Emergency crews were called out to Balboa Park Sunday after a woman was bitten by a snake, San Diego Fire-Rescue officials confirmed. 

The woman was in the park's Desert Garden -- across the street from the Natural History Museum -- when the snake bit her around 1:50 p.m. Park Ranger Kim Duclo said it's possible the victim stepped on the slithery animal. 

Paramedics took her to the hospital to determine how severe her injuries are. First responders told Duclo the unidentified victim will be fine.

It's unclear what kind of snake was the culprit, though based on the bite wound and her reaction, Duclo said it's highly unlikely it was a rattlesnake. It may have been a gopher snake, which looks similar to a rattler but is not poisonous.

According to Duclo, snake bites at Balboa Park are extremely rare. In his 19 years working in Balboa Park, he said he's only seen one rattlesnake, and gopher snake appearances are also infrequent.

As the weather warms up, the crawly creatures emerge from their hibernation. But the San Diego County Department of Animal Services said the region's warmer-than-usual winter was already drawing snakes out of their dens early -- especially rattlesnakes. 

Last month, NBC 7 reported that the DAS has received more than three times the number of rattlesnake calls between January and March compared to the same time last year.

Sacramento Mayor and special adviser to the National Basketball Player's Association Kevin Johnson said Monday that players are calling for the most "severe sanction possible" in the wake of racist comments allegedly made by Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling.

Johnson's comments come a day before league officials are scheduled to discuss the investigation at a news conference before Game 5 of the Clippers playoff series with the Golden State Warriors. Details regarding what will be announced at the news conference were not immediately available.

The 13-year NBA veteran said he met Sunday with league commissioner Adam Silver about the response to audio tapes obtained by TMZ Sports on which a man who TMZ identifies as Sterling tells his girlfriend that he doesn't want her to be seen in public with black people. NBC News has not been able to authenticate the audio tape and a similar recording released by Deadspin that Deadspin claims is an extended version of the conversation.

Johnson told NBC's "Today" show Monday that player representatives asked him to communicate to Silver — who became NBA commissioner Feb. 1 — that they want to "make sure those tapes are legitimate" and that Sterling should face the most "severe sanction" possible.

Johnson was asked during the "Today" interview whether the league can strip Sterling of his team ownership.

• Read: Clippers Owner Won't Be Honored at NAACP Event

"I think it's a good question," Johnson said. "From the players' standpoint, whatever the maximum that's allowable is what we want the commissioner to impose.

"It's very clear that all of our players in the league want to explore the option," he added. "What player exactly would want to play for this owner?"

Johnson called the investigation a "defining moment" for the NBA.

More details are expected Tuesday when the NBA is scheduled to make an announcement about its investigation involving Sterling, 80, who has owned the team since 1981.

The NBA constitution is not public, though it is understood the commissioner's powers are broad when it comes to dealing with matters deemed "prejudicial or detrimental to the best interests of basketball," according to The Associated Press. A fine, a suspension, a demand for sensitivity training and other options are likely at Silver's disposal.

• Read: Clippers Turn Jerseys Inside-Out

Johnson said he told Silver that players are adamant that Sterling not be allowed to attend any playoff games. The Clippers take on Golden State Tuesday in the first game in Los Angeles since the release of the audio.

Johnson said Sterling would be an "enormous distraction" if he attended any NBA games during the playoffs. Sterling did not attend Sunday's game — a blowout loss at Golden State. His wife, who has filed suit against the woman alleged to be on the tape, was present. 

Attorneys for the woman, V. Stiviano, said in a news release Sunday that the audio tapes released by TMZ and Deadspin are legitimate and part of a longer recording about one hour in length. Stiviano’s attorney denied that his client leaked the recording to the news news media.

Andy Roeser, Clippers president, released the following statement:  "Mr. Sterling is emphatic that what is reflected on that recording is not consistent with, nor does it reflect his views, beliefs or feelings. It is the antithesis of who he is, what he believes and how he has lived his life."

A 3-year-old Fresno County girl was found on Monday after the California Highway Patrol issued an Amber Alert for her.

Authorities issued the alert on Sunday at 7:45 p.m. for the girl, who was taken from the small city of Huron, which is in Fresno County.

She was found Monday, but the suspect has not been located.

The CHP described the suspect as a long-haired Latinoman in his 30s who was last seen wearing a red shirt and a red had.

Anyone with information can call the Huron Police Department at 559-945-2348.

