A man accused of brutally beating a victim with a crowbar at a local gas station has been deemed not competent to stand trial, a judge ruled on Wednesday.

Back on Feb. 23, suspect Clare Lyle Neighbour, 56, allegedly attacked 25-year-old Carlos Ramirez with a crowbar at the Express Gas station located at 5109 Imperial Ave. in San Diego’s Valencia Park area.

Investigators say the violent attack happened just before 3 a.m., after both Neighbour and Ramirez stopped at the same gas station.

Police say Neighbour drove into the gas station and told the clerk he needed gas, but had no money. The clerk refused to give him gas.

Shortly thereafter, Ramirez and his girlfriend pulled into the gas station.

As Ramirez was pumping gas, prosecutors say Neighbour asked him for money, but Ramirez declined and went about his business.

Neighbour then allegedly got a crowbar out of the trunk of his car and threatened Ramirez’s girlfriend. As Ramirez approached Neighbour, the suspect struck him in the neck.

Ramirez fell to the ground and prosecutors say Neighbour continued to beat him in the head with the crowbar, striking Ramirez at least 25 times in the violent attack.

Neighbour then fled the gas station.

Ramirez sustained a serious head injury and was taken to a local hospital. His girlfriend was not injured in the crowbar attack.

Neighbour was arrested by authorities two days later, on Feb. 25, in Huntington Beach, Calif.

He was turned over to San Diego police that same day, and he was booked into San Diego Central Jail on attempted murder, aggravated mayhem and attempted robbery charges.

On Feb. 27, Neighbour pleaded not guilty to the charges. His bail was set at $1.5 million.

During that hearing, Deputy DA Chris Moon gave a brief update on Ramirez’s condition stemming from the brutal beating.

“As a result of that attack, the victim nearly died. He suffered a brain hemorrhage [and] fractures in his skull. He lost consciousness as well. And, it’s unclear what the prognosis will be going forward,” said Moon.

On Wednesday, more than three months after the assault, Neighbour appeared in court again for a mental competency hearing.

Judge Joseph Brannigan ruled Neighbour is not mentally competent to stand trial, and instead will be sent to Patton State Hospital for treatment for up to three years.

Neighbour faced life in prison if convicted of all charges, but after reviewing medical reports, Judge Brannigan ruled that Neighbour does not understand the charges against him and is incompetent to stand trial.

According to Moon, Neighbour is a former resident of Washington state and appeared to be living out of his car at the time of the Feb. 23 attack. He has no direct ties to San Diego.

A Disneyland outdoor vending cast member was arrested in connection with an explosion involving dry ice at the Anaheim theme park that led to an evacuation and bomb squad investigation.

The explosion, possibly caused by dry ice in a water bottle, led to an evacuation Tuesday afternoon of the park's Toontown area.

Police identified the suspect as 22-year-old Christian Barnes, of Long Beach. He was booked on suspicion of possessing a destructive device, according to Anaheim police.

The suspect indicated the explosion was "an isolated incident with unanticipated impacts," according to a police news release.

Barnes is being held on $1 million bail.

"We take matters like this very seriously and are working closely with local authorities," said Suzi Brown, director of media relations and external communications for Disneyland Resort.

Visitors at the park described the explosion as sounding like a gun shot and "loud boom." Disneyland employees then escorted visitors from the area.

No injuries were reported. Toontown reopened late Tuesday.

Refresh this page for updates.

A family living without electricity was in danger when a lighted candle started a fire in their Mountain View apartment according to a friend.

A neighbor told NBC 7 San Diego he could see curtains on fire as flames ripped through the apartment on Oceanview Boulevard just after midnight Wednesday.

“Crazy, I’ll put it that way. Crazy,” said Fred Bonner. “It was blazed everywhere.”

Bonner said the family told him they were using a lighted candle because they don't have electricity and that they awoke to smoke and the curtains completely ablaze.

The fire quickly spread from the family’s apartment to an adjacent apartment upstairs and then into the check-cashing business on the first floor.

Three people were sleeping inside and escaped injury along with their two pets. The person living in the second apartment was not home at the time of the fire.

Witnesses say firefighters were at the building within minutes and opened up a section of the roof to battle the fire.

The San Diego chapter of the American Red Cross helped the family find a place to stay for the night.

Investigators have not released an official cause of the fire.
 

SeaWorld San Diego rescued a sea lion pup for the second time Tuesday.

The one-year-old waddled right up to the bike path near York Court in Mission Beach.

The pup was a "repeat offender" because this is the second time he was found stranded among beach goers.

“The tag does indicate we have rehabilitated him before. It's a national marine fishery tag,” Rescuer Jody Westberg said.

If it was an audience the this pup was looking for he sure got one.

Nothing quite draws a crowd like the sounds and the sight of a stranded sea lion.

