" michael finney, to help us prepare for the fallout from el niÑo.> $1,400 to $38,000, depending on how much they're doing. are they union? are they not union? do you trust them? do you not trust them? and i got to tell you, right now, because it's raining, prices just went up. everyone's gonna be calling them because it rained, so you're gonna have to expect some increased pricing. so if there's a way for you to get around and be able to ask for it now and receive it later, not need this service right this minute -- i.e. plastic on top of the roof or something -- you ought to do that. that said -- and i know you already know this -- remember, water created the grand canyon. >> [ laughs ] >> this stuff is damaging. you've got to deal with it. >> and i think the importance of flood insurance we cannot stress enough. i know it's expensive. there's probably no way of getting around that if you don't have it, so you have to take precautions. >> yeah, right. and look, you just have to come up with the money if you're in a flood zone. or if you're near one

i'm michael finney.hecking your questions on twitter and facebook. search for michael finney. >>> i'm meteorologist sandhya patel. just looking at clouds from our east bay hills camera. but our live hd will be tracking a couple of systems this week. details on >>> hanukkah began last night but one community started the festival of lights with an unusual menorah. it's made out of lego bricks. this was lit last night in tucson. it is part of this year's lego-themed hanukkah celebration. edible menorahs and dreidels made from lego candy were also on hand. >>> it's beginning to look a lot like christmas with the hit holiday decorating competition, the great christmas light fight. it will show two families decorating their homes to the extreme. $200,000 in prizes is up for grabs. look for the phipps family of livermore. you can catch the great christmas light fight tonight at 8:00 right here on abc 7. post photos and video on social media with the # abc 7 now so we can feature it online or on tv. >>> if you d

>> 7 on your side's michael finney joins us with the answer. >> regift? >> there's one option. you've done this before. gift cards have a $32 billion a year business. about half of shoppers saying they plan to buy at least one this year. that, according to consumer reports survey. for people who don't want them, you can cash them in. >> you can buy store gift cards almost anymore. but not everyone likes to get them. >> i got a gift card that i have no interest in. so i just gave it to someone. >> another way to get rid of a gift card, print them for cash at many of the web sites out there. consumer reports check for them. >> these web sites buy your cards at less than face value and then resell them. that means you'll get less, sometimes a lot less, than they're worth at the store. >> a $100 toys are us gift card gets 80.50 at gift cards.com. but shrinks to $50 at monster gift card dot com. >> we looked at 13 different gift cards and found that gift cards.com gave us the most money back. paybacks differ from site-to-site and from card-to-card. >> you'll generally get more cash

just search for michael finney.swer your questions here live a little later. >> i'm spencer christian. still have clouds hanging around the bay area the. just a sprinkle here or there. more weather coming you >>> richard tillman, the youngest power of american hero pat tillman is making a name for himself as a children's author. he's now a stay-at-home dad with his sons who inspired him to write a book series to help teach children important life lessons. >> my wife came home and i was about to pull my head off. i'm like this kid is like a [ bleep ] lunatic and she looked at me, what a great term. >> tillman found an illustrator and turned that idea into an e-book series and believes his late brother pat would say being a children's ought saar natural fit. pat is known for walking away from an nfl career to serve his country after the 9/11 terror attacks. he was killed by friendly fire in afghanistan in 2004. >>> whether they are naughty or nice, bay area kids who write letters to santa should get a reply. the u.s.

. >>> speaking of fire, hoverboards and overheating, seven on your side's michael finney with what you need to know before you buy one. >> post offices packed. of custom in-home serviceside a variety for your aging loved ones, including medication reminders and transportation to the doctor. ♪ >>> santa rosa, berkeley, san jose and all the bay area. this is abc 7 news. >> today an nba referee announced he's gay after a player directed a derogatory term toward him. it happened during a game on december 3rd. referee bill kennedy called out a technical foul on sacramento kings players rajon rondo who then called kennedy a gay slur. the league suspended rondo friday. kennedy said he's proud to be a gay man. he said, i'm following in the footsteps of others who have self-identified in the hopes that it will send a message to young men and women in sports that you must allow no one to make you feel ashamed of who you are. rondo issued a statement on twitter today saying, quote, my actions during the game were out of frustration and emotion, period. they absolutely do not reflect my feelings t

. >> also, michael finney taking your questions on facebook. all you have to do is search for michael finney on facebook or twitter. >> looking at san jose traffic, this is 101. the back-up there is looking good northbound and the back ground traffic is right befor life... is unpredictable. life is deaths. and births. sickness and health. love and heartbreak. and covered california is there for it all. not just to help keep you well. but to make sure the cost of being unwell doesn't ruin this whole life thing. because it's more than just health care. it's life care. ok, wehere's dad. mom. the twins. aunt alice... you didn't tell me aunt alice was coming. of course. don't forget grandpa. can the test drive be over now? maybe just head back to the dealership? don't you want to meet my family? yep, totally. it's practically yours, but we still need your signature. the volkswagen sign then drive event. zero due at signing, zero down, zero deposit, and zero first months payment on a new jetta and other select models. >>> well, check out this massive

now time to ask michael finney. >> michael finney is answering questions submitted by viewers like youis the hottest christmas toy item? >> hoverboard is the big gift but as we have reported there are safety issues of people falling off them, and some of them catching fire. another big tie this season: shopkins small collectible dolls with new ones this season and they are "hot." and the electronic parakeet that responds when you interact with it. excitement over new "star wars" movie is driving interest if all things "star wars" including the toys. another thing? hot wheels have been a favorite forever but their ultimate garage holds up to 80 cars and has an elevator is very popular this year. >> i feel out of the loop. >> i did not know what a shopkin was. >> though are just a new of questions presented to michael finney. # ask15any. it could be antid right here the >> if you want a green sticker that lets you drive soy low in the car pool lane you out of luck. >> next at 6:30 we are in the south bay where a deadly i night crash is blamed open a drunk driver. >> a look at embarcadero