Get Donald Sterling out of the NBA: that is former San Diego Clipper and Basketball Hall of Famer Bill Walton 's suggestion after what he calls Sterling's “despicable behavior.”

“This is evil. This is ignorant. This is sick and this very weird," Walton told NBC 7 referring to reports alleging comments that were recorded by Sterling's girlfriend.

TMZ and Deadspin have released audio they claim is of Sterling making racist remarks about his girlfriend bringing black people to his team’s games.

Walton played with the Clippers for five years during the same time that Sterling took over and eventually moved the team to Los Angeles.

While many in the NBA criticized comments made on an audio recording that TMZ reports was made of the Clippers owner, a spokesperson for the team questions whether the statements are real or even altered.

NBC has not been able to authenticate the recordings.

In a statement released Saturday, Clippers President Andy Roeser said, "Mr. Sterling is emphatic that what is reflected on that recording is not consistent with, nor does it reflect his views, beliefs or feelings."

• Read: Singer Paul Simon Arrested

Supporters suggest the recordings were leaked because the Sterling family is suing one of Sterling’s ex-girlfriends.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver's first priority is verifying Sterling's voice is on the recording.

Meanwhile, the players are off Monday as they prepare for a critical Game 5 of their knotted-up Western Conference first-round series with Golden State on Tuesday night.

The players union has asked Silver for a swift decision.

They also want to ban Sterling from the rest of the playoffs because of the "enormous distraction" and a full account of past allegations of discrimination by Sterling and why the league never sanctioned him.

Walton said he feels for the players and coaches. As a result of this scandal, he said the team has lost its will to win.

"Nothing is more important than loyalty," he said. “How can you care after what went down?“

• Read: Clippers Turn Gear Inside Out in Protest

But still, Walton says at the end of the day when you go to a game, pay for a ticket and parking, it's all going to Sterling. Something he says people just aren't going to want to do anymore.

“If you're sitting around and you're saying to your buddies, what do you want to do tonight? How many of them after today's developments will jump up and say let’s go and give it to Mr. Sterling,” he said.

The NAACP Los Angeles branch had planned to present Sterling with a lifetime achievement award next month but now the organization says that won't be happening.

Other notable people who have spoken out against Sterling include Washington's Ted Leonsis, Miami's Micky Arison and perhaps most notably, Charlotte's Michael Jordan, who won six NBA titles as a player.

Here is Roeser's statement in full:

“We have heard the tape on TMZ. We do not know if it is legitimate or it has been altered. We do know that the woman on the tape -- who we believe released it to TMZ -- is the defendant in a lawsuit brought by the Sterling family alleging that she embezzled more than $1.8 million, who told Mr. Sterling that she would “get even.” Mr. Sterling is emphatic that what is reflected on that recording is not consistent with, nor does it reflect his views, beliefs or feelings. It is the antithesis of who he is, what he believes and how he has lived his life. He feels terrible that such sentiments are being attributed to him and apologizes to anyone who might have been hurt by them. He is also upset and apologizes for sentiments attributed to him about Earvin Johnson. He has long considered Magic a friend and has only the utmost respect and admiration for him--both in terms of who he is and what he has achieved. We are investigating this matter.”

Born in La Mesa, Walton began playing for UCLA in 1970 under John Wooden. He went on to play for the Portland Trailblazers 1974-1979, the San Diego Clippers 1979-1984, the relocated Los Angeles Clippers in 1985, and The Boston Celtics 1985-1988.

The driver of a rented moving van crashed into a fire hydrant near the corner of University and Rolando around 2:50 a.m. Monday.

The hydrant was knocked off in collision with the U-Haul van.

Water shot from the hydrant and flooding a section of the parking lot of a small shopping center. The excess water flowed down a nearby street.

Utility workers turned off the water in order to repair the damage.
 

An investigation has been launched into what caused a sailboat fire that threatened other boats docked at a San Diego marina.

Lifeguards say someone from their headquarters spotted a large plume of black smoke coming from Driscoll’s Marina on Mission Bay around 7:15 p.m. Sunday.

People jumped to help fight the fire with water hoses along the dock before firefighters and lifeguards arrived.

By the time fire crews arrived, the boat was fully engulfed and there were other boats docked nearby.

• Watch: Boat Fire Threatens San Diego Marina

“We had to do something very quick in order for the whole marina not to catch on fire,” said San Diego Lifeguard Lt. Andy Lerum.

