La Mesa business owner Joe Drew was “known for treating his customers and employees fairly” family members said Thursday.

Drew, the man behind Drew Ford auto dealership, died on April 9 at the age of 74.

The National City native attended Lemon Avenue School and Helix High School in La Mesa and married his college sweetheart, Kay, after the two met at University of Wyoming.

He served in the California National Guard and the U.S. Army. He even trained as an Army Ranger, family members say.

He left the service and joined his father Elmer in the family business – the car dealership that Elmer founded in 1927.

He was also active in the community helping establish the San Diego Automotive Museum in Balboa Park and service as president of the Grossmont High School District Board of Trustees.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Kay; his daughter, Sarah Drew of Mill Valley; his son, Bill and daughter-in-law, Anna of Rancho Santa Fe; three grandchildren, Nicole, Paige and Greta; his sister, Esther Long of Parker Colorado and many nieces and nephews. His daughter Ann preceded him in death.

Services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 15, 20014 at Shadow Mountain Community Church, 2100 Greenfield Dr., El Cajon CA 92019.

Flowers may be sent to the church or memorial donations may be made to Grossmont Hospital Foundation, P.O. Box 158, La Mesa, CA 91944 or Boy Scouts of America - Mataguay Maintenance Endowment Fund, 1207 Upas Street, San Diego, CA 92103.
 

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick is being investigated by police in Miami in connection to an incident that allegedly involves a woman who passed out inside a luxury hotel room.

The report released by the Miami Police Department on Thursday does not charge Kaepernick with any specific crime.

• Read: City of Miami Police Incident Report

A woman told authorities she partied with Kaepernick -- and two other NFL players -- and ended up in a South Florida hospital room without any recollection of how she got there, according to the police report.

The alleged encounter happened at the Viceroy Hotel in downtown Miami the evening of April 1.

Along with 26-year-old Kaepernick, Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Ricardo Lockette, 27, and 23-year-old 49ers wide receiver Quinton Patton, who is entering his second NFL season, are both mentioned in the incident report. CSN Bay Area's Matt Maiocco reports Kaepernick and Lockette forged a tight friendship during Lockette's time on the 49ers' practice squad in 2012.

Police in Miami are continuing to investigate whether Kaepernick and the two other NFL players mentioned are responsible for any wrongdoing.

• Niners May Be Fine at Inside Linebacker, Even Without Bowman

“There is not much we can say about it, other than it is an open investigation for all three of these men,” Miami Police spokeswoman Kenia Reyes said.

The report was taken by Miami police on April 3, when the unnamed woman walked into the department's central station.

According to the police report, the woman said she went to visit Lockette at his unit at the luxury residences of the Viceroy on April 1 about 9 p.m. Patton and Kaepernick were also there.

The woman said she mixed drinks for the men and gave them shots, according to the report. She said the men told her that if she wanted to drink she had to "hit the bong, which contained marijuana," the report states.

They chatted for a while and watched basketball.

• 49ers Cornerback: Investigation "Must Be A Hoax"

Before midnight, she started to feel "light headed," she told police, and she went to lie down.

She said Kaepernick came behind her in the bedroom and started kissing her, the report states. He started to undress her, and she told police she got naked. They did not have sex at this time, the report states.

Kaepernick left, saying he'd be right back.

When the woman called out that she was in bed naked, Patton and Lockette opened the door and "peeked" inside, the report states. She remembers yelling, "What are you doing? Where is Colin? Get out!" the report states. They closed the door and left.

But the woman cannot remember anything after that.

She woke up in a hospital and can't remember arriving there.

The woman told police that she and Kaepernick had a sexual relationship in the past.

• Nike Launches Jerry Rice Tribute Shoe

San Francisco 49ers’ General Manager Trent Baalke released a statement to the media Thursday morning, which said:

“The 49ers organization is aware of the recent media report regarding Colin Kaepernick and is in the process of gathering the pertinent facts.”

TMZ first broke the news. TMZ's report says any investigation is in the "beginning stages," according to law enforcement sources.

Niners cornerback Tramaine Brock said he thinks the investigation "must be a hoax."

