A student who posted a threatening message inside a San Diego-area school did it as a joke, the principal told parents in an email Thursday.

The threat was written on a wall at Patrick Henry High School before 9 a.m. Wednesday.

Principal Listy Gillingham told parents it was “a threatening, ugly message” written near the school’s racquetball courts.

“It stated, ‘I’m going to shoot up the school on 5/12/17 F… PHHS,’ Gillingham said in an email sent to parents on Thursday.

School officials shared a photo of the threat with San Diego police. Detectives found the student who wrote the message and determined there was no viable threat to faculty or students.

“The student is very remorseful and did it as a joke, they were not angry at the school in any way,” Gillingham wrote. “The student realized later in the day that they made a serious mistake, but was too afraid to come forward.”

The school will be open to students Friday.

As NBC 7's Liberty Zabala reports, locally-grown flowers cost a little more than flowers grown in other countries, and there's a reason for that.

President Bill Clinton and former first lady Michelle Obama will speak at the Partnership for a Healthier America summit, a annual youth nutrition conference in Washington D.C.

The summit brings together business and industry leaders with their nonprofit, academic and government counterparts to address major considerations for the health of America's youth. This year’s summit will address the negative health impacts of childhood adversity, the role of entrepreneurs in shaping the future of food, the link between access to food and health.

Supermodel Cindy Crawford, actress Gabrielle Union and celebrity chef Rocco DiSpirito are also billed to speak at the event. 

The parent company of SeaWorld San Diego reported a 15 percent decline in revenue for its first quarter, with attendance down by a similar percentage from the year-ago period for its 12 U.S. theme parks.

Officials of Orlando, Fla.-based SeaWorld Entertainment Inc. (NYSE: SEAS) said the company posted $186.4 million in total revenue for the quarter ending March 31. The company reported a net loss of $61.1 million for the period, compared with a net loss of $84 million in the same quarter of 2016.

Attendance for the quarter declined by approximately 491,000, or 14.9 percent from a year ago. However, officials said attendance patterns seen during April indicate that the parks overall are essentially flat for attendance year-over-year for the first four months of 2017.

“Given the improving attendance trends we saw in April, and the incredibly robust lineup of new attractions we are launching in the coming weeks, we are well-positioned going into our seasonally important second and third quarters,” said SeaWorld Entertainment President and CEO Joel Manby, in a statement.

Manby said the company is exploring future growth into Asia, after former owner Blackstone Group LP’s recent sale of its 21 percent stake in the company to China’s Zhonghong Zhuoye Group, in a deal valued at approximately $449 million that closed on May 8. Manby said SeaWorld Entertainment will be evaluating potential expansion opportunities in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau.

SeaWorld Entertainment does not break out attendance or other figures for its individual parks, including SeaWorld locations in San Diego, Orlando and San Antonio. The company’s SeaWorld parks have been hardest-hit by fallout related to the 2013 documentary Blackfish, which raised issues about the treatment of captive killer whales.

In response, SeaWorld has discontinued performing orca shows and announced planned 2017 investments totaling more than $175 million in new attractions and programs nationwide. Attractions including the expedition-themed Ocean Explorer are set to open this year at SeaWorld San Diego, to be followed next year by a new looping roller coaster called Electric Eel.

SeaWorld San Diego is also in early planning with San Diego’s Evans Hotels to develop a new resort at the Mission Bay theme park, though timetables and other details have not been announced.

A Texas family had just sat down for dinner when an unvited guest burst through the front door of their McKinney home.

And it was all caught on camera.

Jeffrey Stubbe, who lives in the Stonebridge Ranch neighborhood, told NBC DFW his family was getting ready to have dinner when a deer bolted through their front door.

"This deer comes crashing through the storm door and right into our living room, leaving blood all over our floor and traumatizing my 11-year-old. Crazy!" Stubbe said in an email to NBC DFW.

After a short stumble, the deer eventually made its way back toward the front door and escaped, leaving behind one startled family and a terrified dog.

Stubbe said a responding police officer told him several other neighbors had recently called animal control. He later learned animal control officers secured the deer.

"We've lived here for 13 years and have never seen a deer," Stubbe said. "We've seen bobcats and coyotes, but never a deer."

"Absolutely the most bizarre occurrence ever!!"

For the first time ever, Caltrans will take an in-depth look at possible solutions including everything from barriers to nets on the San Diego-Coronado Bridge.

It’s a postcard backdrop and one of San Diego's most recognizable landmarks.

At the same time, the Coronado Bridge as some call it has built up an infamous reputation, bringing heartache to more people than you'd probably think.

“Kind of haunting, it doesn't go away," Bridget Santos talked about her trip across the bridge last month when she saw what she believed to be a stalled vehicle. She never expected what happened next and now she can't shake it.

"So as I look in the rear view mirror I see her throw her leg over,” Santos recalled.

Since the bridge first opened, nearly 400 people have died doing just that, affecting families, friends, and countless strangers like Bridget who still can't drive across the bridge.

