Two teenagers have been arrested on suspicion of burglarizing at least two Carmel Valley businesses early Thursday morning, according to San Diego police.

Police said that at around 1:47 a.m. they were alerted to a break-in after an alarm went off at The Rush Indoor Cycling Studio located at 11130 Ocean Air Drive.

Although nothing was stolen from the studio, police said the burglars used a rock to smash the front door and tried to steal computers that were bolted to a desk.

Police said it was the second time the business had been broken into in nearly five months.

Minutes after the burglary, SDPD officers spotted two teens driving away from the business in a Cadillac Escalade, police said.

When police pulled the vehicle over, they reportedly found two computers inside of it that had been stolen from another business on Carmel Valley Road sometime earlier.

The victim in that burglary reported seeing a vehicle similar to the one the teens were in, according to police.

Officers arrested both teens, transported them to a police substation, and called their parents.

Both teens will face commercial burglary and vandalism charges.

The suspect's names were withheld due to their age.

A worker died after a large pile of rock salt fell onto the heavy machine he was operating at a suburban Philadelphia salt yard.

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The salt, which is used to keep roads clear of snow and ice, fell on the man at the International Salt facility at New Ford Mill Road and Bordentown Road in Morrisville, Bucks County, Pa. around 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Falls Township Police told NBC10.

Police said the man was moving rock salt with a front-end loader when the 100-foot tall mineral pile toppled over, burying the machine and trapping him inside.

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Several emergency crews were dispatched to the scene of the industrial accident and firefighters used shovels to find the man. When they finally reached the machine, the man was already dead, still sitting in his seat, police said.

The man's death comes as many Southeastern Pennsylvania municipalities and state road crews prepared to deal with a winter storm that is expected to bring several inches of snow and frigid temperatures.

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Officials have not released the name or age of the victim.

NBC10 is continuing to follow this developing story and will update the story as more details become available.

Before hitting the road New Year's Eve, about 10,000 people downloaded the app "Mr. Checkpoint.” Subscribers get alerts about DUI checkpoint locations.

Now, the SDSU graduate who developed the app is suing the city of San Diego.

“Mr. Checkpoint” is 26-year-old Sennet Devermont, and 10,000 is just the tip of the iceberg.

Devermont says he has had more than 100,000 downloads nationwide in the last three months.

His methods may be controversial, but he says the app is doing more to curb drunk driving than better-known organizations, maybe even police.

Devermont says the app discourages drinking and driving and better connects with his age group through social media.

Some police, even Mothers Against Drunk Driving, agree, he claims.

“Mr. Checkpoint has been a brand that is easily identifiable with the right demographic, and I pride myself on reaching that audience,” Devermont said.

Mr. Checkpoint was developed out of Devermont’s own experience with San Diego police.

He posted a YouTube video of driving through a DUI checkpoint on 1st Avenue and Beech Street in July 2011.

Devermont refused to answer questions and take field sobriety tests. Sennett says he was handcuffed and detained for a half hour.

The video shows another officer moved his car, then searched his wallet and console. That officer later died in an unrelated car accident and is not named in the lawsuit Devermont filed in 2012.

“I'm shocked. I mean. I went home and looked at the recording. I felt heavily violated,” Devermont said.

The lawsuit alleges San Diego police violated his civil rights, used excessive force and exercised improper police behavior.

“The department needs to be held accountable. How many time does this occur and nothing’s done?” Devermont asked.

Devermont was not arrested. After agreeing to a Breathalyzer, he was let go.

San Diego police did not respond to NBC 7’s inquiry about the lawsuit, which names the city, the police chief and one other officer as defendants.

Devermont has also filed a similar lawsuit against the Santa Monica police department.

The city of San Diego installed a gate at La Jolla Cove Tuesday in an effort to curb the noxious stench plaguing the otherwise picturesque seaside community.

