San Diego’s single-family home market ranks as the sixth-hottest in the nation, down one place from January, amid an early start to the national home-buying season.

Realtor.com reported the median time on the market for a home listed for sale in San Diego as 38 days in February, down 32 percent from January.

The website, run by the National Association of Realtors, said the nation’s hottest home market was that of Vallejo-Fairfield, where February’s median was 33 days.

Seven of the 10 “hottest” markets were in California; most were in northern California. The Los Angeles area came in 20th.

Realtor.com said the U.S. home market will likely set records in February for the highest listing prices and the shortest average time on the market since the recession.

“The spring buying season is off to a booming start,” the association’s chief economist, Jonathan Smoke, said in a news release. “Not only is the season starting a month early, February is also expected to see the fastest-moving inventory in a decade, as well as the highest home prices the month has ever seen.”

“Homebuyers take note,” he added, “this year is shaping up to be even more of a seller’s market than last year.

Earlier this month, Irvine-based real estate information company CoreLogic predicted San Diego home prices would jump 10.3 percent by December, as compared with one year earlier. That would represent substantial acceleration from 2016, when the company said local home prices rose 6 percent.

By comparison, CoreLogic forecast a 12 percent year-over-year price jump in San Francisco, and a 7.1 percent increase in Los Angeles.

The Greater San Diego Association of Realtors has pegged January’s median resale price of a single-family home in the area at $559,500, 6 percent greater than one year before.

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A 6-year-old Bridgeport, Connecticut girl who sparked a multi-state Amber Alert was been found safe in Pennsylvania with her father more than hours later. The father is suspected of stabbing and killing the girl’s mother and assaulting the woman’s friend, according to police. 

Officers responded to the Greenwood Street home of 39-year-old Oscar Hernandez, his girlfriend, and 6-year-old Aylin Sofia Hernandez, around 2:45 a.m. after the landlord called police to report stabbings. What officers found there was a grisly, blood-covered scene that police called "horrendous." 

Aylin’s mother had been stabbed and was pronounced dead at the scene. The woman’s friend had been stabbed around 14 times, but survived and was rushed to the hospital. 

Oscar and the little girl were missing, so police launched an Amber Alert for the little girl and said they believed she was with her father. 

Hours later, Pennsylvania State Police spotted the car and Oscar Hernandez led them on a chase and hit a tractor-trailer, police said. Pennsylvania State Police then struck Hernandez's car and he was transported to the hospital to be treated for injuries. 

State Police said the little girl and the state trooper sustained minor injuries. 

Authorities have not identified the mother. Nor have they identified the mother’s friend, who was taken to St. Vincent Medical Center and is listed in critical, but stable, condition. Police said they believe she will survive her injuries.

"Our hearts go out to the family of the deceased and the other young woman that was assaulted. We are concerned for the little girl, and frankly we're also concerned for the father of the little girl," Bridgeport Police Chief Armando J. Perez, said during a news conference Friday morning. 

"This is the ugly, ugly side of domestic violence," Perez added, noting that he has "full confidence" in the Bridgeport Police Department and detective bureau to find Hernandez. 

Bridgeport Mayor Joseph Ganim also spoke during the news conference, calling the incident a "terrible tragedy." 

The investigation is in the early stages, but police believe the two victims had gone out, arrived home late and an argument ensued. 

Police said they had not responded to the home for domestic incidents in the past, but a protective order had been issued against Oscar Hernandez, who was accused of assaulting another female.

Federal immigration officials pushed back hard against the assertion that they had duped the Santa Cruz, California, police department into helping them make immigration arrests during a raid on an El Salvador-based gang.

They also denied that the aggressive immigration approach of President Donald Trump's administration had anything to do with their plans or actions.

The president's efforts to crack down on the estimated 11 million immigrants living illegally in the U.S. have spread fear and anxiety.

In San Diego, local immigration attorneys have said they are uncertain about the role local law enforcement agencies will play in the enforcement of federal immigration laws.

Even as heads of the San Diego Police, San Diego County Sheriff's Department, California Highway Patrol and even police on university and school campuses have pledged not to enforce immigration laws.

Santa Cruz, a coastal college town of about 60,000 people, is a so-called sanctuary city, which prohibits its police from cooperating with federal authorities investigating immigration violations.

Police Chief Kevin Vogel and Assistant Chief Dan Flippo said the federal officials lied when they assured them a Feb. 13 joint operation in the region would not include immigration-related arrests during the raid on the gang known by the names MS-13 and Mara Salvatrucha.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman James Schwab acknowledged that 11 people were detained on immigration charges, but that police had agreed before the raid that some foreign nationals might be briefly detained.

"We worked closely with the Santa Cruz Police Department over the last five years on this case," Schwab said in response to statements Thursday by the city's police leadership and mayor. "Allegations that the agency secretly planned an immigration enforcement action in hopes there would be new political leadership that would allow for an alleged 'secret' operation to take place are completely false, reckless, and disturbing," Schwab, the spokesman for ICE's San Francisco field office, said in a statement.

