covid transmission rates. >> part of our vaccine team spoke to an epidemiologist about how to avoid another emerging variant that may be stronger than delta. >> reporter: today we heard from cdc director dr. rochelle walensky, saying we are still in a pandemic of the unvaccinated. the vast majority of transmission and severe disease almost exclusively happening among the unvaccinated population. experts telling me today's change is a step of what should be telling of what we are faced with in the u.s. with the delta variant. officially the cdc reverses its indoor mask policy, citing the latest data. samples contained the highly transmissible delta variant. >> in areas with substantial and high transmission, cdc recommends fully vaccinated people wear masks in public,

indoor settings. >> reporter: in this map, the cdc breaks down high transmission areas, with more than 100 cases in seven days. covered in red is the southeast, where lola low vaccination numbers are spiking. what led the cdc to reinstate the guideline as this concerning scientific finding. >> information on the delta variant from several states and other countries indicate that the rare occasion, some vaccinated people, infected with the delta variant after vaccination, may be contagious and spread the virus to others. >> reporter: epidemiologist and his team have been supporting the state health department with covid sequencing. he understands why the cdc took a step back. >> what that indicates is what we are currently doing is not sufficient to keep case numbers down. >> reporter: some of the latest data indicates that as the delta variant continues to mutate, transmission in some

cases are happening fast. >> we have seen reports from australia where they have very low case numbers and are able to track people. just passing in the hallway can be sufficient. >> reporter: yesterday in a press conference we asked the governor newsom, is california also considering to reinstate the mask mandate as the delta variant spreads? >> our focus is vaccinations, so there will be no need to. >> reporter: the cdc highlighting breakthrough cases as rare, but still happening as the delta variant gain strength and now the concern is, what's next? >> every time another person gets infected, it gives the virus an opportunity to mutate again. we don't know what it will do in the future. >> reporter: we contacted every county in the bay area to check their mask guidelines. so far, nothing changes, but seven bay area counties are recommending masks indoors, regardless of vaccination status. in the newsroom, luz pena,

abc7 news. >> according to the cdc, we are in a high transmission area right now. >> substantial or high, both of which fall into the category. >> what are the chances of a breakthrough case indoors? >> reporter: vaccines continue to be highly effective against the covid-19 virus. according to the cdc, in a place of high transmission, where you are in contact with lots of people, 10 to 20 contacts, that could lead to a breakthrough infection. doctors are recommending for those who are vaccinated to wear a surgical mask or to masks if you are wearing a cloth mask, when walking around the office or outdoors or inside, as we are mentioning now. the california state university system announcing today that most everybody who comes onto its campuses will be required to be vaccinated against covid-19. that requireme include faculty, staff, and students going for in-person classes at all 23 csu campuses.

the chancellor issued a statement saying the requirement is to ensure the health and well-being of all students and employees. all vaccinations must be completed by september 30. exemptions will be accepted on medical and religious grounds. many public high school students of not stepped on campus in more than a year in california. one district is allowing freshmen and sophomores to come back early for a week to get the high school experience. lyanne melendez went along for the tour. >> reporter: imagine being a sophomore and never being allowed to set foot in your school, because of covid. that is no longer the case, as a handful of ninth and 10th graders were invited to come to the high school in richmond, to see what high school life is all about. >> we just want them to meet each other. we want them to learn to open a locker. we want them to come in the first day of school and know where some of the classes are.

>> reporter: everyone here, about 90 students, signed up voluntarily. >> our life is really hard, because there are issues and stuff, so it is easier to understand. >> it feels good. i can communicate with people and make more friends. >> reporter: the school district introduced them to light academics, poetry, goal setting exercises and social events. >> i know that as a parent i was way more excited than him. he did come home saying that he really enjoyed being in a school again and being able to meet his teacher. >> reporter: while learning online was not popular with many students, marcus gary, a junior, said there were lessons to be learned. >> trying to overcome obstacles that got in the way. at the end of the day, i was like we will do it. >> reporter: while those students were taking the first step toward reentry, a few teachers came to protest the decision to return to in-person learning for those enrolled in adult education.

