Kpix 5s ryan takeo is outside a San Francisco courthouse. The fight to keep city colleges accreditation is going on right now. Reporter it is. They are taking a lunch break but they will be back this afternoon. I want to show you an important number. They want to restart Accreditation Process because it is hurting enrollment numbers. The Teachers Union and the city say student numbers are down between 20 to 30 compared to last spring. If a judge doesnt step in, city college will lose accreditation in july shutting down the college. Thats why so many showed up today for the court date. There was a line out the courtroom door, no cameras allowed inside. The city of San Francisco and Teachers Union are suing the accrediting commission that is pulling the rug. Ccsf says it is making progress on the flaws the Commission Found including financial mismanagement and lack of leadership. School supporters want the school to stay open. And theres no access for the students for city college of San Francisco to Higher Education without going into debt or having great difficulty in getting that education if city college is closed. Reporter both sides will be back in court this afternoon making those arguments. We dont know that the judge is going to rule today. Live in San Francisco, im ryan takeo, kpix 5. Federal overseers also looked into the Accreditation Commission earlier this year and recommended the committee make several changes. Christmas came and went, but the shopping madness is far from over. Many Bay Area Stores opened early to cash in on the post holiday rush. Kpix 5s cate caugiran on the mentality of the bargain shopper. Cate. Reporter well, mark, i can tell you first, were here at the westfield San Francisco center and just in the past hour and a half, we have seen three times the amount of people show up today and as you were talking about, people showed up earlier. Earlier we were at the serramonte mall at daly city and shoppers showed up as early as 5 30 for a 6 00 in the morning opening. Its the day after christmas and there were deals to be had. 60 off. Mens cash near sweaters 39. 99. I went to buy shoes. They were advertising 75 off. Reporter so for shoppers, getting up at 5 a. M. Wasnt so bad. Its shopping. Who doesnt love shopping . What girl doesnt love shopping . Everything is on sale so everything is cheap. Then i get to buy more stuff. We have a limited budget so we have to maximize what limited budget we have. Reporter consumer psychologist kit yarrow from Golden Gate University says this is the day for returns and gift cards too translate into higher spending. Somehow they dont connect it with the hard work that went into earning that money. It seems like free money so they spend it a little more freely, as well. Reporter economists are predicting the deals and discounts will be even bigger than before to make up for a poor shopper turnout this year. Its been a tough Holiday Season for retailers and consumers partly because it was short and also flooded with one promotion after another, which is exhaustive to consumers. Reporter the number of shoppers the week before christmas dropped about 21 and sales dropped about 3 compared to the same week last year. So retailers are hoping bigger deals can help translate to a bigger profit. Now, yarrow says it is a big day for returns but also a really big shopping day because what retailers will do when you come in, they try to get you to buy new product lines. When you exchange that gift hopefully you spend more. Live in San Francisco, cate caugiran, kpix 5. Thank you. Experts say the best post holiday deals they are the clothes. Thats because stores are trying to get rid of their winter lines before the end of january. Now that Christmas Day is gone, the three major airports are crowded with travelers. By next year at this time, there could be changes regarding how airlines decide what to change or what what to charge for fares. The industry is looking at resolution 787 to customize airfares and use individual passenger personal information. At least one travel expert says it could go beyond age, gender and flying habits. They want to know about your marital status. They want to know where you live. Its all about zip codes. It could be red zoning too. There will also privacy concerns. It would also need approval from government regulators. U. P. S. And fedex are scrambling to deliver thousands of packages that are late. As Tara Mergener reports, the Companies Say poor weather and an overloaded system are partly to blame for the delayed deliveries. Reporter u. P. S. And fedex workers are out in force today to deliver overdue packages. But its too late to save christmas. Across the country, people are complaining their Holiday Gifts didnt make it on time. I paid extra delivery costs to guarantee by christmas eve. And it did not arrive. Reporter there were almost no presents at the madsen home. Vicki said presents she bought online for her daughter were late. I couldnt wait to see her face. It didnt happen. [ crying ] so i was disappointed. Reporter fedex and u. P. S. Wont say how many packages are late. Both are blaming bad weather and an overwhelming number of deliveries. The companies apologized and brought in next stra workers to clear up the backlogs. Many venting on social media with twitter followers using the hashtag u. P. S. Fail. Online retailers who used the shipping giants arent happy either. Amazon is offering many customers a 20 gift card and refund on some shipping fees. Tara mergener for cbs news, washington. Today the companies have another issue to deal with. People sending their gifts back. Well have more on the scramble tonight at 5 00. Right now fire officials in Monterey County are meeting with people affected by the big sur wildfire. The 900acre fire destroyed 34 homes and 4 buildings. It began december 15th in Los Padres National forest. It was fully contained earlier this week. But crews remain in the area watching for flareups. Right now in ventura county, firefighters are mopping up after a 10acre brush fire. The fire started late last night the city of simi valley. A