A Sig Alert has been issued for Interstate 8 after a motorcycle crash has blocked three lanes of traffic, officials said.

The crash happened at about 10:45 a.m. on eastbound I-8, just east of Interstate 805.

The second, third and fourth lanes are blocked off and traffic is expected to be slowed for about an hour, officials said.

By 1 p.m., traffic was flowing smoothly.

Check back for updates on this breaking news story. 

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has completed its investigation after a pilot was struck and killed by a propeller at San Diego's Gillespie Field Airport. 

The pilot, who has not been identified, was performing a pre-flight inspection at the time of the fatal accident, FAA spokesman Ian Gregor said. 

During the inspection, the engine magneto was energized and the pilot, for unknown reasons, moved the propeller in the direction that it rotates, Gregor said.

The propeller turned and struck him in the head, Gregor said. The pilot died as a result. 

The unnamed pilot had his license and was training for the instrument on Sept. 1 when the fatal accident occurred, according to Tom Hannawa, the owner of American Aviation Academy. 

A similar incident happened in 2012 when a single-engine plane pilot got out of his aircraft in the ramp area of Gillespie Field and was hit in the head by the plane's propeller. 

No other information was immediately available.

A battle’s been brewing in Encinitas over a city ballot measure.

Measure T would allow higher-density housing developments in parts of the city.

Some residents strongly oppose the measure. They say the plan won’t actually allow more low-income housing to be built and that private developers will just build expensive homes that don’t fit in Encinitas.

They also says the measure will increase traffic, make parking more difficult, ruin community character and take control away from residents.

City officials say Encinitas has a lot to lose if the measure doesn’t pass. The measure would bring the city in to compliance with state housing law and encourage the production of more affordable housing.

Read more about the measure here.

Two men accused of shooting and killing a teenage girl two months ago in an Oceanside Park pleaded not guilty in court Wednesday as they faced the family of the teen they are accused of killing. 

Daniel Ramos, 20, and Elias Ramos, 20, both of Oceanside, are facing multiple charges related to the shooting death of Annebell Flores, 15, including murder, pre-meditated attempted murder and felony possession of a firearm.

Deputy District Attorney Shawn Tafreshi said both charges are considered gang motivated. A judge issued a tile order on the defendants. 

Flores, 15, was was shot and killed September 3 at Balderrama Park. Oceanside Police Officers found the 15-year-old at 2:30 a.m., on her back in the playground area of the park. She had suffered at least one gunshot wound.

Tafreshi explained the attack Wednesday, saying both young men were looking for and targeting a rival gang member at Balderrama Park to kill. Flores ended up as the victim. 

Many of Flores' family was in court Wednesday for the suspects' arraignments.

Flores' grandfather says there is too much violence in the area.

"We have to do something," said Robert Espinoza. "We cannot turn our heads around and ignore it, that it's not happening. Come on, three homicides, within 60 days of each other. That's not acceptable, we need to help these kids."

The victim's family said that even though police claim both young men were looking for members of a rival gang, Flores was not affiliated, she had just grown up in the area.

Espinoza said he misses his granddaughter. 

"Now that my granddaughter's gone, I can never see her again," he said outside of court. "One of the biggest things is, I want to hold her. I just feel sorry for their families. Theres three tragic families suffering right now. My family, and those two individuals, they're in custody right now."

A judge set bail for Elias at $2 million; bail for Daniel was set at $3 million. The two defendants were already in jail on unrelated charges, police said.

A preliminary hearing is set for Nov. 17. 

Chobani CEO Hamdi Ulukaya, a Turkish immigrant, is a self-made billionaire thanks to the yogurt empire he founded in 2007.

The head of the nation's number one-selling Greek yogurt wants other immigrants to have a shot at the American Dream, hiring 300 refugees to work in his factories.

Now there are calls to boycott Chobani, driven primarily by members of the extreme right, NBC News reported. Ulukaya and the company have been taunted with racist epithets on Twitter and Facebook. Conservative websites have published false stories connecting Chobani refugee hires with rapes and a spike in tuberculosis, without providing actual evidence actually tying them together. And the mayor of Twin Falls has received death threats, partly as a result of his support for Chobani.

But many have also taken to social media in support of the yogurt purveyor, tweeting photos of their Chobani yogurt cups and urging others to purchase "as many Chobani yogurts as you can afford, or as your fridge can hold."

In the local communities where Chobani operates its two plants — New Berlin, New York; and Twin Falls, Idaho, both Republican-leaning areas — the feeling toward the yogurt giant is overwhelmingly positive.

