A bill in Congress would create school vouchers allowing eligible students to use federal funds to attend private, charter, religious or home schools.

The idea has never gained traction in California, where voters have twice shot down ballot measures creating a school voucher system.

HB 610 proposes to eliminate the landmark 1965 Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which supports school districts serving high poverty populations, provides funding for educating homeless children and helps schools ensure that English learners and immigrant students attain English proficiency. 

Critics said the bill is an attempt to take funding away from public schools. 

"When you're in those failing schools, they're the ones that need what comes with the voucher, which are funds," one parent told NBC 7.

The proposed legislation is called Choices in Education Act of 2017, and was introduced by Iowa Rep. Steve King on Jan. 23. 

It also proposes abolishing strict nutrional guidelines schools must now follow for healthy lunches and breakfasts served at school.

A nutrition supervisor at San Dieguito Union High School district said getting rid of all the regulations is a bad idea, but loosening the rules to allow some flexibility in nutrition would be beneficial.

"What we would tend to emphasize as registered dieticians is we focus on moderation, balance and variety," said Marley Nelms, Nutrition Program Supervisor.

Congresswoman Susan Davis sent NBC7 this statement about the bill:

“This bill takes nutritious food out of the mouths of our kids and would deplete our public schools of much-needed resources.  Studies show that well-fed students are better prepared students that are more attentive in class and succeed. The last thing we need to do is rollback recent progress in the area of school nutrition," Davis said. "In fact, we should be expanding access to nutritious meals by closing the summer hunger gap. I will be introducing legislation to ensure that students eligible for free or reduced-priced lunches will have access to these meals in the summer months.”

Parents around the county weighed in on the idea of school vouchers.

"I think choice is wonderful but I don't think a voucher--it doesn't neccessarily mean you're going to get into whatever school you decide you want your child to go to," said Carlsbad parent Linda Edelman.

Another parent said the voucher system may actually help advanced students reach their full potential.

"For us, Common Core hasn't been the greatest and so the idea that you can take your child out of that...in fact, they've have to kind of dumb down the curriculum to make it comply with common core," said Carmel Valley parent Anna Moss. "And if you've go kids that want to go for it, I think they ought to be able to go for it."

Many parents who home school their kids are adamently opposed to school vouchers, fearing that with federal government money will come more oversight and guidelines.

"I see vouchers as the Trojan Horse to get the federal government in the door of private schools," one local parent told NBC7.

A U.S. citizen has been charged with importing more than 47,000 tables of oxycodone, a seizure believed to be the largest of its kind in at least the last five years, according to the U.S. Attorney's office. 

The opioid tablets, normally prescribed to treat severe pain, have an estimated street value of approximately $1.42 million, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.

“This is one of the biggest seizures of oxycodone at a San Diego port of entry,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Alana Robinson in a statement. “Every pill we seize is one that we keep out of the mouths of abusers who are on a path to destruction.”

Adriana Morfin-Paniagua, 22, a U.S. citizen living in Tijuana, Mexico, allegedly entered the U.S. at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry driving her 1999 Honda Accord on March 8. 

After Morfin-Paniagua's car was referred to secondary inspection, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials found 30 packages with oxycodone tablets inside, hiding in a non-factory compartment. 

The tablets - which tested positive as oxycodone - have an estimated street value of $30 to $40 per tablet, according to the U.S. Attorney's office. At $30 a tablet, the value of the 47,340 tablets found is $1,420,200. 

Morfin-Paniagua has been charged with the importation of a controlled substance. She was booked into the Metropolitan Correctional Center. 

If convicted, she could face a maximum of 20 years in custody. 

Thursday afternoon marked the beginning of the National Football League free agency frenzy!

Teams across the league are scrambling to finalize deals, trades & releases. The Los Angeles Chargers are no exception.

Will the Bolts garner any big difference makers for the 2017 season?

According to multiple reports, the Chargers have signed offensive tackle Russell Okung to a four-year, $53 million contract. Yes, that is a nice chunk of change. The Denver Broncos declined the veteran left tackle’s 2017 option. In 2016, cornerback Casey Hayward became an unparalleled asset on the Chargers defense. Hayward led the league in interceptions with seven on the year and made his first Pro Bowl appearance.

