i see a fighter, a tenacious problem-solver... who will go to congress and protect abortion rights and our democracy. because he sees a better future for all of us. i'm peter dixon and i approved this message.

visible cops on the ground. we have called. >> and then thanks, rob blake, why they there? and it septa will unacceptable and often costly in oakland, philippe djegal all kron. 4 news. >> and the city of oakland has a fresh list of candidates in that search for a police chief. the oakland police commission released those names last night. kron four's catherine heenan joins us here now live in studio with a look at who they are and where they're coming from. thanks for joining us. sure. well, as you know, the search for oakland. so next police chief has. >> dragged on for more than a year been kind of a mess. this is the commission's second attempt to find a replacement for former chief leronne armstrong mayor thao. you might remember fired him last february in december, the police commission sent a list

of candidates to mayor thao. she rejected everybody on the list. the latest candidates are all oakland outsiders. 3 of them, in fact, are from out of state. you're looking at pictures of behind from left to right. the first is lisa davis. lisa davis is currently the cincinnati assistant police chief, the second louis molina, new york city's assistant deputy for public safety. and the 3rd is abdul abdul is a former san leandro police chief. and the last the last person is floyd mitchell, vice president of the texas police chiefs association taking a closer look pridgen became stanley and police chief in september of 2021. hired on the heels of a controversial police shooting to implement performs increase community trust, create a sense of belonging last september. he was out on administrative leave because of alleged policy violations. he resigned last tuesday. that

investigation is still pending. floyd mitchell has 30 years of police experience and has served as the police chief in both temple and lubbock, texas for about 4 years. he resigned last year. that was after being criticized for how his department was dealing with 9-1-1. calls is now the first vice president of the texas police chiefs association and lisa davis, currently the assistant police chief in cincinnati. she is a lieutenant colonel. also the commander of the investigations bureau. she has worked with the department for more than 30 years. luis molina, new york city's assistant deputy mayor for public safety. also the city's former commissioner of the department of correction. he's been criticized for what's described in as his failure to improve conditions at city jails. the 4 candidates are going to appear at a public forum tomorrow night. 6.30, in oakland, mayor thao has decided not to participate in

a letter to the police commission. she says it does not help in recruiting the best candidates. that letter also says of form identifying candidates, places, those individuals that unnecessary risk with current employers. it might also force oakland to enter into a premature bidding war with an individual's current employer. if they feel strongly about retaining them and the mayor. so since december, i've met with several outstanding law enforcement leaders nationwide. many expressed interest in applying for the role. unfortunately, when presented with the prospect of a public forum candidates declined or withdrew their names from consideration and one name noticeably absent on that list are on armstrong earlier this month, he filed a lawsuit against the city of oakland against the mayor alleging he was illegally fired. today we heard from the oakland naacp, which has advocated for armstrong to get

the job back. members say the police chief position needs to be filled immediately. >> we haven't had an opportunity to vet any of the 4 people who are recommended by the police commission. but we want to keep an open this city of oakland is having tremendous problems, many of which connected to the fact that we don't have a police t and we think it's incumbent upon the part of the man to ensure that we have someone in that position. local is imminently qualify and will do an outstanding job. unless we get that. we know that the crime problem is going to continue. >> mayer taos office says she is looking forward to getting the list of finalists in conducting her due diligence in reviewing those candidates. a-list expected to soon in march live in the studio. i'm

catherine heenan. justine, back to catherine, thank you so much. in the south bay, san jose officials are asking residents to help select the city's next police chief. >> feedback can be submitted through a survey and there are virtual and in-person meetings taking place next month. the current chief anthony mata has served the department for 28 years. he set to retire this month for a new position as the investigations bureau chief for the santa clara county district attorney's office and santa fe. police have also arrested a man in connection to a 2018 triple shooting at a talker. readjust. want to warn you the video. is a lot to take in officers releasing this body camera video from that night. they say that miguel shot 3 men outside of lot. victoria taqueria and all but expressway. all 3 of the victims did survive. police say that shots were fired after he and another person got into an argument with 3 men there and figure has now been booked into the santa clara county main jail for attempted homicide. in the east bay. the anti defamation