He said there were gasoline-powered boats close to the fire that could have ignited.

Firefighters got a handle on the blaze and worked throughout the evening extinguishing and towing the sailboat.

The 25-foot sailboat was built in the 1960s, Lerum said. Investigators haven’t released a cause.

No one was injured.

Some other boats suffered heat damage on their gel coats and windows, Lerum said.
 

A pedestrian narrowly missed being involved in a downtown accident Monday morning, according to one eyewitness.

Two vehicles collided around 8:45 a.m. at the intersection of 1st Avenue and Ash Street. The SUV overturned onto the sidewalk, and the car sustained major front end damage.

Despite the damage, both drivers walked away from the accident unscathed.

Witness Katherine Brecka was standing in line at the social security office when she heard a loud crash.

“I turn and I see the black SUV – the Jeep – flipping in the air up,” Brecka described.

“The glass was flying,” she said.

Brecka says if the accident had happened a few seconds later, a woman walking on the sidewalk could have been hit.

“There was a pedestrian walking toward it with a coffee in her hand,” Brecka said. “She is lucky that she was walking slower than the accident was happening.”

Four women were arrested Sunday after a high-speed chase along southbound Interstate 15 north of Escondido.

The women, ages 18 to 25, face charges of evading arrest and possession of a stolen vehicle.

Around 11:30 p.m., CHP officers say they tried to pull over a 2009 Toyota Highlander for speeding.

The driver took off and started a chase that involved speeds over 100 mph and covered multiple lanes, police said.

Just south of State Route 76, CHP officers used spike strips to deflate two of the SUV’s tires.

That brought the chase to an end near the Gopher Canyon Road exit in Deer Springs.

CHP investigators said the women were uncooperative once the vehicle came to a stop. Officers had to shoot out the back window to see into the car.

They eventually took the women into custody.

One of the women who as arrested actually kicked out the back window of a patrol car, officials said.

Check back for updates on this developing story.
 

The California Medical Board has placed the former San Diego Chargers' team physician on a five-year probation. 

On Friday, as part of a stipulated settlement, David Chao, M.D. had his license revoked but that revocation is stayed for five years
while he is on probation.

He was accused of committing gross negligence, repeated negligent acts and acts of dishonesty or corruption.

Chao's attorney Robert Frank issued the following statement: "The final conclusion of the Medical Board's investigation is a victory for Dr. Chao and the thousands of patients that seek his help. It confirms his ability to continue to perform surgery and practice medicine. It puts an end to the speculation about a possible interruption to his orthopedic/sports medicine practice."

Frank also added that he recently had shoulder surgery performed by Chao.

"No one in the legal/judicial world knows more about Dr. Chao than me and he successfully performed shoulder surgery on me a few weeks ago," his attorney said.

NBC 7 Investigates first reported that the medical board filed a complaint against Chao based on complaints from three patients.

One allegedly suffered neurological problems and further complications after having surgery according to the complaint.

The Medical Board issued a public reprimand against Chao in May 2013 after it determined that he was "dishonest" when he failed to reveal a misdemeanor DUI Conviction on applications to work as a medical evaluator for workers' compensation cases.

In June 2013, Chao decided to step down from his role as team doctor for the San Diego Chargers based on health reasons.

The system used to evaluate teachers' job performance is broken and needs to be fixed according to a new San Diego County Grand Jury report.

The grand jury investigated the current process of evaluating teachers in the 42 school districts within the county.

According to its report released Monday, teachers are evaluated by criteria not developed by educators but rather by union leadership as part of contract negotiations.

They also vary from district to district. The grand jury report recommends districts develop a uniform system of evaluation across the county.

The panel suggests there be more individualized attention given to teachers.

“Teacher evaluation appears to be basically a “boiler plate” process that is done periodically to assure the administration that the teacher is performing satisfactorily without incentive to achieve a higher standard of teaching or to excel,” the report reads.

Districts should also evaluate tenured teachers more frequently to avoid “burn out” before it happens, the report suggests.

Read the entire Grand Jury report here.

Some of the Los Angeles Clippers' largest sponsors are severing their ties with the team in efforts to distance themselves from the controversy surrounding its owner's alleged racist remarks.

Virgin America, Sprint, Red Bull, AQUAhydrate and used car retailer CarMax are among the growing list of companies to express their disappointment, all of them issuing statements decrying racism and upholding diversity.

