More than 4.3 million YouTube hits, countless tweets, articles and Facebook posts later, San Jose 3-year-old Mateo has finally got his cupcakes.

Mateo, whose “Linda Listen” argument with his mom Linda about why he should be allowed to have cupcakes for dinner went viral, was given the cupcakes by Ellen DeGeneres on Tuesday's episode of "The Ellen Show.” (Editor's note: The full segment is embedded at the bottom of this page.)

“Listen to me, listen to me, you’re going to love this video,” Ellen started the segment by saying, playing Mateo’s YouTube clip on her show for the second time.

Ellen was so smitten with Mateo’s persuasive prowess, she invited him to be on her show immediately.

• “Linda, Listen!” 3-Year-Old’s Cupcake Argument With Mom Goes Viral

Although most people have found the video funny, some have questioned whether letting Mateo call his mother “Linda” and “honey” makes for good parenting.

“I had to meet you because I thought it was the most adorable thing ever. But it was not adorable, don’t argue with your mother,” Ellen told Mateo as the audience laughed along.

“Did he just come out with this kind of personality? Just always had something to say?” Ellen asked Linda.

“He’s definitely always had something to say, if it’s not arguing about shoes, it’s arguing about cupcakes,” Linda replied.

• Teens Cut Class, Save 94-Year-Old From Burning Building
  

Sitting on his mother’s lap dressed in blue plaid and jeans, Mateo stole glances at the audience and the set, unperturbed by the two adults having an adult conversation all about him.

“And why does he call you Linda and not mommy?” Ellen asked.

“Linda comes from debating, for like a cupcake, I’m usually mommy … When he’s serious and he wants to get his point across, then we become Linda or Kenneth (Mateo’s father)."

Mateo immediately chimed in: “Mommy, where’s Kenneth?”

As to why Mateo calls her “honey,” Linda explained that “’honey’” and “’babe’” will come from dad."

• Neighbor Catches Toddler After 3-Story Fall
  

"The 'listen' part as we might already know, comes from mommy saying, 'Daddy, listen,'" she said.

Linda described Mateo’s instant fame as “crazy,” recounting how they were recognized at the airport while traveling and even came across two people watching their video while waiting in line.

Because Mateo loves cupcakes and superheroes, Ellen gave him his very own superhero-themed cupcake stand, complete with Superman, Batman and Spiderman-themed cupcakes, topped with Mateo as a cupcake superhero.

“I got you something that Linda might not like, but I just thought since you flew all the way here to see me, we are going to give you some cupcakes,” Ellen told a very excited Mateo.

Ellen also surprised Linda and Mateo with a $10,000 check which she hoped would help the family while Mateo's dad attends college.

• Man Sings "Let it Go" as 21 Disney, Pixar Characters

Mateo even has his own Facebook page and website now, where “Linda honey honey listen” t-shirts are on sale to help raise money for his college fund.

Linda's parents hope that Mateo will become a successful lawyer when he grows up and argue for other causes in addition to cupcakes.

Oceanside city officials will consider the future of a parcel of prime coastal land used by golfers but coveted by soccer players.

Center City Golf Course is 76 acres just north of Oceanside Boulevard and only two miles from the beach.

The owner of the Real Salt Lake soccer team in Salt Lake City, Utah has proposed building an $8 million complex that would include six private soccer fields.

A smaller nine-hole golf course would take over the rest of the space.

Over a longer-term lease, the project could be expanded to add an 8,000-seat soccer stadium for a minor league soccer team and two hotels.

In 2012, the city solicited ideas for alternative uses for the course, because of lagging profits.

Up until now, the city had been in negotiations with golf-attire mogul John Ashworth for an improved course.

On Wednesday, the council is expected to decide if they're moving forward with the team or looking at other options.

At 4 p.m. Wednesday, residents will have the opportunity to voice their opinions.

Some neighbors and golfers we spoke with fear the city council has already made up its mind because of the economic potential here.

“It's just sad you know,” said golfer Tyler Dingvell. “People have called this their home for 40 years. It's been here since 1952. It's the oldest golf course in North County. People have a lot of history and heritage here. People love this place.”

