to keep it from coming ashore. they are bringing in smmers today to try to skimffhe water. so i think in the big picture it's going to be okay. >> reporter: as seen from sky 7, this is what it looked like tuesday afternoon in the hours just after the reported leak from one of many pipelines that serve the ships at the wharf. >> a preliminary investigation shows that there was a quarter-inch hole in the pipeline. one of the pipelines that transports oil from the refinery and to the ships back and forth. >> we don't know exactly what it is yet that is a pipeline that takes water product, like gasoline and diesel, and also oil to and from ship. so we are putting that through a lab. >> reporter: chevron has set up a multiagency command center at its richmond facility. so far the spill has stayed well offshore, but it's a situationo closely. experts and rescuers are on

standby at keller beach and other locations just in case the fuel impacts any of the wildlife that inhabits the shoreline. >> i think the thing that bothers me the most about any of these kind of incidents is not so much the immediate effect of it, but it's the effect on the image of richmond as place where these kind of things happen. >> reporter: this time, the fuel is light enough that much of it is expected to dissipate on its own. in richmond, laura anthony, abc7 news. >> now you may remember back in 2007, more than 53,000 gallons of oil spilled into the bay when the cosco busan hit the bay bridge in heavy fog. the largest oil spill in san francisco history was in 1971. 800,000 gallons spilled when two oil tankers collided. our work at abc7 news in building a better bay area means keeping a close eye on everything related to your health during this pandemic. now the first known cases of the

south african variant of covid-19 have been detected here in the bay area. one is in alameda county, the other in santa clara. >> this individual had international travel, returned to our county, stayed in their apartment. so the good news is that at no time during their infectious period were they in contact with anyone outside their household. >> alameda county is still looking into the exact details of their case. for the state as a hole, california reported less than 10,000 covid-19 cases for the second day in a row. while the state did surpass new york for most total deaths since the start of the pandemic, all other metrics continue to trend down. meanwhile, the chorus of voices calling for the immediate reopening of california public schools is growing ever louder. today business leaders from up and down the state unified to get students back into classrooms. >> we cannot reopen the economy without safely reopening our schools first. parents should not have to choose between educating their

children or reentering the workfor workforce. >> state business leaders also took time on their zoom call to stress how distance learning disproportionately puts working mothers at a loss. the business leaders say they fear any more time out of class will affect students' competitive advantages in finding jobs in addition to other mental health effects. well, a state senator on a peninsula is calling for teachers to be prioritized for vaccinations to allow schools to open back up. state senator josh becker joins us live right now. senator becker, thanks for your time. >> thank you. >> what exactly are you calling for with regard to teachers and vaccines in san mateo and santa clara counties? >> i'm calling for the prioritization of teachers. the governor has now made it clear that teachers can be prioritized. and we're seeing the need for it, as your last report just stated. and personally, as the parent of two students, i don't need, i

can just look down the hall to see the affect this is having on families. its social component of schools, it's the emotional component of schools. and who would have thought the kids were clamoring to go back to schools, but they are, because it's so important. >> absolutely. but state guidelines have teachers in phase 1b after 65-year-olds. but in the same tier as police, firefighters and food workers. are you calling on teachers to be made eligible in a separate category ahead of those other occupations which the state has in the same tier? >> well, just to clarify, teachers are prioritized right now in the same tier as 65 plus. the governors made that very clear. and counties are vaccinating teachers. alameda has started. sacramento has started. other counties have started. and my point is teachers are relatively small number. in san mateo county, only 5100 public school teachers. we're getting 9,000 doses of vaccine a week. we do have a lot of priorities.

but i think it's time to start taking a day for the kids and work the teachers into that prioritization. >> so if you add firefighters, for example, food worker, occupations in the same category as teachers as far as the guidelines, then you're talking about 200,000 in san mateo county, for example. would you think they should open up to all those folks at the same time eligibility? >> what we're saying is, again, the time is of essence for schools. if we're going save the spring semester, we have to create a pathway. we're a year into this pandemic, and we need to create a pathway to get kids back in schools. otherwise we're risking losing a generation to distance learning. and my point is teachers are relatively small number. and i don't think any of the other groups are going to begrudge teachers if we prioritize them the way we should. and say listen, in a couple of weeks, it's going to be teacher vaccination week. we're going to take a day or two

