>> live pictures here of pounding waves on the east coast. it is the first physical signs of the approach of a monster storm that is threatening

millions of people. good afternoon. i'm torre campbell. right now tropical storm force winds are arriving in the carolinas as hurricane irene approaches. the national weather service has downgraded irene to a category two with top winds of 100 miles per hour. severe weather is preponderated to hit the u.s. mainland tomorrow. evacuations are in effect from north carolina to new york city where mayor michael bloomberg has just ordered mandatory evacuations for low-lying coastal areas and the city's massive transit system will shut down tomorrow. people on martha's vineyard are among those getting out of the path, including president obama. he announced this morning that he is cutting his vacation to martha's vineyard short by one day. he'll be returning to washington, d.c. today and advised anyone near the coast to take precautions. >> i cannot stress this highly enough. if you are in the prosecute corrected path of this

hurricane, you have to take precautions now. don't wait. don't delay. we all hope for the best, but we have to be prepared for the worst. >> the president said emergency teams and supplies are already in place along the eastern seaboard to help any of the 65 million people threatened by the storm. the president's aides say he is leaving the island to deal with the storm from d.c., and that his family is staying until tomorrow as originally planned. because of this huge storm, many flights are impacted across the country, including here in the bay area. as part of our hurricane watch coverage, we're live from the oakland airport. so are we seeing any cancellations yet? >> well, not today. things are still moving okay now, but jetblue has just announced it will cancel more than 800 flights this weekend and american airlines is also making cancellations. the bottom line is if you have to fly, do it today because

tomorrow, everything changes. this morning auditory and sarge got one of the first flights back to the east coast, three days ahead of schedule. >> we were supposed to fly out sunday. that would have been a disaster probably. >> consider this, the calm before irene. that small window before travel chaos begins. >> the flight is on schedule, so i'm on time and everything is good. >> reporter: the people we talked to today who are from the east coast just wanted to go hem and stay home. >> trust in god to take us there safely. >> staying in. >> reporter: in atlantic city? >> just going to stay home. >> reporter: the native says even irene won't keep her from heading back to nyu. >> it will be interesting. i have never been in a hurricane before, so we'll see. >> reporter: irene might, however, keep this student from moving into her apartment. >> my apartment is on the high- risk evacuation, so that's why we're getting a hotel for the weekend. >> reporter: what is still unclear is if her boyfriend will have a smooth ride back to the bay area. >> i'm helping her get her

apartment set up and stuff and then i'm coming back home. >> reporter: the airport officials say it may take longer than he thinks. >> even if the storm passes, it will take a while to get back up, the ground handlers, crews, everyone who makes this operation work. >> reporter: for now things are working, but they say it is definitely time for them to go home. >> part of me feels like we should just stay here, but all of our kid rings frabbing out, so we feel like we should be there. they're all worried. >> reporter: so the cancellations start tomorrow and go through the 29th. there are more than 1,000 cancellations because of irene so far and that number is expected to grow. live at oakland international airport, ktvu, international news. >> thank you. stay with us for continuing coverage on hurricane irene. coming up in about 15 minutes, we'll have the updated forecast models on irene, including where it may go and how strong it may get. you can also get more information on our web site.

ktvu.com. an amtrak train traveling from the bay area to chicago hit a farm vehicle this morning in nebraska sending several people to the hospital. the collision derailed the california deafer around 8:50 this morning central time, not far from the nebraska state lines with colorado and kansas. authorities say none of the injuries appear to be life- threatening. 178 people were on board. the train left the bay area wednesday. the passengers have been taken to a nearby high school to be cared for before amtrak makes other arrangements for their trip east. the police in richmond are investigating a homicide early this morning. the deadly shooting happened at a home on the 3200 block of moran avenue around 4:00 this morning. a woman was found dead inside the house. a man who had been shot several times was also found in the home and taken to the hospital. he is in critical condition. two people who may be persons of interest in the case were detained by police.

