abc news reporter jacqueline lee was at the hearing. >> a line outside the courthouse early monday morning in los angeles public interest is so high in the menendez brothers case that there was a lottery for the 16 public seats inside the hearing. >> i'm really invested. i want to know what happens. >> it would just be huge to be able to be in the room when this potentially could be happening. >> erik and lyle, listening in on the hearing via phone from prison, where they are both currently serving life sentences without the possibility of parole. their attorney, mark geragos, walking into court today. he's working to get their conviction in the 1989 murder of their parents, reduced to voluntary manslaughter. the goal is for an early release. they want the court to consider new evidence. the brothers were allegedly sexually abused by their father for years before the murder. there is also a new allegation from a former member of the boy band menudo, who says he too was raped by jose menendez. last month, the now outgoing los angeles county district attorney recommended the brothers be rese

jacqueline lee, abc news, los angeles. >> visa has announced a round of mass layoffs that includes about 200 jobs right here in the bay area. the company is eliminating 192 positions at its offices in san mateo, and ten at the new mission rock hub in san francisco. visa says the cuts are designed to streamline its international operations. the company reported strong earnings last month, with quarterly revenue up 12% from a year ago, with voters approving the closure of a two mile stretch of the great highway. >> san francisco's plans for the road's future are taking shape. the city has submitted a plan to the california coastal commission that will transform it into a park. it includes a transformation for part of sloat boulevard and calls for a protected bike lane. this will mean, of course, less street parking, roughly 90 spots are going to go away. the commission is expected to vote on this proposal next month. >> the gym chain, fitness sf, is taking over a long vacant piece of property in san francisco. fitness sf will open its ninth location in the old lombardi sports building at p

jacqueline lee, abc news, los angeles. >> visa has announced a round of mass layoffs that includes about00 jobs right here in the bay area. the company is eliminating 192 positions at its offices in san mateo, and ten at the new mission rock hub in san francisco. visa says the cuts are designed to streamline its international operations. the company reported strong earnings last month, with quarterly revenue up 12% from a year ago, with voters approving the closure of a two mile stretch of the great highway. >> san francisco's plans for the road's future are taking shape. the city has submitted a plan to the california coastal commission that will transform it into a park. it includes a transformation for part of sloat boulevard and calls for a protected bike lane. this will mean, of course, less street parking, roughly 90 spots are going to go away. the commission is expected to vote on this proposal next month. >> the gym chain, fitness sf, is taking over a long vacant piece of property in san francisco. fitness sf will open its ninth location in the old lombardi sports building at pol

jacqueline lee abc news, ventura county, california. >> now for the families whose homes burned downhe beginning of the rebuilding process often starts with a call to the insurance company. we of course, know that well, here in the bay area. reporter carlos granda, from our sister station in los angeles, looks at the challenges those homeowners face. >> the bowcock family home is gone, burned to the ground. >> it's amazing to see such devastation as they prepare to rebuild, they wonder what will happen with their insurance. we started that process yesterday and our our insurance cover is covering this airbnb. they they gave us, you know, this is how much money that you'll have for up to 12 months. unless there's a state of emergency, then they'll increase it. >> the governor proclaimed a state of emergency in ventura, and that allows the insurance commissioner to impose a moratorium. so insurance policies in those areas cannot be canceled for a year. >> the purpose there is to just give consumers and homeowners some breathing room to kind of to recover and to make sure that they have

abc news reporter jacqueline lee has more on that.>> this morning, the wicked winds that spread, ferocious fires finally dying down. >> if you think of what this looked like 48 hours ago, the first 24 hours of this was a significant extreme fire fight. i am so grateful for the responders here. >> the first day the wildfire in ventura county, northwest of los angeles exploding in size this week, growing to over 20,000 acres in just 36 hours. more than 130 homes have been destroyed. many others damaged and thousands more still at ris. some evacuated residents grateful to return home. what were your thoughts as you started driving through? >> i actually was i was really relieved. i was relieved to see all the support from the firefighters and the police officers, and it felt really safe. and, you know, of course, devastated and your hearts morning for that. but at the same time, it it was also really heartwarming to have all the support. >> now, the same weather system with those furious winds dumping feet of snow in the rockies, states

