An Escondido couple who runs an organic farming business that benefits U.S. military veterans was recognized for their good work by the White House on Wednesday.

Combat-decorated U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Colin Archipley and his wife, Karen Archipley, were among 12 veterans and their families honored by the “Champions of Change” program in Washington, D.C.

The program was created by the Obama Administration as a way to recognize individuals and organizations that empower and inspire their communities.

Together, the Archipleys run Archi’s Organic Farming Enterprise, a certified organic greenhouse operation in Escondido that grows basil, kale, herbs and other fresh produce using hydro-organic farming techniques.

In the process, the couple has helped create jobs within their community.

Working with Cal Poly Pomona, the couple created the Veterans Sustainable Agriculture Training Program (VSAT), a program that helps train U.S. military vets for new careers in agriculture and family farming as they transition out of the military and into civilian life.

The intensive, six-week course includes training in hydroponics, drip and micro irrigation, environmental control, soil biology, composting, greenhouse management and more.

Graduates of the VSAT program have been able to start careers as successful farm owners and workers, restaurateurs and owners of food companies, according the Archi’s Acres website.

Through VSAT, Sgt. Archipley said they have been able to train approximately 250 service members, many of whom have gone on to start their own businesses.

Sgt. Archipley said the process of transitioning out of the military can be difficult, but having his own business has given him a new focus and mission in the private sector, which includes helping others.

“It’s part of something greater. You’re building this business, you’re putting people to work, you’re adding to the community,” he explained from Washington, D.C.

He called the experience of serving his country and then going into business for himself a “unique American story.”

“We’re privileged by the opportunities that this country provides,” he added.

Karen said farming and agriculture was therapeutic for her husband after he returned home from his third tour overseas. As they were thinking of a business they could start and grow together, farming became their answer.

“Agriculture allowed Colin to come back and decompress, and at the same time, earn a great living,” Karen explained.

The couple said their family farm and VSAT program was very much embraced by the San Diego community. Over the years, Karen said they have worked closely with Camp Pendleton and MCAS Miramar to introduce their agriculture program to transitioning military service members.

“San Diego is just so supportive of veterans,” said Sgt. Archipley.

The couple said being recognized by the White House was an honor, and more than they could’ve ever imagined for their business and agriculture program.

“It’s euphoric. To be recognized is pretty exciting for us,” said Sgt. Archipley. “We’ll continue to do what we do, if we get recognition or not because that’s where our heart is. But to be recognized by the White House – it’s just such an honor.”

“We’re reinvigorating the family farm across America, and doing it organically,” Karen added.

To learn more about the Archipley’s work, visit their website.

Sunday’s magnitude-6.0 earthquake caused an estimated $300 million in damages to homes and private buildings, according to Napa city leaders’ most recent assessment released Wednesday.

The dollar figure includes only private structures, and not the damage to public buildings or general economic loss, according to the city report.

City leaders also said 113 buildings have been added to the red-tag list of buildings deemed uninhabitable, and 83 water lines still need to be fixed.

In addition, 500 buildings were still on the yellow tag list of buildings that people could go inside, but at their own risk.

The numbers keep moving, and the city created a map to try to reflect the most current figures, showing where all the problems are, and when they're being fixed. As of Wednesday, PG&E reported all customers had their power back on, down from a peak of 70,000 customers who had no electricity.

And most all Napa students headed back to public school for the first time since the earthquake.

In terms of the human toll from the quake that struck at 3:20 a.m. Sunday, 209 patients were treated at Queen of the Valley Hospital, with 18 admitted for some period of time. Most injuries were orthopedic.

Thirteen-year-old Nicholas Dillon was one of those patients was airlifted to UC Davis Children's Hospital, and despite a pelvic fracture, he was feeling lucky that things were not worse.

No one died during the quake, the largest one to hit the Bay Area in 25 years.

IF YOU'RE INTERESTED: Napa is updating its numbers and providing phone numbers on who to call on the city website.

A school bus driver was drunk, with a blood alcohol content three times the legal limit, when she dropped students off at the Irving A. Robbins Middle School in Farmington on Wednesday morning, according to police.

M and J school bus driver Tammy Costello, 44, of Bristol, was arrested at school this morning after an officer driving behind her noticed the bus tires swerve off the pavement, according to police.

"He greeted students as they were getting off the bus, and a couple of them made reference to the potential that the driver may have hit a curb or two along the way," said Farmington police spokesman Lt. Colin Ryan.

The officer spoke with the driver and immediately suspected she was drunk.

Costello failed field sobriety tests and was brought to the Farmington Police Department, where breath tests came back at .139, then .134, more than three times the legal limit for the driver of a commercial motor vehicle, police said. 

She was arrested and charged with driving under the influence, failure to drive right, and 20 counts of risk of injury to a minor – one for each of the students on board.

NBC Connecticut tried to contact Costello at her Bristol home, but there was no answer.

Farmington Supt. Kathleen Greider has sent a letter to parents saying every child who was on the bus was brought to the nurse to be checked for injuries and any other concerns. 

