With four judicial openings on San Diego's Superior Court bench waiting to be filled, two former deputy district attorneys were sworn in Thursday afternoon.

The ceremony for one of them, the son of a heroic DEA agent slain in the line of duty in Mexico nearly three decades ago, drew a capacity gallery in the court’s presiding department.

Enrique S. Camarena Jr. was 11 when members of a narco-trafficking cartel tortured and murdered his father, nicknamed “Kiki”, in Mexico in February, 1985 -- a tragic milestone in a drug war that still rages on.

For Kiki’s son, Thursday was a brighter milestone he said his dad would have treasured.

At age 40, Camarena Jr. takes the Superior Court bench after 15 years as a deputy district attorney in San Diego County.

He's specialized in prosecuting domestic violence and child abuse cases, having promised his father early on that he wouldn't become a police officer because of the dangers.

Kiki Camarena’s slaying outside Guadalajara created international shock waves.

Eventually the cartel's kingpin, Rafael Caro Quintero, and more than two dozen others were convicted in U.S. and Mexican courts -- Caro Quintero's release last year sparking outrage and a new arrest warrant.

Now, schools in Chula Vista and Calexico – Camarena’s hometown – bear his name.

And in the court system, his son continues to follow his father's footsteps in law enforcement, now at an even higher level.

"You know, I think about him every day,” Camarena Jr. said in an interview Thursday. “And so for me, it's still a little bit about the legacy of duty. And that's what I've been doing up until yesterday. And I'm going to be serving my county, serving this community in a different way."

Following his oath of office, administered by presiding Superior Court Judge David Danielsen, the county’s newest judge prompted smiles and laughter in a low-keyed acceptance speech in which he explained the strategy behind building his prosecutorial career.

“I grab a little bit from one supervisor, I grab a little bit from another, and added on to me to become who I am today,” he said, as his former colleagues in the district attorney’s office nodded appreciatively along with his family and friends. “And I’m not talking about who you are as a lawyer or trial skills. I’m talking about who you are as a person. You’ve learned a lot from people in this job.”

But he told NBC 7 after the ceremony that now his job is to think more like a judge than a prosecutor.

"It's morphed into something else; I have to oversee everything now," said Camarena Jr. "Not just the prosecution, but oversee the entire way the case is handled and all that's put forth in the case and the decisions that need to be made. And I'm ready for it."

Later Thursday, the other former prosecutor recently appointed to the local judiciary by Gov. Brown was sworn in.

Daniel Link, 38, a deputy district attorney since 2001, is the son of Judge Frederic Link -- who’s now in his 34th year on the San Diego bench.

Former deputy public defenders Matthew Braner and Selena Eply get their robes Monday and Tuesday, respectively.

A severed human head was found in a Long Island neighborhood where severed arms turned up in two separate residential yards last week, authorities say.

Hempstead police say the head was found at about 5 p.m. Thursday on Boylston Street in Hempstead, close to where the two arms were found.

• Staten Island Man Dies While Being Handcuffed: Police

A Hempstead homeowner found a human arm with women's clothing attached to it in his front yard on Webb Avenue on July 9. The next day, someone else discovered another human arm in their yard about a half-mile away, near Stewart Avenue and Cornell Street.

Police were looking into whether the arms are related to to the discovery of a partially dismembered body in a municipal parking lot in Bay Shore on July 8. 

• Tractor-Trailer Runs Off road, Kills NJ Police Officer: Officials

The remains discovered in the lot July 8 were found by two people walking to the ferry on Fire Island.

Homicide detectives in Nassau and Suffolk counties are investigating as they await DNA results on the other body parts.

• John McEnroe's Son Arrested in NYC on Drug Charges

Ocean Beach resident Larry Sweet is living with stage-4 liver cancer and has been managing his pain with a combination of smoking and eating medical marijuana.

He’s relieved a ban on edibles and hash oil did not make it through San Diego’s Public Safety and Livable Neighborhoods Committee Wednesday.

