kumasi: oooh. that is so mean. don't do u good morning, america, for our viewers in on this thursday morning. the first case of the concerning new covid variant detected in the united states. breaking this morning, the white house taking action to combat the new variant. what you need to know about mask mandates, at home rapid tests and will college students need a booster to return to campus in 2022? this as we learn more about the first known omicron case in the u.s. dr. jha is with us answering the big questions. urgent investigation. the death toll now rises to four students after a michigan high school shooting. the 15-year-old shooter appears in court facing first degree murder and terrorism charges. this morning, why the shooter's parents also might face charges.

were there warning signs? and why authorities are convinced the attack was premeditated. the end of roe v. wade? the supreme court appearing ready to upend the landmark abortion rights ruling. what it could mean for millions of women across the country. shutdown showdown. lawmakers scrambling to reach a deal to keep the government running. why a group of republican senators are threatening to block a deal. abc news exclusive. alec baldwin opens up for the first time about the fatal movie set shooting. >> you've described it as a one in a trillion shot and the gun was in your hand. how do you come to terms with that? this morning, what the lawyer for "rust" assistant director is saying about the tragedy. >> dave has told me since day one that mr. baldwin never pulled the trigger. >> the owner of a prop arsenal that provided guns and ammunition to the film speaks to "gma." why he's confident the live rounds on set did not come from

him. "gma" exclusive. the new warning about online shopping scams and social media and what you can do to protect yourself. porch pirate crackdown. with holiday deliveries ramping up, how police departments around the country are getting aggressive when it comes to protecting your packages. ♪ i feel alive ♪ and jackpot. what happens on "gma" stays on "gma." we're waking up in vegas this morning for an epic "rise & shine" from nevada. ♪ and good morning, america. great to be here with both michael and george. george, watching just the trailer of your conversation with alec baldwin, it's heartbreaking and you've said this is one or the most intense interview you've ever done. >> no question about it. i've known alec for several years and i've never seen him like this. as you can imagine you can see he's crushed but he's also very, very candid. he's fully cooperating with investigators.

we covered a lot of ground. we covered every question in the interview and we'll show, of course, the whole thing tonight at 8:00 p.m. on the network. more of that coming up on "gma" as well. >> we are looking forward to that. in the meantime, we begin with the fight against covid and the growing concerns over the omicron variant. take a live look at the white house. this morning we are learning new details about the plan president biden will announce today in an attempt to curb the spread of this new variant after the first case was confirmed here in the u.s. in california. >> the person traveled from south africa on november 22nd and tested positive on november 29th. they were vaccinated but did not have a booster. symptoms were mild and the person has already recovered. matt gutman is live now in san francisco with more on that first case. good morning, matt. >> reporter: hey, good morning, michael. authorities say that everybody who came into close contact with that traveler has tested negative but authorities say that it is very likely that this variant is going to be spread within the community.

now, to combat that, the president rolling out his winter strategy, focusing heavily on boosters but for the first time insurance reimbursement for those at-home test kits. this morning, as officials urge calm about the first case of omicron in the u.s. -- >> it is also certainly not a cause for us to panic. >> reporter: -- the white house rolling out a list of actions to combat it. starting with new steps to, quote, ensure the nearly 100 million eligible americans who have not received boosters get one as soon as possible. the administration saying it plans to make at-home rapid tests free, extend mask requirements on public transit and require more stringent testing protocols for all international travelers. so far all of the worldwide omicron cases have originated in southern africa, which is also where that first u.s. patient had been prior to landing in san francisco on november 22nd. three days later on thanksgiving, the traveler feeling symptoms and four days

after that on the 29th testing positive. self-reporting to authorities. >> the person was very proactive and upon knowing that they were infected, they contacted the san francisco department of public health. >> reporter: and that positive sample arriving at dr. charles chiu's lab on november 30th. >> in this case because of the travel history we decided to prioritize the sequencing. >> reporter: the patient fully vaccinated but was not yet due for a booster. officials say the person's close contacts have all tested negative. that first case discovered as the cdc directed airlines on wednesday to provide contact information of all passengers who had been to africa. with 30 mutations and the virus' spike protein alone, this image showing how different omicron is than delta. >> the molecular profile of the kinds of mutations you see would suggest, a, that it might be more transmissible and that it might elude some of the protection of vaccines.

>> reporter: that unknown driving crowds to vaccination sites. at some pharmacies slots for boosters booked for weeks. >> the availability dates were getting pushed into next week and the week after. so i knew we would be in this area and tried something more local and that one worked out for us. >> reporter: now, at the start of the pandemic, it might have taken several weeks to sequence a new variant but now with the help of this gizmo at this lab, they managed to sequence it in just five hours and the doctor who sequenced the virus says it's actually a good thing it's in the united states because now they have a viable sample. that will help them determine whether, in fact, this new variant is more transmissible, more virulent than the delta variant but they caution it could take weeks to make that determination. george? >> thanks, matt. let's bring in dr. ashish jha, dean of the brown university school of public health. dr. jha, thanks for joining us

again this morning. inevitable that omicron would hit our shores. what should we expect next? >> good morning, george. thanks for having me back. this is not surprising. we knew this was coming. at this point there are a couple of things for me that i think are important, one, track the spread of this variant across our country using both genomic sequences and regular testing and second see how people are doing, see how vaccinated people are doing with the infection, how unvaccinated people are doing. seeing if it's causing milder or more severe disease, all things that will be critical to watch in the days and weeks ahead. >> there seems to be a difference of opinion among the chief pharmaceutical executives about whether the vaccine will be effective against the variant. where do you stand on that? >> we just need more data at this point. we don't know. i think there is reason to be concerned that our vaccines may take a hit. i'm pretty confident if you're fully boosted you're going to have a high degree of protection, but we'll know more in the next week to ten days. >> that's part of the president's plan we just heard about. how do you assess the president's plan? >> i like it. it's comprehensive. we have to take a multifaceted approach. testing, people have to be

wearing masks indoors in crowded places. people need to get boosted. they are all the tools we developed over the last 20 months and we need to deploy them all. >> we have to expand boosters at this point. there's some talk about whether all college students should get their booster for 2022. >> i believe everybody 18 and above should get a booster. to me the data has been clear. it's been clear for several months, that includes almost all college student, not only because they will protect themselves but they'll also slow down the spread. so i think boosters for all adult americans is the right way to go at this point. >> dr. jha, thanks for your time and information. we're turning to the latest in that deadly school shooting in michigan. the 15-year-old suspect charged as an adult with four counts of murder. trevor ault has the latest. >> reporter: overnight 500 people attending a vigil to honor the four victims who lost their lives in tuesday's deadly michigan school shooting as we're learning new details about the investigation.

authorities saying they recovered videos from the suspect's cell phone taken the night prior where he talked about shooting and killing students the next day. >> we've had the opportunity to review that surveillance video just this morning, and what's depicted on that video honestly, judge, i don't have the words to describe how horrific that was. >> reporter: they also recovered a journal detailing his desire to shoot up a school. the prosecutors describing how the suspect first entered a bathroom with a backpack and came out holding a gun. >> at that point he methodically and deliberately walked down the hallway aiming the firearm at students and firing. >> reporter: at his first court appearance, 15-year-old ethan crumbley pleaded not guilty to 24 criminal charges wednesday including four counts of first degree murder and terrorism. he is charged as an adult. his parents also appearing virtually at his arraignment. >> you are the parents of ethan crumbley, is that correct? >> yes, correct. >> that is correct.

>> reporter: they may face charges themselves after investigators learned the gun the suspect used was purchased by his father just days earlier and the sheriff says the couple had been to their son's school just hours before the shooting for a meeting with school officials about his behavior. a law enforcement official says investigators are now pursuing information that the night before the attack some students watched a snapchat video warning of a shooting the next day and some of those students stayed home from school but nobody tipped off the police. >> the fact that i heard two of the gunshots and those probably either hurt somebody or even killed somebody is just insane to me. >> reporter: in the community remembering those taken too soon, 14-year-old hana st. juliana, 16-year-old tate myre, 17-year-old madisyn baldwin and 17-year-old justin shilling, a member of the oxford bowling team who succumbed to his injuries wednesday. the oxford high school sign now a memorial to those young lives lost. and the prosecutor said the

terrorism charge is because the impact of the shooting is so widespre widespread. there's 1,800 students here. so many of them had to hide or run for their lives, plus the trauma caused to their families. the prosecutor stressed you did not need to be shot to be victimized. michael? >> all right, thank you so much for that, trevor. now we turn to the battle over abortion rights. the fate of the landmark roe versus wade decision now in the hands of the supreme court after hearing arguments about the mississippi law aimed at overturning it. terry moran has the story. >> reporter: this morning, the supreme court appears primed to upend roe versus wade a move that would transform and maybe even eliminate a woman's constitutional right to an abortion in the united states. [ crowd chanting ] activists for and against abortion rights faced off. thousands protesting on the court's steps. meanwhile inside the six conservative justices signaled they're inclined to uphold a mississippi law that would ban most abortions after 15 weeks with no exceptions for rape or

