so michael finney has more on how you can still apply if you do make your holidays happen... at ross! surprise! ahhh! yes! i love it! you don't have to spend a lot to give a lot to the ones who mean the most. you've got the holidays, and we've got you, with the best bargains ever... ...at ross. yes for less! a fan-favorite venue ever since they got gig-speed internet. xfinity gives them the ultimate home field advantage. it's their 12th man. protector... hey, amy? want to grab a seat? julie, we're live. it's game on with gig-speed internet from xfinity. start him, sit him, trade him. simple, easy, awesome. get started with xfinity internet for $19.99 a month for 12 months. plus, learn about gig-speeds from xfinity. click, call, or visit a store today. yep! get the gifts you love... yesss! ... for everyone on your list. you've got the holidays, and we've got you... with all the gift for less. at ross. yes for less! >>> the irs is closing its registration site with a deadline to file to receive a stimulus check being today. that e.d.d. fraud investigation has caused californians to lose

consumer news, especially for veterans, service members, and their families. 7 on your side's michael finney is here with that. michael? >> reporter: hey, dan. california attorney general xavier becerra issued a consumer alert today about identity theft and fraud that is aimed at and targeting veterans and their families. he says scammers often target military members and their families by pretending to be related to a specific service or unit. consumer scams include identity theft and fraud. they often take advantage of the trust that service members have for other service members. >> i want to urge californians and the military community to be vigilant. do your homework and to trust your instincts. if something is too good to be true it most likely is. if it doesn't seem or feel right, do your research. >> reporter: the attorney general's office has a website where you can report scams. we put a link to it on our website. if you're ever dealing with a situation like this and you're wondering am i being scammed, please call 7 on your side. sorry, we're in the pandemic. you can't call us. pl

and apple is paying again in its batterygate scandal. 7 on your side's michael finney is here with consumer news. starting, michael, with apple's latest lawsuit settlement. >> i'm going to tell you, this scandal has cost the cupertino company a ton of money. this time $113 million to settle a suit. let me explain what's going on because i know it probably sounds vaguely familiar. more than 30 states filed a lawsuit including california. the state's accused the iphone maker of hiding issues with batries by slowing down iphone performances. now, earlier this year apple agreed to pay up to $500 million to settle a private class action lawsuit over the exact same issue. the company has apologized but it has not admitted any wrongdoing. >>> both writers and drivers -- oh, i should say lyft has a new safety feature for riders and drivers. if they feel unsafe during a ride. it's called emergency help. and it allows riders to use the lyft app to contact an agent from adt security company silently or through a phone call. both riders and drivers can also call 911 silently with just one touch. the ap

i'm michael finney. it's rising. the pain is coming. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (beeping sound) ♪ ♪ >>> as the need for covid testing goes, so does the need for finding a way to produce faster results. engineers at stanford think they've come up with an answer. abc 7 news david louie takes a look. >> reporter: engineers at this stanford lab say they have found a way to make covid-19 testing cheaper and faster. it involves technology called microfluidx. >> eventually a home test that you can do from saliva, that anyone can do. >> reporter: instead of sending nasal swabs to laboratories for testing, the sample can be analyzed in the chip like this, containing micro channels smaller than a human hair. >> we'd need a few drops of liquid to get into our chip, to load it into an input port in our chip. once you do that, we put the chip inside the device, close the lid, and the rest would be automated. >> reporter: by doing this on a portable device in the field, results could be ready in 30 minutes. the concept has been tested using samples

. >>> just ahead, 7 on your side's michael finney has a look at black friday and what changes retailers are making this year. it's made for this guy a veteran who honorably served and it's made for her she's serving now we made it for all branches and all ranks whether they served one tour or made a career of it. we also made usaa for military spouses and their kids usaa is easy to work with and can save you money on auto, home and renters insurance. become a member today. get an insurance quote at usaa.com/quote usaa. what you're made of we're made for >>> we know the holidays will be different because of the pandemic and here at abc 7 we are exploring the new way to holiday. 7 on your side's michael finney has a look at a radically changed black friday. >> reporter: remember black friday lines on thanksgiving day? >> the crowd was terrible but i came in, the parking was also terrible. >> reporter: squeezing through the store doors and the mad dash through the aisles. then loading up on great deals. that was then. and this is now. pandemic now. this year will be a little more mellow th

here at abc 7 we've been exploring the new way to holiday. 7 on your side's michael finney has a look at a radically changed black friday. >> reporter: remember black friday on thanksgiving day? the lines through the doors and the mad dash through the aisles. then loading up. that was then. this is now. pandemic now. this year will be a little more mellow than in the past, starting the day before black friday. >> the biggest difference is that major retailers are not opening on thanksgiving this year. >> reporter: kristen mcgrath is the editor of blackfriday.com. she says there will be as many deals online as in stores. so there is less of a reason to go out. carla martin from deloitte consulting, listen to what she has to say. >> this year we're seeing, at least in our survey, that cyber monday is going to surpass black friday. black friday is an event, right? >> reporter: right. and an event that may have less appeal during a pandemic. >> with covid, to throttle you in and out of the store, it's kind of a wet blanket on the event. >> reporter: stores are steering people towards onli

