Amid all the negative sports stories out there, here’s one locally that will make your heart swell.

Our San Diego Padres really have heart.

Matt LaChappa hasn’t pitched in 19 years. But that hasn’t stopped the Padres from renewing his contract year after year. Once a Padres prospect, the pitcher suffered a heart attack in a Class A game in 1996 and is now confined to a wheelchair.

Yet his minor league contract continues to be renewed, including this year, according to published reports, so that LaChappa, who’s from the Barona Indian Reservation, can continue to have health insurance.

USA Today spoke with LaChappa’s brother, Eagle LaChappa, on Tuesday and he described his brother’s relationship with the Padres as “special.”

“They’ve said he’ll be a Padre for the rest of his life, and they’ve allowed him to keep a certain level of care,” Eagle told USA Today.

LaChappa himself has given back to the community, hosting golf tournaments over the years to help East County kids attend college.

We’ve reached out to the Padres and will update this story when we hear back.

An ambulance carrying EMTs and a patient suddenly erupted into flames early Wednesday morning as it traveled along a busy street in Pacific Beach, officials said.

The fire sparked in the emergency vehicle just before 2 a.m. as the ambulance was transporting a patient on Garnet Avenue and Mission Bay Drive.

The driver of the ambulance heard a loud noise and pulled over. Shortly thereafter, the engine caught fire and an explosion rang out as the ambulance burst into flames.

The EMTs pulled a patient from the back of the ambulance right before the fire erupted. The EMTs and patient escaped the vehicle unharmed.

Onlookers captured video of the vehicle fire on their cell phones.

San Diego firefighters quickly arrived on scene and were able to put out the flames within minutes.

The fire is under investigation, but officials said it’s possible there was an oxygen tank on board that exploded.

The patient was transferred to another ambulance, which finished transporting her to the hospital.
 

San Diego deputies are searching for a woman who robbed a drugstore in Santee while armed with a pistol, demanding drugs from a pharmacy employee.

The hold-up happened around 4:30 a.m. at a CVS store located at 9730 Mission Gorge Rd. Detectives said the suspect brandished a pistol and demanded 10 mg of Percocet from a pharmacy clerk.

She allegedly threatened to shoot the employee if the drugs were not handed over. The pharmacy clerk gave the woman the Percocet and fled the store.

The robbery was captured on surveillance tape. On Wednesday, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department released photos of the suspect and announced a $1,000 reward for information leading to her arrest.

She’s described as being 20 to 30 years old, 5-foot-4 to 5-foot-7, weighing between 140 and 160 pounds. She had dark hair and was wearing a black sweatshirt with the word “PINK” on the front, black pants and black “UGG” style boots. She was armed with a black and silver semi-automatic pistol, officials said.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information on the identity of this suspect should call the Sheriff’s Department Santee Station at (619) 956-4057 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
 

San Diego police have arrested a 20-year-old suspect accused of tasing and robbing a 74-year-old man he met on Craigslist, supposedly for a date.

The San Diego Police Department said the victim met suspect Lucas Churchill Holmes on the website and gave him his personal information because they were planning to meet for a date.

Instead, Holmes showed up unannounced at the man’s home on El Cerrito Drive in the College West area at around 1:20 a.m. Wednesday.

Donning a grey stocking cap, police said Holmes tased the victim, tied him up and robbed him before fleeing the scene.

An SDPD robbery detective told NBC 7 Holmes stole the victim's ATM card and was able to get the victim to give him his PIN. The suspect made several withdrawls from the victim's account before it was blocked by the bank, the detective said.

The victim was treated at the scene for minor, undisclosed injuries.

Police were able to trace Holmes' location using the telephone number and email address he used to contact the victim.

Holmes, who police say is a transient, was caught Wednesday with the Taser and stolen credit cards on him, according to officials. He will be booked into a jail on robbery and elder abuse charges.
 

Every April, I start perusing the Coachella poster, and the thought of spending an entire weekend wandering the polo grounds checking out great bands eclipses any doubts I may have had about the weather, the walking or the lineup.