"All students returned to class after a thorough assessment and parents were contacted.  Please be assured that the safety of our students – your children – is our highest priority, and we take that responsibility very seriously," Greider said in the letter.

She also provided parents with a letter from the bus company. 

"The M and J Bus Company is appalled at the incident that occurred this morning involving one of our bus drivers. We are committed to working closely with the Farmington Police Department to conduct a thorough investigation of this incident. Please know that thorough background checks of all employees are conducted by the Department of Motor Vehicles before employees are allowed to transport students," the statement  says.

The statement says M and J Bus Company conducts alcohol and drug testing when they hire employees, who are also subject to "rigorous random alcohol and drug testing." 

M and J has suspended Costello pending an investigation.

"We hold our employees to the highest expectations and safety is our number one priority. We apologize to the Farmington community for this incident as we are a long-standing Farmington company and we are deeply committed to the safety of ALL Farmington students," the statement from M and J says.

Costello was released on a $25,000 non-surety bond and is scheduled to appear in Hartford Superior Court on Sept. 2.

Parents in Victor Valley are being warned about razor blades and other sharp objects investigators believe were intentionally placed on a playground to injure children.

Double-edged razor blades and bent forks were found buried in sand and hidden in playground equipment Tuesday at a community park at 3rd Street and Meyer Street in Oro Grande.

Park maintenance workers reported the blades, and no children have been injured. The San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department’s Victor Valley station issued a statement saying it believes the blades were an isolated incident and that no known threats have been made against children who play at the park.

"My thoughts are that's very dangerous and I'm very concerned for the children who play here every day at this park," said Stephanie Williams, a parent who was at the park Wednesday. "If it was purposely planned to purposely hurt somebody then we really got to worry about the motives of people."

Williams said parents will need to be extra vigilant when visiting the park.

"It's sad but it's true. Parents are going to have to do another job when they come to the park, when they bring their children here," she said.

The department has asked anyone who might have information about who may have placed the objects to come forward.

“We need to protect our children and we need anyone who has information regarding this serious crime to come forward,” Sgt. Jim Evans said in the statement. “We are thankful to park employees for doing a thorough inspection of their facilities and locating these dangerous items before a child was injured.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Deputy Brandon Kirkendall at 760-552-6800.

Police are searching for a driver who hit a pedestrian early Saturday morning, seriously injuring him, in Chula Vista and then drove off.

Chula Vista police said Leonardo De La Cruz Jr. was crossing H Street  just before 2 a.m. when he was hit by a vehicle driving west on H Street. The vehicle then sped off, police said.

De La Cruz was taken to University of California San Diego to be treated for a traumatic brain injury and a broken leg.

Police said he was still in critical condition on Thursday, but is expected to survive.

No one witnessed the collision, although several nearby businesses had video surveillance of the incident, which showed the vehicle as a dark-colored compact car with damage to the front end of the windshield.

Anyone with information on the incident should call the Chula Vista Police Department at 619-691-5151.

A USC football player and co-captain admitted on Wednesday that he lied when he said he hurt his ankles while jumping off a second-floor balcony to save his drowning nephew from a pool, university athletic department officials said.

Senior cornerback Josh Shaw told USC's Ripsit Blog that he jumped off the balcony on Aug. 23, landed on the concrete and crawled into the pool to rescue the child, suffering the sprains as a result of the jump.

But on Wednesday, Shaw admitted that the story was "a complete fabrication" and apologized for misleading his coach, team and the public, according to a USC athletics statement.

The blog has since deleted its initial story about the rescue. Shaw has been suspended indefinitely from all team activities, according to the statement.

"We are extremely disappointed in Josh," USC head football coach Steve Sarkisian said in the statement."He let us all down. As I have said, nothing in his background led us to doubt him when he told us of his injuries, nor did anything after our initial vetting of his story."

Shaw's attorney released a response on his behalf.

"On Saturday August 23, 2014, I injured myself in a fall. I made up a story about this fall that was untrue. I was wrong not to tell the truth," the statement read. "I apologize to USC for this action on my part."

"My USC coaches, the USC Athletic Department, and espcially coach Sarkisian have all been supportive of me during my college career and for that, I am very grateful," the statement continued.

Sarkisian said earlier Wednesday that the campus was looking into phone calls that disputed Shaw's account of what happened.

"I appreciate that Josh has now admitted that he lied and has apologized," Sarkisian said in the statement Wednesday. "Although this type of behavior is out of character for Josh, it is unacceptable. Honesty and integrity must be at the center of our program. I believe Josh will learn from this. I hope that he will not be defined by this incident, and that the Trojan Family will accept his apology and support him."

On Tuesday, Sarkisian defended Shaw and said he had "no reason, no history to not believe Josh."

Los Angeles police said Tuesday they had not had any contact with Shaw, but they did take a burglary report Aug. 23, the same night of his fall, in which the victim named Shaw as her boyfriend.

"He is not listed as a suspect, and police had no contact with him," LAPD Officer Sara Faden told NBC4. "His name is just listed in the body of a police report."

