Cathedral Catholic High School star Brady Aiken was the number one overall pick in the 2014 MLB Draft. But, the left-handed pitcher never signed with the Astros.

Houston tried to pull back a large chunk of their proposed signing bonus due to what they say was a problem with Aiken's left (pitching) elbow.

Aiken ended up at Florida's IMG Academy and was working out, throwing well, expecting to be a top-10 pick again in 2015.

Now, he doesn't know where, or even when, he'll be pitching.

This week Aiken had Tommy John surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left elbow. He says it happened during a game and is not the result of whatever problem the Astros claimed they saw (read Aiken's full explanation here).

With Tommy John procedures being as common and effective as they are these days, Aiken should make a full recovery in 12 to 18 months. It might not even impact his Draft status by much.

Aiken's body of work and substantial upside could still be enough to persuade a team to take him with a first round pick. The Diamondbacks have the first overall selection. The Astros pick 5th and can not take Aiken again without his consent.

It’s hard to forget the dramatic video out of Japan showing a massive tsunami engulfing its coastline. In 2011, after that tsunami, San Diego experienced tsunami warnings. Today, that system has improved.

A new Tsunami playbook helps officials know exactly which 33,000 homes and businesses in San Diego tsunami zones would be the hardest hit. It also tells them exactly who to evacuate.

"We don't have to over-evacuate anymore,” said Holly Crawford, Director of Emergency Services at County of San Diego.

She said the Office of Emergency Services is more prepared these days.

“We have the ability based on a number of factors to more accurately target an evacuation zone based on how high the wave is, what the tidal conditions are at the time, and the topography of the area that will be impacted,” Crawford explained.

At the beach Friday the threat of a Tsunami wasn't on anyone's mind. Even business owners in Mission Beach, who would likely be affected, admitted they've never thought twice about it.

"I've been here seven years and I've never seen this kind of thing like tsunamis, so there is no reason to be scared being here,” said Rode Chalbi, manager at Harry’s Market in Mission Beach.

While, the Office of Emergency Services acknowledges that San Diego doesn’t face the same type of risk as Japan, officials feel good knowing there's a plan in place to keep everyone safe.

"People get injured in large-scale evacuations and we don't want to over-evacuate, so this is a great advancement in terms of public safety for our community,” Crawford added.

For more details on our local tsunami warning system, click here and here.
 

Gun enthusiast Jon Bautista showed up at The Gun Range San Diego in Kearny Mesa Friday night dealing with the latest blow to his hopes of carrying a concealed weapon.

Bautista, along with many others, is on a license to carry waiting list at the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department.

The department currently grants permits under the “good cause” standard according to California law, which means gun owners wanting a permit for personal protection are on the outside looking in.

“Either you have to be a business owner that carries a lot of cash on-hand late at night, or have extraordinary circumstances such as domestic excuse or a person stalking you, those types of cases,” said Bautista.

In 2014, a three-judge panel from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of a more generalized issuance of criteria for concealed weapons permits, giving gun owners like Bautista hope.

“I want to protect myself, my family and my friends” said Bautista.

On Thursday, a judge decided the case will be reheard by the entire panel, giving a momentary small victory to gun control activists.

“Their eight hours of training wont teach them someone might be threatening, but not life threatening, so people might have an itchy trigger finger or they just might be very scared and if they have a gun, there is a high likelihood they may use that gun and people will be dying unnecessarily,” argued Shawn VanDiver, a Navy veteran and firearms instructor now advocating for certain gun control measures.

Many people think this case could rise to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Dept. released this statement on its website in response to the latest court decision.

A San Diego man died at an electronic music festival northwest of San Bernardino.

John Hoang Dinh Vo, 22, attended the "Beyond Wonderland" festival at the Glen Helen Amphitheater in Devore on March 20. 

At about 10:15 p.m., he suffered what appeared to be a seizure and went into cardiac arrest, according the San Bernardino County coroner's office.

Emergency crews took him to the hospital, but he was pronounced dead about an hour later.

Vo's autopsy has been performed, but the cause of death is still listed as pending.

At least 21 people were injured after a Metro train derailed when it crashed into two vehicles near the University of Southern California Saturday, according to officials from the Los Angeles City Fire Department.

The crash was reported at about 10:50 a.m.near the intersection of Exposition Boulevard and Vermont Avenue.

Ten people were transported to nearby hospitals. The most serious of injuries included a driver that needed to be extricated from a vehicle who was in grave condition and the train operator who was in critical condition. The eight other transports were for minor injuries.

