Students at a high school in California are being told they must wear gender-specific attire to prom and for yearbook photos, prompting the American Civil Liberties Union to demand district officials step in to end discrimination against students by teachers and administrators at the school.

The ACLU said girls are being told they must wear dresses to the prom and boys must don tuxedos.

"Some female members of (the Gay Straight Alliance) would like to wear tuxedos to prom. Me, myself personally would like to wear tuxedo and heels to prom," said student Levi Smithson-Johnston.

In an 11-page letter to Hesperia Unified School District Interim Superintendent David McLaughlin, the ACLU and law firm Nixon Peabody charged that administrators at  Sultana High School in San Bernardino County foster a hostile and harassing climate for gay and gender non-conforming students.

Teachers and administrators have made discriminatory comments about gay people, and have not stepped in to stop bullying by students, the ACLU said.

Students were also instructed to wear gender-specific attire for their yearbook photos, in violation of state and federal laws, according to the ACLU.

"California law makes it crystal clear schools cannot discriminate against LGBTQ students based on sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression," said Melissa Goodman, ACLU attorney.

Kyle Bodda, president of the Sultana Gay Straight Alliance, said the atmosphere has proven distracting to learning.

"All students should feel safe and free to be themselves at school," Bodda said. "I'm hopeful the administration does the right thing and creates a safe environment where we can be ourselves without fear of being harassed."

Smithson-Johnston, a senior at Sultana High School, said the alleged discrimination began last year when students formed a Gay Straight Alliance club on campus.

"It’s saddening that they would even want to discriminate or even try to hide anybody of their sexual orientation or gender," he said.

In a statement, interim superintendent McLaughlin said he was returning to the district from spring break to "personally oversee a thorough examination of this situation.

"These allegations are deeply concerning and they have my full and focused attention," he said. "While the ACLU letter focuses specifically on the rights of gay and lesbian students, I see it as a moral imperative to reinforce the current efforts in place regarding anti-bullying and tolerance throughout the district."

In one incident, a teacher told a student who commented that he did not have a valentine on Valentine's Day, that that's "because you're gay and nobody wants to be with you." In another, an administrator referred to a gay student's campaign for homecoming queen as a "joke." Another teacher told a student to "take the gay headband off."

The ACLU's letter noted that a gay teacher, who was advisor to the alliance, was told she was "a bad fit" after she helped a student file a complaint against a teacher and her contract was not renewed.

Students and lawyers alleged that administrators have censored the Gay Straight Alliance's public announcements, flyers and activities, such as movie screenings.

Amber Stanford, a junior, said she’d like to see the school’s treatment of LGBTQ and gender non-conforming students "change drastically."

Stanford said she plans on wearing a dress and heels to prom, but has close friends who would be affected by the dress code.

"Any student should be able to wear whatever they want no matter if they are boy or girl because it’s what they feel comfortable in," she said.

The lawyers want written assurances from the district by March 25 that discrimination will end at the school.

The Easter Egg Roll could become another victim of the sequester, the White House warned Monday.

A memo to members of Congress inviting them to attend the April 1 event at the White House included the disclaimer that the event is "subject to cancellation due to funding uncertainty."

The Easter Egg Roll, which hasn’t been canceled yet, is held on the south lawn of the White House.

Invitations were sent to Congress members Friday. Each member is allowed to bring up to four family members, and since it is geared toward children, at least one guest must be younger than 13.

Four members of San Diego City Councilmembers are adding their voices to the national debate over illegal immigration by proposing a resolution that supports legal status for children of illegal immigrants through military service or higher education and a system that tracks expired visas among other things.

San Diego City Councilmembers Kevin Faulconer, Mark Kersey, Lorie Zapf, and Scott Sherman outlined their positions Monday.

“Immigration has a direct and tangible impact on the San Diego-Tijuana border,” Kersey was quoted in a written news release. “Decisions on reform may be made in Washington, D. C., but the impact of those decisions will be felt locally...”

The proposal supports allowing undocumented immigrants currently living in the U.S. to earn legal status.

It also calls for an entry-exit system that will track people entering the U.S. on non-immigrant Visas to ensure they are no longer living in the U.S. once their visas have expired.

The councilmembers also want to see employers held more accountable for hiring illegal immigrants and a better system to stop document falsification.

The proposal would ask Congress to ensure adequate staffing at ports of entry like San Ysidro and Otay Mesa to screen those entering at the U.S. while at the same time keeping wait times low.

