San Diego Lifeguards launched a search for a swimmer Wednesday night who vanished, leaving his car behind in a nearby parking lot.

According to officials, the search for the missing swimmer began around 7:30 p.m. in waters near the 3100 block of Carlsbad Boulevard. The swimmer’s brother reported him missing, saying he hadn’t seen him in more than three hours.

Lifeguards called in backup for the night search. U.S. Coast Guard officials were asked to assist, as well as the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department ASTREA helicopter.

Meanwhile, dive teams are searching the waters about 15 to 20 feet off the coast. Officials have asked spectators and beachgoers to clear the area while lifeguards search.

Check back for updates on this developing story. Watch NBC 7 News at 11 p.m. for updates from the scene.

The Cocos Fire that scorched nearly 2,000 acres and destroyed close to 40 homes in San Marcos, was intentionally set, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department announced Wednesday. 

A juvenile may face charges as the person responsible for starting the fire on May 14, deputies said.

The investigators declined to identify the juvenile suspect per department policy. They've submitted the case to the San Diego County District Attorney's Office, officials said. 

The DA's office will decide if charges should be filed in this case. A juvenile court hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, July 30.

• READ: Prostitute Killed Silicon Valley Exec with Heroin: Cops
  

The May Firestorm cost $27.9 million to fight, and $29.8 million in losses to private property owners, according to county officials.

The Cocos Fire alone cost the City of San Marcos approximately $10.4 million.

Out of that, $6.2 million was spent fighting the fire and $2.5 million will be needed to stabilize and control erosion of now barren hillsides near residential areas, storm drains, Discovery Lake and South Lake and other areas impacted by the fire.

The Cocos Fire was one of nine fires that swept San Diego County, burning 9,000 acres on the same day.

The entire campus of Cal State San Marcos was evacuated after the fire sparked near near Village Drive and Twin Oaks Road.

• READ: May Firestorm Timeline

News of a suspect  - and a juvenile one at that - prompted a lot of response on NBC 7's Facebook page.

Palomar College student Dominique Morgan wrote, "Kids just don't understand that when they do things that not only will they face consequences, but so will their parents."

Julie Salmons of the Lake Morena area said she felt the suspect should be required to work at a burn center and an animal sanctuary.

"...he should also NOT be allowed to own anything that cost more than 10 bucks for the next 10 years. he needs to see what it feels like to have nothing," she wrote on NBC 7's page.

In making the announcement Wednesday, deputies said there is no evidence linking the fires or connecting the juvenile suspect to the other fires.

Deputies said the department's Bomb/Arson Unit worked for weeks on the investigation with the help of Cal Fire, the San Marcos Fire Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The elite athletes in ESPN’s The Body include Venus Williams, Michael Phelps and San Diegan Danyelle Wolf.

“I think I’m the only one not a millionaire on that list,” Wolf jokes.

The Pacific Beach resident works as a trainer, has a background in art and also happens to be a two-time U.S. Boxing Champion who is hoping to make the 2016 U.S. Olympic Boxing Team.

So when Wolf was asked to be part of The Body, she said thought it would be an amazing experience and an awesome opportunity.

“I never thought I would do something like that but it’s a very tasteful magazine,” she explained.

She shared a sneak peek of her image on her Facebook page Monday.

Wolf appears in boxing stance captured in a black and white image with the caption, “"Boxing is like a blank canvas for me. I see it very much like my artwork. With a painting, it's what you put into it -- throwing all the paint on the canvas was eating healthy, strength training, cardio and going to all the tournaments. So when you're done, you get to stand back and look at your masterpiece and say, 'Wow, I did that.’”

There was one thing unexpected about the shoot - the atmosphere on set.

“Didn’t think that the staff would be 30 guys on the set,” she added. “It was a pretty interesting experience.”

Scroll through the gallery to see Wolf's image.

The man accused of killing three San Diegans on Christmas Eve in a mall parking lot appeared in court on Wednesday.

Carlo Mercado, 29, was in San Diego Superior Court for sentencing on a separate charge of having a gun silencer, but it was reset for Aug. 5.

A spokeswoman for the District Attorney’s Office said that case likely won’t be resolved until after the triple homicide case concludes.

Mercado also was appointed a public defender to represent him in the killings – a case that the district attorney has indicated he could seek the death penalty.

In the early hours of Dec. 24, 2013, Ilona Flint and Belvedere Salvatore were gunned down in a parking lot outside a Macy’s department store at Westfield Mission Valley Mall. Flint was shot in the head, but somehow managed to call 911 and report the shooting. She died at the scene.