Many people were also treated at the scene of the collision.

Metro officials warned commuters to expect major delays on the Expo Line. Bus shuttles were requested between Jefferson Boulevard and Vermont Avenue. The line was expected to reopen by 8 p.m., Jose Ubaldo said, a Metro spokesman.

This is a developing story, refresh for updates.

A motorcyclist was killed in a crash with a big rig in Fallbrook Friday night, officials said.

The fatal accident happened around 10 p.m. on northbound Interstate 15 at the State Route 76 interchange.

California Highway Patrol Officer Patrick Holt said the motorcyclist, who has yet to be identified, was riding on the SR-76 transition ramp when he somehow lost control of his bike and drifted off the ramp.

He rode onto a grassy divide before winding up on the I-15 where the slammed into the side of a big rig traveling northbound on the freeway.

Holt said first responders attempted to revive the motorcyclist at the scene, but he succumbed to his injuries. Holt said the driver of the big rig was shaken up but not injured in the crash.

The accident remains under investigation. Holt said it’s too early to determine whether the motorcyclist was speeding at the time of the crash.
 

A judge will not force the city of San Diego to clean up sea lion and bird excrement that has fouled the rocks and caused a caustic smell at the La Jolla Cove.

A coalition of business owners and residents around the cove, who call themselves Citizens for Odor Nuisance Abatement (CONA), filed a lawsuit against the city, alleging that former interim Mayor Todd Gloria allowed the sea lion and bird poop to build up on the rocky shoreline and cliffs and thus has a responsibility to clean the area.

But Superior Court Judge Timothy Taylor dismissed that lawsuit, finding that the city “does not have a duty to control the alleged nuisance caused by wild animals” and can’t be held responsible for any harm they do.

Norm Blumenthal, attorney for the cove business owners, strongly disagreed with Taylor’s decision and said his clients will appeal the ruling.

However, Blumenthal told NBC 7 his clients are also open to a compromise that will avoid more litigation.

“The compromise is scoop the poop,” Blumenthal said. “That’s what we told [the city]. Get a guy out with a shovel and scoop the poop. End the smell.”

At least one visitor at the cove agreed with that suggestion. Mission Hills resident Jackie McCannon said she doesn’t want the sea lions or birds forced from the area, but thinks a low-impact cleanup is a good idea.

“I have very little control in where my tax money goes,” McCannon said, “But if it was designated that some of my tax money went to clean up, and the seals were allowed to stay there, I’d be for it.”

The City Attorney’s office said the sea lion and bird odors are “part of the risk-benefit of being situated near a marine environment and the City could not be held liable for the actions of wild animals. Sea lions are proliferating throughout California, and that is neither the fault nor the responsibility of San Diego. The City can address the pooping habits of wild animals as a policy matter, but it cannot be compelled to do so by the courts.”

A teen, who neighbors say suffered years of abuse, killed his mother and put his grandmother in the hospital in a stabbing attack in their feces-covered Pennsylvanian home Friday, police said.

Police charged 19-year-old Zachary Pritchett of Bridesburg with murder, criminal homicide, aggravated assault and related offenses.

Neighbors on the 2800 block of Reynolds Street-- many who claim they often heard yelling coming from the home -- heard screams Friday morning and called police.

Pritchett directed responding officers to the second floor where they found 53-year-old Melizza Wiley dead from multiple stab wounds to her face, neck and upper torso, according to officials.

The teen's 73-year-old grandmother, who was in a hospital-type bed in the first floor living room, had also been stabbed in the face, neck and upper torso. Medics rushed her to Aria Torresdale Hospital, where she remains in critical, but stable condition, officials said.

Investigators told NBC10 police have visited the home several times in the past. Several others who live on the block claimed they called police and the Department of Human Services, because they were concerned for the teen's welfare.

"I called DHS many times," said Kelly McGrath, a neighbor. "I know other neighbors who have called. I also called the school board to inquire about his homeschooling."

The home reportedly did not have running water and the gas was shut off.

"He wasn't born with outward signs of problems, physical or mental or developmental," said McGrath, who recalled one instance when Pritchett, as a young boy, was "playing" with another child.

"Zach stood and looked out the front storm door and the other kid would play with his cars. And Zach just watched him and that's how he played," she said. "We all said something bad is going to happen."

Pritchett rarely left the home, according to multiple neighbors.