combination of dry brush and 40mileperhour santa ana winds helped flames move fast. Crews have the fire almost fully contained. No homes were in immediate danger. tis the season of giving but for some, that spirit never dies. If i just had an army of them, we could change the world. Stories of sacrifice and heroism from this years jefferson Award Winners. Wondering what to do with the Christmas Tree . Coming up green ideas. Dont even think about burning today. Good afternoon, everybody. It is yet another spare the air day. You can see the haze in the atmosphere. But ill tell you which day the air quality should improve. The pinpoint forecast as the news continues. ,,,,,,,, guilty in court. Paul ciancia faces 11 felony cou rder and attempted moments ago, the 23year old man suspected of opening fire at l. A. X. Killing one tsa agent pled not guilty in court. Paul ciancia faces 11 felony counts including murder and attempted murder for allegedly going on a shooting spree on november 1. A tsa officer Gerardo Hernandez was shot several times and killed in that incident. Ciancia could face the Death Penalty if convicted. Just moments ago, Gilroy Police announced they arrested the man wanted for killing a woman on Christmas Day. 21yearold Ernesto Rodriguez had been armed and on the run since yesterday after his family found a womans body in the home they shared with rodriguez. Police say he had a restraining order forbidding him from having contact with the victim, 21yearold alma ortega. Ortegas death is the citys third homicide of the year. Checking other bay area headlines, two people are injured and two others displaced after a threealarm fire in San Francisco. Fire Officials Say it broke out around 9 00 last night at a threestory victorian building on baker street. Still no word on a cause. The family of a 13yearold oakland girl declared brain dead after undergoing tonsil surgery is thinking of moving her to a facility that would keep her on a ventilator. Earlier this week, a judge ordered Childrens Hospital oakland to keep jahi mcmath on life support at least through monday. The day after christmas is a good day to recycle your Christmas Tree. Right . Around 25 million live trees were used this season. San francisco officials kicked off a recycling event outside city hall this morning. Dozens of Christmas Trees were put through a tree chipper. All the wood chippings will be reused. Those wood chips can be used on all kinds of landscaping. They can also be used to turn into energy. Firefighters are urging people to get their trees out as soon as they can. A lot of those trees are very dry. They can be a fire hazard. Many bay area communities have curbside pickup. Thats going to be starting next week. Todays also the first day of kwanzaa, the week long event celebrates black culture and tradition. They are called to focus on unity, selfdetermination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and health. Utility workers are busy repairing icing conditions in michigan. 140,000 people from michigan to maine are still in the dark right now following last weekends massive storm. They need a break out there. They do. They are still chilly there. Temperatures in the teens in many of those locations. I hear that those wonderful people though are going out to those power workers and giving them hot tea and cookies, thought, to try to nourish them while they work. Hi, everybody. Our biggest problem in the bay area happens to be yet another spare the air day. In any event, take a look at the air quality today. Its for the fourth consecutive day a spare the air, the 19th of the winter season. You want some ideas on what to do as far as spare the air is concerned . Okay. Dont burn wood because you cant. Its illegal for 24 hours. How about just sliding some candles in the fireplace . Thats one idea because take a look at this right now. We have the haze. We have an inversion layer as were looking at our live kpix weather camera from mount vaca, current air temperature there in the 50s. Its also 58 degrees in San Francisco, livermore jumped up to 66 degrees. Meanwhile along the coast were forecasting 73 degrees in santa cruz where we have a beach hazard statement in effect for the possibility of dangerous rip currents. Right there, thats the culprit. High pressure firmly in place over the pacific. Not going anywhere very quickly. So we are going to stay dry all the way through the new year. Throughout the Central Valley today no problems with tule fog into the 60s. 71 degrees in monterey bay. 48 degrees on the south shore. 51 degrees in south lake tahoe. Meanwhile, we are looking at 54 degrees on friday in the greater lake tahoe area. No snow in the forecast in the new year so its getting cold enough at night into the teens to make the snow but that doesnt hamper any travel plans on u. S. 50 or i80. Your pinpoint forecast today with the hazy sunshine some gusty winds muscle rock along the coast easily 28 to the southeast, otherwise 60s to the low 70s. By the way, this is a picture sent to us by mohammed of daly city, keep those photos coming. You can tweet me. Id love to see your photographers. Theres your lows for tonight after your high temperatures today. Near 71 degrees in the warmest locations. And again not a drop of rain each day. Love seeing that sunshine. You do like it. Somebody likes it. Thank you. In this season of giving we are inspired by the stories of the bay areas quiet heroes. Each week, reporters kate kelly and sharon chin profile the winners of the jefferson award for public service. Tonight, they show us some of the years most uplifting stories and ideas. Go, go, go, go. Reporter from Little League to special needs, from housing the homeless his desire, his will is to be home. Reporter to healthcare. Open big for me. Reporter the bay area jefferson Award Winners never waiver in their commitment to community and they give us endless ideas for ways we can all get involved. I said, i want to start an organization that helps young people find the biggest and best versions of themselves. Reporter leslie noel shares her passion for theater by