. >>> coming up, we are going to talk about the holidays. "7 on your side's" michael finney has a look at black friday and what changes retailers are making this year. of floor and decor the in san leandro! our expansive store is fully equipped with safe distancing guides, so you can browse our wide aisles and be amazed with our even wider selection. or easily order online, and pick up all the products you need for your flooring project curbside! so come discover the perfect floor at the perfect price in whatever way is perfect for you. explore floor and decor's newest east bay area location november 2nd, or shop our milpitas or burlingame stores, now open. >>> welcome back. dan harris joins us from new york to tell us what's coming up at 7:00. >> coming up on "gma" t minus two days and the candidates closing messages and our latest poll numbers coming up. >>> and dr. fauci's bleak prediction for this waner it as states continue to break coronavirus records. >>> finally tropical storm traveling westward, come up on "gma." >>> we knew the holidays would be different because of the pande

michael finney has the story of one struggling mom. >> i went to go and get groceries for myself and the kids. >> roxanne macon provided in-home care to the elderly until the pandemic hit, all but ending home visits. thankfully, unemployment benefits kept her going until now. >> we were in walmart and my transaction declined. >> reporter: her edd account still had $9,000 in it, but when she tried to use it, she saw this message. your account cannot be accessed. >> i called them at the counter while i was there at the counter trying to pay for food and the bank of america told me that my account was closed. >> reporter: edd finally told roxanne she had to verify her identity to unlock the account. >> i uploaded my driver's license and a utility bill. and they said, oh, it will take three or four days, and you should be able to use your card. >> reporter: but a week later her account was still locked. she called the edd. >> and she says, well, you didn't upload your social security card. i said they told us not to send in our social security card. said, well, yeah, that's the problem.

michael finney has three ♪ we have the power to harness california's abundant solar and wind energy,ut it's not available all day long. use less energy from 4 to 9 pm for a cleaner california. ♪ do you recall, not long ago ♪ we would walk on the sidewalk ♪ ♪ all around the wind blows ♪ we would only hold on to let go ♪ ♪ blow a kiss into the sun ♪ we need someone to lean on ♪ blow a kiss into the sun ♪ all we needed somebody to lean on ♪ ♪ ♪ the volvo xc90 recharge plug-in hybrid. ♪ ♪ >>> with black friday quickly approaching "7 on your side's" michael finney sat down with one of america's foremost shopping experts, michael explains what he calls the three rules of shopping this holiday season. >> reporter: we know the holiday shopping season is going to be different this year, fewer and socially distanced door buster specials in a holiday shopping season that's already begun. so how do you play the shopping game this year? i sat down with consumer reports deal editor samantha gordon, rule number one, start shopping now. >> the best way to get the best deals is to shop all month long

michael finney has more on >>> the irs is closing its registration with a deadline to receive stimulus checks today. that e.d.d. fraud investigation has caused californians to lose out on their employment boost. and concern that some may miss out on the $1,200 stimulus check. "7 on your side," michael finney, has the details. >> reporter: our report that has found plenty of workers who still haven't received their e.d.d. payments like these two. >> betrayed by the e.d.d. >> beyond frustrated right now, not even funny. >> reporter: new concerns are surfacing, the federal unemployment payments of $600 a week have ended. does that mean that e.d.d. has caused some workers to miss out on that money. good question but there is nothing to worry about. michelle evermore is with the national employment law project. >> if you are due an unemployment insurance benefit you should get it. >> reporter: what if the money runs out? again, no problem. >> but it doesn't matter if the state of california runs out of its ui trust fund, which it did early on in the recession, they are required to borrow mo

if we do it together. >>> with black friday quickly approaching "7 on your side's" michael finney satn with shopping experts, he explains the three rules of shopping this holiday season. >> reporter: we know the holiday shopping season is going to be different this year, fewer and socially distanced door buster specials in a holiday shopping season that's already begun. so how do you play the shopping game this year? i sat down with consumer reports deal editor samantha gordon, rule number one, start shopping now. >> the best way to get the best deals is to shop all month long. so you don't want to wait and buy everything all at once. if you buy a few things here and there you can take advantage of these different sales. >> reporter: this year the deals will be pretty much the same in stores and online, so there's no reason to venture out if you would rather not, which brings us to rule number two. keep track of prices. now, that sounds like a lot of work, and in the past it has been. but since you're watching "7 on your side" right now you'll know the consumer reports is making it ea

michael finney, 7 on your side. >> still ahead. abc 7 news at the american music awards. we have a sneak peek at some performances and some of the artists who could make history. >> i'm meteorologist, drew tuma. we are tracking a chilly night tonight and sun ahead. >>> tomorrow night, right here on abc 7, americans will get the final say on who wins at this year's 2020 american music awards. actress taraji p. henson h hosting the show. abc 7 news reporter is in hollywood with more on what you can expect. >> reporter: america's favorite musicians are hitting the stage for this year's american music awards. the biggest award show in the country, where the winners are determined by the fans. host, taraji p. henson is promising a night of fun. >> we need this right now. we need this. i don't want to deal with no politics. we just gonna have fun. >> reporter: the show will be jam-packed with live performances, including from first-time nominee, megan the stallion, who is heading into the night with five nominations. >> i love her. she's having such a big year and she's so exci

