Indiana Gov. Mike Pence on Tuesday said a bill he signed into law week has been "grossly mischaracterized" and subjected to "shoddy reporting," but said he and legislators have been working around the clock to draft new legislation to clarify its intent.

"We've got a perception problem here ... and we intend to correct that," Pence told reporters during a morning press conference from Indianapolis.

The Republican reiterated earlier comments that the intent of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act was not to discriminate but to protect religious freedom. The measure prohibits state laws that "substantially burden" a person's ability to follow his or her religious beliefs. The definition of "person" includes religious institutions, businesses and associations.

Gays and lesbians are not a protected class under Indiana’s civil rights laws, and critics of the law alleged it could provide some businesses the opportunity to refuse providing services or selling goods to some people based on religious grounds.

Pence said he found that claim "offensive," and called upon the state's General Assembly to address the issue.

"This law does not give businesses a right to deny services to anyone," he said. "The intent of the law was to give the courts in our state the highest level of scrutiny in cases where people feel that their religious liberty is being infringed upon by government action."

His comments Tuesday were a follow-up to an op-ed piece he penned for the Wall Street Journal that the law was not a "license to discriminate."

"I abhor discrimination," he wrote. "I believe in the Golden Rule that you should ‘do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

The law sparked outrage from many in Indiana's business community and others with ties -- established and planned -- to the Hoosier state. The public-employee union known as AFSCME announced Monday it was canceling a planned women's conference in Indianapolis this year because of the law. The band Wilco said it was canceling a May performance. Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe issued an open letter to Indiana corporations saying Virginia is a business-friendly state that does "not discriminate against our friends and neighbors," while Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel sent letters to more than a dozen Indiana businesses, urging them to relocate to a "welcoming place to people of all races, faiths and countries of origin."

As April 15 approaches, are you sure you'll be getting every cent back from the government that you're entitled to? You may not be, if you're missing out on some often overlooked tax breaks.

Americans could be leaving millions of dollars on the table because they miss useful deductions and credits, say financial experts.

Here are ten to keep in mind as you prepare your tax returns.

1. Summer camp costs: if both parents are working, day camp and sports camp costs can be deducted as part of the child and dependent care credit.

2. Claim parents as dependents: if you provide more than half the support of your parents, you may be entitled to claim them as dependents on your return.

3.  Certain wedding expenses: if you got married in 2014 at a church or historical site, you may be able to write off the fees you paid to the venue as a charitable donation. This also applies to any donations of flowers, decorations or leftover food from your wedding. You might also be able to write off your wedding gown, if you donated it to a charitable organization.

4. Work-related moving expenses: job-related moving expenses that are not reimbursed by your new employer may be tax-deductible.

5. Property damage: unreimbursed damage and losses to your home, household items or vehicles that were caused by an unexpected or unusual event — like a natural disaster or a serious car accident that you didn't cause — may be deductible.

6. Energy-saving upgrades: improvements like energy-efficient windows or solar panels could make you eligible for a tax credit.

7. Social security benefits: most of your social security is tax-free, unless you have other income that puts you into the mid-to-higher-income brackets.

8. Home business expenses: if you run a home-based business, you may be able to deduct the cost of your office and equipment.

9. Continuing education: if youtook courses to enhance your skills and qualifications for your current job, you may be able to deduct them.

10. Earned-income credit: If your "earned" income is low to moderate, it may qualify you for a tax credit.

Police are searching for two people who were caught on camera slashing tires in a San Fernando neighborhood over the weekend, officials said Tuesday.

Surveillance footage from a nearby business, Ameritek Industries, shows two males stabbing car tires as they walk along Maclay Avenue around 1 a.m. Monday. 

The tire slashing took place sometime between March 28 and March 30, police said.

"I went outside and I heard air coming out of my tires," said Liz Hernandez, one of the victims.

"We've never had anything like this," she said. "For me, it was really surprising."

