ktvu's cara liu joins us live with the effort that is joining team to outlaw these tools. >> reporter: this one is idling and it is a newer model and makes less noise and pollution. >> reporter: he is tired of noisy leaf blowers waking him up. and he says the fumes and dust aggravate him. >> i have trouble breathing. >> reporter: his frustration fueled a campaign to ban gas powered leaf blowers. he started talking to anyone who would listen. within a few weeks his petition had 1300 supporters. >> there is so many people who hate this machine. you know, it was easy to collect signatures. >> noisy. and they make a mess. >> reporter: many gardeners consider leaf blowers essential tools. they will willing to abide on regulations but say a ban would increase cost for consumers. >> they are a important part of the industry. we can reduce four hours of labor to 15 minutes. >> reporter: he took his petition to the counsel meting. they are researching -- meeting. they are researching the issue. >> if we get rid of them and use the rake like we used to do it would be better for the planet. >> r

new at 6:00 p.m., ktvu's cara liu is in the city with the thing that makes this event different fromothers. >> the program is the adoptive family program. i have a family here. they are taking a look at their gifts right now from the salvation army, opening them up. christmas presents a few days before. >> reporter: it is set up like a holiday toy store. parents shopping for their kids. but no money here. >> watch and a grift card. >> reporter: he knows times are tough and will be surprised to find present christmas morning. >> don't have money to buy. good the salvation army is giving toys for the kids. it will make my kids happy. >> reporter: according to the salvation army the toy give away differs to most because they cater to teens as well as little ones. >> we believe christmas doesn't end at the age of 12 and it is hard for a low low income teen, they don't always get gifts they are excited about. >> the toy and joy shop is meaningful to laree who runs the program. >> i come from a low income program and when i was little we were helped by the salvation army. i remember what i

ktvu's cara liu is live. what are we seeing in the south bay? >> reporter: this dealership sold six cars over the weekend. including an suv like this one. they say that is a good weekend considering the rainy conditions. >> reporter: u.s. car sells were up in -- sales were up in november. he says it is one of several indicators the economy is recovering. >> the unemployment rate is declining slowly. gdp continues to grow. looks like the housing market may have bottomed out. so it is a recovery. >> reporter: volkswagen up 35%. and toyota up 17%. chrysler up 14%. here in the bay area, they say the november numbers aren't in but so far they beating the national trend. >> we are seeing increased sales. again, some 25% year to date this year. >> reporter: he says it is encouraging news that more people are willing to buy new cars and trucks. >> in the united states athere is 17 million cars and truck -- states there is 17 million cars and trucks. >> reporter: november was a difficult month so a mixed bag for folks in the bay area. but they are hopefu

live, cara liu, ktvu channel 2 news. >>> more than 2,000 guns have been taken off the streets in one day. long lines formed in los angeles yesterday. we can tell you it brought in 2,037 weapons. people got a gift card for the weapons. it is usually held in may but was moved up because of the shooting at sandy hook elementary school. >>> she refused to block the contraceptive requirement in president obama's healthcare law. she rejected a request for an injurisdiction to block the requirement. two companies pseudoclaiming it is against -- sued claiming it is against their belief. they could be fined more than a million dollars a day for ignoring the mandate. >>> thousands of longshoreman are threatening a strike that could cripple every sea port from boston to houston. they will walk off on sunday if a deal can't be reached. the association represents more than 14,000 dock workers at 15 ports. a shut down could cost the economy billions of dollars. a mediator has been working with the two sides. a strike is looming with a few days left. >>> a court set aside $200 million in restitutio

cara liu, ktvu channel 2 news. >>> the november jobs report is out and it beat expectations. it shows the economy added 146,000 jobs. many predicted fewer than 100,000 jobs. the unemployment rate fell to a four year low, 7.7%. that is down from 7.9% in october. the news on jobs drove up the dow today, the dow is up 81 to 13,155. the nasdaq is down 11 at 2,978. concerns about apple's future were blamed. >> how the tech industry is helping local businesses expand. >> temperatures in the mid-40s tomorrow. the changing conditions you can expect. >> and >>> a skateboarder died after being struck by a vehicle. it happened at 4:30 p.m. police say the skateboarder a 41-year-old was -- 21-year-old was in a cross walk when he was struck. >>> police are warning women to be on alert as they search for a man responsible for raping two women and attempting to assault a third. ktvu's amber lee asked police why it took them months to alert the public. >> reporter: we are on 23 street where the attacks took place. the owner of this business asked us for this flier so she could make copies to