Kaepernick has apparently been training in South Florida during the offseason. Less than week ago, the 49ers QB posted to Instagram a photo of himself hashtagged "#Miami."

Attempts to reach the players named in the report or their attorneys have been unsuccessful.

It's been a rough year for 49ers players off the field.

• Photos: Colin Kaepernick at the ESPYs

Chris Culliver is facing one felony charge and two misdemeanor charges after a March 30 hit-and-run involving a bicyclist in San Jose. The 25-year-old cornerback was charged with felony possession of brass knuckles, which carries up to a three-year prison sentence. He also was charged with misdemeanor hit-and-run with injury as well as misdemeanor hit-and-run, which have one-year maximum sentences.

All-Pro linebacker Aldon Smith was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and possession of marijuana in San Jose. In October, the 24-year-old was charged three felony weapons assault charges, stemming from a June 2012 house party he hosted. In September, he was charged with a DUI. In November, Smith pleaded not guilty.

Both Smith and Culliver, who are still under contract with the 49ers, are scheduled to make separate appearances in Santa Clara County court on Friday.
 

NBC Bay Area's Damian Trujillo and NBC 6 South Florida contributed to this report.

A former Sweetwater Unified School District trustee, who pleaded guilty in the corruption scandal involving more than a dozen educators and school officials, is still drawing a paycheck from a college in Riverside County.

Greg Sandoval, 60, pleaded guilty last Friday to misdemeanor and felony corruption charges.

After the guilty plea, Sandoval was placed on paid administrative leave by his current employer at Moreno Valley College.

Riverside Community College District spokesperson Robert Schmidt confirmed to NBC 7 that Sandoval makes an annual base pay salary of $151,811.

The Riverside Press Enterprise reports Sandoval may not lose his job because of a clause in the district's policy involving actions that occur before an employee's hiring date.

The paper reports Sandoval was hired at the college district in 2010 but charged with the crimes in 2012.

Sandoval served on the Sweetwater school board for 16 years.

According to court records Sandoval allegedly asked a business development executive working for a Sweetwater district contractor to pay $500 to enter Sandoval's daughter in a Miss South County pageant.

The prosecutor's affidavit used to obtain a search warrant at Sandoval's home states Sandoval “had his hand out asking for gifts or donations so often, even employees from SGI remarked that he ‘has no shame.’”

Looking to treat your taste buds this weekend? Then, in terms of location, San Diego’s College Area may be your best bet as nearly two dozen restaurants take part in the College Area Taste event this Sunday.

From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., foodies can take a self-guided walking tour of the College Area and hit up 22 local restaurants providing scrumptious samplings, from entrees and refreshments to desserts.

The budding bistros and quaint cafes participating in the event include Effins Pub & Grill, Living Room Café, Ranchwood BBQ, Smashburger, Woodstock’s Pizza, Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop, Pita Pit, Tea Station and Yogurtland, among many, many others.

If bought in advance, tickets to the tasty tour cost $25 per person. They go up to $30 on the day of the event.

Tickets can be purchased online here, or at many of the participating eateries through Friday, including: Bangkok Poco on College Avenue; Bistro Sixty on El Cajon Boulevard; Bridges on Art Street; Cold Stone Creamery on El Cajon Boulevard; Effins Pub & Grill on El Cajon Boulevard; Fluffy Duffy's Snow Cream on El Cajon Boulevard; L&L Hawaiian BBQ on El Cajon Boulevard.

They can also be purchased at the College Area BID office located at 4704 College Ave. All funds raised through this event will benefit the College Area Business District.

By the way, if you find yourself slipping into a little bit of a food coma while exploring the restaurants, attendees can hop on the green and orange Old Town Trolley, which will be giving free lifts between culinary destinations.

Bon appetit!

Prosecutors say a San Diego woman’s perverse prank involving a sexually-explicit advertisement that solicited rape crossed the line, and could land her in prison.

A felony complaint against Kathy Rowe explained how her anger and jealousy over the sale of a home she wanted to buy in the Carmel Valley area prompted her outrageous behavior.

