captured a group of nine people running out of neiman marcus with a stolen goods. >> this is organized a theft that the state wants to count on cutting down on. >> the city of san francisco is getting a handle on how big of a problem this is. crying gets in the way of building a better bay area. and we begin with leon melendez lyanne melendez . >> this is a bill that allows chp to expand and collaborate with local law enforcement. operating in three regions. it also allowsthe district attorney to charge someone with a misdemeanor or a felony if they can prove that the person

acted in concert with other people. the governor along with 13 california mayors and a handful of assembly meant to address the issue of organized retail theft. some have witnessed it firsthand. >> they ran into macy grabbed as much as they could. and they loaded it into a car and took off. >> we are putting in good policing and practices on the ground. >> you want to establish trust with the community. >> reporter: a number of shoplifting videos have exposed the problems. in response the governor signed a bill that targets organized retail theft. >> we need to accountable. were not going back to the way things were in the 1980s. >> reporter: the focus will now be on reaching those engaged in this activity who may be homeless or on drugs. >> to make sure that those

individuals can move into services like a drug rehab, education, and employment. so that they can permanently get out of organized retail theft. >> reporter: since 2019 the california highway patrol has made hundreds of arrests and recovered millions in stolen goods. >> bill gives chp extra funding to collaborate with police and retailers. there will be a task force that is a dedicated on cracking down on this crime. one in the bay area and two and southern california. >> to identify locations where we see these things happening. and then wereurs in the ars co trip the viral videos like this when they were exclusive to abc 7 news. give the perception of lawlessness in some cities. >> people fear crime, we have

to deal with the people that are doing this and holding them accountable. we also have to balance the message that we are doing something about it. >> reporter: the chief said that retail crime has decreased. there is no data that shows how many of those crimes go unreported. the bill will be in place until 2026. the chp will work closely with small businesses and retail stores. the question remains how will stores with security approach these shoplifters? chp now has a tipline to report any informatncae this affects all on so many levels. lyanne melendez , abc 7 news. the california retailers association rings a san francisco fifth in the nation when it comes to retail crime.

target says that san francisco is the only city in america where they have decided to close as doors early because of escalating crime. walgreens has permanently shut several stores. the midyear report on public safety shows that crime is down from last year. auto theft, car break-ins and homicide is all up year to date. the san francisco police department said hundreds of repeat offenders are responsible for shoplifting in the city. here's a more on that story from melanie woodrow. >> reporter: videos are one way that the police department investigates retail theft. to make it causes stress for the employees and the people that are shopping. >> reporter: san francisco supervisor requested that the district attorney provide information on organized retail theft.

the police chief and the district attorney responded with letters. according to chief scott they keep records of shoplifting offenders. >> there were 238 repeat offenders. in a 2019 219. and in 2020 116 repeat offenders. >> it has everything to do with businesses being closed. 2020 was an aberration. if we look at 2021 it is a back on the increase. >> reporter: they spoke specifically to the video from lyanne melendez . >> that individual had prior arrests and offenses. >> unless we are right there on the spot and we can catch them in the act we have to go

through other steps of the investigation and it may take a while. to spokesperson for the district attorney was not available for comment. but they said that the standard for prosecution is much higher than the stanford standard for a rest. if the prosecution makes it difficult to provide the statistics. >> i had a conversation with the district attorney and i said we are all responsible for this crime. we are all accountable. scene in san francisco, melanie woodrow, abc 7 news. a oakland police released at this video of someone who is committed to several car burglaries from this afternoon. the person was seen breaking into cars near lake shore avenue. anyone with information on this suspect is asked to call oakland police. the district attorney is

opening a criminal investigation into the practice of extortion letters being sent to small businesses. they said that it businesses are being targeted. letters demand $75,000 under the threat of a civil lawsuit. the cost would bankrupt business owners. they are examining criminal charges, and business owners are encouraged to file a report with the district attorney's office. are we going into another coronavirus lockdown next on midday live we asked you that question. and votes for yes narrowly answered above know. a rise in cases is making

