called in because you're talking about a highly skilled you're talking about a high skill set, you know, for this type of search, whether it be, you know, bomb dogs or bomb sniffing dogs, you know, folks who can easily disable any sort of devices, other specialty units that have to be called in here. we're talking about really meticulous work. >> there is no doubt. so every city of size has emergency contingencies. new orleans clearly will have one which will translate into you're basically going to have the field office in new orleans, which is going to be a lot of agents and support employees to include bomb techs, etc. are already pulled into this investigation. so the number of people probably is, is adequate

based on what they have at this point. as i mentioned earlier, my concern is as this day expands, you're not going to be able to move the intensity of your manpower quickly so they could be in the french quarter or around this area of new orleans for a lot of hours to make sure that it is clear. uh- that's the unfortunate thing. when you find an ied. they're so easy to plant and actually build. what happened here? is there other ones out there? so it's going to be a while. it's going to be several hours, i think, before they declare this part of new orleans safe. >> absolutely. brad garrett, thank you for weighing in there. if you're just joining us, it's 901 here on the east coast and we are on the air with a special report because a horrific incident occurred down in new orleans, louisiana. at least ten

people killed dozens, at least three dozen others police say a police say a suspect rammed through barricades and plowed into a crowd of revelers on bourbon street. right now, authorities are still on the scene there. they are investigating. we've heard from witnesses. the fbi is taking over this investigation. president biden has been briefed, along with doj, along with the department of justice, attorney general merrick garland. but of course, this investigation does continue. authorities are now sweeping the french quarter, checking for additional explosive potential for explosive devices after they say one was discovered on that suspect and his pickup truck. a shootout. we're also learning, occurred between the suspect and two police officers who this morning are in stable condition. right now, i want to go over to richard. richard frenkel, retired fbi. thank you so much for joining us. we know the fbi is taking over this investigation from your vantage

point. what are some of the things that they're going to be considering? what is your take on this and where do things go from here? >> so, you know, this just happened a few hours ago. everyone still just trying to figure out what happened, how this person got to where they are, how they got through, you know, the barricades. they're, you know, they're going to start pulling everything apart on this guy's life. they're going to be looking at everything they can. where he's from, where he is on social media, who his friends are. you know what, if any political, social, economic views he has that might bring him to the side of extremist terrorists. you know, they're going to be basically doing everything they can to know who the guy is and why he did what he did. >> richard aaron katersky the urgent priority seems to be on

the explosive devices that the fbi says were found. they have to test those for viability and do a scan to see if there are any other in the area. is that why the french quarter, or at least a significant chunk of the french quarter, shut down right now? >> yeah. so what you'll do on this type of investigation is you kind of bifurcate the investigation. the first thing that has to be done is make sure that everything is safe and secure. so you're going to be having the bomb techs from the fbi, atf, local law enforcement. they're going to be going through that entire area through the entire french quarter. they're really going to have to go into every crevice that they can, that can hold an ied and see if there is anything there. this is going to take a long time. and what's going to be taking even longer is if they find stuff left behind. you know, again, this was, you know, new year's eve. a lot of revelers out there. then you have this traumatic incident. people left bags behind, left items behind. they're going to

have to go through each one of those and make sure none of them are ieds. so this is going to take a long time to get through. it's not that they haven't done this type of thing before. you know they have. so there is a plan to go. i'm sure you've got resources out of quantico. the fbi lab coming down to assist. i'm sure you have serg from fbi, which is the critical incident response group. they're sending people down as long as in addition to other agencies from the entire federal government that are going to come down and assist in clearing that location, clearing the french quarter to make sure everything is safe and secure. >> yeah. and certainly the environment heightened right now because we know that there, again, are other events taking place today the parade, the sugar bowl as well. again, if you are just now joining us, we are on the air because of a horrific act on the first day of the year. at least ten people killed, dozens more wounded in

the hospital after police say a driver plowed into a crowd of people on bourbon street, the busy bourbon street. happened this morning just after 315. just as many people were celebrating and ringing in the new year. also, a shootout between officers and this particular suspect. we understand that the suspect has died. again, authorities are now still investigating this and will be continuing to investigate throughout the day here. we are expecting another update again at 11 a.m. eastern time. and of course, we're going to continue to bring you that both on air and online. you can also find us on abc news live with the very latest for this special report. morgan norwood, happy new year. >> this has been a special report from abc news. >> from the sensation now abc seven mornings live.

