With another hot, dry fire season underway, Cal Fire has decided to suspend all burn permits for outdoor residential burning in San Diego County.

That includes all locations within the State Responsibility Area (SRA) of San Diego County. To see a map of the fire hazard severity zones in SRA, visit their website here.

"We are asking that residents not be lulled into a false sense of security on the heels of an exceptionally wet winter," said Chief Ken Pimlott, CAL FIRE director, in a statement. "The abundant dead grass will only serve as a fuse to the heavier vegetation still suffering the lasting effects of five years of extreme drought."

Some tips that were offered to help prepare homes for fire season include clearing all dead plants or vegetation within a 100-feet radius, landscaping with fire resistant/drought tolerant plants and disposing of landscape debris by taking it to a biomass energy or green waste facility.

"The importance of defensible space cannot be over emphasized, but just as important is that residents conduct their clearance activities in a safe and responsible manner," said CAL FIRE Unit/San Diego County Fire Chief Tony Mecham, in a statement. "This includes using the proper tools and limiting clearance activities to the early morning hours when the humidity is up and the temperatures are down."

Cal Fire crews and firefighters have responded to more than 920 wildfires across the state since Jan. 1., according to Cal Fire.

The COLOR PopUp Party brought together Pacific Beach’s most sophisticated beachgoers Wednesday night.

The event celebrated a love for cultural Mexican authenticity, lively music, drinks and Baja Coastal Cuisine. It was rooted in its love for color.

Those attending engaged their senses through a complete immersion of the Baja Coastal experience.

Colorful culinary cuisine along with exotic citric-infused cocktails introduced guests to a taste of modern-style Latin flavor.

The night brought local muralists to celebrate the edge and modern street art from Mexico City to Pueblo.

Attendees also enjoyed upscale coastal cuisine, cocktails and music lit up the ambiance at Pueblo.

Performers, artists, chefs and mixologists filled the restaurant--all sharing their love for color and art.

The next event COLOR PopUp Event will take over Kettner Exchange, June 27.

Republican Greg Gianforte won Montana's special congressional election late Thursday barely a day after he was charged with misdemeanor assault following accusations that he body-slammed a reporter, NBC News reported.

Gianforte, a technology entrepreneur, claimed a roughly 6 percent lead over Democrat Rob Quist. 

"Tonight, Montanans are sending a message to the Washington, D.C., establishment," Gianforte told a cheering crowd in Bozeman after the results were announced.

Gianforte also addressed his assault charge after a clash with a Guardian reporter. "I made a mistake, and I took an action that I can't take back," he said. "I should not have treated that reporter that way ... I am sorry."

Two years after two men were shot and killed on Memorial Day weekend in San Diego's Valencia Park, friends and families gathered Thursday in hopes of pushing efforts to find the gunmen who took their lives.

Joel Branch Jr., 49, and Gerald Morris, 48, were shot and killed May 25, 2015 on Branch’s front porch. Investigators said two men walked up to the group on the porch, which included Branch and Morris, and fired at them.

San Diego police are still trying to drum up new leads in the investigation into   Branch and Morris' deaths.

“It’s heartbreaking," Branch's son Josiah said. "The years go past but I know he's always going to be here. He's always going to be looking down on me and I want to make him proud."

Branch was a father of seven. His two teenage sons were present when he was shot and killed that night.

A third man was injured.

Those gathered in front of Branch's home Thursday carried pictures and information about both victims to pass around the neighborhood. At their side, were several San Diego police officers.

“So we are just asking if someone knows something, that you would just reach out and touch us. Call the police department--you can remain anonymous. Just give a statement, let some information out ," said Morris' brother, Anthony Hicks.

Crimestoppers is offering a $1000 reward for the arrest and capture of those responsible.

Police have little to no description of the suspects, other than they were two armed men on foot.

A new push is underway to increase the punishment for drunk drivers involved in fatal crashes after the number of DUI deaths in San Diego County hits a record high in the month of May. 

"Most of my cases have a blood alcohol level of above 1.5, which, when you think about it, a 1.5 for the average person, that's like seven and a half drinks in your system," San Diego Deputy District Attorney Cally Bright said.

In 2011, the DA's office saw nine fatalities in DUI-related crashes over the course of the year, Bright told NBC 7.

Last year, that number jumped to 21.

So far this year, there have already been nine fatal DUI crashes, five of which occurred in May.

Bright also said there is also the matter of justice for the families of the victims, such as 29-year-old Willy Sarabia, who was killed May 5.