The teen had lacerations on his hand from the incident and was treated at Aria Torresdale Hospital and released.  When officers first arrived at the home, Pritchett told them three unknown men entered the house and attacked the family, investigators said.

Many in the community have said they hope authorities consider the years of alleged abuse Pritchett suffered in their investigation.

"The ones of us who knew what was happening," McGrath said, "are all in support of him getting some sort of help rather than incarceration."

Developers are looking for the public’s help in planning a new park in the East Village.

A four acre slot of land is slated to be developed into a new park between 13th and 15th avenues from F to G streets that will be called East Village Green.

The planners held the first workshop for the park on Saturday, asking the public to pitch in their ideas.

"We really want to hear from the people who are going to spend every day of their lives, you know walking past the park, spending their Sundays or weekends taking their kids to the park or whatever those pieces of the puzzle end up being,” said Nathan Elliott, a landscape architect for the project. “I think we'd be remiss if we didn't listen to the people who have so much invested in this community."

Civic San Diego is the group coming up with the plan for the area.

During the meeting Saturday, planners showed images of fountains, cafes, and open plazas.

The architects say construction probably would not start until after 2016, and may take roughly a year and half to build.

A Philadelphia Police officer was charged with driving under the influence after another officer watched him driving a marked police vehicle with flat tires and smelled alcohol on his breath early Saturday, said Lt. John Stanford.

The 12th District officer, identified as 26-year-old Darryl Cathey, pulled up to 6500 block of Woodland Avenue, just after midnight in southwest Philadelphia in a marked police cruiser with three flat tires and bent rims, said Stanford.

A sergeant from the district was at the location and saw the car's damage and smelled alcohol on the man's breath.

Cathey also indicated he did not know his tires were flat and he was driving the police cruiser on the rims, authorities said. He also had bloodshot eyes, police said.

This isn't the first time the 6-year department veteran has faced charges. In November 2011, Cathey was arrested for allegedly assaulting his ex-girlfriend. He was fired that same year, but got his job back in 2013 through arbitration.

Cathey struggled with the sergeant and other officers early Saturday morning while being taken into custody. He was charged with DUI and is being investigated by accident division and internal affairs, according to Stanford. He is expected to be charged with aggravated and simple assault and reckless endangerment in addition to the DUI charge.

"The department takes these type of incidents seriously and behavior that doesn't conform with department policy will not be tolerated," said Lt. Stanford. "The appropriate action will be taken against this officer as soon as all charges are filed."

Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey will suspend Cathey for 30 days with intent to dismiss. 

Bail has been set at $5,000. Cathey is scheduled to appear in court April 13.

Fields of flowers, the San Diego Padres and pretty much perfect weather could only mean one thing: it’s springtime in San Diego. Here are some ways to celebrate the season and frolic in America’s Finest City.

Carlsbad Flower Fields
Nothing says spring quite like a visit to the Carlsbad Flower Fields on Paseo Del Norte in San Diego’s North County. Open now through May 10, guests can enjoy the blooms daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is $12 for adults, $11 for seniors and $6 for kids three to 10 years old. Children under 2 get in free. Besides a walk along the fields and endless photo opportunities, visitors can enjoy snacks from vendors and shopping at the on-site store and nursery. The Flower Fields also hosts a bunch of events each spring, including a special kid’s day, live music and a Mother’s Day celebration.

Balboa Park Botanical Building
Sure, it’s open year-round, but Balboa Park’s Botanical Building in the spring is truly a spectacular sight. The 100-year-old historic building is one of the largest lath structures in the world, not to mention one of the most photographed spots in Balboa Park. There are more than 2,100 plants inside including cynads, ferns, orchids, palms and other tropical plants. The iconic Lily Pond is also right in front of the Botanical Building, which makes this the perfect springtime stop. It’s free to enter and open Friday through Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

San Diego Padres at Petco Park
Spring means baseball season! Head over to Petco Park in downtown San Diego and catch a Padres game. The Padres Home Opener lands on April 9 this year. Check out the team’s full schedule here. Most single-day tickets start at $15.50 per person.

Mission Beach Boardwalk
Take advantage of our gorgeous weather and visit the iconic boardwalk at Mission Beach. On any given day – especially when the temps are practically perfect – dozens of people can be seen walking, jogging and bicycling along the boardwalk. The exercise is great, but the clear view of the ocean is even better.

Picnic at a Local Lake
Get in touch with nature by having yourself a good old-fashioned picnic at one of our many local lakes. East County spots include Santee Lakes, Lake Murray and Lake Jennings. There’s also Dixon Lake in Escondido, Lake Miramar, Lake Morena and Chollas Lake, to name a few more.