people wonder how safe we are. you can see two weeks after the state reopen the rolling average of cases went up. our health is part of building a better bay area. joining us live is liz kreutz . looking at breakthrough cases and vaccinate people who get coronavirus. first let's hear from stephanie sierra. >> reporter: a covid case rate is tripling across the bay area. and top doctors say the delta variant is not only to blame but the rapid spread is pushing back the chances of reaching herd immunity. >> we will continue to evolve our response. >> reporter: it's not what anyone wants to hear. the delta variant has changed what it will take to reach herd immunity.

>> do you agree with that? >> i do. herd immunity is a function of how transmissible a viruses. >> reporter: usf lead epidemiologist edits push back the goal of reaching herd immunity by several months. and that is considered a safe estimate. >> we are talking up to 80%. that's for everybody. >> reporter: how long will it take to get to that sweet spot? >> at the rate that we are vaccinating it will take months >> reporter: 53% of the states total population is fully vaccinated. san francisco county is at 69%. one of the highest rates in the country. yet covid cases are climbing at

a pace that we have not seen since the onset of the last surge. >> we are projecting that we will be on an average of 80 cases a day. we were down in the low teens a few weeks ago. >> reporter: data analysis from june 20th to july 20. >> there's been more than 400 new covid icu admissions across all nine counties. sonoma county accounts for nearly 90%. contra costa is the next highest averaging between 30 to 60 new hospitalizations. >> it's going to get worse before it gets better but it's not to be as bad trick he said the worst of the search will come in the fall around

september or october. and that it could all change depending on how quickly we can increase vaccinations of 13-17- year-olds. he said that added boost will change things. >> reporter: all bay area counties are recommending you mask up indoors. >> what do the doctors that you spoke with say? >> they both said that masks should be the norm, regardless if you are vaccinated or not. the is said the recent models show the amount of mixing. indicated the risk for transmission is even higher now that we are dealing with the delta variant. >> liz kreutz spent the day with public health experts. what did they tell you? >>

public health director who said they do not anticipate enacting a new mask mandate. he said that breakthrough cases are on the rise. and that is why many people are choosing to wear a mask. as we learn more about breakthrough cases numbers from the state put it in perspective. what are the chances of getting covid and how big of a risk is it? in california 14,000 have contracted covid. a fraction of those have led to hospitalizations and 88 people have died. number that could be even less. >> the vaccine is against severe illness and death. the breakthrough cases that we see are asymptomatic or mild symptomatic. like a cold symptoms.

>> reporter: there have been three hospitalizations and zero deaths in the county. of the three hospitalizations in marin county what you know about these people? there are characteristics, mainly older age door immune compromised. people that have chronicled conditions. >> we asked if there was a correlation between breakthrough cases on a specific of vaccine? >> reporter: they have seen that vaccines at work. if you contract the virus it is rare one out of 235,000 chance that you will die if you are vainat. >> that's an important people might interpret the cases and think that reached ou counties to learn about their

breakthrough cases. the ones that we heard back from only sonoma county has reported any debts from a vaccinated individual. the county said that the two people have died. both over the age of 90 with significant underlying health conditions. >> thank you so much stephanie and liz. if you have questions about coronavirus. you can ask the abc 7 news vaccine team by visiting abc7news.com. i am michael finney. why you may want to say no

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[inflammation] let's kick ken's ache and burn into gear! over the counter eye drops typically work by lubricating your eyes and may provide temporary relief. those drops will probably pass right by me. xiidra works differently, targeting inflammation that can cause dry eye disease. [inflammation] what's that? [inflammation] xiidra? no! it can provide lasting relief. xiidra is the only fda-approved non-steroid treatment specifically for the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease. one drop in each eye, twice a day. don't use if you're allergic to xiidra. common side effects include eye irritation, discomfort or blurred vision when applied to the eye, and unusual taste sensation. don't touch container tip to your eye or any surface. after using xiidra, wait fifteen minutes before reinserting contacts. [inflammation] got any room in your eye? be proactive about managing your symptoms by talking to your doctor about twice-daily xiidra. like i did. [inflammation] i prefer you didn't! xiidra. not today, dry eye.