>> now at six, we continue the coverage of at least ten people dead, 35 more injured after a vehicle drove into new year's eve crowds in new orleans. some city officials calling this an act of terrorism, plus rowdy celebrations here in the bay as illegal sideshows take over streets in multiple cities in the east bay. good morning. on this wednesday, january 1st. we're going to get right back to the latest on the attacks in new orleans. but first we're going to start with drew's forecast real quick out there. >> it's quiet and it's cold. so we start out with our okay camera this morning. a live look outside. we do have a mix of stars and clouds out there. temperatures once again this morning are chilly. we're at 41 degrees right now at o k under mix of stars and clouds. light winds right now. humidity is high. other temperatures 30s and 40s. we don't have any frost advisories or freeze warnings in effect this morning, but it's still pretty chilly out there. so for the first day of the year, you do want to have those layers. this afternoon we'll get back into the 50s and low 60s. here's live doppler seven along with satellite. there is a weak

moving disturbance well to our north, supplying us with additional cloud cover this morning. future weather showing you it's a mix of sun and clouds throughout the morning. right around lunchtime. northern sonoma county. parts of lake and mendocino county may see a brief sprinkle as that disturbance passes by to the north, but for most of us, it's quiet, it's dry, and temperatures slightly below average for the first day of the year, so we'll find a high of 58 in the city, 59 in oakland, 63 in san jose, a high of 55. >> in napa, reggie aqui back to that breaking news out of new orleans. ten people have died. at least 35 more are hurt after a truck plowed into a crowd right on new orleans bourbon street. this started just after 3 a.m. new orleans is two hours ahead of us here in the bay area. police say a man drove around barriers and raced down several blocks with the goal of killing, quote, as many people as possible. of course, that area, one of the most popular tourist spots in louisiana. in fact, in the country, police were already out in force for

holiday celebrations. officers confronted that driver and there was a shootout. in the shootout. two officers were hit and the driver was killed. the city's mayor is calling this a terror attack. and the police chief and kirkpatrick, you'll remember that name she used to lead. oakland police is saying this was an intentional act because of the intentional mindset of this perpetrator who went around our barricades in order to conduct this. >> he was hell bent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did because of the nature and the indices that we have on the scene, and we have a enough information that the fbi will be taking over this investigation. >> now, so far, the fbi would not say if this is being investigated as a terror attack

at this time. a bomb squad is on bourbon street. they're investigating an improvised explosive device that was also found. the fbi says it's unclear if that device is viable. now, keep in mind, this incident comes just hours before the kickoff of the sugar bowl. in fact, the sugar bowl parade was held right in the same area where this deadly crash happened. the game is supposed to be happening at the superdome later today. it's on new year's day. every year. it draws thousands of visitors to the city. as soon as we get more information about this, we will pass it along to you throughout the morning. authorities are planning another news conference at 9 a.m. our time, 11 a.m. their time. we're going to work to bring you the very latest information as it comes in, and visit abc seven news.com or our bay area news app. for now, let's get back to what's happening in the bay area this morning. a deadly new year's eve with homicides reported in oakland and in san francisco. in oakland, at least three deaths are under investigation. these were separate incidents. now, the latest happening near jack

london square just after 10 p.m. police say a shooting sent four people to the hospital. one of those people died. the events leading up to that shooting still unknown. and in san francisco, police are investigating after a body was found at the gas and shop, which is on the corner of 17th and south van ness in the mission district. we have reached out to police for more information. we are waiting to hear back. it was a wild night of sideshows in the east bay. so here's video from 2:00 this morning in vallejo at the intersection of kentucky and alameda streets. you could see crowds of people and multiple cars doing donuts and other stunts. police eventually broke up that sideshow. the same group ended up in oakland less than an hour later. so this is video from macarthur and market. at one point, they set a car on fire. first responders jumping into action overnight to rescue a woman who crashed her car into a creek. this happened just before 1130 last night in pacheco. the fire department says the woman was speeding down pacheco boulevard when she hit a

fire hydrant, launching her car 300ft in the air and into grayson creek. most of her car submerged. first responders, amazingly, were able to pull her out. and you saw that water that was gushing out of the hydrant there. it flooded some nearby businesses. no details yet on what led to that crash. today marks the start of a new year. unfortunately for bay area drivers at all, mark also marks the start of another bridge toll increase. the toll is going up by a buck. abc seven news reporter lena howland live at the bay bridge with that lena. >> hey, reggie, good morning to you and happy new year to you. starting this morning. drivers crossing the bay bridge here behind me or any of the bay area's seven state owned bridges, can expect to pay $8 per toll. now, this voter approved toll increase is the third in a series of three, with the last increase happening three years ago. the bay area toll authority says money from this increase will go towards freeway improvements across the

area and the purchase of new bart cars, not to mention an extension of the bart system, the caltrain corridor, muni's transit vehicle fleet, and the san francisco bay. service bay ferry service, just to name a few. it is important to note this increase is separate from the toll hike just approved by the toll authority last month that will ultimately see the price to cross a bridge hit 1050 by the year 2030. commuters we talked to worry about the financial impact it will have on people who rely on crossing the bridges to work or to see family. >> i don't think that's the way to do it. you know, closing this, raising this, know, what are they doing with that money? because i don't see any type of improvements. >> the increase approved last month will be phased in over five years starting next january, to help pay strictly for the maintenance and repair of the seven state owned bridges across the area on january 1st of next year. tolls go from $8