Each year, aside from taking pictures, interviewing bands, and doing a daily recap, I also end up writing some kind of preview and survival guide for the massive, double-weekend event. But re-reading some of my past survival guides before sitting down to write this, I realize I’ve become quite proficient in stretching what should be, at longest, a paragraph. So, this year -- for the first time -- is my “Coachella Survival Guide” in 20 words or less:

Drink much water. Wear comfortable shoes. Use sunscreen. Be smart about drugs and alcohol. See bands. Have fun.

Done.

And now I have ample space to preview the most important thing about the back-to-back weekends in Indio: the music.

When this year’s line-up was announced, it came with the inevitable backlash and expected cries of Coachella once again shark jumping. It happens annually and this year was no exception. But if you’re worried about things like Drake getting a headlining spot or why a band like Steely Dan made the cut, you’re missing the point.

I honestly believe 2015’s roster of bands is one of the strongest Coachella has ever assembled. I’m actually wondering if I’ll get to all the bands I want to see because each day is so jam-packed. It seems daunting to try and see them all. But here are five bands each day I refuse to miss:

Friday

Alabama Shakes: Brittany Howard is a force. I’d happily watch her sing the complete works of Justin Beiber and Yoko Ono -– she’s just that good. And the rest of the band ain’t bad, either.

Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires: The “Screaming Eagle of Soul” is a consummate performer who channels James Brown and Sam Cooke in all the right ways. Backed by the Extraordinaires, this is perfect way to kick off the weekend.

Ride: The term “shoegazing” gets thrown around a lot these days, but Ride is the real deal. This Oxford-based quartet is sure to make you feel (at least a little bit) better about the decision to smoke too much weed on a 100-degree day.

Raekwon and Ghostface Killah: Two of Wu’s finest, and the perfect respite from an otherwise lackluster hip-hop day.

Allah-Las: There has never been a better band to watch in the desert sun than LA’s Allah-Las. Their chill, beachy vibe is infectious and is sure to recalibrate your afternoon.

The rest: Eagulls, Lykke Li, Azealia Banks, Flying Lotus, Todd Terje & the Olsens, Caribou, Cloud Nothings, Brant Bjork & the Low Desert Punk Band, Tame Impala and Hot Natured.

Saturday

Run The Jewels: Killer Mike and El-P are the hottest thing in hip-hop right now, and for good reason -– they’re smart, have great chemistry together, and write amazing songs. This is sure to be one of the best performances of the weekend. Don’t be surprised if RATM’s Zach De La Rocha makes a guest appearance.

Drive Like Jehu: One of San Diego’s finest on the big stage. This one is a no-brainer for any respectable local music fan.

Benjamin Booker: A unique, wild new voice who dropped an incredible debut last year, and is ready to take his place among the top-tier live performers currently touring. Jack White joining him on stage? Likely.

Swans: Ready to have your face melted, ears bleed, and soul conflicted? If that sounds like a good time, this is for you.

The Gaslamp Killer Experience: One-time San Diego DJ Gaslamp Killer, aka William Bensussen, re-invents the 12-piece ensemble that only performed once prior –- at a 2013 fundraiser to pay for bills relating to Bensussen’s near-fatal scooter accident. Performances two and three should be otherworldly.

The rest: Jack White, Father John Misty, the Weeknd, Belle and Sebastian, Bad Religion, Perfume Genius, St. Paul & the Broken Bones, Bostich and Fussible, Chet Faker, Alt-J, War on Drugs, Jungle, Royal Blood, FKA Twigs, Yelle, Parquet Courts, Toro y Moi, and Gramatik.

Sunday

St. Vincent: Annie Clark is about as dynamic as they come and has honed her live show into something incredible every time. Plus, there’s always a chance she’ll rip off a guitar solo while crowd surfing.

Angel Olsen: This Chicago-based singer dropped last year’s best record, "Burn Your Fire For No Witness," and does a great job re-creating it in the live setting. Chances of being bewitched while watching her perform? High.

Desaparecidos: Shhhhhh. This Nebraska-based sextet is fronted by none other than Bright Eyes’ singer Conor Oberst. But don’t expect any singer/songwriter confessionals here. This is a lot heavier. Just don’t tell anyone.

Ryan Adams: The man. It’s just a rule, when you have a chance to see Ryan Adams, you see Ryan Adams. Plus, this dude has worked with more people than a decades-old temp service, so the probability of an amazing guest (or two) is likely.