>> because we have teachers who really cannot come back in person, for various reasons. and we have students who don't want to come back, for various reasons. they don't ror, enthntin say that wearing masks is an effective mitigation strategy for covid. in richmond, lyanne melendez, abc7 news. governor newsom signed legislation today that will open healthcare to more than 235,000 californians. the governor signing assembly bill 133 at a fresno health clinic. the legislation extends medi- cal coverage to undocumented people in california over the age of 50. advocates say the move brings the state closer to universal healthcare. >> it is a point of pride, a point of principle and what marks our values in the state of california, the most diverse state in the world's most

diverse democracy. >> the legislation also provides $4.3 billion for comprehensive universal screening for mental health for everyone 25 and younger and also attempts to deal with the homeless crisis by providing money to rebuild mental health housing in the state. we are hearing from former senator barbara boxer after she was assaulted and robbed of her cell phone in oakland yesterday. the longtime lawmaker spoke with abc7 news and has a message for the suspects. >> it is shocking that it happened, you don't expect it. >> former senator barbara boxer left shocked and saddened after she was attacked in the neighborhood she called home since 2005. an avid walker, boxer was doing something she has done countless times before, taking a stroll while on a business call, but it wasn't long before something went wrong. >> i noticed out of the corner of my eye that someone was following me. i didn't see that much and then he got into a car and i said

oh, that is fine. mind you, i am still on the phone. >> moments later, someone got out of the driver seat and came after her. >> at that point i knew i was in trouble, so i started to run away. i was pushed from behind, very hard. an arm went around my waist and grabbed the phone. popped the earbuds out of my ear and out of the phone. it splayed on the ground. >> boxer calls it a crime of opportunity. >> no one was on the street. it was so empty, which is i think white they did this. i was walking alone on the phone, distracted on the phone. and a little person, you know, five feet tall with a lot of gray hair. >> and a second the person jumped into a waiting car, but not to be deterred, boxer fired off a message for her attacker as he got away. >> as he was running away i

said, how could you do this to a grandmother? trying to have a phone to call the grandkids or something, to give some guilt. but it did not help. >> she tells abc7 she never felt concerned about her safety before this incident. she describes her attacker as young kids and for them she has a clear message. >> have love in your heart, it will take you a long way, and have hope in the future. >> police tracked the stolen phone to san francisco. the $2000 reward is offered for information leading to an arrest. a controversial mural at george washington high school will stay for now, despite efforts to remove it. a superior court judge yesterday overturned the school district decision to cover the mural. students petitioned the school board to remove it because of its depictions of native americans and slaves. the judge ruled in favor of the

alumni association, which sued, claiming the board did not follow state environmental law. is gavin newsom in trouble.? there has been a dramatic shift in the recall election. what a new poll of voters reveals. have you ever got frustrated while trying to call a customer service center? we will show you what is being developed in the bay area that could not only bring relief, but new jobs as well. i am people everywhere living with type 2 diabetes are waking up to what's possible with rybelsus®. ♪ you are my sunshine ♪ ♪ my only sunshine... ♪ rybelsus® works differently than any other diabetes pill to lower blood sugar in all 3 of these ways... increases insulin when you need it... decreases sugar... and slows food. the majority of people taking rybelsus® lowered their blood sugar and reached an a1c of less than 7. people taking rybelsus® lost up to 8 pounds. rybelsus® isn't for peopl

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all right, we have breaking news in san jose right now. a brush fire burning on the coyote creek trail. you can see the flames right there. this is near cisco away. firefighters just getting to the scene and we will continue to follow this and bring you updates as soon as we get more information. you can also download the abc7 app to get breaking news alerts anytime. candidates looking to replace governor newsom in the recall election continue to campaign across the state. this comes as a new poll shows that the race may be tightening. opposition to the recall now leads by just three points among likely voters. >> reporter: with seven weeks to go, the race to oust governor newsom appears to be tightening. a new poll from the berkeley institute of government study shows among those most likely to vote, it is almost evenly

split. support at 47%, opposition at t 50%, just a three-point difference. >> what you're seeing, californians are saying we need rte kevin faulconer is one of th he campaigned outside a now closed walgreens, where he pledged to address rising crime. >> californians want a governor who will stand up for them and a safe neighborhood. >> reporter: and you talk specifically about what you will do to curb crime? >> first, not the funding police. >> reporter: he said he also wanted to end a proposition that reduced penalties for low- level crimes. >> it allows people to steal merchandise with no consequences. >> reporter: the issue of crime is becoming a defining issue in the recall. last week, newsom held his own news conference to address it, where he signed a bill aimed at

cracking down on organized retail crime. >> as members of the public, you expect us to resolve these issues. >> reporter: more than 50% of voters need to vote no for newsom to stay in office. according to the berkeley poll, conservative talk show host larry elder leads the pack with 34% support, followed by john cox at 28%, kevin faulconer at 26% and kevin kiley at 19%. caitlyn jenner is coming in eighth place with 12% support. liz kreutz, abc7 news. >> if you want to learn more, liz put together an original documentary about california's last recall. you can find it on the abc7 bay area app, on apple tv, android tv, amazon tb, and roku. in the east bay, neighbors get their first chance to discuss the furniture future use of land that was once skywest golf course.

