

Hartley and Becerra are due back in court on Aug. 18 for a status conference. Their preliminary hearing is set to begin Aug. 25.

A former district contractor, who recently won a $7.3 million settlement against the Sweetwater Union High School District, now wants a seat on the board.

Hector Romero was a whistle-blower and witness in the District Attorney's sweeping public corruption case against South Bay school officials that spanned three school districts.

The 2014 criminal case resulted in 20 guilty pleas to felony and misdemeanor crimes, including bribery and conspiracy.

Prior to the indictments, a series of news stories focused on a "pay-to-play" culture in which businesses were awarded voter-approved bond money worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

Earlier this summer, Romero settled his civil suit with the district for a $7.3 million award to his company. The lawsuit made similar accusations against the district as the criminal prosecution.

The lawsuit, litigated for about 5 years, alleged the district breached a construction contract with Romero's company, HAR Construction, Inc.

HAR accused the district and then-trustees of "intentionally interfering" with the contract "for personal reasons," according to court records.

For example, Romero claimed former trustee Pearl Quinones interfered because Romero supported her opponent in her unsuccessful 2010 bid for state assembly

The HAR lawsuit claimed the district and trustees purposely cut off resources necessary for construction because Romero's gift-giving wasn't rising to the level of expensive gifts, dinners and favors that the larger construction firms were providing to district officials.

In court records, Romero admitted to providing some gifts to the district officials, but said because of his construction business' smaller size, he could not compete with the larger construction firms ablity to provide lavish meals and other favors to school leaders.

The school district terminated the contract because of the "company's failure to execute work in an efficient manner to stay on schedule," according to a statement.

DA Bonnie Dumanis' criminal prosecution alleged South Bay school officials accepted, for example, stays the Biltmore Hotel, Rose Bowl tickets, an Albus Dumbledore costume for Halloween, and tickets to see "Jersey Boys" from contractors who had work or were seeking work with the district.

Romero pulled papers Friday, the filing deadline, to run for a seat on the Sweetwater school board. Two seats are up for re-election after being filled mid-term amid the resignation of prosecuted trustees.

In 2011, the County of San Diego terminated a contract with Chula Vista-based HAR Construction to rebuild the Lincoln Acres library.

The county said HAR "failed to supply an adequately skilled work crew and proper materials in line with its contract," while Romero alleged the county interfered with his work, in a manner similar to Sweetwater, after he refused to pay $50,000 in fees to San Diego Gas & Electric Co.

A police officer has died after a shooting during a traffic stop in New Mexico on Friday, according to officials.

Officer Jose Chavez was shot when he approached a car during a traffic stop near a convenience store in the small village of Hatch, New Mexico, the Doña Ana County Sheriff's Department said in a statement.

The three suspects fled the scene after the shooting and drove to a rest area where they shot another person during a carjacking, according to the sheriff's department.

Chavez died as a result of his injuries. He had been with the department for two years, NBC News reported.

All three suspects have been taken into police custody.

Worn out rivet fasteners on a Ferris wheel are being blamed for an overturned gondola at an eastern Tennessee fair that earlier this week sent three girls plummeting more than 30 feet to the ground.

The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development announced late Friday that it has renewed permits for the ride's owner, Family Attractions Amusement, to resume operations at other fairs around the state. But the Ferris wheel is excluded from the permit.

Inspectors hired by the company and the Greene County Fair found that rivets had worn out on the bottom of the tub carrying the girls, allowing a trim piece to come loose and get lodged in the frame of the wheel and tipping the gondola over.

"Ride NOT safe to operate at time of inspection," Frank Guenthner, an inspector hired by ride owner Family Attractions Amusement, wrote in his report.

The Ferris wheel, which inspectors say was correctly assembled at the site, is being sent back to the manufacturer for repair.

Tennessee does not conduct its own inspections of fair or amusement park rides, instead relying on third-party inspectors. The company was allowed to operate in the state based on an inspection made in Indiana in June.

Six-year-old Briley Rae Reynolds suffered a traumatic brain injury in the fall on Monday and her 10-year-old sister, Kayla, broke her arm. Kayla and an unidentified 16-year old have been released from the hospital, but Briley Rae remained in critical condition.