the investigators believe this may have been a home invasion robbery. four years after oakland journalist chauncey whaley was killed, the two men convicted for his death were sentenced this morning. new at noon, and we are joined live from oakland with the judge's decision. good afternoon, tara. >> reporter: good afternoon. this really came as no surprise to anyone following this trial. he received three consecutive life terms, mackey, too, both without the possibility of parole. now, the bakery muslim leader and his associate were convicted for their roles in the murder of the oakland posteditor chauncey bailey and two others in 2007. bailey's family spoke to us immediately afterwards. >> and even though chauncey is no longer with us here at this time, he is above us looking down on us saying we did a very well thing. justice definitely was served. >> and based -- bay sat motionless through his entire

sentencing. he had his attorney read a statement after court. >> though i know i'm innocent of the crimes, i do apologize to the family and the families of the victims for not making with wiser decisions and for allowing there to occur on my watch. >> reporter: they said he will not rest until he finds those responsible for the murders, but the prosecutors aren't buying it. >> it is disappointing to hear a defendant say something like that when you know that it is completely untrue. but i expected nothing less from him. >> reporter: and confessed gunman broussard made a plea deal earlier this month. he says and testified that bay ordered him to kill him because they wanted to prevent a story from the bakery's financial troubles from being published. the most touching moment came this morning when bay's mother reached out to chauncey bailey's ex-wife and gave her a hug and it was a gesture take was well received.

we're going to have much more on this story coming up tonight on our 5:00 news. >> thank you, tara. members of the san jose mayor gang prevention task force are sharing their strategy with federal officials today. the officials from the departments of justice, labor and housing and urban development, are visiting san jose for two days as part of the national forum on youth violence prevention. they're hoping to find out how san jose reduced its homicide rate from 14 during the first hah of the year to zero in the last few months. mayor chuck reid credits that to aggressive police work. >> we know that suppression works, and the chief and the department made several hundred arrests, gang related arrests, and that's a big factor in it because gang crimes are caused by gangsters, and if you get the gangsters off the streets, that will bring the numbers down. we know that. >> reporter: mayor reid says most of the city's police resources are now focused on the gang problem, and he says

the city has also received e help from homeland security and community-based organizations. the oakland police department this morning swore in its newly promoted sergeants and lieutenants. in a ceremony at city hall just two hours ago, they took the oath of office and received congratulations from the mayor and the chief. oakland's police chief, meanwhile, says he does not plan to do anything out of the ordinary for sunday's raiders' game against the new orleans saints, in spice of the violence last saturday at candle stick park. >> and the nfl security, they use us as a model on how to do a stadium, so we're going to continue along the same path. we have about 20 more officers and i had planned to do that throughout this year. >> reporter: he says he will be at the game himself and that the officer also move among the tailgaters and the rest of the crowd as part of a community policing approach to stadium security.

the san francisco police department is expanding beginning today. the chief is accepting entry- level police officer applications. anyone interested must create an applicant account on the city's web site. the open application period will close once the city receives 2,500 applications. the chief says entry-level officers will perform a variety of duties. turning now to the conflict in libya, the streets of triply are the eye -- quietest they have been since the rebel take over. just an hour ago the government met for the first time. the members of the national transitional council says the ceremony marks the official collapse of gadhafi's government, but that until he is captured or killed, they still cannot declare full victory. with the overthrow of gadhafi, there is concern about terrorists getting ahold of his weapons. u.s. officials are urging

libyan rebels to secure those depots. at least 52 people are now dead after a shooting rampage at a casino in mexico. gunmen burst into the casino royal in monterey, mexico yesterday afternoon pouring gasoline and starting a fire to trap both gamblers and casino employees. this is the second time in three months that that casino has been attacked. monterey mexico has been the scene of bloody turf battles between two drug cartels. the government is now offering a $2.4 million reward in this case. witnesses say a man committed suicide by lying in a bay area street. ahead, we'll tell you why driver whose hit him may face charges. a warming trend for the bay area's weekend. our meteorologist will have the latest on that, and hurricane irene. and it is great to look out here and see the basketball courts being used and the tennis courts and the people just happening out in the park. it is wonderful.

also, how this work being done this morning helped children have a safe place in a bay area city.

