john fowler, fox news. >>> evacuation are in place in southern california as a wildfire threatens several homes in granada hills. these are live pictures from part of the fire that you can see has burned a hillside. moor than 200 firefighters -- more -- more than 200 firefighters are the scene. there is concern with the try weather. this is the beginning of what will be a long and tedious fire season. >> this a mountain fire that is threatening homes in gra granada hills and we'll have more coming up at 5:00. thank you for making ktvu your choice for news. we're always here for you at ktvu.com. female announcer: get three years interest-free financing on brand name mattress sets. plus, get free delivery, and sleep train's 100-day low price guarantee. sleep train's interest free for 3 event ends sunday. ♪ your ticket to a better night's sleep ♪ - [emily] on this episode of xploration outer space: forget the beaches or the mountains. we've got a new vacation destination -- space. - we're going to be flying people to space. - [emily] but fair warning: these trips can get a little pricey. - t

ktvu's john fowler reports there are strong opinions on both sides. >> charged topic. >> i feel like, you know, it is a scary thing. it is scary. >> as a mom you want to respect the decisions all parents make for their children knowing they are making them within reason. >> reporter: parents can object on personal or religious grounds. >> so easy for parents to opt out. we need to make it more difficult. >> reporter: a bill would eliminate the exemptions. opponents rallied at the state capitol. >> we ought to encourage full vaccination. >> reporter: doctors say science proves there is no autism link, they save lives and prevent permanent injuries. >> i don't think we have a right not ovaccinate unless there is a medical reason -- to vaccinate unless there is a medical reason. . >> reporter: most say they would rather not send their child it a school where the kids are not vaccinated. >> i believe it is up to parents. it is their choice. but my concern is all kids are safe. >> harm to your children, it becomes more scary. i would be frightened. >> i would feel uncomfortable sending my

john fowler, ktvu fox 2 news. >>> today is 4/20 4/20 and today we look at the politics of pot. after the break the push to legalize the drug. >> plus one water agency's new campaign to conserve water during the drought. >> tracking the cool down. it will get cooler and a chance for sprinkles in the 5 day. >> a look at the bridge, the commute direction on the left. east. heavy. heading west not bad. >> and a live picture right now. on interstate 880 in oakland. near the oracle arena. you can see no traffic trouble there tonight. tip-off is 7:30 p.m. back with more in just a moment. >>> today is april 2 or 4/20, a day pot smokers consider a holiday. sky fox was over head at 4:20 this afternoon at the peak of the 4/20 celebration. you can see thousands of people there lighting up on hippy hill at san francisco golden gate park and on this 4/20 people who support making american legal in california are trying to highlight their cause. >> if they have their way next year you will vote on whether to legalize use of the drug in california. ktvu's noelle walker has the story new at 6:0

ktvu's john fowler with why some say the earthquake may have been a disaster but the reconstruction is a nightmare. >> reporter: 8 months after it struck the earthquake's damage still prominent in the city of napa. >> you still see structures being retrofitted and people trying to get their businesses back together. it is life altering. >> reporter: the earthquake killed one person. caused $400 million in damage. for thousands it has been a struggle to return to normal. >> priority property owners have done a great job. >> reporter: but the mayor points to the damaged pedestrian bridge a block from main street, one of 8 roads and bridges needing $1.7 million in repairs. the river front promenade needs $800,000 to fix. and millions more to repair four water mains. part of the unseen infrastructure damage that brings the costs to $12 million. money the city doesn't have. has run into red tape for promised fema reimbursement. the mayor says it is frustrating. >> they will say this qualifies, this doesn't qualify. there is a lot of work that goes into this, the federal government goes thro

ktvu's john fowler says this startled many passengers. >> reporter: troubling new statistics show san francisco international airport is the worse in the nation for unauthorized incushions on to property. >> they need to step up security. and figure out where they are going wrong. >> reporter: it is not in the passenger areas where cameras and patrolling officers are everywhere. but along 15 miles of fence and shoreline around the runways and ramp areas. all crucial it airline safety and security. our news partner discovered at sfo over 10 years 37 reported perimeter breaches. >> this is a big deal for us. security is important to the airport. we take this seriously. we are focused on learning from every incident. >> reporter: officials says it works out one incident every three months. that 40% were homeless or mentally challenged. two volved approach to aircraft, one of those the son of a pilot and all were apprehended by police. >> i felt secure in the airport today. i didn't notice anything off. i felt safe for myself. >> reporter: passengers told us you have to consider the commu