league has filed a federal complaint against the berkeley unified school district for what they say as the severe and persistent antisemitic bullying problem. according to this complaint, berkeley administrators have ignored parent reports allowing its 12 through its k through 12 schools to become hostile environments for jewish and israeli students. it accuses the board of education of not disciplining teachers and students. we have engaged in this harassment. the atf reports instead of principles addressing the bullying, they moved the, quote, offended students to different classrooms. and we have just gotten a statement into our newsroom from berkeley, enjoy the blue skies are

taking a live look at half moon bay right now are some folks are out there enjoying

that sunshine because tomorrow we're going to be hard pressed to find it will be the umbrella. we're going to have some wind and we're going to need your jacket to all be back a little bit. we'll talk about all that serious note. back to you. >> thank you so much. coming up, a number of business closures impacting residents livelihoods across the bay area out there facing this fall out and improvements to public transportation may be on the horizon, which bay area city just announced. these plans. and senator mitch mcconnell, the top republican in the upper chamber announces he's giving up leadership role. so after the break, you will take a look at

>> some developing news out of washington where republican senator mitch mcconnell has announced plans to step down from party leadership. mcconnell will leave the role in november as the longest-serving party leader in senate history. having been elected to lead the republican conference 9 times, mcconnell was first elected to the senate in 1984 and has crafted a long and at sometimes contentious legacy in office. and here's what he had to say about his departure. >> i believe more strongly than ever that america's global leadership is essential. preserving the shining city on a hill. but ronald reagan distraught. as long as breath on this earth, i will defend american exceptionalism to serve kentucky and the should move ally. leave my republican colleagues for shutdown. the privilege.

>> coming up, cross for locker to hear from david mcewan, who is the chair of the political science department at so the state about the significance of mcconnell's departure and as you know, kron four's your local election headquarters. president biden and former president donald trump have not won their party's primaries in michigan. former south carolina governor nikki haley says she will stay in the race despite a commanding lead by former president donald trump. trump has now swept the first 5 states on the republican primary calendar. the trump campaign is looking to lock up those 1215 delegates needed to secure the republican nomination sometime in mid-march. and despite a vigorous uncommitted campaign that was organized by activists were unhappy with biden's handling of the war in gaza in excuse me, the president won over 80% of the vote around 13% voted uncommitted, which could signal some weakness in parts of the democratic base and a state that he cannot afford to

lose in november. michigan has the largest concentration of arab americans in the nation. more than 310,000 residents are of middle eastern or north african ancestry. less than a week away from primary election day and leaders from california's democratic and republican parties say they're doinr everything they can to reach voters. california's democratic leaders say this year their strategy is to be on the ground, going door to door to help voters register and that they're excited about all 3 democratic candidates in the race for california's open senate seat as well as the potential to win house seats. it could take back the house. >> if california turn some of these red states blue. so we're very exciting and we're doing everything we can to turn out every >> as for the california republican party, they say volunteers have been reaching out to voters at community centers this year and data from the secretary of state's office shows the republican

party gained 45,000 voters this year with the democratic party losing about 30,000 republican leaders say with more new votes and voters, they're optimistic about steve garvey is chances of taking that open senate seat. >> i feel really good about it and having a political outsider that's really been engaged and many communities around our state over the years. this is that part, not just republicans for californians. >> currently registered democrats outnumber registered republicans by about 2 to one in california and a reminder for election day, you must turn in your ballot or have your vote by mail

the elderly. >> what not to do when you're speaking with an unknown caller. but first, another round of layoffs hit the bay

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>> areas being forced with more closures this week. and san francisco, this city is taking a hit with a number of businesses shutting their doors for good leaving residents and a chain restaurant. now to face the fallout of common reason being cited as the changes in the local market and buying habits. so we'll start with walgreens. it's closing one of its downtown san francisco locations that happened yesterday. more than 2 dozen people who live in the area held a rally before the company shut down the doors. many told kron 4 they're

worried about seniors who depend on this pharmacy at this walgreens location because they need to get their prescriptions. they're so now they're going have to go to another location about a half a mile away, which could be hard for some seniors to get to a woman who has lived in this area since the 90's says she's concerned. people are going to start to move out of the neighborhood if they don't have access to basic needs. >> and closing that's taken away or amenities. and i worry that people can start start moving out of the because what we have all it we need a walgreens for the prescriptions and for other things. >> a spokesperson for walgreens tells us here at kron 4, the locations closure is due to a significant decrease in foot traffic in the financial district. since the onset of the pandemic. also continuing to attract the fallout after macy's announced that it will close its iconic union square location in san francisco. a lot of people want to know what's going to happen with the cheesecake