. >>> i'm michael finney. how to reduce your student debt by hundreds of dollars per month. >>> the force awakens tonight at theaters across the bay area. >> a live update from one screening at the tech museum in san jose when aduring sleep train's ur latriple choice sale.ig for a limited time, you can choose up to 48 months interest-free financing on a huge selection of tempur-pedic models, or choose to save $300 on beautyrest and posturepedic mattress sets. you can even choose $300 in free gifts with sleep train's most popular stearns & foster mattresses. the triple choice sale ends sunday at sleep train. ♪ sleep train [train horn] ♪ your ticket to a better night's sleep ♪ >>> all is clear in san francisco schools tonight after a threat forces investigators to do a security sweep of more than 100 schools. they're convinced there was never real danger but in this climate after after what happened in l.a., an abundance of caution. we're live with the threat and the reaction. >> lots of reaction, dan, tonight.

. >>> i'm michael finney. how to reduce your student debt by hundreds of dollars per month. >>> the force awakens tonight at theaters across the bay area. >> a live update from one screening at the tech museum in san jose when abc7 news at >>> all is clear in san francisco schools tonight after a threat forces investigators to do a security sweep of more than 100 schools. they're convinced there was never real danger but in this climate after after what happened in l.a., an abundance of caution. we're live with the threat and the reaction. >> lots of reaction, dan, tonight. the school threat was not specific and tonight, officials calling it a hoax. >> at this point in time we have no reason to believe that the threat is credible whatsoever. >> san francisco school superintendent tried calming the fears of the surprised parents after they received this voice mail today. >> staff received e-mail threats of violence similar to one received this week in los angeles, new york, dallas, miami and several cities. >>

. >> 7 on your side's michael finney is taking your questions on twitter and factbook. all you have to do is on carne asada or carnitas. not agree but four out of five who got their health insurance through covered california got help paying for it. find out if you could be one of them at coveredca.com enroll by january 31st to avoid the irs tax penalty. ♪ now and then we all appreciate a little help. through covered california, health insurance could cost less than you think. and most uninsured californians could get help paying for it. to find free, local, in-person help visit coveredca.com ok, wehere's dad. mom. the twins. aunt alice... you didn't tell me aunt alice was coming. of course. don't forget grandpa. can the test drive be over now? maybe just head back to the dealership? don't you want to meet my family? yep, totally. it's practically yours, but we still need your signature. the volkswagen sign then drive event. zero due at signing, zero down, zero deposit, and zero first months payment on a new jetta and other select models. most likely are not going to be

. >> michael finney is here with that. >> it's changing, isn't it? think about how you bank today just compared to five years ago. >> a recent consumer report survey finds that nearly 90% of people do some banking online. it's nearly 1 in 10 that switch to a virtual bank. >> for the most part, he has given up on traditional banking. he's able to do just about everything online with this new bank that doesn't have any branchs at all. >> why did he switch? >> convenience, number one. number two, i get a much better interest rate on my savings acounts than i can with a regular branch that i can walk into. >> virtual banks like usaa bank, ever bank, discover bank and allied bank that are onlyline are primarily on line yet, high scores in a consumer reports survey of its subscribers. >> our surveys showed that those consumers were highly satisfied. in general, virtual banks offer higher interest rating on savings. for instance, discover bank pays .49%. discover can pay.01%. >> and despite having almost no branchs or tellers, all of the virtual banks in th

. >> i'm michael finney. coming up, amazingly, an amazing holiday eve the gets to work by 8:00...ids, and always manages to give them a healthy lunch. the newlyweds seeking out wholesome meals and exciting flavors for their new cookware. the guy who finally decided to kick 35 years of bad snacking habits. you inspire us to do everything we do... ...for goodness' sake. >>> drinking or drugs might have led to a crash that killed two young man men in the south bay. they died just outside san jose city limits about 10:30 last night. highway patrol investigators believe the toyota camry drifted into the eastbound lane and then veered back toward the westbound lane. >> i honestly thought it was part of the storm. >> you know, alcohol or drugs may have been a factor. >> police just released the sketch of a man they say tried to lure two little girls into his car. that follows a similar incident last wednesday around the same intersection. the suspect is a hispanic male in his 40s with a medium build. >>> taking step

