A $3.9 million renovation project to a downtown San Diego theatre has been completed including an upgraded lobby, concession stands and restrooms.

Lyceum Theatres – home of the San Diego Repertory Theatres, located at 79 Horton Plaza under Westfield Horton Plaza mall – held an open house Tuesday evening to unveil renovations to its public spaces.

The change of scenery includes shiny, new lobbies featuring raised ceilings and lots of natural light, new concession areas – including a café – and wood and glass finishes throughout the space. The bathrooms were also completely renovated.

[[413187303,C]]

These are the biggest changes to the theatre since it opened in 1986. The project took about a year to complete.

[[413187603,L,361,203]]

The San Diego Repertory Theatre is known for producing intimate, provocative works across several stages and galleries in its downtown space. With Lyceum Theatres, the Repertory produces and hosts more than 300 events and performances annually.

Lyceum Theatres is currently running “Our Great Tchaikovsky” through Feb. 12. After that, from Feb. 23 through March 19, the risqué comedy “Sex With Strangers” will hit the stage, followed by the Feb. 24 through Feb. 26 run of the 25th annual “Kuumba Festival: Black to Power,” a celebration of African-American heritage.

[[413187343,C]]

The San Diego Chargers move to Los Angeles was painful for many local sports fans and people all around San Diego.

How will San Diego ease that pain?

By coming together with a celebration rally, that’s what the San Diego Padres are proposing.

The “Celebrate San Diego Rally” will be Saturday, February 11^th at Petco Park.

The rally is being put on by the San Diego Padres with help from elected officials, community leaders and other local sports organizations and colleges. Joining the Padres in the “Celebrate San Diego Rally” will be the San Diego Gulls, San Diego Sockers, San Diego State Aztecs, University of San Diego Toreros, Cal State University of San Marcos, and the University of California San Diego Tritons.

The free public celebration will feature special appearances by athletes and leaders who call San Diego home, including Padres Hall of Famers Trevor Hoffman and Randy Jones, Padres Manager Andy Green, former Chargers Nick Hardwick and Rolf Benirschke, San Diego Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman, San Diego Gulls Head Coach Dallas Eakins, and many more.

"Those of us fortunate enough to call San Diego home know exactly how special this city is," said Padres Executive Chairman Ron Fowler. "We are proud to join forces with so many local leaders in a celebration of our community on February 11."

Padres Senior Vice President of Marketing Wayne Portello said, “It’s a chance for the community to come out and celebrate with our sports legends and celebrate all the greatness that San Diego has to offer.”

Fans attending the rally, can trade in Charger gear for a $25 voucher to the Padres Team Store.  Everybody in attendance at the rally will received a complimentary Padres hat.

The “Celebrate San Diego Rally”  is scheduled to go from 1pm to 3pm, with the doors at Petco Park opening at 10am.  The event will feature live music, interactive games, a Kids Zone and photo booths. The Park at the Park whiffle ball field will be activated and the Padres Hall of Fame will be open during event hours. Guests 21 and older can enjoy a San Diego Craft Beer Garden. A selection of Petco Park concessions stands will be open for food and drink purchases.

The first of 123 of San Diego’s most wanted Yorkies – rescued from a hoarding situation in Poway last month – were adopted to forever homes Wednesday.

The San Diego Humane Society said adoptions for the pups began at 10 a.m. Interest was certainly high. Last week, the Humane Society said the nonprofit organization had received more than 1,500 applications for the dogs.

On Jan. 20, animal service workers seized 92 Yorkshire terriers and Yorkshire terrier mix breed dogs from the home of an elderly couple in Poway. Officials said the couple sought out help for the dogs from animal services; the Yorkies were living in overcrowded, unsanitary conditions. Four days later, an additional 29 Yorkie mix-breed pups belonging to the couple were found at another location, the Humane Society said.

Over the past couple of weeks, the Humane Society’s veterinarians have examined the dogs and treated them as needed. All 123 pups have been evaluated for behavior, too, and have been spayed/neutered, vaccinated, groomed and outfitted with microchips. Some have received dental care, too.