incest. right now, roe and other cases prohibit states from banning abortion before fetal viability, about 24 weeks, but the mississippi law would halt abortions two months earlier. chief justice john roberts suggested the mississippi law provides women with sufficient time to choose. >> my ability, it seems to me, doesn't have anything to do with choice. but if it really is an issue about choice, why is 15 weeks not enough time? >> reporter: justice brett kavanaugh asked whether abortion should be left to the states which means overturning roe altogether. >> why should this court be the arbiter rather than congress, the state legislatures, state supreme courts, the people being able to resolve this? >> reporter: kavanaugh changing course from his confirmation hearing when he declared precedent declared roe as

settled law. but now kavanaugh noted ominously the court has often overruled major precedents. they fired back worrying overturning a precedent like roe would subvert the court's legitimacy. >> will this institution survive the stench that this creates in the public perception that the constitution and its reading are just political acts? i don't see how it is possible. >> reporter: a ruling in this case is expected at the end of the court's term, probably next june. michael? >> and, terry, what could it mean if the mississippi law is upheld? >> reporter: it would be huge, michael. no question about it. there are a dozen states at least with laws ready to go if the supreme court either overturns or guts roe versus wade. you would have a patchwork of access to abortion across the united states. america come june could look very, very different for women and for reproductive rights, michael. >> all right, terry moran, thank

you. george? we'll stay in washington and the government shutdown deadline. with funding running out tomorrow republicans and democrats have not reached a deal to keep the government running. congressional correspondent r rachel scott is on capitol hill with the latest. good morning, rachel. >> reporter: george, good morning. a government shutdown is now less than 48 hours away and congress is still scrambling to reach a deal. the latest hurdle is a small group of republican senators who say they will not vote to fund the government unless congress also blocks funding for president biden's vaccine mandates on businesses. now, most republicans are against this strategy but if an agreement is not reached by friday at midnight, the government will run out of money. we are told if this happens it's expected to be temporary. if it drags on it would have a significant impact on the country. hundreds of thousands of government employees would be furloughed in the middle of a pandemic. tsa agents and air traffic controllers could go without pay leading to travel delays ahead of a busy holiday season and, of course, you have the major impact that it would have on the

markets. now, the white house says that all of this is expected to be avoided but, george, they are running out of time. >> okay, rachel, thanks very much. amy? well, george, now to a holiday scam alert about the massive jump in online shopping fraud. the better business bureau out with a new report showing a 40% increase in the number of complaints about online scams, rebecca jarvis is here with an exclusive look at what you need to know before you make that next online purchase. good morning, rebecca. >> good morning to you, amy. online shopping scams are a problem that exploded in the pandemic with people doing so much more of their shopping online. this report says the ftc is projecting $384 million in online shopping losses this year with more than a third of reports to the better business bureau, scam tracker involving online purchases. so here's how it can work. you see an ad on social media. you make a purchase often from a site that stole content from a legitimate business. then as the buyer you receive

either an inferior knockoff product or nothing but a fake tracking number, amy. >> all right, rebecca. so what are the types of items most often involved in fraud and what can people do? >> yes, the better business bureau says they involve cars, pet, products and services and free trial offers. the best way to protect yourself is double-check the website before making a purchase. make sure it's legit. look for a physical address or phone number. that can be a red flag if there isn't one. keep a record of what you ordered by noting the website. take a screen shot of the item and pay attention to bad reviews and pay by credit card. that can often protect you against fraud. you can take it up with the credit card company if it's not legit, amy. >> so important. all right, rebecca, thank you so much for that. michael? we're going to turn to major league baseball's first lockout in more than 30 years. t.j. holmes is here to break it down. t.j., what does this mean and could this delay baseball 2022's season? >> there is a possibility always

but we're not there yet. what are we talking about when we say lockout? this means now that the league, the owners have now determined they want to lock out the players. that means no league activity is going on, no trade, no transactions. even the players don't have access to the facilities and the players aren't even supposed to be in contact with their teams. why do we have a lockout? because the collective bargaining agreement which dictates the relationship between the two sides expired at midnight. the last in place for five years with no agreement in place. so they decided to do a lockout. so what's the sticking point? why haven't they figured this out? i hope you three are sitting down, it's over money. >> oh. >> shocker. >> what? >> are you kidding me? >> i was not expecting that. >> i know, guys so what are we talking about is, mainly some of the players want to be paid earlier in their careers and prime and not have to wait on the back end. that's the big sticking point. matt scherzer signed a deal $43 million a year, a record. wait, there is a money problem, fans don't want to hear this. they will probably won't miss games. >> he got that deal in right before the lockout. s m.

smart m." clinmom of the inte owner of a prop arsenal that provided guns and ammunition to the film. and the new police tactic to catch porch pirates. we'll have that. first, let's go to denver. >> denver was 73 degrees. that's their warmest december temperature in 41 years. dozens of highs were broken or tied from california through the plains. denver still has not had snow, measurable snow so it is super late, the latest on record. you see people running there in very little snow in the mountains. all of that heat is spreading east and we will see coast to coast, dozens of records tied or broken again. your weather in 30 seconds. first the sunny cities sponsored by subaru.

stay there. we'll be right back. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

this year take the time to melt into your holiday moments with lindor. ♪ ♪ irresistibly smooth chocolate. from the lindt master chocolatier. ♪ best of my love by black pumas feat. sofia reyes ♪ at target, shopping has never been easier — irresistibly smooth chocolate. use same day delivery, free order pickup, or free drive up, — and leave with your holidays in the bag. order today, get it today at target. [end music] ♪ infused with nourishing serum

and almond oil, nivea essentially enriched lotion helps lock in goodness for smooth, luminous skin. because today's looking like... it could turn into an all-nighter. for goodness that keeps going, nourish on with nivea. ow bizarre by omc ♪ no annual fee on any discover card. for goodness that keeps going, hi susan! honey? yeah? i respect that. but that cough looks pretty bad... try this robitussin honey. the real honey you love... plus the powerful cough relief you need. mind if i root through your trash? now get powerful relief with robitussin elderberry. ♪ ♪ why give a gift they'll never use? this season, give 'em one

they can use again and again (after washes, of course). show you care with underwear, from fruit of the loom. what is it? so you can get to know your new granddaughter. we're so glad you're here. ♪ come on over! oh honey... she just needs some time. how was school? you ought to be very proud. i'm proud of you. here's another picture of your mommy. she smiled so hard, her front tooth popped out. [giggles] goodnight grandma. she called me grandma? ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ do you believe in magic ♪ ♪ in a young girl's heart ♪ ♪ how the music can free her whenever it starts ♪

♪ and it's magic ♪ ♪ do you believe in magic ♪

financial planning is findin ♪ and it's magic ♪ and, it's designing a plan to help get you there. start a relationship with citi and earn a cash bonus when you open a new eligible account and complete required activities.

wealth management is planning your path together. and, it's guiding you along the way. start a relationship with citi and earn a cash bonus when you open a new eligible account and complete required activities.

from one moment to the next, our kids become the most important part of our lives. and even though the years pass, that never changes. we never stop worrying about them. that's why it's important to have health insurance. with covered california, we got a plan we could afford. it includes free preventive care, like cholesterol and blood-pressure checkups. because even though they grow up, they'll always be your baby. covered california. this way to health insurance. enroll by december 31st at coveredca.com.

♪ it starts with a mother's th determinationth insurance. to treat her baby's eczema. and grows into a family business that helps thousands more. it starts with an army vet's dream of studying the stars. and grows into a new career as an astrophysicist. it starts with an engineer's desire to start over. and grows into an award-winning restaurant

that creates local jobs. they learned how on youtube. what will you learn? this is new special k dipped. with crunchy flakes, dipped in creamy, chocolatey goodness. and tossed with real almonds. ♪ new kellogg's special k dipped. do what's delicious. it's my woke-up-like-this migraine medicine. it's ubrelvy. one dose can quickly stop my migraine in its tracks within 2 hours. don't take with strong cyp3a4 inhibitors. most common side effects were nausea and tiredness. ask about ubrelvy, the anytime, anywhere migraine medicine.