Officers responded to the call about 11 p.m., Faden said. While officers were speaking with people outside, a resident returned and spoke to police.

They asked her about her roommates and "people in her life," and she mentioned Shaw as her boyfriend, Faden said.

USC's football coach said there are "quite a few conflicting stories out there" Wednesday when he addressed questions about a senior cornerback who is sidelined indefinitely after suffering ankle sprains that the player says occurred when he jumped from a second-floor balcony to rescue his nephew from a swimming pool.

Senior cornerback Josh Shaw told USC's Ripsit Blog that he was on the second-floor balcony of his cousin’s Palmdale apartment on Aug. 23 when he saw his 7-year-old nephew struggling in the pool. Shaw told the blog, which is run by USC's athletics department, that he jumped off the balcony, landed on the concrete and crawled into the pool to rescue the child, suffering the sprains as a result of the jump.

But in a press availability before practice Tuesday, coach Steve Sarkisian said he received "a few phone calls contradicting" Shaw's account.

"Josh is adamant with what occurred," Sarkisian said. "We'll continue to vet some of the other stories that have come across our desk and our phones and see where we can go from there."

Sarkisian declined to elaborate on the details of the contradictory accounts during a Wedenesday media avialability. He said the team will let the investigation by campus officials "play out."

"We're in somewhat of a holding pattern," Sarkisian said. "My main focus is on going out and playing a great football game Saturday. As much as we have the situation with Josh, I've got another 104 players in that locker room that I'm getting prepared to play.

"We've put in too much work over the last nine months to let an hour or two of social media and internet reports from us being a great football team."

A Los Angeles County fire official said the agency had no record of a call for service for a drowning either Saturday or Sunday in the Palmdale area. There was also no record of any call for service regarding a bilateral leg injury, the fire official said.

It is possible that both Shaw and the nephew were driven to the hospital, in which case there would be no 911 record, a fire official said.

The nephew was physically ok, but reportedly "traumatized," the blog reported.

"I would do it again for whatever kid it was, it did not have to be my nephew," Shaw told the blog Monday. "My ankles really hurt, but I am lucky to be surrounded by the best trainers and doctors in the world. I am taking my rehab one day at a time, and I hope to be back on the field as soon as possible."

Shaw was named a team captain Saturday evening, just hours before he was hurt, the blog reported.

Sarkisian told reporters he believes his player.

"Josh Shaw, first and foremost, is a good person, he's a good kid," Sarkisian said. "He came to us with what had occurred Saturday night, and I have no reason, no history to not believe Josh and his story of what has occurred."

Sarkisian said they would look into the calls about what happened.

Los Angeles police said Tuesday they had not had any contact with Shaw, but they did take a burglary report Aug. 23 in which the victim named Shaw as her boyfriend.

"He is not listed as a suspect, and police had no contact with him," LAPD Officer Sara Faden told NBC4. "His name is just listed in the body of a police report."

Officers responded to the call about 11 p.m., Faden said. While officers were speaking with people outside, a resident returned and spoke to police.

They asked her about her roommates and "people in her life," and she mentioned Shaw as her boyfriend, Faden said.

Andrew Blankstein and Jonathan Lloyd contributed to this report.

Nicholas Dillon has a broken pelvis and won’t play soccer again for months.

But the bed-ridden 13-year-old Napa boy still counts himself lucky. He was one of the most seriously injured among the 208 people hospitalized after Sunday’s 6.0-magnitude earthquake rattled the Bay Area.

"That day I could have died” he said.

A fireplace fell on top of Dillon's lower body when the quake hit at 3:20 a.m. He believes if he hadn't moved, he could have been crushed to death by the bricks.

Instead, the freckle-faced teen was giving interviews from his hospital bed at the University of California at Davis Children's Hospital in Sacramento Tuesday night, retelling the harrowing story of what happened when he first felt the earth move and the house shake.

"I started crawling trying to get to the door," he said, "and just as I was about to put my knee on the floor the chimney collapsed on my lower back."

Nicholas and his friend, Imanol Villanueva, were sleeping in the living room after a friend's birthday party Saturday night. Nicholas was sleeping on a mattress on the floor, directly under the brick fireplace. He had given Imanol the couch.

"He started yelling my name," Imanol said, still teary remembering what happened when the earth shook. "And then I yelled his and then I saw the bricks coming down on him."

The bricks ended up crushing Dillon's pelvis, but thankfully, his family says, not his spine.

"I didn't know what to think," Nicholas said. "For the first 30 seconds, I thought I was paralyzed. I didn't think I was going to be able to walk anymore. I was scared."

His mother called 911, but couldn't get an answer. His grandfather drove him to the nearest fire station, where he was taken to the hospital. He was airlifted to UC Davis, where he underwent a 10-hour surgery, his family said. Of the 208 patients first admitted to Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa, he was one of two critical cases.

Doctors say it will be at least four or five months before he can put pressure on his legs.

As a soccer player, that news is especially disappointing for the 9th grader at New Technology High.