With new acquisitions come some goodbyes. Tuesday the Bolts bid farewell to cornerback Brandon Flowers, guard D.J. Fluker and wide receiver Stevie Johnson. An injured offensive line became an issue for the Chargers, especially down the stretch. Okung will likely take Fluker’s place this upcoming season.

Another free agent leaving the Chargers is running back Danny Woodhead. Thursday afternoon the 32-year-old finalized a three-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens. Woodhead suffered a knee injury when the Chargers played against the Jacksonville Jaguars in week two. He missed the remainder of the 2016 season.

There a few Bolts players who are staying with the team. Thursday the Chargers announced they have re-signed strong safety Jahleel Addae, long snapper Mike Windt and quarterback Kellen Clemens.

According to a statement released by the team, Addae and Windt signed four-year contracts while Clemens signed a one-year deal. All three were signed prior to becoming unrestricted free agents on the expiration of their old contracts.

Wide receiver Dontrelle Inman and inside linebacker Korey Toomer have also been tendered by the Chargers as restricted free agents. Pending free agents include wide receiver Jeremy Butler, running backs Ronnie Hillman and Dexter McCluster, as well as inside lineback Manti Te’o who is rumored to be in talks with the New Orleans Saints.

While fans will be disappointed to learn that Lionel Richie and Mariah Carey won't be playing Viejas Arena on May 8, they'll be glad to hear a show is on the books in San Diego for the summer.

Live Nation announced the news on Thursday afternoon, letting fans know that Richie is still recovering from treatment to his knee and that the concert will go on as planned on July 27. Ticketholders who can't make that date can get refunds at their point of purchase, officials said. 

"When you have been performing as long as I have, it takes a toll on your body," Richie said in the statement released Thursday. "Unfortunately, my recovery from a knee procedure will not have me 100 percent ready to start the tour next month. I don't want to disappoint my fans and I look forward to be back onstage so we can all be 'Dancing on the Ceiling' together again."

The last time Richie rolled through town was in 2014. For Carey, it’s been even longer, so we’re due for some Mariah love.

Tickets to the general public went on sale on Dec. 17 at LiveNation.com -- and some were still available on Thursday.

While Richie and Carey haven’t collaborated on any hit songs to date, Carey did cover Richie and Diana Ross' "Endless Love" with Luther Vandross, which generated quite a bit of success in the '90s.

Richie first rose to prominence in the '60s and '70s with the soul funk superstars of the Commodores, but he went on to an illustrious solo career replete with chart-topping hits and Grammy awards. Meanwhile, Carey blossomed in the '90s as she earned more No. 1 singles in the United States than any other solo artist and five -- count it, FIVE -- Grammys.

While the two come from different generations of soul and R&B, their combined success is sure to bring San Diego an unforgettable night this summer.

Authorities are asking for the public's help to find a 70-year-old man missing since the end of last year.

Brian Gregory Smith was last seen on Dec. 21, 2016 when he checked out of a medical rehabilitation facility in Escondido, according to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department (SDSO).

Smith was reported missing by his family members in late January. 

SDSO said he does not have a car or a permanent address and had been living in Encinitas. Smith spent most of his time in the North County area.

He is described to be 5-feet 10-inches in height, weighs around 165 pounds, and has brown hair and hazel eyes.

Anyone with information is asked to call SDSO at (858)565-5200.

A pedestrian was injured after being hit by a vehicle in the Shelltown area of San Diego Thursday night.

The incident happened at approximately 7:47 p.m. on the 1500 block of S 43rd Street, the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) said.

One victim was transported to UCSD Hospital with unknown injuries.

It's unclear if this was a hit and run, police said.

No other information was available.

Check back for updates on this breaking news.

Roughly a dozen dirt bike riders on Wednesday snarled traffic on southbound Highway 101 in San Francisco, before some were caught on camera punching and kicking a Toyota Camry driver, who, according to a witness, tried to drive around them, but instead ended up with a broken leg.