“The sides of the bridge are so low, it's a beautiful landmark, but not at this cost," she said.

The effort to build barriers, fences, or nets along the bridge gained momentum in recent years thanks to symbolic votes of support by the Coronado and San Diego City Councils - but a big problem remained. Who would pay for the expensive Caltrans study looking at the best solution?

Rhonda Haiston with Coronado Bridge Collaborative Suicide Prevention said there may soon be an answer. She formed the group which has become the leading proponent for installing barriers along the bridge to deter people from jumping into the water below.

Senate Bill 480, which was approved by committee in April, would require 1 percent of Caltrans miscellaneous revenue to be spent on studies of bridge safety, with priority given to those bridges spanning state and local parks. The bill will be considered in a hearing again on May 15.

Caltrans officials said the approval of the bill in committee has helped them to fund a study.

“A low level study is going to look at minute details and environmental impact if there is any,” Haiston said. “So we're looking at a low level feasibility study, which is exactly what's needed."

Caltrans says they're in early stages of identifying the study's goals and perimeters. Officials still haven't said when the study will start or how long it will last but public input is expected to be part of the process.

But for long time suicide advocates like Haiston and new ones like Santos it can’t start soon enough.

There is a 24-hour crisis line available to anyone contemplating suicide (888) 724-7240.

A highly-anticipated distillery, restaurant and bar combo started by a big local company made its debut this week in our drink and food scene. Eater San Diego shares details of that unveiling, plus other tasty tidbits.

Cutwater Spirits Debuts Craft Distillery, Restaurant and Bar
Joining the Miramar brewery landscape (a community also known to locals as “Beer-amar”) is a new 50,000-square-foot dining and drinking hub, Cutwater Spirits, which includes a sleek restaurant serving lunch and dinner and a 40-seat bar featuring expertly-crafted cocktails that spotlight the award-winning spirits from this local craft distillery. This highly-anticipated spot started under the Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits umbrella, but has been rebranded as Cutwater Spirits. 

Coin-Op Game Room Announces New Gaslamp Locations
The popular arcade bar, which has outposts in North Park and further north in San Francisco and Sacramento, will open a second SoCal spot in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter. Due this summer, downtown's new Coin-Op Game Room will serve a menu of Neapolitan-style pizza alongside craft cocktails and local beer. As the name suggests, the site will stock more than 50 games – from “Pac-Man” to pinball.

Where to Sip on Afternoon Tea in San Diego
Whether you're searching for a last minute Mother's Day destination or just want to experience the classic English tradition of a spot of afternoon tea, Eater has compiled a list of 10 places in San Diego that offer proper tea service complete with crumpets, scones, finger sandwiches and more.

Gourmet Market & Café to Launch in La Jolla Shores
An existing café at the entryway to the coastal community will get a name change and design update by the end of this month. Cooper's Market & Café will serve a takeout and dine-in menu from James Montejano (Seaside Market) paired with a coffee bar by James Coffee Co. and a gourmet marketplace. 

Coronado Brewing Company Adding Eatery to Bay Park Brewery
Coronado Brewing Company's Knoxville Street location in Bay Park, which houses its production brewery, is in the process of building a kitchen that will feed its tasting room guests. Due to launch late this summer, the eatery will serve pizza, snacks, sandwiches, salads and more. 

More than a dozen hospitals in England were targeted by ransomware Friday amid an apparent large-scale cyberattack that may have ensnared companies worldwide, including FedEx and Spain's largest telecom company, NBC News reported.

National Health Service England blamed a software known as Wanna Decryptor for infecting computers.

The IT systems of NHS sites were reportedly bombarded by pop-up messages Friday demanding such a ransom, and purported screenshots showed the cyber attacker asking for "$300 worth of bitcoin" — a form of digital currency — to be sent to a certain online address.

Sometimes, it works: Last year, Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center forked over $17,000 to hackers who used ransomware.

UK Prime Minister Theresa May said Friday that the cyberattack is part of a wider international attack, according to the Associated Press.

There’s a blind man with 82 kids living in San Diego County. This clearly begs some explanation. 

His name is Freddie Downs. He spent about 25 years as a K-12 special needs teacher in San Diego. He has a passion for helping other people learn.

“I love seeing that first burst of light coming on in someone’s head when they get it and they understand what you’re talking about,” said Downs. “And when I see I’ve touched someone’s life, I’m excited.”

In 2012, Downs' career and life took a turn he never saw coming.

Glaucoma, coupled with diabetes, caused him to go blind, and forced him to retire.

“You lose a lot of your independence,” he explained.

Despite losing his sight, Downs never lost his vision to help other people learn.

"Of course you have your pity parties," he told NBC 7. "It’s just important not to stay there."

He now volunteers as a teacher at The Braille Institute San Diego, teaching health twice a week to grownups.

The most valuable lessons Freddie Downs ever taught, however, were not in the classroom. Kyle Harvey, 17, can attest to that.

“He showed me that there is a right way to do things,” the teenager said.

Harvey never met his father.