Republican Gov. Bill Haslam told reporters earlier Friday that it was too soon to say what Tennessee might do to avoid future injuries on rides 

"I don't know that right now I have a policy shift of what should happen differently," he said.

It's not the first time Family Attractions Amusement rides have hurt riders.

At the 2013 North Carolina State Fair, five people were injured when an Italian-made ride called the Vortex unexpectedly restarted as they were trying to get off the ride, flinging them through the air and down to the steel deck below. Investigators determined that a safety mechanism had been disabled by ride operators including the son of company owners Dominic and Ruby Macaroni.

Joshua Macaroni earlier this year entered an Alford plea — a concession that there is sufficient evidence for a conviction without admitting guilt — on a felony charge of obstruction of justice. He was sentenced in February to five to 15 months in prison, though the judge suspended that to a month in jail. He was also ordered pay a $22,500 fine.

The Greeneville Sun has reported that Greene County Fair Board officials decided to go through with a five-year contract with a Family Attractions despite the North Carolina incident, citing the company's previous safety record in Tennessee and the owners' claims that they were not involved with the Vortex ride. " 

Their rides were not inspected when they were assembled in Tennessee.

Family Attractions Amusement had already taken down its rides in Greeneville the day before the state decision to allow most of the rides to resume.

Pakistan police say they have busted a criminal gang, including female doctors, accused of abducting newborn babies from hospitals and selling them to childless couples, NBC News reported.

‎Abbas Majeed Marwat, police chief of the city of Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said the gang also included health workers, nurses and midwives.

Police conducted a raid on a house in Peshawar soon after arresting one member of the gang, identified as Wajeeha Yasmin, and recovered a baby. Seven people have been arrested so far and have admitted to abducting nine babies from different hospitals and selling them to wealthy childless couples.

A five-day old baby recovered during the police operation was going to be sold for $3,000, he said, while some of the other babies were sold for between Rs80, 000 ($800) and Rs150,000 ($1500).

U.S.-backed fighters have liberated the Syrian town of Manbij from ISIS, observers and Syrian-Kurdish officials said Saturday.

Specifics of the operation and the status of thousands of residents in the town were not immediately clear, NBC News reported.

The northern town "is under full control" of rebels, Nasser Haj Mansour of the predominantly Kurdish Syria Democratic Forces (SDF) told the Associated Press.

He said search operations are still underway to find extremists who might be hiding in the town.

"Thank God. We are happy. Thank God we got rid of [ISIS]. May God hold them to account!" an unidentified woman in the town shouted, according to video footage obtained by Reuters.

There is no "viable evidence" that former Serra High Principal, Vincent Mays, earned a legitimate PhD as he claimed, according to a report from the San Diego Unified School District released Friday.

According to the report from the district’s Quality Assurance Office, “the investigation did not find viable evidence that Mr. Mays earned a legitimate PhD degree as he alleges. While Mr. Mays argued that he has not benefited financially from having a PhD, based on testimony from Mr. (Ralph) Uebel, the degree gave him an advantage over other applicants who did not this credential.”

Ralph Uebel is one of three teachers who first questioned the legitimacy of Mays’ PhD. He and two other Serra High teachers filed a complaint with the district in May. The three were also interviewed as part of the district's investigation.

According to Mays’ resume found online, he claims his Ph.D. is in Administration and Supervision from Stamford Hill University.

NBC 7 Investigates first reported on this story in May. The story found a website for Stamford Hill University that said the school was based in Florida. The Florida Department of Education said that university is not licensed and never has been. A search of the state’s business licensing website found no records, past or present. A search of the U.S. Department of Education website also found no records.

Online there were claims that Stamford Hill University could be based in the United Kingdom. A spokesperson from the U.K’s Higher Education Governance told NBC 7 Investigates, a university with the name Stamford Hill has never existed.

The district came to the same conclusion. According to the report from the district, “the investigation did not find conclusive and verifiable evidence that Stamford Hill University in London has existed as an accredited and academically recognized legitimate institution.”

In its conclusion, the report states, Mays may not have benefited financially from claiming to have the PhD but “based on the testimony from Mr. Uebel, the degree gave him an advantage over other applicants who did not have this credential.”

NBC 7 Investigates reached out to Mays via email but has not immediately heard back. Mays has declined to comment on previous stories reported.

