overdrive. americans hit the road for the holiday, but mother nature may have some surprises in store. security scare. the secret service leaps into action after a man drives through a checkpoint near the president's vacation home in hawaii. and a green christmas. retailers look for last-minute shoppers on what's shaping up as the best holiday season if years. this is the "cbs morning news" years. this is the "cbs morning news" for friday, december 24th, 2010. captioning funded by cbs i'm terrell brown in for betty nguyen. the christmas getaway is in full

swing this morning. so far, so good, too. the weather is cooperating but that's about to change. it is estimated 93% of this year's holiday travelers are contend with. there are also higher prices at the pump. don teague reports. >> reporter: in dallas, texas, eric and his family are on the road. to grandma's house, 700 miles away in colorado. >> it's not too far for us to drive, i mean, as a family we always take long trips. >> only 12 hours. >> reporter: a trip that will cost much more this christmas with gas prices on the rise. nationwide, the average price for regular .301 a gallon, a a 43-cent jump from last year and the first time gas has ever

topped $3.00 at christmas. they are among the more than 92 million americans on the move this holiday week -- by car, train, bus and plane. a 3% increase over last year. >> going to be what it's going to be. >> reporter: despite high prices on hotel rooms, up 5%, and airline tickets also up 5% to an average of $421. median spending for holiday travel up 3.5% to $694. >> it's a combination of a slightly improved economy and just a strong desire to spend time with family and friends. >> reporter: the good news, few travel delays related to bad weather. long lines at airports stemmed from higher volume and new security scans and pat-downs brought on by the so-called underwear bomber of last christmas. while pre-christmas travel has been relatively smooth, getting home may be a different story.

forecasters are watching a winter storm that could bring snow all along the east coast and even the southeast on christmas. don teague, cbs news, dallas. this holiday season a new concern involving a potential terrorist attack. the fear is that terrorists may try to smuggle explosives on board airlines using insulated beverage containers. the homelands security department has alerted air carriers, nothing to suggest an attack is imfent but i it for them. >> u.s. officials a security at borders, airports and train stations has been bolstered. a brief scare at the home s president was never in during the security scare. we're told a man, leon

rodriguez, drove into the neighborhood where the president is vacationing in hawaii, when he drove through a checkpoint, photographers capture ad secret service agent running towards the vehicle and pointing a gun at it. a secret service spokesperson says the president was never in danger and the man was not trying to get near the president or his family. he didn't even get to a security barricade closer to the obama vacation home. police say they were trying to arrest rodriguez, wanted on traffic warrants. he then led authorities on a high-speed chase that led to that checkpoint and was eventually arrested. during this entire incident we're told the president was actually playing golf at a near fearing a major avalanche

urged residents to evacuate. to california now, a week of tore rens rain has caused massive flooding and mud slides. emergencies have been declared in three more counties including los angeles. one community, highland, damage estimates have topped $17 million. kinds disgibson has that part of the story. >> reporter: hidesland, california is covered in a river of mud. cars buried and homes blocked off in this town about 70 miles east of los angeles. residents are trying to dig out, but it's a challenge just to get to the front door. and inside, only more mud. >> total loss, yeah. >> reporter: he came home thursday to find it soaked in a mixture of mud and water. >> this is beyond recognition right now, you know. >> reporter: several days of rain created massive mud slides. about 70 homes were hit with many families losing all the presents under the tree. and this mud won't be gone in time for christmas in some places, the mud is so deep it take weeks if not months before

homeowners can move back in. but there are many houses like this one that are a total loss. in other parts of southern california, people are cleaning up what the floodwaters left behind. shop owners trying to salvage one more holiday shopping day. and san diego's qualcomm stadium is now dry enough for football. but this regional airport in corona, california remains under several feet of water. >> floodwaters coming in from all directions. >> reporter: some towed their planes out but others submerged and have to be left behind. it's hoped the floodwaters will recede before another set of showers hit this weekend. kendis gibson, cbs news, highland, california. security tight in rome this morning, tens of thousands are gathering for this year's christmas ceremonies at the vatican. rome is already on alert because of thursday's bombings at the embassie samoa, hawaii,

california, a very happy and merry christmas! mcdonald's? ♪ whoa, whoa! 10:00 and 2:00, buddy. hands on the wheel. eyes on the road, right? so this is what it's like to be driven around, huh? look over there, honey. the francos finished the addition on their house. [ mom ] oh, yeah! [ male announcer ] the want-it, need-it... stay focused. [ male announcer ] ...gotta-have-it taste of the quarter pounder with cheese, big mac, and angus third pounder. hey, hop on the expressway. but it's rush hour. [ male announcer ] the simple joy worth waiting for. [ young man ] how's your burger, bro? [ laughs ] [ young man ] how's your burger, bro? ah, it's stinging a little bit more than usual! yeah, you'll get used to it. the longer you keep your high mileage car, the more it pays you back. get castrol gtx high mileage. it helps engines last longer by fighting the main causes of engine failure.

