Ready to hit the stores for Black Friday? 

Many stores will open early and stay open late the Friday after Thanksgiving. Some companies are opting to keep their stores closed, urging customers and employees to enjoy time outdoors.

Here's when stores will be open, according to BestBlackFriday.com and verified via store websites by NBC.

Stores Open on Thanksgiving

Best Buy
Best Buy will open on Thanksgiving at 5 p.m. and stay open until 1 a.m. on Friday. It then will reopen at 8 a.m. Friday.

Dick's Sporting Goods
Dick's Sporting Goods will open on Thanksgiving at 6 p.m. and stay open until 2 a.m. Friday. It then will reopen Friday at 5 a.m. until 2 p.m. Hours may vary by store.

JCPenney
JCPenney opens at 3 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day and remains open until 5 p.m. Friday. Hours may vary by store. 

KMart
KMart will open at 7 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day and remain open with doorbusters ending at 2 p.m. on Black Friday. Hours may vary by store.

Kohl’s
Kohl’s opens at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day and remains open overnight. Doorbusters will end at 1 p.m. on Friday. Hours may vary by store.

Macy's
Macy’s will open at 5 p.m. Thursday through 2 a.m. Friday. It will reopen Friday at 6 a.m. with doorbusters ending at 1 p.m. Hours may vary by store.

Michaels
Michaels will be open at 6 p.m. Thursday and remain open until midnight. It will reopen Friday at 6 a.m. until 10 p.m. Hours may vary by store.

Old Navy
Old Navy will open at 4 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day and remain open through midnight on Black Friday. Hours may vary by store.

Sears
Sears will open at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving and remain open until midnight. It will reopen on Black Friday at 5 a.m. Hours may vary by store.

Target
Target will open at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving and remain open through Black Friday, until 10 p.m., 11 p.m. or midnight, depending on the store.

Toys"R"Us
Toys"R"Us will open at 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day and remain open through 11 p.m. on Black Friday. Hours may vary by store. 

Ulta Beauty
Ulta Beauty will open on Thanksgiving at 6 p.m. and remain open until 2 a.m. It will reopen on Black Friday at 6 a.m. Hours may vary by store.

Walmart
Walmart will open on Thanksgiving at 6 p.m. Hours may vary by store. 

Stores Closed on Black Friday

REI
REI will be closed on Black Friday as they promote their #OptOutside campaign, which encourages people to forgo the stores and get outside instead. The campaign has its own Snapchat filter.

REI has partnered with Subaru, which will donate to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals when social media users post photos of themselves and their pets with the hashtags #OptOutside and #MakeaDogsDay. Subaru retailers will be open on Black Friday.

Happy Thanksgiving weekend, San Diego! From Thanksgiving morning trots to scenic ice skating and more, it’s sure to be an unforgettable holiday weekend in America’s Finest City that will leave you feeling extra thankful.

Thursday, Nov. 24 (Happy Thanksgiving!)

San Diego Run for the Hungry
7 a.m. & 8:15 a.m., Outside Westfield Horton Plaza
Before you enjoy your Thanksgiving Day feast, head downtown for the annual San Diego Run for the Hungry, benefitting local families in need. The 10K run starts at 7 a.m. outside Westfield Horton Plaza; the 5K starts at 8:15 a.m. Participants should bring canned food and nonperishable items to donate to the San Diego Food Bank, which will then be distributed to hungry San Diegans. A race after-party (http://www.sdrunforthehungry.org/thelocal) is happening from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at The Local Eatery & Drinking Hole on Fourth Avenue.

6th Annual Thank You Run
7:30 a.m., 4S Ranch Community Park
4S Ranch Community Park will host the 6th Annual Thank You Run on Thanksgiving morning, which benefits two local organizations, Helen’s Closet and 4S Ranch-Del Sur Community Foundation. The event includes a 5K and 10K run that is a mix of trails and roads. There’s also a Kids 1K Fun Run. The runs start eastbound on Dove Creek Road.

Fallbrook Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot
8 a.m., Grand Tradition Estate & Gardens
Another good way to work off that Thanksgiving meal even before you eat: the Turkey Trot in Fallbrook. This 5K stroll, walk or run makes its way through the Grand Tradition Estate & Gardens (220 Grand Tradition Way) and is open to “trotters” of all levels. Registration is $40.