it was the only 18-hole public golf course until it closed last september after nearly 60 years of operation. the 126 acres could get developed or remain as open space. they are holding visioning workshops to get input about future uses for the property. the first public meeting is tonight. >> everything is on the table as far as we're concerned. we are in listening mode and we encourage the public to participate in tell us what they think. >> the virtual meaning meeting starts at 6:00 p.m. two other public workshops are scheduled next month. if you have ever been impatient dealing with a customer call center, a new ally could address that. the use of artificial intelligence could also bring back call center jobs to the u.s. as david louie tells us, the bay area is playing a key role, an example of how our

economy is building a better bay area. >> reporter: odds are still high when you call for customer assistance, you will be connected to an overseas call center. after years of trying to bring the jobs back to the u.s., the odds are looking better. >> we are trying to keep jobs domestically. there are good jobs and call centers all across the country that we want to protect. >> reporter: dan is director of government affairs for the union that is working hard to get congress to pass legislation that would give consumers a say in where the calls are handled. advanced artificial intelligence could also be an unexpected ally. they have been expanding the capability to handle inquiries and complaints faster and smarter and with empathy. >> you now have algorithms a.i. which can pick up the change in our tone. if i raise my voice or lower my voice, et cetera, they can pick up and very accurately predict sadness or anger.

>> reporter: here is an example of how it works. >> i was expecting my settlement check this week. let me talk to an agent. >> i'm sorry you're not happy and i understand your frustration. let me connect you right now. >> good afternoon, i see your calling about your pending claim. >> reporter: a.i. can solve issues at the start of the call by waving penalties without putting a customer on a long hold for a supervisor approval. the improved efficiency has prompted some call center operators to hire domestically and it can lead to a happier, satisfied customer. david louie, abc7 news. >> we are all triggered here, as soon as it came on and that person said, sorry you are unhappy and frustrated. moving on, walmart will start offering free college tuition and books to its 1.5 million employees in the u.s. workers can choose from 10 different partner schools. this is an extinct expansion of the program created three years

ago. more than 52,000 workers, so far, have participated. you know, sandhya's weather is like three minutes of weather university. sometimes it seems like four minutes. you never really know. >> what do you have today, professor patel? >> the way larry medics seem, i'm not teaching anything, i'm just wasting time. >> no, no. >> i don't know about him, but you are teaching me. >> yes, i want to learn. >> let's talk about the moisture. i want to show you live doppler seven with the humidity and moisture pushing northward, where we are seeing around fort bragg, highway one, mendocino area, you will notice some light returns right now. yes, we have seen our share of a few showers. nothing major. trace amounts, but this

afternoon we had showers go through the north bay. fortunately all of the lightning strikes have remained well off the coastline and we fires from lightning. now as you take a look as all of this gets pushed northward, we are starting to see the atmosphere stabilizing. the fog 20 degrees warmer in novato and fairfield compared to 24 hours ago. 23 degrees warmer in santa rosa. from the sutro tower camera, high clouds over san francisco. 74 in oakland. low 90s in morgan hill. we have a nice breeze at the embarcadero. 92 in santa rosa. 98 in livermore. a live look from our san jose camera, where the sun is shining. hot, summer weather inland through friday and we are looking at cooler weather over

the weekend. so the hour-by-hour forecast, showing moisture north of ukiah at 5:00 tonight. we will see the fog expanded higher clouds will be coming up, but the sierra nevada is where all of the action will remain for wednesday afternoon and chance. rswhrm temperatures in the 50s and 60s. we will have fog around and high clouds as we head into the afternoon in the south bay. 87 in san jose. morgan hill, low 90s. on the peninsula, filtered sunshine. 66 in half moon bay. downtown san francisco, 69 degrees. 65 in daly city. co-side, all the way to the upper 90s, low 100s. 89 in novato. 88, santa rosa. 85 in vallejo. 75 in oakland. 84, fremont. inland is where it is really going to get hot. 97 in fairfield.

