23ABC News at 7 p.m.

-- I'M JESSICA HARRINGTON...TONIGHT'S TOP STORIES.THE SECOND NIGHT OF THEDEMOCRATIC NATIONALCONVENTION HAS BEGUN...MORE ON WHAT'S EXPECTED --INCLUDING THE OFFICIAL VOTE TONOMINATE JOE BIDEN AS THEPARTY'S CANDIDATE TORUN FOR PRESIDENT...AND -- A LOCAL TEACHER MADE THEMOST OF HER TIME DURING THEPANDEMIC.DETAILS ON HOW SHE KEPT BUSY ANDHOW IT'S MAKING AN IMPACTON HER STUDENTS.23ABC NEWS AT 7 STARTS NOW...GOOD EVENING -- WE START TONIGHTWITH SECOND NIGHT OFTHE CONVENTION...THE VIRTUAL EVENT ALREADYUNDERWAY FOR THIS EVENING...HERE'S A LIVE LOOK AT THEVIRTUAL PRESENTATION...VIDEOS ALREADY PLAYING SHOWINGTHIS EVENING'S SPEECHES...NIGHT TWO IS A BIG NIGHT FOR THECONVENTION -- DELEGATESWILL BE VOTING... WITH JOE BIDENEXPECTED OF COURSE TO BESELECTED AS THE PARTY'SPRESDENTIAL CANDIDATE FORTHE RACE IN NOVEMBER...FORMER PRESIDENT BILL CLINTONWILL HIGHLIGHT THESECOND DAY OF SPEECHES.AMONG THOSE JOINING CLINTON AREFORMER SECRETARY OFSTATE AND DEMOCRATICPRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE JOHNKERRY, FORMER ACTING ATTORNEYGENERAL SALLY YATES ANDSENATE MINORITY LEADER CHUCKSCHUMER.DR. JILL BIDEN, THE WIFE OFPRESUMPTIVE DEMOCRATICPRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE JOE BIDEN,IS ALSO EXPECTED TODELIVER REMARKS.ACCORDING TO CNN AND NBC NEWS,FORMER SECRETARY OFSTATE UNDER REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTGEORGE W.

BUSH-- COLIN POWELL -- WILLOFFICIALLY ENDORSE JOE BIDENTONIGHT.WE WILL HAVE A COMPLETE WRAP-UPOF NIGHT TWO OFTHE CONVENTION TONIGHT ON 23ABCNEWS AT 11...THE STATE IS NOW FOUR HOURS INTOA STAGE 2 FLEX ALERTTODAY.THIS ALERT LASTING FROM NOWUNTIL TEN P-M... ANDCONTINUING THURSDAY.AND NEW TODAY -- P-G AND E HASUNVEILED A NEW ONLINE TOOL TOTHAT YOU CAN USE TO CHECK ANDSEE IF YOUR HOME MIGHT BESCHEDULED TO HAVE AN OUTAGE ANDWHAT TIME IT MIGHT POSSIBLYHAPPEN...WE HAVE THE LINK AVAILABLE ONOUR WEBSITE -- TURN TO 23 DOTCOM.HERE'S HOW IT WORKS -- YOU GO TOROTATING OUTAGES PAGE ONP-G AND E'S SITE...THEN YOU CLICK ON THE BIG YELLOWBUTTON THAT SAYS -- "LOOK UPYOUR ROTATING OUTAGE BLOCKNUMBER."THEN -- ONCE THAT PAGE OPENS --TYPE IN YOUR ADDRESS AND ITWILL GIVE YOU YOUR BLOCK NUMBER-- THE BLOCK NUMBER --IS COMBINATION OF THE NUMBER ANDLETTER -- FOR EXAMPLE HERE --IT WOULD BE 11-O.YOU GO BACK TO THE FIRST PAGEYOU WENT TO -- USE THE CHART --AND MATCH YOUR NUMBER TO THEDATE AND TIME.