According to a spokesperson from interim Mayor Todd Gloria’s office, a city crew has installed a gate onto an existing white fence at the cove in response to a lawsuit filed on Dec. 24 by the non-profit organization “Citizens for Odor Nuisance Abatement.”

The complaint, which can be read in its entirety here, claims it’s the city of San Diego’s responsibility to keep the public area free of the offensive smell and the city has failed to do that.

The complaint says the city is to blame due to a white fence erected along the sidewalk that spans La Jolla Cove.

The complaint argues that because people no longer have access to the rocks, sea lions and birds have made themselves at home and are climbing higher up the rocks and bluffs to defecate, creating the foul, lingering odor at the cove.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the popular La Jolla businesses, La Valencia hotel and George’s By the Cove. Owners at both businesses say the stench is a growing issue that is resulting in loss of revenue, and that the city is dragging its feet on fixing the putrid problem.

However, now, with the newly-installed gate, La Jolla Cove visitors will have access to the rocks, which may discourage sea lions and birds from lounging in the area.

Norm Blumenthal, attorney for the La Valencia hotel and George’s by the Cove, said the gate is a positive first step toward resolving the issue. He said the group behind the lawsuit will wait and see what their next move might be based on the effectiveness of the gate.

On Wednesday, La Jolla Cove was full of people admiring the seaside views and sea lions.

Visitors Arelis Machin and Jessica Lauren told NBC 7 San Diego they enjoyed going past the gate and onto the rocks to check out the sea lions – smell and all.

“It’s really cool to get so close to them,” said Machin.

“It was very cool and very smelly,” added Lauren.

Machin said she thinks the new gate feature is fine, as long as spectators are careful.

“People just have to take precaution; not get too close,” she said.

“I think as long as you have common sense – you’re not a nuisance to [the sea lions] and you respect them and listen to the sign, you’re all good,” added Lauren. “That’s their turf. We’re just hanging out and observing.”

La Jolla resident Chris McKellar said he’s been visiting the cove since 1954 and has never seen so many sea lions in the area as there are today.

He said he enjoys watching the animals on sunny San Diego days but the offensive smell can sometimes make the activity a bit less pleasant.

“The effects of the excrement are huge to the community – to people who live here and visit here,” said McKellar.

He hopes the new gate helps curb the issue.

“Hopefully this is going to create a good balance between keeping the [sea lion] population down so the smell isn’t so bad,” said McKellar. “The smell is never going to go away but hopefully it’ll moderate so people won’t be throwing up on the sidewalk. It doesn’t smell that bad here today but I’ve been down here when it smells absolutely putrid.”

The complaint filed in Superior Court last week alleges visitors have become sick as a result of the odor.

On Friday, NBC 7 spoke with visitors at the cove including mother and son Nancy and Michael Garcia, who said the stench was difficult to ignore. Michael, visibly nauseous from the smell that day, became sick during his visit and ran to a nearby bathroom to vomit.

“I can’t go past this point,” said Michael. “It feels pretty bad.”

However, other locals who spoke with NBC 7 that day said the smell was hardly noticeable.

“It doesn’t bother me that much,” said La Jolla T-shirt salesman David Norton. “I guess I’m accustomed to it.”

The stink at the cove has been a hot topic for quite some time.

In the summer of 2013 a private company was hired to spray the rocks with a bacteria to eat away the droppings. Former Mayor Bob Filner rallied behind the cove cleanup efforts, vowing to wipe out the stench in La Jolla.

The 10-day process cost $50,000 and took place in June, several months after the initial complaints began surfacing. Locals had to acquire permits and wait for bird nesting season to end.

About a decade ago, the city of San Diego put up a fence along La Jolla Cove for safety reasons to prevent people from climbing on the rocks. Since then, birds and sea lions have taken over the area, creating the mess causing a stink in San Diego's elite seaside community.

On Thursday morning, the group that filed the lawsuit held a meeting in La Jolla. Blumenthal said that at that meeting, more local businesses signed up to be part of the lawsuit against the city. He said the group plans to file an amended complaint next week that will broaden the lawsuit to make sure other actions beside the gate are taken by the city.