and focus on our teachers. >> i think no one disagrees we'd love for the teachers to be safe and protected in the classroom so that the kids can get back. the problem seems to be supply shortage in terms of vaccines. and san mateo county, for example, has said it's not helpful to open up more tiers when we're not finished with the 65s and older, worried that it could cause more frustration if more people are eligible but they can't in reality get it, wht can you do the try to solve that problem? >> true point. i think our counties are diagnose a wonderful job in san mateo. they run an incredible mass vaccination site, santa clara county as well. so they're operationally doing well. i'm calling for the counties to have more control over the vaccine supply, because, again, we do have enough. i mean, there are tough choices to make. but there are 43,000 doses in santa clara county. 9,000 doses in san mateo county. the number of teachers, especially if you start with the disadvantaged schools, schools that are the hardest hit or the

teachers that have underlying health conditions, it's just not that big a number. and we can work it in. teachers are a priority. let's make them a priority. >> we have about 20 seconds left, but i'm wondering if there are other ideas that you have other things outside of the vaccine that could also be implemented to support kids returning to the classroom quickly. >> we have a big deal we're working on between the senate and the assembly. stay tuned for news on that. a lot of money for other pieces of this, the ppe, the air purifiers, the other things that will make teachers feel safer in the classroom. >> josh becker representing the 13th district, thank you so much for your insight today. appreciate your time. >> enough. >> in-person learning is back in the san ramon valley school district. parents ran, they scooted, that biked to green brook elementary school in danville this morning. it's the first time transitional kindergarten through second graders could attend class in person this year. of course, emotions ran the gamut including tears from parents who were dropping off their kindergartners for the

very first time. >> so proud of the parents in our district. i'm so proud of everyone coming together and fighting for the rights of our kids. >> this is probably one of the most difficult places and spaces i have ever led, because the science is changing. the requirements have to change in light of it. emotions run deep. and there are so many different views that we're trying to manage. >> in all, only about a third of students returned to class today. the rest decided that they would continue with distance learning. third graders will be allowed to return to school next week. there is also back to school day of sorts at wagner ranch elementary. backpacks were on. the drop-off line was open. the orinda unified school district is first opening with a hybrid model for transitional kindergarten students through second grade. classrooms have plenty of filters, air purifiers and doors open whenever possible, and masks must be warn at all times. day two of the impeachment trial. it included some dramatic new video of the unrest at the

capitol. urging caution this weekend. santa clara county leaders warn people not to gather for lunar new year. new efforts to reduce the spread of covid. what major league baseball is planning for its players. i'm spencer christian. periods of rain and periods of sun. i'll ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

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controversial publisher larry flynt has died. flint launched "hustler" magazine in 1974, also a chain of strip clubs. larry flynt's hustler club with a location in san francisco's north beach neighborhood. flint was well-known for his free speech battles most nobly in 1988 pitting his "hustler" magazine against jerry falwell before the u.s. supreme court. larry flynt was 78 years old. new developments in a terrifying kidnapping for one san francisco man. his two children stolen from him while driving for doordash. now sfpd has made an arrest. police say a 25-year-old man was booked into county jail yesterday. he is charged with stealing the father's car on saturday while it was running with the kids in the back. the children were found safe the next day after triggering an amber alert. sfpd says they're still looking for one more person in the case. with covid-19 casting a shadow over the upcoming lunar new year holiday, which starts on friday, by the way, health officials in santa clara county are urging the public to resist

any temptation to gather in large groups. abc7 news reporter chris nguyen with more on how the celebrations should be done differently this year. >> reporter: at grand century mall in san jose, shoppers are preparing for the lunar new year by picking up last-minute decorations for the home, as well as their usual supply of red envelopes. but with covid-19 still cause for concern, an urgent warning this afternoon. > this weekend, please, please celebrate only with the people you live with. >> san jose is home to the largest vietnamese population within a city outside the country of vietnam. in fact, 10% of the city's population is vietnamese, the majority of whom will be celebrating the lunar new year in some form or fashion starting on friday. county officials are pleading with the public to not gather in grouse. >> we saw a spike after thanksgiving. we saw a spike after christmas, and we do not want to see a spike after lunar new year. >> reporter: as a reminder, outdoor gatherings are limited to more than three households at a time, and face coverings should be doubled up to protect

