but with all its success, agrigento still only placed second in the race for top city in sicily. first-place honors clearly went to a settlement on the eastern end of the island--syracuse. in fact, syracuse was so successful that for a time it was the largest city in all the greek world-- surpassing all those city-states back in the aegean homeland. but its citizens paid dearly for the city's rise to prominence... spending an inordinate amount of time at war. they first had to kick out the locals living here, a group called the siculi, thus the name sicily. then they spent centuries warring with the carthaginians who occupied the western end of sicily and even had several go-arounds with greek armies arriving from such places as athens. hey, it's not easy trying to be top dog. and their wars were pretty vicious-- rape and pillage, revenge, retribution, massacres-- with the "lucky" survivors usually sold into slavery. you see, they'd picked a tough spot, too ideal a trading center and constantly eyed by strong neighbors. after holding off the carthaginians for centuries, they final

the top city is clarks daily mississippi where the blues were invented and the more i look at main street the more i can start out why they started to invent the blues down there. we have these completely empty cities. then we have -- what is happening is there's no quality at all and people have no reason to be on the streets. they don't go there anymore and this is what you see in these places. then we have a slight little problem because you don't get enough movement in your day to day life and some people get a little bit oversized and you have to run for your life every lunchtime, at least every lunchtime because moving, bicycling, walking is not ever more in the history of man. it's been a part of life, now it's not. then you have the slight problem but it can be solved mainly mechanically by taking the escalator up to the finance center or to -- fitness center or go to if parking structure so you can get fit until next day in atlanta, georgia. we have started to see now one city after the other putting down their feet and say, hey, we are losing out of the human element in our city

institute just looked at how well cities had emerged from the recession, and these are among the top cities in the united states. the rankings are based largely on job creation and the ability to recover house price values. as you can see, five of the ten are in texas, with the state capital austin at the top of the list. and that's where we went this week. >> welcome on board. >> reporter: every time the austin, texas company bazarrvoice adds a new employee, they bang a gong. the gong rang 240 times last year at bazarrvoice, the five- year-old company which hosts and analyzes web site customer feedback for clients like best buy and macy's. kelly grey was the latest hire this week. after moving to austin from connecticut with her husband and two kids, it took grey just a month to find her job as a client manager. >> the economy is doing better here. >> reporter: austin, according to a recent survey, weathered the recession better than any other place in the country and now leads the nation in job growth. projects like samsung's $3 billion expansion of its austin plant have added hundreds of

the bay area's top city picks a new top cop. we'll have that coming up in a live report. is just about

i'd like to introduce some of the city's top choreographers from the epiphany production, the san francisco trolley dances. it's recognized as a wonderful way to connect the san francisco neighborhoods together by performing on the trolley lines. this year they'll be core i can't graph -- choreographing dances on the church line. let's welcome the san francisco trolley dancers. >> hi, there. [bells ringing] [bells and chimes ringing] [music continues] ♪ ♪ [singing in italian] ♪ santa lucia ♪ santa lucia ♪ santa lucia >> fantastic! wow! let's hear it for them. ladies and gentlemen, epiphany productions sonic dance theater, san franciscoance theater, san francisco trolley dancers. you will see them on muni jay church line. they'll be there all year. fantastic. nice work. well done. and now while we're still tallying our scores, our band today is called the slot blades but i bet you didn't even know what a slot blade is, do you? it's a piece of machinery the cable car operator uses to stop the cable car. it's a very important piece of metal. it's the official emergency brake that drives a meta

the twist you can't resist. >>> new this morning, we'll tell you why one of the top five dangerous citiesay not be for long. >>> and why the government is accused of using "top gun" as part of the pop began day propaganda machines. >>> and good morning, you have made it, it is friday, january 28th. this is "today in the bay." good morning, it is 6:30. i'm marla tellez. brent and laura have the day off. scott is updating the markets for our friends on kndr. we'll get you out the door with christina loren with your hour-by-hour forecast. >>> good morning. we love knbr. 44 degrees in hayward. 37 degrees in gilroy. when you walk out the front door, you will notice a chill in the air. you'll need the jacket. something to keep handy with you all day long because temperatures are five to ten degrees cooler than they have been over the past several days. so make sure you keep that jacket handy. and as we head into the afternoon you'll see highs in the low 60s. it will be warmer in the south bay where we are not seeing the fog. los gatos, 65 degrees. 60 in almaden valley. 65 in san jose. down from

