ktvu's robert handa talked with him and robert is live to tell us what merrill newman had to say. >> reporter: we are down the street near the beach where merrill newman is staying in santa cruz. i talked to him and on a day when he released information on what happened in north korea. now first of all he wanted to emphasize how happy he is to be back home with his family and in california. he let me take his picture of him as we talked to show people how healthy he looks and feels. he was cheerful and upbeat during our visit and said she doing very well and everything is good since he arrived back in the u.s. friday. he released a statement today talking about what he went through after being detained. he helped train fourteen partsons but didn't the government would still consider that an issue. merrill newman said the words were not mine and were not delivered voluntarily and if he didn't cooperate he could be confined to jail for 15 years. some visiting family members said he could use some rest. >> he seems tired. you know, but that is to be expected. you know, it has bane long

ktvu's robert handa is in the south bay where the cold turned deadly. we begin with meteorologist mark tracking the rain and snow. >> reporter: the coverage has been on the increase over the past three to four hours of the right now on live storm tracker 2, it's very interesting up in the north bay and parts of mencino county. especially the north of willis. you can see all the coverage here, significant snowfall sticking to the roads for this part of the region. as we move the maps around, we're talking about rain right around the north bay. in fact we'll zoom in a little closer to the north bay and show you the coverage here for santa rosa, petaluma. a little heaver forward the fairfield area. shifting the maps to the south here around san mateo, fremont and parts of the east bay around livermore, pleasant, wet roadways for this part of the bay area, especially around livermore and 580. san jose a lot of cloud cover. rain showers out to the east. santa cruz mountains and coastline the rain has been picking up. coming up in ten minutes we'll take a loo

ktvu's robert handa is live at san jose international with more on the repairs and the problems and a possible cause here. >> reporter: we have been following this situation since this morning. at this hour people will find life easier than travelers did earlier before the flooding. half an hour ago officials told me engineers say they believe a failed joint is responsible for today's misery. >> reporter: it took one look at the dripping conditions at san jose international airport for travelers to know plans will be doused. >> it is kind of weird. unexpected. we are like wait. what is going on here? >> reporter: work crews are cleaning and repairing after the water main break in the sky bridge connecting terminal a to the parking area. 2,000 gallons poured out and the hot water temperature set off the sprinklers. >> flooded the bridge, security check point and put us out of operations. >> reporter: one flight to los angeles was canceled and several others delayed. they scrambled to get passengers and luggage on board. >> get tags. and bring them out here. they will load them up here

ktvu's robert handa explains the burn ban and who it impacts the most. >> lot has to be done with trees during this time of year and the unusual burn ban shows how the lack of rain is throwing firefighters off their routine. >> reporter: the dry hillsides are all state fire officials need to see to go to a summer time strategy in winter. >> typically we are entering into the normal raining season. burning conditions and the fuels are as dry today as october, september. the only difference is it is cold and the days are shorter. >> reporter: he has had to deal with burn bans before but not in december. now the schedule of burning green waste to avoid disease is in limbo. >> as we prune we pile and then we also let that cure so that one of the requirements is that it be dry when you burn to not create a problem with the pollution. so mine are ready to go. >> reporter: san jose firefighters say the unusual winter time burn ban is a good idea because people don't worry about fire danger in december. >> during the holidays people get together outside, have a backyard barbecue or fire but in

robert handa, ktvu channel 2 news. >>> the bay area locked in the dry weather pattern. another day of record heat. oakland 68 degrees. gilroy 73. another round of low 70s across the bay area. 60s for santa rosa. fremont, december 26. look at the warm temperatures. these numbers 7 to 10 degrees above the average. right now we have high clouds to the north and west and those will be moving into the bay area tomorrow afternoon. right now, temperatures are dropping off. showing you 50s towards shows 58. san francisco 58 degrees. that spare the air alert, towards san jose, a string all week long. one scheduled for tomorrow as well. air quality doesn't prove a bit into friday. we have a weak weather system from the north. lower the number the better the air quality. you can see where we were at. everybody coming down for the north bay, east bay and the valley for friday. still we have the spare the air alert for tomorrow and into the weekend as well because the weather pattern will be warming back up. over night lows tomorrow morning, low 30s for santa rosa, napa. san francis

