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tv   Good Morning America  ABC  December 25, 2023 7:00am-9:00am PST

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plaza, and there is hardly any body out there on the road. >> so that's to be expected. it's christmas, but if you are traveling today, you're driving to a destination. this is a good time to hit the roadways, and it's also a good time if you're not traveling, if you're staying in the house, you're watching us. we're happy you're with us. turn on the abc seven yule log. it's streaming right now on our website and on the abc seven connected-tv apps. we hope you all have a merry christmas and thank you for being with us. >> that yule log is just so lovely. the sound, the crackle, crackle. >> merry christmas everybody ♪ rockin' around the christmas tree ♪ >> good morning, america. merry christmas. this morning we get into the real spirit of the season. hope. >> happy holidays from the west virginia 13. >> healing and helping hands. ♪ dance into christmas ♪
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kicking the holidays into high gear. >> gma, i am here at radio city music hall. i'm so excited. do you know why? >> we cannot wait for this, michael. ♪ dance into christmas ♪ christmas 101, as you unwrap the joy, becky worley breaks down how to make the most of your new gifts. she's doing all the work for you for a relaxing holiday morning. ♪ have a holly jolly christmas ♪ >> and we actually love all these magical movies. >> ah! >> with the timeless characters that will raise your heart. >> some people are worth melting for. >> we're celebrating the anniversaries of some of the beloved christmastime classics, as we say good morning america. and merry christmas! >> announcer: from times square, this is a special christmas day edition of good morning america.
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>> good morning america. merry christmas to everyone at home and everyone here in our studio. >> we want to let you know that we're on tape this morning so all of us can celebrate with our loved ones, too. we hope you're having a great, great holiday. >> we also have a lot of joy coming up. right now the morning headlines with erielle reshef. good morning, erielle. >> good morning. good morning everyone and merry christmas. festivities are under way across the nation and around the world. here in new york city, st. patrick's cathedral was packed for the annual midnight mass. in vatican city, thousands were in st. peters basillica where the pope delivered a message of peace. while santa may have successfully completed another trip around the globe delivering presents, not everyone's journey has been so smooth. 2023 holiday travel rush broke records. aaa says more than 115 million people traveled more than 50 miles from their homes. an estimated 7.5 million people took to the skies, one of the busiest travel days of the year.
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there was some turbulence over the weekend. more than 500 flights were cancelled nationwide. more than 9,000 were delayed. speaking of travel, spirit airlines facing major questions this morning. the company conducting an internal investigation after an unaccompanied minor, a 6-year-old boy, was sent to the wrong city. the child was traveling to fort meyers florida but ended up in orlando after being put on a different flight. the airlines saying as soon as we discovered the error, we took immediate steps to communicate with the family an reconnect them. florida police are still searching for the suspect in a deadly christmas eve shooting at a mall outside orlando. holiday shoppers panicking as gun fire ran out. abc's morgan norwood has that story. >> reporter: overnight an urgent manhunt under way for a florida man opening fire at paddock mall hours before christmas eve. the shooting suspect albert shell jr. wanted for
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premeditated first degree murder and attempted premeditated first degree murder. watch this video of police marching in, securing the area and asking people to take shelter in the store. police say the shooting killed 40-year-old david barrett. another woman surviving after a bullet pierced her leg. >> oh my god! >> reporter: soraya williams said she was with her mother at bath and body works when she shot this video. seconds after hearing gunshots. >> there's no way that this happened. >> reporter: this video showing shoppers barricading in stores. >> we're on lockdown. >> reporter: 911 calls being made after multiple shots fired at the mall on saturday. >> we heard two shots. everybody rushed into the store and ran out the back. >> reporter: jennifer murray was wrapping presents at the mall when she heard shots. >> i saw the shooter with the gun in his hand fall to the ground. >> reporter: police asking witnesses for help, offering a $5,000 reward for information about the suspect.
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>> there's a lot of people here shopping at the mall. there are a lot of witnesses that can help us bring this case to a successful resolution. >> reporter: morgan norwood, abc news, new york. >> thank you, morgan. in bethlehem a subdued christmas for the biblical birth place of jesus. the normally bustling city in the west bank, a ghost town this holiday. christmas celebrations called off due to the war, as residents prepared for a somber holiday. >> everyone is sad. everyone is focusing on what is happening in gaza. the land looks different but the prayers go on. >> top of mind in the region this holiday season, the death toll in gaza. one u.n. agency now warning of famine. and tis the season for some festive fun. these santas in cocoa beach, florida, ditching the reindeer to hang ten instead. hundreds of st. nicks and a few elfs, too, took to the waves on christmas eve. the annual christmas tradition blending the holiday spirit with florida sun shine. in spain thousands ran through
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central madrid dressed as santa father christmas and his helpers. the race spanned three miles and it was all for charity benefitting the red cross. now for your christmas forecast. in the west a storm system will bring rain to washington an oregon. the midwest will see a white christmas with heavy snow. blizzard conditions from south dakota to nebraska. looking east, expect rain and temperatures in the 50s from detroit to chicago to minneapolis. the southeast will see showers and thunderstorms. in most of the northeast, we're looking at milder temperatures near 50 degrees and dry conditions. now here's a look at your local forecast. ♪ early in the morning start of a new day new hopes new dreams new ways ♪ ♪ i open up my heart and i'm gonna do my part and make this a positively beautiful day ♪ ♪ la la la la la it's a beautiful day good morning america ♪
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>> wishing everyone a merry and bright christmas. now back to you, george. >> thank you, erielle. this season's giving it is important to remember those who serve. holidays can be a particularly tough time for veterans. the armed services arc partnership holds free studio and performing arts classes to help them connect and laugh. martha raddatz is going to untils about it. >> i reached the stage in my life where i'm shrinking. my hair's falling out. but my beard is coming in nice. >> reporter: those on stage love to make people laugh, especially around the holidays. >> my kids will ask, what's for dinner? ask your daddy 'cause i don't care. >> reporter: but there's a deeper purpose. human connection. all the people behind the mic are veterans or military spouses.
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>> when you're there and the fight breaks out and the shooting, everybody is on the ground. so now they're about to ruin your night, unless you're with my group. our priority was, if you're gonna be on the ground, you might as well talk to a girl an kick some game so you can go somewhere after ward. [ laughter ] i describe the story telling as, it's not therapy, but it's therapeutic. >> reporter: according to va officials, 23% of veterans under their care have experienced post traumatic stress disorder. it's more common in women. >> i loved serving. so giving that up to take care of family wrecked me. i got injured early on. my career felt unfinished and, frankly, for the last decade i have carried around failure. it was isolating for me. >> reporter: but in this band of brothers and sisters, isolation has no place. it's all part of the armed services arts partnership or asap. its mission in this season of
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togetherness to use imprompt story telling, painting, music and, of course, standup comedy to connect and heal. >> people see the prosthetics and they got questions. i'm cool about it. like, i'm very approachable. mostly because i'm not as fast as i was before i got blown up. >> keep your applause to two syllables or less. >> i was never suicidal but there were times where i was hopeless. comedy gave me just enough light, just took the edge off enough to make me want to fight. >> reporter: nearly 4,000 in the military community have joined classes like these across the country. almost half of them have been women. >> people have an image of what a veteran is and what a veteran looks like. when we pass the mic to these veterans, it helps to change that picture. it helps these women veterans to be seen in a way they haven't in the past. >> asap gives women veterans a
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way to share what they've been through so that for probably the first time in their lives they get to say this is what i did for our country. >> there is no doubt in my mind that finding asap saved my life. if i ever get close to heading back into that dark place that i was in, i have people now who i can reach out to who have been there with me before and have helped me out of it and will absolutely do it again. >> reporter: help that is benefitting so many this holiday season. >> thank you very much for laughing along with me. [ applause ] >> reporter: martha raddatz, abc news, washington. >> thank you, martha. let's take a trip down memory lane. one of my favorite gma christmas memories is from nine years ago when i experienced a day in the life of a radio city rockette. let's kick this christmas into high gear.
