Three young children were killed after they became trapped on the upstairs floor of an apartment during a fire that broke out just minutes before Christmas Eve in northwest Indiana.

The Gary Fire Department said the fire was reported just after 11:30 p.m. Friday at the Oak Knoll Apartments in the 4400 block of West 23rd Court.

Three children, all under the age of six, were killed in the blaze. They were upstairs when the fire broke out.

"It's terrible," said neighbor Diamond Childress. "I just can't get their screams out of my head."

The Lake County Coroner identified the children as 5-year-old Jayden Mitchell and 4-year-old Alaya Pickens. A 2-year-old girl was also killed but her identity had not been released as of Saturday morning.

The children’s mother and a man were both taken to area hospitals. Their conditions were not immediately known.

The fire impacted just one unit in the complex and continued into Christmas Eve before being put out around 1:45 a.m., officials said. Firefighters said slick conditions made it more difficult to fight the blaze.

"Christmas Eve, are you kidding me? Today is Dec. 24, that’s the most heartbreaking thing in the world," said neighbor Jamisha Powe. "I could never and don’t want to ever imagine going through that."

The cause of the fire was not immediately known. 

The Maccabeats, a New York a cappella group, channeled Lin-Manuel Miranda for their latest parody, a rewrite of songs from the Broadway hit 'Hamilton.' 

The group released a video titled "Hasmonean: A Hamilton Hanukkah" on Youtube last week and it's since been viewed more than 200,000 times. 

The song tells the story of Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights, which begins on Dec. 24th this year. 

The Maccabeats' musical director, Julian Horowitz, told NPR the medium they use is especially fitting for the Hanukkah song. 

"One of the main themes of the holiday is publicizing the miracle," he says. "Which is why, of course, we light menorahs in our windows and you see them in all these public squares. So in some ways, the YouTube video is the modern-day menorah."

Santa entered North American airspace half an hour before Christmas Eve, at 04:30 Zulu time, according to the mission team in Canada charged with tracking his trip around the world this weekend.

That's right, Canada helps the U.S. track Santa's present-delivering flight. The North American Aerospace Defense Command, run jointly by the two nations, does it each year live online.

Part of the team is based in Canada, and it's "one of the coolest jobs in the world," says Maj. Gen. Christian Drouin, commander of the Canadian NORAD Region, in a YouTube video that explains just how the tracking gets done.

Anyone can follow the journey online with the Santa tracker website — it's live now and began tracking Father Christmas early Saturday morning — but only a select few actually escort Mr. Kringle into North American airspace. That'd be a pair of Canadian fighter jets based out of Quebec, Drouin and his team explained.

Santa and the military communicate with a direct land line, and when he visits the Canadian NORAD Region headquarters in Winnipeg, he gets to sit in Drouin's chair in the briefing room. "Nobody else sits there but me!" Drouin exclaims.

NORAD monitors North American airspace for missile attacks and other unauthorized objects in the sky, and Drouin says the same technology keeps tabs on Santa's present-laden sleigh.

"Let me tell you a secret: Rudolph's nose glows on our radar. We can see the red nose from miles away," Drouin said, confidentially.

There are other videos live on the tracker website, along with games, music and more. As usual, "Santa Cams" are streaming videos as Saint Nick begins his route, and starting at 6:01 a.m., trackers can call 1-877-HI-NORAD or email noradtrackssanta@outlook.com and ask an operator for Santa's exact location.

Fifteen hundred people are answering phone calls and emails, while more than 9 million unique visitors visit the website from upwards of 200 countries and territories worldwide, NORAD says.

The tracking service began 61 years ago, when a misprinted phone number in a newspaper ad directed children thinking they had Santa's direct line to dial an Air Force base in Colorado that hosted the Continental Air Defense Command Operations Center, now NORAD.

The commander on duty played along, checking the radar for signs of Santa for each of the inquisitive kids, and a tradition was born. 

Normally considered to be a childish trick, Ding-Ding Ditch is helping provide a very merry Christmas for more than a dozen San Diego area families in need.

Members of Horizon Christ Fellowship’s youth ministry went out across San Diego Friday night ringing doorbells and dashing off.

But this was a prank with a purpose.

They left behind gifts on families’ porches who were in need or going through tough times.

After seeing the gifts on the front porch of their Linda Vista home, the Montero children ripped open the wrapping yelling, “Thank you! Thank you!”