However he’s still concerned the idea will come up again.

“Quite frankly cannabis saved my life. I wouldn't have made it through the year without it,” Lee said.

• READ: Owner of Funeral Home Where Decaying Bodies Were Found: “We May Have Dropped the Ball”

Councilmember and committee chair, Mari Emerald, initially proposed the ban. She said it was a public safety issue.

“We have a void when it comes to regulation,” Emerald said. “Until they do, I want to make sure consumers in this community is protected.”

Emerald went on to express her concerns for particularly vulnerable patients taking edibles.

“These people are more susceptible to harm, food poisoning than the general population. They're going to get sicker. They're more at risk,” she said.

In November, an ordinance on medical marijuana dealing with permits and business taxes will go before the San Diego City Council.

NBC7 heard Marti Emerald could address the issue again then, that is if the state does not do something about regulation.

As usual, Opening Day at the Del Mar Races will be filled with fancy hats, but this year those toppers may be more top-notch than ever as the track’s famous Hats Contest celebrates its 20th anniversary.

On Thursday, July 17, the Opening Day Hats Contest will bring ornate, over-the-top hat fashion to the seaside track.

Contestants will compete in five hat categories: “Best Racing Theme”; “Funniest/Most Outrageous”; “Best Flowers/All Others”; “Most Glamorous”; and “Best Fascinator.”

• See: This Year's Opening Day Hats

The winner of each category will receive a $300 prize, plus a $100 gift certificate from Studio Savvy salon. Second place in each category wins $200 and third place walks away with $100.

On top of that, the winner of the coveted Bing Crosby Grand Prize will receive a two-night stay at The Grand Del Mar, plus a fancy dinner for two valued at more than $1,000 and a $500 gift certificate from The Village Hat Shop.

Competitors will parade their cranium creations from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Plaza de Mexico inside the Stretch Run admission gates, near the large fountain. NBC7.com will offer a live stream of some of those incredible hats.

• READ: Guide to Del Mar Races Freebies, Bargains

According to organizers, the Opening Day Hats Contest was officially established in 1995. Each year, the competition is fierce with hardcore hat enthusiasts turning out by the droves to show off their creations. Many spend months meticulously designing that perfect hat to flawlessly match their Opening Day attire.

For more details on the 2014 Del Mar Racing season, click here.

Shock, disbelief and sadness – these three words describe the thoughts going through the minds of those who knew Misty Holt-Singh best.

The 41-year-old Stockton mother was the only hostage to die in Wednesday’s bank heist involving a high-speed chase in Stockton. Police say she was used as a human shield by the suspects, who have gang connections.

• Stockton Bank Robbers Had "Total Disregard for Human Life": Police Chief

Holt-Singh’s relatives told NBC Bay Area that Misty left her 12-year-old daughter Mia in the car when she ran into the Bank of the West building for what she thought would only be a minute or so.

After that, all hell broke loose, resulting in the kind of crime Stockton police say they haven't witnessed in recent history.

• Raw video: Stockton Police News Conference

Holt-Singh’s cousin, Stephanie Miller Rodriguez, said that Misty and Mia were supposed to meet her on Wednesday afternoon at a salon in Stockton to get their hair done. But that never happened. 

“She and Mia were coming to get their hair done, but she didn’t show up,” said Rodriguez, who is a professional hair stylist. “I texted her on her cell phone and her daughter texted me back saying that the bank was being held up and that her mom had been taken hostage. I came home thinking she was OK because Mia had her phone, but found out later that she was killed in the gunfire. I’ve just been in a state of shock since then.”

Rodriguez described Holt-Singh as a “beautiful person.”

“She loved her family and kids so much,” she said. “She came into my life five months ago – we ran into each other and realized we were cousins … It was nice to have a cousin my age. But then we had this relationship cut short so suddenly.”

