Our helicopter flew over southland mall in hayward about noon today and surprisingly there were quite a few parking spots available. Other stores report brisk business. We get more from christian in San Francisco. Lot of shoppers came in and out of these doors today. The west vil Shopping Center says retailers were offering deep discounts to bring in the customers and lots of people were willing to spend while some are de pending on sant klaus for those lastminute gifts, lot of shoppers took matters into their own hands, grabbing back after bag after goodies to bring home on Christmas Eve. Some say it doesnt feel like christmas without the adrenaline rush of shopping as the clock counts down. I like to consider myself a fourthquarter player. I step up, you know, down the stretch, and thoos what im all about, performing when its crunch time. Managers at the west field Shopping Center say i shally activity builds week by week following thanksgiving but that wubt the case this year. We had a really strong black friday. Really the first two weeks of december were really strong and then it kind of lulled. Its almost like people forgot. That all changed as the weeks before christmas turned into days until christmas. Literally they came back out in force this weekend so friday through today, its just been a spike in traffic. Retailers began offering deep discounts to bring in the customers and shoppers say its working. Some even say they finished their shopping but came back to get that perfect gift. The gifts that i have i second guess so, now, im, like, exchanging stuff and getting things that my sister wants. The malls are also expecting a lot of business the day after christmas. Thats when people come in to make returns and exchanges and when people start redeeming all those gift cards. Ktvu channel 2 news. On wall streeshths stocks slipped lower nod an abbreviated traying sechlths the dow industrial lost 51 points. Dmakz fell 8. Analysts say investors remain wearly about a potential deal between the president and congress to avoid the fiscal cliff. At the vatican, Pope Benedict the 16th presided over Christmas Eve mass. He urged people to make room for god in their busy lives. The Catholic Pope also prayed for peace in israel, palestine and syria. This year Midnight Mass was moved up two hours to 10 00 p. M. To accommodate the ageing church leader. Clear skies kept travelers on track at sfo today after long de lay this is past weekend. As atly reports, this day before christmas is a busy one. The security line snaked throughout terminal 2 in San FranciscoInternational Airport this morning. Travelers shuffled through to chasm flights to arrive in time for Christmas Morning. Everybody twoonts go home and see family. Friday, december 21st, was technically the businessest day of Holiday Travel season for sfo with 130,000 people passing through, but Christmas Eve isnt too far behind with 120,000 Airline Passengers expected to. For some Holiday Traveler, the lastminute journey was a matter of price. I picked the 24th because it was, like, 250 less than what was on saturday or sunday and what was on tuesday so it was obviously a good choice to do it. For other travelers with busy schedules, Christmas Eve was their only choice. I had to book this today because of work, but but were happy to be going. Yeah. Its busy. We were we were surprised. Yeah. A lot of big line sgls and for travelers ready to start their vacations, they came prepared with a strategy to beat the crowd. Get here early, dont be stressed oushths take our time and enjoy. Another reason to give yourself some extra time is it might take a little while to find parking at San FranciscoInternational Airport. The duty manager says the main longterm parking garage is full, but there is still parking available in the airports two domestic garages and the one at the international terminal. At sfo, ktvu channel 2 news. Now, to highway 84 where a headon collision snarled traffic just after 4 00 this afternoon. The california Highway Patrol says multiple vehicles were involved in the accident. It happened on 84 near interstate 680. News chopper 2 video shows the long backup. There are reports of injuries but how many remains unclear. The highway reopened shortly after 5 00. An avalanche killed a snow border at donner ski ranch today. Search teams recovered the body of a 50yearold man but they have not released a name. The resorts Operations Director says the avenue lafrmg occurred in bounds and was set off at about 9 30 this morning. Nearly five hours later the man was found buryed in more than two feet of snow. The victims friends say they reported him missing but it took ski patrol several hours to conduct a full search. And we had a lot of rain scombred theres more rain coming. Take a look at the rain fall over the last three weather systems. Santa rose sa coming up on over 4 inches of rain. San francisco up to almost 2 inches and san jose coming up on an inch and a half. Thats over the last three day sos what does that do for percents of average . Check it out 172 of average in santa rosa. Were looking at 143 of average in san jose so it is wet out there, and it has been wet out there. Ive got another system im tracking right here. This system is going to roll in as we get into tomorrow afternoon and increase those totals. Last year at this time we were about 30 of average in most cities so when i come back im going to have the complete