“This is so cool,” Neighbor Kristie Le said.

Beach goers blocked the boardwalk and prodded the pup with pillows.

“My concern is to get him to safety back in the water," visitor George Saba said.

“I think he's been out of the water too long," neighbor Scott Shore said.

Others tried to capture the moment with their phones.

“If I could just show my family I got a seal in my back yard that is pretty cool,” Le said.

“This animal might have just been coming up to haul out for the night. He just happened to pick very public area,” Westberg said..

If you see a stranded animal Sea World recommends you not touch or feed it. Instead, stay a safe distance, usually 50 feet from the animal.

If you're sure the animal needs help notify an authorized animal rescue using the hotline number (800) 541-SEAL .

This makes over four hundred pup rescues this year. It's nearly three times the usual amount.

The pup was taken to SeaWorld San Diego where he's getting a check-up for before being released back into the wild .

A water main broke in La Jolla on Wednesday morning, according to officials.

Around 10:15 a.m. police responded to the break at the 1900-block of Torrey Pines Road. Traffic in the area is backed up for nearly a mile, prompting a SigAlert to be issued.

Other areas affected by traffic are westbound state Route 52 and southbound Interstate 5.

A construction site is near the break.

Check back for updates on this story.

Grand Jury testimony released Tuesday describes the tight-knit relationships between contractors, administrators and board members at three South County school districts and sheds light on how lucrative contracts were awarded under bond programs.

In the documents, one architect testifies that campaign contribution requests were more prevalent in the South Bay “than in any other part of the state.”

The transcripts led to 232 felony and misdemeanor criminal charges against 15 defendants in an investigation into school construction projects. Each defendant has entered a not guilty plea.

More than 4,000 pages were ordered unsealed Tuesday by Superior Court Judge Ana Espana.

The evidence attempts to chronologically document meals, contributions, and the awarding of contracts since million-dollar bond measures were passed at Sweetwater and Southwestern in 2006 and 2008. It jumps between the two districts as it moves in time-line order with an occasional mention of the San Ysidro school district.

In 2012, a business development executive, an architect, and a program manager all pleaded guilty to lesser misdemeanor charges in exchange for their cooperation in the criminal probe.

Architect Paul Bunton testified that he paid for expensive meals at Pa Pazzo Restaurant, Baci's, Oceanaire, and Donovan's - all in an effort to build business relationships with decision makers at Southwestern College and the Sweetwater school district, according to the transcripts.

Bunton, 54, pleaded guilty in March 2012 to aiding in the commission of a misdemeanor because the school officials did not list the meals and gifts on state-mandated reporting forms.

Describing an expensive 2008 outing at Baci's, Bunton testified he was unable to recall who paid for the meal, but that he was "quite certain no board member paid for the dinner," according to the transcripts.

"Because I have never attended any dinner with this group that any board member did pay for dinner," he said, according to the Grand Jury transcripts.

He also sprang for expensive golf trips to Pebble Beach and vacations in Napa Valley for a top administrator at the community college where he won a $5.3 million design and architecture contract in April 2010, according to the transcripts.

Bunton testified he helped fund-raise and delivered campaign contributions to board members at Sweetwater where he did $30 million worth of work, and that he hosted a $12,000 event for local politicos at the now-closed Frida's restaurant in Chula Vista to showcase his design for Southwestern's undeveloped "Corner Lot."

He said requests for campaign contributions were "very prevalent in the South Bay; much more than in any other part of the state," according to the transcripts.

In one email exchange he had in May 2010 with long-time Sweetwater trustee Pearl Quinones, Bunton wrote:
"Just letting you know that I will be at the fundraiser this coming week and bringing the consultants with checks."

Bunton said he complied with the regular requests for campaign contributions to continue building relationships the trustees, not because of an expectation of doing work.

"Nobody had a gun to my head saying I needed to do this," Bunton said. "But, you know, there was a certain amount of potential if you didn't contribute, you may not even have a chance to work there."

He said the requests for campaign contribution were sometimes made at the behest of former Sweetwater Superintendent Jesus Gandara, Ph.D.:

"Dr. Gandara suggested that we meet and bring checks to board members," he said.

Bunton testified he has since revised his business practices by specifically instructing a public official of the amount of reportable expenditure he has made anytime he entertains. He also sends correspondence at the end of the year letting an official know exactly how much he's spent on meals and other entertainment for the official during the course of the year.

"I would rather not sit here again," he told Deputy District Attorney Leon Schorr during the testimony.

Marc Carlos, the defense attorney for Quinones, has argued the grand jury transcripts are one-sided, and fail to paint the whole picture.

"I guarantee you this testimony will be put into context once it is subject to scathing cross-examination," he said during a hearing about whether the transcripts should be released.

