., californians can begin to enroll in our new insurance state, john fowler is talking about what you knee before you enroll. >> this call center is one of three around the state. >> thank you for calling california, my name is marie. >> 135 services are filling calls. tomorrow they're expecting at least 400, 000 people to begin to sign up the process. >> part time worker ofmond says she will call, she's 62 and has no insurance. >> activists in oakland put on this informational event about 400, 000 bay area residents qualify for local cost and free healthcare and many are young adults. >> some young people don't understand. >> liu, 22 of a broken angle bruped ankle bruped her. >> operators speak 13 languages and each person must provide birth date and, social security and income tax information and legal status details and each call can take up hours and you can also sign up online, the income and databases are not connected. to complete the sign up process, you still need to visit a state office in person, in concord ktvu channel 2 john fowler. >>> you are right, it is going to be a

ktvu's john fowler is here now with that part of the story. >> reporter: station 87. the most recent of 7 contra costa county fire stations that have been closed because of budget cuts. it is across the street here in pittsburg from open space and homes. a neighborhood that tonight because of these conditions is in peril. >> reporter: gusty dry winds, dry grass and brush. snug against this neighborhood where people tonight are worried. >> reporter: he lived here 30 years. fire station 87 a one minute drive away. the next nearest these firefighters at station 86. a crucial 6 minute drive farth away. -- further away. >> initial response is critical to keep it a small grass fire. >> reporter: he says they warned supervisors about the dangerous. one of seven fire stations closed this year, $17 million in budget cuts. because of the extreme fire weather now -- >> today we will open it, 8:00 p.m. tonight,er short term during -- tonight, short term during the red flag warning. >> if they could open it for one day they could open it forever. >> reporter: the county said it ma

we have live team coverage, ktvu's john fowler in contra costa county with more on the fire danger. >> but we begin with mart t who tell -- mark tamayo who tells us why we are concerned. >> these are strong winds so as a result fire danger will be increasing over night and friday morning. winds speeds picking up for the bay area this afternoon and right now taking a look at the current wind reports. these are sustained winds coming up and they are from 10- 20 miles per hour. wind advisory kicking in. fairfield winds out of the north, 26 miles per hour. this is the dominant wind direction right now. lasting, peaking tonight and early friday morning. oakland, sfo, winds at 20 miles per hour. san jose winds at 17 miles per hour. as far as that red flag warning this begins at 6:00 p.m. for the mountains, east bay hills, delta, and the north bay hills as you can see here. winds topping 40 miles per hour, especially above 1,000 feet and it is very dry out there. low humidity 10-20%. coming up in 10 minutes a look at the timing of the winds and we will highlight the warmest day of the week.

john fowler, ktvu channel 2 news. >>> tonight at 10:00 p.m. a warning before you start shopping for health insurance ktvu's jana katsuyama investigates questionable sites, who can you trust and what you need to know, tonight at 10:00 p.m. >>> in organ they are one step closer to human cloning and opening up eltical questions. -- ethical questions. they were the first to recover stem cells from cloned human embryos. some worry this will make it more likery a rogue scientists -- likely a rogue scientists will try to clone a human baby. that is illegal in more than 60 countries but not in the united states. >> it is important that we have a policy, that we have rules. >> he has no interest in clone humans, he -- in cloning humans, he wants to cure diseases. >>> now at 6:00 p.m. the crimes in oakland are tiling up -- piping up. >> number 700, we dig through the numbers and track down victims, try to find out what is going on out there. >> time is running out. three hours away from a possible federal shut down. what it means for you, even if you do

john fowler goes over the biggest problems customers are having today. >>> it has been one week since the death of andy lopez the 13- year-old was shot and killed last tuesday by sonoma county sheriff deputy who thought the air soft toy gun the teen was carrying was real. >> reporter: a funeral for the boy is just now getting under way. allie rasmus was live at the funeral. >> reporter: the parking lot here at the sonoma sheriff's office was packed with close to 1,000 people. there were no arrests or any problems, this was a peaceful event today. but as a precaution, all nonofficial workers were let home early. the sheriff's office closed at noon today. >> reporter: on the roof and in front of the building, deputies guarded the entrance to the sonoma county sheriff's office. in front, protesters made their message clear. the shooting death of andy lopez by sheriff deputies outraged the community. >> it could have been my child. it could have been my kid. >> i come as a father. my heart is broken for that family. and it could have been my kid. >> reporter: the day began with a noon ral