against coronavirus variants. >> we really cannot afford to have another surge. >> reporter: the chief medical officer at santa clara valley medical center says with more vaccines and testing available, it's important to not lose sight of the progress that's been made. >> what we're asking the community to do is to be the first line of defense. help us stop it so that you don't have to see us. >> reporter: mall management says they'll be adding extra security, and that no lunar new year celebrations will be allowed on-site. >> we still must be doing all that we've been doing to protect our families and our communities and ourselves from the devastating effects of covid-19. >> reporter: the communities' collective sacrifice leading us to this very moment. in san jose, chris nguyen, abc7 news. governor newsom continued his statewide tour oohed, opening new vaccination sites. and this time he was greeted by protesters. newsom was at the fair grounds to announce a new vaccine site. but right outside, a take a

look. a group of protesters were chanting for his recall. one reporter then asked newsom to respond to their frustrations. >> i've focused every single day on getting businesses open, our schools reopened, increasing the rate of vaccinations, more than tripled the daily vaccination rate. we're committed to do that in every part of the state. i don't care if you're democrat or republican, i care that you're healthy and safe. >> reporter: newsom says california has now administered 5 million vaccines. the state will now be converting some covid-19 testing sites into vaccine centers. a federal health official says under 10 million doses of johnson & johnson's one-shot vaccine are ready to shi if the drug company gets fda authorization. studies show their shot is anywhere from 66 to 85% effect. the fda advisory committee is ready to discuss johnson & johnson's application february 26th. we're monitoring the vaccine roll-out.

we have our own vaccine tracker. you can see it right here. also shows when you might be able the get the vaccine and how california is doing compared to other states. you can find this on our home page at abc7news.com. and a reminder, because coming up on friday, we're answering your questions about covid-19 vaccines. we have our own vaccine team here at abc7 news news, kumasi aaron, kate larsen and dr. alok patel will be here as part of the discussion with you, friday at 4:00 p.m. right here on abc7 news. this black history month abc7 news is celebrating the people in our community who are working to build a better bay area by making black history right now. a group of seven black friends from san francisco had banded together to expand black cultural space, home ownership and businesses. abc7 news anchor kumasi aaron talked to one of the cofounders of sf black wall street. compelled by the racial unrest and health disparities put front and center in 2020, seven

friends, all black and all from san francisco founded sf black wall street. >> sf black wall street is an organization that's committed to expanding black cultural space, black home ownership, black business. we're really trying to anchor black san francisco. the co-founder says she's seen the city change a lot. >> i remember a time when the black population here was almost 40%. and you would have black neighbors and, you know, have folks who owned businesses here. and unfortunately, we've seen those numbers decline more and more and more, and especially last year with the impact of covid. and, you know, unfortunately, the violence and so many other things that impact communities and our community disproportionately. it's important that we work hard to make sure that we retain our community here and that folks can continue to live here, work here, play here and feel like they belong here. >> reporter: the group's first effort creating community through a citywide juneteenth

celebration. then they worked to support small businesses impacted by covid-19 and launch several small microbusinesses. now they're working to help bridge the gap between transplants and native san franciscans. >> so we've been working together with san francisco natives, folks who own businesses here to craft something called a good neighbor policy that just kind of guides folks on how to respect and how to interact with our community and our culture in a way that doesn't do more harm. >> holland says black history is happening now, and it's time to get involved. >> i think this is a really pivotal time for black americans on a lot of different fronts. it's our time to step into those conversations and say this is the vision that we have, and here's what we need to achieve that vision and work with everyone to make it happen. >> reporter: in san francisco, kumasi aaron, abc7 news. all right. lots of big smiles today because it looked like we eked out another sunny day. spencer? >> we did indeed.