rosemary orozco is tracking the dry condition but first oo robert handa -- to robert handa where the ban is affecting farmers there. >> reporter: for farmers right now is the time to plant and prune the waste. but the lack of rain is stop leg of it. -- topping all of it. -- stopping all of it. >> reporter: he hasn't had to deal with such a dry winter in a long time. today he piled up the green waste to let it crew for his winter burning. >> one of the requirements is it be dry when you burn. to not create a problem with the pollution so mine are ready to go and unfortunately they just put a ban on it. >> reporter: the burn ban went into effect today. officials say it is ironic because this is usually the start of what they consider the rainy season. >> our burning conditions and the fuels are as dry today as they have been in september, october. the only difference between today and september and october a is it is cold and the days are shorter. >> reporter: it could lead to an increase risk of crop disease. >> you probably have to go to a grinder and grind the material up. >> report

ktvu's robert handa shows us more of the thieves and what needs to be gun to get justice or pay back. >> reporter: that's right. since we started airing the videos police want to remind the public certain steps need to be taken to catch someone. >> reporter: this is more surveillance video from san jose recording two people driving up, a woman stealing packages that had just been delivered and loading them into a suv. the family victimized in this theft live in the same neighborhood as the family we profiled last night who had packages stolen by a different person but it is a problem, especially around the holidays. she shared her surveillance video with us, showing a woman jogging up to her porch and jogging away with the packages. >> i was very upset. we were mad. you come home and you want to get the stuff and it is gone. we were upset. >> reporter: police say it is useful to have the images, such as this picture, but police also say many people send them to be made when the cases really get assigned unless the suspect can be identified first. investigators encourage people who cap

robert handa takes a closer look now at how cold is too cold and how one san jose school tried to solve its dilemma. >> reporter: dorsa elementary is one of the oldest schools and that age shows in this cold snap. the school's old boiler system has been erratic. some parents complained when they got a phone call yesterday from the school recommending students bundle up because of heating problems and then they found out it's been going on for weeks. >> it shocked me that it took this long to get any type of contact. >> i found out taking my daughter to class and the teacher telling me it's not much warmer inside the class than it is outside. this morning it was 20 degrees. >> reporter: we learned how a school in oakland was going through the same thing. they require steps be taken to maintain a temperature of 68 degrees. dorsa elementary has been taking those measures throughout the week. >> we were able to bring in space heaters to classes that had low temperatures and accomplish comfortable temperatures in the classrooms. >> reporter: if they feel the classroom environment is unsafe,

robert handa, ktvu channel 2 news. >>> a man with a bb gun caused a scare this morning at elementary school. a passerby spotted a man holding a gun in a yard. police officers found the gun and determined it was not a real gunt it could have been mistaken for a rifle. the school was about to go on lock down when police gave the all clear. >>> the 18-year-old who opened friday at a high school was heavily armed. police say karl alverson pierson wounded a classmate who remains in a coma. one stupidity wrote a note on -- student wrote a note on his hand in case he was killed. >> i wrote i love you so they knew i was thinking about them. this is the one i used to write the note on my hand. >> karl alverson pierson set off one of two mall toff cocktails and then killed himself. >>> the numbers are in for a gun buy back program in san jose over the weekend. hundreds of people dropped off weapons saturday in exchange for gift cards. 445 weapons were turned in. 7 were assault rifles and they still have $7,000 in gift cards left over. they will be use for a future gun buy back. >>> one univers

robert handa, ktvu channel 2 news. >>> we have breaking news now from contra costa county. people are told to stay indoors because of a gas leak. the leak is at k2 pure solutions. it is a chemical company in pittsburg. there is a problem with a chlorine tank. workers are trying to fix the problem. these are live pictures from news chopper 2. over the next few hours it is possible, possible that the tank could leak so they want people to stay inside, keep your windows and doors closed and if you have a respiratory condition get out of the area, anyone within one mile of that spot in pittsburg. this is breaking news here from pittsburg. we are working to get more information. as we do we will bring it to you. >>> a loaded shotgun brought on campus. frightening moments at a san francisco school after a student brought a loaded shotgun to school. why students and parents say the school didn't do enough. >> businesses having to pay to get their names back, people came out to talk to us. 2 investigates the problem and how businesses are dealing with the ultimatum and a new lead i