Mac DeMarco: Ryan Adams 2.0? Maybe. We’ll have to wait and see. But this young, prolific performer just dropped an incredible record and is well on his way to becoming a consistently solid songwriter.

The rest: Built To Spill, Jenny Lewis, the Orwells, OFF!, Annie Mac, Chicano Batman, Sturgill Simpson, Odesza, and Panda Bear.

City officials have announced a set of new water conservation program measures for San Diego in response to Gov. Jerry Brown’s mandatory 25 percent reduction in water use for the state.

Mayor Kevin Faulconer announced the actions at a press conference Wednesday, saying that San Diegans will have to "cut water use like never before." 

“San Diego needs to consider multiple solutions to reduce our water usage and ensure a lasting water supply; no one solution is the answer,” Council President Lightner said at the press conferece. “Water is too important to our economy and quality of life to not pursue all options to secure an affordable and reliable water supply in the face of this continuing drought.”

The city plans to implement stricter enforcement of water waste regulations, reduce outdoor irrigation at parks, and restart the Turf Replacement Rebate program. In addition, they plant to stop using potable water to irrigate turf landscaped medians throughout the city.

San Diego water enforcement officials will be more active when driving through the streets and looking for water wasters. Previously, reported water wasters would face three strikes before a fine. Now, there will be two formal warning strikes before a fine. 

The city will also take steps to review options to reduce irrigation at the parks around the city. The Parks and Recreation Department is one of the largest water users, Faulconer said, and residents will "very likely" see brown lawns and parks as the city buckles down. 

"We will focus on keeping our playfields and turf we have so many leagues and others that participate on that but there’s no doubt when you look at the city’s water use as an organization, one of the largest is our parks and rec department," Faulconer said.

The Turf Replacement Rebate program, which provides incentives for residents looking to replace their turf with drought tolerant landscapes, will be starting up again as well, Faulconer said. He plans to propose a quarter of a million dollars for the program in his upcoming proposed budget he said. In the past, the program has been so popular it ran out of funding. 

The budget for rebates has been nearly doubled from $250,000, officials said. That money, said Craig Gustfason, let them give rebates to 246 residents and more than 333,000 square feet of grass replaced. The budget allocation has run out for this fiscal year, officials said, and they plan on adding another $200,000 for residents during this fiscal year to cope with demand. 

The state is set to hand down specific target amount of water reduction for the city in four weeks time, Faulconer said. At that time, they will have a better idea of specific measures that will need to be taken to meet reduction goals. 

The city has had mandatory water use restrictions in effect since the start of November, including a 48 hour rule where residents cannot irrigate after "measurable rainfall," assigned watering times by street numbers and a rule saying residents must repair leaks immediately. 

Halla Razak, Director of the Public Utilities Department, said in the past the department has focused on education and gave people three warnings before fining them. Now, she said, they plan to be "more active out there" when driving the streets for enforcement purposes. The city is evaluating whether the department needs more people for enforcement. 

"Absolutely, we’re doing everything that we can on our end for any leaks that are out there of course sometimes there are main breaks that are outside of our control, but as you know we have a very robust replacement system to try to update the system so that it works properly," said Razak.

Since November 1, when the city decided to implement fines for water wasters, they have received 990 complaints that a resident is wasting water in some way. Of those complaints, 20 percent did not fix the issue on the first warning and 80 percent did. Faulconer said the city has not issued any fines to date. 

Lightner, City Councilmember Lorie Zapf and Razak all attended the announcement. Of the three elected officials there, only Zapf had put in place drought tolerate landscaping, they said. 

The move comes as, for the first time in state history, cities and towns across California will have to cut their water use by 25 percent, a goal set by Gov. Jerry Brown during the drought's fourth consecutive year. City water officials previously said they did not know how they would adjust to the unprecedented water reductions.

Have you spotted someone wasting water? If you want to report a water waster, send an image or video through our homepage at NBC 7 or email isee@nbcsandiego.com.

If you're looking for easy ways to save water, click here. 

Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was found guilty on all counts Wednesday, setting the stage for a possible death sentence for his role in the attacks that killed three people, including an 8-year-old boy, and brought the city to a standstill nearly two years ago. 