In a statement, Dell Loy Hansen discussed the proposal in this way.

"At the end of the day, it's about giving the kids - many of whom won't be able to go to college without academy development - a chance to aspire and achieve. Through the excitement of soccer, hard work, determination and teamwork, the Oceanside complex will be a pillar of this community and a beacon of hope for our youth."

Oceanside City officials didn't respond to messages from NBC 7 Wednesday.
 

Dennis and Deborah Little say law enforcement has made them feel like criminals for the last two years even though the Ramona couple knew they were not guilty.

“We followed the letters of the law as we knew it," Dennis Little told NBC 7 in an exclusive interview Tuesday following the ruling that acquitted him and his wife in a challenging legal battle they’ve face since their arrest in October 2012.

Dennis and Deborah Little suffer from serious health ailments like HIV/AIDS and cancer.

In 2011, they began growing marijuana after being issued medical marijuana cards.

Two years ago, their property east of San Diego was raided by federal and state narcotics agents – with guns drawn.

Prosecutors say agents seized hundreds of pounds of useable marijuana. The Little’s disputed that claim saying they had 25 plants. They also denied allegations that they had planned to sell the drug.

"It's been rough. It's been really rough,” Deborah Littie said. “I mean, you're going in and you believe that the police are supposed to be honest and that the courts are supposed to be honest and then you're hit upside the head with, nobody is telling the truth here."

Jurors sided with the couple and acquitted the Little’s of charges of possession of marijuana for sale and of cultivation of marijuana.

Deborah and Dennis say they're glad the nightmare is finally over, but their lives have taken a beating because of it, including a laundry list of prescription medication.

"They just keep piling them on and on and on. So I have to get myself weaned off of, I mean, I'm taking some pretty heavy duty anxiety, pain, besides I haven't been able to follow up on getting the care that I'm supposed to be getting," Deborah said.

"Our lives are back on track now. I feel a huge burden off my shoulders," Dennis said.

Dennis and Deborah say they have little faith in law enforcement but they've taken the positive out of the situation and are now court supporters for others in similar situations.

A suburban Philadelphia man was arrested on Wednesday after he allegedly sent a birthday card laced with ricin to the boyfriend of his ex-girlfriend.

• READ: RICIN: WHAT IS IT?

Nicholas Todd Helman, 19, was arrested on Wednesday at his home on Byberry Street in Hatboro. It was the second time he had been arrested this month in connection to the ricin-laced card, according to investigators.

Back on March 7, Helman allegedly told his co-worker at a Target store in Warrington that he had sent a scratch-and-sniff birthday card laced with ricin to a man who was dating his ex-girlfriend.

Ricin is a poison found naturally in castor beans and can cause injury and even death if chewed, inhaled or swallowed. Helman allegedly told his co-worker that he rubbed ground castor beans onto the inside of the card before sending it to his intended victim's mailbox on Olive Street in Warminster.

Officials say Helman claimed the substance would kill anyone who came into contact with it within four days.

Helman's co-worker called police and Helman was taken into custody.

Helman allegedly told police he coated the card with sodium hydroxide in an attempt to scare his ex-girlfriend so that they could reconcile their relationship. Helman also allegedly sent threatening messages to his ex and her new boyfriend in November of last year, according to investigators.

Helman was charged with harassment and later released on bail, according to investigators.

Police say they warned the intended victim and his family not to open their mail. They then removed the envelope from the home.

Investigators later tested the substance on the card and determined that it tested positive for ricin.

A hazmat team, SWAT team, police officers and officials with the FBI returned to Helman's home on Wednesday. After a standoff that lasted several hours, Helman was led out of his apartment and to a police vehicle by officers clad in armor and hazmat gear.

He was arrested and charged with attempted murder.

Officials searched through Helman's home for any traces of the substance but determined that the scene was safe and clear.

A friend of Helman, who did not want to be identified, says he was shocked when he learned the allegations against him.

"I really couldn't imagine him doing something like that," he said. "I've known him since Middle School. He was an odd kid. I would say he wasn't always the most social kid. He was very tech savy. He was probably the smartest kid I've ever known but he never really applied himself."