In response, Youth pastor Marty Miranda said, “We wanted to let you know God loves you and cares about you and is with you. And that you all feel the love of Jesus more than ever this Christmas.”

The special delivery played out at 18 homes across San Diego County.

Members left 180 presents to dozens of children up to the age of 17.

Most times, youth ministry members would ring and run, but they stopped to spend time with the Angel siblings in Point Loma.

Last Sunday,  their 10-year-old brother Lev who had epilepsy drowned after a seizure in the bathtub.

“The gifts are good, I think it shows when the world seems a dark place and people show they care it brightens things up," said Aviv Angel.

Mia Steel was among the Horizon youth ministry members spreading holiday cheer.

“It’s really great to give back to the community and with what’s going on in their life," she said. "They’re so young and to experience something that big, it’s great to give back.”

This is the third annual Horizon Ding-Dong Ditch.

In a striking rupture with past practice, the United States allowed the U.N. Security Council on Friday to condemn Israeli settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem as a "flagrant violation" of international law. In doing so, the outgoing Obama administration brushed aside Donald Trump's demands that the U.S. exercise its veto and provided a climax to years of icy relations with Israel's leadership.

The decision to abstain from the council's 14-0 vote is one of the biggest American rebukes of its longstanding ally in recent memory. And it could have significant ramifications for the Jewish state, potentially hindering Israel's negotiating position in future peace talks. Given the world's widespread opposition to settlements, the action will be almost impossible for anyone, including Trump, to reverse.

Nevertheless, Trump vowed via Twitter: "As to the U.N., things will be different after Jan. 20th."

• Hospice Nurse Brings Christmas to a Mother Fighting Brain Cancer

As to the U.N., things will be different after Jan. 20th.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 23, 2016

The resolution said Israel's settlements in lands the Palestinians want to include in their future state have "no legal validity." It demanded a halt to such activities for the sake of "salvaging the two-state solution." Loud applause erupted in the council chamber after U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power permitted the resolution to pass.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called the resolution "a significant step" to reconfirm the vision of a two-state solution with the Palestinians.

The U.N. chief said the vote demonstrates the Security Council's "much needed leadership and the international community's collective efforts" that are critical to demonstrate a two-state solution where Israel and the Palestinians live side by side in peace "is still achievable."

Spokesman Stephane Dujarric says Ban is encouraging Israeli and Palestinian leaders to work with the international community "to create a conducive environment for a return to meaningful negotiations."

Friday's condemnation, a day after Egypt suddenly postponed a scheduled showdown, capped days of frantic diplomacy in capitals around the world.

American officials indicated they would have been prepared to let the resolution pass, despite blocking such proposals for years. Israeli officials said they were aware of such plans and turned to Trump for support. The U.S. president-elect sent a tweet urging President Barack Obama to block the U.N. effort. Egypt then pulled its resolution, with U.S. officials citing fierce Israeli pressure as the reason. Israeli officials then accused Obama of colluding with the Palestinians in a "shameful move" against the Jewish state. Washington denied the charge.

Most of the world is opposed to Israel's construction of Jewish settlements in lands it seized in the 1967 Mideast War. The primary holdout at the U.N. has been the United States, which sees settlements as illegitimate but has traditionally used its veto power as a permanent member of the Security Council to block such resolutions on the grounds that Israeli-Palestinian disputes should be addressed through negotiation.

Underscoring that unity, Friday's resolution was proposed by nations in four different parts of the world: Malaysia, New Zealand, Senegal and Venezuela. It is the first resolution on settlements to pass in 36 years, Malaysia's U.N. Ambassador Ramlan Bin Ibrahim said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered several diplomatic steps in retaliation, recalling his nation's ambassadors to New Zealand and Senegal for consultations and canceling a planned January visit to Israel by Senegal's foreign minister. He also ended Israeli aid programs to the African country.

"Israel rejects this shameful anti-Israel resolution at the U.N. and will not abide by its terms," Netanyahu's office said in a statement, blaming Obama for failing to "protect Israel against this gang-up at the UN" and even colluding with the country's detractors. "Israel looks forward to working with President-elect Trump and with all our friends in Congress, Republicans and Democrats alike, to negate the harmful effects of this absurd resolution."

By contrast, chief Palestinian negotiation Saeb Erekat hailed the result as a "victory for the justice of the Palestinian cause." He said Trump's choice was now between "international legitimacy" or siding with "settlers and extremists."