San Francisco-based Virgin America said in a statement: "While we continue to support the fans and the players, Virgin America has made the decision to end its sponsorship of the LA Clippers."

• Kevin Johnson: NBA Players Demand "Maximum" Sanction in Sterling Case

Car manufacturer KIA called Clippers owner Donald Sterling's alleged comments about black people "reprehensible."

State Farm called them "offensive" in its own statement. "While those involved sort out the facts, we will be taking a pause in our relationship with the organization. We are monitoring the situation and we'll continually assess our options," it said.

• Sterling's Comments "a Black Eye for the NBA": Magic Johnson

The audio recording posted on the TMZ website is of a male voice criticizing a woman for posting online about bringing black friends to the games. The man is also heard chastising the woman for posting a photo on Instagram with Magic Johnson.

NBC News has not been able to authenticate the audio tapes posted on TMZSports.com or the extended clips posted by Deadspin. The TMZ report alleges the male voice is that of Sterling.

Clippers president Andy Roeser released a statement, saying: "Mr. Sterling is emphatic that what is reflected on that recording is not consistent with, nor does it reflect his views, beliefs or feelings. It is the antithesis of who he is, what he believes and how he has lived his life."

The NBA is expected to hold a press conference Tuesday on its investigation involving Sterling's alleged remarks.

• "Wear Black," "Blackout" Urged on Social Media in Wake of Racist Comments

The TMZ report sparked a firestorm on Friday, with NBA players and others, including President Barack Obama and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, issuing statements. Basketball fans are calling on the NBA to take action against Sterling.

When asked about his players' mental state, Clippers head coach Doc Rivers said Saturday that the playoffs, and his players, must go on.

"They've been pulled in a million directions in the last 24 hours," Rivers said. "I feel like we let them down, my job is to get them up and get them ready."

Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, who himself played in the NBA for 12 years, addressed the racism allegations against Sterling on behalf of the NBA Players Association at a press conference Sunday.

"The comments are unacceptable – if what has been alleged was actually stated, there should be sanctions ... The NBA family will have zero tolerance for such conduct – today, tomorrow and forever," he said.

Johnson said that the players did not want Sterling present during the rest of the playoffs until the issue was resolved.

"The players are outraged, due process has to take place," he said. "This is a defining moment for all the players in the League."

On Sunday, the National Association of the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) announced that Sterling will not be receiving a lifetime achievement award from its Los Angeles branch.

In the wake of Sterling’s alleged intolerable comments we are suspending our Clippers sponsorship until the NBA completes its investigation.

— AQUAhydrate (@AQUAhydrate) April 28, 2014

More than a dozen men were arraigned Monday on a variety of drugs and weapons charges as part of a  countywide investigation into the West Coast Crips criminal organization.

Sixteen defendants entered initial pleas of not guilty in San Diego Superior Court to charges that prosecutors allege made them part of a criminal organization that spanned from Logan Heights to El Cajon.

San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis and U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy announced the arrests while explaining the hierarchy of the West Coast Crips street gang.

Prosecutors claim there are Original Gangers or "OG's", senior members or "homies" and new members or "babies."

At today's group arraignment, defendants faced charges ranging from possession of methamphetamine for sale and transportation of marijuana to the sale of a semi-automatic weapon to a convicted felon.

Court complaints against 55 alleged gang members and associates describe an increasingly sophisticated and violent criminal operation operated throughout San Diego that included revenge killings, student drug mules and even selfies at a murder site.

Nineteen suspects were arraigned Friday in federal court on charges of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and carrying a firearm during drug trafficking crime.

New Chicago Bears wide receiver Josh Morgan faces assault charges after a valet at a popular Washington, D.C. nightclub says Morgan punched him in the face. Morgan denies the accusation.

Kenneth Johnson told NBC Washington he was working as a valet driver around 1 a.m. Sunday when a large SUV pulled up to Cities Restaurant and Lounge just off K Street in downtown Washington.

Josh Morgan, who signed with the Bears last week, got out with two women. Johnson said he looked at the women, which he says apparently upset Morgan.

"I was just standing there and I looked up, and in the blink of an eye he just punched me right in the mouth," Johnson said. "Instantly my mouth is bleeding profusely, just blood coming out all over my jacket and stuff. I was scared. I didn't know what to do."

Police took Morgan into custody inside Cities and charged him with simple assault, NBC Washington reported. Morgan was released on a police citation promising to appear in court at a later date.