IF YOUR NUMBER ISNOT THERE -- THEN YOU DO NOTHAVE AN OUTAGESCHEDULED.THIS ONLINE TOOL WILL NOT WORKON INTERNET EXPLORER -- JUSTAS AN F-Y-I.NOW LET'S TAKE A LIVE LOOK ATDOWNTOWN BAKERSFIELD.HERE'S 23ABC'S METEOROLOGISTBRANDON MICHAELS WITH ALOOK AT YOUR FORECAST.TEMPERATURES ARE HOT AGAINTUESDAY, BUT OVERALL NOT AS HOTAS THEY WERE MONDAY OR OVER THEWEEKEND.THAT'S THANKS TO A THICK LAYEROF SMOKE THAT HAS SETTLED OVERKERN COUNTY.THAT SMOKE, IN ADDITION TOPROMPTING AN AIR QUALITY ALERT,WILL MAKE TEMPERATURES TOUGH TOFORECAST IN THECOMING DAYS.IN GENERAL, IT HAS THE POTENTIALTO KEEP US A BITCOOLER THAN EXPECTED, BUT TRIPLEDIGIT HIGHS ARE STILLIN THE FORECAST, AND ANEXCESSCESSIVE HEAT WARNING IS STIN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY.HIGHS ON WEDNESDAY WILL BEAROUND 106 IN BAKERSFIELD,WITH TRIPLE DIGITS EXPECTED INTHE KERN RIVER VALLEYAGAIN, AND MORE 90S FOR FRAZIERPARK AND TEHACHAPI.IN ADDITION TO HEAT AND HAZE,WE'RE ALSO TRACKING THEPOTENTIAL FOR THUNDERSTORMS.A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECTFOR THE KERN COUNTY MOUNTAINSAND DESERT UNTIL 8 PM TUESDAY,THANKS TO THE POTENTIAL FOR SLOWMOVING STORMS THAT COULD DROPHEAVY RAIN.ADDITIONAL STORMS WILL BEPOSSIBLE WEDNESDAY, MAINLY INTHE KERN RIVER VALLEY AND THEKERN COUNTYDESERT.AS BRANDON JUST MENTIONED THEHEAT WAVE CONTINUESAS BRANDON JUST MENTIONED THEHEAT WAVE CONTINUESTHROUGHOUT KERN COUNTY, AND SOMEKERN RESIDENTS STILLHAVE TO WORK OUTSIDE DURINGTHESE TRIPLE DIGITTEMPERATURES.FARM WORKERS AND E-M-T'S AREJUST SOME OF THE MANY TYPESOF JOBS THAT REQUIRE IT'SWORKERS TO BE OUTSIDE DESPITETHE DRASTIC TEMPERATURES.23ABC REACHED OUT SOME OFFICIALSIN THOSEINDUSTRIES ABOUT WHAT THEY AREDOING TO ENSURE THATTHEIR EMPLOYEES ARE BEING SAFEAND HEALTHY DURING THEUPCOMING WARM WEEKS."MOST OF THE CREWS THEY AREGETTINGOUT EITHER BETWEEN 5 AND A HALFOR 6 AND A HALF HOURS, SO THEYARE VERY SHORTDAYS, SO THEY WILL COME IN AT 6AM AND THEY WILL BE OUT BYNOON.""WE BRING OUT WATER TO THEEMPLOYEES,ITS AVAILABLE FOR THEM AT THEMAIN STATION WHEN THEY ARE HEREAND WE AREALSO TAKING IT OUT ANDDELIVERING IT TO THEM AT THEHOSPITALS AFTERTHEY'VE DROPPED OFF THEIRPATIENTS.AS FOR THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE TOWORK CONTINUOUSLY INTHE HEAT, HEALTH OFFICIALS STILLRECOMMEND THAT PEOPLE STAYINSIDE WHEN THEY CAN, AS WELL ASSTAY HYDRATED, TAKEBREAKS AND USE SUNSCREEN TOPROTECT YOU FROM THE SUNAND HEAT.AND COOLING CENTERS THROUGHOUTTHE COUNTY OPENEDTHEIR DOORS TODAY AS WE CONTINUETO HIT TRIPLE DIGITS ALLTHIS WEEK.SEVEN COOLING CENTERS WILL BEOPEN TODAY INCLUDING THREELOCATIONS IN BAKERSFIELD.THOSE SPOTS ARE LOCATED AT THEEAST BAKERSFIELD VETERANSBUILDING OFF OF RIDGE ROAD...THE MISSION AT KERNCOUNTY AND THE RASMUSSEN SENIORCENTER ON EAST ROBERTSLANE.THE CENTERS ARE OPEN FROM 1 P-MUNTIL 8 P-M.FOR A FULL LIST OF OPEN CENTERS-- JUST HEAD TO OUR WEBSITETURN TO 23 DOT COM.AND -- GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM HASDECLARED A STATE OFEMERGENCY AFTER DRY LIGHTNINGSPARKED SEVERAL FIRES ACROSSCALIFORNIA...ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNOR'SOFFICE -- AS OF TODAY, FIRECREWS ARE CURRENTLY BATTLING 30WILDFIRESSTATEWIDE.THIS DECLARATION WILL GIVECALIFORNIAACCESS TO MUTUAL AID FROM OUT OFSTATE.NEWSOM SAYING IN A RELEASE--"WE ARE DEPLOYING EVERY RESOURCEAVAILABLE TOKEEP COMMUNITIES SAFE ASCALIFORNIABATTLES FIRES ACROSS THE STATEDURING THESE EXTREMECONDITIONS.