Some of the transcripts were unavailable to the media Tuesday while they are being edited for information that may be inadmissible in court.

Readiness conferences for the case against all 15 defendants were set for July and October. A jury trial date was set for February 18, 2014.

The front end of a Mack track was captured on surveillance video crossing a Baltimore County railway just three seconds before it was struck by a CSX freight train, said a spokesperson for the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) during a press conference Wednesday afternoon.

While investigators still are working to determine what caused Tuesday's train derailment — which led to an explosion felt by those half a mile away — NTSB board member Robert Sumwalt said that crash investigators have had an "extremely productive day."

Investigators spent Wednesday culling evidence from surveillance video, both from a warehouse near the scene of the crash and from a track image recorder mounted on the front of the locomotive. They also are examining data from a locomotive event recorder and physical evidence.

The CSX freight train, which consisted of two locomotives and 45 cars, apparently collided with a trash truck in the Rosedale section of Baltimore County around 2 p.m. Tuesday.

Less than six minutes later, an explosion blasted the fronts of nearby warehouses as black smoke streamed into the sky about a mile east of Interstate 95.

Of the train's 45 cars, 14 were loaded and four contained hazardous materials. A total of 15 cars derailed, including three with hazardous materials.

Based on physical evidence at the scene, only the car carrying sodium chlorate exploded, Sumwalt said. Sodium chlorate is an oxidizer used in many industrial processes.

The investigation team, led by Pete Kotowski, has constructed an initial timeline of the moments before and after the impact:

-- 17 seconds before impact: The first of three train horn blasts begins. The third blast continues up to the point of the collision. Trains are required to sound their horns as they approach grade crossings.

-- 5 seconds before impact: The front of a 2003 Mack Granite truck comes into view on surveillance video.

-- 3 seconds before impact: The front of the truck begins to cross the track.

-- At impact: The train strikes the right rear tandem axle of the truck.

-- 33 seconds after impact: Warehouse video shows smoke coming from the wreck.

-- 43 seconds after impact: The first flames are visible.

-- 5 minutes 23 seconds after impact: A car containing sodium chlorate explodes.

The driver of the Mack truck, John J. Alban, Jr., was taken to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore.

Alban, 50, is a retired Baltimore County firefighter and volunteer firefighter with the Hyde Park Volunteer Fire Company. There's no word on his current condition.

He was driving a 2003 Mack Granite in a roll-off configuration, which allows a trash container to be rolled on and off the truck.

Officials say there was no crossing arm separating the train tracks from the roadway. The train was traveling at 49 mph at the time of the collision, according to preliminary information from the train's data recorder. Crews threw the emergency brake and the train stopped about 9/10 of a mile after the impact.

The owner of the truck is listed as the interstate carrier Alban Waste, LLC, said Sumwalt. The container was being transported from Alban's facility near the scene of the crash to one in Baltimore, about six and a half miles away.

Sumwalt said investigators are hoping to learn more from surveillance videos to determine what Alban was doing prior to the collision.

"I will say that as a ... matter of practice now, for any NTSB investigation, we will obtain cell phone records from the driver of the truck and also from the operators of the train," Sumwalt said.

A CSX locomotive engineer and conductor who were on the train were not seriously hurt.

Investigators were not able to get to the crash site until Wednesday morning due to the amount of time firefighters needed to fight the resulting blaze.

Crews battling the fire Tuesday had to be careful as the chemicals could have mixed with water and soil. Firefighters remained on the scene through Tuesday night, deeming the fire under control about 10 hours after it began.

"We had to let things burn so we could make a determination," said a spokesperson for Baltimore County Police on Tuesday.

In the days to come, investigators will measure and diagram the grade crossing, interview the train crew and will collect additional information from the train.

"I want to say that although we've made tremendous progress today, I do want to emphasize we are very early, very early in the investigation," Sumwalt said Wednesday.

Investigators are asking anyone who may have video of the crash to contact them.

"Lots of video these days, everyone has phones and things like that, so there's a lot of video out there, and video can be very helpful..." Sumwalt said. "The surveillance video, that's tremendously helpful. If somebody has some cell phone video, or otherwise video sources that they feel would be beneficial to the NTSB's investigation, we would love to hear from you."

Anyone with video can contact the NTSB by emailing witness@ntsb.gov.

There's talk about the Olympics coming to San Diego and Tijuana in 2024, but in the meantime, you have the chance to catch a glimpse of what happens behind the scenes at the largest sporting event in the world.

Thursday, in an exclusive one-night nationwide event, you can get a taste of Olympic glory and pain through the documentary "First: The Story of the London 2012 Olympic Games."

The movie shows the journeys of 12 first-time London Olympians including USA's 4-time gold medal winner Missy Franklin.

Southern California Olympian Caroline Buchanan may have fallen short of the London medal stand, but she made it to the silver screen.