>> it has been a busy morning for pg&e crews after a power surge caused tvs and bulbs to blow out. and it was cause bade tree limb. we just got off the phone with the utility and it says only seven customers are still without power at this time. they cut off power to over 230 customers around glenway and east bay shore road around 10:15 last night. the crews have been going door to door doing safety checks and inspecting meters for damage as well. two men who police say fled a burglary this morning were caught just a few minutes ago when their getaway car collided with three other cars on second street in san raphael after a police chase. the police prevented the two men from fleeing by holding them at gun point. neither of the burglary suspects nor anyone in the other cars were injured in the car crash. an investigation is underway into an unusual and tragic hit-and-run accident involving two cars and a

suicidal man. the police say a man lying in the middle of el camino real was struck by two cars, dragged 60 feet by one of them and killed last night. neither car stopped, and the man in the road died at the scene. the police believe the man was drunk and had told at least one person that he wanted to kill himself. they say that the bizarre scene attracted quite a crowd. >> we had a pretty big crowd out there. there were quite a number of people that were upset by it because it is quite rare when you see that traumatic an accident. >> reporter: the police are looking at surveillance tape that shows at least one of the vehicles leaving the scene. one of the cars was a silver sedan and the other a small black suv. every year ktvu and our parent company, cox interis prices, seek out people who dedicate themselveses to preserving the outdoor communities. we call them cox conserves heroes.

bill martin has this report on an oakland man whose garden is growing, not just healthy food, but a whole new attitude in his neighborhood. >> reporter: and what was a lot full of weeds now a lively park with a thriving community garden at the silver street community project. >> it was a very different neighborhood. >> reporter: and he saw only potential when he and his family moved to north oakland 20 years ago. >> so we have two types of greens here, it looks like. do you know what they are? >>reporter: and there serves as an outdoor classroom to a group of teens from the healthy hearts clinic at oakland's children's hospital. >> i started to realize for a lot of our families, you can do all of the education and the counseling in the world, but if 80% of food options in alameda county are fast food outlets or convenience stores, there's -- they're still really not going to be able to make that change. >> reporter: the pediatrician matthews teamed up with chris on how to educate them to grow healthy food options they can

take home. 18 years ago, mischa is not only learn black kale is, but also how to cook it. >> the you know what i tried last night with the kale? i didn't blanch it, but i put a little bit of hoy sin source in it. >> reporter: the exposure to new recipes has changed her outlook on food. >> i eat more healthy and less junk and it is really helping me with my diet and blood pressure. >> reporter: whether it is the change in her or the change in the neighborhood, many say it is chris' harmonious attitude that has made the difference. >> he just cares so much about this neighborhood and about this community and really creating a safe space for kids to be in. >> reporter: bill martin, ktvu, channel 2 news. >> he is one of cox con sevens heroes being profiled this week. they're all working for environmental improvements in their communities, and you can vote for your favorite by going to ktvu.com. just scroll halfway down the

home page. oakland's park is a busy place today. the volunteers from caser permanente held their annual work day in the park this morning and later there were plans to dedicate a new to the lot for people in the surrounding community. >> well, this is our fifth year. we started in march of 2007, and every year we have come out here with at least a couple hundred people. >> and with maintenance and the cut backs in the city of oakland, which is an incredible opportunity for us to have kaiser come in. we really, really appreciate it. >> reporter: and in the past, kaiser volunteers have refurbished basketball and tennis courts and done a lot of cleaning and painting. good afternoon to you, and we start off with the huge waves building off the north carolina coast here, this brought on by hurricane irene. definitely one of the biggest stories of the day on the east coast. and here at home as well.