Friends and family have turned Holt-Singh’s Facebook page into a virtual memorial site, reminiscing about her as a beloved friend or a favorite classmate from Franklin High School.

"She was always funny and kept people laughing," said Christopher Turner, who was friends with Holt-Singh in high school. "She was loved by everybody. I'm really sad that her daughter had to witness this."

• Timeline: Fatal Stockton Bank Heist

Mia’s pictures are all over Holt-Singh’s Facebook page, along with pictures of her 19-year-old son in a graduation cap and gown. Her profile picture shows her happily smiling next to her husband, Paul Singh.

Holt-Singh’s latest posts talk about taking her kids to Raging Waters, and the newest members of the Holt-Singh family: a puppy and a DeMarini CF7 fastpitch softball bat.

She recently shared pictures of Mia at baseball practice and her sixth-grade promotion and many others of family vacations and celebrations.

The bottomline: Family was really important to Misty.

• Photos: Bank Robbers' SUV Riddled with Bullets

"Today, a mother, wife, daughter and sister was taken from our family in a senseless tragedy," Holt-Singh’s sister-in-law Kumal Sidhu Singh posted on her own Facebook wall. "If there is a bigger plan, I really don't understand. Our hearts are shattered...and our family will never again be the same."

Holt-Singh's sister, Dawn Holt, has set up a memorial fund for her. 

"My heart is broken for (your) beautiful family," friend Jammie Lynn Mayo wrote on Holt-Singh's Facebook page. "I don't understand. One thing I do know. Heaven got a little spunkier when you showed up."

At a news conference on Thursday, Stockton Police Chief Eric Jones said at this stage of the investigation, he doesn't know when Holt-Singh died, or who killed her during the spray of bullets - the suspects or officers engaged in battle.

• 3 Dead After Stockton Bank Robbery, Gunbattle

What he did say, however, was that it appears clear that the men who robbed a Bank of the West on Wednesday afternoon appeared set on killing people from the start, looking at the "havoc" they created.

During the roughly hour-long incident, which police described as "reckless and chaotic," three armed men robbed a bank, took hostages, killing one, and attempted to kill numerous police officers in broad daylight, putting the entire city at risk.

“In my over two decades of law enforcement I've never seen or experienced this type of total disregard for human life," Jones said.

Lucero Benitez contributed to this story.

In light of a state board’s water restrictions imposed this week, San Diego city officials say the city already has water-conserving restrictions in place.

Since 2009, San Diego has had similar restrictions and city officials say that the new state regulations don’t call for the city to do anything new.

Still, city officials issued a news release Thursday saying city and state restrictions are “important to help conserve water during this severe drought condition.”

“I want to thank San Diegans, who for years have done a tremendous job of stepping up to the plate to incorporate water conservation into their way of life,” San  Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer said in the news release. “This summer, as we see temperatures climb, we must continue to be mindful of the current drought situation by adhering daily to the city’s permanent water use restrictions.”

City officials said they will monitor the state’s drought plan to see if any changes or additions need to be made to the city’s plan. They also plan to focus on educating residents on water conservation rather than enforcing the restrictions through fines.

The State Water Resources Control Board approved the restrictions Tuesday. They prohibit overwatering of lawns and landscaping that causes runoff onto sidewalks or streets, washing sidewalks, driveways and other hard surfaces, using a hose to wash a vehicle unless the hose has a shut-off nozzle and using drinking water in a fountain or decorative water feature unless the water is recirculated.

Violations are infractions punishable by fines of up to $500 a day, and tickets could be written by any public employee empowered to enforce laws.

The brutal beating of a transient man has led to the arrest of three people, including the victim’s own son.

Chula Vista Police say suspect Jeffrey Woodfork, 37, attacked the man on July 12, injuring him enough to cause permanent brain damage.

Woodfork’s girlfriend, Tanay Jackson, and the transient man’s unidentified son looked on and did nothing to stop the assault, police say.

