it's happening pittsburgh. sky 7 hd thofr brush fire. you can see crews working to put out hot spots. they've knocked this one down, crews set up to protect homes just in case any of the fire spread. none of the homes, though, is in danger now. this started about an hour ago, shutting down willow pass road between pittsburgh and bay point for a while.

winds did help this to spread to more than three acres but only burned dry grass in the field. you can stay with us as we keep an eye on this fire and fwol us on twitter. >> we have breaking news in san jose. a jury just found a former schoolteacher guilty of sexual assaulting five students. the 36-year-old craig chandler convicted of all five charges against him arks accused of blind folding students and making them perform sex acts. the girls were seven or eight years old. prosecutors say it happened inside of his classroom last year. sentencing scheduled for september 27. abc 7 news is inside of the courtroom now and swril a live report on this verdict coming up on abc 7 news at 5:00. good of the noon sh everybody. >> now, to the emotional testimony in a cleveland courtroom today.

>> you deserve live in prison. >> no longer a victim, she's a survivor. a young woman confronts the man who held her and two others captive for more than a decade, michelle knight actually smiled in court as castro left the courtroom. a judge sentences him to a life sentence plus a thousand years in jail. >> before that night, -- knight stepped forward to deliver a tear skfl heart felt statement. for the first time since her rescue a brave michelle knight came face-to-face with a man who held her captive 11 skbreers delivered an emotional statement that included a message to aerial castro. >> i will live on. you will die a little every day. you took 11 years of my life away. i spent 11 years in hell. now, your hell is just beginning. >> castro sat through thesentenn

shackles and chained just as he'd done to his victims. as seen in these photos. knight became pregnant more than once, and castro beat her until she miscarried. >> giving her rotten food, kicking and punching her in the stomach. >> the 53-year-old pled guilty to 937 counts. and was alsoñ> life without parole consecutive to a thousand dwreers life. >> for knight, silenced and abused 13226 days, she says this moment of finally

speaking was liberating. >> we said we'll some day make it out alive. we did. >> michelle knight says she can forgive him but will never forget what happens and now, wants to help other who's have suffered similar pain. >> a thank you letter knight sent to the police second district is posted on the department's web site reading in part you don't know how much i appreciate your time and work collecting cards and gifts from people for me. i'm overwhelm bid thoughts, love and prayers expressed by complete strangers. it's comforting. live is tough, but i'm tougher. >> he said a lot of outrageous things including blaming the fbi. >> his daughter was friends with one of the women kidnapped and agents interviewed the daughter years ago. watch his expressions that say what a lot of people were thinking today.

>> they questioned my daughter. you know? that is okay but they didn't question me, i'm her father. they would have questioned me. >> that police officer was poker faced throughout the rest of the statement. even when he commented on the quote harmony in the home. the judge commended knight for her remarkable restraint. >> coming up on world news with diane sawyer more coverage on the courtroom showdown also a closer look at what castro calls his own

mental illness coming up at 5:30. >> a sacramento man accused of molesting a child in novato. police arrested the 45-year-old yesterday they say over the course of a month he molested the daughter of his then girlfriend. he faces several charges including lewd wakts a child under 14. >> we turn now to bart and the looming threat of a strike. bart and unions do not appear close to an agreement. now, workers heading to a rally. we should near they will issue a 72 hour strike notice. some progress has been made but they're still far apart on the big issues. >> we believe there is time to come to an agreement well. believe there is a way to ensure our employees are compensated, and that the

in costs of benefits. >> the unions went on strike, shutting down service four days. strike that will end sunday night at midnight sm. directors were inside, observing the negotiation sessions. they did not sound hopeful commenting the situation was worse than it was when bart had the last major strike in 1997. >> if there is a strike there are people left without options to get to work and back. >> there is no plan b for some of them. abc 7 news joins us live from the station at balboa park. >> thanks to one viewer who suggested we take a look at how a possible strike might affect some people like those with disabilities, then those who come from under served communities and who don't own a car every day, monday through friday i use bart to

commute from union city into downtown san francisco. >> a strike would be a huge inconvenience. a rare disease left her blind at five years old. she can't drive and carpooling is not an option. martinez works for light house for the blind and visually impaired. >> bart is my only means of transportation. there are buses i can take but that is going to up my commute to three hours, one way. >> she'd have to take two buses and a muni underground. martinez won't be the only disabled person affect bid the strike. a profile found 5% of the riders have some kind of disability. many will be forced to drive their own cars, others like rivera from west oakland don't have that option.