The BMX daredevil is a world champion and one of Australia's most well-known Olympic athletes who often trains in Chula Vista.

Buchanan, 22, said "I was a little bit nervous at first to do a film, I'm no movie star."

She told NBC 7 about what she learned during filming. "The similarities between the 12 athletes getting to an Olympic games and that level, but also the very different way each country works and the process to get to the Olympic games, it's quite scary some of the stories," Buchanan said.

Buchanan said the film depicts not just the glitz and glamor of the medal winners. It shows the other side too.

She added "but then there's also the low times of a lot of other athletes who didn't get the results they wanted, and the reactions from coaches, and family, and coaches who'd walked out on them when they didn't do well."

In London, Buchanan entered the BMX finals with the top time and speed, but fell to 5th.

She said the Olympic disappointment is only part of her life story.

Buchanan started riding at age five in her brother's footsteps.

"He then went on to break his neck and we had quite a few hardships throughout our family. Lost our family home in the bush fires in 2003," she said.

Producers say this movie is about the journey and a glimpse inside the human spirit of some athletes who you'll likely hear more from at the 2016 games in Rio.

"First: The Story of the London 2012 Olympic Games" will be showing Thursday at a one-time only event here in San Diego at 7:30 p.m. at three locations:

• AMC Mission Valley 20 (IMAX)
• Edwards Mira Mesa Stadium 18 (IMAX)
• Horton Plaza 8

Ticket are $12.50.

The family of a woman fatally shot while handing out samples at Costco questioned the use of deadly force against their loved one.

The melee began at about 3 p.m. Wednesday, when store employees noticed 38-year-old Mhai Scott acting oddly while handing out pizza samples, said Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman.

Scott reportedly became upset when she ran out of pizza, reported Northern Virginia Bureau Chief Julie Carey. Witnesses said she was waving a knife and scissors, threatening employees.

Deputies were called to the store to handle the disturbance. After they arrived, Scott -- who worked for a company that handles sampling at Costco stores -- approached the officers with the sharp items, authorities said.

One deputy tried to use a stun gun on Scott, but Chapman said the stun gun "did not work," and another deputy fatally shot her.

A sheriff's deputy also was wounded in the leg by a ricocheting bullet. The injury was not life-threatening.

Only one deputy fired shots, Chapman said. Both deputies were placed on paid administrative leave.

Scott's mother and sister told Phillipine television station ABS-CBN News she was the mother of two girls, aged 8 and 12. She was divorced from her husband who serves in the U.S. military.

Her sister said she had spoken to Scott about an hour prior to the shooting and didn't think anything was wrong.

The following statement was submitted Thursday by the Phillipine Embassy regarding the shooting:

"The Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines extends its deepest sympathy to the family of Mylene De Leon Scott, a member of the Filipino-American Community, who was shot dead by police officers responding to a reported disturbance inside the Costco Wholesale Store in Sterling, Virginia, on Wednesday, 29 May 2013.

The Embassy stands ready to extend its assistance to the family of Ms. Scott. We will continue to coordinate with police authorities in Loudoun County to secure more information on this case. We share the concerns expressed by Ms. Scott's family in the Philippines and the members of the Filipino-American Community that law enforcement officials may have responded with disproportionate force. We request authorities to conduct a thorough, impartial and expeditious investigation of the incident."

The Costco Warehouse Store is located at 21398 Price Cascades Plaza in Loudoun County, Va. It reopened at 10 a.m. Thursday. No samples were being handed out.

Nora Lateef said she was at the food court in the store when she saw three deputies rush into the store and head toward the employee lounge, asking, "Where is Linda?"

Soon, Lateef said, she heard five shots and the store was evacuated. They were saying "Everybody out of the store! Out of the store!" Lateef said.

Shopper Elizabeth Avelar told News4 she believes she had contact with Scott prior to the shooting. "The woman was very nice, very polite," Avelar said.

Avelar was later ushered out of the store following the incident.

"I had no idea whether somebody was being shot, if there was a bomb threat," Avelar said. "It was very difficult to get out of the parking lot -- people were honking their horns. It was frightening."

Chapman said Scott was an employee of Club Demonstration Services, Inc., a Costco subcontractor.

CDS President Don Dohanyos released a statement Wednesday:

"We are extremely saddened by the situation that occurred at the Costco warehouse in Sterling, Va., earlier today. We are treating this with the utmost sensitivity and are cooperating fully with the authorities as they gather more details on the events leading up to the shooting of our CDS associate. In the meantime, our thoughts and prayers are with everyone who was affected by this event."

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A car slammed into a building in Mission Valley on Wednesday evening, officials said.

The collision happened around 4:45 p.m. and involved one vehicle and a two-story building located at 3727 Camino Del Rio South.