Waddle & Trot Kids Fun Run
8 a.m., Pathways Community Church in Santee
Let the kids get spend some of that energy early on Thanksgiving Day with the 5th Annual Waddle & Trot 5K and Fun Run at Pathways Community Church in Santee. The fast and flat race starts at 8 a.m., and is open to walkers and runners of all levels. The route starts at the Pathways Center in Santee (9638 Carlton Hills Blvd.) and loops around through Santee Lakes. The quarter-mile fun run for kids takes place at the Pathways Center. All proceeds from this race benefit two local organizations: the Santee Food Bank and Santee Santas.

Skating by the Sea
11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Hotel del Coronado
This season, the Hotel del Coronado will once again host its “Skating by the Sea” ice-skating rink, which opens on Thanksgiving Day and operates through Jan. 2, 2017. The rink is located seaside on Windsor Lawn, offering stunning, picturesque views of the Pacific Ocean and the beach. Only in Southern California can you ice skate on the beach. Skating times vary; check this website (http://hoteldel.com/activities/skating/) ahead of your visit. Tickets are $25 per person and include ice skate rentals.

San Diego Jazz Fest
Times vary (Thursday through Sunday), Town & Country Resort and Convention Center
The 37th Annual San Diego Jazz Fest will take over the Town & Country Resort in Mission Valley from Nov. 23 through Nov. 27, with live music each day. On Thursday, attendees can enjoy five bands from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. On Friday, live music goes down from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., on Saturday from 9 a.m. past midnight, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Tickets can be purchased at the door. The five-day jazz festival will include bands playing traditional jazz, Dixieland, ragtime, swing and rockabilly, to name some styles. Attendees can enjoy the music in large concert rooms with dance floors, as well as in smaller, more intimate listening rooms.

Friday, Nov. 25

Holidays at LEGOLAND
10 a.m. to 5 p.m., LEGOLAND California Resort
LEGOLAND California Resort kicks off the holiday season with special attractions Nov. 25 through Jan. 1, 2017. The Holidays and LEGOLAND celebration includes music, twinkling lights and nightly “snowfall,” plus photos with a life-sized Santa and reindeer made entirely out of LEGO bricks. The amusement park will also serve seasonal treats during this time, including holiday cookies, peppermint milkshakes, hot chocolate and apple cider. Holiday happenings are included with paid admission into LEGOLAND, which is $65 per person age three and older.

Downtown Chess
2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., San Diego Central Library
San Diego’s biggest casual chess club, Downtown Chess, meets Friday at the San Diego Central Library for another round of matches. The event is free, and players of all skill levels are welcome to join.

Cirque du Soleil: TORUK - The First Flight
3:30 p.m., Valley View Casino Center
Cirque du Soleil presents “TORUK: The First Flight,” a live, immersive, multimedia production inspired by James Cameron’s “AVATAR.” The audience can expect cutting-edge visuals, puppetry and a soaring cinematic score. The show runs through Nov. 27; tickets start at $34.

Tacos & Beer Show Starring Yannis Pappas
7:30 p.m., The American Comedy Co.
Comedy Central funnyman Yannis Pappas will lead this night of laughs at The American Comedy Co. in downtown San Diego. The evening includes food specials like a free taco with each drink purchased and 10% off all plates, and a free bottled free with each shot purchased, plus 10% off specialty cocktails. The Friday night standup show hits the stage two times: 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $16 per person.

San Diego Musical Theatre: White Christmas
8 p.m., Spreckels Theatre
The classic holiday movie, “White Christmas,” comes to life at the Spreckels Theatre in downtown San Diego with this musical adaptation on the stage featuring 17 Irving Berlin songs. The production’s opening night is Friday, and the show runs through Dec. 4.

Saturday, Nov. 26

DayBreak
8 a.m., Del Mar Racetrack
It can be difficult to wake up early on a Saturday morning. But here’s something to help get you out of bed this Saturday morning: DayBreak at the racetrack. Grab some breakfast while watching morning workouts at the racetrack. Horse racing fanatics will also be able to pick the brain of former jockey and event announcer Jeff Bloom. Bloom will be there answering questions. Tickets cost $10.

Free Tai Chi Class
9 a.m., San Diego Chinese Historical Museum
If you’ve ever wanted to learn the art of Tai Chi, now is your chance. This class, at the SDCHM’s Chuang Garden in Downtown San Diego, will teach attendees Tai Chi, an exercise optimized for a healthy mind and body. Attendees must RSVP by emailing info@sdchm.org or calling (619) 338-9888

Thanksgiving Puppet Show in Balboa Park
11 a.m., Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theater
Bring the whole family to come and help save Christmas! Wanda the witch is going to ruin Christmas in this story and Elfie the Elf and Santa are going to try to save Christmas. Tickets are $5.

