next at five,at five,at fiv, learning the loss .1 parents extreme decision after her son fell behind in school. another chapter in and already tumultuous year. a sunnyvale house painter is arrested for trying to rape a client who is seriously injured after she and her teenaged daughter fought him off. an uncertain future, hundreds of vendors from immigrant backgrounds call the san jose flea market home. now as the new development is voted on, new word about the possible outcome. plus, the massive mega project taking shape in san francisco, what it is all about, and how local arts groups are redefining center stage and finding the financial success.

building a better bay area, moving forward, finding solutions, this is abc 7 news. one local parent is fed up and throwing in the towel. the chair of the parent advisory chair citing concerns that the district is not doing enough to address learning loss. good evening, thank you for joining us. >> you are watching abc7 news at 5. the move comes amid reports the san francisco school district is preparing for dwindling k-12 enrollment next year that may, with significant budget cuts. stephanie sierra is monitoring the board meeting live in from the newsroom tonight. >> naomi has served on the parent advisory council and her announcement is coming at a

critical time, just a couple months out from the start of the school year. many parents like her say they have received no direction from the school district about how they plan to tackle learning loss. >> i had to make a decision that was right for my son. >> reporter: she is the chair of the parent advisory council, or pack that gives feedback to the san francisco unified board of education. she is stepping down from her position because she is taking her son, tommy, out of the middle school and the district after witnessing how distance- learning impacted his education. >> he had a lust for learning and as soon as we went into distance learning it just started to go down. >> reporter: she says the school district assessment showed tommy was on track but an independent specialist showed her son was actually under performing at grade level in both riding and math. she brought this to the school principal. >> he could give me no information about the thousand students at the middle school and how they would assess and address the learning loss. >> reporter: disappointed with the lack of preparation she is

enrolling her son into a private jewish day school. she said 10% of her friends are doing the same. >> what makes me so upset as i have the means to take him out and put them somewhere else, but there are thousands of students that do not have that privilege. what are we doing about those students? >> reporter: we reached out to see if there are any specific plans underway to address learning loss for the upcoming school year. we have yet to hear back. we also reached out to the school board for further comment. we do not get a direct response to the issue, but the following statement says the board is thankful for the work the pac has been doing since it's inception and naomi is a strong addition to that. although it is disheartening to see her go i am hopeful for the new journey. her decision to step down highlights a broader issue of declining enrollment. according to a report filed by the district earlier this month, the number of students who transferred out of k-12 the

school year is nearly double the amount of students who transferred in. >> i heard that kids are doing well in distance-learning, but that is not the case for most kids. >> reporter: this is not the first time the pac was involved in a controversial decision. you may remember in february the board rejected appointing a gate parent volunteer to the pac because he was white. as far as the replacement, according to the agenda, there are six candidates that will be considered and we are keeping an eye on that boat which is expected to happen within the next couple hours. >> reporter: a couple questions for you, still no word from the district? have they indicated how declining enrollment may impact the budget? >> reporter: no word from the district. as far as the budget, that is a big concern. it is based off average daily attendance numbers. i will say this report released from the district earlier this month states if enrollment numbers do not change significantly there will be a sizable decrease in funding for the school year.

certainly a lot to sort out and we will have to see what happens. a frightening situation in sunnyvale. a 13-year-old girl fought off a house painter that was attacking her mother. that painter had done work there earlier. investigators released this photo. they say just before 4 am saturday the mother woke up to find him straddling her with a knife to her throat. her daughter jumped in to help get him off. >> this was a violent encounter from a violent criminal and she did a great job of fighting back and not giving up. >> detectives arrested diaz yesterday. they say he is linked to other suspicious incidents with other clients in the south bay. they him -- released these photos in case they recognize him. the charges allege michael connelly illegally used his position to hire himself as

chief of police in 2019. he formally resigned as chief earlier this month amid these accusations. now, connelly was a longtime deputy chief with the san francisco police department before accepting the police job in broadmoor, and enclave within the daily city city limits. the fate of a future of fleamarket is now in limbo as some call for it to be pushed back by at least a week. we have more on what vendors are demanding. >> reporter: outside city hall in san jose, a small group listens closely to the city council meeting with several concerns. >> we need our input to be heard. >> reporter: tonight, councilmembers are scheduled to vote property next to the bart station where the fleamarket is currently located. since 1960 the market has

become a city institution, with nearly 430 vendors. many of whom are immigrants who now worry about displacement. roberta gonzales, president of the vendors association has even started a hunger strike with the hopes of delaying the vote by at least 90 days. >> there is nothing saying a future developer or landowner will have to make a fleamarket there or an urban market there. >> reporter: if approved, the transit oriented project would reduce the market by two thirds in total, to help make room for housing and commercial space. the family that owns the land has agreed to not evict any vendors before the current market closes, which is expected to happen sometime in 2024. have promised to set aside 2 1/2 million dollars to support vendors with relocation. >> we worker to find solutions, especially win-win solutions. providing an urban market on site will create an opportunity for hundreds of vendors to actually stay on site in a new, reimagined marketplace. >> reporter: fleamarket vendors say it is not enough.