factory restaurant that's located on the top floor of the building and kron 4 did speak with a manager at the restaurant. we were told that the franchise has sent an e-mail to employees at that location explaining the company is working on a plan for the next steps. and that plan should be released by next week. as for the apa holiday festivities that take place right near the macy's kron 4 us confirmed with the union square alliance that the christmas tree lighting ceremony in union square will take place this year. no word yet on the plans for the celebration beyond 2024. and another tech company is announcing layoffs this time in the gaming sector, sony interactive announcing today it's laying off around 900 employees from its playstation divisions. that's 8% of its global workforce. this is the latest wave of layoffs to hit the gaming and tech industries this year. and it's coming just days after sony announced lackluster sales for the playstation 5 last year. sony does have offices in san mateo. it's unclear how many

bay area ploy ease will be impacted. >> coming mayor in the east bay as worried about the area could become a hospital desert. this after a medical center plans to close its doors for good. we've also have a live interview with a local political science expert about what will happen now that republican senator mitch mcconnell is stepping down from his leadership position and the supreme court will make a ruling involving former president trump. but first community. we'll see some upgrades even as city officials say there are some officials say there are some tough financial for nourished, lightweight hair, the right ingredients make all the difference. new herbal essences sulfate free is now packed with plant-based ingredients your hair will love. like pure aloe and camellia flower oil. and none of the things it won't. hair feels deeply nourished, soft and lightweight.

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>> covid era work from home policies. then san francisco. >> tomlin hopes that muni can continue to adapt despite the challenges. >> we have succeeded in retooling unity for today's current travel patterns and the results have been far more successful than we had thought possible. >> the future of muni may become clearer later this year as the mayor and the board of

supervisors finalize their 2024 25 budget plans in san francisco, charles clifford kron. 4 news. >> in the east bay, san ramon, police are warning elderly residents about a scam telling them that they have won a grand prize. the scammers are pretending to be from publishers clearing house with a sweepstakes prize to hand out. they then tell the victim in order to get that money, they have to pay the taxes on the prize with a cashier's check. police say no legitimate business will ever ask for money over the phone and that you should never provide bank account information to a stranger or give them remote access to your personal computer. in san jose, a detail of vta light rail connection to bart has now been 20 years in the making and it just needs one more vote for construction to officially begin this year. officials say the eastridge to bart regional connector is desperately needed. it would run trains on the east capitol expressway all the way the alum rock and that connect to

the milpitas part. advocates say this will connect the lower-income largely latino population in east san jose to jobs and schools. the project. and this design started in the early 2. took a pause during the recession in 2007, the vta board will vote on a construction contract next month. and if it's approved construction could begin in april. >> we ask god's healing time. family. all of us come together to pray today. >> community members in san mateo county uniting in prayer together today to honor a family that was murdered earlier this month. this prayer service was conducted for not henry, least ben singer and their 2 twin boys, nathan noah, all 4 of them were found dead in their home during a welfare check. the restorative justice ministry hold vigils for those who have died in violence across the bay area to spread messages of forgiveness and to bring awareness to those seeking

help with mental illnesses. >> i think about a crime such as speaks, crisis, mental illness. can time such as this was not someone mentally ill, even all appearances were contrary, which is around the world. >> prayers for shared outside of the family's home where officers found their bodies. investigators say that they believe the father shot his wife multiple times before shooting himself in a bathroom. the children's cause of death remains under investigation as they had no signs of physical trauma. police say there's no history of violence at this home and they're working to find a motive. the white house is working to make communities safer. several of the nation's police chiefs met with president biden today to talk about ways to fight crime, washington, d.c., correspondent reshad hudson has more.

