A major expansion of the Miramar Water Treatment Plant near Scripps Ranch is scheduled to be one of the city’s largest infrastructure projects in 2016, according to city officials.

The project, estimated at $114 million in costs, will provide six million gallons of space for water storage at the plant located on 10710 Scripps Lake Drive, said officials.

Officials say the project will include a megawatt solar system, construction of a chlorine contact chamber and a maintenance building.

Two clear wells, which are temporary water storage tanks, will be replaced and expanded for the project. City officials expect construction to be completed in 2020.

At least a dozen new people have come forward to federal authorities over the past 24 hours alleging they were victims of a San Diego doctor accused of prescribing painkillers to patients in exchange for sex.

Amy Roderick with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) told NBC 7 on Thursday that federal agents have been contacted by at least a dozen possible victims since news broke Wednesday of the arrest of El Cajon-based Dr. Naga Raja Thota, M.D., 62.

Roderick said the investigation is ongoing, and could not offer further details.

NBC 7 spoke with a woman Thursday, who wished to remain anonymous, who said she was once a patient of Thota's.

This woman claimed that during her time as his patient, she had some very uncomfortable conversations with Thota. She said the doctor would often call her "Barbie," and allegedly made comments about a low-cut shirt she wore and a necklace that hung low onto her chest.

She also said that there was always a female nurse in the room during her appointments with Thota and when he'd make inappropriate remarks towards her, the nurses would uncomfortably laugh off the comments.

From the first time she met him, the woman told NBC 7 she felt Thota's behavior was inappropriate. She wound up leaving his medical practice and switching to another doctor. She said she believes she was sexually harassed by Thota and wishes she would have reported the incident to authorities sooner.

The former patient told NBC 7 that while being prescribed medication by Thota, her prescriptions kept increasing in dosage and strength, and she had no idea why.

As of Thursday morning, Thota's medical office -- the Pain Management Center located at 2732 Navajo Rd. -- was still operating, with another physician at the practice taking patients, NBC 7 confirmed.

The office was raided by federal agents Wednesday morning and Thota was taken into custody on allegations connected to the painkillers and sex scandal.

Thota was arraigned in federal court Wednesday afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Bernie Skomal. He is charged with seven counts of dispensing controlled substances without a legitimate medical purpose. If convicted on all charges, Thota faces a maximum sentence of 20 years behind bars, plus a $1 million fine and life-term of supervised release.

The doctor is being represented by San Diego-based lawyer Robert C. Schlein, who has been his attorney for the past two years.

On Thursday, Schlein told NBC 7 his client will enter a not guilty plea. The attorney said Thota posted bond after his arraignment and was released from federal custody Wednesday night.

In a federal complaint filed against Thota, the doctor is accused of prescribing highly-addictive opiate painkiller medications to young female patients who did not need the pills for medical purposes.

Investigators allege that Thota prescribed the painkillers with the intent of getting his patients addicted. He then developed romantic relationships with at least three patients in the complaint, and once they were addicted, would ask the patients to engage in sex acts with him in exchange for more prescriptions.

The case against Thota involves three patients in their early to mid-20s. Two of those women became hooked on heroin as a result of the over-prescribing of painkillers by Thota, the complaint states.

Thota's prescriptions for these patients included Oxycodone, Methadone and Alprazolam. In one case, he allegedly wrote prescriptions for a patient under the names of her brother, father and a friend in order to bypass any issues that could stem from writing too many prescriptions for one patient.

In some cases, he allegedly drove the patients "from pharmacy to pharmacy" to get the medications filled, the complaint says, and even gave $50 to one patient so she could pay for her prescription.

According to investigators, Thota paid for many gifts for the patients in this case, too, including cell phones, jewelry and shopping sprees.

The complaint says one patient alleges that Thota even offered to pay her $100 once to have sex with him.

The DEA has been investigating Thota for several years. Federal agents served the first search warrants in this investigation on Thota's medical practice on Navajo Road on May 27, 2015.

The doctor was first interviewed by investigators at the U.S. Attorney's Office in San Diego on June 4, 2015, mainly about prescriptions he wrote for patients mentioned in the complaint. He met again with the feds on Dec. 15, 2015, while in the presence of his defense attorney, the complaint says.

Search warrants were served on Thota's medical practice on Navajo Road on March 16, 2016. During that search, federal agents discovered more text messages between Thota and one of the patients in the complaint, plus nude photos of another patient in the complaint.

Read the full complaint filed on Aug. 30 here.

At the doctor's arraignment on Wednesday, Judge Skomal set Thota's bail at $100,000. The doctor was also ordered to not contact any of the patients involved in the case. Thota can still work at his pratice but with some restrictions, the judge said. He is still able to prescribe pain medicine to female patients, but only under the supervision of another physician while this case is pending.

Superior Court of California records obtained by NBC 7 show Thota has been involved in two medical malpractice cases and one professional negligence case in San Diego County since 2013.

According to the Medical Board of California, Thota has a current "Physician and Surgeon A" license to practice that expires on Aug. 31, 2018. His license was issued on Sept. 14, 1994. It states Thota graduated from Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences in Vijayawada in India on Jan. 1, 1979.

The Medical Board of California license information shows one "administrative disciplinary action" on Thota's record and lists his status as "probation" as a result of disciplinary action. The license also says "limitations have been placed on the physician's practice."

Thota was placed on probation effective March 2, 2016, according to the Medical Board of California. He was suspended from practicing for one month, from March 18 to April 16. Per the Board, Thota's probation term is seven years.

