The San Diego Botanic Garden in Encinitas will say goodbye to an old foliaged friend Friday that has literally grown up at the garden over the past three decades.

According to representatives at the Botanic Garden, their prized giant timber bamboo – also known as the Dendrocalamus giganteus -- will be removed from the garden due to its poor health.

The giant timber bamboo – which, at more than 70-feet-tall with canes or culms up to eight-inches in diameter, lives up to its name – has seriously declined in health over the last few years.

It has started to seed, signaling the end of its natural life.

The bamboo came to the garden from the Taiwan Forestry Research Department via the American Bamboo Society in 1981. It grew up over the decades and, at one point, was the largest of its kind in the United States.

The specimen has been in good company over its lifetime at the San Diego Botanic Garden. The facility boasts the largest collection of bamboos in any U.S. botanic garden, with more than 100 species and varieties.

A crane is set to remove the giant timber bamboo from the Botanical Garden on Friday during a special farewell ceremony.

A Santa Ana, Calif.-based immigration officer took thousands of dollars in bribes — and 200 egg rolls — from applicants seeking citizenship and green cards, federal prosecutors said.

Mai Nhu Nguyen, 47, of Irvine, was arrested June 6 after accepting a $2,000 bribe from an immigrant who was seeking U.S. citizenship, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a press release Wednesday.

In 2011, Nguyen allegedly solicited and took a $1,100 bribe from an immigrant seeking a green card and 200 egg rolls from an immigrant seeking citizenship.

Nguyen had the power to approve or deny applications for immigration benefits, prosecutors said. She worked out of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office in Santa Ana for the last eight years.

Nguyen was free on $20,000 bond and will be arraigned July 1. Each count of bribery by a public official is punishable by up to 15 years in federal prison.

Flickr photo credit: 401(K) 2013

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A fire caused more than half a million dollars in damage to a home in La Jolla Thursday, fire officials confirmed.

The blaze began around 2:40 p.m. at a home multi-level home in the 5400 block of Bahia Lane, near Parkview Terrace. The house was currently tented off for fumigation.

According to San Diego Fire-Rescue spokesperson Maurice Luque, a fumigation worker who was at the property to ventilate the home noticed smoke underneath the tarps and called the fire department.

Upon arrival, fire crews could see smoke stemming from the residence.

Luque says tackling the fire was difficult at fire, given the tarps covering the home and unknown gases inside. The home was also very dark, he said.

“The fire was really challenging because the tarps had kind of kept the fire smothered,” explained Luque.

Once the tarps were pulled off, firefighters were able to knock down the fire.

Luque said two firefighters were transported to Scripps Hospital with minor injuries related to the fire, including a sprained thumb and dizziness.

The cause of the blaze is under investigation, but it is believed to be accidental. Luque said damage is estimated at $500,000 to the structure and $50,000 to the contents of the home.

Investigators believe the fire began in the bottom level of the home and then burned upwards, ripping through the second floor in the process.
 

Grumpiness can lead to productivity, a new study's findings suggest.

A recent study published in the Academy of Management Journal found that creativity improves when people experience negative emotions at the start of their day and shift to a more positive outlook by the end of it.

Examining 102 people, researchers discovered that people who begin their day in a negative state are more motivated to focus on solving problems than those who are in a positive state throughout the day.

"Firstly, the narrow, alert focus on issues can be useful by focusing on things that are in need of a solution and spurring motivation to act on these," The British Psychology Society explained in its Occupational Digest. "Once this focus has been set, allowing the negative emotions to slide away and positive emotions to explore the possibility space is a good recipe for getting to innovative solutions."

The study does not show when creative spurts occur, but it is important to not dismiss negativity, the researchers said. Instead, it can be used to channel creativity.

While the court files are packed with sympathetic and supportive letters for former Illinois congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. and his wife, Sandi, who will be sentenced in a Washington, D.C., courtroom next week, others have not been so generous.

“Please do not be too soft on Jesse Jackson Jr.,” writes Aris Tomac of University Park, Ill. “He needs to learn his lesson.”

“Many of us in his district would like to see him in prison for a long time,” Tomac adds.

Bob Miller of Chicago warns Judge Amy Berman Jackson that the argument that the Jacksons’ children need them “is a false one.”

“Everyone who is incarcerated has someone who needs them,” Miller writes. “Although I am currently out of work, I have worked for nearly forty years, and can assure you was never able to accumulate a Rolex watch, elk heads, or mink capes for my wife.”