and warmer day than yesterday. here is a look at the 24-hour temperature change as skies are still mainly sunny. it's t2 to 4 degrees warmer. there are some clouds, as you can see, looking westward from emeryvil emeryville. current temperature readings are cool 54 in san francisco and half moon bay. but low 60s at oakland, mountain view, san jose and morgan hill. and looking toward the north and the golden gate bridge, we see mostly clear skies so far. but clouds are increasing. low to mid-60s in santa rosa, novato, napa, fairfield, concord and livermore. and looking down to the bay from mount tam, nice view right now. rain arrives tomorrow with the occasional wind gusts up to 25, 35 miles per hour. more light storms will follow through the next several days into early next week. and we can expect some dry sunny breaks though, on friday and sunday, even with the arrival of the light storms. the next storm comes in tomorrow

into friday morning and ranks 1 on the abc storm impact scale. we can expect light to moderate rain, wet, slippery commuting conditions, and southerly wind gusts 25 to 35 miles per hour. here is the forecast animation. you can see that by midday tomorrow, certainly into the late afternoon, rain will spread across the entire region. so expect certainly a wet commute in the evening hours, but possibly a wet one in the north bay in the morning hours. and then the storm breaks up a bit. but there could be some trailing showers into friday morning. rainfall totals from this storm will range generally from quarter of an inch to about a half an inch. but some locations we'll see a bit more rain than that. then on saturday, the next storm comes in. this will be a bit lighter, but it will bring more rainfall to us and more snow to the sierra. now skipping ahead to -- skipping ahead -- backing up actually to tonight's conditions. we'll see increasing clouds, low temperatures mainly in the mid-40s. and then tomorrow we expect highs in the narrow range, mid-50s at the coast and mainly

upper 50s just about everywhere else. here is the accuweather seven-day forecast. as you can see, ranking only 1 on the abc7 impact scale. the most day mostly sunny the entire day will be sunday, which is valentine's day. so it looks like we'll have loverly weather that day, but another storm will follow on monday. by the way, i want to get a little shout out to the kindergartners at new school san francisco with whom i had a zoom visit today. and we talked about weather and news and climate change and it was just delightful. thank you kindergartners at the new school. >> they taught you a lot, right, spencer? >> i learned a lot from them, as i always do when i visit schools. >> that's awesome. awesome that you do that, spencer. thanks. coming up, air friers, you know they have grown in popularity, but did you know there are some foods you should not be using an air fryer for if you want to cook some stuff up.

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the national retail federation predicts people will spend $5 billion less on valentine's day this year than last year. on average, consumers are expected to spend about $165 per person. a separate survey from lending tree found nearly 40% planned to skip celebrating all together. they want the save money. 10% of that group has not skipped celebrating before this year. a lot of us have been

cooking more at home this past year. for some, that may have meant getting an air frier, but there are some things you shouldn't use the appliance for. 7 on your side's michael finney joins us now to tell us more about that. michael? >> hey, kristen, air friars have definitely changed the wayway we cook, but consumer reports cook pros say there are some foods that are better off not cooked in an air frier. you can make a multitude of food and desserts in an air fryer, and most veggies that you would usually oven roast come out perfectly in the basket if you pat them dry and toss them with oil. but certain vegetables will disappoint. although broccoli is delicious, it doesn't do well in an air frier because of the tough skins and the time it takes to become tendler leave the top scorched and bitter cooks. >> you might not get the same sear that you get from a fry pan or grill. >> can you make a juicy burger?

yes. an air fryler quickly cook one to medium rare, but the pale gray surface pails to the tasty char you get from pan. and is crispy chicken a dream? skin-on parts will cook through, but the skin might not brown evenly. and you won't get the crispy skin that pan roasting acheeves. fish can come out nicely cooked but is apt to have unappetizingly hard rub erskine. grilled cheese sandwiches that are buttered or brushed with oil will toast nicely, but the cheese mess in the bin and basket might not be worth it. even though breaded foods doo really well, batter is a disaster. the coating doesn't set like hot oil which means they can drip through the basket and end up on the heating element. >> and that's not cool. consumer reports notes that you don't have to spend a fortune.

they found some very good molds between $55 and $70. when it comes to warranties, consumer report found a wide range. some manufacturers cover for a year or two, but they also found warrant ies as short as 60 days. >> we got to talk because i'm in the market for one right now. got to get your advice. thanks, michael. >> sure thing. >> thank you. up next, continuing our special california dreaming series. managing type 2 diabetes? you're on it. staying fit and snacking light? yup, on it there too. you may think you're doing all you can to manage type 2 diabetes and heart disease... ...but could your medication do more to lower your heart risk?