that's when the top candidates meet with the city council. jenelle wang, abc 7 news. >> jenelle, thank you very much. it's 6:02 now. oakland animal services is struggling to find homes for two dozen pitbulls who were the victims of severe animal abuse. they were kept in small crates stacked three high at a home in east oakland. neighbors were complaining about a foul smell in december. animal care officers raided the property. they found 33 pitbull mixes living in their own waste. some used for fighting, others for breeding. >> the staff is really moved by this story when they went in. the smell was intense, the conditions. some of the staff members got emotional over it. >> some of the animals had rarely had been outside their crates. many have adapted well and are awaiting adoption. the owner charged with felony animal cruelty. >> found yesterday another puppy who had been cropped badly. he's presents himself as a licensed veterinarian. he's wanted on animal cruelty charges and practicing without a license. authorities believe this dog was

the last one as mayor, surprise for district attorney he chose the city's top cop he swore in georgeascon for state attorney general kamela harris he passed the bar in 1939 of and said his -- 1996 and said his years in law enforcement will make him a good da. >> i believe i can offer something to this role that will be somewhat unique and having the understanding of policing, and the career that has been incredible to me and one that i love and really part of my identity. >> turns out newsom's police chief wasn't considered until the two consulted on saturday the mayor said he talked to gascon and realized his search was over he became the first latino district attorney in san francisco history when he was sworn in yesterday he was appointed police chief by newsom in 2009 the new interim mayor to be ed lee and police commission will now select a new police chief and the acting chief will be gas con's second in command, and he said he would take the job if offered. >> as for newsom he will be sworn in at the state capitol 1:00 p.m. this after none by his own father a retired june, and

city has a local airport. we do not. our airport is really far away, in the countryside. what will happen when the world discovers us? >> a new airport is not a toppriority. for the time being, the city planners are busy enough replacing all the street signs. >>> as juliet said, a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. at least it sounds the same. that is it for today. join us for another "european journal" next week. until then, good bye from brussels. captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org--g

even though the police chief is not leaving, the union told me he would not be surprised if the city's topop left for somewhere. >>> people we talked to this morning say all this uncertainty comes down to how well people get along. >> i think it has a lot to do with relationships and speaks volumes about how well the city council and the mayor's office and the various departments are getting along as well. >> reporter: the chief says it is about getting on the same page in terms of priorities. >> everything i have been asked to do i have kept my bargain. i think i questioned if the city and the city government is willing to do anything it takes to keep the citizens safe. >> reporter: the council president admits there are issues, although he won't name names. >> i am not going to say who is attempting to micro manage him but i think he knows best how to run our police department. >> reporter: this break down is not new for oakland, remember former chief wayne tucker? when he resigned in 2009 the big reason he gave was lack of support from the city council. >> the reality is i am frustrated

. >>> san jose appears to have a new top cop. the city didn't have to look far to get one. the city manager has apparently selected interim chief chris moore. the city council could approve that appointment as early as next week. moore is a 29 year veteran and yesterday oakland's police chief announced he was not going to be san jose's next chief. he and moore were the two finalists. through a spokeswoman, oakland's mayor jean quan supported anthony batts to continue on in that city. >> "i appreciate his leadership and commitment to community policing and to raising professional standards. i am optimistic that the chief will continue to serve the city." >> anthony batts sent out a carefully worded statement last night confirming that he was not chose then san jose. the last line said, chief batts wishes his good friend and colleague, newly appointed police chief chris moore, the best of luck. it also said batts has not made a final decision about his future in oakland. >>> federal and state investigators trying to figure out who stole welfare benefits from hundreds of calif

city. welcome back here with our two years a look at the top stories claims of entrapment and prejudice against immigrants give rise to anti-american sentiment in the united states muslims say they face daily hysteria and anger from within the arab immigrants claim islamophobia since the nine eleven attacks and growing all the time. a lack of jobs and benefits in gaza is driving women into nontraditional roles to make money and help their husbands or their family in a war he had economy israel has ease the blockade now while the more goods to pass through locals say has done little to improve the quality of their lives. living in utopia self-proclaimed in a panic society is fighting the danish government to keep its own rules and unique identity people in freetown christianity of knowing the land they live on but rather ranted from the state authorities no one them to buy or move out. plus very cosmin odds are continuing their missions to help humans learn more about space travel researchers say the experiments help them figure out the facts of exposure to cosmic radiation and could lead to a m