The councilmembers are asking the full council to approve their proposal at the March 20th rules committee meeting and send a copy to President Barack Obama and local Congressional leaders.
 

Trying to stem an overwhelming number of crashes attributed to distracted driving, police plan a blitz of California freeways in April to ticket motorists caught using their phones while driving.

Hundreds of police agencies across the state are planning a crackdown on the five-year anniversary of a law that was put into place to help stem the problem. The push is happening during Distracted Driver Awareness Month.

“Studies show that 90 percent of drivers think they can drive better than everyone else -- everyone thinks they’re special,” said Chris Cochran, spokesman for the California Office of Traffic Safety, which tracks roadway statistics.

The effort is a way for law enforcement to try and curb the 1.3 million crashes that occur nationally every year that are blamed on distracted driving, according to National Safety Council, non-profit that works to prevent crashes involving distracted driving.

In California, police issue hundreds of thousands of tickets for distracted driving every year -- over 400,000 alone in 2012. That's a 31 percent jump over 2009, according to the California Office of Traffic Safety.

The number of tickets issued for texting alone in the state jumped sevenfold, from nearly 3,000 in 2008 to over 21,000 in 2012.

Cochran shared the excuses drivers give when pulled over for texting and driving.

“A lot of people will use the ‘prayer while driving’ excuse,” Cochran said. Some people, he added, say "I was checking out my shoelaces.”

New cell phone laws took effect July 1, 2008 in California. They said drivers age 18 and over may use hands-free devices while driving. Drivers under the age of 18 may not use any type of hand-held or hands-free wireless phone while driving, according to the California Department of Motor Vehicles.

That year, police began ticketing motorists for texting while driving.

Despite the intent of the to discourage the practice, the number of tickets that police have issued has doubled every year since, according to the state's Office of Traffic Safety.

At least two bills are making their way through the state legislature that are designed to strengthen the penalties for distracted driving.

The penalty for a first offense for texting and driving is $159. A motorist caught a second time can face a $279 fine.

A driver who's caught breaking the law more than twice will not lose his driver's license.

Some companies are stepping up to try to further restrict the temptation to multitask while driving.

A North Carolina-based company recently created a “Dock-N-Lock” system that would only allow the vehicle to start when a mobile phone is docked into the dashboard.

The company plans to roll out the system in June.

Cochran hopes California's crackdown gets the message out that driving while distracted is dangerous.

If you're sniffing, sneezing and coughing – you're not alone. Doctors said this year’s allergy season is starting early.

Allergies usually strike in April, but this year, pollen counts were unusually high in February.

On the roof of a College Area medical building, a machine collects microscopic pollen from the air that provides a daily sample and count of nature's irritants. Last week, total tree pollen was 203 on Tuesday, and less than 11 on Wednesday.

Dr. Bruce Prenner has been treating allergy patients, and studying the affliction, for 30 years. He says the amount of rainfall does not impact the amount of pollen in the air.    Instead, pollen count is part of nature's natural, and still mysterious, cycles.

“There's a underlying degree of inflammation that we're trying to control, so by having the antihistamine on board, you can reduce the likelihood of the patient being as severe,” he said.

Prenner said if you have symptoms, see a doctor to make sure it's an allergy. He also recommended taking allergy medicine as prescribed every day.

The issue of race in the City of Bortherly Love has come to the forefront after a recent Philadelphia Magazine cover story called “Being White in Philly.”

The article, written by Bob Huber, a white man, describes the experiences of white people who live in racially mixed neighborhoods in Philadelphia. The story garnered plenty of attention since it appeared at the beginning of March especially since Mayor Michael Nutter got a hold of it.

On Friday, Nutter sent a letter to the city’s Commission on Human Relations in response to the article. In his letter, Nutter claimed the article had a “disgusting tone” and criticized its “collection of disparaging beliefs and negative stereotypes.” He also claimed the story “used isolated negative experiences” and made “generalizations” to portray African Americans as lazy, irresponsible and criminal. Nutter requested that the city’s Commission on Human Relations conduct an “inquiry” into the state of racial issues in Philadelphia.

Rue Landau, the Executive Director on Human Relations, agreed, claiming that the article perpetuated “harmful stereotypes.” He also stated the Commission is currently looking at “relations in the city.”

