moving forward finding solutions. this is abc 7 news. there's a great deal of that we have uncovered to this case. and just the last few months alone. have developed many new leads. today six years after a san francisco woman and her two and a half year old daughter were last seen police and fbi investigators are giving an update on this case. good evening. thank you for joining us on dan ashley and i'm a dates the body of 32 year old. nicole fitz was found one week after she was last seen but her daughter ariana was never found however today investigators announced new developments in the case abc 7 news reporter leeann melendez has those details tonight a vigil for nicole fits and her daughter ariana relatives believe the 32 year old mother came to mclaren park on april 1st 2016 to meet a

person known to her police say most likely her child's babysitter. it's here where her body was discovered a week later in a shallow grave her sister contessa fits remembers what she was made of the biggest thing. i remember about my sister is is how much love she had how much she loves she had for? yeah, pretty much anyone. she met san francisco police announced the department was increasing the reward money to $250,000 for anyone with information on nicole's murder and the whereabouts of ariana police and the fbi say progress has been made in the investigation but no one has been arrested as we continue to collect information analyze forensic evidence. develop new leads. we together with the fbi will be reaching out to people again in the coming weeks and months according to the investigation. battle was in the care of a babysitter and her husband when

she disappeared they and another woman believed to be involved have not fully cooperated with police. ariana was two and a half at the time. she's now eight. this is what she may look like. thanks to an age progression photo you will see success stories where age progression photos have led to the recoveries sometimes by that missing child themselves. enforcement has never deterred whether or not ariana is alive today police said we have to believe that she is that's why that age progression photo is so crucial billboards with that photo will now go up in california and nevada the people who babysat are rihanna have moved to las vegas so putting up billboard up in nevada was done strategically. that's just the biggest thing that we can do for for ariana for for our family. and for nikki is to find ariana and bring her home as soon as possible in san francisco leanne melendez abc 7 news.

a shooting this afternoon in san francisco's bayview district has left a man hospitalized with life-threatening injuries happen to the area of 3rd street and palu avenue police. say when officers arrived on scene, they found a man suffering from gunshot wounds named marked several bullet casings in front of naughty boy clothing store on 3rd street. so far this year there have been nine homicides in san francisco. tonight mountain view police are warning people about an investigation of potential fentanyl poisoning in the death of a los altos high school. this morning now. this comes as santa clara county leaders outline a plan to fight fentanyl related deaths. abc70s reporters. zach fuentes is on the story. this is linus blum from los gatos. his father says he excelled in his high school wrestling program. despite his accomplishments youngblum lena's father says the teen started to experiment with drugs. his substance abuse issues became even worse during the pandemic a month before his death. we had actually placed him at a

rehab he got discharged in early july and and when he looked very healthy and happy unfortunately, he relapsed in 2020 linus took a percocet pill that unbeknownst to him was laced with fentanyl. he was just a month shy of turning 18 drugs laced with benton are almost impossible for many drug users to detect until it's too late. it's estimated that it's 5200 times stronger than morphine. so one small amount of fentanyl has risk of these negative effects take a look at these numbers from the santa clara county corner in 2018. there were 12 deaths the following year some major jumps with 135 last year this year. there are already eight a number that can grow fentanyl is everywhere from the wealthiest neighborhoods to the most disadvantaged friday santa clara county supervisor, cindy chavez outlined the work a newly formed group plans to do to combat the fentanyl crisis and bring those numbers. down the group includes chavez the district attorney's office along with addiction and

substance abuse experts starting april 15. they planned to launch a public service and social media campaign to get the word out about fentanyl lace drugs. it also includes a specialized enforcement team to increase prosecutions against those bringing drugs into the community also part of the working group john blum a project. he says helps in his healing process like being able to channel my grief into something that's actually constructive. so so it is so kind of a coping mechanism more or it's a way to heal for me and my wife. zach fuentes abc 7 news today the house passed legislation to decriminalize marijuana at the federal level. the vote was 220 to 204 with three republicans joining democrats to pass the measure. however, it's unlikely to secure 60 votes and pass the senate the bill will allow the veterans administration to recommend medical marijuana to veterans living with ptsd. it would also gain revenue by authorizing sales tax on marijuana and would expunge the records of people convicted of non-violent cannabis offenses happening today a 5% surcharge