up to 850 for most drivers, paying with fast track tolls go up $0.50 every year until 2030, topping out at 1050. the tolls are even higher for those who do not use fast track 1150 by 2030 for drivers who pay by mail. now, a spokesperson for the toll authority told us that the board feels there weren't any other available options to raise the funds necessary to keep these bridges in good condition. live at the bay bridge toll plaza. lena howland abc seven news. >> lena. thank you. >> former 40 niners star dana stubblefield could be released from prison this week after his 2020 rape conviction was overturned. stubblefield's attorneys filed a motion to have him released from prison. a hearing could happen later this week. the court overturned his conviction last week, saying the prosecution violated the state's racial justice act, which makes it illegal to convict someone on the basis of race, ethnicity or national origin. the santa clara county da's office put out a

statement saying that it is studying the opinion. and this morning, the california department of fish and wildlife announced crabbing season can officially start january 5th. commercial dungeness crab fishing will be allowed from the sonoma mendocino county line to the u.s. mexico border. fishing zones north of the sonoma mendocino county line to the california oregon border will be delayed a bit longer. that won't happen until january 15th. the bay area rings in the new year with some spectacular fireworks shows. let's start near the ferry building. late last night, as you can see, some gorgeous fireworks, which you can actually view. sometimes that's a little hard to do with the cloud cover that we have here, but as you can see very clear last night for people to enjoy. and here's another look at that popular fireworks display along the embarcadero. this is from our tam cam. and in oakland, as always, some illegal fireworks seen near lake merritt. this video is shot from lakeshore avenue. coming up, more of the festivities last night in san francisco. why? it was the place to be on new year's eve. plus, ringing in the new year with new

laws, that could mean some big changes for your social media feed and for your kids homework. plus, a private island in the bay area heads to auction. originally for sale for tens of millions. you might

san francisco the place to be in new year's eve. abc seven news reporter j.r. stone was there with more from the crowd waiting for the big fireworks show. >> exercising is key for five

and a half year olds like alia. we're trying to stay awake long enough to see the fireworks in san francisco. the fireworks don't go off until midnight. do you think you'll still be awake? >> oh, of course i am. i like fireworks. they're beautiful. and i'm not scared because they're amazing. >> just don't ask any of these little ones why we're all so excited about staying up late on this one night. you hear about this whole new year's eve thing. it's like it's going to be a new year tomorrow. have you heard about it? no, i did not. but to many who packed fisherman's wharf tuesday, they are well aware of the new year and what comes with it. it took only one, two, yes, three interviews before we started talking politics. >> we hear the president, he said he's going to make america great again. you know what i'm saying? so i want to see if he's going to make america great again. you know what i'm saying? while that's going on making america great again, what about our bank accounts? you know what i'm saying? make that great

again to out of towners, though. >> they rang in the new year with some san francisco fun spinning around on these things, eating street dogs, taking pictures with new friends, holding hands and kissing before a boat ride under the golden gate. >> then i'm going on a san francisco love tour in a vw bus goes from the park. >> maybe you'll find love too. >> well, i am single. >> oh, there we go. possibilities are endless. i see you have a boyfriend here. is there anything specific with your love life going on that you're hopeful for? hint, hint. hopefully he's not listening one day. >> married. but that's always the goal. we're trying to finish our education. so if anyone's out there who needs to finish their education. >> and i heard him say definitely to that love, of course, of course. >> we're always looking forward to that. >> others just focused on their newfound family love in 2025. >> i'm just excited because my

daughter is barely one year old. just make more memories with her. making memories with my with my husband as well. he's my our first child. >> so congratulations. >> thank you j.r. >> stone abc seven news. >> now we're going to take a look at three new california laws you should know about. they go into effect today. what some are referring to as the locked door loophole that is now going to go away. so the hope is to cut down on car burglaries. prior to today, the state required proof of vehicle was locked in order to get a conviction. now that will no longer be the case. california is also looking to do more to protect kids from social media addiction. a new law makes it illegal for platforms to knowingly provide addictive algorithmic feeds to children without parental consent. also, social media companies cannot send notifications while kids are at school or between midnight and 6 a.m. this week, a federal judge blocked a legal challenge to that law. a group argued that it violated the first amendment. finally, the