On Tuesday, a 59-year-old man was struck and killed as he was riding his bicycle near Fallbrook. The driver, 19-year-old Sulem Areli Garcia, is facing felony charges, including DUI and vehicular manslaughter.

There's a serious flaw in system, Bright told NBC 7.

Gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated in California is considered a serious but not violent felony. That means the most a judge can give for it is 10 years. The person will earn 50 percent credit on their time if they don't have a prior DUI offense. 

A DUI in which someone is injured is considered both a serious and violent felony. The driver involved will only receive 15 percent credit for time served. 

"If you paralyze someone, or leave them comatose, you'll actually do eight years but at 85 percent, so you'll actually spend more time in custody," Bright said.

Orange and Riverside counties are also trying to change legislation.

But, Bright told NBC 7, the focus in the legislature at the state's capitol right now, is to decrease jail time instead of make sentences longer for offenders. 

Bright responded that the DA’s office will continue to fight for change.

Gunmen opened fire on a bus headed for a monastery carrying Coptic Christians in Egypt south of Cairo Friday, authorities said.

At least 24 people were killed and 27 wounded, a spokesman for Egypt's health ministry told NBC News. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.

Christians make up about 10 percent of the population of Muslim-majority Egypt, and the discrimination they have long been subjected to has recently turned violent, including deadly bombings on Palm Sunday.

Experts told NBC News in April that the anti-Christian violence was "the worst it has ever been."

Ice cream purveyor Ben & Jerry's has joined Australia's fight for marriage equality, banning customers in the country from ordering two scoops of the same flavor.

The ban is part of a campaign to push for parliamentary action on marriage equality and covers all 26 Ben & Jerry's stores across Australia.

"Imagine heading down to your local Scoop Shop to order your favourite two scoops of Cookie Dough in a waffle cone. But you find out you are not allowed – Ben & Jerry’s has banned two scoops of the same flavour. You’d be furious! the Vermont-based company said in a statement on its Australian website. "But this doesn’t even begin to compare to how furious you would be if you were told you were not allowed to marry the person you love."

The company hopes the ban will encourage customers to contact their local lawmakers and demand marriage equality.

In Australia, over 70 percent of the population supports marriage equality, according to national polls. A push to legalize same-sex marriage last year through a referendum was blocked by the Senate over fears that campaigns against the issue "could endanger the LGBTQI community and wouldn't even guarantee marriage equality."

"Before the next parliamentary sitting on June 13th, it is time to stand up for fair and equal rights for all by letting our leaders know that we demand Marriage Equality!" Ben & Jerry's statement said.

And until then, "no marriage equality, no same flavor scoops."

The Medical Board of California has filed an accusation against Dr. Daniel Hiser, now working as a family practice physician in La Mesa, saying the doctor “demonstrated incompetence in his care and treatment of patients” at the now-closed cosmetic clinic he owned.

The accusation describes the history of the board’s investigation into Hiser and provides details about five patients who were clients of the doctor’s Timeless Age-Defying Laser Clinic, Inc. (TADLC) located in Mission Valley. The clinic offered a number of services including Botox and cellulite-type treatments, chemical peels and hair removal.

NBC 7 Investigates found other clinics with the same name that are still in operation but are not owned by Hiser and do not appear to have any connection to his Mission Valley clinic.

Hiser “served as the Medical Director of TADL” from about 2007 to 2015 but “never performed any procedures, never evaluated any patients and never created any medical procedure protocols.”

The doctor, according to the medical board’s accusation, signed off on documents saying all treatments “were to be conducted under the general supervision of the physician,” but had no training or experience in any of those treatments. According to the accusation, Hiser said he was at the clinic one day a week and available the rest of the week by phone or teleconference but the according to the accusation, five patients reported never being seen by him.

The accusation says Hiser signed off on prescriptions for each of the patients. Hiser is accused of gross negligence in each case because, according to the accusation, the doctor allowed a registered nurse to care and treat patients without prior consultation with the supervising physician.

He is also accused of “furnishing dangerous drugs without an appropriate prior examination.” The accusation against the doctor describes how an employee of the state’s Division of Investigations went undercover, visited the clinic and purchased a medicine, one that can only be dispensed with a prescription, despite never being seen by a health care provider at the clinic or receiving a prescription.

Calls to Hiser’s family practice office in La Mesa were not returned, but the accusation does note that, during an interview in February 2017, the doctor “denied having any ownership interest in TADLC at any time, but admitted to serving” as its Medical Director. He “claimed to be unaware of the requirement of prescriptions for various products offered at the clinic, but admitted signing prescriptions for ‘supplies’ at the clinic.”

