>> i am here today not because i want to be, i am terrified. i am here because i believe it is my civic duty. >> dr. christine blasey ford sworn in before speaking in public for the first time. the bay area university professor told the senate that president trump's supreme court nominee, brett kavanaugh, sexually assaulted her 36 years ago. >> i believed he was going to rape me. i tried to yell for help. when i did, brett put his hand over my mouth to stop me from yelling. this is what terrified me the most and has had the most lasting impact on my life. it was hard for me to breathe, and i thought that brett was accidentally going to kill me. >> so what you are telling us is this could not be a case of mistaken identity? >> absolutely not. my greatest fears have been

realized, and the reality has been far worse than what i expected. my family and i have been the target of constant harassment and death threats and i have been called the most vile and hateful names imaginable. these messages, while far fewer than the expressions of support, have been terrifying and have rocked me to my core. >> a riveting, incredible day on capitol hill all around the country in fact. good evening, i'm larry beil. >> and i'm ama daetz. less than an hour after dr. christine blasey ford finished testifying, judge kavanaugh took his turn. >> my family and my name have been totally and permanently destroyed by vicious and false additional accusations. you have replaced advice and consent with search and destroy. since my nomination in july, there's been a frenzy on the left to come up with something,

anything, to block my confirmation. i have never done this to her or to anyone. that's not who i am. it is not who i was. the other night ashley and my daughter, liza, said their prayers, and little liza, all of 10 years old -- >> hours of testimony at today's hearing reveals at least one thing, two very different truths. >> we begin our coverage tonight with abc 7 news anchor dion lim who is live in washington. dion. >> reporter: larry, the turnout for people who wanted to witness history has been so tremendous you can imagine the amount of security we've witnessed today. it's the only reason why we're finally able to access the hallway where that hearing took place. now, earlier i spoke to a bay area woman who has been arrested four times for protesting against judge kavanaugh during confirmation hearings.

>> i am so overwhelmed with emotion to be here today, to be myself, you know, the survivor of sexual assault and to see so many other survivors and our allies, and the male allies. >> reporter: much of today has been peaceful. that includes those who came out in much smaller numbers in support of kavanaugh. many just wanting a fair outcome. >> i'm for both sides and a proper hearing. it's about truth and that's the process within our legal system. let's look for some justice, and it seems like they have already decided. >> reporter: inside the hearing room, one survivor, congressman jackie speier of california. she was one of five democratic lawmakers who have had similar experiences with domestic abuse asking to delay tomorrow's vote. she shared her thoughts on today's hearing, proud of dr. blasey ford and concerned about judge kavanaugh's performance. >> this is a man enraged. this is a man who does not suggest that he has a judicial temperament. he is angry and hostile and

combative. and we don't see that in judges. i worry about his ability to handle a case that dealt with anything that was women-related without having it come to him. >> reporter: while the vote is still scheduled to happen tomorrow, i caught up with senator elizabeth warren of massachusetts. she shared some of the same sentiments of speier but was encouraged by the turnout by supporters of the women who have come forward with sexual allegations. >> it's people of conscience that are here to make sure that congress knows how people across this country feel. they're here. look at what they have to say. they're here to say this is just not right. this hearing should not go forward without a full investigation. why are the republicans trying to rush it? what is it they know that they

don't want the rest of america to know? >> reporter: back out here live now, i have been trying to get reaction from the pro-kavanaugh camp but in all honesty that's been extremely difficult simply because of the sheer number ofp. >> dion, you did speak with congresswoman speier. the vote is set for tomorrow but you're hearing this could actually change? >> reporter: i did, but i should point out that even though she herself cannot vote, she says there is a chance if republicans do not believe a vote will go through in their favor, they will delay that process. only time will tell at this point. live in washington, dion lim, abc 7 news. >> thank you for covering this. >> we should point out senator majority whip john cornyn said the committee still plans to meet tomorrow on the nomination but now that the hearing is wrapped up, republicans are meeting to try to discuss their strategy. we will see. now, just in the past 90 minutes