healthy homework act takes effect today. well, it doesn't actually ban homework. it does urge schools to come up with policies that consider the health impact homework has on its students. it also encourages input from parents, teachers and students. the act was authored by a santa clara assembly member. recent surveys show homework is a top stressor for students. you could soon own a private island in solano county as it heads to auction point. buckler island was first listed for more than $70 million. it's at a discount now. if you have $40 million. the island's future has been tied up in court for about a decade over environmental regulations. now, following a court order, it's going to be up for auction january 22nd at the solano county courthouse. that's according to our partners at the mercury news. if interested, you have to register before january 7th. and if you have that money, call us, please. >> it's weird seeing something 40 million on zillow. i mean, is that what people are looking for, that and what's there? >> what are we going to do there? no, no. >> make our own little like,

private island community, you know, all right. for me and you, keep out. yeah. >> invite only. only it's a little cool outside. it is. but is it going to be sunny at all today? >> it is. it will be nice. yeah. today. tomorrow we have some good weather. by friday, though. we welcome back the rain to the forecast. here's a live look outside from our exploratorium camera this morning where you do notice really calm conditions on the accuweather headlines. it's quiet today. it's a mix of sun and clouds as we start a new year. friday is when rain is back in the forecast. we're talking light rain, a level one. it's low impact with a quick moving cold front. by the weekend we're back into the sunshine and drier conditions, especially into sunday, but this morning it is chilly out there. no frost advisories or freeze warnings in effect like the past couple of days. but still, you'll notice 39 and half moon bay is quite cold. 35 in palo alto, 37, in castro valley. good morning, santa rosa 40 degrees 39. that current temperature in concord. here's live doppler seven along with satellite. you will notice there is a weak

disturbance. well, to our north. we could see some light drizzle in parts of lake and mendocino county today, but for the most part, we are going to remain quiet with a mix of sun and clouds throughout the afternoon. so here's your day planner. we have that chilly morning here. 725 is your sunrise north bay drizzle possible right around noon as that system passes by well to the north. but for the majority of the region, you'll just notice a mix of sun and clouds throughout the day, upper 50s to the lower 60s for daytime highs. look at the forecast today. maybe 1 or 2 degrees warmer compared to yesterday. we'll go to 60 in san mateo, 57 in richmond, about 59. in palo alto, 56 in antioch, 56. the high in san rafael overnight tonight, we'll keep some of that cloud cover. overnight lows will mainly be in the 40s. now here's a look at future weather into friday. some light showers first in the north bay early on, but here's the front pretty close to 1:00 pm. it's not a lot of rain by any means. we're thinking a quarter to a half of an inch as we head towards the evening. some light scattered showers will still be in the forecast.

here's the accuweather seven day showing you quiet start to the new year today. a little warmer tomorrow. some light rain and showers on friday. we're back to the dry conditions i'm not waiting. if it's covid, paxlovid. paxlovid is an oral treatment for adults... with mild-to- moderate covid-19 and a high-risk factor for it becoming severe. it does not prevent covid-19. my symptoms are mild now, but i'm not risking it. if it's covid, paxlovid. paxlovid must be taken within the first 5 days of symptoms... and helps stop the virus from multiplying in your body. taking paxlovid with certain medicines can lead... to serious or life- threatening side effects or affect how it... or other medicines work, including hormonal birth control. tell your doctor about all medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements you take as certain tests or dosage changes of your other medicines may be needed. tell them if you have kidney or liver problems, hiv-1, are or plan to be pregnant or breastfeed. don't take paxlovid if allergic to its ingredients. stop taking and call your doctor right away if you have allergic reaction symptoms. serious side effects can include allergic reactions, some severe like anaphylaxis, and liver problems.

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>> happy new year charlie brown in the north bay. they couldn't wait until midnight for this

peanuts themed celebration at santa rosa's charles m schulz museum. jean schulz, the widow of peanuts creator charles m schulz, attended the party along with some of the very recognizable peanuts gang, including snoopy and woodstock. and check out this new year's celebration in brazil. millions of revelers watching from the sandy beaches of rio de janeiro and enjoying from nearby cruise ships and boats. that looks spectacular. do we have to go there next year or some year? next at 630? the latest information on the breaking news in new orleans, where police say a driver intentionally rammed a crowd killing ten people, hurting dozens more. plus happening today. the cost of your toll from your morning commute going up, how much you

>> you're watching abc seven mornings live now at 630, the latest on the deadly attack in new orleans, where a driver plowed into new year's eve celebrations, killing ten people, plus an oakland family asking for help after a beloved father was shot and killed while on his way to work. >> and the new law is going into effect today. how they'll impact you and your family. good morning to you. a lot happening on this january 1st, we're going to start with a check on the

forecast. hi, drew. yeah. >> hey. good morning. so it's quiet out there for the first day of the new year. we'll keep it nice and quiet today and tomorrow. and then showers are back here starting on friday. live. look at san jose this morning. current conditions. right now we're holding at about 42 degrees with clear skies here, a calm wind out there and really good visibility. now we don't have any frost advisories or freeze warnings in effect, but it is chilly out there. we're down to 38 in fairfield and in napa, 41 in oakland, 37 in palo alto. so you will feel that chilly air as you step outside on this first day of 2025. here's live doppler seven along with satellite. we do have a weak moving disturbance just to our north. for most of us, we are dry, but for parts of lake and mendocino county, even parts of northern sonoma county, we could see a spotty shower or drizzle. here's that chance around noon. there you can see parts of, say, northwest sonoma county, lake, mendocino county. you may find some drizzle, but for the most part, it's a mix of sun and clouds for us, and temperatures mainly in the upper 50s to the lower 60s. >> reggie drew, thank you.