"I'm hanging in there for the most part," he said.

IF YOU'RE INTERESTED:
Nicholas Dillon's family set up an account to help with medical costs. To help, contact Bank of America and reference an account in the name of Nicholas M. Dillon, No. 1641-0344-2511.
 

NBC News and NBC Bay Area's Ian Cull contributed to this report.

Professional sand sculptors from all over the world will compete in San Diego this Labor Day weekend, carefully carving sand and meticulously making masterpieces for all to enjoy.

The U.S. Sand Sculpting Challenge & 3D Art Expo will be held Friday through Monday on B Street Pier at 1140 N. Harbor Drive. Organizers say artists will create 23 elaborate sculptures out of sand for a shot to win a $60,000 grand prize and, of course, serious bragging rights.

One of the sculptors going for the big win is John Gowdy, a retired firefighter originally from Atlantic City, New Jersey, but now living in Italy.

Gowdy said he traveled to San Diego to partake in some friendly competition and showcase his work. He spends his retired days traveling and carving sand on the beaches of the world.

“I’m here to have fun. We’ve got the best in the world here, the best sand sculptures here. We’re all friends while we create art,” he told NBC 7.

Gowdy said his sculpture will depict an action-packed lifeguard rescue scene, complete with lifeguards cutting through a wave on a boat while saving a swimmer.

Although master sand sculptors like Gowdy may make the art form look easy, it’s anything but a day on the beach.

Gowdy said the craft is a “mixture of sport and art,” which can get strenuous at times, especially when trying to mix the perfect combination of sand and water and packing the sand tightly enough to carve.

“Compaction. That’s what it’s all about. Compaction and practice,” said Gowdy.

Dan Gutowski, a local artist from Imperial Beach, is also participating in the event. He’ll be helping Foster Farms with their company sculpture, an interactive installation featuring a couple of “crazy chickens.”

Though confident in his sand skills, Gutowski knows he’s going head-to-head with the best of the best.

“There are going to be the most amazing sculptures here this weekend,” he said.

Event organizers expect approximately 50,000 visitors to pass through the Sand Sculpting Challenge throughout the long weekend. The event, which also supports kids’ arts education

charities,

will include live entertainment, kids’ rides and activities, 12 gourmet food trucks and a beer and wine garden.

Additional contestants hail from all over the globe, including Washington, Key West, Canada, Singapore, Italy, the Netherlands and Latvia – the home country of Sandis Kondrats, last year’s grand prize winner and reigning champ.

Tickets to the competition cost $10 for adults and $7 for kids and seniors. All active-duty military with an I.D. get in free with up to three family members. The event runs from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

For more information, including the daily schedule, visit the event website.
 

A sister of the two Boston Marathon suspects has been arrested for allegedly threatening a New York City woman over the phone, police say.

Ailina Tsarnaev, 24, of North Bergen, New Jersey, called the mother of her husband's child and threatened her, according to the NYPD. 

She allegedly told the woman, "I have people who can go over there and put a bomb on you," police say. 

She was arrested Wednesday afternoon and is in custody at a Harlem precinct station. Her next court date is Sept. 30.

Attorney information for Tsarnaev wasn't immediately available. 

Her brother Dzhokhar Tsarneav is charged with carrying out the April 15 Boston attack with older brother Tamerlan, who died in a police shootout. 

She told reporters from her New Jersey home shortly after the April 2013 bombing that she had not spoken to her brothers in years. 

"I'm not OK, just like everybody else is not OK," she said at the time. "No one is OK. It's very shocking." 

The defense for Virginia's former first lady rested its case Wednesday afternoon in the public corruption trial against the former first couple of Virginia.

Bob and Maureen McDonnell's eldest daughter took the stand in her mother's defense Wednesday morning. Jeanine McDonnell Zubowsky portrayed a difficult relationship between her parents as she grew up -- one that didn't improve over time -- and said her mother had a "mild obsession" with businessman Jonnie Williams.

While her father was in law school, her mother was waitressing with three children at home, Zubowsky said. "I just knew we didn't have much money."

• McDonnell Trial: Prosecutors Challenge "Broken Marriage" Defense

Jeanine #McDonnell Zubowsky says for her dad, Bob, "kids were a priority and my mom came last." @nbcwashington

— David Culver (@David_Culver) August 27, 2014

Her mother would buy things and then hid them from her father "until the bill came, and then there'd be an argument," she said.

Zubowsky testified that her father was around less and less after he entered politics, and for him, "kids were a priority and my mom came last."

To cope, her mother would drink and take long baths, Zubowsky told jurors. "I think she was depressed, so she'd try to escape," she said.

Bob and Maureen McDonnell are accused of accepting more than $177,000 in gifts and loans from Williams, then the CEO of Star Scientific Inc., in exchange for promoting his company's dietary supplements.

Defense attorneys have suggested the couple could not have conspired to provide special favors to Williams while McDonnell was in office because their marriage was crumbling and they were barely talking.