Facebook reported quarterly earnings and revenue Wednesday that beat analyst expectations, as it added more users than Wall Street expected, CNBC reported.

The social media giant posted adjusted earnings of $1.09 per share on revenue of $7.01 billion. Analysts had expected earnings of 97 cents per share, adjusted, on $6.92 billion, according to a Thomson Reuters consensus estimate.

"We had another good quarter," Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg said in a release. "We're making progress putting video first across our apps and executing our 10 year technology roadmap."

Monthly active users rose to 1.79 billion, above the more than 1.75 billion expected. For the first time, more than 1 billion users were active on their phones every month.

But even so, shares of the stock fell more than 1 percent after hours.

A recall has been issued for several dehumidifiers that can overheat, smoke and catch fire.

The manufacturer says no injuries have been reported, but 38 instances of smoke and fire have been reported, totalling roughly $4.8 million in property damages.

Units under the recall include 25, 30, 40, 50, 60, 65, 70, and 75-pint dehumidifiers, under the following brand names: Airworks, Alen, Arctic King, Arcticaire, Beaumark, Comfort Star, ComfortAire, Continental Electric, Coolworks, Crosley, Daewoo, Danby, Danby Designer, Dayton, Degree, Diplomat, Edgestar, Excell, Fellini, Forest Air, Frigidaire, GE, Grunaire, Hanover, Homestyles, Honeywell, Hyundai, Ideal Air, Kenmore, Keystone, Kul, Midea, Nantucket, Ocean Breeze, Pelonis, Perfect Aire, Perfect Home, Polar Wind, Premiere, Professional Series, Royal Sovereign, Simplicity, SPT, Sunbeam, Sylvania, TGM, Touch Point, Trutemp, Uberhaus, Westpointe, Winix, and Winixl.

The units were sold at Lowes, Menards, PC Richard and other stores across the country from January 2003 through December 2013.

Consumers are urged to turn off and unplug dehumidifiers, and to contact the manufacturer, Midea, for either a partial refund, or a replacement. Dehumidifiers purchased before Oct. 1, 2008 will receive a partial refund, but not a replacement. Manufacturing dates are located on the back of the units.

To determine if you’re eligible for a refund or replacement, visit https://www.recallrtr.com/dehumidifier and enter the information for your product.

Even though he paid for shipping insurance, a Carlsbad man said he couldn’t get the United States Postal Service to pay up after a drum part he sold online went missing in the mail. 

“I got into collecting drums back in the 80’s,” Matt said. 

Since then, Matt has purchased and sold drum kits and individual drums online. Four years ago, Matt sold something called a ‘throw-off’ from a 1940’s snare drum. 

“There’s a little lever you switch to make it sound like a Tom-Tom or you move it up and it sounds like the actual snare drum,” Matt said. 

Matt sold the part to a Brooklyn man and paid the extra $2.35 for postal insurance through the U.S. Postal Service. 

“A couple of weeks later, the man called and said ‘Hey where’s my part?’” Matt said. “I eventually refunded his money assuming I would be refunded by the post office.” 

Matt gathered the paperwork and submitted the claim to USPS but it was denied. Matt appealed the decision but it was also denied. 

“And then the third appeal, they said ‘well actually you didn’t prove the value and by the way, that’s your final appeal. Have a good day,’” Matt said. 

Matt said he had sent the USPS the ‘Proof of Value’ required but USPS wouldn’t budge. Matt gave up on the claim until he saw an NBC 7 Responds story about trouble someone else was having with a USPS package insurance claim.

Click here to see that story.  

“If you can get the money, that would be great,” Matt said. 

A representative with the USPD told NBC 7 Responds insurance claim records are purged every three years, so they had no way of confirming what Matt had sent them. A few weeks after we contacted USPS, Matt finally got the answer he was looking for when the Postal Service called to say a refund check would be available for him to pick up at his nearest post office. 

In an email, USPS spokesperson Eva Jackson told us, “upon further review of this case, the U.S. Postal Service will honor Mr. Henken's claim. Claims for lost or damaged items must be submitted to the Postal Service no later than 60 days with acceptable proof of value. For more information on how to file a claim, visit this link."

If you would like to know more about what the USPS considers ‘Proof of Value’, click here

A Fallbrook couple is warning voters in San Diego to be aware of mail-in ballots and make sure that it is complete.

Jerry Bob and Patty Beasley told NBC 7 that they received their mail-in ballots last Friday and noticed the problem.