. >> this morning, michael finney has a problem that millions of americans experience identity theft. >> incredible sight off the coast of japan caught on video coast of japan caught on video but it is cr [male announcer] idon't let thems that pass you by.ived. jump into them. immerse yourself in them. ♪ because it's the nows that make the journey worthwhile. the wild atlantic way. 1500 miles of extraordinary nows. jump into ireland. visit ireland.com to find out more. >> check out this freight train derailment carrying 52,000 gallons of sulfuric acid. flooding in australia hampering the cleanup effort. crews are trying to work out the best strategy for clean up. three trainsor staff had only minor injuries but the cause is not known. >> now, time to ask michael finney, an through that so many of us have to deal with, identity theft. >> many people that are opening accounts in my name are using my personal information. i have been trying to fix its, causing the credit agencies and the proper authorities but, so far... >> it is tough. we know identity theft is all over the place. you a

just search for michael finney.'ll answer those questions here live in just a little bit. >> you can see there's going to be another stunning bay area sunset. it will be followed by a partly westerly wind and i'll have the forecast coming up. >> at 4:37, people trying to get away. this is a northbound interstate 680. that's the heavier traffic. the oncoming trachffic making their way back into alamo and danville looks smoothder at this hour. through covered california,ate a little help. health insurance could cost less than you think. and most uninsured californians could get help paying for it. to find free, local, in-person help visit coveredca.com four out of five people may not agree on carne asada or carnitas... but four out of five who got their health insurance through covered california got help paying for it. find out if you could be one of them at coveredca.com enroll by december 15th to be covered by january 1st. ♪ ♪ grow old with me ♪ let us share what we see ♪ just you and i ♪ ♪ grow old with me ♪ let u

7 on your side's michael finney shows off gadgets that could be perfect for the person who has it all. >> all that and a lot more coming up in a half hour on abc 7 news at 6:00. >>> a hero police recruit helped save a baby's life while doing holiday shopping. >> it happened a little more than a week ago at bayfair mall. recruit ricky williams saw a mother crying hysterically in the mall's parking lot. >> he asked her if she needed help. she told him her baby had stopped breathing. the baby was real limp, no signs of life. actually blow around the lips. i eventually he came to. started to cry, then basically a full-on cry. a great sign. they always told us in high stress situations, you will revert to your training. i did what it is that i signed up to do and that's to help people out. >> amazing. williams has not talked to the mother who was rushed to the hospital with the baby. >> police chief greg suhr said the department chose wisely in hiring officer williams. and they sure did. what a great guy. good. >> world news tonight with david muir is next. i'm ama daetz. >> i'm dan ashley

. >> michael finney is here with that. but first, that old scam is making a comeback in the bay area. >> very big one. the san francisco police are warning that a new version of the secret shopper scam has been uncovered. the victim received their priority mail envelope from the u.s. postal service with a letter inside that explains the recipient has been selected as a mystery shopper to test western union. the shopper's then to take that -- or excuse me, there's an included check. it's for nearly $3,000. the recipient is to cash it, take $200 for themselves then using western union wire the rest of the money back to the se sender. the person who falls for this is responsible for the entire amount of the check. >>> california federal officials are considering a retirement plan for private employers. some 7 million california workers are not currently saving for their retirement. under this plan employees would have access to a state-run fund that invests the employees' money in the private sector. >> the money comes out of

. >> i'm michael finney. ask finney is just ahead. i'm still taking your questions. just search for michael finney. i'll answer your questions right here live in jurs a few minutes. >> i'm abc news meteorologist. clouds are stacked up as we looked at our exploratoriuat ♪ ♪ grow old with me ♪ let us share what we see ♪ just you and i ♪ ♪ grow old with me ♪ let us share what we see ♪ and oh the best it could be ♪ just you and i ♪ >>> an ohio man says his tome hoem town is being the grinch over his direction rations. the nativity scene features zombies, playing the roles of joseph, mary, and baby jesus. oh, my. the homeowner puts the way to draw publicity to a nearby house that he runs. it works, but some of the neighbors say they are offended. >> i think it's the same and just rubs people the wrong way. it's not hurting anything. and it's here for not even a month. >> the local township ordered the home owner to take down the zombie nativity or face a fine of $500 a day. the structures that are not zoned for this. he will not take down his display. >> now, to a christm

. >> 7 on your side michael finney is here to explain. >> yeah, it's interesting. recent lower court ruled that two can. today i the california supreme court saying it -- the state's high ers court could ensure consumers to lead to different standards in different parts of the country. >> for luggage that is lost or stolen or damaged. an inspector by the department says many airlines are unfair dismissing such claims. they have warned if they don't start treating passengers fairly, fines can be issued. facebook users may one day be able to post live video from their phones onto their company's news feeds. fact facebook is responding today. no word if or when it will get the service up. >> all right. a lot of people like that. >> it will get bigger and bigger. >> michael. >> you need to hear about holiday heroes coming to at&t park monday, degs 7th. >> they don't call it the ultimate holiday party for nothing. it's a dream come true for guests young and olgd. >> soccer champ, giant's 2014 player hero and joe montana. founded by amy to support bay ar area children fo

. >> michael finney is here with a look. >> all the rules kick in today.ew bed, it's going to cost you more. that's beginning today. california's used mattress recovery and recycling act took effect today which means every time you buy a mattress or box spring, you'll be charged an $11 recycling fee. that's $22 for a set. the program allows california residents to drop off used mattresses for free. the mattress industry is actually running the program. there are a few dozen recycling sites set up. but more will be added over the coming weeks and months. >>> cheer leaders will be entitled to minimum wage beginning this friday. a new california law requires teams to classify cheer leaders rather than employees. the law provides them with sick leave, overtime pay and other protections available to team staff. the minimum wage rises to $10 an hour. cell phone companies are working hard. even offering cash up front if you're willing to make the move. be sure you're really getting a deal when comparing prices of all of the services. >> all right, you know what,