>> now to that breaking news out of new orleans. police say at least ten people have died and dozens more are hurt after a vehicle rammed into a crowd on busy bourbon street. the mayor calling the incident a possible terrorist attack. abc's nicole d'antonio has that. >> the city of new orleans, describing the event as a mass casualty incident after a driver ran into a large crowd celebrating the new year's holiday. police tell abc news the strike appears to be intentional. dozens of people are now being treated at local hospitals after a vehicle drove into a large crowd on bourbon street. police say the driver had an assault rifle and fired at officers after crashing his vehicle. they then returned fire. this all happened just after 3:00 this morning. >> it is a very tragic situation for me to tell you. he was hell bent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did. >> the new orleans police department said it was 100% staffed for the new year's eve celebrations and for the sugar

bowl. the governor of louisiana calling this a horrific act of violence and saying he's praying for the victims and for the first responders also now asking people to stay away from the area as they continue to investigate. nicole d'antonio, abc news, washington. >> and of course, we'll keep up with the latest on that, that incident that's happening in new orleans. we'll tell you what is happening as soon as we get into our newsroom. and of course, at abc seven news.com. this morning, commuters are going to start seeing a difference on their fast track bill. and it's far from the final toll increase. abc seven news reporter lena howland is live at the bridge, with more details on future increases. hi, lena. >> hey, reggie. that's right. commuters here at the bay bridge toll plaza have seen the warning signs over the past few weeks that tolls are going to increase, and today that jump up to $8 per bridge crossing goes into effect. the bay area toll authority says money from this voter approved increase will go towards freeway improvements across the area and the purchase

of new bart cars, not to mention an extension of the bart system, the caltrain corridor, muni's transit vehicle fleet, and the san francisco bay ferry service, just to name a few. but keep in mind, this increase is separate from the toll hike just approved by the toll authority last month. take a look. on january 1st of next year, tolls will jump to 850 for most drivers, paying with fast track tolls go up $0.50 every year until 2030, topping out at 1050. the tolls are even higher for those who do not use fast track 1150 by 2030 for those drivers who pay by mail. a spokesperson for the toll authority told us the board feels there weren't any other available options to raise the funds necessary to keep the bridges in good condition. >> the cost for construction projects have outpaced inflation generally. so yes, just in the in the last five years, those

costs have have increased dramatically. >> you're trying to get more people into the city and prices are enough as it is. >> carpoolers will also see a change, but not until next january. a year from now, the minimum number of occupants in the carpool lane at bridges goes up to three, and today's jump up to $8 per toll is in effect at all bay area. all seven of the bay area state owned bridges live at the san francisco bay area toll plaza. i'm lena howland, reporting for abc seven news. >> lena. thank you. >> this morning in east bay, family is grieving the death of a beloved father. the 32 year old was gunned down as he was going to work on 14th street yesterday morning in oakland. abc seven news anchor dion limb spoke to the victim's mom. >> i feel sorry for the person who did it. i feel sorry for him because he has a praying mom. he has a mom that covers him in

prayer. >> it's that strength in prayer. holding loved ones of 32 year old willie bernstine together. after the father of two babies was gunned down walking into work just after 7:00 new years eve morning. >> he wasn't a statistic. he didn't come out here and stand on these corners. he went to work. >> according to his family, willie had worked at ortaklar, a commercial dishwashing supplier, at 14th and poplar, for two years. we counted at least 26 shell casings littering the pavement outside. relatives from richmond who gathered at the scene remembered his life. >> he was a light. everybody loved him. everybody loved him. goofy laugh a lot, trusted a lot, and wondered who could have committed such a heinous act. i have no idea. >> oakland police have released few details, but multiple sources tell me this appears to be a targeted attack and that the suspect vehicle fled the scene. willie's mother pointed to security cameras in the area, determined they'll help lead to

her son's killer. >> i must say this, and i'm going to say it on national television. vengeance is mine, saith the lord. vengeance is mine, saith the lord. >> at a time when most are celebrating the beginning of a new year, willie's family grieves and sends this message to the east bay and beyond. >> i thank god i had him for 32 years. so you took my son. but you can't take his spirit. so i want the world to know this. hug your babies. cover them in prayer. talk to your sons. tell them the damage that they're doing to their own race. stop! stop! >> police. ask anyone with information that could lead to an arrest to please come forward. in oakland. dion lim, abc seven news. >> california's cannabis task force announced a major bust in oakland and hayward, seizing more than $19 million worth of illegally grown cannabis, including 11,000 plants, 1,200

