A San Diego couple is organizing a very unusual protest in the North County.

Their target is a new medical clinic that they claim will put pregnant women -- and their unborn babies -- at risk.

Amber and Michael Lukacs plan to spread that message Saturday afternoon at the grand opening of “Babies by the Sea,” an “alternative birthing center” in Encinitas.

The clinic is a state-licensed alternative to hospital labor-and-delivery, and the center’s website boasts of its “beautiful, spa-like setting” and staff of midwives, doctors and massage therapists.

But, as first revealed by NBC 7 Investigates, the owner of the clinic has a history of very serious problems with the Medical Board of California.

The Lukacses blame that owner, Dr. Robert Biter, for the stillborn death of their infant on July 1, 2012. In an exclusive interview, they said they’ll hold a peaceful protest outside the center to discourage women from going there.

"Do you want to take a risk with your baby's life?” Michael asked. “You know, it's not worth it."

“I don't think [Dr. Biter] he has any business being around pregnant women or babies," Amber said.

NBC 7 Investigates first exposed Biter's problems in a series of stories two years ago. Public records from the Medical Board of California reveal that Biter eventually surrendered his medical license and accepted an accusation by the state medical board that his gross negligence, incompetence and unprofessional conduct caused the stillborn death of the Lukacs's son, who they named Ace.

"It's not something that you ever forget,” Amber said. “You wake up every day, you know, and remember Ace. You know, his birthday goes by every year. He'd be two."

Biter’s problems with the Medical Board began in 2009 when the board opened its first investigation.

In July 2011, the board filed the first of a series of formal accusations involving seven patients. The board accused Biter of gross negligence, repeated negligent acts, prescribing medications without an appropriate exam and dishonesty.

In May 2012, Biter made a settlement with the board, accepting a 60-day suspension and seven years of probation with numerous terms and conditions.

When the board learned of Ace Lukacs’ death, it moved quickly to suspend his license a second time while board investigators prepared their case against Biter. He remained on suspension until he surrendered his license last November.

Along with their planned protest, the Lukacses have created a Facebook page, "Stop Robert Biter, Save Babies and Moms" that include links to those medical board documents.

The couple also filed a civil lawsuit against Biter, who in court papers denied responsibility for the baby’s death.

Their lawyer, Robert Vaage, told NBC 7 Investigates, “My primary concern is that he [Biter] has never, under any circumstances, accepted responsibility or accountability for anything he's done."

That lawsuit has also produced surprising, and disappointing new information for the Lukacses.

They recently learned that Biter had no malpractice insurance, which would have helped pay for any legal judgment or settlement obtained by their lawyer. Biter also filed for bankruptcy early this year to protect his personal finances.

“He's managed to essentially go on with his plans like nothing happened,” Vaage said. “And that's not acceptable."

Biter declined to answer a series of questions from NBC 7 Investigates. However, he did send a statement, expressing deep concern for the Lukacses.

"The loss of [their] baby was a horrible tragedy and was devastating to all involved,” Biter wrote. “It is absolutely heartbreaking, and despite their animosity towards me, I extend my deepest sympathies to the Lukacses…”

Biter also said he is “committed to ensuring no other family is faced with a similar tragedy.” He also confirmed that, "I am no longer practicing medicine in California…”

Read Dr. Biter’s Full Written Statement Here

UTC resident Kelli Auld said Biter delivered her daughter, who is now 2. Auld has known the doctor for six years and considered him “a member of our family.”

“To me, it’s a travesty he can’t practice there. I know he’s going to find all the people who are trained and have the expertise to run an amazing birth center,” Auld told NBC 7. “There’s no one I would trust most with my body, my baby, with future babies.”

“There’s nobody like Dr. Biter. We feel at a loss that we can’t have him as our doctor anymore,” Auld said.

Biter told NBC 7 Investigates that he will not “be providing clinical services at Babies By the Sea Birthing Center, where my role will be purely administrative."

But Amber and Michael Lukacs insist that Biter's presence at this center is a danger.

