Transcripts For KTVU KTVU FOX 2 News At 4 20240712 : vimarsa

Francisco. We want to get more now, though, on that accident that happened today during a Training Exercise. Lets bring in henry lee with more on what we know. As you said, this is an outpouring of respect honoring a firefighter who gave his life protecting the city that he loved. Reporter a somer gathering at San Francisco General Hospital. Firefighter jason cortez died during a training incident a few blocks away. We can confirm this was at training incident. Reporter it happened at 10 00 in the morning in the initialen district. He was treated there and taken to the hospital. Unfortunately shortly before 11 00 this morning, jason succumbed to his injuries. Reporter the Fire Department would not discuss what led to his death. The circumstances under investigation. Immediately after the incident, firefighters converged on the hospital. There they stood at attention and saluted during a somber procession. Cortez was 42 and leaves behind his wife and two young children. She the son of a retired firefighter. He served with the Fire Department since 2007. He was most recently assigned to station 3 in the tenderloin, the busiest in San Francisco. This is a very trying time, as jason was well liked in our department. Reporter if a statement, the San Francisco Firefighters Union said our hearts go out to his family and loved ones, especially his two young children. San francisco firefighters mourn the loss of our brother and are committed to doing everything in our power to support the cortez family in the days, months, and years to come. This is the first onduty death for the San Francisco Fire Department since since 2017. This death really hitting the Fire Department hard. As you know, henry, the Fire Department, like the police department, really like a family, so when Something Like this happens, everyone in the department feels it. Henry lee reporting line for us this afternoon. More of the picture of that procession is expected to begin at any moment now. Firefighters from across the city have lined up in various rigs from fire trucks to ambulances. As we mentioned, jason cortez started his career actually driving ambulances for the city of San Francisco. He started his career at station 49, and as you heard henry mentioned, he then moved tune being assigned to station 3. It is the busy next San Francisco, responding to numerous calls each and every day. Ive been texting with a number of firefighters, some of them will be along this procession. Theyre telling me they are just shocked by what has taken place. One texting me quote im still trying to wrap my head around all of this. As you can see in these live pictures, this procession, which will include San Francisco police, now escorting the body of fallen firefighter paramedic jason court those the medical examiner. It will wind its way from s. F. General throughout the city, and on to the medical officers office. As we mentioned, jason cortezs father served in the San Francisco Fire Department, as well, so his family, knowing the risks of the job, but obviously never anticipating some like this would happen. All right. Well continue to monitor that procession, and in the meantime, well move on here. The director of the cdc has now given the all clear to Vice President mike pence to take the stage later tonight in utah for the debate with senator Kamala Harris, after President Trump and many people close to the Vice President have contracted coronavirus. Lauren blanchard with more now on some of the precautions that are being taken tonight. Reporter the two Vice President ial candidates mike pence and Kamala Harris ready to take the same wednesday night in Salt Lake City utah for the first and only v. P. Debate. We know mike pence very good debater, and he gets a lot of credit, because he speaks in complete sentences, unlike donald trump. Reporter pam bondi has been playing the part of senator harris for Vice President pences mock debate prep. I know kamala. She is smart and articulate. Shes very tough. Shes a great debater. Prosecutors debate. Thats what you doer day in a courtroom. Reporter and arizona more positive cases of coronavirus are reported among white house staff and capitol hill, precautions are being taken. The candidates will be spaced more than 12 feet apart, separated by plexiglas. Audience members, and staff will be covid19 tested and must wear a mask. The candidates will no doubt be asked about the handling of the virus. Lets not forget mike pence is the head of the Coronavirus Task force, is the head of the group that is responsible forgetting this virus under control, which theyve failed to do. Neither joe biden for anyone on his staff can ever point to anything and say that they would do one thing differently. All they do is credit size from the sidelines which is really easy to do when you dont bear any of the responsibility. Reporter former Vice President joe biden will watch the debate from his home statement of delaware, while President Trump remains quarantined at the white house. In washington, lauren blanchard, fox news. Joins us now to talk more about the Vice President ial debate is political reporter greg lee. Lets get into the how the two candidates will go after each other on the issues in just a moment. First, obviously leading into tonights debate, all of the talks, a about keeping the candidates and everyone else who is on hand safe here, given the