Rowe admits she became extremely angry when the home she wanted was sold to another family. Prosecutors say Rowe reacted by making life a living hell for the new owners -- a wife and husband.

According to the complaint, Rowe impersonated the wife and posted a sexually-explicit, online advertisement for the "Carmel Valley Freak Show."

The graphic ad encouraged interested parties to contact the woman for sexual favors of all types while the woman’s husband was not at home.

WARNING - Graphic Content: Read the full complaint against Rowe

The language Rowe used, as detailed in the complaint, was crude and very specific about the types of sex acts the woman would engage in with male visitors.

Two men actually responded to the bogus ad. Rowe, again impersonating the new owner of the Carmel Valley home, told them to go the woman's home and gave them the address.

In back and forth communication, she told one man: "I also love to be surprised and have a man just show up at the door and force his way in the door and on me, totally taking me while I say no."

“Just stop by anytime Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.,” Rowe told both men. “I like the element of surprise.”

One of the men actually showed up at the home.

And that's why prosecutors say Rowe crossed the line.

• Read: Sick Baby's Family: "Many Inaccuracies" About Rescue at Sea

Rowe was charged with soliciting forcible rape and forcible sodomy, and other crimes.

However, a Superior Court judge dismissed the most serious of those charges before trial, saying that he didn’t have a strong suspicion that Rowe “had the specific intent to cause the two men to commit any kind of sexual assault” on the woman who bought that house.

The district attorney’s office disagreed, and appealed the judge’s ruling.

And in a recent opinion, the Fourth District Court of Appeal, in a split decision, reinstated those criminal charges.

The justices noted that the evidence in this case “... creates a reasonable inference Rowe intended the men to take indecent liberties with, lay hold of, or kiss the victim against her will when they made contact with the victim.”

• Watch: Caught on Camera: School Cop Holds Down Crying Teen

Prosecutors say Rowe’s alleged vendetta against the family that outbid her for the home went further.

In addition to the ad prank, she also sent more than $1,000 worth of unsolicited magazines and books to the victim's home, posted an online announcement for a high school New Year's Eve party at the home and advertised a free Mexican fireworks giveaway at the home on the fourth of July.

The complaint says Rowe also listed the victim’s home for sale, sent Valentine’s Day cards under the victim’s husband’s name to other women in the neighborhood and had members of religious groups visit the home.

NBC 7 could not reach Kathy Rowe for comment Wednesday, but her lawyer said Rowe's actions were nothing more than "prankish behavior," which she deeply regrets.

• Exclusive: Firefighter's Quick Thinking Saves Mother, Newborn

Court documents state that when law enforcement officers interviewed Rowe, she initially denied committing all of the acts. She later allegedly admitted to the acts, calling them “pranks” and denied any intent to hurt the victim or the victim’s husband.

Five San Diego County construction companies stand to collectively gain up to $99 million in contracts over five years, following a decision by the U.S. Navy’s facilities command.

The deal was competitive. Some 35 construction companies submitted bids.

The winning bidders were Patricia I. Romero Inc., doing business as Pacific West Builders, of National City; Peter Vander Werff Construction Inc. of El Cajon; Dimensions Construction Inc. of San Diego; I.E.-Pacific Inc. of San Diego; and Halbert Construction Co. Inc. of El Cajon.

The Navy announced April 8 that the five will receive indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity multiple-award construction contracts, but will have to compete for task orders to get work. Task orders are expected to cover new construction, renovation and repair, with 90 percent of the work in California and the balance in other western states.

The Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest awarded the deals. 

 The Business Journal is the premier business publication in San Diego. Every day online and each Monday in print, the Business Journal reports on how local business operate and why businesses leaders make the decisions they do. Every story is a dose of insight into how to run a better, more efficient, more profitable business.

Escondido police and firefighters are being lauded as heroes after saving a Valley Center mother and her baby.

On Feb. 22, just before 9 p.m., Anna Hanson, who was pregnant at the time, wasn’t feeling well and thought maybe her water broke.

“By the time we got to the house there was a massive amount of blood,” said her husband, Gunnar Hanson who is a pastor and former Navy SEAL.