ktvu's robert handa is live with more on the investigation. >> reporter: police are trying to figureut what happened here at this bus stop as we reported last night at 10:00 p.m., police are treating this as a possible kidnapping. we are going to show you surveillance video of what happened here that police say will help clear up the mystery. >> man and woman fighting over a bag. as the man pulls her away from the bus, the woman tells the driver to call police. >> call the police. >> the driver did and as we showed it led to a ground search around the center near the bus stop. one witness told ktvu she didn't know if she was seeing a kidnapping or a domestic fight. >> looked like he was grabbing her. >> reporter: it has some people rattled. >> i live 2 minutes away from here. it makes me fear it might happen to me. >> reporter: police are continuing to treat the case as a possible kidnapping. >> could be a domestic situation, many things. a father taking his daughter home. we don't know. >> the man asian in his 30s wearing a black jacket and a dark baseball cap. people say they also

ktvu's robert handa has been on the story and joins us live from san jose with how the robber made a quick get away. >>> there will be a series of meetings starting tonight at this school to discuss safety and fundraising after a robbery that happened very quickly. >> reporter: the oak grove high school band is preparing for shows, musically they are ready, financial they are reeling. last night they fold a bingo fundraiser for the -- held a bingo fundraiser for the band, mese say a -- plea say a man robbed the person handling the money. it happened so many people didn't realize there was a robbery. >> i talked to a parent last night, it was surreal. she was shaken. >> we did have security here but it was so fast in and out. [ music ] >> reporter: we have been told the amount stolen was $5,000. the amount advertised as the pay out. police recommend they have a system where money could be put away safely when it is collected. >> have helpers looking for any suspicious persons or activity. [ music ] >> reporter: the money raised goes for band activities and uniforms and bringing in out

in san jose, robert handa, ktvu channel 2 news. >>> only on 2 a new field poll finds most californian's oppose the successions of a county there have been numerous succession movements in southern california dating back to 75 years. >>> there was a demonstration today calling for a stop to fraking. fraking involves releasing gas from cracks in deposits. they're discussing the scope of an environmental report on fraking. >>> a crash landing at sfo back in july. now the focus shifts to washington. what we've learned about tomorrow's hearing in capi soon, californians from to salinas to san diego will have equal access to quality health insurance. those who need financial assistance will get it. and nobody will be denied because of a pre-existing condition. welcome to a new state of health. welcome to covered california. we are your health insurance marketplace. enroll today at coveredca.com. >>> happening now, a final farewell to nelson mandela. these are live pictures right now from pretoria south africa where the former president is going to lie in wake for three days. >> new at 10:00,

robert handa, ktvu channel 2 news. >>> california is frustrated with the healthcare sign up system are getting more time to enroll. the deadline is tomorrow because the website and phone exchanges have been over loaded. officials are encouraging people to keep trying to submit online or get through to a call center. the deadline could be extended further if it is clear people are continuing to have trouble. >> travelers started heading back on the roads. a live look at interstate 80. according to aaa94000000 people will have traveled by the end of the holiday season. most of them by the road and you can see 80 jammed up and those figures are up when you compare them to last year. >>> bay area airports, the drop off areas and parking lots have been crowded, there are no reports of flight delays or cancellations cancellations. >>> the job market across the country continues to show possible signs of gaining strength. new jobless claims fell last week. 338,000 americans filed for first time unemployment insurance. that is down 42,000 from the week before and the lowest level in a month. c

ktvu's robert handa shows us the work in progress and tells us why organizers say it will benefit the whole community. >>> 22-year-old herman gruel is back at his home and wants it to look for. gruel is one of the volunteers working on his school. >> i saw less and less resources. books and equipment like that was decreasing as i was going to school. >> reporter: tough time led to the effort. with materials and labor supplied by san jose, community groups and envidia. >> this is families and different disciplines. different communities and we're all here for the same purpose. >> reporter: the goal is not just beautification. >> renovating the school is important for the kids to want to stay in school. >> if we don't reach them. other groups will reach them. >> we're doing a whole field for soccer, football, little league, for the community to come and use with lights and bleachers. it's just an awesome awesome thing going on today. >> reporter: gruell doesn't think kids will believe it. >> i think it'll be a shock to them because they're used to being overlooked. >> reporter: when stu

live in san jose, robert handa, ktvu channel 2 news. >>> san francisco police are looking for two men who stole an texas atm -- stole an atmal and led them on a -- stole an atm and led them on a police. it woke opneighbor who call -- up a neighbor who called 911. >> pulled the van up to the front, threw the machine in the back and drove off. >> police followed the van on the bay bridge where it turned around. the suspects then drove the wrong way on the bridge and got away. the atmp and the vam-- atm and the van was found later. >>> a warning on youtube about a package thief in san jose caught on camera. it begins with the woman getting in a white car and walking towards the house. the second camera shows where she walks up to the door, puts a package inside her shopping bag. according to the poster the package was stolen about 3:00 p.m. yesterday. >>> california wine merchant accused of passing off cheap wine as pricy wine was convicted of fraud today in new york. prosecutors say he would dilute wines wines and repackage them and sold it for thousands of dollars a bottlal -- bottles.