Johnson told NBC Washington he didn't do anything to provoke Morgan.

"It's not fair for anybody to go around punching people just doing their job," Johnson said. "I didn't say anything disrespectful to the lady. I didn't look at her or sexualize her in any way. I just looked in the direction, and I got hit."

Morgan denied the accusation. “I know I didn’t do anything wrong," he told NBC Washington in a phone interview.

He said he thinks Johnson didn't want to show his face on camera because he was not injured. "Because nothing happened to him," Morgan said. "Not a scratch on his face. I didn’t touch him."

"We are aware of Josh Morgan’s presence at a weekend incident in Washington, D.C.," read a statement from the Chicago Bears. "We are currently gathering information to learn more about the circumstances surrounding the event."

Johnson said he didn’t know who Morgan was and had to Google his name afterward to find out.

"When I Googled his name, it hurt me even more, because I'm a Redskins fan," he said. "Not only that, but I found out we went to the same high school, we graduated from the same high school, and you are a football player. Somebody like that coming from my community do something like that, I would normally look up to a person like that."

Morgan, 28, graduated from Washington's H.D. Woodson High School and played college football at Virginia Tech. He played for the San Francisco 49ers for four years before spending the past two seasons with the Redskins. He caught 68 passes for 724 yards and two touchdowns over two years for the Skins, starting 22 of the 30 regular season games in which he played.

He said he is not worried about his reputation.

“I’ve always been a stand-up guy in the community. I’ve always been a stand-up guy, period,” Morgan said. “Everybody knows me. Everybody knows how I am. Nothing like this has ever happened to me before. What a coincidence that now I signed with the Chicago Bears, now all of a sudden it happened.”

You might have seen them on Animal Planet: Coffee shops where customers can interact with feline friends, especially popular in Asia.

They’re called cat cafés, and San Diego entrepreneur Tony Wang hopes to open the first one in the U.S.

Although Wang is what you’d call a “cat person” – he’s got three cats of his own – he said that’s not the reason he’s pursuing this business venture.

“San Diego doesn’t need just another coffee shop,” he said.

Wang said cat cafés originated in Taiwan, then spread like wildfire in Japan (there are currently dozens in Tokyo alone). He also read about one in Paris with a month-long waiting list.

“Let’s see if we can do something similar here,” he said.

Here’s how the Cat Café would work: Customers can order drinks and pastries in the front of the shop. Then, they’ll walk through several doors, separating the food service area from the cat area. There, they could enjoy their coffee in the company of cats.

NBC 7 reached out to the county health department about what permits Wang would need to open a cat café, but officials said they could not comment because they haven’t received the plans yet.

According to California Retail Food Code, live animals may be allowed “if kept at least 20 feet (6 meters) away from any mobile food facility, temporary food facility…” Wang hopes his business would be classified in this category.

The entrepreneur is eyeing a space in San Diego’s Marina District to open his café. He’s targeting two types of clients: Tourists and people who live and work nearby, especially those who love pets but can't own them.

“The people who work in the area may have stressful jobs,” he said. “There are definitely benefits to the act of petting an animal." 

The business will be part café, part feline foster home. Wang is in early talks with the San Diego Humane Society to provide the cats, which would also be up for adoption. He expects to have about six cats in the café at a time.

With the plans in place, the San Diego Cat Café is in a race to become the first cat café in the U.S. There are efforts underway to open cat cafés in four U.S. cities: Catfé in Los Angeles, KitTea in San Francisco, Cat Town Café in Oakland and Purrington’s Cat Lounge in Portland.

“That depends who gets it done first,” Wang said.

Like the other prospective cat cafés, Wang is using crowdsourcing to help fund the project.

Last weekend, Purina One and the North Shore Animal League opened a four-day pop-up cat café in New York City. A line of cat lovers wound around the block, waiting hours to pet cats and sip cat'achinos.

If all goes according to plan, Wang plans to open the San Diego Cat Café July 1, just in time for the influx of visitors from Comic-Con.

A pit bull is in quarantine after biting three people -- including its owner -- in University Heights Monday afternoon, according to San Diego County Animal Control. 

The attack happened in the 1300 block of El Cajon Blvd. around 1:50 p.m.

The dog's owner Sharon Robinson said she was standing outside of her fence, talking with a strange man when she suddenly felt threatened by him. 

