right now on "america this morning," omicron takeover. the variant now dominant in the u.s. overnight the national hockey league announcing it will shut down. the curtain also closing on a major broadway show. more cities announcing restrictions and now president biden being tested after possible exposure to the virus. what he's expected to announce today to ramp up the fight against omicron and help hospitals that have been overwhelmed by patients. shopping mall scare. gunfire erupting at this popular shopping center in california. holiday shoppers hiding, some for hours, as police try to find the shooter. new fallout for actor chris noth days after sexual assault allegations made against him. the job he has now lost and what his "sex and the city" co-stars are now saying.

daring escape. the americans held hostage for weeks in haiti describe their middle of the night escape with a toddler and a 3-year-old in tow. christmas countdown. the gifts all the kids want and how you can still get them. three tips from the experts. and a sign of the times. how the pandemic is changing the way we talk to each other. good tuesday morning, everyone.i'ia ain >> and i'm rick klein in for andrew. we begin with the breaking news overnight. the nhl is now the first major sports league shutting down due to covid concerns. >> the league will shut down after tonight's games until next monday. it comes after the cdc announced the omicron variant now accounts for 73% of covid cases in the u.s. just one week ago, omicron accounted for only 3% of cases. >> washington, d.c. just the latest city to announce new restrictions. the mayor declaring an emergency

reimposing an indoor mask mandate and extending winter break for public schools. >> all eyes today on the president as he announces a new plan to fight omicron. abc's ike ejiochi begins our coverage. >> reporter: this morning, a covid scare for president biden after he was exposed to a staff member who recently tested positive. the white house says biden was near the staff member friday on air force one. the president tested negative sunday and monday. he'll be tested again tomorrow. >> this omicron variant is stunningly transmissible. it is really ripping through the united states at an incredible rate. >> reporter: later today president biden will reveal new steps to fight omicron. the highly contagious variant causing cases to explode across the country. that plan includes mailing 500 million at home rapid tests to homes around the country. setting up testing and federal vaccination sites, the first in new york city by this weekend and ramping up the deployment of

medical military personnel to overwhelmed hospitals. covid cases are up 96% since october. most are now the highly transmissible omicron variant. in new york state cases have tripled in one week. but new york city's mayor expects the latest spike to last weeks, not months. >> we're going to see a really fast upsurge in cases. we're going to see a lot of new yorkers affected by omicron. >> reporter: he says he'll make a decision by christmas on whether to cancel the crowd for the times square ball drop on new year's eve. london has now canceled its new year's eve celebration. in the meantime, an unvaccinated man in houston with underlying health issues is now the first known american to die with omicron. experts believe the variant does not cause more severe illness and although omicron appears to evade two shots of the vaccine, doctors say a booster restores protection. now, some cities are tightening vaccine requirements.

beginning in january, businesses in boston will be required to hang this sign in their entrance reading, vaccination required. ike ejiochi, abc news. some democratic senators are now pushing the government to require proof of covid vaccination or of a negative test to board a domestic flight. right now proof of vaccination is only required for international travelers coming to the u.s., and despite those concerns about the virus, the tsa reported four consecutive days of screening 2 million passengers. meanwhile, the virus is impacting more of the entertainment industry. several broadway shows have canceled performances, but "jagged little pill" is going one step further. it is closing for good due to several covid cases. breaking overnight, a shooting setting off panic at a mall in northern california. shots were reportedly fired after an altercation involving two people at this mall in san jose last night. shoppers and employees were still sheltering in place hours after the initial report, and police overnight were still looking for the shooter. no word on the victim's the house committee investigating january's attack on the capitol is making its