Mays last day as principal at Serra High was Friday. He is moving to a new position at the district’s central office as a "principal on special assignment." He will be focusing on equity with the San Diego district, according to Jennifer Rodriguez, a spokeswoman for SDUSD. 

Neither Rodriguez nor Mays would say whether the new position was a result of the report's findings. Mays was earning a salary of $143,612 as a principal and will make the same in his new position.

“The district often shifts principals to other assignments in order to utilize his/her unique set of skills and expertise in particular areas,” Rodriguez said in an email. “This is the case with Vincent Mays. Many have held the title of principal and principal on assignment. No principal on assignment has worked specifically on areas of equity.”

The district interviewed Mays as part of the investigation. In the report, the investigator notes, at the beginning of the interview “Mr. Mays started sweating profusely and asked if I had any water. When I told him that I did not, he became upset, stood up and stated in an angry tone, ‘This is ridiculous, I can’t believe you don’t have any water…”

During the interview, according to the report, Mays said he learned about Stamford from a brochure he received from a friend. He said the school was a “correspondence school in London,” and that the entire program was completed through mailed correspondence.

“Every quarter they sent me the assignments by mail,” Mays told the district's investigator. “I completed them and send them back by mail. They sent me my grades at the end of each quarter and after 4 years they conferred me with a degree.”

According to the report, he said he did not receive any feedback from the professors and used a P.O. Box for the address. He did not have the exact address or any specific names of contacts he would communicate with because, “it was 16 years ago.”

During the interview Mays said he did not have any record of his work, did not complete a dissertation, but did complete a research paper. When asked if he had a copy of his research, he said, “No, I don’t. Do you keep records from 16 years ago?”

According to the report, during the interview Mays said he used money orders to pay for the school and it cost him “less than $10,000.” He said he paid the money orders to “the school, not a person,” and does not have any information or record from Stamford because he “was going through a personal issues that I don’t wish to talk about, you are lucky that I have a copy of my diploma and transcripts.”

In the interview Mays said he made copies of his diploma and transcripts and “attached the original diploma to a wooden plaque and put lacquer over it” to protect it. “The plaque was damaged by the sun,” he said.

According to the report, a transcript embossed with Stamford Hill’s seal was produced to investigators during the interview.

“Of note,” the investigator comments in the report, “the writing on the seal is not distinguishable.” Later in the report, the investigator notes, “The transcript does not bear a validating seal or authenticating stamp typically found in legitimate transcripts...The diploma produced by Mr. Mays appears to have been altered.”

Click here to read the complete report, including transcript of the interview with Mays.

Mays Bachelor of Arts degree from Seton Hall and Masters of Arts degree from Montclair State University were confirmed by the institutions, according to the report.

The report was forwarded to the executive director of the district’s Human Resources Division on June 20. According to Rodriguez, the district is not taking any further action at this time and the “matter has been closed.”

Swiss police say a knife-wielding man set fire to a train in Switzerland before going on a stabbing rampage that left six people injured, including a 6-year-old child, NBC News reported.

Police in the northeast state of St. Gallen said the 27-year-old Swiss suspect was also hurt during the attack early Saturday afternoon as the train neared the station in Salez. 

The suspect, who has not been indentified, is accused of spilling flammable liquid on the train and setting it on fire. He was also carrying at least one knife, police said. 

The six victims — a 6-year-old, a 17-year-old girl, a 17-year-old boy, a 34-year-old woman, a 43-year-old woman and a 50-year-old man — were hospitalized with burn and stab wounds, as was the suspect, according to police. Some of those wounded were in critical condition.

U.S. Olympian Steffen Peters was crying in the stands as his teammate secured a bronze medal Friday for the U.S. dressage team.

"If you wanted to see a 52-year-old man act like a 10-year-old boy you should have seen me in the stands when Laura was coming down the center line," Peters said. "I was crying my eyes out, it was just one of those absolutely amazing experiences."

Peters was referring to teammate and former hairdresser Laura Graves recording a personal best of 80.644 on Verdades in her first Olympic Games.

Her score brought the United States into third place with 76.667.

"The elusive 80 percent, finally we've captured it, it exists," Graves said. "I knew it was going well. You just always hope your reflections match up with the judges. I was happy to see my teammates so happy and then to have a personal best and a score I've been reaching for was just icing on the cake."

Peters and Graves scored the bronze with teammates Alison Brock and Kasey Perry-Glass.

