reporting live from the "7 on your side" office, i'm michael finney. >> thank you, michael. >>> time and money. michael cohen's crimes are going to cost him both. >> next, details on the fate of president trump's former personal lawyer. . >>> i'm wayne freedman in antioch. a car like this, it looks beyond redemption. it looks totaled. how it ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> live where you live, this is "abc 7 news". ♪ >>> michael cohen, the former long-time personal attorney for donald trump, was sentenced today. he's been ordered to serve three years in prison. >> cohen pleaded guilty to a laundry list of charges stemming from both federal prosecutors in new york and special counsel robert mueller's office in washington. abc's linda lopez has the story. >> reporter: michael cohen departed federal court in manhattan wednesday without addressing the crush of reporters and cameras. minutes before, an emotional cohen apologized, pleading for leniency. he said his former boss, donald trump, caused him to, follow a path of darkness rather than light and cover up his dirty deeds. he p

you have been given a few more days to sign up four health insurance. >> and michael finney explains some of the best things to do when buying and receiving a gift card. that and more coming up on "abc7 news" at 6:00. >>> finally tonight, christmas trees for hundreds of san francisco families, free. >> "abc7 news" was in the city's western edition where san francisco police officers helped spread some holiday cheer. >> the tree giveaway is a collaboration between police, the mayor and the san francisco housing authority. >> they distributed more than 400 christmas trees to families in the western edition and if bay view hunter's point, as well. and those smiling kid's faces tell the story. >> "world news tonight" is next. i'm kristen sze. >> and i'm dan ashley. for sandhya, michael finney, all of us here, we hope to see you again in half an hour. >>> tonight, several developing stories as we come on the air. the major storm system, a holiday travel nightmare brewing. the system moving across the country coast to coast. ginger with the new track tonight. >>> breaking news coming in no

i'm michael finney. why this is so unusual. ahead on 7 on your side. >>> i'm meteorologist sandhya patel. we're heading into the weekend with beautiful weather. >>> and steph curry makes one child's dream come true. >>> and as part of pearl harbor remembrance today, the beacon now lit. it was extinguished right after pearl harbor so the enemy could not see california and plan attacked. 20 years later they decided to do this. light it every year on this somber day. we'll be right back. . >>> make that a 1911 pistol. a replica "star wars" blaster. and some sunglasses. they also did some serious damage to that door. >>> this is a surprising figure. an estimated one-half million public employees in california have no parental leave benefits. >>> one bay area city is expected to change that for their workers as early as this monday. 7 on your side's michael finney explains. >> reporter: kyle has been working for the city of palo alto for three years. he described himself as completely unaware when he took his job that he would be in

. >> i'm michael finney. do you need health insurance? w have you kickocovered. you can go on my facebook page or give us a >>> a group of first graders took a trip ice skating. the teacher was intent on making these kids dreams come true. >> on this cool winter day, first graders from san jose are taking their learning outside! it's really scary, but no matter what, you always keep trying. >> for many of these students who come from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, the unique chance to hit the ice for the first time. >> some of the shy ones you normally see that are huddled and quiet, they are amazing on the ice. >> it's one of nearly two dozen schools supported by the always dream foundation. >> to be able to step out of the arena where you competed and go out into the community, it's been incredible. >> off the ice, the olympic figure skating champion and p best-selling children's author is now focused on the development of early childhood literacy skills. today's field trip was to reward students for their hard work at l school. >> maybe we'll have a future s

something he started doing when he was just a kid himself. >>> and sen on your side michael finney points out what to watch for to make sure you don't fall for a deal that to be true coming up in half an hour on abc 7 news at 6:00. >>ut o see you then. >>> well this is the time for holiday traditions. almost everyone has one. >> it is fun. we made a quick run around san francisco in search of those family customs and rituals that make this time of year so very tinorab that one item that isspbl t din table on christmas eve. >> it will never be a christmas unless there is tamales in my house. >> reporter: the own was busy grinding fresh corn for the dough while his wife is wrapping up. yolanda bought several dozen. >> i'm taking some chicken and some pork which is my family favorite and so i hope to keep them in ueil christmas eve and then the party is on. >> reporter: the party was already on at the mies streameird imonto the, loby to check out the life side chribrough hwouse. an it nice having -- celebrate as a family. >> reporter: this year theewriv gingerbread house. jeff peterson jumpe

>> i'm michael finney. the 7 on your side health care oh! oh! ♪ ozempic®! ♪ (vo) people with type 2 diabetes are excited about the potential of once-weekly ozempic®. in a study with ozempic®, a majority of adults lowered their blood sugar and reached an a1c of less than seven and maintained it. oh! under seven? (vo) and you may lose weight. in the same one-year study, adults lost on average up to 12 pounds. oh! up to 12 pounds? (vo) a two-year study showed that ozempic® does not increase the risk of major cardiovascular events like heart attack, stroke, or death. oh! no increased risk? ♪ ozempic®! ♪ ozempic® should not be the first medicine for treating diabetes, or for people with type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis. do not share needles or pens. don't reuse needles. do not take ozempic® if you have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer, multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2, or if you are allergic to ozempic®. stop taking ozempic® and get medical help right away if you get a lump or swelling in your neck, sever