Del Mar’s Fall Beer and Cider Fest
11 a.m., Del Mar Racetrack
More than 100 of San Diego’s top craft brews, special seasonal beers and ciders will be on tap during this festival at the Del Mar Racetrack. Participants can also buy full sized beers. Admission into the festival area in the Seaside Concert area west of the Grandstand is free with track admission for $6. A $20 ticket will get you five 7 oz. tastings.

Hops and Shop Holiday Market
11 a.m., 32 North Brewing Company
Skip the Black Friday rush and come out to your local brewery on Small Business Saturday! Local handmade vendors from across the County will set up shop at 32 North Brewing Company. The family and dog friendly event will also have complimentary gift wrapping, a children’s corner and beer specials, as well as food trucks for the hungry shoppers! Attendance is free.

Chris D’Elia
7 p.m., The Observatory North Park
Comedian Chris D’Elia, a comedian known for his stand up and his role on NBC’s Undateable, brings his standup act to San Diego this Saturday evening. You must be 18 or older to attend. Tickets start at $20.

Sunday, Nov. 27

Who Dunnit? Seaport Village Scavenger Hunt
1 p.m., Seaport Village
If you’ve ever dreamed of being a detective, today is your day to shine. Seaport Village’s Murder Mystery Adventure, a scavenger hunt style game, will take you through the iconic seaside destination in a two-hour adventure as you solve a murder mystery. Tickets cost $25.

Taste of the Turf Club
11 a.m., Del Mar Racetrack
The opening weekend of the Del Mar Racetrack’s fall season is filled with goodies and fun activities! This Sunday, take a taste of a special menu as you dine at the exclusive Turf Club in Del Mar. Chef Brian Malarkey, one of the city’s most celebrated chefs, will prepare the menu for the morning. Tables are limited. Your $100 ticket will get you turf club admission for the day, a choice of an appetizer, entrée, dessert and bottomless mimosas or champagne. Attendees must comply with Turf Club Dress Code.

Miss You Like Hell
2 p.m., La Jolla Playhouse
More than five years of writing, composing and creating will come to fruition when the curtain raises on the highly anticipated "Miss You Like Hell" at the La Jolla Playhouse this month. The musical, commissioned by the La Jolla Playhouse, follows a smart and creative teenager who agrees to take a road trip across the country with her free-spirited Latina mother as a custody battle unfurls. The book and lyrics are written by Pulitzer-prize winning Quiara Alegria Hudes; music and lyrics by Erin McKeown. Read more about the musical's five year journey to production here. Tickets start at $25, the musical runs through Dec. 4. 

San Diego International Airport (SAN) is bracing for long lines of holiday travelers, with an average of 60,000 passengers expected each day leading up to Thanksgiving.

In an effort to  help travelers navigate from Point A to Point B in the airport as smoothly as possible, the Airport Authority has offered some insight.

First, arrive at least 90 minutes before departure for domestic flights, and be even more careful with international flights, arriving two and a half hours early for those. If you're in a rush to catch a flight, ask the nearest TSA agent which security line is moving the fastest.

Second, be careful not to pack anything prohibited at the security checkpoints. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) website explains how to reduce waiting times at security checkpoints, how to pack and what items are allowed or prohibited. Pay attention to how much travelers ahead of you have packed and whether they're traveling with small children, which can take longer.

Third, reserve a parking spot ahead of time. There's currently construction underway at the airport's Terminal 2 Parking Plaza. To park there, go off McCain Road from Harbor Drive, according to SAN.

Visit the airport's UpgradeYourParking.com website to explore parking options at the facility, which includes the option to find the best space based on a specific airline. According to SAN, travelers can reserve Valet parking or the airport's Long-Term and Economy lots.

Both short and long-term parking options are available, according to SAN. Parking is color coded in Green for long-term spaces, located east of the airport, and blue for economy spaces, located north of the airfield.

The free shuttle buses from these parking lots to airport terminals are also color coded, like the parking lots.

A little ahead-of-time planning is a must for holiday travelers to reach their Thanksgiving destination without delay.

A suspect has been arrested in connection with the deadly stabbing of a man in Clairemont, the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) said Wednesday.

Brandon Ingram, 32, is facing a charge of first-degree murder in the killing of Ronald Labastida, 31.

Two days ago, at around 12:45 a.m., SDPD officers were called to the 5200 block of Channing Street in Clairemont to investigate reports of a stabbing in the area. When police arrived, they discovered Labastida badly wounded inside a home.

The victim was unresponsive, suffering from a stab wound to his upper body. Labastida was rushed to a local hospital, where he died about 40 minutes later.