Police got three calls about tires being slashed, but only two reports have been filed, said San Fernando Police Chief Anthony Vairo.

Detectives are reviewing the surveillance footage and hope to release a more detailed description of the pair. The age range of the two pictured was not immediately clear.

While police have only confirmed two cases of tire slashing, neighbors told NBC4 they believe as many as 30 tires were punctured. Police are working to find out if there are more victims.

Several residents think they recognize the two caught on camera and have turned the information over to authorities.

"We have a few leads," Vairo said.

Police are investigating whether the slashers may be targeting a specific resident or whether the vandalism is simply a scam to drum up business for repair shops.

Based on the two reports filed, police estimate the damage at about $400. But one woman who asked to remain anonymous told NBC4 three of her family's vehicles had tires slashed, leaving her with a more than $500 repair bill.

While police search for the tire slashers, Hernandez has a message for the men responsible.

"Please don't do it again," she said. "Have some consideration for the people around here that work hard."

Anyone with information is asked to call the San Fernando Police Department at 818-898-1267.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and the U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez met with Los Angeles workers on Tuesday to discuss widespread wage violations.

The Cesar Chavez Day "A Fair Day's Pay" forum gave workers the opportunity to share stories of how wage violations impact their families and drive poverty in the community, according to a statement. Angelenos shared firsthand accounts with Garcetti and Perez.

A 2010 study from UCLA estimates that low-wage workers in Los Angeles lose $26.2 million per week as a result of employment and labor law violations. Some examples of wage violations include paying workers less than the minimum wage, forcing workers to work extra hours without extra compensation and failing to pay workers for overtime.

Perez said that local, state and federal agencies need to step in and fix the problem.

"We're working together on a very aggressive enforcement strategy," Perez said. "We have both state local and federal officials working together to make sure that if you're cheating people … there are a lot of cops on the street and we're going to make you pay."

But, enforcing wage laws can be very tough.

One man at the forum said he sued and won a $20,000 settlement against his former employer in 2013, but has yet to receive a penny of that settlement.

A community is in mourning after a teen boy discovered his parents dead with wounds from a chainsaw inside a Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, home Tuesday.

"It strikes home," said Eric Shallcross, a family friend. "It's unbelievable."

The 14-year-old boy told police he found his parents unresponsive inside their home on the 1100 block of Country Lane in Lower Moreland around 12:50 p.m. Investigators said the victims, a 48-year-old man and his 43-year-old wife, had lacerations from a chainsaw that was found lying nearby. 

Prosecutors confirmed one of the deaths was a homicide while the other is under investigation. Officials also say they are not searching for any suspects in the case.

Police are not identifying the couple pending the notification of all family members.

Aside from their 14-year-old son, the couple had two other boys who were not in the home when they were found dead. Eric Carswell, the pastor of Bryn Athyn Church, was teaching religion class to one of the children when the school learned about the incident.

"This is not what we would wish for anybody," Carswell said. "I'm very grateful for a sense that the boys have an extended family that is really taking good care of them."

Friends of the victims gathered at Bryn Athyn Cathedral Tuesday night for a prayer vigil.

Friends also told NBC10 there were problems in the couple's marriage.

"I knew they had some complications with their marriage," Shallcross said. "But a lot of marriages do. Most marriages do, I'm sure."

An autopsy on the couple is scheduled for Wednesday, said prosecutors.

UPDATE: Officials have revealed new details on White's death. CLICK HERE for the latest developments

Officials are investigating the death of a New Jersey man who died while in police custody Tuesday.

"As many of you have already heard, earlier today a tragedy occurred involving Officers and a citizen," said Vineland Police Chief Timothy Codispoti. "Sadly, this call for service resulted in an “in–custody, non-shooting death” which is being investigated by the Cumberland County Prosecutor’s office"

The man, identified as Phillip White, was arrested at a home on the 100 block of Grape Street in Vineland, New Jersey around 11 a.m. Tuesday. He died shortly after while in custody.