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♪ jingle bells jingle bells jingle all the way oh what fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh ♪ radio city rockettes make it all look so easy. the kicks, the costume changes, that hair, that makeup. but how hard is it really to be a rockette all day? ♪ lucky me, the ladies invited me to fine out. gma, i'm here at radio city music hall. i'm so excited. do you know why? i'm about to become a rockette. ♪ hello, ladies. how are you? >> hi! >> first step to being a rockette, warming up. the rockettes are in up to four shows a day, kicking more than 300 times performance. to prepare, they stretch. >> you can get your arms pumping in there. >> reporter: and they stretch. and they stretch. >> doing awesome. >> there are perks to all the hard work. the rockettes say there's no need for a special rockette diet. they burn up to 1,000 calories each performance.
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once we're stretched out -- >> i think you are better than we are. >> you're not done yet. >> it was time for the dancing to begin. >> one, two -- stop it, three, hold four. one, right foot. just jump, kick your left foot. then you're gonna do a big o at the end. >> with the steps down -- right, center. four times. turn. well, pretty much down. it was time to add some music. i'm so nervous. check this out. ♪
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[ applause ] >> okay. i don't know what just happened, but i like it! a day with the rockettes, that's what i call kicking the holidays into high gear. one two three, rockettes! [ applause ] >> thank you for that throw back. your extension, i am very impressed. very impressed. from nine years ago. they're still sore? we know there's another guy who is very tired this morning. santa claus. he put a lot of mileage on his sleigh last night. how does he get it done? ginger, merry christmas. i know you have one of our favorite investigative reports starring santa. >> merry christmas to you. one of my favorite memories with my boys is when they wanted to know how st. nick made the magic of christmas happen.
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twas the night before christmas when all through the house not a creature was stirring -- >> mom, how does santa come in the house? >> until adrian and his questions come. >> how? >> i think like tim allen. >> how many? >> like 92 million. >> all in one night? >> yeah, i'm gonna need some help. >> i did a calculation. >> this is don lincoln, a scientist and expert in how santa delivers the goods all in one night. he says there are 2 billion kids on the planet, but lucky for santa, they don't all celebrate christmas. only about 15% of them do. but he still has to visit some 92 million homes and because of time zones and variations in sun rise and sunset, he has a little more time than you think. about 32 hours of darkness. but in order to span the 42 million miles in that time, santa moves really fast.
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about 800 houses every single second. >> which is fast enough to go from new york city to los angeles in six hours. >> to travel that fast, he needs some special fuel. >> we think santa eats the cookies. but you know what santa is doing is actually taking the cookies and using that energy to power the sleigh. >> that makes a lot more sense. we use corn and soybeans and pretty much everything at this point. and the reindeer? we think they might get some of their energy from reindeer toothpaste which, turns out, is pretty easy to make. who is ready to make reindeer toothpaste? >> yes! >> mix this together. that's warm water and yeast. once that gets mixed up, i'm going to take extra care in pouring some hydrogen peroxide. parents, you should handle the hydrogen peroxide. dash of dish soap. after adding red and green food coloring, combine the mixture.
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here it comes! whoa! feel the bottle. it feels warm. because we're having a thermic reaction. you know that energy is going to power the reindeer. wait a minute. what about the presents, gifts that weigh more than 300,000 tons? i think he uses a 3-d printer. and finally, how do you know if you've been naughty or nice? he gets help with special santa software. it pings when you send a mean text or post something unkind online. he stores it all on a massive computer server. that has to stay cool. why else would he live at the north pole? adrian and miles' questions have gotten a bit tougher since then, but santa is still and will always be a welcome guest at our house with milk, cookies and all that stuff waiting. guys? >> thank you, ginger. back to an inspiring nurse who is spreading christmas chair to a community in need.
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it was part of our special maui strong 808. we check in every month since the fires in lahaina. becky worley, who grew up on maui, has been tracking the efforts, the help from around the globe and how a few christmas stockings meant the world to the children on the island. >> i can do that, yeah. >> reporter: here in los scados, california, santa's workshop has come to life. linda higgins a self-described christmas enthusiast has enlisted her family and friends for months sewing 900 stockings and stuffing them with goodies. >> we have little balls for your toes, pencil sharpener, flashlight, candy, lots of candy. >> reporter: who's getting these christmas treats? kids thousands of miles away on wildfire devastated maui. >> i just really wanted to give kids a reason to smile.
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and have a chance. >> reporter: linda, an avid gma viewer, says watching the coverage of maui moved her. walk me through the timeline that gets you to the point that you have this idea. what was going on? >> well, this person named becky worley, was over there reporting after the fire. every story that you told made me cry. >> reporter: aw. aw. after months of work and the assistance of southwest airline, who transported the stockings for free, boxes and boxes. 900 stockings in total arriving on maui. >> thank you. >> reporter: then going to schools that i attended growing up here on the island. sacred heart. linda is here, too, getting to witness the fruits of her hard work. the rest of the stockings contributed to the public schools that have reopened for all the children just trying to find the magic of christmas. >> to look back on it and say we brought a lot of smiles, that's
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all i needed. >> reporter: for these kids, little christmas magic goes a long way. >> thank you, becky. if you'd like to help the people of maui this holiday season just scan the qr code on your screen. coming up becky's book with tips for those newly unwrapped gifts. >> and young fans jumping for joy when nba stars turn into santas sharing the holiday spirit with their communities. plus the perfect holiday movies to curl up on the couch and watch with your family. one of my favorites is on the list. yeah. we'll be right back. >> good morning, everyone. i'm from columbia, south carolina. i am here in poland. i just wanted to say happy holidays to my family and friends. >> hello. wishing my friends and family back in oklahoma a merry christmas. >> i'd like to give a holiday shout out to my wife emma and son eli up in tacoma,
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washington. merry christmas. miss you. >> i'm here with the 39th stationed in germany. just want to wish my family merry christmas and i'll be home soon. >> i'm from mobile, alabama. hey, here in arkansas. want to give a christmas shoutout to my family back in the birth place of mardi gras wishing you all a merry christmas and a happy new year. to hair thinning. e i'm genetically predisposed. i just gave birth. i was under a lot of stress. i started taking nutrafol. we test our formulations with the highest rigor of clinical trials and we're the number one dermatologist recommended hair growth supplement. i noticed it becoming... stronger and thicker. nutrafol has taken me back to the hair i was meant to have. i am back to me. start your hair growth journey at nutrafol.com the winter play was really coming together. until... disaster struck. luckily, replacement costumes were shipped with fedex.