puppies. 7 on your side's michael finney explains what's behind the shortage and how it could impactour gift-giving. >> he's been good, so far. he goes through these weird phases. >> reporter: jonathan shows us his new puppy, the nushewark resident just picked up the puppy less than two weeks ago. >> he is kind of a calming, you know, influence. >> reporter: jonathan, four figures to be put on a waiting list 13 months ago. since then, he says the price has doubled and the wait for a puppy for a breeder has increased to two years. >> we were expecting a handful of months, at best. maybe, six. we had no idea it would be this long. >> reporter: the demand for puppies since the pandemic has surged. it's not just breeders but shelters, which can't supply enough puppies to keep up with the demand since the pandemic. >> i think that we've had, maybe, 15 puppies since the beginning here that have come through our shelter. >> reporter: buffy martin of the peninsula humane society says it's that way, all around the bay area. it's the same at the family dog project in san francisco. >> puppies

kate larson, luz pena and michael finney and more. today abc 7 news reporter luz pena talked with vaccine trial participants what they experienced of getting injected with moderna and pfizer vaccines. >> reporter: as the race for the covid-19 savaccine continues, ty are describing side effects. >> the first person in the u.s. to trial a covid-19 vaccine. >> reporter: jennifer howler was injected on march 16th with the experimental vaccine by moderna. >> my arm was sore the next day. i had two doses of the vaccine, four weeks apart and each time my arm was pretty sore the next day. >> reporter: in september, daniel was injected as part of pfizer's covid-19 trial. the trial is double blind so he is not sure if he received the vaccine or the placebo but said it was similar to a flu shot. >> i got aching in the muscles like it didn't feel right. it went away after that day. >> reporter: for side effects, fatigue, chills, headache, muscle pain and pain at the injection site. ucsf infection disease specialist says these are normal vaccine s

our doctor, reporters and michael finney to bring you the most complete coverage. >>> as california covid cases surge, officials are issuing a warning. some intensive care units are approaching capacity. >> i don't think we've ever seen as many hospital admissions increase like we did in the past 24 hours. >> the health secretary says the number of people in the hospital due to covid spiked 81% in the state during the past two week. since monday, seven more counties, none in the bay area, slipped into the most-restrictive, purple tier. the public health director expects the downgrade this week. >> we're hopeful we can crush this third curve but we do expect to be in purple relatively soon. >> and to slow the spread, another holiday plea. keep any thanksgiving gathering small and outside. >> remind others around you that these are the things we have to do to protect our family and friends because we love them. >> on the peninsula, smaan mat s health officer is urging people, right now enough are acting like they are individuals, care lossly, thoughtlessly and i would add selfishly, resulti

joining us live is 7 on your side michael finney with more consumer news. >> yeah, dan, prop 15 is whatbout right now. 15 and 21. 15 promised to tax commercial property at a much higher rate. it also promised to bring in a lot of money for local governments. prop 15 supporters held the measure as big business paying it's fair share and big guns. governor newsom, bernie sanders would require landlords of commercial property to pay tax records on unoriginal price with california commercial properties. it would raise up to 1 $11.5 million for local government and schools. >> right now, we don't have counselors. right now, we don't have nurses. right now, there is still children without computers. >> small businesses struggling in the pandemic say the measure could push them over the edge because their landlords can often pass the tax down to them. >> small businesses like restaurants and retail and bookstores and bars with strict leases, the landlords will renegotiate, they won't. >> one of her leases requires she pay half her landlord'slands property tax. >> we need to fix the school dist

i'm michael finney.'re physically exhausted, we're mentally exhausted. >> the impact is real. california health care workers are experiencing significant emotional and mental impact from caring for patients during this on going pandemic under such stressful conditions. that's according to a new survey of those on the front lines. >> abc 7 news reporter leslie brinkley talked with medical staff about the burnout. doctors and nurses on the front lines are ready to have a meltdown. 76% don't think their mental health needs are being addressed according to a survey by the california health care foundation. >> two out of three providers feel emotionally drained right now and nearly as many are saying they're burned out. i think it makes clear that health care providers across the state of california are really feeling the strain of working during the covid pandemic. >> the fear of taking this home to our families is huge and it's very stressful and fatiguing. i hugged many a co-worker who just all of a sudden

on top of the latest vaccine news we have assembled the team, reporters and 7 on your side's michael finney. they will bring you complete coverage and answer critical questions about when the vaccine will be available and who will get it first. >>> the reality is, a vaccine can't come ssee record numbers nationwide and here in california. fwoec governor newsom said the state's hospitalization rate has risen alarmingly. intensive care units had a 55% increase over the same time. and the seven-day positive rate rose to 5.8%. the governor underscored that 18-49-year-olds comprise 60% of cases in california. >> a vast majority of the cases or those who we test who are infected are in >> you can check out the tier status of your county anytime. we've made it easy with this exclusive interactive map on abc 7 news.com. >>> santa clara county is cra cracking down on businesses on restrictions. >> while scenes from past black fridays will not repeat itself this year, public health officials are sill going on the offensive to make sure businesses don't get careless with covid-19 rules. >> because the

patel and luz pena and michael finney and myself. you can always get updates on air and online and on the abc7 news app. >>> the presidential transition officially under way. president trump's message and what we expect from president-elect joe biden as we learn who will lead his team to tackle the climate change crisis. >>> plus, the brentwood man who spark viral anger at neighborhood protests for hanging a joe biden dummy talks to abc7 why he did it. >>> the rescue mission gaining steam this morning. the new idea from local labor groups to prevent widespread transit layoffs in the bay area. >>> i thought we'd start with a look at the east bay hills camera where it's pretty clear out there. little bit of haze and about 53 degrees. your activity planner for today little too chilly for much but it is going to be great this afternoon. hope you get outside and enjoy it. i'll show you the ♪ ♪ you make my heart sing ♪ ♪ wild thing i... think i... you know what i think? i think you owe us $48.50... wild thing. if you ride, you get it. geic