96 degrees concord, pleasanton. here is the accuweather seven- day forecast and it features summer heat inland. the sizzle continues. triple digits thursday and friday in the inland valleys. mid-60s coast side. by the weekend, when outdoor plans begin, it will not be quite as hot. temperatures do start to come down to the low to mid 90s. more around where we should be this time of year. mid-60s at the coast and a little bit cooler early next week. larry and kristen. >> professor, what can i do for extra credit? nothing? >> nothing, really. nothing can help you. >> all right, thank you sandhya. new settings for a popular social media app.

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spacex has landed a major contract for a nasa mission to jupiter's moon, europa. the europa clipper mission is scheduled to launch oc oc 2024. it is the first ever attempt to perform a detailed investigation of that icy moon. the mission will look for conditions that could possibly support life. instagram is introducing safety settings for its youngest

users and making new accounts private by default for kids under 16. the platform will block some adults from interacting with teenagers and is restricting how advertisers can target teens. the changes, as the app is under pressure from lawmakers and safety advocates about the impact of social media on kids privacy and mental health. some sports news and arguably the biggest question of the off-season was answered today. rogers reported to green bay packers training camp this morning, complete with man bun and backpack. the former star was said to be so frustrated with the organization, he vowed never to play with the packers again. that changed yesterday, when according to espn, the team offered concessions, trying to persuade him to return for one more season. they will avoid the last year of his contract, so this might be his final year in green bay. it appears to have worked out, though nothing is finalized. >> in the nfl, never say never.

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building a better bay area. moving forward. finding solutions. this is abc7 news. the house select committee investigating the deadly capitol riots held its first hearing today. the committee heard emotional testimony from four police officers who defended the building that day. >> reporter: today, powerful testimony. for officers who braved the deadly mob during the january 6 attack on the capitol,

recounting the horrors they endured before the house select committee. >> one man was shouting, are you my brother? another took a different tactic, shouting, you will die on your knees. >> no one had ever, ever called me [ bleep ] whwhwh uniform of a capitol police officer. >> reporter: they were candid about the trauma they are still suffering. >> i sustained injuries on both of my hands, my left shoulder, my left calf, my right foot. >> the indifference shown to my colleagues is disgraceful. >> reporter: for more than three hours they testified and answered questions. d.c. metro police officer michael fanone, at one point watching footage of himself unconscious. >> they beat me. i was struck with a taser device at the base of my skull, numerous times. and they continued to do so, until i yelled out that i had

kids. >> reporter: one of two republicans on the committee, tearing up while listening. >> you guys talk about the effects you have to deal with and you talk about the impact of that day. but you guys one. you guys held. >> reporter: gop leader kevin mccarthy has bashed the committee and speaker nancy pelosi. >> the committee that will ask the questions she wants asked. that becomes a failed committee and a failed report. a sham that no one can believe. >> when people say it should not be political, it is. it was and it is, there is no getting around that. >> reporter: officers are demanding accountability. officer harry dunn, saying that when a hitman goes to jail for murdering someone, so does the person who hired m. abc news, capitol hill. a n accused of shootiree people at spas in march will spend the rest of his life behind bars

he was sentenced to four consecutive life sentences after pleading guilty today. the judge also revoking the possibility of parole. six of the eight victims werewee of asian descent. the district attorney says the victim families were anxious for justice, without a drawnout trial. >> the defendant was merciless in his actions, but the surviving victims and families a of the murdered victims chose to request mercy in the death of this defendant. >> long faces additional charges and four of the killings near atlanta. prosecutors updated those to include domestic terrorism with a hate crime enhancement. in the north bay, police are stepping up efforts to find an arsonist who used fireworks to send a message to a city councilman on the fourth of july. >> this was an absolutely dangerous and cowardly act. i will name it like that. if the person would like to dispute that, we would like to know why this happened.

>> police released surveillance video today, showing someone getting out of a white van and then hurriedly move around the vehicle and disappear. six minutes later, a recycle bin is seen on fire. he believes someone was trying to intimidate him. anyone with information is asked to call the rohnert park police department. san francisco took another step in its effort to transition to public power. the city and county submitted a petition with the public utilities commission. it wants the agency to try to figure out the value of the local electrical infrastructure. the city pledged in 2018 to purchase the assets. san francisco says owning the grid would allow the city to provide clean and affordable electricity. >> today is a significant day. it is a major step for our city, towards being more independent and providing 100% renewable energy for san francisco.