Explaining the U.S. vote, Power quoted a 1982 statement from then-U.S. President Ronald Reagan, which declared that Washington "will not support the use of any additional land for the purpose of settlements."

"That has been the policy of every administration, Republican and Democrat, since before President Reagan and all the way through to the present day," Power said.

"One would think that it would be a routine vote," Power said. But she acknowledged that, in reality, the vote was "not straightforward" because it occurred at the United Nations, a body that has singled out Israel for criticism for decades.

In a statement, Secretary of State John Kerry said the vote was guided by one principle: "To preserve the possibility of the two-state solution."

In some ways, the American abstention served as a direct reflection of the deep distrust between Obama and Netanyahu. It followed months of intensely secret deliberations in Washington, including what one official said was an unannounced meeting earlier this month between Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry, and a spate of fresh Israeli settlement announcements that have wrought exasperation and anger from American officials.

Trump has signaled he will be far more sympathetic to Israel's stances on the two territories, where some 600,000 Israelis live. His campaign platform made no mention of the establishment of a Palestinian state, a core policy objective of Democratic and Republican presidents over the past two decades. He also has vowed to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, which would anger Palestinians and lack international support. Trump's pick for ambassador to Israel, Jewish-American lawyer David Friedman, is a donor and vocal supporter of the settlements.

The resolution is little different in tone or substance from Obama's view, with the exception of its language on the legality of settlements. Washington has long avoided calling the activity illegal, in part to maintain diplomatic wiggle room for a negotiated solution that would allow Israel to incorporate some of the larger settlement blocs.

While the resolution doesn't impose sanctions on Israel, it enshrines the world's disapproval of the settlements. A reversal would require a follow-up vote that avoids a veto from the U.S., Britain, China, France or Russia — a highly unlikely scenario given the current stalemate in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

In Washington, Republicans were already threatening consequences. Sen. Lindsey Graham, who heads the Senate appropriations panel in charge of U.S. payments to the global body, said he would "form a bipartisan coalition to suspend or significantly reduce" such funding. He said countries receiving U.S. aid also could be penalized for backing the effort.

In a Hanukkah message Friday, Obama didn't mention the matter. He referenced Israel once, noting that Jews there and around the world would soon "gather to light their Hanukkah menorahs, display them proudly in the window and recall the miracles of both ancient times and the present day."

_____

Klapper reported from Washington and Federman reported from Jerusalem.

Just days before Christmas, one family is getting a lot of help as they face almost unimaginable challenges.

For many, it's the most wonderful time of the year. but for the Graziano family this Christmas season has proven to be the most difficult.

“We have hope and that's the way that we face this,” Joey Graziao said. “But there's times that we need to look at the realistic side of it all and those are the harder times.”

Hard is putting it mildly.

Their 6-year old son Kai is in remission after undergoing treatment for pediatric neuroblastoma cancer.

On the heels of the family's fight for their son's life, his father, 38-year old Joey was diagnosed with Stage 4 prostate cancer in May.

Now, Joey's wife Maggie has her own hospital bed at UCSD Thornton, beginning her fight against Stage 4 colon cancer she was diagnosed with in November.

The couple also has a 19-month old son named Everett.

They are now facing the possibility of losing their home because of mounting medical expenses.

But thankfully this holiday season, there are so many who care.

"If you look at the Christmas spirit, it's just so much more important to take care of someone in need as opposed to enjoying a Christmas party,” Sean Merzbacher said. He’s the general manager of Donovan’s Steak and Chop House in La Jolla and San Diego.

After hearing about the Graziano’s story, restaurant employees decided to forego their Christmas party and donate $30,000 to the family as they fight cancer, paying bills and keeping their home.

“$30,000 dollars to keep a roof over a family's head? Like I said, it was a no brainer for us,” Merzbacher said.

He met with the family for the first time at the hospital and shared the happy news. Maggie and Joey were overwhelmed with emotions.

“I’m kind of overwhelmed,” Maggie said as she lay in her hospital room. “That's very unexpected. That's a very large amount of donation to help us."

“For all of the employees to get together and make a decision like that really means a lot to us and takes some of the pressure off,” Joey said through tears.

Donovan’s is also helping to raise more money for the family and encouraging people and businesses to donate.

The generous gift from Donovan's is only the most recent donation that’s sure to help make this difficult season all the more wonderful for the Graziano family.

If you’d like to help out the family, you can donate here. 

The mysterious death of CorePower Yoga founder Trevor Tice appears to be accidental, multiple law enforcement sources close to the investigation have told NBC 7.