pounds of processed cannabis flower and more than 6000 vape cartridges. there are some new laws starting in california today. some of the big ones include increased penalties for retail crime, stricter artificial intelligence regulation and legalize cannabis cafes. abc seven news reporter monica madden has a look at just a few of these new rules. >> unexpected medical bills can be a burden some are not able to pay off, and we just made it illegal for medical debt to be included on your credit report. but now a new law aims to help californians struggling to pay their medical bills by preventing that debt from tanking credit scores. >> medical debt is often driven by factors completely outside of our control. this bill does not forgive debt. rather, it removes it just from credit reporting. >> another consumer protection law prohibits certain banks and credit unions from charging fees when a transaction is declined due to insufficient funds. it also sets limits on charges for overdraft fees and as some red

states push to ban books that are considered sexually explicit, california is banning book bans, and we must protect the fundamental right of access to diverse and inclusive information at our public libraries. public libraries that receive state funding will not be able to remove books from the shelves if it has content related, to, quote, race, nationality, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, socioeconomic status, or political affiliation of a book, subject, author, or intended audience. >> despite years of hospitals adopting plans to prevent workplace violence, reported incidents have not decreased. >> another new law will increase penalties for anyone who physically assaults emergency room employees. recently, polling shows more than 90% of e.r. doctors say they've been attacked within the last year. >> a week ago, our charge nurse was punched in the face by a patient. the police dropped off in our ed because he was too violent for jail. this happens frequently. >> now, if prosecuted, attackers will spend a year in jail rather

than six months. monica madden, abc seven news. >> and starting today, this is a big one. it will be illegal to park within 20ft of a crosswalk anywhere in california. the toll on seven state owned toll bridges in the bay area will go up $1 to $8. bart fares are also going up 5.5%. we've compiled an extensive list of the new laws on our website, so check them out at abc7 news.com. this one i had to read twice to make sure that i wasn't seeing things. a traffic stop involving this monkey has resulted in charges for a man in the central valley. a chp officer stopped the driver of a rolls royce for speeding. he's accused of dui, possessing marijuana for sale, and having a one month old monkey. p.s. primates are illegal to own as pets in california. what? in the 90% of the island of puerto rico was without power overnight? the critical failure that put so

many people in the dark, and a nine year old from arizona swimming to san francisco from alcatraz. that story is next. but first, here's drew. all right. >> time now. 641 this morning, and we are seeing a quiet start to the new year. live look from our rooftop camera showing you mainly clear skies. official reporting is partly cloudy in the city right now. we're at 44 degrees. just the slightest breeze. currently out of the southwest at about five miles per hour. so looking at the morning planner, we will find just a mix of sun and clouds throughout the morning. temperatures are chilly right now in the 30s and in the 40s. we'll kind of hang here until 9 a.m, and then after that, we'll start to climb through the 50s as we approach that lunchtime hour. so highs today, it's a mix of sun and clouds for most of us. and again, parts of lake and mendocino county, extreme northern portions of sonoma county. we're talking north of santa rosa, probably lakeport and ukiah could see a quick moving shower as a disturbance passes by to our north. for most of us, it's just a cloudy, dry

day with temperatures in the upper 50s to the lower 60s. so looking at the next three days, it's quiet today. sun and clouds tomorrow. and then light rain is back here in the forecast on friday. it is a level one on the abc seven storm impact scale. so looking at friday we'll find some showers and isolated downpour. the best chance of that rain around noon. and rainfall less than a half of an inch. we'll go hour by hour. and future weather.

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>> power is finally returning for people across puerto rico after a massive blackout. that blackout impacted nearly the entire island. puerto rico's incoming governor says fixing the island's energy grid will be her top priority. here's abc's andrew dymburt. >> this morning, the power is slowly coming back on for people in puerto rico. after an island wide blackout affecting more than a million customers. >> i'm really frustrated by this because it's not the first time it happens. >> it started at 530 yesterday morning, and it left 90% of the island's homes and businesses without power. luma energy, the private company that handles transmission and distribution of electricity, saying the cause of the blackout is still under investigation. but the company reported an issue with an underground line. residents left scrambling for gas to fill generators running in san juan