Tsarnaev seemed to have little reaction as a federal jury delivered guilty verdicts on all 30 counts he faced, most of which could result in a death penalty sentence.  At times, he looked down or at his attorneys, NECN's Alysha Palumbo reported, leaning back in his chair and playing with his hair before the jurors left the courtroom. 

Tsarnaev, who according to prosecutors wrote that the bombings were retaliation for Muslim deaths, was captured three days after pressure cookers exploded near the marathon's finish line in April 2013. More than 260 people were injured, some of them losing limbs.

"The incidents of those days have forever left a mark on our City," Mayor Marty Walsh said in a statement after the decision was returned. "As we remember those who lost so much, we reflect on how tragedy revealed our deepest values, and the best of who we are as a community."

The penalty phase of the trial could begin as soon as next week, but has not yet been scheduled. Still, the guilty verdicts, delivered after 17 days of testimony and just 11 hours of deliberations, were met by officials and victims as an opportunity for the city to continue to heal following the devastating blasts. 

"Today's verdict will never replace the lives that were lost and so dramatically changed, but it is a relief, and one step closer to closure," Jeffrey Bauman, who lost both legs in the bombing, said in a statement. 

Timothy P. Alben, superintendent and colonel of the Massachusetts State Police, said the department hopes "to turn another page in the recovery and healing of our community." 

"We are hopeful that in justice, those that have been injured may find some sense of peace," he said. 

From the trial's opening statements, there seemed to be little doubt that Tsarnaev would be found guilty. His noted defense lawyer, Judy Clarke, conceded that it was Tsarnaev shown in surveillance footage leaving behind a bomb hidden in a backpack.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Aloke Chakravarty, in his closing argument on Monday, portrayed Tsarnaev as a full participant in the bombings as he “brought terrorism to backyards and Main Street.”

"He wanted to terrorize this country," Chakravarty said. "He wanted to punish America for what it was doing to his people."

Clarke, known for helping notorious criminals avoid death sentences, countered that Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was an adolescent drawn into the passion of his older brother. He knew it was wrong to kill innocents but thought that his actions would make a difference, she said.

"We don't deny that Dzhokhar participated in these events, but if not for Tamerlan it would not have happened,” she said.

Tsarnaev’s lawyers have been focused on sparing him the death penalty. They have portrayed the now 21-year-old as an impressionable young man in the sway of his older brother, Tamerlan, who became a radicalized Muslim. The brothers, ethnic Chechens, had fled violence in the Russian Caucasus region.

Tsarnaev faced 30 charges, 17 of which carry the death penalty.  They included conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction resulting in death, the use of a weapon of mass destruction resulting in death and possession and use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence in resulting in death.

Bombing victim Jarrod Clowery told NECN he wasn't surprised by the verdict. He said he hoped Tsarnaev would get life in prison instead of death, because he said the convicted bomber had wanted to be put together.

He also said he had eschewed following the trial closely in favor of moving on from the trauma of two years ago. He's now filming a TV show about pool and billiards called "The Hustlers."

"Overall, me and some of the other survivors I know, we're moving on," he said. "I'm living my life."

Tamerlan Tsarnaev was killed during a shootout with police and after Dzhokhar Tsarnaev ran him over while trying to escape, according to prosecutors. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was found hiding in a boat.

In instructions to the jurors, Judge George A. O’Toole Jr. of Federal District Court in Boston told them they could decide that Tsarnaev committed the crime directly, abetted in the crime or both.

In addition to the marathon bombing, Tsarnaev was found guilty of killing MIT police officer Sean Collier.

Chakravarty told the jurors that Tsarnaev could see that children were in front of him at the marathon's finish line.

He argued that the lectures on terrorism and songs that Tsarnaev had listened to for more than a year had convinced him that he was doing right.

The government showed jurors photographs after the bombs went off, including one of Krystle Campbell, a 29-year-old restaurant manager, screaming in pain moments before she died.

Eight-year-old Martin Richard and Lingzi Lu, a 23-year-old graduate student from China, both bled to death after being hit by shrapnel from the two bombs. On surveillance video, Martin’s father, Bill, is trying to get help.

Clarke said Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s prints were not found on the bomb-making materials only his brother's, and it was Tamerlan Tsarnaev who bought the batteries and other items used to set off the bombs. 