Anna was experiencing placental abruption where the placenta lining separates from the uterus. According to the American Pregnancy Association, only 1 percent of pregnant women experience the complication, and usually the story does not end well.

Gunnar is a chaplain with Escondido SWAT and contacted his friend Escondido Police Officer Tom Love who was off-duty.

“I think I sent Officer Love a text message 'Things aren't going well I might be speeding through Escondido here in a few minutes,’” said Gunnar.

• Read: Baby Rescued at Sea Returns to San Diego

Love contacted the watch commander, Lt. Mike Kearney, who was working at the time. Kearney instructed Gunnar and Anna to head over to Fire Station 2 on Midway Drive where medics treated her and took them to the hospital.

“Ten minutes later some nurse came out and said the baby is fine and ran back. At that point, I thought, she didn't say anything about my wife,” said Gunnar.

Anna and her baby survived the ordeal that lasted only 56 minutes. It didn’t take long for her and Gunnar to realize Love, Kearney and the firefighters at Fire Station 2 saved their lives.

“If we had gotten there one to four minutes later, it would've been a different story. And [the doctor] said, ‘We don't know how these things end, but you would've likely lost your wife and child,’” recalled Gunnar.

• Read: 5 Best Friends Accepted to MIT

Gunnar and Anna have named their baby Titus. He is their fourth child and is now six weeks old.

“Titus wakes me up in the morning and I pick him up and I’m like I’m so glad you're alive. That's the biggest thing. That I'm so thankful,” said Anna.
 

A bicyclist was struck and killed by a car in San Marcos Thursday morning, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department confirmed.

The fatal accident happened just after 9:30 a.m. at South Las Posas Road and Grand Avenue.

A witness called authorities to report a pedestrian or bicyclist struck by a truck, officials said. When deputies arrived on scene, they found the victim down on the ground. The person’s death was confirmed shortly thereafter.

Meanwhile, the driver of the truck was uninjured and remained at the scene of the accident.

Traffic was diverted in the area as officials collected evidence and worked to clear the scene.

Deputies are still investigating the cause of the collision.
 

Deputies discovered nearly 900 marijuana plants in a grow operation Thursday morning at a location in Fallbrook.

According to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, a search warrant was served in the 2700-block of Joan Lane at around 7 a.m. There a total of 898 pot plans were found growing in six greenhouses.

Officials said the plants had an estimated street value of $800,000 to $1 million.

A loaded gun was also seized in the search. No arrested were made, and officials said the investigation is ongoing.

The investigation into this North County location began last June after reports of suspicious activity on the property. Thursday’s takedown was executed by deputies with the Fallbrook Sheriff's Substation, Sheriff's Special Enforcement Detail (SED/SWAT) and the Narcotics Task Force (NTF).

The plants were seized and will be destroyed, according to the sheriff’s department.
 

 San Diego has the second most solar energy installations in the country, according to an environmental advocacy nonprofit.

In its “Shining Cities” report, Environment California Research & Policy Center revealed Thursday that San Diego was second only to Los Angeles in its list of major cities with the most solar power systems, and America’s finest city is fourth in per capita solar installations.

Acknowledging the honor, San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer said he’s setting his sights on making his city number one.

“Solar energy can help us meet many of our city’s environmental and economic goals because it’s a pollution-free energy source, of course, with no fuel costs,” Faulconer said at a press conference held Thursday to announce the city’s ranking.

He said solar can also provide relief from rising utility costs.

• Woman's 'Rape Prank' on Homeowner Crossed the Line

And the mayor was not alone in wanting to outperform Los Angeles in renewable energy growth.

Daniel Sullivan, president of Sullivan Solar Power, said LA is helped by its larger population, but San Diego has three times the number of solar installations per capita compared to the City of Angels.

“Enjoy it while you can, Los Angeles, because the leadership of Mayor Faulconer and the city council and our climate action plan is going to result in us regaining the title of the number one solar city in the United States,” said Sullivan.

Sullivan added that his company has grown from 60 employees to more than 100 in the past four years due to increased interest.

