Ed Koch, the larger-than-life politician who rescued the city from near-financial ruin during a three-term City Hall run, died of congestive heart failure Friday, Feb. 1, at the age of 88. 

Here, New Yorkers — from politicians to reporters to friends, family and voters — share their reflections on the former mayor's life and legacy:  

Mayor Bloomberg: "In elected office and as a private citizen, he was our most tireless, fearless, and guileless civic crusader. Through his tough, determined leadership and responsible fiscal stewardship, Ed helped lift the city out of its darkest days and set it on course for an incredible comeback. We will miss him dearly, but his good works – and his wit and wisdom – will forever be a part of the city he loved so much."   

The Rev. Al Sharpton: "Although we argued about everything from my marching in Bensonhurst, to Florida and Trayvon Martin, and although we disagreed on politics from his views on President Obama to other matters, I have found that he was never a phony or a hypocrite. He would not patronize or deceive you. He said what he meant. He meant what he said. He fought for what he believed.”

Gov. Andrew Cuomo: "Mr. Mayor was never one to shy away from taking a stand that he believed was right, no matter what the polls said or what was politically correct ... I will miss his friendship, and we will all miss his perpetual optimism and tireless commitment to continually striving to improve our city, state, nation and world." 

Attorney General Eric Schneiderman: "As a lifelong New Yorker, it's hard to imagine this city without Ed Koch. We will miss his keen mind, sharp wit, and absolute devotion to making a great city the best in the world. While we mourn his loss, we know that the legacy of his mayoralty, his commitment to civil rights and affordable housing, and his civic leadership long after he left City Hall, will live on for generations."

Manhattan DA Cy Vance: “New York would not be the safest big city in America today if Ed Koch hadn’t spearheaded one of the most important criminal justice reforms in New York City’s history as mayor: selecting criminal court judges based on merit instead of political connections. Every New Yorker has the right to walk the streets of our city without fear and all New Yorkers deserve equal access to justice. We’d be far, far further from these goals today if not for Mayor Ed Koch’s foresight and vision and courage."

Rep. Peter King: "Ed Koch was a true friend and trusted advisor. Ed Koch personified the spirit of New York. New York’s 'Mayor for Life' is now New York’s 'Mayor for Eternity.' May he rest in peace.”

The defunct South Bay Power Plant in Chula Vista will be demolished in a single implosion on Saturday to make room for a public park in the south bay community.

The 556-acre land-use plan will add parks, open space and habitat protection in place power plant. The four phases of the construction plan will spread over 24 years.

The implosion is scheduled for 7 a.m. Saturday, but if weather and other conditions are unusual, the implosion will be called off that morning.

Many in Chula Vista are looking forward to the dramatic display Saturday, but they shouldn't expect to see bursts of fire or feel an earth-shattering boom, city officials said. Explosives will be planted along the base of the plant. A large part will topple to the north. Another section will to the southeast.

Here’s some more information on where you can watch it happen:

• A viewing area was set up along Marine Way, just across the bay from where the plant is located.
• Public parking will be available at the Chula Vista Bayfront Park. The parking lot will open at 5 a.m.
• Viewing and parking will be prohibited Along Bay Boulevard and Marina Parkway

The map below shows where public parking and viewing are located.

Corporal Miguel Madrigal, 27, of Bakersfield, earned the Silver Star for his actions under fire in Afghanistan.

On February 15, 2010, Madrigal was a member of a squad patrol that was pinned down in an ambush in Marjah, a Taliban stronghold in Afghanistan.

Leaving his covered position, Madrigal ran into enemy fire in order to rescue a wounded Marine.

But that was not where his heroic actions ended.

The radio operator, who was trained at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, coordinated a helicopter attack on enemy positions and then organized an evacuation for the wounded Marine.

Sgt. Maj. James Booker with Marine Forces Reserve, who was also honored with a Silver Star, was impressed with Madrigal’s response under fire.

“First he was already controlling aircraft, then to rush out in front of enemy fire, then to apply a tourniquet to save somebody’s life, then call for a bird to come in and then find out it’s too difficult to get in and wave that bird off, there are five or six layers to that and sometimes you only hit one or two of those layers,” Booker said.

"I don't think I did anything that great," Miguel Madrigal told the NBC Bakersfield television station in an earlier interview.

He deflected the attention from himself.

"It's not just me. It's the rest of the team," he said.

Wife Eileen Madrigal and parents Lydia and Manuel Madrigal attended the ceremony Thursday.