The driver sustained some injuries and was transported to a local hospital, officials said. The extent of the driver’s injuries is unknown.

Officials say a building engineer was requested to evaluate the structural integrity of the building following the crash.

The cause of the collision is under investigation.
 

People who live and pay property taxes in San Diego may have greater reason to be optimistic about the future of city government.
           
However, big savings from a tentative new labor agreement won't come – or be spent -- all at once.
           
After all, the city effectively is still operating 'on the edge'.

It's expected that after years of pay cuts and freezes, the city's six labor unions will ratify contacts worth an average 5 and a quarter percent more take-home pay over the first three years of a 5-year deal.
           
Pension obligations won't increase, so taxpayers could save around $100 million dollars over that time.
           
But the mantra at City Hall is still austerity.

"As long as I'm the Council President, we will continue to focus on fiscal discipline,”  Councilman Todd Gloria vowed in an interview Wednesday.  “It is what got us out of the depths of the last financial crisis, and it'll be what will keep us competitive in the years to come."

The flow of projected savings from the five-year freeze on pensionable pay will take some time to fill the city’s treasury to the point where surpluses can go to discretionary spending.
           
Cautious council budget hawks want to focus near-term on infrastructure -- battered streets, broken sidewalks, ruptured water and sewer mains.

They’re intent on beefing up long-depleted public safety departments, restoring “hours” to neighborhood services such as libraries, parks, recreation centers and swimming pools

Some are issuing a warning to Mayor Bob Filner. 

"Do not take money out of reserves,” says Councilman Kevin Faulconer.  “That's something that I'm strongly against.  We cannot take money out of the city's savings account for day-to-day operations. "

Meantime, there's concern that $28 million in debt payments on Petco Park and the first expansion of the Convention Center might wind up being assessed to the city’s general fund, now that the state has ended redevelopment spending.

And, according to Filner, there's an $11 million shortfall in the budget for the fiscal year starting July 1st.

Given those prospects,  incremental savings from the labor contract could come in handy even before money is allocated to public safety and neighborhood services.

Says Lisa Halverstadt, city government reporter for Voice of San Diego: "Council members think it might be best if that money is in safekeeping for that purpose, rather than be used on new projects, hiring additional city staffers, that sort of thing."

Federal budget cuts and another economic downtown also are top-of-mind issues in decisions about where to apply the budget savings.

"You never know if some horrendous event could happen in the city that would just change things overnight,” Gloria points out.  And that's why you have to have healthy reserves, you have to have a conservative fiscal policy that makes sure that whatever we do, we're resilient."

Besides union members and Council members, the city's retirement system trustees have to sign off on the deal, which would take effect in July.

The preliminary round of the 2013 Scripps National Spelling Bee kicked off on Wednesday, and a local student from Escondido was among the 281 young participants that took center stage.

Giabao Tonthat, an 8th grader from Heritage Charter School, was speller No. 19 in Wednesday's round and had to spell the word “flabbergast.”

On stage, Tonthat asked the spelling bee announcer for the definition of the word, which means “overwhelmed with shock, surprise or wonder, as by extraordinary statements or unexpected news.”

He then asked the announcer to use the word in a sentence. After a moment, Tonthat spelled the word correctly, which was followed by loud clapping from the crowd.

Despite his best efforts, the 8th grader did not advance past Wednesday's round.

Tonthat had big shoes to fill, considering that San Diego produced last year’s winner, 14-year-old Snigdha Nandipati.

The Rancho Penasquitos teen, who attended Francis Parker Middle School, correctly spelled the word “guetapens,” meaning an ambush or trap, for the win. Her victory prize included $30,000 in cash, a trophy, a $2,500 savings bond, a $5,000 scholarship, and other perks.

Nandipati was only the second local champion to win the Scripps National Spelling Bee since 1925.

This year, the Scripps National Spelling Bee is being held in Oxon Hill, MD. The semi-finals are scheduled for Thursday at 11 a.m. PT (live on ESPN), followed by the finals at 5 p.m. PT (live on ESPN2).

A total of 281 spellers from the U.S. and other parts of the world are competing in the bee. Spellers range in age from 8 to 14 years old, but 89 percent are between the ages of 12 and 14.

There’s a twist to the competition this year, and simply spelling the words correctly won’t be enough to pull out the big win.

Bee organizers have incorporated a new vocabulary evaluation, which will count for 50 percent of a speller’s overall score and impact which spellers make it to the final round.

The vocabulary portion is computer-based and multiple-choice, and asks spellers to define words such as “heiress.” Other sample questions include: “What does it mean to appertain?” (to belong either as something appropriate or as an attribute) and “What does it mean to winnow?” (to take out undesired parts).

According to the bee’s official website, participating spellers' favorite words include “conquistador,” “flibbertigibbet,” and “humuhumunukunukuapua’a.”