Witnesses told NBC10 officers were extremely physical with White after he was already restrained and unconscious on the street.

"They punched him, stomped him, kicked him and then they let the dog out of the car," said Ricardo Garcia. "The dog bit him on his face and around his body. There's no call for that. Once a man is handcuffed and unconscious, you should have stuck him in the patrol car and take him to the police station. Instead they decided to beat him right here." 

A dog is heard barking on a police dispatch recording of the incident.

"118 West Grape," the dispatcher says in the recording. "Subject...hyperventilating. Officers out."

An officer is also heard on the recording.

"Slow all units down," the officer says. "Subject under...tried disarming me." 

The Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office is currently investigating the incident. A spokesperson for the office told NBC10 White was being arrested but they haven't revealed why.

White's aunt, Valerie White, told NBC10 she is desperate for answers.

"Why, what he was doing, I don't know," she said. "I'm trying to get answers and closure now. He lived a street life but he was a human being. Bottom line." 

While police have not yet released information regarding what led to the arrest or how White died,  Chief Codispoti expressed his condolences for his family.

"Our sincere thoughts and prayers are with the family of the deceased and with the Officers involved," he said. " I ask that everyone allow time for our justice system to now investigate this matter to its truthful conclusion. The Vineland Police Department is cooperating with the prosecutor’s office and I urge anyone with information regarding this incident to contact the prosecutor’s office with your information. At this time updates regarding the progress of this investigation are being released through the prosecutor’s office."

Eastbound lanes of Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, Calif., were shut down after a car involved in a film set struck three pedestrians and a fire hydrant Tuesday night, deputies said.

The car involved in the 8 p.m. crash was part of an unspecified film set, which was located next to where the crash took place, deputies with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said.

Three people were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, deputies said. At least one of the victims had to be airlifted.

Westbound lanes were reopened to traffic near Big Rock Drive after deputies temporarily shut down both sides of the highway. 

All lanes reopened on PCH at 12:20 a.m. Wednesday.

A suspected illegal street race in Gardena turned deadly when a driver of a Ford Mustang crashed and was thrown from the car, police said.

The driver was possibly racing an Audi when his Mustang crashed about 4:50 p.m. Tuesday near Vermont Avenue and 155th Street, Gardena Police Department officials said.

The car was said to have been driving at freeway speeds when it slammed into a white Honda, rolled over and skidded to a stop against a bowling alley. The Mustang driver was ejected from the car. He was declared dead at the scene.

A passenger was taken to the hospital in unknown condition.

"(The passenger) was a girl. They crawled out of the black car and they took her in the ambulance, so she survived," witness Ana Quintana said.

The white Audi, described as possibly an A4 model from 2008 or newer, fled south of Vermont Avenue. Four cars were damaged or destroyed during the crash.
 

Residents are upset, with some even urging others not to pay rent for the next two months as show of protest after eviction notices were served to tenants of a senior living facility in Long Beach.

A 60-day written eviction notice was delivered to 76-year-old Maggie Macklin and some 80 other residents at Breakers senior living facility on Ocean Boulevard.

"It wasn't on my bucket list to be evicted at my age," said Maggie Macklin, the residents’ association president.

The letter from the owner and operator of Breakers comes on the heels of recently settled allegations that seniors received improper care. It explains Breakers will no longer be a licensed residential care facility.

"I planned to stay here until they take me out in a box — and really everyone else," Macklin said.

Macklin is not only upset about having to move out, she also can't believe who signed a new
lease for the building.

Solid Landings, a Costa Mesa-based provider of rehab services signed the lease earlier this year.

"Right above them is a sky room with a fancy fancy bar! What are they going to have put guards at their elevator up there?" Macklin said.

Macklin plans to lead a protest during the next informational meeting on Thursday.

But other residents, like Jerry Freels, are urging his neighbors not to jump to conclusions.

"I've tried to convey that to my neighbors and fellow residents to stay calm, wait till they have the final meeting," he said.