An immigrant unable to practice law because of his undocumented status has been granted a law license by California’s highest court Thursday, NBC News reports.

Sergio Garcia took his case to the California Supreme Court in May. Oral arguments took place in September.

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Garcia, a law school graduate who passed the state bar, told NBC News that he is "speechless, tired, relieved," and is "glad it's over." 

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The U.S. Department of Justice opposed allowing him a license because as an undocumented person he wasn’t allowed to receive any benefits, Garcia said in a statement. Garcia said the Court agreed with the assessment, but also stated that a law could be passed to allow him and others in his situation to be granted a law license.

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A law passed seven days later allowing courts to grant a law license to an undocumented person who had met all the standard requirements. Gov. Jerry Brown signed the the bill on Oct. 5, 2013.

The law went into effect on Jan. 1, 2014.

The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles issued a statement after the ruling, saying the court's decision "bodes well for the future of the United States of America."

"The Dreams of many became much closer to becoming a reality today that the California Supreme Court ruled in favor of young professionals, like Sergio Garcia, who have met every requirement in the book to practice their craft but happen to be undocumented immigrants," the statement said.
 

A brush fire burned up a small hill in the San Carlos area Thursday afternoon, officials confirmed.

The blaze sparked around 2:20 p.m. in open land in the 7600-block of Mission Gorge Road. San Diego Fire-Rescue officials said it burned approximately one acre on the small hill, but firefighters were able to contain it within 20 minutes.

While crews worked, police officers prepared to evacuate some nearby homes in the 7800-block of Mission Vista Dr. as a precaution. Luckily, the fire was under control a short time later.

By 2:50 p.m., officials confirmed those evacuations in the area had been canceled.

Officials said no injuries were reported and the fire posed no imminent threat to homes.

The cause of the blaze is under investigation.

San Diego Fire-Rescue posted this update to their Twitter account at 3:10 p.m.:

"Veg. fire Mission Gorge and Margerum (San Carlos) contained at 1 and a quarter acres. No evacuations. It's dry out there.. be careful."
 

California Highway Patrol arrested 20 people for DUI violations over New Year’s in San Diego County, slightly down from the 23 who were arrested last year.

The arrest reports are from 6 p.m. on Tuesday (Dec. 31) to midnight on Wednesday night (Jan. 1).

CHP reported 19 arrests in Orange County and no fatalities in either county. Statewide, 457 people were arrested in that time period and there were 14 reported fatalities.

Six weeks away from the election day in the San Diego’s special mayoral runoff race, big bucks in the form of campaign contributions is rolling in like a tsunami – much of it from beyond the city limits.

As of New Year's Eve, the online database inewsource.org  shows that Councilman David Alvarez is backed by nearly $2.2 million; Kevin Faulconer, by about $1.5 million.

But on Thursday, Faulconer picked up a heavyweight endorsement from San Diego’s Biocom that could pay off in huge donations from the "life sciences" industry.

"Kevin Faulconer has demonstrated the ability to reach across the aisle to work with Democrats and Republicans,” Biocom President Joe Panetta told reporters at news conference in Sorrento Mesa. “That's a skill that's necessary here in San Diego, and Sacramento – and Washington as well."

Said Faulconer: "The choice that has been made by these local leaders reflects the same choice that San Diegans will have on Feb. 11 … they looked at the records of the two candidates for mayor, and their unanimous vote shows the choice could not be clearer."

Faulconer's support from Biocom comprises 600 member firms that employ 60,000 workers and pump $14 billion into the local economy.

Biocom executives had endorsed Nathan Fletcher in the primary election.

Panetta said Biocom officials extended Alvarez – who has Fletcher’s endorsement for the runoff election -- an invitation for a post-primary meeting to discuss their endorsement, but got no response in "the time frame" they wanted.

Alvarez says he doesn't really know how the meeting plans fell through, and that he wasn't given a specific deadline.