“Ever since he was a little boy, he’s always been a brave little boy,” said mother Lydia Madrigal trying to hold back tears of joy.

Eileen Madrigal said when she considers the danger her husband was facing, she feels very blessed.

“You appreciate him more. You appreciate life in general. It could’ve been a whole different story,” she said. “But now you live every day and you’re more proud. You just really appreciate him.”

“I think he’s very brave. I think he did the right thing. I think he did what he had to do. What he said he would do and that shows a lot of who he is,” she said.

The Silver Star is the U.S. military’s third highest award for valor.
 

There’s no need to drive to La Jolla to see the seals – now you can watch the seals at Children’s Pool from the comfort of your own home.

On Thursday, Mayor Bob Filner revealed the camera which will provide live views of the seaside harbor seal hangout, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. with Western Alliance for Nature Conservancy (WAN) funded the project and it's the first livestream camera devoted to seals on the West Coast.

The company EarthCam is providing the livestream for WAN.

“We have had success showing iconic and popular places,” said Lisa Kelly from EarthCam. “It’s a real educational experience.”

The custom-made, high definition webcam will be monitored by local EarthCam employees and is fully hosted with special software to keep it running 24/7. The camera also has infrared capabilities, so people can watch at night.

“The cameras are always talking back to the server to make sure they’re always up,” said Kelly.

The surveillance camera was installed atop the condemned lifeguard tower last week. Some people are angry about the livestream and said the mayor bypassed the permit process.

“There are a lot of problems with this camera,” said Ken Hunriths, president of Friends of the Children’s Pool. Hunriths also said he’s concerned about the motivation behind WAN funding the camera.

WAN found the site for the webcam and also paid for it. The group states on its website that their mission is “to save threatened habitats to preserve biodiversity.”

“This whole thing is the vision of the mayor, so our government wanted to make that point. It’s his vision to share San Diego’s natural treasure to the rest of the world with the internet and we wanted to fill that vision by using this sophisticated webcam.” Larry Wan from WAN.

Filner said at an unveiling of the camera on Thursday that he wanted people across the globe to be able to see the seals.

“It shows the respect and understanding of our ecological position in this world,” said Filner. “I don’t see it as a controversy. “

You can see the camera online at EarthCam or by visiting the mayor’s website.

Six known affiliates of a Fallbrook street gang were arrested Thursday morning following an operation conducted by deputies.

According to officials, operation “Guacamole VII” was conducted from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. by deputies from the Fallbrook Sheriff’s Substation’s Crime Suppression Team.

During that time, deputies worked with detectives and officials from County Probation, State Parole and the District Attorney’s office.

The operation yielded successful results.

Deputies were able to track down and arrest five adults and one juvenile allegedly affiliated with the Fallbrook street gang known as “Varrio Fallbrook Locos” or “VFL.” Officials say these six suspects are documented members and associates of the gang.

In addition to the six arrests, deputies also recovered and seized a number of illegal drugs during the operation, including half an ounce of methamphetamine, a couple grams of heroin, a pound of marijuana and 30 to 40 tablets of Hydrocodone.

On Thursday afternoon, deputies released the names of those arrested in operation “Guacamole VII,” with the exception of the juvenile suspect.

The five adult suspects include Karla Cortez, 34; Edgar Rodriguez, 23; Mario Vega, 26; Arturo Morelos, 46; and Sergio Ramirez, 19. Booking records indicate that at least four of the suspects were booked into the Vista Detention Facility.

Cortez and Rodriguez are both facing charges of possession of a controlled substance. Vega is being charged with possession of marijuana and Morelos with possession of unlawful drug paraphernalia, deputies confirmed.

Meanwhile, 19-year-old Ramirez is facing attempted murder charges. Deputies say Ramirez is a suspect in a recent attempted execution-style shooting in DeLuz Canyon. He’s scheduled to appear in court Monday.

San Diego police discovered a body inside a storm drain in San Ysidro Thursday after receiving a tip from an anonymous caller.

Officers conducted an extensive search of the area at about 3:30 p.m., eventually locating the body near East San Ysidro Boulevard and Border Village Road, according to the San Diego Police Department.

The intersection is located just a few blocks north of the San Ysidro Port of Entry.

Investigators say they received a call about the body from a tipster on Monday. The tipster told police he had spotted the body inside the drainage system while he himself was using the same path to cross into the United States illegally from Mexico.

The caller said he had recognized the victim as a friend or acquaintance, police said, and decided to alert authorities.

Police found the body Thursday after conducting a search of the area, including a drainage ditch.