An overwhelming response from people wanting to adopt the rescued dogs prompted the San Diego Humane Society to close the application process on Feb. 4 -- earlier than planned.

The applications are being reviewed and adoptions are being completed through a lottery-type process, the Humane Society said.

As of Wednesday, 80 of the dogs have been cleared for adoption. The first batch of forever families picked up the pups at the Humane Society’s Gaines Street shelter.

More adoptions of these dogs will be completed on Feb. 9, Feb. 10, Feb. 13 and Feb. 14, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

A bill proposed Wednesday could make California the first state in the nation to require cleaning products to disclose ingredients.

State Sen. Ricardo Lara, D-Bell Gardens, introduced SB258 that would require companies list all ingredients in cleaning products. Currently, many ingredients are listed under words like fragrance.

The bill would not require the concentrations of ingredients, or details on how the cleaning product is made.

Some chemicals used in cleaning supplies can cause reproductive problems, exacerbate asthma, burn or irritate skin, and harm the environment.

“We trust Californians to check the labels on food, drugs and cosmetics, but you have to be a chemist to know what is in the cleaning products that are under your kitchen sink,” Lara said in a written news release.

The bill called The Cleaning Product Right to Know Act is co-sponsored by the Environmental Working Group, the Breast Cancer Fund and Women’s Voices for the Earth.

The San Diego Chargers move to Los Angeles was painful for many local sports fans and people all around San Diego. How will San Diego ease that pain?

By coming together with a celebration rally -- an idea proposed by the San Diego Padres.

The "Celebrate San Diego Rally" is planned for Saturday, Feb. 11 at Petco Park in downtown San Diego.

The event is being put on by the San Diego Padres with help from elected officials, community leaders and other local sports organizations and colleges to give San Diego sports fans a chance celebrate the teams that still call San Diego home.

Joining the Padres for the rally will be the San Diego Gulls, San Diego Sockers, San Diego State Aztecs, University of San Diego Toreros, Cal State University of San Marcos, and the University of California San Diego Tritons.

[[413191053,C]]

The free public event will feature special appearances by athletes and leaders who call America's Finest City home, including Padres Hall of Famers Trevor Hoffman and Randy Jones, Padres Manager Andy Green, former Chargers Nick Hardwick and Rolf Benirschke, San Diego Gulls Head Coach Dallas Eakins, San Diego Police Department Chief Shelley Zimmerman, and many more.

"Those of us fortunate enough to call San Diego home know exactly how special this city is," said Padres Executive Chairman Ron Fowler. "We are proud to join forces with so many local leaders in a celebration of our community on February 11."

[[203053351,C]]

"It’s a chance for the community to come out and celebrate with our sports legends and celebrate all the greatness that San Diego has to offer," Padres Senior Vice President of Marketing Wayne Portello told NBC 7.

Fans who attend the rally can also score some sweet swag. Everyone who attends gets a free Padres hat. Fans can also bring their old Chargers gear and trade it in for a $25 vouchers to the Padres Team Store.

The doors to Petco Park open at 10 a.m. Saturday; the rally portion of the event goes down from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The celebration includes live music, games, a kids zone, photo booths, a chance to pose for pictures with team mascots and more.

The Park at the Park whiffle ball field will be open for playing, too, and the Padres Hall of Fame will be open during event hours so fans can brush up on a little Friars history.

Guests 21 and older can enjoy a San Diego Craft Beer Garden. A selection of Petco Park concessions stands will be open for food and drink purchases during the rally as well.

[[69191782,C]]

A U.S. Marine accused of driving while intoxicated and killing two UC San Diego students will stand trial for murder after a judge refused a motion to dismiss charges Wednesday.

Jason Riley King faces multiple charges in the May 16, 2015 crash that killed UC San Diego medical students Anne Li Baldock, 24, and Madison Elizabeth Cornwell, 23.

King had a blood alcohol content of 0.14 when he drove the wrong way onto State Route 163 and collided head-on into a Toyota Prius, prosecutors said.