president trump tweeted judge kavanaugh showed america exactly why i nominated him. his testimony was powerful, honest and riveting. democrats' search and destroy strategy is disgraceful and this process has been a total sham and effort to delay, obstruct and resist. the senate must vote. he did not mention dr. blasey ford. >> this hearing had people riveted. we saw couples listening together on a phone, others watching solo on a train, some watching on a jetblue flight to san francisco. for law students today was a day to learn a lesson in realtime. abc 7 news reporter kate larson has more. >> reporter: for law students and their professors at the university of san francisco, there was no mistaking the moment and the sense of history in the making. >> i think the law students have been intensely engaged in this. >> reporter: also increasing, the debate ranging back and forth across the borders of the law and into social justice. there were comparisons to anita hill's testimony and what's

changed or hasn't changed in the decades between hill's appearance and ford's where she was questioned in part today boy a prosecutor which some felt made it seem like she was on trial. >> i thought as a society we have come to this feeling of believing sexual assault victims, and it's interesting to watch and really see her on trial. >> it's almost like an accusatory nature to the whole hearing really. >> reporter: others like law student chris had questions about the forum itself and the ability to provide justice to ford or kavanaugh the way a court might. >> we can have an accusation within the statute of limitations where somebody can be put before a jury, a judge and actually have to have the evidence brought forward. >> reporter: ultimately some legal observers believe the emotional testimony coupled with the use of a prosecutor set a tone so unique it may be studied for years to come. >> it's an unusual process. it's an unprecedented process in

that never before has a delegate of the senators done the questioning. and you can see that, how odd the process is. and we will see how it plays out. >> reporter: kate larson, abc 7 news. the kavanaugh accusations have expanded the conversation around sexual assault and alcohol use. many that grew up hearing the phrase "boys will be boys" no longer accepting that as an excuse. ly ann me llyanne melendez is l boundaries and consent. >> i bet you $10 tonight parents are having a conversation with their children about drinking, about partying and about consent. if not, they should. now, i talked to parents today who told me the reason they don't hold back is because they know bad choices have a lasting impact on people's lives. california is one of two states that requires consent to be part

of sexual education in schools. maryland is the other. it starts in the ninth grade. >> we used to talk about no means no a lot. and now we talk about yes means yes and people should be looking for an affirmative consent, especially around sexual activity. >> colleges continue the conversation because of what is often referred to as the red zone. the first months on campus when students are on their own for the first time. >> statistically the most vulnerable are female freshmen. >> all incoming freshmen are required to take online sexual training during orientation at san francisco state. >> it's important that they're able to get the education around their rights, around how to party safe, and also where to get support. >> reporter: educators say the conversation around consent must be initiated by mom and pop. today parents also believe the adage boys will be boys should no longer be accepted in society. >> boys are responsible and need to be respectful, as girls need to be too.

so, no, i think boys have a lot of responsibility on changing that mentality. >> reporter: peter is a parent of two college students. he says the kavanaugh hearings has shed light on the excessive drinking among young adults. >> i know it goes on, and my kids are no different than anybody else's kids. all you can do is tell them you're going to pay the consequences if you go down the wrong path. >> reporter: now, there's also the fear about someone's son being falsely accused and that's real. educators say that's also a conversation that parents have to have with their boys. and don't forget to tell them you love them. live in the news room, lyanne melendez, abc 7 news. the group that runs the national sexual assault hotline says they have been inundated with people contacting them today. >> just two hours ago, the rape abuse and incest network said it is experiencing unprecedented wait times for their online chat. they're encouraging people to call the hotline, 800-655-4673,

or reach out via chat tomorrow. of course if you're in immediate danger, of course please call 911. we also have resources on our website for you to take action and find your ally along with other links on sexual assault and harassment. go to our website, abc7news.com/takeaction. pepper spray was used inside a walgreens in vallejo and ambulances were called. we'll have that story next. also a big burn zone in the north bay after a helicopter hit a power line. we're live on the scene. plus shoring up a cracked beam at the salesforce transit center. work is now under way as plans are made to reopen a key street. i'm abc 7 news meteorologist sandhya patel.

right now sky 7 is over a walgreens in vallejo where 18 people are being treated after pepper spray was discharged in the store. it happened just after 4:00 at the store on springs road. firefighters say all the patients have symptoms consistent with exposure to pepper spray. it's unclear why and how that pepper spray was released. we've reached out to police for more information. we will bring you that as soon as we get it. environmental health crews are also there for any decontaminating that needs to be done. two small brush fires broke out in the north bay after a helicopter clipped power lines. this happened in calistoga while

that helicopter crew was working for pg&e. eric thomas is joining us live near the scene of this afternoon's mishap with more on the story. eric? >> reporter: well, you see the hand crews who helped put out that fire, they're right there behind me in these cal fire trucks. let's expand on what you were just saying. at about 12:45 this afternoon, we'll show you the helicopter that was involved in this, a helicopter that was under contract to pg&e was inspecting power lines, patrolling them is the word they used, when it accidentally clipped the power lines up there. that caused one fire in the flats of less than an acre and another fire in the hilly acre. that too was less than an acre. the helicopter managed to make an emergency landing without injury to anyone. and it actually was on the ground for about a half hour before it took off again. there will be an internal investigation what exactly happened there. let's show you the burn area as we saw from sky 7 earlier this afternoon.