Tice’s death was investigated as a suspicious death because his injuries initially appeared to have been caused by a beating, two law enforcement sources said.

It now appears Tice fell, resulting in his injuries.

A San Diego police homicide lieutenant said Friday the medical examiner is still running tests, including a toxicology report, to determine an exact cause of death. But the investigation so far indicates it wasn’t a result of foul play.

The body of the 48-year-old yoga mogul was discovered Dec. 12 inside a multi-million dollar home along Sunset Cliffs.

Tice founded CorePower Yoga in 2002 starting with just a few studios and growing it into a company which now includes more than 160 yoga studios across the U.S.

A homicide lieutenant stressed that the investigation is ongoing and that the medical examiner’s office will have the final say on the cause of death.

San Diego police Lt. Mike Holden said there are no suspects or persons of interest and police don’t believe there is a threat to the public.

Neighbors on Friday expressed relief that the death did not appear to be a homicide.

“It’s mostly a relief,” said neighbor Carrie Elbogen. “In my opinion, from all the movies I’ve seen, I would have assumed it was someone that knew him or was targeting him. But, I feel better being at home alone now.”

“You know, it’s tragic no matter how somebody dies,” said neighbor Richard Smith. “But, it is nice to know that there’s not a threat to the neighborhood.”

The Minnesota Vikings' team plane slid off the runway after landing in Wisconsin Friday and became stuck, the team announced, and the players on board were quick to hit social media with the news. 

"While taxiing after a safe landing, the team plane slid off the runway and became stuck," the team wrote on Twitter. "We are waiting patiently to exit the plane." 

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The team sat for hours on the aircraft after the incident before a firetruck arrived to assist the passengers off. But apparently, when you leave the Vikings on a plane for a while, Twitter gets a bit more interesting. 

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It wasn't until about midnight, just hours before kickoff, the team finally tweeted that the players were back at the team hotel and resting. 

A man dressed in all black gunned down a beloved 81-year-old woman inside the Philadelphia corner store she owned for decades on Christmas Eve.

Police responded to Marie’s Grocery Store at S 6th and Titan streets in South Philadelphia around 8:50 a.m. Saturday to find Marie Buck suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, said investigators.

Medics rushed Buck -- who lived on the block -- to Jefferson Hospital where she died a short time later, said police.

The gunman -- who wore a black hoodie -- got away after firing about one dozen shots, said police. An 89-year-old woman was also working in the store at the time of the shooting, said police.

Buck's family said she owned the store for the past 44 years.

NBC10 cameras captured people crying outside the taped-off store. Many people in the neighborhood called her "Aunt Marie."

"She took care of everybody," said Angela Sweeney, Buck's great niece.

"When you were short changed, or whatever, she'd help you out that's the type of person she is," said longtime customer Wanda.

Police didn’t immediately have a motive for the shooting but robbery didn't appear to be a reason considering the gunman took nothing from the store. Neighbors and family said the store had never been robbed before.

Investigators hoped surveillance video from nearby could help in the search for the killer. Anyone with information is asked to contact Philadelphia Police.

Two people were killed after their vehicle overturned while they were driving on State Route 78 near Julian, California Highway Patrol (CHP) confirmed.

The single-car crash happened around 10:39 a.m. Saturday morning at Great Southern Overland State Route.

The two people were confirmed dead at the scene and two others were taken to the hospital were unknown injuries. 

CHP is investigating.

A 26-year-old pedestrian was fatally struck by a vehicle while standing in the traffic lanes of westbound State Route 94 at the 30th Street off-ramp, California Highway Patrol confirmed.

A car exiting the freeway hit the pedestrian at about 40 mph around 3:40 a.m. Saturday.

His death was pronounced when first responders arrived.

The victim lived in Chula Vista.

CHP is investigating the crash.

A pedestrian was fatally hit by a vehicle in the 5000 block of Logan Avenue Saturday afternoon, San Diego police confirm.

The pedestrian, in his 30s, was crossing the street outside of the crosswalk when he was struck by a driver who was unable to stop. 

The crash happened around 1:24 p.m. The victim has not been identified yet. 

Traffic Division is handling the investigation.

No other information was immediately available.

Check back for updates on this breaking news story. 

The wife and two children of Jonathan ‘J.D.’ De Guzman, a San Diego Police Department officer who was killed while on duty this year, will represent their husband and father in the annual Port of San Diego Holiday Bowl Parade Tuesday. The theme of the parade this year is “Honoring our First Responders.”