millions of parents found more money in their bank account is the extra child tax credits rolled in. tax spritzer warning that some parents may want to opt out of getting this extra money. michael finney is here to explain why. >> it seems absurd. why would anyone turn down free money. the irs is sending payments based on 2020 income. if you earn more this year than you did last year you may end up having to pay all of that free money back. that will make a big difference. i need a childcare now not next year during tax season. >> this is a huge boon to get families for this tough economic time.

>> reporter: the tax credit is helping millions of families. it provides $3600 for each child of the age of six and $3000 for every child six to 17 years old. they automatically started depositing money. but warned that many parents may have to pay some or all of that money back. >> if you know that your income is going to be higher in 2021 and it was in 2020 and you do not want a surprise the next year when you file the return, you may want to consider opting out and waiting for the credit. >> reporter: parents are getting paid based on their income in 2020, when many were out of work. >> the credit will be based on this year's income. when many returned to work and are earning more. >> this is very confusing to the american taxpayer. i do not blame them for being at a loss of what to do.

>> reporter: a married couple to the full credit if they earn less than $150,000. a head of household could earn up to the qualified >> if they qualify but their income goes up because they're going back to work or they have a raise or an investment income. it will increase to the point that you no longer qualify for the credit and you would have to pay it back to the irs. >> if you are worried about the surprise attacks bill. set aside the advanced payment. it's not to late to opt out. you can opt out and claim the credit at next year when you are sure of your income. i have posted a link on our website. if you want to opt out now the money does not go away you

deserve it pg&e will be bearing power lines underground. >> is 10% of the lines above ground. customers and stakeholders will be engaged is the plan is developed. >> we will partner with the best and brightest to make this goal come to life. 10,000 miles of line is a trip halfway around the planet. 's like this comes after pg&e said that their equipment may be responsible for the dixie fire. how is

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what if you could push a button 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?

spencer is here with the forecast. it looks like you're giving it the seal of approval? >> yes, i am. looks like the wildfire concerns will not increase in the next few days. we have had a steady onshore flow of cooling marine air. cooling along the coastline. and it has been enough moisture into the bay area to keep the fuel from being exceedingly drive. even though it may warm-up in the next few days we expect a relatively low wildfire risk. mainly surface winds at the 20

miles per hour. here is the view from the rooftop camera. mainly blue skies. 72 in san jose and 83 and morgan hill. there is a noticeable absent of fog. we have had some developing marine layer. the at the moment not much there. nap at 74. and 80 degrees in livermore. looking down towards ocean beach you can see layer of clouds but these are the forecast features. limited fog overnight. warmer weather develops and it will be cloudy and a bit muggy early next week as we have more community coming into the bay area.

this will be the pattern. low clouds about 5:00 and we will have a few low clouds and fog pushing out across the bay. it's not going to be strong or imposing. on 7 day forecast where your weekend is always in view. overnight conditions and temperatures in the low 50s. a little bit cooler near santa rosa where the low will drop down to 49 degrees. in the tomorrow sunny skies and a little bit of lingering clouds. high temperatures at 62 degrees. across the bay 69 degrees. looking south a high of 70 degrees in san jose, and 84 and morgan hill. we'll see highs of 83. here is the accuweather seven- day forecast. a bit of a warm-up, with highs

in the mid 90s. temperatures drop off a little bit and we get a few extra clouds and a little bit of a buildup of humidity the air may feel a bit muggy. the coolest day in the forecast and then it's going to warm up and dry off on tuesday. and oakland homeowners persistence makes a big difference. coming up next why hud is now investigating