The California Highway Patrol is investigating the altercation that sparked around 6:15 p.m. near the Cesar Chavez exit, and was partially captured on cellphone video. A group of between 10 to 15 dirt bike and ATV riders were slowing down traffic when the driver of a white Toyota Camry tried to maneuver around them, Officer Vu Williams said.

According to a San Francisco resident, who witnessed the exchange but asked to remain anonymous, one of the dirt bike riders pulled up beside the driver and swerved toward him. The bike appears to fishtail, but the rider righted himself, said the witness, who recorded the skirmish, which he deemed "really odd."

A red car, which the witness said may have been associated with the dirt bike riders, also slowed in front of the Camry, effectively boxing him in. The driver pulled over to the side of the freeway, where he was surrounded by the remaining bike riders. 

The ATVs and dirt bikes did not have license plates on them, according to Williams.

Investigators say gangs of dirt bike riders have been reported causing issues in various parts of the city for years. CHP officers say catching them has been tough because the bikes can go off road into hiding in seconds.

"They get on the road, doing their stunts, and then they flee," the CHP said.

Police warn drivers not to face off with the bikers, and suggest backing off and calling police.

The witness Wednesday said he was unable to pinpoint whether the driver was dragged out of his car or if he disembarked of his own volition.

The bikers got into a verbal altercation with the driver, Williams said, adding that they struck the car with their bikes and fists. The witness noted that the riders smashed the vehicle's side windows and damaged its panels.

The man was also beaten and kicked, and then dumped in the middle of the freeway, while the bikers fled the scene, Williams said.

The witness was among a group of drivers who stopped to help the injured man. Not only was one of his legs broken, but his face had also been bloodied and he had road rash on his arms. Although the victim was coherent, the witness, who called 911, said he was "really in agony."

A tow truck driver who had some experience administering first aid helped the man, who was then loaded into an ambulance and rushed to a nearby hospital.

The witness, who moved to San Francisco from New York, recalled a 2013 incident during which a motorcycle gang assaulted a man who was driving a Range Rover with his wife and son on the Henry Hudson Parkway.

When he saw Wednesday's clash, the man immediately wanted to stop his car and come to the victim's aid, but he felt "helpless" because he was outnumbered. That's why he decided to record the incident in the hopes that it would help authorities identify, arrest and prosecute the suspects. 

"They're doing wheelies on the highway, they're trying to control the flow of traffic," the witness said. "This is not the way that traffic should operate ... They are a liability to others on the road."

Anyone who may have witnessed the incident should contact the CHP office at 415-557-1094 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and ask for a watch officer. Outside of these hours, witnesses can contact the CHP Golden Gate Communications Center at 415-551-4100.

NBC Bay Area's Rick Boone contributed to this report.

A slow speed chase turned bizarre as the driver waved to tourists on the Walk of Fame Thursday evening.

Authorities began pursuing a suspected stolen vehicle in the Valley area Thursday evening as the driver weaved on and off the 101 Freeway, heading north and southbound.

Authorities said the driver may have taken the car after someone left the keys in the sedan.

After the driver exited the 101 Freeway and headed down Hollywood Boulevard, the driver began waving to tourists as they snapped photos.

After many attempts by the Los Angeles Police Department to throw spike strips in front of the sedan, the driver was finally removed from the car and taken down.

In an odd twist, the car apparently ran out of gas. Officers were forced to push the sedan down the boulevard. 

Three San Diego-based construction companies are adding their names to the hat for a bid to build President Donald Trump's proposed border wall.

Currently, the government is fielding bids from contractors for the construction of a wall along the 2,000-mile long border between the U.S. and Mexico.

“We're very excited about being a part of, really, something on a national level,” said Ralph Hicks of R.E. Staite Engineering in San Diego.

He’s heading up the company’s bid process, but admitted that as things stand, there is not a lot of clarity on the project.

“We have some set goals that we've established internally that we think the federal government may ask us to consider,” he said.

There are some basics the government has asked for: the wall will likely be concrete. It will be roughly 30-feet high. It should be "aesthetically pleasing," hard to climb, and hard to damage.

