he 20 double roll bonus pack. real big deals this week and every week. only at safeway. ingredients for life. now at noon -- an arson investigation at the chinese consulate in san francisco. the strong words officials have for the person responsible. a grisly discovery in the oakland hills. what police said today about a human skull found in tilden park. and the b.a.r.t. union contract dispute is another step closer to being resolved. what still needs to be done after the board of directors voted today.

good afternoon, everybody. i'm brian flores in for tori campbell. the fbi is currently heading up an investigation into suspected arson at the chinese consulate in san francisco. the consulate says someone poured gasoline on the front door of the building in the western edition neighborhood igniting a fire. we have live team coverage this afternoon. kyla campbell is in washington, d.c. getting reaction from the state department. but first, we go to ktvu's sal castanedo, live live at the consulate. sal? >> reporter: good afternoon, brian. a lot of people have been coming to the consulate and taking pictures and looking at the damage. now, normally an arson fire like this would be a legal police matter but since it happened at the chinese consulate, the federal authorities are involved and the news is gaining international attention. last night before 9:30, chinese officials say someone drove up, got out of a minivan and poured two containers of gasoline on the front steps of the chinese

consulate and lit it. the building at laguna and geary briefly caught fire before san francisco police and fire department arrived on the scene. chinese officials say no one was injured. and the person or persons responsible were able to get away. today, the damage is plainly visible. consulate security camera right outside of the doorway may have caught the entire act in progress. chinese officials call arson a violent attack and are asking for an increase in security saying it put chinese consulate staff and nearby residents at risk. >> we're strongly condemning this despicable act. >> reporter: some who came to do business at the consulate told us they were disturbed when they saw the damage. >> that's terrible. i don't think it should happen. i think the department should find who did that. >> reporter: now, it's plainly visible that the federal authorities have a lot of resources out there. we've seen a lot of

investigators not only local san francisco police officers but also fbi investigators. chinese officials say they are not aware of any threats posed to the embassy but declined to comment further. david stevenson will be at an fbi press conference at 2:00 where he will learn more. he's doing more investigation and will tell ulmore about this incident -- tell you more about this incident tonight. sal castanedo, ktvu channel 2 news. >> thank you. the u.s. state department is also involved in the investigation. their press briefing just wrapped up. kyla cam bem continues our -- campbell continues our live team coverage from washington, d.c. what have you learned, kyla? >> reporter: i asked the state department spokeswoman if the bureau of diplomatic security would be taking any extra steps to secure the consulate in san francisco. she said they don't always give specifics on security spun lickly but state -- publicly but said they are taking this

seriously. an arsonist dumped two containers of gasoline on the front door and they say this poses the threat of safety to the workers and people who live nearby. they want added security and they are working closely with the chinese counter parts. >> after the incident we were in immediate contact and continue to work diplomatically and update our chinese counterparts on the case as more information comes in. the fbi has the lead on it. >> reporter: i asked fer if any threats were made -- her if any threats were made before this fire she said she was not aware of any and the fbi continues to investigate. live at the state department in washington, kyla campbell, ktvu channel 2 news. >> all right. thank you. well, two strikes and a lot of angry b.a.r.t. riders. now a deal is finally closer to being agreed upon. within the last couple of hours, the board voted to approve a revised labor deal with the two largest employee

unions. the four-letter -- four-year contract, rather, settles a dispute over paid mel leave. the board said it was mistakenly left in the contract signed off in november. it could have cost the district tens of millions of dollars. local 1021 and local 1055 agreed to remove the provision last month. >> i think in the end, it's good for the unions. it's good for the district and particularly good for the riders. it will bring peace. >> reporter: it's not yet known when they will vote to ratify the agreement. the coroner's office may have new information this afternoon about an anonymous tip to police leave leading to a grisly find. a human skull was found in tilden park last night. police say the scene appeared ritualistic. it appeared on a paper plate and was surrounded by a silver chain and other jewelry. >> we want to rule out if there was any foul play. why was there a hue plan skull

placed there, who is it? >> no other body parts have been located. investigators have not been able to determine the age or sex of the victim. well, police in san jose are trying to track down who is responsible for the city's first homicide of the year. the victim was found outside a home and was discovered by a woman who lives there. ktvu's janine de la vega tells us the woman and her family are shaken up and they want answers. >> reporter: in front of your driveway. >> i want to know. >> reporter: martin hernandez showed us the spot where his wife found a man face down in their driveway who had been shot. >> i heard the shots but i think it's the fireworks. it's new year's. i go back to bed and my wife get home and she said the guy over than and she talked to me. >> reporter: he said it was around 1:30 a.m. when his wife ran into their house on east san antonio and told him. they called 911. paramedics performed cpr but

were unsuccessful. police canvassed the neighborhood, knocking on doors trying to see if anyone saw or heard anything. >> we don't know if it was a drive-by, if it was targeted, if it was a realition -- retaliation. we have no motive or anything lead us to a -- leading us to a motive. >> reporter: hernandez says the man was wearing blue and had tattoos. the area near san antonio and 33rd is known as a hot spot for gang activity but police say it's too early to call the shooting gang-related. they did discover the victim was wearing an ankle bracelet. they say this may provide more clues in the background. they want to know what the man was doing here and why he was shot. >> this needs to quit. >> my grandkids sleep in the one room. they could have got hurt. and i hope they find who did it. i really do. >> reporter: police want anyone with information to come forward. in san jose, janine de la vega, ktvu channel 2 news. more details now -- while