Chicagoan Patricia Coleman, who tells the judge she has a “clinical background,” calls Jackson’s claim that his bipolar condition contributed to his actions “absolutely ridiculous.”

“These individuals who have gained the trust of so many should pay dearly for their illegal actions,” Coleman tells the judge in a letter dated June 9. “I know the Jacksons have young children, and frankly I don’t care, as they should have thought of that before engaging in these activities.”

“An example needs to be set to ensure that people think twice before engaging in felony activities.”

John Polacek of Evergreen Park, Ill., says Jackson and his wife conspired to deceive the public.

“Once the power couple of Chicago has now become infamous culture of public corruption,” he writes. “History proves Illinois is a cesspool of corrupt politicians and putting them behind bars does not seem to be a deterrent.”

Far outside Jackson’s former district, Larry Ettner of Lincolnshire says the former congressman and his wife gave little or no consideration to the voters who put them in office. 

“If the Jacksons had not been confronted and caught, they would be living off others with little or no remorse,” he writes. “Thus they need to confront their crimes and be punished to the full extent of the law.”

The Jacksons face sentencing July 3.
 

Once San Diego couple Chris Harris and Joseph Bruglin heard the news that the U.S. Supreme Court decided it cannot take up the challenge to Prop 8, they decided to go to clerk's office to seek a marriage license.

The decision from high court meant that same-sex marriage was once again legal in California, so Harris and Bruglin wanted to seize the opportunity right away.

"We were concerned that if it became legal again we would need to get our license day one, minute one, that you never know, they may change it, another lawsuit may get filed," said Harris.

They were the very first couple to stop by the San Diego County Clerk office Wednesday.

The pair has been together for nearly three years and is celebrating with a 500-person wedding next month. When asked how they felt about today’s ruling, they said it felt monumental.

“It’s one of those moments where you will always remember where you were sitting and for us, it's like a historical moment,” said Harris. “So we wanted to be here right off the bat, hopefully to be a part of history."

So Harris and Bruglin decided to go get their marriage license right away, and walked into the San Diego County Clerk’s office right after it opened. But that’s when they realized they wouldn’t be getting any papers right then.

“At this time, we’re not taking appointment but if we can get your name and number, we’d be happy to call you back and make an appointment, once we get the final approval to start same-sex marriages,” said an office employee.

Harris laughed and said, “So, it’s an appointment for an appointment.”

She smiled, and said, “Yes.”

“So there’s no way we can convince you to go ahead and do one right now?” Harris asked?

“Not until we get the authority to start,” she replied.

Chief Deputy Recorder County Clerk for San Diego County Val Wood explained that at this time they are not allowed issue any licenses or perform ceremonies.

“There are no changes in the procedures that we're following,” Wood said. “We're just waiting to receive direction so that we can begin."

Once it’s approved, Wood expects they will begin back-to-back appointments.  Couples will pay $70 for a public marriage license or $89 for a confidential license. Civil ceremonies at the office cost $88.

“We do feel that we can accommodate the customers with our current staffing, and when we receive direction, we will begin,” she said.

Calfornia’s governor and attorney general have urged offices to resume same-sex marriages “as soon as possible.” Then AP reported a federal appeals court said Wednesday it will likely wait at least 25 days before making a decision on whether gay marriages can resume in California.

Which means Harris and Bruglin will have to wait. In the meantime, they’re happy a high court decision was made in their favor. 

"We had faith that the Supreme Court would come through somewhat,” said Harris.

And most of all, they’re excited to spend the rest of their lives together – officially.

“It’s surreal. It’s about time,” said Bruglin. “Just real, real joy.”

Hundreds of San Diego Gas and Electric customers are without power in parts of Coronado and Carlsbad.

The outages both occurred around 7:45 a.m. for Coronado, Coronado Cays, Carlsbad and La Costa. More than 2,300 people are without power in Coronado and roughly 500 do not have it in Carlsbad.

SDG&E crews are assessing the damage and working to correct the problem. They are hoping to have it fixed by 10:15 a.m.

Officials said the cause of the outage in Coronado is unknown, while the Carlsbad issue stems from a car hitting a power pole.

Check back for updates on this story.

A skateboarder was hit by a car Wednesday night in El Cajon, according to police.

The incident happened shortly before midnight at the 1200-block of Greenfield Drive.