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road. >> we know from authorities that the building houses multiple businesses. the fire has been burning for several hours now. thankfully, no one is hurt. we are still working to learn more about what may have caused that fire. the salvation army will be delivering christmas meals to 4000 low income seniors in san francisco this morning. this is video from last year. volunteers will be lining up to start picking up the meals in just about 30 minutes. around eight this morning, and then they'll head out on different routes shortly after. if you're looking for something to do outside today, you can enjoy san francisco botanical garden for free. now it's usually $11 for non san francisco residents, but today is free for everybody. it's also free on new year's day and the second tuesday of every month. meteorologist drew tuma has a quick look
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fog, though. around nevada, we're down to zero miles visibility. there but elsewhere we're doing just fine when it comes to our visibility. we do have a beach hazard statement in effect along our entire coastline today through 7 p.m. for the increased risk of rip currents and sneaker waves temperatures this morning. it certainly feels like christmas morning with temperatures in the 30s and 40s. it is chilly, but we will bounce back very nicely this afternoon. here's your day planner today. that morning chill leading to a mix of sun and clouds and afternoon highs pretty close to where they should be in the upper 50s to lower 60s. kumasi. >> thank you. drew we'll have another abc seven news update in about 30 minutes. you can always find the latest on our news app and at abc seven news.com. recharge from the holidays with a new toyota at toyota. >> thought i have got a truckload of new toyotas out front. check them out. something i said yes to get low 3.99% apr on tacoma or $1,000 cash back on tundra. >> toyota. let's go places. the most magical show of the year is happening every night at the
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smiling first can help someone find the courage to do the same >> for you. your >> pandora loves unboxed. is doing breakfast sounds better together? >> doesn't it make it even more special with the hazelnut and cocoa taste of good morning america good morning america. it's mariah carey here, wishing everyone a merry christmas. >> good morning america. mariah carey sending her holiday wishes.
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merry christmas to everyone at home and everyone here in our studio. we want to let you know that parts of the show are prerecorded so that we can celebrate with our love ones, too. let's get to those presents. once they're unwrapped and open there's a whole lot more to consider. becky is back with tips for all your new gifts. >> merry christmas. the joy of unwrapping a present is often followed by the realization, oh, i got a little work to do to get this thing up and running. let's start with the first thing you need to decide. are you keeping it? so returns. this year two things happened simultaneously. first many retailers tightened their return policies adding restocking fees, store credit instead of cash back or even shortening that return window. then you have a second factor to add in. holiday discounts started earlier than ever with big sales starting in october. your gift could have purchased back before halloween. some stores have extended their return windows until january.
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but the clock is ticking. so you need to make a decision pretty quickly if you're going to keep a gift or take it back. now let's move over to gift cards. they are the most popular gifts given. every year millions go unused. so the best thing to do is register a gift card to your account online. many sites will let you input the card and pin number. that credit gets registered to your online account. just make sure the card isn't lost or you can still use it if it's lost, and a scammer can't access and drain your balance. all right. if you've got kids and you gave them tech gifts, this next tip is important. register the device straightaway as a child account. that means you may need to have an account as a parent. i'm talking about phone, ipads, any other tablets especially for gaming consoles. you want to think about parental controls like turning on down time, filtering unfavorable content from the get go. if you wait, then you have
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problems. it also means wiping the device clean, restarting over, relogging into accounts an with gaming systems that means the kids could lose all their progress in the game, christmas disaster. we don't want that. okay. finally, for any tech gift that you receive they often mandate creating new accounts. this is a great time to think about your password. unique passwords for every account. this is what protects you from getting hacked. use a password manager. last pass or one password. having a unique password for every account is so important. the only way you can remember them is to have a password manager. it will not only help you retrieve all those unique passwords but they'll auto log you in on different devices if you have the app installed. all right. i hope some of these tips make your christmas stress-free, less stressful, and that you have a ton of fun playing with all your new toys today.
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merry christmas. >> all right, becky. our thanks to you. now to nba players playing santa for families around the country. every year nba season of giving spreads holiday cheer, with teams going into their communities to bring gift, smiles and maybe talk hoops with their fans for the holidays. will reeve has that story for us. >> hardaway jr. best three-point shooting team. >> reporter: this morning, as fans gear up for a christmas day full of nba action. >> the hammer! >> reporter: some of the biggest holiday highlights are happening off the court. >> there we go. i live for moments like this. >> you got it! >> reporter: teams and players scoring big for their community an giving back to those who need it most. before they tip off against the suns tonight, the dallas mavericks swapped out their jerseys for santa hats. >> what do you think you're going to get?
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>> reporter: partnering with stores to give local families a holiday shopping spree. >> we are very appreciative to everyone in our community. last one to check. mission accomplished. what did you guys get? >> i got some tennis shoes. i got me a toy, a jacket, socks. i got some lebrons. i got this basketball right here. >> it's been an amazing time. we definitely enjoyed it. i had fun. the kids had fun. that's what it's about. >> reporter: this event just one of hundreds of activities taking place as part of nba's season of giving. all 30 teams hosting a wide range of charitable events to help brighten the holidays for thousands of kids and families. down in the bayou the new orleans pelicans joining forces with the nfl saints to host a toy drive where patrons brought presents for children and teens without homes of their own.
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>> tonight all they had to do is give to one of their children, and they got to hang out with pelicans players, sing some christmas carols. it was awesome, how the community all came together for this. >> reporter: and in d.c. -- >> one, two, three! >> merry christmas! >> reporter: a double dose of christmas magic from the washington wizards. >> enjoy! >> reporter: team members surprising kids at a local elementary school with gifts and a pizza party. >> all for you! >> i got a scooter! >> reporter: and stopping by a local hospital and rehab center, meeting patients and staff of all ages. >> it is such a special time of the year. you want to spread positivity, spread joy. >> reporter: the league's biggest and brightest shining a light on what really matters this time of year. >> thank you. this is so emotional. >> reporter: for good morning america, will reeve, abc news, new york. >> all right, will. our thanks to you. sports fans are getting a lot of gifts this morning. a full slate of nba games starting at noon eastern. michael?
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christmas trees are a holiday tradition, even before you hang the ornaments, many families have a favorite type of tree or buy it at the same place every year. will ganss went shopping, tree farm hopping, tracking a tree's journey from farm to living room. >> reporter: our journey begins here at the quarter pine tree farm in smith field pennsylvania. >> my name is jim. today we're at my seed processing facility. >> reporter: jim's family business has been around for more than three decades with the help of his right hand and step daughter beth. the best seeds are cleaned and sorted using specialized equipment then shipped across the country to the pacific northwest where they develop for around three years before being sent back. from there, jim plants the tiny baby trees at his farm. he also sends them to other farms where the trees grow about a foot a year. >> lot of people assume you plant the tree and it goes. you care for it every month of
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the year. >> reporter: while it's a tough job, jim and beth say it's the joy that make it all worth it. some of those baby trees from jim and beth end up here at our next stop the hidden pond tree farm in new jersey owned and operated by -- i gotta ask. is your name really chris nicholson? >> christian nicholson, yes. chris nich. >> reporter: if i was an under cover santa, i don't know. seems a little suspicious. >> what i grow feeds your soul. that's why i get so much joy and love out of it. >> reporter: enter the rooney family, who brought home a hidden tree every christmas for more than a decade. what are we looking for? >> we try to look at something that's full and has a good topper so we put our angel on top. >> reporter: bringing yet another year of holiday magic into homes this christmas. will ganss, abc news, new york.