Huber defended his article in an email, claiming his goal when writing the piece was to simply address the city’s problems in race relations and to “push for a better dialogue.” While he agreed with the Mayor’s decision to ask for an inquiry on the city’s racial issues, he also called Nutter’s description of the article “off the mark to the point of absurdity.”

Tom McGrath, the editor of Philadelphia Magazine, also called Nutter’s statements “sophomoric,” according to Philly.com. McGrath accused Nutter of being “more interested in scoring political points than having a serious conversation about race.”

On Monday, McGrath hosted a panel discussion on the article and the issues it has raised at the National Constitution Center. More than 250 people showed up for the event titled "Can We Talk About Race?"

"We have never been able to resolve the issue of race in our society," said Walter Palmer, one of the panelists.

After the panel, McGrath admitted that the article had flaws.

"I think the flaws in this piece were exacerbated by mistakes in terms of the topic," he said. "The one thing I think we might have done a bit differently is how we framed it."

The Human Resources Commission also voted to have a public meeting on the article on April 18 in Fairmount-Brewerytown.

The reaction to the article from Philadelphia residents has been mixed.

“I thought the magazine was inappropriate to put outside,” said Yvette Rocco who works at a local newsstand. “I didn’t like what the cover said.”

"I thought it was an older white male who visited a particular neighborhood and wrote about his experience," said Christopher Norris, a journalist. "I think he has the right to do so."

“The more dialogue we have on race and race issues, the more understanding we have of where other people are coming from,” said James Brunson.

Chad Lassiter, a sociologist who teaches at the University of Pennsylvania and West Chester University believes the article has provided a valuable opportunity for the city to openly discuss the issue of race.

“We need not engage in reactionary politics,” he said. “We need to call for a race dialogue in the city of Philadelphia. We need to look at ourselves and how we’re not being tolerant. We need to become more tolerant and embrace difference.”

The Spreckels mansion, a landmark in one of San Diego's most exclusive neighborhoods, is for sale.

An investment group is selling the house formerly owned by pharmaceutical company executive Jonah Shacknai. Shacknai sold the 12,750 sq. ft. mansion last year to an investment group.

In July 2011, Shacknai’s son Max fell down the stairs at the Spreckels mansion and died as a result of an injured spinal cord. Two days after the fall, Shacknai’s girlfriend Rebecca Zahau was found hanging nude by a rope around her neck from the second-story balcony above the home's courtyard. The death was later ruled a suicide by officials.

Click here for a timeline of the deaths at Spreckels mansion

The ocean front home at 1043 Ocean Blvd. is listed at $16.9 million. It recently underwent a major renovation.

Real estate agent Scott Aurich said last year that Shacknai originally purchased the historic mansion for $12.75 million.

Residents in the North County are being asked to keep an eye out for a man wanted for annoying and harassing a child in Vista.

San Diego County sheriff’s deputies released a sketch of the suspect Monday.

Deputies say a man resembling the sketch was driving a Toyota pickup truck in the parking lot of Foothill Oak Elementary School on Monday, March 11 at 1:13 p.m.

The man approached a 10-year-old girl and told her to get in the truck because her mom had asked him to pick her up from school.

The child reported the man to school officials.

He was last seen driving northbound on Oak Drive. 

Deputies say the suspect has a bruised or blackened right eye with a cut underneath it. He also had a nose piercing and a tattoo of a dragon on his right upper arm. 

The black Toyota had a cracked rear window and a dent on the passenger side officials said.

Anyone with information on the name or location of the suspect wanted in this case can call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 888-580-8477.
 

Dozens of the Navy’s Blue Angels shows have been canceled because of sequestration.

Officials are cutting air shows to save an estimated $28 million in budget cuts.

But military shows aren’t the only thing facing cancellation – flyovers at games and special events are also on the chopping block.  Those events are typically where the general public can get a glimpse into some of the military's most impressive machines.

The Air Force also announced all of its public air support including flyovers at sporting events and several air shows around the country.

People who enjoy watching the events said it’s a shame the events are canceled for now.

"Little kids love that stuff, going with their families,” said Jessica Harrington. “It's a great opportunity to really see where some of our tax dollars go towards. So, it's sad to have that taken away.”

One person suggested that venues pay the military for the special flyovers.

“Any stadium, I mean they have the sporting event in a certain stadium, they should be able to manage the funding themselves, you know,” said Sarin Poco. “They pay pro athletes plenty of money; I think they can afford to pay for the flyover."