"It's Robert Biter's birth center, so he's inherently involved in everything,” Amber said. “I don't believe he's going to sit in the back office and push paper."

There is a happy note to Amber and Michael's very painful story: They now have a baby girl named Lexi who celebrated her first birthday last month.

When a San Diego police officer was dispatched to a City Heights woman’s house, he was disgusted by what he saw.

The fence was broken down and a group of gang members were smoking and drinking in her backyard. They were tagging her property with graffiti.

Officer Dave Rodriguez left the house and he knew he had to do something.

What started as a small plan to clean up the lady’s house turned into a community project Thursday, drawing support from other officers, the Urban Corps of San Diego, residents, Project Clean and others.

It took some time to get the woman – only identified as Ms. Cox – on board, but she agreed and said Thursday she is very grateful.

“Officer Rodriguez is one heck of a guy,” she said.

Rodriguez said he never expected it to turn into such a big project.

“I’m excited for her,” he said.

Crews said they’ll stay at Ms. Cox’s house in the 3800 block of 46th Street for the rest of the day and plan to put up a new fence.

Ms. Cox, who has difficulty walking and standing, only spoke with NBC 7 in the morning through a screen door. She said it was a big surprise and is grateful she can start working on her garden again, drought-willing.

Asked if she thinks this will deter gang members from coming onto her property, she said: “We’ll see.”

San Diego Restaurant Week (SDRW) has been extended, meaning San Diegans can grab a second helping of the popular – and delicious – culinary event next week.

Organizers announced Thursday that the 10th annual SDRW will continue Sept. 28 through Oct. 3 thanks to a very successful first week. Originally, it ran from Sept. 21 through Sept. 26, with the possibility of an extension, just like last year’s fall foodie event.

The concept of SDRW is easy to swallow: twice a year, more than 180 local restaurants and eateries across 12 regions throughout San Diego County offer special prix-fixe lunch and dinner menus so locals can sample the city’s food scene.

For this extended round, organizers say more than 130 local restaurants will dish out specials. Two-course prix-fixe lunch menus will range between $10 and $20 per person, while prix-fixe dinner menus will range between $25 and $45.

Restaurants taking part in SDRW include Brooklyn Girl Eatery in Mission Hills, 100 Wines in Hillcrest, Café Coyote in Old Town San Diego, Donovan’s in La Jolla and Yard House in downtown San Diego, just to name a few. For the full restaurant list, click here.

Bon Apetit!
 

A silver sedan drove off the freeway and into the Sweetwater River Thursday afternoon.

The water was shallow enough that the driver managed to get out on his or her own, according to the California Highway Patrol. No one else was inside the vehicle.

The accident happened just before 2 p.m. on eastbound State Route 54, just east of Interstate 5. Traffic did not appear to be impacted.

CHP, Chula Vista Fire and National City Fire responded to the incident. It’s unclear why the driver lost control.
 

According to a study, traffic gridlock at the U.S.-Mexico border directly impacts our economy and remodeling one of San Diego’s busiest border crossings could help add billions of dollars in lost revenue.

In an effort to shorten border crossing times, the federal government has pumped more than half a billion dollars into revamping the San Ysidro Port of Entry in south San Diego County.

Improvements include 25 northbound inspection lanes with the potential of 46 inspection booths open all at one time.

If border crossing times are reduced, experts believe billions of dollars in lost revenue could be added to both San Diego’s economy and Mexico’s economy.

A SANDAG study estimates border gridlock costs the U.S. and Mexico $7.2 billion a year.

"That's business that people don’t do because they decide not to go to the San Diego Zoo because the border wait is too long. Or people in San Diego are saying, I don’t want to go to wine country in Ensenada,” explained David Shirk, an associate professor at the University of San Diego who studies Mexico and border issues.

Shoppers at San Ysidro's popular Las Americas Premium Outlet are prime examples of how shortening border wait times could help stimulate economies.

Thanks to a pass allowing him speedy passage across the border, Tijuana resident Miguel Magana says he does his shopping for his wife and two kids in the United States.