. >> 7 on your side's michael finney is here. thank goodness, michael. >> maybe you're thinking about giving one of those smart watches or activity trackers as a gift but aren't sure which one is best for your fitness fana c fanatic. here's some easy shopping tips to help you make the right choice. >> it gives me text messages, alerts, things like that. gives me my alarm too. i don't have to have my phone on me all the time so it's a little more convenient. >> you might be thinking about giving or getting one as a gift this holiday season. when it's time to shop, consumer reports says think about what you're going to use it for. >> if you just want something that's going to count steps, maybe track your heart rate, a fitness tracker probably covers what you need. if you're going to do more reading e-mails, if you want the latest sports scores, the weather, you might want to look at a smart watch. >> some trackers may have textll crs you should also think about how tech savso tsfls a whistles won't mean much if you don't know how

. >> yu, but how can you make sure they're safe to put up. "7 on your side's" michael finney is here to tell us how. >> for many a big part of getting into the holidays, stringing up lights, either inside our outside your home. some lights they can be hazardous. here are tips for staying safe. >> if you're using the same holiday lights from years ago, they're probably incandescent. that means it's a good idea to check them for safety. >> you should check the wires and see if there's anything frayed, anything broken. make sure the plug is still in good condition. >> reporter: make sure the wire is pliable, not brittle. if some bulbs are out, consumer reports say it's safe to replace them. what if the lights don't work? >> throw them away. you can't repair them. they can cause a fire. >> reporter: that's one reason jeff staples only uses l.e.d. lights for display. >> much less problematic. the bulbs are solid so they don't break. >> reporter: jeff has been installing elaborate displays, music included for the last knifed years. he programs the display through his computer. >> i really

michael finney is here. a lot of sales. >> let the shopping continue. let the christmas crowds continue, too. today and tomorrow are usually the busiest days for returns. many shoppers say they didn't want to deal with the sales crowds, you know, the deep discounts that move merchandise after christmas. target in walnut creek opened at 7:00 this morning. shoppers were ready to spend. they are purchasing gifts for loved ones for next year's christmas. >> like the gift sets, they go from 50% to 75%. i give them out to my kids. >> usually the better sales are after christmas. i just came to see what i would find for myself. i already shopped for everybody else before christmas. now i will shop for myself. >> that seems fair. du consumers spent $850 billion this holiday season. that is up more than five percent from last year. analysts say bigger paychecks and cheap gas are driving the best holiday shopping season in six years. online sales rose more than 19% compared to last year. both numbers come from mastercard spending polls. amazon says more items wer

i'm michael finney with the latest on car subscriptions here's your receipt. have a nice day! thank you. ♪ ♪ start the car! start the car! start the car! start the car! the ikea winter sale. wooooooo! save up to 50% off select items in store only december 26th to january 6th. ikea. ♪ little girl and boy land ♪ while you dwell within it ♪ you are ever happy there daddy, it's christmas! ♪ childhoods, joyland never let go of your dreams. the mercedes-benz winter event is back. lease the glc 300 for $459 a month at your local mercedes-benz dealer. mercedes-benz. the best or nothing. >>> tv subscription through netflix, perhaps your music subscription is with apple. why not a car subscription through ford? 7 on your side's michael finney has been looking into it and explains why some may like it better than actually owning a car. >> the ford parked outside of this burlingame home is neither leased more bought. gianna didn't win it either. back home in the bay area after living in new york city for years she went online pan subscribed to ford's used car subscription serv

michael finney will have advice for you. >> managing my type 2 diabetes wasn't my top priority. until i held her. i found my tresiba® reason. now i'm doing more to lower my a1c. once daily tresiba® controls blood sugar for 24 hours for powerful a1c reduction. tresiba® is a long-acting insulin used to control high blood sugar in adults with diabetes. don't use tresiba® to treat diabetic ketoacidosis, during episodes of low blood sugar, or if you are allergic to any of its ingredients. don't share needles or insulin pens. don't reuse needles. the most common side effect is low blood sugar, which may cause dizziness, sweating, confusion, and headache. check your blood sugar. low blood sugar can be serious and may be life-threatening. injection site reactions may occur. tell your prescriber about all medicines you take and all your medical conditions. taking tzds with insulins like tresiba® may cause serious side effects like heart failure. your insulin dose shouldn't be changed without asking your prescriber. get medical help right away if you have trouble breathing, fast hear

why not a car subscription through ford in 7 on your side michael finney has been looking into it and explains why some may like it better than owning a car. >> the ford parked outside of this burlingame home is neither leased nor bought. giann didn't win it either. back home in the bay area after living in new york city for years, she went online and subscribed to ford's used car subscription service canvas. as in blank canvas is it. >> quite literally clicked buy and it appeared in front of my house two days later. >> seriously. >> yeah. i didn't have to go anywhere, do anything. disrupt my workday. came at 9:00 a.m. sign the paper and went to work and it was at if nothing happened. i just had a car. >> canvas is headquartered in san francisco. it offers a call and all the fixings for a single monthly price. >> we bundle everything. the insurance, the maintenance, the warranty, the roadside assistance all you have to do is add gas. canvas a simple solution. >> allison brailly heads up marketing she tells me you can sign up for a month, several months a year or more. so what's the ca