He’s been in the foster care system since the age of three. He admits he got into a lot of trouble when he was younger, being expelled from school for the first time in fifth grade. It did not help that he and his brother were separated and put into different foster homes.

Harvey gets choked up even talking about it.

“You know, you can’t live without your family,” he told NBC 7, fighting back tears.

That’s where Freddie Downs comes in.

In an act that changed the course of Harvey's young life, Downs offered to foster both brothers and raise them together.

“I have no way to repay him for that,” said Harvey. “I love him to death and there isn’t a thing I wouldn’t do for him.”

While Harvey’s story is touching, it is far from being unique. That’s because Freddie Downs has fostered 82 kids over the past two decades, sometimes taking in as many as six at a time.

“I could tell you stories that could curl your feet about the way that some children used to live their lives,” said Downs.

Foster kids age out of the system when they turn 18, but Downs said he still stays in touch with a lot of his kids.

“I have had quite a few that have gone on, got married, gone to school and raise families on their own,” he said, beaming.

And you can now count Harvey on that list of success stories. He just graduated from high school and is planning on going to college.

“I honestly don’t think I’d be where I am today without his help,” said Harvey. “People ask me who’s my motivation in life and I say Mr. Downs.”

Today, Downs is in the process of adopting three of his former foster kids and officially become their father.

Although, even without a piece of paper to make it official, he already sounds like a lot of other dads.

“I hope that I did a great job, or that the kids see that I did the best I could with what I knew how to do,” he reflected.

And so, that’s the story about the blind man with 82 kids.

It was the knock on the door Maritza Gomez Fernandez wished she never had to answer. Police officers arrived to her home with devastating news about her son, Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez.

Maritza shared her memories of her lost son in an exclusive interview obtained by NBC 6’s sister station, Telemundo 51.

“It was 6:10 a.m. and my phone rings, but I didn’t pick up. It rang again,” Maritza said in Spanish.

She talked about the morning she learned of her son’s demise.

“The voice on the other side says, ‘Are you Jose’s mom? Where is Jose?’ I answered, ‘Jose stayed in his apartment.’”

She then called Jose’s apartment, but no one answered. That’s when she called the Marlins player’s girlfriend, who told her he wasn’t with her. Maritza began to panic, and Jose’s girlfriend tried to calm her down. Moments later, police officers arrived at her front door with the heartbreaking news.

She said officers told her they found the slugger’s boat overturned but were unable at the time to find any bodies. Maritza said minutes later she knew her only son had died.

“I cried, I screamed. It was like I was no longer in this world,” Maritza explained in Spanish. “My mom was sleeping; she came out of her room. It was horrible.”

Her 24-year-old son, along with two friends, was killed Sept. 25 when the boat Jose was operating crashed into a rocky jetty off Miami Beach. Eight months after the tragedy, Jose’s mother remembers her son’s promise to be the best Cuban American pitcher ever known to the major league.

“The last time I saw my son he was fooling around at Marlins Park,” said the grieving mother.

Every day, Maritza grieves and tries to understand the death of her son.

“In the morning I take him his coffee like I always did; light candles and talk to him,” Maritza said. There are so many questions she wants answered. “Papi, I want you to explain to me what happened.”

Jose and his mother were together when they tried to escape Cuba. The pitcher saved his mother’s life after she fell in the deep ocean.

Maritza said she’s overwhelmed with the outpouring of love for her son when he died.

“He could have never imagined how people loved him and what they felt for him. The people waiting at the church to just say their goodbyes was amazing,” she said.

It’s that time of year again: graduation ceremonies will be taking place all over San Diego, including some this weekend.

Kicking off the first round of ceremonies is San Diego State University (SDSU). All ceremonies are being held at the Viejas Arena, located at 5500 Canyon Crest Dr. According to SDSU, more than 10,000 students will graduate this weekend.

SDSU’s College of Arts and Letters graduation ceremony was held on Friday morning at 10 a.m. Next up, the College of Sciences’ ceremony will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, which will be the largest ceremony, honoring over 1,700 degree candidates.

On Saturday, students from the Fowler College of Business will have their ceremony take place at 8 a.m. Following the Fowler College of Business graduation ceremony will be the College of Health and Human Services ceremony, starting at 1 p.m.

After that, it’s the College of Engineering’s turn to take the stage at 5:30 p.m. This will be the smallest ceremony, with 849 degrees being awarded.

On Sunday the College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts’ graduation ceremony will be held at 9 a.m. The last round of students to graduate from SDSU will be from the College of Education and Division of Undergraduate Studies, which will start at 2 p.m. Sunday.

SDSU said courtesy parking will be offered during commencement ceremonies at all main parking structures and lots. Campus visitors should be advised that the university expects Viejas Arena to reach its 12,414-person capacity during several ceremonies and alternate modes of transportation to campus are encouraged.

If you can’t make it to the ceremony, not to worry – SDSU says that each ceremony will be live streamed online. Visit the SDSU commencement website for more details.

The following weekend, May 20, the next group of local grads to walk will be from the University of San Diego (USD). All ceremonies will take place at the Jenny Craig Pavilion, located at 5998 Alcala Park.