i've never seen you before. you're not puerto rican. >> is that okay? >> if you go with him -- >> welcome back to "gma." fans are excited as we are for the new "west side story," and this morning, we are excited to meet rachel zegler. she's playing the role of maria in her very first movie role. she will join us live in our next hour. are the? >> i can't wait. >> the jets and the shark, can't wait. we have a lot of headlines to get to this morning, including the white house which is rolling out a list of actions to combat the new covid variant starting with new steps to ensure eligible americans can get a booster as soon as possible. the administration says it plans to require more stringent testing protocols for all

international travelers. also right now an investigation is under way after jacqueline avant, the wife of clarence avant, was found dead after what authorities are saying was an attempted home invasion. they were married for 54 years known to be a power couple within their community. the women's tennis association suspended all tournaments in china citing a lack of transparency over the issue of peng shuai. the european union demanding verifiable proof peng is safe. look at this remarkable rescue after a scaffolding collapsed in south florida. two men dangling there in the air for more than an hour. thankfully emergency crews arrived in time and both workers are okay. the nearly two dozen fedex packages were found on the side of a road in alabama. this time about 75 miles from the ravine where hundreds of undelivered packages were also recently discovered. the company is retrieving and now delivering those boxes and says it's fully cooperating with the investigation.

and we do have a lot more ahead including if your packages do arrive the new way police are going after porch pirates. then we're in nevada to "rise & shine." that is all coming up. right now we'll get the latest on alec baldwin. in my interview he says he did not pull the trigger in the tragic accident that killed cinematographer halyna hutchins and now the lawyer for the a.d. on the film is speaking to kaylee hartung. we're also hearing from the owner of a prop arsenal that provided guns and ammunition to the movie. good morning, kaylee. >> reporter: hey, good morning, george. as alec baldwin opens up for the first time to you, others who witnessed the shooting are starting to feel more comfortable speaking up. the assistant director feet away from baldwin now corroborating that stunning detail that alec baldwin didn't pull the trigger. new this morning, a lawyer for the movie's assistant director dave halls responding to george stephanopoulos's interview with alec baldwin saying her client maintains baldwin never pulled the trigger.

>> the entire time baldwin had his finger outside the trigger guard parallel to the barrel and that he told me since day one he thought it was a misfire. i know. and until alec said that it was just really hard to believe but dave has told me since the very first day i met him that alec did not pull that trigger. >> reporter: the owner of a prop arsenal that provided guns and ammunition to the production of "rust" is speaking exclusively to abc news but asking for his face to not be shown. >> pdq arm & prop supplied the guns, the blank ammunition and 50 dummy rounds to the show. >> reporter: as the investigation continues to try to determine how live rounds wound up on the movie set and led to the death of halyna hutchins, a new search warrant sending authorities to collect evidence from seth kenney's albuquerque business, pdq arm & prop. kenney says that live ammo they seized doesn't match what was found on the set.

>> they found four rounds that were close enough to take in with them. tey're not a match but they were close so there's something very unique about the live rounds that were found on "rust" but we've got to wait for the fbi to do its job. >> reporter: kenney, a vendor and expert armorer providing invoices to abc news showing the purchases by "rust," but he says he wasn't their only provider. >> there were other dummy rounds integral to the gun belts so those rounds we can't speak to. >> reporter: according to that search warrant, thell reed, the father of "rust" armor hannah gutierrez reed and an expert himself told detectives he thought the live ammunition on set could have been left over from a previous training session he worked with kenney on during a different production. kenney says that's not possible. >> are you confident that pdq did not mistakenly accidentally somehow send live rounds to the set of "rust"? >> absolutely, absolutely.

it's not a possibility that they came from pdq or myself personally. when we send dummy rounds out, they get individually rattle tested before they get sent out. so if you have a box of 50 you've got to do it 50 times and at that point you know they're safe to send. >> reporter: and seth kenney tells me he is fully cooperating with this investigation and he expects as authorities have said that really important questions will be answered once the fbi processes the live rounds found on set. he explains that forensic fingerprints on those casings. michael? >> so many questions to be answered. george, tonight we'll hear your conversation with alec baldwin. >> that's right. it will air on the network at 8:00 p.m. stream on hulu later and here's a preview of what we talked about. >> she was someone who was loved by everyone who worked with and liked by everyone who worked

with and admired. i mean even now i find it hard to believe that. it just doesn't seem real to me. >> you haven't said much in public since that tragic accident. why speak out now? i think the big question and the one you must have asked yourself a thousand times, how could this have happened? you've described it as a one in a trillion shot and the gun was in your hand. how do you come to terms with that? it wasn't in the script for the trigger to be pulled? >> well, the trigger wasn't pulled. i didn't pull the trigger. >> you never pulled the trigger? >> no, no, no, i would never point a gun at anybody and pull the trigger. >> what do you think happened? how did a real bullet get on that set? >> i have no idea. someone put a live bullet in a gun, a bullet that wasn't even supposed to be on the property. >> how do you react to actors

like george clooney who says every time they were handed a gun they checked it themselves? your emotions are so clear on the surface, you felt shock. you felt anger. you felt sadness. do you feel guilt? you said you're not a victim, but is this the worst thing that's ever happened to you? >> yes, yeah, yeah, because i -- i think back and i think of what could i have done. >> announcer: "alec baldwin: unscripted," the newsmaking special event tonight at 8/7 central on abc and stream on hulu. >> you see it all right there on his face. but how about that headline? he did not pull the trigger and now we've seen the attorney for david halls, the assistant director who said we've been saying that all along. so many more questions for the investigation to answer and as i said alec baldwin answers every question tonight. >> we will all be watching, george. thank you very much. coming up next on "gma," the

new police tactic to catch those porch pirates. actic to catch the porch pirates. [sfx: radio being tuned] welcome to allstate. ♪ [band plays] ♪ a place where everyone lives life well-protected. ♪ and even when things go a bit wrong, we've got your back. here, things work the way you wish they would. and better protection costs a whole lot less. you're in good hands with allstate. click or call for a lower auto rate today. quaker could've stopped at 24g of whole grains. instead they added vitamin d, calcium & iron. and no artificial flavors. and yes! those are delicious bits of s'mores. at breakfast time, go with the grain of all time. quaker oats. a super-trusted superfood.

for people living with h-i-v, keep being you. and ask your doctor about biktarvy. biktarvy is a complete, one-pill, once-a-day treatment used for h-i-v in certain adults. it's not a cure, but with one small pill, biktarvy fights h-i-v to help you get to and stay undetectable. that's when the amount of virus is so low it cannot be measured by a lab test. research shows people who take h-i-v treatment every day and get to and stay undetectable can no longer transmit h-i-v through sex. serious side effects can occur, including kidney problems and kidney failure. rare, life-threatening side effects include a buildup of lactic acid and liver problems. do not take biktarvy if you take dofetilide or rifampin. tell your doctor about all the medicines and supplements you take, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have kidney or liver problems, including hepatitis. if you have hepatitis b, do not stop taking biktarvy without talking to your doctor. common side effects were diarrhea, nausea, and headache.

if you're living with hiv, keep loving who you are. and ask your doctor if biktarvy is right for you. ♪ ♪ ♪ (sha bop sha bop) ♪ ♪ are the stars out tonight? (sha bop sha bop) ♪ ♪ ♪ alexa, play our favorite song again. ok. ♪ i only have eyes for you ♪ after 40 wrinkles deepen and skin can get uneven but here's the good news. ok. the new revitalift pressed night cream, with retinol + niacinamide after 14 nights wrinkles start to be less visible and skin tone looks more even. the new revitalift pressed cream by l'oreal paris ♪ can i get ten large fries please? i'm gonna need like ten egg mcmuffin sandwich things? night, or the next morning,

you've been loyal. mymcdonald's rewards is for you. now, every order earns points redeemable for free mcdonald's. now, every order earns points redeemable ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ with chase security features, guidance and convenience, banking feels good. chase. make more of what's yours. we're back now with porch pirate crackdown. the u.s. postal service expecting to deliver up to 950 million packages this holiday and fedex forecasting a 10% increase over last year. kayna whitworth joins us now with how police departments are now fighting back possible threats. good morning, kayna. >> reporter: hey, amy.

so how about this, by one estimate 210 million packages disappeared from american front porches in the last year and with this holiday buying season in full swing here, some police departments are using some creative ways to catch those thieves. >> stop. put that back. >> reporter: thanks to smart doorbells hundreds of porch pirates are caught on camera every year like this one swiping a package on his way out of an apartment complex. this thief taking a glance at a package and walking away only to return and take it later. and this woman stealing from five homes on a single street in california. >> if you think about package theft, it's kind of a low level crime. it's very easy to do and really the risks are quite low as well. >> reporter: cameras like these are meant to deter criminals and now police with do more than just see them. they can actually track them down. police departments across the country are taking aggressive action to ward off package

thieves like this one near portland, oregon, implementing a different strategy, having previously victimized homeowners place a gps tracker inside a bait package. >> when it's picked up, the gps tracker alerts deputies in the area that the package has been moved. they make sure it's actually leaving the area and then once they know it is an active theft they respond. >> reporter: this detective says since they started the new initiative, porch pier si has gone down by about 10%. >> what it is is trying to make a positive effect in the neighborhoods and helping the residents get the things they order. we don't want somebody to be without medication because someone decides to steal a package. >> reporter: experts say changes in people's routines during the pandemic have left many porches open to package thieves for longer. >> it is very important we remember to get the package if we're notified especially as soon as we can and not let it lay there longer than it needs to be whether working from home or get home from work and retrieve our packages.