Officials said they had trouble locating the body earlier because the location the tipster originally reported to police had been vague and incorrect. Officials also had to get the Border Patrol involved, which also took some extra time.

Police at the scene said the storm drain is about five feet deep, and the body was approximately 50 yards from the opening. Officials spent hours trying to recover the body and were finally able to extricate the victim.

Once the body was out, workers could be seen rewelding the manhole cover to the drain.

They do believe it is the same body reported by the anonymous caller because the person’s clothing matches the description given to police by the tipster.

As of right now, police have not identified the victim. Officials don’t know exactly how long the body has been in there, but they believe it’s been about one week.

“Fortunately, there is not a lot of swift water in the drain system at this time, but it appears that there might have been when the incident occurred,” said SDPD Lt. Joseph Ramos. “It looks to us like the body might’ve been there for about a week or so.”

Given the recent rain in San Diego, officials think the victim may have endured strong waters inside the drain and could’ve gotten knocked down and possibly swept away in there.

Police say the drain is a tough and extremely dangerous path to travel through. At this point, officials do not suspect any foul play.

Check back for updates.

A City Heights man was honored for an “incredible act of courage” when he jumped between a man with a knife and a San Diego police officer.

San Diego police Chief Williams Lansdowne called Robert Haley “a true hero” when he presented him with an award at the 22nd Annual Salute to Local Heroes Thursday.

Haley, 50, was standing in his front yard on a Saturday morning in August 2011 when he saw a man fighting with a San Diego police officer.

Marcus Gonzales, a wanted felon, had been stopped by SDPD Officer Kelly Doherty for a traffic violation.

Suddenly Haley saw Gonzalez beating and punching Officer Kelly Doherty.

“I just saw a woman being beat up by a guy. I don’t know why I did it but I did. No fear,” he said.

He and three other citizens jumped in to help.

Haley also jumped into the patrol car and told the dispatcher there was an officer down. He didn’t know if the radio was even on when he tried to call for help.

After Haley bear-hugged the suspect, he was stabbed in the arm.

“She got it worse than me though,” he said explaining how the officer was stabbed in her face.

If it wasn’t for the officer’s vest, Haley believes the officer would’ve been killed in the attack.

“Had it not been for his heroic actions, Officer Doherty’s injuries would have been much more severe than they were,” said Lansdowne.

Gonzales was sentenced to 24 years, 8 months for his role in a burglary series as well as the attempted murder of a police officer.

After the incident, as he thought about it, Haley couldn’t believe he intervened.

The married father of two said he wouldn’t have come to the ceremony if it weren’t for his grandchildren.

“They wanted me to give the trophy to them,” he said.

“I don’t think I’m a hero. I think anyone would help a woman out like that,” he said. “Any guy would.”

Mayor Bob Filner announced Friday that the city will be ending a controversial red light camera program.

The program charges violators up to $490 when the automated cameras catch motorists running red lights. The program contract with the city expired Thursday night and will not be renewed, Filner said.

"The state and company make money," Filner said of American Traffic Solutions, the company that contracts the cameras to the City of San Diego. "But it's a wash for us," he said. 

Now, the city will bring police officers back to the 15 intersections that up until Thursday had operating red light cameras. The officers will patrol the areas and cite those who run red lights. 

Filner made the announcement at the intersection of Grape Street and North Harbor Drive -- the city's most prolific red light camera intersection. The program lasted almost 15 years and survived three contracts. In total, the number of unverified citations given as a result of the camera was more than 196,000. 

“I did not see any real data that showed [the cameras] increased safety or decreased accidents,” Filner said. “The police chief and I decided we have better respect for what is going on if actual police officers on motorcycles, for example, and talking to the drivers. You get more awareness and more of a respect for the law.”

SDPD Chief William Lansdowne joined Filner Friday in the announcement and echoed Filner's concerns over having boots on the ground as opposed to cameras at intersections.

"The most effective way to create safety in traffic is with officers," he said of the joint decision between his department and the city. 

The system charged everyone the same fine for a red light violation. Attorney Mitchell Mehdy believed not every violation deserved such a stiff penalty. 

"If you make a right hand turn half a second or barrel through a light at 12 seconds almost killing somebody, it's the same price. That doesn't make sense," he said.

However most drivers would probably agree that driving habits tend to change when you approach a red light camera intersection.

"It does make you slow down further back if you see that yellow light," said Kearny Mesa resident Nathaniel Brown.

That's one reason why officials with American Traffic Solutions said these cameras force people to drive safer.
 

