All photos by Rich Pedroncelli / AP

Dr. David Mathis waits to be let into the main building of the California Medical Facility in Vacaville, Calif., Sept. 12, 2012.

A whistle hangs from Dr. David Mathis' coat pocket as he does his rounds on Sept. 12. The whistle is worn in case he needs help in an emergency.

Rich Pedroncelli, AP — Dr. David Mathis, a board certified physician,  was the highest paid prison doctor last year, earning a base salary of $239,572 and an additional $169,548 for working overnight shifts, weekends and holidays.  Prison doctors say they are worth higher pay because they face constant threat of assault from inmates.

EDITOR’S NOTE: These images were made available to NBC News on Oct. 19, 2012.

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Dr. Davis Mathis visits with an inmate in the hospital unit at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville, Calif., Sept. 1.

Dr. David Mathis, center, accompanied by physician's assistant Rob Johnson, left, examines a sore on the foot of an inmate at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville, Calif., Sept. 12.

Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images

The space shuttle Endeavour is transported to the California Science Center.

Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images

Space.com reports:

The Space Shuttle Endeavour began its first-ever parade through city streets late Thursday, and anyone in the Los Angeles area can get a front-row seat. The retired craft is on its way to a Los Angeles museum where it will spend its retirement.

Endeavour, which made its last trip to space in May 2011, is soon set to join the ranks of museum displays at the California Science Center (CSC). Read the full story.

Chris Carlson / AP

Spectators gather to watch the space shuttle Endeavour make its way down Manchester Blvd.

Slideshow: Endeavour's final trek

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A look back at the space shuttle's farewell tour as it travels from Florida to its new home in California

Launch slideshow

Ezra Shaw / Getty Images

The space shuttle Endeavour, on top of NASA's Shuttle Carrier Aircraft or SCA, makes a pass over the Golden Gate Bridge before making its final landing in Los Angeles on Friday.

Matt Hedges / NASA

Space shuttle Endeavour, mounted atop a NASA 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft come in to land at Los Angeles International Airport on Friday.

Gene Blevins / Reuters

Spectators wait for space shuttle Endeavour to arrive at the Los Angeles International Airport on Friday.

NBC News and news services - The space shuttle Endeavour finished its flying days for good on Friday with a sightseeing tour that crisscrossed California and ended up at Los Angeles' airport. Strapped to the back of a 747 jumbo jet, the pair touched down just before 1 p.m. PT (4 p.m. ET) after a state-spanning flyover that lasted nearly five hours. One of the crew members stuck an American flag out of the hatch of the jet.

The flyover took Endeavour over the state Capitol, the Golden Gate Bridge, the Hollywood Sign and other icons en route to LAX, where the shuttle will be prepped for a slow-speed journey to its museum home next month. Continue reading the full story

Slideshow: Endeavour's final trek

A look back at the space shuttle's farewell tour as it travels from Florida to its new home in California

Launch slideshow

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Damian Dovarganes / AP

Inmate Robert Ross, 32, far left, a leader in the seminary training program sings one of his musical compositions during a college-level seminary course held at the California Rehabilitative Center in Norco, Calif. The program aims to transform inmates into church leaders, pastors, teachers and evangelists.

The Associated Press reports from Norco, Calif. — Robert Ross' mother died while he was in prison for robbing a bank and he hasn't seen his 12-year-old son since the boy was in diapers.

Damian Dovarganes / AP

William Johnson, 38, foreground, attends a college-level seminary course at the California Rehabilitative Center. The nonprofit group Prison Fellowship, which trains volunteers and runs the rigorous, three-year course behind prison walls, graduated its first class of 10 inmates last year and expects to graduate 14 more in 2013.

For all that he has lost, however, Ross says he found something far greater behind bars thanks to a college-level seminary course that trains inmates to establish churches and evangelize in poor communities upon their release.

"When I tell people that I'm grateful for the 15 years 4 months that I was sentenced to, people look at me like I'm crazy or maybe on some kind of medication, and they ask 'Why?' and I tell 'em, 'Well, it took that for me to find out who Jesus is and really fall in love with him and let him do his work in me,'" he said. "Had I not been arrested, I'm sure I would be dead." Read the full story.

Editor's note: Photos taken on August 9, 2012 and made available to NBC News on September 12, 2012.

Also on PhotoBlog:

• New York's shock camps aim to keep inmates out of prison
• A rare look inside San Quentin state prison
• America's only all-female chain gang toils in Phoenix heat
• Rikers Island inmates graduate with high school diplomas
• Mother's Day event provides children opportunity to see moms behind bars

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Lucy Nicholson / Reuters

Boys pose for a photo at the Los Angeles County Fair in Pomona, Calif. on Sept. 5. The nation's largest county fair, running from Aug. 31 to Sept. 30, is celebrating its 90th anniversary.

Lucy Nicholson / Reuters

Visitors buy food at the Los Angeles County Fair in Pomona, Calif. on Sept. 5.

The Los Angeles County Fair, the nation's largest county fair, celebrates its 90th year. The fair, which started in 1922, cost 50 cents to enter and was attended by 49,461 people during its first year, according to a press release. Over 1.4 million people attend now.

