a fierce bat a fierce gun battle leads to dramatic california hostage standoff. up in the air, thanksgiving parade officials in new york city hope the wind will die down and allow the balloons to fly. and another delay for the affordable care act, this time captioning funded this is the "cbs morning news" for thursday, november 28th, 2013. good morning. good to be with you. i'm anne-marie green. well, a hostage standoff in the los angeles area is over this morning after the gunman surrendered. the hostages, the suspect's girlfriend and her 14-year-old daughter, are safe. the standoff began nine hours earlier with a wild exchange of gunfire.

police had gone to the home on wednesday to respond to a domestic disturbance. they say the man began firing before officers got to the front door. >> obviously they walked into a situation that they couldn't have predicted as we do in this business, and fortunately for all involved, they came out of it relatively okay. >> one officer was shot, but his bulletproof vest stopped the bullet. he's in stable condition. another officer was treated for minor injuries and released. and the busiest travel day of the holiday weekend was smoother than expected. the big east coast storm forced about 300 flights to be canceled on wednesday, but that's a tiny fraction of the 32,000 flights across the country. wind-driven rain made for a wet getaway for drivers on the busy

i-95 corridor, and parts of upstate new york got up to 9 inches of snow. here in new york city final preparations are under way this morning for the thanksgiving day parade. workers inflated the 16 giant balloons on wednesday, but whether they'll fly hasn't been decided. ko im is in new york. ko, good morning. >> reporter: good morning, anne-marie. as you can see behind me, the balloons are set, but it's going to be a close call to see if snoopy and company will be able to take to the skies. before dawn people were making last-minute touches for the floats for the 87th annual thanksgiving day parade in new york. >> this is my 25th year, so i'm always excited every year. >> reporter: wednesday crews filled the famous balloons with helium. crowds gathered to watch as snoopy, spongebob, and the other characters became larger than life. >> i like all the balloons. they'll all really cool. >> reporter: but the weather could ground the famed attractions. they can't fly in winds of 23 miles per hour or if gusts top

34 miles per hour. it will be a last-minute decision. >> we have our own wind reports stations all along the parade route. we're collecting a lot of data and we're going to be able to get the full picture. >> reporter: organizers expect about 3.5 million people will line these city streets to watch the parade in person. another 50 million will catch the show on tv. >> the parade is traditional, you know. everybody looks forward to it. across the country, around the world people come here for it. >> reporter: arriving with fingers crossed to see their favorite characters fly by city skyscrapers. and, anne-marie, the balloons were grounded once in the parade's 87-year history. that was back in 1971. >> well, we're keeping our fingers crossed. ko im here in new york city. thank you very much, ko. well, the first family pitched in at a washington, d.c., area food bank on wednesday. the president along with first lady and daughters sasha and

malia dropped in on the capitol area food bank. they filled up bags of food and apples and handed them out. about 140 million americans are expected to shop this holiday weekend adding to the retail frenzy. the season is shorter than usual this year. there are just 26 shopping days between thanksgiving and christmas. alison harmelin reports. >> reporter: elizabeth ross tried to beat the crowds for her holiday shopping. i guess you feel like you're not going to get the good stuff if you don't look early. >> reporter: she's not the only one starting early. with thanksgiving falling so late on the calendar, this is the shortest holiday shopping season since 2002. many retailers have already started slashing prices two days before black friday when 97 million customers are expected to hunt for bargains. >> my husband and i have been going out for the past ten years. we usually head out about 3:00 in the morning. we have a map of what stores we're going to hit. >> reporter: malls are already decked out.

but with consumer confidence at its lowest since april, retailers worry the crowds may be smaller than last year. many have lowered their profit expectations. the national retail federation expects it to increase slightly but shoppers are going to be cautious. >> people are telling us i'm not going to overspend. i'm going to manage it and work off my list. >> reporter: and they're going to comparison shop to get the best price. >> when you see how much you can get things for, it's a much better deal. >> reporter: wait for the sale. >> wait for the sale. >> reporter: even with the bargains, the average shopper expects to shop around $400 this weekend. alison harmelin, cbs news, new york. financial markets are closed today for thanksgiving, but when they reopen on friday, they begin in or near record territory. the dow picked up 24 points on wednesday to close at 16,097.

the nasdaq gained 27 to finish at 4044, a 13-year high. and the judge has clear the way for a merger in american airlines. the judge ruled that concerns about competition have been settled. american, united, delta, and southwest will control more than 80% of the domestic market. the obama administration delayed another part of the health care law on wednesday. small businesses won't be able to buy insurance online until next year. tara mergener is in washington with more on that. tara, good morning. >> anne-marie, this is the second setback for online small business enrollment. critics say it's yet another sign the website and the law are not ready for prime time. small businesses will have to wait a year before they can use the federal website to purchase health insurance plans for their employees. they were supposed to start signing up through healthcare.gov this month. the obama administration says the delay will allow its tag team time to make fixes so individuals can successfully navigate sites.