Whale Watching (Yes, even in the spring)
Traditionally a winter activity, whale watching in San Diego has now become a year-round activity. Joe Terzi, president and CEO of the San Diego Tourism Authority, recently said San Diego should be considered the world's No. 1 destination for whale watching. Earlier this week, Flagship Cruises said gray whale sightings are on the rise in San Diego, with more than 200 spotted off our shores over the past three months.

What kind of springtime activities do you enjoy as a San Diego resident? Share in the comments section below.

The wreckage from the crash in Southern California between a metro train and a car, which left one person in grave condition Saturday, has been cleared.

The collision occurred when the train hit a car that turned in front of it in Exposition Park.

In addition to the person who was reportedly near death, 20 other people were also injured.

The train operator was hospitalized in serious condition, said Shawn Lenske of the Los Angeles City Fire Department.

He was later released and was recuperating at home, according to Metro spokesman Jose Ubaldo. He identified the operator as Kenneth Goss, a 29-year Metro veteran who is in his mid-50s.

Nineteen other people, all train passengers, suffered minor injuries in the 10:50 a.m. crash and eight of them were taken to hospitals, Lenske said.

The train hit the Hyundai at a traffic signal between USC and the Museum of Natural History.

Ubaldo told City News Service the car and the train both were heading east, when the car made a left turn toward the USC gate and was hit by the electric light rail vehicle.

Witnesses said after the Hyundai made an improper turn, it became wedged between a pole and the train, which derailed, according to the Sgt. Mike Verlich of Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Left turns such as that are regulated by a left turn arrow, and there are flashing alarms for approaching trains, which get stop signals if cars are turning across the grade crossing.

After the wreck, a picture shot from a USC office building across the street, and posted on the Internet, showed a crushed car on the westbound tracks at the Watt Drive signal, and a stopped train on the tracks usually used by trains heading from Culver City to downtown Los Angeles.

The crash was next to the Exposition Park Rose Garden, about halfway between the tunnel under Figueroa Street, and Vermont Street.

Expo Line service in both directions was cut, and firefighters were warned a half hour after the crash that the train line's overhead power supply could not be immediately cut off. The train's electric arms had been retracted but firefighters were warned that low voltage batteries might still be a hazard, firefighters were told.

Buses were being used as a ``bridge'' to ferry passengers around the wreck.

Regular service on the Expo line wasn't expected to be restored until about 4:30 a.m. Sunday, Ubaldo said.

Crews will have to de-energize both tracks to replaced a damaged traffic signal pole and officials wanted to wait until spectators, many of whom relied on mass transit, left a sold out Mexico-Ecuador soccer game that was played tonight at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Ubaldo said.

The game ended about 8:30 p.m.

Crews would be working through the night to complete repairs and reopen
the line, Ubaldo said.
 

A young jaguar cub will be the newest addition to the family at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, zoo officials said.

Mother Nindiri welcomed the cub on March 12 at 8:30 p.m. inside the jaguar den at the Harry and Grace Steele Elephant Odyssey exhibit.

Visitors looking to spot the wobbly-legged newborn can see it in the cave viewing area during Play Days, a zoo event that started Saturday.

The 18-day-old cub is the third for seven-year-old Nindiri. The sex of the cub is not yet known.

The legendary Coney Island Cyclone gave passengers a scare Sunday when it got stuck on its first public run of the season, forcing a number of riders to climb down the wooden structure on foot.

All the passengers - attending what were to have been leisurely festivities to mark the reopening of Luna Park for the season - appeared to have escaped the roller coaster unharmed. But some said the slow climb from high up on the open structure left them feeling shaken.

"It was terrifying, because I was up there and everything was spinning," Gabriella Centeno said after she reached solid ground. "I didn't know what to do."

Anna Dartany said the park staffers' assistance made climbing down possible.

"I'm scared of heights," she said, "but with their help I made it down. ... This was insane."

Angie Morris, brand manager at Luna Park, said the historic roller coaster had undergone tests over the past month ahead of Sunday's season opening. Such a problem hadn't occurred for a very long time, she said, although she declined to specify how long.

She said the Cyclone would be back up and running within a matter of hours.

Despite the less-than-summery temperatures, longtime fans had flocked to the roller coaster Sunday morning to celebrate the amusement park's reopening and to take advantage of free tickets being offered to the first 100 people who showed up to ride the wooden icon.