A partner in the clinic, identified as “M.N.” and described in the doctor’s accusation as a registered nurse is listed on California Secretary of State records as the Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officer of TADLC.

By checking the clinic’s ownership records and the Board of Registered Nursing records, NBC 7 Investigates discovered “M.N.” is Michelle Renee Naughton, also known as Michelle Renee Brown. According to the Board of Registered Nurse records, Naughton originally created the clinic with another partner who is not a licensed professional. Hiser, according to the medical board records, was later invited to be part of the corporation and became a 51% owner of TADLC.

In June 2013 the California Board of Registered Nursing filed an accusation against Naughton for “treating patients without proper direction by a physician, and without prescriptions for the dangerous drugs injected,” according to board records.

According to Board of Nursing records, the nurse was accused of making extravagant claims on the clinic’s website including, listing that she had experience in “working in the medical esthetics with a spa emphasis.” According to the board, “there is no recognized practice as a medical esthetician in California”.

Naughton was placed on probation in December 2013 and received an early termination of her probation in October of 2016.

Naughton has not responded to phone calls and a letter seeking her response

NBC 7 Investigates is reporting on medical professionals accused by the public and the California Medical Board of wrongdoing in order to bring information to the public and increase transparency of medical practices in the San Diego region. Currently, this information is reported by the Medical Board on its website. It is not required to be disclosed by medical professionals to their patients.

A Florida family was left with quite the deflated feeling after a neighbor was caught on video pulling the plug on a bounce house at a birthday party for a young child. 

Police released footage from outside a Port St. Lucie home on Sunday showing a man walk into the backyard, unplugging the attraction then walking back across the street.

Nearly a dozen kids between the ages of 2 and 3 were inside as the house started to fall on them. All were rescued by parents and adults.

"Chaos. Absolute chaos," the birthday girl's godfather, Glenn Hunt, told NBC’s "Today" show. "Some of the kids were crying. One of them actually was kind of traumatized by the incident. Another one when he was being removed, his leg got a little injured."

Police believe the man was trying to pull the plug to a DJ booth at the party instead of the bounce house. The man was identified, but police say he was uncooperative and has hired a lawyer.

It was not clear if he would face any charges. 

Several deputy vehicles descended on a parking lot near two restaurants in El Cajon Friday morning to investigate reports of a stabbing.

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department (SDSO) said one person was taken to a hospital just after 6 a.m. after suffering wounds in a stabbing near a Denny’s and McDonald’s located at 13574 Camino Canada.

Deputies cordoned a large section of the parking lot in front of the eateries. They are collecting evidence and trying to piece together what happened. As of 7:15 a.m., no arrests had been made.

No other injuries were reported. No further details were immediately available.

A man was trapped when his car flipped over and landed in the water in the Tijuana River Valley, according to the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department.

The collision was reported just after 6 a.m. at Dairy Mart Road and Camino de la Plaza just north of the U.S.-Mexico border.

A vehicle landed on its roof in the marsh. The man was standing outside the vehicle in what appeared to be waist high water.

Crews cut the brush to clear the way and get the man free.

He was able to walk to the road where he was treated by medical personnel.

No other information was available.

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

The City of Carlsbad is launching a test program to add lifeguards to areas of the coastline not currently covered by lifeguards.

The majority of the city's coast, five to six miles, is state beach covered by State Park Lifeguards.

North Beach, the area from Oak to the north city limits at Oceanside, was previously not covered by lifeguard services.

Under a $300,000 budget, Carlsbad Fire Department Chief Michael Davis said the city sent six firefighter-paramedics to the Ventura County Fire Department

When they returned, they began training 12 others to begin the program, Davis said.

On the Memorial Day weekend, the department will begin lifeguard coverage with two firefighter-paramedics.

The pilot program will continue over the summer until Labor Day. Results will be reported back to the Carlsbad City Council.

A threat on Snapchat led to an arrest and the cancellation of a school assembly at Steele Canyon High School, administrators said via social media.

The high school's Twitter feed posted the following series of messages Friday morning:

"A Snapchat threat was made against the school Thursday evening. Please know the suspect was immediately identified and arrested.

A rumor that other shooters are involved is false according to law enforcement. We are all safe to attend school on Friday.

To address concerns today's assembly is cancelled."

No other information was available.

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

Welcome to your weekend, San Diego. From live music and festivals to outdoor movies and more, it's going to be a good time to get out and explore America's Finest City as we also remember our brave U.S. military service members on Memorial Day.