. >> michael finney taking your questions on twitter and facebook. >> right now, your skyways traffic, not going anywhere quickly. on the east side, t to save big during sleep train's you'retriple choice sale. for a limited time, you can choose up to 48 months interest-free financing on a huge selection of tempur-pedic models, or choose to save $300 on beautyrest and posturepedic mattress sets. you can even choose $300 in free gifts with sleep train's most popular stearns & foster mattresses. the triple choice sale, ends soon at sleep train. ♪ sleep train [train horn] ♪ your ticket to a better night's sleep ♪ >>> a east bay. abc 7 news rorter raw ra anthony joins us live from the medical center with more. laura? >> hi, alma. >> reporter: at this point, hospital officials think as many as 800 people may have been exposed to this infected nurse. but the primary concern and the biggest focus are on the newborn babies. >> officials say as many as 350 infants may have been exposed to a female nurse working in the newborn nursery. >> infantds have an immune system. when a baby gets tubercul

. >> up next, michael finney explains why these seemingly great off >>> you have probably heard the commercials offering to cut your cell phone in half. >> you don't get what you're hoping to get. >> there is important information on this. >> there are very, very good deals out there. whether it's a good deal for you, that is another thing altogether. a lot of times what they tell you you're going to get and what you're going to get can be a little different. david purcell heard about this offer from sprint to cut his bill in half. >> to think they're buying me out of a contract what. have i got to lose? >> he what had to pay verizon termination fees. sprint told him they would reimburse the fees. they came in gift cards. >> it was $130 and others but it was still half. >> david said sprint told him he would get the rest later and found his bill of $155 wasn't really cult in half. he was required to lease phones from sprint. still, with the lease payment, the bill would be $110, a 29% savings but he encountered other problems. he says his internet signal didn't work well in his neighborhood. ch

>> michael finney has the answer. >> there is a survey out. you said the name of it.airline pain index. identifying the pain points and offers ways to make discomfort stop. index has been put together by a high tech firm specializing in feed back, finding the biggest gripe is lost luggage. two, hidden fees. >> it's being up front is a major take home here. trying to trick or hide fees on passengers is something that is a deal breaker. >> number three are flight crew. >> we found that just friendliness of crew is one of the biggest deal breakers. it's number three reason why passengers would choose to pull the plug on flying with a particular airline. >> so just being nice made the whole experience better? >> oh, my gosh. yes. absolutely. >> really? >> yes. >> so not more leg room, not -- not lunch? >> friendly faces. >> time and time again, even tight leg room could be salaged with a well intentioned crew. >> good service goes a long way. >> passengers often choose the airline by the friendliness of the flight attendants. >> jet blue and southwest have the best staff.

. >> up next, michael finney explains why these seemingly great offers aren't always what >>> you have probably heard the commercials offering to cut your cell phone in half. >> you don't get what you're hoping to get. >> there is important information on this. >> there are very, very good deals out there. whether it's a good deal for you, that is another thing altogether. a lot of times what they tell you you're going to get and what you're going to get can be a little different. david purcell heard about this offer from sprint to cut his bill in half. >> to think they're buying me out of a contract what. have i got to lose? >> he what had to pay verizon termination fees. sprint told him they would reimburse the fees. they came in gift cards. >> it was $130 and others but it was still half. >> david said sprint told him he would get the rest later and found his bill of $155 wasn't really cult in half. he was required to lease phones from sprint. still, with the lease payment, the bill would be $110, a 29% savings but he encountered other problems. he says his internet signal didn't wo

. >> 7 on your side's michael finney with a santa phone scam ♪ this just in. final countdown to christmas is here. wait what? gary, is this teleprompter right? sweet molasses! i need to start shopping immediately. save on thousands of last minute deals at target. ♪ don't forget you can theorder on target.com and pick up in store the same day. i ordered this today. it's for you. boop! barbie! a new tie! order by december 24th 6pm. >>> new calls this afternoon to reck late the weight of runway models to make sure they're healthy. france just passed a law banning excessively thin models. now, public health experts in the u.s. want officials to do the same things. a new editorial says the industry body standard is hazardous. all models in france must have a doctor's note proving they're healthy. >> we have statistics such as 70% of adolescence report that they define the ideal body being what they see in fashion magazines. >> the 56 rang model has a b.m.i. of 14, which is two points below the world's health organization definition of starvation. >> aparentally, mo

i'm michael finney, seven on your side. >> cue the alert. birth to a pup in the tide pool. they sent out this video showing the mom feeding the pup and grooming it. the trainer says the mom's priority is puffing up the baby's fur so it will float. >> it is gorgeous. >> what a nice way to ease into monday. >> and you will ease into another set of storms too. >> right now they are tracking lightly scattered showers across the region. it is damp and most areas are in the bay. tomorrow morning we will get a temporary break in the activity. it is showing you the low clouds across the region. early morning fog tomorrow. here is the break in the activity. we have overcast skies, but the rain quickly returns by noon. light rain moving in by 4:00 and 7:00 in the evening. steadier showers moving through with the downpours likely embedded within it. as we go hour by hour the next storm arrives on the heels of tonight. it is likelying traying some light showers. the downpours are developing in it. we do notice they tend to favor the south bay. there is