>> it's difficult to come here for child, my job. >> do you have a car? >> no.l=/ç i zront a car. >> this is it for you?. >> yes. yes. >> ronald is a student, enrolling here because it as a top-rated resource center for war veterans. >> i'm, i don't know how i'd able to get here to school every day. i can borrow my wife's car but she needs it for work, too. >> during the last strike he was not able to atenld classes. something he says he can't afford to do again. carpooling to san francisco working smoothly this morning but that could change on monday. during the strike thousands lined up for service throughout the east bay create long waits and frustrated commuters if a strike happens fremont will be available for

picking up passengers for the afternoon drive back to the east bay. transportation officials will be handing out $5 gift cards to encourage people to try the service. >> golden gate ferry official says they're not planning on adding any new service last month adding a 7:30 a.m. larkspur ferry trip but that service continued throughout july so there are no decisional trips planned. however, golden gate ferry will provide pro two vessels to sf bay ferry which will be adding runs. ridership on the ferries crippled during july bart strike. >> alameda will offer overflow parking for ferry riders. parking will not ab loud along bay edge roadr1z?[ and adelphian way. >> unions will be holding a rally coming up in less than an hour. we'll have live reports coming up at 5:00 and 6:00.

>> we've assembled a range of resources for you. you can down load the abc 7iy+ news waze traffic app to help you navigate the road. follow us for breaking news updates. >> we navigate this, what is the weather going to be like? >> yes. spence jer here. >> looking good. if you like sunshine you'll like weather. a patch of low clouds and a cooler than average day. breezy in spots. and you can see it's diminished to a small patch. sunny conditions as you can see here now. under blue skies temperatures are 62 degrees, 75 in los gatos, 59 half moon bay. another beautiful view looking atsíei western sky which is bl.

and we have temperatures at 80 in santa rosa now. 81 fairfield. 73 novato. 74 nappa. a live sfru mount tam looking into the bay a gorgeous afternoon around the bay area, our first forecast we'll see patchy low clouds tonight there. will be more wide spread. early in the morning a mix of skpun low clouds, by afternoon, sunny skies, warming up. highs into low 60s at the coast to upper 80s inland. but what about the weekend? i'll have the answer dmum just a few minutes. >> still ahead on abc 7 news at 4:00 how letting tom cruise hitch a ride on the bay has one team in hot water. >> next generation ai. local organization helping students learn valuable lessons in science. >> and more legal problems ahead for chef rob after last year's fire. >> taking a look at rafk right now. it's heavy on the san

francisco skyway for drivers on the left side of the screen trying to make their way east. it's been slow going since 2:30.

turns out team new zealand broke rules when letting tom cruise and his son ride an america's cup racing boat over the weekend. this video shows cruise and his 19-year-old son, connor out on san francisco bay sunday.

the director has censured the team for this move. guests now banned on the race course under the new safety rules after the death of a crew member during an accident back in may. >> stocks rise to a new record. google unveils motox. hi, emily. >> good afternoon. starting with stocks today after a big rally helped push s and p above 1700. the surge in stocks coming after data showed jobless claims fol a five-year low while manufacturing expanded in july at the faster pace in more than two years. your bloomberg silicon valley index also rising today. linkedn turned in its second quarter earnings report today. strong user engagement helped sales grow 59%.

users are double what it was just a couple years ago. more than a year acquired motorola the company has given us the first phone to be creative under googles watch and assembled in the united states, it will be available at the end of the month. and the chrome cast is getting new features. hulu and hbo are working to add their services to it. it plugs into a tvhdmi input letting customers watch and control video was out a remote. net flix helping users make profiles more personal. the service is offering family members that share, one account the opportunity to

create profiles from bloomberg studios i'm emily chang, back to you. >> thank you. >> minority women makeup just a fraction of science workers but a summer camp hopes to change that. six girls from bay view participated in the camp. they got to expose their neighborhood to do real world experiments. women of color makeup less than 5% of the stem workers this camp was designed to help breakdown carrier autos you can be a dancer, singer, you can do everything but you're not told you can be a scientist. >> it's about allowing girls to tinker, use hands and go through process. >> invtykyykymmu)bñ to thoing te experiments participants mentored younger girls from