2014 is off to a deadly start in san jose, homicides were down last year. in 2013, there were 43 homicides. there were 46 in 2012. a 15-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with a deadly shooting in santa rosa. police were called to an apartment cop plex on -- complex on pioneer road around 2:00 tuesday morning. they found 20-year-old damian tony junior suffering from gunshot wounds. he later died at a hospital. witnesses say he was shot during an argument after a party. police later arrested the 15- year-old after finding him hiding in a friend's home. we've just learned the name of a man who has been charged with hitting and killing a 6- year-old girl in a san francisco crosswalk. 57 idea saed of union city has been charged with vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and failure to yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk. police say he hit the 6-year- old, her 4-year-old brother and their mother on polk and ellis

on new year's eve. the girl was killed. her mother is in critical condition. her brother's condition has afternoon updated to fair. a powerful storm is bringing blizzard conditions. snow started to fall in boston where a states -- where a state of emergency has been declared. schools are closed. blizzard warns are in effect in long island, cape cod and coastal massachusetts. >> it's been rough. i have a four-wheel drive. we saw a car spin out in front of us. it hit the guardrail. 5 to 8 inches is expected as well. there will be windchills near minus 30. the east coast storm is having an effect on flights out of the bay area as well. sfo reported about 19 cancellations to places like newark, boston and new york. this morning airlines like jetblue, american and united canceled several flights. some flights were delayed from 30 minutes to close to two

hours to other cities like chicagos. airport officials say the airlines are making minute by minute changes during this storm. >> i understand the visibility is down to a quarter mile to blowing snow. united airlines has been proactive and have decided to cancel their flights to boston. oakland international airport did not report any cancellations. in san jose, a red eye flight to boston was canceled. airport officials say check with your airline if you are headed to the northeast u.s. about 50 homes and businesses in castro valley were without water overnight after a water main break. it happened around 1:30 on statin avenue. 47 customers were without water for about six hours while crews made repairs. the water came back on around 7:30 a.m. crews are looking into the cause of that break. well, the san mateo police department is using a crowd funding site to help raise money for its k-9 program. the rookie, k-9 officer named

ajax. you see him there has been sworn in. but the department wants to expand with more police dogs in the coming year. so it started a gofundme page which has raised under $100 so far. the money -- $1300 so far. the money will be used for bite sleeves and bite suits as well as protective gear for the trainers. well, jahi mcmath's family continues to fight to move her out of oakland children's hospital. the private investigator now stepping in. and another nice day in the bay area. steve paulson will tell us what kind of weather we can expect this weekend. and secretary of state, john kerry, is back in israel. what he says about the latest negotiations from middle east peace.

a san francisco s.w.a.t. team converged on a liquor store and market in the city's bayview district this morning. it's a story we brought you live on "mornings on 2." it's believed those officers were involved in a drug or weapons investigation. at one point, they cut through the metal gates outside of the liquor store. it's not clear if police made any arrests. this affected muni service for about 30 minutes. it's now back on schedule. a vigil will be held tonight in oakland for a 13- year-old boy shot and killed on new year's eve. lee weathersbee iii was shot tuesday night on 104th and wul

knit street. his mother said he was walking home with two other boys from a party at the boys and girls club on international boulevard. reportedly, two young men in a dark car pulled you and started shooting -- pulled up and started shooting. police have not made arrests. tonight eight vigil is at 5:00 on 104th avenue and walnut street. a 3-month-old boy continues to fight for his life after a tragic accident in fremont on new year's eve as well that killed his young mother. last night, about 100 people gathered for a vigil to remember 19-year-old ashley. she was hit by a truck while walking on mowry and paseo padre parkway with her sister and son. police say the intersection is one of the most dangerous in fremont. the driver is cooperating with police and is not expected to face charges. the family of jahi mcmath is still fighting to move her out of oakland children's hospital and into a long-term care facility. the 13-year-old girl has been declared brain dead after complications following tonsil surgery. jahi's uncle said they found an

ambulance and plane but they still have not secured a facility. the judge has ruled that no surgeries can be performed on jahi and three doctors have declared her brain dead. >> no amount of time, no amount of surgery, and no amount of hope will bring her back. we hope that the family finds peace in 2014 and is able to move forward. >> jahi is the victim. ure family is the victim. and it's not -- our family is the victim. it's not fair and is cruel for them to spin this story and make it seem as if the hospital is the victim. >> oakland's children's hospital is under court order to keep her on life support until january 7th. a private investigator from new jersey says she's volunteering to help the family and launch her own investigation into the hospital. secretary of state, john kerry, is in the middle east brokering peace talks between israeli and palestinian leaders. the talks are aimed at creating a palestinian state alongside israel but officials say each