The probation terms state he is "prohibited from engaging in the solo practice of medicine and supervising physician assistants and shall not order, prescribe, dispense, administer, furnish of possess any controlled subtances, except for those drugs listed in schedules IV and V. Dr. Thota shall be subject to this restriction until he completes a prescribing course."

The investigation is ongoing. Lenox said there may be more victims out there. Roderick said anyone who believes they are victims of Thota in this case can call federal law enforcement at (858) 616-4100.

Thota is scheduled to appear in court again on Sept. 13.

A former San Diego Chargers' player and now pastor says that given the sometimes tense relationship between police and underserved communities, he understands where San Franciso 49ers Quarterback Colin Kaepernick is coming from.

In an interview with NBC 7, Terrell Fletcher says he supports Kaepernick's message but disagrees with the methodology.

But more importantly, Fletcher says we need to ask ourselves why Kaepernick's refusal to stand during the National Anthem has struck a nerve.

"He has taken an opportunity with his social stance to interrupt us in a place where we don't want to deal with social issues," said Fletcher.

Fletcher also says Kaepeenick's message is probably getting lost because of his methodology, but Fletcher is also challenging all of us to take a closer look at why this is so upsetting to so many.

"Are we getting lost in the methodology because we 'want' to get lost in the methodology?," he asked. "Is it an easier conversation for us to talk about him not standing for the National Anthem as opposed to having a conversation about the realites and solutions of some of our marginalized brothers and sisters."

Fletcher was the Runningback for the San Diego Chargers for eight seasons until 2002.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick took to one knee during the national anthem in the game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium Thursday night.

The game happened to coincide with the 28th annual "Salute to the Military".

Kaepernick has been at the center of a controversy for refusing to stand during the national anthem. The quarterback says he is protesting against police brutality against the black community and people of color.

He spoke during a press conference following the game, saying he is not anti-American and that he supports all service members.

"I realize that men and women of the military go out and sacrifice their lives and put themselves in harms way for my freedom of speech and my freedoms in this country and my freedom to take a seat or to take a knee," he said.

The quarterback was met with boos and chants of "U.S.A" for his refusal to stand during the national anthem. He was joined by teammate Eric Reid in the silent protest, which had many San Diegans riled up.

"I think Kaepernick is a damn fool. We live in America and you should have respect," said fan Juan Moreno.

But veterans like John Maccrossen defended Kaepernick's right to civil disobedience.

“While I don’t agree with his method of protest, that’s his right to do it," Maccrossen said.

“We did our jobs so people have a voice and can do that,” explained Marine Corps Veteran Samuel Carnibucci.

Meanwhile, Kaepernick says his refusal to stand during the national anthem is not meant to be disrespectful to the military but to bring attention to what he calls injustice in America because of police brutality.

During his interview, Kaepernick said he and his teammate Reid had a conversation with a veteran about how to bring the focus back onto the issue.

"We were talking to him about how can we get the message back on track and not take away from the military, and not take away from pride in our country," he said.

But fans like Mike Lemons disagree.

"We’re proud of our soldiers that fight for us every day. It’s giving respect to them and has nothing to do with cops and judicial system,” Lemons told NBC 7.

Kaepernick said he is disappointed that people are focusing on the wrong issues and not his message.

"It takes us farther away from the end goal which is making the communities and this country a better place," he said.

Navy Veteran Shawn Vandiver said: “I fought for Americans’ right to assemble and protest. It’s part of citizens’ First Amendment right. Kaepernick was specifically protesting injustice for African Americans.”

But while Kaepernick continues to take a stand by kneeling and sitting down, some are wondering now that he's sparked the conversation, what's his solution.

“I don’t care what the cause is. Whether black, white, police, if you are going to make a stand you need to follow up and be part of solution,” said Mark Pacitti whose son-in-law is in the military.

Kaepernick said he is planning to take his protest further and is working with various organizations. He also plans to donate $1 million to different organizations that work with undeserved communities.

He did not specify the organizations.

Officers are responding to a reported shooting in Carlsbad Thursday night, the Carlsbad Police Department confirmed.

Police were called to Rancho Santa Fe Road and San Elijo Road in Carlsbad just before midnight.

According to the North Comm Fire Department, a person walked into the emergency room at Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas at approximately 11:30 p.m. with a gunshot wound. Since the hospital does not have a trauma center, the individual was trasported to Scripps La Jolla Hospital.

There is no word on the condition of the person.

San Diego Sheriff's Department (SDSO) confirmed they are also responding to the incident.

No other information was immediately available.

Check back for updates on this breaking news story. 

NBC 7 San Diego and iHeart Media have teamed up with the San Diego Blood Bank to help save lives. 

Join us for the blood drive on Thursday, September 1, 2016 from 9AM-6PM at the iHeart Media headquarters located at 9660 Granite Ridge Dr, San Diego, CA 92123.

The first 45 people to sign up will receive a pair of tickets to the 2016 iHeartRadio Daytime Village at the iHeart Radio Music Festival and free lunch will be provided by Chipotle from 11AM-1PM.

Call 1-800-4MY-SDBB to schedule an appointment or walk-in.

Whether you're looking for to go fishing under the stars, catch a concert at the track, chow down on bacon at a festival all about bacon, or watch an outdoor movie screening, there are plenty of activities this Labor Day weekend across San Diego. Make sure to get out and enjoy the last weekend of summer in San Diego! 