The Miramar Air show is still on the October schedule for now, and today a base spokesperson told us they will proceed with plans for all of their attractions unless told otherwise. And a spokesperson for the Padres said the team is looking for other, non-military options for the upcoming opening day.

San Diego's lodging industry apparently will take its chances in court -- rather than deal with Mayor Filner -- for money to promote the region to tourists and conventioneers.
           
On Monday, Filner's latest appeal for concessions was ignored.

The industry’s Tourism Marketing District is asking a judge to force Filner to release millions of dollars in room surcharges that it needs to bankroll promotional campaigns.
           
Now in limbo: a  beach-and-bay oriented TV commercial, featuring a sprightly theme song, that TMD is targeting for markets throughout the West Coast and eastward to the Rockies and beyond.

"We have a lot more to offer than some of our competing destinations,” says Joe Terzi, president and CEO of the San Diego Tourism Authority.  "It's a question of, are we going to be out talking to people about coming to San Diego?  I think our (commercial) spots, they do a great job of capturing what San Diego's all about -- and that's that true Southern California experience …

"These commercials,” Terzi told NBC 7 in an interview, “generate about 4 million room nights for San Diego over a period of time.   So you can argue that people are going to come here -- yes.  But how many people will decide to go somewhere else because they don't see San Diego?  A significant portion."

San Diego hotels, through their Tourism Marketing District, are generating upwards of $30 million a year in 2 percent room surcharges.
           
But legalities require the mayor's signature to release that money -- collected by the city -- and he's refusing on grounds that they're illegal taxes, calling the arrangement “a sweetheart deal for the big hoteliers.”
           
Dozens of Tourism Authority marketing employees have just gotten pink slips that could take effect over the next several weeks.
           
Filner says that's an issue the nine biggest hotels whose "weighted" voting power created the TMD in a private election should address, by assessing themselves for funds to promote the city.

"Why is it the mayor that's being blamed for this -- they're the ones who wanted to do this," Filner told reporters during a city hall news conference.   "They don't need the city to collect this anyway.  They are charging a room tax that goes to them … they want (all hotels) assessed so they don't have to pay it all … if the city has to assess and force (hotels) to pay who didn't want to pay this 'self-assessment', what is that called?  I think it's tax -- pretty obvious to everybody here."

Filner’s settlement offer to the TMD is predicated on the district allocating $5 million to the 2015 Balboa Park centennial celebration, and encouraging its member hotels to pay "living wages" to its workers.
           
The mayor also wants to TMD not to  contract with marketing firms that pay executive salaries of more than $160,000 –  including the Tourism Authority’s chief, Terzi, who receives $430,000 in annual compensation.

Political observers say Filner’s real issue in court is preserving his “strong mayor” discretion over contracts, and that the legal nuances of the surcharge scheme will be up to other opponents of the TMD to challenge.

"This all comes down to: Does the mayor get something out of this standoff?” says Voice of San Diego columnist Scott Lewis.   “And if he can hold something up and say 'Look, without me you wouldn't have gotten this -- that's a big deal for him."

TMD directors, meeting Wednesday afternoon, later told NBC 7 that everything Filner was proposing had been rejected.
           
They'll see him in court Friday, seeking an writ of mandate compelling him to sign the necessary paperwork to free up the surcharge money.

A Manhattan Beach law firm, retained by the city, will represent the mayor.

Three suspects accused of conspiring to kill a North County Marine wife are bound for trial.

Suspects Jessica Lynn Lopez, Dorothy Maraglino and Sgt. Louis Perez are accused of luring 22-year-old Marine wife Brittany Killgore into a deadly trap at their Fallbrook home last April.

Officials say Killgore was an unwilling participant in a deadly sex game at the hands of the trio, who were involved in a bondage, discipline and sadomasochistic lifestyle.

Killgore went missing on April 13 after agreeing to go on a dinner cruise with Perez, an acquaintance at the time. She was found dead – nude and mutilated – on April 17 near Lake Skinner in Riverside County.

Click here for a TIMELINE of the Killgore Murder Case

Prosecutors claim the three defendants conspired to kidnap, torture and sexually assault Killgore.

The three defendants were in court last week for a preliminary hearing. Throughout the week, many witnesses took the stand, detailing Killgore’s last days and the BDSM lifestyle the defendants practiced at the home they shared on East Fallbrook Street.

A detective also took the stand last week and read the full suicide letter written by Lopez in April 2012, which describes in detail how Killgore was killed.