>> the city has a lofty goal. they him to use 100% renewable energy by the year 2025. a san diego area bodybuilder was released from the hospital after a months long covid-19 battle that almost killed him. >> reporter: he does not take this moment for granted. the covid long hauler, released from kaiser permanente after a battle that almost killed him. >> i didn't want to go, i had to fight. >> reporter: the father of two and general contractor spent a total of four months in and out of the icu since january. his girlfriend, vanessa, at his side. >> i could not have done it without her. >> it was touch and go. the doctors would call me every day, saying one lung collapsed. then a few days later, the other lung collapsed. then with the blood clots and with his fever. his fever at one point reached

105, which was crazy to me. >> reporter: in just months, the former bodybuilder went from 200 pounds to just 135 pounds. >> if i would not have the extra weight on me, the 60 pounds, i would've passed, for sure. >> reporter: he coded twice, with severe pneumonia and blood clots to his legs, lungs, and heart. >>'s body never gave up. they kept seeing him fight, so they got it. it is that fighter in him. >> reporter: doctors brought them back from death. >> the doctors and nurses at kaiser, who were incredible, because they saved his life. >> reporter: he has learned how to walk and talk again while battling ongoing infections. >> a lot of patients who went through what he went through, did not survive. so i feel very lucky. that, you know, he made it. he was strong.

>> and getting stronger each day, with a new perspective on life. >> it makes you step back a second and not take anything for granted anymore. >> that was vanessa van have to reporting. he encourages everyone to get vaccinated, saying it will save your life. a new day and we have new guidelines. ♪ ♪ 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, twice a day.

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time now for the four at 4:00 and we will begin with sandhya, talking about the reversal guidelines. the agency is recommending vaccinated people return to wearing masks indoors, in parts of the u.s. where the virus is surging. they are also recommending masks for teachers, staff, and visitors to schools, regardless of vaccination status. it follows recent decisions to revert indoor mask mandates es citywide, amid a spike of cases and hospitalizations. there are some who would say that a mandate will be coming back to the bay area in a couple of weeks. >> i would not be surprised. i think we are a long way from locking things down again, but i think we are tipping toward a mask mandate. the delta variant has changed everything on the fact that we have still not reached the threshold of vaccinations,

because a lot of people won't get vaccinated, is the reason this surge is happening and we may be back to mask mandates. none of us want it, but if that is what we need to do to protect ourselves and the community, so be it. >> there is resentment starting to brew among the vaccinated, feeling like they have to change how they live and are put in danger essentially by the nonvaccinated. sandhya, are you hearing that in the folks you talk with? >> some people are saying, if they don't want to get vaccinated, that's their problem. i am vaccinated, that's okay. i think we all need to think about the fact that we have come this far. just hunker down a little bit longer. of vaccinated people have to wear masks longer, even though we don't really care for it, i think we maybe have to do it, just for everyone's sake. >> it feels like we are in a never-ending loop, where we will never quite get where we

need to to get back to normal. hopefully we get to herd immunity one way or another. perhaps in a path that we don't want. other big news today, gymnast olympics, uncertain at this point. she withdrew from the team competition today and shocked everyone. she pulled out after she failed to complete her first vault as planned. she told reporters she withdrew over mental health concerns, adding that she was concerned she would be injured if she continued in a rattled state of mind. it is not clear if she will compete in her individual events. the u.s. women's team came in second, which was a bit of a surprise. they were favored to win gold, but russia took the gold medal. i think this is like the naomi osaka situation, when people were stunned when she pulled out of a couple of majors because she didn't feel that her mental health was right and we did see her in the opening ceremonies here. but simone biles was supposed

to be the darling of these games. i saw her vault, where she came off the mat. i was stunned. we look at these athletes like they are perfect machines, like she is never going to make a mistake, but you could see the vulnerability. >> she is the darling of the games or is supposed to be and i love watching her. she was fantastic in the last olympics and in competition since. these elite athletes know their bodies and minds more than anyone else and these are competitors. she wants to compete, but if she feels her head is not in the right space, she could hurt her team or hurt herself, as she points out. what they are doing is dangerous stuff, so while it is a bummer, we have to support her decision to do what is best for her and what she believes is best for the team. >> absolutely. anybody else? >> i would like to see if she feels good enough to be out competing in the individual

competition. that would be exciting and so good to see, but whatever it takes to support her as she gets through this. a southern california restaurant already defying safety guidelines is going a step further. the owner posted a sign saying proof of being on vaccinated -- not vaccinated, on vaccinated -- is required to get inside. this is the same restaurant they refused to stop indoor dining at the start of the pandemic. they even made everyone take off masks before coming inside. now only the unvaccinated are welcome. what you think about this as a business strategy? >> i don't know, it seems so crazy. first of all, you have proofread vaccination, but how do you prove you are not vaccinated? you just walk in and say i am not vaccinated? it doesn't make any sense. >> sorry, larry. >> i think anyone who is vaccinated is not likely to go to that restaurant.