But, pointing to his background as a state Senate aide and political relationships with state legislators and Congressional representatives, Alvarez insisted he’s well-positioned to help bring home the industry's bacon, in both the state capitol and D.C.

"I understand how Sacramento works,” Alvarez said in an interview. “I can get us into Sacramento, making sure that we are on the same page as our delegates are, the governor is, to focus our economy and business attraction the way that is supportive of San Diego. And I can do the same thing in Washington."

If elected mayor, Alvarez says he also could advance Biocom's interests with an emphasis on bringing industry growth to in the city's southern reaches.

"We have available land, the industrial and manufacturing land in the southern part of the county with or cross-border economy, where we can really expand existing biotech industry,” he said. “And that's what I wish we could've had more conversation around."

A man wearing heavy makeup and brandishing a gun attempted to rob a McDonald's in Vista Thursday night, according to deputies.

The San Diego County Sheriff's Department says an unknown man wearing a lot of makeup walked into the North County fast food restaurant located at 827 S. Santa Fe just before 7 p.m. and pointed a black semi-automatic handgun at the manager of the McDonald's.

The employees went to the back of the business during the robbery attempt, though it's not clear whether the suspect ordered them to do so.

Deputies say the man ultimately left the restaurant without taking anything. Police describe the suspect as 5-foot-5 and 140 pounds. He was wearing a black-and-grey sweatshirt and Dickie-brand pants.

No injuries were reported.

Chicago's north side Boystown neighborhood on Wednesday was named the best gay neighborhood in the world.

The accolade from OutTraveler.com said the nation's first officially-recognized gay village in the nation beat out other neighborhoods like San Francisco's Mission District, New York's Chelsea neighborhood, and communities in Barcelona and Madrid.

Editors and voters of the travel-themed publication liked the Lakeview neighborhood's massive pride weekend, the August Market Days festival and the recently-passed same-sex marriage law in Illinois.

OutTraveler named award-winners in other categories like "Most Decadent Destination Party," "Hottest Gay Beach," and "Best City After Dark."



 

Dallas police said they shot and killed a resident inside a luxury condominium complex after the man barricaded himself and fired at police officers.

The shooting occurred in the lobby of the Glass House by Windsor condominium complex at 3700 McKinnon Street around 1:45 a.m. Thursday, just blocks from American Airlines Center in Dallas.

The Dallas County Medical Examiners Office identified the suspect as 47-year-old Michael Edward Schmidt. NBC 5's Ray Villeda confirmed Schmidt is an attorney that is part of a law firm in Uptown Dallas, near the shooting scene. When reached by phone, the law firm said they had no comment on Schmidt's death.

Police said the incident began after the resident talked to an employee of the building.

”He reported to the employee that his apartment was being burglarized,” said Deputy Chief Gil Garza of the Dallas Police Department.

After that employee called for police, Schmidt reportedly moved to a hallway adjacent to the condominium's lobby and began barricading himself inside.

When officers arrived, they spoke to the employee and were informed of the Schmidt's location and that he was armed.

“According to the employee, the individual shot at officers when officers tried to speak with him.  The officers then retreated into cover.” Garza said.

Witnesses said Schmidt continued to intermittently fire shots while officers spoke to him from cover. A witness that heard the situation unfold from across the street said he believed the gunman fired a half-dozen shots at police during the shootout.

Garza said that Schmidt moved from his barricaded position and went toward the officers at some point during the incident. Police said it was at this time that the officers returned fire, striking and killing the man. Schmidt was pronounced dead at the scene.

The witness that spoke to NBC 5 said he believes officers fired back more than a dozen times, killing the man. Police did not confirm how many shots were fired by officers.

Dallas police confirm Schmidt's 11-year-old daughter was inside the apartment at the time of the shooting. She was located uninjured after the shooting and was released to the custody of relatives.