Tsarnaev’s lawyers called only four witnesses, all of them investigators who gathered evidence.

A terrorism expert testifying for the government told jurors that a note written by Tsarnaev while he was hiding in the boat included themes of global jihad, echoed ideas found in the al Qaida magazine, Inspire, and condemned U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The government offered graphic testimony about the victims’ wounds.

Alysha Palumbo and Glenn Marshall contributed to this article.

A Sig alert has been issued for a part of Bear Valley Parkway in Escondido after a wáter main break left crews working to repair the damage. 

The incident happened at approximately 3:45 p.m. Wednesday near the 300 block of Bear Valley Parkway.

The break is near San Pasqual High School.

One northbound lane is closed on Bear Valley Parkway is closed as officials work. 

There are no reports of water outages yet. Public Works is on scene evaluating it. Escondido Police and Fire are also on scene. 

Check back here for updates on this developing story.

A 74-year-old man that was tased and robbed by a man he met on Craigslist for a meetup said Wednesday he woke up to the suspect standing right above him, with his hands and feet as he lay in his bathtub. 

Bill, who wished only to be identified by his first name, spoke with NBC 7 about the incident, in which he was tased, tied up and robbed before the victim fled the scene.

"I was confused because I thought he was going to kill me," he said. 

Bill said he woke up with the suspect right above him before he was tased multiple times. The suspect, he said, took his debit and credit cards and stole about $600 dollars.

But in a strange turn of events, the suspect gave Bill more pillows to be comfortable in the bathtub, teliing him, "I'm sorry, I don't want to do this. My daughter is sick and I need the money." 

"He said, I don't like what I'm doing, but I have to do it," he said of the suspect. 

When the suspect went to steal a shotgun, he asked if the item had sentimental value. When Bill said yes, the suspect left it. 

Police said Holmes showed up unannounced at the man’s home on El Cerrito Drive in the College West area at around 1:20 a.m. Wednesday. Donning a grey stocking cap, police said Holmes tased the victim, tied him up and robbed him before fleeing the scene.

An SDPD robbery detective told NBC 7 Holmes stole the victim's ATM card and was able to get the victim to give him his PIN. The suspect made several withdrawls from the victim's account before it was blocked by the bank, the detective said.

The victim was treated at the scene for minor, undisclosed injuries.

San Diego police arrested 20-year-old Lucas Churchill Holmes in connection with the crime at 2:11 a.m. Wednesday morning. Detectives identified the man from the telephone number and email address he used to contact the victim.

Holmes, who police say is a transient, was caught Wednesday with the Taser and stolen credit cards on him, according to officials. He will be booked into a jail on robbery and elder abuse charges.

You may be able to see Selena perform in the 21st century – as a hologram.

That’s part of a new plan by a San Diego-based company to create a digital embodiment of the late singer. She will dance, perform new songs and collaborate with other artists.

The project is being spearheaded by Acrovirt LLC., which is working with Selena’s family and the University of California San Diego to launch the hologram.

You could see the hologram in 2018 if a $500,000 crowdfunding campaign is successful. The campaign starts on April 16.

Selena’s dad, Abraham Quintanilla, told BuzzFeed News that he wouldn’t describe it as a hologram.

“It’s a newer technology – more advanced than hologram,” he said in an email to BuzzFeed.

Douglas Ledbetter, the director of Fort Rosecrans and Miramar National Cemeteries, has a dilemma: acres of grass to keep green and a mandate to cut back on water usage.

On top of that, the Point Loma cemetery honoring our military is not equipped to use recycled water like the newer Miramar National Cemetery is.

In an email to NBC 7 Investigates, Alexandra Bell, communications director at City Councilwoman Lorie Zapf’s office, said because there is no link between the cemetery and water treatment facilities that provide recycled water, “the two easy ways of getting recycled water there are cost prohibitive.”

See the photo below showing where the recycled pipelines are located in the county.

The Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery is in Zapf’s district.

Last week military cemeteries across California discussed how to face Gov. Jerry Brown’s mandate to cutback water use by 25 percent.