According to SDPD Homicide Unit Lt. Mike Holden, Ingram was identified as the suspect in the deadly stabbing early on. He was arrested and booked into San Diego Central Jail.

Investigators have not released details on the motive behind the crime. Ingram is scheduled to make his first appearance in court on Monday.

Sporting a pair of boardshorts, flip flops and a Hawaiian shirt, Santa Claus is coming to town – with his surf board in tow, of course.

For the 11th year, a bearded, jolly man known as "Surfin’ Santa" will cruise into San Diego Bay for a Southern California-style holiday celebration at Seaport Village this Saturday, kicking off the Christmas season.

He's set to cruise into the bay on a speedboat, no less.

The family-friendly, waterfront party includes a parade, street performers and activities such as eco-friendly ornament making. From 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., hodads of all ages can get stoked and pose for free pictures with Santa on his giant surf board against a faux 6-foot wave.

As visitors and locals celebrate the season, they can also partake in Small Business Saturday and shop at more than 50 unique, locally-owned stores at Seaport Village as well as Seaport's sister property, The Headquarters, showing support for independent businesses.

Surfin' Santa organizers say that this year, The Headquarters will offer live musical performances by the cool caroling group, the Holiday Hipsters. The Headquarters will also host crafting activities from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday.

With a minimum purchase of $10 at Seaport Village, attendees can park for two hours for $5 at the validated Seaport Village lot. Parking is an additional $3 for every 30 minutes thereafter.

Organizers say there will be extra all-day parking for the Surfin’ Santa event at the Hilton Hotel Bayfront lot on Park Boulevard for $10. Free shuttles will run every 15 minutes from 11:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. to take attendees from the hotel to Seaport Village. For more event details, click here.

By the way, San Diego’s Surfin’ Santa is a pretty big deal.

In 2013, his event in America’s Finest City was named one of the 10 best “Santa Sightings” in the nation. Now, that’s radical.

A Point Loma family said their brand new dishwasher keeps breaking down and rather than replace the unit, the store would only make repairs. 

“Here’s a Craftsman saw, had it for years with no problems,” Eric Willis said. 

Eric said he’s a big fan of Sears products, from his Craftsman tools to his Kenmore appliances. But when he bought a new dishwasher from Sears, things didn’t start out well. 

“They open up the box on the new dishwasher and there’s a huge dent in the back of it, about the size of my head. Looked like somebody hit it with a sledge hammer,” Eric said.

Eric said he told the installer to take it back but Eric said the installer told him that would take too much time, he should try something else. 

“This is how you have to work the system, you have to install it and then after you install it you want a replacement,” Eric said. 

The advice seemed to work as Eric got a new Kenmore dishwasher delivered and installed. The new dishwasher worked fine at first and then suddenly stopped working. 

“I mean, we pushed buttons, we tried different cycles and it just didn’t work,” Eric said. 

A repairman told Willis that the dishwasher needed a new motor. 

“They want to come out and fix it? No I don’t want to fix it, I want a new one. It’s a lemon,” Eric said. 

Eric finally agreed to replace the motor inside his new dishwasher but the repair didn’t last long. This time the drying cycle wouldn’t work. 

Sears wanted to send out another technician, telling Eric they wouldn’t replace his dishwasher unless it failed after three service calls. 

“It just seemed like I was going round and round and I was never going to get off the ferris wheel,” Eric said. 

Eric called NBC 7 Responds and we reached out to Sears representatives about the situation. 

Within a week, Sears promised to replace the dishwasher at no cost. 

Instead of getting the same dishwasher, Eric took the credit from Sears and upgraded to a higher end Kenmore dishwasher. 

In an email, a spokesperson for Sears told us, “Our member solutions team has evaluated Mr. Willis’ situation and will be replacing the dishwasher at no charge. Sears is committed to ensuring the satisfaction of our members and we regret the inconvenience to Mr. Willis. We hope he remains a loyal Sears customer and Shop Your Way member.” 

While it ultimately wasn’t needed in this case, in California there are lemon laws on the books for consumers when it comes to appliances. 

The California Lemon Law is part of the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty act and applies to all products sold to consumers with the intent of personal use. 

The law states that products sold for personal use, excluding clothing and consumables, must perform as they were advertised and if the product doesn’t perform properly, the manufacturer must repair the product, refund the consumer’s money or provide a replacement product. 

To read the law, click here. 