Thursday, Sept. 1

Free Dance Lesson at Twilight in the Park
5:30 p.m., Speckels Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park
If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to dance with that special someone, come out to Balboa Park before the summer concert series this Thursday and join swing dancing in San Diego. The free, pre-concert class will be held with live music. Between 5:30 p.m. and 6:15 p.m., there will be short, 15 to 20 minute classes. Stop by any time, and hang around after for The Legends in concert.

Modern Times Beer Dinner at BarleyMash
7 p.m. to 10 p.m., BarleyMash
The popular downtown San Diego eatery at 5th Avenue and Market Street will host this perfectly paired five-course dining event Thursday night featuring craft brews from Modern Times. Courses include scallops, house made pretzels, a fancy salad, karabuta pork cheeks and cookies and ice cream, each dish paired with a brew that compliments the flavors. Tickets to this Beer Dinner cost $75 per person; make reservations in advance by emailing Lizzie@BarleyMashSD.com. Cheers!

Night Fishing at Dixon Lake
7 p.m. to 11:45 p.m., Dixon Lake in Escondido
Bring the family out to Dixon Lake in Escondido (1700 La Honda Dr.) for the final night fishing session of the season. The shoreline will be open for fishing until 11:45 p.m.; picnic areas will close at 8 p.m. Catfish have been planted in the lake throughout the summer, so hopefully your fishing line will get a bite.

Colin Kane Performs Stand-Up Act
8 p.m., The American Comedy Co.
Actor and insult comic Colin Kane performs his stand-up act at The American Comedy Company this weekend, with shows Thursday through Saturday. Tickets start at $12 per person. 

Friday, Sept. 2

First Friday Concerts in Allied Gardens Park
6 p.m., Allied Gardens Recreation Center Park
If it’s the first Friday of the month, you know it’s time to head out the Allied Gardens Recreation Center Park for a free concert. This Friday, Rachel Aldous and the Road Home, a bluegrass, folk and Americana group, will play sweet tunes for attendees. The concert is free.

Friday Night Concerts: Mercado del Barrio
6 p.m., Mercado del Barrio at 1950 Main Street
Stop by the Mercado del Barrio this Friday for a free concert for all ages – before the summer series wraps up. This Friday, enjoy a reggae concert as Maka Roots takes the stage. The concert will go until 8 p.m.

Fleet Week Overboard Concert
7 p.m., House of Blues
Kick off Fleet Week in San Diego the right way – by sailing into a night of music and fun at the House of Blues. Van Halen Tribute Band Fan Halen will perform throughout the night, plus authentic Sailor Jerry will be tattooing. There will also be a scotch and cigar patio. Doors open at 7 p.m. and tickets start at $5 for active military with photo ID.

Kenny Loggins at Harrah’s Resort Southern California
9 p.m., Harrah’s Resort Southern California
Grammy award-winning singer and songwriter Kenny Loggins brings his farewell tour to San Diego. Don’t miss your chance to see this iconic artist before he retires. He will be performing his hits at The Events Center stage starting at 9 p.m. Tickets start at $55.

1812 Tchaikovsky Spectacular
7:30 p.m., Embarcadero Marina Park South
Beautiful classical melodies will fill the air along the San Diego bay this Friday as the San Diego Symphony performs the 1812 Overture. Fireworks will light up the night sky in a truly spectacular ending to the summer. Tickets start at $20.

The Wailers Play Del Mar
4 p.m., Del Mar Race Track
The 4 O’Clock Friday Summer Concert Series continues at the Del Mar Race Track’s Seaside Stage Friday evening with a cool, laid-back performance by The Wailers. Known for their iconic work with music legend Bob Marley, the group will play their reggae classics after the final horse race of the day.

Saturday, Sept. 3

46th Annual Powwow
1 p.m., Barona Indian Reservation Sports Park
Spend all weekend enjoying the outdoors at the Barona Powwow. The event starts Friday with gourd dancing and a grand entry. Saturday, the festivities continues, with special contests held throughout the day. Admission is free, and dry camping is permitted.

Del Mar Summer Concert Series: Chromeo
7 p.m., Del Mar Racetrack
Finish a long day at the racetrack with this Saturday concert. Chromeo, a Canadian electro-funk duo, perform at the Seaside Stage shortly after the las trace wraps up. Concerts are free with racetrack admission; however, if you arrive after the last race, you will be charged concert admission - $20. All concerts are 18 years and older.

Labor Day Weekend Luau
12 p.m., SummerSalt Pool Lounge in Downtown San Diego
Continue the Labor Day festivities with the tradition luau at the rooftop pool and lounge on Hotel Palomar’s 4th floor deck! There will be an all-you-can-eat Hawaiian plate lunch, Tiki drink specials and a DJ spinning from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Executive Chef Brad Kraten will be in charge of the food. Tickets cost $20.

79th Annual Deep Pit BBQ
11 a.m., Our Lady of Light in Descanso
A true Labor Day tradition returns to Our Lady of Light, a Catholic Church in Descanso, 32 miles outside San Diego. Enjoy freshly barbecued meats, live entertainment, vendors, a raffle and, best of all, family time at this event for all ages. Admission is free.

San Diego Bacon Fest
1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Liberty Station
Bacon, beer, spirits and music will take center stage at the 4th annual San Diego Bacon Fest Saturday at Preble Field at NTC Park at Liberty Station. Pig out on unlimited samples of sizzling, bacon-centric dishes from some top-notch local restaurants (Slater’s 50/50, Taste & Thirst, The Promiscuous Fork – to name a few) and sip on craft beers from local breweries including Alpine Beer Company, Duck Foot Brewing Co., Mission Brewery and 3 Punk Ales Brewing Co. General admission tickets are $60 per person if purchased in advance; $65 the day of the event.