i'm michael finney. coming up on 7 >>> basketball fans, we're 47 days away from the next fiction ever fix of steph curry, the warriors tentatively approving the 2021 season is december 22 nd. the national basketball players association agreed to play a shortened season, 72 games instead of 82 and plans call for training camp to begin december 1st. >>> time for consumer news. >> yes, 7 on your side michael finney with a look at today's headlines, michael? >> let's start with great news. there are new protections for home owners who live in or near wildfire areas. this is wonderful. the insurance commissioner issued a mandatory one year horn tore y -- moratoriums for those not renewing or cancelling. more than 2 million homeowners will benefit including those who suffered partial and total losses from this year's wildfires. >>> going after web sides pretending to sell clorox and lysol products. they received notices to halt operations. a federal court in ohio ruled the sites were pretending to be legitimat

. >> 7 on your side's michael finney is here with a look at your consumer headlines. guys. this is total optimism over at united airlines. they're adding flights and they say even larger aircraft to their thanksgiving holiday schedule. they're making room for an additional 10% more passengers. the airline says it is expecting its biggest week of travel since the pandemic began back in march. 1,400 flights will be added and larger aircraft will be, quote, swapped out, as needed. last week, jetblue announced it would be adding flights as well. stimulus payments stopped and now credit card balances are rising. credit card debt had been shrinking for months and months, but grew by $4 billion in september. as stimulus payments came to an end and unemployment dragged on. the use of credit cards to get through the month has expanded. the average balance ballooned nearly 5% in september. this comes, as i said, after months of declining resolving debt. >>> mcdonald's is adding what it calls a plant-based platform. the company says by early next year it will have vegetarian bur

michael finney joins us live with holiday shopping advice. things obviously very different this year. he has three rules or shopping success. all coming up and more in half an hour on abc7news at 6:00. hope you can join us then. finally, a mural celebrating oakland's diversity has been completed and can be seen in the downtown area. >> eats outside of kierz permanente's building. the mural is the artists who created it are both black and from oakland, which was important to the people behind making the project happen. >> ok. this is an opportunity to do a really premier piece with two of the best artists. so i thought -- i really thought it was good to bring them to the fore fronts. >> the mural will be moved to 73rd avenue and foothill boulevard. world news tonight with david muir is next. appreciate your time. >> thank you so much for joining us. for all of us here, we appreciate you inviting us into your home tomorrow. next newscast is coming up at 6:00. see you then. california phones offers free specialized phones... like cordless phones

. >>> with black friday quickly approaching "7 on your side's" michael finney sat down with shopping experts, he explains the three rules of shopping this holiday season. >> reporter: we know the holiday shopping season is going to be different this year, fewer and socially distanced door buster specials in a holiday shopping season that's already begun. so how do you play the shopping game this year? i sat down with consumer reports deal editor samantha gordon, rule number one, start shopping now. >> the best way to get the best deals is to shop all month long. so you don't want to wait and buy everything all at once. if you buy a few things here and there you can take advantage of these different sales. >> reporter: this year the deals will be pretty much the same instores and online, so there's no reason to venture out if you would rather not, which brings us to rule number two. keep track of prices. now, that sounds like a lot of work, and in the past it has been. but since you're watching "7 on your side" right now you'll know the consumer reports is making it easier this year.

our doctor, reporters and michael finney to bring you the most complete coverage. >>> as california covid cases surge, officials are issuing a warning. some intensive care units are approaching capacity. >> i don't think we've ever seen as many hospital admissions increase like we did in the past 24 hours. >> the health secretary says the number of people in the hospital due to covid spiked 81% in the state during the past two week. since monday, seven more counties, none in the bay area, slipped into the most-restrictive, purple tier. the public health director expects the downgrade this week. >> we're hopeful we can crush this third curve but we do expect to be in purple relatively soon. >> and to slow the spread, another holiday plea. keep any thanksgiving gathering small and outside. >> remind others around you that these are the things we have to do to protect our family and friends because we love them. >> on the peninsula, smaan mat s health officer is urging people, right now enough are acting like they are individuals, care lossly, thoughtlessly and i would add selfishly, resulti

and michael finney is back tackling issues with the e.d.d. and the problems people are having getting unemployment checks and stimulus checks. all coming up with more at 6:00. but finally, as we wrap up the week west wanted to take a lighter note of all the christmas trees starting to be installed. >> yes. the trees are up in washington, d.c., san francisco and sack. if 2020 were a christmas tree, we now have an idea what it might look like. >> reporter: when cincinnati's christmas tree arrived all trussed up -- ♪ it's beginning to look a lot like christmas ♪ >> reporter: the tree detonated on twitter. you think you're having a bad year? this is the city of cincinnati's actual downtown christmas tree. it was called miss shapen, pathetic. >> patchy gaps, missing branches. >> reporter: the cartoonist needled the tree. someone suggested it looks line cynthia from rugrats. >> you're cranky and you need a nap. >> reporter: the tree didn't sound yank on its own twitter account. like all of us, i'll just doing the best i can in these trying times. s