Artist Bill Hennessy captures Maureen #McDonnell's emotional moment as oldest daughter Jeanine testifies. News4@4,5,6 pic.twitter.com/6GWaSqwQGR

— Julie Carey (@JulieCareyNBC) August 27, 2014

Zubowsky said her parents struggled after entering the political spotlight. "I think they thought they were ready.... The fantasy of what they thought it would be like was a lot easier to accept than the reality....," she said.

Zubowsky testified she watched communication between her parents decrease and arguments escalate.

On a vacation at Camp Pendleton, after a fight between her parents, her father confided in her about her parents' relationship, something that had never happened before.

"He actually opened up and said, 'I don't know what do do anymore. I can't make her happy anymore. I don't know what to do'.... It was a new low he reached," said Zubowsky, who is expecting the McDonnells' first grandchild.

She said during frequent fights between her parents, her mother would always raise her voice. "I've never in my whole life seen him raise his voice," she said of her father.

During a break, her mother cried and supporters consoled her, and her father appeared to wipe a tear from his eye, Northern Virginia Bureau Chief Julie Carey reported.

She also testified that her mother had a "mild obsession" with Williams.

When asked if Williams and her mother were good friends, Zubowsky said yes. When asked if they were business associates, she said no.

"When I realized Jonnie himself was a criminal" Jeanine #McDonnell's response when asked when she returned a $10K wedding gift to him

— Julie Carey (@JulieCareyNBC) August 27, 2014

Among the gifts, trips and loans Williams lavished on the family was a $10,000 monetary wedding gift to Zubowsky.

Asked when she returned the money, Zubowsky had an icy reply: "When I realized Jonnie himself was a criminal."

Prosecutors immediately objected.

"As a defense attorney that is what you hope for, because for all intents and purposes the question was asked, the answer was given, and while there was an objection, the answer was already out there, and the adage that you can't unring that bell certainly proves true," said lawyer Charles James, who was observing the trial.

Zubowsky was also asked about a tool shower held for her soon-to-be husband, Adam Zubowsky, in October 2012. She said that when her mother arrived at the event, she explained that Williams wanted to give the couple a special gift but couldn't attend because his wife was ill.

Zubowsky said Williams called during the party and, over speakerphone, informed her that he wanted to get a generator for the young couple. Some days later, a Michael & Son contractor called to say he wanted to take measurements for a full house generator.

Zubowsky said her reaction was, "What kind of generator is this?"

She said she'd expected the gift would be a small generator from Home Depot or Lowe's. But after the contractor visit, Zubowsky said Williams' administrative assistant called to explain the logistics were too complicated and that Williams would send a $10,000 check instead.

What was her reaction to a check of that amount?

"I was overwhelmed. I thought that was a very large amount of money but we also put it in perspective," she said, explaining that she knew Williams was wealthy and that he had planned to fly in his private jet to the tool shower, which would cost more than $10,000.

She said the couple deposited the check into a savings account and never touched it until they decided to return the money.

#McDonnell daughter Jeanine wraps up her testimony. Her mother's first lawyer, Emmet Flood is next pic.twitter.com/Hf8dKB7lvG

— Julie Carey (@JulieCareyNBC) August 27, 2014

The prosecution later asked Zubowsky whether it was right for her family to take the gifts, asking, "Isn't it true ... that you thought it was overboard and a little inappropriate for your family members to be taking these things?"

"Yes," she said.

Lawyers for the couple wrapped up their case Wednesday. Prosecutors called two rebuttal witnesses and could call another Thursday. Closing arguments could come Friday.

Earlier Wednesday, Maureen McDonnell's friend April Niamtu became the first wtiness to testify in Maureen's defense.

Niamtu told jurors that when she and Maureen met in 2009, Maureen was "passionate" about nutraceuticals.

First witness for Maureen #McDonnell, close friend April Niantu. Says J. Williams & Maureen were like "best buddies" pic.twitter.com/lrRt6kbxWP

— Julie Carey (@JulieCareyNBC) August 27, 2014

Maureen McDonnell's attorney is trying to show that the former first lady of Virginia had an affinity for healthcare products and suggesting them to friends, and that she wasn't only focusing on Williams' products.

BREAKING: MCDonnell defense rests without calling another witness @nbcwashington

— Julie Carey (@JulieCareyNBC) August 27, 2014

On Wednesday morning, defense for Bob McDonnell rested. The former governor testified in his own defense for more than four days, but Maureen McDonnell's lawyer said the former first lady's case should take about three hours.

Once it wraps up, that will leave only closing arguments and instructions from the judge before the case goes to the jury.

Bob McDonnell wrapped up his time on the witness stand Tuesday by acknowledging using bad judgment, but firmly denied criminal wrongdoing.

The prosecution grilled McDonnell on the specific timeline of when he received the gifts and loans from Williams, trying to make the case that it lines up with McDonnell promoting Williams' company and its tobacco-based supplement Anatabloc.

But on the stand, McDonnell was adamant that the money he received from Williams in 2012 was in the form of loans for MoBo, the small real estate company he owned with his sister -- not for him personally and not in exchange for favors.

