building a better bay area for a safe and secure future, this is abc 7 news. we can begin to turn millions of americans' hopes into reality. a sigh of relief for so many a vaccine is on the way. the fda has cleared the way for pfizer's covid-19 vaccine, distribution of the doses could start today. among those first to get the shot will be health care workers and those in long term care facilities. good morning, everybody, it's saturday, december 12th, i'm liz kreutz.

this morning the fda will hold a news conference on the first covid-19 vaccine authorization. the fda commissioner and director will take questions about the shot, the news conference is set to start any minute now and we will bring it to you live. this is the letter to pfizer that made it official, saying the fda reviewed the data, and determined the vaccine was safe for emergency use, for people 16 and older. the systems are in motion for distribution to begin. abc 7 news reporter luz pena has more on what could be the beginning of the end of an outbreak, that has killed hundreds of thousands of americans. >> reporter: the wait is over. hospitals across the country are gearing up to receive the first batch of the pfizer covid-19 vaccine. president donald trump categorizing this -- >> this is one of the greatest scientific accomplishments in history. >> reporter: according to operation warp speed 3 million doses of pfizer's vaccine are expected in the first shipments nationwide. >> the first vaccine will be administered in less than 24 hours. the governors decide where the

vaccines will go in their state and who will get them first. we want our senior citizens, health care workers and first responders to be first in line. >> reporter: for distribution california created a framework, where health care workers and nursing home residents will receive the first doses followed by essential workers at risk of exposure to the virus. >> which means there's 327,600 doses of the vaccine on their way to the state of california. >> reporter: the authorization of the pfizer vaccine comes as more than 291,000 americans have died from the virus. according to the cdc. >> together, with other vaccine manufacturers, this collaboration is expected to deliver hundreds of millions of doses to americans by the end of next year. >> reporter: after nearly 44,000 people were part of the clinical trial, the fda found the vaccine is over 90% effective but it's still unclear how long the vaccine protection will last.

governor newsom announced on wednesday that california is expecting 672,000 doses of moderna's covid-19 vaccine once authorized. in the newsroom, luz pena, abc 7 news. now holding a -- the fda, excuse me, is currently now holding a press conference to address questions around the vaccine. we're going to bring that to you live right now, listen in. >> it is if gold standard regulator of medical products. we applied our high standards of review in reviewing this product so that americans can have trust and confidence that the vaccine meets fda's rigorous standards for safety and effectiveness. and with this authorization, we know that our federal partners are already moving to distribute the first doses of the vaccine throughout the country. the fda's authorization for this vaccine is a significant milestone in battling a devastating pandemic that has affected so many families in the u.s. and around the world.

our action comes as we are near the end, what has been truly a year unlike any other in modern times. while this year has been marked by tragedy, sadness and sacrifice, it is also a year that has generated unparalleled scientific achievement that will resonate for many future generations. scientific processes for medical product development including vaccines traditionally take years. what we have seen this year is a historic partnership among the private sector, academic researchers, and the federal government to find efficiencies in our scientific processes, as well as the dedication of time and energy toward a common goal, which has led to the rapid development of truly innovative medical products. but let me be clear, efficiency does not mean any cutting of corners. medical products are still undergoing rigorous study in clinical trials. important safety checks remain in place. the fda's review teams continue

as they have always done to comb through the data submitted by companies regarding their medical products. what's different during covid-19 is that developers, researchers and regulators have found new and hopefully lasting ways to be dynamic and efficient. at the fda we have been applying a variety of resources and tools in our search for solutions and to support the nation's medical needs. which has led to this achievement. we've found ways to cut the red tape and reduce regulatory burden on medical product sponsors when possible. one important tool we have used during this pandemic, including for this vaccine action, is the emergency use authorization or eua, created by congress specifically to provide us with the means to respond rapidly during a public health emergency. for an eua to be issued the fda's career scientists conduct a rigorous evaluation of currently available scientific evidence about a medical product, the fda must determine

that the product's known and potential benefits outweigh its known and potential risks. for vaccines that have the potential to be given to millions of healthy americans, we at the fda have set high expectations. for yesterday's action on pfizer, biontech's covid-19 vaccine the fda's career scientists conducted a fast but incredibly thorough review of a complex eua request involving manufacturing data, quality control data, safety data, effectiveness data and more. our career staff of scientists and staff have been working around the clock including holidays, weekends and late nights to swiftly do this evaluation that meets our globally recognized high standards for review. i know the meticulousness of the review that the fda has done. i will absolutely take this covid-19 vaccine, pending availability and distribution, because i have complete trust and confidence in the fda's