Thursday, May 25

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National Wine Day in San Diego
All Day, locations vary
Many of San Diego eateries will raise a glass Thursday in honor of National Wine Day. Some places to visit include Pappalecco Café, which boasts an organic wine selection imported straight from Tuscany, Italy (the home of Pappalecco’s owners), and Bankers Hill Bar + Restaurant, toasting with a selection of wines available for $7 a glass on National Wine Day. 

Park Hyatt Masters of Food & Wine
6 p.m., Park Hyatt Aviara
This gourmet dining event at the luxury Carlsbad resort, Park Hyatt Aviara, will showcase the talents of Whistle Pig Whiskey’s master distiller, Dave Pickerell, dropping knowledge and samples. Sips will be paired with tasty dishes like Whole Rotisserie Chipotle Maple Sucking Pig, roasted peaches, and House Smoked Salmon. Make reservations ahead of time by calling (760) 603-3606.

All Shook Up
7 p.m., California Center for the Arts Escondido
Classical Academy High School presents “All Shook Up,” a production at the California Center for the Arts Escondido inspired by the songs and life of Elvis Presley. The story takes place in 1955 when, into a square little town, rides in a guitar-playing cool cat who changes everything. The lip-curling musical features hits like “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Jailhouse Rock” and “Don’t Be Cruel.” Tickets range between $13-$15; the musical runs through Sunday.

Brooks Wheelan
8 p.m., The American Comedy Co.
You may recognize Brooks Wheelan from his stint on “Saturday Night Live” a few years ago and from his stand-up act on Comedy Central and “Conan.” This weekend, Wheelan takes the stage at San Diego’s American Comedy Co., with performances Thursday, Friday and Saturday. His Thursday night show is only $8.

Latin Thursdays
9 p.m., Harrah’s Resort Southern California
Enjoy live Latin music at Harrah’s Resort Southern California every Thursday night this month at this 21+ fiesta. The shows cost $10 and are available at the door.

Friday, May 26

Fermentation for Distillers
9 a.m. to 4 p.m., White Labs
White Labs (9495 Candida St.) will host a full-day workshop focused on yeast handling for distillers and science of it all. The class explores the basics of yeast, it’s metabolic process and how to create successful fermentations.

Balboa Park After Dark
5 p.m., Balboa Park
The late-night summer event – “Balboa Park After Dark” – makes its triumphant return, running May 26 through Labor Day weekend. Each Friday during the summer, visitors will enjoy extended evening hours at eight museums in Balboa Park, usually until 8 p.m., as well as food trucks and fun entertainment throughout the park. The event gives people a chance to stroll the landmark at a time when they usually may not visit.

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Cruisin’ Grand Escondido
5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Downtown Escondido(235 East Grand Ave.)
Downtown Escondido’s free, weekly vintage car show is back. Running every Friday night through Sept. 29, Cruisin’ Grand Escondido takes over historic Grand Avenue, with more than 500 cool cars lining the streets. The event, now in its 18th year, draws thousands of attendees. Each Friday night, awards are given to the most impressive pre-1973 American-made cars. This Friday night, the musical entertainment includes: High Energy Sound Machine (performing on Broadway); Hoo Doo Blues (performing on Juniper Street); Nitro Express (performing at Maple Street Plaza); Rudy T Band (performing at Kalmia & Grand). 

Summer Movies in the Park: 'Moana'
5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Waterfront Park
Every summer, the County of San Diego Department of Parks and Recreation, along with the Cities of San Diego, Chula Vista, El Cajon, La Mesa and more work together to host a series of free, outdoor movies, usually at local parks. This summer’s screening season just started, and on Friday, the show is at downtown’s Waterfront Park, which will play Disney’s “Moana” on the big screen. Bring a blanket and the family; the event is free.

Jahja Ling’s Finale
8 p.m., Copley Symphony Hall
San Diego Symphony’s music director, Jahja Ling, marks the end of his 13-year career with the Symphony with this very special concert Friday night at Copley Symphony Hall. Conductor Ling with be joined on stage by close colleague, Yefim Bronfman, on the piano. Together, they will tackle Johannes Brahms’ monumental Piano Concerto No. 2. The program closes with Ling leading the orchestra in a performance of Jean Sibelius’ Symphony No. 2. Tickets start at $25.

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Saturday, May 27

Coronado’s Free Summer Shuttle Service Begins
8:57 a.m. to 9:42 p.m. (shuttle service times), Coronado
Coronado’s free summer shuttle service rides again, returning to the streets of the island on May 27 and running through Labor Day. The service aims to make it easier for locals and visitors to cruise around Coronado and catch a ride to popular spots during the busy summer months. Hop on!

