CALL NOW: 619-578-0566

Last year the Wishes in Flight Mile-A-Thon on NBC7 collected over 3.5 million airline miles for Make-A-Wish San Diego.

In 2016, Make-A-Wish San Diego estimates it will need more than 25 million airlines miles to fulfill the more than 140 wishes that will involve travel this year.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation is a unique program that grants wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions.

• Impact of Wishes – based on a 2011 study conducted by Make-A-Wish America…
• 89% of doctors, nurses, social workers and child life specialists say they believe that the wish experience can influence wish kids’ physical health.
• 74% of wish parents observed that the wish experience marked a turning point in their own children’s response to treatment.

Friday, December 16th from 6A-7P Make-A-Wish and NBC 7 will again partner to collect as many airline miles as possible from Delta Airlines and United Airlines. The Wishes in Flight Mile-A-Thon kicks off a year of collecting donated miles to keep sending Wish Kids on the trips of their dreams.

Donating to the Mile-A-Thon is easy, just have your frequent flier number ready and know how many miles you have to donate.  NBC 7 will cover the Mile-A-Thon all day long during newscasts and donors can expect some exciting giveaways throughout the day.

The miles donated will never expire and will be used to grant wishes to children in San Diego.

You can also donate your miles anytime online on the Make-A-Wish website. Make sure you know your frequent flier account number and the number of miles you want to donate when you log on.

An unmanned, underwater U.S. Navy vehicle was stolen from international waters by a Chinese naval vessel near the Philippines Thursday, according to the Pentagon.

The U.S. Navy Ocean Glider Unmanned Underwater Vehicle was on a routine survey collecting data about 50 miles northwest of Subic Bay, in the South China Sea, when a Chinese ship "unlawfully retrieved it," an official with knowledge of the incident told NBC News.

The ship had been shadowing the oceanographic research ship USS Bowditch, where the drone, carrying an unclassified system, was returning, according to the official.

The U.S. has issued a formal diplomatic complaint, though officials told NBC News the issue did not qualify as an act of war.

It comes amid a series of tense exchanges with China, including its sharp rebuke of President-elect Donald Trump's phone call with Taiwan's president.

A fire inside a surf shop sent flames and smoke into the sky over Oceanside Friday.

Oceanside and Carlsbad Fire Departments sent crews to 3204 Production Avenue at approximately 11:40 a.m.

The single-story building was damaged by fire and a second alarm request was sent out.

Six employees were inside the shop at the time, but managed to exit safely, though person suffered facial burns.

Fire investigators believe the fire sparked from chemicals used in the manufacture of surfboards.

Investigators said the fire was caused accidentally when an employee was in the process of working with acetone and the acetone suddenly flashed, causing the fire.

Two other adjoining businesses also were damaged. Total damage was estimated at $500,000, which included dozens of high-end surfboards that were ruined.

The surf shop was deemed a total loss.

Neil Daly of Oceanside Motorsports was in the area and captured footage of the fire in a Facebook Live.

"You could see just everything inside on fire and everybody -- people -- were just running out coughing," he said. "We basically unloaded like 10 fire extinguishers under the door, which did nothing."

You can watch Daly's Facebook Live here (warning: contains profanity):

A local man was arrested for attempting to coerce two children into sending him naked and sexually explicit pictures and then threatening to share the photos if they stopped, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Friday.

Joseph Daniel Saucedo, of Vista, allegedly posed as a teenage girl through the messaging app KIK using the name “Amy” and sent the 11-year old boy naked pictures of young girls. The 25-year old also asked the victim to contact an adult male friend of “Amy” and threatened to expose the boy online if he did not comply.

The victim was then contacted by the male friend of the suspect multiple times using FaceTime. He also received sexually explicit images of that man in messages.

In January, 2016, Saucedo contacted the victim again as “Amy” and threatened to release an inappropriate video online.

After an investigation into Saucedo’s online accounts that police had linked to child pornography, they also found evidence linking him to a similar case in Florida.

Saucedo had posed as a modeling agent with a 16-year old girl online and made similar demands, according the indictment.

"Getting new photographs of child pornography is a real cache thing. It is something that these individuals pride themselves in,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexandra Foster.

According to the federal court complaint, 130 images and 66 videos were found on Saucedo's KIK account. Most of them contained child pornography.