For Fort Rosecrans, the restrictions come at a time when the national cemetery is installing a new variety of grass that requires more water. Ledbetter told NBC 7 Investigates he had not had a chance to pursue any possible alternatives to water Rosecrans' grass. For now freshwater will still be used to keep the grounds green.

California has the largest concentration of military cemeteries in the United States.

Below is more of Bell’s response.

“So I talked to our water department about the possibility of switching Ft Rosecrans to recycled water. According to the maps (here) we only have purple pipe in the northern and southern parts of the city. It doesn’t look like we have any in the area between the 52 freeway and the 54 freeway. This is because our two Level 3 reclamation plants that feed into the purple pipe are in North City and South Bay.

I asked if it would be possible to use the water from the Point Loma Treatment plant, since it’s so close to the cemetery. Unfortunately the plant is a Level 1 treatment, and the water wouldn’t be clean enough to use on purple pipe. Staff has estimated it will cost $2 billion to upgrade the plant to a Level 2 (which is what will happen if we don’t get the federal waiver we apply for regularly), and they haven’t even looked at calculating the costs of getting it to a Level 3.

So for now, the two easy ways of getting recycled water there are cost prohibitive. We’ll keep looking into the possibility of more creative options and if something seems like it could be possible, I’ll let you know.”

Two lawsuits has been filed against One Paseo, a controversial mixed-use project in Carmel Valley.

Alliance for Responsible Development Corporation, East Bluff Community Association and Mitigate One Paseo said they filed the suit against the city and developers for environmental reasons. Chatten-Brown & Carstens filed the suit on behalf of the organizations. 

“One Paseo’s environmental documents are riddled with flaws and inconsistencies,” said Josh Chatten-Brown, an attorney with Chatten-Brown & Carstens, in a statement. “There are several instances where improper assumptions are made to reduce the reported severity of impacts on the surrounding communities. The Environmental Impact Report does not provide the objective, good faith analysis of impacts, alternatives, and mitigation measures that is required by California law.”

Donahue Schriber, owner of the Del Mar Highlands Town Center across the proposed One Paseo site, also filed a lawsuit against the city and developers Kilroy Realty Corporation, challenging the Environmental Impact Report. The report was used by the City Council when they decided whether to approve it. 

The three groups claim in their lawsuit that, despite receiving more than 400 comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Report released in 2010, the group was not revised to address concerns about traffic impacts, safety and air quality impacts, among other things.

The One Paseo Project includes the construction of stores and eateries, the expansion of a movie theater and the addition of more than 600 family apartments and a parking structure in Carmel Valley.

The council gave their initial OK to the plan in late February, though they did say developer Kilroy Realty must add 60 affordable housing units and a synchronized traffic system. Council President Sherri Lightner and Council President Pro Tem Marti Emerald were the dissenting votes.

The San Diego Planning Commission approved the proposal for the 1.4 million square-foot, mixed-use village slated for the corner of Del Mar Heights Road and El Camino Real.

The panel agreed to the plan on the condition that developer Kilroy Realty agreed to make 11 changes to the master plan.

However, supporters say the development would be a positive addition to the area, bringing 1,600 new jobs, 600 news homes and $630 million to the local economy.

The Carmel Valley Planning Board voted against the current proposal but its members have said they support a smaller version of the plan. Opponents say the project is too big and would create a traffic nightmare.

If all goes as planned, Kilroy Realty will break ground by the end of the year. Its completion date is set for 2018.

City Attorney spokesman Gerry Braun said the office had no comment on the litigation. Rachel Laing, spokesman for Kilroy Realty, did not respond to a request for comment.

A man who barricaded himself inside a warehouse in Pacific Beach, leading to a lengthy standoff with SWAT officials, appeared in court Wednesday and was charged with 10 counts.

At his arraignment, Kevin McGuinness, 53, was charged with nine felonies and one misdemeanor in connection with the standoff. This included possession of an illegal assault rifle, one count of making terrorist threats, resisting arrest and possession of a high-capacity magazine. He was also charged with possession of an inert grenade, which is an infraction.

The SWAT standoff in which McGuinness is accused took place Friday night and carried over into Saturday morning at a warehouse building where he was living in the 2900 block of Garnet Avenue.

According to police, another man visited McGuinness at the warehouse that night and the pair got into a dispute. McGuinness allegedly fired shots at the visitor.