our coverage continues now with john fowler and a warning from lawmakers. >> the strike may be over, but the acrimony certainly will linger, and now there's a warning for bart. >> the people of this region are not going to put up with this again. they will move forward legislatively or otherwise, to disband an agency that cannot effectively govern itself. >> lieutenant governor told me late today that new agreement calls for a labor management committee to try to diffuse issues before they blow up. >> we like to see the legislature solve this problem. that's what we expect. that's what they're there to do. >> these contra costa county elected officials today urged sacramento to outlaw bart strikes. >> we don't have to throw out the baby with the bath water. >> san francisco labor counsel head tim paulson satd such a ban won't fly. >> this strike was avoidable, and the workers got pushed into a strike. i want to be clear about that. >> that sentiment echoed by two other neutral sources i spoke with today who told me bart appeared willing to tolerate a strike, that the public would bla

john fowler is live in walnut creek tonight to show us exactly how and where that city is growing. >> reporter: it's 10:30 on a wednesday night, and downtown walnut creek is still busy. a little more than an hour ago, it took us 20 minutes to find this parking spot. often jammed with drivers, shoppers, and diners. coming is another 3,000 downtown residents and even more retail. >> i lived here all my life, and had a business. so the more the merrier, join the fun. >> reporter: three building projects. two more are approved, another four on the boards. >> we're very excited that the going to be a great addition to the vibrancy of our city. >> reporter: but some say it's too much. >> the city of walnut creek is a little town that wants to be a big city. >> reporter: the farthest along of apartments. there are other projects, including a planned 600 units at a b.a.r.t. station. the city is intentionally requiring less parking than normal. >> we're hopeful that people will take opportunities to walk, to bike, to use b.a.r.t. >> you're going to start to get to a point for people not to com

john fowler is in contra costa county where it is the worst. >> reporter: we are in orinda. you can see the brown hills of lafayette in front of me. down further, mount diablo. with the dry brush and the dry winds here for many people, this has been a scary day. these hills are ready to burn. the national weather service today said california is now at its highest fire risk in five years. >> warm, but it is not too warm. but it is windy and it is coming the wrong direction. it is frightening. >> reporter: she said it reminded her of 1991. dry north winds fanned the most destructive urban fire. 3800 homes, 1.5 billion in damage and 25 dead. it started as a grass fire that was thought put out but shoulders overnight. that is why this morning at pine hurst and the oakland hills, they were glad to put this fire out. our camera was there when contra costa firefighters closed the station that was supposed to be open during this red flag warning. >> yesterday we were able to do it. today, we don't have the personnel. >> reporter: contra costa and five other agencies battled this gr

john fowler is live in walnut creek tonight to show us exactly how and where that city is growing. >> reporter: it's 10:30 on a wednesday night, and downtown walnut creek is still busy. a little more than an hour ago, it took us 20 minutes to find this parking spot. often jammed with drivers, shoppers, and diners. coming is another 3,000 downtown residents and even more retail. >> i lived here all my life, and had a business. so the more the merrier, join the fun. >> reporter: three building projects. two more are approved, another four on the boards. >> we're very excited that the going to be a great addition to the vibrancy of our city. >> reporter: but some say it's too much. >> the city of walnut creek is a little town that wants to be a big city. >> reporter: the farthest along of apartments. there are other projects, including a planned 600 units at a b.a.r.t. station. the city is intentionally requiring less parking than normal. >> we're hopeful that people will take opportunities to walk, to bike, to use b.a.r.t. >> you're going to start to get to a point for people not to com

john fowler here with who may be able to apply and the problems they're encountering. >> reporter: we found many older college students tonight who tolerated the delate. students phoning for help care tonight. >> the website is downright now, okay. >> reporter: 36-year-old counseling student henley temporarily disappointed today but like many here is grateful. >> it's a god given right. it's great that people get to have health coverage. >> i have lupus. >> reporter: she learned her preexisting conditions will be accepted. 69-year-old janet penelton says she has a heart condition. >> this is a start. we're speaking out against this situation here. >> reporter: supervisor chan says 200,000 people in alameda county alone could benefit. >> it really only takes one trip to the energy and one hospital stay to bankrupt people. >> reporter: kinkade told me one energy visit for her daughter cost $4,000. >> she can't breathe or her chest is, you know pounding. and i took her to a couple of places and they wouldn't take us because we didn't have insurance. >> reporter: covered california has ea