"Unfortunately in this day and age, when we can mask ourselves in social media there are predators out there that do exactly that,” Foster said.

“As parents we need to be aggressively monitor what our children are doing online, and as prosecutors, we will aggressively go after predators who are coercing, extorting and harming our kids,” said U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy.

Saucedo was charged with production, attempted production and receipt of photographs of minors.

If convicted on all charges, he could face up to 25 years in prison.

Potential victims are asked to call Polly Montano, Victim-Witness Coordinator at (619)546-8921, Duffy stated.

A registered sex offender with a violent criminal history was sentenced on Friday for killing a woman in a Downtown San Diego hostel in December, 2015.

Jason Bradwell Lewis, 41, was sentenced to 50 years to life in prison, according to officials.

On Dec. 12, 2015, 26-year old Jhordann Rust made a two-hour phone call to her mother Ann Nielson on the night she was killed. According to San Diego County Deputy District Attorney Melissa Vasel, Nielson heard her daughter say "That hurts!" before the phone disconnected.

Rust had been staying at the 500 West Hotel and Hostel with her boyfriend, Cory Nowell who was later arrested on suspicion of domestic violence

According to a witness, Rust and Lewis had been in an argument in front of the hostel prior to her killing.

Rust's body was found on Dec. 15 in a communal shower area at the hostel. 

Lewis was later arrested in Rust's killing.

According to investigators, Lewis, a registered sex offender, has a history of sexual battery, burglary, grand theft and felony domestic violence. 

In the days after President Obama granted her early release from prison, Mandy Martinson drifted from joy and gratitude to guilt.

She felt blessed that her 15-year sentence for playing a small role in a methamphetamine ring had been cut short. But she also puzzled over why she received such a gift while thousands of other federal drug offenders were seeking the president's mercy, NBC News reported.

Some were on her housing unit at Waseca Federal Correctional Institution in Minnesota. They included lifers who saw Obama's ambitious clemency program, focused on low-level, nonviolent drug offenders, as their only hope at avoiding death behind bars.

Authorities said two people were killed and more than a dozen were injured when a gas tanker skidded off a highway in Baltimore and exploded. Police said a third person died in a separate incident.

Baltimore City Fire Chief Roman Clark said the tanker fell over the jersey wall on Interstate 95 and burst into flames early Saturday. WBAL-TV in Baltimore received a graphic video from a viewer who captured the crash on his cell phone.

At least 15 people were injured in a 55-vehicle pile up. Clark said it's unclear whether the pileup started before the tanker crash or was a result of the debris from the explosion.

Scores of traffic accidents were reported across the region due to slick roads. Maryland State Police said troopers responded to 330 crashes across the state in a 24-hour period.

Clark said the roads were very icy, but it was too early to say what caused the tanker to careen off the highway.

The Maryland Transportation Authority said southbound I-95 reopened around 1:30 p.m. Traffic was detoured off northbound I-95 onto I-695. Crash investigation and cleanup continued on the northbound lanes. It was not clear when those lanes would be reopened.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan issued a statement after the crash.

“I strongly urge all Marylanders to use common sense and put their safety first by heeding all travel warnings from state and local authorities. Road conditions in many areas of the state are still extremely dangerous, and all those who can avoid travel should stay off the roads until conditions have improved.

“The First Lady and I send our deepest condolences and prayers to the families and loved ones of the individuals who lost their lives early this morning as a result of fatal accidents. Our state’s entire emergency management, transportation, and law enforcement resources are fully engaged in managing this situation and are working closely with local jurisdictions to provide needed support. I offer my sincerest gratitude to the state and local first responders who are working diligently at the scene of these incidents and who will continue to do so until the roadways are clear.”

MdTA police Lt. Kevin Ayd said the other incident occurred around 5 a.m. near Exit 59 along I-95. A driver, who was involved in a fender bender, stepped out to assess the damage and was accidentally struck and killed by an oncoming vehicle.

Baltimore County emergency officials said dozens of vehicles collided on the Beltway in the Rosedale area, and six people were taken to a hospital, according to WBAL-TV.

The holiday season is in full swing, and there a whole lot of festive fun to be had in America’s Finest City. From musicals to mixers, get out there and enjoy the most wonderful time of the year.