abc's jacqueline lee was with firefighters battling hotspots over the weekend and was told about a dangerousire condition. >> how long can a fire burn underground? >> until it reemerges so it can burn for days. we can still find hotspots and smoldering embers and hot material for a couple of days. >> the fire has destroyed 200 buildings, many of them homes. forecasters expect the santa ana winds, which fed the fire's rapid growth last week, to return tonight. but they are not expected to be as strong. >> 50,000 troops have gathered in western russia, poised to launch an attack aimed at retaking territory captured by ukraine. this comes as both countries just exchanged a record number of drones. abc's ines de la cuetara has the latest. >> ukraine and russia trading massive drone strikes, as ukrainian military sources say 50,000 troops, mostly russian and some north korean, amassed in western russia for an expected counteroffensive against ukraine. ukrainian soldiers currently hold territory in russia's kursk region and are already under pressure from russian military. moscow, seeing the bigge

abc news reporter jacqueline lee has mor. >> reporter hundreds of thousands of ukrainians are withoutther massive aerial attack on ukraine's energy system. putin trying to crush the country's power grid as temps drop during winter. the darkness weighs me down, this woman says. the mood is sad, but we have to wait and believe. we live with hope because it is much more difficult for our fighters and guys on the front lines now. president biden calling the attack horrific. russia and north korea expanding their mutual defense pact, effectively challenging the u.s, south korea and europe. putin claiming russia has ten times more missiles than all of nato's combined. ukrainian president zelenskyy saying in an interview to sky news that he would be willing to cede unoccupied territory to russia in exchange for nato protection if it means a ceasefire. >> it was a ceasefire guarantees that putin will not come back and in this case, i commended you about nato. yes, nato immediately, the part of ukraine and we need it very much. >> mr. >> putin accusing the biden administration of escalating th

here's abc news reporter jacqueline lee. >> a line outside the courthouse early monday morning in lost is so high in the menendez brothers case that there was a lottery for the 16 public seats inside the hearing. >> i'm really invested. i want to know what happens. >> it would just be huge to be able to be in the room when this potentially could be happening. >> eric and lyle listening in on the hearing via phone from prison, where they are both currently serving life sentences without the possibility of parole. their attorney, mark geragos, walking into court today, he's working to get their conviction in the 1989 murder of their parents reduced to voluntary manslaughter. the goal is for an early release. they want the court to consider new evidence. the brothers were allegedly sexually abused by their father for years before the murder. there is also a new allegation from a former member of the boy band menudo, who says he too was raped by jose menendez. last month, the now outgoing los angeles county district attorney recommended the brothers be resentenced. the new da, nathan hoch

abc news reporter jacqueline lee in ventura county, where the devastation is evident. >> the wildfireng in size, growing to over 20,000 acres in just 36 hours, fueled by hurricane force santa ana winds. >> it's like trying to put out a blowtorch with a squirt gun. >> thousands of people under evacuation orders. >> people have the best intentions to stay and defend their home right up until the time the fire hits their home. and then you're stuck. and then our firefighters have to get in and pull you out. now, we're not fighting the fire. now we're not rescuing others. >> kathleen bowcock described the chaos as she evacuated her family from their camarillo home. >> there was black, heavy smoke with debris just flowing at us and i didn't know if our neighbors got out and my phone didn't work, so i couldn't. i didn't know if anybody was stuck. >> more than 130 homes have been destroyed, many others damaged, and thousands more still at risk. i spoke with one firefighter who explained the fire can also spread through tree roots. >> it will go through the root system and stuff like that, an

jacqueline lee abc news, ventura county, california. >> for the families whose homes have burned downthe beginning of the rebuilding process often starts with a call to the insurance company. we all know that very well here in the bay area. reporter carlos granda from our sister station in los angeles, looks at the challenges those homeowners face. >> the bowcock family home is gone, burned to the ground. >> it's amazing to see such devastation. >> as they prepare to rebuild, they wonder what will happen with their insurance. >> we started that process yesterday and our ■our insurance cover is covering this airbnb. they they gave us you know, this is how much money that you'll have for up to 12 months. unless there's a state of emergency, then they'll increase it. >> the governor proclaimed a state of emergency in ventura, and that allows the insurance commissioner to impose a moratorium. so insurance policies in those areas cannot be canceled for a year. >> the purpose there is to just give consumers and homeowners some breathing room to kind of to recover and to make sure that they