cities. recap of the week's top stories poland the plans to restage the flight that killed its president and ninety five others this comes on the russian report blamed pilot error or something worse or does not fully accept minister donald tusk and search the parliament not to politicize investigation. ahmed karzai makes an official visit to moscow the first by afghan leader in decades drug trafficking and trade dominated talks with the president the other both sides committed to supporting each other scattered around to help afghanistan after the withdrawal of western forces in three years' time. the lawyer over the ledge that russian arms dealer beat to boot is on a mission to prove his concept for addition to the us was illegal his defense team says it goes against established procedures along american is a system called him the merchant of death boot says he's the victim of a propaganda war. wrecks so he should not talks to hunt karzai about the struggle his country faces and its war on drugs in an exclusive interview with r.t.d. afghan president and ends up about this and other issues h

welcome back here with our team here is a look at the top stories texas city or doomsday thousands of dead birds and fish are dividing opinions and causing a media frenzy more deaths have now been reported in italy or over a thousand dogs have been found dead in the past five days. sudanese refugees in israel say they want to return home but they fear persecution for seeking asylum in a so-called enemy state and this comes ahead of a referendum in southern sudan over whether to split from the north some say authorities there will have refugees killed if they find out they've returned from israel. and they are trained to serve and protect the country but it takes a lot more to fight off modern threats r t brings you dana life of russia's elite special forces. and we'll have more of those stories about thirty minutes time right now though it's time for a special report on the difficulties facing the muslim community in new york. but when chile is a place that represents the world community. the opportunity to teach arabic to students here in brooklyn i think is an opportunity that we we

south bay city's search for a new top cop could leave oakland without its chief of police over to sonia shin in oakland with a new job opportunity for chief anthony batts. >> reporter: good morning sydnie. he is oakland's very popular police chief only on the job for just over a year now he may be leaving he is one of two finalists for san jose police chief position the other is san jose acting chief chris moore yesterday he confirmed he is a finalist to the president of the oakland police officers association, according to the mercury news. if batts leaves newly installed oakland mayor will be left with a big challenge batts is just over a year into his three year contract with oakland and because kwan has a shaky relationship with oakland police. he could be the first african american chief in san jose which could help with their minority community, they are expected to name the new chief next month. >> thank you son gentleman shin? oakland -- sonia shin in oakland. >>> really thick fog out there this morning let's check your forecast hey lawrence i haven't seen it this foggy in awhil

. >>> a coalition of minority groups is protesting the san jose city managers's choice for top cop. people acting in communities together question the approval of chris moore. city manager deborah has not announced her choice, but a choice confirmed yesterday that moore was chosen over oakland's top cop anthony bass. moore l had risen through the ranks for 26 years. they are concerned about racial profiling. george has more in reaction to the story at 6:00. >>> happening right now, there is rage and chaos in the street of egypt tonight. the country's military has now moved in to control tens of thousands of violent protesters. the country is now under a nighttime curfew and communications blackout. scott budman has developments and this is having ripple effects around much of the world. >> it really is. we are told the smell of tear gas now present over cairo in demonstrations unlike they've seen in decades. fire and smoke blanketing streets as protesters took a violent turn this morning. while there is a nighttime curfew, still, large crowds still gathered on the streets. we've lear

welcome back here with our team here's a look at the top stories texas city or doomsday thousands of dead birds and fish are dividing opinions and causing a media frenzy war deaths have now been recorded in italy where over a thousand have been found dead in the past five days. sudanese refugees in israel say they want to return home but they fear of persecution for seeking asylum in a so-called enemy state this comes ahead of a referendum in southern sudan over whether to split from the north some say authorities there will have refugees killed if they find out they have returned from israel. and they are trained to serve and protect the country but it takes a lot more divide off modern threats brings you a day in the wife of russia's elite special forces. so they have lines here in r.t. up next it's moscow out with a look out word to bag a bargain in the january sales of the russian capital. hello and welcome to the show that was millions around the world are recovering after the recent festivities most russians are celebrating the orthodox christmas this weekend but soon it's back