Thursday, Dec. 15 

Let’s Get Elfed Up
12 p.m. to 10 p.m., Duck Foot Brewing Company Tasting Room
Duck Foot Brewing Company will host a food drive Thursday night at its tasting room on Kenamar Drive, offering $1 off full pours of core beers for patrons who donate cans of food. The brewery will also be releasing new holiday-inspired brews on this day: the Seasonal Irish Stout and the Small Batch Mochanut Lust Porter with Peppermint. Snacks will be served by Eat Your Heart Out.

A Snow White Christmas
7 p.m., Lyceum Theatre
This family-friendly production is an updated version of the classic “Snow White” tale, with a comedic, British Panto-style twist. It stars Disney star Olivia Stuck as Snow White, Broadway’s Yvette Cason as the Wicked Queen and Neil Patrick Harris as the onscreen “Magic Mirror,” and includes dancing from “So You Think You Can Dance” alumni, plus lots of upbeat tunes. The musical’s run at the Lyceum Theatre continues through Dec. 24. Tickets are $61; a $10 lap ticket is required for all kids under 2. 

The Girl Singers of the Hit Parade Holiday Show
7 p.m., North Coast Repertory Theatre
The Girl Singers continue their festive show at the North Coast Repertory Theatre, singing the popular holiday songs of the 1950s including “Santa Baby,” made famous by Eartha Kitt, and “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” by Brenda Lee, plus other sing-along classics. The Girls will also celebrate the music of Hanukah. This event is all-ages; regular admission is $42.

John Caparulo
8 p.m., The American Comedy Co.
Funnyman Joh Caparulo, a veteran of the stand-up comedy scene known for his stints on TV’s “Chelsea Lately” and the late-night talk show circuit, will hit the stage at The American Comedy Co. this weekend. He has an 8 p.m. show Thursday and two shows Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $20. 

Friday, Dec. 16 

Holiday Beer & Dessert Pairing
5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Kilowatt Brewing
Kilowatt Brewing, located at 7576 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., will join forces with Abu’s Kitchen for this special Holiday Beer & Dessert Pairing event Friday night. A paired beer and dessert flight will be available for purchase – no tickets required. Abu’s Kitchen will also offer its full dinner menu. 

Salsa Under the Stars
6 p.m. to 9 p.m., The Headquarters at Seaport
Throw on those dancing shoes and join the Manny Cepeda Orchestra for a night of salsa dancing in the courtyard at The Headquarters at Seaport. This event is free; no partner or experience necessary. 

A Grand Art Series: Holiday Mixer & Toy Drive
6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., Manchester Grand Hyatt
The Manchester Grand Hyatt is currently displaying “A Festival of Trees 2016,” an exhibit featuring abstract Christmas tree sculptures created by Southern California artists, including Alexander Salazar. On Dec. 16, Salazar along with the It’s All About the Kids Foundation will host a holiday mixer and toy drive at the hotel’s Grand Lobby Bar. If you bring a new, unwrapped toy or gift card to donate, you get into the event for free. The mixer includes complimentary wine and 20 percent off your tab at the Grand Lobby Bar, plus free parking with validation. The exhibit will remain on display in the Grand Lobby through New Year’s Day.

San Diego Gulls vs. Stockton Heat
7 p.m., Valley View Casino Center
The San Diego Gulls take on the Stockton Heat at the Valley View Casino Center Friday night. Tickets to the hockey game start at $19.

NOEL NOEL
8 p.m., Copley Symphony Hall
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and the San Diego Symphony will celebrate the season with this concert dedicated to the popular music of the holidays including “Silent Night” and “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch.” The show will feature the San Diego Master Chorale and Broadway showman (and San Diego native) Brian Stokes Mitchell. The show will be conducted by Sameer Patel. Tickets range from $20 to $60; the concert returns on Saturday for two performances at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday for a 7:30 p.m. show.

Saturday, Dec. 17

Seas ‘n’ Greetings
9 a.m., Birch Aquarium
The holiday magic meets the magic of the underwater world at Scripps Institution of Oceanography’s Birch Aquarium this Saturday. Throughout the day, walk through a winter wonderland, featuring festive decorations, music and ocean science activities. Don’t miss Santa as you have never seen him before: underwater! Scuba Santa will be swimming through parts of the aquarium, feeding octopus and more. Tickets start at $14.