john fowler, ktvu fox 2 news. >> something that could be significant -- >> a few seconds could make a big difference. >>> our meteorologist mark tamayo who is looking that forecast and nice out there. >> nice weekend. a few days ago, tuesday we had the thunderstorms, the hail and snow in the mountains. this is the time of year you could get drastic weather changes. you can see a couple systems. one approaching southern california. high clouds there andmore in the way of cloud cover here approaching the north coast. -- and more in the way of cloud cover here approaching the north coast. the rain line will be to the north. the rain chances way up there in the northern portions of the state. the live doppler sweeps. no luck in finding rainfall out there. dry weather pattern continues beyond the weekend. current numbers, 60s in livermore. 69. napa 64. san francisco downtown 60. and santa rosa 68 degrees. here is our live camera towards san francisco bay. the bay bridge. a chop on the bay water. winds 10-20 miles per hour. clear tonight. this weekend, fair skies. we will hold on to the dry

47 john fowler -- ktvu's john fowler found one company to help you keep your lawn green. >> the grassing lots of water at the high school. smart water technology saves the district $250,000 a year and cuts water use by 30% but the lesson is priceless. >> we show the kids how important it is to make a change and difference when it comes to planting and using water. >> reporter: this technology can optimize for the weather, the types of plants, the soil and for the slope of the field to maximize the use of water. >> the next step is about data. gaining the right information at the right time. >> the company created these watering controllers. each data linked by radio to offices where computer programs blend real time neighborhood by neighborhood weather data. humidity, soil moisture and other factors. fine tuning watering amount and length to each customers yard and hour. >> you can set up the profile and then maximize and optimize your water use. >> reporter: they now stay green. other users like it. >> run off. things happen that shouldn't be happening, you can get a fine up to $500.

john fowler, ktvu fox 2 news. >>> so graceful. >> always exciting to see a whale, especially out on a boat and what great weather today for whale watching. things are about to change. we'll go over to mark in the weather center with the latest on rain that is heading our way. >> lots of clear skies today. get ready, talking about stormy conditions over the next few days. not so much in the short-term, but in our five-day forecast, a few rain clouds. at least the forecast headlines, a much cooler headline. two systems. the first one is not a strong one at all, but that will produce a few rain showers and on tuesday, that will be the one that warrants attention with some heavier rain, possibly some thunderstorms and gusty winds. cooler with temperatures only in the mid 50s and the sierra will pick up snowfall with possibly some winter storm watches kicking in for the mountains and it's cold enough that we could have a dusting of snow here in the bay area up above 500 feet. that will be for tuesday. you can see this is the signature of cold air that speckled cloud cover in the pacific. i

ktvu's john fowler explains the battle of fairways versus frogs. >> reporter: one of the bay area's oldest and most affordable places to tee off. >> that a boy! >> reporter: sharp park is on low ground on pacifica's coast, deeded to san francisco. its home to populations of fresh-water red-legged frogs and the endangered san francisco garther garter snake. the state's coastal commission granted be lated permits to controversial illegal pumps, part of a $400,000 project to control golf course water. environmentalists also object to this seawall, intended to protect the golf course. but they say it, too, was built illegally without permits. >> i think this project has been very mismanaged by the san francisco rec and parks department. >> reporter: the department told me it's coordinating with state and federal wildlife and water agencies, that the project preserves habitat and the golf course. but environmentalists demand a low marshy area be put off limits to golfers. >> it doesn't mean that sharp park golf course would have to close. it would just mean where there is the sensitive habitat

john fowler, ktvu fox 2 news. >>> ahead tonight a push to create a land mark and silicon valley. the rip on hollywood with a twist. is a sign on a hill the answer? the man behind the idea. >> plus the costly fine being proposed by governor jerry brown that could have water wasters thinking twice. >> up next the charity event that brought the biggest names in sports to a bay -- to the bay area. >> ed. >> >>> the best golfers in the world are in san francisco for the second straight week. last week the lpga tour, this being the pga it -- this week the pga. no longer lose one and you are out. joe fonzi reports the field is also younger. >> reporter: not long ago if you thought about the top two players in golf you would say tiger woods and phil mickelson. when the championship officially gets started tomorrow at harding park, neither will be in the field. phil mickelson is ranked 18th in the world. tiger woods 116. the new number one and two, rory mcilroy and jordan speith. no question golf has experienced a changing of the guard. >> i do feel this generation are better equipped and