Baldock, whose family is from Seattle, was living in an apartment near campus while in her second year at UCSD Medical School. Cornwell, another second-year medical student, was from Mission Viejo. Three other students were injured in the crash.

King was driving against traffic in a white pickup truck and was flashing his hazard lights before the crash, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Prosecutors said security escorted King out of a Mission Valley bar. Witnesses testified the defendant was warned several times not to drive before he got behind the wheel.

They also said the Marine completed two military-sponsored courses against the dangers of drinking.

King has pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder, two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while impaired, DUI causing injury with three great bodily injury allegations, driving with blood alcohol in excess of .08 causing injury with the allegations.

On Wednesday, King's defense attorney filed a motion to dismiss charges, arguing a murder charge was too severe. He argued that the prosecution based the murder charge on the fact that King underwent training on the dangers of drinking and driving as a Marine and because King was warned multiple times not to drive after he had been drinking at the bar.

One of the courses took place just two weeks before the crash.

"If this is murder, a whole lot of us are guilty of attempted murder," he said explaining his theory anyone who has taken a safety course about drinking and driving could be held up to a murder or attempted murder charge. "I don't think that is what the legislature intended."

Judge Joan Weber agreed in part with the defense but said this case was a close call.

“I do think that to extend this to any time anyone’s had any sort of class on DUIs that we are in a very dangerous situation,” said Judge Joan Weber. “I do not think that is what the law intended.”

Jurors must be informed about the requisite knowledge King would need to have had on that night he got into the truck.

Weber set a trial date for March 20. If convicted, King faces 47 years to life.

Lay-Z-Boy is recalling about 2,500 lift chair power supplies due to a shock hazard.

The Monrow, Michigan-based company says the chair’s power supply unit can crack and break, causing the cover to detach and exposing the power supply’s electrical components. When that happens, it poses a shock hazard to users. La-Z-Boy says it has not received any reports of injuries.

The power supply enables the chair’s seat to lift a consumer from a seated into a standing position.

The recall involves the power supplies sold with Gold Series electric Lift Chairs, the Clayton Luxury-Lift Model 1HL562 and Power Lift Model 1ML562, and Luxury-Lift Models 1LF505 and 1LF819. They were also part of conversion kits for older lift chairs with Models 1LL320, 1LL508, 1LL515, 1LM320, 1LM508 and 1LM515.

The power supply casing is a black, plastic rectangular box measuring approximately 6 inches by 3 1/2 inches by 3 1/2 inches. Only power supplies with LOT #150113 are included in this recall. The model name, model number and lot number are printed on the back of the power supply.

The chairs were sold at La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries and third party furniture stores nationwide, and online at la-z-boy.com from September 2015 through November 2016 for between $1,900 and $2,800. The power supplies were also sold separately for about $170 and provided free under warranty as replacements for use with previously-purchased chairs.

The furniture company said consumers should immediately stop using the power supplies to power the lift chairs and contact La-Z-Boy for a free replacement power supply. Customers can call La-Z-Boy toll-free at 855-592-9087 from 9 a.m. ET to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

President Donald Trump's nominee for the Supreme Court has called the president's recent criticism of the judiciary "disheartening" and "demoralizing," NBC News reported.

Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal said Wednesday that U.S. Appeals Court Judge Neil Gorsuch "expressed to me that he is disheartened by the demoralizing and abhorrent comments made by President Trump about the judiciary."

A spokesman for the team shepherding Gorsuch's nomination in the Senate confirmed Blumenthal's version of the conversation to NBC News.

On Twitter and in a speech Wednesday, Trump criticized judges involved in a legal fight over his immigration travel executive order, which suspended entry to the United States from seven predominantly Muslim nations and temporarily halted the entry by refugees.

Trump called the federal judge in Seattle who blocked the order last week a "so-called judge."

The tattoo-covered sex offender sought by U.S. Marshals has been found in D.C. 

Matthew Stager, 45, was released from a federal prison in Virginia on Tuesday. He was required to report to a transitional center in Texas but never showed up, U.S. Marshals said in a statement.