Wreaths Across America
9 a.m., Miramar National Cemetery
Take some time this holiday season to honor our fallen veterans. On Saturday, local volunteers will honor some of our country’s heroes as they lay wreaths on the graves of those buried at the cemetery. For more information, including how to sponsor a wreath or how to sign up, click here. http://www.waasandiego.com/

Gem Faire
10 a.m., Scottish Rite Event Center
More than 100 exhibitors will showcase their best gems, stones and jewelry at this three-day show at the Scottish Rite Events Center. A weekend pass is just $7; children 12 and under get in free. The show runs from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

2nd Annual Holiday Bazaar
11 a.m., Portwood Pier Plaza
Looking for a semi-last minute gift? It’s not too late! Stop by the second annual Holiday Bazaar in Imperial Beach. The free event features tasty treats, fun and festive music, a kids zone and several exciting raffles! By shopping at this local bazaar, you will be supporting local, home-based businesses from across San Diego.

The Wholehearted
2 p.m., La Jolla Playhouse
This weekend at the Playhouse, experience a modern play, a portrait of a female boxer who survives a brutal attack by her own husband. The play uses live projections, film and a score to tell the story, walking the line between personal fantasy and hard reality. Tickets start at $10.

Wagyu and Whiskey 5 Course Cosecha Pop Up Dinner
6 p.m., Shima
It’s a wonderful, one-night only event: Cosecha, by chef and restauranteur Steve Bown, will open the doors to the currently closes Coronado restaurant Shima, to host the 5-course meal. Each Japanese Wagyu dish will be prepared differently. Guests will pick whiskey or wine to accompany their meal. Seats are limited, so reserve in advance. Tickets are $120. 

San Diego Gulls vs. Stockton Heat
7:05 p.m., Valley View Casino Center
The San Diego Gulls take on the Stockton Heat at the Valley View Casino Center. Tickets start at $18 per person.

Sunday, Dec. 18

Winter Wanderings
9:30 a.m., Mission Trails Regional Park
This weekend, get out and explore some of San Diego’s beauty! Bring the whole family for a free guided tour of Mission Trails Regional Park, starting at the visitor’s center. Learn more about the adaptive plants and some of the animals on the trails as you take in fresh air and stunning nature. The tour is free.

Victorian Tea
11 a.m., Hotel Del Coronado
Take a step back in time this December with this mid-morning tea session at the Hotel Del. Dozens of traditional teas are served with finger sandwiches, cookies, tarts and more – all as you enjoy live music. To attend, you must reserve and pay in advance. Tickets start at $30 and children under five are complimentary.

Kensington Holiday Home Tour 
12 p.m., Canterbury Drive and Westminster Terrace
Get in the holiday spirit with this multi-home tour through five historic Kensington homes, each decorated for the holidays by professional interior designers. The popular holiday tour, by the Iris Auxiliary to San Diego Center for Children, is back after a multi-year gap this year! Tickets start at $25.

Parade of Lights
5 p.m., Various waterfront locations, including Maritime Museum of San Diego
Festive lights illuminating the San Diego Bay can only mean one thing: the San Diego Bay Parade of Lights is back – a holiday tradition upheld by the local boating community bulb for bulb, year after year. In its 45th year, the dazzling display of lights covering more than 80 boats can be seen from several prime locations along the waterfront route -- from Shelter Island past Harbor Island, the Embarcadero, Seaport Village and Coronado’s Ferry Landing.

DELights at Hotel Del Coronado
4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday to Sunday until Jan. 1, at Hotel Del Coronado on Orange Avenue
Come out to Coronado for this one-of-a-kind holiday experience and witness the iconic Victorian building decked out with thousands of glittering lights. That’s the backdrop for a holiday scene which includes snowflakes, polar bears and other holiday sights. The event is $25 per person and complimentary for resort guests and children under 12.

One of San Diego's well-known union leaders is facing serious allegations of gender discrimination and political retaliation, as outlined in a complaint lawsuit filed by a former employee.

The civil complaint is being filed by Sandy Naranjo against the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW), which is headed by Mickey Kasparian.

Naranjo, a 29-year-old mother, lost her job on Dec. 9 at the UFCW in Mission Valley. In her complaint, she claims gender discrimination and political retaliation at the hands of her former employer.

“I felt humiliated that part of my identity was taken away,” Naranjo told NBC 7, speaking of the day she lost her job. “I lived to be a union organizer because I was raised in a union family. I wanted to fight for families I've seen that remind me of mine."