shops closed traffic lights down the airport dark. puerto rico's power grid, notoriously fragile since hurricane maria hit in 2017, knocking out the power for months. our victor oquendo was there. >> everywhere you look downed power lines like these, which stretch right across the expressway. >> power outages have become common, but a blackout like this is rare. >> there's lines and lines of folks just trying to fill up their generators, trying to fuel up their vehicles. >> luma working to restore power quickly and safely. getting the medical center and san juan's hospital back online within hours. but saying full power restoration could take at least two days. >> we have to do better about the infrastructure here. this is unacceptable. >> the white house issuing a statement saying president biden has been briefed on the outages and called puerto rico's governor to offer any federal assistance the island may need to speed up power restoration. andrew dymburt, abc news, new york. >> now it's your morning money report. the oakland international airport has lost its last nonstop flight to

europe. the airport removed azores airlines to terceira from its airline destination list. the move, according to the bulkhead seat, likely means the airline will be leaving oakland altogether, taking with it the airport's last nonstop flight to europe. a nine year old arizona boy recently completed the grueling two mile swim from alcatraz to san francisco, and if completing that trek weren't enough, he did it. after three heart surgeries for a congenital heart defect. his family and supporters are now sharing their inspiring story. here's reporter cameron pullum. >> even as a child, it seemed as though derek smith was born to swim. >> you know, i always wanted him to be a typical kid, you know, be able to do what other kids are able to do. >> it's a statement. his mom, gail, chuckles over these days, and for good reason. >> i am in disbelief every day like that. he's come as far as he has.

>> you see, derek was born with a congenital heart defect that required multiple heart and airway surgeries before the age of four. and despite the obstacles it created in his life, keeping him from dreaming big wasn't one of them. >> i just like the challenge i like i really like to like, go on adventures and stuff, and i like to try new things. >> over the years, he's found his footing in the pool, swimming for the ability 360 narwhals, a team made up of kids with developmental and physical disabilities. >> society makes it really easy for us to think that we can't do a lot of things because of this box that we've been put in due to our disability. >> an athlete with disabilities himself, narwhals coach joe underwood, now dedicates his life to helping others break down barriers this year, challenging six of his best swimmers, including derek, to take on the two mile open water swim from alcatraz to san francisco. >> giving these ■kids the opportunity to do something like that, that most non-disabled

people wouldn't even do. it really boosts their confidence. >> there's always that little thought in the back of your head, like, is there going to be a shark just nibbling at my feet the entire time? >> a thought that didn't stop any of them from taking the plunge. the choppy ocean and fog offered up its best challenge that day, but nothing was going to stop them. >> i told myself that i just just keep swimming, and even though it's super cold, you, your friends, your family are waiting for you on the other side. >> when derek and his team emerged from the water, they weren't just swimmers. they were proof that with determination and belief, anything is possible. i'm cameron pullum, and that's uplifting. arizona. >> i give him all the credit in the world because i never could and never would. >> i swim like two laps. and i'm like, that was fun. i'm tired. i'm tired. two miles. it's cold. two miles in the fog. you're like, am i there yet? oh my gosh, am i there yet? where am

i? >> applause to you, young man. that was amazing. you're not going to catch me in this water for any reason. but what is it going to be like out there today? >> it will be nice if you're headed to the coast. it's going to be a lovely afternoon. ocean temperatures. right now it is cold. it's in the mid 50s right now. if you were to dip your toes in there, here's a live look at our santa cruz camera this morning where we do have a calm ocean. no sort of high surf advisory in effect. it's just a nice start to the new year. it's quiet today. a mix of sun and clouds out there. friday is our next best chance of widespread rain. it's a level one low impact, but it will bring some wet weather, especially right around noon on friday. this front doesn't linger all that long, so by the weekend, sunnier and drier conditions will be found. this morning we are chilly again. 30s and 40s on the board this afternoon will go into the 50s and 60s. it will feel nice under mix of sun and clouds. here's live doppler seven along with satellite. you can see a front well to our north. areas like lake and mendocino county may see a quick moving hit of some drizzle around noon, but for the most part we are just quiet with a

mix of sun and clouds today. so looking at the forecast 7.25 your sunrise today with that chilly start, there's that chance of some north bay drizzle. we're talking extreme northern portions of sonoma county, lake and mendocino county. sun and clouds for 4:00 pm, and temperatures in the upper 50s to the lower 60s. so 59 for a high in oakland today, 63 in san jose will go to 60 in san mateo, 58 in the city, 55 in napa, and then lakeport and ukiah. there's that chance of a quick moving shower around noon with temperatures in the lower 50s overnight. tonight, we'll hang on to some of that cloud cover that'll kind of act like a blanket. so not as chilly as we are. the past couple of mornings will mainly be in the 40s heading into thursday. now thursday is dry, friday rain is back here, and for most of us, it's the middle part of the day. we'll find some showers. here's 130 as the showers move through, and then they'll taper to some scattered showers to finish out the day. on friday evening, rainfall totals will be less than half of an inch. here's the accuweather seven day forecast. it's a quiet start to the year. a little milder tomorrow. light rain and showers here on friday,