The team’s results are calculated using the average of the three best riders' scores from each nation from the two-day event.

It ends a long wait for German-born Peters, who helped the U.S to bronze in 1996 but was a reserve when it repeated that feat in 2004.

It’s Peters’ fourth Olympic appearance.

He and his wife, Shannon, operate Arroyo Del Mar in the Carmel Valley area of San Diego.

British actor Kenny Baker, who starred as one of science fiction’s most iconic robots, R2-D2, has died after battling a long illness. He was 81 years old.

The 3-foot-8-inch actor was found dead Saturday morning by one of his nephews at his home in northwest England, his niece Abigail Shield told the Guardian, which first reported news of his death. [[238430011, C]]

"When he was a child, he was told that he probably wouldn’t survive through puberty, being a little person in those times, they didn’t have a very good life expectancy," Shield's said. "He did extremely well in his life. He was very ill for the last few years so we had been expecting it."

Baker and Shield's father, Ian, grew up in Birmingham, England. [[290537031, C]]

Baker's agent Jonny Mans confirmed his death, saying "Kenny was truly a great friend, one of the nicest guys you could ever wish to meet and a fabulous and talented performer."

Mans said the two met in the 1960s as club entertainers and worked together before going on to become his agent. [[362159781, C]]

He became a household name in 1977 when he first played the role of R2-D2 in the first "Star Wars" film. He went on to appear with Anthony Daniels' C-3PO character in "Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi," as well as the three prequels.

Movie studio 20th Century Fox posted a photograph of C-3PO standing next to Baker's "Star Wars" character, writing: "Rest in peace, Kenny Baker, the heart and soul of R2D2." [[390081071, C]]

The actor also appeared in "Flash Gordon," "Labyrinth" and "Time Bandits."

"He had a very long and fulfilled life. He brought lots of happiness to people and we’ll be celebrating the fact that he was well loved throughout the world. We’re all very proud of what he achieved in his lifetime,” Shield said.

Set your alarms for early Sunday to catch locals competing in the women's marathon. It's just one of the events in the 2016 Rio Olympics that will include athletes from San Diego.

The U.S. has not won an Olympic gold medal in the women’s marathon since 1984, when the event made its Olympic debut.

The U.S. sends Desiree Linden to Rio, along with best friends Amy Cragg and Shalane Flanagan. Cragg had the best time at U.S. Olympic Trials after competing at the 2012 Olympics in the 10,000m.

Longtime San Diegans will recognize Desiree Linden by her maiden name Desiree Davila. She's had a decorated professional career since her days at Hilltop High School. Earlier this year, she qualified for the Olympic Team by finishing second in the U.S. Olympic Trials.

She and her husband posted a picture from Rio the day before the race.

Linden will compete against two runners who are known as best friends and strong marathon competitors.

Amy Cragg and Shalane Flanagan are also known to the San Diego running community for their recent times in the Suja Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego Half Marathon.

How to watch: See the women's marathon live online beginning at 5:30 a.m. PT.

Local sailor Caleb Paine will compete in his Men's Finn Races 9 and 10 on Sunday beginning at 9:05 a.m. PT. He earned a top 10 finish in Race 8 on Saturday.

Also competing will be Olympic sailing team Briana Provancha and Annie Haeger in the Women's 470 event. They'll have three races on Sunday Race 6 at 9:05 a.m., Race 7 at 10:30 a.m. and Race 11 at 11:50 a.m. all times Pacific.

Both Provancha and Paine got their starts in the Southwestern Yacht Club in San Diego.

U.S. women's volleyball with local athletes Karsta Lowe and Carli Lloyd will face China at 1:05 p.m. PT Sunday. Lowe is a Rancho Santa Fe resident and Lloyd is from Bonsall.

Also, watch the finale for U.S. men's water polo with Coronado's Jesse Smith. The men face Italy following a string of losses. Santee athlete Alex Bowen, who has scored several goals for the U.S. during the 2016 Rio Olympics, will not be playing Sunday. He was disqualified following unsportsmanlike conduct in the loss to Montenegro on Friday.

For updates from the 2016 Rio Games, including profiles of San Diego athletes, visit our Olympics section here.