first known request to a sitting lawmaker. the committee is asking for records and testimony from congressman scott perry. the pennsylvania republican allegedly communicated with former white house chief of staff mark meadows before the attack using an encrypted app. perry is accused of helping to install a former justice department official as acting attorney general to challenge the results of the presidential election. jurors resume deliberating this morning in the manslaughter trial of former police officer kim potter. after days of emotional testimony, closing arguments centered around whether the shooting of daunte wright was a tragic mistake or extreme negligence. >> the defendant told you her sons will be home for the holidays. you know who won't be home for the holidays is daunte wright. >> reporter: this morning the fate of kim potter, the former minnesota police officer who shot and killed daunte wright during a traffic stop, is now in the hands of a jury. in the same courtroom where derek chauvin was convicted of

murdering george floyd, potter's lawyers monday made the case that wright's death was a tragic accident saying potter mistook her firearmarm for her tase. >> taser, taser, taser. i shot him. oh, my god. i'm going to go to prison. >> nobody is perfect, ladies and gentlemen, and this lady here made a mistake and, my gosh, a mistake is not a crime. >> reporter: potter's lawyers insisting she was justified in using deadly force because she feared wright would injure another officer while driving away. >> daunte wright caused his own death, unfortunately. if he would have gone and -- with the officers, been handcuffed, go in the squad car, go take a ride downtown, and it's over. >> reporter: but the prosecution urging the jury to reject the idea that potter simply made a mistake. >> there is no mistake defense. you will not see an instruction on the defense of mistake.

a judge will not give you an instruction that says a person is not guilty if they commit a mistake. that's not the law. >> reporter: prosecutors arguing potter was reckless and negligent in her use of force. >> she knew she had both weapons on her duty belt. she knew how to get it right, but she failed to get it right. she failed daunte wright. >> reporter: the jury includes nine white men and women, two asian american women and one black woman. they are now sequestered as deliberations continue. migrants from haiti are now suing the biden administration. among them a man seen in this shocking image from the mexican border. he says the image showing a border agent on horseback swinging a whip was one of the most humiliating experiences of his life. he and eight others are now suing over the treatment they received from immigration authorities. the white house is looking to resume talks with senator joe manchin despite his vocal

opposition to the $2 trillion spending package at the heart of president biden's domestic agenda. biden and manchin spoke sunday, and the white house says it's focused on moving forward. senate majority leader chuck schumer says he will hold a vote on the legislation early next year to put lawmakers on record. manchin, though, says he will not be pressured. >> and they can just beat the living crap out of people and think they'll be submissive, period. i understand staff. it's not the president. it's the staff, and they drove some things and they put some things out that were absolutely inexcusable. >> sources say manchin privately expressed concern that parents would use the child tax credit payments in biden's plan to buy illegal drugs. they say he's also concerned that paid family leave will be exploited. liquor bottles were falling from shelves. people in northern california say they felt shaking for about 20 seconds when a magnitude 6.2 earthquake hit on monday. it was centered offshore more than 200 miles northwest of san francisco and no major damage, but significant aftershocks are still possible. it is time now for a look at your tuesday weather.

good morning. storminess returns to much of the west heading into tuesday and wednesday of this week, especially in california where there will be flooding in the foothills and snow in the mountains. be careful traveling out there. speaking of being careful traveling, look at thursday through friday night. it gets even more widespread. the rain, the snow, the flooding conditions, especially in california where the conditions will probably be at their worst. travel forecast into christmas eve, pretty tough on the midwest and the west but nice in the east and south. i'm accuweather meteorologist kevin coskren. coming up, the debate over banning personal cell phones in the workplace. also ahead, the american hostages held for months in haiti describe a daring escape in the middle of the night with young children in tow. and later, it's not too late. experts share three easy tips to help you find the hottest gifts

this christmas.