Opera on the Track
11 a.m., Santee Trolley Station
The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System and San Diego Opera kick off their “Opera at the Track” program Saturday, a series of free, 30-minute opera performances at trolley stations across San Diego. The first show is at the Santee Trolley Station (Green Line – 9884 Mission Gorge Rd.), at the Santee Trolley Square Amphitheatre.

Sunday, Sept. 4

Ballast Point 20th Anniversary Festival
4 p.m., Del Mar Racetrack
Come help Ballast Point Brewing and Spirits celebrate 20 years of business in San Diego! The local brewery is going all-out for their anniversary celebration this Labor Day weekend. The Roots, Lady Dottie, The Diamonds and more will perform live on Sunday. Plus, more than 50 Ballast Point brews will be available for purchase, along with tasty treats. General admission opens at 5 p.m. and costs $55, tickets include a specialty tasting glass, racetrack and festival admission and ten 4oz tasters. Early entry at 4 p.m. costs $70; designated drivers can buy tickets for $35. Buy tickets here.

‘Top Gun’ Screening on USS Midway
6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., USS Midway Flight Deck
Watch the 1986 Tom Cruise classic, “Top Gun,” aboard the flight deck of the USS Midway Museum (910 N. Harbor Dr.). As locals know, much of the film was shot in San Diego and it holds a special place in the hearts of San Diegans. Though the event is sold out, you can still bid on this special package for your chance to attend (http://www.midway.org/topgun-movie-night%20).

Labor Day Stick Ball Tournament
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.(Saturday and Sunday), Little Italy
Players from New York and Puerto Rico will hit Little Italy Saturday and Sunday for the Labor Day Stick Ball Tournament, which happens every other year. The teams will use broom sticks, table legs and other bat-like sticks to hit a rubber ball for their chance to be dubbed kings of the block. On Sunday, the Stick Ball Tournament will be played on Columbia Street, from W. Beech to Cedar streets, and on India Street, from W. Ash to W. A streets. On Saturday, the fun goes down on India Street, from W. Ash to W. A streets. Play ball!

Mermaid Fitness at The Del
7:45 a.m., Hotel Del Coronado
Channel your inner mermaid for this fun, unique aerobic workout at Hotel Del Coronado. The 45-minute class set to upbeat music combines swimming, core, cardio and strength training all while wearing a colorful mermaid tail provided by The Del. Participants will meet at 7:45 a.m. at the Fitness Center; the class will then head over to the Beach Village Pool. The cost is $20 per person and $15 for San Diego residents with an ID. Guests ages 12 to 17 can attend with an adult, but otherwise the class is for participants age 18+.

Hawaiian Plumeria Festival
8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Balboa Park
On Sunday, stop and smell the flowers at Balboa Park as the Southern California Plumeria Society hosts its annual Hawaiian Plumeria Festival. The flower show, plus live entertainment and plumeria shopping opportunities, will fill the Casa del Prado from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

Monday, Sept. 5: Labor Day

U.S. Sand Sculpting Challenge
9 a.m. to 7 p.m., B Street Pier along Embarcadero
These aren’t your kids’ sandcastles. Check out the most amazing, elaborate sand sculptures at the annual U.S. Sand Sculpting Challenge at B Street Pier (1140 North Harbor Dr.). The four-day event runs from Sept. 2-5 this year and promises incredible creations by sand sculptors and carvers, plus arts and crafts vendors, live music, food and activities for the kids. Monday’s schedule includes a 2 p.m. session with a professional sculptor who will share tips on how to build sandcastles. At the gate, tickets are $13 for adults and $9 for kids and seniors. Save $1 on both by buying tickets in advance online.

Nighttime Zoo
9 a.m. to 9 p.m., San Diego Zoo
Labor Day marks the final day of Nighttime Zoo hours at the San Diego Zoo this summer. This year, as the zoo celebrates its centennial, nighttime hours have been filled with live music, special shows and fun activities. Keep the kids up early, just this once, and check out the zoo under the stars.

Padres vs. Red Sox
1:40 p.m., Petco Park
Enjoy your extra day off by taking in a daytime game at Petco Park as the Padres take on the Red Sox. First pitch is at 1:40 p.m. Tickets in the stands start at $21.50 per person.

Liberty Public Market
11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Liberty Station
Use your Labor Day to explore Liberty Public Market – the food emporium at Liberty Public Station (2820 Historic Decatur Rd.) featuring dozens of local merchants. The Market is open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., but the perk of visiting on a Monday is Market Happy Hour, which runs on weekdays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., with all vendors offerings discounts on select food and drinks from their mouthwatering menus. Cheers!

A 12-inch, concrete water main broke Thursday afternoon in Miramar, causing flooding in the street and road closures.

At about 1:45 p.m. the San Diego Police Department received a call about flooding in the street by the 7000 block of Miramar Road near Production Avenue. The first couple lanes are shut down in both directions.

This has left customers without access to water service in the 6900 through the 7200 blocks of Miramar Road, many of which are restaurants.

Vu Nguyen manages Facchini's had been open for just one month.

“I have the water off so we have to close,” Nguyen said.

Supernatural Sandwiches lost its water while customers were in the dining room and waiting in line.

“People are getting off of work and hanging out here to avoid traffic unwind catch an early dinner so it is huge. We lost out today,"  said the restaurant's co-owner Craig Jimenez.

“What can you do? Nothing you can do about it,” Nguyen said.

There are two possible pipes that may be related to the main break, according to the San Diego Water Department. Officials say they can't shut the water off until they determine which pipe is broken.