>> reporter: so 43% of online shoppers say they've had a package stolen in the last year and, you guys, experts say oftentimes those people are home when the package is stolen. guys? >> wow, wow. all right, kayna, so what are some tips that people can employ to reduce package theft? >> reporter: right, you know, really they're pretty easy. first of all, sign up for text alerts so you know when your package arrives and you can grab it. if you can't be home, doing something as simple as asking your delivery person to hide that package behind a plant or a decoration just so it can't be easily seen from the street can make a huge difference. >> all right. kayna whitworth, sad we have to think about all those things at christmastime but it is what it is. kayna, thank you very much. coming up later, gio benitez, he's taking us on board a history-making test flight, a passenger plane fueled by sugar water and corn. could it be the future of air travel? we'll talk to him about that. coming up next, it is our thursday "play of the day."

want more from your vitamins? at nature's bounty, we give you more. more immune support. with the only vitamin c that lasts 24 hours. more restful sleep. with the first-ever triple action sleep supplement. we put more of our brains into helping your heart. we give you more wellness solutions backed by rigorous science than we ever have before. nature's bounty gives you more, so you can live bountifully. ♪ nat♪re's bounty gives you more, discover a world of giving with ralph lauren fragrances. at macy's. the fragrance destination. like pulsing, electric shocks, sharp, stabbing pains, or an intense burning sensation.

what is this nightmare? it's how some people describe... shingles. a painful, blistering rash that could interrupt your life for weeks. forget social events and weekend getaways. if you've had chickenpox, the virus that causes shingles is already inside of you. if you're 50 years or older ask your doctor or pharmacist about shingles. so you want a smartwatch? how about one that can... harness the power of the sun. tell you when the surf is up. or show you the distance to the pin. so many smartwatches. at garmin. with less moderate-to-severe eczema, why hide your skin if you can help heal your skin from within? dupixent helps keep you one step ahead of eczema

with clearer skin and less itch. hide my skin? not me. don't use if you're allergic to dupixent. serious allergic reactions can occur, including anaphylaxis, which is severe. tell your doctor about new or worsening eye problems, such as eye pain or vision changes, or a parasitic infection. if you take asthma medicines, don't change or stop them without talking to your doctor. ask your doctor about dupixent. ♪ ♪ my name's caleb. what's yours? i'm grace! did you just move here? yeah! cool! ♪ may you have joy, comfort and peace. ♪ ♪ we wish you well, oh yes we do! ♪ how did panera come c up with the idea ♪ ♪ to combine their, famous mac and cheese with their iconic grilled cheese? by saying yes.

yes to new inventions! yes to clean and fresh ingredients! and yes to living life to the flavor-fullest. panera. live your yes. now $1 delivery. ♪ i see trees of green ♪ ♪ red roses too ♪ ♪ i see them bloom for me and you ♪ (music) so i think to myself ♪ ♪ oh what a wonderful world ♪ ♪ hey look ma i made it ♪ the things you learn on this show. back now with our "play of the day" and a young golf phenom swinging us into thursday. take a look at 8-year-old leo lining up this chip shot.

nice and smooth and like butter, it's right in the hole. >> boom. >> there you go, leo. here he is again from earlier in the year meaning to chip this ball over his father's head. he started playing when he was 4 and he's now a 19 handicap and he's already excelled at the junior world championships. i don't know if you're 19 handicap, 1 handicap, i'm not letting you hit it over my head. >> and right into the basket. that was a big hole in one. >> he's got some skills. >> yes, he does. >> what's your handicap, amy? >> that's funny. i had strahan explain what it is and i still don't understand it. you know what i like? the 19th hole. coming up, we kick off our two-day "deals & steals" event with perfect presents even for the toughest person to shop for on your list. wow... that's so nice! is that a photo of tepechitlan? yeah! the gift of ancestry®, is a walk through your history. do you remember who this is?

it's a gift that surprises you, moves you, and bonds you. ...papa? i can see the nose and everything. she was the original strong woman. i know. this holiday, give the gift of family. give the gift of ancestry®. ♪ i wonder where froot loops come from? follow me! ♪ just follow your nose! mmmm! part of a complete breakfast.

no one can deliver your mom's homemade short ribs. that's why instacart helps deliver the ingredients. and you add the love. (tiger) this is the dimension of imagination. ♪ ♪ healthy habits come in all sizes. like little walks. and, getting screened for colon cancer. that's big because when caught in early stages,

it's more treatable. hey, cologuard! hi. i'm noninvasive and i detect altered dna in your stool to find 92% of colon cancers, even in early stages. early stages! yep, it's for people 45 plus at average risk for colon cancer, not high risk. false positive and negative results may occur. ask your provider if cologuard is right for you. count me in! me too! we love our new home. lots of windows, great light- count me in! but the birds. they're back. yes, i hear them. uh-oh. why are these birds so angry?! at least geico makes bundling our home and car insurance easy. we save a lot. i'm going...i'm going. aaaahh! hurry, hurry! i know, i know! for bundling made easy, go to geico.com. expecting someone else? it's the all-idays, and no matter how you jingle, we've got your jammies.

nice, nice. it's the naughty ones who make history. alla the jingle jammies, alla the gifts. happy all-idays from old navy! welcome back to "gma." let me take you to spain and right over a drone over this lava field. you can see that lava flow. it is sped up, eddie was asking. this is something that's been erupting since september but now la palma officials are saying it has destroyed more than 2,000 buildings. this what we're seeing is pretty rural which is good, obviously. there's been a lot of high seismic activity so it's very active. back here i want to share with you, not talking about volcanoes or lava flow but warmth. look at wrightsville beach, north carolina, from our surf line cam. somebody getting their jog in this morning. temperatures will rise and pretty significantly going into the weekend. not just in north carolina but look at some of these numbers, kansas city up to 60. i heard a yes over there. amy is all, yes.

>> i'm going to atlanta. >> amy is going to atlanta. hey, into the 70s you go. coming up here on "gma," dr. ashton will break down an important study about aging and exercise. exercise. time to "rise & shine" - [announcer] the more we learn about covid-19 the more questions and worries we have. calhope can help with free covid-19 emotional support. calhope can help with free covid-19 emotional support. call 833-317-4673 or live chat at calhope.org today. there's never been a better time to switch to xfinity. get the fast and reliable internet you deserve for only $19.99 a month for 12 months for an epic deal this holiday season. and score 12 times the speed for the same price when you add xfinity mobile. you'll save hundreds over at&t. switch now to xfinity internet to power all your devices and get started for just $19.99 a month. plus, see how you can get $200 back during our black friday sales event. click, call or visit a store today.

- [narrator] if you're feeling anxious about the future, you're not alone. calhope offers free covid-19 emotional support. call 833-317-4673 or live chat at calhope.org today. "good morning america" is sponsored by old navy. happy all-idays.

healthier is on-demand covid testing to help you return safely. even if it's still... a little awkward. how've you been? -i'm so good! ♪ this is what healthier looks like. ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ easy tools on the chase mobile app. simplicity feels good. chase. make more of what's yours. [ sfx: ding ding ding ] [sfx: bing bing bing ] [sfx: bloop bloop bloop ]

[ sfx: bing bloop ding ding bloop bing ] the day can wait. enter the golden state, with real california dairy. wow, no braces, everything's hands free. i wasn't so lucky. invis is not your parent's braces. invis is faster than braces and the clear aligner brand most trusted by doctors. invisalign.

good morning, america. it's 8:00 a.m. as we learn more about the first known omicron case in the u.s., how the white house is taking action to combat the new variant. what you need to know about mask requirements, at-home rapid tests and boosters. the end of roe v. wade? the supreme court appearing ready to upend the landmark abortion rights ruling. what it could mean for millions of women across the country. farm to flight. "gma" is taking you on board a history-making test flight. the first-ever passenger plane fueled by sugar water and corn. how it works and could it be the future of air travel? ♪ pump it ♪ age actively. why taking it easy as you get older could be out the window.

how you can help protect yourself against heart disease and more. dr. ashton is breaking down the new harvard research. ♪ good morning from nevada. the bright lights are back on, all the showstopping acts, superstar performances and i dos from boulder city to las vegas. ♪ tonight, tonight ♪ and this morning, we meet a girl named maria. ♪ i saw you ♪ >> "west side story" star rachel zegler joins us live in times square. how she beat out 30,000 people for her first-ever movie role and she's saying -- >> good morning, america. ♪ what you do, what you say ♪ good morning, america. glad you're starting your day with us. great to have george here, great to have you with us, amy. >> it is nice to be here. and guess what, we're getting ready to "rise & shine" in nevada. we are taking over fremont street.