career staff's evaluation. to ensure all americans can have trust and confidence in the carefulness of the fda's review we have made this review process as transparent as possible. we held a public advisory committee on thursday about the pfizer biontech application. the advisory committee consists of external experts who reviewed clinical data from pfizer and biontech's submission and provided their own relations to the fda related to the data concerning the safety and effectiveness of the product. the committee overwhelmingly agreed that the vaccine's benefits outweighs its risks. we've also made clear clue two guidance documents the information a developer should provide to us for their covid-19 vaccine, helping americans understand exactly what data we would be looking at during our review process. additionally, yesterday we have also posted important information to health -- to help health care providers understand the benefits, risks, and proper

use of this fda authorized vaccine, including fact sheets for health care providers, and vaccine recipients. instructions for use, the letter of authorization to the requester, which spells out the conditions under which the use of the product is authorized. we also intend to post the decision memorandum, which outlines the basis of our decision. all of this information helps the public understand the importance of our thorough and diligent review of the pfizer biontech vaccine. it provides the necessary information to health care providers to understand if there are reasons certain people should not take the vaccine. such as a history of allergic reaction to any of the vaccine ingredients. our transparency is arming health care providers with the tools they need to make decisions about what is appropriate for their patients. this transparency should also help assure the public that this vaccine met the fda's rigorous

standards for quality, safety and efficacy. science and data, guided the fda's decision. we worked quickly, based on the urgency of this pandemic, not because of any other external pressure. >> all right, you are listening to fda commissioner stephen hahn there give an update on the vaccine, which has been given emergency authorization and stephen hahn there, assuring people they have not cut any corners, that the fda did a very fast but incredibly thorough review of the vaccine. he, himself, said that he would absolutely take it. so we'll continue to monitor that, and bring you any more updates as we get them. meantime, the state is still determining who will be next in line for the vaccine, behind health care workers and nursing home residents. abc 7 news reporter matt boone looks at what's being done to make sure powerful businesses or wealthy people can't just buy their spot in line. >> reporter: so phase 1 a is first and then fizz 1 b, likely

essential workers and then a tiered system within that. the makeup of those tiers, though, is still being worked out. >> i think it would be a mistake to pretend that it's completely immune from the potential for political influence. >> reporter: david magnus is a biomedical ethics professor at stanford university. >> we're trying to as much as possible maximize the amount of benefit, minimize harm. >> reporter: broadly he expects the process in california to be ethical. but what is being done to make sure a powerful perp or industry can't purchase access. >> it helps that at the largest levels these decisions are being made and these recommendations concretely are being made by individuals who are clearly pretty high minded people being motivated by considerations of equity, justice, trying to make sure -- and it's a pretty transparent process. >> reporter: one of those people helping craft california's vaccine rollout list is dr. louise aaronson. >> the process so far seems incredibly rigorous and thoughtful.

>> reporter: part of the state's drafting guidelines work group. as the first vaccines make their way to california, their group is currently riding the phase 1b tiers, she can't reveal what that will look like yet but she says they learned a lot from the uneven way testing was rolled out. >> that all happened really quickly without much planning and with at least, at the federal level, a government that didn't want to take charge across the nation. >> reporter: she hopes the vaccine rollout is more transparent, though with limited supply for now, she cautions -- >> it's not going to go the way everyone wants. >> reporter: matt boone, abc 7 news. and we're dedicating next week to bring you in depth coverage with our team of reporters and medical experts on the vaccine, if you have questions about it, we'll try to answer all of them. just head to abc7news.com/vaccine to submit your question for our vaccine week. and monday night at 10:00, also a special edition of "20/20, the shot, race for the vaccine," this will cover the safety, access and timing of the vaccine. that's monday on abc.

meantime in the north bay, a stay at home order is now in effect in sonoma county. coronavirus cases have doubled in recent days leading the county to shut down outdoor dining and close hair and nail salons. gyms will remain open but will only be operating outdoors. sonoma county says all three of its hospitals have icu capacity above the state's threshold of 15%. san mateo, napa and slolano are the only places have not enacted a stay at home order. frances, good to see a little bit of rain out there. >> we certainly need it, liz. here's a live shot of the san mateo bridge, it's wet out there. hayward got about a third of an inch of rain. that's great. we're only at 18% of normal there. we have another wave of rain heading our way. i'll let you know what time you can expect it to hit your neighborhood and accuweather seven-day forecast coming up. part of lake tahoe is

locking down as covid cases rise. but will bay area tourists listen? and state officials have set a new opening date for crab fishing season, when fishermen will be able to hit the waters again, just in time for christmas.