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>> thank you, will. coming up next, what christmas movies are you in the mood for? well, we have a list and we checked it twice to find something your whole family will enjoy. whole family will enjoy, we will be right back! ♪ ♪ special too because you know, discover is giving me cash back on debit. not just credit. actually, discover gives cash back on debit... to everyone. everybody? everybody. if you could just tap... what about debbie johns? all those years that i couldn't find my bike, it was in her garage. like she gets it? if she has discover cashback debit then...yeah. introducing discover cashback debit: a checking account with cash back for everyone. listen, your deodorant just has to work. i use secret aluminum free. just swipe and it lasts all day.
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and subaru and our retailers will donate three hundred dollars to charity. get two point nine percent apr financing on a new 2024 outback during the 2023 subaru share the love event. back now, with what many of us will be doing after christmas dinner, settling in for a >> book with what many of us will be doing after christmas dinner. settling in for a movie. chris connelly flipped through
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the calendar to find something for everyone and some of the favorites are celebrating some big anniversaries. >> you sit on the throne of lies. >> reporter: but it's the truth. this holiday marks the 20th anniversary of two christmastime classics. will ferrell's heartwarming elf. >> congratulations! world's best cup of coffee. great job, everybody. >> reporter: and its 2003 yuletide sibling "love actually." the christmas powered rom com that has enchanted viewers for decades. >> love is all that matters. true love lasts a life time. >> reporter: a pair of films made 20 years ago that were made a decade ago that are still christmas presents. look what holiday movie came down the chimney 40 years ago. >> you'll shoot your eye out, kid. >> reporter: "a christmas story." >> you look like a deranged easter bunny. >> reporter: cold weather comedy. >> i trip dog dare ya! >> reporter: with its own north pole. >> stuck, stuck, stuck!
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>> reporter: three pillars of reliably great christmastime entertainment. but now what more recent releases might join them in the holiday hall of fame. >> hi. >> reporter: frozen has snow men and ice and, you might have heard, some big emotions. ♪ let it go ♪ >> reporter: is that enough to make this 2013 megahit a christmas classic? you may like the specifics of the season, but its wintry wonders and spirit -- >> some people are worth melting more. >> reporter: fit the holiday like a snug pair of mittens. ♪ the 2020 musical jingle jangle, a christmas journey. alongside felecia rashad. ♪ >> i think it's time for a new story.
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>> reporter: keegan michael kay and princess and the frog disney legend anika rose, in the tale of an off beat toy maker and some multigenerational people. who spiked the eggnog? everyone knows die hard is an '80s movie. >> welcome to the party, pal! >> reporter: but only in the last few years has this r rated bruce willis actioner gained widespread acceptance as a christmas movie. >> if it's their idea of christmas, i gotta be here for new year's. >> reporter: with major mayhem taking place on the day of the office holiday party. add to it the after hour list, 'cause it sure does deck the halls. once you've added all these movies to the christmas classic pantheon and tossed in a hall mark favorite like three wise men and a baby. >> we're here to replace the statue you broke. >> reporter: your seasonal viewing doesn't just have to be old school. a blend of the recent and the reveered featuring hope, goodwill to everyone.
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>> that's what christmas is all about, charlie brown. >> reporter: for good morning america, chris connelly, abc news. >> thanks, chris. coming up, we look at fans who got the ultimate christmas gift. our play of the day. ultimate christmas gift, this is the play of the day. and my favorite homes are wayfair homes. i even stop by on my day off! i know what people want, and you've got just what they need. also, i love your ottomans. your number one fan, santa. ♪ wayfair you've got just what i need ♪ i'm steve, i lost 138 pounds in nine months on golo
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there in person. >> reporter: avery martin hasn't missed a niners game in 13 years. what is it about the 49ers that you just love so much? >> the 49ers bring me so much joy and excitement. it's just part of me and i will be a fan forever. >> reporter: you even wore a jersey to your yearbook photo shoot? >> i did. i did. >> reporter: the san francisco native proud of all her 49ers gear. >> i got this flag the faithful flag from the 49ers. i have had this for 10 or 13 years. >> reporter: which include home made ornaments of her favorite players. >> this is patrick willis. this ornament fred warner. then i have got this. >> reporter: tell me about the time your dad surprised you. >> he actually somehow worked his magic and got me to be a flag bearer. it was the most special moment of my life, being that close to them. >> reporter: he's going to have to get used to surprises. guess what? we're giving you four tickets to the christmas day 49ers game!
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>> stop it, gio. >> reporter: you are going with your dad! that's not all because you're also getting pregame sideline access. you are going! >> stop it. i literally have chills. thank you so much. "monday night football" on christmas day, what could be better than that? >> reporter: have fun, avery. for good morning america, gio benitez, abc news, new york. >> you can celebrate with our super fans tonight when the 49ers host the ravens at 8:15 p.m. eastern on abc. coming up one of my favorite moments of the year. meeting the resilient people of rolling fork, mississippi. we're going to take a look at how their strength is an inspiration, especially during holiday season. and shoulders keep the microbes that cause flakes at bay. microbes, really?
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coming up on this christmas morning some personal favorite stories from throughout the year, and the incredible brandy performing a holiday favorite that will keep you humming all day long. your local news and weather are next. to connect, play and get inspired in their glow. get your tickets today for this wondrous seasonal expansion of our exhibits on light.
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>> the holidays are winding down . coming through. time to recharge with a new toyota during the final days of toyotathon. >> right now, get $1,500 cash back when you finance with toyota on select forerunner models. >> toyota. let's go places. merry christmas >> nba christmas day begins at noon and continues all day on espn and abc. >> building a better bay area. moving forward. finding solutions. this is abc seven news. >> good morning everyone. i'm kumasi aaron from abc seven mornings. it is a big day of sports here on abc seven. the warriors are on a five game winning streak as a live look fr rooftop camera at kgo. it is
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partly cloudy out there on this christmas morning we saw some issues with fog in the north bay, novato, petaluma, anywhere from a mile and a half down to zero miles. visibility some thick fog around novato. elsewhere we're doing just fine. a beach hazard statement is in effect along our entire coastline today for the increased risk of rip currents, sec waves, 30s and 40s. the name of the game this morning. it is chilly out there, but it will be nice later on today. so breaking down your christmas day. it is a partly cloudy sky. nice for the holiday. upper 50s to the lower 60s. kumasi thanks drew. we'll have another abc seven news update in about 30 minutes. >> you can always find the latest on our news app and at abc seven news.com. >> timing is everything and now is the time to buy during the year end furniture california ford dealers. it's time for our biggest offers of the year. now lisa ford mustang mach-e for just 3.99 a month for 36 months only at your california ford dealer special for us, i think that i learned more in this performance than i actually do in a whole week of school.
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>> bring your family. >> let your children experience this. >> i wish i could see it again, like right now. >> give your loved ones the best holiday gift. shen yun hcm is a serious heart condition affecting as many as 1 in 200 people. >> like me and me. >> it can impact how you feel and what you can do. >> i still felt tired on my beta blocker, so i talked to my cardiologist about treatment advances in hcm that gave me new options. >> it was a breakthrough for me. that conversation was big for me. >> talk to your cardiologist today and visit hcm. real talk .com for more information. >> here's a holiday thought to ponder. is it truly a wish list? if you only have one wish? here's to getting everything you're hoping for this season.