Flippo said he didn't learn of the immigration arrests until the next night when dozens of protesters disrupted a City Council meeting to voice their displeasure.

Vogel said the department no longer trusts the Department of Homeland Security, which includes ICE, and will no longer work with the agency.

"We can't cooperate with a law enforcement agency we cannot trust," Vogel said.

Agents arrested 10 people allegedly associated with the gang, some of whom have been connected to four Santa Cruz homicides, the chief said.

Flippo said the gang-related arrests at about a dozen residences were the culmination of a five-year investigation launched when a Santa Cruz resident called police to complain about gang members extorting local businesses. Flippo said his department enlisted the help of DHS because of the gang's notoriety and global reach. He said the raids were made because it appeared gang members were planning another killing.

But Flippo said that 10 or more people agents encountered at the residences also were detained solely on immigration charges.

Schwab, the ICE spokesman, said law enforcement officials were aware some foreign nationals might be held until their identities and case histories could be determined.

Schwab said that's exactly what happened, and 10 of the 11 immigrants were released. One of them remains in custody because of his criminal history and possible ties to the gang investigation.

"The chief acknowledged this possibility and it was agreed that no foreign nationals would enter the Santa Cruz Police Department's facility or their police vehicles," Schwab said.

The police chief and mayor each apologized to city residents for unwittingly violating the sanctuary policy of Santa Cruz, a city known for its liberal politics.

"I'm deeply disturbed and upset," Mayor Cynthia Chase said. "I'm outraged."

With loud protests roiling congressional town halls this week, Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, decided not to hold one in person, citing the shooting of former Democratic Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.

NBC News reported that his excuse drew Giffords' ire. She was shot in the head during an event in January 2011, and noted Thursday on Twitter that, despite the shooting on a Saturday, her offices were open for business the following Monday.

"To the politicians who have abandoned their civic obligations, I say this: Have some courage. Face your constituents," Giffords said. "Hold town halls."

She added that town halls and constituent meetings were a hallmark of her tenure, and that representatives who aren't holding town halls also "have opposed commonsense gun violence prevention policies."

Five more people have died from complications of influenza, bringing the total deaths for this flu season to 49, according to San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA).

This time last year 17 people had died from the flu in San Diego County.

The people who have died this season ranged in age from 31 to 98 years old. All except three had underlying medical conditions.

"Influenza continues to sicken people in San Diego County and unfortunately, in some cases, the disease can be deadly," said Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County public health officer. "People should continue to get vaccinated as the flu season can last through March and April."

The HHSA’s latest “Influenza Watch” report shows that total lab-confirmed influenza cases to date were 3,786 compared to the 2,840 cases last year.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone six months and older get a flu shot each year. Health officials say the vaccine is safe and effective, and takes just two weeks for immunity to develop.

The HHSA stresses the importance of getting vaccinated, especially for people who are at high risk of developing serious complications from influenza. They include people with chronic medical conditions like asthma, diabetes and lung disease, even if symptoms are under control; pregnant women; people 65 years and older, and people who live with or care for others who are at higher risk.

For a list of locations visit www.sdiz.org or call 211.

Former President Barack Obama made a surprise appearance in New York City Friday afternoon, where he was spotted and greeted by adoring fans.

It was not immediately clear why Obama was in the city, but he was seen leaving an office building at 160 Fifth Avenue, near the Flatiron Building, around 12 p.m.

There was a strong security presence around the entrance to the building prior to Obama's exit, and by the time he made his departure the street was thronged the people waiting to catch a glimpse of the former president.

Video posted on Instagram showed a relaxed Obama walk out of the building with a coffee cup in hand, smiling and waving to the crowd.

The crowds can be heard screaming "I love you" as he makes his way to a waiting car.

More to come.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced Friday on a website for federal contractors that the request for bids on building the proposed border wall will be open as of March 6.

Companies would have to submit “concept papers” to design and build prototypes by March 10.

CBP says that they will narrow the selection, then shortly after require the finalists to renew their offers with a price attached by March 24.

The latest timetable shows that President Trump is aggressively pursuing plans to build the 2,000 mile border wall between Mexico.

During a Conservative Political Action Conference today, Mr. Trump said that construction will start “very soon” and is ahead of schedule.

Despite the strained relationship between the U.S. and Mexico, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly are expected to meet with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto and other top officials. Tillerson and Kelly arrived in Mexico City separately earlier this week.

Hello, sweet weekend. It’s time to get out and make memories in San Diego, and this list of events should help you do just that. From delicious eats to live music, pencil these items into your social calendar this weekend and enjoy.

Thursday, Feb. 23

Tai Chi Class
10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Linda Vista Branch Library
Improve those balance skills and mobility with this slow-paced Tai Chi exercise class Thursday morning at the Linda Vista Branch Library (2160 Ulric St.). The class is designed for adults and seniors.