With his second arrest in one month, the friend says he hopes Helman can turn his life around.

"I know you can come out of this," he said. "I know you can." 

A single-wide mobile home in Spring Valley was destroyed Wednesday as a fire ripped through the residence, sending heavy smoke into the air.

Fire officials said the blaze began just before 3:45 p.m. at a mobile home park on Sweetwater Road and Valencia Street.

When fire crews arrived on scene, they worked quickly to tackle the fast-moving flames.

Leonard Villarreal, spokesperson for the San Miguel Fire District, said the trailer's owner came upon the fire when she returned home from work. She found her living room fully-involved in flames and called 911.

Villarreal said five units and 23 firefighters were called to knock out the blaze. He said fires in mobile homes are typically a major concern because they tend to burn and spread quickly. Crews did everything they could to prevent the fire from jumping to other nearby mobile homes.

Villarreal said the mobile home was a total loss. A mobile home and vehicle next door also sustained some damage from the fire.

Villarreal said the woman who lives in the mobile home where the fire began may have suffered some smoke inhalation. She was given oxygen and taken to a hospital for further evaluation.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

San Diego is considering whether to require police officers to wear body cameras in light of criminal charges and allegations of sexual misconduct by uniformed officers.

The officers will wear the cameras while on duty, recording video and sound from a location on the officer’s shoulder or chest.

The proposal would start by spending $200,000 on 100 cameras. The city would then buy more for officers bringing that total to $2 million a year.

Originally, former police chief William Lansdowne had suggested the idea as a way to avoid misunderstandings or lawsuits and help mediate with officers in question.

Body cameras were already in the 2015 budget but Lansdowne requested the process move faster after the arrest and arraignment of former officer Christopher Hays and the investigation into SDPD officer Donald Moncrief.

The cameras would also help with accusations of racial profiling from the department.

Newly appointed Chief Shelley Zimmerman has said 99.9 percent of SDPD’s officers serve with professionalism. For the few that dishonor their badges, she says she will not tolerate it.

The San Diego City Council's Public Safety and Livable Neighborhoods Committee will meet at 2 p.m. Wednesday.

Check back for updates on this developing story.
 

San Diego police have arrested the girlfriend of a man found dead along the San Diego riverbed.

Jayne Colantonio, 47, of San Diego was arrested hours after her boyfriend's body was discovered, officials said.

Investigators said a fisherman called 911 just before 6 p.m. when he discovered a body in the San Diego River. The location was just south of Friars Road, east of Interstate 15 and west of Riverdale Street.

The man told police he thought the person had drowned.

After closer examination, firefighters determined the area was a crime scene and called San Diego police investigators.

Lt. Manuel Del Toro, acting lieutenant for the SDPD's homicide unit, said the victim discovered in the riverbed had suffered an apparent stab wound to the chest.

A witness told NBC 7 San Diego that a woman approached him and asked to use his phone. She then called police to report that her boyfriend was dead in the river.

The witness also said he recognized the woman, as she lives in a tent near the river. The woman was contacted by investigators at the scene.

The investigation into the man's death is ongoing.

The victim has not yet been identified. That information, as well as his cause of death, will come later from the San Diego County Medical Examiner.

A second person of interest who was handcuffed at the scene was booked into jail for an unrelated charge, police said.

Ashley Castellanos opened a design shop near the Maple Street Plaza in Escondido just two weeks ago. There’s one thing she has already noticed.

“That parking lot is almost full by noon. So I can't find parking back there by noon," Castellanos explained.

Now, it could get even more difficult for she and her customers to park.

The $3 million Maple Street Plaza is primarily a pedestrian area, but cars are still able to drive through there. Now, the city of Escondido wants to close the area to traffic altogether. Delivery trucks would only be able to access alleyways.

"I think it's a bad idea," said Lisa Koonce, who has owned a jewelry shop there for more than 30 years.

Koonce says forcing every car into the alley will cause traffic to back up on surrounding streets.

"It's going to make it harder for people to park, and it's going to make it harder for those that are making deliveries into these businesses," she said.