in san jose, robert handa, ktvu channel 2 news. >>> only on 2 a new field poll finds most californian's county there have been numerous succession movements in southern california dating back to 75 years. >>> there was a demonstration today calling for a stop to fraking. fraking involves releasing gas from cracks in deposits. they're discussing the scope of an environmental report on fraking. >>> a crash landing at sfo back in july. now the focus shifts to washington. what we've learned about tomorrow's hearing in capitol hill. >>> mandela plaza the push to rename a campus landmark at cal and what the university is saying about that idea tonight. >>> happening now, a final farewell to nelson mandela. these are live pictures right now from pretoria south africa where the former president is going to lie in wake for three days. >> new at 10:00, eric rasmussen is live with one woman's proposal to rename lorell spark plaza. >> reporter: she wants to rename lorell spark plaza nelson mandela plaza. there's talk at the university that renaming this plaza behind me is at least a possibility. >>

ktvu's robert handa shows us the work in progress and tells us why organizers say it will benefit thehole community. >>> 22-year-old herman gruel is back at his home and wants it to look for. gruel is one of the volunteers working on his school. >> i saw less and less resources. books and equipment like that was decreasing as i was going to school. >> reporter: tough time led to the effort. with materials and labor supplied by san jose, community groups and envidia. >> this is families and different disciplines. different communities and we're all here for the same purpose. >> reporter: the goal is not just beautification. >> renovating the school is important for the kids to want to stay in school. >> if we don't reach them. other groups will reach them. >> we're doing a whole field for soccer, football, little league, for the community to come and use with lights and bleachers. it's just an awesome awesome thing going on today. >> reporter: gruell doesn't think kids will believe it. >> i think it'll be a shock to them because they're used to being overlooked. >> reporter: when stude

. >>> ktvu's robert handa spoke about department moral and the one thing the city will be able to counton in the near future. >> reporter: esquivel has been the interim chief and tomorrow he will be offered the job. >> you don't look like someone who's up and leaving. >> although my stuff is packed, it has never been unpacked. >> reporter: a search turned up several candidates all rejected by community leaders. >> reporter: did you ever picture yourself becoming the chief. >> no i did not. i tell you, i take great pride and it's a privilege sitting here. there have been a few ups and downs and i'm not going to kid you on that. there's some things that i could have done better as a leader. >> reporter: esquiv el says he's trying to be realistic giving the staffing problems and hopes he can help with recruiting. >> i have been here for almost 28 years here. >> reporter: esquivel wants to work on the relationship between the city and the police union. >> hopefully at some point we get some resolution on at least the wages which will be great for us in terms of stability. >> reporter: with

robert handa, channel 2 news. >>> a mystery man has been handing out huge tips around the bay and elsewhere. valley wag reports its former paypal executive claims he's behind an insurance stagram account -- instagram photos. >>> and according to the san francisco examiner, full-time enrollment is down 26% from last year. low numbers may be due to rumors due to its loss of accreditation which is under appeal. however a spokesman says low enrollment can be blamed on a payment policy which effected the delay of printed scheduled. >>> and 911 operators are being praised how they handled frantic calls during the sandy hook elementary school shooting. the 911 recordings were released today. victims said their release would add to the pain of the loss but the public said it would effect them. we chose not to air the audio hear. you can find it on our web site, ktvu.com under us world news on our on homepage. >> the death of fast & furious fast was not just from the impact of the crash alone, according to the preliminary autopsy. according total corner, he -- to the corner, he died from traumatic i