goes into effect for san francisco water customers. it's part of the city's drought declaration and is aimed at covering the lost revenue for people using less water in an effort to conserve. however, the surcharge will be removed. once the water shortage emergency is lifted. this comes as the california department of water resources measures the snowpack in the sierra that snow eventually melts down and works its way into our water supply but as abc 7 news reporter dustin dorsey explains, there won't be much to melt as we head into the warm months. on a day where we all have to question things that sound out of the ordinary the sierra snowpack survey is absolutely not in april fool's joke our survey today recorded a snow depth of two and a half inches. and a snow water content of one inch the statewide snow pack is just 38% of average and just 4% of the total. we usually see on april 1st this survey annually on this day by the california department of water resources is seen as the

most important that is typically when our snowpack is at its peak. in terms of snow water content. unfortunately the northern sierra nevada experience its peaks no pack in mid-january. this snowpack sets the stage for how our water outlook will be for the rest of the year. and with these numbers showing the driest past three months and over 100 years. it's looking like a dry year ahead. some may say this is a wake-up call i disagree. the alarm has already gone off. this has a big impact on our water supply here in santa clara county santa clara valley water districts. matt. keller says, we rely on more than half of our water from outside of our county including the snowpack. so heading into the warmer months it comes back to the community doing its part the actions that they need to take is really reduce their outdoor watering. that's the biggest use of water here in santa clara county about half of the water used in the county is outdoors and even more concerning is that people have actually been using more water

during this dry stretch of winter moving forward. everything is on the table really for our board to evaluate and decide, you know, what steps need to be taken to protect our water supply here in santa clara county that includes increased water rates tying it back to the snowpack with water in the state it will cost more to purchase meaning if you don't conserve now, you will literally pay for it later. the reality is if you use less water you're going to pay less on your water bill if you use more water, you're gonna pay more on your water bill. the time is now to take steps because we're looking at more dry conditions going forward in the south bay dust and dorsey abc 7 news. today's city and transit leaders celebrated the completion and grand opening of bus rapid transit system on van ness avenue. it includes red transit. only lanes upgraded pedestrian crosswalks and underground water infrastructure, improving traffic congestion transit safety and efficiency in the heart of san francisco. this guy seven was above the new van ness with a view of the new

bus rapid lines lane. this is gonna be a meaningful change. reducing the travel time by 30% making public transportation more attracted to people. spent a long haul this project took nearly two decades to finish since it was approved running into its fair share of issues along the way as we reported along the way business owners and residents say the wait was difficult, but look forward to what the the improvements now have to offer. still ahead president biden declares americans are back to work as he celebrates the latest jobs report and congress works to put the final touches on a new covid relief package plus help for ukrainian refugees through the power of tamales. we'll tell you about the bay area effort now underway abc 7 news at 5on

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recovery citing new job numbers that show historic growth. it comes as congress tries to cobble together another covid relief plan abc news reporter. alex pressure has the details. ahead of his trip to delaware friday president biden taking a victory lap over newly released jobs numbers. people are making more money. they're finding better jobs the economy added 431,000 last month on employment dropped to 3.6 percent numbers slightly lower than expectations still according to the wall street journal. this is now the 11th straight month of job growth above 400,000 and the strongest job growth since 1939. however, the jobs comes as the us contin. to struggle under increasing inflation the highest it's been in 40 years. we need to do more to get prices under control biden already tapping into the strategic oil reserve to lower gas prices releasing one million barrels a day for the next six months and in the senate top negotiators say they're close to a 10 billion dollar deal in

additional covid relief funding. it's significantly less than the 22 billion the biden administration initially requested in short of the more than 15 billion congress nearly approved last month republic. senators saying this deal likely strips her way funding from global vaccine efforts key negotiators senator roy blunt tells abc news half of the new funds will be used for therapeutics. the other half would be distributed to health and human services with broad discretion the white house not saying much else specifics of this deal are continuing be worked out so i don't have break down for you of exactly where that funding would go. this is a live negotiation the senate expected to consider the legislation as soon as next week minority leader mitch mcconnell answering this question. are you optimistic that it can get done by before these easter recess? we'll see hopefully. multiple republican senators have said that they are optimistic a deal can get done and that's key because this would need bipartisan support to reach the necessary 60 vote

threshold in the senate alex pershae abc news, washington in ukraine tonight thousands of residents in the devastated port of mary opal have made it to safety this bus just arriving from the besiege city at a uk at a ukrainian held area more than 100,000 people remain trapped with little food water or electricity. the department of defense says it believes russian forces have withdrawn from the chernobyl nuclear power plant and some suburbs around keeve new shows the devastation left behind in those areas and overnight to possible strike on a russian. oil depot just over the ukrainian border. this video shows two airstrikes in the distance russia claims. it was ukraine ukraine is neither confirming or denying. it's involvement so far. there's been no word of progress from online peace negotiations humanitarian relief for ukrainian refugees effort using tamales is underway on the peninsula two groups, alas and bay area border relief organized this effort. they've sold about 1500 handmade