Evidence markers were visible along the street and were believed to be marking shell casings from weapons that were fired during the incident. Garza said the weapon believed to be used by the resident during the shootout was recovered at the scene and that an investigation continues.

The windows of the lobby were blown out by gunfire during the shooting and the witness told NBC 5's Kendra Lyn he could see a body near the front doors of the lobby following the shooting.

Police said no officers were injured in the incident.

Dallas Police Chief David Brown announced that the department continues to investigate the shooting. 

The officers involved in the shooting have been identified as officers Manual Ortiz, Robert Wilcox, Derreck Evangelista and Sgt. Jason Scoggins. All have been placed on administrative leave as the investigation continues.

Schmidt made headlines last year, after winning his client's family more than $10 million when a woman was run over by a monster truck.

NBC 5 learned that Schmidt had recently gone through a divorce. A relative tells the Dallas Morning News that Schmidt was a father of four, adding that he was sweet and generous but had recently had some problems.

Residents Surprised by Violent Confrontation

The front of Glass House is still taped off as a crime scene. Residents can come and go through the parking garage, but can’t access the lobby where the confrontation between police and the 47-year-old resident came to a deadly end.

“I heard a couple shots, woke up, and cop cars were out there,” said Grant Threadgill.

It's not how residents at Glass House, a luxury high-rise apartment complex in Uptown Dallas, are used to waking up.

“It’s pretty crazy. I chose this building because of the safety,” says Mini Hwang, Glass House resident.

“Death is always unfortunate.  I feel like the cops were probably protecting themselves,” said Threadgill.

"You don’t know what was going on with them, obviously something very traumatic,” said Allison Weiner, Glass House resident.

NBC 5's Ray Villeda contributed to this report.

The mayor of Flower Mound is receiving a lot of attention after declaring 2014 the "Year of the Bible."

Flower Mound Mayor Tom Hayden made the proclamation during a regularly scheduled city council meeting in the Dallas-area suburb last month.

"I ask that you join with me, Tom Hayden, Mayor of the Town of Flower Mound, Texas, in Proclaiming 2014 to be the 'Year of the Bible' in Flower Mound, Texas, and encourage all residents in their own way to examine the principles and teachings found in the Bible," Hayden said during the Dec. 16 meeting.

Along with the proclamation, Hayden promoted a website set up and administered by staff at the Calvary Chapel Church in Flower Mound.

Among the site's many features is a daily selection of verses from the New King James version of the Bible. The Jan. 2 selections include the stories of Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, John the Baptist and other readings.

On Thursday, Hayden explained the motivation for his proclamation to NBC 5.

"I believe that Jesus died for my sins and I hope to be able to share the good news with others," Hayden said by phone, declining to speak on camera because he recently suffered cuts on his face from an ATV accident. "Everyone's personal relationship with God is a personal decision. Your relationship with God may differ with mine. If I can, I would like to encourage people to read the Bible."

Hayden added that he is disappointed that the focus for some concerning the "Year of the Bible" proclamation has been on him and not, as he intended, on the teachings in the Bible.

Residents offered varied opinions about the mayor's move. 

"To me [it is] to each their own," said Vicki Bassinger, a Flower Mound resident, who said she is generally in support of the mayor's proclamation. "And you should be able to do the Bible at your own home. You don't have to go to church or whatever. And that's what he's recommending."

"Honestly, I don't think it's a very good idea," said Crysta McKenry, who works in Flower Mound. "I believe in the whole separation of church and state. If you start talking about Hinduism or something and you say, 'Oh, let's make this all about Hinduism,' there would be an uproar about it. So why make it to where Christianity is OK?"

There are dozens of churches in Flower Mound, which has a population of more than 66,000 people. The majority of the churches are Christian-based, but at least five of the organized religions with places of worship in Flower Mound are not. There is an Islamic mosque, a Hindu temple, a Baha'i temple, a Zoroastrian church and a Jewish synagogue.