Salvatore died a few days later from injuries sustained in the shooting.

Gianni Belvedere – Salvatore’s brother and Flint’s longtime boyfriend-turned-fiancé – went missing immediately following the shooting of his loved ones. The San Diego Police Department launched a missing person search for Gianni over the next several weeks.

Finally, on Jan. 17, 2014, Gianni's body was discovered in the trunk of his car in Riverside, Calif., about an hour-and-a-half north of San Diego County. He, too, had been fatally shot, also deemed the victim of a homicide.

Mercado was arrested on June 20 in connection the case that had gone unsolved since Christmas 2013.

The fate of a U.S. Marine reservist jailed in Mexico for the past three months remained undecided Wednesday as he addressed a judge at an evidentiary hearing across the border.

Andrew Tahmooressi, 25, was expected to make a statement before a judge to explain the arrest that landed him behind bars in Mexico. Media was not allowed in the courtroom.

Tahmooressi was arrested April 1 after driving his Ford pickup truck across the U.S.-Mexico border at San Ysidro into Tijuana. At the time, he was in possession of three U.S.-registered firearms and was arrested by Mexican officials and jailed on weapons charges.

His family said Tahmooressi got lost near the border after dark and took a wrong turn into Mexico. They have been fighting to have him released from jail ever since.

The Marine reservist from Weston, Fla., was escorted by police in Tijuana to court Wednesday. Ultimately, his fate will be decided by a judge alone, not a jury.

Experts told NBC 7 the judge would review Tahmooressi’s testimony along with other evidence before making a decision on whether or not to set him free. That decision could take as long as four to 10 months.

Experts said Tahmooressi will likely remain behind bars for the duration of the trial.

San Diego-based attorney Jan Ronis, who’s familiar with this case and the Mexican justice system, believes the deciding factor will be the impression Tahmooressi makes on the judge.

“It’s going to be his credibility based upon his demeanor, his character, his reputation, because there’s no dispute that he went into Mexico. The dispute is did he do it intentionally and if so, why did he go to Mexico?” said Ronis.

The judge overseeing this trial faces substantial political pressure to release Tahmooressi, including a letter signed by 74 members of the U.S. House of Representatives who want the Marine reservist freed.

In that letter, supporters urge the judge to consider that Tahmooressi was new to the area and unfamiliar with the border crossing. At the time of the incident Tahmooressi – who served two tours of duty in Afghanistan – was in the San Diego area to receive treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

“I think it would be an easy decision for the judge, especially given some external pressures, to come to a decision that it was just an accident and let this man go,” Ronis told NBC 7. “On the other hand, the judge could find the evidence compelling that he entered the country intentionally with the intent to distribute weapons.”

Wednesday’s hearing was Tahmooressi’s opportunity to supplement the record with additional statements or perhaps modify earlier statements if they were incorrectly recorded.

An attorney subpoenaed two Mexican customs agents on duty at the time of Tahmooressi’s crossing and they’re expected to testify in the direct examination process as well.

As the evidence comes in and is reviewed by the judge, Ronis said the decision will inevitably take time. He said that would be the case even if Tahmooressi was jailed in the U.S.

“These things take long on both sides of the border. They are entitled to go through the process and nobody should really jump to conclusions about the fairness of the system until we see what the final decision is,” said Ronis.

“I think there’s ample evidence for [the judge] to believe it was purely an accident, that he did not enter Mexico intentionally with any intent to distribute weapons,” the attorney added.

Tahmooressi’s mother, Jill Tahmooressi, traveled to Mexico Wednesday to attend the hearing in hopes she’d return home with her son.

"I hope that the judge will consider it and discern the truth and release Andrew," Tahmooressi told reporters at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport Tuesday. "He's been just frighteningly abandoned for all these months and to have family present is definitely reassuring."
 

Employees and customers at Quick 6 Liquors in Weymouth, Massachusetts were in for a surprise Tuesday when an unexpected guest came barging in.

Surveillance footage shows a deer leaping through the store's front window, then racing through the aisles as the disoriented animal tries to find a way back out.

Customers can be seen dodging the deer, which, according to NBC affiliate WHDH, knocked over a few high-end liquor bottles in its attempt to flee.

The store owner told WHDH no one was injured but the deer had a few cuts when all was said and done.

The owner of an abandoned dog with the words "free" and "I need a home" written on it in permanent marker found in a Northern California community last week has come forward, police said.