Freels has nothing but compliments, not only for his fellow residents but also for the staff and management of the building.

He said he's not looking for a new place, until he gets more answers.

"It's a great community — I particularly don't want to lose that it very, very important," he said.

NBC4 did reach out to the president of the Sign of the Dove, the operator of the building.

He returned a phone call and said he would not be ready to comment until the informational meeting on Thursday.

A cleanup operation was underway overnight Wednesday after a hazardous materials spill at the University of California.

The accident happened at the Uytengsu Aquatics Center on the main campus, the college's Twitter account said.

Students were urged to stay away while the cleanup was taking place. 

The operation was predicted to take several hours to complete, and McClintock Avenue was closed from 34th Street to Childs Way. Gate 6 was open for both entry and exit as an alternate.

Police were investigating the circumstances surrounding the discovery of human remains by a hiker in the Hollywood Hills area Tuesday afternoon.

A hiker reported finding body parts and bones in the 3300 block of Bonnie Hill Drive about 2:30 p.m., Los Angeles Police Department officials said.

The discovery was made about a block away from another death investigation, but police said the two were "probably not" related.

Refresh this page for updates on this developing story.

Andrew Getty, the grandson of oil tycoon J. Paul Getty, died at his Hollywood Hills home Tuesday, a spokesman for his parents confirmed in a written statement.

Police are investigating his death. Getty was 47.

The short statement, issued through PR Newswire, on behalf of Ann and Gordon Getty asked for privacy and said additional statements will be made as more information is available.

LAPD officers were dispatched after 2 p.m. to Getty's longtime home in the 2900 block of Montcalm Avenue after a call came in from an unidentified woman who reported someone dead in the bathroom.

Tuesday night, LA County Coroner's Assistant Chief Ed Winter said the cause of death appeared initially to be "natural or an accident" and not criminal. Winter said prescription bottles were collected at the home.

"He was not feeling good for the last couple of months and he supposedly had an appointment scheduled for tomorrow with a personal physician," Winter said.

Sources familiar with the investigation told NBC News that there was trauma to Getty's body but that its cause wasn't immediately unidentifiable.

Getty was found lying on his side between a bathroom and hallway.

Earlier in the day, LAPD spokesman Andrew Smith said the cause of death was "undetermined" and the case will be investigated by the LAPD’s Robbery Homicide Division, which handles high profile and complicated investigations.

Sources said it was not immediately clear if they were dealing with a homicide or a death by other means. The sources confirmed there was trauma to the body but details about the cause of death were not immediately available.

The Los Angeles County Coroner typically takes the lead in a death investigation. But if there is a crime, the LAPD will take the lead for the duration of the investigation.

Andrew Getty is a son of Gordon P. Getty, who was reported by Forbes in 2011 to have a net worth of $2 billion. Forbes last year listed the Getty family as No. 54 on a list of America's Richest Families.

The Los Angeles Times reported that Getty filed court papers two weeks ago seeking a restraining order against a woman.

The Getty family has had a colorful history. J. Paul Getty had five children over the course of five marriages. One of his daughters-in-law died of a heroin overdose. J. Paul Getty III was kidnapped in the 1970s and had one of his ears cut off before his grandfather agreed to pay the ransom.

About a decade after J. Paul Getty died in 1976, Gordon Getty arranged the sale of Getty Oil to Texaco.

NBC News' Andrew Blankstein and City News Service contributed to this report.

Music legend Joni Mitchell is still hospitalized but is "doing better," her spokeswoman told The Los Angeles Times on Wednesday.

The singer-songwriter was taken to a Los Angeles hospital after being found unconscious at her home in Bel Air Tuesday, according to her official website.

Mitchell, 71, is said to have regained consciousness soon after, and is receiving treatment for an unknown ailment. The spokeswoman told LA Times, Mitchell is undergoing tests to determine the cause of the incident.

A statement on her website, which is not run by the singer, said: "Joni was found unconscious in her home this afternoon. She regained consciousness on the ambulance ride to an L.A. area hospital.