there's kaylee hartung with what i'm told is slotzilla. the 12-story-high zip line. she'll take the plunge, can't wait for that, and that's coming up. we'll start with the fight against covid and the growing concerns over the omicron variant. after the first case was confirmed in the u.s. that was in california. back to matt gutman in san francisco. good morning, matt. >> reporter: hey, good morning, george. authorities here tell us that everybody who came into contact with that person has so far tested negative. that as the president rolls out his winter strategy to try to combat omicron. focusing on boosters but also on at-home test kits. this morning, as officials urge calm about the first case of omicron in the u.s. -- >> it is also certainly not a cause for us to panic. >> reporter: the white house rolling out a list of actions to combat it. starting with new steps to, quote, ensure the nearly 100 million eligible americans who have not received boosters get one as soon as possible.

the administration saying it also plans to make at-home rapid tests free, extend mask requirement on public transit and require more stringent testing protocols for all international travelers. george spoke with dr. ashish jha about omicron earlier this morning. >> there seems to be a difference of opinion among the chief pharmaceutical executives about whether the vaccine is going to be effective against this variant. where do you stand? >> i think there is reason to be concerned that our vaccines may take a hit. i'm pretty confident if you're fully boosted, you're going to have a high degree of protection. >> reporter: so far most of the world's omicron cases are connected to southern africa which is also where that first u.s. patient had been prior to landing in san francisco on november 22nd. and that positive sample arriving at dr. charles chiu's lab on november 30th. >> in this case, because of the travel history, we decided to prioritize the sequencing. >> reporter: the patient not yet

due for a booster and officials say the close contacts all tested negative. they managed to sequence omicron here at this lab in just five hours. dr. chiu said it's actually a good thing that they now have a viable sample that will allow them to replicate the virus and determine whether it is more transmissible and more virulent than the delta variant or hopefully not, george. >> okay, matt gutman, thanks very much. amy. now to the battle over abortion rights. the fate of the landmark roe v. wade decision now in the hands of the supreme court after hearing arguments about the mississippi law aimed at overturning it. terry moran is there tracking the very latest for us. good morning, again, terry. >> reporter: good morning, amy. the fate of roe versus wade seems clearer this morning after those extraordinary arguments. there's no beating around the bushes from the start, the conservative justices were taking direct aim at roe versus wade. this morning, the supreme court appears primed to upend roe versus wade, a move that would transform and maybe even eliminate a woman's

constitutional right to an abortion in the united states. [ crowd chanting ] activists for and against abortion rights faced off, thousands protesting on the court's steps. meanwhile inside the six conservative justices signaled they're inclined to uphold a mississippi law that would ban most abortions after 15 weeks with no exceptions for rape or incest. right now, roe and other cases prohibit states from banning abortion before fetal viability, that's about 24 weeks, but the mississippi law would halt them two months earlier. chief justice john roberts suggested the mississippi law provides women with sufficient time to choose. >> viability, it seems to me, doesn't have anything to do with choice. but if it really is an issue about choice why is 15 weeks not enough time? >> reporter: the liberal justices fired back worried overturning a decades old precedent like roe would subvert the court's legitimacy. if the court overturns that mississippi law, there are entire states really entire

regions that stand ready with their own laws to criminalize abortion. a ruling in this case is expected at the end of the court's term next june, guys. >> all right, terry moran with the latest from d.c., thank you. coming up, gio benitez's sweet "ride," flying high in a plane fueled by sugar water and corn. what it could mean for the future of travel. dr. ashton is here to break down the new study about aging actively and how as little as ten minutes a day could actually extend your life. >> let's take a look at kaylee. yep, she's climbing to the top of slotzilla getting ready to zipline 12 stories up over the famous fremont street in las vegas. we'll be right back. ♪ what you get for waking up in vegas ♪ ♪ what you get for waking up in vegas ♪ i'm relentless every day. and having more days is possible with verzenio, proven to help you live significantly longer when taken with fulvestrant. verzenio + fulvestrant is for women with hr+, her2- metastatic breast cancer

that has progressed after hormone therapy. diarrhea is common, may be severe, or cause dehydration or infection. at the first sign, call your doctor, start an anti-diarrheal, and drink fluids. before taking verzenio, tell your doctor about any fever, chills, or other signs of infection. verzenio may cause low white blood cell counts, which may cause serious infection that can lead to death. life-threatening lung inflammation can occur. tell your doctor about any new or worsening trouble breathing, cough, or chest pain. serious liver problems can happen. symptoms include fatigue, appetite loss, stomach pain, and bleeding or bruising. blood clots that can lead to death have occurred. tell your doctor if you have pain or swelling in your arms or legs, shortness of breath, chest pain and rapid breathing or heart rate, or if you are nursing, pregnant or plan to be. every day matters. and i want more of them. ask your doctor about everyday verzenio. [ best of my love by black pumas feat. sofia reyes ] shop target deals all weekend. save 10% on target giftcards, in stores and online. this saturday and sunday, only. just get your offer with target circle. only at target. [ music ends ]

♪ rich, indulgent chocolate with a luscious caramel filling. with love from san francisco. ghirardelli caramel squares. makes life a bite better. ♪ ♪ ♪ (sha bop sha bop) ♪ ♪ are the stars out tonight? (sha bop sha bop) ♪ ♪ ♪ alexa, play our favorite song again. ok. ♪ i only have eyes for you ♪

♪ can i get ten large fries please? i'm gonna need like ten egg mcmuffin sandwich things? night, or the next morning, you've been loyal. mymcdonald's rewards is for you. now, every order earns points redeemable for free mcdonald's. i recommend nature made vitamins, because i trust their quality. earns points redeemable they were the first to be verified by usp, an independent organization that sets strict quality and purity standards. nature made. the #1 pharmacist-recommended vitamin and supplement brand.

♪ i don't want a lot for christmas ♪ welcome back to "gma." yes, we are glad you're with us this morning. see we're getting into the spirit and tomorrow on "gma," the queen of christmas, mariah carey, going to tell us all about her love of the holidays and her new christmas special. >> you have to pick her up again? >> no, i don't think she's in person. if she were, i would. we're going to move on now to our "gma" cover story. what could be the future of travel. the first ever passenger flight powered by fuel made of sugar water and corn. transportation correspondent gio benitez was on it. he joins us now. good morning, gio. >> reporter: we landed. that's good. you could call it farm to flight. corn being turned into gas. completely mimicking the kind of fuel you can put in a plane or even your car. and this morning, "gma" is taking you on the history-making test flight. we're boarding a packed flight unlike any other.

you can see right here, this is quite literally an experiment. inside this engine united airlines is using groundbreaking new fuel made from sugar water and corn. we take off and it's just like any other flight. united's ceo scott kirby says that's the point. what's that like for you personally because we are here, we are in the air with one of the engines with sustainable fuel. >> yeah, it's a really proud moment to me represent the people of united airlines as leading in the global fight against climate change. >> reporter: to find out how we go inside the madison, wisconsin, lab making this happen. it's called virent. >> we take the carbon from the sugar, we rearrange that and create the same tears you would get from a traditional petroleum refining product. >> and the end product smells like gas, looks like gas. >> smells like gas, looks like gas and burns like gas. >> reporter: in fact, virent

says nothing needs to change on the plane or even a car. the fuel drops right in but burns 35% to 70% cleaner than regular fuel and it's made from all kinds of sugars. >> corn syrup is the most readily available source to get the technology deployed today, but long-term we see corn stover. not true edible parts to be the holy grail. >> reporter: this is a whole new industry and just the beginning. refineries have to be built to make it at a commercial scale and they will likely be near america's farms so for planes and cars we're talking several years but, michael, you saw right there, it is possible. >> all right, gio. we're glad you landed too, my friend. that was great. i love all the sustainable fuels and everything else we're using. now we're going to turn to a "gma" health alert. scientists out of harvard university are sharing new research on the importance of staying active and how it might help protect us against some chronic diseases. abc news chief medical associate correspondent dr. jennifer

ashton is here with more. tell us about the results of this review. >> michael, everyone knows that exercise is good for our health but this is really the first time this study by researchers at harvard showed the why and the how. it's called the active grandparent hypothesis and there are theories here about how and why exercise is good for us and it's not just about extending our lifespan. it's about extending our health span. two theories, number one, it causes a positive stress as we exercise which then triggers a whole cycle of repair and renewal of energy, and the second theory is an interesting one, it's that energy that we spent exercising is actually diverted away from energy that's spent on negative aging processes like fat deposition and cellular damage so really important now because we know the why and the how. >> we know exercise is important like you said earlier but how much exercise? >> well, okay, this is still an area of ongoing debate. but the good news is, you don't need to go and run a marathon like our gal pal amy robach although that is amazing, okay,

any little bit helps, all right. so 20 minutes a day of moderate activity. you know, like walking, biking, ten minutes a day of vigorous activity, any little bit matters. so the bottom line is it's never too late. >> and it can fight the aging process so ten years younger i'll work out an hour a day. it's not just about exercise but diet. >> it's about diet and what we eat and the fuel and how we rest, but in terms of nutrition, there are some key points that people need to remember at any age. number one, load up on the fruit and vegetable, that's going to give you a lot of good fiber, which is incredibly important and reduces cancer risk, limit the sodium and sugar and avoiding excess alcohol. all these things are not good for us at any age. a little bit in moderation is okay, but this is a good study.