All of the westbound lanes on Miramar Road have been closed while crews work on repairs, said an SDPD official.

Officials said repairs are expected to be completed by 5 a.m. Friday morning.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick is set to play Thursday night in military-friendly San Diego against the Chargers.

Normally, that wouldn't make big news, except for the fact that Kaepernick last week refused to stand for the national anthem causing a firestorm of controversy.

And what makes Thursday's 7 p.m. game even more potentially interesting is that the game has long been designated as the team's 28th annual "Salute to the Military" game. The idea behind the salute is to pay "tribute to the hundreds of thousands of current and retired military personnel who live and work in San Diego," the Chargers said in a news release this week.

Kaepernick has been in the spotlight since Friday. That's when he was discovered sitting on the bench during the anthem played at the 49ers pre-season game against the Green Bay Packers at Levi's Stadium, and first told to NFL Media: "I don't to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. To me, this is bigger than football, and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street, and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder."

He's also now drawing attention for wearing socks at August practices that show police officers as pigs.

In San Diego, the national anthem will be performed by Petty Officer 1st Class Steven Powell from the U.S. Navy while 240 sailors, Marines and soldiers present a U.S. Super Flag and service emblems. Color guards from the Navy, Marine Corps and Army will present the flag, the Chargers said.

Kaepernick has vowed he will sit in the bench during the anthem until people of color are no longer treated unfairly in this country.

Military servicemembers and fans in San Diego are having mixed responses to the football player.

Some said they do not appreciate Kaep's stance, or rather, lack of stance during the country's song.

"He should be standing up because he wouldn't have those rights in the first place," said 49ers fan Mike Lemons.

He added: "He has the freedom because the country has protected him."

But Marine Corps veteran Isaiah Parsley told NBC 7 San Diego that Kaepernick has the right to take a stand.

"You have the right to express yourself. We shouldn't use our rights to supress the rights of his freedom of expression. However he chooses to do it is on him," Parsley said.

The Chargers have several players with ties to the military, including fullback Chris Swain, who attended Naval Academy Prep, and defensive end Corey Liuget's sisters, who both serve in the Army.

But just because someone is a soldier or a Marine, doesn't mean they don't stand behind what Kaepernick's symbolic actions. Or at least, agree with his right to do speak his mind, or sit down during a song. This week, scores of veterans came out by tweeting #VeteransforKaepernick, saying that they are behind the player's right to express himself.

And in a phone interview Thursday afternoon from the Marine Corps Airstation in Miramar, Capt. Kurt Stahl of the 3rd Marine Aircraft said Kaepernicks' behavior won't bother him.

"We respect his rights as an American citizen and our organization exists to defend those rights," Stahl said. "We feel the national anthem is important to us. But we respect other views because that's what America is about."

Four of the five victims who died in a Temecula house fire have been identified, Riverside County Sheriff’s officials said.

The four identified victims were James Jennex, 50; Jared Prudhomme, 26; Milford Battison, 37; and Richard Driskill, 37. All of the victims resided in Temecula.

The fire broke out just before 6 a.m. Monday in the 41000 block of Cruz Way in an unincorporated area of Temecula.

Family members told NBC LA that the home was a 24-hour home care business for adults who have disabilities. Jennex, one of the people killed, was one of the owners of the business.

The fire has been ruled suspicious in nature and detectives with the sheriff’s central homicide unit are investigating.

Further details on the fire or what has led authorities to deem it suspicious have not been revealed.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Riverside Sheriff’s Investigator Mullins at 951-955-2777.

A man claiming to be a pastor and a contractor is facing civil claims from several people who say he took their cash but never did the work.

Many are now having trouble getting their money back.

One veteran told NBC 7 he chose to work with Pastor James E. Wright, not just because he trusted him as a man of God, but also because he says Wright was advertising a veteran-owned business.

"As a veteran myself, I wanted to support that. Long story short, it turns out, he's not actually a veteran, which is pretty shameful for him to say he is," said Vince Smith, a combat veteran who returned from Afghanistan in April, and decided to invest in home improvements.

Receipts show he paid a $2,000 deposit, but Smith says the contractor never showed up to do the work.

Now he says he's having to go to small claims court to get his money back.

Wright did not respond to requests for comment.

Pastor James Wright's Craigslist ad boasts services for everything from kitchens and baths to landscaping and electrical work.

The website claims he's got 25 years experience in handyman work. But, a quick check with the state's Contractor Licensing Board shows Wright's license is expired, since 1992.

This is not the first time NBC 7 has received complaints from viewers about Wright.

In May 2015, the federal government took away Wright's Project Share license to provide food to needy people. That was after NBC 7 revealed he was cashing out parishioner's and resident's food stamp cards in exchange for deplorable conditions in what Wright called "shelters."

Smith said he tried getting his money back from Wright, who kept texting him excuse after excuse, including that Wright had been in a car accident.

A handful of other people have shared similar stories about home improvement work they paid Wright to complete.

Smith said he's frustrated because he's trying to get the project done and get his money back before his next deployment. 

"I'm probably leaving again in the Fall, and I'm wasting all this time trying to recover that money to get this project done before I leave again," Vince said.

Wright has faced criminal charges in the past, for example, theft, embezzlement and contracting without a license.

California law requires contractors obtain a valid state license to contract for home improvement jobs that cost more than $500. Violations are misdemeanors with a maximum penalty of up to a $5,000 fine and up to six months in jail, for each offense.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick said he wants to do more than just sit on a bench or take a knee during the national anthem.

