. >> our next speller is neha konakalla from the bay area of california. >> for 14-year-old neha konakalla of cupertino at the scripps national spelling bee in maryland. she now is advancing to the championship finals tonight one of 12 finalists from cross the country. the winner receives more than $33,000 in cash and prizes. >> if you are your kids want did work for a top technical firm you may want to pick a college close to the company. hiring patterns were broken down at the big tech companies and for cupertino-based apple they employ 900 uc berkeley graduates and 800 san jose state graduates and 300 graduates from the university of texas at austin. a similar correlation for google employees 2,500 stanford graduates and 2,000 cal graduates and 800 graduates each from carnegie and ucla. wall street. >> okay. i know there is one bigwig at google from kansas...he gave our engineering department a bunch of ipads so there is one. i know. >> you are a success. >> sort of. okay. thanks. we will move on and talk about weather. successful: sunshine with the high pressure bubble moving in and th

spelling champion puts it all on the line tonight at the scripps national spelling bee. 14-year-old neha konakallas one of the 12 finalists and it all began when she won the kpix 5 local bay area spelling bee. neha started as one of the 49 top spellers in the bay area. [ spelling ] typographical. >> we have a winner. [ applause ] >> i'm so glad i get the opportunity to go back. it's really big for me. >> reporter: the 14-year-old middle school student became one of 281 celebrities heading to the scripps national spelling bee in national harbor, maryland. then after correctly spelling recalcitrant and tarpaulin, she became one of 46 semifinalists. >> neha konakalla is next. >> hi. >> glaucescent. [ spelling ] >> glaucescent. >> correct! [ applause ] >> reporter: and with that, she moved on to the elite group of 12 finalists. even though spelling is serious business and tension runs high while nerves fray in realtime, organizers found a way to ease up on the pressure a little bit spoofing the geico insurance talking camel commercial. >> mike, mike, mike, what day is it, mike. >> reporter: using the

. >> the last time we saw neha konakalla she had won the cbs bay area local spelling bee in march. in week, the eighth grader is ready to compete with the best in the nation. >> i want to go further, much further than i did last year. last year was such a disappointment. >> last week, neha konakalla miss the semi finals by one point. but this time she feels more prepared. >> how many dictionaries do you have? >> just these two. >> yeah, but they are both about 10 pounds each. >> yeah. >> for months, she has been studying the dictionary 30 to 40 hours a week. she doesn't waste a minute. >> i tear pages out of this old dictionary and take it with me wherever i go. if it is like a restaurant or family gathering. >> since fourth grade she has made it her goal to make it to nationals, but trays not to take herself too seriously. >> my favorite word is actually homohomononoakawa. >> the hawaiian fish. >> yeah. >> this is her last trip to the national bee. next year she will be too old to compete. her parent's advice. >> half size. >> then, she will finally put the dictionaries down. in c

. >> neha konakalla. she was our favorite. she was tripped up by taglioni. kpix5 was proud to sponsor her at our local spelling bee. neha one that one to get to the nationals. she made tout the final 12. >> she did incredible. she was studying so hard. >> you could see the disappointment on her face when she has actually accomplished so much. >> we had her at home. sharon chin had the two big dictionaries. >> something tells me she has a very bright future. by the way, how do the a's spell relief? >> t-a-... >> they don't. sergio romo. we will tell you all about it next. ,,,,,, ithe part of us that a littwants to play,on. wants to be mischievous, wants to run free, all you have to do is let it out. find your inner minion only at the despicable me minion mayhem ride at universal studios hollywood. female narrator: through sunday, it's posturepedic through sunday, it's posturepedic versus beautyrest with up to $400 off. serta icomfort and tempur-pedic go head-to-head with three years' interest-free financing. mattress price wars end sunday at sleep train. ♪ you