Moving forward, the City of San Diego will capitalize on the region’s many sunny days by installing solar panels at its public utilities facilities, and officials are undergoing an assessment to determine other city buildings that could go sun-powered, according to Faulconer.

• Croc Caught at Suburban Shopping Mall

This week, the city council voted to include San Diego in the California Hero program, which gives homeowners financing options to make it easier to install renewable energy sources.

The Environment California report ranks the top ten solar-friendly cities as follows: Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix, San Jose, Honolulu, San Antonio, Indianapolis, New York, San Francisco and Denver.

As far as “solar stars” – a.k.a. cities with more than 50 watts of installed solar per person – San Diego falls behind Honolulu, San Jose and Wilmington.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department admitted Thursday to fatally shooting an innocent victim of a knife attack whom they mistook for a suspect.

In the wake of the admission, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced murder charges against the suspect. No charges have been announced against the deputies.

At a press conference Thursday evening, a sheriff's department spokesman said an internal investigation has been launched into the shooting.

Deputies on Monday were responding to a call of an assault with a deadly weapon and man with a knife in an apartment in the 900 block of Palm Avenue when two men came running toward them, according to a press release by the sheriff's department.

• Judge: Ex-Bell Official "Became a Hog"

The deputies mistakenly thought one of the men was the victim and the other the suspect, officials said. They opened fire, shooting and killing John Winkler, 30.

"Believing Winkler was the assailant and the assault was ongoing and he would attack the entry team; three deputies fired their duty weapons at him," the department's release said. "Victim Winkler was struck by the gunfire and fell to the floor."

The other victim, already covered in blood, was struck in the leg by the gunfire and collapsed.

Deputies later realized that Winkler, who was wearing a black shirt and fit the assailant's description, was a victim.

After shooting Winkler, the deputies found the real suspect, Alexander McDonald, 27, allegedly choking someone inside the apartment, with a knife on the floor nearby, officials said.

• LAPD Station Shooting Suspect Charged With Attempted Murder

Investigators on Thursday said McDonald allegedly held Winkler and two other men hostage inside the apartment at knifepoint, stabbing them and fighting with them as the deputies arrived.

The Los Angeles District Attorney's Office on Thursday charged McDonald in connection with murder, attempted murder and torture after deputies admitted to fatally shooting Winkler.

McDonald pleaded not guilty and was being held in lieu of more than $4 million bail.

Family memberts told NBC4 Southern California that Winkler moved to Los Angeles six months ago in hopes of becoming a television producer.

Winkler later died at a hospital. One victim was treated at the hospital for stab wounds and released. Another was treated for stab wounds and a gunshot wound, and was in stable condition as of Thursday afternoon.

Neighbors told NBC4 they're living in so much fear since the incident, they want to move.

"For me, honestly, I'm going to move out of the building," neighbor Peter Duckler said. "I feel police acted a little too quick and it just makes me nervous. I'm very nervous to even stay here. So we are actually packing up and we are leaving."

"They like to shot first and ask questions later," neighbor Monica Lewis said. "If there was no sign of a weapon or anything there was no reason to shoot them. The poor victims are dead and somebody lost their loved ones."

NBC4's Mekahlo Medina contributed to this report.

Monday may have been National Beer Day for the rest of the world but, really, it’s nothing special for North San Diego. Locally, craft beer is an everyday staple and Yelp North County has the inside track on where to snag some of the newest kegs on tap in town. Cheers.

Surfside Tap Room (Oceanside)
In bottles, cans and on draft: this is a bar with local libations galore! This place does beer – and only beer – so no food in sight. Also, you better bring your growler. The menu boasts a constant stream of suds, varieties of hand-crafted beers, seasonal ales, porters and stouts from local micro-brewers. With this many options rotating on and off the list, you’ll often find brewers and distributors in-house. Open until 11 p.m. on Saturdays, you can make this new local joint your first (or last) stop for your North County beer tour.