Magana said he prefers to shop for clothes in the U.S. because clothing is of higher quality and much cheaper here.

By 2018, the U.S. General Service Administration is planning to add nine more lanes to the port of entry.

It's part of the $740 million upgrade project that could help bring increased traffic to businesses near the border.

“We don’t have a number,” explained Las America’s Premium Outlet General Manger Tom Fallon when asked if he’s expecting an increase in traffic.

“But, from an abstract viewpoint it’s going to create more free flow which will translate into more visits, we think,” he added.

Shirk said the added lanes are a significant improvement. The only problem is, they will need to be fully staffed to keep traffic flowing.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has reportedly said the lanes will have maximum staffing during weekday mornings and Sunday afternoon.

San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer said the improvements at the border will deeply impact our local economy.

"The San Ysidro Port of Entry is key to the economic health of the San Diego region. I’m proud to support the construction of this facility that represents an important link to opportunity, employment and economic growth," Faulconer told NBC 7.

Keepers at the San Diego Zoo Visitors strapped a camera to one of the largest lizards in the world.

Inside his exhibit at the Reptile House Sunny the Komodo Dragon looked like your typical tourist, wearing a camera and harness.

Keepers were inside the exhibit with the meat-eating, fast-moving predator that’s been used in such memorable movie scenes as the fight scene in “Skyfall.”

The nearly 9-foot lizard has long, dangerous claws and some 60 short, sharp teeth that are compared to shark teeth.

But this Komodo Dragon is also mild-mannered and normally comes when his keepers call.

He’s so curious, they say, that they decided to try target training practice Thursday offering up a dead fish as a reward.

Keepers outfitted the 14-year-old lizard with a portable action camera to capture practice from a “lizard’s-eye” view.

Hatched at the Honolulu Zoo in 2000, Sunny arrived to San Diego six years later. He’s one of three Komodo Dragons at the zoo.

The species is considered vulnerable by conservationists. There are roughly 3,000 living on a national park in the islands of southeastern Indonesia.
 

Copyright Associated Press / NBC 7 San Diego

A man who somehow lost his footing and fell onto the trolley tracks at the Old Town San Diego station has died from his injuries, officials confirmed.

The man was hurt Wednesday night around 10:20 p.m. at the trolley station in the 4000 block of Taylor Street.

Police and transit officials said the 65-year-old man was on the platform waiting to board the trolley. The train closed its doors and began pulling out of the station. That’s when the man, trying to push the doors open to get on, somehow got caught, slipped and fell onto the tracks.

He was struck by the moving trolley, officials said, and sustained critical injuries. The victim was rushed to a local hospital but did not survive.

The deadly accident remains under investigation, but officials believe it may be a case of someone in a hurry simply trying to get to their destination. The man’s name has not yet been released.
 

A second snake has been taken away from a San Diego man arrested last week on suspicion of driving a pedicab drunk in the Gaslamp Quarter with a ball python around his neck, officials confirmed.

Travis Eisner-Young, 27, was arrested on Sept. 16 at around 1:30 a.m. after he was discovered unconscious on the ground with a snake around his neck at 5th Avenue and J Street in downtown San Diego.

According to police, Eisner-Young was intoxicated and as officers approached him, he allegedly climbed onto his pedicab and tried to cycle away backwards from the cops. He didn’t get far and was taken into custody on the spot for driving the pedicab while under the influence.

Police officers then contacted officials from San Diego County Animal Services to haul away Eisner-Young’s ball python. Animal Services said the 18-inch snake was not in good condition and had to be treated by an emergency veterinarian for starvation, dehydration and anemia.

Now, Dan DeSousa, deputy director of San Diego County Animal Services, confirms a boa constrictor – also in poor condition – has been seized from Eisner-Young.

DeSousa said animal services officials searched a hotel room where Eisner-Young was staying after learning he had at least one more snake. The boa constrictor was also handed over to a veterinary hospital for care.

For now, Eisner-Young has relinquished ownership of the ball python, DeSousa said. The fate of the boa constrictor remains unknown.