If you think you have a ‘lemon’ appliance on your hands and you run into a manufacturer or retailer that’s being difficult, these tips could help you get a resolution: 

• Have a good paper trail and document everything you do, each step of the way. Write down names of employees you spoke with and hold onto receipts and contracts you have for the specific product in question 

• Make sure to submit your complaint in writing to the manufacturer or retailer behind the product, asking for a refund or replacement. 

• Do not get rid of the product in question until the situation has been resolved. Often times the manufacturer or retailer will require this item be sent to them in the event of a refund or replacement. If you throw the product away, your resolution might be thrown away as well.

Someone wrote an anti-Semitic message on the door of a home in a quiet Carmel Valley neighborhood, and now San Diego police are investigating the case as a possible hate crime.

Police said the homeowners discovered the slur scrawled on the door of their home in the 13000 block of Sandown Way on Tuesday night. The culprit first opened a package left on the doorstep, stole some items and then left behind a troubling message.

“We’re just completely shocked,” said Carmel Valley resident Jessica Grunvald. “This is a family neighborhood, something that we’ve never seen here before. We’re all hurt for our friends and just completely in shock that this would happen.”

The message referenced a Mezuzah, a Jewish ornament put on a door frame to symbolically bless everyone who passes through.

The homeowners had a Mezuzah and neighbors believe the suspect knew they were Jewish.

“Clearly, it’s anti-Semitic graffiti,” said Carmel Valley resident Venkat Emani. “I think it’s beyond kids to do such things.”

On Friday morning, volunteer patrol officers were out knocking on doors in the diverse neighborhood, which homeowners estimate is at least one-third Jewish, in hopes of discovering more information.

Police officers are investigating the situation as a vandalism case, but haven’t yet determined if it reaches the level of a hate crime.

Volunteers hand-delivered 200 Thanksgiving meals to Syrian refugee families living in San Diego on Wednesday.

The meals were delivered to refugee families living in El Cajon, City Heights and La Mesa.

Local photographers held family photo sessions to raise more than $10,000 to pay for the meals. The fundraiser was part of Heart4Refugees.

"I am from Syria and my heart breaks for these people who are forced to leave their homes and their country and start somewhere new," said Photographer and volunteer Kinda Arzon.

Arzon told NBC 7 that she also volunteered her time and camera to help raise money for the meals. She added that for many of the refugees, it would be their first experience eating a Thanksgiving meal. Volunteers had attached a letter to each meal that explained in Arabic why the holiday was celebrated in the U.S.

“This is not a religious holiday. This is basically a gathering of the family to give thanks," Arzon said.

Trang Chesler brought her two sons, Brady and Dylan to deliver meals. 

“I really wanted to show my boys the importance of giving back," she said.

She told NBC 7 she came to the U.S. 41 years ago when she was just over 2 years old. She said it was with the help of others her family was able to create a life for themselves in a new country.

Each meal is meant to feed seven people and included a roasted turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, mixed veggies, salad, dinner rolls and pie.

“What my ultimate goal is, for them to see that there’s so many people that do care about them. There’s a lot of American citizens that signed up today to deliver these meals to them because they love them, show them love and show them what Thanksgiving is all about," Arzon said.

San Diego County Crime Stoppers has offered to reward $1,000 for information leading to an arrest of car burglar and identity theft suspects, as evidence of a new suspect surfaces.

On Nov. 10, a suspect broke into a car parked on 2240 Encinitas Boulevard, taking out a purse that included two wallets, as well as the victim's California driver license, several debit and credit cards and $290, according to San Diego County Sheriff's Department (SDSO).

The suspect was seen driving a white Hyundai Sonata. SDSO deputies said that he used one of the victim's stolen credit cards at a Ross store on 1038 N El Camino Real. 

However, one of the victim's stolen credit cards was also used by a second suspect at Holiday Liquor and Wine, on 1717 East Vista Way in Vista, according to SDSO.

SDSO deputies described the second suspect as an unshaven white man with blonde hair, in his mid thirties to early forties. He stands at about 5'10'' tall and weighs about 180 pounds.

The other suspect was a 25-year-old man with a goatee, standing at 5'9'' and weighing about 240 pounds, according to SDSO. Deputies said he was last seen wearing a white baseball cap, t-shirt, green jacket, dark colored shorts, white socks and dark shoes.

Anyone with information about these crimes can contact the North Coastal Sheriff's Station at (760) 966-3500 or the Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at (888) 580-8477. If a tip helps lead to an arrest, the sender will receive $1,000 from Crime Stoppers.

Sweat was pouring into the eyes of New York City bomb squad technician Jason Hallick inside a 90-pound, armored body suit as he disabled a pressure cooker bomb in Manhattan, he tells "NBC Nightly News" anchor Lester Holt.