The complaint claims several women were allegedly mistreated in the office and also accuses Kasparian of using degrading words about women, including Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez.

The UFCW said the claims in Naranjo’s complaint are “meritless.”

The union sent this statement to NBC 7:

“UFCW Local 135 is informed that Sandy Naranjo, a former Union organizer, has had her lawyers prepare a meritless court complaint against UFCW Local 135, which has been shared with members of the media. Naranjo was recently terminated by UFCW Local 135 for good cause. Her complaint, which was made public without any demand letter or other communication to the Union from her attorneys, is nothing more than a pack of outrageous lies and falsehoods, defaming the Union and its leadership. UFCW Local 135 has provided strong and dedicated leadership for working people and their families in the San Diego community, both at the bargaining table and in the political arena. UFCW Local 135, strenuously denies the false and baseless allegations in the complaint and questions the motives and timing behind it. UFCW Local 135 will vigorously oppose this frivolous lawsuit with all necessary resources, and will seek sanctions and attorney’s fees when we prevail.”

Naranjo told NBC 7 she won Organizer of the Year as well as another award just days before she was fired. She said the awards prove she was fired for political retaliation, allegedly because her husband works for a different union that often sides with opposing political candidates.

“This really boils down to retaliation by a very powerful man against a woman he thought was crossing him by a man who takes no prisoners when it comes to women crossing him,” said Naranjo’s attorney, Dan Gilleon.

A non-profit organization broke ground Saturday on an adaptive home for a Marine veteran who was severely injured in Afghanistan.

Homes for Our Troops, an organization that specializes in building homes designed specifically for veterans with life-altering injuries, is building retired Marine Private First Class Issac Blunt a home of his own in Fallbrook.

PFC Blunt has had a tough road to recovery since losing his legs, an eye and several fingers in an IED explosion in 2011 when he was just 20 years old.

His new four-bedroom, mortgage-paid home will have lowered countertops, widened doorways for easier wheelchair access and a roll-in shower, but the features of the home aren’t what he and his partner Cammie look forward to the most.

“What Cammie and I are looking forward to the most is being able to have enough rooms for when my daughter comes out here,” Blunt said. “This way she’ll have her own room and a home to go to.”

Blunt says that his daughter Isabel, 6, is currently in Wisconsin and will be making her first trip to San Diego for Christmas.

Although starting construction on the Blunt families dream home was the main event, Saturday’s itinerary included much more than ceremoniously putting shovels to dirt.

PFC Blunt rode to an introductory press conference in a fire engine escorted by police. He was met by cheering community members and supporting veterans, and entered the building under an awning of American Flags.

[[407256296,C]]

At the conference, Blunt was introduced to his new neighbors and later personally thanked all those involved in the construction of his new home.

“You guys make it possible for us to come home to these homes and be able to live our lives without having to worry about a mortgage,” Blunt said. “It’s greatly appreciated.”

More than 230 guns were taken off of the streets Saturday at the United African American Ministerial Action Council’s (UAAMAC) seventh annual gun buy-back exchange in Encanto.

The UAAMAC and local law enforcement agencies handed out gift cards for rifles, shotguns and handguns, no questions asked.

Weapon forfeiters were given $100 for rifles, hand guns and shotguns and $200 for assault rifles.

Several other cities around the country hosted weapon buyback events of their own, including San Francisco and Miami.

President-elect Donald Trump continued to use social media to poke at China Saturday, saying on Twitter that the U.S. should refuse to take a drone seized in international waters after the Communist country agreed to return it, NBC News reported.

"We should tell China that we don't want the drone they stole back. — let them keep it!" Trump said on Twitter Saturday night.

Trump's Tweet came after China's defense ministry said it agreed to return the drone, which was taken Thursday in the South China Sea, and after the Pentagon said it had secured the agreement "through direct engagement with Chinese authorities."

Trump communications director Jason Miller credited the president-elect with China's decision to return the vehicle, saying on Twitter that Trump "gets it done" — but there was no evidence presented or claim made that Trump did anything besides Tweet about the seizure.

Golden-aged jewel thief Doris Payne was released from jail Saturday after she posted $15,000 bond, NBC News reported.

The 86-year-old won her freedom after convincing a judge she wouldn't disappear. 