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the same way again. for a powerful clean against a full range of stains, use new wisk. fight stains with science. it was the crash that led to millions of recalls, now toyota has agreed to pay $10 million to the family of four victims. in august 2009 an off-duty police officer and three other family members were killed. the accelerator pedal on the lexus got stuck. their final moments can be heard on this chilling 911 call. >> we're in trouble. we can't. there's no brake. >> okay. >> -- a half mile. >> you don't have the ability to turn the vehicle off or anything. >> now approaching the intersection. we're approaching the intersecti intersection. we're proeping the intersection. hold on, pray, pray. oh. oh. the best season

in years. elaine quijano has the numbers. >> reporter: in the midst of christmas gift crunch time, retailers are crunching the number says and seeing consumers back in the holiday spirit. last super saturday weekend, retail sales increased 5.5%, compared to a year ago. foot traffic in stores was up 3%. and online sales jumped a whopping 17%. >> we're letting our breath out, we're feeling better about our economy. and one of the ways to express that is i'm a shopper and i'm back and i'm ready to spend.

>> reporter: business is so, good the national retail federation revised its holiday sales forecast from 2.3 to 3.3%, with consumers heading back to traditional holiday gifts like electronics, jewelry and clothes. apale sales up almost 10% over last year, a sign consumers are once again spending money on themselves. did you get anything for yourself? >> of course. >> reporter: what did you end up getting? >> a sweater for myself, too. >> reporter: christmas eve expected to another big shopping day as consumers hold out for deals. >> we soo a lot of last-minute shoppers. looking for that bang for their buck and excellent bargain. >> reporter: those discounts aren't as deep as past years. still, companies are trying to lure consumers in other ways. >> it's really about convenience. we are seeing extended store hours. we're seeing next-day shipping being discounselled. whatever the retailer can do to

make that experience easier, they are going to do it. >> reporter: elaine quijano, cbs news, new york. we'll take a quick break. coming up this morning, your christmas eve weather forecast n. sports, big ben strikes again as the steelers move one step closer to a division title. >> mom and dad, just wanted to tell you guys i love you and i miss you guys and i hope you have a happy holiday and a happy new year. i'll see you soon! [piano keys banging] [scraping] [horns honking] with deposits in your engine, it can feel like something's holding your car back. let me guess, 16. [laughing] yeeah. that's why there's castrol gtx... with our most powerful deposit fighting ingredient ever. castrol gtx exceeds the toughest new industry standard. don't let deposits hold your car back. get castrol gtx. it's more than just oil. it's liquid engineering. and the life you want to live. with rheumatoid arthritis, there's the life you live... fortunately there's enbrel, the #1 most doctor-prescribed biologic medicine for ra.

enbrel can help relieve pain, stiffness, fatigue, and stop joint damage. because enbrel suppresses your immune system, it may lower your ability to fight infections. serious, sometimes fatal, events including infections, tuberculosis, lymphoma, and other cancers, and nervous system and blood disorders have occurred. before starting enbrel, your doctor should test you for tuberculosis. ask your doctor if you live or have lived in an area where certain fungal infections are common. don't start enbrel if you have an infection like the flu. tell your doctor if you're prone to infections, have cuts or sores, have had hepatitis b, have been treated for heart failure, or if, while on enbrel, you experience persistent fever, bruising, bleeding, or paleness. ask your rheumatologist if enbrel is right for you. and help bridge the gap between the life you live... and the life you want to live. here's a look at the weather

in some cities around the country. 37 partly cloudy in new york, 71, sunny in miami. light snow and # 32 in chicago. 65 and sunny in los angeles. time now for a check of the national forecast. the latest satellite picture shows clouds in the midwest bringing snow to the north and rain to the south. skies clear in the southeast and southwest. later today several inches of snow will pile up in the northern plains. with a sheet of frozen precipitation in the central plains. the temperatures are staying on the mild side in the southeast. in the northeast is looking at high temps in the 30s and 40s. in sports this morning the steelers got the holiday party started early. quarterback ben roethlisberger tossed for 320 yards. 27-3, the final. the steelers now one step closer to locking up a first round bye during the playoffs. in college ball freshman hillman scored four tmpdz. san diego gets its first bowl victory in over 40 years.

you've got to remember the field was slick, too. about one million gallons of floodwater was pumped out just before game time. the aztecs sink navy 35-14. in basketball, the greatest took in courtside action, muhammad ali as you will see is on hand as lebron james took on the suns. and james showed off one-handed windmill dunks, thunderous double-pumps. ended the night with 36 points. they down phoenix 95-83. orlando may have finally found its magic touch. they ended the spurs' ten-game winning streak. the game wasn't even close. the magic cruised past a very tired looking san antonio 123-101. when we return on this christmas eve, another look at this morning's top stories and bouncing back. one man's survival of long-term unemployment. it took him to the brink of financial ruin. >> i'm from cincinnati, ohio. i just want to give a shout out and say happy holidays, i love