Five days later, officers arrested Woodfork and Jackson on Palm Avenue in San Diego without incident.

• Read: Malaysia Jet Shot Down by Missile, 295 Feared Dead

The victim’s son was already in the Central Jail for an unrelated incident and will face additional charges, according to police.

Woodfork was booked into jail on first-degree attempted murder, aggravated mayhem, assault with force causing great bodily injury and violation of parole. Jackson was booked on the same charges except parole violation.

Both are scheduled to be arraigned on July 21.

 The suspect accused of fatally shooting a man outside a National City World Cup Party has pleaded not guilty to charges against him.

On Thursday, a judge ordered that Daniel A. Gonzalez be held on a $2 million bond after he was arraigned on charges of murder and personal use of a firearm.

Police say Gonzalez shot Josue Crook, 36, after a fight at the Rincon Del Mar restaurant spilled out onto the street on June 17. The restaurant had been hosting a party for the Mexico-Brazil World Cup game at the time, but it’s unclear if the fight had anything to do with the soccer match.

Gonzalez also faces a charge of assault with a deadly weapon against a separate victim.

After National City Police identified Gonzalez as the lead suspect in the shooting, he was arrested in Tijuana on July 14 -- one reason his bail was set at $2 million.

“Mr. Gonzalez was picked up in Mexico and brought back to the United States, and we believe that constitutes a flight risk,” said Deputy District Attorney David Grapilon.

The defense did not dispute the bail amount at this time, but Gonzalez does deny all charges against him.

He is scheduled to be back in court on Aug. 5. If convicted on the murder and firearm charges, Gonzalez would be sentenced to a minimum of 50 years to life in prison.

A single mother from Philadelphia could be facing up to three years in prison for what she and her attorney say was her effort to be honest with New Jersey authorities.

On Oct. 1, 2013, Shaneen Allen, 27, was pulled over in Atlantic County, New Jersey, for a routine traffic stop. When the officer approached her vehicle, the mother of two informed him that she had a handgun in the car and presented her concealed carry permit for Pennsylvania.

• Teacher Threatened to Fail Student Who Tried to Stop Sexual Relationship: Police
  

Allen quickly learned that her Pennsylvania gun license held no legal weight in New Jersey when instead of getting a traffic ticket, she was arrested and charged with unlawful possession of a weapon and armor penetrating bullets.

"She voluntarily and honestly told the officer that she had her licensed handgun and gave him her license to carry," Allen's attorney Evan Nappen said.

"She’s a hard-working single mom. It’s really crazy that New Jersey is taking someone who’s got no criminal record and was doing nothing wrong — other than a minor traffic violation — and making it into a felony-level conviction with minimal mandatory time."

• Bank Robbers Had "Total Disregard for Human Life": Police

Nappen is a New Jersey-based criminal defense attorney whose practice focuses on gun law. He says his client did not know it was illegal to have her .380 Bersa Thunder handgun and the hollow-point bullets in it while driving through the state.

According to the Pennsylvania Firearm Owners Association, Pennsylvania concealed carry permits, like the one Allen has, are honored in 30 other states. New Jersey is not one of them.

If found guilty, Allen could face up to three years in prison with no chance of parole.

• 5,000 Years of History Buried Under I-95

Nappen says Allen purchased the gun through a licensed dealer roughly a week before her arrest because she feared for her safety. She had been robbed twice earlier that year.

According to Nappen, Allen's case is particularly unfortunate because she has two small children, and because an Atlantic County prosecutor denied Allen admission into a Pre-Trial Intervention (PTI) program that would have allowed for a more lenient punishment, a period of probation and some community service.

Nappen says he's seen at least a dozen similar cases in the past year. He believes a federal law mandating concealed carry license reciprocity among states might be a fix for the issue.

• Owner of Funeral Home Where Decaying Bodies Were Found: "We May Have Dropped the Ball"

"People believe that your gun license should be treated like your driver’s license. Right now there’s a national law being proposed that would mandate that all states recognize other states licenses," he said. "It’s still pending, but it's needed for people like this. I’m calling that bill Shaneen’s law."

