23ABC News at 5 p.m. | Top Stories for February 25, 2020

23ABC News at 5 p.m. | Top Stories for February 25, 2020

JOINING US TONIGHT FOR 23ABCNEWS AT FIVE -- I'M JESSICAHARRINGTON.TONIGHT'S TOP STORIES..HONORING AND REMEMBERING AFALLEN FIREFIGHTER...WE'LL TELL YOU ABOUT THE SERVICETHAT WAS HELD INDELANO FOR CAPTAIN RAY FIGUEROA.23ABC NEWS AT 5 STARTS RIGHTNOW.HUNDREDS GATHERING TO HONORFALLEN PORTERVILLE FIRECAPTAIN RAY FIGUEROA WHO WASKILLED ALONGSIDEFIREFIGHTER PATRICK JONES IN APORTERVILLE LIBRARY FIRE AWEEK AGO TODAY.FIGUEROA WAS LAID TO REST AT THENORTH KERN CEMETERYDISTRICT.23ABC'S BAYAN WANG JOINS US LIVEFROM DELANO -- THEHOMETOWN OF THE YOUNGFIREFIGHTER.

BAYAN?JESSICA - A VERY SOLLUM DAY HEREIN DELANO - WHEREPORTERVILLE FIRE CAPTAIN RAYFIGUEROA GREW UP AND WAS LAIDTO REST TODAY - THE OUTPOUR OFSUPPORT WAS IMMINENT -HUNDREDS OF FRIENDS, FAMILY ANDVARIOUS FIRE DEPARTMENTSCAME OUT TO SHOW THEIR SUPPORT.FIGUEROA'SPASSING WAS SOMETHING HIS FATHERTELLS ME - HE HAD TOPREPARE FOR - EVEN WHEN HIS SONWAS STILL ALIVE."IT HURTS DEEP DOWN INSIDE, BUTKNOWING THAT'S THE PROFESSION HEDECIDED TO TAKE.

I HAD TOPREPARE MYSELF THAT ONE DAY WEMIGHT RECEIVENEWS LIKE THE TRAGEDY THAT HASOCCURRED."HUNDREDS CONSOLED EACH OTHER ATTHE NORTH KERNCEMETERY DISTRICT - AS FALLENPORTERVILLE FIRECAPTAIN RAY FIGUEROA WAS LAID TOREST."IT'S A SAD DAY TODAY - WE HAVELOST ONE OF OUR OWN." THE DAYSTARTED WITH A FUNERAL MASS ATTHE SAINT MARY'SCATHOLIC CHURCH IN DELANO -THOSE WHO KNEW FIGUEROA SAID HEDEDICATED HIS LIFE TO HIS JOB."TO THE FIRE WORLD..

RAY WASTHAT GUYTHAT AFTER BASKETBALL PRACTICETHAT WOULD STAY AFTER PRACTICEANDSHOOT AROUND FOR FOUR HOURS.

HEWAS THAT DEDICATED TO THE JOB."FIREFIGHTERS AND PUBLIC SAFETYOFFICIALS FROM ACROSSTHE CENTRAL VALLEY ATTENDEDFIGUEROA'S FUNERAL - MANYOF THEM DIDN'T KNOW ONE ANOTHER- BUT THE RISK THEIR JOBS POSECREATED A SENSE OF UNITY - TODAYTHEY MOURNEDTOGETHER.

(VIDEO SHOWINGFIREFIGHTERS HUGGING)"WHEN WE LOSE ONE OF OUREXTENDEDFAMILY OR FAMILY MEMBERS IT DOESHAVE AN AFFECT ON US WHETHER WEKNEW THEM OR NOT."MANY TOOK TURNS OFFERING THEIRCONDOLENCES TOTHE FIGUEROA FAMILY - HIS FATHERSAYS THE ABUNDANCE OFSUPPORT BROUGHT A SENSE OFSOLACE."IT MAKES ME VERY PROUD THAT WEHAVESUCH A BIG HUMONGOUS OUTPOURFROM THE COMMUNITY.