Ball pythons and boa constrictors are common pets available for purchase at many pet stores. Their bites often produces superficial wounds.

Chargers fans hoping to watch Sunday’s game on TV can breathe a sigh of relief. The game won’t be blacked out.

It will be shown live on Sunday at 1:05 p.m. (on CBS) as the Bolts host the Jacksonville Jaguars.

As of Tuesday, more than 5,000 tickets were still available. But an alliance between Union Bank, Donovan’s Steak & Chop House, KFMB, the Sycuan Band of Kumeyaay Indians and the Brigantine Family of Restaurants guaranteed the purchase of enough tickets to lift the NFL’s local blackout on games that aren’t sold out.

Tickets purchased by the groups will be given to local youth organizations and the Armed Services YMCA.

Some tickets still remain for those who want to see the game in person. They can be purchased on the Chargers website or at Qualcomm Stadium.

As of Thursday afternoon, tickets were going for as cheap as $60 on the Chargers site. You can get a pair for just $28.20 on secondary sales site StubHub.

Of course, if you do go, don’t expect a close game. The Chargers are favored by 13 points over the winless Jags.

California State University San Marcos is warning students to be on the lookout for a man suspected of raping a female student in a residence hall on campus.

Campus police issued a crime alert Thursday advising students to take precautions. A woman told campus police she was attacked between Thursday Sept. 18 and Friday Sept 19 at the QUAD residence hall on Barham Drive at Campus Way.

The man, believed to be an Escondido resident who is not a student at Cal State San Marcos was invited to a party inside the dorm, officials said.

Campus police learned of the sexual assault the following Wednesday, Sept. 24.

They now advise students to look for an African-American man, 21 years old, 5-foot 8-inches tall, 160 pounds with short black hair and brown eyes, wearing square diamond earrings in each ear.

If you have any information that might be helpful in this investigation please contact the University Police at (760) 750-4567 or the University’s SAFE hotline at (760) 750-SAFE. If you wish, you may report anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers (888) 580-8477.

Victims of any form of sexual harassment or assault can seek confidential support at CSUSM’s Student Health and Counseling Center, 120 Craven Road Suite 100, (760) 750-4915; office hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
 

The driver accused of causing a crash that sent a truck flying off the freeway and falling 50 feet onto a Mission Valley parking lot did not have a driver’s license and tried to conceal evidence implicating him in the crash, a deputy district attorney said Thursday.

Seated in a wheelchair, Jose Uribe, 20, pleaded not guilty to hit-and-run charges. He is being held without bail because he’s on probation related to a false imprisonment charge and concealing evidence in a 2012 rape case.

Prosecutors said Uribe also concealed evidence after the Sunday crash that seriously injured the Navy mechanic driving the truck. That man, Kenneth Freudenvoll, may be paralyzed after plummeting off Interstate 805 onto the Dave & Busters’ parking lot.

Deputy District Attorney Jalyn Wang said the fact that Uribe didn’t have a driver’s license is why Uribe fled the scene.

“The police noted when they located his vehicle, there were some efforts to change the tire and wipe off some of the paint damage that had transferred,” he said.

The CHP has reported Uribe drove up alongside Freudenvoll in a brown 2000 Ford Excursion, and the two vehicles collided.

The crash forced Freudenvoll to spin off the transition ramp. His truck broke through the guardrail, struck the Dave and Busters building below and crashed to the ground.

Uribe allegedly took off, while Freudenvoll was rushed to Sharp Memorial Hospital.

On Monday, CHP officers tracked Uribe to his San Diego home off National Avenue. The deputy district attorney said Uribe’s passenger in the vehicle turned him in.

It wasn’t clear why Uribe was in a wheelchair at his Thursday arraignment, as officers said he was uninjured in the crash.

California’s ongoing drought is impacting one of San Diego’s most popular fall traditions: apple picking at the many orchards in Julian.

During a normal year, growers in the east San Diego community would be on the cusp of fall apple picking season, with orchards overflowing with the fruit – but not this year.