McDonnell got stern at times, telling the prosecutor, "If you're suggesting that I got a $50,000 loan for MoBo in order that I get Mr. Williams' calls returned then you're completely off base."

The prosecutor responded, "No sir, that's not what I'm suggesting."

McDonnell insists the loan from Williams was a business transaction between friends, not payback for his help in promoting Anatabloc.

Prosecutor Michael Dry asked point blank, "You knew that March 6, 2012, loan was really a personal loan to you?"

McDonnell replied loudly, angrily: "Mr. Dry, that is absolutely false! It is a loan to MoBo."

A harsh portrait of Maureen McDonnell has emerged through weeks of testimony. Former governor's mansion staff members have said that she was quick to anger and seemed uncomfortable in her role as first lady.

As he entered the federal courthouse in Richmond last week, Bob McDonnell said seeing that portrayal of Maureen was "very difficult." 

He told reporters, "No one likes to talk about their marriage in front of the entire country, but this is part of the case." McDonnell also testified that he moved out of the home he had shared with Maureen the week before the trial.

Copyright Associated Press / NBC 7 San Diego

The former San Diego City College student turned guerilla fighter for the Islamic State of Iraq and al Sham (ISIS) last lived in Spring Valley with his family, NBC 7 has learned.

The final local address known for Douglas McCain, who was killed in a gun battle in Syria over the weekend, is a small apartment that he shared with his mother, brother and sister.

He was employed as a care worker before suddenly leaving in March, his former patient told NBC 7.

His family is staying out of the spotlight for now, not coming to the door and declining interviews. Their apartment was locked up tight with blinds drawn when NBC 7 arrived.

The person who answered our knocks would not identify herself but said McCain's brother Marchello and mother Judie were not available to talk.

A neighbor who did not want to be named identified McCain as one of the people often coming and going from the residence.

Spring Valley is just minutes from McCain's favorite places. Residents in the area of 54th Street and University Avenue say he spent a lot of time in the Somali community there.

He worked at a restaurant called African Spice in the Safari Market and was known around the Masjid Nur Mosque on 50th street in El Cajon.

Julie McDaniel says McCain was always friendly and good natured, which makes the way he died so mysterious.

“I could never imagine that person being so close and walking by my door everyday or seeing him every other day or often saying hi to this person,” said McDaniel.

A friend of McCain tells NBC 7 the man was married and had a child.

McDaniel says there were several men, women and children entering and leaving his apartment and that it is difficult to tell who lives there and who is visiting.

A San Jose family is grieving the loss of their Chihuahua mix, Sparky, who was brutally bludgeoned to death with a golf club after police say two boys broke into the home in an attempt to burglarize it.

Sgt. Heather Randol said on Wednesday that the boys, ages 13 and 14, were arrested and booked into juvenile hall on residential burglary charges. One boy was also charged with animal cruelty.

"We're devastated," homeowner Eric McKenzie told NBC Bay Area.

Family members found the 12-year-old family pet bleeding to death upstairs shortly after 8 p.m. on Tuesday at their home in the 6800 block of Eldridge Drive. They called police to report that their home had been ransacked, and Sparky had been bludgeoned with a golf club.

McKenzie said two his family's two other dogs, "Pokie" and "Moxie," were not hurt in the attack. “We were looking around for the third dog,” McKenzie said. “My daughter found him upstairs, laying on his side, whimpering, and pretty much unresponsive.” They took Sparky to the vet, but it was too late.

Police said they were able to link the Eldridge Drive case with another burglary, reported at 2:30 p.m. in the 7000 block of Burnside Drive. In that case, the boys were there when police showed up, and they were arrested on site, police said. The boys attend Leland High School in San Jose, according to sources familiar with the case.

Detectives later figured out that the boys were allegedly responsible for "several other residential burglaries in the area," Randol said, and officers connected them to Sparky's brutal death. Nothing was taken from the home where Sparky was killed.  “What was the purpose?” McKenzie asked. “To have fun?  They didn’t steal anything. I don’t understand.”

Tuesday also happened to be National Dog Day, a 24-hour-period when dog lovers across the globe honored their furry best friends, many posting pictures all over social media.

“Without Sparky around, there’ll be a hole in the house,” McKenzie said. “He was a member of the family. Very sad.

Few treats are more classic and delicious than the good old-fashioned donut. In San Diego, the resurgence of the pastry is in full swing, with local bakeries proving the donut is worth diving into. So, dunk your dozen in coffee, opt for a jelly-filled creation or just get down and deep-fried with donuts from these shops ranked highly by Yelp users.

Lil’ Orbits (Pacific Beach)
This tiny business is a treasure and it certainly has the goods. Cronuts (croissant-meets-donut) may be all the rage but have you ever hear of a Crobit? It’s a mini version of the cronut and Lil’ Orbits makes batches daily. However, when they’re gone, they’re gone, so get there early. Besides the latest craze, patrons will find warm and fresh mini donuts on the daily, pumping out of the fryer and covered in cinnamon, powdered sugar and an assortment of other toppings, reminiscent of a snack one might eat at the fair.