However, other business owners say they’re fine with the proposal. Dan Foster says removing cars will make the plaza safer for pedestrians, for whom the plaza was originally intended.

"Give them someplace to go and relax, not have to worry about the cars driving through where the kids are playing or the people are using it," he said.

Foster adds, there are worse problems than having too many customers.

"I think having a parking problem down here is a good problem to have. I would rather have a parking problem than not,” he said.

The San Jose Sharks helped make one 17-year-old fan's dreams come true Tuesday when it signed him to a one-day contract.

Sam Tageson, who has suffered from a life-threatening heart condition since he was born, got to watch the warm-ups from the bench area and then got to skate out with the team during pregame introductions.

The emotion Tageson expressed while being honored during the game on the Jumbotron was heartwarming, and apparently the team got a big lift from it, too: They scored after the very next face-off following the tribute.

The Sharks aren’t the only team that has worked with Make-A-Wish Foundation recently. The Chicago Blackhawks welcomed Nicholas Skretkowski in late February for the team’s practice before their Stadium Series game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Skretkowski got to skate on the ice with team captain Jonathan Toews, had his own locker stall in the team’s dressing room, got a personalized jersey and even got another jersey autographed by the entire squad.

In a true case of whodunit, a 17-year-old living in Miami is the alleged culprit behind an online threat against an Escondido school that lead to the temporary shutdown of the campus earlier this year.

According to Escondido Police Department Lt. Neal Griffin, the teenager – who has no affiliation whatsoever to the school in this case, Heritage K-8 Charter School – is the person responsible for posting a threat of violence against the school on a website back in January while posing as a minor from Escondido.

Griffin revealed the conclusion of the months-long investigation Wednesday. He said the teenage suspect in Florida has not been arrested or criminally charged in this case.

On Jan. 16, 2014, a violent threat was posted on a social media website directed against the school. The message was reported to Escondido police by people throughout the country who saw the post in an online chat room, including callers in Texas, Illinois and Washington.

• Read: American Heritage Charter Schools Closed Due to Threat

The message, according to investigators, included very specific threats of violence that would occur at the school at 10:30 a.m. on Jan. 17, 2014. The message included the words “barrage of bullets.”

As a precaution, the school was closed on Jan. 17 as police launched an investigation into the cyber threat. They returned to school a few days later.

At a press conference during that time, Griffin said the case was much more complicated than it seemed because the suspect who posted the threat did so by impersonating a minor online, making it appear as if the minor was the person behind the post.

Police tracked down the minor thought to be the author of the post, an Escondido resident who was not a student at Heritage K-8 Charter School.

After an extensive interview with the minor in the presence of the minor’s parents, Lt. Griffin said investigators concluded the minor had nothing to do with the post and was not the sender of the threatening message.

Rather, the minor framed in this case was a victim of “a very malicious personal attack of identity theft,” Griffin said.

“[This is] not a hoax, it’s a very serious crime,” said Griffin back in January.

According to the Escondido Police Department, the investigation into this case involved extensive forensic computer analysis, evidence and witness interviews.

Ultimately, all of that led police to a home in Miami.

The FBI Miami Cyber Task Force is now working on this case alongside an Escondido detective that specializes in computer-related crime.

Police said this act could be characterized as an act of “cyber bullying.” It’s also a serious federal crime that could carry fines and a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

As of right now, Escondido police said the joint investigation with Miami law enforcement is ongoing. Prosecution of this case is still being discussed.

For now, the Escondido Police Department is relieved to have cracked the complicated case that impacted many students and their families in San Diego.

“We are extremely grateful to all the agencies that assisted in resolving this incident. I was confident from the beginning that our detectives had the training and skills necessary to identify the person who committed this crime,” said Escondido Police Chief Craig Carter in a statement released Wednesday.

“We will always aggressively investigate cyber-crimes that target our community and when appropriate we will seek restitution for the financial impact," he continued.
 

When it comes to breakfast carbs, little is more decadent than a waffle. Maybe you douse it in syrup, filling all the crannies, or perhaps it’s whipped cream and berries that are your toppings of choice. However it’s served, you’re in for a treat!