>> it was important for us to prioritize the functionality that would enable consumers individually to shop and enroll online. >> in a statement republican speaker of the house john boehner said the president bit off more than he can chew with this new health care law and small businesses are now forced to bear the consequences. they rush to meet their own deadline to build capacity on healthcare.gov by sunday. white house officials want the site to handle 50,000 users at once, but there is still a question about what happens if more people log on. the white house has been pushing consumers to use the thanksgiving weekend to get signed up for health insurance. and the administration says small businesses can still sign up via phone, mail, and in person. anne-marie? >> all right. tara mergener in washington. thank you, tara. well, coming up on the

"morning news," caught on tape, store scare. a pickup truck plows into the storefront sending workers running for cover. this is the "cbs morning news." on the table by not choosing the right medicare d plan. no one could have left this much money here. whoo-hoo-hoo! yet many seniors who compare medicare d plans realize they can save hundreds of dollars. cvs/pharmacy wants to help you save on medicare expenses. talk to your cvs pharmacist, call, or go to cvs.com/compare to get your free, personalized plan comparison today. call, go online, or visit your local store today. ♪ by the end of december, we'll be delivering ♪ ♪ through 12 blizzards blowing ♪ 8 front yards blinding ♪ 6 snowballs flying ♪ 5 packages addressed by toddlers ♪ ♪ that's a q ♪ 4 lightning bolts ♪ 3 creepy gnomes ♪ 2 angry geese ♪ and a giant blow-up snowman ♪ that kind of freaks me out [ beep ] [ female announcer ] no one delivers the holidays like the u.s. postal service.

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visit bettycrockercookies.com for fun holiday ideas. betty crocker cookie mix. just pour, mix...love. surveillance cameras caught surveillance cameras caught two employees running for their lives after a truck plowed through a shop in virginia this week. the driver apparently hit the gas instead of the brakes. no one was injured. the store owner said despite the damage, they're still open for business. and only two weeks on the job and u.s. ambassador to japan caroline kennedy's diplomatic skills are being tested. on wednesday she made her first public speech since taking her post and she criticized china for setting up a no-fly zone over disputed islands in the's china sea. >> unilateral actions like those taken by china with their announcement of an east china sea air defense zone undermines

security and constitutes a change in status quo. this only serves to increase tensions in the region. >> kennedy also praised japan's restraint and urged tokyo to respond to reasonable challenges in a measured way. and the u.s. and afghanistan continue to bicker over a new security pact. it would allow some u.s. troops to remain beyond next year's pullout to train afghans, but even with u.s. forces still there, the taliban is stepping up attacks and on wednesday killed six aide workers. charlie d'agata reports. >> reporter: this remote mountain region near the border with pakistan is where america's fight with al qaeda and pakistan began. >> bin laden was here. the cave complexes you hear about were here. this is the hub where al qaeda gained access and freedom into afghanistan and then projected power. >> reporter: and why many fear the taliban will come back. this is where they'll set up shop again. >> they'll certainly try.

>> reporter: colonel val keaveny knows firsthand the taliban is still a potent force. he's lost seven of his men in the past six months. now his troops from the 101st airborne division are getting ready to go home, handing over this crucial region to afghan forces. you guys are the last ones in. >> we are. >> reporter: that's quite a responsibility, isn't it? captain michael finch from tennessee is in charge of this base protecting the only major route between pakistan and kabul. soon afghan forces will be in charge. you're telling me they're capable of holding this area. >> they're very capable. >> reporter: what makes you so confident? >> because they've been doing it whole time we've been here. >> reporter: you still get attacked. >> we have been attacked. >> reporter: finch has been able to call on american air power with those attacks but that will end when u.s. troops pull out. the afghan troops will have to depend on mortars and small arms.

unlike the heavy vehicles used by the u.s. military, afghan security forces drivearound in these pickups, and they don't provide much protection against homemade bombs, the number one killer in this conflict. already this year the afghans have suffered their worst losses since the start of this conflict. exactly how many afghan troops have been killed is unknown. kabul won't release the numbers, but the coalition estimates that over 100 a week have died in fighting since the summer. >> right here. >> reporter: and according to a u.s. military officer, that is unsustainable. as u.s. troops get closer to pulling out, the more aggressive the taliban becomes. charlie d'agata, cbs news, paktiya province, afghanistan. well, straight ahead, your thursday morning weather. and in sports lebron james and the heat try to steal one in cleveland.