again, one burn area of a little less than after acre on the hilly section, another burn area of a little less than an acre in the flat section, all quickly put out. at the height of this, 8500 pg&e customers were without power, calistoga and north of calistoga. the latest word we just got from pg&e is that everyone has been restored except for 17 customers in the calistoga area. now, why this might be especially worrisome for folks who live up here in the north bay is it's been almost a year since the tubbs fire and we know how disastrous that was in the hills and to the homes around here. this is actually pretty close to where the tubbs fire began. but everyone pounced on this very quickly. cal fire had hand crews and trucks on the scene and getting to those fires very quickly. once again, pg&e's helicopter hp landed safely. it was inspected and lifted back

off. now pg&e and cal fire will investigate what exactly happened here and why that power line was clipped. live in calistoga, eric thomas, abc 7 news. barricades and construction equipment still block one of the busiest routes into san francisco's financial district. this as crews work to shore up damaged beams so the bus terminal and fremont street can reopen. melanie woodrow joins us with the new developments. >> reporter: ama, we're not any closer tonight to knowing what caused these cracks, but we are closer to the solution. before a shoring system can be put in here to alleviate the load on two cracked steel beams above fremont street, workers had to remove ceiling panels, move light fixtures and utilities and relocate some of muni's overhead electric bus contact system. the executive director says the shoring system will be different-sized steel beams and columns from the bridge all the way down to street level.

>> the current plan is to put the shoring system near the middle of fremont street so we can allow traffic on both sides of fremont street. >> reporter: in addition to cars being able to move around the shoring system, tjpa wants to make sure buses can get in and out of the transit center. fremont street is expected to be closed through next week, testing commuters' patience. >> when i got off 80 on 7th street, it took me 45 minutes just to get like, what, half a mile from there to here. >> reporter: crews also testing other steel beams today. tjpa says there are no additional fissures or cracks. >> it's unfortunate, but i think once they fix it, it won't have any issues in the future. >> reporter: the shoring system will be installed as early as this weekend. bus service is being provided out of the nearby temporary transbay terminal. the first step here is to get fremont street reopened. the second step to resume bus operations and the third step to find a permanent fix. live in san francisco, melanie

woodrow, abc 7 news. hi there, everyone. our scene is changing very much so with extra clouds around on live doppler 7 and some fog near the coast. here's a view of both of those from our mt. tam cam looking pretty cool. those temperatures, 58 in san francisco, it is 63 in oakland, 71 in san jose and 57 in half moon bay. our temperatures have begun to come down. is that a dramatic view or what, of the marine layer and the clouds just coming in, rushing in. 70 in santa rosa and 69 in napa. 84 in concord, 82 in livermore. our hot spots this afternoon in the low to mid-90s, along the coast in the low 60s. the cooling has starrted, but you'll feel it inland tomorrow. much cooler tomorrow around the bay and inland. better chance of seeing a few showers early next week. hour-by-hour we go.

7:00 tonight we have the fog and high clouds passing through. tomorrow morning's commute will include foggy areas. a little more widespread than we've seen in days past. then we fast forward to saturday. that's when at midnight clouds will begin to increase. a system goes to northern california and may squeeze out a few sprinkles or a light shower saturday afternoon/evening in the north bay. now, that chance will continue into early sunday morning for anyone at that point, so keep that in mind. it's not a game-changer, though. temperatures first thing in the morning mid-40s to the mid-50s. look out for the fog, reduced visibility at times, and then tomorrow afternoon inland areas dropping to the low 80s. so still pleasant for your friday but not as hot. mild conditions expected. 77 in santa rosa, 76 in san jose, 80s for places like livermore and antioch. download the accuweather app and track those temperatures any time you want and they're going down. bay and inland will be noticeably cooler. sprinkles possible in the north bay saturday. anybody has a bet of seeing a

few drops sunday morning, but after that second system, it brings us chances of showers monday and tuesday. we'll have to wait and see but certainly temperatures falling well below average in the bay and inland in the accuweather seven-day forecast. it's not often that lawyers offer to help for free.