jardiance can reduce the risk of cardiovascular death for adults who also have known heart disease. so, it could help save your life from a heart attack or stroke. and it lowers a1c. jardiance can cause serious side effects including dehydration, ...genital yeast or urinary tract infections, and sudden kidney problems. ketoacidosis is a serious side effect that may be fatal. a rare but life-threatening bacterial infection in the skin of the perineum could occur. stop taking jardiance and call your doctor right away if you have symptoms of this bacterial infection, ketoacidosis, or an allergic reaction... ...and don't take it if you're on dialysis or have severe kidney problems. taking jardiance with a sulfonylurea or insulin may cause low blood sugar. lower a1c and lower risk of a fatal heart attack? on it with jardiance. ask your doctor about jardiance.

building a better bay area for a safe and secure future, this is abc7 news. >> prosecutors in president donald trump's impeachment trial

offered dramatic new evidence today never before seen in public. some of it from capitol security cameras positioned around the complex. this video shows members of congress running to safety with police blocking rioters in the background. there is also an image of former vice president mike pence being escorted away. another video from a police body camera shows the crowded rioters battling to get inside the building. house prosecutors are tying it back to the former president, calling him the inciter in chief. east bay congressman eric swalwell is serving as impeachment manager in the trial. he explained what police officers were up against. >> this video shows how the sprays that were described were used against the officers. in a separate metropolitan radio traffic recording, you can hear an officer when he realizes that the insurrectionists had overtaken the police line. >> we lost the line! we've lost the line!

all mpd pull back. >> larry brock who was arrested for his role in the insurrection was photographed on the senate floor wearing a helmet, tactical gear, and carrying flex cuffs. also in the senate gary is eric min chal. like brock, he is dressed in what appears to be tactical gear, also holding up flex cuffs. if the doors to this chamber had been breached just minutes earlier, imagine what they could have done with those cuffs. >> mr. trump's legal team is expected to begin opening arguments on friday. house impeachment managers will finish oral arguments tomorrow. today's hearing is actually still going on. we have gavel-to-gavel coverage on our digital channel 7.2 and comcast channel 715. >> as those proceedings continue on capitol hill, prosecutors in

fulton county, georgia are opening a criminal probe of their own into former president trump. the investigation will book into his efforts to flip his 2020 election loss in that state. that includes trump's leaked january phone call with the georgia secretary of state where mr. trump was pleading with him to find more than 11,000 votes, the exact deficit trump lost to joe biden. news of the spill from chevron's richmond refinery has not played well in richmond. the city has a long history of issues with the refinery. it's the city's largest employer and residents expect perfection from their industrial next-door neighbor. >> oil on the water near a beautiful beach, that very same shoreline closed off and literally under guard. they're the inevitable by-products of what happens when we have heavy industry operating practically next door to community and residential neighborhoods. >> any amount of oil in the water is not good. >> it shim nerd the sun like a rainbow. >> reporter: but yesterday's

fill from a richmond refinery pipeline into the bay has not led to a pot ol' gold. instead -- >> we expect refineries in the bay area to have no room for failure. this is a failure. >> reporter: if this was the first incident at the refinery, it wouldn't be such an issue. but it is not there. hen locals think of problems at the richmond refinery, this is what comes to mind, the explosion and plume in 2013. the community fallout. ron temple worked in the emergency room that night. he remembers the symptoms. >> short of breath. people, you know, with asthma. >> reporter: the refinery has long been linked with regional health issues. >> does have the highest rates of asthma, and has higher rates of cancer. and yes, the pollution in that area contributes to that along with other factors. >> reporter: and now last night's leak along with questions of how chevron handled it. this drone video shows spilled oil from leaking containment booms. they want to know what happened.