She claims the dog sensed that and attacked the man in defense of Robinson. 

"He totally protected me," Robinson said tearfully. "He protected my whole family, and now he's gone."

She was bitten while trying to pull her dog away. It's unclear how the third victim came into the situation.

One of the victims said he was attacked while going into a University Heights store. Even though he has bandages on his arms, he told NBC 7 he's alright.

Animal Control Lt. Dan Desousa said his agency detained the dog in the 4900 block of Harbinson Ave. in the Rolando area. 

Desousa said a decision will be made Tuesday on what's to be done with the pit bull. 

Cell phone video of a dad kicking his 6-year-old son off a halfpipe at a Florida skate park has provoked public outrage, and now child protection officials say they are investigating.

The incident at Kona Skate Park in Jacksonville sparked an outcry among witnesses, too, even before the video was first posted to Instagram on Friday.

Martin Ramos, the owner of the park, said that the child is a prodigy skateboarder and that he and his dad often skate together there. Ramos said the child seemed to be okay after the incident and that he told the father not to return to the skate park anytime soon.

"He said he was just caught up in the moment. He seemed very remorseful," Ramos said. "He certainly understands the gravity of the situation, and it seems like he's going to be answering to this thing for quite some time to come."

The Department of Children and Families is investigating, a spokesman told First Coast News, saying the agency doesn't consider the behavior caught on video appropriate.

The viral video was first posted to Instagram by Ryan Stephens, 13, who said his friend shot it when the pair was at the skate park together.

The teen said he confronted the man after he saw the video to ask him why he had pushed the child.

"He said, 'Because he needs to learn.' I was like, 'Pushing him down is not teaching him how to drop in.' And then he said, 'Do you think you can raise him better than me?' and I said 'Yes,'" he said.

Detectives worked early into the morning investigating a shooting that injured two teenagers in San Diego. 

A 15-year-old Skyline victim was shot in the shoulder and taken to the hospital once paramedics arrived. The 17-year-old victim showed up at Scripps Mercy Hospital with a gunshot wound to the shin.

Police say the teenagers were two of four people in a Hyundai that was shot at while driving south on Pyramid Street in Emerald Hills.

At least six evidence markers surrounded a dark colored Lexus where police say bullet casings littered the ground.

Police said a bullet-riddled car was found in the 7700 block of Shorewood Drive in Skyline, where the 15-year-old lives with his grandfather.

Officers are investigating if the incidents were gang-related.

The Hyundai they were in was later found about 5 miles away parked on the 7700 block of Shoreline where at least one of the victims lived in the Skyline community.

Officers are still looking for two people involved in the incident who are on the run.

They say the wounded teens are being questioned to help them solve what sparked the shooting.

NBA Hall of Fame player Magic Johnson addressed Donald Sterling's alleged racist remarks Monday at an event in Gary, Ind.

Sterling, the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, is alleged to be the voice on an audio recording posted on TMZ Sports criticizing a woman for posting online about bringing black friends to games. The man is also heard chastising the woman for posting a photo on Instagram with Johnson.

"I'm disappointed, I'm hurt, I'm outraged, I'm everything," Johnson said at a news conference. "First, my name being associated, he singled me out personally. Then he singled out African-Americans. Again, I'm always gonna fight for myself as well as my people."

Johnson reiterated his statements that Sterling should not be allowed to continue as an owner. The NBA is expected to hold a press conference Tuesday on its investigation involving Sterling's alleged remarks.

• Sponsors Drop Clippers Over Sterling's Alleged Racist Remarks
• Jordan "Disgusted" by Alleged Sterling Comments

"It was a sad day for all owners, of every sports team, but especially in the NBA, and hopefully our commissioner Silver will act quickly and resolve this situation," Johnson said. "I think that there's no room, so he has to lose the team, hopefully, and if that doesn't happen, then the commissioners and his partners have to decide his fate."

Johnson said he agrees with the Clippers players' decision to continue playing in the playoffs. The players held a silent protest before Sunday's game, wearing their warmup outfits inside-out with black socks.

"If nothing happens, then you can boycott in the off season, and not just the Clippers, the whole league has to, because if he's not thrown out, then you have to do something," Johnson said.

Johnson said emphatically that he has no interest in buying the Clippers himself, despite rumors to the contrary.

"When he came out against us and he said those things, and said about me personally that he didn't want me to come to his games, then everyone says that if he sells it, then Magic should buy it. I never said that, so that's not the case," Johnson said.