cara liu, ktvu channel 2 news. >>> the november jobs report is out and it beat expectations. it shows the economy added 146,000 jobs. many predicted fewer than 100,000 jobs. the unemployment rate fell to a four year low, 7.7%. that is down from 7.9% in october. the news on jobs drove up the dow today, the dow is up 81 to 13,155. the nasdaq is down 11 at 2,978. concerns about apple's future were blamed. >> how the tech industry is helping local businesses expand. >> temperatures in the mid-40s tomorrow. the changing conditions you can expect. >> and a string of attacks on women in a bay area city. >> people should be aware. >> the clue that could lead to the suspect. ♪ because we know how much you do to make the holidays just right. from ornaments to ottomans, memories are made with ikea. >>> a skateboarder died after being struck by a vehicle. it happened at 4:30 p.m. police say the skateboarder a 41-year-old was -- 21-year-old was in a cross walk when he was struck. >>> police are warning women to be on alert as they search for a man responsible for raping two women and atte

bill martin is tracking the rain and where it's falling right now but we begin with cara liu where some drivers are coping with wet and slick roadways out there. >> reporter: the water has begun to dry since the rain did stop. but still heavy traffic especially considering it's 10:00 tonight. a lot of folks returning to dinner after a rainy day today. rainwater covered multiple lanes. the rain fell steady most of the afternoon and evening weather and speed are being blamed for a single car crash. neither the driver or his family were injured when the suv rolled on to it side it was one of a number of crashes that officers responded to during the storm. >> with anything involved with these collisions where there's water on the roadway it's going to be speed. people need to slow down, check their tire pressure and the threads on their tires and allow themselves more space as they're traveling behind vehicles. >> reporter: through the san rafael bridge, to the golden gate driving conditions were downright miserable for most everyone on the road. that did not stop these folks from enjoying

reporting live, cara liu. >>> highway 1 south of big sur is closed tonight due to a rock slide.says it's working to open at least one lane later this week but it has no estimate on what day that might be. >>> we're going to turn now to ktvu chief meteorologist bill martin who's been monitoring all of these storms and which places are getting reallily soaked. >> it came down for some time. it was steady and sometime in the afternoon it really started to hammer. take a look at the last few hours and you can see that over the last few hours those oranges and reads down in the santa clara valley that's when it was really coming down. you can see by the oakland area, by skyline boulevard you have some light showers there. some showers down around san leandro we head out toward beach front boulevard near belmont. you see showers there. how about roson avenue getting heavy activity. at least toward campbell. but as we worked our way toward evergreen and san felipe road you see significant rainfall on these bands. you touch on here an we show you rainfall bands at .2 an hour. that's sig

ktvu's cara liu was at the event, which despite the strike was a sellout. >> reporter: organizers even had to turn people away. this crabfest did go on exactly as planned, even though there was very little going on at the whatever and on all of these crab boats. duane sitter had worried that the fisherman's wharf crabfest might be a bust when he learned that local crabbers were on strike. >> i thought it was kind of ironic, because i only heard about it a couple of days ago. they got super chowder over there and have another one that uses cilantro in it. that is just wonderful. >> reporter: organizers say supplies for this event was not an issue. their restaurants were prepared. >> when the crab price goes low, or just at the beginning of season a lot of restaurants will stockpile and buy a lot and freeze it for future use. >> reporter: as alioto chef john caravez served crab and tomato bruschetta, he said the strike was impacting business. >> it's hard for restaurants to work without crab right now, because fisherman's wharf is what you come for. >> reporter: out at the wafer, crab bo

. >> commissioner liu? >> commissioner renee? >> present. all members of the commission being present, let's start with the agenda. public comment on matters appearing or not appearing on the agenda that are within the jurisdiction of the ethics commission. :good evening dale pillpa, just wanted to comment and perhaps inquire on the election season that has just concluded. i assume that the staff will be analyzing the effectiveness of the matching -- the public finance program and perhaps compiling a report and i'm just wondering what the thinking is on the timing for that? it's usually a few months down the road, but given the various things that happened this cycle, i believe it will be interesting to look at the numbers after the fact and maybe we can have some discussion at that time about the program and how it works given what we anticipated about a year-ago going into this cycle. i don't know if staff has an indication of when that mike be happening. >> a few months. >> thanks. next item on the agenda is discussion and possible action