side remains suspicious of the other and negotiations are entering a difficult face. israeli's prime minister says he's committed to the talks but is being met with resifsance from -- resistance from palestinian leaders. >> i know i'm committed to peace. but unfortunately, given the actions and words of palestinian leaders there's going -- that's going down in israel, that the palestinians are committed to peace. >> we're five months into the negotiation. we've always known that achieving peace is a long and complicated process. it's a tough road. but this is not mission impossible. >> next up, secretary kerry will sit down with palestinian president ma humidity abbas -- mahmoud abbas in the west bank. doctors say ariel sharon is in critical condition with his family by his side. he has been in a coma for the past eight years. today, doctors said function of

several vital organs has declined. the former hard-line military leader was a prominent backer of settlements. but he has begun to support withdrawal of the gaza strip when he suffered a stroke. the editorial of the new york times is urging the obama administration to treat edward snowden as a whittle blower and offer him clemen ski. it's acknowledged that he stole documents but the paper says he's done a great service to the country by exposing the government's lack of respect for privacy. the white house has rejected a clemency plea saying he should return to the u.s. to face trial. the dozens of people stuck in the ice in antarctica since christmas eve have been rescued. a helicopter ferried the 52 scientists and tourists to an australian ship today. but their journey home is just

getting started. they shouldn't expect to be in australian before the mid -- before mid month at the earliest. >> it's about four to five days' passage. she then has a few days of operation there to complete a reply operation for crazy, that is -- casey. that's weather depent and. >> the crew will stay there until the ice breaks up and the ship can move again. well, speaking of cold, there's going to be some cold temperatures throughout much of the country, just not here. we're looking pretty warm today. we'll get to your green bay forecast in just a second. hazy skies. we had some cold lows. not as cold as yesterday morning. a little bit of an easterly breeze for some. especially in some of the higher elevations. i know out towards oakland, berkeley hills, a little bit to the coast. it looks cold back to green bay. it looks brutally cold next monday night and tuesday. on sunday, we'll start off at 12. the high is supposed to be 14.

the low, minus 7. partly cloudy. very, very cold. especially in the second half. that's the second game later game. so the temperatures will be dropping pretty fast. a few high clouds are breaking through the high pressure. livermore, 64. the city is 65. for some there are temperatures because of the easterly breeze helping a few, 59 bookends, ukiah and also sacramento. 70 down along in los angeles. palm springs, 74. the key is all of this tropical moisture coming together with a cold low coming out of the great lakes and all of these are compining to pro-- combining to produce some snow. blifer warnings and -- blizzard warnings for boston, new york and long island. a lot of snow. probably numerous travel delays. for us, no sign of anything changing this week. there are some hints maybe next week. the pattern might change. hazy sun, mild to warm, really warm, especially down towards santa cruz. next week weak systems. at least there's signs of something other than high pressure coming in next week. let's hope so. mostly sunny, high clouds. a little breezy for some.

but overall, hazy skies and very calm conditions. low 60s, 70s. temperatures continue to be above average for this time of year. that's for sure. they will continue to do so. that's a 74 in santa cruz. i think they are already 70 degrees. temperatures will be on the mild to warm side as a really cold system moves into the middle of the country. that means high pressure here friday and saturday. sunday looks good. it does look cooler this morning. international falls, minnesota, 42 below for a record low. >> that's it? >> that's nothing. [laughter] >> that's it. >> and minus 2 in green bay. good look to the 9ers. >> it will be tough. today san francisco begins a program that reminds us all the holiday season is over. the city will kickoff the tree recycling program. trees should leave their trees out with their trash between now and january 15th. san francisco usually recycles about 500 tons of christmas trees every year. well, the 49ers are

preparing to face the green bay packers on sunday. but not everyone may be able to watch the game. why it's in danger of being blacked out in some places and how the 49ers are trying to get more red and gold at the freezing lambeau field.

welcome back to the ktvu channel 2 news at noon. after coming off its biggest annual gain in more than 15 years to end 2013, stocks are off to a slow start to begin 2014. taking a look at the big board,

you see the dow down about 112. s&p down almost 15 and nasdaq down 31. we're starting the new year with a promising report about the job market. the labor department says applications for unemployment benefits fell last week to 339,000. analysts say that's evidence that layoffs are subsiding and employers are hiring. the enemployment rate to fell to a five-year low of 7% in november. some -- [no audio]

up next on "eco company" -- >> let's hear it for team marine, to the lab, and meet some teams who are taking protecting the ocean seriously. >> we shouldn't be finding anything. there should be no -- >> we want nothing. >> exactly. >> plus, it's lunchtime. cooking for a crowd and learning about sustainability at the same time. >> we can make a difference. they can spend time learning what is really good for them and what's not good for them. >> then, quiet on the set. >> countdown. >> meet the team behind the green screen. green eco news.