coaching east bay children in acting and singing. Shes pretty much helped me get over my fears. My selfconfidence is through the roof. Reporter the performances the children give through leslies Peter Pan Foundation have raised tens of thousands of dollars for local charities. My gosh, if i just had an army of them, we could really change the world. Reporter thats what people think of corrin and katrina. They smash the myth of the selfcentered teenager collecting warm Winter Clothes abandoned at ski resorts and distributing it to homeless shelters. I really like to walk down the street and see people wearing the things that we gave them. Its wonderful to see their eyes light up when they get the clothes. Sometimes the Service Project takes off in ways their founders never imagined. It grew into something beyond my wildest dreams. Reporter cathy witkowickis Reading Tutor Program blossomed into the Sonoma Valley mentoring alliance pairing hundreds of students with adult volunteer mentors. And sometimes the simplest ideas do enormous good. I love cooking. My passion is cooking. And its kind of therapeutic for me. Reporter there is no better place for cynthia kang to share her kitchen skills than at this San FranciscoSenior Center where she has been feeding dozens of people every week for more than 10 years. When i see seniors be happy, when they are served and they come for a second helping, it makes me feel so satisfied. Reporter the drive to help people can draw a willing volunteer into improving lives around the world. In one operation, they can change the life of a child. Reporter for 23 years, laura has led a Nonprofit Organization that provides free orthopedic surgery to needy children in underdeveloped countries. That same drive to help can inspire a Good Samaritan to lend a hand in his own backyard or even garage. Or even garage. In this garage you come here with your shirt out if you want to come in. Youre free. Youre comfortable. You can say anything you want. Herbert lofton runs a mens group in his garage. Dozens of men discuss the tough issues of life and steer younger members on the right path. I dont have to make the same mistakes. Listen the first time and avoid the bumps in the road. Reporter so wherever you find inspiration consider getting involved. Donate, contribute, volunteer, share your expertise or your passion and join us in the new year for more stories of the jefferson awards for public service. Merry christmas and we have posted this story with links to the projects and organizations of all the local winners online. You can find them on the homepage of kpix. Com. A california cop is being hailed a hero after a dramatic Christmas Day rescue. It was just a matter of seconds. How he was able to save a driver from this fiery mess. Thats still ahead. And a quick check of the big board as we head out to break. You can see the dow is up about 118 points. Well be right back. , fresh grocer with a twista classic broccoli dish. After a hearty christmas dinner you may want to dig into some lighter fare. Heres Tony Tantillo with a twist on a classic broccoli dish. Reporter if theres one dish i like to enjoy almost every day, one vegetable, you, too, you love it its definitely broccoli rab. When the oil heated up, we add in the broccoli rab and put the lid on top so it would steam and saute and cooked it through in one pan. At sea salt. Some red pepper flakes. I love that on here. And im going to add a little bit of regular pepper. One more thing, roasted potatoes. Great. Red and yukon gold two different kinds of potatoes here. I was also going to say besides pasta this is a great start with broccoli rab. Makes the best dishes in the world with two or three ingredients. The potatoes, roasted potatoes and broccoli rab, im digging in. Looks good. A lot of good ideas. No kidding. Coming up, a dramatic rescue along a california freeway caught on a cell phone camera. Watch this christmas miracle unfold and hear from the man who is now being hailed a hero. Next. ,,,,,,,,, a 72year old man is lucky e al out of his burning Christmas Day miracle played out on an l. A. Freeway. A 72yearold man is lucky to be alive. He was pulled out of his burning car just in the nick of time. It was just a matter of seconds. Another 10, 15 seconds, there. Would have been too much fire. Thats a veteran of the lapd bomb squad. Thompson headed to work on 405 freeway when he saw a mercedes crash into the Center Divider and then burst into flames. Thompson and two others rush to the burning car, got the man out. The driver suffered moderate injuries and thompson also had burns to his hand and legs but he is going to be okay. Wow. Just seconds. Very blessed. Knee it. You would say. Another day today. The fifth consecutive day of near or record warmth here in the bay area. So by the time the sun sets at 4 57, well have realized highs today 60s and low 70s. Im going to go out and enjoy it. Thank you. Have a great afternoon. Captions by caption colorado comments captioncolorado. Com ,,,,,,, wouldnt it be nice if there was a Wireless Company that put you on their gift list . Well say hello to aio at aio wireless you can get an android smartphone free with activation. Free Android Phone . . yes please. Plus, aio has a reliable nationwide network and no annual contracts. Its like the presents just keep coming a Wireless Company that puts me at the top of their list . Im in stop by your neighborhood aio store or visit aiowireless. Com. Aio, a new way to wireless. Or visit aiowireless. Com. Ridge aly, im so excited to work with you. Aly me, too. Thorne yeah. Were putting the band back together. Pam oh, you know what . Get a picture of this. Its so good. Oliver oh, yeah. Thats great. Do you guys mind . All no. Caroline is my handsome husband in there . Donna uh, no. Hes rick im here. Caroline oh. Rick i was on a call with milan. [ smooches ] im expecting another. Donna okay. Ill let him know youre in a meeting. Rick yeah, this, uh, shouldnt take too long. [ indistinct conversation ] donna i didnt send you a memo. Quinn eric did. Is there coffee in there . If not, i take mine black