"I think [Mayor Hayden] has made the wrong priorities in thinking about this," said Rabbi Geoffrey Dennis of the Congregation Kol Ami. "He thinks this is about him and his opportunity to promote his faith in his role as mayor. But I think he needs to realize that I and the other people who voted him to office voted him in as mayor, not as Bishop of Flower Mound."

Rabbi Dennis told NBC 5, he and other religious leaders in the community, first met with Hayden over a year ago when he approached them with this idea.

"When I first talked to him and said this is not a good idea his response to me was to become defensive and say, 'Well, I'm not ashamed of my faith,'" Rabbi Dennis recalled. "I tried to explain to him this is not about your shame or your pride as a Christian. This is about your respect for your constituents of all types in this community. It's clear he didn't get the message."

Hayden reiterated to NBC 5 Monday this proclamation was not an order on behalf of the municipal government, but was instead an action taken specifically and solely by him.

A San Diego man who bought an iPod from a local retailer was less than thrilled when he opened his new gadget. Inside the box, in place of a shiny iPod, were several rubber erasers.

East County resident Kevin DeSonia said he received an iPod Classic as a Christmas gift last week. The MP3 gadget was defective, so he returned it to the Target store on Mission Gorge Road in Santee on New Year’s Day in exchange for another iPod Classic.

When he got home Wednesday and opened the new iPod box (pictured below), DeSonia said he found the box was filled with several OfficeMax-brand erasers instead of the music player.

DeSonia immediately contacted the Target store in Santee to report the office supply surprise. A store employee said returning the iPod wouldn’t be an issue.

DeSonia said he planned to return the box to the store Thursday morning.

This isn’t the first report of an incident like this in San Diego over the recent holiday season.

Last week, a local media outlet reported that a Mission Beach couple had purchased an iPod at a Target store for Christmas and discovered the Apple product box was stuffed with office supplies – including index cards and erasers – but no iPod. The couple was able to return the box to a Target Store in the Midway District, according to the report.


 

The main toll road connecting Tijuana and Ensenada is still closed after Saturday’s collapse of about 300 yards of highway and officials are not sure when it will re-open.

The State Government of Baja California has designated alternate routes around the area while the road is closed, which is expected to be at least a few weeks.

“We hope the reopening can be done reasonably quickly, once all safety concerns are met.” Baja Assistant Secretary of Tourism Ives Lelevier said in a statement released Thursday.

He said further study is being done to determine more about the cause of the collapse, as well as the time needed before the road will be reopened.

Motorists heading north are encouraged to take the free highway to the Scenic Road at La Mision, or simply continue on the toll-free road to Tijuana. Southbound travelers must take the Scenic Road to the free road and go through El Tigre.

Or drivers can take Federal Highway 3, which goes through Ensenada and travels northeast to Tecate.

Several small earthquakes, ranging in magnitude from 1.3 to 4.3, combined with heavy rainfall caused the road to crumble, Mexico’s federal highway authority said. No one was injured in the collapse.

In the meantime, events in Ensenada continue as usual. Signage and traffic direction are being put in place so that alternate routes can be used.

The toll road opened in 1967 and carries 4 million vehicles annually. The collapsed section sits on a geologic fault.

The new year has brought a new law to San Diego’s famous Coronado community: a ‘No Smoking’ ordinance that bans smoking on most public property – and then some.

According to the City of Coronado’s website, the new ordinance went into effect Jan. 1.

In addition to banning smoking on most public property – including all public streets, highways, alleys, sidewalks and parking lots – the ordinance bans smoking on public or private property within 25 feet of an enclosed building.

It also bans smoking on private property that is open to the general public for an event, for recreational purposes or if the private property is serving as a service area such as an ATM, ticket line or parking stand.

Before this ban was implemented, the prohibition on smoking in Coronado included a ban in public parks and beaches.

There are exceptions to the ban. For instance, smoking is still permitted on the Coronado Golf Course, as well as in an outdoor dining area if a majority of the dining area is located on private property. If that’s the case, the owner can decide whether or not to allow smoking, according to the ordinance.