"She is currently in intensive care undergoing tests and is awake and in good spirits. More updates to come as we hear them. Light a candle and sing a song, let's all send good wishes her way."

A Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman confirmed they had attended her residence, but would not reveal the identity of the individual who received treatment.

NBC4 contacted Mitchell's representatives for comment, but has yet to receive a response.

The phrase "Joni Mitchell please be okay" was trending on Twitter Wednesday, while musical titans such as Boy George, Billy Idol and LeAnn Rimes also tweeted messages of support.

In December it emerged she is no longer able to perform as she is suffering from rare skin condition, Morgellons disease.

"I can't sing any more - don't miss it. I can't play any more - don't miss it. I've got all these instruments laying around and hopefully one day I'll pick them up," she told Billboard.

Morgellons is a condition in which thread-like fibers appear under the skin, and patients often complain of feeling crawling or stinging all over.

But while some medical experts say it is a physical illness, others suggest it is a type of psychosis.

The Canadian-born star, who later settled in Southern California, has contributed to a range of genres during her career, including folk rock, folk jazz, jazz, pop

Her best known songs include 70s classics "Big Yellow Taxi" and "Woodstock," while her 1971 recording Blue is rated the 30th best album ever made by Rolling Stone magazine.

Pepper spray and a rugged hillside climb didn't stop a courageous police K-9 who helped bust members of a suspected burglary ring in the foothills east of Los Angeles.

Belgian Malinois Bo gave chase after four burglars caught in the act by a neighbor ran from the scene in Glendora just after 3 p.m. Wednesday, a police department spokesman said. Two subjects were arrested just after officers responded to the neighbor's report, but two other burglars ran up a nearby hillside.

That's when officers set up a perimeter and 3-year-old rookie K-9 officer Bo faced his first real-world law enforcement test. One of the subjects used pepper spray on Bo, but the irritant failed to stop the intrepid police dog.

"Bo did exactly what he was supposed to do," said Officer Scott Salvage, Bo's handler. "He chased one of the suspects up the hill, attempted to capture that suspect, the suspect attempted to pepper spray my dog. The dog fought through it."

The man then threw the dog down a ravine, but Bo landed on his feet and continued the chase.

"He recovered, went back up and took him into custody," said Salvage, who served the dog a pound of filet mignon as a reward.

Eventually, the suspects were caught and escorted out of their hiding place, which police said was deep in poison oak. Accomplices in getaway cars sounded their horns to alert the suspects, and officers ended up arresting them, too.

"The driver was repeatedly hitting the horn, trying to alert the suspects hiding," said It also alerted us, and we appreciated the assistance," said Glendora Police Chief Tim Staab.

Officers matched the burglars cellphone numbers with those of the getaway crews.

Investigators believe the suspects, eight were arrested, are a part of a ring operating out of Los Angeles.

NBC4's Vanessa Ruiz and Jonathan Lloyd contributed to this report.

The final snowpack survey of the season was conducted Wednesday in California's Sierra Nevada Mountains and, as expected, the results illustrated the severity of the state's drought.

The snowpack has been in decline since electronic measurements on Dec. 30 found the statewide snow water equivalent at 50 percent of the historical average for that date. Subsequent statewide readings measured 25 percent of the Jan. 29 average and 19 percent of the March 3 average.

There was no snow on the ground at the site of Wednesday's survey at 6,800 feet in the Sierra Nevadas. The final manual survey of what is historically the wet season in California confirmed electronic readings that show the statewide snowpack with less water content than any April 1 since 1950.

The snowpack is usually at its peak in April. The statewide snowpack holds about 1.4 inches of water, which is 5 percent of the historical average of 28.3 inches.

The previous lowpoint for April 1 was 25 percent in 2014 and 1977.

"Today's survey underscores the severity of California's drought," said Department of Water Resources Director Mark Cowin. "Water conservation must become a way of life during the worst drought in most Californians’ lifetimes."