the company called less operates here in the bay area i'm michael finney. 7 on your side. >>> still to come on abc 7 morngts day eight of the government shutdown. also, the two brothers, the shop that's ♪ little girl and boy land ♪ while you dwell within it ♪ you are ever happy there daddy, it's christmas! ♪ childhoods, joyland never let go of your dreams. the mercedes-benz winter event is back. lease the glc 300 for $459 a month at your local mercedes-benz dealer. mercedes-benz. the best or nothing. here's your receipt. have a nice day! thank you. start the car! start the car! the ikea winter sale. wooooooo! save up to 50% off select items in store only december 26th to january 6th. ikea. let's get up and get going. >> this is abc 7 mornings. >>> thanks for being with us. i'm chris nguyen. wree are we're starting with a quick look at the weather. here is loo is a tracking the conditions where you live. >>> it's chilly out there. brisk winds in the upper elevations. but at the surface things are later in terms of winds. with lower dew points we are cold. 34 in pleasen and 32 in

michael finney has some tips to avoid bad gift giving for the one you love. >> it's a holiday ritual, we invade the mall or crash our favorite websites in search of that perfect gift. then the day after christmas, the mad rush to return gifts begins. the company of toro specializes in gift returns. it estimated consumers returned $90 billion in gifts after the holidays last year. laura reed gives her husband a below average grade when it comes to choosing gifts. >> he would do okay, but it was mostly things he thought i would like. >> debbie tells us she's returned gifts from her husband for a variety of reasons. >> well, it was usually size, color or style not quite right. >> all three? >> all three. the trifecta of error. >> antonioa townsend wants to take the guesswork out of gift giving. she has a gift giving service for men specializing in lingerie. >> it's hard. men are nod mind readers as much as we would like them to be. >> men pay her to pick out packages for them. it includes a bed of rose petals and has a row man take note. >> they want something that illustrates the connec

an envied look from a jeweller to the royal family. >> i'm michael finney. how to buy a tremfya® is for adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. with tremfya®, you can get clearer. and stay clearer. in fact, most patients who saw 90% clearer skin at 28 weeks stayed clearer through 48 weeks. tremfya® works better than humira® at providing clearer skin, and more patients were symptom free with tremfya®. tremfya® may lower your ability to fight infections and may increase your risk of infections. before treatment, your doctor should check you for infections and tuberculosis. tell your doctor if you have an infection or have symptoms such as: fever, sweats, chills, muscle aches or cough. before starting tremfya® tell your doctor if you plan to or have recently received a vaccine. ask your doctor about tremfya®. tremfya®. because you deserve to stay clearer. janssen wants to help you explore cost support options. >>> we buy more of just about everything this time of year. that includes mattresses. >> yes. so how do you get the right one for you?

. >>> i'm michael finney. >>> i'm michael finney. i have some help for disaster but in my mind i'm still 35. that's why i take osteo bi-flex to keep me moving the way i was made to. it nourishes and strengthens my joints for the long-term. osteo bi-flex because i'm made to move. >>> it's always a good idea to be prepared for a natural disaster, especially a wildfire. >> but there's so much to think about, so where do you even start? 7 on your side's michael finney is joining us live in the studio with more. >> with devastating wildfires becoming the new norm in california, how can you prepare for the next natural disaster? look, i received a letter from a guy named george in alameda. he wrote to me, may i suggest you write a how-to book covering what the homeowners and renters must do to restore their property and lives. it's a great idea, i thought. then a day later i sent an e-mail from the international law firm morris and forester based here in san francisco and they had put together the guide george asked me to write. so joining

michael finney walks through the clues in this case that helped a woman get her money back. chipper, see not long ago, ronda started here. and then, more jobs began to appear. these techs in a lab. this builder in a hardhat... ...the welders and electricians who do all of that. the diner staffed up 'cause they all needed lunch. teachers... doctors... jobs grew a bunch. what started with one job spread all around. because each job in energy creates many more in this town. energy lives here. >>> do you till have your christmas tree up? i do. or have you already taken it down? >> here's dion lim with a message to san francisco tonight about what to do with your leftover tree. >> reporter: i know it's depressing to see a christmas tree on the side of the road so soon after christmas. but there's a reason why they say not so fast. tree after tree after tree. discarded on curbs across san francisco. >> it was just two days ago. why are you throwing your tree away? >> reporter: sad reminders of holiday cheer gone by. >> in a couple of days, it's just going to be overwhelming. just

. >> seven on your side, michael finney has a new scam warning. >>> and a mother and news about her visa today. >>> a . >>> here are the stories making headlines at 4:30. a tornado damaged homes and uprooted trees in washington state this afternoon. take a look at this destruction. it happened at port orchard west of seattle. the national weather service will survey the area tomorrow to determine how strong the tornado was. here in the bay area, a high surf advisory has been extended until 3:00 a.m. the national weather service says there are breakers of 15 to 25 feet. >>> a $300 million settlement has been reached between the county and the family of andy lopez who was killed by a schiff's deputy in 2015. we'll have more on the news at 5:00. >>> a mother of a boy on life support has been granted a sri to see him. president trump's travel ban had originally prevented her from traveling to the country because she's from yemen. we have more. >> reporter: this boy is suffering from a rare brain condition. the boy's father's only wish is for the mother to say gn ood-by to the dying son. >> r

i'm michael finney, 7 on your side. >>> still to come on "abc7 mornings," the preparations before the party. security measures in place as security measures in place as cities across the country get ♪ little girl and boy land ♪ while you dwell within it ♪ you are ever happy there daddy, it's christmas! ♪ childhoods, joyland never let go of your dreams. the mercedes-benz winter event is back. lease the glc 300 for $459 a month at your local mercedes-benz dealer. mercedes-benz. the best or nothing. >>> good morning, east bay. let's get up and get going. >> this is "abc7 mornings." >> good morning and thank you for joining us. i'm chris nguyen. th a quick look tat the forecast. here is meteorologist lisa argen who is tracking the conditions where you live. lisa? >> in santa cruz, it is going to be a nice afternoon. if you wait until the 3:00 hour, when the temperatures come up into the 50s, and you will see clouds around and elsewhere in the bay. it is a cool start out there with the upper 40s in oakland and upper 30s in morgan hill, and 32 in half moon bay, and emeryville showin