for joining me again what's been an eventful season two thousand and ten russian premier league city top of the champions but we're going to have a team of the year starting go what are your thoughts because you go from definitely i mean robin of late and sixteen goals i think this season which says over the fence of sequestering as well as one major element i think last year we chose iraq in fear from cisco and he's making a lot of mistakes this season is not quite the player was in the past middle and most painless of mistakes have been from clearances were just have to use his feet rather than his hands are still really his lack of confidence misprints for at the same. but it's going to the region of think is definitely number one in the team eighteen clean sheets in i think twenty eight games from the season says it all really yeah i mean i think he'll is going deaf and going to rival i can fear for a place in the russian national side so you know just moving on to the fence then. number one. all star in the center really to see the pairings that spring to mind rubin pairing. with so

now, the city two -- the two cities that top the traffic l ist -- washington, d.c. and chicago. coming up we'll tell you which city nudged out the bay area to clinch the number five spot. we think it might surprise you. >> thank you, tara. >>> the project that's supposed to reduce traffic jams may cause some big problems this weekend. caltrans will be working on the 880 retrofit project in the high street area. so starting at 10: 10:00 tonight until monday morning, 880 to 42nd avenue, those ramps will be closed. traffic will be redirected to high street. >>> caltrans says it could take several days to repair the damage caused by an early- morning car accident. the solo car crash happened around 3:45 a.m. on highway 101 in mountain view, the chp says a silver suv flipped over and s lammed into the center divide. it took about a 15-foot long chunk. the driver suffered serious injuries. the scene is clear. and traffic is moving. however, caltrans crews will have to return to repair that. >> sure. >>> let's go to sal. didn't mean to work you so hard this morning but you are working h

monday morning, oakland police chief anthony bass may be ready to move on after just a year as the city's topop. one of the two finalists are in san jose. san jose police tie a murder suicide in a coffee shop to one of the bay area's most well known missing persons cases. the victim was the main suspect in the disappearance of jeannine harms and the gunman was harms' brother. >> here's a live look at all the fog you will be stepping out to pretty soon and it is dangerously thick this morning. we'll have a big impact on our temperature. we'll tell you how wide the range in a few minutes. >> you'll find a lot of fog on most bay area bridges on your drive to work, plus i'll have details on the holiday schedules for mass transit systems coming up. >> and america pauses today to honor the legacy of civil rights leader dr. martin luther king jr. the bay area's annual freedom train ride is now the last of its kind in the nation. good monday morning, everyone. it is 4:31 a.m.. we thank you for joining us. i'm eric thomas. kristen is off today. on this martin luther king holiday, oakland police are in

the city's top cop tried unsuccessfully to get another job. now linda yee reports chief anthony batts and his department face an uncertain future. linda. >> reporter: allen, will he or won't he stay on as chief of police? well, that is the question even the mayor wants an answer for. and she says she needs to have it soon because chief anthony batts needs to make a commitment. >> problems like a year ago there was a -- >> reporter: oakland police chief anthony batts may not be sure if he wants to stay on the job. but if all that uncertainty is a distraction for the cops on the street, it isn't showing. >> like he wants to stay. that's good. if he feels that... [ pause ] >> ... needs to go elsewhere, that's up to him. >> day-to-day basis, doesn't really affect me no. >> reporter: so it doesn't bother you? >> not something i think about, no. >> chiefs, they come and go. we can't expect the chiefs to be here forever. our job is to be here and stay focused. i tell the people around me that. >> reporter: hours before it was known that batts lost ou

for joining me again what's been an eventful season two thousand and ten russian premier league city top of the champions but we're going to have a team of the year starting go what are your thoughts. definitely i mean we've been of late and sixteen goals i think this season which has or are in the defense of sequestering as well as one major i think last year we chose to go to configure from place to make a lot of mistakes this season is not quite the players in the middle and what's been a little mistakes have been from clearances where you just have to seize control of and it's still really a lack of confidence misprints throughout the series but it's going to rejig of i think it's definitely number one in the team eighteen clean sheets in twenty eight games throughout the season says it all really i mean i think. it's going deaf i'm going to rival i can fear for a place in the russian nationals. you know just move on to the pen spend. all sort of the center really to see the pairings that spring to mind rubin pairing. with so influential ruben winning the title last year but also. be