and ktvu's john fowler discovered businesses and commuters felt blind sided and predicting a traffic nightmare. >> reporter: it is called the embarcadero bridge. between oak and fifth. beginning next month it is to close for two years. >> big disappointment to a lot of people. heard nothing about it. >> reporter: many drivers use it to by-pass 880. >> get to downtown real quick. no traffic. >> reporter: a $23 million retrofit would end the bay trail here. >> best part of the run. jack london square. we would prefer to see it stay open. >> the city says it has no choice, the bridge is unsafe, it is trying to coordinate the construction with other projects to minimize disruption. >> not that we do one part, long delay and then another with a laidly, we are doing them at the same time -- delay, we are doing them at the same time. . >> reporter: she acknowledged disruption to businesses, especially here at the marina area. >> all for public safety. but, you know, having a environmental impact and how it impacts us folks that has to use the thoroughfares it will make a grid lock. >> repor

john fowler, ktvu, channel 2 news. >>> the northern spotted owl found in california's old growth forestpacific northwest may soon be added to the federal register of endangered species. the u.s. fish and wildlife service says there is enough everyday to warrant the change in status. changing the owl's listing will take about two years. the biggest threat to the northern spotted owl, when it was first put on the register was the loss of of old growth habitat. now it is a predator. >>> checking in on some of the rain totals. we got some rain the last couple of days, over the weekend, and yesterday, more shower activity. it helps out a little bit. we're not above average this year, but we're in the fourth year of a drought. with these below average rainfalls for this time of year, we're still in kind of a world of hurt here in terms of rainfall. but it's amazing we're as high up as we are. almost 90% in san jose. that's because we have the two massive storms that rolled in here in the early part of december and again in january. here's the jet stream going well over the north. that's where

ktvu's john fowler tells us you can do something right now to help save bees. >> reporter: your gardeney to bees survival. >> the more bee friendly plants the better. >> reporter: what you do after you plant your plants is crucial. >> the fewer insecticides you use the better. >> reporter: honey bee colonies are collapsing. certain insecticides are killing bees. >> mounting evidence that shows these pesticides are a cause of die off. >> reporter: she went to federal court armed with these and other studies. they are asking them oo restrict -- to restrict them. they are absorbed by plants and can't be washed off. >> they will take a look at the impacts. ask the manufacturers to provide additional data and they are not going to approve new uses. >> reporter: there are lot of old uses. now it is up to consumers. lowes promises a phase out of plants treated with them. home depot said if it had evidence it would make changes today. they sell no treated plants at all. you can ask your store. also these pesticides are also bee safe. this one targets just pests. >> avoid using insecticides. if

john fowler, ktvu news. >>> one text, one call, could wreck it all. that's-- flying cones that's the campaign. and we test it out. good night. >> tons of concrete spilled into a bay area creek. the environmental effect and what's being done to fix it. >> new video of the moments before that controversial police shooting in south carolina. plus reaction from a woman who knows the heart ache firsthand. >> it was like it was popping all over. ♪ with kaiser permanente you'll connect with your doctor any time anywhere. another way care and coverage together makes life easier. ♪ become a member of kaiser permanente. because together, we thrive. ♪ ♪ ♪ the beautiful sound of customers making the most of their united flight. power, wi-fi and streaming entertainment. that's... seize the journey friendly. >>> south carolina authorities release dash cam video of the traffic stop that ended up with the officer killing the man. a fatal encounter also seen on video. new at 10:00, christien kafton live in our newsroom with how she and others hope these videos will le

ktvu's john fowler found out why there is a new sense of urgency. >> we live in earthquake country, it that may change soon. >> one fault will rupture and that puts stress on another fault. >> reporter: he says new data from faults in southern california reveal worrisome cycle in earthquakes. clusters of large quakes sepbrated by quiet. -- separated by quiet. the napa quake, even the 1969 earthquake were small compared to the large number of earthquakes hit before the big one of 1906. >> after 1906 that quieted down. enjoyed a nice, peaceful time. >> in the bay area the fault that runs through this east bay hills has been quiet for over 150 years. scientists now say it could wake up vintly at any moment -- violently at any moment. >> i am not ready for the big earthquake. i don't know what will happen. >> reporter: people told us they have been lulled into complacency. >> i am in the mind set of expecting something like that. >> reporter: bay area fault strain is about the same as it was before 1906. a 70% chance of a large earthquake the next 30 years. highest risk, the hayward fault.