San Diego Police Department Lt. Kevin Mayer said police received a phone call around 10:30 p.m. reporting someone had been shot at the building. When officers arrived, they discovered McGuinness holed up inside the warehouse.

Officers attempted to get McGuinness to come outside and speak with them, but he refused to open the door. Lt. Mayer said SWAT was called in because the suspect was believed to be heavily armed with explosives.

Several hours later, McGuinness surrendered to police bringing the standoff to an end. He was arrested at the scene.

If convicted on all charges, McGuinness could face more than 18 years behind bars, prosecutors said.

San Diego County Supervisor Dave Roberts approved the use of $85,000 in taxpayer money to rebuild a baseball field where two of his sons play Little League.

But on Tuesday, Roberts abandoned that plan, acknowledging it could have the appearance of personal favoritism. Roberts is also listed on the league’s website as a sponsor of the league.

The $85,000 grant was allocated by the board of supervisors in February at Robert’s suggestion. The money, which comes from San Diego County’s “Neighborhood Reinvestment Program,” were to be used to restore a dilapidated snack shack, restrooms and a storage facility on the Solana Beach Little League Field on Santa Victoria Street.

Roberts told NBC 7 he later realized the expenditure could look like a conflict-of-interest, benefiting his children and their team. He said he also learned that the baseball field is just one of several sports facilities on the property and all of them need repairs.

After discussing the issue with his staff and other county officials, Roberts decided to ask his colleagues to rescind the $85,000 grant and reallocate it to the City of Solana Beach, which he says will administer the money and oversee the renovation of all the sports facilities on that property.

The board of supervisors approved those changes at Tuesday’s meeting.

Roberts told NBC 7 that he did not hear any complaints or criticism about his initial allocation to the Little League. The supervisor said he decided to rescind that grant because he wanted to be “transparent” in his actions. “I pride myself in openness and transparency,” Roberts said.

Roberts is a big supporter of the Neighborhood Reinvestment Program, which has been criticized as a political “pork” program that allows supervisors to reward their supporters.

“This fund has a troubled past,” Margaret Dooley-Sammuli of the American Civil Liberties Union of San Diego said last year. “It has, in the past, been used to benefit the individual supervisors politically.”

Last year, county supervisors doubled the amount of money available to each of them through the grant program, increasing it from $1 million to $2 million per supervisor.

An analysis last year of the grant program by the inewsource revealed Roberts awards on average the most grants each year. It was Roberts who led the effort last year to double the program’s funding.

At that time, Roberts said the program has helped many worth projects, including the San Diego Live Well Initiative, which he strongly supports. Roberts also said the increase in grant funding was justified by the improving local economy.

“However, I want to take a leadership role in making sure everybody believes this program is open, fair and transparent,” Roberts said.

A woman that pleaded guilty to stealing mailed packages from East County front lawns was sentenced Wednesday.

Martha Lampley, 37, a parolee, agreed to a plea deal of 23 years and 8 months at her sentencing. Her history of crime since 2008 and her previous strike played a role in the length of her sentencing, officials said. 

Lampley originally faced 13 counts, including three commercial burglaries and two residential burglaries. During one of those burglaries, an older man was at home. Prosecutors said she entered the home under false pretenses and started stealing. 

In December, Sheriff's officials started receiving reports of package thefits in East County homes. 

One home's surveillance cameras caught Lampley in the act, deputies said, and she was later booked into jail on burglary charges in connection with a series of package thefts in East County. At the time, she was recently released from prison, so she also faces charges of violating her parole with drug and drug paraphernalia possession.

More charges were later pending against her after detectives discovered stolen packages and merchandise in a storage unit tied to Lampley. Sgt. Greg Hampton said in December the suspect may be responsible for other commercial and residential burglaries from stores like Kohls and Target.

A restitution hearing has been scheduled for July 7. 

The new owner of Carlsbad-headquartered Catalina Restaurant Group has closed an undisclosed number of Coco’s Bakery and Carrows restaurants, citing lagging sales performance.

Based on interviews with former employees, the industry publication Nation’s Restaurant News reported that 73 restaurants – 38 Coco’s and 35 Carrows, most of them in California – were shuttered as Texas-based Food Management Partners (FMP) took over the company on April 1.