coronavirus cases that we have seen around the house and with the president. There are going to be these plexiglas dividers that are put up between the candidates. The pence team had resisted. Why was that . Yeah, alex, and i think part ofout heard lauren outline the safety precautions, but those plexiglas barriers are a very physical reminder of the fact that the coronavirus continues to spread in the white house orbit and beyond that, its a very physical reminder that this is an issue that will be foremost in the debate, but is also at the front of Many Americans minds, as americans continue to deal with the effects of covid19, know people who have gotten sick or died, as well as now seeing the president infected and fighting the virus. All right, obviously covid 19 is going to be front and center during tonights debate here, and it comes as we have a white house that is in crisis. President trump is still recovering from covid19, so many others in his circumstance value contracted the virus, as well. It seems as the Vice President pence wants to come into this debate tonight and project a sense of calm. How does he go about doing that . Sure it. And think that is Vice President s Vice President s pences primarily role. He has been a steady hand and a loyal supporter and defender of President Trump. He is likely to argue that as head of the Coronavirus Task force, that they have done everything they can, and look for him to pivot, to pivot the argument to say lets talk about the economy, and why we believe we are bestsuited to bring the economy back from this. Lets pivot the Supreme Court nomination of amy coney barrett, and why is that popular amongst conservative chris chance. For senator harris, her job tonight, like joe biden did last week, or attempted to do amidst all of the namecalling and infight, to pivot pack to the coronavirus. Want to talk about the economy . Lets go back to the coronavirus. And really holding pence to task about the white houses handling of the pandemic, alex. We have, we know here, two skilled debaters, obviously senator hairs aformer prosecutor , Vice President pence a former gonzalez has obviously taken part in so many debates. This debate is likely to remain focused on the issues, isnt it . Oh, 100 , and i think both of these folks are very good at what they do, and youre going to see a very different style from both of them. Mike pence, for people that dont know, started his career in radio. Hes a very smooth, calm operator. Hes going to make his points and make his attacks. Senator harris, we well knoll especially in the bay area, and hes a former prosecutor and attorney general. She shined in the judiciary hearings and certainly did well in several of the primary debates early in the season. Both of them have been very careful to level expectations and say that they know their opponent tonight, so to speak, a good debater. So expect both of them to make their points in a likely much more civil debate than last week, but also to work to put even other on their heels and see how they respond to those attacks. All right. We will watch it all play out later tonight. Ktvu political reporter greg lee. Thanks forgetting us up to speed. Of course we will have full coverage leading up to the Vice President ial debate here on ktvu, and then coming up at 6 00 tonight, you can watch the debate here on ktvu, or stream it live on our website, ktvu. Com. Meantime, President Trump spoke out within the last hour from the white house, saying that the experimental drug that he took for the coronavirus should be available to everyone and for free. I want everybody to be given the same treatment as your president , because i feel great. I feel like perfect. So i think this was the blessing from god that i caught it. This was a blessing in disguise. I want to get for you what i got, and im going to make it free. Last week President Trump was given an experimental antibody cocktail made by the Biotech Company region ron. Dr. Sean conley said today that the tests have debted antibodies in the president s system which likely came from the treatment, and he eagle said the president has been symptomfree for 24 hours. Hours after calling awful negotiations for a multitrillion dollar aid package, the president tweeted he would support a smaller stand alone bill for another round of direct payments to americans. The president also said he would support a bill to help shore up the airlines, which House Republicans blocked just last week. They give money for small businesses, money for child care. Money, really, for the airlines and a number of the other places that are hurting right now. He was very clear. He said i want to have the senate fully focused on the confirmation in front of what we need to do for americas working families. However, time is running short, even for a smaller stimulus bill. The senate is out of session until october 19th. Majority leader Mitch Mcconnell said his priority is the confirmation of Supreme Court nominee amy coney barrett. On wall street, stocks shot up on the hope for more economic relief. The dow was up 530 points, nearly 2 , and the s p added 58 points. Tech shares led the rally. Stocks slumped yesterday right after the president called for an end on talking to the stimulus before the end of the election. A member of governor newsoms staff has tested positive for the coronavirus. The staff member had not interacted with newsom or with staff that