University of Pennsylvania Law School professor Kermit Roosevelt said New Jersey authorities were well within their rights when they arrested Allen.

"I don't think the law is problematic. Each state has legal authority to regulate behavior within its borders. So, they're saying we have laws, and if you come here, you have to play by our rules," he said.

• Human Head Found in Same Neighborhood as Severed Arms: Police

When it comes to firearms laws, New Jersey is considered to be one of the strictest states in the country.

Roosevelt agreed that a federal law might be a good solution for the future.

"I think, as a general matter, a federal law would be a good idea. When you get conflicts between the states about issues like this, Congress is supposed to weigh everyone's interests and find a reasonable resolution," he said. "In the meantime, it's still up to the states."

A court date for Allen's case has been set for Aug. 5. Nappen said he plans to request a dismissal of all charges.

A group of burglars broke into a Long Island home and killed the family's three-legged dog as it tried to race out the door, police say.

Four to five men tried to break into a house on Montauk Highway near Doane Avenue in North Bellport Thursday afternoon, but were confronted by four adults inside the home at the time, according to Suffolk police.

• DRAMATIC PHOTOS: Malaysian Plane Crashes in Ukraine

The residents tried to push the door back against the burglars, but were sprayed in the face with a chemical substance, authorities said.

As the victims managed to start closing the door, the family dog, an 11-year-old three-legged pit bull named Sarah, raced out, police said. The suspects shot the dog with a small caliber handgun and ran away.

• Human Head Found in NY Yard Near Where Arms Were Dumped

Sarah died from her wound.

Nothing was taken in the burglary attempt, and no one else was hurt. Police are looking for the suspects, who had their faces partially covered.

People from Russia and Ukraine who now live in San Diego are weighing in on the conflict between those countries.

In the middle of conflict, there is some agreement. Two people from the warring countries of Russia and Ukraine, who now live in San Diego, feel the same about what happened to Malaysia Airlines Flight 17

“It’s a terrible situation,” said Father James Bankston of St. John The Baptizer Ukrainian Catholic Church.

“This is absolutely insane,” said Russia native Sasha Kaluzhski.

Nearly 300 people, with seemingly no ties to the conflict there, were killed when the plane was shot out of the sky. When it comes to whose to blame, the two men have different theories, but hope there will be a fair investigation.

"The best way to do it is to send an international community of investigators do the work so they will come up with whatever they will find out on the ground,” said Kaluzhski.

"The first inclination is to place blame but we can't do that until everything is figured out,” said Father Bankston.

With so many innocent lives lost, both wish this tragedy brings a resolution.

"The tragedy can be some opportunity to put these people at the negotiating table, maybe, we hope,” said Kaluzhski.

"They have to put their own egos aside. Both sides need to put their own egos aside,” said Father Bankston.

A Dutch former graduate student from Indiana University was a passenger on the Malaysia Airlines flight that was shot down Thursday in Ukraine, the head coach of the rowing team at Indiana University confirmed to NBC Chicago.

Karlijn Keijzer, a 25-year-old from Amsterdam, was a passenger on the Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, according to head coach Stephen Peterson.

"The Indiana Rowing family is deeply saddened by the news of Karlijn's sudden passing," Peterson said. "She came to us for one year as a graduate student and truly wanted to pursue rowing. That year was the first year we really started to make a mark with the First Varsity 8 boat and she was a huge reason for it. She was a phenomenal student and loved IU so much that she stayed here after she earned her master's degree. Our condolences go out to her family and friends in this very tough time."

Keijzer's parents posted on her Facebook page that the young traveler was on the flight.

"Our beautiful, lively, brilliant daughter Karlijn was in the plane that crashed together with her boyfriend Laurens. We just received confirmation from Malaysian Airlines."

