on this early edition of abc7 news a billionaires wish come true as he soars into space. some say space travel. plus the biggest while fire is burning in northern california. the challenges fire crews base. >> creating a safe and calm environment for students to learn in person is crucial. >> we go one-on-one with california's top doctor and find out why state is going with stricter guidelines concerning kids going back to that 4: 00 starts right now.

a billionaire businessman makes a space exploration dream come true. >> if you've ever had a dream now is the time to make it come through. >> an historic flight ushering in a new era of space exploration. good evening and thank you so much for joining us. you are watching abc7 news live here on abc7, who live, and wherever you stream. we begin with a space trip billionaire richard branson calls an experience of a lifetime. he and five employees took off this morning south of albuquerque. they traveled in galactic unity spaceplane carried by a larger plane to an altitude of 50,000 feet. there unity was released. the team reach more than 53 miles high, the altitude the us

government considers the beginning of outer space from the time the ship left until it landed the trip took roughly one hour. cornell bernard has local reaction and why some people today believe this was history in the making. talk about a cool moment definitely a tense one. >> i was tense watching. another giant leap for mankind as richard branson became the first person to write a self- funded rocket into suborbital space. verging elected founder richard branson and his crew of five now safely back on earth. >> i have dreamt of this moment since i was a kid. honestly, nothing could prepare you for the view of space. >> the trip an historic step. here in the bay area many watched on the abc7 live stream . >> is truly thrilling. over time i think that my kids

might go to space and set up another country. >> reporter: unlike traditional rockets unity took off to the to a mothership, named for branson's late mother. after being released the engines ignited and the spacecraft shot up, traveling more than 53 miles above the earth surface. a former lockheed martin sunnyvale aerospace engineer calls the mission historic. >> i think what we all witness was the first step in the commercialization of space, just like the wright brothers. >> reporter: volunteers in san carlos war replica of the original spaceship is on display. branson had been scheduled to fly to space late this summer or early fall, but moving up his flight. >> it is a bit puzzling as to why he will want to take the risk.i understand he is competing with bezos. 's -- >> bezos wishing branson luck

on saturday. virgin galactic says it will start flying paying customers on similar trips, opening up a new era. >> we have to all do everything we can to help this incredible planet that we live on. i will devote the rest of my life to doing that. >> there are more than 600 people who have signed up for future paying more than $200,000 each for a trip into space. still just a little too rich for my blood, but cool nonetheless. now from launch to return the abc7 news absent mobile alerts like this one each ring video of the space mission. you too can be among the first to know by downloading the app and enabling push alerts. taking a live look at the east, you can see the fog layer

cooling things down this weekend after our weekend of heat. >> the fog rolling into the bay shoreline as we speak. the onshore breeze is ramping up and the heat wave is breaking as we speak. look at temperatures right now, 60s and 70s. hotter temperatures inland. nowhere near the intense heat we were dealing with yesterday. some of the hottest spots right now redwood, coming in and 95 degrees. rather breezy along the coast. we will be dealing with an expansive marine layer and coastal drizzle overnight. tomorrow it is a much cooler start to the week. all the details in a few minutes. now our hot weather is raising concerns about wildfires like this when you're byron. the wind driven diablo fire as it is called has burned a total

of 128 acres and is 50% contained. the fast-moving fire swept through the hills between livermore and brentwood. firefighters had to battle 98 degree heat as they fought the blaze. crews from east contra costa along witheast bay regional fire are responding. weather conditions are stoking the states largest wildfire. back worth complex fire has burned so far more than 83,000 acres, nearly 130 mi.b2. it is only 8% contained. it is burning 5 miles north of lake tahoe. evacuation orders have been issued across the california- nevada border. the four service says conditions are expected to be drought, and scg temperatures. where yolivewith our al all at abc7

app. just search abc7 now wherever you happen to stream. in the east words might be to blame for a fire in antioch. blames broke out just after 9:00 p.m. crews say fireworks were going off all last night and firefighters are busy putting out a fire nearby when they got the call about flames at this home. >> i want someone to jill. -- jail. we don't even know where we are going to go. this is unreal. i am missing two cats. i don't even know where they are. >> earlier in the evening fire crews say they responded to two other fires that they suspect were caused by fireworks. oakland police are investigating the city 72nd homicide of the year. police say officers responded to a shooting last night on 52nd street in east oakland and found a gunshot victim.