Cookie on Tap: Girl Scout Cookie & AleSmith Beer Pairing
11 a.m. to 10 p.m. (Friday through Sunday), AleSmith Brewing Company
AleSmith Brewing Company plans to honor National Girl Scout Weekend with this sweet event: a Girl Scout Cookie and Beer Pairing, happening at the tasting room (9990 AleSmith Ct.) Friday through Sunday. For $15 per person, the brewery will pair five AleSmith beers with five Girl Scout Cookies for mouthwatering match-ups like these: Tagalongs and Nut Brown, Samoas and Speedway Stout and Thin Mints and Robust Porter. Food trucks will also be at the brewery this weekend, including Crabcakes 911 and Ye Olde Grilled Cheese & Tater Tot Shoppe on Friday.

The End of the Trail: Completing the Pacific Crest Trail
12:45 p.m., College Avenue Center
Jewish Family Service hosts this event at its College Avenue Center Thursday highlighting stories and photographs from avid backpacker Dana Law, who recently finished hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. The event is free.

Walkabout Wine Dinner Series
5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Decoy Dockside Dining
Decoy Dockside Dining, a new(ish) waterfront restaurant at the Lakehouse Hotel & Resort in San Marcos will launch its “Walkabout Wine Dinner Series” on Thursday with a wine-centric feast. The dinners – happening once a month through July 27 – will feature sips from California’s top wineries expertly paired with dishes created by Decoy’s Executive Chef David Warner. As the evening unfolds, patrons have a chance to chat with both Warner and a rep from the featured winery; for the first dinner in this series, sommelier Alyssa Kitchens will be on-hand. Tickets are $65 per person; guests can make reservations at any time within the 4-hour window at communal or private tables by calling (760) 744-0120.

Mardi Gras Soiree
6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Mission Beach Women’s Club
Colorful masks and all, the Mission Beach Women’s Club will host this 2nd annual Hearts for San Diego fundraiser in support of local charities. The fundraiser will come in the form of a lively Mardi Gras Soiree, with live jazz music, New Orleans-inspired food, cocktails, beer and wine and a coffee and dessert bar. Activities include a photo booth, prize wheel, raffle and silent auction, too. Tickets range from $30 to $50 per person.

Trivia & Tacos
6 p.m. to 9 p.m., 32 North Brewing Co.
Tap into that endless bounty of random facts inside your brain and head over to 32 North Brewing Co. to test your knowledge during this Trivia & Tacos event. A $12 fee gets you three tacos from San Diego Taco Company, one beer and trivia games. After that, patrons can enjoy $1 off all of 32 North’s core brews. Trivia goes down from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.; tacos are served from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Cuisine for Kids
6 p.m., Boys and Girls Clubs of Oceanside
The Boys and Girls Clubs of Oceanside will hold the second-annual Cuisine for Kids dinner, a kick-off to the clubs’ annual giving campaign. The tasting event includes food, wine and beer samples, plus live music. Tickets are $40 per person; all proceeds support building the Center for Innovation, which includes a culinary arts teaching kitchen, performing arts center and a STEAM lab for kids.

Celebrating African American Women in the Arts
6 p.m. Women’s Museum of California
Amid Black History Month, the Women’s Museum of California will recognize three African American arts pioneers in San Diego at this special event Thursday night: Musician and author Jeannie Cheatham; Moxie Theatre Executive Director Delicia Turner-Sonnenberg; and Sculptor Manuelita Brown of UC San Diego’s Sojourner Truth. Admission is free.

Circus Vargas
7 p.m., Westfield Plaza Bonita
Circus Vargas continues its San Diego run, currently at National City’s Westfield Plaza Bonita, bringing under its big top its newest show, “Steam Cirque,” inspired by the worlds of steampunk and science-fiction. The show runs at this venue through Feb. 27 before packing up and heading to Escondido’s Westfield North County (March 2-13) and after, that, Promenade Temecula (March 16-27). Tickets start at $22; arrive 45 minutes before show time and the kids can partake in an interactive pre-show where they can practice hands-on circus skills like juggling and balancing alongside the pros.

Taco Fights
7 p.m. to 9 p.m., The Blind Burro
The Blind Burro presents the final showdown in its 5th installment of “Taco Fights,” a battle between San Diego’s top chefs showcasing their best taco creations. After several weeks of competition among the best of the best chefs, Thursday’s showdown is the championship round. Patrons can order from a special menu which includes a Taco Fiight Plate for $9 and drink specials like the $7 Espolon Cadillac Margarita, to name a few items.

SDSU School of Theatre, Television, and Film: The Matsuyama Mirror
7:30 p.m., SDSU Experimental Theatre
Award-winning playwright Velina Hasu Houston brings this Japanese folktale to SDSU’s Experimental Theatre. Tickets for the student show start at $15.

Suicidal Tendencies with Crowbar and Havok
8 p.m., Observatory North Park
Rock group Sucidal Tendencies, with Crowbar and Havok, will take the stage at The Observatory North Park Thursday night. Guests under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets start at $25.