NOT ONLY THECOMMUNITY OF PORTERVILLE, THECOMMUNITY IN DELANO, BUT ALSOTHE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES."ACCORDING TO THE TULARE COUNTYFIRE DEPARTMENT, AFUNERAL FOR PORTERVILLEFIREFIGHTER PATRICK JONESWILL BE HELD IN TULARE CITY AT10 A.M.

ON THURSDAY THEN ONFRIDAY - A MEMORIAL FOR BOTHFIGUEROA AND JONES WILLBE HELD IN PORT NAT CHRISTIANACADEMY IN PORTERVILLE.

FOR NOWLIVE IN DELANO, BAYAN WANG 23ABC CONNECTING YOU.NEW DETAILS HAVE BEEN RELEASEDIN A FALSEIMPRISONMENT AND BATTERY CASE --INVOLVING A MAN WHOALLEGEDLY POSED AS A RIDESHAREDRIVER.DOCUMENTS OBTAINED BY 23ABCDETAILS MULTIPLEINCIDENTS WHERE THE VICTIMS SAYTHEY BELIEVED HE WAS THEIRDRIVER.THE DOCUMENTS STATE THAT ONMARCH 5-TH, 20-19 -- THE VICTIMWASGIVEN A RIDE BY A MAN -- LATERIDENTIFIED AS NASSEF RAGHEB...SHE BELIEVED HE WAS HER LYFTDRIVER AND GOT IN.ACCORDING TO THE DOCUMENTS --AFTER THEY GOT TO THEIRDESTINATION -- HE EXITED THEVEHICLE AND GRABBED HERBEFORE KISSING HER.SHE TOLD AUTHORITIES THAT SHETRIED TO PUSH HIM AWAY --BUT SHE WAS HELD AGAINST HERWILL FOR MORE THAN 40SECONDS.THE VICTIM WAS ABLE TO IDENTIFYTHE MAN IN A LINEUP.RAGHEB HAS BEEN ACCUSED OFMULTIPLE SIMILAR INCIDENTS ANDWAS LATER ARRESTED EARLIER THISMONTH.HE IS FACING FALSE IMPRISONMENTAND BATTERYCHARGES.HE WAS IN COURT YESTERDAY -- ANDIS SET TO BE BACK IN COURT ONAPRIL 20-TH.LAST FRIDAY -- A WOMAN SAYS SHEWAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT INDOWNTOWN -- WHEN A MAN WALKINGLAST FRIDAY -- A WOMAN SAYS SHEWAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT INDOWNTOWN -- WHEN A MAN WALKINGACROSS THE STREETJUMPED ON HER VEHICLE...23ABC SPOKE TO HER TODAY."I WOULD NEVER THINK COMING TO ASTOP SIGN THAT I WOULD HAVESOMEONE RANDOMLY JUMP UP ON ITANDBASH OUT MY WINDOWS AND NOT BEABLE TO CALL 911 AND GET HELP."THAT'S A STORY WE ARE WORKING ONFOR 23ABC NEWS AT SIX.WE SPEAK WITH THE WOMAN WHO SAYSHER CAR'S WINDSHIELD WASBROKEN -- AND WE'LL SHOW YOUSURVEILLANCE VIDEO AS THEINCIDENT UNFOLDED.AGAIN -- THAT'S COMING UP ON23ABC NEWS AT SIX.COUNTY OFFICIALS HAVE DISCUSSEDTHE UPCOMING FISCALBUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR..

AND THECHALLENGES FOR THE BOARD OFSUPERVISORS AND COUNTYEMPLOYEES.DURING THE MEETING -- THEYPRESENTED A PRELIMINARYBUDGET PLAN AND PROPOSEDGUIDELINES FOR DEPARTMENTS TOFOLLOW."WE ARE ASKING DEPARTMENTS TOSTAY IN THE STATUS QUO LEVELS,ANDTODAY WE ARE RECOMMENDING YOURBOARD TO DIRECT THE DEPARTMENTTO DOSO.

