Transcripts For KRON KRON 4 News At 10 20240712 : comparemel

Going to set a course its going to go one way or its going to go another and if it goes the other way its going to be a a terrible thing. Now at 10 the final countdown is on until our nation will find out just who is going to become the next president of the united states. Thanks for joining us everybody on this election eve. Im Vicki Liviakis and im grant lotus syria. We have a lot to get to as we get set for tomorrow but first. Were following a big story out of San Francisco where a firefighter is in Critical Condition tonight after a major accident involving a muni bus. This is video from the citizen app it shows the scene this is earlier today Officials Say a firefighter responding to an electrical fire near market and spear was knocked to the ground and hit his head yeah that firefighter is recovering tonight at San Francisco General Hospital. And thats we find kron fours Jonathan Mccall hes live at the latest on investigation jonathan. Thank grant that firefighter has been identified as matthew van whos a 6 year veteran of the San Francisco Fire Department and tonight he remains here at zuckerberg General Hospital in Critical Condition after suffering severe head injuries after hitting his head. Tonight investigators say there are still plenty of Unanswered Questions when it comes to this investigation. Around 3. 30 monday afternoon, San Francisco fire crews responded to a call of an electrical fire on the 19th floor of a building near speer in market as fire crews were battling the fire outside a muni bus drove through the scene and over a fire line the impact of throwing San Francisco firefighter enough to move in into the air causing him to land on his head. Then rushed to zuckerberg General Hospital in Critical Condition. They were able to bring. Now to dan to the state of being in Critical Condition which is better than the state that he was initially got here on scene not reading lieutenant Jonathan Baxter with San Francisco fire says there are still plenty of Unanswered Questions. Several agencies are now involved in this investigation baxter says in most fire calls Downtown Parking enforcement workers or sfpd officers blocked the streets to keep traffic out. To our knowledge at this time they have not i deployed again thats could be something that investigators are going look into. Well we do know is that we have hose line going through the streets across the streets. We have emergency vehicles with their red light flashing. Indicating for the california vehicle code to stop him to not proceed to tell other rise to do so. Firefighter vance injuries come just weeks after the death of firefighter jason cortez who was killed during a Training Exercise baxter says the department is still feeling the impact of that loss, its a hard position to we are your First Responders your community. These are times when we have to be here for each other and count on the community be here for us. Kron 4 staying in contact with San Francisco fire investigators as once again they try to learn more details about this investigation. Meanwhile, we did reach out unity tonight to get more information about the driver now at the center of this investigation. Weve learned that hes been with the agency for nearly 6 years and that hes now being pulled off of routes as this investigation continues. Weve also learned that undergo a mandatory drug test as part of the agencys standard procedure. Were live tonight outside of zuckerberg General Hospital in San Francisco Jonathan Mccall conference. Thank you john. To this a surveillance camera from a San Francisco business. It catches a man breaks into a mailbox happened early friday morning, the Business Owner says that the suspect left a couple of ballots on the ground he tells kron fours Taylor Bisacky tonight that he worries that more ballots might have been destroyed. The Business Owner here lives nearby and says he heard loud bangs when the thieves used a homemade device to fish meal out of this mailbox once the crooks are gone here and back over to a store to find one ballot on the ground and another in a nearby sewer now hes concerned that other ballots might have been destroyed surveillance cameras ever lines market in San Francisco. Court fees stealing mail from this mailbox at 20th and castro streets friday morning sammy while have owns the corner store lives nearby. He says. He woke up to the sound of the crooks using a homemade device to dig into the mail. A lawyer or with that plate. That has to do. So he was pushing it and stealing that mean. Out of the box. He did it so many times he would hit and brings me louts. Goal and come and a car kept going up the hill. And back down. While had called police and once the suspects left he rushed over to a store to find about covered in glue laying on the ground and another one in the sewer nearby and i and then was. It was one at least one that was halfway in the water and halfway up. Bobs now worried more ballots were trashed or stolen blue situation you lose votes. Election was not be feared even more concerning bob says this isnt the first time just last week people tried breaking into the same mailbox a mob says that someone from the u. S. Postal service came out on monday to take a look at the mailbox and investigate what happened i also reached out to the San Francisco Elections Office about the damaged ballots, but