. >> seven on your side, michael finney. there's good mauntil i held her.diabetes wasn't my top priority. i found my tresiba® reason. now i'm doing more to lower my a1c. once daily tresiba® controls blood sugar for 24 hours for powerful a1c reduction. tresiba® is a long-acting insulin used to control high blood sugar in adults with diabetes. don't use tresiba® to treat diabetic ketoacidosis, during episodes of low blood sugar, or if you are allergic to any of its ingredients. don't share needles or insulin pens. don't reuse needles. the most common side effect is low blood sugar, which may cause dizziness, sweating, confusion, and headache. check your blood sugar. low blood sugar can be serious and may be life-threatening. injection site reactions may occur. tell your prescriber about all medicines you take and all your medical conditions. taking tzds with insulins like tresiba® may cause serious side effects like heart failure. your insulin dose shouldn't be changed without asking your prescriber. get medical help righ

. >>> i'm "7 on your side's" michael finney. last week marriott told consumers about a massive hack paying less for my medicare? i'm open to that. lower premiums? extra benefits? it's open enrollment. time to open the laptop... ...and compare medicare health plans. why? because plans change, so can your health needs. so, be open-minded. look at everything - like prescription drug plans... oh, and medicare advantage plans from private insurers. use the tools at medicare.gov or call 1-800-medicare. open to something better? start today. open enrollment ends december 7th. what does help for heart fait looks like this. entresto is a heart failure pill that helped keep people alive and out of the hospital. don't take entresto if pregnant; it can cause harm or death to an unborn baby. don't take entresto with an ace inhibitor or aliskiren, or if you've had angioedema with an ace or arb. the most serious side effects are angioedema, low blood pressure, kidney problems, or high blood potassium. ask your doctor about entresto. ♪ the be

and thank you, michael finney. you can get your cover california questions answered this wednesday beginning at 4:00. we'll have a panel of experts taking calls and questions via social media and e-mail about getting government subsidized health coverage in time for the new year. that's wednesday. >> it's so complicated. >>> the listeners have spoken. a bay area radio station bringing back a controversial christmas song. but one historian says the controversy may be misguided. >>> we all know that rent is outrageous in the bay area. but how many say what they're paying is a good deal? making it easier, and faster to open a retail business with a change of heart from one local mayor. and the very close call for one dog on a freeway. those stories and more when we those stories and more when we see you for this little home of, ♪ i'm gonna let it shine. ♪ it's energy saving time, ♪ i'm gonna reduce mine. ♪ californians all align ♪ to let our great state shine. ♪ let it shine, ♪ the power's ours to let it

just ahead, michael finney teams up with consumer reports. some important toy safety information. >>> newlyweds usually like to party after they get married. but one oh! oh! ♪ ozempic®! ♪ (vo) people with type 2 diabetes are excited about the potential of once-weekly ozempic®. in a study with ozempic®, a majority of adults lowered their blood sugar and reached an a1c of less than seven and maintained it. oh! under seven? (vo) and you may lose weight. in the same one-year study, adults lost on average up to 12 pounds. oh! up to 12 pounds? (vo) a two-year study showed that ozempic® does not increase the risk of major cardiovascular events like heart attack, stroke, or death. oh! no increased risk? ♪ ozempic®! ♪ ozempic® should not be the first medicine for treating diabetes, or for people with type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis. do not share needles or pens. don't reuse needles. do not take ozempic® if you have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer, multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2, or if you

michael finney has an idea that you may not have thought about or had the opportunity to buy that is until now. >> you are out shopping and looking for something special, something for that hard to shop for person, well, maybe what you need is not available at the mall. perhaps only wildlands you. >> it is really excite, because we have 12 species, and 12 new to science species a ththat wer discovered in south america, and so we are auctioning off the right to name those species in celebration of the 30th anniversary and it is the the ultimate gift. >> reporter: if you place the winning bid in this rain forest auction you could name this frog or this orchid or this. >> how many people get to do that? very few i am guessing, so i thought that, wow, this could not be any cooler. >> reporter: james muchmore has been donating to the rain forest for year, so he does not need a new reason, but naming a specie is cool. >> i am interested in the orchids and the ecuadorian frog who has blue eyes. >> i would name it michael finnyis equidorus. >> no, it is more special to name it after someone

to 2:00 p.m., i'm michael finney, "7 on your side." >>> breaking news out of contra costa county. crews respond to a big fire overnight. the new video and what firefighters say fed the flames. >>> a chaotic scene at the baltimore washington airport. first responders and two airline employee whoa! the mercedes-benz winter event is back and you won't want to stop for anything else. [ barks ] ho! lease the c 300 sport sedan for $399 a month at your local mercedes-benz dealer. mercedes-benz. the best or nothing. mercedes-benz. the best or nothing. our because of smoking.ital. but we still had to have a cigarette. had to. but then, we were like. what are we doing? the nicodermcq patch helps prevent your urge to smoke all day. nicodermcq. you know why, we know how. >>> thanks for being with us on this sunday morning. i'm chris nguyen. we'll start with a quick look at the weather. here is meteorologist lisa argen. >> hi everyone. patchy fog along the coast is keeping temperatures there slightly milder this morning. half moon bay 52, pacifica 48. along the peninsula and belmont, 47. cold