>> i can like it. if somebody else could work out for you that would be a better study and i would let amy do all my exercising because she's always on top of it. >> me, too. >> amy. >> all right, well, sometimes i only exercise for ten minutes a day, it's all true. thank you, guys. time now to "rise & shine" from nevada. we are taking you to the silver state as it opens back up and kaylee hartung is there this morning, joining us from 12 stories above las vegas getting ready to take flight on slotzilla. how is it going, kaylee. >> reporter: hey, amy, we made it to the top of the fremont street experience and the view is something else. but there is so much to see in the silver state, beyond the bright lights of vegas, and we did our best to check it all out. ♪ from the las vegas neon strip to the crystal clear waters of lake ternatnal tourism was hit especially hard by covid shutdowns but now the lights are back on shining brighter than ever. >> everything is on the upswing and we couldn't be more excited about that.

♪ shut up and put your money where your mouth is that's what you get for waking up in vegas ♪ >> reporter: sin city welcoming nearly 23 million tourists in the first nine months of 2021. a little over half the usual visitation before the pandemic. once you're in vegas there is no passport required. you can go to paris, italy and new york all in the same day. ♪ ooh, i'm blinded by the lights ♪ >> reporter: visitors come for the games, epic nightlife and, of course to say -- >> i do. ♪ good morning, america ♪ >> reporter: for more than 60 years a little white wedding chapel has helped nearly 1 million couples tie the knot and the owner charlotte richards has seen her share of happy ever afters. >> i marry young people, i marry old people. i marry the stars.

>> reporter: the billion-dollar wedding industry was faced with major heartache but richards' drive through tunnel of love and pink caddie kept romance alive. >> i married them at the window. they didn't care. they just want to get married. ♪ >> reporter: nestled in the heart of the biggest little city in the world, this teacher serves up every slice of pizza with a side of respect. >> you're part of us. you're not number 62 here. >> reporter: his employees, many with disabilities who were furloughed for months, today are fully vaccinated and back in the kitchen dishing out pies and cannolis made from scratch. >> our mission is to create hope and meaning for them and some skill that they could use to have some shot at a job. >> reporter: and nearly 500 miles south of reno, boulder city is home to the coffee cup cafe, run by siblings terry and lindsay stevens. they're famous for their comfort food. and bloody marys.

mom's special recipe. cheers. the restaurant built from the ground up by their parents. when the pandemic forced their doors to shut for 65 days, they adapted to support the boulder community. >> we just kind of made like a little market in there and we just gave it, you know, take what you need for your families. >> how proud of you? >> very proud. they keep the best of us going and they're putting their flare into it. the younger generation. >> reporter: our crew had the greatest time with the stevens family but i do not need an extra cup of coffee. here's my wake-up call. let's go, guys. let's take off. so we're taking off from the largest slot machine in the world flying across fremont street. guys, i'm going up to 35 miles per hour, real fast. we're going to travel 1700 feet, 5 city blocks and it's going to happen fast in less than a minute. i mean can you see this view.

how about this? this is the largest digital video display in the world above me. and i got to say, our graphics look pretty fantastic, we're taking over fremont street. now 3.5 million people have taken this ride. i'm joining the club. whoo. hey, guys. i'm crying. these are tears of joy. it's that exciting. i mean, michael is the one going to space, but, whoo. oh. that's a little jolt to finish it off. [ laughter ] oh, man. i can't believe you guys let me do this on live tv. >> kaylee -- kaylee hartung, truly, truly taking -- >> that was the best stand-up i have ever seen in my life. >> i never heard george laugh so hard, kaylee. you just win the prize for that. >> thanks for rolling with me, guys.

>> that was unbelievable. >> that was amazing. thanks for rolling for us, kaylee. all right, ginger, over to you. >> i love how she looked like a supermodel the entire time. when i've done stuff like that i'm all -- i never look good. all right, well, i know she's having a lotter fun and so is this guy. get it. i went for a pun. guy, come on with me. just some of the snow because there's over 8% snow cover in our nation which is very low and we do have a shot at getting some after this warm-up passes

♪ it's the little saint nick ♪ we're kicking off two-day "deals & steals" holiday gift event and all these presents are from small businesses, you can go right to the deals by pointing your cell phone camera at that qr code that santa may have his sleigh filled with these gifts, but tory johnson, you have the gift train. he has the sleigh. let's get to it. >> okay, so we'll head down here because we've got the biggest blanket, this is the coziest gift so help me out here. you grab this side. i'll take this one. >> that's all one blanket. >> this is one blanket. it is 10 feet by 10 feet so 100 square feet of the most comfy cozy. it has a little bit of stretch in it. look at you. you know how to fold blankets

nicely. look at that. >> momma taught me well. >> she did teach you well. this is the gift of the ultimate comfort. there you go. >> this is awesome. >> it's comfy. think about a marathon movie night or just because you want to cozy up. an entire family can fit in this. we have ten awesome colors to choose from. 50% off, today they are $79.50. >> 10x10. someone will still steal the covers from you, guaranteed. # jewelry. jewelry is always the right thing to go with. >> dazzle them with diamonds, you can't go wrong with that. these are from amelia rose. her best-selling classic, initials in either bracelet or they're set in hand set in sterling silver. they are spectacular. we also have from her, brand-new, these are the gemstone initials. these are gorgeous, a slightly bigger size but colorful fun, gorgeous earrings as well. everything from her is fabulous and today they start at $34. >> great deal as usual.

car fresheners. they can make travel better. >> sometimes they're super tacky, right, they don't look or smell good. drift is amazing. this is magnetic. it sticks on here. this is going to go right on to your visor. this is my favorite scent. this is amber. >> wow. >> this is spectacular. they have three different flavors, teak, cabana or amber. amber my favorite. no matter what you choose pretty fabulous. you get a three-pack for $12. they say they last for a month. i've had mine in the car for over two months and it's really amazing. >> you have kids coming from the sports practice with those stanky bags in the back. >> baconer, so these are made in america, easy to use spread that can turn any kind of ordinary food into just a delicacy. so we've done it with the bacon which is what it's specifically made for, candied bacon. there are three different varieties, the regular candied, jalapeno and honey. here we have the orange and pink

peppercorn. you can use these on all kinds of food. some people even put this on ice cream. a three-pack, $25. >> ice cream? >> hey. some people like a little salty taste on ice cream. okay, this bag from purser was one of oprah's favorite thing. this year. an evening bag or a jewelry organizer. look in here. pull all these out. there's ten little pouches that are in here. each will hold jewelry so it doesn't get messed up on the go, gorgeous colors, plus, we also have their little lights that go into a purse. these light up, 60-second timer so you never fumble for stuff in your bag. >> i think my mom needs that? >> perfect. i'll send her a one, 8 to $27. huge assortment. oprah loves it. we do too, and then we're ending on steaks. kansas city steak house have really outdone themselves with some awesome packages. we have filet mignon, boneless

rib eyes, we've got a big prime rib roast. the most decadent sides. everything is just meticulously curated for tenderness, their rich flavor, a big variety of options that you'll find online, not just the ones you see here, 50% off and start at $61.50. >> everyone behind the scenes, they're ready to eat. a good lunch today. yes. thank you, tory. >> thank you. you're not going anywhere. we have more holiday "deals & steals" coming up. next up, the breakout star of "west side story" rachel zegler will be here live.

announcer: building a better bay area, moving forward, finding solutions. this is abc 7 news. kumasi: good morning. checking in with jobina for traffic. jobina: good morning, everyone. we will start in walnut creek and take a look at 680 because we have a stall on westbound 24 that is beginning to impact southbound traffic on 680. average speeds will be below 29 miles an hour there. bringing in a picture of the richmond san rafael bridge. really happy we have this camera for you. slow traffic toward the north bay. it is not terrible. prepare for some dou

hi honey! hi mommy! oh i missed you! you just want to video call the kids. ok. hush little baby...don't say a word... but if slow upload speeds turns your goodnight call into an accidental horror movie... can you hear me? shut it down. just remember. you're not a bad mom. you just need better internet. at&t fiber delivers faster upload speeds for more reliable video calls. get at&t fiber, plans starting at $35 a month for a year. limited availability in select areas. call 1.877.only.att.

is coming up. we have nicole kidman and holly robinson peete. >> that breeze will not quit. it is bringing in the haze and what is left of the fog. lowest visibilities is two miles in livermore. hazy sunshine, if you sunshine, some low clouds. near records today, our last day in the 70's. a little drizzle saturday morning will make that afternoon the coolest. otherwise, pretty dry. kumasi: another update in 30

minutes. you can always find the latest on our app and at abc7.com. ♪ tonight, ♪ tonight, tonight ♪ ♪ it all -- and that is a look at the new "west side story," the movie and the young woman playing maria are both getting rave reviews. we're so happy to have her with us this morning, rachel zegler, welcome to "gma." >> thanks for having me. >> talk about starting your career with a bang. this is your first movie, your first director is steven spielberg. the movie is "west side story." you walked the red carpet. what does that feel like? >> it's a whirlwind and baptism by fire but in the best way, i mean i can't believe that we made this movie 2 1/2 years ago, before the world kind of shut down in such a crazy way, and i think there's no better time for it to be released into theaters.