Smoking is also permitted on private property, except in areas open to the public, as aforementioned. It also continues to be allowed on all outdoor residential property, regardless of its distance from any doorway or window of an enclosed building around which smoking is prohibited.

The City of Coronado is working to spread the word on the new outdoor law. City officials have created this webpage, which includes sample signs (one pictured below) that Coronado residents can publicly display to remind fellow residents of the new smoking ban.

The City has posted new signs in the Coronado business district, local parks, public parking lots and walkways.

City Manager Blair King said it cost a couple thousand dollars to put up the new “No Smoking” signs, which also include other prohibitions like “No Skateboarding.”

King said the old signs were aging anyway so now was a good opportunity to replace them and update them with the new “No smoking” prohibition.

On Tuesday, NBC 7 spoke to Coronado residents about the ordinance. Some said they were thrilled by the ban, while others said it may hurt the small seaside community in the long run.

Annelie Randall, a pregnant mother of two, said she’s very happy with the ban because it reduces exposure to smoke.

“When you sit down with the kids, it can be annoying when people are smoking right next to you or you don’t have that many options of where to sit down,” said Randall, who has lived in Coronado for five months.

Randall also feels the ban might keep children from growing up to be smokers because they won’t be exposed to adults smoking on the streets, perhaps preventing them from copying the behavior.

“[If] you don’t grow up with it, then maybe you would not consider [doing] it,”  she added.

Mike O’Connor, part-time sports producer for NBC 7 and general manager of the Coronado Firehouse Bar & Grill, believes the ban could potentially hurt his business, because patrons won’t be able to smoke as they please.

"I am concerned – these 21-year-old young Navy kids – we have some regular patrons who are smokers, where are they going to go? And where is it all going to end?" remarked O'Connor.

James Williams, 29, has lived in Coronado his whole life and he’s a smoker. He doesn't agree with the new ordinance.

“There’s nowhere to smoke. It’s banned in the public parks – just about the only place you can smoke is your house,” Williams said. “I think it’s heavy-handed.”

According to the City of Coronado, the smoking ban will be enforced by City Code Enforcement staff. The Coronado Police Department will respond to complaints of smoking violations.

If someone fails to comply with the ban, the city can issue a citation in the amount of up to $100 for the first offense.

A spokesperson for the city said the ban does not apply to electronic cigarettes.

NBC 7 spoke with Coronado Mayor Casey Tanaka about the smoking ban.

“In general, my feeling is there just isn’t much support for smoking in Coronado. There hasn’t been in beaches and parks. There hasn’t been at restaurants and so on, so I think our City Council took the step to do something more comprehensive,” said Tanaka.

The mayor said Coronado business owners will likely help enforce the ban in the community.

“The other element of enforcement is that the first line of defense, frankly, will be our business owners, our restaurant owners – those are the people that are most likely to confront someone smoking and they’re going to be the first ones probably to let someone know, ‘You know, you’re not allowed to smoke in Coronado,’” Tanaka explained.

To read some FAQs about the ban, read this city document.

Police are investigating a gunshot death near a residence in National City around 5:15 p.m. on Thursday.

Officers are on the scene at East 18th Street and Grove Street at the site of the shooting, which might have occured in the backyard of a home.

Check back for more.

Want to know when an earthquake is afoot?

Watch for the lights.

Geologists say they have proof of a rare, elusive phenomenon called "earthquake lights," according to USA Today, when "balls of light" or reverse lightning shoot out of the ground before a temblor hits.

A team of researchers -- including a scientist working at San Jose State University and NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View -- have documented the phenomenon, often dismissed as a hallucination, at least 65 times since 1600. Their study appears in the journal Seismological Research Letters.

Rumors of light emitted during earthquakes have been around for centuries and have sometimes sparked UFO reports, USA Today reported.

In 2009, flames were seen in Italy seconds before a quake -- and security cameras in Peru recorded blue lights in 2007.