>> either the boom hadn't been put in place early enough, or the boom wasn't doing its job entirely. so the oil was spreading. >> reporter: more questions from a still evolving emergency in an interface of industry and community. >> nothing's going to really make a difference until we're away from fossil fuels. >> reporter: in richmond, wayne freedman, abc7 news. right now we continue our special series "california dreaming" which launched last week. taking a closer look at the issues that are threatening the california dream, as well as the people who are working to keep that dream alive. california dreaming is a special collaboration with our sister stations in los angeles and the central valley. today we look at the cultural diversity that enriches our lives in the golden state. >> reporter: the united states is often described as a grand experiment. the most experimental part of the united states is california. and right now we're engaged in a phenomenal experiment of trying

to see how a very diverse, very complex society creates a 21st century economy that has some equality to it. >> california kind of models what's on the statue of liberty, you know. bring me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses. that is what california does. that's what it exemplifies. that's the spirit of it. >> reporter: in the u.s., hispanic, black, asian, and pacific islander make up 40% of the population. a majority 60% is white. compared to california where the white population accounts for 36%. among all races, hispanics are in the majority. when it comes to immigrants, roughly 14% of the u.s. population is foreign born. of those 44 million, 24% live in california. and over a quarter of the golden state's population emigrated from other countries. >> one of the most vibrant and

fertile characteristics of california society is the existence of these very large d diasporas where california is home to the country of origin. from armenia and guatemala ande places. and that is kind of an umbilical cord, multiple umbilical cords that are connecting california to these other nations in a very energetic, very positive way personally, commercially, culturally. >> the fact that you have so many people cross pollinating, that's where innovation seeds. >> we have an influence that permeates the whole society in popular culture, in food. silicon valley. it wouldn't exist without immigrants. in many communities of california, about half of all doctors are immigrants, and statewide about a third of all

health care workers are immigrants. so we very clearly are dependent on a pipeline from overseas to provide the personnel who save our lives. >> reporter: california has always led the way. it's become this place now that people are interested in because of those many different cultures. in the past, california was portrayed as this quote/unquote all american place where blond hair and blue eyed boys and girls played. and black indigenousf color, we didn't exist. >> we've known for a full quarter century that the california population was heading to where it is now. this state of extraordinary diversity. and over the course of those 25 years, we've done some things well, some things not so well. but looking to the future, the key is to understand that our population is our greatest asset. this very diverse, very complicated population is a greater asset than our weather,

than our coasts, than whatever lies in our mountains. it's our people that have made california from the start. it's our people who will make california in the future. >> you can stream all of our "california dreaming" story, including our "california dreaming special" right now on our abc7 bay area app. you can download the free app. another day, another virtual mishap. this time a lawmaker's floating upside down head stalls a house committee meeting. abc7 news coverage of the impeachment trial

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started noticing things a little sharper, a little clearer. i feel like it's kept me on my game. i'm able to remember things. i'd say give it a try. prevagen. healthier brain. better life. time now for the four@4. there has been plenty of back and forth over this the past few weeks, dan, spencer, as you know. today the centers for disease control is out with new research saying two masks may be better than one. double masking refers to a cloth mask over a tighter fitting surgical mask. the cdc found when both infected and uninfected personal double mask the risk of transmitting falls by 95%. 80% if one person were to double mask. the findings are not expected to lead to new cdc max recommendations. dan, you've been sort of double masking in your own way for a while now. >> it's interesting. i put a paper towel behind the mask that i wear here around the

television station, just to fold it up a little bit. but i even try and have recently been using a double mask on the rare occasions when i do go out. i've become a little suspicious of the plain cloth masks that seem a little too thin. so you put a surgical max underneath it and one on top makes a difference. the key it is needs to fit snugly, even if you wear one. make sure you wear it snugly around your nose and make sure it's tight around your face. i see a lot of people loose masks, barely on and i don't think that gets it done. >> fit is super important. spencer, what do you think? >> yeah, i haven't adopted it yet as a regular practice, but i've tried it out around the house here. i agree with dan that some of those cloth masks are a little bit porous. >> that's the word. >> i like the idea of the two masks. if you can wear one, why not wear two, right? >> but don't do 20. >> i think it makes sense for health care professionals certainly. but we can't even get people in this country to wear one mask,

never mind put two masks on. good luck with that. i'm sure it's safer, but i don't expect widespread adoption any time soon. what about catchers masks? we'll see those soon. major league baseball is taking dramatic action this coming season to try to protect players and staffers from covid-19. new health protocols agreed to by the league and the players union obtained by the associated press will require players to wear electronic contact tracing wristbands all season long. and players are going to face disciplinary action if they don't do so. they also can't dine indoors or go to any indoor gathering of 10 or more people. players will be tested at least every other day. they're being encouraged to get vaccinated for covid but will not be required to do. so the nba, they were really the trail blazers in figuring out the best way to adopt the contact tracing. of course, they had the orlando bubble working for them. baseball isn't using a bubble. so they've got to try to keep it