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is -- sfpd and the payor's office, they hope the event will lower firearm crimes in the city. handguns for $100 and assault rifles for $200. completely anonymous. since 2014 they have taken nearly 2,000 guns off the streets of san francisco. this event runs from 8:00 this morning until noon. many bay area art and cultural institutions are finding ways to connect with people of all ages, despite being closed due to the pandemic. and for the tech interactive in

downtown san jose that includes engaging with visitors online instead of in person. it launched an entirely new website, featuring interactive challenges and virtual field trips, delivering exhibits to countless minds. >> at the heart of the mission is to make innovators and problem solving skills. when the pandemic hit we had to close our doors that all of the staff put those skills to work. >> it's been wonderful to see the dedication to try to keep the building going. >> reporter: curators have created a new 5,000 square foot exhibit called solve for earth using technology and other interactive displays to teach about our environment and sustainability. and we have been covering the state of the arts all this past week so if you want to read about more organizations or help out we have information on how you can do that at abc7news.com/betterbayarea. click on state of the arts. lake tahoe is now closed to visitors for at least the next three weeks. it is part of the greater sacramento region, which became subject to the state's stay at home order, after icu capacity

dipped below 15%. among other things, that means non-essential travel is off limits. hotels have been cancelling reservations but we found some people preparing for ski season at sports basement and they're still planning the trips, at least for now. >> less concern about when we're actually skiing since we'll be distancing with each other, and we'll have our mask on. in terms of that, i think it's pretty safe. >> i'm not going to be near nobody, i'm going to be by myself snowboarding. >> businesses on the california side are closing, the nevada side remains open with fewer restrictions. and california has set the opening date for dungeness crab fishing season. the fish and wildlife department says the season will start december 23rd. the official opening date was november 15th, but had been dayed to protect migrating whales from getting trapped in fishing nets. last year's commercial season was also put on hold to protect the whales. all right, let's get a check of the weather now with meteorologist frances dinglasan

in for lisa ar jeb. good morning, frances. >> morning, liz, morning, everyone. we had some wet weather overnight, and we still see a little bit of it right now but it already is making its way out of the bay area, and you can see that with live doppler 7. some returns right now to the area south of san jose and east and north of gilroy. but that is starting to diminish pretty quickly. i want to show you the forecast animation. which shows you that the rain over the next few hours will mainly be south of san francisco. towards san jose and part of the santa cruz mountains. and then by about lunchtime, notice, it really dries out. so we'll have a mostly dry day this afternoon, with cloudy weather, before our next wave arrives late tonight, and then it will continue into tomorrow morning and i'll show you that in just a little bit as well. live shot from the exploratorium shows you a pretty view right now. san francisco is looking pretty clear, suddenly, although we are seeing a bit of fog.

san francisco 55, oakland 58 degrees, san jose's 52. half moon bay is at 54 degrees, and completely socked in with visibility less than a fourth of a mile. live shot of the golden gate bridge shows some slick roads, and fog there as well. and temperatures are in the 40s through parts of the north bay, santa rosa is down to 45, novato 48, napa at 51 with fog, fairfield at 48 degrees right. on our storm impact scale, this ranks a 1 out of 5. this will continue through tomorrow, periods of rain, mainly light to moderate. it will be heavier, in the hills, and in the mountains, and there is a very slight chance of a thunderstorm tomorrow morning, and afternoon, through parts of northwest sonoma county and along parts of the northern bay area coast and you can see it here with the forecast animation, around 4:00 tomorrow morning, north bay in rain, the yellow showing heavier spots so it could be moderate at times and then by 8:00 tomorrow

morning it slides south, around the bay area, through san francisco, all the way down to gilroy, and then starts to exit as well by about lunchtime tomorrow, with some lingering scattered showers throughout parts of the afternoon and then it leaves by tomorrow night, bringing some snow to the sierra as well. so we've already had anywhere from a quarter to half an inch and we could get anywhere from two tenths of an inch up to another half an inch through tomorrow morning. there's a winter weather advisory until 10:00 tomorrow if you're heading to the sierra. of course, liz just mentioned, right now, many parts are closed, and up to a foot of snow expected over the peaks with windy driving conditions. highs today will be near 60 degrees for almost everyone, and if you want to get outside to walk the dog or go for a walk this afternoon should be okay, just grab a jacket, but tomorrow morning will be a different story, quite wet, temperatures in the 40s to near 50 around the bay area, and then here's the