abc news reporter jacqueline lee has mor. >> hundreds of thousands of ukrainians are without power assia carries out another massive aerial attack on ukraine's energy system. putin trying to crush the country's power grid as temps drop during winter. the darkness weighs me down, this woman says. the mood is sad, but we have to wait and believe. we live with hope because it is much more difficult for our fighters and guys on the front lines now. president biden calling the attack horrific. russia and north korea expanding their mutual defense pact, effectively challenging the u.s, south korea and europe. putin claiming russia has ten times more missiles than all of nato's combined. ukrainian president zelenskyy saying in an interview to sky news that he would be willing to cede unoccupied territory to russia in exchange for nato protection if it means a ceasefire. >> if a ceasefire guarantees that putin will not come back and in this case, i commend about nato. yes, nato immediately, the part of ukraine and we need it very much. >> putin accusing the biden administration of escalating

abc news reporter jacqueline lee describes some of the challenge. >> fire officials say the threat is not over yet. even though you might not see a fire, it's still smoldering underground. so they're trying to prevent it from reigniting. >> six people, including a firefighter, were injured in that fire. thousands are still under evacuation orders. up next, reaching new heights. bitcoin hits a record high. what experts say is causing the cryptocurrency surge. >> i'm spencer christian rainfall is on the way. i'll show you the timeline on its arrival and its departure when and then there's the gmc sierra. available with the connected driving experience.... and the world's first six-function multipro tailgate. gmc sierra. it's the truck. get 0% apr on select 2024 sierra 1500 models. that's over 89 hundred total value when you trade in an eligible vehicle. plus no monthly payments until next year. ♪ donald trump has embraced crypto in recent months, even keynoting at the annual bitcoin conference in july. it then surged in value when it became clear trump had won the presidential election.

abc news reporter jacqueline lee has the story. >> late night talk show host conan o'brien is hosting 97th annual oscars, marking a first for the comedian. >> this is incredible. i've been handed an oscar. i'm an oscar winner. it's amazing. host. oh. i'm hosting. yes, i'm an oscar host. exactly. oh, but do icar still get to keep the oscar? no. oh. >> hollywood's biggest night, airing on abc, march 2nd. in a statement on x, o'brien writing, america demanded it and now it's happening. taco bell's new cheesy chalupa supreme, the comedian joining a list of oscar hosts that includes johnny carson, david letterman, whoopi goldberg and jon stewart. o'brien is best known for hosting talk shows late night with conan o'brien, the tonight show, and conan. this announcement comes a year after comedian jimmy kimmel hosted the big show. o'brien has previously hosted the emmy awards and white house correspondents dinner. >> march 2nd i'm hosting the oscars. >> okay. the president of disney television group, which owns abc news, says conan o'brien joins an iconic roster of comedy greats who have serv

jacqueline lee, abc news, los angeles. >> and ukraine is reeling after the latest assault by russia.even news reporter tara campbell has more on how bay area families with loved ones in the region are responding. >> a devastating russian airstrike earlier this week, leaving more than a million ukrainian homes without power and loved ones here in the bay area bracing. >> we did just speak to my sister, who continues living in her home. they have no power. >> yulia zimmerman's sister lives in mykolaiv, the same city her mother fled early in the wa, still living with yulia and her family in tahoe and her heart still back home. >> we were able to talk to her because they gave electricity for an hour and my sister was able to charge the phone, so my mom was able to talk to her and get peace of mind. >> russia unleashing nearly 200 missiles and drones thursday taking out critical energy sites. >> end of november very cold. children kindergarten. i can't start thinking i live in tahoe and i'll just for two days and are painful. >> meanwhile, one bay area man doing what he can to help keep t