. >>> ktvu's robert handa spoke about department moral and the one thing the city will be able to counton in the near future. >> reporter: esquivel has been the interim chief and tomorrow he will be offered the job. >> you don't look like someone who's up and leaving. >> although my stuff is packed, it has never been unpacked. >> reporter: a search turned up several candidates all rejected by community leaders. >> reporter: did you ever picture yourself becoming the chief. >> no i did not. i tell you, i take great pride and it's a privilege sitting here. there have been a few ups and downs and i'm not going to kid you on that. there's some things that i could have done better as a leader. >> reporter: esquiv el says he's trying to be realistic giving the staffing problems and hopes he can help with recruiting. >> i have been here for almost 28 years here. >> reporter: esquivel wants to work on the relationship between the city and the police union. >> hopefully at some point we get some resolution on at least the wages which will be great for us in terms of stability. >> reporter: with

. >>> and where marijuana clubs can conduct business, robert handa shows us by the time the smoke clears the number of clubs could drop down to the single digits. >> reporter: 68-year-old buys medical marijuana at the all american can bus club in san jose, next to residential homes and businesses. >> i can feel comfortable and go outside and i'm on not scared i'll get jumped. >> last night, city council voted against keeping the clubs adjacent to residential clubs they want out immediately. the club owner says he'll operate until the city wants him to move. >> there are people living by it. what is a residence and how does that play out and what is the city going to do? >> many clubs are in neighborhoods such as cookies. the club owner declined to comment but a neighbor welcomed the crack down. >> i agree 100% that it should not be in the neighborhoods where there are children, schools. >> a medical marijuana consultant says a 3rd operate in neighborhoods and said when the city starts enforcing other restrictions, they'll be closed. >> they just came into the city to make a quick buck an

ktvu's robert handa is in the south bay where the cold turned deadly.with meteorologist mark tracking the rain and snow. >> reporter: the coverage has been on the increase over the past three to four hours of the right now on live storm tracker 2, it's very interesting up in the north bay and parts of mencino county. especially the north of willis. you can see all the coverage here, significant snowfall sticking to the roads for this part of the region. as we move the maps around, we're talking ab

robert handa, ktvu channel 2news. >>> two bay area counties led the state in population growth for the last fiscal year. according to the figures from the california department of finance, the population of alameda county jumped by more than 15,000 between july 1st of 2012 and july 1st of this year. santa clara was right behind, increasing more than 11,000. analysts say affordable housing and jobs were the big draw. overall, california saw a population jump of 332,000 people during that time period. >>> we learned today that a navy veteran who went missing earlier this month in san francisco has now been found safe. will sell vanished after leaving san francisco general hospital on december 17th. yesterday, family and friends launched a search in the city and they continued that search today. this afternoon, his family told us that they had located will sell. however, they are not releasing any details about where he was found or where he was while he was missing. >>> the taliban has claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing today in afghanistan that left three nato service members

in san jose, robert handa, k tvu, channel 2 bay news. >> the markets ended with a whimper, the dow lostnt, nasdaq down ten. >>> target is reassuring shoppers that their p. i. n. is safe, despite that breach before christmas. it confirmed that hackers did steal p. i. n.s, but the company says those numbers were strongly increpted and insist -- increpted and stift conscience encrypted, and states that they were not hacked with that. >>> air quality officials have issued yet another air alert, this is the 20th alert in two months because of unhealthy levels of pollution. wood burning is banned in all nine bay area counties, could face fines of $100 of a first offense and $500 for a second time. >>> and i think we could have more spare the air alerts, the weather pattern not changing much, a warm backup, you can see the highs from this afternoon, they range from the upper 50s to the lower 60s? and most of the bay area cooled down from yesterday's readings. time lapse right before sunset, mostly cloudy skies, but a few breaks in the skies just beautiful, we have that haze out there as well,

robert handa, ktvu news. >> livermore police are expanding their investigation into a well known youth golf coach accused of molesting two of his students. andrew nesbitt has been charged with 65 felony counts of child molestation after two boys at the grip junior golf academy accused him of sexual abuse. now police say a third boy has come forward and they plan to ask the district attorney to file additional charges in the case. detectives also plan to speak with other children in nesbitt's golf academy and are fielding a flood of phone calls from concerned parents. >> i am sure this is every parents' fight mayor to know that -- nightmare to know someone they trust has committed heinous sex acts against children. very frightening. you can hear it in the parents' voices. >> nesbitt is being held without bail. >>> an antioch man who police say led officers on a wild late night high-speed chase through contra costa county is under arrest. authorities say it all started about 7 last night in antioch while police were conducting an enforcement detail in high crime areas of antioch. they sa