Police said a Mazda hit the skateboarder, injuring him and cracking the car’s windshield. The driver of the car called police and waited with the victim until CHP arrived.

The skateboarder was taken to Sharp Memorial with minor injuries to both knees.

According to CHP, the collision appeared to be an accident and the driver fully complied with officers.
 

Warmer temperatures are expected throughout San Diego County starting Thursday and into the weekend.

NBC 7 meteorologist Jodi Kodesh said inland valley, mountain and desert areas will see extreme temperatures. The desert is expected to be dangerously hot as 100-degree temperatures.

Coastal San Diego will get up to 80 degrees, and the inland valley will be very hot at 90 degrees.

Click here for your local forecast

“We’re experiencing this heatwave that is just getting started, it's the hottest temperatures we’ve seen in so long,” said Kodesh.

Local Cool Zones are being set up so people can stay away from the heat during the hottest part of the day. Some examples of cool zones are local libraries, recreation centers or senior centers. The county encourages people to share air conditioning during the hottest part of the day.

If you can't make it to a Cool Zone, here are some tips to stay cool this week.

• Exercise during the coolest part of the day.
• Keep your blind closed.
• Take a cool shower.
• Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing.
• Never leave your kids or pets in the car even with the window cracked.

A woman tried to steal a car from a school parking lot with a child still inside, according to police.

20-year-old Jennifer Anaiz Gomez is scheduled to be arraigned Friday.

The incident happened Wednesday morning at La Jolla Country Day School. According to police, a grandmother was dropping off another child. Police said Gomez approached the car, pulled the woman out and tried drive off, with a toddler still in the backseat.

Police said she couldn’t get the car into gear. A witness intervened, and a school security guard stopped the suspect from escaping.

Gomez will be charged with attempted carjacking. She is being held on $75,000 bail.
 

If you're a registered voter, are you aware that what you write on your registration form is publicly available?

"Commercial" interests are barred from that data.

But all sorts of other people have legal access to it.

A lot of people think only government agencies can access voter registration information – the courts, for instance, to summon you for jury duty.

But it can be purchased for purposes such as scholarly and journalistic research, and for use in "elections" and "politics".

Buyers are only a phone call away from you.

"So I received a phone call and was invited to be paid to share my political opinions,” says Jennifer Armour, a voter registered in the city of San Diego. “And I was told the reason I was being called was because of information that was tied to my voter registration."

Armour was being solicited for a political focus group -- under state law, an appropriate cause to which county voter registrars can sell voter registration information ‘at cost'.

But the telemarketer, whose phone number Armour eventually tracked to a local research firm, wouldn't tell her who was behind the request.

And that just didn't seem 'cricket'.

"The marketing firm that represents a political organization is not the political organization themselves,” Armour said in an interview Thursday. “So that is another entity that was given my information that maybe should not have."

She filed a complaint with the registrar's office, where voter forms say your information is protected against "commercial use”.

Purchasers of that data have to fill out forms certifying they're qualified to receive it.

But 'gray areas' seem to abound.

"Those definitions are going to be defined and investigated by the Secretary of State's office to determine whether or not it meets the letter of the law," says Michael Vu, San Diego County’s registrar of voters, whose office handled about 160 voter data requests last year.

Voters need not disclose their phone numbers on the registration forms, so that's one way to ward off calls from telemarketers.

Vu says the last four digits of Social Security numbers and drivers' licenses are never publicly revealed.

Armour offers this suggestion: "If they just give out a list that has however many voters that are registered in San Diego County and say 'Have fun looking for the people you're interested in contacting' -- even that would make me feel a little bit better."

Changes like that are the province of the Legislature, and no doubt there'd be pushback from various interest groups -- especially the folks who send you those election-cycle mailers.

A man accused of killing his girlfriend and then stuffing her body into a suitcase last August was found guilty by a jury of first-degree murder Thursday.

Joseph David Dorsey, 28, of Lake Elsinore, is charged with killing his girlfriend, Christine Stewart, 47.

On August 8, 2012, Stewart’s body was found stuffed in a three-foot-long rolling suitcase at a Best Western hotel on Poway Road. Investigators believed she had been killed somewhere else, and then brought back to the hotel.

The couple checked into the hotel on Aug. 8 but never checked out. The suitcase holding Stewart's body was left behind in the room and later found by detectives.

Stewart's official cause of death was strangulation.