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here's a look at today's forecast in some cities around the country. new york, windy today with a high of 34. partly sunny in miami. and clearing in chicago. dallas will be mostly sunny as well and mainly cloudy in los angeles today. and time now for a check of the national forecast. it promises to be quite chilly this thanksgiving. in the south, temperatures in some areas could drop into the 20s. expect light snow in the upper midwest and great lakes.

winds topping 35 miles an hour will blow through upstate new york and new england, but it shouldn't be a problem for the balloons in new york city thankfully for that thanksgiving day parade. in sports now the miami heat won their eighth consecutive game. lebron james scored a game-high 28 points and had eight rebounds and eight assists as the heat beat cleveland, 95-84. the cavs have now lost four in a row. in brooklyn, the nets fell behind the lakers by 27 points. then they caught up. the game was tied at 92-92 when wesley johnson got the steal and the tie-breaking basket. the lakers held on to beat the nets, 99-94. in college hoops, syracuse won the maui invitational title. c.j. fair scored 14 of his 24 points in the second half on his way to being named the tournament mvp. eighth ranked syracuse beat 18th ranked baylor, 74-67.

and duke freshman jabari parker scored a career-high 27 points as they beat alabama 74-64 in the semifinals m.i.t. tip-off. duke plays arizona for the championship tomorrow. when we return, another look at this morning's top stories, and a once-in-a-lifetime whale show. we'll take you to monterey bay, california, where whales are having a huge feast. california, where whales are having a huge feast. ... through yonder window breaks ... it is the east ... and juliet is the sun step two, baconated cheese for awesome. step three, get ready to wow. step four... mmmmm. ♪ [ male announcer ] pillsbury crescents. make the holidays pop.

we're live in new york city. plus... the bay area teenager set on fire on a bs back home. what's next in his recovery. and why a court ruling on california's high- speed ra project could have a bigger impact than originally thought. join us for kpix 5 news this morning... beginning at 4:3 good morning. it's thursday november 28th. i'm anne makovec. michelle has the zçzçtórning ,,,,

hero here . here's a look at today's forecast. in atlanta, 47 degree. st. louis, 45. denver, 48. and seattle, mostly cloudy, 52 degrees the high. now, here's another look at this morning's top stories. a southern california hostage standoff is over. the gunman surrendered and

released the hostages. one police officer was hit in his bulletproof vest and wounded in the wild exchange of gunfire. and the fate of the thanksgiving parade balloons still up in the air as they say. new york police and parade officials will decide this morning if it's safe to fly them amid gusty winds. also in new york, a very special hanukkah for a holocaust survivor. he met the man who saved his life during world war ii. they hadn't seen each other for 65 years. dr. leon gersten was only 8 years old when his family hid in czeslaw polziec's attic in poland and lost touch when he moved to america. on october 17th, a tornado ripped through a school in lafayette. it tore apart the classrooms and the gym. fortunately it hit on a sunday

and there were no kids in school. a feeding frenzy on the west coast. for almost three months now monterey bay has played host to a massive floating feast. hundreds of humpback whales and a lot of their friends couldn't pass up an opportunity to chow down. ben tracy takes a look at this whale of a good time. >> reporter: on california's monterey bay, you don't really need these to see these. >> oh, my god. >> reporter: humpback whales, dozens of them, are everywhere. >> wow, they're like right on us. >> reporter: blowing away even avid whale watchers such as karen sheffer. >> it's never been like this. this is phenomenal. >> reporter: do these whales make you feel very small? >> oh, absolutely, absolutely. >> reporter: there are also dolphins and hundreds of sea lions. they're chasing an unexplained explosion of anchovies in the bay. killer whales showed up to hunt the sea lions. >> under the bows. >> reporter: tourists and scientists have never seen