there was no immediate word on a motive or suspect. it all happen hours after the police chief had asked a gathering to help end violence. health this one focus and building a better day area. california has said all teachers and students regardless of vaccination status will need to wear a mask come fall. all of this is despite cdc guidelines saying they are not required. we spoke with health and human services health secretary dr. mark galli about the decision. >> this is one of the strongest prevention strategies that we have seen with so many california students not getting vaccinated, having to all wear a mask to start the year. we believe he gives us the best chance of getting all back to school. that is why california has chosen to go with masks. they are a strong, very scientifically driven proven prevention strategy, but do not

have a requirement for is in distancing. that is going to help us get all kids across the state back in for for five weeks. >> is this a health strategy or a way to make sure unvaccinated folks are not treated unfairly? some people might argue there should be pressure put on unvaccinated people. >> certainly one of the benefits , look, this pandemic has taken a toll on all of us differently. making sure that young people are coming back to school on even ground where we do not see signaling students out for either being vaccinated or unvaccinated, depending on where you are. this does help us work through some of the earlier concerns. we have heard from administrators since our announcement on friday in schools across the state how great it is to have something that is simple and clear that

they do not have to plan around distancing or, with special programs to determine who is vaccinated and who is not. >> so many mixed messages. in la there are recommendations to wear the mask indoors. what are you doing in your personal life? >> i think it is a excellent question. i choose to wear my mask indoors. i have three young kids who are not vaccinated. one is 11. i worry. i choose to do what is simple for me, which is where my mask. >> he says he is hopeful a vaccine will be available for children under 12 halloween. he says any further lockdown or restrictions because of the delta variance. new developments in the florida condo collapse. information about the victims before the crash is aiding search crews. plus, another tech giant in the

new developments from the surfside condominium collapse. search crews discovered another four victims, bringing the confirmed death toll to 90. 31 people are. lost in the rubble. the mayor says information about where the victims were in the building before it collapsed has helped in the recovery efforts. >> this has been an extremely important component. it has allowed search and rescue teams to pinpoint exactly where the victims were ultimately found. >> an israeli search and rescue team was given a heartfelt sendoff today as they left to return home. several people with israeli citizenship were reportedly killed or remain missing.

this was the 18th day of the search. of california continues to reopen tomorrow google is offis voluntns, buthe who provide proof can remove their mask. unvaccinated employees will be required to wear a mask and take test google shuttlebus and employee cafeterias are also expected to return. most employees are expected to be back in the office come september. san mateo is expanding its parking meter enforcement starting tomorrow. it is back to business as usual throughout the city and that includes all parking meters and lots as well as all commercial parking zones. last july the city resumed enforcement in the downtown business district. the latest provision expand enforcement to the remaining areas.

all northbound lanes of highway 242 close this weekend and will close next weekend for roadwork. there s llose overnight.:00 this video was provided of rehabilitation work on the row. northbound 242 will be close next weekend. drivers are told to expect delays and use alternate routes. moments of chaos before today's european championship soccer game. officials have very different stories about exactly what happened. relief from the heat is on the way. our meteorologist has a look at the big shift next.

today fans broke through barriers outside wembley stadium ahead of england's-year- old 2020 final match against italy. you can see footage taken along the perimeter show the crowds raking through fencing. a wembley spokesperson said that there were no security breaches of people without tickets getting inside. police say a small number of people did get inside without a ticket. the final score was one-1 with italy winning on penalties. we will have more highlights in just a little bit. once again up on the roof with a look at exactly the timing of when things down. >> we stayed in the 50s all day. the fog is rolling in behind me. the marine layer is expanding and cool us off over the next 12 hours. the worst of the heatwa pr mh

there you can e the marine layer over the city right now. you can see a stretching through the golden gate and moving into the east bay with patchy fog around richmond. the marine layer continues to expand. a live look slightly above the fog with cloud cover over the city currently. still a pretty nice beach day. a live look with sunshine ocean water temperature right around 55 degrees. right now temperatures in a lot of spots cooler compared to this time yesterday. yesterday we hit 105. right now we are at 90 degrees. not nearly as hot as yesterday. around the bay shoreline we are in the 60s and 70s. 106 the current temperature