Hicks said they have put something together that limits carbon emissions. They say their wall will be “smart” and will prevent tunneling.

A representative of another San Diego firm, vScenario also spoke with NBC 7, saying their proposal is heavily influenced by their military operators and technology.

Winning a contract on the border wall could mean hundreds of jobs.

“Obviously from an economic standpoint it's going to be a very high value contract that we hope to secure and that does great candidly for our company and does candidly great for the region,” Hicks said.

On the subject of the wall’s controversy, neither seemed concern with the building of this wall having a negative impact.

"Back in the day, where they had construction for interstate highways, the Hoover Dam--all those have been incredibly controversial. So controversy typically follows large construction projects. On this particular one, we're not looking at the politics, we're looking at the work,” Hicks said.

A man accused of premeditated attempted murder in the random stabbing of a County psychiatrist nurse has been bound over for trial, according to the San Diego County District Attorney's office. 

Gregg Taylor, 57, allegedly walked over to 59-year-old Cindy Doucette as she was getting out of her car to heading to work, said "hi", then stabbed her multiple times near Morena Boulevard and Savannah Street in San Diego's Morena neighborhood, Deputy District Attorney Karra Reedy alleged in court..

Taylor allegedly stabbed her six times in the chest, neck and head, her family said. The 25-year County of San Diego employee has since been released from the hospital.

Taylor previously pleaded not guilty to a premeditated attempted murder charge. If convicted, he could face a maximum exposure of life in prison, plus four years, with the possibility of parole. He is being held on $2 million bail. 

At Taylor's preliminary hearing, Superior Court Judge Frederic Link ruled that there was enough evidence to send Taylor to trail.

A Superior Court arraignment is set for March 23.

A foul smell in the Child Development Center at Naval Base Coronado prompted the center's precautionary evacuation Thursday afternoon, U.S. Navy Spokesman Brian O'Rourke said. 

Staff noticed a foul smell in the building Thursday and, out of concern, reported it. 

Everyone inside the center was safely evacuated from the building and moved to the Lowry Theater, O'Rourke said. No one was injured and everyone is safe and accounted for, Coronado Naval Base Petty Officer First Class Travis Alston said.

When crews entered the building, they detected no gas, no flooding and no leaks. 

The problem was from a toilet in the old bathroom, where all the water had dried up inside the toilet, O'Rourke said. That's where the smell was coming from. 

No further information was available.

With Russia, China and North Korea raising their military profiles, American military leaders are thinking about what might be next.

A former deputy commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan already has a good idea.

"There's going to be combat, there are going to be issues,” retired Brigadier Gen. Anthony Tata told NBC 7 in an interview Thursday. “There are going to be movements on the geopolitical stage here that are going to create friction."

Tata, who served for 28 years, is not surprised by signs of trouble brewing for Uncle Sam around the world.

He’s come to see it as a familiar scenario when Administrations change in Washington.

“Any time you have a change of command, whether it’s at a rifle platoon level with 30 men and women all the way up to the Presidential level, you’re going to have a challenge to that level of authority. So in combat, the enemy will probe the wire just to see how the enemy reacts.”

Tata said he believes that assertive action -- not just talk -- on the part of the U.S. will deter or defeat threats from rival countries.

He was in San Diego to promote his seventh military novel, "Besieged", which has been highly reviewed, and caught attention in Hollywood.

Surveying the global landscape, Tata salutes what he calls "an aggressive foreign policy that establishes American dominance".

North Korea has been testing patience here and in the far East with its missile exercises meant to intimidate Japan, and raise fears that U.S. overseas bases and even the mainland will be targeted.

U.S. commanders have voiced frustration with how things in the Middle East and war with against the Islamic State are going.

"Instead of taking it on the chin every day," Tata notes that American forces are "starting to get crafty and creative" in their strategies and movements.

"We're putting great Americans at risk,” he said, “but consistent with the Administration's policy and plan, it is to re-establish American hegemony and American dominance in the world."