“I opened up her ballot and my ballot, and I realized, I only have card one. I’m missing card two with some of the propositions on it,” Jerry Bob Beasley said.

He added that he is also concerned the problem may be more widespread.

“If I’m the only one who got a half a ballot, somebody messed up," he said. "I forgive them, but I can't believe I’m the only one."

The San Diego Registrar of Voters said they investigated and that there is no indication there was a problem with an incomplete ballot.

“This is automation we are talking about here, to make sure every mail-in ballot is properly packaged,” said Michael Vu, from the Registrar of Voters.

Vu said since there is a barcode on every ballot card, if both cards are not inside the envelope, the machine stops. But there is no indication the machine stopped.

“So we’re sure both cards were added into the mail ballot package,” he said.

The Beasley said they are still concerned that some voters may have received incomplete ballots and not realized it.

Patty Beasley added that she does hope her husband is the only one who received an incomplete ballot.

“But the odds aren't good with that, I don’t think," she said. "With this many people, this many ballots.”

Jerry Bob Beasley added: “I commend them with the job they have to do down there, but it needs to be done right."

The Beasleys told NBC 7 they have also not received a ballot book, which they say they need to be informed voters.

They said the Registrar of Voters' office told them to go online but it's something they prefer not to have to do.

Vu says he personally is looking into why they have not received a ballot book and that he wants them to have all the information they need.

Kelvin Lewis first signed up to serve in the U.S. Navy in 2003, when the U.S. was at war in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

He says the decision was the best he ever made: to service his country, and better his life. 

“I figure why not join the military, get responsibility and then I can get free education,” Lewis said. 

Veterans like Lewis, who joined after September 11, 2001, became eligible for Post 9-11 GI Benefits from the Veterans Administration (VA).

So when the 33-year-old left the Navy in 2008 after four deployments, including to the Persian Gulf, he qualified to receive money to pay for college and housing while in school. 

Lewis said he enrolled at Southwestern College in August 2009, and he later switched schools to continue his education. 

He says he checked his account at the time, which showed he had no more days of credit under the GI Bill. At the time, he didn't question it.

But after graduating from National University in 2015, he met with a VA counselor who urged him to verify the dates on his account.

Lewis was stunned by what he found.

He said someone at the VA entered the wrong dates when inputting his start date: Aug. 7 instead of Aug. 17. 

“When I contacted the regional office in Oklahoma, they let me know someone there forgot to enter a one in front of the seven for the 17th instead of the seventh,” says Lewis.

But for Lewis, a typo by the Oklahoma VA office turned that benefit into an ordeal. A costly mistake caused Lewis to miss out on more than $1,500 a month in housing payments for a year and a half, he says.

The VA acknowledged the error.

“I mean we are human, people make careless mistakes, but once they are acknowledged and corrected you should act upon them accordingly,” the VA said. 

But the response Lewis got from the VA was only a letter showing he owed $672.00 because of the date correction; it said nothing about back pay for housing, or BAH as it is called in the military.

“I was shocked. I like how do I owe you money when you owe me back-pay,” said Lewis.

Lewis says he is more than willing to pay back the $672 dollars, but the father of two says he is hoping the VA will live up to their part of the contract and send him the more than $27,000 dollars he earned for his education when serving his country.

“Anyone that serve their country and feel like they earned these benefits you know that you should receive those I feel like I wasn't being treated fairly,” Lewis said. 

“That's some money I could definitely use right now,” Lewis said. He has two girls, one of them a newborn. 

NBC 7 San Diego contacted the local VA benefits office, who told us they would look into the situation. They added that they are now fully aware of the issue and plan to reach out to Lewis immediately.

A San Diego woman shot and killed by police officers in Torrance after a pursuit was mentally ill, and refused to take medication, her family told NBC 7.

Michelle Shirley, 39, a UC San Diego alum and graduate from Loyola of Chicago Law School had recently moved to the Los Angeles area. She died on Monday after leading police on an eight-minute chase through Torrance—which ended in shots fired by officers into Shirley’s car.

Her parents, Debra and Ronnie Shirley spoke with NBC 7 on Tuesday. They say their daughter suffered from a bipolar disorder and that they had tried to get her help for years.

But Shirley refused to take her medication.

"I knew she wasn't in her right mind at that time, I knew her bipolar had come back," said her father Ronnie Shirley.

NBC 7 learned that the family was unaware of a California law that could have helped them get treatment for Shirley.

Laura’s Law was implemented in San Diego this April after the San Diego County Board of Supervisors gave the green light last year.