Keijzer was on the rowing team at Indiana University in 2010, teammate Amy Sanders told NBC Chicago.

• Woman Loses 3 Relatives in 2 Malaysia Air Disasters

"She was just like the happiest, go-lucky person ever," Sanders said. "So happy and just full of energy all the time."

Sanders, who lives in Chicago, said Keijzer was a frequent traveler.

"I just couldn't believe it," she said. "It's like our first teammate that we've lost."

Keijzer's bio on the team's website said she is one of three children and was a chemistry graduate student at the university.

• Jet Went Down on Anniversary of TWA Flight 800 Crash

"On behalf of the entire Indiana University community, I want to express my deepest sympathies to Karlijn's family and friends over her tragic death," Indiana University President Michael A. McRobbie said. "Karlijn was an outstanding student and a talented athlete, and her passing is a loss to the campus and the university. Our hearts also go out to the families of all the victims of this senseless act."

A jet carrying 295 people crashed in eastern Ukraine near the Russian border, and a Ukrainian adviser said it was shot down by a surface-to-air missile.

The founder of the Malaysian Club of Chicago said Thursday there may be some local connections to the victims of the Malaysia Airlines crash Thursday.

Dr. Kim Tee, who's also a Bridgeview podiatrist, told NBC 5 that he spoke with a Chicago woman via social media who believes she has a close friend from Chicago on the flight and is awaiting confirmation.

• Boeing Releases Statement on Malaysia Airlines Crash

The full passenger list has not been released.

Tee says there's an estimated 500 Malaysian families and 2,000 students in the Midwest. He says many may have traveled back home this month for the Malaysian New Year celebration called Eid, which signals the end of the fasting period of Ramadan.
 

A Malaysia Airlines plane that crashed on Thursday in Ukraine near the Russian border, allegedly after it was shot down, according to one government adviser, wouldn't be the first downed by hostile action.

While passenger shootdowns are rare, there have been at least a dozen in modern history — a number of which involved the Soviets — and many of which have created international rifts.

To see Here is a list of some of the more notable passenger plane shootdowns over the decades, click here:

Americans rattled by the crash of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 — believed to have killed 298 people, most of them Dutch — are paying their respects at the Dutch Embassy in D.C., where flowers mark a growing memorial and where mourners will hold a candlelight vigil Friday evening.

"I can only imagine the pain and grief," said Dutch native Arno Zegerman, who was at the embassy Friday morning. "It's horrible news."

A sign of sympathy and flowers of nearly every color mark the outside of the embassy, and the flag is flying at half-staff.

• MORE NEWS: Former Indiana University Grad Student From Amsterdam Among Malaysia Airlines Crash Victims

Mourners will gather at the embassy at 6 p.m. Friday for a candlelight vigil and walk to the Embassy of Malaysia. Participants are being asked to bring candles and wear black clothing if possible.

The ambassador will also host a private moment of silence for Dutch Embassy staff.

• MORE NEWS: Risk of Earthquake Increased for One-Third of U.S.

The embassy staff is monitoring developments from afar. It said in a statement that Dutch Ambassador Rudolf Bekink joins government officials to demand an independent and transparent investigation into what happened in the skies over Ukraine on Thursday.

"The Netherlands is deeply shocked by the terrible air disaster involving flight MH17. We mourn all those who were on board, whatever their nationality," the statement read in part. "Our thoughts are with their loved ones, friends, colleagues and acquaintances. The Dutch government is doing all it can to gain clarity for the victims’ families as swiftly as possible."

Bekink also offered a message of condolences on wrote on Twitter. "My heart goes out to the passengers of MH17, their family and friends," he wrote.

Next week, the embassy will welcome the public into its lobby to offer their condolences by signing a registry. Those who wish to leave messages can do so between 10 a.m. and noon, and between 2 and 4 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday.

An online condolence registry can be found here (Dutch) and here (English).

