Runners, walkers and spectators will fill the streets of San Diego, as more than 30,000 people from all 50 states and 37 countries take part in the lively, music-filled 2017 Rock ‘N' Roll Marathon this Sunday.

San Diego residents and visitors can expect road closures and delays between 5:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. to accompany the marathon. Police officers and event personnel will guide and control traffic. The streets will reopen on a rolling basis as soon as the last participant has passed and all course support materials have been removed.

An interactive map of the closures can be seen here. There is also a freeway and ramp closure grid, road closure grid and no park grid available on the map.

Both the marathon and the half marathon will begin on Sunday at 6:15 a.m. on Sixth Avenue and Quince Street at Balboa Park. The race will take the participants all around San Diego. To view the course map, click here.

The finish line is located at Ash Street, between Columbia Street and State Street. A free Finish Line Festival will be held at Waterfront Park, and will include activities and live music. The headliner Michael Franti & Spearhead will perform for participants and spectators.

Organizers encourage spectators to take the trolley, Coaster or walk, depending on their location to the finish line area downtown. They said parking may prove difficult amid all the traffic congestion. For more detailed information on parking and transportation, click here.

For everything you need to know about the San Diego Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon, visit the event website.

World leaders on Thursday reacted quickly to President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the Paris climate change agreement, with former Vice President Al Gore calling the move "reckless and indefensible." 

Negotiated by 195 countries, the agreement is aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions that are contributing to climate change. While it is not a binding treaty, the agreement calls on countries to make voluntary national pledges to reduce emissions and provide periodic updates on their progress.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that she regrets Trump's move to withdraw the U.S., but will keep working "to save our Earth." Germany also released a joint statement with France and Italy saying the Paris climate agreement cannot be renegotiated, despite Trump wanting to re-enter it "on better terms."

The U.K.'s representatives in the United Nations released a statement calling Trump's decision "tragic" that Trump "has so little regard for the long-term future country."

In statements prior to Trump's official announcement, China, Germany, the U.K. and Russia all reaffirmed their commitment to the Paris Accord and slowing climate change. 

Some top Republicans, however, supported the move.

Two children were in a pickup truck carrying $91,000 of methamphetamine, U.S. Customs and Border Protection employees said Thursday.

Agents from the El Centro Border Patrol station were working in Ocotillo, at the State Route S2 immigration checkpoint Wednesday. They stopped a woman driving a 2001 Chevy Silverado with two children in the truck.

A K-9 alerted to the vehicle so the officers moved the truck to secondary inspection.

There, they say they found 15 packages of illegal drugs hidden in the floor of the truck, under a rear bench.

Agents arrested the driver, a 27-year-old U.S. citizen. The two children who were with the driver were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The packages tested positive for methamphetamine according to the CBP. The amount of the drugs was estimated at 28 pounds. The estimated street value of the seizure was $91,200 according to a CBP news release.

President Donald Trump in announcing the U.S. withdrawal from the climate change agreement, said, “I was elected to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris.”

Maybe he should have chosen a different city.

Pittsburgh’s Mayor Bill Peduto, a Democrat, quickly tweeted that Hillary Clinton had received 80 percent of his city’s vote.

“As the Mayor of Pittsburgh, I can assure you that we will follow the guidelines of Paris Agreement for our people, our economy and future,” Peduto wrote.

Peduto is part of global coalition of city leaders leaders committed to mitigating climate change in cities. Last year, he addressed a lunch hosted by the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh, which cited his experience in building a new economy in the city and making it a leader in green initiatives.

The city’s Office of Sustainability notes that Pittsburgh is working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions within the city limits and mitigate its contribute to global climate change.

“We have already begun to experience the effects of climate change in Pittsburgh with colder winters, and we know Pennsylvania can expect longer and hotter summers, decreased winter snowpack and increased rainfall,” the city’s website says. “We need coordinated, concentrated and comprehensive carbon mitigation action now to reduce the severity of regional impacts and prepare for a low carbon economy.”

Trump carried Pennsylvania in a close race, but in a recent poll received poor marks on climate and the environment. A Franklin & Marshall University poll in May found that although he gets strong support from Republicans and conservatives, just over half the state's voters gave him an "F" in climate change and the environment. 

Perhaps Pittsburg, Kansas, would have been a better choice for the comparison. Crawford County voted overwhelmingly for Trump, giving him 57 percent of the vote to 34 percent for Clinton.

Considered to be the birthplace of California, Old Town San Diego is home to museums, restaurants, historical demonstrations a peaceful cemetery and even a house that is believed to be haunted. At every turn, you’ll find a piece of San Diego’s rich heritage.