clearlake. excessive heat warning is in effect for several areas. these will all expire as the cooler air continues to move in while we are sleeping. overnight tonight a cooler night compared to last night. most of us will settle in the 50s with the marine layer growing and likely we will find areas of drizzle. early tomorrow we press into the heart of the bay area. patches of green indicating drizzle. it looks like the fall will be slow to clear. 79 in san jose warm in morgan hill and 90 degrees. along the peninsula cooler tomorrow. 59 the high in pacifica. downtown tomorrow only hitting 61. the north bay for the most part

the warmth is in check. north of santa rosa you get pretty warm. the space tomorrow is breezy. inland we are pulling back on the heat. 91 high in antioch. morning clouds, it is cooler and then temperatures stay near average. wednesday is the coolest day compared to tuesday. thursday the numbers continue to dip before we see mild-warm temperatures next weekend. the two all-star pitchers starting their day today. chris bassett saying he will be available tuesday. the a's and rangers, look who's back. you may remember them from last night. chris bassett striking out

the third. seven innings pitched, three strikeouts in route to his 10th win of the season. matt olson warming up for tomorrow's home run. if one is good, two is better. he finishes the first half with 23 homeruns. giants nationals, san francisco going for a sweet. kevin continuing his brilliant first half. bottom of the second scoreless, two on. a three run blast to center. 420 feet. the battery doing it all for san francisco. this he walked off to a standing ovation. he picks up his ninth win of the season. san francisco finishes the first half 57-32 overall.

the final-round of the celebrity tournament, closely defended. good to see alex smith on the course. the former 49er buries the long putt. a close battle all day long and the loser has to jump in a lake. the approach, he tells the fans get your swim trunks ready. he finishes the day with an equal. because of the handicap they tied. their dad will jump in the lake. someone posted the video on twitter. was ju stshawstadiumthis scor the fastt rolswerege

it goes to penalties. marcus misses a wide-open left side. england going for their first international title since 66. a final chance for england, it stops. italy win, it was just insane. novak djokovic taking on joke of his dropping the first set and winning the next two. a great rally in the far court. back and forth we go. a tremendous winner by the joker. the unforced error will seal the deal. he wins it in four sets. it's his third straight wimbledon title. he now has a record timegrd sla game three of the nba finals will start top of the hour. a two money zero lead in

milwaukee. despite this being a must win l >> it feels like it is something starting a little bit over again, just the fact that you guys are home? >> i am just here not to get a fine. [ laughter ] >> i'm joking. >> we are playing for the prize. i don't think there will be a storm that we haven't seen. those guys are going to bring it, we are going to bring it. that is that. >> nine weeks until the nfl kicks off. >> so much sports. can you handle it? he lives for this stuff. indigenous cultures being celebrated all summer long. up next, what you can expect

oroweat small slice. i wonder if this has the same quality ingredients as the original whole grains bread? great question, dad. and it does. it has all the same nutritious deliciousness as the original slice but only a little bit smaller. just like timmy here. my name's lucas. it sure is bobby.

coming up tonight on a special edition of abc7 and 9:00, with california in the middle of a drought the ancient science some are trying to find . plus, real signs of life in lake merritt and the creatures you might not expect and why this could be a good sign. that's all coming up tonight at 9:00. visitors flocked to the red market in oakland. you can see a line stretching around the block to get into the celebration of native artists and food. the popular outdoor gathering combines culture and committee connections. the market is held on the first sunday of every month and it was the sorely missed event during the pandemic. it all started back in person this may and there were more than 30 indigenous vendors at the gathering.

all nations drummers along with others entertained the crowd as well. beautiful weather for it. that is it for abc7 at 4: kids love visiting kidifornia. but parents like it to, like a lot. they go bonkers. ahta boom it's an adventure. (sound of playing) you know ,you have to keep an eye on them. you got to let them explore and figure things out for themselves. so hurry up (screams) they're not gonna stay this way forever. kick off your kidifornia vacation at visitcalifornia.com i'm so glad you're ok, sgt. houston. this is sam with usaa. do you see the tow truck? yes, thank you, that was fast. sgt. houston never expected this to happen.

or that her grandpa's dog tags would be left behind. but that one call got her a tow and rental... ...paid her claim... ...and we even pulled a few strings. making it easy to make things right: that's what we're made for. usaa. what you're made of, we're made for. get a quote today. what if you could push a button usaa. what you're made of, we're made for. and less carbon would be put into the air. if there were a button that would help you use less energy, breathe cleaner air, and even take on climate change... would you press it?