>> we can't agree with you more. tell us how you got the role. you beat out 30,000 other people. >> yeah. that's true. >> to be maria. >> or so they say, right? it's -- i mean it's wild. i reacted to an online twitter casting call from our casting director cindy and sent in what i perceived to be the worst self-tape one could possibly send in. i like hope it never resurfaces on the internet. rlg audition ill and it'll be at process. i went in eight or nine times over the course of 340 something days, and it finally came to that point where steven looked at me and said, i want you to be my maria, and the rest is history. >> i can't even imagine what that moment was like. you were still in high school -- >> yeah. >> -- when you got the news you got the role, but you then asked steven spielberg, hey, is it okay if i still do my musical in high school?

can i do both? >> that was -- that was one of the first things out of my mouth. can i still do "shrek: the musical" in high school? he looked at me and he was like, i produced the original "shrek," of course, you can, and i did. they altered the rehearsal schedule for me, and i was able to do it, which was amazing. oh, there's a video. wow. >> there's always a video. >> oh, wow. >> now you have steven spielberg in your phone under creative sponsor. >> creative sponsor. >> how often do you text him? >> all the time. oh, my gosh. whenever anything exciting happens, whether it be in film or the broadway musical circuit he's the first person i go to. we talk about so much and with the time we spent -- thank you so much. with the time that we spent together on this film there was just so many awesome conversations about our favorite movies and our favorite musicals. there's no one that loves "west side story" more so we would

chat. he used to send me all these old films to watch, all of carol lombard's movies and he's such a wonderful friend and mentor to me. >> that's fantastic. we know the great stephen sondheim wrote all of the lyrics for "west side story." he passed away just last week but he was there at all the recording sensioss. h with him? >> incredible honor to anyone who's ever loved musical theater getting to be in the same room as stephen sondheim is something that we can never forget. we can never outdo. it's something that i will certainly hold in my heart for the rest of time. there was just such a beautiful connection in knowing when he was 24 he wrote these beautiful lyrics that lasted 64 years now and as this is my first professional gig and "west side story" was his, it's just an absolutely wonderful connection to have to someone that i love so dearly and we miss him so desperately. >> that is beautiful. and, you know, i was talking to you before we came on and just how much i love this musical and how much we need this musical in

our lives in this format. do you have a favorite song or did you have a favorite scene when you were making this film? >> oh, my goodness. i mean i didn't expect to enjoy the emotional scenes as much as i did. obviously you take the work home with you. sometimes it's very hard to not and i used to feel the emotion in my body as this crazy tension for days and days, performing "a boy like that" and have a love for ariana debose who is incredible and it was such a difficult scene to perform and we sang the entire thing live over the course of two days, and it was just an emotional roller coaster, a marathon that i think we both ended up winning a gold medal for at the end of the day, and also, the final scene in the movie is so painfully emotional it's tragic and it leaves you wondering what happens to maria after the credits roll and that's something that i've always been very interested in and that letter that she has to send home to her dad explaining what happened in these american streets, it's a beautiful story and tony kushner's script elevates it so much and getting

to play this new reinvented -- she's not the ingenue you remember, she's very strong and it's very important for latinas to see that on screen. >> pretty clear you do as well. we cannot wait to see what comes next and, of course, we can't wait to see "west side story," it's in theaters on december 10th. thanks for coming in. >> thank you. going back to nevada in a minute. there's never been a better time to switch to xfinity. get the fast and reliable internet you deserve for only $19.99 a month for 12 months

for an epic deal this holiday season. and score 12 times the speed for the same price when you add xfinity mobile. that's more speed and more value for the same price. switch now to xfinity internet to power all your devices and get started for just $19.99 a month. plus, see how you can get $200 back during our black friday sales event. click, call or visit a store today.

♪ shut u ♪ shut up and put your money where your mouth is ♪ i want to welcome you back to "gma" with the best stand-up that george said he has ever seen in his life. our kaylee hartung ziplining earlier this morning. george, you got a real kick -- >> it's not really a stand-up, is it? >> fly-up. >> that's right. we did that because we are rising and shining in nevada and kaylee, she also went behind the scenes of some of the showstopping acts in vegas. hey, kaylee. >> reporter: hey, guys. i'm still laughing. i think that live shot is going to follow me the rest of my career. now that we're here on top of fremont street we have this awesome view of the bright lights of vegas. it's so hard to imagine there was a time when they all went dark but now that they're back on they're really letting me have all the fun. if you thought that zipline was thrilling wait till you see what they let me do with cirque du soleil. yeah, i joined the circus. ♪ here in the entertainment

capital of the world there is no business like show business. ♪ go easy on me ♪ >> reporter: adele, the latest superstar to announce a las vegas residency joining katy perry, shania twain and bruno mars all headlining their own performances. but no showmanship compares to the spectacular experience that is cirque du soleil whose shows are once again filling theaters every night of the week drawing tourists from all over the globe. how do you describe those feelings, that energy, that excitement that you now get to see back in these theaters? >> well, it's driven by people, right, and it's palpable. you can feel it in the theater. entertainment is synonymous with vegas and so is cirque. >> reporter: cirque gear up to re-open "ka" from the makeup to the costumes, outfitting performers from head to toe. >> these costumes are absolutely

gorgeous. they're really reflecting the richness and the detail that cirque du soleil prides itself in in the making of their costumes. >> this is a piece of art. >> yes, it really is. >> i don't think this would fit me but it looks about strahan's size. this theater is a character of its own within the show.r show. >> reporter: with over 1900 seats every inch of "ka's" theater at mgm grand intricately designed. >> as much as you see the choreography on stage you have just as much backstage. >> reporter: this 80,000-pound stage, the centerpiece of the show where they perform the climb. the stage rotating 12 degrees per second during the epic chase. what skill does it take to perform the climb? >> it takes a lot of teamwork because you are a whole team. you have up to 12 people on the wall at once so you got to make sure when somebody is sliding

you're out of their way and you know where they're going. >> reporter: the last peg, a 70-foot freefall from the nearly vertical platform onto the world's largest air bag. >> it's actually seven units that all linked together over an acrobatic net that affords us a lot of variability so our artists can hit in every manner of position from all kinds of heights. >> reporter: with the help of coach al, i got the chance to give it a shot starting with the basics of air bag training, graduating a bit higher, then my final act. i got one shot of this. just one. oh, my gosh. that was cool. don't worry, guys, i am not quitting my day job. i was more nervous for that last 18-foot jump than i was for this zipline easily. but i cannot even put to words how much respect i have for those performers of cirque du soleil, what they do night in and night out is just

incredible. and the costumes. how about those? michael, did you like the one i picked out for you? >> yeah, i'll wear it this weekend, kaylee. [ laughter ] >> at home in private? >> in private, george. kaylee, we have a lot of respect for you because we went from laughing with the ziplining to all of a sudden very serious when you made that 18-foot drop. >> oh, i'm not kidding. my nerves were so heightened even when they had me jumping from a mat about three feet, i appreciated that we got to graduate a little higher, a little higher, but jumping off the edge of that stage 18 feet i was just glad i had the training and had a professional coach guiding me every step of the way. coach al is the best in the business but, whoo, i'm just glad i'm on my own two feet now for a whole lot of reasons. > we are too. thank for bringing that to us and now we go to ginger. >> you know "gma" is very excited this morning too,

because we can exclusively reveal that tennis superstar serena williams is taking her talents to the publishing world. it is her very first children's book. it's called "the adventures of qai qai" and it is starring qai qai which is her daughter olympia's beloved doll. not just a celebrity in serena's home, she is a social media star. this doll has more than 3.5 million fans, oh, my goodness. following all of qai qai's social media adventures. serena tells "gma," quote, qai qai has an infectious spirit and models a belief that anything is possible. and now to the countdown to michael's liftoff to space and space exploration is not only helped us learn all about our solar system it led to

extraordinary inventions here on earth. gio benitez is back with more on that. >> reporter: there is groundbreaking research from ways to adapt to climate change to vertical farming, to the 3d printing of human organs, but you may be surprised about things we use in everyday life that started in space. >> liftoff. >> reporter: scientific discovery fueled our fascination with outer space from the beginnings of the space race as seen in hollywood films like "hidden figures." >> the go point for re-entry in 2,990 miles from where we want colonel glen to land. >> reporter: to finding new methods to sustain life on mars like in "the martian." >> i got to figure out a way to grow three years' worth of food here on a planet where nothing grows. luckily i'm a botanist.