The local landmark anchored by San Diego Avenue and lined with adobe buildings gives visitors a glimpse at what life was like for San Diegans in the 19th century, detailing the past that helped shape our city’s present.

There’s a lot to do in Old Town, all the time. Here’s a look at a few of those must-see stops along the way.

Free Museums

Old Town is filled with historical sites – from San Diego’s first newspaper print shop to the first public schoolhouse. These sites operate as museums and are open free to the public.

Located at the northern end of Old Town and near Old Town State Historic Park, visitors will find places such as: the Seeley Stable Museum dedicated to modes of 19th century overland transportation like the carreta (ox-drawn cart), mud wagon and Concord stage; the reconstructed Robinson-Rose House now home to the park’s visitors center; the 1825 Casa de Estudillo adobe hacienda; the the Black Hawk Livery & Blacksmith, still churning out fine goods.

The Mason Street Schoolhouse (3966 Mason St.) – San Diego’s first public schoolhouse – boasts relics from school life in 1865, from books to lesson plans, plus a volunteer who dresses and speaks in the likeness of the school’s first teacher, Mary Chase Walker. This stop is a favorite among school field trips.

Historical Demonstrations

Old Town’s dedicated volunteers and staffers can often be seen outfitted in period attire, reflective of the 19th century. The apparel adds an important element to the historical demonstrations performed daily in Old Town, many at the Threads of the Past: Living History Activity Center. There, visitors can watch activities like quilting and silhouetting. Over at Black Hawk Livery & Blacksmith, visitors can watch blacksmithing demonstrations.

Gregg Giacopuzzi, of Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, said the biggest showcase of historical demonstrations happens in the summer, during Old Town’s annual Stagecoach Days celebration. The free festival celebrates the park’s history and runs every Saturday in the grand plaza, offering free activities and demos. This year, Stagecoach Days takes place from July 8 through Aug. 26.

Giacopuzzi said visitors will find volunteers dressed to the nines in period attire – right down to historically accurate fabrics and patterns.

He said these demonstrations are really what make Old Town so unique, adding, “They each paint the picture of life back in the 19th century.”

Fresh Tortillas (and Good Food)

Old Town San Diego boasts more than 25 restaurants within a mile radius, many offering authentic Mexican cuisine. If you’re not ready to sit and eat, there is a grab-and-go option that is quintessentially Old Town-esque: buying a hot, fresh tortilla from one of many stands located at the park. The mouthwatering treats usually sell for a couple of dollars outside of Café Coyote or in Fiesta de Reyes – find them. Pro Tip: Locals like to eat them with a little bit of butter. For a list of eateries in Old Town, click here.

El Campo Santo Cemetery & Sidewalk Grave Markers

A ways away from the heart of Old Town, lays El Campo Santo Cemetery (2410 San Diego Ave.), a small, tranquil burial site used between 1849 and 1880. The cemetery is the final resting place of some of the most famous early San Diegans, including “Yankee Jim” Robinson. The cemetery has undergone a lot of changes since its founding in 1849. Now smaller in size, some of the graves that were once part of the cemetery have been paved over and now lie beneath San Diego Avenue and Linwood Street.

If you’re strolling on the sidewalk near the cemetery, you may spot small, round markers that read “GRAVE SITE.” These markers are tiny and sometimes easily missed, but they represent where some of those former El Campo Santo residents are buried.

Anyone can visit the cemetery; on any given day, you might spot flowers decorating the gravesites or visitors reflecting as they read some of the marked graves.

Eric Minella, director of historic interpretation at Old Town, said the space is certainly a very peaceful pocket of Old Town, away from the hustle and bustle.

The Whaley House

Considered one of the most haunted houses in the United States by the Travel Channel’s “America’s Most Haunted” is the Whaley House, located at 2476 San Diego Ave.

The 1857 Greek Revival-style residence was once home to Thomas and Anna Whaley and their children. It was formally dedicated as a historic house museum on May 25, 1960. Today, it is maintained and operated by the Save Our Heritage Organisation.

The Whaley House is open daily, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., for daytime self-guided tours. Admission is $8 for adults and $6 for children ages 6 to 12. The museum’s docents are available for questions as you’re making your way through the house. It’s also open on certain nights for tours, usually from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Nighttime tickets cost $13 for adults and $8 for children ages 6 to 12.

The Whaley House was a major part of San Diego’s early history. Besides serving as the Whaley Family’s home, the site also served as a general store and, at one point, the Tanner Troupe Theatre operated out of the front upstairs bedroom. The San Diego County Courthouse also used some of the home; today, that part of the property depicts how the courthouse looked back in the day.

More than 125,000 people visit the Whaley House each year. Some report feeling chills or seeing apparitions, keeping alive the haunted folklore that has long surrounded the dwelling.