. >> right new it is time to viewers michael finney a question you want answered. >> i would like tow...when the house prices are going do drop again? >>> we do not have a crystal ball so it is hard to know because experts are all saying different things. however, with the federal reserve raising enters home prices are likely to be affected eventually when the cost of a mortgage goes up fewer people can afford them so severals reduce their prices. >> thank you, michael. if you have a question for michael finney record it on your chart phone or tablet and send it to us. it is easier for post it on social media. you can have your ques answered here. >> i bought your christmas gift a few months ago and i am expecting a great one for you. not all of us are d >> i have a lot of shopping to do. and shipping. all the final countdown half are waiting until christmas eve but are still great deals out this. >> the best deal is to look nor a stackable discount. you can see a big sign saying 20 percent, 30 percent off, and anything that is reduced go straight to the stacks of discounts. >> at be

. >> michael finney has that story. >> this is an interesting one. didn't see this one coming at all. the retailers will pay a total of $1.3 million to settle charges they sold textiles with misleading labels. the ftc says the store labeled products as bamboo without saying it was chemically processed. the retailers say they are up dating those labels to accurately reflect the contents. >>> a consumer alert is going up for anyone looking to buy a ticket for bruce springstein's upcoming tour. thousands of tickets are already on sale at sites like stub hub, ticket network. some going for as much as $6,000. now, here's the problem. the tickets doentsd exist yet. they don't go on sale unfill this friday. in fact, new york's attorney general has ordered the sites to immediately remove the listings. here, at 7 on your side, we checked today and found dozens of tickets still available including for springsteen's concert in oakland on march 13th. >>> the secret santa made many struggling families happenier this season. toys are us kugs mer in south dakota wa

michael finney said how low can we expect the prices to drop?e encounter for a fisherman and what the shark took when he finally swam away. took when he finally swam away. >> stay tuned. took when he finally swam away. >> stay tuned. who patiently teaches how ta feast comes to life. the "family" ...who spends their holiday dinner with thankful strangers. the neighbor...who shares the season with another. you inspire us to do everything we do... ...for goodness' sake. >> all the weather and traffic and news that lives where you live on one screen. >> hear the "jaws" music, a shark in australia circled a man's boat. look at the big fin. the from white ayears as he reeled in a cash and it took the fish off the line. it came right up to the side of the boat. after a too minutes the shark took off. >> now, time for ask finney with michael finney asking a question a last us thing about at the gas pump. >> when will gas drop to $2 and stay there forever? >> that would be nice but experts are not predicting that gas price in california. right now, calif

i'm michael finney, "7 on your side." >> a reunion. after the break, how a cat that nearly disappeared nearly a decade ago with. >> generosity or an excuse to toss cash. the city of san leandro said they need the public's help in cutting down on the number of donation bins around town. some have become dumping grounds. >> people dumping whatever they want in and around them. >> many are now dumping locations in san leandro. >> really messy. >> dozens of bins have been placed across the county, four in one parking lot. >> anything you can dull is right there. they leave it there and don't put it in the bin. >> discarded mattress, broken glass, even pet waste, all in front of a donation bin that's a for-profit recycling company based out of oakland. >> following complaints the city is trying to weed out the unpermitted bins said the assistant city manager. >> many have become havens for illegal dumping and appear to be blighted. >> only 17 bins have gone through the proper permitting process. the locations on the map. >> we believe there

i'm michael finney, 7 on your side. >> janet jackson is postponing the up coming leg of her tour. they said she has to undergo an unspecified surgical procedure. she posted on her face book page that she needs to have the surgery soon so the tour will resume in the spring. the 20 a 16 leg was schedule today start in denver january 9th and continue until the end of june. all performance dates will be rescheduled. jackson promises that current ticket holders will be honored in a special way when the new dates are ready. >>> much more ahead on the abc7 saturday morning news. new details about oakland's pitch to the a's about possible ballpark sites. and also as we enter the final week of 2015, we look back on a lot of firsts like the warriors first nba championships in 40 ♪ how else do you think he gets around so fast? take the reins this holiday and get the mercedes-benz you've always wanted during the winter event. hurry, offers end january 4th! >> live from the kgo tv broadcast center, this is abc7 news. >> it's great to have you with us, i'm chris nguyen. we are starting with a q

michael finney has the answer. >> yes, most of us still get our service from the big cell companies,rint. people who use smaller sfrgss tends to be happier. we love being in our vel foechbs. for manyover us, that doesn't extend our sftz. >> the bills are too high. too high. >> consumer report if they quod a good value for the money. . >> the lowest ratings possible for value. t-mobile is a better deal. >> team they use rather than pay a flat fee. the sprint and t mobile net works that offers a viert of phones including the samsu samsung galaxy s-6. and team makes it easy to check and see whether you can use your old foeb. con souper celebrated was also highly ration rated. >> consumer reports survey recently announced it was cutting prices. houf, they got relatively low scores for voice and data. >> all right. let's turn our attention to the forecast. a good little bit of rain. >> oh, i think we're loefinging it. >> you see this umbrella, you have to hang onto it. our radar is still tracking scattered showers across parts of the bay area. i'm going to show you a closer view right now

and michael finney has answered and michael finney has answered about a carbon hotel -- >> a rescue of two snowmobiles were stuck if a canyon riding south of lake tahoe when they were stuck. it was getting dark and they spend the night in a snow made tree well with not a lost food or drink but they survived they are doing all right. >> kudos to the survival skills. >> the secret service jumped into action when a drone got too close to president obama's motorcade with secret service agents speaking with the drone operator. the man said he saw the motorcade but did not know it belongs to the president. agents say he complied and will not face charges. the president went on to play a round of goal of on the hawaiian vacation. >> who do you think it belonged to? >> republican presidential candidate jeb bush spent the day in his whom state of florida offering advise on...selfies. >> for the record wrong people do it better than older people so we will go through a training class here. it is cooler to do it diagonally rather than straight up. remember that. it is better to do it higher than