we have all been there so 7 on your side michael finney has tips to avoid bad gift giving for the one you love. >> reporter: it is a holiday ritual and we invade the mall or crash our favorite websites in search of gift. then, the day after christmas, the the mad rush to return gifts begins. the company specializes in gift returns and says that consumers retu returned $90 billion in gifts last year. laura reed gives her husband a below average grade when it comes to choosing gifts. >> he would do okay, but it is mostly the things that he thought that i would like. >> and debbie says that she has returned gifts from her husband for a variety of reasons. >> well sh, it is usually, size color, style, and not quite right. >> reporter: a all threesome. >> yes. all three. the trifecta of error. >> reporter: and antonia townes wants to take the guesswork out of gift giving and the founder of enclosed, a concierge for men specializing in lingerie. >> men are not mind readers as much as as we would like them to be. >> reporter: men pay enclosed the pick out the gifts for them, and the company

"7 on your side's" michael finney has been looking into this and is here with interesting information. >> okay, you guys. we keep reporting millennial as value experiences over stuff. so why not experience a car rather than owning one? the ford parked outside of this burlingame home is neither leased nor bought. gianna didn't rent it either. back home in the bay area after living in new york city for years, she went online and subscribed to ford's used car subscription,canvas. >> quiteitally clicked buy and it appeared in front of my house two days later. >> seriously? >> yeah, i didn't have to go anywhere, i didn't have to do anything, disrupt my workday. it came 9:00 a.m., signed the paper and went to work. it was as if nothing had happened. i just had a car. >> canvas is headquartered in san francisco. it offers a car and all of the fixings for a single monthly price. >> we bundle everything, the insurance, the maintenance, the warranty, the road side assistance and all you have to do is add gad. canvas is a simple solution. >> allison brailey heads up marketing for canvas. she tel

there are still ways to get the lowest possible rate. "7 on your side" michael finney has tips to help you get a great deal. >> reporter: it's getting more and more expensive to borrow money for a home. according to bankrate.com, the average annual percentage rate for 30-year, fixed rate topped 5%. that's the highest in seven years. still experts say mortgages are relatively cheap by historic standards. >> when it comes to the decision of buying a house, you shouldn't let interest rates make a decision that big for you. >> both real estate investors and home loan officers say don't let the rising numbers scare you. >>> more of a psychological impact to people than it is an actual impact on their finances. >> so how do you find the lowest price loan possible. experts say follow these three tips. number one, find an experienced mortgage broker. >> a mortgage broker's job is to shop your loans, every ender they can find, and find the one with the most competitive rate. >> look at community banks or credit unions. >> it's important to talk with someone who can help you through the differen

the types of card they're buying are also changing. 7 on your side's michael finney has been looking into the trend. >> holiday shoppers out in force at shopping malls and on their computers, too. and the big items being gifted this year, as in the recent past, gift cards. recent study shows shoppers plan to purchase an average of four gift cards this holiday season. each card will be worth about $50. the more than half will focus on experiences, not stuff. >> people don't really post so much about the things that they buy. they post about the things that they're doing. >> shelly hunter is the gift card girlfriend. she keeps close track of the world of gift cards and says experiences are where much of the gift card world isersus, too. >> my husband is very hard to buy for. so i ended up getting him something great, which is an experience. >> the national retail federation says more than half the gift cards being bought this year are for restaurants, theaters and other entertainment venues. another trend? choice. >> we're used to having gift card for a particular merchant. this year w

as part of our commitment to building a better bay area, "7 on your side's" michael finney steps in when customers get the blame and the -- >> i share some very difficult things in my life that i've never talked about before. >> abc 7's cheryl jennings sits down with congress woman jackie speier about >>> live where you live, this is "abc 7 news." >>> america is suddenly facing a recycling crisis, and since "abc 7 news" is committed to building a better bay area we are finding out why. one main reason is because china set strict standards for what materials it will buy. >> recyclers say it threatens california's goal for zero waste in our landfills and some garbage companies are putting the blame on consumers. >> "7 on your side's" michael finney joins us with now one company is penalizing bay area residents. >> wait until you hear this. not long ago we were all encouraged to recycle as much as possible. now we are told we are putting a lot of the wrong stuff in recycling carts and turning everything in the cart into trash. an east bay company is holding customers accountable. some say t

i'm michael finney. sfx: tsfx: feet shufflingc life can change in an instant. be covered when it does... ...with a health plan through covered california. we offer free expert help choosing the best plan for you. and all of our plans include free preventive care. financial help is available, so check for yourself to see what savings you qualify for. for health insurance starting january 1st, enroll by december 15th. because you never know when life... ...will change. get covered today. >>> a camp outside yosemite national park is piloting a program to be more inclusive. >> "abc 7 news" reporter melanie woodrow has the story. >> reporter: this summer jonathan brunn and his big sister sobina. >> ten and two and my twin. >> reporter: will attend a outside yosemite national park. it won't be their first summer at camp but first summer they have the option of camping in an all-gender bunk as opposed to a girls' bunk or boys' bunk. jonathan says he is transgender and non-buy nary. >> i identify as both. >> reporter: jonathan uses the pro nouns he, she and they. the c