the recent collapse of an amazon warehouse in illinois during that deadly tornado outbreak has some workers now demanding new rights. they want amazon to allow employees to keep their phones with them during shifts in case of an emergency, and they're demanding pay for shifts canceled by bad weather. no comment yet from the company. the family of a utah college student is expressing so much relief that she is now home after nearly a week of being held captive. police say madelyn allen was abducted by a man she met online. they say the 19-year-old was also tied up and was completely covered in coal inside of the suspect's basement about 90 miles from her school. searchers used cell phone data to track her location. >> from the heart of a mother, i

express my gratitude to you, to each and every one of you for the hard work and the dedication. from our end it's amazing to see this army that has surrounded us. >> so glad she's safe. 39-year-old suspect brent brown is now facing kidnapping and other felony charges. the american hostages who escaped captivity in haiti are now speaking out about their ordeal. abc's christine sloan has their story. >> reporter: this morning the remaining 12 missionaries held hostage in haiti for nearly two months describing what they call a daring escape from their kidnappers then sing hymns after finding freedom. ♪ >> reporter: a spokesperson for the ohio-based christian aid ministries saying the hostages plotted their escape while in captivity asking god for the right time to leave. >> the hostages set up an around

the clock prayer schedule with the hostages taking turn praying for a half hour during the day and an hour during the night. >> reporter: abc news has not independently confirmed the account, but the group says they made their escape in the overnight hours of december 15th walking ten miles over rough terrain with a 10-month-old and a 3-year-old in tow using the moon to light up their path. >> they also followed the sure guidance of the stars. after a number of hours of walking, day began to dawn, and they eventually found someone who helped them make a phone call for help. they were finally free. >> reporter: these pictures taken near port-au-prince after their harrowing journey to safety. 17 missionaries, 16 americans and 1 canadian were kidnapped in october by a notorious haitian gang. five of them were initially released, but the kidnappers demanded $17 million for the rest to be freed. this morning, the missionary

only saying the ransom money was raised but not saying whether or not it was paid. christine sloan, abc news. coming up, the popular shampoo brands being recalled because of health concerns. but first new fallout this morning from the sexual assault allegations made against actor chris noth. what his "sex and the city" co-stars are now saying. his "s his "s co-stars are now say take a moment to pause and ask, why did you get vaccinated against pneumococcal pneumonia? i help others. but i need to help protect myself. honestly? i couldn't afford to get sick. i want to be there for this one. i can't if i'm sick. pneumococcal pneumonia is a potentially serious bacterial lung disease. you may be at risk if you're 19 to 64 with certain chronic conditions. or if you're 65 or older. don't pause a moment longer. ask your doctor or pharmacist about getting vaccinated against pneumococcal pneumonia today. my hygienist cleans with a round head. ask your doctor or pharmacist about getting vaccinated so does my oral-b my hygienist personalizes my cleaning.

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new year's eve ball drop celebration. they are seven feet tall, and they contain a total of 599 l.e.d. bulbs. the mayor says he'll decide before christmas whether any plans are changing due to covid. we turn now to the scandal surrounding actor chris noth. after being accused of assault. his "sex and the city" co-stars are now addressing the allegations. this morning, new fallout from the sexual assault allegations against chris noth. the actor will no longer star alongside queen latifah in the cbs drama "the equalizer." >> you don't want these guys as your enemy. >> reporter: the network says future episodes will not include noth's character. it comes after two women accused the actor of sexual assault in a story reported last week by "the hollywood reporter." both women are remaining anonymous. the first claims noth raped her in his los angeles apartment in 2004. the other woman accuses noth of forcing her to have sex with him after a date in 2015. noth denies the allegations saying in a statement, no always

means no. that is a line i did not cross. >> i remember when you kept your sweaters in the stove. >> one of the accusers says noth's reprisal of mr. big on the "sex and the city" sequel, "and just like that," prompted her to speak out about the actor. monday night the stars of "sex and the city," sarah jessica parker, cynthia nixon and kristin davis, issued a joint statement on social media writing, we support the women who have come forward. we know that must be a very difficult thing to do, and we commend them for it. noth has also been dropped by his talent agency, but it is important to note he has not been charged with any crime. a consumer alert this morning. procter & gamble is recalling more than 30 aerosol sprays, mostly dry shampoos and conditioners. the company says the products contain unexpected levels of benzene, a chemical linked to cancer. they believe the benzene came from the propellant used in