Grads and their families are welcome to attend the School of Law Commencement Reception held immediately after the graduation ceremony at the Hahn University Center. On May 20 law students graduating from USD’s School of Law will have their ceremony from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

One week later, on May 27, USD’s graduate students from multiple schools will have their ceremonies from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Following the graduate schools’ ceremonies it will be the undergraduates’ turn to walk. On Sunday, May 28, undergraduate students from the College of Arts & Sciences will have their commencement ceremony from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Jenny Craig Pavilion.

Finally, it will be the students from the Undergraduate School of Business & Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering that will take the final commencement walk at USD on Sunday, May 28, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

USD said guests may enter campus from the east or west entrance to campus.

Parking personnel will be at each entrance to direct guests to parking areas located in the Mission Parking Structure just inside the east entrance. Parking will also available on the west side of campus in the West Parking Structure.

Guests are encouraged to arrive at least one hour before ceremony start-time to avoid traffic congestion. USD tram service will shuttle graduates and guests to and from the Mission and West parking structures and the Jenny Craig Pavilion.

USD will also be broadcasting each of the graduation ceremonies on their website.

The last major San Diego-area university to close out graduation season will be the University of California San Diego.

On Saturday, June 17, the class of 2017 will gather at RIMAC Field for the All Campus Ceremony, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. The Keynote address will be given by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.

Following the All Campus Commencement ceremony, all of UC San Diego’s six colleges will hold their individual ceremonies on RIMAC Field as follows:

Warren College
Saturday, June 17, 2017 at 2:30 p.m.

John Muir College
Saturday, June 17 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Thurgood Marshall College
Sunday, June 18 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Eleanor Roosevelt College
Sunday, June 18 at 8 a.m.

Revelle College
Sunday, June 18 at 3 p.m.

Sixth College
Sunday, June 18 at 6:30 p.m.

UC San Diego said parking will be available all over campus, but graduates and their families should arrive early.

An Alameda County sheriff’s deputy was killed Friday when a commuter bus carrying Tesla employees rear-ended his car on eastbound Interstate 580, according to law enforcement officials.

The deputy was identified by Sheriff Greg Ahearn as Sroeuy Khin, a father-of-four who would have celebrated his 51st birthday tomorrow.

Fifty-one Tesla employees were en route to Stockton in a white 2016 Temsa touring bus contracted by their company, California Highway Patrol spokesman Derek Reed said.

Khin, who joined the sheriff's office in 2007, was heading to his Central Valley home after having worked overtime at the Santa Rita Jail, Ahearn said.

He was driving slowly or had stopped in the No. 2 lane, according to CHP Officer Christopher Sherry. His white 2002 Volkswagen Beetle was crushed when the bus rammed into it, and Khin was pronounced dead at the scene. 

"It's a tragic loss for his family," Ahearn said. "He was just trying to do his best to earn some extra money to take care of his wife and family."

The bus driver, who has been cooperative with officials, said that the sun's glare was blinding in the moments before the collision. Sherry said that the cause of the crash is still being investigated, but drugs and alcohol do not appear to have contributed.

Sherry estimated that the bus was traveling at around 65 pmh when it slammed into Khin's car. One person on the bus sustained minor injuries. Investigators are also trying to determine whether Khin had, in fact, stopped or slowed down or if he was perhaps trying to move to the shoulder on I-580.

The CHP issued a Sig-alert on I-580 at Altamont Pass, closing the eastbound No. 1 and 2 lanes for hours, prompting vehicles to back up for miles. The entire highway was reopened around 1:45 p.m. but residual delays were expected.

CHP officers who responded to the accident did not know Khin was a sheriff's deputy, but identified him based on his license information, Ahearn said.   

Footage from the scene showed CHP officers gathering around the body, and saluting and draping it with an American flag. A convoy of law enforcement officials, including CHP officers from Dublin, also escorted Khin's body to the Alameda County Coroner's Office. 

Ahearn expressed gratitude for the "dignity and respect" afforded to Khin on Friday.

Khin was described by Ahearn as an extremely dedicated and hard-working member of the Alameda County Sheriff's Office. His fellow deputies were with his family after they learned of his death. 

"It's too much too soon," Ahearn said. "It's heartwrenching."

Not only do sheriff's deputies face challenges and risks in their day-to-day work, but the "tight family" now has to "deal with the tragic loss of one of their brothers," he added.

Khin's loss will reverberate through the department and he will be missed by everyone, "from line staff to command staff to myself," Ahearn said.

In a statement issued Friday, Tesla described the bus involved in the fatal crash as an "independently-operated shuttle."

"All Tesla employees on the bus are safe and accounted for, however we are deeply saddened by reports that there was a fatality as a result of the accident. We will lend any support that we can to the authorities who are investigating the incident," the statement said.

Check back for updates on this developing story.

A California-based U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) crew recently became the lifeline for a set of sea creatures needing a little bit of help.