Friday, Feb. 24

14th Annual Go Red for Women Luncheon
10 a.m., Fairmont Grand Del Mar
Support the American Heart Association’s fight against heart disease and stroke with the 14th Annual Go Red for Women Luncheon. Tickets for the fundraiser cost $150 per person.

San Diego Gulls vs. Texas Stars
7 p.m., Valley View Casino Center
Celebrate Hockey Weekend Across America by rooting for San Diego’s team at the Valley View Casino Center Friday night as the Gulls take on the Texas Stars. Tickets start at $19.

Robin Henkel
7 p.m., House of Blues Voodoo Room
Robin Henkel, three-time “Best Blues” winner of the San Diego Music Awards, takes center stage at the House of Blues’ restaurant lounge, the Voodoo Room. The show is free.

Stargazing at West Sycamore
7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Mission Trails Regional Park
Weather permitting, the San Diego Astronomy Association (SDAA) will host another one of its free stargazing sessions at Mission Trails Regional Park (MTRP). The group meets every fourth Friday of the month at the MTRP West Sycamore Staging Area located at the east end of Stonebridge Parkway in Scripps Ranch.

Eurydice
7:30 p.m., The Brooks Theatre
This retelling of the classic Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice takes the stage at The Brooks Theatre in Oceanside through Feb. 26. Tickets range from $15 to $25 per person.

Vince Staples with Kilo Kish
8 p.m., Observatory North Park
Long Beach native Vince Staples brings hip-hop to the Observatory North Park with an 8 p.m. show Friday night. The doors open at 7 p.m.; the concert is for the 18+ crowd.

Good People
8 p.m., Scripps Ranch Theatre
Scripps Ranch Theatre presents “Good People,” a production set in a Boston neighborhood where characters struggle through life’s hardships including figuring out how to pay the bills. Tickets start at $28.

Saturday, Feb. 25

San Diego Gulls vs. Rockford IceHogs
7 p.m., Valley View Casino Center
Hockey season continues as the San Diego Gulls take on the Rockford IceHogs at the Valley View Casino Center on Sports Arena Blvd. Tickets start at $18 per person.

25th Annual Brazilian Carnival
9 p.m., Park6 near Balboa Park
There’s nothing in the world like a Brazilian Carnival…But if you can’t be in Brazil for the real thing, why not stop by Park6 on Fir Street for a good alternative? Pulsating drums will be one of the many sounds that draw you into a night of non-stop dancing and fun. Tickets start at $25.

Trash Bash
9 a.m., Dixon Lake (Escondido)
Some of the trash we generate can and does live on for weeks and years after we throw it away. But it can take just a moment for a fish to get tangled up in litter or a Coyote to ingest a candy wrapper. Help prevent some of the negative impact of our waste by helping clean up trash around Escondido’s Dixon Lake this Saturday. Bags, trash pickers, vests and water will be provided. Wear long sleeves, pants and closed-toe shoes to help out. The event is free.

Guided Nature Walk: Emerald Greenery
8:30 a.m., Mission Trails Regional Park – Kumeyaay Lake Campground
Wake up early this Saturday and come explore some of the beautiful Mission Trails Regional Park. This week, take a fun and informative morning walk through the park. The event is free.

Sunday, Feb. 26

San Diego Bird Festival: Family Day
10 a.m., Marina Village Conference Center
Birds, wildlife and diverse natural habitats are at the center of this unique Bird Festival in San Diego. Rain or shine, bring the whole family out to this fun event, where you will get the chance to build your own birdhouse, participate in nature walks and learn to bird call. The event is free.

Tidepooling Adventure with the Birch Aquarium
2:30 p.m., Birch Aquarium (La Jolla), though the tour outside
Explore some of La Jolla’s most interesting tide pools on this exploratory tour with the Birch Aquarium. Trained naturalists will show participants how creatures survive between rocks and in difficult slots, and how to protect the natural wonders during your visit. Attendees must be older than two years old, and anyone under the age of 15 must be accompanied by a paid adult. You must pre-register. Tickets cost $13.

San Diego Sockers vs. Atletico Baja
7:05 p.m., Valley View Casino Center
Come out and support San Diego’s 14-time indoor soccer champions at their game against the Atletico Baja. General admission tickets start at $12.

Disney’s Freaky Friday The Musical
2 p.m. or 7 p.m., La Jolla Playhouse
Don’t miss the West Coast premiere of Disney’s "Freaky Friday”, based on the hit Disney movie. With a book by Bridget Carpenter ("Parenthood", "Friday Night Lights") and music by Tom Kitt ("Next to Normal", "If/Then") and lyrics by Brian Yorkey ("Next to Normal", "If/Then"), recipients of multiple Tony Awards and a Pulitzer Prize, the show promises to be a delightful and polished production with two close friends playing the lead mother-daughter duo. It runs through March 19. You can buy tickets here.

Free or Cheap Things to Do in San Diego
Times and locations vary

Is your wallet hurting from the holidays? In San Diego, there are still plenty of activities to enjoy for free or on the cheap. Go for a hike at Torrey Pines State Park or Cowles Mountain, stroll Balboa Park, try a new craft brewery, admire the murals of Chicano Park or read a book at a downtown park. Get out there and explore America’s Finest City.