CALIFORNIA AND ITSFEDERAL AND LOCAL PARTNERSARE WORKING IN LOCKSTEP TO MEETTHE CHALLENGE ANDREMAIN VIGILANT IN THE FACE OFCONTINUED DANGEROUSWEATHER CONDITIONS."IT'S THE FIRE THAT BURNED NEARLY8,000 ACRES AND OVERTWO DOZEN STRUCTURES EARLIERTHIS MONTH..

THESTAGE COACH FIRE NOW FULLYCONTAINED NEAR HAVILAH SOUTHOF LAKE ISABELLA -- AND NOW23ABC HEARS FROM ONE FAMILY WHOWORKED TOGETHER TO SAVE THEIROWN RANCH.STEVEN NICKSON TELLS US WHEN THEFIRES FIRST BROKE OUT.

HE DROVEDOWN FROM THE SACRAMENTO AREA TOHELPSAVE HIS FAMILY RANCH OF 30YEARS.HE SAYS THE STRUCTURE WASLOCATED ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OFTHE FIRE LINE THAT FIREFIGHTERSWERE WORKINGTO TACKLE.SO NICKSON AND THREE OF HISFAMILY MEMBERS HAD TO TAKE ITUPON THEMSELVES AND THINK QUICK.SAVING NEARLY 8ACRES OF TREES SURROUNDING THEIRFAMILY'S RANCHNICKSON TELLS US HE AND HISBROTHER IN LAW WERE ABLE TOCALM THE FLAMES DOWN USING JUSTTWO LITER JUGS OF WATER."HE RAN RIGHT TOWARDS IT..

THEREWAS NO CARE IN THE WORLD..

BUTITS ONE OF HIS FAVORITE PLACESTO GO ..

SO HE WASN'T GOING TOLOSE THAT FIGHT..

