we're going to tell you what to watch out for tonight and beyond. good afternoon. the news at 4 starts right now. thanks for joining us for this olympics edition of nbc bay area news. i'm jessica aguirre. >> and i'm raj mathai. we'll go live to beijing in just a few minutes. but we start here at home. the numbers suggest that we have made it through the worst part of the pandemic. governor newsom now using the term "endemic" rather than "pandemic." one of the key points of an endemic is how we deal with covid moving forward. nbc bay area's damian trujillo takes us inside an innovative new lab on the peninsula that might be playing a critical role. >> reporter: well, when omicron hit, many felt that the nation was caught off guard, and how can that happen after dealing for two years with the coronavirus? well, here at summer bio, they think they've solved that problem. >> anything where you're trying to detect the genetic signal, like rna or dna, this can be

easily adapted to do. >> reporter: the machines are always running at summer bio. the lab describes itself as the largest and most affordable pcr testing center in the country. they get covid test results within 24 hours with or without a surge. >> 10 to 15 people per shift, and we're able to run 120,000 samples a day through this lab. >> reporter: right now they're running samples from the l.a. unified school district. their secret weapon, automation. they say because so much is automated here, they can increase testing capacity within hours of a surge and can just as easily slow down the process with a drop in cases. no need to hire or lay off workers as the virus rises and falls. >> we have a very lean but high-quality staff that's able to do a huge amount of testing volume and do it very quickly. i think for testing to be relevant, it's got to get turned around quickly. >> reporter: so when the governor and the state's health exotic outlined california's endemic plan on thursday, the lab was listening closely.

>> there is no end date. that there is not a moment where we declare victory. >> if we see a signal here of increased transmission in this region, we've got to flood the zone with tests. >> reporter: which is one of the reasons summer bio is moving to this peninsula warehouse this spring. here it will be able to double its current production, using machines they designed and built. its founder says there's no reason the nation should be caught off guard when the next surge arrives. >> it doesn't have to be that way. we can be ready. we can be responsive as a nation, and we can respond to the needs of whatever this pandemic or the next pandemic throws at us. >> reporter: the lab says it's ready whenever the state calls for help, hoping to lead the fight against the coronavirus. damian trujillo, nbc bay area news. some tense moments today along highway 29 in napa. a shooting and then a carjacking within minutes of each other. it happened before 7:00 in the morning. sheriff deputies say the gunman fired at another car, hitting the person in the head. no word yet on that person's

condition. then about ten minutes later, a carjacking in downtown napa. 42-year-old tong nguyen was taken into custody. the sheriff's office says he's been booked on carjacking and attempted murder. tonight the oakland school board will re-examine its school closure plan. it also marks the end of a hunger strike. despite major protests, the district recently approved a plan to close two schools at the end of this school year and close or merge several more schools next year. the district says, though, it will now rethink that plan. this is all unfolding as twoors. >> we are ending our hunger strike tonight at the end of that meeting. is that true? >> i don't want to say yes. yes. >> we have realized that we are more important to our communities. if we can stay and continue to be a voice for the voiceless,

we're committed to that. >> the district put out a statement about tonight's meeting, saying in part, many in the community have asked the board to consider moving the school consolidations scheduled for the end of this year to the end of next year. the president wants to give the board the opportunity to consider this. let's give you a live look at the olympic flame in beijing. just after 8:00 saturday morning there, and we're in the final days of these winter games. now, for us here in california, the closing ceremony is two days away. but in beijing, olympians are still vying for those final medals. nbc's liz mclaughlin is live at the olympic park with more. what's on deck? what's still left? >> reporter: jess, processing for some team usa members. the end of the road here for curling. john shuster came into these games, his fifth olympics, as the u.s. flag bearer, leading in the men's curling defending

champions and the rest of team usa in the opening ceremony. but now this final game a fight for the bronze. shuster and his teammates will be going home empty-handed. >> matt hamilton with a beauty. >> reporter: the u.s. men's curling team slid just short of the podium, getting knocked out by canada in the bronze medal game. but team shuster is not ready to retire yet. >> we're still having fun, so i don't think we're going anywhere. >> reporter: the u.s. has a shot at a podium sweep in the men's free ski halfpipe. all four americans qualifying for today's final, including david wise, going for a three-peat gold. >> eileen has such good amp apply tud. >> reporter: in the women's event, eileen gu grabbed another gold. the california native skiing for her mother's home country of china, still stunned by her success in beijing. >> eileen gu, three-time olympic medalist. that just is insane for me to think about. >> reporter: making history as the first freestyle skier to bag three medals at a single games.