the bay view and got meet women working in the field of science. >> now, science of weerj yes. >> is it guesswork? >> simple sigh yeens yes. >> things looking nice outside. you can see just a patch of low clouds down near the coast. sunny skies across remainder. bay. it's cool out there. blue skies now looking across bay bridge taking a look at forecast patchy low clouds overnight. warmer torjs minor changes over the weekend. temperatures going up a couple degrees then down. we have that pool of cool air that has been controlling factor in the weather. temperatures just below average. over next couple days we'll see the cool air diminish just a little bit. expand sunday,

monday, into next week. and starting to get cooler. temperatures going up tomorrow then beginning to go down a little bit sunday, monday. patches of low clouds, lots of clear areas as well. low temperatures mainly into mid-50s tomorrow, high temperatures ranging from upper 70s to mid-80s. on the peninsula, sunny skies, highs in the 70s. low to mid-60s on the coast. downtown highs 68 tomorrow. 64 in the sunset district. north bay mainly mid-80s. east bay highs up to 72 in oakland. 78 fremont. inland east bay, we'll see

temperatures rising above levels from earlier in the week. upper 80s to almost 90. here is the accu-weather forecast. this warming won't last very long but weekend will be pleasant. 60s on coast. no significant change autos thanks spencer. >> up next george clooney a real life 007. who he's keeping tabs on. >> after 4:30 a napa grape harvest in august. what does this mean for the vintage this year? >> hey, everybody. i'm your abc 7 news morning news traffic reporter if you're looking for a smart solution this is it. check out abc 7 news.com/contest now and you can driveway with a brand new smart car.

today ance to enter. we'll announce the lucky winner in the morning so be smart, enter now.

george clooney is spending some millions keeping a spy satellite trained on a

suddenan yeez dictateor. he says most of the money he take makes on commercials being used to monitor potential human rights abuses. tracking the arm yeef a dictator charged with war crimes. clooney relied well koum to my life, mr. war criminal. >> it makes you wonder who else is watching? we think about government and official agencies. >> right. who would have thought george clooney? >> maybe a drone. >> stars sign in support of a good cause and back street boys share a special treat with fans. >> hollywood comes together to stand up and do something. honoring leaders in social

change. >> that is what slif about. making the world a better place hoping someone is spreading love. >> the winner won $100,000 for his organization. back street is back, performing a free show for fans last night in los angeles we asked about heading out on a new world tour. >> it's a show, we brought all of those with us. we brought everything out of our bags. and are ready to entertain people. check this out. it's a new poster for marvels for the dark world. bringing down the hammer

november 8th. >> still ahead on abc 7 news at 4:00 security warning for embassies around the world. >> how richmond wants chevron to be held accountable for last year's massive fire. >> in court today the train driver involved in an accident in spain. a woman trapped after driving into a ditch. dramatic tape, why she

abc 7 news learned will file suit thousands of residents went to the hospital because of the pollution in the air. abc 7 news reporter vic lee is live in richmond with the story. vic? >> well, the mayor of richmond declined to comment on this lawsuit we know that it will be filed tomorrow morning then, the mayor willedwill hold a news conference with a lawyer hired. and his law firm ut of burlingame. explosion and fire happened almost a year ago. on august 6 at 6:15 in the evening a kor yoded pipe ruptured. the fire and smoke blanketed skies sending 15,000 residents to the hospitals having trouble breathing and complaining about problems. thousands filed claims against

the giant refinery. the city council broched the idea in may of hiring lawyers. bc 7 news it was a tough opponent. >> they're not easy to negotiate with. >> both sides too far part. was filed. >> chevron owes people as well as the city hundreds of millions of dollars based on damage they've kun to the community overtime. not just august 6th, 2012 explosion and fire. >> the lawsuit asks for damages for the clean up and emergency response as well as

impact values and on the environment. >> chevron responded with this statement. we believe the decision to persue is a waste of the city resources and yet another example of its failed leadership. vic lee abc 7 news. >> unspecified number of u.s. embassies will suspend operations on sunday. the state zeptz it's a precaution because of an unspecified threat overseas. abc news learned it includes egypt, iraq and kuwait. details is that it was for august 4th facilities could be closed more than a day depending on analysis of the information. >> the white house is blasting russia's decision to grant asylum to national security leaker agency we have a photo

of snowden getting into a car today a month after arriving from hong kong. the u.s. demanded rush why send snowden home white house says snowden is a law breaker. >> possession that have sensitive information outside of secure areas is both a huge right after this skpk a violation. >> carney says administration is reevaluating whether he will travel for a summit. snow den issued a statement thanking russia for granting asil yim. >> new courtroom video is out today of the spanish train driver involved in athat deadly accident las?q week.