>> a really good question. "7 on your side's" michael finney is here with good advice for us. >> the economy is improving, the economy, not necessarily the stock market, and the federal reserve is hiking up interest rates. that means the days of super cheap mortgages are over, at least for the time being. however, there are ways for you to get the lowest possible rate. here are three tips to help you get a great deal. it is getting more and more expensive to borrow money for a home. according to bankrate.com, the average rate on a 30-year fixed rate recently topped 5%, that's the highest in seven years. still, experts say mortgages are relatively cheap by historic standards. >> when it comes to the decision of buying a house, you shouldn't let interest rates make a decision that big for you. >> reporter: both real estate investors and home loan officers say don't let the rising numbers scare you. >> it is more of a psychological impact to people than it is an actual impact on their finances. >> reporter: so how do you find the lowest priced loan possible? experts say follow these thr

michael finney with 7 on your side. >> you don't feel that smart when you're trying to put them together and getting them to work. new producting are comes on the market all the time. let me give you a crash course on how to buy and connect these devices. "consumer reports" dan raklosky doesn't just write about the smart product. he uses them too. husband one smart device, smart speaker. alexia, lock the front door. >> reporter: to use the smart speaker as a hub or control centers of sorts, you'll find three objects. as for those other smart products, "consumer reports" puts them through rigorous testing. for example, smart locks have to pass the same break-in traditional ones. >> this one from to kicking and picking. some models even work with smart locks to remotely open the door through an app. need even more smarts? you might aids cameras inside and out. they can record people breaking in or breaking the rules. you'll need to pay for storage which can be as much as $200 a year. >> what that means is when these cameras take video. they store it on the company's server. it makes it eas

. >>> i'm michael finney. has the size of your paycheck expanded this year? oh! oh! ♪ ozempic®! ♪ (vo) people with type 2 diabetes are excited about the potential of once-weekly ozempic®. in a study with ozempic®, a majority of adults lowered their blood sugar and reached an a1c of less than seven and maintained it. oh! under seven? (vo) and you may lose weight. in the same one-year study, adults lost on average up to 12 pounds. oh! up to 12 pounds? (vo) a two-year study showed that ozempic® does not increase the risk of major cardiovascular events like heart attack, stroke, or death. oh! no increased risk? ozempic® should not be the first medicine for treating diabetes, or for people with type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis. do not share needles or pens. don't reuse needles. do not take ozempic® if you have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer, multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2, or if you are allergic to ozempic®. stop taking ozempic® and get medical help right away if you get a lump or swelling in your neck, severe stomach pain, itc

i'm michael finney, 7 on your side. >> time is 5:25. nasa captured a few images of what's call the holiday asteroid. but if you look at the picture on the far left it semle bls a hippo it zips at a a distance of 1.8 million miles. the closest approach to our planet in 400 years. >> get them off. get them off. >> whoa. >> two police officers busted a move during a flash mob dance routine in florida. dancer kicked off the routine at a shopping mall officers pretended to tell the dancers to knock it off. shoppers started to booing. but before a different kind of mob formed the officers surprised the crowd and became part of the routine. >> great to see. still to come on abc 7 mornings. it's called supersaturday. the whopping number of people expected to hit the stores today to finish holiday shopping. >>> and this bay area boys toy drive is getting bigger every year. the big delivery now headed >> announcer: good morning east bay. let's get up and get going. >>> this is abc 7 morks. >>> half past the hour on this saturday morning. thanks f

i'm michael finney. how thousands of >>> a rebate program worth up to $23,000 is sparking interest in electric vehicles. >> yes. "7 on your side's" michael finney says hundreds of thousands of drivers in san mateo county could actually qualify by buying or leasing electric vehicles before the end of the year. >> yeah, hold out your hand. let me give you some cash, but you got to move fast. you got to move fast. sales of electric vehicles have been less than environmentalists and auto manufacturers hoped, but this new incentive is helping scores of car buyers overcome their concerns. robert of redwood city gets into his brand-new, all-electric nissan leaf, the first new car he had in a number of years. >> it feels great. plus, it smells like a new car and i haven't had a new car in 16 years. so i'm pretty excited about it. >> rebates from peninsula clean energy, the car dealership, the ut a owe manufacturer, california air resources board and the irs reduced the price by more than $13,000. he would have q

. >>> i'm 7 on your side michael finney. at fordable and comfortable air mattress you could get tonight fo oh! oh! ♪ ozempic®! ♪ (vo) people with type 2 diabetes are excited about the potential of once-weekly ozempic®. in a study with ozempic®, a majority of adults lowered their blood sugar anreached an a1c of less than seven and maintained it. oh! under seven? (vo) and you may lose weight. in the same one-year study, adults lost on average up to 12 pounds. oh! up to 12 pounds? (vo) a two-year study showed that ozempic® does not increase the risk of major cardiovascular events like heart attack, stroke, or death. oh! no increased risk? ♪ ozempic®! ♪ ozempic® should not be the first medicine for treating diabetes, or for people with type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis. do not share needles or pens. don't reuse needles. do not take ozempic® if you have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer, multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2, or if you are allergic to ozempic®. stop taking ozem