. >>> i'm 7 on your side's michael finney. the clock is ticking.y is the busiest delivery day of the year, but still not too late to get your presents there by >>> now, to the wild ending of the miss universe pageant that everyone is taubing about. steve harvey crowned miss clom beau ya the winner last night. the problem is she didn't actually win. >> miss universe 2015 is colombia. >> miss colombia reigned supreme as miss universe for approximately 2 1/2 glorious minutes. and then this happened. >> okay, folks. i have to apologize. the first runner-up is colombia. miss universe 2015 is philippines. >> host steve harvey correcting himself, announcing the winner is really miss philippines. >> miss philippines, take your first walk as miss universe. >> creating one of the most awkward moments in pageant history. a chorus of boos fill the hall as people tried to explain. >> listen, folks, let me just take control of this. this is exactly what's on the card. i will take responsibility for this. it was my mistake. it was on the card. horrible mistake, b

michael finney has the key of not spending more than you plan.ot spending more than you plan. >> do you have >> the abc7 news app on go on your schedule on one screen. all weather, traffic and news. >> welcome back. port officials are looking for a new ten amounts to take over san francisco's pier 29 building the last from file tenant was the in's cup yacht race in 2013. it was a temporary pop-up restaurant according to the examiner and officials would like to put it to cultural use including an exhibit space. the port is asking for ideas. propose as are accepted through march. >> new prices on things you love. in this case we are talking avocados. good news. the pries are -- prices down. there were fears california droughts would drive up the price but california embryoers now say that prices have fallen sharply and they expect the trend to continue. >> with all of the machine you are saving from avocados you can give your winnings from the powerball do me or natasha, your friends. $300 million. with this amount money, you could...bay the most e

i'm michael finney. "7 even tempur-pedic mattress sets getat low clearance prices!c, save even more on floor samples, demonstrators, and closeout inventory! the year end clearance sale is on now at sleep train! ♪ your ticket to a better night's sleep ♪ >> breaking news this morning in the sports world. former a's outfield david henderson has died one month after getting a kidney transplant. henderson died early this morning. he played from 1988 to 1993. he was a member of the 1989 world series champs who beat the giants. henderson was 57 years old. >>> developing news this morning out of colorado. denver broncos quarterback peyton manning denied he used human growth hormone back in 2011 when he was recovering from surgery in indianapolis. in a report set to air on al-jazeera. it reports several athletes were provided with drugs from the anti-aging clinics. the report claims manning received hgh -- which the nfl has banned -- through his wife so his name was never associated with the shipments. in a statement, manning said the allegation is, quote, complete garbage a

i'm michael finney, "7 on your side." >> michael, thank you. gas prices are soaring across california. they aren't going up as fast as anywhere else in the country. experts blame a shortage caused by unplanned refinery issues in the state. a gas analyst told the media partner, the bay area news group, that prices should continue to climb. according to triple-a the average price in the north bay is $2.68, $2.69 in oakland, $2.70 in san jose and san francisco, of course, the most expensive in the bay area, with an average cost of $2.78 for a regular gallop of gasoline. last year at this time prices were about the same except in the city, where it was eight cents higher. welcome to california. it's been freezing out there. we've been talking about the chilly weather all morning. >> colder here than buffalo, new york. >> crazy. >> yeah, it's kind of out of control. we will show you some rain in a minute. we are going to cut right through the chase and show you the temperatures in the low 30s and upper 20s from morgan hill to san jose and mountain v

. >> michael finney introduces you to a local creator. >> reporter: if there's one thing we all agreeng the holidays, it is this -- ribbon. ribbon is found on packages, tied to street posts, and in store windows. a lot of store windows. but this store has all the others beat whether it comes to ribbon. here tucked away on sacramento street in san francisco is the ribbon-erie. >> i thought something like this. you want it that tiny -- >> reporter: the proprietor paulette knight knows a thing or two about ribbon. she's been selling it for more than 30 years. what's a definition of ribbon? >> wow. it's tiny fabrics, if you will. it's just miniature fabrics that are used as an embellishment. >> reporter: and here, women stow the old-fashioned way -- a yard at a time. the cost -- 10 cents to 48 cents a yard. have you ever seen a selection like this? >> no. nowhere. all the big box chains, things like that nothing. nothing like this. >> reporter: juliet henderson and her mom lisa on the other hand, have been coming here for years. >> i like it. there's so many different ribbons. it's so pre

. >> michael finney introduces you to a local creator. >> reporter: if there's one thing we all agreeduring the holidays, it is this -- ribbon. ribbon is found on packages, tied to street posts, and in store windows. a lot of store windows. but this store has all the others beat whether it comes to ribbon. here, tucked away on sacramento street in san francisco, is the ribbon-erie. >> i thought something like this. you want it that tiny -- >> reporter: the proprietor, paulette knight, knows a thing or two about ribbon. she's been selling it for more than 30 years. what's a definition of ribbon? >> wow. it's tiny fabrics, if you will. it's just miniature fabrics that are used as an embellishment. >> reporter: and here, women stow the old-fashioned way -- a yard at a time. the cost -- 10 cents to 48 cents a yard. have you ever seen a selection like this? >> no. nowhere. all the big box chains, things like that, nothing. nothing like this. >> reporter: juliet henderson and her mom, lisa, on the other hand, have been coming here for years. >> i like it. there's so many different ribbons.