a child wrote this letter, dear handa, how are you? i'm good. got to love it, right? provides a link -- >> no, he didn't. >> amazon item which takes you to an rc plane. but still, what do you think of this? >> look how long it is. >> the poor kid. >> what do you think of this? >> this is a sign of the time. is it a good thing or bad thing? >> i think it's good. >> i think it's good. if he did the twitter link, it would have been shorter. >> but he's making it easier santa. >> good luck to the parent copying that one down. >> it is so 2013. bill karins, what do you got? >> i should have thought of this. these million dollar ideas. west coast wagons. this is the new trend. if you want to be really hip and have money to throw out the window, can you get these wagons. this isn't like the little red rider wagon. this is the strawberry shortcake wagon this is $500. this is the pirate wagon. you have guns on the side. that is the cowboy wagon. that is $465. and this is the dvd player in it with a custom seats and custom wheels, $1,000 for the yellow hummer. >> earmuffs for m

ktvu's robert handa tell us some officers have already voted with their feet. >> reporter: the san joseand announced officers approve the city contract proposal by a 79- 21 margin. the raise didn't matter to kim alford an 11 year veteran who quit today to join another bay area department. >> the moral is absolutely low. it's obvious you can't deny it. and you know they're going to have to do a lot more than what they're planning to do with this new contract to fix that. >> we have six officers walking out the door even after this contract is approved. they're following many who came before them. this came way too late. >> reporter: with officers down to 900 makes life too risky. >> the low numbers is making it difficult to get assistance when you need it. >> i had lost my house. we tightened our belts because of it. >> reporter: the mayor says he city hopes the raise will help retain officers. >> the cost for individual officers skyrocketed. driven by skyrocketing retirement costs. they've gotten so costly we can't afford to have as many as we want. >> reporter: the city council approve

in san jose, robert handa, ktvu channel 2 news. >>> u.s. stock markets declined today for a third consecutive day. the dow fell 104 points. it has now moved lower. the nasdaq was down five. many investors expect the federal reserve to start applying a stimulus as soon as next week. >>> claims had been down during the previous three weeks but analysts say the numbers around thanksgiving and christmas are often volatile. >>> a menacing reptile guarding a marijuana grow. learn how much his owner will spend in jail. >>> and how high temperatures will climb tomorrow. >>> in 90 seconds, hurt so badly he hurt his sense of taste and smell. two investigates the epidemic affecting nearly two people a day in san francisco. >>> new numbers obtained by ktvu news shows more than 500 pedestrians have been injured or killed on san francisco streets this year and that's actually an improvement over last year. two investigates tonight. eric rasmussen live in san francisco where safety advocates tell us this problem is at epidemic levels now, eric. >> reporte

this is a second year in a row that san jose has been named the richest city but as ktvu's robert handalls us people there are both proud but also a little apprehensive. >> san jose get it is attention but the richest city title area is really the san francisco area. >> it helps with the imagine. the fact that there are people who have money are staying here. >> the u.s. census bureau awarded the area. the south beach group known for broadcasting the san jose -- >> you have to pay people a whole lot more to live in an area where expenses are ridiculously high. >> reporter: in san jose 1/4 of home sales are done with cash. >> it does make it harder for the guy who has to qualify for financing to get that property. >> i think the city should do a better job in fast tracking housing. >> reporter: the point is that san jose is still scraping by budget wise and needs more tech companies. >> our metropolitan area has great jobs and great wealth, what creates tax revenue in the city of san jose are employers. >> reporter: but south bay research is optimistic about san jose keeping its title. >

ktvu's robert handa tell us some officers have already voted with their feet. >> reporter: the san jose union counted votes this morning and announced officers approve the city contract proposal by a 79- 21 margin. the raise didn't matter to kim alford an 11 year veteran who quit today to join another bay area department. >> the moral is absolutely low. it's obvious you can't deny it. and you know they're going to have to do a lot more than what they're planning to do with this new contract to fix that. >> we have six officers walking out the door even after this contract is approved. they're following many who came before them. this came way too late. >> reporter: with officers down to 900 makes life too risky. >> the low numbers is making it difficult to get assistance when you need it. >> i had lost my house. we tightened our belts because of it. >> reporter: the mayor says he city hopes the raise will help retain officers. >> the cost for individual officers skyrocketed. driven by skyrocketing retirement costs. they've gotten so costly we can't afford to have as many as we want. >>