This is just a small sampling of some of the things you can do when visiting Old Town San Diego. What’s your favorite spot in the park? Share in the comments thread below.

Ukuleles could be the answer to keeping music in classrooms all over the country, or in a lot of cases, getting it back into the classroom.

“What we’re doing is putting it back where it belongs, but we’re doing it differently,” said Jessica Baron, founder of the San Diego-based nonprofit, Guitars in the Classroom.

That group is responsible for donating thousands of the small, stringed instruments to schools all over the U.S.

Baron says they use ukuleles because they are smaller, easier to play and less expensive. The group’s main mission, however, is teaching teachers.

Over the past 10 years, the group has trained more than 11,000 teachers in 32 states to play a musical instrument.

Baron says while music teachers and programs all over the country are being cut, the more practical solution may be training traditional teachers how to incorporate music in their other subjects.

“What we’re doing is building capacity in the teachers to comfortably lead and teach through music, so that children feel that music is just a natural part of what they’re learning,” says Baron. “When we’re teaching language arts or math through music, it becomes a joyful experience. So, it’s not just your frontal cortex going. We’re actually deeply engaged and excited about the learning.”

Ocean Beach Elementary School is one of the schools where Baron’s program is used by multiple teachers, to help kids young as kindergarten age.

There are now multiple instruments in most of the school’s classrooms. Principal Marco Drapeau calls the program a blessing, and said he’s not sure how they would get music into classes without it.

“We’d be back to where we were, which is teacher-driven, on any given day if anybody has the heart and passion for it, but that’s not really any type of sustainable program,” said Drapeau.

“There’s so much research around how the arts can help brain development," he continued. "This is not something we find time for. This is something that has to be a strong component in any child’s education."

Ocean Beach Elementary is part of a district dealing with the reality of cutting arts in classrooms right now.

The San Diego Unified District is facing a $124 million budget deficit. Elementary schools could be the hardest hit.

Some people are worried that could cause a domino effect as those kids get older and start middle and high school without any earlier exposure to music.  It’s a problem the district’s director of Visual and Performing Arts, Russ Sperling, acknowleged.

“That's something we'll have to strategize with middle school teachers about. If we have students coming in in sixth grade and they haven't had band, orchestra, or choir in middle school, then we'll have to have some beginning courses available," said Sperling.

There are 135 teachers in the San Diego region that have gone through the Guitars in the Classroom training.

Jessica Baron is hoping for a lot more, and hopes to make sure no teacher has to pay for the training.

“We hope the schools can pay, but we understand what’s going on here,” said Baron.

She says the bottom line is getting musical instruments into the hands of kids, and music into their minds as early as possible.

“When we get this started in an elementary school, we make sure every child has access.  Every child is going to learn.”

Click here to find out more about summer training and a teacher retreat offered by Guitars in the Classroom.

Welcome to the first weekend of June, San Diego. Outdoor movies, concerts, baseball games and the opening of the San Diego County Fair will keep you busy this weekend as you enjoy everything our county has to offer.

Thursday, June 1

Sip the City: A San Diego Urban Wineries Festival
5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., The Headquarters at Seaport
Sip and mingle under the stars in the courtyard of The Headquarters at Seaport as more than a dozen urban wineries pour samples of their wine, kicking off San Diego Urban Wine Week. The fest includes food, live entertainment and a chance to speak with local winemakers about their craft. Tickets cost $25.

Sunset Poolside Jazz Series
6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., The Westgate Hotel
Downtown’s Westgate Hotel kicks off its “Sunset Poolside Jazz Series” Thursday night, an event series featuring a different performance every week from Southern California’s finest jazz talents at the hotel’s pool. The event includes drinks and appetizers, available for purchase. Attendees are asked to spend at least $25 on drinks and food; the entertainment is free. The series runs each Thursday through Aug. 31; the first performance on June 1 is by Besos De Coco.

The Total Package Tour: New Kids on the Block, With Paula Abdul & Boys II Men
7:30 p.m., Viejas Arena at Aztec Bowl San Diego State University
Take it back – “Step by Step” – to the days of ultimate fan-girl fun at the “Total Package Tour” concert featuring (cue the screams) New Kids on the Block, with Boys II Men and Paula Abdul. Tickets start at $39.95, but the memories that’ll make you feel like you’re 12 again are priceless.

A Step Beyond Presents: ‘Towards Hope’
7:30 p.m., California Center for the Arts Escondido
North County nonprofit, A Step Beyond, presents “Towards Hope: A Creative Youth Development Performance” at the California Center for the Arts in Escondido Thursday and Friday night. The nonprofit serves local youth ages 8 to 19 through a program that includes dance, academic and family services. This show is part of pushing underserved youth to expand their expectations and ambition through dance. The all-ages event is free.