A Yolo County woman on Wednesday drove to the Benicia Police Department and provided photos, veterinarian records and witness testimony to prove that she is the dog's owner.

The woman also told police the dog somehow got out of her yard and has no idea how the pet ended up in Benicia.

Police do not suspect the woman played a part in the dog's abuse and abandonment.

• Photos: Abandoned Dog Found in Benicia

The dog was found on July 3 in downtown Benicia by Shannon Bettencourt, who said the pet was scared and shaking.

"I was heartbroken, it was really sad," Bettencourt said in a previous interview with NBC Bay Area. "Nobody wants to see an animal like that ever."

Bettencourt took the dog home and named her Libby, short for Liberty. She thought it was appropriate since she found Libby the day before the Fourth of July.

Bettencourt had plans to formally adopt Libby this week.

Business is booming for a Bay Area company thanks to California's severe drought.

Los Gatos-based Green Canary has been painting lawns that have turned brown due to a lack of water. The company uses green, water-based paint to transform grass that has turned drought dull.

"This is environmentally sound," said Shawn Sahbari, Green Canary president. "We engineered it so that the green paint is kid-friendly and pet-friendly."

Green Canary has also helped golf courses, soccer fields and cemeteries impacted by the drought.

San Jose's Almaden Valley Athletic Club plans to use the service to keep the front lawn green while using 90 percent less water.

• Read: Former Chargers Star Lists Local Home for $3.5M

"One of the main reasons was the concern of members who wondered what are we doing as far as conservation," said Jeff Griffith, the club's general manager.

Sahbari said the paint will not kill grass and lasts at least three months.

The news that thousands of unaccompanied children are crossing the U.S. border is just making headlines, but the surge has been happening for months, even years. President Obama is asking Congress for $3.7 billion to tackle the issue, which has become a flashpoint in the debate over immigration.

The number of children has overwhelmed the U.S. immigration system, which faces a backlog of hundreds of thousands of undocumented migrants, according to The Associated Press.

President Barack Obama says that violent crime is driving migrants north, while Republicans blame Obama’s policies, saying they have given migrants an incentive to come.

Here’s what you should know about the crisis.

How Many Kids Are Trying to Cross the Border Alone

Since October, 52,000 children have been caught traversing the U.S.-Mexico border without an adult. That’s double the number in 2012 and triple the number in 2011, according to the Department of Homeland Security. The U.S. Border Patrol was already noticing an increase in children coming up from Central America in the fall of 2011. Most of the apprehended children are between 14 and 18-years-old, according to the Women's Refugee Commission.

Three-fourths of the kids caught since October have traveled over 1,000 miles — by car, train, raft and foot — from the Central American countries of Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador. The rest are from neighboring Mexico, according to Border Patrol data.

Making the trek is uncertain and dangerous. Smugglers, or coyotes, charge up to $10,000 for each child, according to The Associated Press. These smugglers may take the children’s money and run, or worse, assault or traffic them. The journey is also physically challenging, with dense forests, dry deserts and rugged mountains along the way. One stretch of land in Texas is referred to as the "killing fields."

Migrant children aren't just traveling to the U.S. All of Central America is seeing an increase. Mexico, Panama, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Belize jointly documented a 712 percent increase in the number of people seeking asylum from El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala, according to the Washington Office on Latin America.

Why They Left Central America

The mass migration is chiefly caused by three things: gang-related violence, poverty and rumors that migrant children will be welcomed to the U.S. if they make it to the border.

• Violence. A good portion of the drug trade is now in Central America and plenty of gangs capitalize on this. Incompetent police forces do little to stop them. Children are actively recruited as "foot soldiers" for cartels. These gangs give children an ultimatum: work in the drug trade or face death. Honduras’ homicide rate was 90 killed per 100,000 people in 2012. That’s the worst in the world and six times the global average. Guatemala and El Salvador aren't far behind.

Gangs run rampant in these countries, and many children find themselves in the crossfire. It is not uncommon for children to arrive at hospitals riddled with bullets. Fifty-eight percent of children migrating north are motivated by violent conditions in their home country, according to a report by the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees.

Trust in the police is low in the children's countries of origin. In many places, gangs and police are intertwined. "You never know who is who," several migrant children told the Immigration Policy Center.

• Poverty. Nearly two-thirds of the Honduran population lives below the poverty line, according to UNICEF. One in three infants is malnourished, and most kids in rural areas will only get four years of schooling on average. Guatemala's poverty rate is 26 percent. In El Salvador 17 percent of the population is living on less than $2 a day, according to the World Bank.