NBC 7’s Steven Luke is reporting from Rio during the 2016 Olympic Summer Games; follow him on Twitter and Facebook for exciting updates from Brazil through the end of the 2016 Olympic Summer Games.

Next time you’re looking to go on a little getaway, you may want to set your sights on San Diego’s backcountry.One group believes some local rural communities should be considered travel destinations.

The Ramona Chamber of Commerce is leading an initiative to bring more tourists to rural San Diego – including Ramona, Valley Center, Alpine, Borrego Springs and Julian – through an entity called the “Back Country Coalition.”

“We want to make this a unique experience that you can experience for a weekend or a getaway. There are several things that these communities offer,” Joe Stupar, executive director of the Ramona Chamber of Commerce, told NBC 7.

Instead of competing for visitors and tourism dollars, the five communities would work together to promote the unique features in their own community and also cross-promote events.

The coalition would also be able to apply for additional tourism grants.

So far, Stupar said Borrego Springs and Julian have committed to joining the coalition.

Mary Gordon, executive director of the Valley Center Chamber of Commerce, told NBC 7 the Back Country Coalition is a "wonderful idea," and expects the chamber board to make a decision on joining within 30 days.

“On the [State Route] 67, we're the gateway to the backcountry in the North County," explained Stupar. "Down south is Alpine. They're the gateway to the south, into the backcountry."

Mary Rynearson, executive director of the Alpine Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce, said they’re committed to joining the coalition, and are waiting for final approval from the board during a meeting set for Aug. 24.

Ramona is spearheading the initiative because of its growing wine industry.

In 2010, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors revised the wine ordinance, making it easier and cheaper for smaller farmers to open a boutique winery.

There are now more than 30 wineries in Ramona. Most of them opened after 2010.

Audrey Cassidy opened Barrel One tasting room in April 2015. All of the wine she sells is produced with organic grapes grown on her property.

Ramona residents Gerry and Hazel Griffiths have lived in the rural community for 16 years and like seeing the growth.

"I think it's really good," said Hazel. "It's giving work to all the locals."

They also enjoy setting out on a day of wine tasting in their own neighborhood, including at Barrel One.

"We're going to up Julian highway here and get as far as we dare," said Gerry. "Fortunately, we have a designated driver."

Last month, county supervisors updated the wine ordinance.

A staffer with Supervisor Dianne Jacob's office said the updates cleared up gray areas, to further encourage the growth of boutique wineries.

Among the changes: requiring a certain amount of locally-grown grapes to be used in wines produced in San Diego, and allowing smaller venues to hold events.

Stupar said most of the people who opened boutique wineries in Ramona aren't making a living from it yet – keeping the small-town vibe.

"It's an intimate setting,” he explained. “Owners are passionate about it. It's not corporate driven.”

Cassidy said she's looking at her winery as a long-term investment. She and her husband, Tom, got started in the business gradually.

Initially, they planted merlot grapes as part of their landscape. A local winery asked to buy their grapes, and eventually the couple decided to produce their own wine.

“He (Tom) loves his farming and really enjoys the whole process of planting the vineyard and watching the grapes grow,” she told NBC 7.

Cassidy said she's not concerned about too many new wineries starting up.

“Our infrastructure here in Ramona is limited,” she said. “So I think based on that, we can only grow at a certain rate. I don't see tour buses coming down the street, yet.”

Neighbors of Scripps Ranch track cyclist and Olympian Jennifer Valente said they couldn’t be prouder of her.

Holly Niemiec has known Valente since the athlete was two years old. The cyclist grew up in the same cul de sac as her son.

“She’s always been very sweet, kind, sensitive and a very pleasant girl. Kind of calm. Nothing seemed to bother her," Niemiec told NBC 7. "She had rambunctious brothers and a neighborhood full of boys. She fit in with the whole gane."

At the Olympics, Valente is with her teammate Sarah Hammer who is from Temecula.

Valente did not always set up to be a track cyclist. Those who know her said she first rode bikes just for fun. One of her dad’s friends taught kids’ classes in San Diego. Valente tried it and the rest is history.

Over the next three years, she earned 12 junior national titles and one junior world championship title, according to Team USA’s website.

“I just think she is someone who is deserving of attention,” said Niemiec. “She’s been training for years. This means so much to her.”

Niemiec says Valente grew up trying to keep up with the boys and now it’s the boys who dream to keep up with her.