the spray cans. the products fall under several brands including pantene and herbal essence. a full list is on our website. customers are being told to throw the affected products away. >> yikes. i need to check. i use dry shampoo daily. coming up, cleaner sidewalks. a new way to get people to clean up after their dogs. and also ahead, a sign of the times. the times. how our language is changing and my daughter has type 2 diabetes and lately i've seen this change in her. once-weekly trulicity is proven to help lower a1c. it lowers blood sugar from the first dose. and you could lose up to ten pounds. trulicity is for type 2 diabetes. it isn't for people with type 1 diabetes. it's not approved for use in children. don't take trulicity if you're allergic to it, you or your family have medullary thyroid cancer, or have multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2. stop trulicity and call your doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction, a lump or swelling in your neck, severe stomach pain, changes in vision, or diabetic retinopathy. serious side effects may include pancreatitis. taking trulicity with sulfonylurea or insulin raises low blood sugar risk. side effects include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration and may worsen kidney problems.

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>> not yet. >> give it another hour. >> exactly. coming up next, how to shop for this year's hard to find gifts. >> finding that perfect present is even harder this year, but here's what experts say if you're feeling the pressure, see if the retailer has new stock notifications. that's an alert telling you when something is back in stock. you can also create an account at the store. sometimes if you opt for membership, that gets you ahead in line for new products. and also don't forget some in-store tactics. >> every retailer has a different time that they get shipments in every day, and if you go to the electronics department of your favorite retailer and ask them when they get their shipments in, they may be getting inventory daily. >> also make sure you check out the return desk because sometimes you can find items there that haven't been restocked yet. we have more of these great tips coming up later on "good morning america." >> don't give too many away, of course. next the new way to get people to clean up after their dogs. a city in france just launched a brand-new campaign. >> so what they're doing is littering the town with fake money.

10 euro bills all over the sidewalks, they look real. the bogus bills contain a message for anyone who picks it up. the message reads, if you can bend over to pick up the money, you can do the same when your dog does his business. does d.c. have a problem with this? do people pick up after their dogs? >> mostly for the most part. >> people are pretty good in new york city too, yeah. finally a new addition to the first family. >> president biden has announced the arrival of commander. the 3-month-old german shepherd is a birthday gift from the president's brother. biden tweeted this video of commander enjoying the white house grounds. >> biden's other dog, major, will be moving on to live with family friends after several biting incidents. according to the white house, experts said major needs a quieter environment. >> and this is a true story. you know, when george w. bush left the white house, he said one of the worst things is that suddenly he had to pick up what he had avoided for eight years. >> at least he got eight years without having to do it. >> that's right. that's one of the benefits of

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♪ have yourself a merry little christmas. ♪ ♪ ♪ make the yule-tide gay. ♪ ♪ ♪ from now on our troubles will be miles away. ♪ ♪ and have yourself a merry little christmas now. ♪ celebrate the season together with a holiday gift from pandora jewelry. announcer: building a better bay area, moving forward, finding solutions. this is abc 7 news.

store with your kids and stuff, trying to get presents, it is a pretty scary thing. reggie: not 5:00, holiday shoppers running for cover. the shooting at a south bay mall. kumasi: and a plan to require vaccinations at bars and restaurants. it is hitting the industry pre-hard right now. reggie: one of the hop biggest holiday items this year kumasi: is rapid covid tests. kumasi:dry right now, but prepare for the rain. what weather moving into the bay area over the next several days. reggie: good morning. midday live -- you are watching you are watching abc 7 news, live on abc 7, hulu live, and wherever you stream. mike: good morning. i may be a popular person this week, but for the wrong reasons. a lot of you may not want to hear what i have to say or already know and here we go again. rain starts today and we have a chance of rain for the next ne