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, June 2

Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival
3 p.m. to 10 p.m., Lake Skinner Recreation Area
The annual Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival returns to the community just north of San Diego County with a robust lineup of live entertainment, wine tasting, food, arts and crafts and hot air balloon rides. The festival goes down (or, should we say, up) at the Lake Skinner Recreation Area (37701 Warren Rd.) from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. At the gate, general admission ranges between $30 and $40 per person; this includes three ways to get close to the balloons: joining a sunrise morning balloon launch; a tethered balloon ride in the morning; an evening balloon glow. Of course, even if you don’t hop on a balloon, you can marvel from land at the sight of dozens of them floating in the air.

San Diego County Fair: Opening Day
4 p.m. to 11 p.m., Del Mar Fairgrounds
Yee-haw! The San Diego County Fair kicks off its 2017 season Friday night with rides, entertainment and, of course, gloriously unhealthy fried food. This year’s theme is “Wild, Wild West,” so expect a rootin’ tootin’ good time. The fair runs through July 4. Admission is $18 for adults ages 13 to 61; $11 for those 62 and older and for kids ages 6 to 12. Little ones 5 and younger get in free. You can also buy the “Best Pass Ever” for $26, which gets you admission for all 26 days of the fair.

Food Truck Friday
4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Plaza de Panama at Balboa Park
Balboa Park’s “Food Truck Friday” returns for the summer, bringing more than a dozen food trucks to the Plaza de Panama and El Prado walkway every Friday evening through Sept. 29. As you grab some food, you’ll also be able to enjoy live entertainment at the park. Stick around and check out “Balboa Park After Dark” (see below), happening simultaneously at the park Friday nights this summer.

Friday Night Liberty
5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Liberty Station
Liberty Station hosts another round of its monthly art walk, Friday Night Liberty, inviting visitors to mingle with working artists, check out museums and galleries and enjoy live dance, theatre and music performances. This event is free.

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.

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: DJ Dino (spinning on Broadway); Del Rio (performing on Juniper Street); WiFi's (performing at Maple Street Plaza); Bradley Leighton (performing at Kalmia & Grand). 

The Vine Affair

6 p.m. to 10 p.m., Balboa Park
Celebrate art, unique beers, food and, of course, wine, at this Friday night event at Balboa Park. Attendees will stroll through five museums doubling as “tasting galleries” – the San Diego Art Institute, the San Diego Museum of Art, the San Diego Model Railroad Museum, the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center and the San Diego History Center – all while enjoying art installations, live music, wine education, food and tasty sips of wine. Tickets cost $65.

Summer Movies in the Park: ‘The Sandlot’
6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., Standley Community Park
San Diego’s fun (and free!) “Summer Movies in the Park” series continues, this time with an outdoor screening of the 1993 baseball classic, “The Sandlot,” playing at Standley Community Park (3585 Governor Dr.). The event starts at 6:30 p.m. with pre-movie carnival games. Food and concessions will be available for purchase. Dogs are not allowed at this screening. Organizers say there’s limited parking at Standley Community Park and Swanson Pool, as well as street parking in the area.

Dana Carvey
7:30 p.m., Humphreys Concerts by the Bay
“Saturday Night Live” alum Dana Carvey brings the funny to Humphreys by the Bay Friday night, taking the stage at 7:30 p.m. Most tickets for this event cost $67.

Padres vs. Rockies
7:10 p.m., Petco Park
The San Diego Padres take on the Colorado Rockies this weekend at Petco Park. First pitch for Friday’s game is at 7:10 p.m.; tickets start at $16.

REO Speedwagon
9 p.m., Harrah’s Resort SoCal
Beloved rockers REO Speedwagon take the stage at Harrah’s Resort SoCal Friday night, performing those hits that you can’t help but belt out with all of your heart: “Keep on Lovin’ You,” “Take It on the Run,” and more. We know, we “Can’t Fight This Feeling” either. Tickets range between $40 and $250; the show is 21+ only.

Saturday, June 3

The Boardwalk Craft Market
8 a.m., Old Poway Park
This unique festival, now in its 25th year, offers Poway residents the chance to shop for unique and useful handmade arts and crafts from local artists. The event is free and fun for the whole family.

Coronado’s Free Summer Shuttle Service
8:57 a.m. to 9:42 p.m. (shuttle service times), Coronado
Coronado’s free summer shuttle service is back, running now 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!

Trek with the Trackers
8:30 a.m., Mission Trails Regional Park Visitor’s Center
The Tracking Team at Mission Trails Regional Park takes you on an adventure this Saturday. Follow tracks, track bedlays and other critter evidence as you track lesser-seen animals in the park. The team recommends you wear long pants to enable you to get up close. The trek is free.