A 75-year-old pilot who landed his single-engine plane on a Long Island highway last week made another emergency landing on the same stretch of road Friday, police say.

No one was hurt when the yellow plane landed on Sunrise Highway near East Moriches around 1 p.m. The plane was moved to the side of the road.   

The pilot, Frank Fierro, said a burnt fuse caused the engine of his home-made plane to stall today and last week. 

The FAA inspected the plane after the previous highway landing and returned it to Fierro.

He was the only one on board, authorities said.

Fierro vowed to fly again, despite the wishes of his wife, who wants him to stop. 
 

 A new proposition slated for California’s November ballot would make thousands of criminals eligible for re-sentencing in an effort to fund education.

Proposition 47 – also known as the “Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Initiative” – aims to reclassify current non-violent crimes like drug possession or petty theft from felonies to misdemeanors, unless the prisoner has prior convictions for violent and serious crimes.

Supporters say by reducing the convict’s sentence and therefore reducing the prison population, the state could save more than a billion dollars over five years.

An estimated $150 million to $250 million would go toward mental health programs and schools.

• Read: Woman Loses 3 Relatives in 2 Malaysia Air Disasters

One supporter of Prop 47 is former San Diego Police Chief William Lansdowne.

Under his 11 year tenure, hundreds of such non-violent criminals were sentenced to terms at Donovan Correctional Facility.

But now, the retired top cop is taking a different stance on sentencing laws.

“I’ve got 49 years in this business, and it’s clear warehousing people doesn’t work,” said Lansdowne. “You’ll have to look at real crime prevention in long-term, and that’s treatment and prevention.”

But another big name in law enforcement – District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis – disagrees, noting that the illegal possession of date rape dugs will be reduced to a “slap on the wrist” and stealing any handgun worth less than $950 will no longer be a felony, according to DA spokesman Steve Walker.

• Read: Calif. Residents Urged to Maintain Lawns, Save Water

“The San Diego District Attorney’s office opposes Prop 47 and is working with other prosecutors in the state to defeat this ill-conceived initiative,” said Walker.

There is also concern that judges will not be able to block the early release of inmates who have prior convictions for serious crimes.

The spokesperson for the San Diego Unified School District said they were not familiar enough with this issue to comment at this time.

San Diego’s 2014 LGBT Pride celebration is upon us and the weekend is jam-packed with community events, including the iconic San Diego Pride Parade.

The weekend kicks off with the Spirit of Stonewall Rally at 6 p.m. at the Hillcrest Pride Flag on Normal Street and University Avenue.

The free community event will recognize and honor leaders working hard to fight for the LGBT community. The rally – which was first held in San Diego in 1975 and is celebrating its 40th anniversary – signals the official start of San Diego Pride weekend.

Speakers will include Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins, veteran activist Nicole Murray-Ramirez and San Diego City Council President Todd Gloria. “Orange is the New Black” star Laverne Cox will serve as keynote speaker.

After the rally, the festivities begin with the 3rd Annual Pride of Hillcrest Block Party at the intersection of Normal Street and University Avenue. The 21 and up shindig runs from 7 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. and includes a long lineup of DJs, plus an appearance by “Orange is the New Black” actress Taryn Manning.

Tickets are $25 per person and can be purchased online or at the Hillcrest Brewing Co., Urban Mo’s or Obelisk Shoppe, all on University Avenue.

On Saturday, the Pride Parade will take over the streets of Hillcrest. The 1.1-mile parade route begins at 11 a.m. at the Hillcrest Pride Flag, then proceeds west on University Avenue, turns south on 6th Avenue, left onto Balboa Drive and ends at Laurel Street.

The free event is known for its vibrant floats and lively crowd and attracts more than 300,000 cheering spectators year after year.

Finally, San Diego Pride rounds out with a music festival on Saturday from noon to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Marston Point in Balboa Park.

A weekend pass to the festival costs $20 and includes access to all of the entertainment and attractions. Youth 15 and under get in free.