Barrel Harbor Brewing (Vista)
The Swedish Master Brewer at Barrel Harbor Brewing is cooking up concoctions to rave reviews. How about the King Norm’s Gotlandsdricka? It’s a traditionally brewed Swedish style beer, referred to as “The real Viking beer,” and the smoked hops with juniper make it a unique find. Ingredients for other selections on tap include Munich malts and English yeasts. It’s practically a mouthful of the motherland but make no mistake, this spot also has a hefty helping of local California beer culture influence. It’s open weekdays starting at 3:00 p.m. and at noon on weekends.

Dos Desperados Brewery (San Marcos)
Newly opened last month, this brewhouse is channeling the spirits of Spanish garrisons, and their declaration of “We Will Live –We Will Enjoy Life” resonates with local brew fan base. Playing off the old-timey “desperados” theme, this watering hole claims their culture runs off the beaten path and as a result, you’ll find a range of creative craft brews on tap. Try the Mamacita's Crème Ale with hints of sweet corn or the Fugitive Farmhouse Ale, which sips with subtle flavors of citrus and coriander. Des Desperados is open latest on Friday, when the doors stay open until 9 p.m.

Arcana Brewing (Carlsbad)
The Carlsbad beer spot is not exactly new, but rather recently reinvented due to legalities. The new name sure gets your brain brewing and its meaning ranges over adjectives: old, mysterious, unusual, surreal – all descriptions captured in the beers created by the steampunk-inspired team. The Voyager English Ale beats the bitterness with an earthy tone and we’re in love with the coffee and chocolate notes found in Marley’s Ghost Ale. After you’ve ordered your beer, grab a snack from some food trucks, which can be found lurking around this brewery. Business hours vary, so check the website for details.

Sublime Tavern (Del Mar)
Like variety? Well, Sublime Tavern in Del Mar will certainly quench your thirst with its large selection of local craft beer, plus a killer menu. There are about 40 taps here, and they handles are dominated with locally-made craft brews. The beer list is updated on a regular basis with new additions being added all the time, such as the Mansanita Danger Ranger (8.5 ABV American Red Ale) from Twisted Manzanita Brewing Co in Santee. Ballast Point, Belching Beaver, Latitude 33 – all of your local favorites are in the house. Plus, they have that seriously tasty mac & cheese on the menu. What’s not to love?
 

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.

For the first time since returning to San Diego, a family who was rescued at sea has released a statement about the ordeal, noting that "many inaccuracies" have been reported.

On the Rebel Heart blog, Eric and Charlotte Kaufman thanked everyone involved in their harrowing rescue and their supporters. They also defended their decision to sail with two young children and had a message for their critics.

• Read the full statement here.

On April 2, members of the California Air National Guard 129th Rescue Wing parachuted into the ocean 900 nautical miles off the coast of Mexico. They received a distress call from the family's 36-foot sailboat that 1-year-old daughter Lyra was sick.

On Sunday, a specialized team of sailors reached the family and the pararescuemen and brought them aboard USS Vandegrift.

“First, we would like to express our profound gratitude for the 129th Rescue Wing of the California Air National Guard. These people are true heroes, along with Commander Alva and the crew of the USS Vandegrift. We will remember them forever,” the family wrote on the blog.

• Timeline: Sick Baby Rescue at Sea

The ordeal sparked national debate over the couple’s decision to sail around the world with their baby and toddler.

“We have been happy with the maritime life we have been able to share with our daughters,” they wrote. “Even as we write this, several other boats are crossing the same stretch of water that Rebel Heart was on, with families who seek to show their children the world.”

In Thursday’s statement, the Kaufmans said the public does not know the full story.

“For those who are more critical, we ask that you kindly await all the details. There have been many inaccuracies reported through various media related to our daughter's health, the vessels' condition, and our overall maritime situation.”

The family has not said when they plan to talk to the media.

Eric Kaufman released the statement through his Twitter account:
 

I never thought I'd be someone issuing a "statement" : http://t.co/bHESxvU1QW . I'd like to use my 15 minutes to highlight @TOML_Foundation

— Eric Kaufman (@CaptEricKaufman) April 10, 2014

The That Others May Live (TOML) Foundation supports the families of U.S. Air Force Pararescuers who are killed or several injured during missions.