Pink Boots Society 10th Anniversary Beer Festival 
12 p.m., Ingram Plaza at Liberty Station
The Pink Boots Society assists, inspires and encourages women in the beer industry – and what better way to celebrate fearless brewers than with a beer festival? More than 30 brewers will be pouring a selection of their best brews, plus, delicious food trucks will line the streets nearby for those looking to grab a bite to eat. Tickets start at $15.

San Diego Padres vs. Colorado Rockies 
1:10 p.m., Petco Park
Spend your Saturday afternoon soaking up the sun and enjoying one of America’s favorite pastimes: baseball! First pitch is at 1:10 p.m. Tickets in the stands start at $15 per person.

The Spitfire Grill: A Musical
2 p.m., North Coast Repertory Theatre
This heartfelt musical tells the story of a young woman with an uncertain past and features a beautiful, emotional score. Tickets start at $42.

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.

Mainly Mozart Festival: Spotlight Series
6:30 p.m., The Auditorium at TSRI in La Jolla
Come listen to some of Mozart’s most beautiful works, including his Violin Sonata in C Major and his Piano Trio in G Major. There will also be a poem reading by Charlene Baldridgel. Tickets start at $58.

Brad Garrett
7 p.m., The American Comedy Co.
Three-time Emmy Award-winning actor Brad Garrett, best known for his role on the hit TV show, "Everybody Loves Raymond," stops by downtown's American Comedy Co. to perform his stand-up routine. You may recognize his trademark voice from beloved films like “Finding Nemo”, “Ratatouille” and "Tangled." Tickets start at $30. 

Sunday, June 4

San Diego Padres vs. Colorado Rockies 
1:40 p.m., Petco Park
Bring the whole family out for Compadres Kids Sunday and KidFest at the ballpark as the Padres take on the Rockies once again. First pitch is at 1:40 p.m. Tickets in the stands start at $15 per person.

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 to 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. The production runs through June 18 at the Old Globe Theatre.

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.

Lady Antebellum: You Look Good World Tour
7:30 p.m., Mattress Firm Amphitheatre
One of country’s most popular trios takes the stage in Chula Vista this Sunday. The trio is best known for their country hits, including “Need You Now”, “Bartender”, “Downtown” and “Just a Kiss.” Tickets to see the Grammy Award-winning band start at $30. 

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

Looking to save some cash, 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.

State Superintendent Tom Torlakson visited the San Ysidro School District on Thursday to learn about how the district has addressed dangerous levels of lead in the water at the La Mirada Elementary and San Ysidro Middle schools.

Last year, San Ysidro School District officials discovered blue water oozing from a school water fountain at La Mirada elementary.

They immediately shut off all water at the school and began providing bottled water to students while they investigated the problem.

Dangerous levels of lead and copper were discovered in the tap water and in school drinking fountains. Later testing revealed the school's twin building at Smythe did not have elevated levels of lead. But a school across the street, San Ysidro Middle, did have elevated levels of lead. 

NBC 7 alerted Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez to the issues at La Mirada, who wrote pending legislation requiring that school districts test water for lead. Staff in Gonzalez's office had already been studying concerns about lead in school water.

Gonzalez and her team researched the issue in the south San Diego County district for about a year prior to the discovery of elevated levels of lead at La Mirada, following the Flint water crisis. 

The discovery sparked pending legislation written by Gonzalez requiring schools test their water for lead. So far, in San Diego, about half a dozen schools have discovered dangerous levels of lead in school water and about 40 have discovered elevated levels of lead, following extensive coverage of the issue by NBC7's "Safe to Drink?" series. 

"I am proud of how our District continues to proactively address this issue," said San Ysidro Superintendent Dr. Julio Fonseca. "It is a challenge for schools and districts across the country, and our careful approach has been exemplary." 

President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the Paris climate change agreement will endanger human health and make it hard to prevent even more damage from global warning, medical groups said Thursday, reported NBC News.

Many studies clearly lay out the risks from climate change — including respiratory and heat-related illnesses, insect-borne infections, water-borne diseases, and threats to safe food and water.

A 2015 study found that a rise in the average summer temperature of just under 2 degrees F led to a 1 percent higher death rate in New England, for instance.

Heat can raise blood pressure and worsen cholesterol levels. Longer, hotter summers can aid the spread of mosquitoes that carry diseases such as malaria, dengue, Zika and yellow fever — and warmer winters may fail to kill off populations of the insects.

San Diego police released a composite sketch on Thursday of a man accused of following a 12-year-old girl in Tierrasanta.