>> i think this is great. give the unvaccinated a place to go. but in all reality, come on, this owner is not helping. it is a publicity stunt. it is not responsible. you know. >> he is making a point, a political point. >> making a political point, but at what cost? >> if i am the delta variant, i am very excited about visiting that restaurant. we have willing victims. >> maybe they should name one of the menu items after the delta variant. >> there you go. a brazilian man used his appointment for a covid-19 vaccine to make a political statement, dressing up as an anaconda, which is one of the largest snakes in the world. this video has gone viral with more than 3 million views. he is one of many brazilians dressing up as reptiles as a way to protest how the government is handling the pandemic.

brazil's president has warned against getting the shot. i will say it again. the president of brazil has warned against getting the shot, saying, quote, if you become an alligator, that is your problem. dan, have you experienced any alligator like symptoms? are you sure? >> i have not. >> i feel like my bite is maybe a little stronger. first of all, it's very funny that they are taking shots at the president. maybe the president should go to that restaurant for the unvaccinated. >> there is a place for him to eat, yes. >> but again, irresponsible on the part of the president to discourage people from getting vaccinated and good on that guy and others were kind of making fun of him. >> it's interesting. the entire world is dealing with this. in italy this past weekend, there were mass demonstrations against the notion of mandatory vaccination for healthcare workers. it is interesting to see how

different countries are dealing with this and some people are like okay, we've got to do it, and others are like, absolutely not. >> and you thought the u.s. was the only place where science and politics collided. >> that's not true. >> that's a good point. >> i feel alligator things may be different, but at denny's, one thing will always remain the same... our dedication to safely serving guests the food they love. and hey... if you love to feed people too, we want you to join our family.

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abc7 has learned firefighters are telling residents near the coyote creek trail to shelter in place because of a brush fire. sky 7 over the scene. you can see firefighters hard at work, spraying water on r onn dry brush that is on fire. this is the mill lane neighborhood near cisco way. they are trying to get a handle on the flames. we will continue to follow this for you. obviously they want to keep the flames from jumping over. we will continue to follow this and bring you updates as soon as we get more information. you can also download the abc7 news app to get breaking news alerts anytime. cardboard is for is for is shipping and moving, it is also for creating. reporter rachel brown from our sister station shows us a new ntmoca. munity arts in >> reporter: it is the latest attraction on santa monica's third street promenade.

the pop-up arts center is called cardboard city. >> you can come in with your families and make will stuff out of cardboard. >> reporter: organizers have boxed tons of fun in this space. visitors are treated to sculptures, art installations, cardboard costumes, and building classes. the pearlman's are visiting from london. >> we saw this and my kids got very excited. >> reporter: the rediscover center is behind the event. founded in 2003, the mission is to get clean recyclable materials into the hands of children and encourage them to create. >> my favorite part was working with my mom and i think it is very fun, working together. >> reporter: cardboard city also aims to educate visitors about repurchasing items we so often view as trash. >> cardboard is accessible. it's egalitarian. everybody can get a hold of it and with a little bit of

training you can manipulate it and make will stuff. >> reporter: you can also shop. some of these cardboard pieces are selling for as much as $30,000. cardboard city is open thursday through sunday from noon to 6:00 p.m. and runs until august 29 on the promenade. rachel brown, abc7 news. have you ever wanted to take a gondola ride in san francisco? now you can. the salesforce transit center brought back the gondola more than a year after it closed because of the pandemic. salesforce says it has spent 500,000 minutes since the last gondola ride. that is out 8000 hours. >> you really did the math? >> well, with a calculator. >> i thought you did it in your head, just a second ago. no? >> no. the tramway carries writers atop the transit center and the