D.C. police officers saw him walking down a street near the D.C. Superior Court about 4 p.m. Wednesday and took him into custody. 

Stager has black tattoos on his entire face, including a flower and a peace sign on his right cheek. His mugshot shows his light-colored hair and beard in small braids.

Stager -- who has used the aliases Jesse Crew and Moon Black -- has a history of mental health concerns and drug abuse, U.S. Marshals said.

Officials previously said it was possible Stager was in the Hampton Roads area, but he has known connections to multiple states across the country.

According to the Texas sex offender registry, Stager was convicted of taking indecent liberties with a 15-year-old girl.

He is being held in D.C. and will be transferred to Richmond to face escape charges.

Carlsbad’s Shaun White might be San Diego’s most famous Winter Olympian, but he isn’t the only local snowboarder eyeing the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

Seamus O’Connor grew up in Ramona and showed skills on the slopes at an early age, which earned him a place at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

“I have every intention of competing in next year’s 2018 Winter Olympics,” O’Connor said.

He was one of just a handful of athletes who competed in both slopestyle and halfpipe snowboarding events in Sochi.

Although O’Connor was born and raised in America, he has Irish roots, which allowed him to compete for Ireland.

The Irish Olympic Federation wants him to return to the Winter Olympics, but he tore his ACL, MCL, and Meniscus last year.

O’Connor had a successful surgery in San Diego before moving to Park City, Utah to continue his rehabilitation.

In a video of him riding a skateboard on a treadmill, he joked, “my recovery process is going pretty great right now, as you can see I'm doing absolutely everything I can to get back on the mountain as soon as possible."

O'Connor said he will miss most of the major qualification competitions, but still hopes to compete in some last minute events and earn a place on the slopes in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

Tests revealed high levels of lead, copper and bacteria in the water supply at two San Ysidro elementary schools including La Mirada and Smythe, confirmed the San Ysidro School District.

On Jan. 23, the school district received the results of water samples that showed slightly elevated levels of lead at eight fountains at La Mirada Elementary school, as well as bacteria at two sinks and a fountain, according to school officials.

Back in October, staff at the school noticed discolored water from the drinking fountains that was described as a cloudy, blue-green color.

The school immediately shut off all water and provided bottled water to students and staff. A professional environmental firm was hired to conduct water quality testing, said school officials.

One faucet had slightly elevated levels of lead, copper and bacteria, according to the test results after the problem was discovered in October. Another faucet had slightly elevated levels of copper. The school promptly replaced the two contaminated faucets and continued testing the aging infrastructure at La Mirada, said school officials.

Further test results released on Jan. 23 found elevated levels of lead at eight more fountains at the school and bacteria at two sinks as well as a fountain.

"It's really terrible that students and employees in the San Ysidro School District have been exposed to such a potentially dangerous situation. As a parent, I expect our schools to take every possible measure to ensure the safety of our students," said Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, the California Assemblywoman (D) for the 80th District, in a statement.

"As a lawmaker, I will be inquiring in to whether the School District pursued money from the State's Pure and Safe Drinking Water Grant for schools that the Governor and Legislature budgeted for this year, as well as what other steps were taken by the School District to prevent this potential public health hazard and to notify parents about their options to test or treat their children once the high lead levels were discovered," continued Fletcher in the statement.

Upon discovering these water quality issues, the San Ysidro School District began working to replace all faucets and fountains at La Mirada as quickly as possible with the goal of Mid-February, according to the district.

Meanwhile, the schools will continue to provide students with bottled water until all the old faucets and fountains are replaced.

The water, provided by the City of San Diego, appears to have been contaminated by aging infrastructure in the plumbing systems, faucets and fountains. Water quality reports from the Otay Water District said it was not a source water issue, as the water delivered to the school tested clean before exposure to the pipes.

No student, teacher or staff member has reported drinking the contaminated water after the discoloration appeared, said school officials. The school has not received any complaints of illness or symptoms caused by the contaminated water.