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a year after a suspected bomber targeted a detroit flight.. the new steps being taken at the airport to keep you safe. plus.. digging out of a muddy mess. how much the clean-up from this week's storms is costing southern california. holiday shopping without spending a dime. but do those online rewards programs have a hidden cost? plus.. the search for the suspect who terrorized holiday shoppers in the south bay. join us for cbs 5 early edition ... beginning at 4:30.

on the "cbs morning news" here's a look at today east weather. calm weather in the northeast. the southeast staying sunny and mild. the northwest has more rain in the forecast. sections of the midwest where the action is with a potential winter storm. here's another look at this morning's top stories. aaa estimates 92 million americans will travel more than 50 miles this holiday season. so far, the weather's been cooperating but a snow and ice storm is brewing in the midwest and that could certainly cause some problems. j a security scare after a driver, being chased by police, drove through a perimeter checkpoints near the president's hawaii vacation home. police say he was not trying for get to the president. one manage from long island new york is extra grateful this

season. until recently one of millions of americans unemployed. he couldn't find a job for an extended period of time and faced financial ruin. randall pinkston has the story. >> reporter: he survived a trauma that changed him forever. >> when you pass the year mark, it's devastating. >> reporter: in 2008, he was laid off from his job in pharmaceutical sales. he thought he'd find work within weeks. but more than a year later, he was still looking and had burned through his savings, even his 9-year-old son knew the family was in crisis. >> he'd get five dollars from nanna and papa and come in to me and say, dad would, this help us? things like that just, they kill you, they kill you. >> reporter: he fell behind on his mortgage, lost his car and one day he got home just as the power company was about to pull the plug. by then, he had turned to a local charity for support. the uja paid the power bill and helped negotiate lower mortgage

paints. he found temporary work at a loading dock, where he took on double shifts. he played in a band to keep up his spirits and finally, earlier in year, he began to rebuild his life. >> to have taken the rough road now i can put the top down, now i can enjoy the sun and i can enjoy the ride. >> reporter: the memory stills still sing but he says his rebound should electric

brill next months. i'm terrell brown. this is the "cbs morning news." she'll love it. [chuckles] trust me. i know. ho-ho-ho-ho-ho. - introducing charmed memories, a new collection at kay jewelers. each design is hand-crafted in italy, and because you choose the charms, the possibilities are endless. create your own memories with charmed memories, one more reason kay is the number one jewelry store in america. - i love it. - santa said you would. no, really. [scraping] [piano keys banging] [scraping] [horns honking] with deposits in your engine, it can feel like something's holding your car back. let me guess, 16. [laughing] yeeah. that's why there's castrol gtx... with our most powerful deposit fighting ingredient ever.

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,,,,,, this may look like a spa for rats but it's not the. the fellow rodents got the five-star treatment on the winter sol industries enjoying a citrus bath at a zoo in japan, four of them are babies born weeks ago. zoo keepers say they love the water but hate the cold. we know it doesn't bother santa at all. when it comes to playing st. nick, a man in wisconsin really gets into the role. in fact, not only he does look the part, he em bodies the spirit of santa, too, famous around the world. >> reporter: you are the best looking santa i've ever seen in

my life. >> reporter: that's how it all started for him. someone told him he looked like santa about 20 years and now has completely taken on the role. >> i'm a santa claus live you've never seen before. >> reporter: when he realizeded his life calling of filling old st. nick's boots, he first had to invest in a suit. >> good morning, santa! >> reporter: a suit like his did not come cheap or easy. they made it. it took months. he they flied fur in from the arctic and it ended up costing him more than $20,000. >> santa, you are very happy with the suit, right? >> that's why i have three of them. >> reporter: he's been all across the country in that suit, even traveling across the pond to play santa claus at herod's of london. but for him it's not a job and never was. he won't accept money to play santa. >> how about ayou've been a really, really good girl you get a surprise for christmas? >> okay. >> i get more out of it watching

little kids than i would if i was getting paid for doing it. >> reporter: do you think you are santa? >> yes. >> reporter: do you believe you are, though? >> yes. yes, i do. i believe in the spirit of santa in me. >> reporter: do you believe you've always had it? >> yep. can you say merry christmas? >> merry christmas. >> reporter: that's why he's made it his mission to spread joy around the holidays and all year long. >> people do forget about the christmas spirit. they don't -- they just want gifts, more gifts than what they really need, instead of the love christmas is for. >> reporter: he says he will always be santa until the day he dies. >> thank you. >> i never die, the spirit keeps going on and on forever. merry christmas to all and to all a good night. coming up on "the early show" a live holiday travel

update. we'll tell you what to expect on the roads and at the airport. also, have more christmas shopping to do? creative and affordable ideas and legend area corgrapher and dancer bill t. jones sends down with julie chen about his recent kennedy center honor. that's the "cbs morning news" for this friday. i'm terrell brown. take care, everybody. i'm terrell brown. take care, everybody. have a very merry christmas! -- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com