In North San Diego, local businesses certainly know how to dish out a wonderful waffle. Read on for a list from Yelp of the best places to snag one. By the way, International Waffle Day is on Mar. 25, in case you needed an extra reason to indulge.

Don’s Country Kitchen (Oceanside)
The breakfast booths at Don’s Country Kitchen are busy daily, but it’s worth the wait to try the old-fashioned waffles created with care. The Pecan flavor is on the menu regularly, as well as a simple, flavorful basic version. Seasonal local fruit is offered as well, and those fresh selections change depending on whatever is ripe. Family owned, with many items made from scratch, you can bring the whole crew, including man’s best friend, since this eatery is dog-friendly.

Boxd (Carlsbad)
How about waffles for every meal? Then head on over to Boxd, a uniquely-styled restaurant inside a shipping container, complete with its own front yard in Carlsbad Village. It’s practically a street car named desire – and filled with waffle concoctions that’ll surprise your palate. Try the goat cheese, spinach and pepper waffle – it’s folded over so eat it like a sandwich. The sweet flavors get rave reviews, too, with the Nutella and banana combo chosen as a favorite among locals. This spot is kid-friendly, but there are no dogs allowed on that perfectly trimmed front lawn.

Mama Kat’s (San Marcos)
This “Best Breakfast,” award-winning San Marcos diner and pie shop serves old-fashioned or Belgian-style waffles to satisfy your breakfast sweet tooth. We suggest the Carmel Apple Waffles, topped with warm apple pie filling, whipped cream and drizzled with hot caramel. The menu also offers fried chicken and waffles. Here’s a little insider tip: for only $1.50 you can substitute your toast on any breakfast dish for, you guessed it, a waffle.

Stratford Court Café (Del Mar)
You’ll like this lovely little landmark with its Cape Cod style and cozy corners. Customer service is pro, and breakfast is served all day so you can get your waffles whenever! There’s a “W.O.W.” – waffle of the week, ask your server for details – and traditional Belgian or fruit-covered varieties. Dogs are welcome on the patio, just make sure they don’t go for your strawberries and whipped cream!

Cork Fire Kitchen (Temecula)
The Pecan Praline Malted Black Iron Waffle: need we say more? An absolute must-try, this waffle is created with Nutella, cinnamon-poached apple, sugar and topped with maple syrup. If you prefer to build your own customized creation, please do. Choose from a long list of toppings like blueberries, strawberries, chocolate chips, blackberries, raspberries, whipped cream or honey comb. Located at the Temecula Creek Inn, you’ll find the bright, sunny patio decorated in yellow with pristine views.
 

Trish Sanderson is the community manager and marketing director for Yelp North County San Diego. She leads the local community of Yelp reviewers both online and off.

The 8-day old gorilla that has captured hearts around the world since her birth in San Diego took her first bottle Wednesday.

The baby gorilla quickly gulped down the infant formula fed to her by veterinary staff members at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.

It was the first time the baby was strong enough to breath on her own since her birth on March 12.

The zoo staff says the female gorilla was "showing great improvement" after being treated for pneumonia.

It's been a tough week for the newborn who was delivered via emergency C-section.

She was immediately treated for a collapsed lung and then monitored round-the-clock while in critical care.

According to the zoo, the baby’s mother, 18-year-old Imani, is doing well after surgery and has returned to her regular habitat.

Locals know when spring has arrived in San Diego by the sight of all the blooms along Interstate 5 in the North County.

With the state of California in the middle of a devastating drought, some visitors may wonder how the Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch can afford such a display of color.

Especially when you consider that the cost of water is the second largest input cost for the company known to locals as the Carlsbad Flower Fields.

A few years ago, the company decided to switch to a drip irrigation system that allows them to put water only where it’s needed.

“It has greatly reduced our dependence on water,” said Fred Clarke, General Manager of the Flower Fields in Carlsbad in California.

Clarke said the owners signed up for 6-inch mainline from the city’s reclaimed water system along the property when the system was first implemented.

That system allows the flowers to bloom regardless of the amount of rain received.