The bomb was placed in Chelsea in September by Ahmad Khan Rahami, authorities say, and another one had already exploded, injuring 31 people. (Wounded in a shootout with police, Rahami has pleaded not guilty.)

Now, this second device spotted, it was up to NYPD bomb squad technicians, their suits and their robots to prevent more people from being hurt.

"Nobody here can ever be paralyzed by fear," bomb squad commander Mark Torre said in the exclusive interview with Holt. "But we all have that very healthy respect for the force of explosives and what it can do. So there was a healthy degree of tension. Everybody's very, very focused."

NBC 7 Investigates is learning more about a new system purchased by the San Diego Police Department to help them respond to shootings faster. 

The system is called ShotSpotter and according to the company, it can detect the sound of gunfire with pinpoint accuracy. 

To read more about how the system works, click here. 

Since June, NBC 7 Investigates has been asking the City of San Diego if it would purchase the ShotSpotter technology. At the time, San Diego Police said there were no plans to do so. 

But, last month, NBC 7 Investigates learned the city was purchasing and installing the system. 

Using the California Public Records Act, NBC 7 Investigates filed a public information request for emails and documents from the San Diego Police Department that mention “ShotSpotter." 

To read the emails and see the documents we received, click here.

In the emails, NBC 7 Investigates learned a Deputy City Attorney forwarded ShotSpotter agreements to San Diego Police on September 14. 

Two weeks later, on September 28, the equipment arrived, according to the emails. 

The emails show San Diego Police reached out to other police departments across the country, including Milwaukee and Sacramento, asking to review their policies in order to help develop its own.

In one email, a San Diego Police employee states the department had not received any complaints from the community. 

In another email, a resident from the O’Farrell community voiced concerns about what the police department will do with the data it recovers from the ShotSpotter system. 

Specifically, the resident wanted to know if the department could sell the shooting data to insurance companies for the purpose of raising rates in communities where shots have been detected. 

A representative from the San Diego Police Department responded by email to the resident, saying all data recovered from the ShotSpotter system is considered evidence and would not be shared. 

The emails also detail an agreement was made with the San Diego Unified School District to install the technology on school buildings. 

According to an email sent by San Diego Police staff, the installation with SDUSD “hit a snag” after a school employee halted the installation of the ShotSpotter sensors until the district’s Superintendent gave clearance to do so. 

In the email, SDPD explains getting clearance could take up to two months. 

In a fact sheet provided by ShotSpotter to the San Diego Police Department, the company states the system’s cost ranges from $65,000 to $95,000 per square mile. 

As part of the agreement drawn up between the San Diego Police Department and ShotSpotter, ShotSpotter states the price tag for the first year of service will be $245,300 and that the price will drop to $235,300 annually after the first year. 

According to the San Diego Police Department, the City Attorney’s office determined the funds to pay for the ShotSpotter system will come from the asset forfeiture program. 

NBC 7 Investigates has reached out to the San Diego Police Department, San Diego Unified School District, the City Attorney’s office and District Attorney’s office for more information on the next steps for the ShotSpotter program. 

Specifically, NBC 7 Investigates is still trying to verify what schools may be involved and why the program is being implemented at schools.

The San Andreas Fault, which runs 800 miles through California could zip open for the "Big One," according to article published in The Wall Street Journal (WSJ).

Experts say should a powerful earthquake strike, it would cause extensive damage to millions of homes. But the risk depends on where and when a house was built.

According to the journal, a recent analysis done by a real-estate analytics firm CoreLogic Inc. stated that nearly 3.5 million homes could be damaged if an 8.3 magnitude earthquake hit along a 500-mile stretch of the San Andreas Fault. If it strikes the northern part, 1.6 million homes would crumble—2.3 million if the southern piece is hit.

Pat Abbott, a geology professor at San Diego State University told NBC 7 that the San Andreas fault is one of the most known because of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.

“So you go back to 1906 San Francisco earthquake—the fault ruptured the surface of the ground for about 250 miles. Kind of mind-boggling—250 mile tear at the surface of the earth," he said.

Abbott said getting prepared for a potential natural disaster is low on the priority list for many people in our state. 

Human history really tells us a lot about what the real definition of 'apocalyptic' is," he said.

He added that the San Francisco earthquake wrecked most of the city. Buildings were more damaged from fires that resulted from the quake, rather than the quake itself.

But he noted that an earthquake doesn't cause the kind of damage many people seem to think it does.

"There [are] no mountains heaved up over night. The earth doesn’t pull apart and the city fall in, or we don’t have magnitude-10 earthquakes," he said.