Peterson’s Donut Corner (Escondido)
If you’ve got a big appetite and no miniscule maple bar will do, this is the place for you! Giant options here include an oversized cinnamon twist or glazed raised donut. Seriously, we dare you to finish it. This shop also has its own special version of the Cronut: it’s square and comes with multiple toppings. Plus, Peterson’s produces all the nostalgic, old-fashioned favorites you could want covered in sprinkles and sugar.

Donut Bar (Downtown San Diego)
Waiting in line for this popular spot is worth it, as sweet satisfaction will be had. The baked daily selections vary from Nutella and salted caramel donuts, to blueberry Meyer lemon and blood orange. But beware: when the donuts run out, you’re out of luck. Yelpers have written more than 500 reviews since this location’s opening and its fan base is strong. If you haven’t snagged one of the reputed rounds yet make sure you add it to your “to-dough” list.

VG Donuts & Bakery (Cardiff-by-the-Sea)
Although peeking through the window here reveals delicious wedding cakes and cookies, don’t be fooled. This bakery is all about the donuts and the line of locals in the morning proves it. The coastal community comes from miles around for the red velvet and vanilla coconut cake variety. The obsession for the raspberry and strawberry jelly-filled donut is a common affliction, too. Get them while you can.

Donut Stop (Torrey Hills/Mira Mesa)
Break open that piggy bank: this pastry heaven is cash only. Regulars hang out and play chess over coffee while customers stock up on their favorites. The blueberry donut gets rave reviews here and the cream-filled concoction also has a huge fan base. Traditional options like maple bars and apple fritters will fill out your baker’s dozen, and don’t forget to throw in a couple of donut holes.

Donut Touch (Scripps Ranch)
It’s a mirage near a gas station, filled with cake-like concoctions that will make you fill up more than the tank of your car. Grab a dozen and make sure you include the popular bear claw and a few crullers. You’ll also find bacon maple bars, fritters, birthday cake donuts with sprinkles and old-fashioned donuts. It’s a pit stop that you’ll want to make more than once.
 

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.

The CEO of a concession vendor for Qualcomm Stadium and the San Diego Convention Center – seen in a video kicking a dog in an elevator – has been placed on probation from the company.

Centerplate, a Connecticut-based company that provides concessions at venues throughout the United States and Canada, issued a statement Thursday that it is censuring and placing the CEO, Des Hague, on indefinite probation.

“We pride ourselves as individuals and as a company on how we treat others—both humans and animals,” the statement reads. “The company finds Mr. Hague’s personal behavior unacceptable and outside the bounds of our high standards and expectations of all of our staff.  We do not condone nor can we overlook the mistreatment of animals and Mr. Hague’s personal misconduct.”

The reprimand follows a newly surfaced video that shows a man in Vancouver, B.C., get into an elevator and kick a dog repeatedly. The man is also seen yanking at the dog’s collar – so hard he actually lifts the dog from the ground.

Centerplate identified the man as Hague.

In an earlier statement, Hague has apologized for the incident and promised to receive anger management counseling.

Centerplate’s Thursday statement says that as a condition of continued employment, Hague must donate $100,000 to the Sade Foundation, which provides safety and protection for animals in Vancouver, B.C.

The company also wants Hague to serve 1,000 hours of community service to an animal-based organization.

“Centerplate in no way condones the mistreatment of animals, and as a strong sign of our conviction, we the company will also contribute a portion of our sales to the Sade Foundation,” the statement reads. “Additionally, we will open this foundation to all Centerplate employees and the general public who want to support and contribute in the hope that meaningful change can come out of this tragic situation.”

Following discovery of the video, many animal rights activists called for the boycott of Centerplate, which provides concessions for Qualcomm Stadium and the San Diego Convention Center.

A spokesman for the convention center said while the video was disturbing, he did not believe it was a reflection “of the hundreds of local San Diego Centerplate employees that deliver the highest quality of service.”

Border agents thwarted a human smuggling operation off the coast of San Diego County early Tuesday, arresting 20 people trying to enter the country illegally, authorities say.

A 30-foot panga boat was first spotted around 1 a.m. Tuesday about 30 miles off Del Mar. Airborne crews with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Air and Marine (OAM) tracked the panga and alerted sea-bound agents.

About an hour and a half later, two OAM boats intercepted the panga about 12 miles west of Oceanside.

The boat and its 20 passengers – 17 men and two women – were taken to Oceanside Harbor and turned over to U.S. Border Patrol for processing.

Most were Mexican nationals, except two men from Guatemala and one man from El Salvador. The passengers ranged in age from 20 to 51 years old.

The OAM says two men will be prosecuted for human smuggling.

On Monday, law enforcement launched a search for about 20 people who scattered when their panga boat came ashore at Mission Beach.

Witnesses caught the escape on camera, and Border Patorl agents later arrested at least seven suspected undocumented immigrants.