In fact, many of the popular orchards are closed for the season, forced to turn away visitors and families who enjoy the apple picking tradition fall after fall.

Conrad Young owns the Calico Ranch in Julian. He has 20 acres worth of apple trees but this year all 4,000 of his trees have something in common.

“There are just no apples to be had in this whole orchard. I’ve never seen it like this, ever,” Young told NBC 7.

For the first time in 30 years, Young’s well is drawn down to where it can no longer continuously produce water. Instead of tripping on apples, he's kicking up dust.

The few trees that do have fruit are really not yielding much and are hardly worth picking.

“Normally these are at least twice this size,” he explained, showing some small apples. “The trees are pretty smart. They kind of anticipate what the year is going to be like. I think they went into shutdown very early.”

Inside Young’s cooler, the boxes typically full of product are all empty, which is why he and many of his fellow Julian growers decided to close their gates early this season.

In fact, Calico Ranch closed before the season even started, much to the dismay of visitors.

“We’ve gotten so many calls, so many families that have been coming for years and they're very disappointed this year, about as disappointed as I am,” Young lamented.

Instead of welcoming families, Young is already getting ready for next year.

He's trying to keep his workers employed knowing they have families to feed, so they’re keeping very busy trimming branches.

Under drought conditions the trees have a harder time fighting off pests and disease. Their roots are stressed and their limbs are dying.

And, though in the middle of his property sits a sort of apple tree graveyard, Young is staying positive.

“If you’re in farming, you have to be an optimist,” he said.

He's already banking on 2015 as a banner year for apples – and apple picking.

There are still a few orchards open in Julian and a few others accepting apple picking groups by appointment only. That said, locals hope that one bad crop doesn’t ruin the whole fall season for the mountain community that relies so heavily on tourism.
 

Copyright Associated Press / NBC 7 San Diego

With flowers in hand, San Diegans gathered in North Park Thursday to pay tribute to the 144 lives lost in an unforgettable tragedy that struck the community exactly 36 years ago to the day.

On Sept. 25, 1978, PSA Flight 182 crashed midair with a single-engine Cessna over North Park, causing the deadliest aircraft disaster to date in California’s history.

A total of 144 people were killed in the collision, including 135 people aboard PSA Flight 182, two men aboard the Cessna and seven people on the ground. A total of 22 homes in the surrounding North Park area were destroyed or damaged as the Boeing 727 hit the ground.

The wreckage came to rest near Boundary and Felton streets.

Though the crash happened nearly four decades ago, the victims lost in the tragedy are never forgotten.

Each year, locals gather at the site of the crash and set up a makeshift memorial that includes notes, flowers, candles, victim’s photos and newspaper clippings.

Thursday was no different as San Diegans stopped in the area to pay their respects. A list of the victims’ names hung on a gate surrounded by colorful flowers as locals quietly read the sheet.

Earlier this year, residents involved in a PSA Flight 182 committee pushed for a permanent memorial to be erected at the site of the crash. Right now, the closest memorial is a plaque beneath a tree at the North Park library.

It shouldn’t be difficult to miss these things come through a pawn shop:

A sterling silver miniature movable toilet. More than 150 antique miniature books. Autographed Major League Baseball cards of Tony Gwynn, Rickey Henderson and Yogi Berra. And $500 in quarters (well, those are more likely to turn up at a bank.)

San Diego County sheriff’s deputies are searching for a suspect who stole that stuff along with a two watches and jewelry from a Ramona woman in February in a burglary of $64,000 worth of items.

Deputies suspect a family friend of the woman who had stayed at her home several times between Jan. 12 and 28.

Investigators zeroed in on the family friend, Raymon Lee Tillery, after the woman’s stolen earrings turned up at a Ramona pawn shop and the pawn shop owner identified Tillery as the one who brought them in.

Deputies are offering a reward of up to $1,000 to find Tillery. He is described as 42 years old, white, 5 feet 10 inches, weighing 180 pounds with red hair and hazel eyes.