According to researchers, a magnitude-8 earthquake would usually strike in California every 2,500 years. But the timing cannot be predicted.

Due to modern construction and new building codes, only about 100,000 people have earthquake insurance in San Diego.

"Earthquakes don’t kill, buildings do," Abbott said, comparing the 1989 San Francisco earthquake to the one that struck Haiti in 2010.

Both earthquakes were the same magnitude but 70 people were killed in San Francisco, while the more recent quake killed about one million people in Haiti.

Abbott says the importance of structural differences in buildings can save lives.

The Smithsonian has millions of artifacts, but most of them are not on display in museums, so an effort is underway to display them online.

At a heavily guarded facility in Maryland, the Smithsonian stores 30 million artifacts, including an 1830s carriage, a high wheel, Evel Knievel’s motorcycle and the original chairs from “Meet the Press.”

“It's really quite fun to read up on some of those things,” museum specialist James Oakley said. “I mean, I never heard of a Winton.”

(It’s a race car that only went 1 mile in 43 seconds in 1904.)

The Museum of American History is serious about preservation.

“Sometimes that means keeping things in storage, in dark, in certain climate conditions so that when it comes time for researchers to look at them or for them to go on display they will be in good condition,” curator Shannon Perich said.

“I always say as a historian you have to be ready to be cold,” curator Alexandra Lord quipped.

But artifacts don’t just sit in storage, associate curator Diane Wendt said. They are researched.

In medical collections, drawers and shelves protect surgical tools from the Revolutionary War, the first artificial heart and a condom dispenser from the 1940s — one of the government’s oldest sexual education campaigns, and it reflected the culture of the time: that they were solely to prevent disease, not pregnancy.

With future exhibits yet to be announced, nobody knows how long those boxes of incredible things will stay locked away, but thanks to technology, the public has a chance to get a close-up to a lot of hidden history. The museum is putting a huge effort to getting items digitized to make them available to the world.

Project assistant Rachel Anderson spends hours studying and photographing artifacts, capturing various angles. She does it quickly to limit the object’s exposure to light or heat.

“It's a really big undertaking, and we keep chipping away at it,” Anderson said.

The team recently added 2,100 objects to the museum’s growing archives online. It took six months, and there are thousands more to go.

“What we're engaged with right now is a preservation effort, it's a documentation effort and it's an accessibility effort,” Anderson said.

There’s a conservation component, too — with a world of labs, work stations and talent with just the right touch to preserve history.

Body camera do not consistently impact how often police deploy their Tasers or pull out their guns, a newly released study found. 

The study, released Wednesday, looked use of force incidents in Spokane, Wash. and Milwaukee, Wis. The findings are a stark contrast to prior studies that examine how cameras influence police behavior. 

San Diego Police Department (SDPD) officials say since they have started using body cameras, the number of times police officers have used a Taser or fired their weapon has gone down. 

However, the department says the overall number of incidents where a police officer uses force has increased 18 percent. Find a full breakdown of the numbers here. 

San Diego Police Officer Association President Brian Marvel says you may see an increase in force because police are using less lethal options sooner.

He says the body cameras help the public understand what's happening better than cell phone video.

"They will completely eliminate all the stuff that came before to where it progressed to a use of force issue and all they will put on is the use of force with no context, and I think what the body camera does is it allows the full picture to come out at the time it needs to come out," Marvel said.

If you look at how many incidents police respond to a year, they end up documenting any kind of force in less than one percent of those cases, Marvel said. 

In some cases, the study found, productivity among officers increased. 

"It was interesting to see that productivity was up and I do agree with the article, that officers probably feel a little bit more empowered to know that the body cameras are on so that stuff is being captured, their interaction with people," Marvel said.

Marvel said the study also indicates the use of force was low in the two studied cities to begin with so to have officers wear cameras would not have much of a visible impact. 

The Mannequin Challenge has been taking the Internet by storm and now one more contender has stepped up to the plate.

SeaWorld San Diego decided it didn't want to be left out of the fun.

The park filmed their own Mannequin Challenge on Wednesday at Santa's Christmas Village, which is part of their "Christmas Celebration," a spokesperson said.

Park employees, guests, children, elves and even Santa and Mrs. Claus make an appearance. 

SeaWorld's "Christmas Celebration" runs through Jan. 1, 2017. 

Getting to Grandma's house for the Thanksgiving feast could be tricky for many Americans this year, NBC News reports. 

Snow is in the forecast for the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and northern New York state, parts of Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, and some sections of the Rocky Mountains, the National Weather Service reported Wednesday.