De Guzman, a 16-year-veteran of the department, was fatally shot during a traffic stop in Southcrest on July 28, 2016.

In 2003, the De Guzman survived a stabbing while on duty, and was awarded a Purple Heart by the department for his valor. Zimmerman said that even after that incident, De Guzman eagerly returned to the force and his passion to protect the public never wavered.

San Diego Police Chief Shelley ZImmerman expressed her gratitude on Twitter. 

The parade, which kicks off game day Tuesday, attracts more than 100,000 viewers each year to San Diego Bay, and will be broadcast on TV.

This year the Minnesota Golden Gophers will take on the Washington State Cougars in the game. 

The National Funding Holiday Bowl kicks off at 4:00 pm on Tuesday, December 27th at Qualcomm Stadium.

One person was killed in a two-car crash in Dulzura Friday evening, California Highway Patrol confirmed.

State Route 94 was briefly closed at Barrett Smith Road following the collision around 5:13 p.m., but reopened a couple of hours later.

There is no information about any of the other passengers’ conditions.

Twas’ the night before Christmas and the Bolts were in Cleveland. Okay, that’s about as far as my rhyming skills go. In the first play of the game, Quarterback Philip Rivers sends a deep 50 yard pass to wide receiver Travis Benjamin. Rivers, who has openly shared his frustration with the team’s performance this season, was showing us that he came to play, and he was off to a good start. The Bolts' opening drive culminated with tight end Antonio Gates’ 110th career touchdown and gave the Chargers an early 7-0 lead.

Once they had possession the Browns responded with a touchdown of their own. Cleveland’s first scoring drive in the first quarter included three defensive penalties against the Chargers. Browns running back Isaiah Crowell scored his first of two touchdowns of the game to tie up the score board.

In the first half Cleveland’s defense held San Diego to just three more points. Kicker Josh Lambo hit a 43 yard field goal with less than two minutes before the half. Standing in the tunnel between the two locker rooms at half time, you could hear the excitement from the Browns team as they headed into the second half of the game with their first lead in five games.

In the third quarter the Bolts tried to recharg their passing game. A couple of long balls to wide receiver Tyrell Williams put the Chargers in the red zone and set him up for a one yard touchdown catch. That score put the Chargers within three points of the Browns who were leading 20-17. However, that was the last time San Diego would see the end zone in this game. Since it is Christmas Eve, we’ll take a short pause in our story check in with Santa.

Nice List:

-Antonio Gates is now one touchdown away from tying Tony Gonzalez’s all time record for the most touch downs by a tight end in NFL history.

-Philip Rivers now has 4,000 passing yards in a season for the eighth time in his career. He is tied with New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady for third-most in NFL history. When asked how much it meant given the game’s outcome Rivers said, “Not a whole lot.” It was also his 51st-career 300-yard game to tie Dan Fouts for the most in franchise history.

-The Chargers defense collected nine sacks and 13 tackles for loss against the Browns. Rookie defensive end Joey Bosa and defensive end Damion Square led the team with two sacks each.

Naughty List:

-The Chargers are the first team to lose to the Browns this season.

-Their loss in Cleveland also marks the end of the Chargers 20 game streak with at least one take away.

After the game the players said this loss doesn’t weigh any heavier on them than the rest. The fact that Cleveland had yet to win a game until they played the Chargers was of no consequence because as defensive tackle Corey Liuget put it, “They’re an NFL team. They’re a good team. They can win games just like we can.”

First Energy Stadium was at best 40% full on Christmas Eve, but the fans that were there to witness their first win of the season made it sound like a sold out crowd. In the fourth quarter the Chargers had two definitive opportunities to tie and possibly beat the Browns. The first shattered glimmer of hope was Josh Lambo’s blocked 32 yard field goal attempt. Then, with seconds on the clock Lambo was back out to kick a 45 yard field goal but it was wide right. He looked shocked as the Cleveland players stormed the field in celebration. I asked him what went through his mind in that moment: “I knew I let my team down. I knew I let my organization down. This weighs heavily on me. I’ll have to carry that” said Lambo about his ill-fated kick.

Next up the Chargers will face the Kansas City Chiefs on New Year’s Day in what many believe could be the Bolts final game at Qualcomm Stadium. If it sounds a lot like last year’s final game against Miami, well, you’re not alone. A win would be essential for a team that has had a controversial and frustrating season, especially with an uncertain future and an NFL deadline on the horizon.