Stewart – of Canyon Lake, Calif. -- had been reported missing a few days earlier, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

Immediately, detectives named Dorsey a person of interest in Stewart’s death. The couple was seen together in Lake Elsinore the weekend before Stewart’s body was discovered in the Poway motel.

Dorsey was arrested on October 23, 2012, by Mexican authorities and the FBI near Rosarito, Mexico, in connection with Stewart’s murder.

From here, Dorsey is scheduled to appear in court again Monday for a short trial regarding previous convictions. A sentencing date will be set that morning.

Dorsey faces up to 57 years in prison for the murder of Stewart.
 

A man involved in a deadly 2010 racing crash in the Mojave Desert is back on the racetrack, this time taking the wheel at the San Diego County Fair.

Brett Sloppy, of San Marcos, hit the track Thursday at the Del Mar Arena inside the fairgrounds.

It’s been nearly three years since Sloppy was involved in a fatal off-road racing crash that killed eight spectators in the Mojave Desert, including four San Diegans.

On August 14, 2010, Sloppy was racing in the California 200 when his modified Ford Ranger truck accidentally plowed into a crowd of fans lining the course. The truck hurled over a jump and struck a group of fans, pinning some underneath the vehicle, while sending others flying into a cloud of dust.

Eight people were killed, including four local residents: Michael Dickinson, 34, of Spring Valley; Escondido resident Brian Wolfin, 27; Escondido resident Anthony Sanchez; 23; and Escondido resident Aaron Farkas, 25.

Several more spectators were injured in the horrific crash.

The crowd, which included children, was standing within 10 feet of the track with no guardrails separating them from the speeding vehicles, an investigation revealed.

In the wake of the deadly accident, California’s U.S. senators pressed the Bureau of Land Management to provide data on off-road racing on public lands, including safety violations in past races.

In November 2010, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management determined that its staff had failed to follow established procedures for permitting and monitoring the off-road race in the Mojave Desert.

An internal review found BLM Staff in Barstow, Calif., did not hold a pre-race consultation with race promoters. Additionally, a ranger assigned to patrol the area did not monitor the event, the investigation revealed.

On Thursday, both race organizers and fans alike welcomed Sloppy back to the track.

Though many fans of racing would like to forget the tragic 2010 accident, it still serves as a stark reminder of the need of safety at present-day racing events and beyond.

San Diego County is getting it’s first shelter that will house underage victims of sex trafficking. The girls who have been sold into prostitution are between the ages of 12 and 17.

A non-profit called GenerateHope is the organization behind the project set deep in Pauma Valley, far removed from the pimps and traffickers the girls escaped.

GenerateHope Executive Director, Susan Munsey, says the girls are sold between 10 and 15 times a night, bringing in $1,000 for their pimps.

Sex trade arrangements for children are often made online by their trafficker, then facilitated at hotels. And if the girls get caught, many times they’re taken to juvenile hall.

“They kind of fall through the cracks because they’re charged with prostitution and yet another girl same age, with a slightly different sexual encounter and it’s statutory rape. She’s protected and these girls aren’t,” said Munsey.

GenerateHope’s new shelter is set on 15 acres. It will house six girls ages 12-17. They’ll have academic studies, therapy sessions, life skills lessons and field trips to amusement parks.

The ranch-style home opened on June 5, but no one has moved in yet. Once they do, Munsey says the change in environment can be terrifying.

“You would think there’d be a big sigh of relief and joy about being in a safe place, in a peaceful place and finally being able to relax, but it actually takes a little while.”

The non-profit gets most its funding from private donors who want to make a difference.

“We want to see them take on a career, go to college so they can be successful as independent adults,” Munsey said. “Really prosper and have happy lives.”

One young woman at Munsey’s first GenerateHope shelter in Bonita is a striking example of perseverance.

Morgan Stacy, 19, is in a good place now, recovering from a lifetime of traumatic experiences that started at age 4.

She was sexually abused by her stepfather, then sold for sex to other men.

“When it happens to you as a kid, you don’t know it’s wrong. It’s like it’s normal,” Stacy said.

To learn more about underage sex trafficking in San Diego and across the nation, visit this website.
 

Those who receive citations for minor infractions at San Diego beaches between Friday and July 7 may be eligible for "Instant Justice" through a program spearheaded by the City Attorney's office.

The program, designed to benefit San Diego as a whole, works like this: if you get a citation during this time period – including on the 4th of July holiday – for a selected non-traffic infraction or misdemeanor, you could be eligible for “instant justice,” which includes completing community work service at local beaches to avoid a criminal charge on your record.