The survey coincided with an announcement from Gov. Jerry Brown regarding mandatory water-use reductions across the state. Mandatory water reductions will be put in place by the State Water Resources Control Board across California to reduce water usage by 25 percent -- a saving that will amount to about 1.5 million acre-feet of water over the next nine months, according to Brown's office.

The snowpack measurement is important because snow supplies about a third of the state's water, and a higher snowpack translates to more water in California reservoirs to meet demand in summer and fall. Officials say the snowpack is already far below the historic lows of 1977 and 2014, when it was 25 percent of normal on April 1 -- the time when the snowpack is generally at its peak.

The latest survey on March 3 found a snowpack water equivalent of just 0.9 inches -- a total that suggested California's drought will run through a fourth year.

Brown declared a drought emergency in January 2014 and stressed the need for sustained water conservation.

This map shows the locations of California's 20 largest wildfires. Click on the map markers to see acreage figures, fire causes, damage information and fatalities.

App Users: Click here to view map

Note: The list was provided by CalFire and does not include fires prior to 1932.

Attorneys for Porsche say a fiery crash that killed actor Paul Walker and a friend, who was behind the wheel, was caused by a driver who "exposed himself and others to such perils," according to statements in response to a lawsuit that alleges problems with the car were to blame. 

Roger Rodas, 38, was behind the wheel of the high-performance Porsche Carrera GT supercar when it slammed into a tree and burned north of Los Angeles. Walker, 40, and Rodas, a professional race car driver, were killed in the November 2013 crash as they left a charity event in Santa Clarita.

Rodas' widow, Kristine Rodas, filed a lawsuit in May 2014 against Porsche Cars North America, the sports car company's United States importer, claiming her husband was an experienced driver and that the car was flawed.

In their response filed earlier this week, attorneys for Porsche said "Roger Rodas's death, and all other injuries or damages claimed, were the result of Roger Rodas's own comparative fault."

"Roger Rodas knowingly and voluntarily assumed all risk, perils and danger in respect to the operation or use of the subject 2005 Carrera GT, that the perils, risk and dangers were open and obvious and known to him, and that he chose to conduct himself in a manner so as to expose himself and others to such perils, dangers and risks, thus assuming all the risks involved in using and operating the vehicle," according to the nine-page document.

The results of an investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and California Highway Patrol were released in March 2014 and concluded that it was unsafe speed and not mechanical problems that caused the crash. That investigation was aided by engineers from Porsche, who evaluated the wreckage of the rare car.

Crash investigators determined Rodas was traveling at speeds between 80 and 93 mph. The mid-engine, 600-plus horsepower vehicle began to drift out of a curve and slammed into the tree located in an industrial park area about 30 miles north of downtown Los Angeles. Porsche engineers examined the mangled and burned wreckage and determined there were no problems with the car's electrical systems, brakes, throttle, fuel system, steering, suspension or other systems.

Crash investigators also determined the car's tires were about nine years old and the vehicle was fitted with an aftermarket exhaust. The response filed by Porsche's attorney says the car was "abused and altered" and "misused or improperly maintained."

The lawsuit, which could take years to resolve, claims the vehicle was not equipped with safety components, such as a crash cage designed to protect occupants, and a proper fuel tank. It also claims a suspension failure led to the crash.

Rodas and Walker co-owned an auto racing team named after Rodas' shop, Always Evolving, and Rodas drove professionally for the team on the Pirelli World Challenge circuit in 2013. Walker's death occurred on a break in the filming of "Fast & Furious 7."

A Los Angeles Police Department officer on a motorcycle was injured after a traffic collision in Los Angeles Wednesday morning.

The crash happened on the 4800 block of Pico Boulevard at 8:57 a.m., officials from the LAPD said.

The driver of a black Toyota Prius involved in the crash stayed at the scene after the collision.

The officer was taken to a nearby hospital, his condition was unknown.

It was unclear how the crash happened.