Embracing Soviet-style communism, Fidel Castro overcame imprisonment and exile to become leader of Cuba and defy the power of the United States at every turn. The strongman's half-century rule was marked by the unsuccessful U.S.-backed Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961 and the Cuban Missile Crisis a year later that brought the world to the brink of nuclear war. After surviving a crippling trade embargo and dozens of assassination plots, Castro died in November at age 90, one of many notables who left the world stage in 2016.

The year also saw the deaths of pop music giants: David Bowie, who broke musical boundaries through his musicianship and striking visuals, and Prince, considered one of the most inventive and influential musicians of modern times.

Among the political figures who died in 2016 was the world's longest reigning monarch: King Bhumibol Adulyadej, revered in Thailand as a demigod, a father figure and an anchor of stability.

Others in the world of public affairs included: former United National Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, ex-senator and astronaut John Glenn, former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno, former Israeli leader Shimon Peres and former U.S. first lady Nancy Reagan.

In sports, the year saw the passing of Muhammad Ali, whose fast fists and outspoken personality brought him fans around the world. Other sports figures included golfer Arnold Palmer, Gordie "Mr. Hockey" Howe, basketball players Dwayne "Pearl" Washington and Nate Thurmond; and Olympians Vera Caslavska and Tommy Kono.

Artists and entertainers who died included author Harper Lee, conductor Pierre Boulez, musicians Leonard Cohen, Merle Haggard, Maurice White and Phife Dawg; and actors Gene Wilder, Abe Vigoda, Florence Henderson, Alan Rickman, Robert Vaughn, Garry Shandling, Doris Roberts, Fyvush Finkel and Anton Yelchin.

Here is a roll call of some of the people who died in 2016. 

JANUARY:

Pierre Boulez, 90. Former principal conductor of the New York Philharmonic, one of the leading figures in modern classical music. Jan. 5.

Otis Clay, 73. Hall of fame rhythm and blues artist known as much for his charitable work in Chicago as for his singing. Jan. 8.

David Bowie, 69. Other-worldly musician who broke pop and rock boundaries with his creative musicianship and a genre-spanning persona he christened Ziggy Stardust. Jan. 10.

Alan Rickman, 69. Classically-trained British stage star and sensual screen villain in the "Harry Potter" saga and other films. Jan. 14.

Glenn Frey, 67. Rock 'n' roll rebel who co-founded the Eagles and with Don Henley formed one of history's most successful songwriting teams with such hits as "Hotel California" and "Life in the Fast Lane." Jan. 18.

Abe Vigoda, 94. Actor whose leathery, sad-eyed face made him ideal for playing the over-the-hill detective Phil Fish in the 1970s TV series "Barney Miller" and the doomed Mafia soldier in "The Godfather." Jan. 26.

FEBRUARY:

Maurice White, 74. Earth, Wind & Fire founder whose horn-driven band sold more than 90 million albums. Feb. 3.

Antonin Scalia, 79. Influential conservative and most provocative member of the Supreme Court. Feb. 13.

Boutros Boutros-Ghali, 93. Egyptian diplomat who helped negotiate his country's landmark peace deal with Israel but clashed with the United States as U.N. secretary-general. Feb. 16.

Harper Lee, 89. Elusive novelist whose child's-eye view of racial injustice in a small Southern town, "To Kill a Mockingbird," became an Oscar-winning film. Feb. 19.

MARCH:

Nancy Reagan, 94. Backstage adviser and fierce protector of Ronald Reagan in his journey from actor to president — and finally during his battle with Alzheimer's disease. March 6.

Rob Ford, 46. Pugnacious, populist former mayor of Toronto whose career crashed in a drug-driven, obscenity-laced debacle. March 22. Cancer.

Phife Dawg, 45. Lyricist whose witty wordplay was a linchpin of the groundbreaking hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest. March 22. Complications from diabetes.

Garry Shandling, 66. Actor and comedian who masterminded a brand of phony docudrama with "The Larry Sanders Show." March 24.

Patty Duke, 69. As a teen, she won an Oscar for playing Helen Keller in "The Miracle Worker," then maintained a long career while battling personal demons. March 29.

APRIL:

Merle Haggard, 79. Country giant who rose from poverty and prison to international fame through his songs about outlaws and underdogs. April 6.

Dwayne "Pearl" Washington, 52. Basketball player who went from New York City playground wonder to Big East star at Syracuse. April 20.