Closing arguments ended Monday afternoon. Lopez, Maraglino and Perez will all be tried together and are currently held without bail. It is unknown at this time when they will next appear in court.

Two people riding in a just-purchased Lamborghini took off after the sports car crashed into a wall.

The collision happened at La Jolla Village Drive and La Jolla Scenic Drive at 11:45 p.m. Monday. Watch video

The Lamborghini, still with dealer plates from Lamborghini Newport Beach, was left in the middle of the street according to San Diego police.

The driver and passenger fled the scene according to investigators. See images

One witness told investigators two people were seen leaving the car.

One was described as a blonde woman believed to be in her 50s wearing a black hoodie. A man who was shorter than the woman was spotted as well officers said.

The Lamborghini was a 2008 model.

King James rules over not just the basketball court, but also life and death -- on Wikipedia at least.

During Monday's game between the Celtics and Heat, LeBron James hammered a monstrous dunk over Jason Terry, following which the Miami Heat extended its winning streak to 23 games in a row. James' slam soon became a social media sensation and also the cause of death on Terry's Wikipedia page.

"On March 18, 2013, Terry was killed by NBA forward LeBron James," the page read. "The cause of death is being viciously dunked on."

A few minutes prior to the dunk went like this: Dwyane Wade stole the ball from Terry, passed it to Mario Chalmers. Then Norris Cole lobbed up to LeBron from underneath the basket, who caught the ball in air, and made the dunk over Terry's head. The Celtics shooting guard tried to block the shot, but landed on his back.

There was no time lost in comparing LeBron with the LA Clippers' DeAndre Jordan, who nailed a massive dunk over the Detroit Pistons' Brandon Knight last week. That dunk also trended on Twitter and led to a premature death report on Wikipedia.

"Somewhere Brandon Knight is like...thank you LeBron," one person wrote in a caption on a photo posted on YardBarker.

"Most brutal to the little man? LeBron James over Jason Terry or DeAndre Jordan over Brandon Knight?" tweeted another fan.

Friends and family gathered Tuesday to remember a 6-month-old Chicago girl who was fatally shot last week while sitting on her father's lap.

As Jonylah Watkins' family wept outside the chuch, her small coffin was placed among stuffed rows of animals and toys. The 11 a.m. funeral at New Beginnings Church was standing room only, and crowds gathered outside waiting to get in.

"Jonylah, affectionately known as 'Smooch,' was loved and adored by many," her funeral program reads. "Jonylah was the apple of her parents' eyes. Jonylah had an infectious smile that continually warmed her mother's heart."

During the service, Jonylah's grandmother, Mary Young, read a poem dedicated to stopping violence. "Killing one another will no longer be tolerated by anyone," Young said.

"Our young is in danger on the streets of this town," she said. "Take back your homes."

New Beginnings Pastor Corey Brooks said Jonylah is the youngest victim of gun violence he's ever buried. "It's the youngest child I've ever had to be shot and killed, murdered," he said. "That is totally different than anything I've ever experienced before and something I never, ever want to experience again."

Jonylah was in the family van with her father, Jonathon Watkins, when someone approached and opened fire in the city's Woodlawn neighborhood, police said. That's contrary to initial reports given right after the shooting occurred.

Police Supt. Garry McCarthy said Monday he wanted to set the record straight about what happened. Last week police said Jonylah was shot five times while her father changed her diaper in the passenger seat.

McCarthy said the little girl actually was on her dad's lap in the driver's seat when the gunman approached from the passenger side. McCarthy also said Jonylah was shot once, not the five times the family originally said.

McCarthy said Jonathon Watkins, who has gang ties and 39 arrests, was clearly the intended target. He is cooperating with police, McCarthy said, but needs to offer more.

"At this point, we think there's a lot more that he can help us with, but he is, in fact, cooperating with the investigation," he said. "We think that there's more that he can tell us."

Still McCarthy said he has no doubt an arrest will be made in the tragic case. 

An $11,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of the shooter.

A California proposal to use online courses to soften a higher-education funding crisis has the rest of the country watching for lessons in how to deal with the rapid expansion of high-tech learning.

The experiment, floated by a Sacramento lawmaker last week, would allow the nearly half-million students on waiting lists at the state's public universities and colleges to take online courses instead.