>> reporter: while it may seem like science fiction, those innovations developed in space exploration are real from the camera phones to the memory foam in our mattresses. >> we invent a lot of really, really interesting things as a result of exploration and those inventions and those technologies actually are so useful right back down here on earth. >> reporter: former nasa astronaut dr. cady coleman has been on three missions spending almost six months on the international space station participating in research studying the effects of weightnessless on plant growth, water behavior and her own body's response to the lack of gravity. >> we actually lose bone and muscle ten times faster than a woman who is 70 years old who has osteoporosis and because it happens to us so quickly up there that knowledge comes right back down here to earth when we also understand how can we prevent and help people with osteoporosis right here. >> reporter: space tech has made

a huge impact on medical advancements around the world. from implantable heart monitors to water purification systems, laser eye surgery was made possible because of nasa hardware that tracks involuntary eye movements. even robotics created to make repairs to the space station are now used to help surgeons perform less invasive procedures. it's amazing, isn't it? here, we have some of these items, these everyday items that have history in space, you see that dustbuster right there, nasa worked would black & decker for tools to collect rock samples and freeze dried foods and the coating for those scratch-resistant glasses was created for astronaut visors and michael strahan's courage will also be created in space. >> you have to go after michael. >> listen, i'm ready. i'm ready. >> i partly blame gio for this. i went there with you and ever since -- you changed my life.

>> oh, well -- >> wow. >> you really did. >> that is the headline, folks. michael strahan, i changed his life. >> we are so excited. one week from today. all right, coming up, more holiday gift ideas and more "deals & steals."

♪give my regards to broadway!♪ ♪remember me to herald square!♪ ♪tell all the gang at forty second street♪ ♪that i will soon be there!♪ ♪whisper of how i'm yearning♪ ♪to mingle with the old-time throng!♪ ♪give my regards to old broadway♪ ♪and say that i'll be there, 'ere long!♪

♪ santa tell me ♪ we're back now with tory johnson and more "deals & steals" to help your holiday shopping and as always you can go right to the deals by pointing your cell phone camera at that qr code. all right, tory, first -- >> you like our train? >> i love it. choo-choo. >> there you go. >> also pretty amazing is your first deal, these massive puzzles. >> they're gorgeous. this is from madd capp and they are lifelike animal puzzles these are hours of fun, literally hours of fun, and depending on how into puzzles your family is, we've got 100,

300 or 1,000 poster size pieces that come with this one. it's a huge assortment, every animal lover, plus a puzzle lover, these start at $8.50. >> i would never want to take them apart. so cool. next up, we have painting kits? >> well, so this is similar to painting. this is called diamond art and it's a combination of paint by numbers and crossstitch so you get a little tweezer like tool and then these teeny, teeny little stones here, these resin bits, and these resin bits make this, so talk about hours and hours -- look, even on the sides, these are pretty spectacular. they've got more than 14 options that you could choose from online. hours of fun. no experience necessary. this is one that you're going to they st $10. >> hours of fufods. toarts' ears. >> okay, next up this is cubii, this is the get fit while you sit.

it's an elliptical and had our sal give it a whirl earlier. there he is. and so you can put this anywhere. so whether you're sitting in front of the couch watching tv and you want it there, under your desk while working, there's eight levels of resistance built in. you get this cushion for lumbar support. even the dumbbells, it's a really spectacular gift for yourself or somebody who just is -- feels like they want exercise but doesn't get to leave home much or is -- >> do this while in a zoom meeting. >> yes. >> i love it. >> $179 is the bundle today. a really good deal. >> fantastic. >> then we've got green toys. this is a fun one. these are play sets and what's cool about this company, it's all made in america all from 100% recycled materials, so everything is also about lessons in sustainability and eco-friendly options for kids. we've got a pretty assortment from them today. 7.50. >> fan.

all right, i see some tools up ahead. >> this is kind of the go-to tool for quick fixes, the kelvin. you don't have to worry about a huge box of tools, everything is built right into it. it's easy to put in a drawer, in a car, you could keep this in a dorm room, wherever there is limited space, this is the one for you. what's cool, bright colors and everything you can think of is built in. >> i can never find a phillips screwdriver and there it is. >> they start at $20 today. >> it is true. you can never find the phillips screwdriver. >> there it is. all right, fulton fish market, they have been kind of the experts for 200 years. they say that one taste and you'll be hooked. >> oh, i see what you did there. >> we've got oysters, shrimp, fish, lobster tails, you name it, they have curated unbelievable options. this is great to either have on hand for entertaining a healthy meal for yourself to treat somebody else. their kits today start at $20.

and they've really -- they put thought a lot of thought into these. >> and then we have one more. >> oh, my gosh. we're not showing it here but i think we have a video of it. we do. there it is. discover the deal box. 15 full-size products, no sample sizes, you get all the details on our website, it's our last one of the year. those have been a big hit. >> thank you, tory, as always. we partnered with all these companies on these deals. get them all on our website and we have even more great gifts coming up tomorrow so stay tuned for that. for that. ♪e'l

there's never been a better time to switch to xfinity. get the fast and reliable internet you deserve for only $19.99 a month for 12 months for an epic deal this holiday season. and score 12 times the speed for the same price when you add xfinity mobile. that's more speed and more value for the same price. switch now to xfinity internet to power all your devices and get started for just $19.99 a month. plus, see how you can get $200 back during our black friday sales event. click, call or visit a store today. one... two... whatcha got for me, whatcha got? watch those eyes... healthier is doing what you have to do while doing what you want to do.

you're going to do just fine, you will. ♪ this is what healthier looks like. ♪ big thanks to our "rise & shine" crew there in nevada. way to go, guys. >> great job. want to thank you for watching, everybody, have a great day. everybody, have a great day. ♪ i'm morgan, and there's more to me than hiv. more love, more adventure, more community. but with my hiv treatment, there's not more medicines in my pill. i talked to my doctor and switched to fewer medicines with dovato. dovato is for some adults who are starting hiv-1 treatment

or replacing their current hiv-1 regimen. with just 2 medicines in 1 pill, dovato is as effective as a 3-drug regimen... to help you reach and stay undetectable. research shows people who take hiv treatment as prescribed and get to and stay undetectable can no longer transmit hiv through sex. don't take dovato if you're allergic to its ingredients or if you take dofetilide. taking dovato with dofetilide can cause serious or life-threatening side effects. hepatitis b can become harder to treat while on dovato. don't stop dovato without talking to your doctor, as your hepatitis b may worsen or become life-threatening. serious or life-threatening side effects can occur, including allergic reactions, lactic acid buildup, and liver problems. if you have a rash and other symptoms of an allergic reaction, stop dovato and get medical help right away. tell your doctor if you have kidney or liver problems, or if you are, may be, or plan to be pregnant. dovato may harm your unborn baby. use effective birth control while on dovato. do not breastfeed while taking dovato.

most common side effects are headache, nausea, diarrhea, trouble sleeping, tiredness, and anxiety. so much goes into who i am. hiv medicine is one part of it. ask your doctor about dovato-i did. ♪ hi honey! hi mommy! oh i missed you! you just want to video call the kids. ok. hush little baby...don't say a word... but if slow upload speeds turns your goodnight call into an accidental horror movie... can you hear me? shut it down. just remember. you're not a bad mom. you just need better internet. at&t fiber delivers faster upload speeds for more reliable video calls. get at&t fiber, plans starting at $35 a month for a year. limited availability in select areas. call 1.877.only.att.

>> building a better bay area, moving forward, finding solutions, this is abc 7 news. kumasi: good morning. checking in for a look at traffic. jobina: we are going to start quickly and walnut creek, i wanted to give you an update on the situation for southbound 680 traffic. it is moving after the stall on westbound 24 that was clogging things. along the san mateo bridge, you will run into a slowdown on the western span because of a stall into a two car crash on the 101 interchange. lots of issues when you make your way into the peninsula. mike: let's talk more about the fog out there. it is getting thinner by the moment as it is stretched across the east bay and out to the coast thanks to the offshore breeze. we are still going to make a run at records, we will fall a couple degrees short. highs around 65 to 73, the last

real warm day. kumasi: time for kelly and ryan, >> announcer: it's "live with kelly and ryan!" today, academy award winner nicole kidman. and from the film, "west side story," holly robinson peete. plus, 'tis the season for tips on outdoor holiday decorating. all next on "live!" ♪ ♪ [cheers and applause] and now, here are kelly ripa and ryan seacrest! ♪ ♪ [cheers and applause] ♪ ♪ [cheers and applause] >> ryan: i'm moving better this morning. >> kelly: you are.