. >> michael finney with a credible approach. all of that and a lot more coming up on abc 7 news at 6:00. >> how about the christmas pop-up stores. salvation army transformed a warehouse into a shopping center for low-income families. the salvation army donated out all the toys. >> it is incredibly nice. wonderful. >> abc 7 was in san jose with 10-year-old joey childs. . >> heel's part of the toys for tots campaign. he says helping out makes him feel great. >> there are other kids that are understood-privileged kids that don't have as much stuff as us do. so i tried to cut my toys for them so they doeshlt feel level out. >> hoibt joey. way to go. >> stoorlted when he was five. now he's ten. can you wait until he's 15? >> coming up next, "world news." >> for all of us here, we appreciate your time. we'll see you again at 6:00. >> bye, bye. >>> tonight, breaking news from right here in new hampshire. the political bombshell on the eve of the big debate. bernie sanders' campaign under fire. a staffer accused of spying on part of hil

michael finney on why you might not have to lose out when the power goes out. >> your family is now driving a new car. it's all coming up on abc 7 news at 6:00. >>. >> nearly 4,000 people got a bagful of groceries. this year, they're given a choice, a chicken or a ham. >> more than 500 showed up to receive their fill. >> many of our coworkers and our abc 7 family has pitched in to brighten the bay area children. >> you are looking at members of the united states marine corps reserve. >> the marines lead the effort every year their toys for tot program. >>. >> world news tonight with david murer is next. thank you for joining us. >> for all of us, we appreciate your time. we'll see you again at 6:00. >>> breaking news tonight. the mistrial just declared in baltimore. a hung jury in the freddie gray case. the first of six officers charged with gray's death, after that controversial ride in a police van. tonight, the protests and police urging calm. >>> also, at this hour, the swelling crowds for donald trump tonight, after some opponents came out swinging. and what trump is promising now. >>>

i'm michael finney, "7 on your side." >> [chanting] >> i saw these guys yesterday. the streets of san francisco were swarmed with santas for santacon. it was started to poke fun at santa consumerism. now it's turned out a about big party and some have band santas and their elves. people are encouraged to donate gifts to children in need. >>> a teenager is using the force for good. he's not just any stormtrooper. the 15-year-old is a leukemia family, who along with his family, made his annual visit to the children's hospital at stanford yesterday. ryan dresses up like "star wars" characters every year for his visit. he's the smaller stormtrooper there on the right. ryan survived a blood transplant at the hospital when he was just one years old. he's now been cancer-free for 13 years. much more ahead on the abc7 sunday morning news. three service -- three funeral services were held for the shooting victims in san bernardino. how family and friends are remembering their loved ones. and rain is falling. this is a live look from our exploratorium camera. windy and rainy

i'm michael finney, "7 on your side." you might have noticed gas prices soaring across california.hey aren't going up as fast as anywhere else in the country. experts blame a shortage caused by unplanned refinery issues in the state. a gas analyst told the media partner the prices should continue to climb. according to triple-a the average price in the north bay is $2.68, $2.69 in oakland, $2.70 in san jose and san francisco, of course, the most expensive in the bay area, with an average cost of $2.78 for a regular gallop of gasoline. last year at this time prices were about the same except in the city where it was eight cents higher. >>> and it is very cold out there. in fact, i used any gym shoe as an ice scraper this morning. >> i used a credit card. >> that's good. maybe tomorrow morning. >> that's an old one. i'm sure you have a couple to spare. even colder this morning and we have some moisture on the way. here's live doppler 7hd. you can barely see it, the top left happened portion of your screen. this very cold air mass it going to descend to the south and east. usually the

i'm michael finney, 7 on your side. >>> a warning for you this morning. 'tis the season for crooks.teal christmas packages right from your front door, but in this case a security camera captured the crime. take a look, palo alto police hope you can identify this man who swiped packages from a porch on south court last saturday. detectives believe the man saw the pack ajts after driving slowly through the neighborhood. he took off in a red car, possibly a nissan sent tra. >> a new list of the 25 best destinations in the united states for the holidays includes two north bay cities. travel and leisure magazine ranked healdsburg number 17 for its variety of shops, wine tasting and restaurants. dickens dinners are said to make even skrooj smile according to the magazine. the city of sonoma came in at number 24. the mag seen cited it's city's spas, shopping and wineries. >>> much more ahead on the abc 7 saturday morning news. battle lines drawn. what donald trump is saying to republican party leaders who don't want him on their ticket. plus the historic vote taking place today in saudi ar

they fouled michael finney for help. >> charles holloway shows the extent of the problem.he bottom of his shot water heater. >> this was all wet, and it goes in. and the bedroom, the next wall over. >> the water seeped into his bedroom and over a small section of his copt carpet. he called first warranty home byars protection that promptly set out a repair service. >> he looked at the system and he said he wasn't capable of doing the repair and he would contact the company. >> she says they advised her to seek her own repair person and then there would be reimbursement. a service person came out and decided to replace the entire water heater. total cost $1313. but first american denied the claim. >> they said that they weren't going to pay it, that we were responsible for it, the company sent her an e-mail two days earlier authorizing just $125 in repairs. betty admits, she didn't pay much attention to it. >> two of their agents have told us on two separate times that they was going to reimburse us. >> betty contacted "7 on your side" and we contacted first american to ask