Clearly, the participants are very, very S-M-A-R-T.
 

One of the witnesses to a crash in 4S Ranch said the victim's car was traveling "like a missile" moments before the collision.

The fatal collision happened just before 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the intersection of 4S Ranch Parkway and Camino Del Norte.

Sam Kambo was in his car, following his wife who was driving a black Lexus when she made a southbound turn onto 4S Ranch Parkway.

Kambo said a red Ford clipped their car, rolled over and slammed sideways into a light pole.

"It just came like a missile and just a little touch to that black vehicle and it hit the pole and it's in two pieces," he recalled.

Aerial video showed an overturned vehicle had collided with a large street sign pole. A second car, the vehicle belonging to Kambo’s wife, was stalled near the scene and appeared to have minor damages.

The crash closed the intersection for several hours and drew crowds at each corner.

The driver of the red Ford Escape, described by officials as a man in his 50s, was pronounced dead at the scene.

'It's very sad you don't want to see anybody passing away like that," Kambo said.

The Escape’s female passenger was transported via Mercy Air to Palomar Hospital with major injuries, officials confirmed.

Kambo says his wife was not injured in the fatal collision.

The cause of the collision is under investigation, and officials are trying to determine whether speed played a factor.

CHP investigators say both the Ford Escape and the Lexus entered the intersection at the same time and collided. The impact caused the Ford to overturn and strike a light pole in the southeast corner of the intersection.

The California Highway Patrol said this was the first fatal accident in the intersection but residents who live nearby say it's a busy area, and traffic here moves fast.

If anyone witnessed the fatal crash or has any information on this, the CHP asks that they Officer H. Corbin at (619) 220-5492. 

Former City Councilman Carl DeMaio announced his bid Thursday for the 52nd Congressional seat in 2014 against Congressman Scott Peters.

DeMaio sent an email to his supporters announcing his candidacy and promising to push a national reform agenda.

"I see myself as a 'new generation Republican' who wants to challenge the party to focus on pocket-book, economic and quality of life issues in a more positive and inclusive way, rather than issues that are frankly none of the government's business in the first place," DeMaio said in the campaign's news release.

In November, Democratic U.S. Rep. Peters won a close, expensive race against incumbent Republican Brian Bilbray in a newly-drawn district that takes in much of San Diego and parts of Poway and Coronado.

Tony Krvaric, Chairman of the Republican Party of San Diego County, had this to say about the news: 

"DeMaio is a formidable candidate with broad appeal. We need serious reform in Washington D.C. and Scott Peters is no reformer," Krvaric said.

DeMaio, who ran unsuccessfully for mayor last year, fared favorably in a poll paid for by the National Republican Congressional Committee on his possible bid to oust freshman Peters. The survey informed likely voters that DeMaio is openly gay and he would prefer that the GOP focus on fixing the federal government’s finances rather than on social issues, according to Roll Call. 

The Bilbray-Peters race drew national attention and spending last year after the district was redrawn to be more favorable to Democrats during a controversial redistricting process.

Just days after Peters' election, the National Republican Congressional Committee began sending out daily emails questioning his stances on issues, and then later his votes. He is considered a top target of the GOP for the 2014 race.

Peters, a former port commissioner and a San Diego city councilman, has drawn constant political criticism since his controversial 2002 vote to underfund the city's pension fund. He also has widespread support from both moderate and more liberal Democrats, and was often praised for his strong understanding of fiscal matters during his time at the Port of San Diego.  

DeMaio's announcement leaves plenty of time for campaigning with more than a year before the primary for the 2014 elections. He could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

In regards to DeMaio's bid for the 52nd Congressional seat, Congressman Peters' spokesperson MaryAnne Pintar had this to say on Wednesday night:

"With the primary election more than a year away, Congressman Peters is focused on bi-partisan problem solving -- not politics. That's why National Journal named him one of the most independent thinkers in Congress. He is fighting for our national defense, veterans, students and our innovation economy and has done so with the support of many of the same Republican leaders who formerly backed Mr. DeMaio."

Two endangered Pacific pocket mice have been breeding in captivity as part of study led by the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research.

The research, in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, might just produce a pregnant mouse, which could mean progress for the critically endangered species.

According to researchers, the male mouse is from South San Mateo, Calif., and the female mouse is from Santa Margarita, Calif. Together, they’re the first pair of Pacific pocket mice to breed in captivity.

A total of 25 pocket mice have been brought to a conservation facility managed by the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research. Their breeding behavior is being analyzed by researchers in hopes of learning more about how this species procreates.

Until now, very little is known about their breeding habits, since this activity usually happens in narrow, underground burrows.

The breeding of this first pair of mice was captured on video by scientists. The video shows the circling of the male and female, typical behavior prior to breeding, followed by an 8-minute interaction.