According to the San Diego Police Department (SDPD), the girl reported noticing the man following her along the 4000 block of Santo Road at around 5:45 p.m. on Wednesday, May 24.

The girl told police that she crossed the road multiple times and the man continued to follow her, also crossing the road.

That's when the girl confronted the man and told him to stop following her, police said. The man told the girl he wanted to talk to her, but she told him to leave her alone and continued walking.

SDPD said the girl turned down a residential street, and when she noticed the man still following, she confronted him a second time. When the man approached the girl, she struck him and ran away.

She hid in a bush and waited until the man left. Then she was able to run home and tell her mother about the incident.

The suspect is described as about five-feet, ten-inches to six-feet tall with a medium build and appeared to be in his late 20s. He was wearing a gray zip-up hooded sweatshirt over a white shirt and blue jeans with cheetah pattern-framed sunglasses on his head at the time of the incident, according to SDPD.

Would you wear algae on your feet? One local company is hoping you do for the sake of the environment.

Bloom Holdings is the creator of Bloom FOAM, a wearable foam converted from toxic algae blooms in fresh water. The Solana Beach-based company said Thursday their products are a solution to algae that takes over water in California and kills marine life.

“All of our local reservoirs, at one time or another, have algae blooms that have been serious problems for them," said Rob Falken, managing director of Bloom Holdings. "We make algae functional. For most shoes we average about twenty to twenty-five percent algae content.”

Falken added they are currently the only company in the world doing this.

Through a partnership with Vivo Barefoot, they are making shoes that look similar to crocs and cleaning the water at the same time.

The process vacuums pond scum out of a lake, dries it, pulverizes it into a powder, which is turned into plastic and then foam. This foam can be made into products for surf boards, furniture or anything else that requires flexible foam.

The process returns dozens of gallons of clean water to lakes and removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere for each pair of shoes created.

Falken added it is possible to do this process with ocean water as well, which they plan to do in the future.

"The goal is to be cleaning water ways on a global scale," said Falken.

“It was like a fog bank,” Nancy Young said, recalling the day the fire started in December. 

She said she can still smell smoke that once filled her bedroom. The incident happened after Nancy paid a remodeling company named Seniors’ Choice to fix a water leak under her mobile home. 

“I heard something about fire, he [Seniors’ Choice employee] was soldering so I came in, went into my bedroom and it was smokey,” Nancy said. 

She said they fixed the water leak but after they left, she started seeing smoke again. Nancy said she called Seniors’ Choice and they told her to call the fire department. 

“Firemen came in, big chainsaw and cut out the toilet in the master bedroom where smoke was going up into the bedroom,” Nancy said. 

She said she contacted Seniors’ Choice and the company said they would take care of the damage. The company fixed the wiring problem, cleaned her carpet and bedding and replaced her curtains. The company also returned her $800 payment for the repairs and gave her a $100 Walmart gift card. 

After the repairs and repayment, Nancy said she’s still not happy. She said her mattress and box springs have not been replaced and since December, she has been sleeping on her living room couch because she can’t stand the lingering smell of smoke. 

Feeling like she was out of options, Nancy contacted NBC 7 Responds. We reached out to Seniors’ Choice and the company’s president Caryn Leventhal said they have done their best to mitigate the unfortunate circumstances. Leventhal said the company spent $5,000 trying to make it right with Nancy but every time they go to the house, Nancy would add to her demands. 

To read the company’s full statement to NBC 7 Responds, click here.  

NBC 7 Responds asked Leventhal for a more detailed account of all the repairs made to Nancy’s mobile home and whether or not the company would replace Nancy’s mattress and box springs but the company did not respond to our requests, citing that the California Contractor's State License Board is now investigating Nancy’s complaint. 

The Contractor’s State License Board said the best way consumers can protect themselves before any work is started is to ask the contractor if they have general liability insurance. This protects you and the company in case there’s an accident. 

Leventhal confirmed Seniors’ Choice has general liability insurance but would not comment on whether or not a claim was filed. 

The Contractor’s State License Board also recommended consumers file complaints with their office if they run into problems with a contractor. 

To learn more about what you should know before hiring a contractor, click here.

President Donald Trump announced his intention for the United States to leave the Paris climate agreement on Thursday in a lengthy and rambling speech that veered into inaccurate territory several times, NBC News reported.

In his speech, Trump painted a picture of a global cabal dictating America's actions and economy.

"We can't build the [coal] plants, but [China] can, according to this agreement," Trump said.

But the Paris accord doesn't bar America, or any of the countries that are a part of it, from doing anything.

The International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) is holding its quarterly meeting Thursday at the Tijuana Estuary.

Reports from a bi-national investigation done by the IBWC on the major sewage spill back in February will headline the meeting.