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make your wish list a reality with exceptional offers. during the season of audi, we spend a lot of time waiting on the internet, yet waiting for an installer to show up. waiting for our games to download, waiting to talk with the real person, whoever said good things come to those who wait. didn't suffer through bad internet service. spend a lot less money per month and get the fastest fiber internet available up to ten gigabits. all for 49.99 a month, with no contracts. don't wait till you're at your buffering breaking point. make the switch to sonic fiber internet today at sonic.com, where yourself an ugly little sweater haiti yes and bright kitschy garish covered with annoying like lights. >> and when it brings you joy, you know that you did it right. why do we love wearing ugly sweaters? for the same reason we
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give the gift of scratchers. because a little play can make your day. >> timing is everything, and now is the time to buy during the year end monitor california ford dealers. it's time for our biggest offers of the year. now get 6000 total bonus cash on ford bronco sport only at your california ford dealer. save and healthy holiday wishes from abc seven. >> have a holly jolly christmas. >> good morning america merry christmas everyone. it's 8 a.m. while you're opening presents don't miss some merry moments that filled our hearts with joy. families findings their roots, and communities rising up. ♪ rockin around the christmas tree ♪ >> comfort and joy. cozy up on this christmas morning with a book by some of my favorite authors. i always feel lucky. it's always a late christmas gift for me. and a few of our captivating conversations.
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♪ santa tell me if you're really there ♪ >> plus a christmas wish granted. >> she got to live out her dream. she loved it. >> the magical moment a disney dream came true. ♪ i wish it was christmas every day ♪ and it's our wish come true this morning. brandy is performing right here in times square off her first holiday album ever. join us for a very special gma christmas this morning as we say -- ♪ good morning america ♪ >> announcer: from times square, this is a special christmas day edition of good morning america. >> good morning america and merry christmas. hope you're enjoying your day with your loved ones. we want to let you know that parts of gma are on tape so all of us in the studio can celebrate the holidays. >> we're having a very gma christmas bringing you some of our favorite moments from 2023. don't miss how one young disney fan's wish came true.
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>> another big event this year, welcoming our mascot ray to the gma family. remember that? lot of energy with ray. ray of sunshine, he's spending his first holiday with us. >> now top headlines from erielle reshef. good morning, erielle. >> hey there, george. good morning everyone. unfortunately we start with violence on christmas eve. one person is dead and three injured after a shooting at a mall in colorado springs. police say gunshots erupted after two groups got into a fight at the citadel mall sunday afternoon. multiple people are in custody. the mall was shut down after the shooting. it's expected to reopen today. a u.s. war ship shot down four drones in the red sea. the uss lagoon shot down drones headed from areas controlled by iranian backed houthi rebels in yemen. the same vessel responding to attacks on two commercial tankers in the red sea. one reporting a near miss and the other was struck by a drone. no injuries were reported.
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according to the pentagon, there have been at least 15 attacks on commercial vessels in the red sea since mid october. now to los angeles, where the police department is facing a multimillion dollar lawsuit after a woman was shot to death by officers who were responding to a call she made for help. derek dennis has details. >> reporter: this morning a plea for justice in the death of a 27-year-old. at a vigil over the weekend friends and relatives mourning her loss after she was shot and killed in a confrontation with los angeles county sheriff's deputies early this month. deputies responding to her home on a domestic violence call, say they encountered her holding a large knife and threatening to stab her ex-boyfriend for pushing her daughter. police claim they shocked her to stop her from hurting the man. >> four shocks in the back? it's ridiculous. where is the training for these officers?
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>> my heart is so, so broken. i hate it for her children. i hate it. devastating. >> reporter: the family disagreeing with the deputies' account of what happened and filing a $30 million lawsuit against the department and county. her lawyer said she was not a threat and only had the knife to protect her an her daughter from her ex-boyfriend. >> officers should be trained that they are not supposed to shoot and kill when they don't know who is there or what the surrounds are. >> reporter: the sheriff's department said the shooting is under investigation. >> sometimes you just can't cry enough. it will never bring her back. but justice has to stand. >> reporter: the l.a. county sheriff's department says it has not officially received the family's lawsuit claim, but will release body camera footage of the incident next week. >> thank you. hawaii was rattled by a minor earthquake. the 4.1 magnitude quake happened over the weekend.
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it was centered off the southwest coast of the big island. hundreds of people reported feeling minor shaking. no injuries or damage were reported. one lucky person might get an extra big christmas gift this year. powerball jackpot is now a whopping $638 million. there is a rare christmas day drawing tonight at 10:59 p.m. mark your calendars. only three powerball jackpots have ever been won on christmas. the most recent christmas day win was in 2013 when a player in missouri claimed a $71.5 million jack pot. finally, of course, the holidays are a time for giving. that's what this community did for some families who deserve it. this toy drive in new jersey delivered thousands of gifts to families in patterson who were displaced after flooding in the area. now here's a look at your local weather.
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>> our thanks to erielle. coming up in our gma morning menu, our favorite stories of the year. i'll take you back to rolling fork, mississippi. also i'll look back at some conversations i had with some authors. i have a few book recommendations as well. and i, on this special day, talk to families. i'll take you back to a life changing memory for me. meeting distant memories of my family for the very first time. >> are you royalty? was that a king or something like that? >> yeah. on one side. this is my father's side, my mother's side. i should be living in a big old palace in london. that's another story.
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>> come on. and we have a very special performance from super star brandy. that's coming up right here on gma. don't go anywhere. one of the millions suffering from pain caused by migraine, nurtec odt may help. it's the only medication that can treat a migraine when it strikes and prevent migraine attacks. treat and prevent, all in one. don't take if allergic to nurtec. allergic reactions can occur, even days after using. most common side effects were nausea, indigestion, and stomach pain. relief is possible. talk to a doctor about nurtec odt. ♪ ♪ a tiny pinch of knorr chicken bouillon will save you more gas than driving downhill. because just one sip of this delectable silky chicken ramen noodle soup will put an end to your drive-through dinner rituals. it's time to bring out the cook in you and tell him to throw that glorious powder in that tasty silky combo of delightful carrots... (whispered): yummy ...luscious mushrooms,
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the winter play was really coming together. until... disaster struck. luckily, replacement costumes were shipped with fedex. which means mr. harvey... could picture the perfect night. we're delivering more happy for the holidays.
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hello, i would like to wish you all a merry christmas and give a shout out to my family back home in beaumont, texas. >> we are wishing all our families a happy holidays. >> i'm here in germany. i just want to wish my wife ashley and my three boys a very merry christmas. daddy misses you. love you. be home soon. >> welcome back to gma. merry christmas at home. this morning we're looking back at some of our favorite moments of the year. viewers took you back to your home state of mississippi. >> it did. back in march we all remember a terrible tornado hit the town of rolling fork. we made a commitment to follow that brave community's recovery. just recently i returned to the town where i found hope and the holiday spirit. for the residents of rolling fork, mississippi. >> there's no place like rolling fork. >> reporter: home is where the
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heart is. >> it's small town america. it's really a close knit community. >> reporter: their community put to the ultimate test. after an ef-4 tornado captured by accuweather, bringing wins up to 170 miles per hour ripped through the area last march. >> hey, y'all need help over there? >> leaving behind a trail of destruction, hundreds displaced including a mom of two losing everything. venesha carter. >> i am grateful to be here. i literally could have lost my life. my kids could have lost their life. it was horrific. we made it through. >> reporter: one month after the tornado, gma traveling to rolling fork to learn more about their recovery efforts. >> we're just trying to get our people back in town. and to do that, we need housing. we need building materials. right now the need is strong for everything because so many don't have anything.