he is calling on his colleagues to agree to a one-week deferral at the least. >> what can it be in the future, and how do we salvage these businesses, whether it is on the site or different site? >> reporter: some say the vendors should have had more of a say in the process. >> we should not legislate land use with a flurry of last- minute memos with contradict been conditions of approval. this is important enough to take a 6-12 week deferral. >> reporter: another sign of changing times as vendors try to hang onto the past. in san jose, abc7 news. in san francisco, the mayor is touting the revitalization of one of the city's neighborhoods. ground broke on a new phase of the mission rock development about organizers say could change the face of the city. it is located between the ballpark and the bayview district. wayne friedman shows you the progress on this megaproject.

>> reporter: a standard greeting on a not so typical workday at mission rock on third street, just a grand slam or two away from san francisco's already iconic ballpark. two here the people gathered here tell it, that construction site symbolizes yet another complex puzzle designed to meld community and culture. >> this is how you create a more equitable city, by not leaving others out to dry. >> reporter: that was the mayor speaking enthusiastically about phase 1 of this project that creates a economic engine and new housing, in which 40% of the 1600 units will be affordable for residents of this historically challenged region. >> this is a new neighborhood created right in their backyard, and it is important that they are a part of this. >> reporter: the context stretches back decades to a time before the ballpark when this part of the bayview consisted of rail yards and industry. >> the dream was to open up to

people. >> that message of inclusion, now more than clear when they named this stretch of roadway after the poet laureate that called san francisco home. my angelou was also the first black female cable car operator. her grandson, elliott, represented her today. >> a chance to be a representative in a diverse neighborhood, there is nothing like that. >> reporter: more than lip service, she owns the company that hires some of the men working here. she started with local three and did it with hard work. >> leaving yourself, believe in god, and things will happen. >> reporter: rise above what used to be, a parking lot. in san francisco, wayne friedman, abc7 news. still ahead, a military veteran staring down the barrel of a death sentence. his fight to protect others from the health impacts in the wars in afghanistan and iraq. winning the battle over the shutdown, sudden

delicia: this is where all our recycling is sorted -- 1.2 million pounds every day, helping to make san francisco the greenest big city in america. but that's not all you'll find here. there are hundreds of good-paying jobs, with most new workers hired from bayview-hunter's point. we don't just work at recology, we own it, creating opportunity and a better planet. now, that's making a difference.

a group of people at an homeless encampment her fighting to stay there. residents of the wood street encampment held a protest outside district for headquarters. they say that they plan to close the camp bycamp bycamp byy 150 people will be displaced. >> we are fighting to remain where we are. we are fighting for our community not to be cleared again. we have already been moved on so many times. >> caltrans says the risk of fire is prompting the move. they say they are working with the city to secure amenity input on a lot for up to 50 arby's to park where showers and cooking facilities would be provided. a man who lost his wife to cancer is on a mission to help

others. he was left with an unopened box of the cancer drug after his wife's death. the medication is valued at more than $13,000 without insurance. he is a former abc7 news employee and found a way to offer it to another patient by discovered that is not allowed. a new bill out of the state senate would launch a pilot program to allow any use cancer drugs to be recycled. he spoke to lawmakers today in support of the bill. >> i found it intolerable that something so valuable should be destroyed. the fact it has been in the personal possession of anyone other than a prescribing facility precludes it from any sort of donation under current law. >> it is estimated $3 billion worth of cancer drugs get wasted every year. a california lawmaker is trying to help millions of military veterans exposed to toxic material. a bill to provide them with healthcare and military

benefits is moving through congress. it will not happen in time to save 135-year-old veteran but that is not stopping him from fighting to raise awareness about it. >> reporter: retired staff sergeant, wesley black, has terminal colon cancer. after combat deployments with the vermont national guard, receiving a purple heart, it was smoldering trash from massive burn pits on u.s. basis, sometimes acres in size that will kill him. >> soldiers generated a lot of trash. electronics, medical waste, uniforms, anything and everything that can be burned was thrown into these trash dumps and then coated in diesel fuel and lit on fire. >> reporter: in eastern afghanistan, he says the burn pit on the combat outpost was located just 150 feet from the front gate. >> if you are the poor sucker standing gate guard when that

burn pit was lit and the wind was blowing it into the main gate, you would be standing in the smoke for upwards of 8-12 hours per day just breathing it in. >> reporter: according to a recent survey america, 86% of vets from the two wars report exposure to burn pits. almost 9 in 10 of those think they have related symptoms. the department of veterans affairs has only approved about a fifth of related disability claims for a total of fewer than 3000 vets. >> i am like the canary in the coal mine. i'm screaming my head off trying to raise this issue of awareness but it is not too late for the next veteran that walks down the hall of >> reporter: for now, wesley holds on .4 his wife, and his son. >> spending time with them, building memories that i hope in 20 years he has those memories of me and spending time with my wife and telling

her every day that i love her. >> reporter: and he fights one day at a time for them. >> i am just a dumb irish kid from boston. all i know how to do you know, cancer is going to win, but it is going to be one hail of a war of attrition . >> what a remarkable guy. burn pit exposure threatens to kill more veterans than combat did in iraq and afghanistan. congress is considering two measures to overhaul the way that the va cares for millions of veterans who were exposed, like wesley. it would compel the va to presume the illnesses linked to exposure to hazardous waste incinera welcome to the place where the aroma of authenticity turns into the scent of home. where cacique inspires you to add your own flair.