forecast with the latest computer model and get you through your day tomorrow. Those weekend rainstorms have left the ground saturated. Problems per sisd twod some small mud slides and trees toppling from the soggy ground. In the Oakland Hills debris crumbled onto a roadway early this morning. Youre looking at pine hurs road. The trees and mud cover and had blocked one lane of the road. Crews in marin county rushed to turn off water lines after 13inch lane burst this morning in mill valley. It happened on marin vav between bell lane and flamingo road. The road buckled and crews fear add sink hole might be created from the water washing underneath the pavement. Crews say this break is likely due to old pipes. And in fremont, car owners dealt with the damage caused by a large tree that fell during last nights rain. The tree fell around 7 00 at piralta boulevard. No one was injured but one of the cars is totalled and the other is seriously damaged. Emergency repairs are underway at a damaged levy in East Palo Alto tonight, wurngs after flooding forced dozens of people from their homes last night. As john fowler reports, residents say the repairs are long overdue. State sandbag crews arrived about 6 30 tonight in East Palo Alto. They planned to work on the San Francisco creek levy during the night. The creek much calmer now than we show youd last night. Engineers worked fast to get this fix going on Christmas Eve. Not fast enough for residents who have lived through repeated flooding here. Im a little worried because its supposed to, i think, rain again tomorrow. Homeowners spent today clearing sxhud debris from last nights if you had. It frees here to there, it was like a big lake, a lot of trees going down, a lot of garbage. Along several blocks, the creek topped the levy. Seven homes damaged, several hun people evacfwratd this lowlying neighborhood. The levy tops were equal about the gutter line or the rooftops from the homes so having a levy failure here would be catastrophic. As you see here that failure began late last night. Our cameras caught water you believing through the earth. Today local and state officials took an emergency survey. They said last nights creek flow was the third highest since the levy was built 82 years ago. Its not certified, not good shape scombroint Powers Authority has approved a project to start next year that would actually rebuild the whole levy system. Sandbagging is just the first step. They also plan somd structures to minimize erosion on the levy. One home does remain red tagged and everyone here is hoping that the next storms will be weaker than the last. Reporting from East Palo Alto health and science senator john fowler, ktvu channel 2 news. A Christmas Gift for convicted criminals tonight. Governor jerry brown announced hes granting 79 pardons. The people granted pardons, completed their sentences, have been releaseed from custody for more than a decade and have not committed any further crimes. A governors pardon restores some rights to a felon like serving on a jury and in some case it is right to own firearms. The pardon does not seal or erase a persons record. If youd like to see the complete list of pardons, we posted it to ktvu. Com under todays hot topics on the home page. Government and consumer groups have turned down a settlement offer from pg e in the wake of the deadly san bruno explosion. The San Francisco chronicle reports pg e aufrd 550 million to pay for skate regulatory charges but the offer was rejected because the utility will not admit to safety breaches. Such an admission would open the door to criminal charges. Eight people die and had 38 homes were destroyed in the september, 2010, explosion. And we have a Success Story to tell you about in the city of richmond where the number of homicides has been cut in half. With 2012 almost complete, richmond has recorded 18 homicides. Thats down from 45 People Killed three years ago, and richmond averaged about 36 homicides a year over the past decade. Unlike many cities, richmond has actually increased Police Staffing in the past few years. Some people also Credit Community efforts after richmond declared a state of emergency after a deadly summer in 2005. Up next First Responders under attack. A group of firefighters responding to a blaze in up state new york are ambushed, shot and killed. Also tonight a mission worthy of sant klaus himself. The sleigh being used to deliver toys tonight in the south bay. Back here in just ten minutes ive got rain to talk about. The fog in the morning and then showers develop. Ill let you know when they start, when they end and how much we could see hey, look a shooting star make a wish i wish we could lie here forever. I wish this test drive was over, so we could head back to the dealership. [ male announcer ] its practically yours. Test drive but we still need your signature. Volkswagen sign then drive is back. And its never been easier to get a jetta. Thats the power of german engineering. Get 0 down, 0 due at signing, 0 deposit, and 0 first months payment on any new volkswagen. Visit vwdealer. Com today. Afrments dramatic rescue outside livermore. Youre looking at a Highway Patrol helicopter pulling a man from the top of his truck with the pilot resting one of the helicopters skids on the roof of the vehicle. The truck was stranded in a creek by high waters around 9 30 last night. Water slowed so fast rescue divers could not risk swimg to the 