not heard back yet. And San Francisco Taylor Bisacky kron 4 news. Thanks taylor this years election also comes with concerns of violence. This is San Franciscos union square you see the plywood here all boarded up some of the businesses. Some of these places started doing so last week a representative with the chamber of commerce says hes never seen a scene like this. Each window smashed windows is usually thousands of dollars and if you havent been paying rent for the last 9 months or you have been getting income for the last 9 months a couple 1000 is what well send you over the cliff. San Francisco Police say at this time they have not received any Credible Threats for violence in the city the department though will be fully staffed all week. Well businesses in the east bay are also boarded up these are shops that a woman creeks Broadway Plaza and that is where we find kron fours dan thorn, he joins us now live with more on what people are expecting their dan. Well because theres definitely some anxiety surrounding this years election businesses here in downtown walnut creek boarding up their concern about people possibly getting destructive out here, but the hope is that no matter which way this election swings that the unrest this not turn into chaos. And this is in stores and walnut creek are bracing for possible destructive postelection unrest. Big box retailers like Neiman Marcus and pottery barn, a plywood boards blocking their glass windows and doors to prevent looting and vandalism. Its a sight not sitting well with some residents. I think there should be a real sense of outrage. Whereas a lot of people just seem to think oh this has to be the way of life we got to board up. What it says country common to hate thats what they have to do some stores have so far opted not to board up while others are staying closed for at least the next few days this is our store earlier this year looters took over Broadway Plaza smashing in windows and stripping several stores of expensive birch and ice. Most have reopened since then but Consignment Shop labels in downtown is not taking any chances if we were to get. Hit as a Small Business and already somehow surviving this past 8 months. It to me it would be the end of us anxiety from the election is being felt by some walnut creek voters and frustration is understood, but its no excuse for destruction i just want to be over i want people to be why get out there make the right choice, but i just hope it isnt drawnout i or the democratic you know plays out as it should and as i well some of the stories that are planning on being open tomorrow say that they will be closing early. Meanwhile, the city is not aware of any planned demonstrations happening later on this week reporting live in walnut creek dan thorn kron 4 news. All right dan to that end to an Emergency Operation center has opened tonight in the ahead of election day. Police and firefighters are standing by in demonstrators unhappy with the results turn to rioting for sale a second monae and spoke with the fire chief and she joins us now from the newsroom. Its pretty unusual. But the boy her fire chief tells me not much about 2020 has been normal so his cruiser in position just in case. Thats because weve seen how divided and impassioned americans have been leading up to tuesday. So the city of delay who is among many here in the bay area and nationwide. Theyre preparing for the worst firefighters and Police Officers are ready to step in if theres any violence or fire is ignited. Whether results are in on Election Night or in the days to come this monday this weeks little different for us because were a position the city. To be prepared in the event some unusual occurrences of civil unrest or or voter. The image intimidation occurs at some of the voting sites were also stolen brush season. And so we can have a fire breaks out, but of sometimes Law Enforcement incidents, a civil disturbance or result in injuries, so we need to be prepared for that also. As you said we are in the midst of wildfire season. So the chief hopes the community will exercise their rights responsibly at this time the city does not have any reason to believe there is a threat so this is all plan just to be safe rather than sorry in the newsroom Ella Sogomonian kron 4 news. And tonight more than half of all registered voters here in california have already cast their did before election day. The california secretary of state tallied more than 11 million total submitted ballots this morning as people across the country are voting early in Record Numbers surpassing 2016 vote. California allows eligible residents to register and vote on the same day all the way up to election day polling places are open from 07 00am to 08 00pm on tuesday november, 3rd that is tomorrow and as long as youre in line before polls close you can still vote even if the wait time goes past closing time. San francisco could see a historic turnout. This election day kron fours dan kerman reports from the citys outdoor Voting Center at civic center plaza. So far a record 322,000 ballots have been filled out and are now being processed at San Franciscos department of elections. That 62 of registered voters. Know theres ever been a point where weve had as many votes cast before election day. With more ballots being dropped off monday and those voting in person on election day Election Officials are expecting a turnout in