michael finney finds out which one has no time-outs. that's on abc 7 news at 5:00. >>> this morning there's a new exercise craze. yoga with your dog. >> it's called, of course, dog-a. nick watts gave it a try with his canine partner nash. >> dogs and doga became weights. >> she ain't kidding. >> going to feel the energy. when we're calm and relaxed, they are. >> some purists say dog-a denigrates the ancient art of yoga. others say you look ridiculous, and that's just me. >> that's just reggie saying that. >> reg and i both have dogs, you have a cat and a fish. >> laying on the couch works. planking. >> thanks for joining us. >> what do you get when you combine amazing contestants, mind-blowing questions, and ridiculous amounts of money? "who wants to be a millionaire." [dramatic music] ♪ hello, everybody. i'm chris harrison. welcome to the show. are you guys ready to play a little "millionaire" today? [cheers and applause] all right. our returning contestant is a bit of a prankster who just may have a few tricks up his sleeve. hopefully

. >>> from michael finney, macy's is recalling some popular cook wear that ended up giving customers bruises and burns and wealths. the frying pans are from the line of cook wear. the commission says there have been several reports of fun popping off the frying pans and hurting people. you are urged to stop using it immediately and return it to macy's. >>> let's go back and talk about the weather. it was a cold night and sandhya patel is here with the forecast. >> the sweaters and boot will come in handy and as we look at live doppler 7hd you will see why it was a cold one. the temperatures have already dropped either below or near freezing in many of the inland valleys. 36 in los gatos and here is a look at the exploratorium. cold and frosty in the morning and there is a chance of showers with dry conditions for the new year's eve celebration. check out the chill. the first thing when you get going make sure you have the extra couple layers because it is going to be downright cold. 31 in concord and 30 in santa rosa and 36 in san rafael and oakland 35 and san mateo, look at the low

. >> michael finney with who patiently teaches how ta feast comes to life. the "family" ...who spends their holiday dinner with thankful strangers. the neighbor...who shares the season with another. you inspire us to do everything we do... ...for goodness' sake. >>> the threat that caused closure of every universe is believed to be a hoax. receiving an e-mail threat from orr seas warning of an attack with assault woeps and explosives. >> i, as superintendent am not going to take the chance with the life of a student. >> new york city schools received the same threat but decided not to cancel classes. congressman adams shift the ranking democrat only the house intelligence committee labeled the threat a hoax to disrupt schools in large cities. coming up, when to close and when to stay open. the clues that led to different decisions on the east and west coast. leigh anne is live with the reaction and the response. >> well, this is what happened very early this morning. police departments here locally started to reach out to their school districts. for example,

i'm michael finney, 7 on your side. >>> 8:to our time. the empire deskenlded upon washington, d.c.esterday. the first lady tweeted this video welcoming r2d2 to the white house. the droid and a couple of storm troopers joined the white house press secretary for a little fun before yesterday's news conference. the characters were there as part of a special screening of "star wars: the force awakens" for military families who have lost loved ones. abc 7's parent company disney hosted the screening. >>> homeless pets got a little holiday cheer yesterday. abc 7 news was at the contra costa animal shelter. bags of toys and treats were dropped off by pet food express. the chain raised $200,000 at its stores to help out shelters and animal rescue groups in the bay area. >>> some of the best and brightest recruits are now proud graduates and the training was rough. k-9 cadets made their debut in sacramento yesterday after 11 weeks of training officers say their new partners can multitask and definitely take a bite out of crime. >> see the dual purpose k-9, meaning narcotics and patrol. so t

. >>> from michael finney, macy's is recalling some popular cook wear that ended up giving customers bruises and burns and wealths. the frying pans are from the line of cook wear. the commission says there have been several reports of fun popping off the frying pans and hurting people. you are urged to stop using it immediately and return it to macy's. >>> let's go back and talk about the weather. it was a cold night and sandhya patel is here with the forecast. >> the sweaters and boot will come in handy and as we look at live doppler 7hd you will see why it was a cold one. the temperatures have already dropped either below or near freezing in many of the inland valleys. 36 in los gatos and here is a look at the exploratorium. cold and frosty in the morning and there is a chance of showers with dry conditions for the new year's eve celebration. check out the chill. the first thing when you get going make sure you have the extra couple layers because it is going to be downright cold. 31 in concord and 30 in santa rosa and 36 in san rafael and oakland 35 and san mateo, look at the low

. >> yes, michael finney is here about being smart with charitable giving. >> we donated more than $350lion to charities last year alone. many of us give during the holiday season, as a matter of fact, that's when a majority of the money is given. here's some advice to make sure your donation is going to worth while charities. >> with more than a million to choose from, deciding where to donate your hard-earned dollars can be tricky. the vast majority provide real aid, scam artists won't hesitate to profit. organizations can spend as much on marketing and overhead as actually helping people. >> there are plenty of ways to research charities. on line resources like charity navigator and gift.org from the better business bureau evaluates groups on their cost and effectiveness and provide easy-to-understand ratings. they span more than 30-40% of their budget on fund raising. if you'd like to learn more about an organization, consider volunteering first to get to know the group. consumer reports says to be careful to watch look-alike-charities. for example, the leukemia and li li lymphomha