WE APPRECIATE ALL OF THEWORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE OVER THECOURSE OFTHE LAST 4 YEARS, GETTING IN ABETTER FOOTING FINANCIALLY."OFFICIALS OUTLINED THE PROJECTEDGENERAL FUNDFOR THE COUNTY.GENERAL FUND DEPARTMENT BUDGETSWERE REDUCED LASTYEAR BY 34.4 MILLION DOLLARS --AND COUNTY OFFICIALSRECOMMEND IT STAY THE SAME THISYEAR.THEY SAY THEY WILL COLLECTNEARLY 5.9 MILLION DOLLARSMORE IN PROPERTY AND SALES TAXRELATEDREVENUE -- SO PROPERTY IS GOINGUP TO 2.9 MILLION.COUNTY OFFICIALS ALSO SAID THATTHE FIRE FUNDCONTINUES TO BE FISCALLYCHALLENGED.OFFICIALS ADD THAT THE FIREDEPARTMENT WILL REQUIRE 9.7MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE GENERALFUND FOR PENSION.THE BOARD APPROVED THEGUIDELINES FOR THE BUDGET PLANUNANIMOUSLY.DURING THE AFTERNOON MEETING --SUPERVISORSHEARD FROM LOCAL OFFICIALS ABOUTPOSSIBLE FUNDING FORKERN COUNTY'S LOW BARRIERSHELTER.OFFICIALS WERE ASKING FOR 500-THOUSAND DOLLARS FROMTHE GENERAL FUND.THEY ALSO RELEASED NEW PHOTOS OFTHE PROGRESS FOR THE SHELTER --SHOWING THAT THE DOORS ARE INPLACE AND THATTHE FRAMING IS UP.OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE WORKINGON PLANS FOR ANOPENING CEREMONY FOR THESHELTER.

THE BOARD APPROVED THEFUNDING FOR THE SHELTER.LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES CONTINUETO WORK TOADDRESS THE HOMELESS CRISIS...ASSEMBLYMAN VINCE FONGINTRODUCED THREE NEW BILLSTO HELP TACKLE THE ISSUE.ONE BILL WOULD PROVIDE 750MILLION DOLLARS FOR SUPPORTIVEHOUSING TO CITIES AND COUNTIESTHAT WILL CREATEINFRASTRUCTURE NEEDED TO GETHOMELESS INDIVIDUALS OFFTHE STREETS.THE SECOND BILL WOULD EXPANDMEDI-CAL COVERAGE FORSUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT TOHELP THOSESTRUGGLING WITH ADDICTION.AND THE FINAL BILL WOULDESTABLISH A STATEWIDEHOMELESS DATABASE THAT WILLALLOW FOR MORE ACCURATEAND REAL-TIME INFORMATION TOHELP WITH PROGRAMS.23ABC SPOKE WITH ASSEMBLYMANFONG ABOUTTHESE NEW BILLS..."ONE OF OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGESINDEALING WITH THE HOMELESS CRISISIS ENSURING THAT INDIVIDUALS WHOAREHOMELESS GET THE SERVICES THATTHEY NEED WHEN IT COMES TO DRUGADDICTION, MENTAL BEHAVIORALHEALTH CHALLENGES.

SO WE NEED TOPROVIDE THOSE SERVICES."THE BILLS ARE CURRENTLY IN THEASSEMBLY RULES COMMITTEEPENDING REFERRAL TO POLICY ANDFISCALCOMMITTEES FOR A HEARING.HIGH PRESSURE ACROSS THE WESTCOAST BROUGHT CLEAR SKIES ANDMUCH WARMER TEMPERATURES TODAYACROSSTHE REGION.YOU CAN EXPECT MORE OF THE SAMETOMORROW WITH A HIGH OF77 IN BAKERSFIELD, 71 IN LAKEISABELLA AND LOW-60S INTHE SOUTH MOUNTAINS.

AIR QUALITYREMAINS MODERATE ANDTHERE IS NO BURNING UNLESS WITHA REGISTEREDDEVICE.WE CONTINUE TO WARM FOR THE RESTOF THE WORK WEEK.UPPER-70S BY THURSDAY ADN FRIDAYWILL BE THE WARMESTDAY.