michael finney that has good news. >> reporter: our report that has found plenty of workers who still haven't received their e.d.d. payments like these two. >> betrayed by the e.d.d. >> beyond frustrated right now, not even funny. >> reporter: new concerns are surfacing, the federal unemployment payments of $600 a week have ended. does that mean that e.d.-d has caused some workers to miss out on that money. good question but there is nothing to worry about. michelle evermore is with the national employment law project. >> if you are due an unemployment insurance benefit you should get it. >> reporter: what if the money runs out? again, no problem. >> but it doesn't matter if the state of california runs out of its ui trust fund, which it did early on in the recession, they are required to borrow money from the federal government to pay all due benefits. so whenever they sort out your benefit you will get it. >> reporter: if you have an issue with these payments, let me know and i'll sort things out. now, what about that $1,200 stimulus check? most who qualify have been paid, but some

on top of the latest vaccine news we have assembled the team, reporters and 7 on your side's michael finney. they will bring you complete coverage and answer critical questions about when the vaccine will be available and who will get it first. >>> the reality is, a vaccine can't come soon enough, as we see record numbers of cases nationwide and here in california. fwoec governor newsom said the state's hospitalization rate has risen alarmingly. intensive care units had a 55% increase over the same time. and the seven-day positive rate rose to 5.8%. the governor underscored that 18-49-year-olds comprise 60% of cases in california. >> a vast majority of the cases or those who we test who are infected are in >> you can check out the tier status of your county anytime. we've made it easy with this interactive map on a 7 news.com. >>> santa clara county is cra cracking down on businesses on restrictions. >> while scenes from past black fridays will not repeat itself this year, public health officials are sill going on the offensive to make sure businesses don't get careless with covid-19 rules.

michael finney works to help people with legitimate claims, all coming up in half an hour on abc7 news tonight, a special shout-out to kamala harris as vice president-elect. >> our abc7 news community journalist melissa pixcar has the story of a vallejo coffee roaster and his unique celebration of the historical moment. >> good morning. i came to get some of the blend named the kamala harris coffee blend. yay, kamala. >> it's a small, family owned company. we thought it would be nice to celebrate, you know, a historical moment in the u.s. instead of just giving some regular coffee, maybe we could do something a little special. my father being from jamaica and mother being from india, which are also two very great countries for coffee, i thought, that would be an interesting combo. why don't we try to do something which would be like our vice president-elect. i mean strong, bold. >> very nice. i'm not sure what notes to put with it, but it's a very nice blend, and i'm going to be back for more. >> oh, i love it. >> we plan to keep it forever. >> whoo! >> i like it. >> yeah, that's fun.

michael finney has all of that in half an hour at 6:00. finally here tonight a deal is done on what's being called the most ambitious salmon restoration effort, ama, in u.s. history. >> the states of california and oregon reached an agreement with two other entities to begin the process of removing four obsolete dams. the move promises to reopen hundreds of miles of waterway along the border to salmon which are critical to tribes who live along its banks. >> the river is special. it has been the center of the universe for native american tribes since the beginning of time. but the river is not doing well, nor are the salmon that call it home. for many a life without salmon in this river is no life at all. >> a group called california trout provided these images. if approved by federal regulators demolition would begin starting in 2023. "world news tonight with david muir" is next. i'm dan ashley. >> and ama daetz. for sandhya patel and all of us, thank you for inviting us into your homes. see you at 6:0 ♪ oh, oh, (announcer)®! ♪ once-weekl

plus, michael finney helps a man whose phone wouldn't stop ringing. all coming up at 6:00. >>> but finally, thanksgiving is almost here. a lot of people are wondering how to safely thaw out that turkey. kumasi has some tips. >> people are turning on google to search, when do you put a frozen turkey in the frig? according to the usda, every four to five pounds of turkey will require 24 hours of thaw time in the frig. so if your turkey weighs 16 pounds, it will take about four days to thaw. now, once it is thawed, the turkey is safe for another two days so you can start thawing it six days before thanksgiving. enjoy. >> that means you can buy it starting tomorrow. we have more times on our website. hey, check this out. an early reminder. christmas came from a driver in new foundland. she got stuck behind four reindeer yesterday. she called this santa's crew getting ready. they're checking the trail, making sure we're all good. >> getting a workout. >> getting the stamina up for that long night. all right. world news tonight is up next. >> we appreciate

they're pleading with all of us to play it safe to stop the spread of coronavirus. 7 on your side's michael finneyut how to protect yourself and bank account when online shopping for the holidays. those stories and a lot more coming up on abc 7 news at 6:00. >>> finally tonight, it's a bird. it's a plane. well, actually it is super heroes trading their life of fighting crime for a day of removing grime while lifting children's spirits. >> take a look at batman the caped cleaner joining his super friends in a yearly tradition at children's hospital in >> this is a great day. a simple smile, laughter has been brightening the days of our youngest patients. our staff, our family members, even our health care teams who are every day heroes here at stanford children's health. >> we've gone through a really hard year so i think all of us can use laughter and joy at this time. >> that's right. today's appearance by the super heroes is just one of many events that takes place year round to brighten the spirits of children battling life threatening conditions at stanford. anything we can do to bring a smile