Forty-one days after Clyde the beagle went missing on New York's Long Island, the beloved pet has been reunited with his owners, who were displaced by superstorm Sandy.

Christina Yevoli and her son Alfonso were staying with Yevoli's mother in Levittown after being flooded out of their Massapequa home during Sandy. Clyde jumped the fence Dec. 18 and never returned.

The 10-year-old mixed beagle-hound had jumped the fence once before in their old Massapequa house but came back within minutes. This time, because he was in a new home, he may have become disoriented, Yevoli told NBC 4 New York. 

"After three or four days, I didn't think we would find him," Yevoli said.  "I thought maybe someone took him in for themselves or worse -- that he got hit by a car. But I never gave up. I just kept going and going."

Yevoli posted missing dog posters and went to neighboring towns to do the same. But it was her Facebook page, Bring Clyde Home, that got the attention of people who could help.

Lisa Dwyer saw her page and joined in the search, enlisting the help of her cousin Denise May, a dog rescuer. 

"When we think of scent, we think he's smelling for his owner," May said. "But each town has its own smell, the streets smell different. I think he was trying to find something familiar to him."

Once Clyde became lost, he may have tracked his way back to his familiar old home in Massapequa. A few days ago, a dog tracker was able to locate Clyde in the woods near the Southern State Parkway in North Massapequa, not far from his pre-Sandy home. 

Forty-one days later, and 20 pounds lighter, he is now getting reacquainted with his family. 

"I couldn't have done it by myself," Yevoli said. "People who I don't even know are still calling me. I can't believe the amount of people who have called me and cared about a dog." 

The Newtown Board of Education wants more armed police officers in the Connecticut town's four elementary schools after the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary.

Last night, they decided to ask the town to approve the request to include one additional full-time Newtown police at each of the elementary schools in next year's budget.

Members of the board will meet today with state and federal officials about obtaining additional funding for security.

“Our parents are demanding of us that things are made safe and secure and certain measures are put in place,” Chairwoman Debbie Leidlein said. “So we’re being very thoughtful.”

Several police officers have been stationed at all Newtown schools since the Dec. 14 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary, where 20 children and six staff members were killed.

Those officers will remain at the school through the remainder of the school year, but the budget for the next fiscal year funds only resource officers at middle and high schools.

Parents said security means more than a police presence. 

“My main concern is with accessibility to these school, said Neil Johnson, a parent of two Newtown students. “On December 14th, that was the main bare-boned reason that occurred.”

“After what happened in our community, I just think we should go over and above and provide a shining example for the rest of the world and protect our kids,” said resident Donna Lorenz.

The death of former Carlsbad High School student who went missing earlier this month in the Angeles National Forest is being investigated as a homicide, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said Thursday.

Glendale resident Nicholas Carter, 25, died of blunt force trauma and was left near Big Tujunga Canyon Road, Deputy Kim Manatt said in a news release. The fully clothed body was found near mile marker 2.72, several miles ino the national forest, northeast of Sunland-Tujunga.

Carter was last seen Jan. 7, but a missing persons report was not filed with Glendale police until Jan. 18. 

Carlsbad High School officials confirmed Carter graduated from the school on 2005. A friend of Carter told NBC7 that Carter's roommate got a text message from him around the time he went missing saying he was going to see his Grandma in Sacramento, but later learned he doesn't have a grandma in Sacramento.

Investigators found his remains on Jan. 19, but they could not immediately be identified because they were in poor condition, authorities said at that time.

A shallow 3-foot-by-5-foot grave had been found in the area about 10 days before the remains were discovered, but it was empty, investigators said. Detective found a "blood trail" at the scene, but no body.

Detectives were still trying to figure out exactly how Carter died. Earlier, the Los Angeles Times quoted a homicide investigator saying that Carter was beaten to death. But Manatt said that she could not confirm that information.

The coroner's office determined the cause of death to be blunt force trauma.

Initial news reports, including from NBC4, said the man was a hiker, but authorities said he was dressed in everyday clothing and did not appear to be ready for a hike.

At the apartment building where Carter lived in Glendale, residents said they weren't aware of their now-deceased neighbor. His home was some 20 miles from the site where his body was found.

NOTE: An earlier version of this story stated that a missing persons report for Carter was filed Jan. 7, based on incorrect information initially supplied by the Sheriff's Department. In fact, Jan. 7 is when Carter was last seen. He was reported missing Jan. 18.

In early October 1978, less than a year into the first of his three terms as mayor of New York, Ed Koch appeared before millions on national TV, delivering the opening monologue during the fourth-season premiere of "Saturday Night Live."