When the USCG Cutter Valliant's crew was on routine patrol in the Eastern Pacific Ocean last month, they spotted an unusual object floating in the water.

When the crew took a closer look, they saw that a baby and three adult olive ridley sea turtles were entangled in mass of lines, garbage and abandoned fishing gear.

The crew saved the sea turtles by disentangling them.

They also loaded the debris that had entangled the turtles onto their boat to dispose of it back on shore so that the same thing wouldn't happen again to another animal.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Dillon Whitaker, who disentangled the baby turtle, said the mission highlighted one of the reasons he joined the Coast Guard.

"One day you're chasing drug traffickers, and the next day you get to save the life of a beautiful animal in the middle of the Pacific Ocean," said Whitaker.

While underway, crewmembers rotate through a 24/7 watch routine and are always on the lookout for potentially hazardous debris and endangered sea life in addition to watching for suspicious vessels and signs of distress.

“Alert lookouts spotted these distressed turtles, rescued them and removed dangerous floating debris from the ocean so it could do no additional harm. This is a reminder of the harm that marine litter poses to the animals that inhabit the marine environment," said Lt. Cmdr. Jason Brand, the marine resources manager for the 11th Coast Guard District.

After freeing the turtles, the ship and crew resumed their patrol.

A donor has helped increase the reward given by the San Diego Animal Advocates (SDAA) to $10,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for torturing two huskies in Oceanside.

Last week, Lt. Adam Knowland with the Oceanside Police Department (OPD) confirmed that the OPD received a report of someone pouring acid on dogs in the area.

“The animals were doused with acid and one dog had acid poured down its throat and an eye gouged out after the perpetrator(s) broke into the home where the dogs were kept,” said Jane Cartmill, President of SDAA, in a written news release.

SDAA says this was the third attack on the huskies, who had previously been poisoned and doused with acid while in an outdoor yard on prior occasions.

The family was forced to move from their home on Carino Way in Oceanside for the safety of their animals’ and themselves.

According to the San Diego Humane Society (SDHS), where the dogs have received treatment for their injuries, the huskies are expected to survive.

SDHS says that the dog with the injured eye has had surgery, while the other still cannot eat and is being fed intravenously.

The huskies are now back with their family to continue their recovery, SDHS said.

A GoFundMe page has been created to help the family.

The Oceanside Police Department has also set up a tip line at (760) 435-4730 for anyone with information regarding the case.

Check back for updates on this developing story.

The number of alleged victims coming forward against a San Marcos chiropractor accused of sexual battery has risen to 10, investigators confirmed Friday.

The San Diego County Sheriff's Department (SDSO) said there are now at least 10 victims -- ranging in age from 20 to 46 -- involved in the case against Dr. John Michals, a licensed chiropractor arrested earlier this month on sex crimes allegations.

The SDSO said the reports of all of the victims will be forwarded to the San Diego County District Attorney's Office soon.

Officials announced Michals' arrest on Tuesday; Sgt. Daniel Deese the investigation began in March when a woman in her mid-30s told deputies she was touched inappropriately during an appointment with Michals.

“Stuff that wouldn’t normally be classified during a chiropractic exam,” Deese explained.

In late April, deputies secured an arrest warrant.

On April 25, Michals was arrested at his private practice on East San Marcos Boulevard, north of State Route 78.

However, deputies said Michals also practiced at North County Health Services at 150 Valpreda St. The alleged incidents took place at the North County Health Services location, Deese said.

Since Michals’ arrest, more accusations have been made by other people claiming to be victims. Five more alleged victims came forward on Tuesday. By Friday, the victim count was at 10.

Michals is currently out on bail. The SDSO does not know if there are restrictions to him practicing while out on bail.

The California Board of Chiropractic Examiners said Friday that the investigation is ongoing. As of Friday, Michals' license is still valid.

On Tuesday, James Boyd, defense attorney for Michals sent NBC 7 a statement, which read, "Mr. Michals maintains his innocence. He is adamant that he has done nothing wrong or inappropriate.”

Anyone with information on this case, or additional cases of sexual battery, can contact Det. Michael Tingley at the San Marcos Sheriff's Station at (760) 510-5200.

Welcome to your weekend, San Diego. Flowers, festivals, concerts, outdoor events and shopping combine to bring forth another splendid spring weekend in America’s Finest City. With Mother’s Day on Sunday, it’s also a great weekend to take mom out on the town and show her how much you appreciate her. Enjoy!

Thursday, May 4

The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch
9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (season runs through May 14), Carlsbad Ranch
The famous Flower Fields in Carlsbad Ranch continues its vibrant spring run, offering visitors spectacular views of bright blooms in all of their gorgeous glory. The fields are open daily, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., through May 14. Patrons will enjoy nearly 50 acres of colorful displays of Giant Tecolote Ranunculus flowers, which are in bloom for six to eight weeks. The famous fields also include roses, orchids, sweet pea blossoms, petunias and poinsettias. Keep checking the Flower Fields website, too, because the venue hosts special events throughout the bloom season.