locked down by team by team. so we'll see how it works out. certainly more stringent than what we saw last year with major league baseball. what i'm wondering, spencer, what would have to happen for you to feel comfortable actually going to a game any time soon? >> you know, i don't even have the answer to, that larry. you know how much i love baseball. and i'm eager to get back out there and watch games live in person. but i'd have to feel that we're seeing the number of cases go down sharply. the number of deaths going down sharply, and at least approaching something that looks like herd immunity before i would want to go into a crowded arena or ballpark. >> i feel the same. especially as more and more people get vaccinated, i think you get a little more comfortable. you talked about it a lot. the nfl seemed to handle it fairly well this year with teams traveling from stadium to stadium. they had obviously a few cases

of covid. but by and large, i think it was a success. >> dan, would you go triple mask into the stadium? >> that i might do. and it's tough to eat your hot dog with three masks on. >> that's true. given that baseball is played outdoors, i think if i can have maybe three rows of distance between me and another fan, why not. maybe, right? all right. the pandemic is not stopping couples in new york from proving -- you guys help me. i'm going pretend i'm too young to know this. this is j. geils. >> yes. >> notice i said pretend i'm too young to know. proclaimed in the '70s that love stinks. the operators of a brooklyn sewage plant said their tour is sold out. the tours feature an overview of the waste water treatment process and a visit to the facility's 120 foot high observation deck with sweeping views of the new york city skyline. perhaps that's the reason why. this isn't a new phenomenon.

the tours have been a popular valentine's day destination for a couple of years now. who would do this. you guys, dan, would you? >> sure. if we're all starved for entertainment in this covid environment. so sure. and i have covered many stories at sewage treatment plants. and i will say they're kind of like oil refineries in that they are fascinating to see how they work. so it's kind of interesting because they're very complex, although it seems like something is lost in translation. maybe it's better, maybe it's worse, i don't know. but if the whole premises is stinks, you can't smell through the zoom camera lens. you're not going get the full experience of the sewage treatment plant. >> spencer, are you going to buy this tour? >> maybe if you wear enough masks. i'll wear about six masks. >> but you top out at 20. >> yeah. i think i would rather be up as opposed to down on the tour.

any way. yesterday we had a lawyer who could not get rid of the cat filt. >> it was hilarious during a virtual meeting on zoom. today a minnesota lawmaker upside down. >> the smallest of small received timely -- >> will the gentleman suspend? i'm sorry, mr. emmer? >> yes? >> are you okay? >> i am. >> you're upside down, tom. >> minnesota congressman tom emmer. somebody commented at least you're not a cat. ah, here we go, eventually able to right himself and deliver the rest of his remarks. i'm surprised. we're coming up oan a year here where everybody has been using zoom. you think we'd have the hang of it at this point. yeah, everybody else's case, you have to look, okay, tom, you're okay. just stay where you are.

have you guys had a lot of problem? the most common thing i see on zoom, kristen, is where you're muted and unmute. >> yeah, right. >> okay. >> right. i show the cat filter to my family. they could not stop laughing. i really think we ought to do a newscast like that one of these days. >> that would be really funny. maybe we had the cat yesterday. maybe that's how he is at home. he hangs upside down like a bat. >> a cat bat. >> i don't even know what function you would use to get yourself to flip upside down in zoom. i don't know. i'll have to research that. >> i just think we all need a little humor these days. so i really appreciate these moments when i see them. >> have you had a challenging moment, spencer doing some of these meetings? >> oh, yeah, sometimes. >> we all have been there. that's it for the four@4. that's it for the four@4. we'll be right back. ♪ ♪ ♪ that's it for the four@4. we'll be right back. when it comes to your financial health,