7 on your side's michael finney looked into that.ther bringing good news or being the grinch. you'll see for yourself coming up in a half hour on abc7 news at 6:00. finally here tonight, for month experts, the new administration reflects a fresh start and an opportunity to make needed changes in the battle against covid-19. >> to gauge what they're thinking, abc7 news reporter stephanie sierra asked a single question -- what would you like to see the biden team do first? >> reporter: we directed our question to four of the top medical and infectious disease experts in the bay area, dr. yvonne maldonado of stanford and doctors george rutherford, bob waechter and monica gandhi of ucsf. >> you know, i think my first one or two things would be to consider a national mask mandate or really work hard on getting facial masking out of politics and into science, and how i think it's an incredibly important pillar. >> reporter: ucsf colleague dr. george rutherford agreed and added to the wish list. >> the other two things that would be right a

. >>> plus 7 on your side's michael finney brings you the story of an unemployed mom who sent her kids to stay with family because of problems with her edd benefits. all coming up in half an hour at 6:00. >>> finally tonight, a harry potter fan, ama, has come up with an idea he hopes will move muggles around the world. check this out. what you see coming is a motorized broomstick. >> wow, that's interesting. it was developed by a huge harry potter fan from sao paulo, braz brazil. the broomstick is powered by a motorized wheel and can reach 37 miles an hour and changes direction when the rider leans from one side to another. it's not cheap, though, with a price tag of around $740. dan, would you like that on your christmas list? >> i actually kind of would, it's pretty cool, i have to say. >> just please don't fall off. >> i know, wear a helmet. >> yes. all right. "world news tonight with david muir" is next. thanks for joining us. i'm ama daetz. >> i would kind of like one of those. i'm dan ashley. for sandhya patel, all of us here, we appreciate your time. come experience floor and de

. >>> coming up on abc 7 news at 6:00, 7 on your side's michael finney will join us live with a lookopositions that could have changed the consumer landscape. is this an election that's going to set records? we got inside a ballot processing center in contra costa county today and asked the registrar that very question. poll predictions were wrong again. so can we ever trust them in the future? all coming up in half an hour on abc 7 news at 6:00. hope you'll join us for that. but now a quick recap as the nation awaits word of our next president. >> yeah. trump's re-election campaign said today it will take legal action to get a recount in wisconsin, where joe biden won by some 20,000 votes. the campaign also wants the court to halt vote counting in michigan and pennsylvania. president trump is ahead in pennsylvania by about 200,000 votes with an estimated 1 million still left to be counted. biden today addressed supporters, saying their voices won't be silenced. >> every vote must be counted. no one's going to take our democracy away from us. not now, not ever. >> president trump lat

plus michael finney and the fbi with online shopping safety >>> finally tonight here, america strong.he trailblazer, nearly 50 years later, returning to that stage. ♪ ♪ i got the lovesick blues >> country music singer charley pride is a trailblazer. ♪ down in louisiana ♪ just about a mile from texarkana ♪ >> the son of mississippi sharecroppers, he was a professional baseball player before turning to country music. he became rca's best-selling artist since elvis, with dozens of number one hits. 70 million records sold. he's been called country music's first black superstar. ♪ kiss an angel good morning ♪ and love her like the devil when you get back home ♪ >> it was 1971 when he won the cma's entertainer of the year award. >> i want to thank everybody who was responsible and especially to all of my fans out there. appreciate it. very happy. >> and last night, nearly 50 years later, at 86 years old, performing at the country music awards, where he was honored with the lifetime achievement award. ♪ you got to ♪ kiss an angel good morning ♪ and let her know you think about her when you'r

. >> michael finney is here with more on that, michael? >> how about you two?e you guys done any do it yourself prok jebjects at home? >> i fixed a chip on my mooiy m. is that a project? >> every day, michael. every day. >> okay. >> these hands are loaded with callus calluses. [ laughter ] >> okay. so let's say you're a slacker, not like these two guys. you're a slacker and you've decided you need to get on it. well, here are a bunch of do it yourself jobs you can take care of in under two hours. the experts at consumer reports have a few fast chores you can tackle inside your home. >> as the weather starts to get a little cooler, it's a good tile to pay attention to indoor projects you may have been neglecting. the good news is a lot of them are easy. >> check the water hoses on the back of your washer. they should be replaced every five years. if they look brittle, buy a stainless steel version. once a year deep clean your drier by cleaning out the air duct and port with a vacuum and brush made for drier ducts. >> cleaning the lint with help the appliance run

. >>> 7 on your side michael finney joins us with tips on how to boost your wi-fi, michael? >> hey, kristen. let's start with apple because we just learned today that apple will spend $113 million to settle claims over battery issues dealing with its old iphone. now, this may sound familiar to you, let me explain what is going on today. more than 30 states had filed a lawsuit including california, the states accuse the iphone maker of hiding issues with batteries by slowing down phone performance. now earlier this year, apple settled or agreed to pay up to $500 million to settle a private class action suit over the exact same issue. i see what i'm doing wrong here, you guys. i'm so sorry. i got ahead of myself. let's move into the tape. rich oversees electronics testing at consumer reports and has been working with routers and wi-fi for decades but rich had issues with wi-fi at his home. >> we had a dead zone on the deck in my backyard where we would hang out and barbecue. >> he wasn't sure if a wi-fi extender would fix the problem. not long after the coronavirus pandemic be