. >>> i'm michael finney with new gift card trends. what you need to >>> philippines! >> it was a big moment. ms. philippines is the new ms. universe. catriona gray was crowned the winner in bangkok. >> you know california is home to the largest filipino-american population in the u.s. and there are more than 3 to,000 people of filipino descent just in the bay area alone. >> that's right. "abc 7 news" reporter lyanne melendez talked to many to get reaction to last night's win. >> the new ms. universe is -- philippines! >> reporter: overnight, 24-year-old catriona gray has become the most admired person in the philippines. here in the bay area, filipino-americans shared their sense of pride for the newly-crowned ms. universe. >> anything that happens in the philippines is really exciting for the filipinos. >> reporter: how does it feel? >> of course everybody is happy. we've been watching that the whole night. >> reporter: we know this. gray was born in australia. her father is scottish and her mom is from the philippines. she was able to beat 93 other contestants inclu

i'm michael finney, 7 on your side. >> get them off get them off! >> whoa. >> two police officers busted a move during a flash mob dance in florida. the dancers kicked off the routine at a shopping mall. officers pretended to tell the dancer to knock it off. shoppers started booing. but before a different kind of mob formed, the officers surprised the crowd and became part of the routine. great to see. >> still to come on abc 7 mornings it's called supersaturday. the whopping number much people expected to hit the stores today to finish holiday shopping. plus this bay area boys toy drive is getting bigger and better every year. the massive delivery now headed to toys for tots. am i saying it well, l'chaim? l'chaim. maybe you're making merry. l'chaim! or maybe you're making cocoa. don't spill it. maybe you're with the family you got. (all) ooh! or maybe the one you've chosen. it's culture salad. maybe there's lights... there's definitely lights. maybe there's one less this year. or maybe one more. (singing) our holidays don't all look the same. and m

. >> well, 7 on your side michael finney lies down on the job to learn what it takes to pick the right mattress. he says you need to do this one thing for 15 minutes. you've got to tune in to find out what it is. it's all coming up at 6:00. larry, kristen? >> so intrigued. >> he's getti inting paid for t? >>> is it time to update santa? we're asking you to weigh in. you can see the results right here. people are not going for this idea. but let's go through what everybody is talking about. >> yes, it's time to update, 14%. no, never, 86%. we're asking because they're pushing to bring santa to the modern age. you can see, santa will look a lot different. >> yeah, a little hipster, skinny jeans, come on. the red, you've got that. the big belly is gone. a little more of a gut there. his beard would be more modern. tattoos? santa's going to be inched up. >> in that amazon kindle in his backpack? i don't know. his list would be on an i phone or ipad. he would ditch the slay and the reindeer and santa would instead get around on a hoverboard and a flying cup. >> what do you think? maybe i'm

the campus gets some of its power from another plant that's already in line in kaern >>> michael finney is here with more on this. >> this is a report from last american insurance companies are getting low marks on a global warming scorecard issued tooth. environmentalists are asking the industry to stop insuring and investing in coal and tar sands project. in europe, companies are doing just that. and in the u.s., not so much. the environmental group ensure our future's 2018 scorecard shows europe's largest insurers are backing away from coal. the group says none of america's top insurers are going along. >>> amazon has missed a deadline. five years ago, amazon's ceo predicted by december 2018, amazon would be making deliveries by drone. i haven't seen in my neighborhood. how about you? the associated press reports various issues, including concerns about data privacy battery delay life is behind th delays. >>> you will be able to save more pretax money for retirement next year than this year. the annual legal limit for employees who participate in a 401(k) plan will increase from $18,

. >> as expected. 7 on your side's michael finney is here to talk about the impact on our wallets. >> the stock market took a hit today. you saw that afterwards. the federal reserve board raised a key interest rate today. it was expected. the board increased its benchmark federal funds rate a quarter of a point from 2.25 to 2.5%. this will increase the cost of borrowing. you can expect to see a bump in your credit card bills and interest rates on home equity lines of credit as well. mortgage rates could be affected but longer term loans have the least equation to federal rate hikes. >>> if you're headed to the snow with your kids this holiday, these infant suits are being recalled because they pose a choking hazard. why? the issue is the snow suit's metal snaps can detach and then little ones can swallow them. the suits were sold at children's place stores and online from august through november. and immediately returning it for a full refund. i have the specific style numbers and all the information you need. just go to abc7news.com. >>> 450 of these adult tricycles are being recalle

michael finney is here to explain. >> they're raising the prices all the time. >> i know, it's amazing. some airlines have upped their fees from $25 to $30 per checked bag. happened last month. but not to worry. it's possible to fit everything you need into a carry-on. here's a look at some space saving packing techniques. >> there's probably about ten things that i could have taken out. >> i'm not a smart packer. >> i'll take a little less. >> if this sounds familiar, consumer reports says it's time to maximize space and learn to pack efficiently. >> the number one thing you need to do is make a list of your essentials. >> include everything, clothing, shoes, toiletries, medications, electronics and documents like passports. next, forget about separate outfits for each day. instead, mix and match. three tops to go with one pair of pants, for example. and stick with three pairs of shoes. >> big things like shoes and those should go on the bottom. >> pack them toe to heel at the base for stability and roll nonwrinkle prone items instead of folding them. and what about your undergarmen u

i'm michael finney. we go looking to find out. 7 on your side is coming up. >> live where you live, this is "abc7 news." >>> right now, two manhunts are under way across northern california. one, for an armed and dangerous suspect who took the life of a police officer on christmas night. >> you have to understand this is not supposed to happen here. >> the other for an inmate who escaped from san quinten frpris. >> this is maximum security prison. >> thank you for joining us. i'm ama daetz. >> and i'm dan ashley. we have live team coverage on the search for the two men. >> one shot and killed a police officer. >> he told me he came to america to become a police officer. that's all he wanted to do. he truly loved what he did. >> and this is the picture of the suspect who is believed to have taken the life of corporal singh. investigators are not yet releasing his name. >> the shooting happened christmas night in newman, about halfway between san jose and merced. there are late breaking developments on thi