best part, it is free. >> and magnificent with the views. like sandhya has from her weather cameras. let me show you live doppler 7 right now. first, the moisture that is pushing north, north of ukiah. it is pushing smoke and moisture north of tahoe, as well, which is why the air quality is a little bit better. you can see a live picture. locally we are looking at good to moderate air-quality the next five days. air-quality around south lake tahoe, moderate. we still expect haze and smoke in the vicinity. good quality in the bay area and as you look at the near surface smoke, most of that will remain north and east of the tahoe area. although like i said, there will still be some haze and smoke. tomorrow, upper 90s inland. mid-60s coast side. as we head into the accuweather seven-day forecast, we bring some triple digits in length thursday and friday, but

comfortable at the coast. how badly do you want a house, like a particular house? sometimes buyers write love letters to commence a seller, please let us buy it. >> why this practice which may seem harmless and cute team usa is ready for the olympic games, and so is erica! she's got the fastest internet, with wifi speeds faster than a gig. so when all of team usa is going for gold... ...her wifi can power it all, and more.

i. love. you. can your internet do that? cheer on team usa with wifi speeds faster than a gig. or, get started with xfinity internet for $19.99 a month for 12 months. switch today. i'm morgan, and there's more to me than hiv. more love, more adventure, more community. but with my hiv treatment, there's not more medicines in my pill. i talked to my doctor and switched to fewer medicines with dovato. dovato is for some adults who are starting hiv-1 treatment or replacing their current hiv-1 regimen. with just 2 medicines in 1 pill, dovato is as effective as a 3-drug regimen... to help you reach and stay undetectable. research shows people who take hiv treatment as prescribed and get to and stay undetectable can no longer transmit hiv through sex. don't take dovato if you're allergic to its ingredients or if you take dofetilide. taking dovato with dofetilide can cause serious or life-threatening side effects. hepatitis b can become harder to treat while on dovato. don't stop dovato without talking to your doctor,

as your hepatitis b may worsen or become life-threatening. serious or life-threatening side effects can occur, including allergic reactions, lactic acid buildup, and liver problems. if you have a rash and other symptoms of an allergic reaction, stop dovato and get medical help right away. tell your doctor if you have kidney or liver problems, or if you are, may be, or plan to be pregnant. dovato may harm your unborn baby. use effective birth control while on dovato. do not breastfeed while taking dovato. most common side effects are headache, nausea, diarrhea, trouble sleeping, tiredness, and anxiety. so much goes into who i am. hiv medicine is one part of it. ask your doctor about dovato-i did. ♪ do you want to buy a house in this competitive market?

buyers often draft what is called a love letter, hoping to persuade the seller to accept their offer. but that is increasingly a practice that is falling out of favor, due to discrimination concerns. >> reporter: we can't stop thinking about your home. our dog will love frolicking in the backyard. our son will be kingdom of pillows and blankets. those are excerpts from a love letter that one a buyer a coveted home. >> they want to make an emotional connection with the seller, so if all things are equal with their offer and somebody else's, that may be somehow the seller will relate more to them and want to sell them the house and that is we c >> reporter: realtors use to advise sellers not to accept love letters with photos included, on the grounds they could potentially be accused of discrimination. now, increasingly, even the written love letters are coming under scrutiny.

this month, oregon became the first state to make such letters illegal in a real estate transaction. some bay area realtors say they are surprised california was not first. there are no laws yet proposed in california or any other state, but change is coming, even in multiple bid situations, as agents tell sellers do not accept them. >> if someone does rely on a letter and someone learns that they relied on a letter, it does pose some risks. >> the seller may not be motivated by discrimination, but it still may have a discriminatory effect. >> reporter: and has the potential to land a seller in legal trouble. >> i think real estate agents are just trying to do all they can to ensure that this is a more objective process. >> reporter: in the east bay, leslie brinkley, abc7 news. >> oregon's ban on love letters does not take effect until next

year. that is it for abc7 news at 4:00. abc7

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ security at your fingertips. control feels good. chase. make more of what's yours.

next at 5:00, the growing concern over a mask mandate maybe even a lockdown in the bay area, plus what looks like a covid outbreak at a concert in santa cruz county, the effort now to find the nearly 300 people who attended. cal state university new requirements for everyone on campus as it calls the current search alarming. the new worries about the safety of ridesharing and potential political trouble for governor newsom, 49 days before his recall election. from abc 7, live, breaking news . >> the breaking news is in san jose, residents near the coyote keep trail are being told to shelter in place because of a brush fire, sky 7 is live over the scene close to 880, you