On Thursday night, after a victorious preseason game against the San Diego Chargers, Kaepernick told reporters he planned to give the first $1 million he earns this year to unnamed community organizations.

"I am planning to take it a step further," he told reporters.  "I'm currently working with organizations to be involved and making sure I'm actively in these communities as well as donating the first million dollars that I make this year to different organizations to help these communities and help these people."

Kaepernick said he is still in discussions with multiple organizations. Kaepernick is guaranteed to earn $11.9 million in base salary this season.

Kaepernick added: "I've been very blessed to be in this position and make the kind of money I do, and I have to help these people. I have to help these communities. It's not right that they're not put in the position to succeed, or given the opportunities to succeed."

A Donald Trump surrogate warned that without tighter immigration policies the U.S. will see "taco trucks on every corner" as a consequence of Mexican migration.

While questioning Latinos for Trump founder Marco Gutierrez over Trump's immigration speech, MSNBC's Joy-Anne Reid asked whether Trump's tone was so alienating that he could possibly face a Barry Goldwater moment.

Gutierrez praised the Republican presidential nominee for delivering a "tough message" that needed to be addressed before warning that his culture was "imposing" and "dominant" and that "if you don't do something about it, you're going to have taco trucks on every corner."

The comment sparked backlash and unleashed a flood of memes on social media, with the hashtag #tacotrucksoneverycorner trending on Twitter.

A gay priest in New Jersey has been suspended over his continued support of gay groups and, he says, for expressing support for a woman who was fired from a Catholic high school for marrying her partner.

The Rev. Warren Hall was fired last year as a chaplain at Seton Hall University after posting support online for a group that promotes marriage equality. He was later appointed to a parish in Hoboken, but Hall said Newark Archbishop John Myers suspended him Wednesday.

Newark Archdiocese spokesman James Goodness said that Warren is "not allowed to function as a priest in any way" and that all priests promise "reverence and obedience" to their bishops and support of church teachings.

Attorneys for Kate Drumgoole say Paramus Catholic High School violated the state's anti-discrimination law when it fired her as dean of guidance and head coach of the basketball team in January after learning she was married to a woman. The school said Drumgoole was fired because she's in a same-sex marriage — not because she's gay. A judge last week denied the school's request to dismiss the lawsuit.

Myers said in a statement Wednesday that he supported Paramus Catholic's decision because Drumgoole's same-sex marriage could "create confusion and uncertainty in the moral formation" of students.

Hall told the Religion News Service that his support of Drumgoole was one of the reasons he was suspended.

Hall said last year that he was fired from the Seton Hall job because of a photo he posted on his Facebook page supporting the NOH8 Campaign, an organization that promotes "marriage, gender and human quality." He then publicly announced that he is gay and has kept his vow of celibacy.

 Goodness said at the time that Hall was removed from Seton Hall because his assignment was ending but that the social media post was an "area of conflict" because of the group's advocacy for same-sex marriage. The problem was resolved when Hall removed the post from his page, Goodness said.

Another week, another round of delicious details from San Diego’s dining scene. This time, Eater San Diego shares the scoop on the highly-anticipated re-launch of a popular Little Italy sport, plus new fall openings and essential coffee shops.

Craft & Commerce Reopens After Expansion, With New Menu
After a year-long revamp, it has arrived: the new and improved Craft & Commerce. The Little Italy restaurant has reopened with a redesigned and expanded space that includes a second bar, extended seating and a new wrap-around patio. There's also a fresh cocktail list and an overhauled food menu inspired by the eatery’s wood-fired grill. 

San Diego's Most-Anticipated Restaurant Openings for Fall 2016
Eater takes a look at a lineup of the most-anticipated new restaurants set to open in San Diego this fall. The exciting array of new local dining spots ranges from a poke eatery and tiki bar combo, to a sweet and savory pie shop and fast-casual concepts. See where you'll be eating next season. 

RakiRaki Ramen Launches Little Italy Expansion
Popular Kearny Mesa ramen house RakiRaki has finally opened a second outpost on India Street that combines its signature menu with sushi burrito concept Pokirrito and yakitori, plus beer and wine. It's now open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.

San Diego's Essential Coffee Shops
Our local coffee culture is thriving, with a growing community of coffee roasters and well-respected coffee shops – from third-wave coffee bars to neighborhood coffee houses. Eater takes a look at 23 of the city's top spots to get your buzz on. 

Trendy Dessert Shop & Cafe Debut on Convoy
New to Kearny Mesa is Bing Haus, which specializes in novelty desserts and coffee drinks. Still in its soft opening phase, the cafe is offering Thai-style rolled ice cream and soft serve but will soon expand its menu to include Korean shaved ice, pastries and more.

Ex-Stanford swimmer Brock Turner, whose sexual assault conviction and sentencing sparked a national debate about "rape culture" on college campuses and white privilege in the legal system, walked out of Santa Clara County jail early Friday morning in San Jose after spending three months behind bars.

Turner, clad in a crumpled dress shirt, was handed a big packet of hate mail by guards as he exited at 6:08 a.m. With his head down, he slipped into a white SUV. The family checked in to the Hilton Garden Inn in Mountain View.

Turner didn't say anything to the throng of media agencies awaiting his departure from jail.

However, the bright lights and cameras that focused on him Friday illuminated a harsh fact: Turner will likely have trouble escaping notoriety even once at home in Ohio. For many, he is now the poster child for the problem of sexual assaults on college campuses, and protesters have begun lining up outside the Turner family's home in Greene County.

Anticipating his arrival, some protesters on Friday utilized Ohio's open carry rules and strapped AR-15s onto their bodies. They also carried signs promising to "castrate rapists."