The bill has been touted as a way to release pressure on a system overwhelmed by a surge in enrollment and crippling budget cuts. But it could also open the door to free "massive open online courses" (known as MOOCs) developed by private, third-party vendors — a development that could spark massive changes in the the country's education system.

Many other states are grappling with issues of limited money and higher enrollments — both of which are functions of the country's economic downturn — and are toying with ways to offer online courses, but none so much as California. They view the California proposal as an experiment that could help guide them, warily, into an uncertain future.

"They're all a little spooked at what's going to happen," said Eric Hanushek, a fellow at the Hoover Institution of Stanford University who studies the economics of education. "We have these MOOCs, and no one understands the business model behind them, how to charge for them, who pays for them, who gets credit for them and in what way."

The results, he said, could lead to a revolution in the higher education industry, with Silicon Valley startups rushing to meet demand.

Like many innovations, the California experiment was born of calamity. The state's three-tiered system of universities and colleges was created to give students of all talents and means a way to earn a degree. It was a huge success, but relied on massive amounts of state funding to keep tuition low. Starting in the late 1970s, taxpayers and lawmakers began to reduce that flow of cash. Tuition and fees went up. So did student debt. Faculty were laid off, and course offerings reduced. Officials estimate that 470,000 students at California's community colleges cannot get into classes required for graduation.

The crisis coincided with the rapid growth in the number of online courses developed by private for-profit startups, many of them free.

Advocates of the California proposal say that if it succeeds, it could lead more states to try MOOCs, especially as pensions and health benefits eat up a growing amount of state money, and the Obama administration pushes for ways to make higher education more affordable.

California "is probably a bellwether for what's going to happen across the country, because the business models for these public institutions are broken," said Michael Horn, director of the Innosight Institute, a Bay Area think tank that pushes innovation to solve education problems. "These startups are going to see an opportunity and want to meet it."

"I think what you're going to see in terms of a trend is the state tinkering with online courses," said Matthew Smith, policy analyst at the Education Commission of the States. "They'll watch the failure and dropout rate, and then if they find success there will be a large scaling."

Officials in many of those other states are watching with a mix of interest and skepticism.

"California is in a much different situation than we are," said Karen Hunter Anderson, vice president of the Illinois Community College Board, which has seen a surge in enrollment over the last five years and has its own internal system of online courses. "I think that the community colleges and university administration and faculty in Illinois are very wary of using MOOCs as a solution to the current higher education issues."

Steven Johnson, the vice president of public affairs for the Texas Association of Community Colleges, which has lobbied against state funding cuts at a time of higher enrollments, said the system's existing online offerings suited students fine.

But Hanushek, of the Hoover Institution, said that any states that fail to take MOOCs seriously are in danger of getting "run over."

"Some of these online courses are really well done," with higher production values and better teaching than some traditional core courses at public universities, he said. And they could be cheaper than what the brick-and-mortar school is charging.

"Of course, there's still the question of what is the business model," Hanushek continued. "How do you pay for the development of these courses, and get the returns you need?"

That, he said, is why "California could be the experiment that everyone watches."

To see a "Class Action" video on a Silicon Valley startup, Coursera, which is one of the largest platforms in the booming industry of online classes, and its founder, Andrew Ng, click here.

View more videos at: http://nbcbayarea.com.

The Statue of Liberty will reopen to the public on July 4, more than nine months after Hurricane Sandy destroyed its docks, security screening system and energy infrastructure.

New York Sen. Charles Schumer told NBC 4 New York Tuesday that the patriotic landmark will reopen on the holiday. The U.S. Department of the Interior confirmed the date is set.

“It’s good news, it’s a little overdue, but at least it’s there and now we’ll watch like a hawk to make sure that this promise is kept,” Schumer said.

In January, Congress approved $59 million for repairing the national parks, but until Tuesday, there had been no timetable for completion, the I-Team reported last week.

A portion of that money will fund the repairs to the electric system as well as the landscaping wrecked by the infamous October storm. A permanent deck will also be installed to make the statue better prepared for future storms.

See photos of the damage to the statue here.

“One thing we wanted to make sure of was that not only would you be able to visit the island but you would be able to climb up to the statue itself, and that will be open on July 4,” Schumer said.  

The repairs will also bring back 400 people who work for the Statue of Liberty and about 1,000 who work in the tourist industry.

“It’s coming back bigger and better than before, just like New York was after Sandy,” Schumer said. 

RELATED: I-Team Talks to Statue of Liberty Workers Frustrated by Delays