the 80 percentile, but its unclear if it will break a record. But in 1956 in 1960 those are the highest election turnouts that i can find those are 86 so really you know were looking at ideally something between the 8186 and hopefully something beyond 86 for tomorrow monday voters were still dropping off mail in ballots in person, im not totally comfortable mailing it since. All the issues ive heard with with the u. S. Post office so i just feel more comfortable dropping it off so i can track it in. It just seemed easier and it got me out of the house too. For many this is the most important election of their lifetime did next is very important to be because you know its about time we did some voting and we get the right thing we need someone in there who is going to take care of job when the polls close at a tuesday evening. Those 300,000 ballots received prior to monday morning will be the first to be tabulated with early results coming by 8. 45. And while the number will be significant. Election Officials Say it wont be final because the rule still be so many more ballots to count. Election Officials Say they will count mail in ballots received after election day. But they must have that tuesday postmark. In San Francisco. Dan kerman kron 4 news in santa clara theyre reporting almost 2 thirds of registered voters have already cast their ballot either by mail or in person dead definite majority of voters kron fours rob fladeboe compares the voter turnout for this election with the one from 4 years ago. I just last friday, another 130,000 ballots have been returned. Many of them dropped off in person like this here outside the registrar of Voters Office on burger drive of just over a million ballots mailed out to voters roughly 617,000 have now been returned since saturday when 100 vote centers open across the county. Another 14,000 people cast their ballots in person were about 60 that have been returned already an hour. Voters are familiar with the vote by mail process they did this in march. Theyre doing it for this election. I think everyones excited all the early voting means the folks doing all the processing and counting of those ballots behind the scenes of had a bit of a head start that should help the registrar make available some significant results, but the time the polls close at 08 00pm tuesday. So far the number of ballots returned is twice what it was this time 4 years ago amid obvious enthusiasm for the people to be heard. Where now they say theyre aware of what voting means to people hopefully now. Was always an honor when i was started out in 18 years old now. They got away from that now people start to realize how important voting is well theres a very large amount of divisiveness and we want to make sure that our voices are heard. And its not clear its a very close election right and its very divided so its really important and we get out and vote another record sure to fall is the 724,000 votes cast in the last president ial election back in 2016. Those missing the october 19th deadline to register to vote can still show up and request a conditional ballot. For those voting at the last minute be advised, you must be in line. No later than 08 00pm if we have to cut the line up at 8 and it takes until. 1 oclock in the morning, youre still going to devote just get in line by 8 oclock. In san jose rob fladeboe kron 4 news in Contra Costa County this is how officials are making sure that the ballots get counted accurately and safely. The county central accounting, voting equipment diets responsible for counting over 80 of ballots that are cast in this years election. The countys assistant registrar of voters says that the programs logic is designed to detect a host of potential voter errors for example, selecting both president ial candidates. He says you can even find a ballot that has been submitted twice. He says the vote tally is accurate. And 100 secure from any potential hackers because their Computer Program does not have an internet connection. There are also additional security protocols for the election staff about 5 or 6 weeks actually test all of our pieces of equipment. County officials have tested the equipment for the past 5 to 6 weeks using 16,000 ballots around 60 of registered voters have already cast their ballots. In Contra Costa County. Well if you dont vote tomorrow and you havent voted already you cant blame it on the weather. No you cant. Fairweather friend, you know i guess thats these are all these are all laura coffee is good all kinds of weather hey and it has been nice what in october we had temperatures well above the average for most october and thats where were starting out november. But thats all about to come due in and weve got some clouds are gathering along the coastline time most of that is just some low clouds and fog county giving you a hint of High Pressure starting to weaken just a little bit so up there right now you can just see some grey on the horizon, so some low level cloud cover moving in along the coastline right now were going to see more of that back up toward sfo youve got some partly cloudy skies. Some of the clouds begin to gather over San Bruno Mountain more that on the way overnight tonight. And its likely going to fill the bay may be making as some of the valleys 2 may have noticed little hazy around the bay area today again and that some of the smoke not for mere for some fires up in the sier