NOT FOR ONEMINUTE."AND COMING UP TONIGHT AT 11.23ABCS KYLIE WALKER HEARSHOW FIREFIGHTERS WORKED WITH THEFAMILY TOSAVE THEIR RANCH DESPITE BEINGON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OFTHEIR FIRE LINE.WE TURN NOW TO THE DEVELOPINGSTORY WE BROUGHT TO YOUYESTERDAY ON THE TRIPLE STABBINGIN SOUTHEASTBAKERSFIELD THAT ENDED WITH ADEADLY OFFICER-INVOLVED-SHOOTING...THE FAMILY OF ONE OF THE VICTIMSSAYS THEIR 64-YEAR-OLD LOVED ONE KAREN JOHNS WENTTHROUGH EMERGENCYSURGERY AND IS RECOVERING.ELAINE BRADLEY THE VICTIM'SSISTER SAYS JOHNS WOULDN'TBE ALIVE TODAY IF A GOODSAMARITIN DIDN'T STEP IN TO HELPOUT."WE WANT TO KNOW THE PEOPLE THATACTUALLY SAVED MY SISTERSLIFE... A YOUNG AFRICANTAMERICAN MAN RAN OVER, TOOK HISSHIRT OFF AND WRAPPED IT AROUNDMY SISTERS ARM AND NECK ANDTOLD HER TO APPLY PRESSUE.

HETHEN STABBED THIS YOUNG MAN,TAKING HIM ANDHIS GIRLFRIENDS CAR."ACCORDING TO THE BAKERSFIELDPOLICE DEPARTMENT THESUSPECTCARJACKED SOMEONE ANDDROVE TO CENTRALBAKERSFIELD WHERE HE CRASHEDINTO ANOTHER CAR.WHEN BAKERSFIELD POLICE LOCATEDTHE SUSPECTNEAR SOUTH P STREET AND BRUNDAGELANE... AT LEAST ONEOFFICER OPENED FIRE KILLING THEMAN.NOW TO THE LATEST ON COVID-19CASES HERE IN KERNCOUNTY..

AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OFNO 'NEW' DEATHS REPORTED..OFFICIALS HAVE ANNOUNCED 12 NEWFATALITIES.ONCE AGAIN..

THE NEW DEATHS DIDNOT NECESSARILY HAPPEN IN THELAST 24 HOURS..

BUT TODAY ISWHEN THEY WERE OFFICIALLYRECORDED.THAT BRINGS THE TOTAL NUMBER TO216.OFFICIALS REPORTING JUST 180 NEWCASES..

BRINGING THETOTAL TO JUST SHY OF 27-THOUSAND CASES..

WITHNEARLY 87-HUNDRED PEOPLE NOWLISTED AS RECOVERED.FOR A FULL BREAKDOWN HEAD TO OURWEBSITE TURN-TO-23-DOT-COM.A QUAILWOOD ELEMENTARY TEACHERTOOK SOME TIME OVER THE SUMMERTO BRING A LITTLE POSITIVITY TOHER STUDENTS ASTHEY START THE YEAR AT ADISTANCE.SHE WROTE A BOOK TO EXPLAIN THECOVID-19 PANDEMIC FROMHER PERSPECTIVE.23ABC'S DANIELA GARRIDO TAKES ALOOK AT THIS VIRAL LESSON..FROM A TEACHER'S VIEW."THAT'S HOW THE STORY STARTSOUT.

ON MARCH 16, 2020 SHEFOUND OUT SCHOOL WOULD BECLOSING AT THE END OF THEDAY CAUSE OF THE NOVELCORONAVIRUS, COVID-19"AFTER 21 YEARS AS AN ELEMENTARYTEACHER, MISSNICOLETTI NEV ER EXPECTEDSOMETHING LIKE A WORLDWIDEVIRUS TO SEPARATE HER FROM HERSTUDENTS."I HAD NO IDEA THAT SOMETHINGLIKE THIS, IN MY WILDEST DREAMS,COULD EVER HAPPEN"SHE TEACHES FOURTH GRADESTUDENTS AT QUAILWOODELEMENTARY AND SAID SHE WANTEDTO FIND A CREATIVE WAY TOHELP THEM REMEMBER THIS TIME INTHEIR LIVES.