The man captured on video being beaten by transit cops on the San Diego trolley has been arrested, La Mesa police confirmed.

Felipe Vedoy was on his way to parole classes Wednesday morning when he was taken into custody, according to a family member.

Vedoy’s arrest was on a parole hold and not connected to the investigation into the Aug. 18 beating on board a moving trolley, La Mesa police Lt. Matt Nicholass told NBC 7.

The beating, captured on a trolley surveillance camera, shows security officers tackling, grabbing and punching a shirtless Vedoy as other passengers watched.  In the ten-minute video, officers pulled out their batons and struck Vedoy repeatedly.

Vedoy had just boarded the MTS trolley at the Grossmont Trolley Station moments before the altercation began.

The trolley was stopped at the 70th Street station and passengers were told to get off. Soon after, Vedoy was removed from the trolley by three security guards. He was later treated for minor injuries at a nearby hospital.

Vedoy lives with his sister, Yesenia Huerta, in La Mesa.

She says La Mesa police has been to her home more than once since the investigation was launched.

On one occasion, Huerta said officers pushed her 12-year-old daughter out of the way to enter the home and broke down her brother's locked bedroom door without a warrant.

NBC 7 reached out to Lt. Nicholas to respond to the allegations of harassment made by Huerta.

Huerta said her brother has had run-ins with the law in the past but that shouldn’t cloud the investigation into why she says trolley security beat her brother unprovoked.

The Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) handed the footage from its public camera over the police to determine if the hired Transit Systems Security (TSS) officers used excessive force.

TSS is under contract to provide armed security officers for MTS. The two employees have been suspended until the investigation is complete.

MTS officials have not ruled out termination or criminal charges.
“It appears at this time that the actions taken by the security officers were unacceptable,” said Paul Jablonski, chief executive officer of MTS, in a statement released after the video surfaced. “MTS and TSS do not tolerate the inappropriate use of force by its employees or those of its contractors.”

Two suspects have been arrested in connection with a shooting at a barber shop in San Diego’s Oak Park community that left one man dead earlier this year.

On Wednesday, the San Diego Police Department announced the arrests of Peter Johnson, 47, of Kansas City, Missouri, and Ian Guthrie, 38, of San Diego.

Both men are accused of killing Lamar Canady, 32, who was shot to death on May 9 at the Official Cutz Barber Shop at 54th and Redwood streets in Oak Park.

Canady, who owned the barber shop, was inside his shop when several rounds were fired. The fatal shooting caused uproar in the community.

SDPD officials said the suspects were both taken into custody separately on Wednesday.

Johnson was arrested by the Kansas City Violent Crimes Task Force and Fugitive Apprehension Team in the 11300 block of Indiana Avenue in Kansas City. He was booked into the Kansas City Headquarters Detention Unit and is awaiting extradition proceedings back to San Diego, police said.

Guthrie was arrested by San Diego police, SWAT, homicide and gang detectives and FBI officials in the 9800 block of Via Monzon in San Diego. He was booked into a San Diego jail and is set to appear in court Friday.

The SDPD has now turned this case over to the San Diego County District Attorney’s office.
 

Copyright Associated Press / NBC 7 San Diego

A San Diego pediatric nurse has been arrested for molesting a 2-month-old foster child in his care and recording the alleged abuse on camera, according to a complaint filed by the FBI Wednesday.

Foster parent Michael William Lutts, 50, is accused of beginning the lewd acts the day he received custody of the prematurely born baby -- Aug. 4.

Court documents reveal graphic details about the alleged abuse, saying Lutts touched and manipulated the infant's genitals while masturbating and videotaping the abuse. Pictures show the hospital tag was still attached to the infant's leg, the complaint says.

According to court documents, Lutts was videotaped a week later naked in his living room with the baby near him while he performed lewd acts on himself.

FBI agents say the newborn can be heard crying through many of the videos.

Investigators began looking into Lutts as they searched for sources of child pornography distribution.

"During that investigation, agents identified Mr. Lutts as someone that was involved in this type of criminal conduct," said Special Agent Darrell Foxworth.

When agents executed a search warrant to the suspect's home, they say they seized several hundred images and videos depicting child pornography on hard drives, computers, CDs and his cell phone. The complaint outlines distrubing details from videos recorded on at least five separate days.

The FBI took Lutts into custody Tuesday at his College Grove home. He was charged with a federal violation of sexual exploitation of a child during his first district court appearance Wednesday. Lutts is in the process of getting an attorney, according to the FBI.

Foxworth said there is a chance the U.S. Attorney's Office could file additional charges against the suspect. Lutts is being held at the Metropolitan Correctional Center and will next be in court on Friday for a detention hearing.

The 2-month-old victim has since been placed in Child Protective Services' care.

Because Lutts worked as a pediatric nurse, the FBI says they are searching for other potential victims. If you or someone you know believe you were a victim, call the FBI at 858-320-1800.

The FBI has not revealed where Lutts worked.

Copyright Associated Press / NBC 7 San Diego