“Fortunately here at the Carlsbad Flower Fields we are “drought proof” because we can use and do use reclaimed water from the City of Carlsbad,” he said.

For those interested in taking pictures among the ranunculus, the fields are open to the public from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. until May 11.

If you’ve visited the fields before, you may notice something new this year.

“The wider bed has actually allowed us to produce about 15 percent more flowers per acre than we have done historically,” said Clarke.

Admission is $12 for adults, $11 for seniors 60+, $6 for children 3-10 and free for children under 2.

For more information, please call 760.431.0352 or visit www.theflowerfields.com.

U.S. Border Patrol agents from the station in El Centro, Calif., helped rescue a pregnant woman from the perilous currents of the All-American Canal near the U.S.-Mexico border, officials from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said.

According to the CBP, a concerned citizen flagged down an agent Tuesday around 2:20 p.m. to report a woman in distress in the canal near Anza and Weed roads, just west of downtown Calexico, Calif.

Agents saw the woman needed help and deployed a rescue throw-bag into the water for her to hold on to. She grabbed on, and agents pulled her to safety, the CBP said.

Agents soon discovered the woman was pregnant.

She told authorities she was experiencing numbness in her lower extremities, a possible early sign of hypothermia. Emergency medical crews transported the woman to El Centro Regional Hospital for further evaluation.

CBP officials said the woman was an undocumented immigrant attempting to enter the U.S. illegally via the All-American Canal, an 80-mile-long waterway known as a deadly passage into America. Hundreds have drowned in this canal while trying to cross the border.

After being released from the hospital, the woman was transported to the El Centro Sector Border Patrol station for processing on suspicion of illegal entry into the U.S. The woman’s name was not released.

After nearly five decades of bringing the arts and culture to San Diego, the San Diego Opera plans to fold at the end of its 2014 season.

According to Ian D. Campbell, Opera General & Artistic Director and CEO, the opera will cease operations in an effort to avert bankruptcy.

The San Diego Opera’s final performance of “Don Quixote” is on Apr. 13. After that, it will begin shutting down, a press release issued Wednesday confirmed. The opera plans to fully close by Jun. 30.

“After nearly 50 years as a San Diego cultural cornerstone providing world-class performances, we saw we faced an insurmountable financial hurdle going forward,” said Campbell in a statement Wednesday. “We had a choice of winding down with dignity and grace, making every effort to fulfill our financial obligations, or inevitably entering bankruptcy, as have several other opera companies.”

Campbell said the opera’s board of directors opted to take the first choice, with a 33-1 vote.

The opera will host a sold-out production of Verdi Requiem on Thursday. The “Don Quixote” performances are on Apr. 5, Apr. 8, Apr. 11 and Apr. 13.

San Diego Opera’s performances take place at the Civic Theatre in downtown San Diego, located at 3rd Avenue and B Street.

According to the San Diego Opera website, the company is ranked one of the top 10 opera companies in the United States by Opera America.

It has been honored as one of 13 “Cornerstone Arts Organizations” by the James Irvine Foundation and in San Diego, it’s the only local arts organization to receive an almost perfect ranking from the California Arts Council and the City of San Diego Commission for Arts & Culture.

The opera began as the San Diego Opera Guild in 1950. The San Diego Opera Association was incorporated in 1965 as a producing company. That same year, its first staging of “La Boheme” was presented at the new Civic Theatre.

The U.S. will not take military action in the Ukraine crisis, President Barack Obama told NBC 7 San Diego Wednesday.

"We are not going to be getting into a military excursion in Ukraine. What we are going to do is mobilize all of our diplomatic resources to make sure that we’ve got a strong international correlation that sends a clear message,” President Obama said.

The president's statement on the possibility of military intervention was part of an interview Wednesday with NBC 7’s Mark Mullen, who traveled to Washington, D.C. to talk with the president about a range of topics, from military cuts to raising the minimum wage.

Crisis in Ukraine

Some foreign policy experts had said that limited military assistance was one of the items left in President Obama’s toolbox, along with tougher sanctions and other forms of economic pressure, when it comes to Russia.