BAKERSFIELD COULD TIEAND/OR BEAT A HEAT RECORD OF 81WHICH WAS SET BACK IN 1926.THIS WEEKEND WE WILL FEELSIGNIFICANTLY COOLERTEMPERATURES AS A SYSTEM PUSHESSOUTH FROM THE PACIFICNORTHWEST.

WINDS WILL BEINCREASING, WITH CLOUDY SKIESAND A CHANCE FOR PRECIPITATION.AS FOR NOW, ITLOOKS LIKE THE VALLEY WILL SEELITTLE TO NO RAIN, BUT THEMOUNTAINS COUD BE SEEING SOME.WE ARE TRACKING THIS SYSTEMCLOSELY.IT'S DEBATE NIGHT ONCE AGAIN --BUT THIS TIME IT'S IN SOUTHCAROLINA...SEVEN CANDIDATES HAVE QUALIFIEDFOR THE DEBATE --INCLUDING FRONTRUNNER BERNIESANDERS.THIS OF COURSE COMING AFTER LASTWEEKEND'S NEVADACAUCUSES AND LAST WEEK'S DEBATEIN NEVADA.IN THAT DEBATE -- DEMOCRATS WENTON THE ATTACK LAST WEEKAGAINST MIKE BLOOMBERG.MEANTIME -- SENATOR SANDERS HASFOUND HIMSELF ATTHE FRONT OF THE RACE FOR THEDEMOCRATIC NOMINATION.AND WITH THAT NEWFOUND MOMENTUM-- HE'S ALSO FACING ABARRAGE OF NEW CRITICISM.MOST DEMOCRATS ARE LOOKING FOR ADIFFERENT ANSWER THAN WHATSENATOR SANDERS IS OFFERINGI DO NOT SUPPORT MEDICARE FORALLI PROFOUNDLY DISAGREE WITH HISSOLUTIONS.BERNIE SUPPORTS THE FILIBUSTER.I'M GONNA GET RID OF THEFILIBUSTER,CAUSE I WANNA GET SOMETHINGDONE.SOME CANDIDATES GOING AFTERSANDERS ON THETRAIL -- OTHERS USING THEAIRWAVES.BLOOMBERG AND JOE BIDEN BOTHRELEASING ATTACK ADS.BUT SANDERS APPEARS UNPHASED --SAYING HE FINDSIT FUNNY TO FIND HIMSELF AS THEFRONTRUNNER.WE'LL HAVE A RECAP OF THE DEBATEON 23ABC NEWS AT 11.AND 23ABC WANTS TO HELP YOU MAKEAN INFORMEDDECISION ON SUPER TUESDAY --WHICH IS NEXT WEEK AND WHENCALIFORNIA VOTERS GO TO THEPOLLS.WE HAVE INFORMATION ON LOCALMEASURES, NATIONAL ANDLOCAL CANDIDATES, ALONG WITHPROPOSITIONS ONOUR WEBSITE -- TURN TO 23 DOTCOM.IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS LINGERINGABOUT THECONSTRUCTION OF THE HIGH- SPEEDRAIL -- NOW IS YOUR CHANCETO TAKE PART IN A Q & A SESSIONIN WASCO.OFFICIALS WITH THE CALIFORNIAHIGH SPEED RAIL WILL DISCUSS"CONSTRUCTION PACKAGE FOUR" --WHICH IS THE THIRDCONSTRUCTION CONTRACT EXECUTEDON THE INTIAL OPERATINGSECTION OF THE HIGH-SPEED RAILPROGRAM.THE PROJECT IS LOCATED WITHINTHE TULARE AND KERN COUNTIES.OFFICIALS WILL ANSWER ANYQUESTIONS RELATED TOCONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES, PROJECTSCHEDULING ANDTRAFFIC MANAGEMENT... AS WELL ASPROVIDEINFORMATION ABOUT EMPLOYMENTOPPORTUNITIES.THE MEETING WILL BE TODAYSTARTING AT 5-30 AT THE WASCOCOMMUNITY CENTER.NOW TO A TRAFFIC ALERT...TRAFFIC CONTROL FOR REAL ROAD ISSET FOR THISTHURSDAY -- AS THE CONTRACTORFOR THE CENTENNIALCORRIDOR MAINLINE IS SET TO POURCONCRETE FORONE OF THE NEW BRIDGES.THE TRAFFIC CONTROL IS SET TOBEGIN AT 8 A-M AND LAST UNTIL 5P-M THURSDAY.OFFICIALS SAY FLAGGING PERSONNELWILL BE STOPPINGTRAFFIC FOR UP TO FIVE MINUTESAT A TIME WHILE THIS WORK ISUNDERWAY.DRIVERS SHOULD PLAN TO USEALTERNATE ROUTES -- IFPOSSIBLE -- OR ALLOW SUFFICIENTTIME TO REACH THEIRDESTINATIONS IF THEY MUST USEREAL ROAD DURING THIS TIMEPERIOD.TODAY IS NATIONAL PANCAKE DAY --WHICH MEANSFREE PANCAKES AT IHOP.BUT WHILE YOU'RE THERE -- YOU'REENCOURAGED TODONATE TO THE CHILDREN'S MIRACLENETWORKHOSPITALS -- WHICH INCLUDESMEMORIAL HOSPITAL.AND..