we've assembled the abc brks krs c 7 vaccine team plus 7 on your side's michael finney bringing you the most complete coverage. last week, pfizer submitted data to the fda for emergency use authorization. if everything goes well, officials say the first immunizations could begin on december 12th for the most vulnerable. officials expect to have 40 million doses of vaccines available by the end of the year. all of the leading vaccine candidates, we're talking pfizer, moderna, as tra seven require two vaccines. there is questions when exactly it will be available? the former cdc acting director says it will likely still be awhile. >> in all likelihood, it will be late spring, early summer, but there is still a lot of things in play. non- none of these vaccines have been approved. some are challenging what's required to distribute them and i think there will be far more vaccines than we see by the time the late winter comes. there is vaccines in trial that are being studied. >> both pfizer and moderna announce that clinical trials show their vaccines are more than 90% effective. a brks krr

plus 7 on your side's michael finney. >>> president-elect joe biden fractured his foot after taking aall this weekend. it reportedly happened while he was playing with his dog major. this is the president-elect leaving his doctor's office tonight. an x ray showed no obvious signs of a fracture, but a ct scan revealed a hairline fracture in his mid foot. biden's doctor says he will likely need to wear a walking boot for several weeks. >>> still ahead on abc7 news at 11:00, hawaii tourism officials are trying to lure tech workers to the state, advertising remote work with a view. we explain the incentives and the application process for workers looking to live the island lifestyle. sounds good, spencer. >>> i'm spencer christian tracking a long string of dry, mild, pre-winter days. i'll have the accuweather fo abundant wind and solar energy, we have the power to take on climate change. use less from 4 to 9 pm to keep california golden. >>> well, you may not have known his name, but you do know the character he played. actor david prowse was the man who brought the ultimate movie villain

accounts are frozen and their money is gone. 7 on your side is flooded with calls for help and michael finneyh the latest and michael, you've been on the edd every day since the pandemic started. >> oh, brother. we've done dozens of reports here. here is what we've been hearing about. bank of america draining countless edd accounts and we have workers that are bewildered and broke. >> that's how i felt like literally. i've been betrayed by the edd. >> reporter: he lost his job as a bellhop when hotels had to close during the pandemic. it took months to get his edd benefits. with he fin when he finally did, the bank took them back. >> i feel like i've been taken. >> reporter: michael discovered something was wrong when he used his edd debit card to order a pizza and the card wouldn't work. >> i called bank of america and they said only edd can do that and edd said only b of a can do that. >> reporter: when he called again, the agent was stunned at what he saw. >> literally watching the account being siphoned by edd in the moment as it was happening on their end while i'm on the phone with them

>> 7 on your side's michael finney here now with some deals. what do you have, michael?> you can look forward to some absolutely fabulous deals. this is going to be different than in the past, but there will be some fabulous deals, and here's how to go about getting them. starting to think about black friday. because of the pandemic "consumer reports" says certain products are in short supply and delivery companies are already pushed to the max. so the time to start thinking about holiday shopping is now. >> getting a headstart is so important this year because some deals have already begun. you've got three main options for shopping. online with shipping, online with curbside pick-up and in-store. >> in fact, walmart has already announced its black friday deals for days. with contact-free curbside pick-up, something the store is offering for black friday if for the first time. target is also offering deals through the month and extending its price match guarantee through december 24th. target also offers curbside pick-up. and amazon's holiday sales have already begun. a

. >>> time for consumer news and 7 on your side michael finney is here with a look at today's headlines mortgage rates, michael. all right. michael, we're trying to get you on here. all right. having some issues with michael there. all right. i'm going to let you know what he was going to talk about. he was passing along news mortgage rates continue to set record lows. the average cost of a 30-year fixed rate hit 2.78% today. that's according to mortgage wire freddy mack down, that's down .03%. very little from last week. this is the 12th time mortgage rates hit a record low in 2020 alone and the first time the reported average was below 2.8%. the downward trend is expected to continue as the recession goes on amid economic uncertainty caused by the coronavirus pandemic. all right. so michael, you got a couple other stories for us. >> i do. thanks for taking care of the first one for me. i'm falling down on the job here. we're talking about playstation. wow are they making money over there. let me show you video. a playstation is urging customers not to line up in anticipation of its la

. >> 7 on your side michael finney is here with a look at today's headlines. this affects everyone, michael. >> sure does. check your refrigerator. there is another recall of romaine lettuce. now, it's beiing done just in case but the food and drug administration is warning consumers about potential e. coli contamination. salinas based is recalling nearly 4,000 cartons of bagged lettuce under an abundance of caution distributed in california with a packaged or i should say pack on date of october 15th or 16th. no illnesses have been reported. >>> zoom is increasing its apps security measures as part of a settlement over to accepted practices. the federal trade commission said zoom engaged in deceptive and unfair practices that misled users about the security of their communications on the platform. the ftc said some users were put at risk when zoom undermined a security feature built into the safari web browser. >>> uber will let users in some cities reserve a ride up to 30 days in advance and you can choose your favorite driver. if your car doesn't arrive on i