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>> reporter: the community picking up the pieces in the months that follow, while residents, particularly renters, faced challenges in returning home. >> most of population here was renters. lot of people that own the rental property, they can't rebuild the properties back. >> the vast majority of them didn't have renters insurance, so they not only lost their home, but they lost everything inside of their home. now what little they did have, they have nothing. >> reporter: brit williamson one of the beloved pastors taking his town's recovery into his own hands, launching a nonprofit called rolling fork rising, with a revolutionary idea. >> our goal and mission is to help renter families that were affected by the tornado come back to rolling fork not as renters but homeowners. >> reporter: the organization getting to work -- >> we own ten lots inside
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rolling fork. we have two houses that are currently unconstruction. >> reporter: volunteers coming from across the country to support the bill. >> it's just special to see so many people that care about people they don't know. >> reporter: participants attending a series of homeowner classes. >> we are building between 1,200 and 1,300 square foot homes. >> reporter: to earn the unique opportunity to purchase a brand new fully furnished home at a discounted rate. >> it does so much. it's time to not only build houses, but build lives, enrich people's lives. >> reporter: just eight months later, back on gma, rolling fork rising making the dream a reality. first for jamie. i want to say something to you. i think, these are keys to your new home. [ applause ]
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that is being built. that is going to be your home right down there. folks at home are seeing it right now. >> thank you. >> all right. you're very welcome. you're very, very welcome. such a beautiful, beautiful family. and then for venesha and her family. here it is. the keys to your new home! [ applause ] come on! come on in! a moment of light out of the darkness. what do you think? >> excited. i'm very happy. >> right in time for the holiday season. >> i tell you, it's always uplifting being there. since revisiting rolling fork, you, our incredible viewers, have come through yet again sending over $135,000 to the people down there in rolling fork. they are extremely appreciative. we are extremely appreciative. >> we really are. we really are, in the spirit of christmas, giving, right?
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as we get together with our families, i wanted to look back at an important story that helped me find mine. many black americans can trace their ancestry to a certain point before the family tree goes blank. but abc news partnered with 10 million names to use research to unearth the ancestry of 10 million formerly enslaved people so all americans can trace their roots, including me. >> i'm marisa. >> here i am meeting my long lost cousins in the east texas community of shanklesville. i forgot about this texas heat. my mom braved the texas heat and tagged along. >> he's trying to take care of me. >> shankleville is a prime example of one of 500 settlements known as freedom colonies. >> they were founded by former slaves, men, women an children, these communities became safe
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havens for many, right? from the broader experience of the jim crow era. >> a few years ago, researchers looked into my family tree and those behind the ground breaking 10 million names project said it confirmed i was part of this community and its rich legacy. it all began with jim and winnie shankle. can you tell me the story of jim and winnie shankle? >> okay. jim and winnie shankle were slaves in mississippi. winnie was told to a texan. jim really missed her and wanted to know where she was. he asked around and found out about where she was. so he ran away. >> now a run away slave, jim was risking his life, dodging police, slave patrols and professional slave catchers to find winnie. he somehow managed to make it 400 miles on foot across the mississippi river and found his beloved winnie. jim arranged to be purchased by winnie's owner so that he could stay with her.
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they eventually had six children of their own. so it's a love story? >> yes. >> they were freed from slavery in 1865 as the civil war winded down. with money jim saved up from several post emancipation jobs, along with the help of a family friend, the couple bought 4,000 acres and built their own community. this neighborhood had a store, schools for kids, a college, a cotton gin, mill, farms, cemetery, undertakers and churches. things unheard of, or unavailable, to most black americans at that time. >> this is the church cme church and community. it was the first church in this community. we had three at the time. we had a lot of renovations done since the original church building. >> i see what you mean by those big windows. little church, but it
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had a lot of sunlight. let the lord in. across the way at the cemetery, i noticed a familiar name on a headstone. i find myself a bit overwhelmed. my grandfather abe, he's buried here. he used to go by a-b-e. i never had a chance to meet him. i was born 14 years later. >> my goodness. >> this is a little shocking, you know, to see this? >> he obviously was a great man. all those frontiers, they really worked hard. they had to. it wasn't an easy existence. >> right. this is kind of mind blowing to see my grandfather, who i never had a chance to meet. wow. history. my journey underscores why the 10 million names project is so important. it's giving all of us our history back. >> michael, we're going to
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switch gears and look at all of the books i loved during this last year. i got to sit down with some great authors as well. take a look. where does the inspiration come from? >> i don't know. [ laughter ] this one, the sentences came to me. i'm serving the fifth year of a prison sentence for murdering my own child. spoiler alert, i didn't do it. what if i opened up to the man who's accused of murdering his own child. he's in prison for it. now he finds out his own child may be alive. wouldn't that be a cool opening? then go from there. >> i always feel lucky. it's always a late christmas gift. your new book every single year comes out early january. i get to read it fast. i'm an early reader. >> you were my first reader. >> but who are the people who read it even before? >> now it's the whole family. i have four kids who are all grown. so they are my first readers. has to pass the family test. >> have they ever told you to go back to the drawing board? >> no, not yet. [ laughter ] they want to live with me in happiness. they don't want to see dad cry.
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so far it's always worked out. >> this is the, believe it or not, the 23rd entry in my series featuring legendary art restorer and intelligence operative gabriel. in this novel, he joins forces with a beautiful master thief to track down the world's most famous missing painting. along the way he uncovers a conspiracy that could bring the world to the brink of nuclear armageddon. >> as you mentioned this is your 23rd book with gabriel. how have you and he evolved over the years? >> when i first created him, he was a morose, grieving character. i did not have any idea that he was supposed to be a continuing character. he was supposed to appear in one book and one book only. that's obviously not the way it turned out. gabriel we encounter now late in his life, or later in his life, i should say, is a much lighter, much more comfortable to be around person.
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he has made me a better writer. >> tell us where this came from. >> well, jim said one time -- jim says a lot of things. but he said people talk about throwing everything except the kitchen sink. he said, no, we throw the kitchen sink, too. that's what we do with james smith, our lawyer, ex-cop, who has been given a potentially fatal diagnosis, except what could be far more fatal, she starts to worry that her own client may be trying to kill her. >> i love the goal you have for your readers. very simple. never put the book down. >> yeah yeah. right. >> how do you do that? >> you write good stories. [ laughter ] that's all it is. just story after story. i pretend there's one person sitting across from me and i don't want them to get up. don't want them to get up until i finish the story. to do that, you have to be aware of, okay.
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i see your eyes going. wait. i'm losing you. i want to pull you back in. >> some great conversations there. also really enjoyed many books we didn't get to interview the authors. one was a book called "absolution." two american women who became friends in vietnam. it follows their lives. this is a crazy book called doppleganger. a woman and writer and political activist, liberal. she is mistaken often on social media for her doppleganger who looks just like her, naomi wolf who became a prominent conspiracy theorist. it takes you inside the world of conspiracy theories now and social media. fascinating book. and another one by a long time reporter at the new york times. fascinating look at how the whole business is changing, and a deep dive into how that paper is put together. terrific books all. >> wonderful. >> yeah.