In response to the water quality concerns, the San Ysidro School District Superintendent, Julio Fonseca, said, "Student safety is always at the forefront of everything we do -- a secure learning environment is integral to ensuring our children achieve at the highest levels," in a statement.

He says La Mirada was built back in 1973.

"Just like school districts across the country, we're dealing with aging infrastructure. The presence of lead in the plumbing systems, faucets and fountains is not entirely uncommon in older buildings," said Fonseca.

"The San Ysidro School District takes student and staff safety concerns very seriously," said Fonseca.

On Jan. 17, the State of California announced a new initiative to help schools carry out voluntary water sampling. School officials say the District has gone beyond the level of sampling and response the state program recommends.

Back in 1997, voters approved 210 million dollars worth of funding to modernize the aging schools in the district. However, the pipes were not replaced at some schools. In some cases, that money has been spent on settling lawsuits and general operations instead.

A La Mesa family didn’t receive their 2014 tax refund because they said an error on their return led to the money being deposited into the wrong account. 

Today more and more people are filing their taxes online. This generally allows for a faster refund but it can also be easier to make a mistake. 

As Tami Fitzpatrick found, some mistakes are not easy to resolve. 

Tami said she has been doing her family's taxes for years using the popular software TurboTax. She said it usually takes her three or four days. But, when she filed her 2014 tax return, Tami said something wasn’t right with the refund she was expecting. 

“I hope you can help me get the money back,” Tami said. 

Two months after filing her taxes, Tami said she didn't have her refund. When she checked with the bank, she said she learned her refund of $2,817 had been deposited but not into her account. 

“I put the wrong account number (on my tax return),” Tami said. 

Tami said she realized the account number she gave to the IRS belonged to somebody else. 

While Tami gave the wrong account number, her name was correct. She banks with Chase. Due to Tami’s mistake, the company deposited the money into that wrong account she provided to the IRS. 

Chase told NBC 7 Responds that according to industry standards they can "rely solely on the account number regardless if the name on the request is different than the name on the receiving account." 

“We exhausted our resources so that’s why we contacted you,” Tami said. 

A Chase spokesperson said, by the time they tried to retrieve Tami's money, it had already been withdrawn from the account and there was nothing they could do, leaving Tami without her money. 

Representatives of TurboTax say it's a sad lesson to learn. 

“Whether you took your taxes to someone and gave them those numbers, or did your taxes yourself, you would have to make sure that you take down the right numbers,” said Lisa Greene-Lewis with Turbo Tax. 

In an email, Suzanne Alexander, Executive Director of Media Relations for J.P. Morgan Chase told NBC 7 Responds, “Chase applied the IRS refund to the account according to the instructions we received from the IRS. According to NACHA operating rules, which govern ACH transfers like the one here, we may rely solely on the account number regardless if the name on the request is different than the name on the receiving account. While we processed a recall request from the IRS for the funds, they had already been withdrawn and there weren't sufficient funds remaining in the account to fulfill the request. We encourage all customers to verify that they have used the correct account number before proceeding with a transfer."

With recreational use of marijuana set to be legalized for Californians in 2018 and with more cities in San Diego County approving medical use, investors in the marijuana industry are snatching up properties with the hopes of getting a piece of the pot economy. 

Some real estate brokers are calling this feeding frenzy the “green rush,” comparing pot investors to settlers who came to California in the 1800’s looking to strike it rich from gold mining. 

In November, California voters approved Proposition 64, a measure allowing residents to recreationally consume marijuana. 

“Once recreational [use] passed, it created a clearly defined path to get to profitability,” Jason Klein, a local real estate broker said. “It has created a feeding frenzy, just in terms of purchasing and so property owners here are looking to capitalize on the green rush and to be able to cash in.” 

Klein showed NBC 7 Investigates some of the properties he’s been selling to people who say they have plans for future marijuana operations. 

Before the passage of Proposition 64, businesses distributing, cultivating or manufacturing marijuana for medical use could only operate on a not-for-profit basis, according to SB 420, the state measure allowing medical marijuana use in California. 