i'm michael finney. a "7 on your side" report on building a better bay area. >>> live whereou live, this is "abc 7 news". >>> live doppler 7 is tracking a storm moving into the bay area right now and the worst is yet to come. thank you for joining us. i'm ama daetz. >> i'm dan ashley. we are hours away now from the brunt of the weather reaching the bay area. >> let's get a live look outside at the current conditions. the south bay, the north bay and the east bay, all of these places are going to get rained on tonight. some have already. >> that's right. sky 7 captured the storm a few hours ago as it approached the coastline. this was the view while flying over half moon bay. you see some heavy clouds there in the distance. >> from the surf to the sierra, the storm is going to bring snow. here is a live look at heavenly mountain resort thanks to lay tahoe tv. plenty of powder on the ground and more coming. >> now "abc 7 news" meteorologist drew too many au will give you a closer look at how much snow to e

>> and for michael finney and all ever -- af us here, we appreciate yll >>> tonight -- chaos in the capitol. as we come on in the west. the government shutdown hours away. president trump digging in on his demands to fund the bonder wall. can republicans and democrats strike a deal to keep the government running? >>> the holiday slam. dangerous driving. flood and wind alerts from florida all the way to maine. the new series of storms about to hit the west. >>> also tonight, the abc news exclusive. the major break in the case of that missing mother. h fiar ounce.ramere taking him away in handcuffs. >>> plus, the alleged poison plot at a college. the chemistry major accused of slowing trying t room mat.kitaisto forcing a high school wrestler to either cut his dreadlocks or forfeit the matc >>> the new cancer scare for supreme court justice ruth bader ginsburg. undergoing surgery.-mute stribl the new deals on games and clothes just coming out no >>> plus, the stunning crash. a car going airborne into a tunnel. the driver somehow surviving. >>> and good evening. as we come on in the west on thi

>> for sandhya patel and michael finney, all of us here, thanks for inviting us into your homes. >>> tonight, breaking news as we come on the air in the west. the terror attack at a christmas market. families running for cover. the death toll rising in france at this hour. many others rushed to the hospital. the manhunt right now for the shooter. the images coming in from the scene. >>> here at home tonight, the other breaking story. three officers shot, one of them in the face. and now, the police standoff. we'll go to the scene. >>> breaking developments in an american mine. three trapped tonight. rescuers now going deeper into the mine. >>> the shouting match breaking out in the oval office. president trump and chuck and nancy, as he calls them. it did not go well. and you'll see it. >>> the new storm, and the third one now to sweep across the country from west to east, bringing several feet of snow in some places. ginger has the new timing tonight. >>> there is news tonight about the high school cheerleader, six months pregnant, and found dead. the high school football player in

michael finney and a team of experts are answering your questions about covered california because the deadline is coming up. >>> live where you live, this is "abc 7 news". ♪ >>> so i didn't think that we were hurting anybody. >> only on "abc 7 news" tonight, a current employee of north-based student loan debt relief company accused of scheming clients out of millions of dollars is speaking out. what he says was really happening inside amertech financial. i'm larry beil. >> i'm ama daetz. for the first time tonight we are hearing from a current employee of a sonoma county student loan debt relief company whose ceo is in hot water with the federal trade commission as well as the fbi. >> the employee believed they were helping people and he is frustrated to be out of a job. >> "abc 7 news" reporter melanie woodrow is in the newsroom with a story you will only see on abc 7. >> reporter: ama and larry, student loan debt is the second largest class of consumer debt in the united states. last year the federal trade commission began tracking down on student loan debt relief scams. they call

i'm michael finney. "7 on your side" is ahead with building a better bay area. >>> live where you live, this is "abc 7 news". >>> they raised our wages, which makes it one job is enough for me and for us. >> picketing pays off. the san francisco marriott strike is finally over. good joining us. i'm dan ashley. >> i'm ama daetz. san francisco was the last holdout in a strike that sped to eight cities nationwide. >> seven marriott-owned hotels in the city are affected, surrounding by a picket line that could not be ignored. >> for two months this is what has been seen and heard by hotel guests, by tourists, by anyone living or working nearby or simply walking past. but now picket lines are silent. >> let's go live to "abc 7 news" reporter lyanne melendez. is it finally over or not quite? >> reporter: it is good news, dan. let me tell you that the union president has come down along with other union members to confirm what we already knew, which was, of course, that the union has approved this contract. the union calling it the best deal they've ever had. workers lined up for hours today

. >>> let's check in with michael finney. >> he says this hack could have been prevented. hey, michael. >> as she just reported, our information has been hacked so many times in the past, does it even matter? i have a guest joining me. he's the ceo of the data company. we're told this occurred over four years. how could that be? >> hackers are pretty smart. what they do is pretend like they're real users, so they doan do anything that will spark off any kind of warnings, and pretend lie thank ire accessing data and don't take it all at once. in this case, they were very, very sophisticated. they enkrimted the data before they took it out so it would not trip any of the warnings. >> they go in, mess with the data, and take it out so the marriott people weren't warning? >> again, the details are still emerging, but from what we can tell, that's what's happening. >> bloomberg said they may have wanted the points. is that true? >> they're just as good as cash, so, yeah, it's not sur freezing. >> i guess. you say this whole thing could have been avoided. really? this is happeni