much for joining me again it's been an eventful season two thousand and ten russian premier league city top of the champions but we're going to have a team of the year start and go what are your thoughts. definitely i mean robin of sixteen goals i think this season which. defensive sequestering as well. i think last year we chose fear from cisco and he's making a lot of mistakes this season is not quite the play was in the. most primitive mistakes from clearances were just to seize control of and it's still. lack of confidence. but it's got the reach of i think it's definitely number one in the team a team clean sheets in twenty eight games throughout the season says it all really . i mean i think she is going deaf and going to rival i can fear for a place in the russian nationals. you know just move on to the fence of. all sort of the center really to see the pairings that spring to mind for rubin perry who was so influential in ruben winning the title last year but also. because number of the neat. very very good season helps it when the tide obviously i can see doing twenty one goals thi

redwood city topping out at 71. that will be a record for tomorrow.e coast, 70 is the projected high at half moon bay. downtown san francisco, 67 tomorrow and 66 in the sunset district. in the north bay, numerous upper 60s and low 70s in ukiah and cloverdale. look for highs in the upper 60s. oakland will probably top out at 70. inland east bay, mild, but not that mild. we will see mainly upper 60s there and near monterey bay, we will have a couple more records. monterey itself is expected to top out at 74 degrees. that's a record for tomorrow's date and salinas at 79 will be a record for tomorrow's date in salinas. here is the accu-weather seven-day forecast. two more unusually mild days are coming our way on wednesday and thursday. cooler over the weekend and a few clouds around. no rain expected, and then early next week temperatures are going to ascend again to the mid to upper 60s. >> thanks, spencer. >>> here is a picture for you. a florida sandbar is now a piano bar. >> what are they going to do with it? that story is just ahead. >>> all right,

in five years as city's top dog and each and maybe a ski has been a journalist delight from singing at a press conference. taking a dive in front of cameras to prove he was mentally saying the eccentricity of kiev smellier earned him the nickname spaceman and when locals yes i am a space and absolutely true if he had gone to space it might at least explain the mystery of where he actually is that's because the last time should not be askew was seen in public was almost six months ago and it is troubling not just ordinary citizens but those at the very top as well. urged the authorities to find two novitsky and tell him that the people of kiev miss him and want him to return to work. after an avalanche of criticism was dumped and gives mayor following a devastating winter in two thousand and nine the city's snow clearing gear was overhauled by the government. you supposed but the real man running affairs is thought to be the city hall of ministration boss alexandre. but he's giving nothing away about the mystery. villa looks deserted only his mother in law was captured by our camera sec

for joining me again what's been an eventful season two thousand and ten russian premier league city top of the champions but we're going to have a team of the year starting go what are your thoughts there is a call from definitely i mean robin of late in sixteen goals i think this season which says a defense of sequestering as well as one injury i think last year we chose to go to configure francisco he's making a lot of mistakes this season is not quite the players in the process of million dollars in mistakes and from clearances were just have to use his future rather than his hands are still only his lack of confidence misprints for this year. but it's going to rejig of think it's definitely number one in the team eighteen clean sheets in i think twenty eight games seasons as it all really i mean i think he'll is going deaf and going to rival like unfair for a place in the russian national side so you know just move on to the fence then of number one. all star in the center really to see the pairings that spring to mind rubin pairing. with so influential and ruben winning the title l

in new york city officials are more on top of it this time around having lined up city crews and privatentractors ahead of the storm. >> by tomorrow morning's rush hour all the city streets and roadways will have been plowed. >> january 2011 has proved to be the snowiest in the city's history. over 36 inches since the first of the month breaking a record from 1925. >> public schools on the east coast are cancelled for a second day today and power is slowly being restored in the washington d.c. area where hundreds of thousands of people were in the dark at one point. the latest weather forecast? more snow is expected for that region tomorrow night. jenelle wang, abc 7 news. >> thank you. back here today the officials who manage the golden gate bridge could move a big step closer to eliminating human toll takers. the bridge finance committee is expected to vote on a move to all electronic tolling. if approved, it means fas trak tags or license plate scanners will be used to collect tolls and the human toll takers would be out of a job. if the finance commitment gives its approve it moves t