in gilroy, robert handa. >>> firefighters in monterey county say they're making progress on the fire in big suhr. tonight the fire is 20% contained. it covers about 770 acres or a little more than one square mile. since it started on sunday night 22 structures have burned including at least 14 homes. firefighters say the fire is burning in steep terrain and is consuming shrubs and timber. now to the peninsula where health officials say we won't know until next week what kind of compounds were released into the air at on hour's long plant fire they heard explosions. it took firefighters nearly nine hours to get that fire under control. smoke from the fire drifted south prompting a shelter in place. this is the fourth fire at sims in the past six years and the second in a little more than a month. >>> we have bill's audio problem worked out. we want to go back to him for a check of weather and the smoke conditions. >> the smoke came from this fire down around big suhr. let's take a look and we'll track its path. the smoke drifted south. as it did it brought with it particulates. as the

in gilroy, robert handa. >>> firefighters in monterey county say they're making progress on the fire in big suhr. tonight the fire is 20% contained. it covers about 770 acres or a little more than one square mile. since it started on sunday night 22 structures have burned including at least 14 homes. firefighters say the fire is burning in steep terrain and is consuming shrubs and timber. now to the peninsula where health officials say we won't know until next week what kind of compounds were released into the air at on hour's long plant fire they heard explosions. it took firefighters nearly nine hours to get that fire under control. smoke from the fire drifted south prompting a shelter in place. this is the fourth fire at sims in the past six years and the second in a little more than a month. >>> we have bill's audio problem worked out. we want to go back to him for a check of weather and the smoke conditions. >> the smoke came from this fire down around big suhr. let's take a look and we'll track its path. the smoke drifted south. as it did it brought with it particulates. as the

this is a second year in a row that san jose has been named the richest city but as ktvu's robert handa tells us people there are both proud but also a little apprehensive. >> san jose get it is attention but the richest city title area is really the san francisco area. >> it helps with the imagine. the fact that there are people who have money are staying here. >> the u.s. census bureau awarded the area. the south beach group known for broadcasting the san jose -- >> you have to pay people a whole lot more to live in an area where expenses are ridiculously high. >> reporter: in san jose 1/4 of home sales are done with cash. >> it does make it harder for the guy who has to qualify for financing to get that property. >> i think the city should do a better job in fast tracking housing. >> reporter: the point is that san jose is still scraping by budget wise and needs more tech companies. >> our metropolitan area has great jobs and great wealth, what creates tax revenue in the city of san jose are employers. >> reporter: but south bay research is optimistic about san jose keeping its title

tonight at 6:15, ktvu's robert handa asks administrators just how cold is too cold for a classroom. >>> happening now a protest in santa rosa against a deputy who shot and killed 13-year-old andy lopez. this was the scene before the march began. protesters pushed their way into the santa rosa city council past police officers. they made their way down to the floor and held up white crosses, christien kafton is in santa rosa and will join us live at the end of the march at 5:30. >>> house and senate negotiators have reached a bipartisan budget deal. house budget chairman ryan and patty murray announced the agreement just about 90 minutes ago. it would restore $63 billion in automatic spending cuts. the increases would be offset by spending reductions and increased fees elsewhere in the budget. congress still needs to approve the deal. >>> an investigative hearing on the deadly asiana flight was rescheduled for tomorrow because of a deadly storm in washington, d.c. the national transportation stayty -- safety board will be focusing on whether our systems are affecting pilot skills. they

in san jose, robert handa, ktvu channel 2 news. >>> u.s. stock markets declined today for a third consecutive day. the dow fell 104 points. it has now moved lower. the nasdaq was down five. many investors expect the federal reserve to start applying a stimulus as soon as next week. >>> claims had been down during the previous three weeks but analysts say the numbers around thanksgiving and christmas are often volatile. >>> a menacing reptile guarding a marijuana grow. learn how much his owner will spend in jail. >>> and how high temperatures will climb tomorrow. >>> in 90 seconds, hurt so badly he hurt [ female announcer ] here's to a whole world of happier holidays. time to enchant, delight and amaze. safeway will help you gather everyone 'round. a smoked, shank half ham is only 99 cents a pound. with starbucks at $6.99, serve coffee everyone savors. top it off with coffee-mate... just $2.79 for all kinds of flavors. turns out this season less is really so much more. so make your holiday merrier than ever before. safeway. ingredients for l