. >> and 7 on your side michael finney is here with a look at headlines. azon back in the spotlight, michael? hey, you guys. amazon is now offering home delivery of prescription drugs. the online amazon farmers say officially opened today. that's good competition. customers who want to join have to complete a secure pharmacy profile. doctors will then be able to send prescriptions directly to amazon pharmacy either that or patients can request a transfer from an interesting retailer like cvs or walgreens. amazon pharmacy will acre cem at insurance and prime members get free delivery. >> best buy is partnering with insta cart for same day delivery across the united states. insta cart is offering hundreds of best buy products on the app including home appliances and home office essentials. i bet there is a $500 limit. big ticket items like refrigerators and washing machines aren't eligible but some tvs are included as long as they're under that price limit. >>> several bay area cities are topping the list for consumers with the biggest holiday budget potentia

there are also concerns some may miss out on the $1200 stimulus check. 7 on your side michael finneyh, actually, there is. let me give you the headline, dan. there is probably no reason to worry. there are backups in place if you deserve the money, you'll probably get it. our reporting has found plenty of worker whose still haven't received their edd payments. like these two. >> literally, i've been betrayed by the edd. >> i'm super beyond frustrated right now it not even funny. >> now new concerns. the federal unemployment payments of $600 a week have ended. does that mean that edd has caused some workers to miss out on that money? good question. but there is nothing to worry about. michelle is with the national employment law project. >> if you are due an unemployment insurance benefit, you should get it. >> what if the money runs out? again, no problem. >> but it doesn't matter if the state of california runs out of its ui trust fund, which it did early on in the recession. they are required to borrow money from the federal government to pay all due benefits. so whenever they sort

. >>> i'm michael finney. holiday gifts that won't break the bank. i got the best - i'm szasz. [norm] and we live in columbia, missouri. we do consulting, but we also write. [szasz] we take care of ourselves constantly; it's important. we walk three to five times a week, a couple miles at a time. - we've both been taking prevagen for a little more than 11 years now. after about 30 days of taking it, we noticed clarity that we didn't notice before. - it's still helping me. i still notice a difference. prevagen. healthier brain. better life. no one sees you need help. no one knows you're not okay. so when someone recognizes the importance of mental health and offers a hand, it means everything. my illness may be invisible. but thanks to covered california, i'm not. all covered california health insurance plans are comprehensive - with mental health coverage, and financial help for people who need it. covered california. this way to health insurance. enroll by december 15th. >>> all right. time for consumer news. many people said they plan to spend less this holiday season. ideas.

most the nasdaq and s&p 500 ended higher as we take time for consumer news and 7 on your side michael finneyok at the headlines, hey, michael. >> hey, you guys. today t-mobile agreed to pay $200 million to settle an investigation brought by the fcc. that is the largest fine ever handed down by the agency. let me tell you what they did and you'll know why the fine is like that. regulators say sprint, which is now owned by t-mobile abused a federal program that subsidized phone and internet service for low income americans. now, according to investigators, sprint continued to collect subsidies for service it wasn't providing. as part of the settlement, sprint must agree to compliance plan to ensure adherence to all fcc rules. >>> now, in washington d.c. where uncertainty over the election and coronavirus pandemic are taking center stage at the federal reserve board's two-day policy meeting, analysts predict the fed will hold off on determining if the central bank needs to takection to help the ailing economy. they're likely to wait to see if congress will agree on another aid package, a move a

michael finney and the 7 on your side team have been tracking issues. you can reach them at abc7news.com. >>> stay here with us. cyber criminals are gearing up for the holiday season just like the rest of us. next, silicon valley experts explain how to out smart them. >>> i'm spencer christian coming up i'll have a look at the thanksgiving day women with metastatic we breast cancer.rs. our time... ...for more time... ...has come. living longer is possible- and proven in postmenopausal women taking kisqali plus fulvestrant. in a clinical trial, kisqali plus fulvestrant helped women live longer with hr+, her2- metastatic breast cancer. and it significantly delayed disease progression. kisqali can cause lung problems or an abnormal heartbeat, which can lead to death. it can cause serious skin reactions, liver problems, and low white blood cell counts that may result in severe infections. tell your doctor right away if you have new or worsening symptoms, including breathing problems, cough, chest pain, a change in your heartbeat, dizziness, yellowing of the

michael finney is here with that part of the story. >> as you pointed out, there is a lot of concern point, we thought in terms of paper goods and food but how about holiday gifts? there are shoppers out there that are concerned and talking about not being able to get the gifts they want. so is there any truth to that? not even the coronavirus can put a chill on christmas. santa and his evils are wolves . memories of empty shelves at the beginning of the outbreak for the most part are fading and analysts predict once again the grinch will not be able to steal christmas. >> i don't see a lot of the strain that people anticipated like i said, a lot of gloom and doom that people anticipated is just not happening. >> sheldon is a data analyst with the university of illinois. his outlook backs the optimism of the national retail federation. >> we've seen an uptick in inventory, imports are up significantly over the past couple months. >> jonathan recalls when the pandemic caused factories to close and production came to a halt. fears of a shortage caused a run on toilet paper and essentia

michael finney is here with more troubles with the edd. >> i know. if it's not one thing, it's another. the state auditor's office is asking the edd to stop putting californians in danger for identity theft. the auditor eileen house sent a letter to top state officials alerting them that the edd is still sending out correspondence containing social security numbers. i'm receiving a lot of complaints about this in the 7 on your side office. the letter comes a and a half after an auditor's report. it plans to discontinue the practice by the end of next year. a new report by a progressive think tank says without a new stimulus deal, 12 million americans could lose their unemployment benefits on december 26th. the report by the century foundation says as many as 1 in 4 work er received payment from one of the stimulus programs the foundation is calling on congress to act saying the stakes are just simply too high. >>> a report from the non-partisan u.s. government accountability office found that walmart and mcdonald's are the top employers of people who