>> and capturing the olympic title in the halfpipe. >> reporter: team usa is ready to slide to victory in the two-woman bobsled after strong starting heats with two american pilots on two separate teams contending for a medal. kaillie humphries and elana meyers taylor. just five days after they scored a one-two win in monobob. ♪♪ two women that have shared the podium in every olympics since 2010, hoping to add more medals to their already heavy haul. and there's quite a bookend of olympic journey for elana meyers taylor. if you remember, she started this games with a bit of a rough start, a positive covid test left her with a week-long stint in an isolation hotel. she had to miss that opening ceremony where she was elected to be the u.s. flag bearer. but she'll finally get that chance this weekend. her teammates, team usa, electing her again to carry the stars and stripes, this time in the closing ceremony.

i've had so much fun, jess, bringing you all the news from the olympics and all the fun gear from the games. i've got the olympics of packing coming up, so i got a trivia question for you. how many jackets do you think i brought here to beijing? >> oh, i'm going to say you brought 12. >> reporter: it's as many as team usa has medals right now, 21. probably too many. >> oh, my gosh. >> you really are the fashion plate over there. thank you so much, liz. >> 21? >> thank you so much. here's what's coming up tonight at the winter games. the two-woman bobsled featuring elana meyers taylor. also pairs figure skating and freestyle skiing. the action begins at 5:00 right here on nbc bay area. back here in the bay area now, delayed again. it will now take longer and cost more money before b.a.r.t. riders in san jose can hop onboard. it's a message that we've heard before, but this time it's coming from the federal government. here's nbc bay area's scott budman.

>> reporter: i'm here at deer adon train station. one of the planned stops for b.a.r.t. when it gets to san jose. but a new report says it could take until 2034 to get here. the federal transit administration says the plan to bring b.a.r.t. to san jose could now be $4 billion over vta's original budget and take four than currently planned. describing vta's plans to bring b.a.r.t. here as, quote, optimistic. but vta says it's still making progress and is good with fta's goals. >> over the next two years, in advancing your design and as you do that, demonstrate to us and present a more cost-certain and schedule-certain project. >> reporter: this is not the first time we've heard about b.a.r.t. delays. >> there's no question that this project is going to cost more, and it's going to take longer. >> reporter: san jose mayor sam liccardo points out the fta is

still helping to fund the extension but warns that discussions about changing the way the tunnels are built will only make things take longer. >> so adding three years and hundreds of millions of dollars of cost to this project because someone wants to switch horses midstream is not an optimal strategy to getting to the finish line. >> reporter: for now, vta says commuters should know b.a.r.t. is still on its way. >> i want commuters in the south bay and taxpayers in santa clara county to know that vta is working diligently to deliver this project and bring it in with, you know, the cost and the schedule that we can do that's best for the public. >> reporter: in san jose, scott budman, nbc bay area news. it is a vibrant weekend in san francisco. the symphony celebrating and honoring a bay area legend. this also comes as we celebrate black history month.

♪♪ sounds beautiful. three conductors will make their san francisco symphony debut. this is all part of a program honoring the late music director of oakland's symphony, michael morgan. there he is. morgan actually planned this program that will be played tonight, saturday, and sunday. morgan was supposed to conduct these three concerts but died last august. he was passionate, an advocate for artists of color. the three conductors filling in for morgan are all people of color, and tickets are still available. up next, is climate change changing a staple of san francisco? new research showing what it means for the future of sourdough bread. fake online reviews happen. we know because we talk to people who left them. i'm consumer investigator chris chmura. we'll show you how easy it was for them to leave a five-star fake, next. i'm chief meteorologist jeff

ranieri. awesome afternoon for us. look at that blue sky in san jose. i'll talk more about some heating up temperatures this weekend and even the possibility of thunderstorms ahead. i've got that for you in about nine minutes. okay, it's go time. team usa on the largest gig-speed network. which means this mega fan never misses a second. it's gig-speed wifi that's “mikaela shiffrin” fast. ok, that's fast! speed's cool, but does yours block threats? yup, even for these upstairs all-nighters rocking wifi speeds faster than a gig. can your internet do that? learn more about gig-speed wifi, or get started with xfinity internet for $19.99 a month for 12 months. click, call, or visit a store today.

♪♪ thousands of women with metastatic breast cancer are living in the moment and taking ibrance. ibrance with an aromatase inhibitor is for postmenopausal women or for men with hr+, her2- metastatic breast cancer as the first hormonal based therapy. ibrance plus letrozole significantly delayed disease progression versus letrozole. ibrance may cause low white blood cell counts that may lead to serious infections. ibrance may cause severe inflammation of the lungs. both of these can lead to death. tell your doctor if you have new or worsening chest pain, cough, or trouble breathing.