tamales raising 11,000. sunday we will be delivering, you know, all the tamales to the people that have ordered and we're really excited because all of this every single dollar will go to world central kitchen with chef jose to help the refugee families in ukraine. the world central kitchen has done amazing work really it served more than a million meals across five countries since the war started the tamales will be distributed on sunday at four locations around the bay area today's students in pal. does sold baked goods as a way to do what they c second graders at gideon hausner jewish day school came up with the idea on their own. highlight of the bake sale was seeing the enthusiasm of everyone at the school who couldn't wait to come out and buy the traits and we are sold out and it was a tremendous success, but most importantly our kids felt great about doing something good and helping someone else. for that great students and families whipped up baked goods of all kinds of variety of

cookies cupcakes and cakes. all proceeds will go to a ukrainian organization helping refugees. the school is also spent sending medical supplies toiletries and letters of hope that's fabulous. well after the break marking a period of reflection and reunion why this year's holy month of ramadan is extra special for the bay a

large out-of-state corporations have set their sights on california. they've written a ballot proposal to allow online sports betting. they tell us it will fund programs for the homeless, but read the fine print. 90% of the profits go to out-of-state corporations, leaving almost nothing for the homeless. no real jobs are created here. but the promise between our state and our sovereign tribes would be broken forever. these out-of-state corporations don't care about california.

but we do. stand with us. what are you recommending for muscle pain? based on clinical data, i recommend salonpas. agreed... my patients like these patches because they work for up to 12 hours, even on moderate pain. salonpas. it's good medicine communities preparing for the start of the holy month of ramadan. this marks the first ramadan with east covid protection since the pandemic began and abc 7 news race and social justice reporter. julian glover takes you to the lighthouse mosque in north oakland where they're preparing to welcome waves of worshipers. inside the lighthouse mosque in north oakland. there's a tangible excitement. what i like about ramadan as soon as it comes, i'm very happy. it's like my best friend coming to visit me. this is the time where you see everybody that's probably muslim in the bay area ramadan is the holiest month of the year for

the bay area's 250,000 strong muslim. this year, it'll mark not only a period of reflection but reunion the first ramadan with mask and capacity orders lifted the march of 2020. it was like one month out of before ramadan so our ramadan plan got scrapped that year, but this ramadan i feel like we might be back to full capacity. so i'm looking forward to that a month that muslims around the world. look forward to starting each year with the sighting of the crescent moon and if you find me you don't have to fast anymore muslims will fast from don until dus? day during ramadan and break their fast each night with iftar meals. the lighthouse mosque is hosting three break fast meals for the community on april 8th 20th in 27th, renting out humanist hall in uptown to accommodate larger

crowds. i liked the the seclusion that found in stay at home. and the social distancing, but i'm looking forward to you know, just the community being able to come together and made his ramadan be our best ramadan julian glover abc 7 news. happy i love that. all right, we love that. it's the weekend. we do meteorologist mike. nico is here warming up mike. yeah, i think you'll like the forecast. we do have a little bit of a cooling trend before we get to that heat next week and the coast is missing out. this particular warming trend but you will get the warmth the next week. in fact, look at those gusses san francisco and sfo 32 the 36 the rest of us are less than 20 miles per hour and those will drop a little bit as we head into the evening hours and notice. it's keeping the coast coast in san francisco pretty close to where we were. state but the warmth is spreading through the rest of our neighborhoods in fact temperatures right now mainly in the 60s and 70s except for along the coasts and the san francisco

were in the mid to upper 40s now thinking about doing some dining outside here. your temperatures will stay in the mid 50s then low 50s at the coast with breezy conditions and then for our bay and inland neighborhoods 69 to 73, but then mid-upper 60s at seven o'clock and eventually mid to upper 50s by nine o'clock. you want to find those heaters at those restaurants? alright, let's talk about what's going to happen moving forward high. and sunshine all weekend not nearly as bright as today a chance of sprinkles in the north bay monday morning and nearing record warmth the next week tomorrow when you wake up, we'll have a few high clouds a patch of fog or two around half moon bay temperatures. inland will be in the low to mid 40s around the bay in the coasts mid to upper 40s pretty close to average by tomorrow afternoon 61 and half moon bay, so maybe a degree or too warmer there same thing in san francisco 67 we have low to mid 70s around the bay and pretty much mid to upper 70s and most other neighborhoods. in a few 80s around fairfield and antioch now, let's take a look at around the state and away from the coast. look at these eighties through