accuweather seven-day forecast, so we've got the rain tapering off right now, steadier rain tomorrow morning, but then it starts to dry out as well, and then it looks like we've got brighter skies, and dryer weather through the workweek, except for wednesday night into thursday when our next chance of rain pops in to the bay area, notice temperatures fairly steady, near 60 degrees for almost everyone all week, and liz just looking ahead i know we need the rain so we might get some more rain as well. next weekend. i'm keeping my fingers crossed. right now bay area rainfall is anywhere from 10 to 20% of our normal for the season. >> yeah, we really, really need that. all right, frances, thank you, appreciate it. just ahead, nearly 1 million californians will lose unemployment benefits unless congress acts quickly. michael

i've been involved in. communications in the media for 45 years. i've been taking prevagen on a regular basis for at least eight years. for me, the greatest benefit over the years has been that prevagen seems to help me recall things and also think more clearly. and i enthusiastically recommend prevagen. it has helped me an awful lot. prevagen. healthier brain. better life. unemployment benefits for millions of americans may soon run out unless congress acts

fast. nearly 1 million californians will suddenly lose their unemployment benefits the day after christmas. "7 on your side's" michael finney has more on the story and explains it's another bleak spot in our holiday season. >> this is actually my official last color and haircut for the year. >> reporter: alicia orabella is closing her oakland hair salon. >> i'm really bum and had i'm scared. >> reporter: with the latest shutdown alicia is counting on unemployment to kick in. >> with unemployment, that's really scary. >> reporter: without quick action from washington that lifeline will suddenly drop off. >> the benefits will actually end the day after christmas. and it's a hard cutoff. >> reporter: andrew stetner studies unemployment policies at the century foundation in washington, he says many don't see what's coming. >> it is kind of a cliff that people were ignoring, they're starting to become aware of it. but i think it's going to hit hard as we get closer to the holidays. >> reporter: benefits will end

abruptly on december 26th for workers getting pandemic unemployment assistance and a 13-week extension of benefits. the lifelines known as pua and peuc. >> anyone on any of the programs with a "p" in them, peuc or pua, those benefits will not be available after december 26th. >> reporter: that means benefits end for millions of gig workers, contractors, self-employed. business owners, part-timers and caregivers, groups that were not covered under traditional unemployment. it also ends a special 13-week extension for those who ran out of the usual 26 weeks of benefits. that goes away even if you didn't use all the extra weeks. >> people are really going to be in a very negative position. we need to underscore. poverty is going to go up. children are going to be hurt. >> reporter: the california policy lab estimated 750,000 californians will lose benefits without a new relief package but that number could easily top 1 million, due to the latest shutdown.

however, those on regular state unemployment won't face these cutoffs. at least not yet. they can get a 13-week extension under a program called fed ed which kicks in during periods of hugh unemployment. that will cover most californians until mid-march. but it could still leave millions with no income, and leaders are still bickering. >> why are you fighting? you know? like the rest of us are choking out here. >> reporter: i'm michael finney, "7 on your side." all right, a light display is now brightening the night in san francisco to help celebrate golden gate park's 150th an veers, changing colors and a variety of shapes make up the show called entwined. it's called a whimsical wonderland of lights. visitors like the nocturnal spectacle. >> i enjoyed the colors. it kind of looked like marshmallows. like playing drums on them. we like how big and tall all the trees were.

the different configurations, it was really beautiful. >> social distancing rules are in place at entwined. private donors are sponsoring the show. entwined runs through february 28th. historic moment in the coronavirus pandemic, the fda authorized the first covid-19 vaccine in the u.s. millions of doses will be shipped to hundreds of sites across the country. and dry ice is critical in the delivery of the vaccine. you'll meet the bay area company taking part, and ready to save lives.

building a better bay area for a safe and secure future. this is abc 7 news. good morning again, we have a busy saturday as we learn more about the vaccine that is now authorized and soon on its way to california. but first, if you're just joining us, let's get you another quick look at the weather, the rain that we're tracking with frances dinglasan.