. >> reporter: in half-moon bay, cara liu. >>> california's population appears to be holding steady betweenuly of 2011 to july of here. it brings california's population to 37.8 million people. san mateo county was one of five to postthe largest growth. >>> good night to watch the meteor shower. most of it will get going around 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning. the skies are mostly clear out there and it's going to be a new moon. bundle up if you're going to be going outside. it is going to be cold out there. a frost advisory already in effect for parts of the east bay. that doesn't mean you're hot going to have frost in the north bay or south pay. you'll be scraping some ice then we have a chance for some sprinkles. back here, we have that computer model and it roll spwaos the bay area weekends with a chance -- rolls into the bay area weekends with showers. >>> speaking of meteors, the spectacular show over the bay area and just how long it'll last. >> they had a want for an illegal meth lab. i don't know how to make meth, why would i. >> reporter: up first new >>> we have new information tonig

. >> reporter: in half-moon bay, cara liu. >>> california's population appears to be holding steady betweenuly of 2011 to july of here. it brings california's population to 37.8 million people. san mateo county was one of five to postthe largest growth. >>> good night to watch the meteor shower. most of it will get going around 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning. the skies are mostly clear out there and it's going to be a new moon. bundle up if you're going to be going outside. it is going to be cold out there. a frost advisory already in effect for parts of the east bay. that doesn't mean you're hot going to have frost in the north bay or south pay. you'll be scraping some ice then we have a chance for some sprinkles. back here, we have that computer model and it roll spwaos the bay area weekends with a chance -- rolls into the bay area weekends with showers. >>> speaking of meteors, the spectacular show over the bay area and just how long it'll last. >> they had a want for an illegal meth lab. i don't know how to make meth, why would i. >> reporter: up first new information about that gunman who

coming up at 6:00 p.m., ktvu's cara liu will tell us how theyicater to a specific group -- they cater to a specific group. >>> if you plan to visit reindeer, a study found that some children who come in contact with reindeer develop rashes or eye infections because doctors say they can carry fly larva that can penetrate skin. >>> in federal court, a key hearing on a case about medical marijuana. what is next? >> and a fiscal cliff show down or not? the late development on a vote planned for tonight on speaker of the house john boehner's plan. well, well, well. growing up, we didn't have u-verse. we couldn't record four shows at the same time. in my day, you were lucky if you could record two shows. and if mom was recording her dumb show and dad was recording his dumb show then, by george, that's all we watched. and we liked it! today's kids got it so good. [ male announcer ] get u-verse tv with a total home dvr included free for life. only $29 a month for six months. rethink possible. >>> complete bay area news coverage continues right now, this is ktvu channel 2 news at 5:00 p.m. >>

here he is in "charlie's angels" doing a spin with lucy liu.y says garrett's personality was not what you might expect. >> garrett was a very focused individual. people think of stuntmen has daredevils, crazy people. that's the last person i want on my job. i want vet best at what they do. >> but toward the end of 1997, wally says that focus shifted the minute garrett warren met claudia harrow. >> beautiful, beautiful woman. we just wanted garrett to be happy. he had found somebody that he seemed like he genuinely loved and mwanted to start a life wit. >> there was something special about her. people who got to know her, she was just a beautiful soul. and i think men were attracted to that as much as to her beauty. >> claudia's good friend julie eresgot remembers when claudia and garrett first got together. >> she says to you, i met this guy. >> yes, and she was very excited. i was always a good fan of garrett. he was sweet, he was funny, and she just seemed so happy with him. i should say actually joe and i both were very supportive. >> by joe

as ktvu's cara liu tells us, they suspect she was confronted while running errands. >> reporter: friends and family come to out to pay their respects to mullen. >> i hate it had to happen to someone like that. she loved her family. anything she needed. >> reporter: mullens was gunned down late tuesday night next to long fellow living school. the crime only a block from her apartment. her family says she was likely riding her bike home from a quick trip to the store. >> all we know is people were saying she was arguing with a man and woman. i hope they catch whoever did it because that was wrong. she did not deserve to be shot down and her head left out laying in the rain. >> everybody is in shock out here. she was well known for everyone. >> reporter: mullens worked as a care giver. neighbors say she had only lived here for several months but was well known by the commune tip. >> i have a special needs daughter, and they just clicked from the very beginning. >> she was a dresser, she loved to dress. somebody just took someone's life. when you take someone's life, you're not only taking t

or for white house chief of staff, kevin liu. former advisors under secretary clinton re-emerge as top candidates for treasury. if kerry ends up being a nominee for secretary of state, there would be a challenge for his senate seat. here's senator scott brown, in his farewell speech on the senate floor which oh, by the way happened to be yesterday. >> defeat is temporary, depending on what happens and where we go, all of us, we may obviously meet again. >> there you go. after rice's announcement yesterday, the massachusetts democratic party tweeted this. bring it on. in case you're wondering, the way the math works, assuming john kerry's resigned the senate seat after he's confirmed and that happens around january 20th, 21st. we're looking at a mid to late june special election in massachusetts. finally, another day, another rhetorical standoff if you will between president obama and house speaker john boehner as the country moves another day closer to tumbling off this fiscal cliff. boehner met with the president for 50 minutes