i want to ask john fowler.l honey can help allergies. >>> good news for the a's. >> kind of a pattern developing here. it was highly regarded coming out of spring training. his first start the a's, kendall graveman layed and egg. got his second chance tonight in houston and this time things were much different. graveman got gattis to hit into a double play to end the inning. then his teammates got him some cushion. opposite field drive that allows ben zobers to come from first and made it 2-0. steve vote later signaled out butler. more padding in the ninth. graveman goes 5-1/2 for his first major league win. the a's win 4-0. they are off to a 4-5 start. >>> and a very similar pattern in this early going. they're having a devil of a time scoring runs. baumgartner and poser presented with their silver slugger awards. the rockies got a couple of runs off tim hudson in the second. that was all they needed. cory dickerson with a run that makes it into the the outfield. safe at the plate. dickerson safe at second. he

john fowler, ktvu fox 2 news. >>> the ktvu fox 2 news at 6:00 p.m.tarts now. >>> thousands pack thesap center -- the sap center. [ singing ] >> to remember san jose officer michael johnson killed in the line of duty. >> mike paid the ultimate sacrifice ultimate sacrifice doing what he -- the ultimate sacrifice doing what he loved. >> he marched like a duck with three legs on crutches. >> he taught my daughter how to put someone in a sleeper hold when she was only three and he played barbies with her. >> friends, family, brothers and sisters in blue, all celebrating the life of officer michael johnson as they mourned his death. >> 61 lincoln 6 san jose. no response. >> chills hearing that. that was the end of watch announcement from dispatch. good evening. >>> hello. i am frank somerville. >> and i am julie haener. >> it was a somber and moving tribute outside the sap center as thousands of officers from as far as away east the east -- as the east coast saluted their fallen brother michael johnson. ktvu's azenith smith with more. >> reporter: a remark

john fowler, ktvu fox 2 news. >>> the centers for disease control and prevention announced 106 people on board a cruise ship come down with norovirus. the ship arrived in san diego today after a cruise to mexico. the cdc said it has undergone extra cleaning. the cruise will visit the city may 15. >>> fire season kicks off today but it has been already unusually busy this year. they responded to 650 fires since january 1. that is 50% more than its average. it is hiring more firefighters and will have more engines and helicopters on stand by. expect to see dry conditions because of a four year drought and record breaking winter warmth. >> 650 fires since january 1. it will be a long fire season. >> yeah. this is no stranger to this. listen, it will be the worse fire danger we have seen in decades. four years into a drought it will be a bad fire season. >>> we have showers showing up to the north of us. it would be nice to get rain. we could see a little bit but not a lot. the frontal system. if you look at it here. sheering apart. strongest dynamics are in this area. this tail swings th

john fowler, ktvu fox 2 news. >>> low water levels are revealing lake tahoe's hidden trash.say they have removed 170 pounds of trash last sunday. among the debris they hauled away, bottles, cans, cigarette buts and and metal. many are believed to have been there for years now. >>> now to our chief meteorologist bill martin. we heard a list of things to do from mike mibach, we will get rain early on -- >> yeah. it will work out well. there is the flag again. okay. this isn't a test. >> 35 -- >> 28 -- >> no. south in it now. that is a west wind. before you came to be, starting to blow south. the weather system is coming our way. you can tell wind speed and when it tweaks south, the low- pressure system is moving in. so is it going to do it? yeah. turning out. there it is. south wind. the system is getting closer. we know that based on the flag switching directions. the satellite. that is showing us clouds and the radar, showing us where it is supposed to be raining. the cloud picture comes from the satellite. radar comes from a service based instrument. clouds moving in. no sh

john fowler, ktvu, channel 2 news. >>> foggy out there right now. high clouds, low clouds.ve camera shot picks up some of the glow from san francisco in the fog bank. i've got to tell you, the fog or the marine layer is pretty deep. just as this morning went, so will tomorrow morning. what does that mean? more temperatures like these. lots of mid-60s. not a very warm day. it's also going to mean fog and low clouds when you get going in the morning hours. a slow burn off tomorrow. clouds out there right now. there's a wherever system offshore, but not strong enough to bring us anything significant. that's a drag. it would be nice. there's a low out here, we talked about it last week. it's not strong enough to really light anything up. there's a chance for a sprinkle. right now, that's all it would be. tomorrow, it shapes up a lot like today in san francisco. starts out about 51. lunchtime, you're coming up on 57 degrees. at the end of the day, you warm two more degrees. you're 59 degrees in san francisco. looking at some of the pollens out there. we're working on the weeds n