in san jose, robert handa, ktvu channel 2 news. >>> more details now an additional 375 beds are beingplaced in three santa clara shelters in response to that death. officials say shelters -- bed will be available until monday. >>> and right now we're still tracking the activity on radar. the rain is still a factor in our forecast. snowfall in the higher terrain of the research. a winter advisory in place for the east bay hills of the santa cruz mountains. north bay hills until 6:00 tomorrow morning. you could get a dusting of snow with snow levels at 1,500 to 2,000 feet. we will show you that at 1,800 feet. look at mount hamilton at 2,200 people. it could be a pretty sight as we head into saturday morning. coming up i'll let you know about the rest of the weekend if you have rain chances in the forecast. i will let you know when freeze warnings returns to parts of the bay area. >>> cars and car lovers gather in honor of actor paul walker. >>> we're continuing to follow breaking news. a river of water tonight inundating homes in one bay area neighborhood. we'll go back live to the scen

in san jose, robert handa, ktvu channel 2 news. >>> more details now an additional 375 beds are beingplaced in three santa clara shelters in response to that death. officials say shelters -- bed will be available until monday. >>> and right now we're still tracking the activity on radar. the rain is still a factor in our forecast. snowfall in the higher terrain of the research. a winter advisory in place for the east bay hills of the santa cruz mountains. north bay hills until 6:00 tomorrow morning. you could get a dusting of snow with snow levels at 1,500 to 2,000 feet. we will show you that at 1,800 feet. look at mount hamilton at 2,200 people. it could be a pretty sight as we head into saturday morning. coming up i'll let you know about the rest of the weekend if you have rain chances in the forecast. i will let you know when freeze warnings returns to parts of the bay area. >>> cars and car lovers gather in honor of actor paul walker. >>> we're continuing to follow breaking [ female announcer ] for those who love sweets your season is here. let's just call it the baking time of ye

yesterday he spoke to robert handa in an interview.he says he's confident he can improve department morale because he's not an outsider. >> i'm a native of the community and the city and i've grown up here. i've been here for almost 28 years now. >> today's announcement of the new police chief is expected to come at the same time the city announces a new contract with san jose police officers. >>> the city of oakland still has not hired enough police officers according to a city council woman who is running for mayor. libby shaft later this evening will ask the council to approve a new resolution demanding that the city administrator write regular reports on how the city can reach the number of police officers approved by the budget. oakland's budget calls for $665 officers in december but only 631 are working right now. >>> 7:39. a winter storm is hitting the east coast right now bringing up to 6 inches of new snow. and the conditions there are having an impact here at bay area airports. >>> also, a groundbreaking first for the auto i

robert handa tells us the makeover is lifting the spirit of students and also the entire neighborhood. >> reporter: 22-year-old herman gruel is back on home turf and wants it to look good. he is one of 15 -- 1500 volunteers working on the makeover. >> less and less resources devoted to the school, books, computer labs decreasing as i was going on in school. >> reporter: tough times in the school district led to the volunteer effort, with materials and labor supplied by san jose, community group, and nvidia, totalling about $1 million. >> this is families and people of different disciplines, different communities. we're all here for the same purpose. >> reporter: the goal is not just beautification. >> revitalizing a space is fundamental to encouraging kids to come to school and stay in school. >> we have to understand that if we don't reach them, they can easily be reached by gangs and different groups. >> reporter: leaders say the project benefits the whole community. >> we're doing a wheel field for soccer, for football, for little league, you know, for the community to use, with li

in san jose, robert handa, ktvu, channel 2news. >>> it is time for our ticket saturday.o win tickets to see chen yun in san francisco war memorial opera house, january 4-12. your chance to win, go to ktvu before midnight and put in the secret word, "dance." >>> remember the batkid, miles scott? 52-year-old kevin silva has been just named by the guinness book of world records as owning the largest collection of batman memorabilia in the world. of course he keeps all of that stuff in, what else, his bat cave. >> i've had people drop to their knees at display cases, look at all this stuff! this is the official certificate as the largest batman memorabilia, belonging to me. >> he has more than 2500 action figures, lunch boxes and utility belts. his collection has recently been appraised at more than $100,000. >> wonder how much he spent on it. i think he probably spent quite a bit. >>> your time now, 9:50. an honor for the pope. the unusual recognition he's getting from esquire magazine. >> a sunnier, warmer day in store for your saturday. i'll line up your numbers for you,