as ktvu's cara liu tells us, they suspect she was confronted while running errands. >> reporter: friends and family come to out to pay their respects to mullen. >> i hate it had to happen to someone like that. she loved her family. anything she needed. >> reporter: mullens was gunned down late tuesday night next to long fellow living school. the crime only a block from her apartment. her family says she was likely riding her bike home from a quick trip to the store. >> all we know is people were saying she was arguing with a man and woman. i hope they catch whoever did it because that was wrong. she did not deserve to be shot down and her head left out laying in the rain. >> everybody is in shock out here. she was well known for everyone. >> reporter: mullens worked as a care giver. neighbors say she had only lived here for several months but was well known by the commune tip. >> i have a special needs daughter, and they just clicked from the very beginning. >> she was a dresser, she loved to dress. somebody just took someone's life. when you take someone's life, you're not only taking t

and at one of the picket lines in berkeley that is where ktvu's cara liu joins us tonight. cara. >>> the picket line wrapped up out here earlier this afternoon but tonight a strike is very much still going on out here in berkeley. and at eight other hospitals across the bay area. >> 65, take aways for your project. more take aways than any contract. >> reporter: striking nurses outside of alta base summit in oakland. >> it is christmas eve but we wanted to show them that they need to take us back and negotiate our contract. >> reporter: replacement is expected for a second strike in san jose. regional medical center and good samaritan. >> union busting is disgusting. >> reporter: the california nurses association represents about 54,000 nurses at the nine hospitals, this is their eighth strike since negotiations began more than a year and a half ago. >> we have not talked about any raises. we just want to keep our contract as it is. >> reporter: key issues include health benefit, sick pay and staffing levels. >> take aways represent a major portion of what we have worked fo

how he felt about liu taking that job, jamie dimon thinks the world of liu, but ultimately the decision will be left up to the president. back over to you. >> he made a lot of news in the short period of time with andrew. thanks, kayla. the challenges facing group-on has been documented. is the daily deal format truly dead? we'll talk to kevin ryan, the co-founder and ceo of the group. also up next. >> coming up, yep, the day is 12-12-12. but we don't really care about that. 6-60 are the numbers we love. and so does cramer. six options in 60 seconds when "squawk on the street" returns. i always wait until the last minute. can i still ship a gift in time for christmas? yeah, sure you can. great. where's your gift? uh... whew. [ male announcer ] break from the holiday stress. ship fedex express ember 22nd for christmas delivery. >>> "six in sixty" for a wednesday morning. let's start with citi national. >> look, i had russell goldsmith, i think this is a classic good bank. and you should not hold it, you should buy it. >> final hold? >> this has been such a dog. it continues to be so. not

and at one of the picket lines in berkeley that is where ktvu's cara liu joins us tonight. cara. >>> the picket line wrapped up out here earlier this afternoon but tonight a strike is very much still going on out here in berkeley. and at eight other hospitals across the bay area. >> 65, take aways for your project. more take aways than any contract. >> reporter: striking nurses outside of alta base summit in oakland. >> it is christmas eve but we wanted to show them that they need to take us back and negotiate our contract. >> reporter: replacement is expected for a second strike in san jose. regional medical center and good samaritan. >> union busting is disgusting. >> reporter: the california nurses association represents about 54,000 nurses at the nine hospitals, this is their eighth strike since negotiations began more than a year and a half ago. >> we have not talked about any raises. we just want to keep our contract as it is. >> reporter: key issues include health benefit, sick pay and staffing levels. >> take aways represent a major portion of what we have worked fo

. >> and liu is used as an example in many of these -- and why you is used as an example in many of the stork -- nyu is used as an example in many of these stories because it is a sought after school. you say you are uncomfortable with the parent plus program, but you rely on it like other schools. how has nyu been developing policies both from the admissions standpoint and to help students once they get there and end up in trouble? >> first, a little context. and there will answer your question. -- i will answer your question. i do not want to sound like the person who will push this under the rug and a student that is ok, -- it is okay -- student debt is ok, but context is important. the disparity is huge as you look across this issue. we talk about a 13% default rate. it varies from 1% at some institution to 40% at others. it is a broad set of issues. i still described as a crisis. what is our definition of a crisis? i am not going to answer that. i think the context of a crisis, and the dilemma is, how do we find the talented student -- and just so you know, i am a farm boy who has