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>> let's go to lara with something special. >> one of the favorite things we do is bringing you guys, the viewers, the heart warming stories of dreams coming true for kids. disney has teamed up with make a wish for 100 wishes. right now we have a very special story about one disney fan and a magical surprise. on february 7th, 2022, abby and brittany's lives changed forever when their 2-year-old daughter cambry was diagnosed with a rare type of cancer. we're almost touching the left side. like her left ribs. her trachea, esophagus. everything was completely deviated. >> nearly a year of hospital stays later, including 26 rounds of chemotherapy and a grueling surgery. kambrie was officially in remission and slowly able to get back to being a kid. >> now she just gets to be a normal little four year old girl that causes mayhem every day.
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>> the family was eager to make some new happy memories with kambrie and with the help of make-a-wish cambry's wish of celebrating her fourth birthday at the walt disney world resort was granted. >> we kind of thought what perfect way for her then, you know, christmas at disney kambrie got to soak up the season. >> disney style. even attending mickey's very merry christmas party. >> how was the christmas party? should be fun. >> yeah. did you see like minnie? >> did you dance at all? yeah, yeah. >> the family thankful for a magical trip together. one they say they will remember forever. >> we never could have given our family this. she got to live out her dream. she absolutely loved it. >> we have loved being there for every one of these wonderful wishes coming true. and coming up here. brandy is performing one of her favorite christmas songs. so stay with us
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>> disney parks magical christmas day parade today on abc >> rachel. >> building a better bay area. moving forward. finding solutions. this is abc seven news. >> good morning everyone. i'm kumasi aaron from abc seven mornings, the national weather service has issued a beach hazards warning for the bay area. it went into effect late last night and it goes through this evening. waves of up to 12ft are likely to batter the coastline. there could be dangerous water conditions, including beach erosion. they say sneaker waves can pull people into the sea from rocks, jetties and beaches without warning and northwest facing beaches are most at risk from
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breaking waves and strong currents. meteorologist drew tuma has this forecast after the break. >> you look like a responsible family guy. yes you're looking for something with a little more space. since it's the volkswagen sign, then drive event. i just seen your signature right here. oh, you do have a driver's license, right? i have mine. >> perfect timing with a click of a pen. >> you can get a new volkswagen at the sign, then drive event. hurry in to lease a new 2024 tiguan for zero. down zero deposit zero. first month's payment and zero due at signing. limited inventory available. >> did you know the average person throws away over 4 pounds of material a day? that's why recycling is so important. recycling rules have changed over the years, so it's time to learn how to recycle right? have a waste sorting plan that starts inside your home? know what recycling material is accepted in your cart. keep recyclables empty, clean and dry. put loose items in the cart. avoid using
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bags. not sorting properly. keeps recycled materials from having a second life. for more information, visit oakland recycles dot com. >> timing is everything and now is the time to buy during the year end telethon at your california ford dealer, it's time for our biggest offers of the year, like 4005 50 cash back plus 2.9% financing for 60 months on ford f-150. get huge savings across our entire lineup, like 6000 total bonus cash on ford bronco sport. now's the time to buy during the year end telethon, but time is running out these offers absolutely end on january 2nd only at your california ford dealer. >> we'll go outside this morning with our rooftop camera at kgo. it is quiet along the embarcadero on this christmas day. we have partly sunny skies, but we do have some fog in the north bay watching petaluma and novato, especially where we have fog down to zero miles. but outside of those two areas, we're doing just fine. when it
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comes to any sort of cloud cover. beach hazard statement in effect along our entire coastline for the increased risk of a sneaker. waves and rip currents, 30s and 40s, it is a chilly morning right now, but we will warm up nicely looking at your christmas day. it is a mix of sun and clouds and temperatures going into the upper 50s and lower 60s. kumasi thank you drew. >> we will have another abc seven news update in about 30 minutes. you could always find the latest in our news app and at abc seven news.com. >> merry christmas everyone. >> welcome >> announcer: welcome back to a special christmas day edition of gma. >> welcome back to gma on this christmas morning. there's our mascot ray sneaking a few more presents under the tree. >> all season long we've been counting down to christmas with our advent calendar of deals. offering our viewers special bargains every day. it's time for our 25th window reveal. >> look at those pillows from a business with an appropriate name, fluff co as they bring the hotel sleeping experience to your home.
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for gma viewers, they're all 50% off. >> i like that. time for one of my favorite adventures of the year hitting the road with one of my favorite travel buddies. while in london for wimbeldon me an robin did a lot of stuff. take a look. >> there is nothing better than taking in the city sights on a double decker bus! >> robin and lara, welcome to london! >> who better to show us the sights than our friend and colleague an london expert alaster bruce! >> we bow to you. >> alaster. >> come on up. >> we're coming. best tour guide ever. and what could be more british than starting your day the same way 10 million people do each day. it's not every day your double decker bus has a tea cart. >> oh, that looks delicious. >> marvelous.
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>> i am meanwhile, holding it like a beer. let me get british. >> how should i take it? how would a true londoner take it? >> the tea should always go in first and you can add milk if you like. it amazes me some people have it the other way around. >> no, no, no. >> i would like one lump or two? >> how many lumps do you want? i'll give you a lump! [ laughter ] cheers. >> thank you for the lovely tea. now may we please get this show on the road? >> let's go! >> what is one thing you must see when you're in london? >> i think you have to come to bucking ham palace and go to the changing of the guard at buckingham palace. the king's tennis court is just over there. >> i wonder if anyone is out there practicing for wimbeldon? >> robin what do you love about london? >> i love the childhood memories that i have. my father was stationed in turkey. instead of going back to the states on holiday, we would travel.
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london was one of our family's favorite places to go. i can still see our picture in hyde park, my siblings and i. i was just yay high. as a young tennis player, i dreamed of one day making it to wimbeldon. i did! i did! not with a tennis racket but with a microphone. >> our final stop a nearly 450 foot trip around the world famous london eye. >> can you see buckingham palace in the middle of all the trees? >> yeah. >> that's a great shot. that shot right there, parliament and westminster abbey. that's iconic london. >> ultimately queen victoria's husband was big in the design. >> albert? >> albert. >> very good. very good. >> you get some points for that. >> you get points for that. >> i love points.>> we're even. >> so with that, there's just one thing left to say. from high above london -- >> good morning america! what a view.
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>> what i was going to say, we had our pinkies up while we were drinking tea. [ laughter ] i wasn't sure everyone would get the joke. can we promise to make it a yearly? >> let's do it again. >> all right. coming up brandy is ready to get us all in the holiday spirit with a special performance for a special gma christmas. ♪ [christmas music] ♪ ♪
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>> the year 2023. high stakes, high emotions, high drama. it's the year 2023 with robin roberts. >> getting ready to kiss 2023 good-bye. >> wednesday night on abc. ♪
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♪ ♪ >> we are back with one of my favorite moments of the year. often the environmental and climate stories i tell you don't really have happy endings, at least not yet. but this one does. it's about people joining forces to bring the rivers and canals of florida back to life which has been a life saver for the beloved inhabitants, the manatees. a magical moment, getting a glimpse of the florida's gentle giants, the manatee just off florida's west coast. the river has 70 fresh water spring, they stay 72 degrees year round. that's warmer than the ocean in the winter months. march 12 of 1993 this critical ecosystem was wiped out by a storm dubbed the storm of the century. >> it killed a lot of inhabitants. >> it has taken $40 million from the state and private donations.