Palm, Cycad, Bamboo and Tropical Plant Sale
9 a.m. to 3 p.m., San Diego Botanic Garden
Gardening gurus, this plant sale’s for you. The San Diego Botanic Garden will offer rare and exotic species of palms, cycads and other tropical plants provided by Southern California nurseries. Admission into the sale is free with a paid ticket into the San Diego Botanic Garden.

Belvedere Pool Party
12 p.m. to 5 p.m., Hotel Palomar’s Level Four Pool Deck + Lounge
The Level Four Pool Deck + Lounge at downtown San Diego’s Hotel Palomar kicks off pool party season with this party hosted by Belvedere. A DJ will spin tunes from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., with drinks, food and fun also on deck. There’s no cover; bring money for drinks.

Oasis Camel Dairy’s Open Farm and Show
1 p.m., Oasis Camel Dairy in Ramona
Spend your Saturday 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. 

Birding Basics
1 p.m., Mission Trails Regional Park Visitor’s Center
Ever gone hiking and wondered, what is that bird? Wonder no more once you learn the basics of birding with this community class, aimed at teaching you how to identify birds at a glance. Experienced birder and trail guide Winona Sollock will lead the class, giving everyone tips and tricks. The group will meet in Classroom A at the Visitor’s Center. The class is free. 

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Rum & Tiki Fest
2 p.m. to 5 p.m., Hiatus Lounge
Hiatus Lounge in La Jolla will host its Rum & Tiki Fest Saturday afternoon, a celebration of rum and tiki cocktails as we ring in the unofficial start of summer on Memorial Day weekend. A $15 ticket includes samples of rums across different brands, to be sipped poolside.

Valley Center Stampede Rodeo and Festival
4 p.m., 28246 Lilac Road in Valley Center
Saddle up, San Diegans! The rodeo is back in town! Head on up to Valley Center this weekend for the non-profit Valley Center Stampede Rodeo and Festival, brought to you by the Valley Center Optimist Club. Volunteers put on their annual event, attended by thousands each year looking to cheer on their favorite cowboys and cowgirls. The family friendly rodeo runs on Saturday and Sunday. All proceeds are donated back to the community.

Spirits at Sunset: Summer Cocktail Cruise
5:30 p.m., Flagship Cruises and Events
Treat yourself to a nice evening on the Bay this Saturday for the all-new Spirits at Sunset cruise. Board an 82-foot yacht for an evening for 360 views of the beautiful San Diego and bay and your favorite cocktails. Tickets start at $42.50.

Freedom Concert Featuring Lifehouse
7:30 p.m., USS Midway Flight Deck
The USS Midway Museum will host its 7th annual Freedom Concert this Memorial Day weekend aboard the flight deck against picture perfect vistas of the San Diego Bay. Multi-platinum alt-rockers Lifehouse are headlining the benefit concert; proceeds will be donated to three military-focused organizations: Support The Enlisted Project (STEP), United Through Reading and the Navy SEAL Foundation. Tickets start at $26. 

Sunday, May 28

Vista Strawberry Festival
6:30 a.m., Historic Downtown Vista
It’s all about one of summer’s most beloved fruits at this Vista tradition! Come out to Vista and enjoy plenty of yummy food, multiple entertainment stages, live bands, carnival rides, local craft beer and, of course, strawberries. The festivities start early, with the traditional early morning strawberry runs – for kids and adults alike - as the sun rises. If running isn’t for you, there’s still plenty more to do: a Miss Strawberry Pageant, cooking contests, pie eating contests, Strawberry Idol (a singing competition), and more. Plus, more than 400 local vendors will come out to this popular, free annual event to showcase their strawberry-inspired products. The event is free to attend. 

Picnic at Pine Park
12 p.m. to 5 p.m., Pine Avenue Community Park in Carlsbad
This Sunday picnic at Carlsbad’s Pine Avenue Community Park (3333 Harding St.) will include live music, food and family-friendly fun. The free event is hosted by the Carlsbad Community Church.

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.

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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 through June 4. Tickets start at $15, though discounts are available for students, military, educations, seniors and groups.

Escape to Margaritaville
2 p.m., La Jolla Playhouse
The world premiere of “Escape to Margaritaville” continues its run at the Playhouse this weekend. The production features some of Jimmy Buffett’s best-known hits, in addition to new songs written especially for the musical. The story follows a part-time bartender, part-time singer on a Caribbean island who falls for a beautiful tourist, a woman who makes him question the life he thought he had figured out. Playwrights Greg Garcia ("My Name Is Earl", "Raising Hope") and Mike O'Malley ("My Name Is Earl", "Justified", "Glee") blend a story in the works for years with Buffett classics, under the direction of award-winning director Christopher Ashley. The musical runs through July 9 at the Playhouse. Read more about how the cast and crew paid tribute to Buffett’s music here.