The female mouse made it known that she was done by biting the male mouse on the head, scientists said.

As of Wednesday, it had been 14 days since breeding happened. Researchers are now watching for physical changes in the female mouse, including weight gain, to determine if she’s pregnant.

Scientists say a Pacific pocket mouse’s body weight can double in her last week of pregnancy.

The gestation period for a Pacific pocket mouse is about 22 days. If the mouse is pregnant, scientists say she should give birth in early June. Pacific pocket mice usually give birth to two or three offspring in a litter.

According to researchers, the Pacific pocket mouse was thought to be extinct in the 1980s, but was rediscovered in 1993. Today, the species only exists at three sites along the California coast, including Dana Point, Santa Margarita and South San Mateo.

Scientists working on this captive breeding program expect to increase the overall population.

The mission of the San Diego Zoo Global Wildlife Conservancy is to bring endangered species back from the brink of extinction.
 

A group of internet hackers affiliated with the organization Anonymous attacked the Philadelphia Police Department’s website, stopping access for some visitors, over the arrest of activists protesting the ban on marijuana.

The denial of service (DoS) attack hit PhillyPolice.com last Tuesday, May 23, the department confirmed to NBC10.com.

“Our site experienced momentary disruption while the IT company took measures to counteract their activity,” Philadelphia Police Social and Digital Media Manager Sgt. Eric Gripp said. “However, due to the site experiencing heavy traffic, it slowed down for some users.”

With a DoS attack, internet servers hosting the website are overloaded by hundreds or thousands of requests to access the site, at the same time. The requests clog the pipeline, preventing the server from delivering the website to users.

Sgt. Gripp said the traffic was coming from “all over the world at the same time.”

Anonymous Team Vendetta, a hacktivist group supporting the legalization of cannabis or marijuana, posted a video to YouTube the same day claiming responsibility for the attack. In the video, an unknown user can be seen typing computer code into a dialog box and then showing a web page stating the site was down.

The video also shows a similar attack on the website for the United States Park Ranger Lodge, the fraternal order for park rangers. Requests for comment from the organization were not returned.

Law enforcement sources who did not want to be named because they're not authorized to speak publicly about the incident, said that officials came across online intel suggesting such an attack could be carried out. Those officials were able to notify the site owners ahead of time of the impending onslaught.

The group says they attacked the two sites because of the arrest of activists at a May 18 protest on Independence Mall at 5th and Market Streets, according to the video. The video shows protesters being taken into custody by National Park Service Rangers.

“All of this absurdity over the oppression of such a beneficial ‘plant,’ so as a collective we must protest,” text in the video reads.

One of the protesters, activist and libertarian Adam Kokesh, was arrested after allegedly assaulting a ranger. In a complaint filed in United States District Court of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Kokesh was speaking to the crowd, when another demonstrator told the protesters to light marijuana cigarettes.

The group linked arms and formed a circle to prevent rangers from getting to the alleged illegal drug use. When a ranger tried to push his way through, Kokesh allegedly grabbed the ranger’s arm and held him back, according to the complaint. Kokesh was then taken into custody.

Philadelphia Police were not involved in the demonstrator arrests, according to Sgt. Gripp.

Kokesh posted a photo to his Facebook page showing him smiling next to a sign stating that possession of illegal drugs is prohibited. He was held for six days, eventually being released last Friday. His charges were reduced to a citation.

Kokesh has not responded to requests regarding the arrest and whether he was aware of the website attacks.

Philadelphia Police say the department works with federal authorities when cyber attacks are carried out.

“In events such as this, we do in fact confer with federal authorities in order to investigate the perpetrators,” Sgt. Gripp said.

Federal Bureau of Investigation Public Affairs Specialist Carrie Adamowski says as a matter of policy the bureau neither confirms or denies the existence of investigations.

NBC10.com reached out to Anonymous Team Vendetta about the attacks, but they did not comment on the event.

Contact Vince Lattanzio at 610.668.5532, vince.lattanzio@nbcuni.com or follow @VinceLattanzio on Twitter.

After a heated debate that extended through the night, members of the Connecticut Senate approved legislation that would allow undocumented immigrants to obtain driver's licenses, register their vehicles and get insurance.

The state Senate passed the bill by a vote of 19 to 16 on Thursday morning and it will move to Gov. Dannel Malloy, who is expected to sign it.

“This bill is first and foremost about public safety.  It’s about knowing who is driving on our roads, and doing everything we can to make sure those drivers are safe and that they’re operating registered, insured vehicles." Malloy said in a statement.

The state Senate passed the legislation a week after the state House of Representatives passed the bill to allow licenses regardless of citizenship or immigration status.

The House had also passed the bill in the early hours of the morning with a 74-55 vote.