neha konakalla won the kpix- sponsored spelling bee in march. >> i want to go much further than i did last year. >> there's always another day. the finals are thursday night. >> she's amazing! >> she is incredible! >> and what was that name she said? >> i don't remember. >> nor can we spell it. have a great day! >> bill: so, let me tell you where we are, okay? this is the tip of palm jumeirah. now, not only is it the most beautiful island in the world, but it's constructed entirely of rock and sand from the ocean floor. isn't that amazing? >> brooke: and it's in the shape of a palm tree. >> bill: uh-huh. >> brooke: there's luxury hotels. there's great restaurants, the marina, and all the shopping. >> bill: [ chuckles ] >> brooke: come on, dollar bill, break out your credit card. let's get busy. >> bill: [ chuckles ] well, hang on, now. you know, we're not married quite yet, and we're also not leaving quite yet. [ whinnies playfully ] >> brooke: oh. [ nickers playfull

. >> neha konakalla. she was our favorite. she was tripped up by taglioni. 5 was proud to sponsor her at our local spelling bee. neha one that one to get to the nationals. she made tout the final 12. >> she did incredible. she was studying so hard. >> you could see the disappointment on her face when she has actually accomplished so much. >> we had her at home. sharon chin had the two big dictionaries. >> something tells me she has a very bright future. by the way, how do the a's spell relief? >> t-a-... >> ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, bonds in 2000. guess who jo that club tonight.. >> the last time a giant drove in a run in nine straight games was barry bonds in 2000. guess who did it tonight? michael morse, gone, 436 feet. his 11th of the year. giants fans getting into the movement u. down again in the 6th inning, pablo sandoval, nine straight games with an r.b.i. even at four in the 9th inning, morse goes all the way to the wall. pablo all the way from first base. sergio romo ramming into trouble in the 9th inning. but he got out of it. the pop out and the giants hang

that perfect spelling advanced bay area contestant neha konakalla to the finals of the scripps nationalpelling bee. the cupertino teen is one of 12 students who will compete in tomorrow's final round. she was the winner of our local bay area spelling bee. >>> a successful oakland attorney credits much of his academic development to the role high school sports played in his life. so he is giving back with an event that highlights the best in oakland young people. kate kelly introduces us to this week's jefferson award recipient. >> reporter: if thomas broome looks at home here, it's because he competed here as an oakland high school student. >> we ran on dirt. >> reporter: the kids competing today on this beautiful all weather track and field don't know they owe a great deal to this local attorney. >> we were looking at the plight of the schools not having the facilities they needed to be competitive. >> reporter: 35 years ago he and three colleagues all track enthusiasts started the oakland invitational relays not just to raise money for equipment and facilities, but to give oakland stu

. >> that was the end of the run for 14-year-old neha konakalla, who was among the dozens of nationalinalists. kpix 5 sponsored the regional spelling bee that she won to get to the nationals in maryland. she is still a winner. i think i would have put an e and probably an y, too. >> i probably would have put a p. >>> 4:43. $90,000 and it's gone. a cal administrator fired. the big red flag the university completely missed. >> sightseeing ends in a scramble for safety when the glass floor of a major attraction shatters right under them. why chicago officials say it's nothing. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,, heck of a vacation story...t happened on the 103rd floorf chicago's willis tower... lg >>> this stockton family has a great vacation story on the 103rd floor of chicago's willis tower, long known as the sears tower. they were peering through the glass floor of a viewing ledge when they heard it crack beneath them. >> you can see the glass aactually just like a spiderweb immediately just light up. shattered, completely shattered. >> i couldn't actually say much. you would expect -- nothing like that.

scripps national spelling bee words like recalcitrant and tarpaulin were a cinch for 14- year-old neha konakalla. she was the winner of our kpix 5 local bay area spelling bee. and there she i. neha and one other california student are the only ones in the running. good luck. >> we are rooting for her. 4:57 right now. denied care. 20 tumors found in the brain of a northern california man and his insurance won't cover treatment. why his insurer refuses to pay. >> and beach-goers and surfers alike scoring a major victory in the fight against a bay area billionaire. >> and that rich guy who has been hiding money all over the bay area, he is in southern california this morning. what l.a. can learn from san jose coming up in a live report. ,,,,,, h,z/ >>> it's comforting to know we all have each other's backs. >> hundreds of students in the bay area honor the victims of the deadly rampage at ucsb. >> know how people see their world. whites can see a world with no blacks, whites can see a world with no whites. that's very rare if at all. asians can see a world with no latinos. fat people where there's