Family Discovery Walk
3 p.m., Mission Trails Regional Park Visitor’s Center
Bring the whole family out for this peaceful walk to take in some of spring’s most beautiful sights. A trail guide will lead visitors through fresh blooms and growing plants, right before it gets too hot before summer. The walk is free.

Maritime Museum: Operatic Explorations
4 p.m., Maritime Museum of San Diego
The Hausmann Quartet partners with the Maritime Museum for this unique concert experience: Operatic Explorations aboard a steamboat. The concert takes place aboard the historic steam ferryboat Berkeley. Every program includes informative commentary from musicologist Derek Katz. The program celebrates Haydn Voyages’ quartets, paired with Thomas Ades’ Arcadiana. Tickets start at $10. 

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

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Monday, May 29: Memorial Day

On Memorial Day, we remember our U.S. military service members who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. In San Diego, you can visit several sites Monday to pay your respects. This includes: 

Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Cabrillo Memorial Drive
Situated on the Fort Rosecrans Military reservation about 10 miles west of San Diego, Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery is typically closed on federal holidays – except for Memorial Day. At VA national cemeteries across the U.S. on Monday, the National Cemetery Administration will host special remembrance ceremonies with the help of communities, including at Fort Rosecrans. The ceremony is at 10 a.m. at the Rostrum. In addition to serving as the final resting place of many U.S. military service members, the site also houses several monuments and memorials. Fresh-cut flowers may be placed on graves and in the gravel areas around the Columbarium or on memorial walls and monuments at any time – not only on Memorial Day.

Miramar National Cemetery
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 5795 Nobel Dr.
This 313-acre national cemetery is located on Nobel Drive about 15 miles north of downtown San Diego, at the northwest corner of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. A special Memorial Day ceremony will be held here Sunday, May 28 in the flag pole assembly area at 1 p.m. Miramar National Cemetery is also typically closed on federal holidays, but will be open on Memorial Day. As at Fort Rosecrans, fresh-cut flowers may be placed on graves and gravel areas around the Columbarium or on memorial walls and monuments at any time.

Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial
7 a.m. to 10 p.m., 6905 La Jolla Scenic Drive S.
On Memorial Day, the Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial in La Jolla will honor Gold Star families in San Diego at its Memorial Day ceremony. The Gold Star first made its appearance during World War I; it was placed over a service flag’s blue star when a service member was killed in combat, signifying a family’s pride in the sacrifice of their loved one. Captain Howard C. Warner III, current Commanding Officer of Naval Base Point Loma will give the keynote address at Monday’s ceremony. The event will include performances by Marine Band San Diego, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Color Guard and a “Fly By” across the memorial conducted by San Diego Performance Team Aircraft. Mt. Soledad is home to more than 4,800 veteran tributes embedded on granite plaques mounted onto walls. It’s open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The Unified Port of San Diego plans a May 26 start for seasonal downtown waterfront shuttle service, offering discounted rides through a program managed for the port district by locally based Ace Parking.

A port district statement said this is the sixth season for the shuttle bus service, which will operate seven days a week through Labor Day, Sept. 4. The regular rate will be $3 per person for unlimited all-day rides, with ticket purchase locations, parking and other information at the Port of San Diego website and this Ace Parking website.

Officials said the shuttle will make eight stops along Harbor Drive on a loop that takes approximately 20 minutes, taking visitors to local businesses and attractions including Sheraton Hotel & Marina, Maritime Museum of San Diego, USS Midway Museum, Seaport Village, Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego and San Diego Marriott Marquis & Marina.

The shuttle will operate from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

A free shuttle service returns to Coronado this summer, making it easier for locals and visitors to cruise around the island and catch a ride to popular spots.

Now in its fifth year in service, Coronado’s Free Summer Shuttle will start to offer courtesy rides along the island’s busy commercial district from May 27 through Labor Day (Sept. 4).

A project approved by the City Council, the City of Coronado contracts with the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) to operate the shuttle along the existing MTS 904 route. The service aims to improve mobility around the island during the peak summer season.

The shuttle comes in 15-minute intervals, offering rides from Coronado’s civic center to the Hotel del Coronado, the beach, the library and Spreckels Park. It also cruises through Coronado’s downtown and bayfront shopping and dining area to the Coronado Ferry Landing and Marriott Coronado Island Resort and back. Shuttles run from 8:57 a.m. to 9:42 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and until 10:42 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

The City of Coronado said there’s a change this summer to the shuttle’s layover location in the village area. Beginning on June 11, between the Civic Center and Coronado Shores, the layover will now be at the bus stop at Second Street and Glorietta Boulevard, near the Marriott.