The lights occur only in areas that have certain types of rock as well as deep vertical faults, the researchers say.

That means "less than 0.5 percent" of earthquakes will have lights.

 

Former embattled San Diego mayor Bob Filner spent New Year’s Day at home Wednesday, serving the first day of his three-month house arrest sentence in connection with the sexual harassment scandal that ended his term as mayor in 2013.

San Diego County Probation Department spokesperson Sarah Gordon told NBC 7 that Filner’s house arrest sentence – ordered by a San Diego judge on Dec. 9 – went into effect on Jan. 1.

Filner will spend the next 90 days under house arrest under specific terms, including wearing a GPS monitoring attachment that will track his location, Gordon confirmed. He must stay confined to his residential building and is subject to searches at any time, as well as unannounced visits from his probation officer.

The plea agreement guidelines ordered at the time of Filner’s sentencing also require Filner to undergo mental health counseling. He’s allowed to leave his home to attend those counseling sessions.

However, Gordon said Filner must obtain special permission from his probation officer in order to leave his house for other things, including non-mental health-related medical appointments.

Special Section: Mayor Under Fire

After Filner completes his 90 days of home confinement, Gordon said he will still have to check in with his probation officer and be subject to unannounced searches and visits.

Per his sentencing, Filner will also serve three years of probation.

If he doesn’t violate his probation within the next 18 months, Gordon said there is a chance Filner could be placed on something called “probation with the court,” where he would be required to check in with the courts as needed rather than being under the supervision of a probation officer.

If he violates his probation within the three years, Gordon said Filner could be ordered to serve up to 270 days in jail.

Under his punishment, Filner is not allowed to contact any of his victims. He must agree not to seek or hold public office and surrender his city retirement..

Timeline: The Bob Filner Sexual Harassment Scandal

Back inn October, the former congressman pleaded guilty to felony false imprisonment and two misdemeanor charges of battery involving victims of sexual harassment.

Those victims, identified in court documents as “Jane Doe 1, 2 and 3,” included a businesswoman who claimed Filner held her against her will and kissed her at a fundraiser. Another victim was the daughter of a longtime supporter who was grabbed by Filner while taking a photo with her family.

Those women were among a slew of others who accused the former mayor of inappropriate behavior and sexual advances during the Filner scandal.

The accusations against Filner first went public in July when many of his former allies, including former San Diego City Councilmember Donna Frye, exposed his behavior and demanded he step down from office.

From there, more than a dozen women came forward with stories of sexual harassment at the hands of Filner, including former communications director to the mayor, Irene McCormack Jackson, who filed a lawsuit against the City of San Diego.

After weeks of controversy, recall efforts and more accusers, Filner announced his resignation on Aug. 23 and officially stepped down from office on Aug. 30.

On Nov. 19, San Diego held a special election to fill the mayor’s seat left vacant by Filner.

Councilmember Kevin Faulconer finished first in last month's special mayoral election, securing one of two spots in the February runoff for Filner's former seat. Councilmember David Alvarez, who came in second place, will face off against Faulconer in February.
 

Beginning today drivers will no longer be able to get into Balboa Park using the Cabrillo Bridge due to a rehabilitation and retrofit project.

According to officials, the purpose of the $38 million project is to bring the Cabrillo Bridge up to earthquake standards. There are also plans to repave the road.

Vehicle traffic will be rerouted around the bridge through April and drivers are encouraged to follow the signs that have been posted.

Caltrans is planning to keep a narrow walkway open for pedestrians and bicyclists.

Though the closure may make the trip to Balboa Park harder for some, others who spoke with NBC San Diego were happy about the project.

"Selfishly, I like the fact that the bridge will be closed for awhile because it stops some of the traffic," said resident Kimmeth Jackson.

The entire project is expected to be done before the Balboa Park 2015 Centennial celebration.

For more information on the Cabrillo Bridge retrofit and rehabilitation project, visit this website.