Picasso At The Lapin Agile
2 p.m. or 7 p.m., The Old Globe
Don't miss the third piece in comedian and playwright Steve Martin's collaboration with San Diego's iconic Old Globe Theatre. The play, written by Martin and directed by Barry Edelstein, opens on The Lapin Agile in Paris 1904, where struggling artists (Pablo Picasso, for one) and one-day geniuses (picture: young Albert Einstein) come together for an extraordinary, witty night. The show runs from Feb. 4 to March 12.  If you’re looking for other theater shows in San Diego this year, check out this roundup of new and upcoming local productions. 

9 to 5: The Musical
2 p.m., Spreckels Theater
Don't miss the closing night of “9 to 5”, the hilarious musical adaptation of the 1980 film of the same name (which starred the trio of Jane Honda, Lily Tomlin and Dolly Parton). The jubilant musical follows three female co-workers who are pushed to the brink with their sexist and egotistical boss. The country music musical features songs from legendary composer, lyricist and the original film’s star, Dolly Parton. Tickets start at $32.

Happy Jason Mraz Day! Oh wait, sorry for the mix-up -- that was Aug. 19, 2014 (yes, the city of San Diego officially declared that date as Jason Mraz Day). However, it might as well be Feb. 24 for students at Logan Heights’ Burbank Elementary -- San Diego’s only Turnaround Arts-enrolled school.

What’s all this about, you might be thinking? Turnaround Arts is a program that coordinates the placement of musical instruments and art supplies at 68 schools across the country -- while providing them with professional development assistance on arts integration, a high-profile Turnaround Arts mentor, and more. According to a press release, participating schools have seen “big upticks in enrollment, decreases in disciplinary referrals, and more students meeting or performing above the standards for English Language Arts.”

Today marks the third year that Burbank Elementary (2146 Julian Ave.) has been involved in the program (which was started by President Barack Obama’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities). So where does Jason Mraz factor in?

For the unfamiliar, Mraz got his start in San Diego in 2000, and rose to stardom with “The Remedy,” a huge hit single off his 2002 major label debut album, “Waiting for My Rocket to Come.” He’s followed that up over the years with several other hits, including “I’m Yours” in 2008, “Lucky” (a collaboration with Colbie Caillat) and “Make It Mine” (which he won a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance in 2010). To date, he’s sold more than 7 million albums worldwide.

Not content to just churn out gold records, Mraz has also been a very active philanthropist over the years -- most recently joining the Standing Rock camp in North Dakota in person to help protest the Dakota Access Pipeline. A champion of many social causes over the years, he established the Jason Mraz Foundation in 2011, and has turned his attention most notably toward the environment, LGBT equality, and human rights (he participated in a 2009 Ghana rescue mission with the Free the Slaves international nonprofit).

It seems no cause is too big or too small for the singer/songwriter: Teaming up with Turnaround Arts, he’s adopted Burbank Elementary. He’s met with students (and helped them to combat stage fright before their big winter concert) and personally assisted planting a schoolyard orchard with them. On Feb. 24 between 1 and 4 p.m., he’ll be back on campus, joining them for musical performances, visiting the orchard, and helping kick off the school’s musical auditions.

If he didn’t already have one, we’d be inclined to declare Feb. 24 Jason Mraz Day in San Diego -- wouldn’t you agree?

Police are searching for two men suspected in a series of armed robberies in which they targeted convenience stores in San Diego and Escondido while wielding two shotguns and a pistol.

The San Diego Police Department (SDPD) has dubbed the crimes the “Two Shotguns and a Pistol” robbery series. Police said two unknown men were involved in at least four separate armed robberies at stores between Feb. 6 and Feb. 9.

In each case, they entered stores in the early-morning hours while carrying backpacks and armed with shotguns and a pistol. They demanded money from the clerk and placed the stolen cash into their backpacks. The men then fled the businesses in a getaway car described as a black, four-door sedan.

SDPD investigators said two robberies happened on Feb. 9 in San Diego, within 30 minutes of one another. At 2:20 a.m., the suspects robbed a Shell Gas Station store located at 9840 Miramar Rd. At 2:50 a.m., they robbed a 7-Eleven store located at 10505 San Diego Mission Rd.

On Feb. 6, the suspects hit two stores, again working very quickly. First, at 2:10 a.m., they robbed a Circle K Mobile at 11898 Rancho Bernardo Rd. At 2:39 a.m., they hit an AM/PM store at 100 La Terraza Blvd. in Escondido.

In most of the cases, the suspects were captured on surveillance video. Police released images from those videos Friday in hopes that someone recognizes the men and can offer information to investigators.

Police said one suspect is described as being between 20 and 30 years old, standing between 5-foot-8 and 6-feet tall. He has a medium build and weighs between 150 and 180 pounds, and has dark hair, brown eyes and a mustache. Witnesses told police he wore dark clothing, a black mask and red gloves.