Tata added that he supports a request Thursday to Congress from Gen. John Nicholson, head of the U.S. Central Command, to boost American troop levels in Afghanistan -- now at their lowest point in five years – 8,400.

“If he needs a little bit of a shot in the arm right now, I think General Nicholson is right on the money, because I trust his judgment.”

Three suspects involved in a pursuit with authorities in the Emerald Hills area of San Diego on Thursday were arrested.

According to the San Diego Police Department (SDPD), the pursuit began near the eastbound State Route 94 and Imperial Avenue. 

The vehicle failed to yield to a police officer and took off, police said, later crashing into a guardrail on Kelton Road.

All three suspects ran from the vehicle and went down into a canyon area. They then climbed up a steep embankment full of brush into a residential area.

With the help of the SDPD K-9 unit, the ABLE helicopter, officers were able to arrest the suspects.

According to police, officers found one handgun inside the abandoned vehicle and two guns in the location where the suspects were arrested.

There were no injuries.

Police said they will test if the guns were involved in previous crimes or if they were stolen.

No other information was available.

Please check back for updates on this developing story.

Once complete, the proposed “Soccer City SD” plan to re-develop Qualcomm Stadium will have an estimated $2.8 billion annual economic impact and create 25,750 jobs, an independent economic analysis by the San Diego Economic Development Corporation has found. 

Additionally, the construction phase of the project would have a $3.7 billion economic impact and create 41,720 jobs, the study found. 

The Soccer City San Diego project would include a 30,00 seat soccer stadium, nearly 5,000 residential units, two hotels, office space, and a 55-acre river park.

“A project of this size presents strong economic opportunities for our region. Our hope is that the data we have compiled will help better inform our public dialogue in the weeks ahead,” said Mark Cafferty, president and CEO of the San Diego Regional EDC in a statement.

Real estate economist, Gary London, who is not taking a stand on the project but advocates intense development of the site, says the numbers are favorable.

“When you see these kinds of numbers, they edify the fact that this is a big project and it’s good overall for the city of San Diego and for the taxpayers,” said London.

Next week, signature gatherers will begin to collect signatures from San Diegans for a citizens initiative to put the proposal on the ballot. FS Investors, the group behind the project, is hoping the city will bypass a public vote and fast track the project by the end of summer.

The timing is critical in order to be granted a MLS soccer franchise. The league will make a decision by the fall on whether San Diego is awarded a franchise.

Nick Stone with FS Investors released this statement on the economic impact report:

“This analysis clearly demonstrates that the Soccer City project will have a major positive impact on our region’s economy, producing tens of thousands of jobs for San Diegans and generating billions of dollars in economic benefit – all accomplished without a single dime from city taxpayers, who own the Qualcomm Stadium property,” said Stone.

The project is likely to face challenges from other developers and environmental groups.

Despite recent publicity, many San Diegans still have not heard of the project.

“Never heard of it before,” said Lauren Senatore-Titsch, a Mission Valley resident.

“I honestly can’t tell you anything about it. I don’t know,” said Chris Davila. But Davila is a union crane operator who would welcome work on the project.

Terri Pontzious, who works in Mission Valley, says the economic forecast helps her already favorable opinion of the project.

“Having more jobs here in San Diego is great. I work down here. Spend a lot of time down here in Mission Valley. I think it would be just a beautiful place to be than what we have now,” said Pontzious.

A security guard said he noticed something strange just hours before a construction worker was found dead inside a trailer in Oceanside.

The victim's body was found in a trailer behind million dollar homes being built on Windward Way just after 5 a.m. Thursday.

Usually there's a security guard who stays on the property to make sure nothing is damaged or stolen. 

Thursday night, NBC 7 spoke to the security guard, Rick Wood. 

Wood said he did not get back to the construction site until about 11:00 p.m. Wednesday.

Two construction workers were in charge of security until Wood made it back. 

Wood’s trailer is just steps away from the trailer the victim and another worker had been sleeping in.

He said when he came back, he noticed something strange--the front gate was unlocked.

"The door was open on the trailer," he told NBC 7. "I thought they opened the door to see if I was opening the gate. So, I figured since the door was open they must have checked everything so I went ahead and checked out."