john fowler, ktvu, channel 2 news. >>> dog owners in san francisco spoke out today against a proposed plan that would limit whether four legged friends can run off leash. trying to pass a resolution that treats an urban recreation area as if it were a pristine national park. many share his concern that the park is too restrictive. >> they shoot as much stuff out, and see what sticks. there's a lot of voodoo science. >> with nearly 20 million visitors each year, the parks service says there are environmental, and safety factors to consider. the new proposal would leave seven years for off leash dog walking, including spots at chrissy field. the parks service hopes to host three public fund sessions and the first is set for next month. >>> the heater will be kicking on once again tonight for some areas already slipping into the 40s. 45 in novato, and patchy fog reported in your neighborhood already. upper 40s in santa rosa. 48 at half moon bay. visibility right about 2 miles. 54 in oakland. low 50s in walnut creek. livermore, still managing to hold onto 52 at this hour. you also will co

john fowler tells us about the parking strategy that could cost you. walnut creek is a shopping and dining magnet. try to find parking. just afternoon block of block and no shots -- spot as available. >> garages post full signs, this is great for valet services but other businesses complain. you're driving around and around and there's not enough parking garages. >> officials revealed a plan that this city council meeting. the parking management plan. a demand based strategy raising parking rates. on friday at lunch and dinner times all 30,000 spaces full. saturdays full all average -- afternoon and sundays it starts earlier. >> increase the on street from $1 to $2 and keep the prices in the garage low. the city has a smart phone app to find parking. smart meters reset to zero when cars move. parking is getting pricier. >> i think bring me here less often if i'm short on cash if. >> if i the get to work on time i will pay for it. studies show that people are willing to pay for the convince of street parking. the city come is planning to approve the pla

john fowler, ktvu, channel 2 news. >>> dog owners in san francisco spoke out today against a proposed plan that would limit whether four legged friends can run off leash. trying to pass a area as if it were a pristine national park. many share his concern that the park is too restrictive. >> they shoot as much stuff out, and see what sticks. there's a lot of voodoo science. >> with nearly 20 million visitors each year, the parks service says there are environmental, and safety factors to consider. the new proposal would leave seven years for off leash dog walking, including spots at chrissy field. the parks service hopes to host three public fund sessions and the first is set for next month. >>> the heater will be kicking on once again tonight for some areas already slipping into the 40s. 45 in novato, and patchy fog reported in your neighborhood already. upper 40s in santa rosa. 48 at half moon bay. visibility right about 2 miles. 54 in oakland. low 50s in walnut creek. livermore, still managing to hold onto 52 at this hour. you also will continue to see temperatures slip in the over

ktvu john fowler joins us live with that part of the story. john. >> well, politicians are writing a swell of public opinion, and tonight they're putting bart management and unions or on notice. >> the strike may be notice but the acrimony certainly will linger, and now there's a warning for bart. >> the people in this region are not going to put up with this again. they will move forward legislatively or otherwise to disband an agency that cannot effectively govern itself. >> lieutenant governor told me late today the new agreement calls for a labor management committee to try to diffuse issues before they blow up. >> we'd like to see the legislature solve this problem. that's what we expect. that's what they're there today. >> these contra costa elected officials. san francisco labor counsel head tim paulson says such a ban won't fly. >> this strike was avoidable, and the workers got pushed into a strike. i want to be clear about that. >> that sent an echo who told me bart appeared willing to tolerate a strike, that the public would blame un

john fowler brought us this report. >>> we tend to forget b.a.r.t. was not the first. the key system ran all along the east bay even to san francisco. it was killed off in the postworld war ii automobile boom by tire and auto makers. the b.a.r.t. idea sprung up even while key trains still crossed the bay bridge a special board concluded the bridge wasn't big enough for trains and cars. they invisioned something like this. a transit system linking oakland and san francisco through a tunnel beneath the bay. nothing so grand had ever been tried and the idea stayed in the dark for another decade. until state legislators formed the bayarea transit district and gave it the power to levy taxes. in 199 with the key system long gone engineers began to design an ambitious high tech rail system. voters narrowly approved three quarters of a million dollars for expansion. workers began to tear up streets in the east bay and in san francisco. the chaos created a backlash. >> lately all youd had to do to start an argument or get into a fistfight is mention the word b.a.r.t. >> report