• Rumors. The recent surge may have its roots in rumors that a change in U.S. immigration policy means any child who crosses the border can stay. This is a false belief, according to Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson. Children who arrived after 2007 are not eligible for deferred deportations or a path to citizenship. A Border Patrol report that was leaked in June says families' misconception that they will obtain "permisos" when they arrive in the U.S. is driving most migration, according to Vox.com. They believe "permisos" means work permit, but it's actually a notice to appear in immigration court.

• Family. Over a third of Central American children who traveled to the U.S. alone were looking to reunite with one or both parents. It is common for relatives to send children north to reunite with family members, who also have questionable legal status, according to a report by the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees.

What Caused the Crisis

In addition to the violence and poverty in Central America, some have said the U.S. government is at the root of the influx, particularly policies put forth by the last two presidents.

• Obama's order. Republicans have blamed the Obama administration for the rumors, saying that poor policy and communication has led migrants to believe they can stay, according to the Los Angeles Times. They say the president has been weak at enforcing border policy and that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which was authored by the Obama administration in 2012 and gives some undocumented migrants temporary legal status, has given Central American families a false hope.

• Bush's law. A bipartisan law that President George W. Bush signed in 2008, known as the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, seeks to combat sex trafficking by granting protections to children traveling alone from countries that are not Mexico or Canada. Under the law, unaccompanied children can’t be hastily sent back and are instead allowed an immigration hearing and must be handed over to the Department of Health and Human Services. The Obama administration said the law is partly to blame for the crisis, according to The New York Times. The White House and Republicans are both looking for ways to adjust the law's requirements to make it easier for children to be returned to their home countries.

Where the Migrants Arrive and What Happens When They Get Here

The crisis is happening all along the United States’ Southwest border. The greatest number of migrants are entering through southern Texas, where there has been a 178 percent change in the number of unaccompanied children crossing the border from 2013 to 2014, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Border patrol agents in Texas are overwhelmed and facilities are brimming with migrant children.

The city of Murrieta, California, made national headlines after protesters blocked buses carrying undocumented children and families to immigration processing facilities in Southern California. Overcrowded facilities in Texas looked to ease the burden by sending some migrants there. About 140 migrants ended up in San Diego.

When migrant children are apprehended by Customs and Border Protection they are held in a detention center — usually a sterile place that resembles a warehouse. They will remain there until they are transferred to the Office of Refugee Resettlement's Division of Children Services (ORR/DCS). These facilities range from group homes to juvenile detention centers that are locked and surrounded by barbed wire.

Children stay at ORR/DCS facilities for an average of 55 days while authorities attempt to locate a parent or guardian. If none can be found, the child remains in DCS custody for the entirety of her immigration case. Ultimately, she will either end up with her parents or foster parents in the U.S. or be sent back to the country she came from.

What's Being Done About the Influx of People

• More cash. The White House is asking Congress for more than $3.7 billion to address the wave of migration. Most of that cash would go to the Department of Health and Human Services, while Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection would also get a share. Almost $300 million would go towards efforts to “repatriate and reintegrate migrants to Central America.” The request must pass both houses of Congress, though, and it's not clear how, or whether, the GOP-led House will vote.

• More shelters. Immigration officials are scrambling to find more shelter space for new arrivals. Dallas County in Texas agreed to shelter 2,000 children if the federal government foots the bill. Hospitals and schools no longer in use are among the buildings that could possibly house the children.

• Foster care. Organizations and families in parts of Texas and the Southwest are taking up kids, particularly those who have no family in the U.S. or no safe places to return to in their home countries.

• Programs in Central America. The Obama administration has earmarked $300 million for programs in Central America to boost the quality of life of people and address the underlying root causes that are driving migration. It hopes to do this by improving economic and security conditions and helping migrants reintegrate into their communities instead of returning north.

• Ad campaigns. U.S. officials are trying to counter the flow of migrants with a Spanish-language ad campaign that looks to frighten them from coming in the first place. The ads warn that smugglers are criminals who could subject migrants to violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking or forced labor.

• Border security. Some in Congress, especially Republicans, have said the focus should be on strengthening border security. Texas Gov. Rick Perry told a congressional committee that unaccompanied kids should be deported immediately to show the U.S. is serious about enforcement. Advocates for migrants have criticized the Obama administration, saying that future funding should go to ensuring migrant children with legitimate claims of asylum see their day in court, not border security.