Proposition 64 changes this. It allows businesses to sell marijuana, for both medical and recreational use and for a profit. Some marijuana investors are getting a head start by focusing on properties in cities that allow medical marijuana operations, like the City of La Mesa. 

“There are people coming in from all over the state and outside of the country even, to get properties there in La Mesa because they were able to see clear defined guidelines,” Klein said. 

One of the properties Klein showed NBC 7 Investigates was a Chinese restaurant on Parkway Drive in La Mesa. He said it is being sought after to sell pot. 

According to Klein, the owners were reluctant at first to sell it for use as a marijuana business. But, after La Mesa voters passed an ordinance allowing dispensaries to operate, Measure U, Klein said things changed. 

“Money started to talk and a Chin's Chinese food restaurant just couldn't compete with the prices that were being offered for medical marijuana dispensary owners,” Klein said. 

Finding a property for the purpose of selling, growing or manufacturing marijuana or marijuana goods is not like finding a space for your average retail location, according to Klein. A number of factors play a role when finding a location, including zoning and what is located nearby. For the cities of La Mesa and San Diego, city guidelines require a buffer zone between approved dispensaries, so, if a property is purchased in the right zone it can cancel out any other applications in the area. 

Klein showed NBC 7 Investigates another property, located on the 8200 block of Commercial Street in La Mesa. Klein said the property was recently purchased with the intention for marijuana cultivation. 

“For a traditional use, it should be a million dollar property but for medical marijuana, because it's zoned and situated appropriately, [it’s worth] probably somewhere in the 2.5 to 3.5 million dollar range,” Klein said. 

Klein said one of his clients, who is from Morocco, hopped on a flight to come to La Mesa, just to look at properties like the one on Commercial Street for the intent to start a marijuana business. 

“I think a lot of people have the misconception that these businesses are run by a bunch of stoners and what we are seeing now is that these businesses are being run by professionals,” said Michael Cindrich, a San Diego attorney who has specialized in medical marijuana defense and representation for nine years. 

“The money coming in isn't money that was earned from illegal operations, this is institutional money, these are investors from hedge funds, people from Wall Street are coming to California to invest in this industry,” Cindrich said. 

After La Mesa voters passed Measure U, the city held a workshop on January 9 to explain the application process for the public. The room at the workshop was packed with standing-room only. 

So many questions and comments were shared with city officials the city had to delay the process for releasing official applications until city officials could address all of the questions and comments. 

On February 6 the City of La Mesa officially began accepting applications for marijuana permits. According to La Mesa Police, some of the entrepreneurs were lining up and camping outside of City Hall in hopes of being one of the first to submit an application for a certain location. 

Lt. Matt Nicholass with La Mesa Police told NBC 7 Investigates the city decided to hand out ‘line status numbers’ to avoid people camping out for nights. According to information posted online by the city of La Mesa, the city handed out 81 line status numbers. 

Wednesday, the City of La Mesa released a list of locations where marijuana business permits were requested. Each will have to be approved by the City before any operations begin. The approval process could take up to 14 months, according to city officials. 

Click here to see the list of requested locations.

For the rest of 2017, marijuana businesses legally operating can only do so with the intent to sell for medicinal use. Recreational-use will not take effect until January 1, 2018. 

Alex Traverso with the California Bureau of Medical Cannabis Regulation (BMCR) said the state agency anticipates a large number of businesses applying for recreational permits. 

“It’s safe to say that there is a lot of interest,” Traverso told NBC 7 Investigates over the phone. 

Traverso also said there’s no way of quantifying that interest with data at this point, but his agency is currently working on regulations and BMCR expects to open the door for license applications sometime before 2018.

Jeff Bauman was waiting for Erin Hurley at the finish line of the Boston Marathon in 2013 when the explosion went off. Bauman lost both of his legs in the bombing, but he managed to help the authorities identify the suspect responsible.

Bauman and Hurley were engaged almost one year after the incident and his inspiring story became the center of an upcoming Jake Gyllenhaal film called "Stronger."