>> president biden is calling on congress to invest 37 billion dollars to support local law enforcement and crime prevention. >> as president public safety, public safety crime reduction as a top priority for my administration. and for me, the call comes after meeting with big-city police chiefs wednesday. administration is going progress over politics and communities across the country are safer as a result that. >> kevin bethel, a philadelphia is one of the handful of the nation's police chiefs who met with the president. it was a really good meeting, although bethel says crime is down. he's calling on the federal government to help get illegal guns off the street because 2 problems, not just us getting illegal guns off the street is it's a community now. telling people to stop carrying the guns. johnny jennings, the police chief of charlotte, says his department is tackling mental health in juvenile crime. >> we really have to get something where we can intervene at an early age.

president biden is pointing to resources his administration has already provided to local law enforcement as one way to battle crime. >> former president trump, the likely republican nominee in november's election has casts democrat run cities as havens for crime and lawlessness in our country is being destroyed. >> and the only thing standing between you and it's of liberation is me. >> crime is likely to be an issue for voters in november when casting their ballots reporting in washington reshad hudson. >> the supreme court is hearing a challenge to the federal ban on a gun accessory that was used in the las vegas massacre. bump stocks are a rifle at on that are used to recoil to allow for more rapid firing a gun shop owner claims that the trump administration ignored federal laws prohibiting bump stocks in 2019. the banpcame after investigators determined they were used by the las vegas shooter and all 60 people were

killed in that deadly shooting. it was the deadliest shooting in modern american history. historic wildfires are burning out of control along the texas panhandle. and right now the texas governor greg abbott has issued a disaster declaration for 60 counties. the smokehouse creek fire has chewed through more than 50,000 acres since it started on monday. the fire is northeast of amarillo. it's now the second largest fire in texas history. there's no containment. authorities say the fire is being fueled by high winds and very warm temperatures. several other wildfires are burning nearby with flames jumping into oklahoma, forcing evacuations there and standing by with all the conditions in texas right now is our meteorologist kyla grogan. what's going 500,000 acres. just a massive while for me to take you to the panhandle, texas. and we'll talk about the weather of the last few days. you can see where they had. >> extreme sunday, 80 degrees monday. 82 75 on tuesday. now,

thankfully today, thanks. have pull back in tomorrow. they're even expecting the possibility of a little rain and even a few snowflakes as temperatures fall down to their highs being in the 40's. but right now it has been very slow going for them getting any containment. this is helping them, though. the wind is about 11 miles per hour. again, those temperatures have pulled down. you see there in amarillo right now sitting in the upper 40's. so yesterday you might remember that we talked about this. detroit was in the 70's, by the way, they set a record yesterday at 73 degrees of the warmest february day ever recorded in history. now that cooler air has rolled in and you see more seasonal temperatures that's helping out for those in the panhandle, texas, where these fires are happening. but as we get to friday and saturday, they're going to see another warm-up on the way we're temperatures go back into the 70's. so difficult going there. meanwhile, on the west coast, we're having a beautiful day here. lots of sunshine. temperatures are pretty incredible. morgan hill right now at 70 degrees. 69 in fremont and san jose. 64 for you oakland, 70 in santa rosa. we're nice and warm there as well. it's well above average

day. if you consider that saturday here in san francisco with 73 degrees by tomorrow,

>> republican senator mitch mcconnell, kentucky, announcing today plans to step down from party leadership. mcconnell leaves this position behind as the longest-serving party leader in senate history haven't been elected to lead the republican conference 9 different time since 2006. so we want to talk a little bit more about his history of serving the country in government with david mcewan. he's the chair of the political science department at sonoma state. thank you so much for joining us. pleasure to be with you. just thing. so how big of a surprise was this and why do you think he's making this announcement now? >> yeah, i mean, they're cover all elements here. you know, most politics is about timing. so certainly timing senator mcconnell's been thinking about this for some time. there are recent recent tragedy and his wife side of the family a few weeks ago. that certainly was a

precipitating factor where the republican party is at and certainly important. but mitch mcconnell can also set some of his own destiny. what you can do is buy moving out as leader he can serve. but as a defense appropriations chair and the next that's important. also, the republican party really has moved farther away from him. he was first elected in morning in america. that was 1984, in ronald reagan's re-election. >> and it's not ronald reagan's party anymore. and that certainly an element his health is a concern age. all of those things, elements of this decision, a highly personal one. but also, as you noted on the lead in their look, he's the longest-serving major party leader and u.s. senate history in american political history. so that that makes him a giant some ways regardless of his politics with huge shoes to fill for who comes next. yeah. so he's going to stay on until the fall. >> who do you think will replace him? yeah. let's see. first, if you can stay on until the fall. i mean, donald trump is probably going to call for him to leave. there