NBC News has not been able to authenticate the audio tapes posted on TMZSports.com or extended clips posted by Deadspin.

Clippers president Andy Roeser released a statement, saying: "Mr. Sterling is emphatic that what is reflected on that recording is not consistent with, nor does it reflect his views, beliefs or feelings. It is the antithesis of who he is, what he believes and how he has lived his life."

 After a large shake-up in its administration, San Diego Opera supporters gathered Monday to see if they can salvage the institution.

Members of the San Diego Opera Association met in Copley Hall at the Civic Center Plaza to talk about ways to save and raise money.

Donors who had given $100 or more – and thus had a vested interest in the outcome – were invited to attend.

While no decisions were made, Board of Directors members discussed cutting jobs, moving office space and reducing salaries to save funds.

The meeting comes after the opera’s General and Artistic Director /CEO Ian Campbell and Deputy General Director Ann Spira Campbell were placed on paid leave last week. Keith Fisher – the executive director for the past 12 years – was named CEO.

• READ: SD Opera Board President, 12 Others Resign

With new leadership and new direction, many in Monday’s meeting felt optimistic about the company’s future.

“I think it’s been an exciting meeting. They’ve already advised the regular board of directors to rescind the motion that was elected March 19th to close the company, so we know what direction these folks want to go, which is really terrific,” said Nicolas Reveles, the director of education and outreach for the opera.

The next step will be to raise enough money to put on a 2015 season. The group hopes to get $1 million by May 19, and they’ve received $237,000 of their goal.

The opera opened fundraising options to the public after the board created an escrow account that allows the company to return money to donors if their goal isn’t met.

Continuing a long day of meetings, the board got together after the association’s session to talk in private about new business strategies, alternative performance venues, innovative ways to produce operas and other cost-cutting measures.

For the second consecutive year, the San Diego Unified School District has the lowest high school dropout rate and the second highest graduation rate among California’s largest districts, according to new statistics from the California Department of Education.

The dropout rate fell from 6.2 percent in 2012 to 5.2 percent in 2013. During the same period, SDUSD seniors graduated at a rate of 87.8 percent in 2013, compared to 86.9 percent the year before.

The only district that had a higher graduation rate was Garden Grove in Orange County with 89 percent.

Reducing the dropout rate has been a top priority for the school district since 2007, according to SDUSD Superintendent Cindy Marten.

• READ: California Key to Raising Graduation Rate

“We attribute this tremendous success to the supports that have been put in place to help our high school seniors make it in the dropout prevention program and by offering a relevant, broad and challenging curriculum,” said Marten.

Over the past four years, the district’s graduation rates have risen more than 5 percentage points.

However, there is still a gap in the rates between ethnic groups, though SDUSD officials said that gap is tightening.

Among the Class of 2013’s largest groups, Filipino students graduated at a rate of 96.9 percent; White students, 94.1 percent; Asian students, 92.9 percent; Pacific Islander students, 85.7 percent; African American students, 82.8 percent; Hispanic or Latino students, 81.6 percent; and American Indian or Alaska Native, 73.7 percent.

• READ: Barry Minkow Sentenced in $3M Church Theft

As for the SDUSD dropout rates, the percentages are as follows: Hispanic or Latino students, 8.2; Pacific Islander, 7.1; African American, 6.7; American Indian or Alaska Native, 5.3; Asian, 3.3; White, 2.4; and Filipino, 1.0.

Closing that achievement gap is one area in which the district can improve, according to the superintendent.

“We are looking at the achievement gap numbers to make sure that we’re paying attention to where there’s some focus need in terms of subgroups,” said Marten.

If the district’s dropout rates and graduation rates don’t add up to 100 percent, they’re not supposed to, said Ron Rode, SDUSD’s executive director for the Office of Accountability.

When a student enters a particular cohort but needs an extra year or two to get a high school diploma, they are not counted in the graduates or dropouts.

Statewide, districts had an average high school graduation rate of 80.2 percent in 2013, while the dropout rate was 11.6 percent.

According to a report titled “Building a Grad Nation," California is key to reaching the nation’s goal of a 90-percent graduation rate.

The state has the highest poverty rate, a median household income 20 percent higher than the country’s and a population that is 61 percent non-Anglo. Despite budget cuts and demographic changes, the report said California has been making progress, though there’s still room for improvement.