It provides assisted out-patient treatment for those suffering from severe mental illness but refuse help. Laura’s Law impacts individuals who have a history of refusing to accept treatment and who have recent history of psychiatric hospitalizations, incarcerations, or threats or attempts of serious violence toward themselves or others. Those patients would be compelled by court order to receive treatment if they pose a danger to themselves or others.

Shirley may have been a candidate for Laura's Law, but her parents told NBC 7, they have never heard of the law.

NBC 7 spoke with a Mental Health Advocate and former chair of the San Diego Mental Health Advisory Board who fought for years to get Laura's Law implemented in the county.

Theresa Bish said Shirley’s death was unnecessary, and part of the blame needs to go to the mental health system.

"There's going to be a forensics on the shooting itself regarding the police officers. I feel there has to be just as much responsibility and reporting on what went wrong to put Michelle into that situation and to meet her death that way,” she said.

Theresa says she speaks at mental health support groups and law enforcement groups, and it is clear the message about Laura's Law is not getting out there.

"There's no excuse, we have professionals handling this. We can't let them off the hook," she added.

NBC 7 reached out to the San Diego County Behavioral Health Services on Wednesday to find out what they're doing to inform people about Laura's Law but haven't heard back yet.

A day after Iraq said its forces had re-entered the last ISIS-held city in the country, ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi emerged Wednesday with a statement calling on supporters to spread their attacks to other countries, NBC News reported.

The 30-minute message, titled "This Is What Allah and His Messenger Had Promised Us," was the first official statement from the terrorist leader since last December.

With Iraqi special forces having advanced Tuesday into Mosul, the only Iraqi city still in ISIS' hands, al-Baghdadi sought to portray gains by the anti-ISIS coalition as a victory, contending that the sheer number of forces opposing ISIS proves just how strong it really is, according to an analysis by Flashpoint Intelligence, a global security firm and NBC News consultant.

A former Albertsons in Torrey Highlands is reopening as a Vons grocery store this month.

The store is opening Nov. 16 off Camino Del Sur and Highway 56, officials announced on Wednesday.

The store has undergone months of construction and a major renovation. Officials said the new Vons will feature a pharmacy, Starbucks and juice bar.

As far as what’s offered in store, you can find organic and locally grown produce, more than 1,800 wine selections and a larger assortment of local craft beers and spirits.

The store had been acquired by Haggen Inc. in a major takeover of grocery stores in Southern California. The location shuttered last year as Haggen filed for bankruptcy protection, but was later re-purchased by Albertsons.

The new Vons at 7895 Highland Village Place will have a grand opening at 9 a.m. Nov. 16, which will include a program and a donation to Westview High School.

A Boca Raton woman who gave birth inside her car on a hospital parking lot is being billed a delivery room fee even though she never made it into the delivery room.

It wasn't the way Paula D'Amore and her husband planned on bringing her baby into the world.

"We drove up, my husband ran out and I said she's crowning and her head came out," D'Amore told NBC affiliate WPTV.

D'Amore said her husband caught the baby's head and nurses ran out to help with the rest of the delivery. Baby Daniella was born in a Jeep Grand Cherokee in the fire lane outside Boca Raton Regional Hospital.

Seven months later, the family says it received a bill for more than $7,000, which included the delivery room charge.

"I knew that I was responsible for the $5,000 deductible. I get it, I'm going to pay the bill, that's not the issue, the issue is that I'm like, I look at this delivery charge and I think that's a little outrageous," said D'Amore.

The mother said she planned for the birthing costs, but thought that since she never made it to the delivery room, the hospital would adjust the bill. D'Amore noted she did deliver the placenta in the hospital.

A spokesperson for Boca Raton Regional Hospital told WPTV the administration has no comment at this time.

Thomas Chakurda, the hospital's vice president for marketing, told the Sun Sentinel in an emailed statement that Boca Regional has reviewed D'Amore's concerns, and deemed the billing was suitable.

"The hospital appropriately bills for the medical services and care it provides and has determined that the level of care provided and billing were appropriate in this instance," Chakurda said.

D'Amore argues the hospital is "basically saying that everything was billed appropriately."

She says she is going to pay the bill even though it says the baby was delivered in the car prior to arrival.

California voters who want to share photos of their marked ballots when they vote in the current election may be out of luck.

A federal judge in San Francisco refused Wednesday to block a state law that bans ballot selfies.

U.S. District Judge William Alsup said allowing the images so close to Election Day would create confusion among voters and poll workers.