"I've never been late for a court date," the sticky-fingered senior citizen said Friday in her first appearance since she was charged with stealing a $2,000 diamond necklace from an Atlanta-area jewel store.

In previous interviews, Payne has said she's been arrested more than 20 times in a globe-trotting career that inspired a 2013 documentary.

For the second time in one night, a would-be victim turned the tables on a robber in Philadelphia, according to police. Officials say a pizza deliveryman shot a suspect who was trying to rob him in Northeast Philadelphia Saturday night.

The deliveryman was on the 1400 block of Wellington Street at 9:24 p.m. when he was approached by a 19-year-old man who tried to rob him, police said. The deliveryman, who was armed, opened fire, striking the suspect once in the right lower leg and once in the left lower leg.

The suspect was taken to the hospital where he is currently in stable condition, police said. They have not yet released his identity.

The shooting was the second incident in Philadelphia Saturday night in which a robber was shot by his intended victim, according to investigators. Police say the owner of an auto repair shop shot a man who was trying to rob his business.

One person was killed and five others were injured after a large tree fell on top of a wedding party at a Southern California park on Saturday afternoon, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. 

Multiple people were trapped after a tree toppled over around 4:30 p.m. in Whittier's Penn Park, fire officials said. 

"I heard the crackling and I'm looking up and it was just an odd sound," witness Mary Escarga told NBC4. 

A wedding party was taking pictures after the ceremony when a 100-foot tall eucalyptus tree fell, trapping up to 20 people, the fire department said. Chainsaws were used to remove those who were trapped underneath the tree's branches. 

One person was killed and five people, including a young girl, were injured. The five people who were injured suffered minor and moderate injuries and were taken to a hospital for treatment. They are expected to recover. 

• Those Finally Fleeing Aleppo Tell of Their Pain in Leaving

2 trees fell during a wedding at Penn Park, multiple people injured... pic.twitter.com/zuVf9h60TN

— pat (@ChiefPat_) December 18, 2016

"The scene was very chaotic," said Sgt. Jason Zuhlke of the Whittier Police Department.

Rene Zaldivar, who was at the park for a quinceañera, said he saw the bride during the chaos.

"She was limping a little bit, but she was screaming about her mom – they couldn’t wake her up."

A search dog was brought in to search for additional victims who could still be trapped. 

"Fortunately, there weren't more people injured by the tree collapse," John Tripp, a Los Angeles County Fire Department deputy chief, said at a news conference. "It could have been a lot worse." 

The wedding party was taken to a nearby senior center where mental health counselors were made available to them.

Officials could not confirm that the heavy rains reported Friday evening played a factor in the tree collapse. 

Arborists are expected to investigate why the tree fell.

The identity of the person who was killed has not yet been released.

An Oceanside veteran was gifted a $19,000 electric wheelchair courtesy of the giving family of the woman who used it until her death.

The wheelchair once belonged to a woman named Kit. Kit passed away in September and her family, who wished to remain anonymous, decided to donate the mobile chair to James Jones, a veteran of the Vietnam War.

Jones, a 22-year veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, was injured twice while serving in Vietnam making it hard for the father of seven, and now grandfather to 16, to get around. Jones’ new toy will surely change that.

“This is a Christmas gift,” Jones said. “And I’m glad for it.”

Kit’s family says that she would have wanted the wheelchair donated so that somebody else could experience the same joys it once gave her.

A letter to Jones from Kit’s family detailed a tragic car accident that paralyzed Kit from the neck down. It also explained why, after years of recovery, Kit’s wheelchair meant so much to her.

“In 2010, after nearly two years of knowing only life in a bed, Kit received her newfound greatest joy: this wheelchair. She could once again go for strolls outside and enjoy the weather. She could take her dog, Lady, for walks again. She could sit for hours at a time in her garden enjoying an audio book. It was always a challenge for anyone to convince her to come back inside.”

The family went on to wish that the wheelchair open new doors for Jones. In the letter’s final line, the family imagined Kit watching Jones enjoy the chair from a place where she no longer needs one, and it ended with a bit of advice from Kit herself.

“Take the corners slow.”

Detectives are investigating an armed robbery that took place Saturday night at a Mt. Hope liquor store.

Police say a man walked into Party Time 2 at 4101 Market Street at around 9:23 p.m. with his sweatshirt pulled over his head and pointed a gun at the store clerk, demanding cash and alcohol.