What's Next

As protests continue and politicians try to figure out the best way to tackle the crisis, migrant children keep pouring in. The Obama administration expects the number of migrant children arriving in the U.S. to rise to 90,000 by September 2014. While visiting Texas, President Obama urged Congress to approve the $3.7 billion he asked for to help deal with the surge.

Officials at the United Nations want many of the people fleeing Central America to be treated as refugees displaced by armed conflict. This designation would increase pressure on the U.S. and Mexico to accept tens of thousands of people currently ineligible for asylum, according to The Associated Press.

A longtime United Airlines flight attendant was found dead in the trunk of a car in Gary, Indiana, on Monday.

DeCarol Deloney-Cain, 54, of Crown Point, was discovered in a burgundy 2008 Toyota Solara in a remote wooded area in the 2000 block of East 22nd Place.

The victim suffered multiple stab wounds, blunt force trauma to her head and her body was wrapped up, according to the Lake County Coroner who didn't make a make a positive identification until Wednesday.

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The victim's son, Blake Deloney, says his mother had been with United for 25 years.
 
"Always smiling, big smile, always happy, never really down much. And if she was, she'd come out of it quickly," Deloney said. "She means everything to me."

Deloney said he became worried after his mother's employer called him on Sunday when she didn't show up for work. He said she's never missed a shift in her entire time with the airline.

"She's standing right behind me right now, probably smiling. I can already see her smile," Deloney said.

Gary police say they have a promising lead in the case, but no arrests had been made by early Thursday morning.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Gary Police Department at (219) 881-4748 or Lake County Sheriff CSI at (219) 755-3340.

Two very special friends at the Dallas Zoo are celebrating an important milestone: their first birthday.

Winspear the cheetah and Amani the black Labrador both turned 1 year old Thursday. They were treated to a chicken-flavored popsicle cake.

• PHOTOS: Adorable Zoo Babies

The best friends live, eat and play together at the Dallas Zoo. Zookeepers have raised the duo together since they were two months old.

Zoo experts found the lab had a calming influence on the cheetah cub, which was important in his preparation for spending time in the public eye.

• VIDEO: Panda Cub Slurps a Fruit Pop at National Zoo

A second cub, Kamau, was also being raised with Winspear and Amani but sadly died of pneumonia in January.

They're truly just like brothers! Amani & Winspear LOVED their #BFF chicken flavored popsicle cake! #FIRSTbirthday pic.twitter.com/oWcuTmbV4B

— The Dallas Zoo (@DallasZoo) July 10, 2014

So many questions surround this weekend’s series between the Padres and Dodgers up in Los Angeles.

Will Tyson Ross pitch before Tuesday’s All-Star Game? Will San Diego be able to break Clayton Kershaw’s 36-inning scoreless streak? Will any Padres fans get stabbed in the Dodgers parking lot, and if so, whose fault will it be? Will Venable? (OK, we’re admittedly getting a little goofy with that last one.)

The Padres have the option to pull Ross from his start on Sunday, meaning he will be available for the Midsummer Classic in Minnesota. It he does start on Sunday, he will be ruled out for Tuesday and be a spectator. But this could pave the way for closer Huston Street to get the call to replace him. No word yet on this, so stay tuned.

As for Kershaw, he is chasing fellow Dodger Orel Hershiser’s record of 59 innings without allowing a run. While he’s still got a ways to go, it’s not unreasonable to see him blanking the punchless Padres lineup – which ranks last in the league in most major offensive categories. It also ranks last in the National League in OPS against leftys (.604). Current Padres hitters are hitting a combined .231 against Kershaw in their careers, which is actually better than the team’s cumulative .216 average (20 points lower than the second-worst team). So, no, don’t be surprised to see the streak remain intact after Thursday night’s game.

We will not speculate on any violence at Chavez Ravine this weekend, but would advise any fans to avoid wearing any Giants gear, just in case.

And for the final question, you better believe it! That’s all we’ll say about that. On to the weekend preview.

Matchups:
Thursday, 7:10 p.m.: Odrisamer Despaigne (R, 2-0, 0.92) vs. Clayton Kershaw (L, 10-2, 1.85)
If anyone can match Kershaw right now, it’s O-Dog, who has allowed just two earned runs in his first three career starts. FWIW, Kershaw was just 1-3 against Kershaw last year.