the central valley 66 in la 65 in monterey 59 in tahoe now if you're traveling around tomorrow, we'll have increasing clouds and breezy at the coast 60 to 78 there. but let's take a look at some other areas and you can see honolulu some showers and 82 new york city showers and 51 a mix of rain and snow chicago and 42 in la that mostly cloudy 68 degrees. want to show you what's happening monday here. we are at midnight and watch up here in the northern parts right into lake and mendocino counties and also right there into the northwest corner sonoma county. we have that slight chance of a sprinkle, but that's it. once we pass that let's turn our attention to thursday wear some records are possible around oakland and santa rosa and the livermore as temperatures will soar up to levels. we haven't felt since 1989 via the seven day forecast a little more cloud. over in a little more breeze sunday cools us down about four to six degrees and monday will be our coolest day mainly 50s and 60s where we should be and that's just warmer than average

tuesday, wednesday, thursday and friday and wasn't it a great day for a wedding? oh, it was indeed. mike a very happy occasion. yes today a very special day for one of our right here at abc 7 off meteorologist drew tuma got married today. these are pictures of the ceremonious san francisco city hall where drew and is now husband joey tied the knot i love. you they are fabulous. they're too the nicest people. we know certainly drew our colleague is and they're just a lovely couple. congratulations. yes, that's all love it. i wonder it was aware that this tuxedo when he comes back to work. we'll try to do that on the weather. congratulations guys, but still ahead and update for the struggling warriors on steph curry's foot injury. we'll be back

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group play took place this morning in the us has a difficult bracket at least politically on november 25th. the us will pay england a close ally but a tough opponent on november 29th the us will face. iran in a politically charged game in the first game the us may have to take on ukraine, which had its qualifying game delayed because of the russian invasion the world cup kicks off november 21st in qatar. well the stanford women's basketball team resumes its

quest for its second straight ncaa championship tonight. the cardinal will square off against uconn in about an hour from the nightcap of today's final four matchup in minneapolis. a stanford 32 and 3 on the season and is led by a pac-12. the year haley jones and defensive player of the year cameron brink, of course. we cannot forget about coach tara vandever, of course the winningest coach and women's college basketball history and an icon. the struggling warriors will be without steph curry for the final seven games of the regular season curry has been out of action since straining a ligament in his left foot on this play against the boston celtics two weeks ago the warriors say he's making good progress. he'll begin individual encore activities next week and will return to practice based on those workouts. the next update will come before the playoffs begin in mid-april. the warriors are just one and six deaf went out. okay, we need him back. well, finally tonight the giants offered a preview of what fans

will experience at oracle park this year when the season begin a week from today against the miami marlins. yeah, the giants will open the season at home for the first time since 2008 due to the schedule adjustments caused by the player lockout as always. zorgo will feature plenty of new food offerings far from your traditional baseball fair including gourmet pizza slices, the veggie slice comes fully loaded with pesto sauce spinach red and green peppers red onions black olives mushrooms feta and mozzarella cheese bringing a garden flavor to the menu. son would have none of that. sounds good, though, right? yeah. sure does how you may also want to try a kale? lumpia, which is of course a spring roll popular and indonesia and the philippines the giants are also expected expecting a big year at the gate. they've already sold. are you ready for this 1.6 million tickets people are excited about baseball. yeah, they're ready to get back out there. all right world news tonight with david muir is coming up next. i'm on a date and i'm dan ashley

for sandy patel mike, nico and all of us here. we appreciate your time. we'll see again in half an hour ♪ ♪ let's go out of town for the summer ♪ ♪ i wanna go across the trees ♪ ♪ just take my hand ♪ ♪ we will have fun till the sun goes down ♪ ♪ and we'll start over again ♪ ♪

breaking news as we come on the air in the west. will smith resigning from the academy after assaulting chris rock at the oscars. calling his actions shocking, painful, and inexcusable. admitting, i betrayed the trust of the academy. and the oscars producer, and his immediate reaction. overseas, for the first time since the invasion, video circulating online shows ukraine allegedly launching an air strike with helicopters on the russian side of the border. the attack happening as peace talks between the two countries resume today. and inside ukraine