words lie recalcitrant and tarpaulin were a cinch for 14- year-old neha konakalla. the winner of our kpix 5 local bay area spelling bee. neha and another teen from l.a. are the only students from california still in the running. there are 46 kids left. and we are going to track her progress today. >> i would never make it there. >> yeah. [ laughter ] >> i know you wouldn't. >>> 5:56 right now. in the next half hour, one person is rushed to the hospital after a serious early- morning accident. how long the victim may have been trapped before getting help. >> and some mounting pressure for the head of veterans affairs to step down. the troubling information about a patient's wait time to the va hospital all across the country coming up. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, female narrator: through sunday, it's posturepedic through sunday, it's posturepedic versus beautyrest with up to $400 off. serta icomfort and tempur-pedic go head-to-head with three years' interest-free financing. mattress price wars end sunday at sleep train. ♪ your ticket to a better night's sleep ♪ >>> it's comforti

. >> that was the end of the run for 14-year-old neha konakalla who was among the dozen national finalists. kpix 5 sponsored the regional spelling bee that she won to get to the nationals in maryland. >> i watched it for two hours. you kept waiting, come on, i see it -- i think i got one word right out of like 1,000. >> right. i would imagine. [ laughter ] >>> let's check in with liza on traffic. >> reporter: first, can i tell you? i was in the solano county spelling bee. you know what word i missed ? platinum. >> oh!! >> i spelled it without the n! the morning commute, the friday commute looking great. we are going to kick off "kcbs traffic" with heavy traffic approaching the altamont pass. but the good news is that it does pick up as you approach vasco. it does loosen up quite nicely for you for that 580 commute approaching the dublin interchange. west 580 again wide open approaching 680. highway 4 commute which usually gunman's up early in the morning so far "friday light" a little -- gums up early in the morning, so far "friday light" in the area. the bay bridge toll plaza commute, now

. >> neha konakalla made it to the finals and she did get tripped up on this word. >> t-a-g-l-i-o-n-e. taglione. >> not the e. she came so close. the word right until the very last letter. italian word means old overcoat. fellow spellers give neha a standing ovation. as she walked off the stage, she finished 11th earning a 1,500 prize. >> we never got to that round of the spelling bee. >> yes. >>> 6:20 right now. still ahead on "today in the bay" escape from alcatraz. a few of the those taking the plunge in the chilly waters of the bay. gridlock. teacher layoffs. and a 60 billion dollar budget deficit. that's what john perez faced when he became speaker of the california assembly. so he partnered with governor brown to pass three balanced budgets, on time. for the first time in thirty years. today, the deficits are gone and we've invested an additional 2 billion dollars in education. now john perez is running for controller, to keep fighting for balanced budgets. democrat john perez for controller. >>> and a live look this morning. >> san francisco this morning. what a beautiful vista

neha konakalla was still standing until late this afternoon. the 14-year-old is from sam lawson middle school in cupertino. she was tripped up by the word tagalioni. but it was a good run. making it to the elite group of 12 finalists? kpix 5 was proud to sponsor the local spelling bee. congrats to neha and all of our bay area spellers. good job. >> she did remarkably well. >>> hitting cash fever has officially swept the state. now the anonymous man behind the exiter handle #hiddencash is bringing his scavenger hunt to l.a. the craze started last week when he began hiding was of bills across the bay area. last night cameras caught several hopefuls searching for the cash in an l.a. park. mr. hidden cash says he hopes his social experiment will inspire others. >> the timing that i'm going to be in l.a. for the next few days and i want to do some drops here and get the city excited about finding money and just the idea of giving back. >> and it's not just cash anymore. the mystery money man asked twitter followers to vote on whether they want burni