But the filmmakers didn't foresee what would be a bitter end to Bauman and Hurley's journey together. 

A Bauman family spokesperson told The Hollywood Reporter "Jeff and Erin have decided that it is best to move forward as friends," announcing the couple's divorce.

"Though their relationship has changed, their admiration, love and mutual respect for each other will never waver. They are dedicated to loving and parenting their daughter, Nora, and ask for privacy."

"Stronger" stars Gyllenhaal as Jeff Bauman and Tatiana Maslany as Erin Hurley. It is expected to be released later this year.

Parents of students in the Chula Vista Elementary School District, concerned about an email sent Tuesday discussing a perceived threat to schools, received a clarification from the superintendent Wednesday.

Superintendent Francisco Escobedo, Ed.D. said in the email that the district was responding to messages believed to be part of a hoax or prank.

“The District was advised by our law enforcement partners not to provide specifics of this hoax or prank, as that only encourages more of the same,” Escobedo wrote in the email. “The intent of our message was to remind our school community to remain vigilant and report any suspicious behavior to school administrators or law enforcement.”

On Tuesday, some parents reported receiving a message from the superintendent through the Peach Jar communication system. Other parents received the message early Wednesday.

“In this case, perhaps the communication didn’t reach immediately as many people as we wanted, but the basic message is, schools are fine,” said district spokesperson Anthony Millican.

But parents said the letter was so vague, it was alarming.

“I’d like to more about it. What’s going on, some information. The communication is probably on the poor side,” said parent John Vicente.

In that message, the district said recent messages were believed to be aimed at disrupting classes or the operation of schools. It also suggested parents may see increased security measures.

On Wednesday, Escobedo did not detail the changes in security measures but said, “Safety is our top priority. Please be assured that the school district and law enforcement will immediately respond to any real or perceived danger, and communicate accordingly.”

A district spokesperson told NBC 7 the district was caught between a rock and a hard place.

A Metro PCS store was robbed Wednesday evening in the College East area of San Diego.

According to the San Diego Police Department (SDPD), the robbery occurred at 5:22 p.m. on the 6600 block of El Cajon Boulevard. 

Police were searching for a suspect at the time. 

This is the first reported Metro PCS robbery but it is unknown if the incident is related to the previous robberies.

No other information was available.

During an expo in San Diego on Wednesday, firefighters were learning from a near-miss accident from two years ago.

The Firehouse World Expo was being held at the San Diego Convention Center from Feb. 5-9.

In March 2015, video showed Fresno Fire Captain Pete Dern falling through a roof while battling a fire. Dern survived, but the incident raised questions for firehouses across the nation.

Fresno Fire Chief Kerri Donis requested an investigation into the incident.

Now, firefighters are learning from that incident, so it doesn't happen again.

Assistant Chief Chris Webber of the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department (SDFD) said the task Captain Dern was completing is called vertical ventilation--a practice San Diego Fire uses when needed.

“We have very detailed procedures that our guys follow. We use our two in, two out. We don't go up on the roof until we have certain things in place on the firing ground to make sure it is safe," Webber said.

Webber said he knows all too well what it is like to suffer an injury on the job, having spent several days in a hospital burn unit.

He added that the video and report that resulted from Captain Dern’s injury is a lesson for firefighters.

“Make sure you stay educated and that you are always bettering yourself with knowledge and skills," Webber said.

After the investigation into Fresno’s incident was completed, the report made more than 160 recommendations, which are being implemented in trainings.

Here in San Diego, SDFD has a person dedicated to studying these types of accidents, and making sure their safety protocol is up to date.

A jury began hearing testimony Wednesday morning in the trial of a school principal for the San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD), accused of failing to report the molestation of a girl with special needs.

In May 2015, the then seven-year-old child was allegedly fondled by a group of three fellow students inside a school bathroom. She is a special-needs student who has vocal cord paralysis and uses a feeding tube.

Principal Bruce Ferguson at Byron M. Green Elementary School was suspected of not reporting the incident or following up with other measures to ensure the student's safety.