 A mysterious boom that sent worried reverberations across San Diego County almost exactly two years ago was caused by a military aircraft, U.S. Navy officials told the Los Angeles Times.

On Wednesday, Navy Cmdr. Kevin Stephens said in 2012, an aircraft flew faster than the speed of sound, causing a sonic boom so powerful that “pretty much all of San Diego felt it,” the Times reported.

The explanation comes after similar rumblings were felt throughout Long Beach and north Orange County Wednesday afternoon.

Navy officials said the boom was a part of an exercise with USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier, which is training about 50 miles off the coast.

Like in 2012, many people took to social media to ask if what they felt was an earthquake. The U.S. Geological Survey reported no tectonic activity in both situations.

In the case of the mysterious San Diego sonic boom, reports of shaking came from La Mesa, University City, Point Loma, Paradise Hills and La Jolla.

A San Diego car dealer has pleaded guilty in a campaign finance scandal in which a foreign millionaire is accused of funneling $500,000 into political campaigns.

Marc Chase, 52, owner of Symbolic Motor Cars on La Jolla Boulevard, appeared in federal court Thursday and pleaded guilty to 8 misdemeanor counts.

Chase admitted to conspiring to make illegal campaign contributions with cash paid to him by a foreign businessman.

“He made a mistake,” said Chase’s defense attorney Guadalupe Valencia. " He’s accepting responsibility and he hopes to move forward someday."

Prosecutors say a billionaire Mexican businessman, identified as Jose Susumo Azano, funneled more than $500,000 into local campaigns. It is illegal for foreign nationals to contribute to U.S. elections.

On Thursday, Chase admitted that, between Dec. 29, 2011 and Jan. 2, 2012, he recruited people to donate $500 each to hide the source of the funds.

• See: Chart Detailing Contributions

Employees, relatives and acquaintances helped make the contributions for Azano to campaigns for District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis, former mayor Bob Filner and U.S. Rep. Juan Vargas.

Chase admitted in court that he made three large contributions totaling $180,000 in September and October 2012.

Court documents show Anzano wrote a $380,000 check to “Symbolic” on Oct. , 2012 which Chase deposited. Part of that money was to reimburse Chase, officials said. The rest was to pay for a painting Chase had previously sold Azano.

Prosecutors say Susumo Azano hoped his contributions would give him the inside track to develop high-rise buildings on the San Diego bayfront.

Three others, including a former San Diego Police Department detective and a City Hall lobbyist, are accused of conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States.

• Key Players in the Campaign Finance Scandal

As part of a plea agreement, Chase was released on his own recognizance.

Chase is not permitted to travel outside the continental U.S. without permission and the judge ordered him to undergo psychological counseling or therapy as part of the plea deal.

Chase and his company have raised millions and millions of dollars over the years for children and lots of other causes, Valencia said.

“He’s hoping that this case doesn’t tarnish that image and the good work they’ve done over many, many years,” he said.

His sentencing hearing was scheduled for November 13. He faces up to eight years in prison and $800,000 in fines, officials said.

A maritime rescue to save a sick baby cost taxpayers roughly $663,000, according to a tally by the U-T San Diego.

The extensive mission to rescue 1-year-old Lyra Kaufman – along with her parents Eric and Charlotte and 3-year-old sister Cora – ended Wednesday when the family was dropped off safely in San Diego.

The U-T compiled figures from the U.S. Navy and California Air National Guard, which both lent resources to the rescue.

The newspaper reports that the National Guard spent around $447,000, and the Navy shelled out at least $216,000.

Military officials told the U-T that the sailing and flying times were already budgeted for training.

• Timeline: Sick Baby Rescue at Sea

Earlier this week, the Coast Guard – which helped facilitate the operation – said the Kaufmans most likely won’t have to reimburse the agencies.

The policy has frustrated some taxpayers, who say the parents made a bad decision by bringing their young children on board a 36-foot sailboat for an around-the-world trip.

But Thursday, Eric took to the family’s blog to defend their choices. He said there have been many “inaccuracies” reported about Lyra’s health, their boat’s condition and their overall situation, though he did not specify what those inaccuracies were.