The American Civil Liberties Union sued Monday, seeking a court injunction preventing enforcement of the ballot-selfie ban in the current election. The group said the law violates voters' free-speech rights by preventing them from expressing their political views.

Michael Risher, a senior staff attorney for the ACLU of Northern California, said he wasn't immediately sure whether he would appeal the ruling.

“We are disappointed in the court’s ruling. Because the election is now six days away, we don’t think there is time to have an appellate court consider the issue,” Risher said.

A federal judge in Colorado is hearing arguments in a similar case Wednesday.

A man accused of shooting two people at a kiosk in El Cajon last week was arrested in Lemon Grove Tuesday after leading police on a chase that ended with the suspect being Tasered. 

The El Cajon Police Department (ECPD) said Michael Riordan, 42, had been taken into custody at around 5 p.m. Tuesday. Detectives found Riordan inside a car in the Lakeside area and followed him onto westbound Interstate 8.

With the help of a San Diego County Sheriff’s Department helicopter and two San Diego Harbor Police officers in a marked patrol unit, authorities tried to pull Riordan over. He refused to stop for officers and three-mile chase lasting about three minutes ensued, the ECPD said.

Riordan made his way to the home of someone he knew in Lemon Grove. As he drove up with police behind him, he nearly hit a child standing in the driveway, the ECPD said.

After the suspect got out of his car, he fought with police officers until an officer deployed a Taser on him. Riordan was arrested, the ECPD said.

Under search warrants, detectives searched three homes in San Diego’s East County where Riordan was known to stay. At one location, detectives discovered a gun matching shell casings found at the scene of a shooting that happened on Oct. 28 in El Cajon.

During that incident, the suspect – later identified as Riordan by ECPD detectives and investigators with the East County Regional Gang Task Force – got into an argument with two men at a kiosk in front of a welfare office in the 1000 block of Decker Street.

Police said Riordan walked away and went to his car to grab a gun. When he walked back to the kiosk, he fired numerous shots at the men, striking one victim in the leg. The suspect fled the scene before officers arrived.

The ECPD said Riordan is the suspect in that shooting. He was booked into San Diego Central Jail on several counts, including assault with a firearm. He’s scheduled to appear in court Thursday.

Sam Willoughby raced in two Summer Olympic Games and took home a silver medal at the 2012 games in London.

But he now faces the toughest race of his life: he wants to dance at his wedding in April. 

A fundraising event at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista this Saturday could help him achieve the dream.

The Australian BMX rider, who lives and trains in Chula Vista, crashed during a warm up ride on his Olympic Training Center home track recently, severely injuring his spinal cord.

Willoughby can’t move from the chest down, but believes a recovery is possible with intense rehabilitation.

“It’s been a hard reality,” said Tyler Brown, Willoughby’s friend and training partner.

The two have a long friendship behind them. 

“Sam was a groomsman in my wedding, I’m a groomsman in his wedding in April, and his goal is to be able to walk down the aisle with his fiancée,” said Brown.

Willoughby is engaged to fellow Olympian Alise Post, who won a silver medal for Team USA in Rio De Janeiro this past summer. The couple lived and trained in Chula Vista, but moved to Colorado Springs, Colo. after the crash, where Willoughby works full-time at rehabilitation facility to regain mobility.

While he has rehabilitation insurance, friends say it may only get him to a point where he can sustain the injury and live under his "new condition."

Willoughby's goals go far beyond that - but the therapy needed to challenge him will outpace his coverage.

Brown wants to help raise thousands of dollars for Willoughby’s therapy at Saturday’s “Strength For 91” event in Chula Vista.

Chula Vista BMX will host the SW91 Challenge on Saturday, Nov. 5 at the Chula Vista Olympic Training Center with a BMX clinic taught by local pros. The event goes from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with practice time from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Racing starts at 4 p.m. 

Organizers say there's something for everyone at the fundraiser, so for those that don’t want to get on the BMX track themselves can still come out and have a great time.

There will be circus games, pro racing to watch, a pro freestyle demo, giveaways, raffle items, food trucks and enough activity to make for an exciting day.

The online and in-person auctions will have an impressive line-up of jerseys from Olympians, along with items to appeal to both BMX and non-BMX attendees.

All proceeds from the SW91 Challenge event will go to Sam’s recovery fund.

Chula Vista BMX operates the open-to-the-public, all-ages BMX track adjacent to the Visitor Center at the Chula Vista Olympic Training Center. More info on the track and its operating hours is available by clicking here. 

More information on Sam’s recovery and online donations can be made online by clicking here.