"I think that six months was not enough for his actions," Kate Gorlaski said.

Fellow protester Molly Hardin agreed, saying, "Justice was not served for what Brock did to that victim." 

The anger has generated worry among those who live nearby in the suburban town near Dayton.

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There were no formal protests outside of the South Bay jail Friday, and Turner was not booed or harmed, as some had feared. But rape survivor Andrea Murphy was one of the few non-reporters who came to the event, saying she came just to look Turner in the eye.

Sheriff Laurie Smith, who is running for re-election, told reporters that this was an "outrage" describing what Turner did as the "rape" of an unconscious drunk woman. She added that Turner should "not have spent time in our jail," meaning that she thought the 21-year-old should have been given a harsher sentence in a state prison.

Smith had said earlier in the week that Turner wouldn't receive any "special favors." He would be released through the jail's front entrance, and wasn't getting access to a "backdoor," she had promised.

The trial and subsequent outrage prompted a California sex assault bill that's now being considered by Gov. Jerry Brown.

In a statement to Gov. Brown, Smith wrote that she urged him to sign the bill to "make clear that probation is not a fair sentence for anyone convicted of a sexual assault felony perpetrated against an intoxicated and unconscious victim." 

Smith said in her statement dated Aug. 31 that as a sheriff and mother, "I do believe that the interests of justice are best served by ensuring that sexual predators are sent to prison as punishment for their crime." 

While in jail, Turner shared a cell with five inmates. He was allowed to exercise in the yard for 90 minutes a day, but spent the rest of his time in protective custody because he was "at risk" from other inmates. 

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After Turner's release, District Attorney Jeff Rosen issued a statement, asking law makers to close a loophole in the law regarding unconscious victims and rape: "If we had our way, Brock Turner would be in state prison serving a six-year sentence, not going home. However, our focus today is on a bill that will require a state prison sentence, not probation, for anyone convicted of sexually assaulting an unconscious person. With the governor’s signature, the next Brock Turner will go to prison."

A jury found Turner guilty in March of three counts of sexually assaulting an unconscious and intoxicated woman in January 2015. He was not convicted of rape. Turner served half of a six-month sentence — his early release is due to good behavior — that has brought heavy criticism on Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Aaron Persky. 

A Stanford student testified that he saw Turner on top of a woman who wasn’t moving and, with another student, tackled the swimmer to the ground when he tried to run away. The woman, who graduated from UC Santa Barbara, said she had been drinking and did not want to have sex with Turner at a fraternity party they had attended. The case's profile rose even further when the young woman  wrote a powerful letter describing her experience in an unusually direct way, earning praise across the country and even from Vice President Joe Biden. She has not been named publicly.

Turner's father drew attention to the case by writing a letter to the court saying just "20 minutes of action" should not justify a stint in jail. 

Later Friday, women's groups such as Ultraviolet protested Turner's release, and continued their recall campaign against Judge Persky. Activists want the judge removed from the bench because of Turner's sentence, which could have been as long as 14 years.

Perksy voluntarily recused himself from all criminal cases last week and has since set up a website to fight his recall. Inmates are routinely set free early due to good behavior.

As a condition of his release, Turner will be required to complete a sex offender management program and participate in polygraph tests, according to his probation conditions. He is also banned from stepping on the Stanford campus ever again. As of Friday, he had already registered as a sex offender on the U.S. Department of Justice's website.

Categorized as a tier-3 offender, Turner will have to re-register as a sex offender every three months in Ohio. To get off the offender list, he must get a pardon from California’s governor.

The Greene County sheriff told NBC Bay Area he expects Turner to check in with him next week. 

NBC Bay Area's Shawn Murphy, Robert Handa, Rick Boone and Henry Mulak contributed to this report.

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Escondido’s Stone Brewing Co. has named Dominic Engels as its new chief executive officer, effective Sept. 6, as current CEO and co-founder Greg Koch is promoted to a previously announced role as executive chairman.

Engels has most recently served as president of POM Wonderful, a maker of pomegranate and other fruit beverages that is part of Los Angeles-based The Wonderful Co. Engels has held several leadership positions at Wonderful Co. during the past 17 years, including heading European and Middle Eastern operations for the company’s beverage, pistachio and almond divisions.

Before Wonderful, he held positions at golf product makers Tommy Armour, Spalding and Top-Flite, as well as consulting firm McKinsey & Co. and retailer The Gap.

“After nearly a year of searching for just the right person to help us lead our company into the future, we’ve finally been successful,” Koch said in a Stone Brewing statement. “Dominic’s experience guiding companies through periods of growth, on a global scale, have us really excited about the future of Stone.”

Koch announced in September 2015 that Stone Brewing was launching a search for a new chief executive officer to oversee daily operations, with Koch planning to transition to the executive chairman role, focusing on long-term and higher-level strategic planning.

“We interviewed a lot of talented people who were interested in this role,” said Stone Brewing President and co-founder Steve Wagner, in the statement. “I was personally impressed with Dominic’s accomplishments and we connected right off the bat. He has a great skill set for the role and he is by far the best ‘cultural fit’ of anyone we talked to.”

Founded in 1996, Stone Brewing is the nation’s 10th largest craft beer brewer and the largest of more than 100 based in San Diego County. The company recently opened new production facilities in Virginia and Berlin, Germany, and has upcoming venues including a taproom in Napa and a new hotel adjacent to its flagship facilities in Escondido.

The number of rattlesnake reports is up in a neighborhood near Kearny Mesa. County Officials say it may be due to more food and shelter in the area. They say snake reports are down, however, in the county as a whole.