Anyone with information on Tillery should call the Ramona Sheriff’s station at 760-780‐9157 or the Crime Stoppers' anonymous tip line at 888-580‐8477.

California Attorney General Kamala Harris waved off speculation Thursday that she might be next in line to replace U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, who announced Thursday that he will resign after leading the Justice Department for nearly six years.

Harris issued a statement after her name surfaced on lists of possible replacements for Holder’s job, along with candidates such as Solicitor General Don Verrilli, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick and Deputy U.S. Attorney General James Cole.

“I am honored to even be mentioned, but intend to continue my work for the people of California as Attorney General,” Harris, who is is on the Nov. 4 ballot running for a second term, said in a statement. “I am focused on key public safety issues including transnational gangs, truancy and recidivism.”

Patrick also downplayed his interest, saying the job is "not one for me right now."

President Barack Obama has not yet made a final decision about a replacement for Holder. Holder, the first African-American U.S. Attorney General, bade an emotional goodbye Thursday, thanking the president and his family for their support during his time in office.

Obama said Holder has agreed to stay on until his replacement is confirmed.

Copyright Associated Press / NBC 7 San Diego

A San Diego woman has been arrested, accused of murder more than a year after her baby's death, officials confirmed Thursday.

Guadalupe O’Campos, 32, was arrested Thursday morning at her home in the 1600 block of South 43rd Street.

More than a year earlier - on Thursday, September 5, 2013 - O'Campos' 9-month-old son Kevin Machado died after suffering blunt force trauma to his head.

Machado died from his injury later that evening.

A preliminary investigation revealed Machado was injured while at his family's home on Euclid Avenue near Orange Avenue, according to investigators.

NBC 7 obtained the Deputy Medical Examiner's report that suggests Machado's mother and step-father reported two falls from the bed to the floor within 48 hours.

The falls occurred on Sept. 3 and Sept. 5 and were reported as falls from the bed to some bedding on the floor three feet below.

However, after an autopsy, the medical examiner noted injuries to the child's scalp and collections of blood outside of the boy's brain as well as retinal and optic nerve hemorrhages that were inconsistent with reports from family members.

San Diego Police Officers did not reveal what led to the arrest of O'Campos. She has been booked into Las Colinas Detention Center and is scheduled for arraignment on Monday.

She has four children older than Machado, according to officials.

The medical examiner's report described Machado as well nourished with regular documented visits to a pediatrician and no previous signs of abuse.

Anyone with information on this case is asked to call the SDPD Homicide Unit at (619) 531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.

A San Diego woman who was victimized by a former San Diego police officer will receive millions in a legal settlement announced Thursday. 

In a settlement negotiated between "Jane Doe" and the City of San Diego, the plaintiff will receive $5.9 million. Of that, $3 million will go toward attorneys' fees.

Attorneys on both sides and San Diego's Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman praised Jane Doe for her courage in coming forward.

Even in her legal victory, the woman at the heart of the case wanted to remain anonymous.

Her legal team said their client wanted the victory to be about all other Jane Does, all of the other nameless victims.

“She’s very proud to have played a part to ensure this does not happen to anyone else again,” attorney Linda Workman said.

"Jane Doe" filed a claim of police misconduct after her interaction with then-officer Anthony Arevalos inside a 7-Eleven store bathroom on March 8, 2011.

According to prosecutors, Arevalos conducted a routine traffic stop on Jane Doe and then suggested the two of them go into the nearby convenience store.

The two entered the restroom with the agreement that she would give him her panties, and in exchange he would not charge her for a DUI.

Jane Doe's lawsuit was one of 13 filed by victims of Arevalos, who was convicted in November 2011 of multiple felony counts of sexual battery, assault and asking for bribes while in uniform.

Testimony from the various victims led to his sentence of eight years, eight months in prison.

The former officer wept when he was sentenced for preying on women in the popular Gaslamp Quarter from 2009 to 2011.