Quilt, Craft & Sewing Festival
10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Del Mar Fairgrounds
This three-day supply show at Bing Crosby Hall at the Del Mar Fairgrounds caters to quilters, sewers, stitchers and crafters looking for inspiration. The expo will feature hundreds of booths and vendors, plus free classes and make-and-take workshops. Admission is $10 for all three days; parking is $13.

Recipe for a Healthy & Delicious Spring Cooking Class
6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Jimbo’s…Naturally!
The Jimbo’s…Naturally! grocery store in Horton Plaza mall will host this free cooking cooking class, taught by certified nutritionists from Scripps and Jimbo’s staffers. The class will focus on healthy, tasty spring-inspired recipes easily recreated at home.

Artist Lecture: David Avalos
6:30 p.m., California Center for the Arts Escondido
California State University professor and artist David Avalos leads this lecture Friday evening at the California Center for the Arts in Escondido in which he plans to discuss his hubcab art series, “Milagro,” along with other artworks. Tickets are $10.

Jersey Boys
7:30 p.m., San Diego Civic Theatre
The Tony and Grammy Award-winning Broadway musical, “Jersey Boys,” continues its San Diego run at downtown’s Civic Theatre Thursday night with a 7:30 p.m. performance (tickets start at $61.50). The toe-tapping story about how four blue-collar kids became pop culture sensations as Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons features all of the hits – from “Sherry” and “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” to “Oh, What a Night” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.” The production is led, musically, by a San Diego native. The musical runs at the San Diego Civic Theatre from May 9 through May 14.

Ron Funches
8 p.m., The American Comedy Co.
Southern California-based stand-up comic Ron Funches – known for his role on NBC’s “Undateable” and late-night appearances on “Conan” and “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon” – hits the stage this weekend at downtown San Diego’s American Comedy Co. Tickets to his Thursday show are $18. Fun Fact: Funches has also done voice-over work, including in the animated movie, “Trolls.”

Friday, May 12

San Diego Golf & Craft Beer Festival
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Friday & Saturday), St. Mark Golf Club
The St. Mark Golf Club in San Marcos will host this two-day festival for those who love the links as well as craft beer. Big golfing brands pair up with local breweries for this festival; attendees can test out products and talk to the golf club’s pros all while sipping on brews. Tickets cost $20 (per day), and each entry includes eight tasters of craft beer and wine including cold sips from beloved San Diego brewers like Stone, Mother Earth, Belching Beaver, Latitude 33, Pizza Port and more. The event opens at 9 a.m. on both days; beer pour begin at 11 a.m.

Queen Bee Market
4 p.m. to 9 p.m., Del Mar Fairgounds
Shopping enthusiasts, here’s the buzz: more than 100 vendors will line Wyland Hall at the Del Mar Fairgrounds both Friday (4 p.m. to 9 p.m.) and Saturday (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) for the Queen Bee Market, selling all kinds of good things – from home décor and accessories to clothing, vintage finds, paper art and more. A $3 entry fee gets you into the marketplace; kids 12 and under and military get in free.

933 Summer Kickoff Concert
6 p.m., Mattress Firm Amphitheatre
Local radio station, Channel 933, hosts its annual “Summer Kickoff” concert Friday night at the Mattress Firm Amphitheatre in Chula Vista. The concert features a long lineup of big names in pop music: Machine Gun Kelly; One Direction’s Niall Horan; Noah Cyrus (yes, Miley’s little sister); David Guetta; DNCE; Hailee Steinfeld; Hey Violet; AJR; Halsey; the Backstreet Boys. Tickets start at $53.

inBloom Movie Night
7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Flower Hill Promenade
Del Mar’s Flower Hill Promenade (2720 Villa De La Valle) continues its month-long series of specialty events with a free movie under the stars. Flower Hill retailer Venissimo Cheese will offer a special half-price Happy Hour dinner deal from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. for those who want to grab some snacks for the movie. The screening is on a first-come, first-served basis; there’s free parking in the structure directly behind the Whole Foods.

Arms Wide Open Presents: ‘The Lion King’
7 p.m., The Lyceum Theatre
El Cajon’s Arms Wide Open presents its stage production of Disney’s “The Lion King” at The Lyceum Theatre in downtown San Diego. The all-ages musical features all of the favorite songs of the beloved story, plus colorful choreography, drummers, flyers and “sky dancers.” Tickets cost $15 per person; the play runs at The Lyceum stage through Sunday.

The Stars at Mission Trails
7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Mission Trails Regional Park
Weather permitting, the San Diego Astronomy Association leads another stargazing session at Mission Trails Friday night, this time at the east end of the Kumeyaay Lake Campground’s day use parking lot. The three-hour event is free; the Astronomy Association will provide telescopes for those in attendance to use during the event.

A.J. Croce
7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Museum of Making Music
Jazz-influenced blues artist A.J. Croce, son of legend Jim Croce, will perform an intimate show at the Museum of Making Music Friday night. A.J. has been in the music biz for more than two decades; his first gig was at age 18, when he opened blues icon, B.B. King. Today, his style incorporates pop, blues, folk and jazz. Tickets to this concert range between $25 and $30.