A few hours later, Wood said he woke up to police knocking on his door.

The worker in the other trailer had found the man's body and called authorities. Detectives found a thin trail of blood inside and outside the trailer.

Oceanside police identified the victim to be a 37-year-old man. They have not released his name, pending notification of next of kin.

So far, no arrests have been made.  

A woman sexually assaulted during a massage session at a local parlor spoke out about the incident on Thursday.

The victim, who NBC 7 is referring to as "Susan" has sued Massage Heights in Encinitas, claiming the company hired former therapist George Washington Lindsey III without a proper background check.

Court records indicate Lindsey was convicted of sexual battery and labeled a sex offender in connection with this case.

Susan is now back in court trying to change the way spas like Massage Heights are operating.

The details may be graphic.

She told NBC 7, she is a veterinarian and single mother of two small children.

"I trusted him. I trusted the company,” she said.

The trips to Massage Heights were once a soothing break from the stresses of her busy life.

But the appointment last February, with then therapist Lindsey, went terribly wrong.

“His face was in between my legs," Susan said.

She said she told him to stop. He apologized while he massaged her hand and then began squeezing her throat.

"I became very frightened that he was going to honestly kill me," she said.

Susan said she talked Lindsey out of the room, dressed and went straight to the Sheriff's department.

Later, a jury found Lindsey guilty of sexual battery.

Investigative records obtained by NBC 7 from the San Diego County Sheriff's Department indicated Lindsey was fired from his previous job at Massage Envy of Rancho Bernardo.

His employee file reads: "Lindsey was terminated for gross misconduct and a zero tolerance policy violation. Massage Envy has a zero tolerance policy for inappropriate touching."

“I can't believe someone would hire somebody with that kind of history,” Susan said.

A spokesperson for Massage Envy verified that Lindsey was terminated and identified as not eligible for rehire but they added that Massage Heights did not contact the former employer about Lindsey's past.

“This situation has changed my perception of when I feel like I am safe and when I feel like I am not safe and that's scary to me,” Susan said.

Massage Heights released through email two statements regarding this case.

They said Lindsey's credentials were up to date and that the state would have revoked privileges had such incidents been reported.

NBC 7 is not identifying the victim by her real name.

Smart traffic signals, installed last year, are helping reduce travel times, according to San Diego city leaders.

San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer and City Councilmember Lori Zapf announced Thursday that 12 "Adaptive Traffic Systems" installed in Point Loma and Midway neighborhoods have cut down the number of vehicle stops up to 53 percent during rush hour.

Time spent traveling in those areas also reduced by nearly 25 percent.

The smart traffic signals were installed last fall along Rosecrans Street from Hancock Street to Nimitz Boulevard. They adjust signals, memorize traffic patterns, improve traffic and reduce vehicle stops, the city said.

“Everybody hates sitting in traffic so we’re turning to new technology to solve this age-old problem. These smart signals adjust traffic lights to keep cars moving rather than sitting at stoplights," Faulconer said.

The new signals were installed through a $600,000 state grant. They have been installed at other locations across San Diego, including La Jolla Parkway, Lusk Boulevard, Mira Mesa Boulevard, Vista Sorrento Parkway, Friars Road.

April the pregnant giraffe “continues to progress,” the upstate New York zoo updating tens of millions of adoring fans said in its nightly briefing — though an approaching winter storm and more “baby kicks” from her calf may make April a bit anxious in the coming days. 

“A cold front is moving in, so the heaters in the Mirabito Giraffe Barn are humming away,” the zoo said in its Thursday update.

After a number of spring-like days, April was moved back inside Thursday night ahead of a storm that’s expected to bring snow and freezing weather to the Animal Adventure Park in Harpursville, as well as much of the East Coast on Friday.

Watch the live stream below.

April has had periods of edginess in recent weeks brought on by stretches of cold weather and her active calf, which was busy kicking away Thursday night, the zoo said, adding that live stream viewers may have noticed “increased tail raising” from April, likely due to the pressure of her growing baby.