john fowler went inside that facility. >> reporter: the care home closed up tonight. we got a look inside. residents moved over the weekend to other facilities. neighbors told me for years conditions here were appalling. >> just elder abuse and neglect of needy people. >> reporter: he told me he found one resident naked and shivering on the sidewalk. >> i would hear screaming and yelling and things like get me out of here. >> reporter: as we showed you, paramedics removed 14 residents saturday after someone called 9-1-1. there were just three staff on duty. the owner said she spent over 100,000 fixing the place up. >> they were preparing the temporary suspension order without knowing what we had done the last working day before they started to do that. >> reporter: they denied clients abandoned that a staff of three were enough. state guidelines require adequate staffing. the owners asked for a hearing with the judge. has had problems with state reg ulthors. the sheriff told me there is a criminal investigation but no arrests are imminent. >>> celebrity chef guy fierr

john fowler is in the meeting. we'll have the latest tonight on a special early edition of ktvu channel 2 news. we're on at 4:00 p.m., to bring you, once again, game two of the world series, boston leading that series against the cardinals, 1 game to nothing -- 1-0. thank you for making cute your choice for news. we are always here for you at ktvu.com and you can always follow us on twitter and facebook. thanks for watching. have a great day. to thosuffered in silence... hoped... and lived in a state of fear... welcome to a new state... of health. welcome to covered california. the place to find quality, affordable coverage. financial help for those in need. and nobody can be denied because of a pre-existing condition. enroll now at coveredca.com or call 800-675-2607. . >>> up next on eco company. >> teens who are not afraid to get dirty, you're going to work as a team to get as much as the basic ice plant away from the shoreline as possible. >> what can you do to help save the shoreline? >> then, girl scouts to th

in oakland, john fowler, ktvu, channel 2 news. >> a rule made track workers solely responsible for their own safety, requiring one worker to be on the lookout for oncoming trains while the other was working. larry daniels of oakland and chris shepherd of hayward were both struck by the train as they were working on the tracks saturday. >>> we know what caught on fire underneath a train causing a long commute last night. now, investigators are trying to figure out why it happened. >> reporter: frequent bart rider madeline bell heard what happened at the orenda station. her fear was not fired. >> i was worried first of all because the strike just ended that there would be another huge delay. >> reporter: there was a delay for some passengers when fire and smoke could be seen coming out at the cole station. >> we figured out it was a motor reactor, which is a electrical component of a car. it weighs about 1200 pounds. >> reporter: radio dispatchers held the doors open. some passengers say no evacuation was ordered, and some were even unaware of of the fire. the train stranded for hours but

john fowler is in pacific can -- pacifica. because it is low-lying pacifica lind mar neighbor hood is at risk. the sirens surprised many people. >> this was a first test of an improved warning system. four times louder than before. >> it scared the heck out of me. it went on way long. >> kind of like a police siren, and our teacher said that would be happening. >> officials clearly heard it in the inundation zone. we discovered not by everything. i was asleep. i didn't hear it. >> in a real tsunami a live voice would give instructions. >> it would sound at 15 to 20 minute intervals for the last two hours before the tsunami would reach us. >> bay area quake geology means we will have an hour or two warning. these animations from uc santa crude demonstrate the destruction on long the coast and inside the bay. there's lots of power, could knock over buildings, pick up cars and rocks. >> especially vulnerable are barrier beaches. >> the ocean comes up and won't stop, coming up for 10 or 15 minutes. it's not like a wave it's a floo

ktvu's john fowler looks at whether having fast track gives you an edge. john? >> reporter: apparently it does. this is highway 24. west of 680 interchange. a slow commute for many people but this is what officials say can help speed up that travel. >> reporter: many commuters did adjust i came later because i k there would be traffic. >> reporter: but he used fast track. >> i don't want to wait in the lif trk just before the strike. this is the bay bridge toll plaza in the morning commute. cars and fast track lanes moved about 4 times faster than cash lanes. a clerk at this safeway told me they are swamped with fast track sales. >> enrollment in october is up 45% over the same period in 2012. >> reporter: he says that is more than 10,000 new fast trackers since b.a.r.t. workers threatened strike and now he expects more. they can reconfigure the lanes to take cash but today they did not. >> we want to make sure fast track has an advantage. that is built into the system. >> reporter: commuters say fast track is not good ikes b.a.r.t. needs to go back to work. >>

john fowler in oakland, with how the governor's office intervened to put the brakes on a strike. >> reporter: well day and night, 180,000 east bay riders use ac transit. the governor late this afternoon ordered no strike, and a seven day period during which a board of inquiry will gather facts. they be the governor may ask a judge for a 60 day cooling off period. >> very relieved for our drivers, particularly the school children who would have had to find some alternative form of transportation. >> seven days, that's great. then what? then i'll be back on edge. >> reporter: oakland high schooler, winny smith says her children could not get her to the school of the arts and back without this bus. >> it would cost me school time, i would have to miss work. my grades would go down. >> we're sympathetic to the riders, i don't want to be on strike. my family has to use public transit to get to school. >> reporter: david lyons said they rejected a pay increase. with inflation, he says those deals have amounted to cuts in pay. >> a negotiated contract that gives us a raise, that after medical payme

