(♪) discover who they are (♪) what they want from this world. and how they will make it better. and while parenting has changed, how much you care has not. that's why instagram is introducing teen accounts. automatic protections for who can contact them and the content they can see. (♪) a charge in an improperly and cause an explosive fire, described by some residents as a firework or an explosion. >> growing concern about lithium ion batteries and the fires they're causing. good evening. thank you for joining us. >> i'm dan ashley and i'm ama daetz devices with lithium ion batteries are becoming increasingly more popular. i mean, they're in everything from

bikes to scooters, computers, cars. and that's also leading to an increase in fires when proper precautions aren't taken. >> abc seven news reporter luz pena looked into the latest data from the san francisco fire department, and is here with new information on this loose. >> yes, dan and emma, these fires can happen in a matter of seconds. >> and they're happening all across the country. check out this video from inside a bike shop in new york city. there was a spark, then smoke, and then the explosion that has been described as fireworks going of. and that's the experience many describe in san francisco in the latest fires. actually, they've been happening inside apartment complexes and homes. this is lithium ion battery. it happened in 30s. that's what the owner of this san francisco home said off camera about the fire that started on thursday inside his garage. the culprit, his leaf blower with a lithium ion battery that was charging the battery, becomes so hot so quickly, it releases the poisonous gas. in this case, no injuries were reported. but this is an example of a growing

number of fires traced back to these batteries over the last four years. >> the san francisco fire department has seen a significant increase in the number of lithium ion battery fires due to these devices. >> he looked at the data going back all the way to 2017. that year, there were two fire incidents reported from rechargeable batteries that went up to 15 incidents in 2021, and a person died in one of these incidents in 2022. so far, there have been 15 fires caused by these batteries. this year, the fire department projects at least five more by the end of the year, when the batteries are damaged, they can charge in improperly and cause an explosive fire. the owner of warm planet bikes recommends for people to check their batteries are ul certified. >> they've been designed and tested to be sure that they don't explode. >> some of these batteries and chargers are expensive, leading to some people buying knockoff brands. >> they're just being pumped out in small factories all over asia and imported as fast as they

can. there's a gold rush going on and they don't care about safety. >> in san francisco earlier this year, the board of supervisors voted to create safety standards for some devices powered by these batteries. but those in this industry want higher intervention. >> what we need to do is prevent the importation of nonstandard and substandard electrical systems. >> here's what the fire department recommends you do if the battery starts to bulge or change colors, or you notice that the scooter, the bike, the wheelchair, the device has an odor to it, or a discoloration to it, you need to not charge it and notify the manufacturer immediately. the fire department recommends to only use the original charging cable to prevent fires, as well as avoiding leaving batteries unattended for long periods of time and setting a timer on your phone and disconnecting them once they're fully charged. luz pena, abc seven news. >> all right, luis, thank you so much. millions of p-g-and-e's customers will see a credit on

their account next month as part of the california climate credit, a program that requires power plants and other greenhouse gas emitters to purchase carbon pollution permits. the state redistributes these funds to customers as a natural gas credit. in april and electricity credits in april and october. customers will receive about $55 in their accounts. no action necessary. >> concern over a toxic legacy that we've been following for some time here on abc seven news is about to take a new turn. this coming week, experts are scheduled to survey a popular east bay park looking for signatures of radiation. to understand how it may have wound up there. you have to turn back the clock to a dark time for san francisco bay and follow the paper trail. >> they identified dry alum, mud insolubles neighborhood activist sherry padgett is holding what could amount to an environmental smoking gun. >> documents that detail dumping by the former stauffer chemical company, later acquired by zeneca. the site, along the

richmond shoreline, has been the focus of cleanup efforts for decades, but now invoices obtained by the california department of toxic substances and state water boards suggest some dangerous materials may have actually wound up miles away from richmond. >> they had been dumping for 50 years into the shoreline, so they were looking for other places to continue to dump. >> one apparent site, the former berkeley municipal dump, pictured in a recent public presentation by city officials. the dump was also located on the shore of san francisco bay, next to the berkeley marina. finally closed in the 1980s, it was later filled in to create what is now cesar chavez park. the question today how much industrial waste did stauffer chemical company actually dump at the site? and did any of it contain radiation while the recovered documents provide clues, there are concerns they may not tell the whole story. >> so we don't have a lot of