58yearold driver. After being pulled from the truck, the man was treated for hypothermia. It is a heartbreaking Christmas Eve for the families of four firefighters in up state new york. The First Responders were ambushed today when they responded to a house fire. As Elizabeth Corrigan reports, two of the volunteer firefighters were killed, two others wounded. Multiple firemen down. I am shot. Four volunteer firefighters responded to a call in up state new york monday morning. They found flames and gunfire. They were ambushed by a loan shooter. It does appear that it was a trap that was set for a responding shths you know, First Responder sgls one of the wounds escaped on his own. A second firefighter was found at the scene conscious and still able to speak. Two others, fireman mike and thomas were pronounced dead. Its a very difficult situation. These people get up in the middle of the night to go put out fires. The shoots prevented firefighters from knocking down the flames. Police and swat teams evacwait nearby homes. Within hours the fire de stroid at least seven homes. De spite the tremendous toll, investigators say the community is no longer in danger. The gunman killed himself on the scene. He had a lengthy criminal record. In 1980, he was arrested by the Webster Police and charged with killing his grandmother. He was convicted in 1981. He served time in new york state prison system until 1998. Word of the violence spread quickly through the town just east of ro chester. Ive lived here my entire life. You never imagine anything, Something Like that happening so close to home. The timing of the tragedy is not lost on anyone. Firemen going into help a situation out and this caused the type of outcome where, now, theyre going to have the holidays where their family is not going to have them there. Its just devastating. We talked to firefighters in San Francisco today. They say all firefighters share a common bond and the incident in up state new york touches them deeply. We share really traumatic experiences with each other and anybody whos been in this line of work understands that and so, you know, we just from that connection. San francisco firefighters send their thoughts and prayers to those in new york and while she says the incident does make firefighters think of their own mortality, it will not keep them from doing what they have to do in the future. Nurses are walking a picket line at nine bay area hospitals. It is their eighth strike since contract negotiations failed last july. We are gonna strike until they come back to the table to negotiate our contract. The California Nurses Association organized the oneday picket against sirt health and hca healthcare. Nurses say management wants to reduce healthcare benefits, sick pay and Staffing Levels. The hospitals have hired contract nurses to fill in. A man hit by a flurry of gunfire in oakland has serious injuries following a shootout between people in two vehicles. An Assault Rifle was left at the scene along with dozens of shell casings. It happened about 11 00 a. M. Near mar kus Foster School on west street. The school was not in session today. Police say the man was dropped off at a hospital with multiple gunshot wounds. No arrests have been made. Veteran actor jack clugman has died. Krugman costarred in the popular tv comedy the odd couple along with tony randell. He was the slob to randells neat nick. Later clogman played a coroner detective. He continued to act on broadway into his 80s. Clugmans family announced his death in los angeles today. Actor jack clugman was 90 years old. It appears former president george h. W. Bush will spend christmas in hospital. The 88yearold has been hospitalized in houston since last month. He is reportedly being treated for bronchitis. Bush has been receiving physical therapy to help gain strength and they are being optimistic he will make a full recovery. San jose Police Officers will have a Little Something extra in their patrol cars this evens. As robert honda reports from san jose, the officers will carry gifts for children in particularly stressful situations. The supply area for the San Jose Police department tonight looked more appropriate for santas sleigh than patrol cars. These toys were donated by Dollar Tree Stores for Police Officers to distribute to families on this Christmas Eve night, but these gifts wont be handed out randomly in neighborhoods but given specifically to children who really need the holiday cheer. Were seeing people at their worst a lot of times. Were going out to these home, a lot of Domestic Violence disturbances around the holidays and a lot of times we see frightened children caught in the middle. Many of them have participated in similar gift give aways on Christmas Eve before, but tonight the dollar tree donations will make it possible for officers to hand out more than just individual toys but whole bags. A bag full of toys, the kids that well see, theyll have two or three brothers or sister, share them, have some fun with their family. Extremely rewarding, you know, just to see the look on these kids face when you, you know, go and hand them a bag full of gifts. And for a Police Department thad a rough 2012, officers acknowledge this toy give away is a good way to end a bad year. People tend to focus on the negative. They look at the crime stats, our Staffing Levels within the Police Department. What this is about is really has nothing to do with