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new water restrictions going to place july 1 for people living in sonoma. officials said people will be required to reduce water use by 20%. they will not be allowed to wash their cars or fill swimming pools. the state is requiring sonoma county to reduce the amount of water it takes from the river by 20%. we are really dealing with this route now. >> it was a broken record and it will be that way for months to come unfortunately. >> reporter: we will continue to feel the impacts for months to come. i want to show you live doppler seven, the best i can do in terms of moisture is some drizzle. low pressure off the coastline brought measurable drizzle to places like santa rosa, los gatos earlier today and we are expecting another round. take a look at what is happening. a counter clockwise flow around this low pressure is bringing in the south wind. that wind is gusting to 30 to

miles per hour but coming off an ocean temperature. this one billy is if it feels muggy to you, you are not imagining things. you will notice it is a 57 degrees dewpoint in palo alto and 56 in hayward, 55 in napa. a live look from our roof camera along the embarcadero, the seabreeze is blowing, and that is keeping the temperatures in check along with the strong deep marine layer right now. it is 71 and oakland and mid- 70s and san jose. a live look from the camera and you do see some low clouds out there .79 in fairfield and 71 in napa. comfortable in livermore as far as temperature. no heat and 77 degrees. you can look across the bay there and see a mix of blue sky and patchy clouds. spotty morning drizzle and mild and breezy conditions over the next few afternoons with inland highs below average for this time of year and the summer

heat returns this weekend, so take advantage of this nice weather while you can, because it is all changing. tomorrow morning, drizzle develops as the low continues to squeeze out a little moisture during the morning commute. expect the clouds and spotty drizzle and then it pulls away like today where we are seeing plenty of sunshine around the region. 50s and drizzle along the coast and parts of the day and then breezy mid to upper 60s, low 80s inland. nice and mild. very similar in terms of temperature to what we are experiencing today. take a look at saturday. bump in those temperatures up into the 90s. don't worry, the coast will remain comfortable getting hotter on sunday with upper 90s, low 100s. that heat will extend up and down the state. 116 in palm springs and 114 in reading. morning drizzle, mild

afternoon. and then warming begins friday. the heat is on. we will have the summer heat for the weekend with triple digit sunday and a wide range of temperatures with 90s inland still early next week.

a quick reminder here, you can get your live newscasts, breaking news, the weather, and more with our app on apple tv, android tv, fire tv, and roku. just search abc 7 bay area. the upside of the pandemic, zoom became an important part of everyone's toolbox and that included a area theater groups. >> we will see how some of them will not pack up there zoom cameras even as shows are expected to resume this fall. >> this is what we envision as live theater, but during the pandemic in its 50th year, theater works silicon valley shifted to the digital realm and quickly discovered an expanded global audience. >> we had 42 states we have been able to reach with this

and over 15 countries that have viewed the work. a lot of you maybe have never been to a live show. >> reporter: it had to be reimagined since there were no elaborate stage sets. >> they want renderings of what the scenery would be in a full production of the play. >> reporter: 40 different theaters across the country collaborated on this production, riding fragments home. it rose money to support anti- asian hate crimes and oakland. and this will be a model even as live production is continue to resume in the fall. >> we will do the work where we are collaborating with other companies and creating virtual pieces that can accompany our mainstage work and reach out to the community in new ways.

>> reporter: the archive of virtual performances created over the past year. >> it was a combination of film and live performance. solo performance was the perfect genre for what i call the digital black box. >> reporter: live theater will return but virtual shows will go on. david louis, abc7 news. an example of how we have had to adapt. world news tonight is next. we appreciate your time.

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tonight, breaking news as we come on the air in the west. that major vote in the senate on voting rights. and the growing concern on the coronavirus. authorities say the highly contagious delta variant is spreading quickly in the u.s., doubling in just two weeks. tonight, dr. fauci now saying this is currently the greatest threat in the u.s. in trying to end this pandemic. this evening, the white house now conceding we will not hit the president's goal for the fourth of july vaccinations. so, when will we? and the late headline as we come on tonight. more than 150 hospital workers reportedly resigning or terminated because they were told they had to get the vaccine. also breaking tonight, the senate vote involving that sweeping election reform bill. democrats united tonight. moderate joe manchin on board on the bill they