abc news reporter jacqueline lee described some of the challenges. >> fire officials say the threat isot over yet. even though you might not see a fire, it's still smoldering underground, so they're trying to prevent it from reigniting. >> six people, including a firefighter, were injured in that fire. thousands are still under evacuation orders. up next, reaching new heights. bitcoin hits a record high. what experts say is causing this cryptocurrency surge. and once again, taking a live look outside okay. we can see things in this shot. now this is overlooking the ferry building and the bay bridge. spencer christian will have a look at your accuweather forecast traffic and nightfall coming up in sports. >> the 40 niners begin the second half of the regular season in tampa bay. welcome back christian mccaffrey. it was a fight to the finish and did a frustration turn into celebration for the niners. a battle hit $80,000 for the first time on sunday. president elect donald trump has embraced crypto in recent months, even keynoting at the annual bitcoin conference in july. it then surged

abc's jacqueline lee is joining us from camarillo, california, with the latest. ne, good morning. >> reporter: whit, good morning. it is absolutely heartbreaking. many homeowners are returning to see there is nothing left. we have in front of what used to be a garage. there is a melted refrigerator, showing how hot this thing burned. firefighters are working around the clock to get this fire under control. this morning, the ferocious mountain fire scorching ventura county. flames spreading across more than 20,000 acres. nearly 3,000 firefighters battling the blaze with 14% contained. >> i'm not built for this at all. i was crying. it was pathetic. >> reporter: 200 structures charred beyond recognition. >> i can't believe it's gone. like, i don't know what to say right now. this is surreal. i mean, i know we live in a fire danger area, but this is -- it came out of nowhere. it was so fast. >> reporter: more than 14,000 residents remain under evacuation orders, and at least six people injured. many homeowners discovering the majority of their camarillo heights neigh

abc's jacqueline lee spoke to firefighters battling hotspots. >> how long can a fire burn undergroundil it reemerges so it can burn for days. we can still find hotspots and smoldering embers and hot material for a couple of days. >> but those winds eased up over the weekend. the favorable weather conditions helped fire crews gain more control over the blaze. the fire now at about 28% containment. alison kosik, abc news, new york. >> climate change is fueling worsening wildfires across the country, and tomorrow a major conference kicks off to find solutions. but it comes as our planet reaches an ominous milestone. this year, earth reached 1.5°c above pre-industrial average for the first time, with 2024 likely to be the warmest year on record. 40,000 scientists, activists and world leaders will head to azerbaijan tomorrow for the united nations summit. the goal is to figure out how much wealthy countries should pay to help developing nations deal with the effects of climate change. well, president elect donald trump's transition team is hard at work preparing to take over power in just

jacqueline lee, abc news, los angeles. >> it will be funny. you can watch the academy awards live from hollywood sunday, march 2nd, starting at 4 p.m. right here on abc seven. >> a young father gunned down by a man wearing a disguise. abc's 2020 is taking viewers inside the case that shocked the atlanta area. successful entrepreneur rusty snyderman was killed as he was dropping his young son off at preschool, just days after mysterious person was seen lurking outside his home with a gun. the case captivated the nation as an extensive manhunt led police to a suspect who had a connection to his own wife. 2020 co-anchor deborah roberts has a sneak peek of what viewers can expect tonight from fatal disguise. >> of course, the next question police have to ask is, could his wife have known anything about this? and tonight you're going to hear some of the testimony where the wife was actually questioned. andrea snyderman in this case, and how it led police to actually begin to look at her. and just where this investigation went from there. >> the 202

. >> ktvu henry lee live in oakland, covering both recall elections tonight. henry. >> all right, so we're at a watch party at jacquelinequare in oakland for both recall efforts. and as you mentioned, we are about 65% in favor of both recalls of both alameda county da pamela price and mayor shengtao. now joining me is chris moore. he's been an organizer for the recalls and, chris, your thoughts at this point are we pretty much optimistic that both these women will be recalled and why or why not? >> yeah, i think we're we're very optimistic. you see, we got the second set of votes that came in. we're at 22% of the vote across the county. percentages stayed exactly the same. where we're at 65% versus 35%. so a 30% spread, it's going to be very difficult for that to change to a to the opposite way. so yeah, we're we're very confident that, you know, we've been working for a year now on both of these. and we're very confident they're they're going to be successful. >> and we'll recall and talk about how we got here because we're in the bay area a lot of liberals, a lot of progressives. but again, was it your belief that the