Residents in Birdland near the streets of Meadow L ark Drive are reporting snakes on their front patios, in bushes around their homes and even swimming in their pools.

“My daughter was leaving the house and right along the step was a 5-7 inch baby snake,” said Mary Stock who lives in the 2000 block of Goshawk Street. She says the snake make her feel nervous.

“Kids run barefoot in those neighborhood play in the streets here,” Stock said.

County Animal Services officials say people are reporting king snakes and rattlesnakes. They warn the public to stay away from rattlesnakes and call professionals to remove them from the area.

State troopers in Chattanooga, Tennessee, have been known to patrol in a tractor-trailer so they can sit up high and spot drivers texting behind the wheel.

In Bethesda, Maryland, a police officer disguised himself as a homeless man, stood near a busy intersection and radioed ahead to officers down the road about texting drivers. In two hours last October, police gave out 56 tickets.

And in West Bridgewater, Massachusetts, south of Boston, an officer regularly tools around town on his bicycle, pedals up to drivers at stoplights and hands them $105 tickets.

Texting while driving in the U.S. is not just a dangerous habit, but also an infuriatingly widespread one, practiced both brazenly and surreptitiously by so many motorists that police are being forced to get creative — and still can't seem to make much headway.

"It's everyone, kids, older people — everyone. When I stop someone, they say, 'You're right. I know it's dangerous, but I heard my phone go off and I had to look at it,'" said West Bridgewater Officer Matthew Monteiro.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates nearly 3,500 people were killed in crashes involving distracted drivers in the mainland U.S. and Puerto Rico in 2015, up from almost 3,200 in 2014. The number of deaths in which cellphones were the distraction rose from 406 in 2014 to 476 in 2015.

But many safety advocates say crashes involving cellphones are vastly underreported because police are forced to rely on what they are told by drivers, many of whom aren't going to admit they were using their phones.

"You don't have a Breathalyzer or a blood test to see if they are using their phones," said Deborah Hersman, president and chief executive of the National Safety Council and former chairwoman of the National Transportation Safety Board. "Certainly, law enforcement can ask people, 'Can I see your phone?' but people can refuse, so they then have to get a search warrant."

Forty-six states have laws against texting while driving that typically also ban sending or reading email, using apps or engaging in other internet activity. Fourteen states bar drivers from using hand-held cellphones for any activity, including talking.

While efforts to discourage texting have increased in recent years, the consensus among police, safety advocates and drivers is that the problem is only getting worse.

In New York, texting tickets soared from about 9,000 in 2011 to nearly 85,000 in 2015. In Massachusetts, they rocketed from about 1,100 to a little over 6,100 over the same period. In California, the number of people found guilty of texting while driving climbed from under 3,000 in 2009 to over 31,000 in 2015.

Everywhere they look, police see drivers staring at their phones.

"We did see one driver who had two phones going at one time — one in his left hand and one in his right hand, with his wrist on the steering wheel," said Lt. Paul Watts, a Virginia state trooper.

West Bridgewater Police Chief Victor Flaherty said: "We've seen cars in trees. We've had two houses hit within three weeks. We had a car off the road 100 yards before it hit a parking lot."

Enforcement is difficult, in part because it's hard to prove texting violations in states that allow drivers to talk on hand-held cellphones.

"For the normal officer, in a car, it's very difficult to tell if someone is texting or just using their phone in another way," Flaherty said.

In Florida, texting is a secondary offense, meaning that even if police spot drivers texting, they can't be stopped unless the officer sees another violation, such as speeding. Police gave out just 1,359 citations for texting in 2015.

Drivers have also become sneakier. Instead of resting their phones against the steering wheel, they hold them down low to make it more difficult for police to see what's going on.

"Some people call it the red-light prayer because their heads are bowed and they are looking down at their laps with a nice blue glow coming up in their face," said Chris Cochran, a spokesman for the California Office of Traffic Safety.

In New York, some lawmakers proposed equipping police with a device called the Textalyzer. An officer investigating a crash could use it to check the driver's phone for any activity before the wreck. The idea ran into legal objections and has not been put to a vote.

Fines for first offenses range from $20 to $500. In some states, such as New York, drivers caught texting also get points on their driving record, which can lead to higher insurance rates.

Some states have increased the penalties, including Louisiana, which raised its fine for first-time offenders from $175 to up to $500. But safety advocates have focused more on pushing for better enforcement, said Jonathan Adkins, executive director of the Governors Highway Safety Association.

Surveys show that most drivers know the dangers of using their phones while driving but that many do it anyway.

Jay Winsten, director of the Center for Health Communication at Harvard's School of Public Health, is working on a major media campaign against distracted driving. The center spearheaded the successful 1980s campaign that promoted the use of designated drivers to combat drunken driving.

In addition to warning drivers not to use their phones, the new campaign will promote defensive driving, urging motorists to watch out for distracted drivers.

"We're trying to get the attention of people by not talking to them as the villain, but rather as the other guy," Winsten said.

In the meantime, Officer Monteiro can't pedal his bike fast enough to get to all the drivers he sees texting. One day, he caught a teenager playing Pokemon Go on his phone while driving. Another time, he caught a woman watching YouTube videos. Both got slapped with $105 tickets. The teenager also faces a 60-day suspension of his license.

Vinny Fiasconaro, 30, got a warning after Monteiro saw him using the calculator on his phone at a stop sign. Fiasconaro shook his head sheepishly.

"I was in the wrong," he said. "You should be focusing on the road. You should pay attention."