confidence that this is an accurate depiction of the quantity of material that was taken. it may be a hint to gauge the risk. >> berkeley is teaming up with the university of california to launch a high tech aerial survey. pilots will fly over the park using a drone equipped with a sensitive spectrometer able to detect radiation. >> we feel like they've got a good technology they're leveraging, but we also got a plan to validate the results. and yeah, this would be phenomenal. >> the survey is scheduled to last most of the week. different sections of the park will be closed off as they're being surveyed. several park users told us the inconvenience seems worth it if they want to use the spectrometry and the drone to check the levels here, and then if that could be ameliorated as appropriate, then that would be wonderful. activists like sherry padgett also welcomed the survey, but also warn there

could be significant detective work ahead and its gps coordinate coordinates. >> so you know exactly where you're getting a higher level than others. and i yes, it is reassuring on the surface level, the city says park safety is the first concern, but in a broad sense, the survey could also help document the potential effects of a toxic legacy that stretches for miles along the east bay shoreline. >> a ghost from the bay area's industrial past buried half a century ago. now, the records show that industrial waste was also sent to several other site, including the former albany dump. officials say the work at chavez is just precautionary, but the results will be made available to regulators within 90 days. >> in sacramento, governor newsom signed a bill that formally apologized for california's role in slavery and the decades of anti-black policies that followed. the legislation was part of a

package of reparations bills introduced this year, but was the only one that passed this cycle. abc seven news reporter suzanne fawn joins us live from the newsroom with more. >> suzanne alejo's supporters say this apology is the first step of many more that are needed now, critics tell me the apology only amounts to words they need action in the form of reparations. a formal apology for california's role in slavery. governor gavin newsom just signed assembly bill 3089 into law. in a statement, the governor explained what the apology bill signifies. the state of california accepts responsibility for the role we played in promoting, facilitating and permitting the institution of slavery as well as its enduring legacy of persistent racial disparities. building on decades of work, california is now taking another important step forward in recognizing the grave injustices of the past and making amends for the harms caused. but advocates for reparations say the law does not go far enough to atone for the state's legacy of racism. chris logsdon is the lead organizer for a reparations

advocacy group called coalition for a just and equitable california. >> this apology is not reparations. what we need is actually reparations. >> logsdon says issuing an apology is insulting. >> it feels somewhat like a slap in the face for the governor to sign this apology bill. the day after he vetoed one of the bills, specifically sb 1050, that would have provided restitution and compensation for black americans who had their property taken by the state of california. >> assemblyman reggie jones-sawyer of los angeles wrote the bill. he served on the california reparations task force. jones-sawyer explained why an apology is important, quote, healing can only begin with an apology. the state of california acknowledges its past actions and is taking this bold step to correct them, recognizing its role in hindering the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness for black individuals through racially motivated punitive laws. state lawmakers with the california

legislative black caucus introduced more than a dozen initiatives to compensate black americans harmed by ancestral enslavement. other states consider california as a model for their response. assemblywoman lori wilson, who chairs the black caucus, said that state lawmakers will keep pushing for more reparations in the future. she said this is a multiyear effort, and the sign laws are a meaningful foundatio. and last year, california became the first state in the u.s. to consider restitution a state reparations task force determined that more than 2000 enslaved people were brought to the golden state. the apology bill calls for a memorial plaque to be installed in the state capitol. live in the newsroom. suzanne phan abc seven news. >> all right, suzanne, thank you so much. an abc seven news anchor and race and social justice reporter julian glover took a deep dive on california's reparations bills in his abc seven originals documentary. california's case for reparations reparation, reparations. it is now streaming on demand on the abc seven bay area app. >> and california will soon

require schools to teach about the historical mistreatment of native americans. governor newsom signed the bill into law today. it would be included in public school curriculum about spanish colonization and the california gold rush. the department of education must consult native tribes when updating the history framework. starting january 1st of 2025. >> coming up. a stabbing at a bay area high school today and one teen is now in custody. we'll