hey, frances. >> hi, liz, good morning, everyone. i'm tracking that rain as well with live doppler 7 and showing you the loop over the past hour, how it's starting to slide towards the southeast, and leave the bay area for now. we have a mostly dry day ahead, and you can see it here. we have some light rain falling south of san jose towards gilroy right now. here's what you can expect, 12-hour planner as we look towards the shark tank in the south bay, lots of gray skies there. we have some light rain falling next few hours, temperatures in the 50s. by lunchtime we will be drying out for a mostly dry day the rest of the day but it will be cloudy this afternoon, temperatures will hit near 60 degrees in many areas. and then colloilouds will incre tonigat around 7:00. we have another round of rain heading our way later tonight into tomorrow morning and i'll have those details and how much more rain you can expect for your neighborhood coming up. >> all right, frances, thank you. shipping of the first covid-19 vaccine could start as early as today.

this comes just one day after the fda gave the go ahead for pfizer's vaccine to be distributed here in the u.s. abc news reporter ty hernandez has more on the rollout. >> reporter: as early as this morning pfizer is expected to begin shipping the first 2.9 million doses of the coronavirus vaccine to more than 600 locations across the u.s., after the fda authorized the country's first vaccine for people aged 16 and over late friday. president trump praising the effort. >> we are deeply grateful to every person who has round the clock on this monumental national project to save lives. >> reporter: health and human services secretary alex azar calling the authorization nothing short of a miracle. the fda saying it is not sacrificed scientific standards but adds it's unclear how long immunity will last after a person receives both doses. among the first to get immunized will be health care workers, and produced the vaccine alongside german company biontech will

ship the doses from its michigan warehouse directly to sites preselected by governors and local health officials. >> we could be seeing people getting vaccinated, monday, tuesday of next week. >> reporter: the cdc projects the u.s. death toll could reach 362,000 by january 2nd, nearly 70,000 americans in just three weeks. >> we are in the time frame now that probably for the next 60 to 90 days we're going to have more deaths per day than we had in 9/11 or pearl harbor. >> reporter: ty hernandez, abc news, new york. the vaccine's authorization is prompting a huge demand for dry ice, needed to pack millions of doses for shipments around the world. abc 7 news reporter cornell barnard toured the bay area company ready for the challenge. >> so you can see here these are the 5/8 inch pellets here. >> reporter: a big chill of pacific dry ice, where thousands of frozen

pellets and blocks are standing by. >> all hands on deck with the covid-19 vaccine. >> reporter: the operations manager says his crew and manufacturing plant are gearing up to produce enough dry ice needed to pack covid-19 vaccine doses for shipment across the bay area and west coast. the pfizer vaccine must be kept at 94 degrees below zero fahrenheit. >> dry ice is at minus 109, which is the main reason why dry ice is a great product to use to keep the vaccine cold. >> reporter: manager tim ramos is getting a lot of calls. >> we're getting ready to help people out. help the counties out. got a call today from napa county looking for ice. >> reporter: dry ice, once a fun prop for halloween is now playing a critical role in the pandemic. >> dry ice is just solid co 2, carbon dioxide. >> reporter: its shelf life is short but dry ice is constantly fogging itself back into gas, ten pounds can disappear within 24 hours. so the more dry ice the better to keep vaccines safe during

transport. >> it's going up in smoke as we speak. >> reporter: but supplies of the gas used to make dry ice may not keep up with demand. >> overall there is a finite supply of co 2. which equates to a finite supply of dry ice. >> reporter: no shortages yet and for now destinations are unknown. this company like others across the country are ready to roll and freeze to help a country in need. >> it's great to be part of the solution and to play our part in getting it from, you know, manufacturer to distribution to, you know, the folks that need it. >> reporter: cornell barnard, abc 7 news. the bay area could be vaccinating health care workers as early as next week, bay area counties like marin are receiving vaccines from state stockpiles on a per capita allocation with some modifications based on the number of hospitals. marin county is going to receive nearly 2,000 doses of the pfizer vaccine, meantime kaiser

permanente tells abc 7 news it's applied to be a vaccine provider in every market it operates and will offer it to those who meet the criteria in each phase of prioritize -- process. this morning we're learning -- we have applied high standards of review in reviewing this product so that americans can have trust and confidence that the vaccine meets fda's rigorous standards for safety and effectiveness. we are near the end. what has been truly a year unlike any other in modern times. while this year has been marked by tragedy, sadness and sacrifice, it is also a year that has generated unparalleled scientific achievement that will resonate for many future generations. >> the fda added that they plan to be completely transparent with the public, they will release documents about how their decision was made to give the vaccine emergency approval. and this morning we're learning multiple records were broken in 2020 and the election