"You have three guideposts by which to conduct foreign policy: Economic, political and military," said Ron Bee with San Diego State University. "If you are weak in one of them, the other ones won't hack it."

As for Russian President Vladimir Putin, President Obama said, "His strategic decisions are in no way based on whether he thought that we might go to war over this."

"I think there’s a clear understanding that when it comes to our core interests or our NATO allies, we can protect ourselves," he said.

Meanwhile, officials in Ukraine were preparing to withdraw troops and their families from the Russia-occupied region of Crimea Wednesday.

The president said that Ukrainians "should control their own destiny."

San Diego's Military

President Obama also talked about proposed military cuts that coincide with the drawdown of troops in Afghanistan.

In a budget proposed by the Pentagon, the Army would take the hardest hit, dropping to its lowest troop levels since before World War II.

“We will still have, by far, the largest military in the world, the best equipped military in the world, the most technologically advanced military in the world, and we will continue to be able to meet any challenges out there,” the president said.

However, President Obama said his budget would have allotted an additional $25 billion for the military.

“The truth of the matter is that if Congress prepared to do what I've asked them to do, which is to close some corporate tax loopholes that we don't need and really aren't adding to our economy, then we could make sure that we are using some additional dollars to enhance what is already an outstanding military,” he said.

Local Republican congressmen were not able to provide NBC 7 with a statement about the president's comments, but the GOP has been fighting the proposed military cuts since they were introduced last month.

"This is not the time for us to begin to retreat and certainly not the time to cut our military," Rep. Michael Turner (R-OH) told Bloomberg News.

NCAA Tournament

In a lighthearted moment at the end of the conversation, Mullen asked the president about his March Madness bracket.

“It's been a while since I've won at least the White House bracket. I need to be paying a little more attention than I have time to pay right now,” President Obama said.

The president picked Michigan State to go all the way.

UCLA police are searching for a man who sexually assaulted a female student as she was walking near the campus.

The incident happened Sunday at 9 p.m. as the woman was on her cellphone while walking near the Hotel Palomar, at 10740 Wilshire Blvd., police said.

She was not injured.

The man was described as white, between 30 and 40 years old, 5 foot 10 to 5 foot 11, of average build and with dirty blond or brown spiked hair.

He was wearing a blue or purple long-sleeve dress shirt with white vertical stripes and Khaki pants.

He was seen getting into a newer model silver sedan parked on Selby Avenue.

It was the latest of several in recent months.

Two months ago, a woman was sexually assaulted at a dance party west of campus.

Three peeping Toms were seen west of campus in January. An arrest was made in that case.

Student Haley Mitchell said her sorority is so concerned their thinking of hiring security guards.

"It's so common recently," she said. "Something needs to be done."

Anyone with information on the most recent case was asked to call the UCLA Police Department at 310-825-1491. Refer to report #14-0549.

The discovery of two objects spotted in the southern Indian Ocean that could be related to the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 has a North Texas family "hopeful," but looking for closure.

North Texas native Philip Wood was one of the 239 passengers on board Flight 370. His family, who lives in Keller, posted the following message on their Facebook page following the announcement by Austalian search officials:

“Please keep all the passengers and loved ones of MH370 in your positive thoughts and prayers as this latest news report unfolds. Thank you.”

The Facebook post indicated that the Wood family was aware of the new developments off the coast of Australia overnight and was following along in real time.

The area being searched in Australia is about 12 hours away from Central Time, and search officials have announced they have stopped the search for the night.

• Breakthrough? Possible Missing Jet Parts Spotted

NBC 5's Jeff Smith spoke to members of Wood family Thursday morning, following the updates from Australian search officials.

"We’re not going to believe anything until we hear it from an official. So we’re hopeful, we remain hopeful. Of course, this is another new twist," Philip's mother Sondra Wood said.

Nick Wood, one of Philip's sons, had a similar sentiment. "Nothing has been found, they've stopped searching for the night and they haven't located anything. There's been so many false leads, so many false sightings, that we don't know what to think until they actually confirm something," Nick Wood said.

Even if the debris lead to the discovery of a tragic end to Flight 370, Sondra Wood said any clear information would be welcome.