The suspect, described as a black male, 5 foot 9 inches tall and in his 30s, fled the store with an unknown amount of money and got into a black sedan parked in the front lot, SDPD said.

The man then drove away eastbound on Market Street. He was wearing a gray sweatshirt and gray jeans, according to police.

SDPD Robbery Detectives are investigating the incident.

More than half of Americans say they are significantly bothered by the news that hackers working in connection with a foreign government were involved in trying to influence November's presidential election, according to results from a new national NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll.

Forty-three percent of respondents say they are bothered a "great deal" about Russian interference, while an additional 12 percent were bothered "quite a bit."

By contrast, 23 percent of Americans say they aren't bothered at all by the news, while 8 percent said "very little" and another 10 percent said "just some," NBC News reported.

A man from San Diego’s North County was arrested Friday after hurting several people in five separate hit-and-runs – all in one night – and leading deputies on a pursuit.

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department (SDSO) said Michael Dorman, 26, was taken into custody on Driftwood Way in Oceanside on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol after a bizarre series of hit-and-runs that happened within less than two hours.

According to the SDSO, it all began around 5 p.m. when Dorman struck a pedestrian in the parking lot of an Albertson’s grocery store at 1301 E. Vista Way in Vista. Dorman fled after the collision; the victim in that first incident suffered shoulder and hip pain and was taken to a local hospital.

As deputies investigated the hit-and-run at the Albertson’s parking lot, they received two additional calls of hit-and-run within five minutes in that same area, on Arcadia Avenue. The SDSO said those calls included another pedestrian hit by a car. That victim suffered head and leg injuries and was airlifted to Palomar Medical Center. The third hit-and-run involved the suspect colliding with another driver.

In all three hit-and-runs, the suspect was driving a white Ford Explorer, officials said.

Moments later, deputies were called to yet another hit-and-run at 500 Hacienda Dr. This time, two pedestrians were hit – again by a driver in a white Ford Explorer. Those victims suffered minor injuries and were taken to local hospitals.

There, deputies learned that the suspect in all of the incidents was Dorman. Witnesses told deputies that Dorman appeared to be intentionally swerving to hit those two pedestrians in the Hacienda Drive incident. Dorman had also allegedly sideswiped another car on purpose on Vista Village Drive and was speeding, witnesses told investigators.

Soon, a fifth hit-and-run collision was reported in the 700 block of East Bobier, just blocks away. Again, Dorman was the suspect.

At this point, deputies tracked down Dorman and tried to pull him over on Anza Drive and Ishihara Road on Vista.

He fled, and a pursuit ensued, lasting for about 15 minutes as Dorman sped through Vista and Oceanside. Deputies said Dorman hit at least two other cars and a tree as he tried to escape.

Finally, just before 6:40 p.m., deputies were able to stop and arrest Dorman in Oceanside. He was booked into the Vista Detention Facility on nearly a dozen charges, including DUI, driving while on probation and attempted murder.

Jail booking records indicate he was driving with a blood-alcohol content of nearly twice the legal limit. Dorman is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information on this case can call Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.

He is not the biggest. He is not the fastest. He doesn’t play against the best competition. But nobody in the history of college football has ever been as prolific as Donnel Pumphrey.

The San Diego State running back broke Ron Dayne’s all-time NCAA rushing record on Saturday. With a 15-yard run in the 4th quarter of their Las Vegas Bowl meeting against Houston Pumphrey topped Dayne’s career record of 6.397 yards.

The 5-foot-9, 180-pound back needed 108 yards for the record and did not get off to a great start. Pumphrey had -1 yard after the first quarter. But the Aztecs offense started clicking after halftime and after a 32-yard touchdown run in the 3rd quarter the record was suddenly well in reach.

Pumphrey, who is a Las Vegas native, also took over the 2016 NCAA rushing lead from Texas back D’Onta Foreman so unless Wyoming’s Brian Hill goes for more than 300 yards in the Poinsettia Bowl then Pumphrey will win the 2016 NCAA rushing title, as well.

It does stand to note that Dayne’s bowl games are not counted in his career stats (the NCAA did not start counting bowl games until 2002, three years after Dayne left Wisconsin). At the time of this writing the Aztecs led Houston 27-10 in the 4th quarter.