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the river has been restored to pristine conditions. how much is a manatee eating on a daily basis? >> i believe the statistic is that a manatee can eat 10% of its body weight a day. if it weighs 1,200 pounds, that's 120 pound of grass. they have quite the appetite. >> to satisfy that appetite, more than 450,000 clusters of field grass have been planted underwater by hand. i got to help plant the last batch. when sea grass goes in, you plant it but then it spreads? >> absolutely. the grass here specifically can spread seven feet in any direction in one year. they sequester nutrients, transform a water body that provides benefits to not only the ecosystem but the community
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through ecotourism and just healthier cleaner water. >> while crystal river is a shiny example of a habitat restoration, manatees elsewhere are threatened by speeding boats and along florida's east coast in the indian river lagoon, starvation, excessive pollution from developments, leaking septic systems and agricultural run off have all caused massive algea bloom killing off the sea grass the manatees rely on. while the number of deaths decreased this year, experts say they're still at high risk. ready? one, two, three. groups like zoo tampa rescuing an rehabilitating more than 300 of these lovable creatures. i got to join in an release two of them. look at her go! look at her go! [ applause ] lot of us were worried after hurricane idalia hit this year that the saltwater would again take out all their hard work. but save crystal river an other groups say while there was some die off, the root systems are all in great shape and they expect a full bounce back.
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let's get a check closer to home. >> coming up, brandy sings us into the holiday spirit.
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>> lara: >> we are back with brandy, releasing her first ever holiday album. it's called christmas with brandy. here she is performing christmas every day. take it away, brandy. ♪ i see the children playing in the snow, i see my baby got the mistletoe ♪ ♪ i see my family wrapped around the tree ♪
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♪ a time i wish it was christmas every day ♪ ♪ i see children playing in the snow i see my baby under the mistletoe ♪ ♪ every day ♪ ♪ i know what i really wish i wish that it was christmas every day ♪ ♪ you know the feeling when the snowfalls imagine feeling that all year long what a wonderful world it would
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be ♪ ♪ every one shines so bright i wish that it was christmas every day ♪ ♪ don't you mind me i know what i really need i wish that it was christmas every day ♪ ♪ i can see it right now everybody cuddled up by the fire place with the ones they love ♪ ♪ see the children playing in the snow see my baby under the mistletoe my family wrapped around my tree ♪ ♪ i remember a time when everybody shined so bright i wish it was christmas every day ♪
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♪ i can only imagine what a world it would be with christmas every day ♪ ♪ can you imagine can you imagine what kind of world it would be christ christmas every day ♪ >> thank you. merry christmas, everybody. >> [humming] during your pregnancy you'll take about 6 million breaths.
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two breaths as you get pfizer's maternal rsv vaccine, abrysvo. the only maternal vaccine given between 32 through 36 weeks of pregnancy to protect babies against rsv from birth through 6 months. 6 millions breaths to meet your baby. know you've helped protect them against rsv. abrysvo is not for everyone and may not protect all babies of vaccinated mothers. don't get abrysvo if you've had a severe allergic reaction to its ingredients. people with a weakened immune system may have a decreased response to vaccination. the most common side effects among pregnant women are headache, pain at the injection site, muscle pain and nausea. in clinical trials with abrysvo, low birth weight and jaundice were reported more frequently than placebo. every breath matters. talk to your obgyn or other healthcare provider about pfizer's maternal rsv vaccine, abrysvo.
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♪ ♪ >> thanks to brandy for a wonderful performance, which was perfect for this holiday morning. >> it sure is. big thank you to ray for bringing the christmas cheer, as he always does. >> we hope you all have a very merry christmas. it comes from all of us at gma. >> there are so many people behind the scenes that have worked and do work to get this show on the air every morning. a huge thank you to each and every one of them. merry christmas, everyone! >> merry christmas, everybody! ♪
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♪ ♪
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♪ ♪
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♪ ♪
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♪ ♪
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♪ ♪
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♪ people are so full. never, never for you to be in this level of demand that. you are. there's no party at the shangri. stethorrhagus the distance never been. there was no, never, never . you've never been there. come
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along with me. step by is what we are. you shot me. oh said can be present by my. bed >> the year 2023. high stakes, high emotion, high drama. now wednesday night it's the year 2023 with robin roberts. >> it's getting ready to kiss 2023 goodbye wednesday night on abc. right now there's just so much happening in our world. so much at stake at the start of every morning, making sense of it all. >> that's not always so easy. >> and that's where we come in. >> good morning america. we want you to know every morning we're right here. >> and we got you. >> america's most watched newscast. abc's world news tonight with david muir is now available on youtube. love nothing and the game of tennis.
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but it means everything to me >> oh steph curry. oh, steph curry. don we now are clay apparel. are you wish you were gary christmas peyton the second watch christmas day game day on abc seven go dubs timing is everything. >> and now is the time to buy during the year end. sell on at your california ford dealer. it's time for our biggest offers of the year, like 4005 50 cash back, plus 2.9% financing for 60 months on ford f-150. we get huge savings across our entire lineup, like 6000 total bonus cash on ford bronco sport. now is the time to buy during the year end sell on. but time is running out. these offers absolutely end on january 2nd only at your california ford dealer. >> the team at jacoby and myers has gotten our clients up to ten times the insurance company's original offer. don't settle for less. choose jacoby and myers.
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>> wear yourself an ugly little sweater or hideous and bright kitschy, garish, covered with annoying lights and when it brings you joy, you know that you did it right. why do we love wearing ugly sweaters? for the same reason we give the gift of scratchers. because a little play can make your day >> what's your garage door telling you? maybe it's time for a change. a precision. we do house calls, let one of our door designers come to you and help you design the door of your dreams. let precision show you the difference. a new door can make precision door service and a new can trust. >> here's hoping we can all be home for the holidays. not really sell great like only the jeep brand can with everything you could ever wish for, including jeep grand cherokee, the official vehicle of winter.
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join the family that lets you go anywhere and do anything. jeep. there's only one during the jeep wrap up the year sales event. >> well-qualified current fca lessees can lease the 2023 jeep grand cherokee for 299 a month, or finance and get no monthly payments for 90 days. save and healthy holiday wishes from. abc seven. >> building a better bay area moving forward. finding solutions. this is abc seven news. good morning everyone. >> i'm kumasi aaron from abc seven mornings right now in los altos. crews are on the scene of a large fire along el camino real between sherwood and north san antonio road. we've learned there are multiple businesses inside this building, but there have been no reports of any injuries yet. we are still working to learn what may have caused this fire. >> hey kumasi, we'll go to sutro tower this morning. partly cloudy conditions, but it is chilly out there. we have some fog in the north bay but it is improving. nevada up to two and
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a half miles. you look at your temperatures right now, 30s and in the 40s. so christmas day, it's a mix of sun and clouds out there. we'll start out with chilly temperatures in the 30s and 40s. take the winter jacket with you. but later on today we'll get a lot of sunshine as temperatures near average will max out in the upper 50s to the lower 60s by 4 p.m. kumasi. thank you drew. >> thank you for watching abc seven mornings and merry christmas everyone. enjoy all christmas everyone. enjoy all the sports. have a great day from walt disney world resort in florida and disneyland resort in california, this is the 40th anniversary of the "disney parks magical christmas day parade." ♪ [ alarm clock ringing ] oh! ♪ good morning! all: good morning!

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