here in california last month. more than 22 million people registered to vote prior to the october 19th deadline. this is new numbers from the secretary of state's office. more than 17 million californians voted in the general election, that the 3 million more than the previous record set in 2016. and of those, more than 15 million voted by mail. that is the largest number of vote by mail ballots cast in any california election. good to see some records being broken there. looking for something to do while hanging out at home this weekend? i'm sure we all are. abc 7 news anchor kumasi aaron as a look at what's streaming online. if you love history, documentaries, and the beatles, you have to watch eyewitness to the death of john lennon.

>> former beatle john lennon is dead. >> our sister station in new york produced this documentary in honor of the 40th anniversary of john lennon's death. it's really interesting. they had a crazy perspective because a producer from the station happened to be inside the e.r. when they brought john lennon in and it's incredible stuff, it's something really cool to just sit back and watch. the sf opera is closed but it's not gone. we got a behind the scenes look how they've retooled to stream performances to fans. this is all a part of our building a better bay area state of the arts week. >> our products are mainly inspired by flavors. >> is your mouth watering? mine is. this tasty story is from our localish team and it's about sweet condesa, a taste of the philippines with super special ingredients. all of that and a lot more is in the featured section at the top of the app. if you don't have the app yet, please get it. all you have to do is fire up

your roku, amazon fire, apple tv, and search abc 7 bay area, and you can download it today. happy streaming, friends. all right, if that didn't make you hungry, sorry, listen up, still ahead, coming up on abc 7 mornings, how the bay area's muslim community is helping small restaurants and bridging gaps between communities. and here is a live look now, looking out over the embarcadero from our abc 7 roof camera, in the 50s here in san francisco. we'll check in with frances when

with the kids at home and less money coming in, there'd be no way we could afford health insurance.

my kids think i'm a superhero. but even superheroes need help sometimes. we found help at covered california. and not just us. 9 out of 10 people who enrolled got financial help. covered california. this way to health insurance. enroll now at coveredca.com this past week we've been exploring the state of the arts here in the bay area, with so many arts groups shuttering through this pandemic. one of the groups trying its best to hang on is a nonprofit called performing starring, offering music, theater, dance and art classes to low income

children in marin city. tonight is their 30th anniversary gala, it's going virtual. executive director felecia gaston says they've been trying to adapt as best as they can. going door to door dropping off baskets with arts and activities for children. >> as a little girl i wanted to take ballet when i was growing up in georgia. it wasn't available because of segregation. today the reason i started performing stars is to provide an opportunity for children to be able to get connected to the arts. because it provides character, discipline, self-esteem, confidence, all of these things which makes you to be a more productive person. >> how has the pandemic sort of changed for you guys, changed how you raise money, changed what you're able to offer? >> yes, when -- in march when the pandemic hit, automatically we had to -- everything just stopped and so we were not able

to provide any of our after school or summer program in the way that we normally would be doing, and especially because we were planning to get ready for our 30-year anniversary. we were planning a big gala, sitdown gala at the jewish community center, people paying $100 a person to support our after school and summer enrichment programs but it became clear in march that we had to refocus and say no, this is going virtual. >> the performing stars 30th anniversary virtual gala is tonight at 6:00. you'll hear from alumni. including the new principal dancer at boston ballet. a wonderful organization. tickets are still available on the group's website starting at $30. go to performingstars.org. to learn more. frances, good to see you this morning. >> nice to see you too, liz, and it was nice to see some rain early this morning. live shot of sfo, where they

got .3 of an inch of rain over the past 24 hours. there's quite a bit of fog here, and the fog is pretty thick along the coast, especially in half moon bay as well. so be careful if you're driving out there, roads are slick this morning, visibility is limited. we are starting to dry out before another round of rain moves our way tonight and into tomorrow morning, and i'll have those details and how much more rain you can expect. >> thanks, frances. also next, a historic victory, san jose state advances to the mountain west championship for the first ever. chris alvarez

in sports both cal and stanford wrap up their pac 12 schedule tonight. can cardinal taking on oregon state at 7:30. watch on espnu, and the golden bears face washington state and also at 7:30. last night san jose state tried to remain undefeated against nevada. here's abc 7 sports anchor chris

alvarez with the highlights. in this morning's sports. good morning, it has been quite the ride for the san jose spartans. at 5-0, off to their best start. due to covid restrictions the team hit the road. on friday night they played a home game in las vegas against nevada, go figure. brent brennan's crew wins and they're in the mountain west championship. they trailed 27 at the break. but shamar garrett, finds a seam, cuts it back, a lot of grass in front of him. how about 98 yards to the house and just like that, 20-14 game. the momentum changing. later in the third, wolf pack driving, toa taua -- fumbles the ball and san jose recovers, defense makes a huge play, they go on a 12 play 99 yard drive capped by "d," deese jr. on -- spartans lead at late third.