anything quite like it. >> reporter: there's easily over 100 to 200 whales in monterey bay, so this is like, you know, so exceptional. we can't even believe it. >> reporter: nancy black is a marine biologist and captain of this whale-watching boat. >> looking pretty good. >> reporter: she said most humpback whales should have left for their breeding grounds in mexico but could not pass up this fish feast. >> reporter: is this a question of which biological need wins out, breeding and food? >> it's a struggle. >> reporter: sea lions chase the anchovies into tight balls of fish. the whales simply open their mouth, swallowing up to two tons of anchovies each day. >> i'm trying to tell the people how lucky they are to really witness this. >> reporter: she knows this sea life show will eventually end. for now, she says, just enjoy the view. ben tracy, cbs news, monterey bay, california. well, it is thanksgiving. it's very appropriate. coming up after your local

news on "cbs this morning," a holiday movie preview from a.o. scott. i'm anne-marie green. this is the cbs news. s the "cbs morning news." n. this is the cbs news. doorbuster deals -- triple starting thursday at 6am then again at 7pm. and friday at 6am. kmart. get in. get more christmas. and better is so easy withrning you cabenefiber.o something better for yourself. fiber that's taste-free, grit-free and dissolves completely. so you can feel free to add it to anything. and feel better about doing it. better it with benefiber. you may be muddling through allergies. try zyrtec-d®. powerful relief of nasal congestion and other allergy symptoms -- all in one pill. zyrtec-d®. at the pharmacy counter.

this week a prosecutor's this week a prosecutor's report offered new insight into the home life of adam lanza. he's the gunman who murdered 20 first graders and six adults in newtown, connecticut, last december. elaine quijano spoke about the report with some of the families of the victims. >> reporter: the report painted a chilling picture of killer adam lanza. he blacked out his bedroom windows with garbage bags, kept sbred sheaths of mass murderers, kept arms and ammunition and communicated with his mother nancy only by e-mail. how responsible do you hold nancy lanza for what happen thad day? >> there was obviously a

breakdown in terms of the parenting and the structure in that house. >> there was not responsible gun ownership either because there was access to weapons and firearms. >> and you hold nancy lanza responsible in that way when it comes to the guns that were available. >> yes, i do. >> this was a young man who didn't seem to have many connections. it takes a team to raise a child. it takes a community. where were the rest of the people in his life? >> reporter: the report also said six minutes passed from the time the first officer arrived to when police entered the school. how do you view that response? >> i think it is very easy to play monday morning quarterback and assume and imply, but if you really look at the investigative timeline, i do believe the officers did everything they could do. >> a judge has ordered that the 911 tapes from the shootings be released. what's your reaction to that? >> i'm disappointed in the decision because i don't feel

that the actual audiotapes serve any public interest necessarily. they don't teach us anything new. the law enforcement officials have already learned all that needs to be learned from that, and i do worry about our children and families listening to this in the future. >> i wonder what questions do you all still have? >> well, i think the questions that i would have we're never going to have answers to. you know, there was no clear motive. >> this man or this young man who did this to our children, to our loved ones, the safety net failed, so how can we move forward in a way to increase the level of safety nets around the most fragile children in families who need us because i think that's a more important question than why because for me there is no why. >> reporter: elaine quijano, cbs news, newtown, connecticut. well, coming up after your local news on "cbs this

morning", the backlash over shopping on thanksgiving day and the outlook for retailers this holiday season. plus we'll talk football with cbs's jim nantz as the dallas cowboys host the oakland raiders this afternoon. and film critic a.o. scott joins us in the studio with a holiday movie preview. that is the "cbs morning news" for this thursday. thanks for watching. happy thanksgiving. have a great day. -- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com

your realtime captioner is mrs. linda m. macdonald. good morning, happy thanksgiving. it is thursday, november 28. i'm anne makovec. michelle has the morning off. >> she sure does. i'm sure she's cooking the bird right now. maybe not. >> hi, everyone. i'm frank mallicoat. it is 4:30. and it's time for a little holiday weather, mr. karnow.

>> i have already been eating some of that turkey and mashed potatoes and gravy. we're getting it going early. why not? hey, folks. around the bay area today i think we are looking at a good thanksgiving but look at that cutoff low spinning off the coastline. we'll see some clouds from that system but no rain. we'll have more on your holiday forecast coming up. >> and if your thanksgiving plans include visiting 92 on the peninsula, there is a closure and accident overnight shutting down 92 both ways near skyline boulevard. i'll hdetailon this and some alternates in a few minutes. >> i think i counted nine cars on the way in. pretty slow. >> they are the only ones awake, and us. >> thank you. it is 4:30. millions of people lining the streets of new york city right now getting ready for the big parade. the macy's thanksgiving day parade, a live look at the preparations for one of the nation's favorite traditions. ko im reports windy weather is threatening to keep the oo