SO SHE WROTE A BOOKABOUT IT."I WROTE THE BOOK BECAUSE IWANTED TO DOCUMENT FORMY STUDENTS EVERYTHING THAT HASHAPPENED, THINGS AREHAPPENING SO FAST AND I DONTTHINK ANYONE IS TAKING THE TIMETO WRITE THEM DOWN.

I WANTEDTHEM TO HAVE SOMETHINGTANGIBLE FROM ME FOR THE REST OFTHEIR LIVES" AS HER STUDENTSPARTICIPATED IN AT-HOMEACTIVITIES, DRIVEBY BIRTHDAY PARTIES, AND VIRTUALAWARD CEREMONIES..MISS NICOLETTI WAS DRAWING OUTTHE MEMORIES."HERES A PICTURE OF THE TOILETPAPER AND THE EVERYTHING ISGOING TO BE OK SIGN"AFTER TAKING INSPIRATION FROMHER STUDENTS' TIME DURING THEPANDEMIC, SHE ILLUSTRATED ANDWROTE "ONCE A UPON A TIMETHERE WAS COVID-19" AND MADECOPIES FOR EACH OF HERSTUDENTS."BEING ABLE TO WRITE A BOOK GAVEME A SENSE OF PURPOSE AND APOSITIVE TWIST ON THE PANDEMIC..I WANTED THEM TO REMEMBER ITWASN'T JUST ABOUT PEOPLE BEINGSICK, IT WAS ABOUT FAMILIESCOMING TOGETHER AND TEACHERSGETTING CREATIVE TO MAKE IT FUNFOR THE KIDS"AND WHILE THE BOOK ILLUSTRATESBITTERSWEETMEMORIES, MISS NICOLETTI HOPESIT WILL HELP HER STUDENTSUNDERSTAND HER PERSPECTIVE ASTHEY BEGIN DISTANCELEARNING."THE LAST PAGE OF THE BOOK SAYS'ON THE LAST DAY OFSCHOOL MISS N AND HER STUDENTSSAID GOOD BYE ONLINEFOR THE SUMMER, THEY GAVEEACHOTHER VIRTUAL HUGS,THEY KNEW EVENTUALLY EVERYTHINGIS GOING TO BE OKAND THEIR TEACHER LOVED THEMVERY MUCH..

I'MGETTING EMOTIONAL, BUT I THINKIT'S VERY IMPORTANT"IN BAKERSFIELD DG 23ABCCONNECTING YOUTHE BOOK WAS INITIALLY SUPPOSEDTO BE FOR HER 4THGRADE STUDENTS -- BUT SHE ISALSO SELLING IT ON AMAZON FOROTHER TEACHERS TO SHOWCASE THEPANDEMIC FROM THEIRPERSPECTIVE.THERE IS NOT ONLY ONE EATERYHEADING TO THE TEJON RANCHCOMMERCE CENTER - BUT FOUR NEWSPOTS FOR YOU TOENJOY.NOW TWO OF THEM HAVE ALREADYOPENED - JAMBA JUICE ANDCHARLEY'S PHILLY STEAKS ANDWINGS OPENED THIS PASTSATURDAY.TOMORROW DUNKIN' DONUTS ANDBASKIN' ROBBINS WILL BEOPEN FOR CUSTOMERS TO INDULGE.THE FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS OFFERDRIVE-THRU AND TAKEOUT OPTIONS FOR TRAVELERS ANDCUSTOMERS.AMAZON IS COMING TO KERN COUNTY.AND IN JUST A COUPLE OF DAYS --AMAZON WILL ANNOUNCE ITSNEW FULFILLMENT CENTER ANDPROVIDE A FIRST LOOK TOUR TOELECTED AND COMMUNITY OFFICIALS.THE EVENT WILL INCLUDE ARIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY WITHAMAZON'S GENERAL MANAGER ANDSHARE THEECONOMIC INVESTMENT IN KERNCOUNTY.