"I want to know. One way or the other, I want to know." Sondra Wood said. "As a mother I want closure. And if indeed this is something that’s happening, we’ll be grateful to know that they found this plane. We’re hopeful. Still hopeful that Philip could be found."

• Sondra Wood Speaks About Australian Debris Discovery

Philip Wood’s brother, Dan, told NBC 5 over the weekend that he was growing more optimistic that his brother was still alive.

Wood's girlfriend, Sarah Bajc, also spoke to NBC's "Today" show from Beijing about the new developments, but expressed concern for the families of other passengers.

“My heart just goes out to a lot of these families because I have a strong support network around me. I have exposure to what all these things mean and I get ample access to good information – and I’m in high stress,” Bajc told "Today."

“We just finally settled into got into a normal routine of waiting, unhappy waiting but at least we were going back to normal sleeping cycles and getting in and I've continued to teach and work and now this just throws it all, you know, all up in,” she said.

Bajc also criticized the Chinese media, saying that while she has access to other international news outlets, she understands why some families in China who have state-run media are upset. Bajc said the state-run media was "filtered" just before the satellite feed from her to Beijing was interrupted.

Wood was in Keller to visit with his two sons, brothers, and parents just one week he boarded Flight 370 nearly two weeks ago. His family says that visit was a blessing.

Who’s the mystery tenant moving into San Jose's biggest-ever office park? That’s the million-dollar question everyone in Silicon Valley is scrambling to answer.

Speculation started flying as soon as San Jose city officials approved the 2-million square-foot office project on North First Street and Brokaw Road in North San Jose on Wednesday.

The list of potential occupants includes everybody from Seattle-based Microsoft and Amazon, to locals Apple, Google and Facebook.

So far, the only person at City Hall who reportedly knows the name of the company is San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed, and he’s not talking.

• Judge Tosses Class-Action Push for Google Email Privacy Lawsuit

"The company name is not something that I can divulge." Reed told NBC Bay Area. "They’ve asked me to keep it confidential and I will, but it’s obviously a pretty big deal for 2-million square-feet, it’s an awfully large space."

Reed added that it was a Fortune 500 company and people will recognize the name when they finally hear it.

"It’s a Silicon Valley tech company," he said. "There’s no doubt that there’s plenty of companies growing and we want to keep them here."

The project’s developers, Palo-Alto-based Peery-Arrillaga who are also behind Stanford's new stadium and the HP and Apple campuses, are not talking either. The firm did not immediately return requests for comment.

Reed underlined the importance of developing the North San Jose area in a September 2013 traffic impact fee incentive recommendation for large-scale offices and R&D campuses, including Peery-Arrillaga’s proposed project.

• Jesse Jackson Targets Silicon Valley's Lack of Diversity

“With its superior urban design features and proposed high densities [the proposed project] is an excellent example of how we can achieve the objectives of the North San Jose Development policy,” the mayor said.

He added that he was committed to supporting developments such as the Peery-Arrillaga project, which, "when constructed and occupied" will bring thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in revenue to the city.

Peery-Arrillaga was able to secure permits for the project in just six months and got the city to forgo $4 million in transportation impact fees.

The scale of the proposed project itself -- it's twice the size of Facebook's Menlo Park campus and more than two-third the size of Apple's planned "spaceship" campus in Cupertino -- has sparked quite a bit of interest. The site, located near Highway 101, where the Bay 101 Casino is located, is expected to house 8,000 to 10,000 employees in 10 seven-story buildings. There are also plans for an activity center with soccer fields and courts for basketball, raquetball and squash.

Reed says that he doesn't expect the tech pushback San Francisco and Mountain View are currently experiencing, in part because not a whole lot of people live in that area of San Jose.

"It's going to be a very iconic development for the city and for Silicon Valley," said Steve Piasecki, the city's interim planning official. "...You are going to know where the heart of Silicon Valley is in the not too distant future."

Although Piasecki said that there was enough infrastructure in place to handle the traffic impact caused by the proposed project, the city has already heared from concerned residents.

The proposed project is expected to break ground sometime in 2014.