that driver admitted he was traveling at twice the speed limit but was unable to explain why he didn't slow down earlier. 57 people are still in the hospital, 11 in critical condition. >> baseball hall of famer cal cap kin june jer trying to find the -- find the man that kidnapped his mother announced he's offering a reward for information leading to capture and conviction of the naern abducted his mother she was taken at gun point july 24th and returned unharmed the next day. >> if you're talking to the family with members and with members of law enforcement and friends we decided we'd try to reignite interests by putting up a $100,000 reward for information leading to arrest of the man abducting mom a

little over a year ago. >> now, rip ken admits the family probably should have offered this earlier. police say leads dried up but that changed once word of the reward came out. casey anthony agreed to pay 25,000ses today her bankruptcy estate to avoid having to sell her life story. she filed in january, claiming nearly 800,000s ndz liabilities. court papers say the deal was reached to avoid litigation over whether the trustee could force anthony to write her memoirs. >> some gay rights activists pouring vodka snoo noo streets to pro test russia's new antigay laws. in new york multiple gay wars

in west hollywood joined the campaign as well as three bars near san francisco. makers say the boycott against them is unfair because the company supportses gay rights. >> marriages be performed in both states today. they got engaged in the small. a total of 13 states in the u.s. now allow same-sex marriage this, includes every state in new england. >> still ahead on abc 7 news at 4:00 afraid there may be peanuts in your food is in the solution may be in your hand. >> a diver hoping to make it into the record books how long he had to stay there to reach the goal. >> i'm spencer christian looking west, we can see a patch of low clouds and a hide u

the accu-weather forecast coming up in just a moment. >> taking a look at traffic now this is interstate 280. cars open the screen trying to make their way south. it's picking up just a little bit. it had been quite backed up just minutes ago. still sticky in that area. stay with us.

this is remarkable.

a tennessee man has broken the record. >> the record was five days, 120 hours, he's been spending his team talking with friends. i'm not sure how much talking is happening. watching tv, movies as well as sleeping and eating underwater. >> he takes a breath pulls a bottle out pushing it through his lips. any water gets in, he spits it out, chews it up. >> a team of 20 divers is taking turns helping hall. they bring him new gloves and boots that give him a special cream his plan is to stay in until noon, tomorrow, a total x days. >> sounds like fun. >> sounds like a bad idea. >> yes. >> he's a world record holder. >> yes.

yes. >> new photos of surfacing about the star studded event taking place near ventana inn. guests outfitted with the costume designer for "lord of the rings". >> the feast pavilion featured pigs on a spit and fur-covered beds. sting sang fr the bride and groom. the cost was several million in addition to $2.5 million. >> just like your wedding> mainly sunny skies across the bay area now. we'll have a similar pattern tomorrow, nationwide tomorrow

crossing 48 states warm conditions in the southwest. steamy in phoenix. hot in dallas. mild to warm upper mid west. showery there and across the state of california sunny skies and very warm conditions interior locations. high temperatures 91 in chico and sacramento. and we'll see 95 in fresno. 76 in los angeles, 64 monterey. 60 in eureka. across the state lovely weather conditions tomorrow, we'll see patches of low clouds tonight. by afternoon, sunny skies from coast to inland. high temperatures beginning to rise tomorrow, we'll see throw mid-60s on the coast. 70s around the bay. mid to upper 80s inland up to about 88 tomorrow in antioch and fairfield. warmest day this week will occur tomorrow, temperatures dropping off into weekend.

>> still, mild weather. >> thank you. >> yes. >> still ahead at 4:00 a major cancer study about to get of it. plus... >> i'm not sure i dozed off. a woman trapped in the car in a ditch after falling asleep at the wheel. how rescuers were able to find her, next. >> i'm michael finney. cal state has a new schedule using digital

an indiana woman is recovering from a scary car wreck and rescue. the 28-year-old ran her car into a drainage ditch dozing off as returning home from work didn't come to until she felt water filling up her car. she somehow was able to call 911. and didn't know where she was. >> tell me what you see. >> i don't see anything.