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this is abc 7 news. abc 7 news continues to lead the charge at looking at possible discrimination in the home appraisal process. an exclusive report about it how a homeowner almost lost out of $400,000 in equity because

of an appraisal that she thought was to low. >> did you think i was just going to sit back and not say something? >> she asked the tough questions and challenge the praise of. and now the department of housing and urban development is investigating. >> reporter: according to the hud complaint the homeowner $439,000. this duplex has been in her family since 1959.

that's when her uncle purchased the property and passed it down to her mother. it is now hers and she planned to retire she wanted to prepare herself to live on a fixed income. and that meant refinancing the adjustable rate mortgage picture started working with a lender who ordered an appraisal. >> out of the blue the appraiser returned the value of $800,000. >> what was your initial reaction? >> it confuse the loan agent. and that was a red flag. >> reporter: the $800,000 appraisal was $500,000 a less than the homes worse. she requested a reconsideration of value. >> all of the comps were within 10 blocks. and they are all 30 blocks from me.

>> reporter: more than half were miles away. the appraiser rejected the request of the loan was denied and the loan agent suggested waiting three months to reapply. >> that's a long time to wait because of someone's value opinion. >> reporter: she different appraiser surveyed her property and didn't submit a report. after going back and forth with the a company a new appraiser was assigned. the same person who appraised the home in august. >> my heart dropped. >> reporter: the odds of this happening was fun. he never came out to survey the property and never contacted the homeowner. i spoke to the appraiser and they said to conduct a drive-by appraisal. and he said i appraise property

not people. i do this a lot and for a long time. and i have no ill will. the second appraisal raised home by $25,000. and it shows six out of seven of the homes were one mile away from cora's home. three of them were more than a mile and a half away. >> when we saw all of the different comps that had been used we knew that something very strange was going on. i cannot think of another reason why you would refuse to choose for fair representation of a home that is closer to the home being appraised. i do not

think he would have done that had he not known her race. >> reporter: cora said she was home at the time of the appraisal. she read advice about taking ong personal effects and whitewashing her home. she said she did not do that with the final appraisal. when she applied for a new loan and was assigned a different appraiser. >> $439,000. was the difference. cement that was 50% of their original value. trip the final appraisal pulled comps from just blocks away. hud is now investigating the appraisal company that was used in the first contested appraisals. for violating the civil rights

act. a regional spokesperson provided a statement saying that fair here housing is not an option, it is the law. may take these allegations seriously. >> reporter: cora things her late mother for the strength to fight for what is hers. and hopes that her granddaughter will enjoy the fruit of that labour. >> we want to leave for this legacy, and make her proud of her family. >> reporter: with the refinance complete cora said she's saving $800 a month on that mortgage. she pointed out because of the six-month delay in closing on that refinance that she missed out on saving $4000 and thousands of dollars over course of the loan. if you feel that you have been hit with an appraisal that is

to low. you have options out there to fight that low appraisal. we have listed that information on our website abc7news.com. you can also find a link to file a hud complaint. and more information about the local organizations that are out there ready and willing to help you file that complained. reporting live in oakland, julian glover, abc 7 news. [ singing ] you can contact julian through social media on twitter and facebook. coming up next, making a difference through music. a concert about climate change.