the eastern seaboard is expected to be impacted throughout the entire weekend. the latest on hurricane irene, the winds 100 miles per hour. the movement north at 13 miles per hour. now, the movement, we want it to be a whole lot faster than that. 25 to 35 miles per hour is generally the track and 13 miles per hour you leaves the possibility of flooding as the heavy rain and, of course, the ferocious winds. by early form morning, it is expected to be passing the outer banks of north carolina, still a category two. wins to 105 miles per hour. it moves past the virginia, tidewater, through saturday. sunday morning, early on, it looks like now a category one. winds 85 miles per hour, moving through atlantic city, new york city, and the jersey shore as well as long island before it continues its northerly tech. now it begins to lose some steam and become as tropical storm by monday morning. again, the entire weekend up the -- and down the eastern seaboard is going to be pretty hectic and pretty dangerous at

times. here at home, we have little to complain about. we even have mostly sunny skies. we have fog and clouds off the coast there. the northeastly breeze will continue to knock that off the coastline and we will continue to watch our temperatures warm. we're looking at the warming trend for the weekend. and our temperatures sitting in the 60s and even 70s already. 72 in san jose. upper 707s in fairfield. mid 60s in oakland. san francisco, still a little cool sitting at 60 degrees and our temperatures are very similar to yesterday. by the afternoon we are expecting a warm-up. also the possibility of a few clouds while high pressure buildings in from the west. it could bring in the monsoonal pressure from arizona. we're talking santa cruz, perhaps santa clara. and we'll see it again tomorrow. the afternoon highs for today, wide spread 80s and 90s for the inland areas. upper 70s expected for the east bay. 90 for danville as well as

livermore, pleasanton. sow bay, 80s. 83 expected a warm day at morgan hill at 92. along the peninsula, a gorgeous one. 73 in san bruno. daily city checking in right about 62. 67 for the city of san francisco. the temperatures will continue to warm for tomorrow. a slight cool down along the coast on sunday, but inland, we remain warm. mid 9 -- 90s. the temperatures begin to cool a little bit, but a nice, warm, fairly quiet weekend. >> the last one in august. >> yes. >> thank you. >> you're welcome. a key connector ramp near the bay bridge will be closed tonight. starting at 11:00, cal tran will close northbound 880 to eastbound 80, that is the link from the nimitz freeway in oakland to the east shore freeway in emeryville. they will be cleaning lanes and making electronic repairs. the closure will continue include 8:00 in the morning. there will be a detour route available. and the harbor will unveil

a new dock in about two hours. the old dock were severely danieled by the tsunami surge in march. it is more modern. and 23 of the harbor's 29 docks had to be repaired or replaced at a price tag of $22 million. federal emergency grant also pay for 75% of the work. still ahead, what fed chairman ben bernanke said this morning during his much anticipated speed and -- speech and how it has moved the market.

the stocks are up this afternoon after the fed chairman ben bernanke said the u.s. is on track for long-term economic growth. we'll have more on his comments in a moment. meanwhile, the trading volume is light, a sign that many traders are taking steps to leave the new york area ahead of the approaching hurricane. the dow is up 63, the nasdaq is up 44. the st. and perform is up 10. and bernanke did not propose any new steps to stimulate the economy in his much anticipated speech this morning at a conference of central bankers that was at jackson hole, wyoming. instead, he hinted that congress should take action, but the fed may consider steps they can take at their next meeting in september. he also said the nation needs long-term deficit reduction. the speech followed knews that the economy grew at an estimated rate of just 1% in the second quarter of this year. a california sea lion is safe this morning after being rescued from a creek in east

palo alto. the sea lion was spotted around 6:00 yesterday evening. volunteers from the marine mammal center lifted the sea lion out of the shallow creek. they say he was sick but not hurt. tonight at 5:00, we're on hurricane watch as irene steams towards the east coast. looking live, this is a shot from the beach at north carolina. we have live team coverage tonight from bay area crews headed east to the center of the hurricane. our next newscast is at 5:00 thank you for watching. have a great weekend!

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