routinely interacts with the governor. Another state employee who works in a space shared with some staff from the Governors Office has also tested positive for covid19. Were told that person also had not been in contact with the governor or his close staff. The governor said today that he himself has tested negative. A development in the george floyd case in minneapolis. Coming up, why the former officer charged if charged in floyds death now out of jail. And in bay area weather, a bit of a cooldown today, as we are still tracking a system offshore. We once had high hope force rainfall here, but things have changed around a bit. Well have the updated forecast coming. And we want to take you back live to San Francisco where we are following that procession for a San Francisco firefighter paramedic killed earlier today in the training site on folsom and 19th. This is a caravan of fire station trucks, Fire Department trucks, as well as San Francisco completion San Francisco Sheriffs Department officials, all excourting the body of that fallen firefighter paired a medic to the medical officers office. To the Police Officer charged in the murder of george floyd has been released from daily. Derrick coughen posted a noncash 1 million bond. He is facing third degree murder and manslaughter charges in the death of george floyd. The case fueled nation wild protests against Police Brutality and systemic racism. The other three officers charged in floyds also free on bail. The trial for all four is set for next march. A man shot by a napa county sheriffs deputy has dyed. Investigators say juan garcia was shot by a deputy during a traffic stop on monday near highway 221 and kaiser road. According to the sheriffs office, garcia got out of his car and kept a hand behind his back. Although he was later found to be unarmed. The deputy involved was wearing a bodyworn cam rat the time. That video is expected to be shared next week. The video has been placed on paid administrative leave while the shooting is investigated. A Public Safety state of emergency has been declared vallejo because of a rise in violent and im several claims made against the police department. That opens the door for making police reforms. Right now 24 civil rights claims are pending against the Vallejo Police department and the city could be liable for 50 million in payout, so the city manager wants to speed up reforms. We face a crisis of legitimacy and trust. Lack of Community Trust in police department, numerous internal investigations are underway. Continual resistance of reform effort bess loyal Police Officers association. The police union opposes the state of Emergency Declaration saying reforms shouldnt bees for on Police Officers without collaboration, and they insist that the best way to reduce crime is to attract and hire more patrol officers. Well, bay area weather a bit of a cooldown today with stubborn fog and temperatures only in the 60s, 70s, and a few 80s out there. So all of this helping out the fire crews around the glass fire, as we look at the conditions around the fire zone. Temperatures in the 70s and 80s. It is still pretty dry in terms of relative humidity. You can see as you go up wards of 4,000 feet, mount st. Paul. A bit of haze in the sky. The spare the air alert will probable i be dropped after thursday. But unhealthy for sensitive groups up in portions of the north may. Here is our live camera. Looking out toward the fog this afternoon, pushing locally back into the bay. So were going to wake up to lots of overcast first thing tomorrow morning. Satellite is picking up on that idea right now. In the low cloud fog colt side, and current temperatures, its actually fairly warm inland. Oakland, 66, and San Francisco in the lower 60s. Tomorrow well start out the day with some fog and then hazy skies. Temperatures in the 60s and the 70s. The cooldown continues, but what about that rainfall . We have to change our weather story a bit, because the latest forecast models backing off on the rainfall chances. In fact, they are trending trier with the best chances of rainfall up to our north. Well have the full forecast update coming up and talk about that rain chance fizzling with your full update in just a few minutes. Still ahead this afternoon here on the 4, one million registered voters. Why this years selection already a recordbreaking one in the south bay. Im here today to advance an effort to codify efforts that are already underway here in the state of california, but to advance them more formally by establishing a framework to preserve and protect over 30 of the states lands to be conserved here in the state of california, and extend that to our coastal waters, as well. 30 by 30 by 2030 is the mandate, and the goal. This is the second Climate Change action by governor newsom. Last month, he signed various executive orders and leg including an order banning sales of new gaspowered vehicles by the year 2035, and also launched the nations first statewide climate core. Its already a record bricking election in santa clara county, where they are seeing a surge in registers voters and Voter Registration. The county has already surpassed 1 million registered voters, representing 83 of eligible voters in santa clara county. According to the registrars office, this is a significant increase from the last president ial election when the county had just under 800,000 registered voters. And now more and more voters have the abili