A Boston police officer honored for his role in the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombings is in stable and improving condition after undergoing successful surgery.

Officer John T. Moynihan, 34, was critically injured Friday night during a shootout in the city's Roxbury neighborhood. He had been in a medically induced coma at Boston Medical Center since the shooting.

Boston Police Commissioner William Evans met with doctors Sunday, who told him the bullet was removed from his neck after several hours of surgery.

Moynihan is expected to get out of intensive care in the days ahead.

"I'm thankful to the doctors and medical team at Boston Medical Center for taking such good care of my officer," said Evans in a statement. "I was happy to hear that he made it through surgery without any complications, it shows you what a strong kid he is and what a great medical team they have here."

A healing service was held for Moynihan Sunday morning at St. Patrick's Church in Roxbury to coincide with the scheduled surgery. Many law enforcement officers were present to support their brother in blue.

The shootout took place after police say they tried to make a traffic stop on Humboldt Avenue around 6:40 p.m. Friday. According to authorities, the suspect, later identified as 41-year-old Angelo West, exited his vehicle and opened fire at police.

Moynihan was shot below his right eye. Police returned fire and West, who had a history with violence towards law enforcement, was killed in the shooting. A middle-aged woman was also caught in the crossfire as she drove by, suffering a flesh wound to her right arm. Evans said Friday that she was fine and in good spirits.

A decorated Iraq war veteran, Moynihan has been with the Boston Police Department since 2008, currently serving on the department's Youth Violence Strike Force. MBTA Officer Dic Donohue, who was injured in the manhunt after the Boston Marathon bombings, confirmed to necn that Moynihan helped rescue him in 2013. The following year, Moynihan received the Nation's Top Cops Award from President Barack Obama, followed by the Boston Police Medal of Honor.

Saturday, Donohue expressed his gratitude to Moynihan and sent his best wishes.

"John played a part in saving my life, and that's something I will never forget," he said in a statement to necn. "His record of service speaks for itself. Everyone is wishing him well and we know he has the strength to pull through."

Police said Friday that two suspects besides West were in custody "on unrelated matters." No further information has been available about them.

A Poway family is mourning after their son passed away at a music festival.

22-year-old John Vo died at the "Beyond Wonderland" rave on March 20 in San Bernadino. His family spoke to NBC 7 about their late son and brother.

John’s brother, Brian, said his brother was always smiling and always having fun.

“He had a huge personality,” Brian told NBC 7.

His family and loved ones miss that big personality.

“I miss him so much,” said John’s father. “My baby.”

John’s father, a doctor, said he is waiting for the medical examiner’s report to figure out how his youngest child died. To his knowledge, his son did not have any pre-existing medical conditions. 

The toxicology report is pending, but authorities say the Poway native went into cardiac arrest after suffering a possible seizure.

John was the youngest of four siblings, all of them doctors. John would have soon followed in their footsteps. After he graduated from Rancho Bernardo High, he went on to UC Irvine and was majoring in biology.

Family members said since John was so close to graduating, the school will give him his degree posthumously.

His other passion was music. Family members told NBC 7 he disk jockeyed under the name “The Doc.”

John used to come home and blast music in the house, his sister Diana said.

Now, she misses the sound of that loud music, she said, and wishes she could turn back the hands of time to hear it again.

“The nights he came home from school, he would play his loud music all
night long, it was so annoying,” said Diana. “And I'd yell at him to turn it down and he was like, okay sorry, Oops, sorry. Now I miss it. I wish he was home.”

Police are looking for four suspects that stabbed a man rushing to help his friend.

The incident happened at approximately 12:30 a.m. Sunday when a 23-year-old man saw his friend being chased by a group of men.

He got out of his car, police said, and went to help his friend when he was stabbed in the left side of his abdomen at the intersection of Polk Avenue and 49th Street in Mid City.

He was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The first suspect is described as a Hispanic male in his 20s, about 5 feet 8 inches with long hair to his neck. He was wearing a white shirt and black jeans at the time.

The second suspect is described as a Hispanic male in his 20s, about 5 feet 11 inches, with short hair. He was wearing black clothing.

The third suspect is described is described as a Hispanic male in his 20s, 4 feet 9 inches, wearing a polo shirt and jeans.

The fourth suspect is described as a Hispanic male in his 20s wearing black clothing and shorts.

The suspects fled southbound on Winona Avenue in a blue van.

Mid City Police Detectives are investigating.