The spill sent 28 million gallons of sewage into the Tijuana River and into United States waters after a sewage pipe collapsed in Tijuana. Beaches were closed from Imperial Beach to Coronado.

The report also includes recommendations to prevent future sewage spills in Tijuana effecting San Diego.

“We’re definitely working on it. It’s going to take both countries," Lori Kuczmanski, Public Affairs Officer, International Boundary and Water Commission said. "Equipment is needed to address emergency situations and they have been asked to have appropriate equipment for emergency situations, of which, they have already purchased one pump. So, we feel that is progress toward future spills.”

Another recommendation in the report was for improved communication between Mexico and the United States, which the IBWC says this has improved already. The IBWC is also having Mexico look at their current infrastructure.

“We have asked Mexico to analyze all of their infrastructure and provide an update on aging infrastructure,” Kuczmanski said.

A small group protested outside of the South Bay Water Reclamation Plant this morning ahead of tonight's meeting. The group believes our local leaders need to do more to prevent a sewage spill from happening again.

“It’s damaging our natural wildlife in the area," Imperial Beach resident Sandy Brillhart said. "It’s a health hazard to children or anyone who uses the beaches. It’s damaging our local economy. It’s impeding Navy SEAL training. It’s affecting Border Patrol. It’s really a national threat and the response has been underwhelming and appalling."

The meeting will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Tijuana Estuary meeting room.

Hundreds of people protested in Lower Manhattan and buildings were to be lit green in solidarity after President Trump declared Thursday that the U.S. is withdrawing from the landmark Paris climate agreement.

Trump’s decision strikes a major blow to worldwide efforts to combat climate change and distances the U.S. from many allies. It also led to widespread condemnation on social media and in the streets of New York City.

About 400 protesters gathered at Foley Square after Trump’s announcement. They held signs and chanted, “What do we want? Climate justice! When do we want it? Now!”

The crowd marched through the streets to nearby City Hall, where they pounded drums and chanted, “You can’t drink oil, leave it in the soil!”

In a show of solidarity, Gov. Cuomo said One World Trade Center and the Kosciuszko Bridge would be lit green on Thursday night. Mayor de Blasio said City Hall would also light up green.

The U.S. Conference of Mayors said it strongly opposed the decision and said mayors will continue efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions blamed for global warming.

Under former President Obama, the U.S. had agreed under the accord to reduce polluting emissions by about 1.6 billion tons by 2025. But the targets were voluntary, meaning the U.S. and the nearly 200 other nations in the agreement could alter their commitments.

Framing his decision as "a reassertion of America's sovereignty," Trump said, "I was elected to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris."

Trump said that he would begin negotiations to re-enter the agreement or establish "an entirely new transaction" to get a better deal for the U.S. But he suggested re-entry was hardly a priority. "If we can, great. If we can't, that's fine," he said.

Trump’s announcement came the same day that a study was released saying that East Harlem is one of the most vulnerable neighborhoods to both flooding and poor water quality. Experts say if Sandy had hit during high tide, East Harlem would have been completely under water.

According to the study by the Waterfront Alliance, 400,000 New Yorkers face a 50 percent risk of major flooding over the next 40 years.

“To think that a storm like that could affect this neighborhood is pretty scary —and not just the storm, but the long-term aftermath of that,” Christina Nadler, of East Harlem, said.

The neighborhoods most at risk are East Harlem and the Lower East Side in Manhattan; Mott Haven and Throggs Neck in the Bronx; Coney Island and Sheepshead Bay in Brooklyn; Howard Beach and the Rockaways in Queens; and Mid-Island on Staten Island.

The study’s authors say to make those neighborhoods safe they need to build barriers, like those planned for Staten Island, and the world needs to combat climate change.

“Stop pouring carbon into the atmosphere, stop the global warming,” Waterfront Alliance CEO Roland Lewis said.

Annette Fisher, of the Coney Island Beautification Project, had her home decimated during Sandy back in 2012. She still struggles to secure funding to rebuild.

“What about the people who weren’t here to speak today, who are going to become bankrupt and whose houses are going to be foreclosed on,” Fisher said. “We have to get Trump to wake up!”

By abandoning the world's chief effort to slow the tide of planetary warming, Trump was fulfilling a top campaign pledge. But he was also breaking from many of America's staunchest allies, who have expressed alarm about the decision. Several of his top aides have opposed the action, too, as has his daughter and adviser, Ivanka Trump.

Scientists say Earth is likely to reach more dangerous levels of warming sooner as a result of the president's decision because America contributes so much to rising temperatures. Calculations suggest withdrawal could result in emissions of up to 3 billion tons of additional carbon dioxide in the air a year — enough to melt ice sheets faster, raise seas higher and trigger more extreme weather.