23ABC'S DANIELA GARRIDOHAS A GOOD REASON FOR YOUTO STRETCH THAT WAISTLINE TODAY."GRAYSON WAS TWO YEARS OLD WHENHEWAS DIAGNOSED WITH LANGERHANSCELL HISTIOCYTOSIS ITS ANAUTOIMMUNE DISEASETHAT CAUSES CANCER"ON NATIONAL PANCAKE DAY, IHOPGIVES OUT FREE PANCAKES..BUT THEY ALSO RAISE MONEY FORLOCAL FAMILIES LIKE GRAYSONS.."THIS IS PRETTY MUCH THE LIFEHE'S KNOWNSINCE HE WAS TWO"KIDS LIKE JUSTIN."EVERY DAY IS A NEW CHALLENGEI'LL NEVERFULLY UNDERSTAND HOW TO HANDLEDIABETES ITSELF BUT EVERY DAY ISA NEW CHALLENGE"AND MOMS LIKE JEANNINE, WHOSE13-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER WASRECENTLY DIAGNOSED WITH TYPE 1DIABETES.."OUR WHOLE LIFE JUST CHANGED SOQUICKLY AND THE CHILDRENSMIRACLE NETWORK REACHED OUT TOUS AS SOON AS WE GOT THERE TOSEE IF WE NEED ANYTHING"THE CHILDRENS MIRACLE NETWORKHAS HELPED 28-THOUSANDS CHILDREN FROM THELAUREN SMALL CHILDRENSCENTER AT BAKERSFIELD MEMORIALHOSPITAL."JUSTIN HAS AN AUTOIMMUNEDISEASE, LEXI AND JUSTIN TOO..AS MOMS WE STRUGGLE SO NOW WEHAVESOMEONE TO LEAN ON""IT WAS REALLY MORE OF THESUPPORT THEYGAVE US THAT MADE US FEEL SO YOUNEED THAT AND ITS ALL VERYSHOCKING YOU DON'TKNOW WHATS HAPPENING"THE MONEY RAISED STAYS IN KERNCOUNTY AND HELPS UPGRADERESOURCES AND EXPAND FACILITIES."IF THEY'RE ABLE TO RAISE FUNDSAND GETTHE EQUIPMENT LOCALLY THEN WEWON'T HAVE TO TRAVEL TWO HOURSAWAY JUST FOR HIM TO BE TREATED"SINCE 1983, THE CHILDRENSMIRACLE NETWORK HASRAISED 5 MILLION DOLLARS BUT ITHAS ALSO GIVEN KIDS AT 170HOSPITALS A PLATFORM FOR THEIRCONDITIONS."IT GAVE HIS DIAGNOSIS PURPOSESO IT TURNED SOMETHING THAT ISTRAGIC AND CAN BE TOUGH TO DEALWITHINTO A POSITIVE AND SOMETHINGTHAT NOW HE CAN BE PROUD OF IT,TELL HIS STORIES,HELP OTHER KIDS"COMING UP ON 23ABC NEWS AT FIVE-- PRESIDENT TRUMP