tyler nevens, runs over the defender and gone, 69 yards to the house. 560 yards of total offense, spartans win 30-20, 6-0 on the mountain west championship game but the first time in school history, taking on boise state. some creative cutouts, watching st. mary's hoops taking on san jose state, first half, just great ball movement. dan fotu, the triple. he had 15 points shy of his career high. leading by 30 at the break. omari moore, doing his best. 18 points for the spartans. team high there, but too much. mountain view native logan johnson looking like his brother tyler who plays in the nba for the nets. what a play that was, 96-61, now 6-1 this season. the warriors pre-season opener tonight against denver, we'll mark their first game of any kind since march 10. both draymond green and james wiseman worked out individually friday but no team activities. for both players. this will be quite a ramp-up

period, three pre-season games, and boom, we're in the regular season, opening in brooklyn on december 22nd. steve kerr expects stephen curry to play in all pre-season games, including about 20 minutes tonight against denver. >> this year i'm really excited about because even though it's a big challenge, it's a challenge that is exciting. i'm excited to see how this team comes together over the course of the year. that's one of the most fun things to do as a coach and even as a fan to watch a team develop and grow. >> we've got a busy sports saturday for you, the warriors, cal and stanford football. a lot going on. see you later tonight. have a great saturday. >> let's get you back over to frances, to keep talking about the rain, we've been waiting a long time for this. >> yeah, liz, we could certainly use the rain. we are only at about 10 to 20% of normal for many parts of the bay area. and we got a little bit of rain

overnight into this morning. unfortunately it is starting to taper off. but i want to show you live doppler 7 and what it looks like right now around the bay area. we have some light rain falling to the south and east of san jose at this point, but we are quickly drying out. so most of the rest of the day will be dry, we'll still see some spotty showers throughout the next few hours as you can see with this forecast animation. 10:00 this morning. be prepared for a spotty shower threw parts of the east bay and even parts of the south bay and then by lunchtime pretty much in the clear if you're heading outdoors to walk your dog or get errands done you won't need an umbrella. but then tonight the rain starts to move in again after midnight. i'll show you that in a little bit. but for now, look at this gorgeous live shot from the exploratorium, looking out towards the bay. winds are breezy in san francisco at about 17 miles per hour from the northwest where it's currently 55 degrees. oakland 58 degrees. san jose 52. and half moon bay completely socked in with the fog right now

as well, at 54 degrees, in fact, you'll find quite a bit of fog across the golden gate bridge. and roads are still a bit wet from the rain we had overnight. temperatures in the north bay are in the 40s in some spots, like santa rosa, 45, novato 48, fairfield is also at 48 degrees. so storm impact scale, this ranks 1 out of 5, it's light. this will continue through tomorrow, periods of rain, mainly light to moderate. it will be heavier in the hills and mountains, and moderate at times as well. as it moves through for this second wave, which you'll see right here in this forecast an mission, mostly dry the rest of today, but tonight we'll start to see the rain move in from the northwest, again 4:00 tomorrow morning, see the areas of yellow, that's more moderate rainfall, there's a very slight chance of thunderstorms through parts of the north bay coastline, and also northwest sonoma county, by 8:00 in the morning slides towards the southeast over the bay area, and then continues to move out, by

lunchtime, we'll still see scattered lingering showers, and then we should be dry, most of the afternoon, into the evening with the white and pink stuff showing you the snow falling in the sierra as well. we'll get an additional rainfall amounts of anywhere from about a quarter of an inch, and again we could use this rain as well, winter weather advisory in effect for the next couple hours until 10:00 this morning, if you're heading to the sierra, you will need chains, up to a foot of snow on the peaks, windy driving to and from there. highs today near 60 degrees for most everyone, and even though it's dry the cloud cover will keep us cool tomorrow morning in the 40s for some of the north bay areas, and lots of upper 40s around the bay, including 50 degrees in san mateo, wet start, accuweather seven-day forecast, so drying out today, steadier rain tomorrow, then looking dry most of the workweek, temperatures fairly steady, but there is a slight chance of rain we are tracking for thursday