Film Screening: ‘Woman of the Year’
7:30 p.m., Museum of Photographic Arts
In partnership with Film Geeks SD, the Museum of Photographic Arts (MOPA) in Balboa Park will host a screening of the 1942 Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy film, “Woman of the Year.” General admission for the screening is $10, or $5 for MOPA members.

Heathers: The Musical
8 p.m., OnStage Playhouse
Chula Vista’s OnStage Playhouse presents San Diego’s first fully-licensed production of “Heathers” The Musical,” based off the cult classic 1988 film starring Winona Ryder and Shannon Doherty. The musical – which debuts Friday night – delves into high school’s classic clique of mean girls and what happens when a misfit decides to shake things up. The production runs through May 27, with 8 p.m. performances; tickets are $25.

Saturday, May 13

Mother’s Day Pancake Breakfast
8:30 a.m., Boys and Girls Club of Oceanside
Celebrate Mom this Mother’s Day with a huge breakfast of flapper jacks! Start your morning off with delicious breakfast food and good company. Tickets start at $5 for kids and $7 for adults. Proceeds go to scholarships for families in need, and for the new Center for Innovation, which will include a culinary arts teaching kitchen and more.

Hops and Shop Spring Market
10 a.m., 32 North Brewing Company
Celebrate Mother’s Day weekend at this Miramar brewery’s Spring Market. Shop handmade gifts, participate in workshops, try some tasty sips or enjoy patio games at this festival for the whole family, including dogs. The event is free.

Balboa Park Pow Wow
10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Balboa Park
The Balboa Park Pow Wow – happening both Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. – brings together Native Americans of many tribes to sing, dance and enjoy the drums, arts, crafts and food of their heritage. The Pow Wow will take place in the park area near Park Boulevard and President’s Way.

Touch a Truck
11 a.m., Pacific Trails Middle School
This family-friendly carnival-like event lets everyone see what it’s like to sit in some of San Diego’s largest vehicles. Take a look inside more than 40 trucks at Pacific Trails middle School, off State Route 56. In addition, the event will also have games and food trucks. Tickets are $15 per person.

Beer & Art Show
2 p.m. to 6 p.m., New English Brewing
New English Brewing (11545 Sorrento Valley Rd.) will host an afternoon of craft brews and culture as artist D.W. Frydendall displays his works and paints live in front of patrons. The event is free; bring money for some brews and food sold by Red or Green Cuisine.

San Diego Sights and Sips
5:30 p.m., Hornblower Cruises and Events
Sunshine, sailing and cocktails come together on this Hornblower cocktail cruise. Hope on board for a two hour cruise with champagne, light Hors d’oeuves and more as you enjoy a beautiful view of the Bay during sunset. The boat leaves at 6 p.m. Tickets start at $37.50 per person.

Violet: In Concert
7 p.m., Coronado Playhouse
Don’t miss a special three-performance concert of “Violet”, an underground Broadway favorite that opened to rave reviews after its 2014 revival. “Violet” follows the emotional journey of a disfigured girl traveling through the South in the 60s, and her dream to become beautiful. San Diegan singers will perform the musical in concert on Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and again on Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets start at $20.

Spring and Summer
8 p.m., Copley Symphony Hall
A beautiful spring concert, perfect for a beautiful spring season. Anton Webern’s Im Sommerwind, Robert Schumann’s Spring Symphony and Bela Bartok’s Piano Concerto No. 3 bring the beautiful sounds of summer to the Copley Symphony Hall. German composer Matthias Pintscher conducts, award-winning pianist Kirill Gerstein performs the Bartok concerto.

Sunday, May 14

Oasis Camel Dairy’s Open Farm and Show
1 p.m., Oasis Camel Dairy in Ramona
Spend your Sunday socializing with camels at the well-known Oasis Camel Dairy’s open farm and show. Participants will get a chance to pet and ride the friendly animals. Later in the day, watch a birds show. Tickets start at $7.

The Old Man and The Old Moon
2 p.m., Old Globe Theatre
Cinematic shadow puppetry meets exuberant folk music and fantastical fables in “The Old Man And The Old Moon.” PigPen Theatre Co. comes sailing into San Diego with this imaginative new production, fresh off award-winning runs in New York, Chicago and Boston. When The Old Man's wife unexpectedly leaves home one day, The Old Man leaves his post refilling The Old Moon's light that spills out each night and goes on a journey to find his love.

Ballast
2 p.m., Diversionary Theatre
The world premiere production of Ballast continues this weekend at the Diversionary Theatre. The imaginative play, written by Georgette Kelly and directed by Matt M. Morrow, explores two relationships between trans and cisgender partners. The show runs from May 4 to June 4. Tickets start at $15, though discounts are available for students, military, educations, seniors and groups.

Mother’s Day Sunset Dinner Cruise
6 p.m., Hornblower Cruises and Events
What better way to end your Mother’s Day weekend celebrations than a relaxing and scenic cruise by the Bay? The three-hour yacht cruise includes your own private table, a three course seated dinner, DJ entertainment and, of course, stunning sunset views of Downtown San Diego and the Bay. Tickets start at $79.