before taking ibrance, tell your doctor if you have fever, chills, or other signs of infection, liver or kidney problems, are or plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. for more information about side effects talk to your doctor. ♪♪ be in your moment. ask your doctor about ibrance. well, this can be tricky. many of us rely on those online reviews to decide where we're going to spend our money. but fake reviews are running rampant. >> our consumer team spent the past few weeks watching how it's done behind the scenes. consumer investigator chris

chmura actually spoke with one of those fakers. >> reporter: it didn't take long for our team to find people online buying and selling fake reviews. a reviewer we're calling p.g. agreed to talk with us about it. what's especially frustrating about p.g.'s bogus reviews is that his account carries a badge that suggests he's trustworthy, and yet he's admitted he's been paid to post reviews for businesses he has never visited. >> how easy is it to just copy and paste a review and then you get $30, you know? >> reporter: how does this happen, and what's being done to stop it so we can actually trust reviews? tonight we're on the hunt for accountability, and we're not alone. you'll meet a fake review crusader in san jose who is taking on some big companies from her small spare bedroom. she has an eagle eye for fake reviews. after our story, you will too. if a consumer issue sounds fishy to you, head to nbcbayarea.com, tap the responds option in the main issue or call us,

888-996-tips. i'll see you again tonight right after the olympics. san francisco known for its world famous sourdough bread. you know that. but did you know that it's a product of tradition, weather, and science. but as the region braces for climate change, scientists are wondering if changing weather could impact the city's unique bread. a new study says it actually might. >> reporter: venture down to san francisco's fisherman's wharf. you'll find local specialties, dungeness crab, clam chowder, and the famed staple, sourdough bread. >> it originated in san francisco during the gold rush and has been part of the fabric of san francisco since its beginning. >> reporter: since 1849, san francisco's boudin bakery has been turning out the delicacy. >> i would say about 100,000 pounds a week. >> reporter: this is the mother dough that dates back to 1849 ht

he bakery in the '40s. he's the third generation to run it. >> it's extremely, extremely sour. it clears your sinuses. >> reporter: girardeau will tell you flour, water, and tradition make this dough unique, but there's another key ingredient -- climate. >> san francisco has a unique microclimate. we're right on the bay, right on water. >> reporter: there's even a bacteria named for san francisco's sourdough. it was first identified in a sourdough starter found in the city. >> scientists have called lacto bacillus san francisco. so it's a distinct bacteria that's in the air in san francisco, which creates to the history and mystery of san francisco's sourdough. >> reporter: but there is no mystery the bay area climate is changing. scientists have measured less fog, warmer temperatures, all silent ingredients in the city's famous bread. >> if the scientists are saying the fog is going away, we're not going to have the marine layer, yes, then we could have some issues. >> reporter: that's the question

a group of researchers set out to answer in a new study. >> we sent out a general survey to something like 1,000 people across the world, answered questions about their sourdough starters. >> reporter: assistant professor erin mckinney of north carolina state university says the group looked at samples of sourdough starter from around the world, including the bacteria first detected in san francisco's bread. >> you know, we tend to see lactobacillus san francisco associated with lower maximum temperatures, areas that remain cooler throughout the year. >> reporter: but if the city by the bay continues to warm, mckinney says a different bacteria could take over, and that could actually change the flavor of the bread. >> there will be more active at warmer temperatures, so you'll get a tangier loaf. >> reporter: any breadmaker will tell you even slight changes in humidity can affect the flavor of bread, which is why boudin's has strict climate control. >> we control this temperature

for 20 hours of the process. >> reporter: but does climate change girardeau might soon have tangier sourdough on his hands? he's not so sure. >> as long as the bay is here, the sea breeze, the fog, you'll have the similar humidity that we've had for the last 180 years. >> reporter: and that's the age-old recipe for a san francisco tradition. joe rosato jr. >> we make the bread the same way we made it in 1849. >> reporter: nbc bay area news. >> what a great story that is. are you ready to celebrate with color, music, and dancing? the lunar new year parade is back. the parade will hit the streets around union square in san francisco tomorrow evening. this is a city tradition, but it took a one-year hiatus due to covid concerns. this year's message, "we are one." cable cars are decked out and barricades put in place. there's a heavy police presence, especially with the rise in attacks against the asian community. >> i think security is always a concern, so, you know, besides

the police officers will be in the routes in the beginning and the end and also en route as well, we're also going to have volunteers that will be patrolling as well. >> parade coordinators say those volunteer security members won't be armed but will be martial artists and self-defense experts. should be a fantastic weekend. let's bring in jeff and talk about that. what's the weather going to be like in the city for snus. >> it's going to be perfect. temperatures in the 60s. we're going to get in on some sunshine. it's going to be very similar to today. just a few degrees warmer. you can see right now san francisco looking good. tonight we will have a few clouds. make sure to have your jacket if you're headed out. tomorrow morning looking great. ahead, i am looking at a thunderstorm chance. if you're out around the bay over the next couple of hours, i wanted to make sure you're good to go. it is friday. things are trying to get back to normal. you might be trying to get together with friends or family. i've got 63 in san francisco and chillier 50s rolling in at 6:00,