and, again, liz, i am hoping for it because we could certainly use the rain and well, it helps keep us indoors as you mentioned earlier. >> it really does. the christmas tree is so pretty, frances, love it. thanks, frances. >> thank you. in the east bay, it's the first ever halal restaurant week in the u.s., it's the bay area muslim community's effort to help local restaurants, abc 7 news reporter anser hasan has the story. >> reporter: in the midst of the pandemic, this owner is expecting a lot of phone orders. his el halal amigos food truck specializes on their take of mexican street food. >> it's nachos and a burrito, big, massive and delicious. >> reporter: the creative menu may be a draw but some of the customers made the trip to fremont as part of halal fest, the first of its kind restaurant week supporting restaurants that serve halal food, similar to

jewish kosher food but following islamic dietary guidelines. >> most halal is antibiotic, hormone free, free range, it has to be grass fed. >> reporter: these two came out from concord. >> we don't have that many options for halal mexican food in concord, for me, it's worth it. >> reporter: leading the charge is radan, critical to rally the community to support local restaurants during the pandemic. >> they're getting a lot of exposure and getting new customers as well that are coming in that haven't heard of them before. they're very happy about that. >> it is the first halal restaurant week in the united states, happening in the bay area, i think that's incredible. >> reporter: zoha has been blogging about the event, she says many restaurants are seeing big crowds for takeaway orders. >> by people seeing swarms of people outside a restaurant, i'm sure even non-muslims will wonder what's going on. >> reporter: that's another big draw for hasham, half filipino and muslim. he proudly displays his halal sign. he hopes it helps break down

store owe types and opens dialogue between communities. >> bridge that gap and explain to people who don't know what halal is, through tacos, and it's just a great avenue to take. you know, i mean, who doesn't like a great taco? >> reporter: in fremont, anser hassan, abc 7 news. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ visit your volvo retailer for special offers during our holiday safely sales event. i do motivational speakingld. in addition to the substitute teaching. i honestly feel that that's my calling--

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today more than 200 underserved san jose third graders will be getting a special holiday gift from police. they will be treated to a covid friendly shopping spree, it is part of the 13th annual shop with a cop event.this is video event. each child receives $125 gift card from target to spend on gifts and themselves. parents will also be given a gift card to purchase groceries. due to the pandemic, families will drive up to pick up the gifts today. safari west in santa rosa may be closed but today they are

hosting a virtual fundraiser to celebrate the launch of its new live program. safari west live brings the fun wildlife experience that includes giraffes, rhinos and more to anyone around the world. today's fundraiser is called romp with the beasts, raising money to expand their new program. the event starts at 5:00 tonight on the safari west website. all right, let's get one final check of the forecast with frances, hey, frances. >> all right, sounds like we are having a little bit of trouble connecting with frances, but as you heard her say throughout the past two hours, we are having pockets of rain today, a little more rain tomorrow, and there's another chance of rain later on this week, obviously we've been crossing our fingers we would get a little bit of rain and finally it's here. that's some good news this morning, as well as the vaccine, of course. thank you again for joining us here on abc 7 mornings.

i'm liz kreutz along with frances dinglasan. see you back here at 8:00. hi, everyone, michael finney here, i know many of you are waiting for your unemployment or covid-19 payments. so i asked the edd what's going on, why can't our viewers get their money? >> there's a number of different things that could impact someone's eligibility. >> 7 on your side got your emails, hundreds of emails all about the edd and you deserve better. that's why i promise to keep asking the tough questions and getting answers. so, stay with us, and health insurance shouldn't be one of them. at covered california, every plan is comprehensive, covering everything from preventive care to mental health. covered california is the only place that offers financial help for health insurance,

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good morning, america. breaking overnight. getting the go ahead. the fda issues emergency use authorization for pfizer's covid-19 vaccine clearing the way for it to be shipped across the country. >> today our nation has achieved a medical miracle. >> the giant distribution efforts keeping it at ultra cold temperatures, where it's going and who will get it first. we have team coverage on this monumental moment. vaccine questions. >> how much of the people who are doing the trials of the vaccine are african-american? >> we're answering your pressing concerns. a doctor on the fda advisory committee who voted for it as well as our own dr. jen ashton here this morning. white house threats? sources say chief of staff mark meadows suggested fda he