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i'm still 35. that's why i take oste bi-flex to keep me moving the way i was made to, it nourishes and strengthens my joints for the long term. osteo bi-flex, plus vitamin d for immune support. some young south bay artists are showing that age is just a number. how they are preparing for and upcoming charity here's more on that story from dustin dorsey r:in south bay home hard work is underway to make our world a better place. this group of talented

artists are using their sound to raise money to fight climate crisis in our state and beyond >> there's been a lot of climate change and i want to help make the world better. >> with this concert all of our music is a tied to a climate or a weather thing. and that plays a big part in understanding this issue and how we need to take action. trip the students have been preparing for weeks, for 20 years jamie has the choice to take their gift into turn it into something good. >> they should bring this beautiful thing to the community. and then we can use our music to

touch some people >> reporter: these the students recognize the role that they are playing and want to be the change in the world. >> teenagers feel like they don't really have the resources to create change. >> even a small step is very important. i think the first step is to become more educated and aware of all the issues and find steps to work towards that change. >> tickets are on sale for the concert on july 31. visit the abc7news.com for more information. dustin dorsey , abc 7 news. >> just terrific. we

♪ ♪ dry eye symptoms keep driving you crazy? inflammation in your eye might be to blame. [inflammation] let's kick ken's ache and burn into gear! over the counter eye drops typically work by lubricating your eyes and may provide temporary relief. those drops will probably pass right by me. xiidra works differently, targeting inflammation that can cause dry eye disease. [inflammation] what's that? [inflammation] xiidra? no! it can provide lasting relief. xiidra is the only fda-approved non-steroid treatment specifically for the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease. one drop in each eye, ic. don't use if you're allergic to xiidra. common side effects include eye irritation, discomfort or blurred vision when applied to the eye, and unusual taste sensation. don't touch container tip to your eye or any surface. after using xiidra,

wait fifteen minutes before reinserting contacts. [inflammation] got any room in your eye? be proactive about managing your symptoms by talking to your doctor about twice-daily xiidra. like i did. [inflammation] i prefer you didn't! xiidra. not today, dry eye. if there were a button that would help you use less energy, xiidra. breathe cleaner air, and even take on climate change... would you press it? tonight we continue our special series. "california dreaming". the issues that are threatening the california dream and those working hard to keep the dream alive. have been plans to phase out gas powered cars. and it picked up speed in september with governor newsom's plan for zero emissions from

2035. and this puts california at the forefront for future. scene california has always been an later. we see a lot of policy efforts happening. we will see more and more vehicles and choices for consumers. and that awareness will continue to grow. >> reporter: california is where ev technology is at the forefront. the company was founded here and that is where they make the cars. >> i had an automaker that is looking at california, where they are going, obviously los angeles, san francisco, they are all big markets. if you look at ev sales nationwide california makes up 40% of all of those vehicles sold there are many startups that are trying to enter this phase. this technology is technology i

disruptive. the vehicle ranges are coming into midpriced levels so that more and more consumers can get into this vehicle. more competition is better for the consumer. at the end of the day the consum is the winner. california has some of the worst air pollution in the country and that is why people have adopted electric vehicles. we have a lot of weather and sunshine first solar power. and it's a place where we don't really have snow in the the there's not a lot of downsides to driving an electric car. you can't as easily jump into your car and drive three states away for an vacation. it's a lot like the car you have now just runs on electricity. the automakers prefer that

everyone charges their car at home. a lot of people cannot do that. so the public charging is going to be key. we see these high-speed charging locations going up everywhere. scene their 70,000 charging stations. and more planned by 2025. >> we are building out a fast network of charging stations. so far we have 650 stations across the united states and 200 of those are in california. it's a critical piece to get to that zero emission future. we are hiring engineers, and construction workers and maintenance in the field to support that network. all of those are jobs that are coming to local communities in a big way for the industry as a whole. scene the end goal is to have all public transportation be electr. so that even cabs are electric. and freight, shipping and the long haul trucks.