THEY WILL ALSO BEMAKING A SURPRISE DONATION TOTHEKERN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION.THURSDAY'S EVENT WILL CONCLUDEWITH A TOUR OF THE SIXHUNDRED AND FORTY THOUSANDSQUARE FOOT CENTER.IF YOU'VE MISSED THE LOCAL MUSICSCENE THE PAST FEW MONTHS -- THEFOX THEATER HAS THE FIX FOR YOU.THEY JUST ANNOUNCED THEIR LIVESTREAM VACCINE:THE ENTERTAINMENT CURE.

THIS ISTHE FOX'S FIRST LIVE STREAMCONCERT SERIES WITH 15WEEKS OF CONCERTS.YOU CAN TUNE IN WITH 23ABC'S APPSTREAM AND ALSO AVAILABLE ONROKU... AMAZON FIRESTICK... ANDAPPLE TV.IT'S THE MOST UNIQUE BACK-TO-SCHOOL SEASON WE'VE POSSIBLYEVER SEEN.STUDENTS ARE AT HOME... ANDPARENTS ARE DOING WHAT THEYCAN TO KEEP KIDS MOTIVATED,ENGAGED, AND ENTERTAINED.A LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLTEACHER IS DOING WHAT HECAN TO GET HIS STUDENTS EXCITEDFOR DISTANCELEARNING.TAKE A LOOK....OUTCUE: WHAT'S OUR NAME?INDEPENDENCEELEMENTARY.IF YOU'VE EVER SEEN 'HAMILTON'..THEN THAT TUNE SOUNDS FAMILIAR.AND YOU MIGHT RECOGNIZE THE MANSINGING AS WELL -- JOSHAND YOU MIGHT RECOGNIZE THE MANSINGING AS WELL -- JOSHKING..

WHO WENT VIRAL LAST YEARFOR HIS REMIX OF LIZZO'S 'TRUTHHURTS.'HE JOINED US LIVE THIS MORNINGTO TALK MORE ABOUT HISMESSAGE OF POSITIVITY.""YOU CAN WATCH THAT FULLINTERVIEW..

AND LISTEN TO THEENTIRE REMIX..

ON OUR WEBSITETURN TO 23 DOT COM.INTERVIEW..

AND LISTEN TO THEENTIRE REMIX..

ON OUR WEBSITETURN TO 23 DOT COM.YOU STILL HAVE A FEW DAYS TOVOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITEMARGARITA IN TOWN... AND GIVEBACK TO A LOCAL NON-PROFIT ATTHE SAME TIME.THE JOSH FARLER FOUNDATION AND23ABC ARE HOLDING THESECOND KERN MARGARITACHAMPIONSHIP..

ON LINE!!GO TO KERN-MARGARITA-DOT- COM..WHERE YOU CAN FIND A LIST OFTHIS YEAR'S ENTRIES..

AND VOTE!THE WINNER WILL BE NAMED THISYEAR'S SOCIAL MEDIA CHAMPION.THE CHAMPIONSHIP RUNS LATEFRIDAY NIGHT..

ALL OF ITONLINE.ALL DONATIONS BENEFIT LOCALCANCER PATIENTS.NOW LET'S TAKE A LIVE LOOK ATDOWNTOWN BAKERSFIELD.HERE'S 23ABC'S METEOROLOGISTBRANDON MICHAELS WITH ALOOK AT YOUR FORECAST.TEMPERATURES ARE HOT AGAINTUESDAY, BUT OVERALL NOT AS HOTAS THEY WERE MONDAY OR OVER THEWEEKEND.

THAT'S THANKS TO ATHICK LAYER OF SMOKE THAT HASSETTLED OVER KERN COUNTY.IN GENERAL, IT HAS THE POTENTIALTO KEEP US A BITCOOLER THAN EXPECTED, BUT TRIPLEDIGIT HIGHS ARE STILL IN THEFORECAST, AND AN EXCESSIVE HEATWARNING IS STILL IN EFFECTTHROUGH THURSDAY.