Nevertheless, April is in “great physical and mental condition,” and the vets who have been monitoring her say they’re pleased with her progression, the zoo said. 

Fans worldwide have been glued to a live stream of April for weeks as they wait for the now famous giraffe to deliver her baby, which will be the first calf born at the park, the zoo has said. April got some extra pressure after a pregnant woman who posted a now-viral Facebook video of her imitating the giraffe gave birth to a healthy baby boy.

The zoo said loyal supporters should be patient, adding "All in due time and without a rush."

April's pregnancy was catapulted into global headlines late last month after YouTube briefly yanked the zoo's stream following complaints by animal activists that it violated the site's policies concerning "nudity and sexual content." Thousands upon thousands of commenters voiced their frustration on Facebook and YouTube, and the stream was restored within an hour or so.

Fans had quite a scare late Wednesday when severe winds at the zoo knocked out the feed for a period of time. It was back up shortly before 10 p.m. The 15-year-old April and her younger mate Oliver weren’t hurt during the evening windstorm, but continued strong gusts and cold weather were expected to keep the couple inside over the next few days.

About 50,000 people were watching the YouTube stream before at 2 a.m. Friday as April chewed calmly on a late night snack. At one point she stretched her long neck up toward the camera, looked right at the camera. 

Jordan Patch, owner of the Animal Adventure Park, says the natural curiosity surrounding giraffes and their birthing process has been a huge factor in drawing crowds. 

"I think the fact that she's a giraffe and she's a neat species that people are interested in, that's fostered a lot of the attention," he said. "The fact that you're gonna get to witness the miracle of birth from an animal that you really don't get to see give birth — that's neat."

He added that April's pregnancy is not just live entertainment, but a teachable moment and source for education.

Giraffe pregnancies last up to 15 months. Labor lasts anywhere from a few hours to a few days. The calf, which will be the first born at Animal Adventure Park, will be about 150 pounds and 6 feet tall at birth and up and walking in about an hour.

The zoo said it will hold an online competition to name the baby giraffe once it's born.

The organizers of Boston's St. Patrick's Day parade are holding an emergency meeting on Friday to reconsider their vote to bar a gay veterans group from marching.

OutVets has participated in the parade for the last two years, but the group’s Executive Director Bryan Bishop says he was told the group was barred this year because they broke parade rules by carrying a rainbow banner.

Attorney Chester Darling, who previously fought against the group participating, argues, "The symbols and activities associated with that community do not belong in the parade."

The South Boston Allied War Veterans Council, which organizes the parade, and representatives of OutVets also met on Wednesday. According to an OutVets member, the discussions with parade organizers are progressing well and final decision is expected on Friday.

Ed Flynn, a South Boston Allied War Veterans Council member who voted to allow the gay veterans' group to march is the only member of the organization to speak publicly on the issue.

He commented, "I remain hopeful that my colleagues on the council will correct this situation and join me in voting for inclusion."

Congressman and South Boston native Stephen Lynch is calling on the Council to rethink their decision. Lynch released a statement that in part read, “It is discriminatory towards the LGBTQ community and it is a disheartening way to treat men and women who dutifully served our nation in the armed forces.”

Congressman Lynch then added if the decision is not reversed he would not participate in the march. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker expressed similar sentiments.

Additionally, several companies announced they would drop their sponsorship of the parade if OutVets is barred from participating in the parade.

For the 100th time, it's that time of year again, when you get to score some of the sweetest treats around, NBC News reported.

Nationwide, people have begun the search for their favorite Girl Scout cookies. There's a flavor for everybody, from Thin Mints to Samoas, Tagalongs to Trefoils, Do-si-dos to Savannah Smiles, and this year a new addition — S'mores.

It all started 100 years ago in the town of Muskogee, Oklahoma.

"The Mistletoe troop was the first troop to sell cookies, right here from Muskogee," said Julie Ledbetter, the current leader of the Girl Scout troop in Muskogee. "They sold chocolate chip cookies as their fundraiser ... and it's really amazing that 100 years later, that's our signature, what we're known for as Girl Scouts."