Infractions that may eligible for this program include citations for an open container, consuming alcohol in public, littering on the beach, having a dog off a leash, smoking in the park or urinating in public.

Offenders who are cited through July 7 can make good on their ticket on July 8 by bringing their ticket, valid photo I.D. and $40 in cash or cashier’s check to the parking lot of the Pacific Beach Shore Club at 4343 Ocean Boulevard at 9 a.m.

From there, eligible offenders will complete six hours of community work service in the beach area, giving back to San Diego while clearing their citations.

The office of City Attorney Jan Goldsmith says this program is being utilized in conjunction with the influx of out-of-town travelers and locals alike that will flock to popular areas such as Pacific Beach, Mission Beach, Mission Bay Park, La Jolla and Clairemont over the days leading up to and after the 4th of July.

“This is a chance to give tourists and locals alike enjoying the 4th of July holiday a second chance,” said City Attorney Jan Goldsmith. “Instead of traveling back to San Diego and/or attending a court proceeding at a future date, you’ll have the chance to give back to our community and avoid a criminal charge on your record.”

The Instant Justice program is a successful effort of the City Attorney’s Neighborhood Prosecution Unit (NPU). SDPD’s North Division, Discover Pacific Beach, Lifeguard Service and San Diego Department of Park and Recreation also partner in the program.

According to the City Attorney’s office, through this program 109 offenders completed 545 hours of community work service during the 4th of July holiday week in 2011 and 2012. Offenders cleaned up local beaches and surrounding areas hit hardest from the holiday crowds.

The NPU’s alternative sentencing programs like Instant Justice are aimed at intervention, diversion, reducing recidivism and restoring the community.
 

A man was killed in a paragliding accident in Imperial Beach Wednesday, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department said.

At around 4:15 p.m., deputies from the Imperial Beach Sheriff’s Station responded to a call of a 48-year-old man not breathing after falling onto rocks in the 1600-block of Seacoast Drive.

When deputies arrived, they discovered the victim -- now identified as Henry Ho, of Windsor, Colo. -- severely injured on the rocks. Despite resuscitative efforts by paramedics and lifeguards, Ho was pronounced dead at the scene.

Witnesses at the scene saw Ho hit the ground and attempted to help him until firefighters arrived, according to the sheriff's department. Other paragliders also saw the victim spiraling in the air.

A report released by the medical examiner's office stated that Ho was paragliding with a class, including an instructor. After Ho drifted off and crashed into the rocks, the instructor gave him CPR.

"According to witness statements the man was unfortunately slammed into the rocks, on a hill, on a bedrock out by the beach area," said Lt. Marco Garmo.

Witnesses told NBC 7 they had seen the victim struggling while paragliding prior to the fatal crash on the rocks.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has been told about the paragliding business involved in the fatal accident, and has been in contact with the business.

Garmo said it is illegal to paraglide in Imperial Beach except to practice getting the chute up and down. He said there have been no paragliding deaths in IB for at least two years.

A San Diego veteran is getting national attention for his unique approach to treating Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD.)

Todd Vance founded Pugilistic Offensive Warrior Mixed Martial Arts (POW MMA) in North Park. The organization will be featured Thursday on HBO’s “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel.”

The group is comprised of active duty military and veterans. While it may seem strange to treat PTSD with cage fighting, Vance said it actually makes sense.

“Physically, it satisfies that adrenaline rush. It satisfies that intensity that I missed from combat,” Vance explained. “Mentally, it really does calm the mind because you’re forced to be present in the moment."

Vance is an Army veteran who was an infantry squad leader in Iraq.

“Being ambushed was a really common occurrence on a daily basis,” Vance recalled.

His primary mission was making high-value raids, targeting top enemy leaders as they slept.

“It’s another thing to be face-to-face with the enemy. It’s another thing to smell his breath, to feel his nails in your skin, to not be sure you’re going to win that fight,” he explained.

When Vance came home, he said he was fine for the first few months.

Then, he started showing signs of PTSD, including hypervigilance, insomnia and intruding thoughts. That’s when he started therapy at Veterans Affairs and took up MMA as part of his treatment.

Now, Vance is sharing his love of MMA with other military members, whether they suffer from PTSD or not. He also wants to remove the stigma associated with expressing one’s feelings and getting help.

“We have to embrace it in order to recover,” he said.