Friday, 7:10 p.m.: Jesse Hahn (R, 4-2, 2.34) vs. Dan Haren (R, 8-5, 4.06)
Despite having a four-game win streak snapped last weekend, Hahn still pitched well, allowing just three earned runs in seven innings against the Giants. Haren is coming off a start against the Indians where he allowed 10 hits and eight runs, but still struck out eight.

Saturday, 7:10 p.m.: Ian Kennedy (R, 7-9, 3.71) vs. Dodgers pitcher TBA
The last two starts have been Kennedy’s best of the season, with a pair of wins allowing just two earned runs.

Sunday, 1:10 p.m.: Padres pitcher TBA vs. Hyun-Jin Ryu (L, 9-5, 3.65)
Not sure what the options are if the Padres do pull Ross from his start. Maybe Donn Roach? Ryu got the win at Petco in June, scattering four hits over six innings.

What’s at stake: We’ve seen this before from the Dodgers, who were 9 ½ games out last year before going on a second-half tear and running away from the division. They’re currently tied with the reeling Giants, and there’s no reason to think they won’t take charge again. However, they have only been playing .500 ball over the past two weeks and just dropped a pair to the Detroit Tigers, so it’s not like they’re dominating anyone.

As for the Padres, they are an even 10 games back of the big two. Taking three of four this weekend would be a fantastic way to roll into the All-Star break.

This is the first time the teams have squared off in LA this year. The Dodgers have taken four of six at Petco.

Who to watch:
Padres: Here’s your stat of the day. The Padres have had 18 different players hit home runs this year – most in the majors. Of course, they only have 63 total long balls, dead last in baseball. Two of the hottest players in the lineup went yard on Wednesday. Seth Smith hit his team-high 10th, and also shares the team lead with 27 RBIs. Jake Goebbert hit his first career homer, and continues to play well enough to stay in the lineup with a .333 average and .919 OPS. Chase Headley, Smith’s co-leader in RBIs, is breaking out of a season-long slump with 11 hits in his last six games, including a pair of four-hit games.
Dodgers: Right-fielder Yasiel Puig is headed to Minnesota as an All-Star starter, and with good reason. He has 12 homers, 50 RBI and a .307 average – all would be leading the Padres. Dee Gordon is also heading to Minny as a reserve second-baseman after stealing an astounding 42 bases in the first half. First-baseman Adrian Gonzalez leads the team with 14 homers and 58 RBIs.

Coming up: The Friars return home after the All-Star break to face the New York Mets next weekend before hitting the road for a week to face the Cubs and Braves.

Two riders who suffered head injuries when a tree branch fell on the track of and derailed a Six Flags Magic Mountain roller coaster Monday in Valencia have filed a lawsuit against the Southern California amusement park, a lawyer said Thursday.

Jeremy Ead and Olivia Feldman are seeking unspecified damages after suffering “direct trauma,” according to attorney Barry Novack.

• Read: Parkgoers Head to Six Flags Magic Mountain After Ninja Roller Coaster Mishap

Novack questioned why Ninja, which opened more than 25 years ago, was built around the “wilderness,” referring to the trees that weave in and out of the approximately 2,700 foot long ride.

“They owe the highest degree of care to its passengers,” Novack said. “You don’t build it going through trees.”

Ead and Feldman are seeking reimbursement of medical expenses, past and future; loss of earnings, past and future; and emotional distress. A dollar amount was not specified in the lawsuit.

A report by the California Department of Industrial Relations was expected to be released with an analysis of the crash.

• Read: "Cured" HIV Baby Is Infected Again, Doctors Find
  

Twenty-two passengers, including four who suffered injuries, had to be rescued by firefighters over the course of about two hours on Monday as they dangled about 40 feet above ground.

"The safety of our guests and employees is our number one priority and as a precaution, the ride will remain closed until a thorough inspection of the area is complete," park officials said in a statement following the derailment.

Reproductions of Confederate battle flags have been removed from a campus chapel at Washington and Lee University.

However, at least one historic flag will go on display in the Lee Chapel Museum, President Kenneth P. Ruscio wrote in a message to the W&L community, describing the venue as the appropriate place for an artifact.

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The decision comes three months after a group of African-American law students -- who refer to themselves simply as the Committee -- called on administrators to make amends for the school's Confederate background, the Washington Post reported in April.

"The issue that [we] had is that it felt like the school was promoting a very horrible time in American history, and a flag that, to many African Americans, myself included, was a signal of oppression," law student Brandon Hicks told NBC Washington.

"The museum is the appropriate place for the Confederate flag," he said.