The full musical lineup can be seen here. Attractions will include beverage gardens, a children’s activity area, featured work from local artists and confidential HIV testing.

To get more details on San Diego Pride, visit this website.
 

Everybody knows about the Padres' struggles at the plate this season. This is a lineup that's hitting just .214 on the season – 23 points worse than any other team in the league.

We also know their pitching has been lights out. It kept them in last weekend's series with the Dodgers by allowing just seven runs in four games. Unfortunately, they lost three of those -- two by a score of 1-0 and another 2-1 -- and are reeling as they come out of the All-Star break.

They welcome a New York Mets team with many of the same problems -- solid pitching but a lineup that ranks 26th in batting average and 28th in slugging.

So, will anybody be able to score this weekend? Let's break down the series.

Matchups:
Friday, 7:10 p.m.: Ian Kennedy (R, 7-9, 3.47) vs. Bartolo Colon (R, 8-8, 3.99)
Kennedy has allowed just two earned runs over his past three starts. He threw eight scoreless and struck out eight Dodgers last weekend but go a no-decision in a – you guessed it – 1-0 loss. Colon gave up just two runs in 7 1/3 innings in a win over the Padres last month.

Saturday, 5:40 p.m.: Tyson Ross (R, 7-10, 2.85) vs. Dillon Gee (4-1, 2.56)
That’s now five straight quality starts for Ross, with just one win to show for it. Gee can top that with six straight QS, allowing just six runs total in that stretch.

Sunday, 1:10 p.m.: Odrisamer Despaigne (2-1, 1.35) vs. Zack Wheeler (5-8, 3.90)
OD picked up his first career loss over the weekend despite pitching seven strong innings allowing seven hits and two runs without walking a batter. It looks to be another pitcher’s duel as Wheeler has allowed just three earned runs in his last three starts.

What’s at stake: Man, that Dodgers series hurt. The Padres were within 10 games of the division lead before losing three of four to fall 12 back at the break. That probably cemented their spot as sellers in the trade deadline market, so expect some names to get moved over the next few weeks.

Hopefully the four-day break helped heal some wounds, as the Padres have gaping holes due to injuries.

Surprisingly, the Mets have pulled themselves out of the standings gutter and stand just seven games back of the division and wild card leads. Will they have enough to compete with Atlanta and Washington at the top of the NL East? At least they’re in the conversation.

The Mets took two of three in Queens earlier this year. This is the last time the teams will see each other this season.

Injury Report:

Manager Bud Black shed some light on the rash of Padres injuries. First, he said Tommy Medica would be able to pinch hit tonight, but probably not run.

"We're hoping he can hit it over the fence so he can jog around the bases," Black joked.

As for the more serious injuries, Jedd Gyorko (foot) will play in Fresno this weekend, but is probably at least a week away from returning. Everth Cabrera (hamstring) will begin a rehab assignment as early as Monday. First baseman Yonder Alonso will play this weekend in Arizona. Andrew Cashner (shoulder) will start a throwing program this weekend, but there's still no time table for his return.

"It's always good when hurt players are playing again," Black said.

Who to watch:
Padres: Left-fielder Seth Smith was the star of the first half in this lineup and continues to swing a hot stick – hitting .370 with a pair of homers – in July. Ditto third baseman Chase Headley, whose .327 average in July is more than 100 points higher than any other month this season. Outfielder Alexi Amarista has hits in eight of his last 10 games.

Mets: Second baseman Daniel Murphy ranks third in the National League with 113 hits. He also leads the team with 56 runs scored and has a hit in six of his last seven games. First baseman Lucas Duda leads the team with 14 homers and 47 RBIs. He’s hitting .323 in his last 10 games. Eric Young Jr. is among the league leaders with 25 stolen bases despite hitting just .236 on the season.

Coming up: The Padres hit the road for a week after this, visiting the Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves before returning home to face the St. Louis Cardinals on July 29.