The second suspect is described as being 20 years old, between 5-foot-6 and 5-foot-8, weighing 150 to 180 pounds. He wore black pants and a black hooded sweatshirt with a red and black logo on the chest and white draw strings on the hood. He also wore a black baseball cap, black shoes with white soles and black gloves.

No one was hurt in the robberies. The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information can call the SDPD’s Robbery Unit at (619) 531-2299 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.

Five people were hurt Friday morning in Paradise Hills when a medical transport van crashed on State Route 54, rolling over into the center divide.

California Highway Patrol (CHP) Officer Jake Sanchez said the crash initially involved three vehicles: a Honda Accord, a big rig and a medical transport van.

Sanchez said all three vehicles were traveling westbound on State Route 54 just before 10:40 a.m. when, for unknown reasons, the Honda Accord and van collided. This caused the driver of the van to lose control, sending the van plowing into a big rig.

The impact caused the van to drift across all lanes of the freeway, Sanchez said, before it rolled over and crashed into the center divide.

Officials with the Heartland Fire & Rescue said five people were hurt in the accident but firefighters were able to pull all five victims from the wreckage.

The mangled van came to rest on its roof, tires up, in the grassy portion of the center divide. The van was marked with the logo of St. Paul's PACE, a health care program for the elderly. Debris from the crash was strewn about; an empty wheelchair could be seen near the scene of the crash.

Sanchez said the van, in addition to its driver, was carrying four passengers. The driver suffered minor injuries while the passengers suffered major injuries. They were rushed to local hospitals.

Sanchez said the van is a medical transport vehicle, equipped to transport wheelchairs. The investigation is ongoing; it is unclear, at this point, where the van was headed at the time of the accident.

The driver of the Honda Accord and the driver of the big rig were not hurt.

CHP said the crash caused traffic delays along SR-54 west of Woodman Street. As of 11 a.m., firefighters from multiple agencies remained at the scene, trying to clear the wreck. CHP said at least one lane was blocked.

Using a crane, a tow truck was able to eventually lift the van upright and pull it out of the grassy center divide.

No other details were immediately released.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced Friday on a website for federal contractors that the request for bids on building the proposed border wall will be open as of March 6.

Companies would have to submit “concept papers” to design and build prototypes by March 10.

CBP says that they will narrow the selection, then shortly after require the finalists to renew their offers with a price attached by March 24.

The latest timetable shows that President Trump is aggressively pursuing plans to build the 2,000 mile border wall between Mexico.

During a Conservative Political Action Conference today, Mr. Trump said that construction will start “very soon” and is ahead of schedule.

Despite the strained relationship between the U.S. and Mexico, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly are expected to meet with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto and other top officials. Tillerson and Kelly arrived in Mexico City separately earlier this week.

A man died Friday morning at a local hospital after being wounded in a shooting in Oceanside, police confirmed.

Oceanside Police Department (OPD) Lt. Valencia Saadat told NBC 7 that shots were fired around 4:45 a.m. near Cassidy and South Myers streets in Oceanside, near the Coastal Rail Trail. When officers arrived, they discovered a man on the street, suffering from gunshot wounds. No weapon was found at the scene.

The victim was taken to Scripps La Jolla Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries at 5:30 a.m., Saadat said.

The investigation is ongoing. Saadat said officers have been speaking with residents in an effort to track down clues on how or why the shooting occurred. The lieutenant said this is an otherwise quiet neighborhood.

Witnesses told police they saw suspects fleeing from the area at the time of the shooting in a white car. Saadat said officers are investigating all leads in this case.

OPD Lt. Adam Knowland said the victim is a man in his 40s. His name has not yet been released. At this point, Knowland said it is too early in the investigation to determine whether this shooting was gang related or whether this was a targeted attack.

This week's weather has been perfect for a picnic across much of the United States. But while you're snacking on a salad in the sun, don't let stressing about whether this unseasonably temperate February will mean an extra-hot summer rain on your parade.

Experts say that warm weather across the East Coast and the Midwest does not necessarily mean it’s going to keep steaming in the next few months.

“There’s no strong statistical link between a warm February and what the summer will be like,” said Jon Nese, associate head of Pennsylvania State University’s undergraduate program in meteorology and host of the school's "Weather World" broadcast.

The U.S. has seen 3,146 record high temperatures in February as of Thursday, according to nonprofit climate news organization Climate Central. With only 27 record lows, that makes it the “most lopsided monthly ratio” in recorded history, the site said.

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American cities that are typically snow-dusted in mid-February felt mild on Thursday and Friday. The sun is shining and spring has seemingly arrived early in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and New York. In Boston, thermometers recorded 71 degrees Friday, making it the city's warmest documented February day ever. 

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Chicago hit the upper 60s for most of this week, and residents played volleyball on North Avenue Beach Wednesday. The Windy City doesn’t usually warm up this much until mid-May, according to WGN’s weather blog.

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But there's a good reason for all the nice weather: storms on the west coast, not a larger trend, according to Nese and other meteorologists.