This year, for Coronado Village-area residents, the shuttle service will expand its hours on the Fourth of July to 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. to ease traffic congestion and help give rides to the large crowds that typically gather for the holiday parade and fireworks display.

The service will also provide some new options this summer for Cays residents. The City of Coronado has partnered with Loews Coronado Bay Resort to run the Cays Curbside Shuttle Service. Cays residents can call (619) 865-2301 and request curbside pick-up seven days a week, between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. A golf cart from Loews will be dispatched to pick up passengers from their homes and shuttle them to the resort. From there, they can catch a free shuttle ride into the Coronado Village.

A fleet of four shuttles makes up the free service. The buses will be wrapped by Discover Coronado (formerly the Coronado Tourism Improvement District), so that they’re easy to spot and board; the organization will foot the $25,000 cost of wrapping the buses. The City of Coronado said that, in all, the total projected costs for the Free Summer Shuttle and Cays Curbside Service this season are $157,500.

Over the past five years, the shuttle service has proven to be a popular way to hitch a ride around Coronado. In 2015, a third bus was added to increase service intervals, which were once at 30 minutes, to 20 minutes. With today’s fleet, the rides arrive every 15 minutes.

The City of Coronado said the first year of the shuttle service saw a 506 percent increase in ridership from the regular MTS 904 route service. Each year since, tie city said ridership has increased an average of 36 percent.

Chinese fighter aircraft intercepted a U.S. Navy plane a couple of hundred miles southeast of Hong Kong this week, U.S. officials tell NBC News.

A Chinese J-10 aircraft flew about 200 yards in front of the P-3 Orion surveillance aircraft, making quick and erratic turns, restricting the plane's ability to maneuver, one official said. The Navy deemed the actions "unsafe."

A third US defense official said the intercept took place Thursday over the South China Sea. There were two J-10 jets, the official said, and one came within 100 feet of the American plane.

The U.S. has in the past objected to China's expansion into the South China Sea, which sits between China, Taiwan, the Philippines and Vietnam.

Plans for a West Coast earthquake early warning system, designed to one day give notice of an imminent temblor, would likely be killed under President Donald Trump's proposed federal budget.

If approved, the White House plan for the fiscal year ending in September 2018 would eliminate funds needed to develop the system, which already has components in place in California. The system still needs an array of sensors before it can trigger early warning alerts a few seconds or minutes before the shaking.

The proposed budget calls for the elimination of $8.2 million to $10 million to end the USGS ShakeAlert early warning system. Funding would be cut to Caltech and other research institutions on the West Coast working with the USGS to develop the system. 

"We cannot stop now, just as monitoring stations are being built out and the system is expanding its reach," said Rep. Adam Schiff (D-California). "Support for the early warning system in Congress is sustained, growing and bipartisan, and we will not accept this attempt by the president to cut a vital funding stream for a program that will protect life, property and critical infrastructure."

Early warning systems like ShakeAlert are designed to detect the first shockwaves produced by seismic activity by using hundreds of ground motion sensors. In the case of a large jolt, the system would trigger an alert ahead of the larger, more damaging seismic waves.

The advance warning would allow office workers and schoolchildren, for example, time to duck and cover under desks. Just a few seconds of warning would allow train operators to apply brakes and doctors to prepare for shaking during surgeries. 

Automated systems mated to the early alert system could shut off gas lines, possibly limiting post-quake fire damage.

"I am deeply disappointed to see that President Trump's budget proposes to eliminate funding for earthquake early warning in the western U.S.," said Dr. Lucy Jones, a seismologist who worked for three decades with the U.S. Geological Survey at Southern California's Caltech. "Eliminating the $10 million per year that the government has been spending would stop the program and waste the $23 million that has already been invested.

"The talented scientists and technicians that are working on the project now will go to other jobs, so their experience and expertise would be lost. Many life- and money-saving measures would not be available when the next earthquake strikes." 

The Department of the Interior defended the cuts in a statement, saying the $922 million USGS budget "highlights the Administration’s commitment to increasing efficiency across the federal government." It said the agency will be able to monitor earthquakes using the existing Advanced National Seismic System, according to the statement.