ktvu's john fowler with the reunions today. john?had a durable impact on the bay area from veterans to immigrants. today both groups had something to cheer. >> reporter: a special exhibit recalls a powerful time 40 years ago. when war shattered lives began anew. they visited today with their adopted vietnam born daughter. now 41 and married. >> exciting day. day that we have been waiting for. >> reporter: she wears a medal reading april 9. she is grateful. >> thank you for taking care of us and for helping and for making sure we were safe and caring. >> reporter: april 1975, vietnam about to fall. president ford authorized operation baby lift. ktvu coved it. the -- covered it. many mixed race children of u.s. soldiers. their caretakers came too. >> because we have to be with them because they need us. >> reporter: it became a humanitarian gesture. many of those children adopted in the bay area and offered citizenship. riding the train and winning hearts here. today she gave a hug to one veteran who helped 40 years ago. >> a healing e

ktvu's john fowler spoke to one of those children who's an adult now about how she's doing.hows us a new can i -- a new exhibit that just opened today. >> reporter: a special exhibit remembers a time when shattered lives began anew. the duprey's visited today. their daughter now married was a baby from operation. >> reporter: she is grateful. >> thank you for taking care of us and for helping. and for making sure that we were safe and caring and opening their arms and hearts. >> reporter: april 1975 vietnam about to fall a desperate people faced desperate times. president gerald ford authorized operation baby lift, ktvu covered it as it happened. the evacuation of thousands of vietnamese children. their caretakers came too. >> because more or less we have to be with them because they need them. >> reporter: operation baby lift became the humanitarian gesture that resinated across the globe. many of those children adopted here in the bay area and offered citizenship assimilating to this country, riding the oakland zoo train and winning hearts here. today julie gave a reunion

join us tonight for john fowler's interesting story and more of the day's news, coming up tonight at10:00. female narrator: for over 60,000 california foster children a pair of shoes is a small but important gift. my shoes have a hole in them. i can barely fit in these anymore. i hope no one would notice. they hurt my feet. i never had new shoes before. to help, sleep train is collecting new shoes of all sizes. bring your gift to any sleep train, and they'll be given to a local foster child in need. not everyone can be a foster parent... but anyone can help a foster child. who wants the last dumpling? ooh, me! penny, a moment. we just had thai food. in that culture, the last morsel is called the "greng jie" piece, and it is reserved for the most important and valued member of the group. thank you all for this high honor. i've seen pictures of your mother; keep eating. all right, honey, if we're gonna make the movie, we should go. this may be hard for you to hear, but when i say "honey," i mean my fiancée.

we mentioned the laptop from john fowler. it was his laptop that got messedup. tar, he had a coca- cola, it spilled on the macintosh laptop. here it is. we're gonna say bye-bye. we have will stanford talking about safely recycling your electronics. what do people need to know before they drop off their tv or laptops. >> anything -- the laptop, they want to make sure they remove the hard drive. outside of that, they can drop off any electronics product accept for refrigerators and microwaves. >> do parts get reused or -- getted melted down into raw material again? >> most of it gets shredded down and reused. it's recycleled into park benches. it's reduced in that process but the parts themselves are not reused. basically take them down to the components and remake them. >> how much do you get every day or year? it has to be a lot. >> we average about 50 tons a year. 150million -- 150 tons we've recycled in the three years we've been in operation. >> this nifty e-waste is part of a bigger umbrella work incorporated. talk about how it helps people with developmental

john fowler went out to find out what's behind the remarkable surge. >> reporter: right now fantasticdence of nature's resilence a new surge in the number of whales. >> see a baby and it's mom is like -- it's -- there are no words. >> reporter: we are on board san francisco whale tours boat the kitty cat just outside the golden gate. 31 year veteran of whale watching. watching >> we have never had a year like this. >> reporter: right now gray whales in the middle of their ten thousand mile migration. >> peak season is right now. >> reporter: jason blair said that males and single females swim north faster and farther off shore. >> our experience is --enabled by the slow calf with its mother. this is the best time to see them. >> reporter: texas computer engineer john waters took his daughter out of school for this. >> to see them come right up close to us like that, see the mother and calf is just fabulous. experts say conservation efforts paid off. >> they are exploiting different feud resources. they are going back to normal. >> mary jane, an expert said if you are lucky you may see