Supporters said the legislation would create millions of dollars in state revenue and make the roads safer.

“Allowing undocumented drivers to get a license ensures that they are just as accountable to the laws of our roads as everyone else. This bill allows people to carry out their lives while encouraging them to be safe and properly ensured while on the road.” Senator Terry Gerratana (D-New Britain) said in a statement.

Opponents said more research should have been done on the bill.

State Rep. Themis Klarides last week called the process the bill came through the state Legislature "irresponsible" and "disappointing."

“Without a study or any effort to thoroughly vet this concept, we can only speculate the impact this bill will have on homeland security, public safety, insurance policy holders and insurance companies. Perhaps even more troubling is that we have no plan to allocate the financial and staff resources needed for the DMV to manage the colossal influx of demand that will cripple their day-to-day operations,” she said in a statement.

“Connecticut would be the only state on the east coast to allow such a program, making the state a magnet for illegal immigrants who bring with them a host of increased costs to state government,” State Rep. David Scribner said in a statement.

Mayor John DeStefano Jr., an outspoken advocate for immigration reform, took on the issue seven years ago by offering undocumented immigrants resident identification cards and released a statement in support of the legislation.

"Like the municipal ID, granting immigrants driver licenses regardless of immigration status is good policy.  Drivers’ licenses will reduce the number of uninsured motorists on the road and will establish training and testing standards to ensure driver safety.  Moreover, like the Elm City ID, drivers’ licenses can help connect immigrants with banking services to help reduce street crime, increase the reporting of crime and help to create a sense of community identity,” DeStefano said in a statement.

More than 10,000 cards have been issued since the program's inception and the ID cards have gone a long way in strengthening relationships between residents and the city’s police department, DeStefano said in March.

"“It should also be noted that, like many issues, action on the federal level would address this problem in an even more comprehensive and sensible way.  I continue to support those broader efforts at national reform, and urge Congress to follow the example being set by Connecticut and other states,” Malloy said in a statement.

 

An on-duty Chula Vista police officer riding a motorcycle was struck by a car in Ramona on Wednesday afternoon, according to police.

The incident happened around 2:30 p.m. on state Route 78 at Earlham Street. Three cars were involved in addition to the motorcycle.

A 61-year-old driver in a sedan was traveling east on SR-78 when they stopped to make a left turn, according to California Highway Patrol Officer Brian Pennings. The driver was then hit by a 17-year-old that did not stop, which forced the sedan to collide with oncoming traffic. The sedan then hit the motorcycle officer, who went flying into the teenager's windshield.

CHP officials believe the teenage driver was texting on the road.

"Any charges or citations will be determined at the conclusion of the investigation. Its too early to speculate, but I can tell you that there's evidence to indicate she was using her telephone via text just prior to the collision," said CHP Officer Brian Pennings.

The teenager was driving on a provisional license, according to authorities.

Officials said the officer injured in the collision is a training class instructor of the motorcycle academy and was training in Ramona during the incident. He has been airlifted to Palomar Hospital's trauma unit with major injuries.

The 61-year-old and teenager were also transported to the hospital with moderate injuries.

Both sides of SR-78 are closed while CHP investigates the situation. A SigAlert has been issued.

The officer's name has not been released.

Check back for updates on this story.

A chickenpox outbreak has been reported at a school in Carlsbad, officials from the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) announced Wednesday.

The HHSA says five kindergartners – two 5-year-olds and three 6-year-olds -- and one adult at Aviara Oaks Elementary School in the Carlsbad Unified School District have been diagnosed with chickenpox (varicella).

According to HHSA officials, one of the diagnosed children had received the chickenpox vaccine, but the other four kids and adult were not immunized.

Students and faculty have been notified about the outbreak. Students and staff at the neighboring Aviara Oaks Middle School, which is located on the same campus and shares some facilities, have also been notified.

Health officials urge parents to vaccinate their children, and say chickenpox is preventable with the right immunizations. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends two doses of the varicella vaccine per person.

Children should be vaccinated with the first dose at the age of 12 to 15 months, and the second dose at ages 4 to 6.

So far in 2013, health officials say there have been eight cases of chickenpox reported in San Diego County. Chickenpox is not reportable to the County Public Health Department unless it occurs in an outbreak, such as this outbreak in Carlsbad, or results in hospitalization or death.

The HHSA says chickenpox is a highly contagious disease that is easily spread by coughing, sneezing or coming in contact with chickenpox blisters.

Symptoms include a skin rash of blister-like lesions covering the body, usually more concentrated on the face, scalp and trunk. Most of those infected with chickenpox experience fever before or when the rash appears. Typically, the illness lasts about five to 10 days.

For more information about chickenpox and vaccinations, call the HHSA at (866) 358-2966 or visit this website.