Prince, 57. One of the most inventive and influential musicians of modern times with hits including "Little Red Corvette," ''Let's Go Crazy" and "When Doves Cry." April 21.

MAY:

Tommy Kono, 85. He took up weightlifting in an internment camp for Japanese-Americans and went on to win two Olympic gold medals for the United States. May 1.

Morley Safer, 84. Veteran "60 Minutes" correspondent who exposed a military atrocity in Vietnam that played an early role in changing Americans' view of the war. May 19.

Rosalie Chris Lerman, 90. Survivor of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Nazi death camp who was a passionate advocate of Holocaust remembrance. May 19.

JUNE:

Muhammad Ali, 74. Heavyweight champion whose fast fists, irrepressible personality and determined spirit transcended sports and captivated the world. June 3.

Gordie Howe, 88. Known as "Mr. Hockey," the Canadian farm boy whose blend of talent and toughness made him the NHL's quintessential star. June 10.

Anton Yelchin, 27. Rising actor best known for playing Chekov in the new "Star Trek" films. June 19. Hit by his car in his driveway.

Pat Summitt, 64. Winningest coach in Division I college basketball history who lifted the women's game from obscurity to national prominence during her 38-year career at Tennessee. June 28.

JULY:

Elie Wiesel, 87. Romanian-born Holocaust survivor whose classic "Night" launched his career as one of the world's foremost witnesses and humanitarians. July 2.

Clown Dimitri, 80. Beloved Swiss clown and mime who studied under Marcel Marceau. July 19.

Rev. Tim LaHaye, 90. Co-author of the "Left Behind" series, a literary juggernaut that brought end-times prophecy into mainstream bookstores. July 25.

AUGUST:

John McLaughlin, 89. Conservative political commentator and host of a television show that pioneered hollering-heads discussions of politics. Aug. 16.

Sonia Rykiel, 86. French designer whose relaxed sweaters in berry-colored stripes and eye-popping motifs helped liberate women from stuffy suits. Aug. 25.

Gene Wilder, 83. Frizzy-haired actor who brought his deft comedic touch to such unforgettable roles as the neurotic accountant in "The Producers." Aug. 28.

Vera Caslavska, 74. Seven-time Olympic gymnastics gold medalist who stood up against the 1968 Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia. Aug. 30.

SEPTEMBER:

Phyllis Schlafly, 92. Outspoken conservative activist who helped defeat the Equal Rights Amendment in the 1970s. Sept. 5.

Rose Mofford, 94. Arizona's first female governor and a shepherd for the state during a period of political turbulence. Sept. 15.

Arnold Palmer, 87. Golfing great who brought a country-club sport to the masses with a hard-charging style, charisma and a commoner's touch. Sept. 25.

Shimon Peres, 93. Former Israeli president and prime minister whose life story mirrored that of the Jewish state and who was celebrated as a Nobel prize-winning visionary who pushed his country toward peace. Sept. 28.

OCTOBER:

King Bhumibol Adulyadej, 88. World's longest reigning monarch, he was revered in Thailand as a demigod, a humble father figure and an anchor of stability through decades of upheaval. Oct. 13.

Junko Tabei, 77. The first woman to climb Mount Everest. Oct. 20.

Tom Hayden, 76. 1960s antiwar activist whose name became forever linked with the Chicago 7 trial, Vietnam War protests and his ex-wife, actress Jane Fonda. Oct. 23.

NOVEMBER:

Janet Reno, 78. First woman to serve as U.S. attorney general and the center of several political storms during the Clinton administration. Nov. 7.

Leonard Cohen, 82. Canadian singer-songwriter who blended spirituality and sexuality in songs like "Hallelujah," ''Suzanne" and "Bird on a Wire." Nov. 7.

Gwen Ifill, 61. Co-anchor of PBS' "NewsHour" and a veteran journalist who moderated two vice presidential debates. Nov. 14.

Florence Henderson, 82. Broadway star who became one of America's most beloved television moms in "The Brady Bunch." Nov. 24.

Fidel Castro, 90. He led his bearded rebels to victorious revolution in 1959, embraced Soviet-style communism and challenged U.S. power during his half-century of rule in Cuba. Nov. 25.

DECEMBER:

Jayaram Jayalalithaa, 68. South Indian actress who turned to politics and became the highest elected official in the state of Tamil Nadu. Dec. 4.