As a result of the Arevalos scandal, the San Diego Police Department faced a wave of criticism and public scrutiny and the City of San Diego faced more than a dozen civil lawsuits.

“It’s a new day and a new order, a new chief, a new policy implemented to improve the safety of women and people in this city,” said Jane Doe’s attorney Browne Greene.

Under Chief Zimmerman, the SDPD now requires that all officers adhere to a mandatory reporting policy for officer misconduct.

More than 150 patrol officers currently wear body cameras. By end of the next year, the department plans to have body cameras on all patrol officers.

The Department of Justice launched an audit of the department. Zimmerman said she meets next week with investigators to discuss their findings.

“We are glad that we can put this behind us so we can focus on our future and rebuild our police department,” Zimmerman said.

In an interview with NBC 7, the plaintiff said she wanted to change the way San Diego police do business. Part of the original suit asked for federal monitor. That demand was not met in this settlement.

However, her attorneys say changes in the department since then have satisfied their client.

“The effect of this settlement with all these manners Chief Zimmerman has implemented is going to save the city a lot of money in the future and I’m not even talking about the human cost,” Greene said.

City Attorney Jan Goldsmith said $5.7 million of the settlement will be paid by insurance carriers with the City of San Diego paying the $200,000 balance.

A fire at a Federal Aviation Administration facility in suburban Chicago turned one of the nation's busiest travel hubs into a travelers’ nightmare Friday morning, forcing airlines to ground or cancel hundreds of flights at O’Hare and Midway international airports as authorities battled and investigated a blaze they believe was intentionally set by a contract employee.

The incident prompted the cancellation of approximately 2,000 flights in and out of both airports, the Chicago Department of Aviation said, snarling plans for travelers across the country.

There were more than 1,400 cancellations at O'Hare -- which this week reclaimed the title as the world's busiest airport -- and 400 were canceled at Midway. Southwest Airlines canceled all flights at Midway and Milwaukee's General Mitchell International Airport through at least 7 p.m. A United Airlines spokesman said "very restricted operations" resumed from O'Hare just before 10 a.m.

"It's been terrible. I got to the airport early. Flights seemed to be on time when I checked," said Diana Cordova of Chicago. "I'm trying to get to Phoenix this morning. It doesn't look likely. Hopefully tomorrow."

Officials with the Aurora Fire Department said crews were called to the Chicago Air Route Traffic Control Center on West New Indian Trail Road after 5:45 a.m. Friday. Agents from the ATF, the FBI and the DuPage County Arson Task Force were later called to the scene.

The fire was quickly extinguished and a man found in the basement with an apparent self-inflicted, non-gunshot wound was hospitalized. Another man in his 50s was treated for smoke inhalation, officials said.

"There was no explosion but we are being cautious," said Aurora Police Chief Greg Thomas. "There is no terrorist act. ... This is a local issue with a contract employee and nothing else."

The building was evacuated of all other employees and airspace management was transferred to adjacent air traffic facilities, an FAA spokesman said.

It was just four months ago that smoke seen emanating from the Chicago Terminal Radar Approach Control building in Elgin forced the cancellation of more than 1,100 flights between the two airports.

An alarming increase in the number of homeless children attending public school nationwide is being seen in San Diego as well.

According to a report by the U.S. Department of Education, more than one million homeless children are enrolled in public schools.

One homeless mother told NBC 7 that she now lives at Saint Vincent de Paul after losing her job two years ago. Her two children attend the Monarch School in Barrio Logan.

The largest populations of homeless children are in California, New York, Texas, and Florida, according to the report.

Locally,  the numbers are also up, from 3,000 homeless students last year to more than 5,000 this year, according to the San Diego Unified School District. Countywide, there are more than 18,000 homeless children attending public schools.

“The really interesting thing we've seen anecdotally is the increase in the number of young families and younger children coming,” said Monarch’s CEO Erin Spiewak. “We're impacted in kindergarten, first grade and second grade classes.”

“Rents are sky high, and it is leaving us poor people in the dust," the mother said. "Every year, we got more and more people homeless, and it's sad.”