Police are now searching for multiple suspects in a stabbing that turned fatal Tuesday afternoon.

The stabbing happened at about 2 p.m. in the 1000 block of Center Avenue, near Oceanside High School, according to the Oceanside Police Department.

Officers responded to the stabbing and a 16-year-old male injured. Medics responded, and transported him to the hospital via helicopter. 

Police initiated a lockdown at Oceanside High School for about 40 minutes, according to Steve Lumbar with the Oceanside Unified School District. The stabbing occurred while school was still in session. 

The teen later died in the hospital due to the trauma to his chest, according to police. 

Lumbar did not know if the teen was an Oceanside High School student. His identity is still being processed by the coroner. 

Initially, authorities listed one suspect in the case. On Friday, they announced that five to six additional juveniles or young adults were also possibly involved. The suspects were last seen running from the crime scene southbound onto Horne Street. 

There are no suspect descriptions at this time. Police believe the stabbing may be gang-related. 

Lumbar said though the district does not have the ability to add more staff to patrol the area in light of recent crime, staff will be on high alert for suspicious activity. Even in this case, a staff member at the school called 911  after seeing a group of kids running from where the stabbing occurred. 

The area has seen a number of high-profile violent crimes over the past several months. Lt. Leonard Mata with the Oceanside Police Department said of all eight homicides in the area last year, four were gang-related. 

In November, just a few blocks from where police said the stabbing Tuesday occurred, officers arrested Frederick Hengl, 68, after the discovery of his wife's body in the couple's N. Ditmar Street home. Officers reported finding the dismembered remains of 73-year-old Anna Faris cooking in pans in the couple's kitchen.

Later that month, residents Inez Martinez Garcia, 43, and husband Marcial Garcia Hernandez, 45, were arrested and accused of allegedly abusing a young girl who had been smuggled into the U.S.

Then, earlier this month, an Oceanside man was found with a gunshot wound inside an apartment about a block away from Tuesday's stabbing. 

A resident told NBC 7 in a previous article that the area is known for gang activity adding that there have been five shootings on the street since November 1. A crime report shows that in that period of time, Oceanside Police have reported 12 assaults in Oceanside.

A cluster of assaults were reported near the high school. The map below uses the red icon to show where assaults happened:

Source: Oceanside Police Department

Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to contact Detective Tyrone Dunn at 760 435-4054.

Barney Bush, the Bush family's Scottish Terrier, who spent his time in the White House sniffing for snacks and greeting his home's many visitors passed away Friday from lymphoma.

President George W. Bush remembered his "pal" in a statement: "Barney and I enjoyed the outdoors.  He loved to accompany me when I fished for bass at the ranch. He was a fierce armadillo hunter. At Camp David, his favorite activity was chasing golf balls on the chipping green. Barney guarded the South Lawn entrance of the White House as if he were a Secret Service agent," the statement said, adding that "he never discussed politics and was always a faithful friend."

In a memorial Facebook photo album, the dog can be seen gnawing on balls, frolicking in the snow, standing at the presidential podium and charming heads of state.

A police chase that started in La Jolla ended near the border early Friday morning, shutting down the port of entry so police could stop the suspect.

According to the San Diego Police Department, the pursuit began in La Jolla at about 4:40 a.m. on Vista Del Mar. 

The suspect failed to stop when police attempted to pull him over. He drove all the way to San Ysidro, just a few blocks from the San Ysidro Port of Entry. 

Officers deployed spike strips and shut down the San Ysidro Border Crossing to keep the driver from passing into Mexico. 

Police said the suspect was wanted for "casing vehicles" in La Jolla. He was reportedly seen earlier Thursday night doing the same thing. Officers made contact with him when he was seen doing the same thing early Friday morning and he took off. 

He was taken into custody later Friday morning and is being held at the U.S. Customs Office in San Ysidro. The California Highway Patrol will handle the investigation. 

Check back here for more information. 

An industrial fire sent smoke into the air near Mira Mesa Friday afternoon, according to the San Diego Fire Department. 

The fire started inside a construction supply building in the 10000 block of Black Mountain Road at about 3:25 p.m., authorities said.

Black Mountain Road is west of the Interstate 15. Traffic in the area backed up as smoke was seen from the buildings and police are providing traffic control.

Check traffic conditions here

Firefighters had the fire mostly contained by 4 p.m. Officials said the fire started in the asphalt plant building.

There is no report of injuries.

Check back for more information on this story.

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