"President Trump promised the American people he would cut wasteful spending and make the government work for the taxpayer again, and that's exactly what this budget does," said U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke,  in a statement issued about the USGS budget. "Working carefully with the President, we identified areas where we could reduce spending and also areas for investment, such as addressing the maintenance backlog in our National Parks and increasing domestic energy production on federal lands. The budget also allows the Department to return to the traditional principles of multiple-use management to include both responsible natural resource development and conservation of special places.

"Being from the West, I've seen how years of bloated bureaucracy and D.C.-centric policies hurt our rural communities. The President's budget saves taxpayers by focusing program spending, shrinking bureaucracy, and empowering the front lines."

Similar systems are already operating in other countries. In Mexico City, an early warning system in place since 1991 detects large quakes and determines locations and magnitude. The sprawling metropolis is several hundred miles from the main plate boundary, which means it can receive warnings more than a minute before shaking. 

The system was praised by experts, who said it provided the densely populated city with more than a minute of warning during a magnitude-7.2 earthquake in April 2014.

Japan has the most advanced early warning system. Initially developed to stop or slow the country's high-speed trains during shaking, the system was deployed nationwide. It features on- and off-shore sensors. 

Japan has issued public warnings through the system since 2007.

Tourism in the United States has dropped 11 percent since October 2016, according to a new study outlined by Foursquare’s CEO Jeff Glueck.

The company used real-time data to track about 13 million of its users. Results showed that California was hit the hardest by the tourism decline.

Los Angeles and San Diego are the two cities impacted the most by the drop, according to the study.

Visitors spend about $10.4 billion at San Diego businesses every year. Tourism also accounts for about 13 percent of the jobs in San Diego County, according to San Diego Tourism Authority.

General Manager of the Wyndham Bayside in San Diego, Joe Eustice, says that travel represents about five percent of his business.

“Seventy-five percent of our travelers are those domestic travelers who are either coming on business or leisure travel. Another 20 percent is probably associated with city-wide conventions and conventions,” Eustice said.

“The euro and the pound have had a significant change in the last six months, so that could always cause an opportunity for there to be less travel,” Eustice added.

Eustice also noted that France and Germany have also had major political changes and that could affect international travel as well.

The Foursquare study suggests that the election of President Donald Trump could be a possible factor as to why tourism in the U.S. is down.

The study points out residents of the Middle East and Central and South America are avoiding the U.S. more than residents of Asia and Europe.

On Memorial Day, we remember our U.S. military service members who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. In San Diego, you can visit several sites this holiday weekend to pay your respects.

Here are a few of those locations:

Miramar National Cemetery
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 5795 Nobel Dr.
This 313-acre national cemetery is located on Nobel Drive about 15 miles north of downtown San Diego, at the northwest corner of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. A special Memorial Day ceremony will be held here on Sunday, May 28, at 1 p.m. in the flag pole assembly area. Miramar National Cemetery is typically closed on federal holidays, but will be open on Memorial Day. Fresh-cut flowers may be placed on graves and gravel areas around the Columbarium or on memorial walls and monuments at any time -- not only on Memorial Day.

Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Cabrillo Memorial Drive
Situated on the Fort Rosecrans Military reservation about 10 miles west of San Diego, Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery is typically closed on federal holidays – except for Memorial Day. At VA national cemeteries across the U.S. on Monday, the National Cemetery Administration will host special remembrance ceremonies with the help of communities, including at Fort Rosecrans. The Memorial Day ceremony at this site is at 10 a.m. at the Rostrum. The annual ceremony usually includes small American flags placed on the graves of the fallen. In addition to serving as the final resting place of many U.S. military service members, the Fort Rosecrans also houses several monuments and memorials. Fresh-cut flowers may be placed on graves and in the gravel areas around the Columbarium or on memorial walls and monuments at any time – not only on Memorial Day.

Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial
7 a.m. to 10 p.m., 6905 La Jolla Scenic Drive S.
On Memorial Day, the Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial in La Jolla will honor Gold Star families in San Diego at its Memorial Day ceremony. The Gold Star first made its appearance during World War I; it was placed over a service flag’s blue star when a service member was killed in combat, signifying a family’s pride in the sacrifice of their loved one. Captain Howard C. Warner III, current Commanding Officer of Naval Base Point Loma will give the keynote address at Monday’s ceremony. The event will include performances by Marine Band San Diego, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Color Guard and a “Fly By” across the memorial conducted by San Diego Performance Team Aircraft. Mt. Soledad is home to more than 4,800 veteran tributes embedded on granite plaques mounted onto walls. It’s open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

These are just a few ways to honor our fallen U.S. military service members on Memorial Day in San Diego. If you're taking part in other ceremonies across the county, let us know in the comments section below.