>> that would revolutionize the country. each year the quality that alit comes out is better. and the range. and that is what consumers are our are looking for. to make i think looking at everything that is going on with what the government is doing it's safe to say that electric cars are the future. >> you can stream all of these stories on demand right now on the abc 7 news streaming app , download the free app now. heading towards the weekend and spencer christian is tracking the forecast for us:we have an unusual development right now. here is a look. you would normally see a marine layer beyond the coastline. right now

it's just a thin wisp of the low clouds. will probably see some development overnight. here's that forecast animation is taking us into the early morning hours. little bit of coastal cloudiness but nothing inland. and that's going to give way to sunny skies by midday tomorrow. overnight temperatures in the low to mid-50s. highs will range from low 60s to low to mid 70s and that near 90's in the inland spots. here's the accuweather seven- day forecast. little bit warmer inland where we will see highs in the mid 90s and temperatures will drop down to a seasonal range. gets a little more humid on that monday and it mafe a warme weather on wednesday and thursday of next week. sports w

larry beil. >> how can you not love him. it's awesome. and you're going to love what he did today. where did he go with those jason, did you know geico could save you hundreds on car insurance and a whole lot more? cool. so what are you waiting for? mckayla maroney to get your frisbee off the roof? i'll get it. ♪ (upbeat music) ♪ ♪ ♪ whoa. here you go. (in unison) thank you mckayla! dude, get it. i'm not getting it, you get it. you threw it. it's your frisbee. geico. switch today and see all the ways you could save.

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good evening fred warner is considered the best linebacker in football. and now he is paid like the best they signed him to a $95 million extension with $40 $40 million guarantee. he was a third round. in the 20 18th draft out of byu. he hits the jack pot early in his career. he led the team in tackles with 125 and two fumble recoveries and was named all-pro. we spoke with warner recently. and he is ready to be a vocal leader on defense. >> when you are someone that everyone is looking to you have to be the one to speak up and say something. there is a lot to leadership and a lot of it is service and serving my teammates anyway i can. and continuing to grow as a player. and doing everything the right way. with the training camp beginning in 10 days the 49ers

signed a running back from ohio state with a four year deal. es nyteen p ease and ca it has become the king of the nba. it is impossible to dislike this guy. he scored 50 points in the winning game over the phoenix suns. after celebrating the first nba title for the bucks. he did not get any sleep last night. he did get hungry. and he went for a ride to chick- fil-a where his followers watched him order the perfect meal. >> there hundred 50,000 people watching you right now. can i please have a 50 piece

chicken minis. scene can i touched the trophy? >> fast. >> the dodgers continue their fight for first place. after devastating loss. they blew a 6-1 lead. and tyler rogers walked him and gave up a walk off three run homer to will smith. the manager said he has not lost faith in his closer. >> now that i have the opportunity we cannot wait to get tyler rogers back out. he has been a warrior for us all year long. he has been the lead reliever in this league. and has a throne some of our

biggest innings. >> i will chalk tonight up as an outlier because i have to. am a baseball player we are plane tomorrow. i'm going to have a bud light and rinse this one off and we will be going tomorrow. >> i might need something stronger than a bud light to wash that one off. coming up tonight on abc 7 news is "press your luck" stay with us for abc 7 news at 11:00. >> for all of us here we appreciate your time and join us again tonight at 11:00.

this is "jeopardy!" let's meet today's contestants-- a phd student from new haven, connecticut... a middle school teacher from lawrence, kansas... and our returning champion-- a traffic engineer from boise, idaho... whose 3-day cash winnings total... and now here is the guest host of "jeopardy!"--robin roberts. hey, josh. oh, thank you, one and all, and thank you, johnny gilbert. you know, being here, gonna share a little secret. it's bringing back some great memories po it's bringing back we would watch "jeopardy!"

while doing "sportscenter," okay? and we would even time our commercial breaks to watch final jeopardy! where my colleague bob ley would often, well, yeah, he--he kind of beat us pretty badly there. but another person who is pretty darn good at final jeopardy! is our reigning champion, josh saak, in fact, he's been winning since the beginning of my week. am i a little bit of a good luck charm maybe here? -i hope so. -i don't know. i don't know, elizabeth and matt might have something to say about that. so let's get to it and take a look at the categories. here they are. ♪ now each response will have that form such as "on end."