“You do not want to draw a line between the unusual warmth that we’re seeing this week and climate change. Instead, you need to take a much broader look at trends over a period of years and decades,” Nese said.

The south also got some heat. Dallas and Houston enjoyed steamy temperatures in the 80s, and Austin and San Antonio were a smoldering 90 degrees long before university kids head to nearby beaches for spring break.

NBC Dallas-Fort Worth meteorologist Brian James crunched the numbers on what a warm winter means when summer comes around — plenty of people have been asking him if "we'll be baking our butts off in the summer," he said.

Turns out there's not much of a correlation at all.

This is North Texas's warmest average winter so far. But the next warmest winter only led to the area's 14th warmest summer, back in 1999-2000, James found. The third warmest winter was 100 years ago, and that turned into the 86th warmest summer on record.

"You don't even correlate a top eight, or even a top 10 for that matter," James said.

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Thomas E. Downs, a meteorologist for WeatherBELL Analytics, said that drawing correlations between seasonal weather patterns can prove misleading.

Winter weather is mostly influenced by El Nino and La Nina cycles in the Pacific Ocean that cause movements in the jet stream, he said, whereas high pressure and warm, calm winds are more of a factor in summertime.

This temperate spell on the East Coast has been a product of an extreme storm that’s now bombarding the West, not evidence of global warming, he explained. 

“This is really just a sign of one storm,” Downs said.

In the past few years, people have mistakenly associated radical but temporary temperature shifts with climate change. Those have instead been due to dramatic El Nino and La Nina cycles, Downs added, while climate change tracks persisting trends over longer chunks of time. These small but significant alterations are much subtler and more difficult to perceive and conceptualize.

“In the short-term, it’s hard for people to relate to things that happen over the course of their lifetimes,” Downs said.

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Meteorologists sometimes use analogue forecasts, which compare current weather to similar situations in the past, to predict future months. Nese said that “sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t,” and he and his colleagues have other tools in their toolkit.

That’s not to say that it won’t be hot in a few months — WeatherBELL is predicting an early warm summer that may taper into cooler days after July. But that's down to El Nino, not the storm passing through this week.

Neverthelss, given recent events, it may be time to fire furry favorite Punxsutawney Phil, the groundhog that predicted another six weeks of winter earlier this month. The U.S. Climate Prediction Center forecasts above-average temperatures for the bottom of half of the Lower 48 through March.

Some Facebook users are getting logged out of their accounts Friday afternoon due to a technical issue, according to reports being sent on Down Detector. The reports started just after 1 p.m. EST.

Users are getting a message saying "Someone May Have Logged Into Your Account," according to the reports being sent to the site. Facebook prompts them to verify their identities and change their passwords to unlock their accounts.

Users of the popular social media site are also receiving another error message which says "Sorry, this feature isn't available right now. An error occurred while processing this request. Please try again later," with an option to "join Facebook" or "log in to continue."

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Facebook did not immediately response to NBC's request for comments. The error did not appear to affect all accounts.

However, The Next Web reports that Facebook reached out to offer the following comment: 

"Earlier today an error in one of our systems designed to help prevent suspicious account access sent a small set of people to our account recovery flow unnecessarily. We have fixed the issue and are in the process of clearing the affected accounts from this recovery flow. We apologize for any inconvenience."

It appears that users getting locked out of their accounts are not victims of a security breach but victims of a technical difficulty.

While Congress is in recess, many lawmakers are back in their districts. Some are scheduling meetings with constituents.

U.S. Rep. Juan Vargas (D- 51st District) spoke about the tension lawmakers are facing at a special swearing in ceremony held in downtown San Diego Friday.

“There’s a lot of emotion out here in society, no doubt about it.” Vargas said.

“Just go to one of Darrell’s town halls,” he joked.

Vargas was referring to U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa (R- 49th District).

On Tuesday, Issa answered several questions from protestors outside his Vista office. What some would characterize as a protest, Issa described as a "wonderful town hall" on Friday.

He, Vargas and U.S. Rep. Scott Peters (D - 52nd District) spoke to reporters outside the federal courthouse on Broadway following a local swearing-in ceremony.

"I held a wonderful town hall meeting in front of my office, ran about 90 minutes," Issa said in response to one reporter's question about holding a town hall meeting.

He went on to describe other community meetings with members of the health care field, the biotech community and realtors.

"I held about 14 other meetings - some of them as few as a dozen - some of them larger," he said.

Issa has been criticized by some for not attending a town hall.

Peters and U.S. Rep. Susan Davis (D- 53rd District) held a joint town hall in Liberty Station on Wednesday. They answered questions from a standing-room only crowd. Some in attendance demanded more outrage from their representatives.

Davis held another small gathering with business leaders in University Heights Thursday. Peters attended a Coast Guard City designation Thursday morning.

Vargas laughed that he has held public meetings but "nobody comes."

NBC 7 sought out U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter (R - District ) on Thursday to learn what meetings he's scheduled with constituents during his recess.