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wall street's top watchdog is suing elon musk for fraud. the securities and exchange commission accuses musk of issuing, quote, false and misleading statements when he tweeted about taking tesla private. musk tweeted about buying back stocks at $420 a share last month. tesla stock, its price seesawed for weeks. the s.e.c. wants a judge to impose financial penalties on musk and bar him from serving as an officer for any publicly taded company. now, musk released a statement calling the s.e.c.'s action unjustified and also said in

part, quote, integrity is the most important value in my life and the facts will show i never compromise this in any way. getting help with daca, that program protecting undocumented youth, has been in limbo since last year when president trump announced plans to faze it out. people can still apply. today as carlos explains, they got a helping hand. >> reporter: daca has protected around 700,000 undocumented immigrants who came to the u.s. as kids from deportation. michelle's parents brought her to the states from argentina when she was 10 years old. in 2013 she applied for daca protection so she could stay in the country without fear of being deported. >> what daca really allowed me was able to graduate and have a work permit and enter the workforce immediately. >> reporter: she has to renew her application every two years to stay current. today she's getting help from a legal team in san francisco. >> we're providing sort of this

legal service free of cost to them and sort of helping them navigate the application forms. >> reporter: while only current recipients can reapply, daca has been in jeopardy since the trump administration announced it was rescinding the program last year. >> the problem with daca is it has never been written into law. it came about through a presidential action by president obama, which is why it has always been vulnerable. >> reporter: while the courts determine the legality of daca, the beneficiaries hope for a political solution. >> i only hope that when people are making decisions that affect my life, that they think of me as a human being. >> reporter: those caught in the middle are left to wait and continue having to reapply. in san francisco, now back to you. and when abc 7 news at 5:00 continues, celebrating the legacy of late san francisco mayor ed lee with what colleagues call a very fitting

coming up on abc 7 news at 6:00, we'll continue our live team coverage on today's emotional hearing into christine blasey ford's sexual assault allegations against brett kavanaugh. >> dion lim reports live from washington, d.c. she'll ask a bay area democrat about the claims that this

hearing was a stalling tactic and whether kavanaugh supporters should be nervous. plus a new employer for a former 49er who knelt side by side and was a vocal supporter of colin kaepernick and his cause. that's ahead at 6:00. a celebration took place in san francisco today honoring late mayor ed lee. >> 2, 1. >> family members of the late mayor cut the ceremonial ribbon today for a renaming of the chinese education center to the edwin and anita lee newcomer school. speakers called the renaming a fitting honor for a man who cared deeply about the public school system. >> he cared about our children. he cared about their future. so he went beyond what a traditional mayor does and got involved and invested in our kids. >> administrators say the school is committed to providing an

orientation to american culture. most students only spend a year before moving on to kpreps i' comprehensive public school. >> tha

california had the worst wildfire season on record. scientists say, our weather is becoming more extreme and we all have to be better prepared. that's why pg&e is adopting new and additional safety precautions to help us monitor and respond to dangerous weather. hi, i'm allison bagley, a meteorologist with pg&e's community wildfire safety program. we're working now, to enhance our weather forecasting capabilities, building a network of new weather stations to identify when and where extreme wildfire conditions may occur, so we can respond faster and better. we're installing cutting edge technology to provide real-time mapping and tracking of weather patterns. and we use this information in partnership with first responders and california's emergency response systems. to learn more about the community wildfire safety program and how you can help keep your home and community safe,

visit pge.com/wildfiresafety tonight, a special edition of "world news tonight." an unprecedented moment in american history. the deeply personal and at times deeply political supreme court showdown. for the first time, we see and hear from dr. christine blasey ford, who has accused supreme court nominee brett kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her. >> i am here today not because i want to be. i am terrified. >> in front of millions, the professor, wife and mother now detailing the night she claims brett kavanaugh attacked her at a gathering when they were young. describing the moment she says he was laughing while on top of her. >> do you believe brett kavanaugh assaulted you? >> 100%. >> then, president trump's nominee, judge brett kavanaugh, entering the hearing room, seething and, at times, in

tears, fiercely defending himself against the allegations. he says it nev