7:00, and 8:00. near the bay, hayward, fremont and up to oakland, 64 right now. those 50s on the way tonight with a dry forecast. and across the inland valleys, it was a beautiful day. a little bit cooler than we've been used to lately. 66 right now, and you're down to 56 at 7:00 p.m. as we roll into tomorrow, i wanted to show you we're going to start it off with mostly sunny skies across the bay. whatever you got planned, maybe up early for a jog, a hike, take the dog for a walk. you're going to need those shades and of course your jacket through the afternoon. we get a little bit of fog right there near san francisco, but otherwise sunny skies moving on in. tomorrow morning, 45 in the south bay. peninsula mid-40s. tri-valley 42. we'll continue with those 40s over the east bay, san francisco, and the north bay. get this. we're going to start off this cold but by the afternoon, we're going to see a 25 to 35-degree jump in the temperature. so instead of 60s like we had

today -- i know you're going to love this. 72 in san jose. 74 in gilroy. let's move it over to the east bay. costa rica, alameda counties, 71 in walnut creek. 72 in pleasanton. peninsula, 68 in san mateo, san francisco, not quite 70s but for the lunar new year parade, we're going to be in those mid to upper 60s through tomorrow. for the north bay, 71 in napa. 73 in santa rosa. only thing you may want to watch out, though, is for your allergies. tree pollen will be in the high category. seven-day forecast, i have made a few adjustments. we've been telling you about the chance of maybe some showers next week. it's a slight chance. we could also see some thunderstorms with an instability parameter i'm watching right now on tuesday and wednesday. also dramatically colder temperatures. watch this. inland valleys from 72 tomorrow, down to 50s next tuesday, wednesday, and also thursday. so saturday, raj and jessica,

the olympic sport of sitting in a chair with a cold beverage is totally approved by this meteorologist. >> i have many medals in that. >> we are gold medalists in that. >> thank you, jeff. >> happy friday to you. a major hurdle now cleared. so what's next for the a's in their path to build that brand-new waterfront ballpark? we're going to tell you next.

all right.

here's the medal count. the u.s. now in fifth place with 21 medals overall. eight gold, eight silver, five bronze. norway continues to hold that commanding lead. all this tack about the olympics, what's happening with baseball? it's not pretty. the players and the owners cannot agree to a new labor deal, and it appears as of right now spring training and the regular season will be delayed. there's some good news for the a's. late last night the oakland city council made a major move to allow the a's to build that new waterfront ballpark. nbc bay area's melissa colorado tells us what the next steps are and who's still pushing back. >> reporter: if baseball is a game of managing pressure, you can say the same goes for constructing a new $18 billion waterfront ballpark. >> we are tight on time, and that's one reason we're pushing as hard as we can. >> reporter: an an eight-hour long virtual meeting last night, the oakland city council voted 6-2 to approve an environmental impact study, which was financed by the a's. >> it takes us from, you know,

2% to 52% there. >> reporter: but both mayor libby schaaf and a's president dave kaval insist there are still several key hurdles to jump through before construction can begin. >> we have to get our final economic deal through the city council and a final court vote. >> last night sets the foundation. it is the point of no return. this project is happening. >> reporter: council member carol fief represents west oakland. she was one of two council members who voted no last night. she says her constituents are worried the new ballpark will drive up housing prices and force native oaklanders out. >> there are people's voices who are being left out of this process, and i don't think that the way that you negotiate is by only talking to the people that will agree with you. >> reporter: the howard terinal ballpark project will include housing. the city is calling for 35% of those units to be affordable while the city and the a's

hammer out who will pay for how much of the infrastructure costs. the a's say las vegas is still in play. >> we have options down there. we're down to a handful of different sites that we're looking at. >> i feel deeply frustrated that with all of the bending that the city is doing, we still can't get a clear answer. that doesn't, to me, signal that you are rooted in oeblgd. >> reporter: in oakland, melissa colorado, nbc bay area news. >> it's getting close. i remember 25 years ago we were doing this with the giants at china basin and finally that deal got through. so it looks that way for the a's. coming up, our olympics coverage. we're going to send it over to ross and malou for the olympic zone. happy friday to you guys. >> hey. ♪ ♪ off camera: and cut! ♪ ♪ this is amazing.

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♪♪ tonight on the "olympic zone." the can't-quit attitude that led to these olympic firsts. >> i was proud to be able to show everyone what i was worth. >> what helped these two athletes get the gold. plus your questions about curling answered. from the gear to get you going to what's inside the ice. >> how is it different than the ice that i figure skate on? and he's the hit of the olympics. this plush panda popping up on podiums and in the arms of athletes. >> oh, my god. i bought like eight stuffed animals of him so far. >> but he's also hard to get. >> this line started six hours