Hunter's chief of staff told an NBC 7 reporter the congressman did not have any plans for public appearances this week. The conversation with the chief of staff occurred Thursday just after 2:30 p.m. when staff closed up Hunter's El Cajon office.

San Diego’s Liberty Public Market is back at it, adding another round of new vendors, including a Greek-inspired eatery that serves Saganaki – also known as flaming cheese. Eater San Diego takes us into the tasty world of the top stories of the week from our local food and drink scene.

Liberty Public Market Signs 3 New Food Concepts
The food lineup at Liberty Public Market is getting even more dynamic, with new vendors scheduled to debut in March and April. Saganaki by Meze is a Greek-inspired concept from a Gaslamp eatery that specializes in traditional dishes such as flambéed cheese, while Smoothie Rider will serve organic smoothies and healthy eats. The final new vendor, for now, is farmer's market favorite Olala Crepes cooks up a sweet and savory creperie.

Premium Sushi Hand Rolls Prep for Convoy Debut
The owner of Raki Raki Ramen and Pokirrito in Kearny Mesa and Little Italy will launch a new, trendy sushi concept adjacent to his Convoy Street eatery. Specializing in sushi hand rolls filled with high-end ingredients, the modern and intimate j/wata Temaki Bar will open this spring. 

Spanish Tapas & Wine Bar Swinging Into Little Italy
Bringing a bit of Spanish flair to Little Italy is Bar Bodega, which is replacing The Cheese Store on Kettner Boulevard. The tapas and wine bar will be open for lunch and dinner, serving a menu of traditional Spanish tapas influenced by ingredients from San Diego and Mexico.

Where to Eat Fried Chicken Right Now
From classic Southern fried chicken shops to Asian-inspired wing joints and celeb chef-backed chicken concepts, Eater has a finger-licking good map of 10 spots around San Diego that are serving tasty fried birds. 

Bankers Hill Scores New Japanese Ramen Spot
5th Avenue's Artisan Bento will soon reopen as Hachi Ramen, with a new menu focused on signature ramen variations plus Japanese small plates, from rice bowls to specialty sushi rolls.

About half of Americans believe that Congress should investigate whether Donald Trump's presidential campaign had contact with the Russian government in 2016, while only a quarter say that lawmakers should not probe the issue, according to a new NBC News/ Wall Street Journal poll.

The poll, conducted Feb. 18-22, shows that 53 percent of the American public wants Congress to look into the alleged communications, while 25 percent disagree and 21 percent say they don't have an opinion.

A similar share - 54 percent - believe that Congress should look into Russian interference in the election generally, while 29 percent disagree.

The Department of Homeland Security will solicit prototype pitches next month to fulfill President Donald Trump's promise to build a border wall with Mexico.

The department announced online Friday that it intends to provide contractors an opportunity to offer proposals for the design and building of "several prototype wall structures in the vicinity of the United States border with Mexico," NBC News reported.

According to the announcement, the pitch process will have two phases.

The first will require a concept paper to be delivered to Homeland Security by March 10. They will then condense the pool of pitches by March 20.

The second phase would require the remaining contractors to fulfill the full proposal request and provide the potential price.

Directors of what critics see as a "shadow government" have just approved an outside investigation of revenue numbers used in a big ballot measure last fall.

The furor surrounding the San Diego Association of Governments – abbreviation: SANDAG – started even before the November election.

Since the 1970s, SANDAG has served as a clearinghouse for federal and state funding going to the county and its cities.

The agency’s $18 billion ballot measure failed at the ballot box – even while it was way too bullish on financial projections.

"Our credibility lives or dies on our accountability,” Poway Mayor Steve Vaus, a SANDAG director, told NBC 7 in an interview Friday. “We need to have an independent examination of all the facts. Who, what, when, where, why? And we're gonna do that. We're gonna get answers and provide them to the public."

SANDAG's Measure A projected that a half-cent TransNet sales tax hike would collect $14 billion for local transportation projects.

But current tax growth trends indicate the proceeds would be $5 billion less.

SANDAG's staff blames a "human error" involving a missing "data slide" to that effect.

Although the ballot measure fell 10 points short of the needed two-thirds countywide majority, suspicious minds wonder whether the lower revenue figure actually was withheld – so as to boost the chances of passage.

SANDAG directors are elected officials from the county and its 18 cities, and voters don't directly cast ballots for members of the board.

That's a concern to some, because California is among only a few states with multi-billion dollar metro clearinghouses for federal and state funding.

Even so, the situation isn’t alarming to political observers such as Voice of San Diego’s Andrew Keatts, who’s extensively covered SANDAG.

“It's the entity that goes out and competes for federal and state dollars,” says Keatts. “So if you have one agency that focuses on that and disburses that money around the region in certain ways, you could just as easily see that as a benefit."

In the wake of the controversy over Measure A, Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher is working on state legislation to reform the way SANDAG governs.

As two directors noted in their remarks, without confidence in the information SANDAG gives, there could be risks for the county and the agency’s 18 municipal members.