The publication also said nearly all of the approximately 100 employees at Catalina’s Carlsbad headquarters were laid off. Catalina and FMP officials could not immediately be reached for comment.

In a statement, officials of San Antonio-headquartered FMP said the current market climate has “forced us to make difficult decisions about many of our restaurants” that are not performing at a
competitive financial level.

“After extensive review, we have developed a plan that we believe will enable the parent company of Coco’s and Carrows, Catalina Restaurant Group, to make the two brands stronger than ever at both the company and franchise level,” said Peter Donbavand, FMP’s vice president of business development, in a statement.

“Unfortunately, this roadmap to sustainability may include restaurant closings,” Donbavand said.
At the time FMP announced its planned acquisition of Catalina last month, for an undisclosed price, there were a total of 149 Coco’s and Carrows in three states. According to the restaurants’ websites, there are currently eight Coco’s and no Carrows operating in San Diego County.

FMP acquired Catalina Restaurant Group from Zensho America Corp., a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Zensho Holdings Co. Ltd., which had owned Catalina since 2006.

A San Diego City Councilmember is advocating for full funding for a new community park in Ocean View Hills to be named after the highest-ranking Filipino officer with the San Diego Police Department.

District Eight Councilmember David Alvarez – along with residents and community members – wants a 20-acre community park developed in Ocean View Hills.

The project has been in the works for 13 years and was included in the Alvarez/Cole/Emerald FY2016 budget priorities memo as the councilmember continues to work to get funding for the park.

The space was formerly named Pacific Breezes Park. In its new life, the park would be renamed Cesar Solis Park after retired SDPD Assistant Chief Cesar Solis, a Filipino-American officer who served 32 years on the force through last March. Solis is a native of District 8.

The park would be located at 4919 Del Sol Boulevard, between Vista Del Mar Elementary School and Ocean View Hills School.

According to Alvarez, Ocean View Hills currently has no community park to serve its more than 6,000 residents. Roughly $5 million is needed to fund the construction of Cesar Solis Park, which would include lighted softball fields, playground areas, a concession stand, storage, off-street parking, turf area, picnic shelters, benches, drinking fountain and storm water detention areas.

“Council District Eight has been deficient in park space for years, and residents are tired of waiting for improvements in their neighborhoods,” stated Alvarez in a press release Wednesday. “I have expressed the need for this park to the Mayor and my fellow City Council members on multiple occasions during the past year because this park is a top budget priority.”

Felipe Nuno, Ocean View Hills Recreation Council Chair and resident, said the community is urging Mayor Faulconer to provide the funding for the “shovel-ready project” for fiscal year 2016.

A website for Cesar Solis Park was launched Wednesday. For more information on the park project, click here.
 

Two New Yorkers lost everything in Sandy, but three years later they're buying the house of their dreams thanks to a six-figure prize from the CT Lottery.

Dennis Klaus and Maryann Daino each left behind the rubble of their homes in separate boroughs in New York City after the storm swept through in 2013 and moved to New Milford, Connecticut, to start over. According to the New York Post, that's where they both joined the same church and fell in love. 

The CT lottery says the couple bought the winning ticket at a gas station in October and went to the organization's headquarters Monday to claim their $255,555 winnings. Klaus said the couple waited months to claim the prize because they were worried they could lose everything for a second time.

"We took our time claiming the prize,"” he said. "We lost everything before and we didn’t want to lose everything again. We wanted to be careful, so we talked to an accountant and a lawyer first."

Daino said Klaus didn't believe her when she first handed him the ticket and told him they had won.

"He thought I was kidding him," Daino said. "I said, 'No, Dennis, I'm not kidding. This is our new home.'"

The couple planned to go to the bank after claiming the prize to make an offer. 

"It’s the house of our dreams," Daino said. "It’s important that people know... you have to keep the faith because there is life afterwards, and there’s a wonderful life waiting."

Firefighters were called to Otay Mesa Thursday morning after a fire broke out in a trash truck in the middle of a parking lot, officials said.

The blaze began around 8:50 a.m. in a garbage truck at 3020 Coronado Ave., right near Montgomery-Waller Park.

Aerial footage showed a big mess left behind by the truck fire in the parking lot. Officials said no one was injured.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.