The balmiest corner of the country will be the Southeast, where temperatures are expected to be 5 to 10 degrees above normal in Florida, Georgia, Alabama and the Carolinas.

Meanwhile, the forecast high for Palm Beach, Florida, is 80 degrees when President-elect Donald Trump and his family sit down to carve up the turkey there.

A high voltage transformer was knocked down during a two-vehicle crash in Santee Wednesday night, according to the Heartland Fire Department.

The crash happened at approximately 9:06 p.m. on Mission Gorge Road and Fanita Drive. 

Officials said the crash caused the transformer to fall from the mount, exposing the wires. Some eastbound lanes on Mission Gorge Road were blocked off and traffic was being diverted around the accident.

Two people were transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries, according to the San Diego Sheriff's Department (SDSO).

San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) was also responding to the scene. There were no outages reported, according to the SDG&E map.

No other information was immediately available.

Check back for updates on this breaking news story. 

When the soon-to-be First Family sits down for their Thanksgiving feast, they will be watched over by a contingent of at least 150 Secret Service personnel, NBC News reports.. And when Donld Trump is swown in as president on January 20, that contigent will be 920 Secret Service agents and support personel in Washington and New York City.

The price tag for all that security is already very big, or as the Manhattan mogul might put it, "Yuge," internal Homeland Security and Secret Service documents reviewed by NBC News show.

Right now the cost to taxpayers is more than $2 million daily, the documents show, a number that is sure to increase whenever the President or First Lady travel — or when the threat level rises.

Meanwhile, the New York Police Department is already handling external security at Trump Tower, the Manhattan home base of the President-elect, at an estimated cost of $1 million per day.

Authorities are now investigating after a burglary at a home in the Normal Heights neighborhood of San Diego.

Matt Buster, a resident on the 4700 block of 33rd Street, told NBC 7 that someone used his own garage door opener to steal thousands of dollars worth of race gear and camera equipment.

He had left the garage door remote in his locked jeep, parked in his driveway. The suspect not only took his bikes and equipment, but also took the jeep after finding the keys hanging inside the garage.

The theft occurred in the early hours of Monday morning, while Buster and his wife were sleeping.

“We sleep five, 10-feet from where they were taking their pick of our things. It's not a comfortable feeling at all,” Buster said.

The couple said they did not hear the garage door open or the suspect rifling through their most prized possessions.

“I made it really easy for them. I left the keys in the garage. The garage door opener in the car and a lot of things we own in the garage. I kind of gave it to them on a silver plate,” Buster said.

Buster told NBC 7 that he and his wife are triathletes.

The suspect took off with two road bikes, two triathlon bicycles, his wife's camera bag, camera and accessories, worth a total of around $20,000.

“They had a good idea of what they were after, at least value wise,” Buster added.

The suspect had used the couple's jeep as a getaway car but police recovered the vehicle 24 hours later on Vista Street at Biona Place. The location is just a mile and a half from the couple's home.

“Every time we have left since, there is a possibility somebody is going to come back and see if they got a shot at something they missed. It's an eerie feeling,” Buster said.

So far, the police investigation has turned up a picture of a possible suspect exiting the black jeep. While the Buster's jeep was recovered, the other stolen items are not.

Buster told NBC 7 that another car was broken into and while one other was stolen in his same neighborhood this week.

Police officers in San Diego are more likely to search drivers of are Black or Hispanic, according to an independent study released by researchers at San Diego State University (SDSU).

The 142-page study looked at nearly 260,000 traffic stops in 2014 and 2015. It found that race and ethnicity were not big factors in determining which drivers were pulled over by police.

But it did play a role in who officers searched.

Despite being searched more often, Black and Hispanic drivers were less likely to be found with contraband compared to white drivers, according to the report. Black, Hispanic and Asian Pacific Islander drivers were also subjected to more field interviews.

You can find the full report here.

The findings come at a time when tension between minority communities and police run high across the nation, including San Diego.

The City of San Diego also released an 11-page response to the report with corrections and clarifications.

You can read the response here.

San Diego Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman released the following statement on Wednesday night:

“I am proud of our department personnel who come to work each day with the desire to make a positive difference. We enjoy a tremendous partnership with our community and that is why we are one of the safest big cities in the United States. We want every citizen to feel safe in their community, feel valued in their opinion, and feel listened to by their police department. We will use these recommendations to strengthen, enhance, and foster new relationships with our community we so proudly serve.”

The San Diego City Council's Public Safety and Livable Neighborhoods Committee is scheduled to discuss the report next Wednesday.