john fowler, ktvu news. >>> the failed wrongful termination lawsuit filed by a fire chief may end up costing him more than half a million dollars. a judge ordered casper -- kapler to pay for court costs. kapler says his contract allowed him to use a county card while using a private vehicle while doing city business. >>> the money raised would go to health and nutrition programs for young people. if the majority of the other supervisors approve the measure could go on the ballot in november of next year. >>> falling temperatures tonight but what about halloween as we look live at the oakland port. chief meteorologist bill martin is back with >>> the american academy of pediatrics says the use of social media by children has exploded in recent years. the group says 72% of children 8 years old and under have used a mobile device for games and videos that's up almost 40% from almost two years ago. ktvu's robert handa is live in san jose with the warning and advise from pediatricians, robert. >> reporter: we're here at the san jose tech museum where there's many games for children to lea

as john fowler reports, union leaders are hurling allegations about the two track inspectors who were struck and killed by a b.a.r.t. train last weekend. >> reporter: it was to be a straightforward resolution in memory of two workers killed on the job but what happened next seemed to stun the board. >> shame, shame on everybody. the arrogance and calluses with which these entire negotiations are handled are a shame and now we have two people dead. >> you knew what they were doing was union busting. >> reporter: it was a union run that killed christopher shepherd and daniels while they were inspecting track. >> this is something that we had been warning part about. we told the public, we told you. >> reporter: one station agent blasted the board. >> you're all elected officials and you need to be recalled because of your lack of leadership throughout your term. >> reporter: b.a.r.t. members are under a gag order and tried to steer away from blame rather remember the fallen workers. >> that this would be a quiet time for them and not filled with all the vetrial that has been happened. >

john fowler, ktvu news. >>> the failed wrongful termination lawsuit filed by a fire chief may end up costing him more than half a million dollars. a judge ordered casper -- kapler to pay for court costs. kapler says his contract allowed him to use a county card while using a private vehicle while doing city business. >>> the money raised would go to health and nutrition programs for young people. if the majority of the other supervisors approve the measure could go on the ballot in november of next year. >>> falling temperatures tonight but what about halloween as we look live at the oakland port. chief meteorologist bill martin is back with his complete bay area forecast. >>> screens and children, the explosion of social media. we'll show you the dangers some see in the new trend. at kaiser permanente we've reduced serious heart attacks by 62%, which makes days with grandpa jack 100% more possible. join us at kp.org and thrive. >>> the american academy of pediatrics says the use of social media by children has exploded in recent years. the group says 72% of children 8 years old and

as john fowler reports, union leaders are hurling allegations about the two track inspectors who were struck and killed by a b.a.r.t. train last weekend. >> reporter: it was to be a straightforward resolution in memory of two workers killed on the job but what happened next seemed to stun the board. >> shame, shame on everybody. the arrogance and calluses with which these entire negotiations are handled are a shame and now we have two people dead. >> you knew what they were doing was union busting. >> reporter: it was a union run that killed christopher shepherd and daniels while they were inspecting track. >> this is something that we had been warning part about. we told the public, we told you. >> reporter: one station agent blasted the board. >> you're all elected officials and you need to be recalled because of your lack of leadership throughout your term. >> reporter: b.a.r.t. members are under a gag order and tried to steer away from blame rather remember the fallen workers. >> that this would be a quiet time for them and not filled with all the vetrial that has been happened. >

john fowler in oakland, with how the governor's office intervened to put the brakes on a strike. >> reporter: well day and night, 180,000 east bay riders use ac transit. the governor late this afternoon ordered no strike, and a seven day period during which a board of inquiry will gather facts. they be the governor may ask a judge for a 60 day cooling off period. >> very relieved for our drivers, particularly the school children who would have had to find some alternative form of transportation. >> seven days, that's great. then what? then i'll be back on edge. >> reporter: oakland high schooler, winny smith says her children could not get her to the school of the arts and back without this bus. >> it would cost me school time, i would have to miss work. my grades would go down. >> we're sympathetic to the riders, i don't want to be on strike. my family has to use public transit to get to school. >> reporter: david lyons said they rejected a pay increase. with inflation, he says those deals have amounted to cuts in pay. >> a negotiated contract that gives us a raise, that after medical payme