but drier weather returns over the weekend. sunday the brighter of the two days with sunshine continuing early next week. >> and here's something to look forward to this morning. more than 800,000 people from across the u.s. are expected to attend the 2025 rose parade. it's a tradition that started 136 years ago. this year's tournament of roses theme is best day ever. and as amanda palacios reports, people have been staking their claim along the parade route in pasadena since yesterday afternoon. >> it's the hottest place in town on new year's eve. colorado boulevard in pasadena. >> we are from albuquerque, new mexico. >> elijah says his family has been planning this trip to see the iconic rose parade. for a very long time. >> i've watched it on tv before, but it's kind of like surreal to see it in person. >> they're one of thousands of families from across the country and all over the world who are camping out overnight to secure a good seat for the big show. >> if i stay up all night, i might be dozing off in the middle of the parade. >> if you're wondering if it's

rough for these kids trying to get sleep out here through all of this excitement depends how cold it is and depends if you have the right stuff. oh, they've got the right stuff to be comfortable when the overnight low hits 50 degrees. >> 66 years is how long i've gone since i was a little girl, lived in torrance. >> sharla says her family claims the same spot on the sidewalk every single year. >> it's like, this is our spot. we make a community and we make a neighborhood, and they've made lifelong friends in this makeshift parade route neighborhood with other families who do the same. >> there's a lot of memories here, and the city of pasadena wants those memories to be wholesome ones. >> so there will be about a thousand uniformed and undercover officers and other first responders mixed in with the crowd out here all night long. >> all night. we'll have patrols out. just making sure that people stay safe on while they're camping out and that

they're not doing illegal stuff. >> we want to make sure that we're out here taking care of business, of making sure that we don't have any chicanery out here where people running amok and causing a problem. we want people to come out here and enjoy themselves. >> some stores boarded up their windows out of an abundance of caution. the five and a half mile parade route starts on orange grove, where 39 larger than life floats decorated with millions of flowers and dozens of marching bands and equestrian units, turn right on colorado to the delight of everyone in the streets. >> that man used the word chicanery in that piece, and i deem that the word of 2025. now, you can watch the rose parade this morning right here on abc seven. it kicks off at 8 a.m. coming up next, the seven things you need to know today. and look at this beautiful sunrise. do not miss it. you can watch all of our newscasts live and on demand through the abc seven bay area connected tv app. it's available for apple tv, google tv, amazon fire tv and roku. download the app now and you can

start streaming. i know some of you are just walking in the door right now and

it is 657 on this january 1st. if you just joining us, here are the seven things to know this morning. number one, a man rammed a vehicle at high speed into new year's eve celebrations in new orleans after driving around barriers. at least ten people died and three dozen more are injured in what police are calling an intentional act. the unnamed suspect was killed in a firefight with police. number two officials at the rose parade just put out a statement saying security will be at the highest level in light of the attack in new orleans, the statement shared said there is no current threat to the parade or the game in pasadena this morning. number three starting today, bridge tolls are increasing. the bay bridge toll is getting bumped up to eight bucks. there are plans for even more increases in the future, up to 1150 for non fast track drivers. number four first responders jumped into action overnight to rescue a woman who crashed her car into a creek in

pacheco. no details yet on what led to that crash. >> at number five. we are starting out with this beautiful sunrise. what a start to the new year. a live look from our rooftop camera here at kgo along the embarcadero. as that sun gets up here. it's doing so under kind of a mix of sun and clouds later on this morning. temperatures. right now we're in the 30s and in the 40s. as you look at your morning planner, we do find those temperatures staying quite chilly through about 9 a.m. and then as we approach lunchtime, we'll find some warmer air moving in here. so later on today, you will find a mix of sun and clouds, a blend of that cloud cover up above daytime highs, very comfortable. go to 58 in the city, about 59 in oakland, 63 in san jose, 55 in napa. light showers return to the forecast on friday. it's a level one on the storm impact scale. >> number six dungeness crab season. finally, starting january 5th, most of the state will be open to commercial crabbing. some northern zones will have to wait until the 15th. at number seven, of course, it's new year's day, and

you can see here some of the celebrations in san francisco. it was clear. so you could actually see the fireworks. >> yeah. >> and for whatever reason, my neighborhood was not exploding with fireworks last night. and to that i say thank you. and so does my dog. >> same. it was it was wild. i was preparing for it usually starts around sunset yesterday. didn't hear a peep. and then as i got home last night i heard 1 or 2. yeah, but nowhere near the amount i saw previous years. >> it was just enough to let you know that you're alive, but not enough to make you want to run and scare your dogs. yeah. beautiful sunrise. i hope your january 1st in 2025 gets off to a great this is an this is an >> announcer: this is an "abc news" special report. we are coming on the air with breaking news in new orleans new orleans. an act of terror after a man killed a pickup truck through