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dallas mavericks owner mark cuban is changing his tune about the playing of the national anthem. today the mavericks announced the star spangled banner will be played at their home games again starting tonight. the anthem had not been performed before any of their 13 home games at cuban's instruction, and hardly anybody noticed until recently. all but one of those games were played without fans. cuban's change of heart came the same day the nba issued a statement saying all teams will play the anthem. today cuban told "the washington post" he and his team have always respected the passion people have for the anthem, adding the hope is that those

who feel passionate about the anthem being played will be just as passionate in listening to those who do not feel it represents them. all right. let's get to one more check of the weather now. spencer, sunny today. but that is about to change. >> it is about to change very shortly, larry. yes. here is a look at the details on the next storm. it's coming in tomorrow. it ranks 1 on the abc7 storm impact scale. so for tomorrow and even into friday morning, we expect light to moderate rain, wet and slippery commuting conditions and gusty wind from time to time. here is the accuweather seven-day forecast. friday partial clearing after morning showers. another light storm. sunday valentine's day mainly sunny and dry but yet another storm comes in on monday. so we need these little storms with little spacing in between. that's good for us. larry and kristen? >> absolutely. all right, thanks, spencer. the abc7 show for life is back with new episodes. up next, how the show inspired by a true story is w

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people were afraid i was contagious. i felt gross. it was kind of a shock after i started cosentyx. four years clear. real people with psoriasis look and feel better with cosentyx. don't use if you're allergic to cosentyx. before starting, get checked for tuberculosis. an increased risk of infections

and lowered ability to fight them may occur. tell your doctor about an infection or symptoms, if your inflammatory bowel disease symptoms develop or worsen, or if you've had a vaccine or plan to. serious allergic reactions may occur. learn more at cosentyx.com. coming up tonight on abc 7 at 8:00, "the goldbergs," followed by "american housewife." at 9:00 "the conners" and "call your mother." a new episode of "for life" is on at 10:00. and stay with us for abc 7 news at 11:00. the show "for life" is inspired by the true story of a man who was sentenced to life in prison, studied to become a lawyer and helped secure his freedom. this season the characters navigate the black lives matter movement and covid-19.

here's reporter sandy kenyon from our abc sister station in new york. >> reporter: a summer of discontent in the year of covid. and a tv drama that meets this moment inspired by a real man sentenced for life for a crime he didn't commit. >> there's episodes dealing with covid. there's episodes dealing with black lives matter. i mean, i'm experiencing those things, the same things especially when i go to the jails. >> reporter: scenes were shot at a former correctional facility on staten island and at sing-sing prison, an hour north of manhattan. >> there was an energy about sing singh that made you feel to a certain degree a small part of oppression and the confinement of being at an institution like that. >> reporter: nicholas pinnock plays a character based on the guy who was falsely accused. >> our character's already naturally set up for this. our audience is already engaged in this conversation about these issues. >> reporter: curtis 50 cent jackson is deeply involved with

"for life" as an executive producer. >> it just lined up for us to offer to show that it was conceptually the right show at the right time. >> reporter: what does this show need to do over this black lives matter arc to be successful in your view? >> well, it just needs to offer a true perspective. >> reporter: to be educational while remaining entertaining. >> i think it's about not feeling preachy, not ramming it down people's throats. >> reporter: and his co-stars suggest the time of covid might make people more receptive to the issues raised this season. >> this experience of lockdown and quarantine probably gives them some sense of empathy as to what it means not to have freedom. >> reporter: i'm sandy kenyon, abc 7 news. >> you can watch all our newscasts live and on demand through the abc 7 bay area connected tv app. it's available for apple tv, android tv, amazon fire tv, and roku. download the app now and start

streaming. thank you for joining us for abc

next at 5:00, the south african variant surfaces in california for the first time. it's been discovered here in the bay area. we are now hearing from health officials about what this means and the impact it could have. also ahead the debate and the divide over reopening schools. some say it just isn't safe while others say students are losing too much. now business leaders are stepping into the fight. also coming up, nearly 24 hours after that oil spill in the bay chevron is now talking. what the company is saying about the impact of hundreds of gallons leaking near richmond. plus why a gay father was too white for the san francisco school board. >> announcer: building a better bay area for a safe and secure future. this is abc 7 news. we begin with what could be a new front in the fight against covid-19. the coronavirus variant first found in south africa is now in the bay area.

>> yesterday i also said we hadn't identified any south