On April 2, four pararescumen with the National Guard’s 129th Rescue Wing parachuted into the ocean and climbed aboard the Kaufman’s boat 900 nautical miles off the coast of Mexico.

By Sunday morning, sailors aboard the Navy’s USS Vandegrift rescued the family and brought them back to San Diego four days later.

A National Guard commander said the family did everything right by sending out a distress call once they realized how sick Lyra was, and he reported his crews “got there just in time.”

The child is now being treated by her family physician, Navy officials said.

 Relief may be on the way for California's severe drought.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced Thursday an El Niño climate pattern is likely to develop by this fall. But weather experts warn to take the news with a grain of salt as Mother Nature is often unpredictable.

"What we don't know yet -- is it going to be a weak event or a strong event?" said Jan Null, a meteorologist with the Golden Gate Weather Services. "Each of those has very different consequences, especially if we want to look in the contest of rainfall for California."

• Drought Aid Flows, but The Solutions are More Costly

A strong El Niño can mean a stormy winter along parts of the west coast, a wet winter across the south and a warmer than average winter for parts of the north, officials said.

Weather experts, however, said it is important to keep in mind the possible scenarios are based on the long-term average of 22 El Ninos in the past 55 years.

"It doesn't always mean we are going to get above normal rainfall," Null said. "It sort of bumps up the probabilities, but it's not a sure thing."

Firefighters are hopeful for more rain to combat the drought.

"Right now we are watching, hopeful, but we're not changing anything as far as how we are operating coming into this fire season," said Brandon Leitzke, a Cal Fire battalion chief.

Steps are being taken by the San Diego Unified School District to make sure suspected child abuse in schools is reported.

A video produced by students at Point Loma High will soon be on the district's website -- telling parents how to report suspected child abuse without having to dig through numerous web links to find the right one.

The video speaks volumes to those who have been fighting for change.

In the video, Superintendent of Public Instruction Cindy Marten assures parents that there are extensive measures in place to protect children.

Though the video is not official yet, parents like Susan Hopps-Tatum have seen what's been done so far.

“I'm overwhelmed at how far we’ve come," Hopps-Tatum said.

Almost three years ago, she and parent Judy Neufeld demanded change in how abuse is reported and investigated. They filed complaints and asked for investigations.

Their efforts resulted in a county grand jury report that backed their belief: the school police department should not investigate itself.

"The school police will not be the first and foremost entity called," said Hopps-Tatum. "Principals will not be calling school police if they suspect abuse. They will be calling the child abuse hotline."

Hopps-Tatum said reports to the hotline are turned over to the San Diego Police Department, which will sort out who should investigate the allegation.

“I think we’ve made so much progress”, she said. “Do I think it’s a perfect world yet? No, but I’m hoping, with Superintendent Marten leading this coalition of agencies and top leaders, we will see a shift in the comfort level of reporting."

The school district has been working with the District Attorney’s office, the San Diego Police Department and other agencies to focus on child abuse reporting.

The district hopes to have the final version of the video on its website in the near future.

A New York City EMT was arrested after officers responding to a domestic dispute at his Brooklyn home found incendiary devices and other weapons, police say. 

Authorities say 29-year-old Victor Cadicamo was arrested Thursday morning on charges of criminal possession of a weapon, menacing and harassment. 

It wasn't immediately clear if Cadicamo had an attorney. 

The suspect's wife, also an EMT with FDNY, had called 911 after 9 a.m. to report her husband was threatening her with a gun, police said. The couple's toddler child was in the Brighton Beach house with them. 

Responding officers found and confiscated two pipe bombs, five handguns and two rifles, authorities said. The building was evacuated as a precaution.

Neighbors who waited outside for seven hours while authorities went in were stunned by the allegations.

"We can't believe this. He's a nice guy," said Yasir Ullah.

Ullah said when his family first moved into the neighborhood, Cadicamo had told his father-in-law he had a gun. Ullah assumed Cadicamo was a police officer and says had no idea he had a cache containing so much firepower. 

"I'm really scared for everyone, it's unexpected," he said. 

-- Brynn Gingras contributed to this report.