Trump, however, argued the agreement had disadvantaged the U.S. "to the exclusive benefit of other countries," leaving American businesses and taxpayers to absorb the cost.

An elementary school in Chula Vista faces backlash for plans to downsize its Spanish language immersion program.

Feaster Charter Elementary has a dual immersion program for a group of students within the school that consists of a 50/50 model. The program offers students half of their lessons in Spanish and half in English for kindergarten through fifth grade.

Anna Cabral, mother of two, leads the effort to gather signatures for a petition in support of the bilingual program.

"Parents have not been made aware. They're given a flyer that says, here it is. This is how it's going to be," Cabral said.

For the past five years, the school's dual immersion program has remained in tact. But starting next year, students in fourth and fifth grade will get 80 minutes of Spanish a day, compared to the three hours promised at the start of the six-year program. 

Stephanie Dominguez, the school's principal of Visual and Performing Arts, told NBC 7 that class sizes and budget constraints forced the change in the program. She says this move will protect the longevity of the entire program.

"Feaster remains committed to ensuring its students receive rigorous instruction in both English and Spanish to better prepare them to become bi-literate global citizens," said Dominguez.

Not all the students at Feaster elementary are taking the program. The change impacts only 80 students, who are part of the Dual Immersion program.

"At the end of the day when we go to sleep, it's going to be my childrens' education. It'll be their academic credentials on the line, and this is a binational, bilingual community," said Cabral. "And we need this education for the future of our kids."

Feaster elementary serves more than 1,200 students in Transitional Kindergarten through eighth grade, according to the principal.

Nine hedgehogs are in the care of County Animal Services (CAS) after they were rescued from a trash can in Ocean Beach on Thursday.

A call came in to animal control, where a responding officer found several hedgehogs loose inside the trash can. The officer then noticed a moving bag.

The officer tore open the bag and found more of the animals inside. Five hedgehogs inside the bag were dead.

CAS said veterinary staff had to euthanize one hedgehog because it was in poor health and was suffering.

The nine surviving hedgehogs are in good condition, according to CAS.

“Hedgehogs are very shy, timid creatures and for someone to tie them up in trash bags and throw them away is unconscionable,” said County Animal Services Director Dan DeSousa in a press release.

“Someone needs to come forward with information so we can hold whoever did this cruel act accountable.”

It is illegal to possess hedgehogs in California, so the animals will not be available for adoption.

CAS said it will try to place the hedgehogs with people who already have permits to possess the animals, or they will be transferred out of the state.

Any criminal charges will be determined once CAS completes its investigation. The charges could include animal abandonment and felony animal cruelty.

County Animal Services is asking anyone with information to call them at (619) 767-2740.

One victim has died in a shooting at the Oceanside Pier Thursday, Oceanside Police (OPD) confirmed.

Police responding to a shooting at the Oceanside Pier that left the victim with multiple gunshot wounds needing a medevac to an area hospital.

The shooting happened at approximately 7:19, according to OPD. Police are still searching for the suspect.

The suspect is described as wearing all black clothing, OPD said.

OPD said that downtown Oceanside is very busy Thursday night with various outdoor market activities.

An 11-year-old boy frustrated with bullying as a new student at an Alpine school posted a heartbreking video on social media explaining how he's been treated.

Quaylon Bryant, 11, was a new student at Joan McQueen Middle School at the beginning of the year. Since then, he told NBC 7 that he's been bullied and has become the target of pretty hurtful words.

Bryant has been threatened and made fun of because of his skin color.

He's decided to fight back, but not with his fists. Instead he's spreading his message on social media.

Now, the video has been shared on social media more than a thousand times this past week.

"My grades were good, the teachers were nice. There was one thing I was missing; friendship. Friendship is nowhere found in that school. At least for me," Bryant said in the video.

The sixth-grader goes on to explain how he's being bullied and called names because of his race.

"It's just a problem, man. It's not cool," he explained.

His words have resonated with many.

The video has been viewed more than 50,000 times, and Quaylon has become a voice for anyone who's ever been the target of a bully.

"It's good to know that people are there for me," he said.

He along with his parents are hoping for change.

"As hard as it was to let him do that, I had to let him do that and express himself in that way and support him doing that," his father, Quaylon Bryant Sr., said.

The district released a statement with the superintendent saying in part, "I would like to reiterate that harassment, intimidation or bullying will not be tolerated."

A boy, so eager to belong, is happy to spark change and to help make sure no other child has to feel what he has.

Quaylon's parents are working with the district to put some more programs in place to help integrate new students into the school. Bryant Sr. told NBC 7 he wants to keep Quaylon in the same school next year to continue this effort of stopping bullying altogether.