John Glenn, 95. His 1962 flight as the first U.S. astronaut to orbit the Earth made him an all-American hero and propelled him to a long career in the U.S. Senate. Dec. 8.

Alan Thicke, 69. Versatile performer who gained his greatest renown as the beloved dad on the sitcom "Growing Pains." Dec. 13.

Zsa Zsa Gabor, 99. Jet-setting Hungarian actress and socialite who helped invent a new kind of fame out of multiple marriages, conspicuous wealth and jaded wisdom about the glamorous life. Dec. 18.

Police are searching for a suspect who shot a 20-year-old woman in the face following an argument involving a group of people in an apartment in the Castle neighborhood.

The shooting happened around 11:45 p.m. Friday in the 3800 block of Marlborough Avenue.

The victim was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

There is no suspect description and the weapon is outstanding.

San Diego Police Mid City Division Detectives are investigating.

After Friday night’s storm, scattered showers should continue through Saturday evening, NBC 7’s Ashley Matthews says.

A winter storm warning is in effect for the mountains through 3 a.m. Sunday and elevations above 3000 feet will likely see two to four inches of additional snow and elevations above 4000 feet should expect four to eight inches, Matthews says.

As of Saturday morning, chain controls are in effect on Sunrise Highway at Interstate 8. They are also in effect on Palomar Mountain on South Grade Road at Highway 76, according to the California Highway Patrol. 

There is a wind advisory in effect until 10 p.m. Saturday evening. Areas along the coast could get gusts up to 30 mph and holiday travelers should be careful as the mountains could experience winds up to 60 mph. 

Along the coast and inland temperatures will be in the mid-50s while the deserts will be in the 40s the mountains will be much cooler with highs in the low 30s.

On Christmas Day the rain should clear up and temperatures will be in the high 50s along the coast.

Hundreds of South Bay children will be riding a new bike on Christmas morning, thanks to the charity, “Christmas with Kids.” The annual bike giveaway in National City has been going on for five decades.

On Christmas Eve morning, dozens of families lined up in the cold weather to get a wristband ahead of the bike giveaway.

“I look forward to get a new bicycle cause my old one broke,” said 10-year-old Michael Taylor. Michael didn’t mind waiting in line for hours to get his wristband. “I feel like it’s definitely worth it because even though you’re in a line and you have to wait for something, it’s worth it because you get something in the end."

The bike giveaway is an annual tradition started by the late Frank King. After his death in 2008, King’s family, and his friends in the biker community, kept the event going. The goal is to hand out 200 bikes this year.

“1978 is when I started coming down,” said Brian Trum, one of the event’s organizers. “We used to give out 25 bicycles and me and my friends used to paint them ourselves,” Trum added.

Some parents spent the stormy night waiting in line for a wristband.

“At 1:30 am, it was heavy rain and my tent flew away,” said Tessie Amante, a mother from South San Diego. “I got so wet last night, but for my kids I’m going to do everything,” Amante added.

There was a snow storm warning and wind advisory in place for those visiting the Julian area Saturday. That didn’t stop San Diegans from taking advantage of this year’s White Christmas eve.

California Highway Patrol officers were requiring that drivers going up Sunrise Highway to Julian had snow chains. Dozens of families were stopped going up the highway near Old Highway 80 and asked to turn back around because of the icy conditions. CHP officers warned drivers of high wind, sleet, and rain.

The Scalisis drove up from La Mesa with their three-year-old, Cooper, and were not prepared for the cold. There was “Just a lot of sleet and snow and rain,” said Hillary Scalisi. “We decided it was probably best to stay out here and then go back instead of going all the way up the mountain.”

Joe Scalisi, Hillary’s husband explained their windshield cracked on their way up the highway. “It just cracked all the way across,” said Joe Scalisi. “We already have a crack and when we turned the defroster on, I think the windshield expanded and it just cracked the whole thing.”

The Tibbs who live in Paradise Hills decided to make a quick stop to check out the view. “Let’s just say it that way, it’s been an adventure,” said Natasha Tibbs.

The family was on their way to Petsmart but decided to change course and head up the mountain. “We were actually going to Petsmart to find a Christmas gift for the dog and said 'why not?'” said Johnny Tibbs.

Johnny’s daughter, Bianca Tibbs, who was wearing a green cargo jacket and swede boots without gloves, was not impressed by the snow. “I wasn’t prepared, so I’m not happy about it,” Bianca laughed.

Snow is expected to begin clearing tomorrow.