The mother of the girl, identified as LaToya to protect the victim's identity, filed a civil lawsuit after the principal failed to report the incident.

Due to her vocal cord paralysis, the child was unable to scream out or cry for help. The victim told her mother that she "just stood there and cried" while three other students fondled her.

LaToya told NBC 7 that the principal assured them he would take care of the incident when she reported it with her daughter.

"He looked at my daughter and said 'I will take care of it. I apologize for what happened to you and I will take care of it'," the mother recalled.

The suit alleges the principal and the school district were aware of similar problems at the school, and did not take further action.

A drowning woman was rescued by a good Samaritan near La Jolla Cove Wednesday evening, confirmed San Diego Fire-Rescue (SDFD).

It happened east of the La Jolla Cove, on Coast Boulevard and the Coast Walk Trail by the La Jolla Cave. At about 5:33 p.m., San Diego Fire-Rescue received a 9-1-1 call about a woman screaming for help in the water.

The woman, who appeared to be in her early 20s, was swept off the rocks and could not swim.

A good Samaritan heard the woman's screams and jumped in to save her. With the help of this passerby, the woman was pulled from the water, according to lifeguards and San Diego Fire-Rescue.

When crews arrived at the scene, a lifeguard performed CPR on the woman and carried her up the bluff, according to SDFD.

The woman was able to resume breathing, but there were no further details yet on her condition. She was taken to the UCSD Medical Center.

No other information was immediately available.

Check back for updates on this breaking news.

A couple in El Cajon who met and fell in love while fighting the war in Iraq now fear that the President's travel ban may keep their families apart.

Amanda Matti was working as a U.S. Navy Intelligence Analyst and her husband was working as an Iraqi Interpreter, when the two met in Baghdad in 2005. Now her husband’s family fears the proposed travel ban will keep them separated from loved ones still in the Middle East.

“It was love at first sight for both of us, it was pretty amazing,” Amanda Matti told NBC 7.

Matti had been in Iraq for only three days and needed an interpreter to help with her work. She said she knew things would never be the same after meeting this man.

For months the pair worked side by side and spent several weeks on the front lines in Iraq near the Syrian border.

His work was dangerous, serving alongside members of the Marine Corps and Army in battles, including the first Battle of Fallujah and in Ramadi, said Matti. He was injured in combat several times, and there were many close calls.

"He was shot in the chest, luckily he was wearing body armor," said Matti.

Interpreters in Iraq also lived under the constant threat of being captured by insurgents.

"They were being systematically targeted -- they were being kidnapped and executed and dumped in street alleys. They were considered traitors to their country," said Matti.

The people of Iraq lived in chaotic fear at that time.

"They've had to sleep you know with AK-47s, and they've watched as their neighbors -- for years and years were good friends with -- suddenly turn on them," Matti told NBC 7.

The U.S. Military was quick to question the couple's relationship, which was confusing for Matti because some of the men she worked with in the Navy had relationships with foreign women without any scrutiny.

Their affair resulted in a nine month investigation that kept the pair separated. At one point investigators even looked into whether Matti could be a possible spy, she said.

Matti eventually left the Navy. She said it was all because she fell in love with an Iraqi man.

She returned to the U.S., eventually followed by the Iraqi translator who is now her husband. It took two years of undergoing an extensive vetting process before her husband was able to immigrate to the U.S., where the two married and have two daughters together.

Some of his close family members were also eventually able to immigrate as refugees, but not all.

"A lot of these refugees are simply trying to find a safe haven so they don't have to worry about their children being annihilated by bombs," Matti told NBC 7.

Matti understands the fear of terrorism, but says the country needs to strike a delicate balance between security and liberty.

"The Iraqis and the service members who have served in Iraq have come face-to-face with it," said Matti of terrorism.

Although some people in the community where she lives in El Cajon support the proposed travel ban, she does not.

"It's giving people a false sense of security," said Matti.

"We keep limiting our own liberty here to achieve a sense of safety and there's got to be a balance."