Lucy Nicholson / Reuters

Keyla Barreto, right, 6, shoots bubbles at her brother Jean, 5, at the Los Angeles County Fair in Pomona, Calif. on Sept. 5.

Lucy Nicholson / Reuters

Pigs race at the Los Angeles County Fair in Pomona, Calif. on Sept. 5.

Lucy Nicholson / Reuters

Daisy Pursley, 2, walks among goats at the Los Angeles County Fair in Pomona, Calif. on Sept. 5.

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Nick Ut / AP

A Los Angeles County Firefighter helicopter drops water on a wildfire burning through 3,600 acres of the Angeles National Forest on Tuesday Sept. 4, 2012 near Glendora, Calif.

NBC News staff and wire reports: A brush fire in the San Gabriel Mountains that prompted the evacuation of campers and picnickers in the hills above Glendora, Calif., continued to rage Tuesday and it could be several days before crews gain the upper hand.

"We have some challenges we face out there," Tony Imbrenda, of the Los Angeles County Fire Department, told NBCLosAngeles.com. "We expect that this is going to take several days to get some containment." Continue reading the full story.

David McNew / Getty Images

A firefighting air tanker flies over flames at the Williams fire in the Angeles National Forest on Tuesday.

Slideshow: Wildfires burn Western states

Damian Dovarganes / AP

Blazes in multiple states threaten houses and cause evacuations.

Launch slideshow

Patrick Fallon / Reuters

A wildfire burns the hillside during sunset in the Angeles National Forest near Glendora, California, on September 3, 2012.

David McNew / Getty Images

A U.S. Forest Service Hotshot crew member carries a chainsaw as firefighters work to contain the Williams fire in the Angeles National Forest on September 3, 2012 north of Glendora, California.

Patrick Fallon / Reuters

A cat walks past mobile homes in the Camp Williams Mobile Home Park as a wildfire burns on the hillside above in the Angeles National Forest near Azusa, California, September 3, 2012.

NBC News staff and news services report — A wildfire in Southern California's Angeles National Forest that cut short weekend holiday plans for hikers and campers grew to 4,000 acres on Monday.

The Williams fire prompted the evacuation of about 12,000 visitors who had flocked to campgrounds for the holiday weekend, The Associated Press reported. It sent a towering plume of smoke that could be seen from many parts of the Los Angeles basin. Read the full story.

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Mike Eliason / Santa Barbara News-Press via ZUMA24.com

A box truck carrying frozen food is the latest victim of a low bridge on the Los Patos off ramp to Highway 101, Santa Barbara, Calif. The driver suffered injuries only to his pride after he wedged his 13' truck under the 12' 4'' Union Pacific bridge. Santa Barbara Fire, the California Highway Patrol and Caltrans responded and the off ramp was closed for several hours to remove the truck, Thursday, Aug. 30. According to local news sources, the frozen food was donated to charity.

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Josh Edelson / Reuters

Firefighters douse a flame at the Chevron oil refinery in Richmond, California, on August 6, 2012. A fire struck the core of Chevron Corp's large Richmond refinery on Monday evening, sending flames and a column of smoke into the air and prompting authorities to order nearby residents indoors.

KNTV

Chevron oil refinery on fire in Richmond, Calif. seen from San Fransisco bay.

KNTV

Firefighters attack a blaze that erupted at a Chevron oil refinery in Richmond, Calif.

NBC News reports: A fire erupted around 6:30 p.m. Monday night at one of the processing units at the Chevron refinery in Richmond, Calif.

A "level 3" shelter in place order was issued, NBCBayArea.com reported. Residents in Richmond, North Richmond and San Pablo were advised to go indoors and close all windows and doors. Read the full story here.

Jonathan Gibby / Getty Images

Police officers stand guard after protesters set fire to a nearby trash bin during a demonstration to show outrage at the fatal shooting of Manuel Angel Diaz, at Anaheim City Hall on July 24, 2012 in Anaheim, California. Diaz was fatally shot on July 21 by an Anaheim police officer and has sparked days of protests by the angered community.

Jonathan Gibby / Getty Images

Police officers take a man into custody after he refused to disperse during a demonstration at Anaheim City Hall on July 24, 2012.

Jonathan Gibby / Getty Images

Protesters pray during a demonstration at Anaheim City Hall on July 24, 2012.

Alex Gallardo / Reuters

A protester is arrested by police officers from Orange County as protesters try to occupy the the intersection of Anaheim Blvd. and Broadway on July 24, 2012.

Alex Gallardo / Reuters

Patrons huddle for cover as windows are broken by demonstrators with chairs as police officers from Orange County move protesters away from Anaheim City Hall on July 24, 2012.

Jonathan Gibby / Getty Images

An injured pedestrian cries out to end the destruction of local properties after violence erupted between police officers and protesters at Anaheim City Hall on July 24, 2012.

Jonathan Gibby / Getty Images

Protesters clash with police at Anaheim City Hall on July 24, 2012.

By NBC Los Angeles and NBC News wire reports — Protesters broke the windows of least a half-dozen storefronts in Anaheim on Tuesday and five people were arrested in the second major clash between police and demonstrators since an officer shot dead an apparently unarmed man.

Mayor Tom Tait had called on Monday for a state and federal review of the shooting of the man, a suspected gang member. Continue reading. 

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