taken to a nearby trauma center. their injuries are not life threatening. police say a 14 year old is in custody. abc seven spoke with a student who witnessed the fight. he says after being stabbed, the victim was taken on a golf cart to the main office to wait for an ambulance. he also told us he doesn't believe the victim attends the school. now, police are still investigating, but say it was likely an isolated incident. >> in the south bay, santa clara university is trying to become more accessible despite its high tuition, with a cost of more than $80,000 per year for tuition plus room and board, the university is now launching a program to help some incoming students pay for that. abc seven news south bay reporter dustin dorsey explains the new free tuition program and who can apply. >> for many, it's a dream to attend santa clara university,

long beach high school or riley gore hopes to make that dream a reality next fall. >> well, i mean, obviously it's so beautiful here, and i have a few family members who work here and who have gone here. so i'm just touring and seeing like the more inside scoop. and i just love it. i love it here, but to reap these benefits, students have to get past a high sticker price. >> what might it cost? an incoming freshman. >> incoming freshman? i think the total like room and board and everything is like close to 80,000. >> would it be even more interesting to come here if there was free tuition? >> yes, of course. i feel like free tuition is just. it's a sell for anyone. >> and now it's possible. it's known as the santa clara university promise. clearing the path for students, regardless of their socioeconomic background, to become a scu bronco. >> this takes the barrier out of can i afford it? and those students who again, have spent so much dedicated time and commitment and their families, you know, we want to give them hope. >> beginning next academic year,

first year students who qualify for cal grants or graduated from the national cristo rey network of catholic college preparatory high schools can earn free tuition for all four years. the scu promise, with the help of state and federal financial aid, will knock down the remaining costs for qualifying families. those who come from middle low income families where cost is, is definitely a barrier that if they qualify for the pell grant program, that they have possibilities at santa clara to then not have to question where the other funding may come from. for incoming students, the early decision deadline for applying for the siu promise is november first, and regular decision applications are due january seventh. a chance at earning an education at one of the premier universities in california. now a possibility for all at santa clara university. dustin dorsey, abc7 news. >> coming up, the weekend is upon us. here is a live look out at the conditions right now. we're going to check

grow the system, exploit the system. take mark farrell's record. after receiving the largest ethics fine in city history for breaking campaign laws. mark authorized a commission almost every year he was in office. he was even caught taking donations from people he would then appoint to commissions, including a felon convicted of bribery. san francisco's challenges demand urgency, not more of the same failed insiders.

that's according to the san francisco chronicle, based on a filing submitted to the california department of insurance. the galveston, texas, company already pulled out of the home insurance market in a number of states, including california. flooding caused $90 million in losses in california last year, according to officials from the department.

>> we are following developments out of the southeastern u.s. hurricane helene has killed at least 43 people in four states. helene made landfall in florida last night as a category four storm. it has since weakened, but its heavy rains are causing extensive damage over several states. nearly 4 million homes and businesses lost power in florida, georgia and south carolina. moody's analytics estimates the storm will cause between 15 and $26 billion in damage. >> and as we said, not a hurricane anymore. not even a tropical storm. but it's still powerful and a big, nasty storm. yes. so let's get the latest from meteorologist sandhya patel. >> sandhya. >> yeah, it picked up tremendous amounts of moisture, and it was a powerful storm. so that is why it is still continuing to do catastrophic damage. flooding continues in the appalachians, the tennessee area. it was a historic and catastrophic storm that made landfall in the big bend area of florida last night as a category four, as i mentioned. now, here is the deal. it brought record storm

surge record rains. some rainfall totals were a half a foot to almost three feet of rain across parts of the southeast. right now you see a closer view on live doppler seven of the rain with the circulation that just continues. they've already seen the rivers overflowing. flash flood warnings are still going for parts of the carolinas. they also have tornado watch boxes and flash flood watches. still going because there's another system that got into that area, combined with the moisture from what is left of helene. as we take a look at the storm reports hundreds of reports in the last 24 hours, we're talking about not only the deaths. it has been a deadly storm, but injuries as well. and coastal flooding, debris flows have been an issue. our story is so much quieter, calmer from our okay camera. you can see bright blue skies right now if you are getting away, it's aloha friday time. your travel forecast. oakland 72 degrees. mostly sunny tomorrow. if you're heading to the hawaiian islands. honolulu. 86 tomorrow. scattered showers