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Confederate battle flags have been on display in the school's Lee Chapel since 1930.

Initially, the flags on display were originals that had been captured by or surrendered to the Union Army during the Civil War. They were on loan from the Museum of the Confederacy, which is now part of the American Civil War Museum. 

But in the 1990s, the university returned the original flags to the museum because the manner of display was causing them to deteriorate.

The flags were replaced by reproductions, "which are not historic and are not genuine artifacts," Ruscio wrote.

He used that as part of his decision to remove them, and to bring back at least one of the original flags for display in the chapel museum:

Consequently, we will remove these reproductions from their current location and will enter into an agreement with the American Civil War Museum, in Richmond, to receive on loan one or more of the original flags, now restored, for display on a rotating basis in the Lee Chapel Museum, the appropriate location for such a display.

Rising senior David Thomas, a member of the College Republicans, said he supported Ruscio's decision.

"When you walk around campus, you see elements of history all around us," said Thomas. "There are positive aspects of history and negative ones as well. ...You have to have both; you can't just erase an aspect of history that was extra important to those of us in Lexington."

Law student Hernandez Stroud said he was also comfortable with the decision to display artifact flags in the chapel museum.

In fact, he said they probably should have been there in the first place.

"I think it helps to make clear the purpose of the flags, because people won't then be guessing what those flags are and why they're there," said Stroud, who served as president of the Black Law Students Association last year but wasn't a member of the group that called upon the university for the changes.

"Placing [the flags] in a historical, educational context is what's best," he said.

Rising sophomore Alexandra Seymour said she was upset that some saw the flags as tarnishing the reputation of the school.

"The issue of whether they remain in the actual chapel or not does not really make a difference to me; what upsets me more-so is the fact that students would accuse W&L of promoting slavery and racism instead of understanding the educational purpose behind the flags," she wrote in an email to NBC Washington.

"Robert E. Lee was a Confederate, which is something that we can't change or should have to apologize for," she wrote. "While Lee was not perfect, he was a man of impeccable integrity who had an enormous impact on W&L."

Washington and Lee, a private university in Lexingon, Virginia, has struggled with the diversity of its small student population, consisting of about 2,200 undergraduate and gradudate students, according to data on Forbes.com.

According to that data, 2.96 percent of W&L students identify as black or African American, with another 2.07 percent identifying as multiracial.

"My biggest concern was not with the lack of diversity, but a white-washing of history, some aspects of history that I felt should kind of be repudiated," Hicks said. "That was my biggest concern."

The university has also acknowledged a history with slavery, which Ruscio wrote on Tuesday is a "regrettable" one that needs to be confronted.

In 1826, the school inherited between 70 and 80 slaves. "Until 1852, the institution benefited from their enslaved labor and, in some cases, from their sale," Ruscio wrote.

He said the university is developing a timeline of African-American history on campus.

"We are committed to telling the University's history accurately, including the stories of many individuals who should not be overlooked," he wrote.

Stroud said he was pleased by the university's response.

"These are tough issues," he said. "They are age-old and as challenging as they were controversial, and no solution would have appeased everyone."

However, a request by the Committee to cancel classes on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day remains unresolved. Ruscio said Tuesday that he'll leave the decision up to the undergraduate faculty -- but is urging them to rule against it, citing other university events that honor King. 

Nonetheless, Hicks was pleased by the progress he's seeing.

"It feels awesome," he said. "And it feels awesome to know that the university really values making the campus a more welcoming place. The letter that was issued by the president is a great first step. There's more to do, but it's a great first step."

Business is booming for a South Bay company thanks to California's severe drought.

Los Gatos-based Green Canary has been painting lawns that have turned brown due to a lack of water. The company uses green, water-based paint to transform grass that has turned drought dull.

"This is environmentally sound," said Shawn Sahbari, Green Canary's president. "We engineered it so that the green paint is kid-friendly and pet-friendly."

Green Canary has also helped golf courses, soccer fields and cemeteries impacted by the drought.

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San Jose's Almaden Valley Athletic Club plans to use the service to keep the front lawn green while using 90 percent less water.

"One of the main reasons was the concern of members who wondered what are we doing as far as conservation," said Jeff Griffith, the club's general manager.

Sahbari said the paint will not kill grass and lasts at least three months.

A teenager is under arrest, accused of intentionally setting the Cocos Fire that destroyed dozens of homes.

Rev. Robert Anderson watched as flames from the Cocos Fire quickly surrounded the Harmony Grove Spiritualist Association on May 14.