>> 911 operators were able to narrow down the location them. found parker's car with just moments to spare. they pulled her to safety. >> in healthy living news today american cancer society looking for volunteers 300,000 of them nationwide for a study the first started in 1950s and sound a link. the second began in the 80s. this new will look at genetics and for the first time participants will give a sample. >> our participants will be filling out a survey online every two years that will link to the blood drive we'll be able to take a look at the factors that may have affected their getting cancer. >> participants must be

between ages of 30, 65. you can find more information by going to our web site abc 7 news.com. just click on see it on tv. >> you zront to ask a pharmacist anymore if you want to buy plan b spill. starting today it's available on store shelves. women and girls can buy the pill. some starting. >> they're about to enter a new realm thanks to the university of illinois. this will allow to you do medical diagnostics. researchers say the bio sens

is just as accurate of equipment that costs tens of thousands of dollars. it's amazing. >> yes. remarkable. >> yes. >> california state university unveils an online course plan and car sales going through the roof. >> this is good news, california state university students will be able to take online courses offered at any 23 campuses. allowing students to take online courses offer td for instance at a northern california school. so far 30 have within approved. >> we still have limits on ability to get into classes we want students to get classes they need. >> he is ploding the state universities to offer moron line courses.

general motors toyota and nissan reporting double digit u.s. sale gains in july. people bought a lot of suvs and smaller cars now, if stats held more than half of the vehicles were chosen by women. 54%. more women are now beginning to look at leases n a survey two thirds say they were likely to consider leasing their next vehicle. >> men appeared to prefer very short term leases. 24 months in nature. women want the option of 36 months or a little bit longer. >> half looking for a lease of

$299 or less. now, coming up at 5:00 i'll check out a classic american car that is making a come back at 5:00. >> thank you. >> the watch abc 7 live stream now available in the bay area. >> watch abc is a way tochl peer yens abc any time, anywhere. you can be out, about, and enjoy your favorite abc 7 newscasts and tv shows on your tab blet and computer. >> it's a special new benefit brought to you by abc and at and tu verse. just go abc 7 news.com to find out how to access watch abc. and then, you'll get the watch abc live stream or you can search to down load. >> up next harvest in august. the condition that's convinced napa wine makers now is the time grapes are great. >> i'm cheryl jennings.

another child molestation case that could be more wide spread than fir thought. -- first thought. how nature could be the key

here is tonight's prime time line up. then join us at 11:00 harvest and napa valley has begun. mild, warm spring weather hz forced an early harvest this year. and td push is on that get that in beginning today. >> this is an example of what a difference a week can make. we were here last week showing you grapes. when they do get to be the

same color they're ready to pick. these are clearly just about there. and the grapes that make champagne are off the vines in on the first? cases. it became reality. we knew they were ripening but a harvest in august? >> based on the history, the wine maker was not surprised harvest has come for the grapes. >> when do you make calls? >> about three years ago. >> he did have p help from ashley jackson who long ago took note of the dry winter and warm spring. >> i like tracing around in the dirt she spends time in the lab keeping track of acid and sugar levels and anticipating an optimal picking moment for champagne. >> every year is a cram shoot

but something we're able to find quality we're looking for >> employees coast, they bless grapes, then go back to work. it's a fairly brutal end. this, the beginning of a two year process. >> they go down stairs into applying gentle pressure. >> where are the barefoot women? >> from an ancient time. they're retired. >> in 2013 the first harvest passed as fleetingly as tiny bubbles in a glass.

>> you're all getting thirsty at home. thanks for joining us for abc 7 news at 4:00. abc 7 news at 5:00 begins right now. >> commuters bracing for round two of what could be another strike. why union leaders ended talks today. >> child molestation charges against a teacher why did administrators let him return to the classroom? >> we have a warm up on the way. find out if it will coincide with weekend plans coming up. >> pay part of the pension, pay part of the health care, everybody else does. >> come to an agreement. come on now. >> you can hear riders frustration tonight.

good evening. >> the tension so thick at the bart contract talks this afternoon people walked wout very grim faces. we have live team coverage on negotiations and workers rally getting underway at this hour. heather? >> union leaders saving thuntder for valley. they left just minutes ago. saying no comment but if bart directors are any indication talks are not going well. they were here two hours and they left they called talks bizarre think personalities are getting in the twi. sides have not gotten to talking about the major hot potato topics. fang says he's never seen the board left so out of the negotiations process.

that is all oof camera. sheer what spokes people thood say oncamera today. bart showing what workers in a long list of other public employers pay into pensions while bart workers pay nothing. >> we're just trying to play catch whaup everybody else figured out how to do. >> bart says there is no line in the sand but sounds like there is. on pension benefits that have to be reigned in if bart is the line. >> contracts that continued to allow bart employees to pay nudging and a flat rate for health care those contracts are no longer sustainable. >> bart commuter is working on putting together a carpool for next week. >> that is how we get back