Como la Flor Band’s Selena Tribute: Special Mother’s Day Show 
7 p.m., Music Box
Como la Flor Band will play a Selena tribute show to wrap up Mother’s Day weekend this Sunday at the Music Box. Tickets start at $20 if you buy them in advance and $22 at the door. The show starts at 8 p.m.

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

Looking to save some, but still enjoy the city? 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.

Two brothers will face charges of torture in the brutal beating of a homeless man in Santee, California, despite their attorneys’ arguments that the killing occurred in self-defense.

“There’s murder and then there is what happened here,” Deputy District Attorney George Modlin said Friday.

George Lowery, 50, was beaten with "fists and feet" in an assault that homicide investigators described as "a very horrific event."

Lowery was found unconscious on April 24, 2016 in a riverbed where homeless people are known to camp.  He was face down under a piece of plywood near Chubb Lane and N. Magnolia Avenue in Santee. He died five days later.

Modlin argued brothers Austin Mostrong and Preston Mostrong beat the victim so severely that his brain expanded inside his skull and killed him. Lowery was also hogtied, covered with rubbing alcohol and pushed face-down into "muck," Modlin said.

Four days before the beating, Austin Mostrong's paintball or pellet gun was taken in a confrontation near the homeless encampment.  The night before the beating, Austin said he was going to go and get his guns back, Modlin said.

Friday's hearing was to consider a defense motion to dismiss the torture charges.

Defense attorneys argued Lowery died in a tragic assault that occurred in self-defense. The defendants beat and hogtied the victim out of concern he may retaliate, they said.

Preston Mostrong’s attorney, James McMahon, said his client was in Arizona when the paintball guns were seized and had only arrived back home the morning of the incident. He said the brothers went to the area of the homeless encampment to go off-roading, not to exact revenge.

“Preston was approached by a man with a machete and there’s forensic evidence that backs that up,” McMahon said. “There was a machete there. There was confirmation that that was the decedent’s machete.”

However, prosecutors allege the Mostrong brothers went to the area to find the victim and punish him. Modlin said there was construction equipment in the back of the brothers’ truck.

“The intent was to go there for revenge to get the stuff back and to teach this man a lesson,” Modlin argued.

“The evidence is lacking in the record to say there is a sadistic purpose or my client had this purpose of revenge that was so strong that propelled these actions,” Attorney John O’Connell said.

“He felt he was defending himself,” O'Connell said of his client Austin Mostrong. “That’s what his belief was.“

McMahon added that co-defendant Haley Suder was quoted as telling investigators that Preston kept saying “We don’t want any trouble” during the incident.

However, the motion to dismiss the charges of torture was denied.

Judge Lantz Lewis said the evidence suggests that the defendants actions were meant as revenge.

“Why kick him in the chin? He’s down,” said Lewis. “Why hogtie him? Why drag him over to the water face down? Why pour alcohol on the open wounds? What’s the purpose behind that?”

The defendants have both pleaded not guilty to charges including kidnapping and murder. They are being held on $3 million bail.

San Diego County Sheriff's Deputies say an altercation unfolded between Austin Mostrong and another resident of the river bottom on April 20. Lowery did not fight with Austin Mostrong but may have been involved, according to investigators. He was found beaten four days later.

The victim's family said they believe the Mostrongs attacked Lowery because he had stood up for other homeless people living in the area.

The case is scheduled to go to trial in October.

A young man driving with his family in an SUV lost control of the car Friday, slamming straight into an insurance office in Miramar.

According to the San Diego Police Department (SDPD), the driver accidentally stepped on the accelerator instead of the brake and drove through a window of a State Farm Insurance officer located at 9474 Black Mountain Rd., near Miramar Road.

Half of the SUV wound up inside the building; glass and debris was strewn about the entrance of the business as emergency crews arrived.

Police said no one was hurt in the ironic, unfortunate accident. One woman who works at the insurance did suffer from some anxiety and was taken to a local hospital as a precaution.

Emergency crews remained at the scene helping to clear the glass. They were also able to safely remove the car from the building.

As of 2:30 p.m., a phone call to the business was met with a voice recording saying the office was currently closed. 

No further details were immediately released.

A firefighter in the middle of working an emergency response in San Diego’s National City area was stabbed by a man wielding a butcher knife, authorities confirmed.

The attack happened just before 2 p.m. in the 1700 block of Euclid Avenue. A crew with the National City Fire Department (NCFD) had been called to the area to help a woman experiencing some sort of medical distress.

As the NCFD firefighter tended to the woman, a 34-year-old suspect stabbed him. Police said the firefighter suffered wounds, but his injuries are not life-threatening.

The suspect was quickly taken into custody at the scene. No one else was hurt. 

Investigators believe the suspect is somehow related to the woman tied to the initial emergency call.

No other information was immediately available.

Please refresh this page for updates on this story. Details may change as more information becomes available.