“Everything they had went up, literally their home, their possessions, everything they had,” Anderson said.

“When I left the houses over there and over here were on fire. I had my Rottweiler and drove out of here through the flames,” he said.

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The place he and dozens of his friends called home was destroyed.

Most lease holds were leveled, completely wiped out by the fire.

“Just the impact of people displaced overnight. A lot of them left thinking they were going to come back and left everything, including me, with just the clothes they had on thinking we’re just going to come back,” he said.

On Wednesday, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department said investigators determined the fire was set on purpose by a juvenile.

Not much is known about the suspect, except for the fact he or she intentionally started the fire which destroyed almost 40 homes and structures.

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Though he and so many others lost everything, Rev. Anderson said he is practicing forgiveness.

“It doesn’t do any good to bear a grudge. This is a minor,” he said.

He’s looking forward to the day they rebuild.

“We’re not victims. We’re survivors.”

 The newly rebuilt terminal at the San Diego International Airport is under construction again – this time for cracking concrete.

Amid the busy summer season, forest green barriers have sprung up between travelers and Terminal 2’s pavilion for departures as crews work to repair the cracks on the sidewalk.

The damage is cosmetic and not a structural problem, airport officials say, and it was caused by traffic on the upper ramp.

“Everything was done appropriately to the Caltrans standards. It just turns out that the movement of the roadway is causing these cracks,” said Airport Authority spokesperson Rebecca Bloomfield.

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The authority instructed crews to rip out the walkway and replace it while the repairs are still covered under the contractors’ contingency budget.

The broken sidewalk was completed just last summer by the Sundt and Kiewit construction companies under a $230 million contract.

The $1 million cost of repairs will be shared by the contractors and Airport Authority, but at no additional cost to the terminal’s Green Build expansion budget.

By the end of this year, officials expect to have the two phases of repairs completed. Crews will try a different mix of concrete and install a gap between the road and sidewalk to mitigate the problem, Bloomfield explained.

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However, figuring out how to navigate around the construction barriers in the meantime is costing passengers some patience.

“Do we have to go all the way down and get in line? That’s kind of silly,” said traveler Jeff Fenn as he surveyed the long, temporary wall.

Drivers pulling in seemed confused about where to drop off and load up passengers and luggage.

Airport officials say vehicles can park in front of the wall and signs will soon be added to make it clearer.

San Diego summers have a way of calling residents to the great outdoors. From hiking and gorgeous gardens to mini golf and boating, you can find all the parks and recreation on Yelp. Make sure you get the most out of the sunny stretch in the next couple weeks with these activities.

San Diego Botanic Garden (Encinitas)
Over 60 acres of stunning flora and fauna span this gem in Encinitas. The Botanic Garden also maintains a full calendar of events and activities. The Hamilton Children’s Garden is a special place where kiddies can climb, explore and play all year round. A full day could be spent pursuing the native and engaged plants from all over the world or even bird watching.

Velocity Paintball Park (Ramona)
The harmless hunting of your friends and family is encouraged at this paintball course in East County. It boasts 40 acres of wooded fields separated into 14 different playing zones, plus a yummy concession stand. It’s open seven days a week and if you don’t have the gear or need to get schooled in the basics of blasting, they have a couple retail stores that can fully outfit you for your adventure.

Pelly’s Mini Golf (Del Mar)
Pelly’s is open daily so grab the family for some putt-putt and friendly competition. There’s all the glory of a summer day to be had here with a fun Surfin’ Safari or Ocean Adventure-themed courses. After you take a couple swings treat the kids to some snacks at the concession stand, serving up ice cream, hot dogs, snow cones and French fries. No kids in tow? It’s open till 9 or 10 p.m. for a date.

Seven Seas Adventures (San Diego Area)
Grab your flippy-floppies and get on a boat! Charter a seaworthy vessel from this fabulous fleet, learn to sail or take a tour – just make sure you get your sea legs, landlubber. During certain times of the year, adventurers can whale watch or see dolphins dive into the deep. If you’re the type to take the helm, the captain on the tours will let you steer a bit into the sunset.

San Diego School Of Survival (Carlsbad)
Now that you’re out in wide-open spaces, conquer them! Sign up for a wilderness survival hike or a land navigation course. The guides at the San Diego School of Survival are certifiable gods of nature, and have experience in everything from the military to appearing on Discovery Channel shows. From the coast to the inland empire, they’ll teach you how to survive and dominate any climate with courses that will challenge any outdoor enthusiast.
 

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.