are the 3 johnson are jockeying for this position. thune, number shocking for this position. john cornyn from texas in is the whip. >> he's a jockeying for this position. and john barrasso. >> from wyoming, all 3 of them probably in that are kind the gold, silver and bronze candidates to replace mitch mcconnell. but they're going answer to donald trump. >> whether or not he's goes back into the white house or is just simply running the republican party. that only important element to watch here as well. and what does this say to you about the future of the republican party? >> yeah, i mitch mcconnell is someone who's a ronald reagan republican who sees america is active in the world. he's an institutional us about the senate. >> but it's a globalist about america that in very active about ukraine. he's very active about israel. and what comes next. all of those elements. but i'm in a different for there where the republican party is now, which is much more isolationist. >> all right. what do you think his legacy will be? and

then i have a question about the supreme court. >> sure, his legacy and certainly one where he's been and that institutional frame. he's also someone would have been the leader except for the tea party, would have the of the senate except for donald trump and that really binds us legacy. he could never you know, pleasing donald trump. and that's pretty ironic in day and age. and yet he's also someone who brought the senate quite a bit and made certainly relevant in many ways. but he's much closer to chuck schumer, if you will, that he has many and his republican side of the aisle to back. >> so the supreme court has agreed to decide whether former president donald trump can be prosecuted on the charge is that he interfered with the 2020 election and they have now set the course for a quote, quick resolution. why do you think they're planning to make the so quick? >> yeah, i mean, because we're 250 days out from the general election today. that's one element that means they'll make a decision sometime between june first and june. 30th june. 30th is when the

current session ends. but that really means it's a problem to hold a trial when even on the trial, the middle of august, middle september, middle of october, that will angelou,

another san francisco trail blazers will be honored. district attorney brooke jenkins, state controller malia cohen and city supervisor shamann walton also be featured guests in the cultural festivities and make sure you tune into our black history month. special airs tomorrow night at 6.30. coming up here in bay area's. >> beauty has got residents singing a happy tune. a new survey that shows 3 loca

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>> some good news for the bay area. now fremont sam's and san francisco are the happiest cities in the country. that's according to a new wallet hub study comparing more than 180 of the largest cities in the u.s. the rankings were determined by looking at things like depression rates, income growth rates and the average free time that people spend in the day freeman came in number one overall. and number one for emotional and physical well-being. san jose came in at number 3 overall and second for emotional and physical well-being. san francisco came in number 7 and 3rd for emotional and physical well-being. all right. an update now to a story we talked about earlier in the eeek. we're taking a live look here at the corpse flower in a

mirage. it has bloomed at the california academy of sciences. >> this is their cam showing the process online. flowers started opening up yesterday afternoon and the plant can reach up to 10 feet tall and has a smell that's described as rotten fish, garlic and decaying meat. corpse. flowers don't bloom very long. so this might be your only chance to see mirage in her full glory. and it looks amazing. i'm glad that i live from can't smell so, bill, el mirage in its full glory. that's the really interesting want to talk about temperatures over the next couple of days. taking a live look at san jose where we got up to that 70 degree mark today. >> very different as we head across the next few days. you can see we're going to be in the 50's. but as we get to friday, so >> just be ready for that. i call it weather whiplash. it's when we have a system rolling in and that's going knock down those temperatures. and that's exactly what's going to happen. so we're going to overnight tonight with some clouds. temperatures will be a little bit warmer tonight and then tomorrow that we're going to see the rain start to roll. and so just be ready for that.

when you wake up in the morning, it will be a little bit in the north bay, but the afternoon we're all be dealing with some lovely downpours. and be here to get you through. could affect you. thank you, guy. looking forward to it. thank you for joining us here this afternoon on kron 4. i'm justine waldman. you tomorrow.

what do i see in peter dixon? i see my husband... the father of our girls. i see a public servant. a man who served under secretary clinton in the state department... where he took on the epidemic of violence against women in the congo. i see a fighter, a tenacious problem-solver... who will go to congress and protect abortion rights and our democracy. because he sees a better future for all of us. i'm peter dixon and i approved this message.