after some morning sun and pretty much in the 80s from kona to lihue. but shower chances in the forecast here locally up 18 degrees in half moon bay compared to 24 hours ago, it is noticeably warmer. napa 15 degrees higher. 12 degrees oakland, san jose and up ten in livermore. high pressure coming in. that is what's bringing us the heat. but it's going to start to back off this weekend. this area of low pressure as it continues to lift towards southern california, is going to bring in the onshore winds, deepen the marine layer. the fog will be back during the overnight hours. right now it's all clear locally. temperatures in the 90s inland, it was a quick heat spike 70 right now in the city. and here's a live view from sutro tower. overnight tonight, fog returns to the coast. weekend forecast is cooler. a seasonal range of temperatures. early next week it heats up again and fire danger will come into play as humidity drops. a little bit of an offshore flow. not strong winds, but we are expecting offshore winds and around this time of year, fire danger is a concern.

tonight if you're stepping out for friday night plans. 80s 90s inland seconds. coast side, slow cooling. even at 8:00. it's going to be warm inland. and then tomorrow morning, it's all over. fog rolls in and we'll start to notice those temperatures don't rise quite as much. it will remain foggy along parts of the coastline. your morning temperatures will be in the 50s and the 60s tomorrow afternoon. it's a cooler 185 in the south bay and san jose. 88 gilroy on the peninsula, 81. in redwood city, 76 palo alto, half moon bay, 62 degrees san francisco 68. a lot of clouds lingering along the coast. 83. san rafael 88, and santa rosa heading into the east bay. low 70s oakland. richmond, 80, in fremont. inland areas will be up to 89. in walnut creek, 90 in concord, 91 in livermore. accuweather seven day forecast does feature a cooler weekend for your outdoor plans. pleasant conditions, and then the heat is back early next week. we start october on tuesday. that will be our hottest day. fire risk still warm to hot on wednesday before

relief finally arrives at the end of the workweek. ama and dan by then, we'll need it. yes, definitely. >> thanks, sandhya. >> well, still ahead here, honoring warriors legend al attles all season long, we're going to tell you about the team's plan. >> a

they also said you couldn't escape from alcatraz. but watch me do both. other candidates want to tear down san francisco, but i'll build on what's already great to make it even better. with expanded rent control, new homes for the middle class community policing to reduce crime, and an inspector general to root out corruption. let's get to work. paid for by aaron peskin for mayor 2024. financial disclosures are available at sfethics.org

for the last two years, people living in alameda said they could hear the music and even feel vibrations all the way from san francisco. organizers told the chronicle they are vowing to be quieter. some of the changes you'll see include one of the stages being rotated away from

the water. there will also be more shipping containers up to block sound from traveling. performances will also end a little earlier on sunday night than in past years. >> well, the warriors are unveiling plans to honor just a legend of the franchise. the late al adelson. >> the upcoming seasons jerseys will have a 16 band on all of them. attles dedicated his entire career, more than 60 years of his life, to the team as a player, coach and ambassador. he passed away last month in oakland at the age of 87, and the warriors also added to their coaching bench. >> today, the team announced it's hired jerry stackhouse and terry stotts as assistant coaches. stackhouse spent the past five seasons as head coach of vanderbilt university's men's basketball team. he played 18 years in the nba and will bring a defensive mindset to the team. stotts is rejoining golden stat. he was part of the warriors staff during the 2000 and 405 season. stotts was head coach of the portland trail blazers from 2012 to 21. warriors officials describe him as an offensive

guru, so it's nice to have those two on the on the program. >> absolutely. all right. we have much more news ahead for you at 5.30 on abc seven bay area streaming tv. >> and if you're watching us on tv world news tonight with david muir is next for sandyha patel. all of us. we appreciate your time. >> i'm dan ashley and i'm ama daetz. we'll see you again at six.

>> david: tonight, breaking news. a deadly category 4 hurricane slamming into the u.s., landfall in florida, moving across several states at this hour. tonight, the hospital surrounded. patients rescued from the roof. also, the water rescues playing out. families trapped in rising waters. dozens killed in this storm. power out to millions tonight. hurricane helene, the strongest hurricane on record to hit florida's big bend region. more than two dozen people