any of that. Officer says they plan to hand out the bags in various ways throughout the night and will make sure remaining toys get to underprivileged children in time for christmas. In san jose, robert honda, ktvu channel 2 news. In San FranciscoMemorial Church served an estimated 3,000 people a traditional prime rib meal for lunch today. The annual event included live music, mren toif goodwill and lots of christmas cheer. House of prime rib restaurants donated 2200 pounds of meet, 200 pounds more than last year. Guests seemed quite pleased with the meal. The meal was wonderful. We had prime rib and ice cream and cake. Clydes dining room reopens tomorrow morning at 7 00 with breakfast for 2,000 people and tomorrow night about 5,000 people are expected to share a meal of ham and turkey with all of the trimmings. Coming up a Christmas Eve tradition. The particular food item thad crowds of people lining up today in the south bay. Plus chief meteorologist bill martin has his complete fiveday forecast for christmas and beyond look at you guys with your fancyschmancy uverse high Speed Internet. You know, in my day you couldnt just start streaming six ways to sunday. Youd get knocked off. And sometimes, it took a minute to download a song. Thats sixty seconds, for crying out loud. We know how long a minute is sitting, waiting for an album to download. I still have back problems. Youre only 14 and a half. He doesnt have back problems. You kids have got it too good if you ask me. [ male announcer ] now uverse high Speed Internet has more speed options, reliability and ways to connect. Rethink possible. Reliability and ways to connect. Oh, its great now i can brew my coffee just the way i love it. How do you do that . Well, inside the brewer, theres this train thats powerful enough to carry more coffee and fresh water to make coffee thats stronger and bigger. And even hotter actually, i just press this button. Brew the coffee you love stronger, bigger, or hotter with the keurig vue. You can count on a White Christmas in sierra. Heres a look at the snow from caltran camera on interstate 80 in truck key taken this afternoon. There is a Winter Weather advisory for the sierra set for tomorrow evening. The best times to travel will be this evening and tomorrow morning because thats we have a gap there early christmas day. Bill martin is here to tell us whats in store. Its funny seeing that shot with you standing in it. I know. Its nice from here. It is going to snow up there quite a bit as we get into tomorrow. Another west e weather system moves in. Snow starts to go in the mown tans and we get rain here. You can see its still offshore aways but its making its way this way, and itll be here by tomorrow afternoon. The radar right now just shows some stuff up around humble county. Tomorrow night at this time ill be showing you showers that will probably be sliding through the south bay and out of the area so this deal is going to get in here afternoon and kind of linger, say, from 1 00 to 4 00 or 5 00 Something Like that through the central bay. The forecast overnight lows, 38 in napa, 38 in the santa rosa area, 37. The valley fog is tonight just because the grounds are wet theres high clouds overhead but the humid tis are high, relative humiditys are high so good shot at valley fog. I know everybody is out driving around so be prepared for dense patches of valley fog. And you know where they are especially in the north bay or east bay especially in the south bay. If its typically there in the wintertime, itll be there tonight. So today will turn out to be a drier day. As we head into tomorrow afternoon showers show up. Its a nicelooking system. It doesnt appear to be huge. It doesnt appear to have a lot of potential for floogd rains, but a quarter of an inch to half inch for most of us. Some areas could see afrnl and if you get into coastal, could see a couple inches. So i said this earlier in the news cast on channel 2 at 5 00 and 6 00, the ground saturate. So it happen to rain could give you some slippage up on skyline boulevard so well be watching it for you. Heres the forecast for tomorrow morning. Your Christmas Morning is try and cloudy. The showers move in about 1 00 into San Francisco so the model, this is a new model run, sped it up a little bit. Showers begin and then thats 5 00 so still moving pretty good but itll be wet in that period from noon to about 5 00 or 6 00 and then it clears out and then wednesday morning im talking about valley fog again and thursday morning were talking about valley fog again but its dry after that so fls our break. As we get into the weekend, looks good, as well. The fiveday forecast coming up. Lots of 50s for tomorrow. Nice day but cloudy and rain developing after lufrmg. The fiveday forecast bay area weekend in view, scattered showers and rain tuesday afternoon. It drys out after that. Well see you tonight on channel 2 at 10 00. Dozens of families in the south bay are enjoying a handmade christmas tradition tonight. The tamale factory in san jose served up its specialty tamales today as fast as the kooks could make them. As usual the line stretched out the door. The combination of corn meal grill td or vegetables or spices wrapped in a corn husk is a holiday favorite for the mexicanamerican community and for others, as well. Well, thank you for trusting ktvu channel 2 news. Well see you the next time news breaks. Im ken prich et. See you tonight at 10 00