this team. thank you, guys. thank you for watching kpix5 news this morning. >> cbs this morning gorn to viewers in the west. milions traveling to be with family. dr. david agus tells us how to minimize the risk. president trump pardons michael flynn. plus, trying to reverse the vote in the key state of pennsylvania. and postponing an nfl game after a new test with covid. talking to the coach about that. and many young adults not

going home for thanksgiving because they're already living there. the highs and lows of being und are the same roof with their parents again. first, here's today's "eye opener." your world in 90 seconds. >> this is a really dangerous critical time over thanksgiving. make a better choice. that's all i'm asking. if you don't have to travel, don't travel. >> the u.s. suffering its deadliest day in the pandemic in more than six months. >> this is not a normal thanksgiving, and to act like it's a normal thanksgiving is to deny reality. president-elect joe biden addressing america ahead of the thanksgiving holiday uging urging people to stay united amid the coronavirus pandemic. >> we're at war with a virus, not with one another. >> president donald trump has pardoned michael flynn. >> democrats call it a brazen abuse of power. >> and soccer great, died at the

age of 60. diego maradona. >> nick sabin has once again tested positive for the coronavirus. >> he will quarantine and miss the iron bowel. >> the baltimore/pittsburgh game has been moved. >> all that matters. >> three seconds. got it! the hero -- >> college basketball is back. >> welcome to the big time. >> more than eight months after march madness was canceled. [ buzzer ] >> half court, and in it goes! >> on "cbs this morning." >> thanksgiving in brittain. thanks-giving every single day. >> fights-giving every single day. we don't call it thanksgiving. >> thanksgiving right here. [ laughter ] >> in all seriousness, do you know what we call thanksgiving? do you know what we call it? thursday. this morning's "eye opener" is presented by progressive,

making it easy to bundle insurance. >> oh, man. >> never try to use an english accent around somebody from the u.k. it doesn't work! >> it is thanksgiving in the house. that's light. as you put it earlier, we have a lot to be thankful for. >> we sure do. >> thankful for all of you. >> happy thanksgiving to all of you. happy thanksgiving to all of you. we're saying hi to gayle king, anthony mason and tony dokoupil all off this morning. the exploding coronavirus pandemic is upending thanksgiving traditions, but millions of americans are determined to celebrate hitting the road at a time when health officials want us to stay at home. more than 2,200 covid related deaths were reported yesterday, the highest one-day toll in more than six months. >> the virus has altered another thanksgiving tradition. the nfl postponed tonight's ravens/steelers game.

this after some ravens staff and players tested positive. the midwest continues to have the highest rate of new infections. adriana is outside a hospital in hard-hit chicago. >> reporter: good morning and happy thanksgiving. doctors here at northwestern memorial hospital say they're more prepared for the surge, but the wave of patients is coming faster than in the spring. the covid population has doubled in the last two weeks filling a second covid icu and one doctor warning that infections over thanksgiving could lead to deaths by christmas. >> i expected to be celebrating with my 92-year-old mother, but that's not going to happen this year. >> reporter: officials across the country, like chicago mayor lori lightfoot, made one last plea on wednesday, safety first on thanksgiving. the public health commissioner pointed to canada as a warning sign. canada celebrated its thanksgiving six weeks ago. since then the number of covid cases diagnosed per day has more than doubled.

the u.s. rates of cases right now are much worse than canada's was, but in some places the surge is already here. >> reporter: yesterday california set a nationwide record for the most new infections reported in a single day. >> i am not going to lie. i am nervous to see what happens. >> in topeka, kansas, this hospital is at capacity and they're expecting a 20% increase of covid patients in the next two weeks. the cdc recently took a look at kansas' mask mandate saying it's proof masks work. counties that implemented a mask mandate saw a 6% drop in cases and counties that didn't saw cases rise 100%. one person who learned how important masks are in a devastating way is this man. >> what was your view on the virus before you got sick versus now? >> i really didn't think it would have the effect it did on me. >> reporter: the former truck driver normally would be hauling turkeys over the last few months.

instead, he's at home breathing through a tracheotomy tube in his throat. he says his main concern was his family. >> i thought and i prayed and i was scared that i had infected my wife and kids and mom. >> you don't think you're going to be a widow at 33, but that was a reality i had to face at that time. >> reporter: that's why doctors are urging us all to be safe this thanksgiving. and listen to this -- here at northwestern doctors say many of their covid patients got infected at small gathering inside homes. that's why they say with cases as high as they are, you should assume everyone you come in contact with outside your household could be contagious. >> these stories just don't get any easier to listen to. adriana, thank you. many of us are listening to those doctors' warnings. aaa predicts a 10% decline in thanksgiving travel, the largest one-year drop since the 2008 recession. but that still means a lot of

people are on the move in spite of the risks. kris van cleave is in washington. what can you tell us about what travelers can expect today? >> reporter: well, good morning and happy thanksgiving. typically today is one of the lighter days for travel. driving primarily you can see not a ton of people up and on the roads this early. what we do expect is that people will be more likely to drive this year. they're likely to go less far and stay fewer days. now, analysts expect around 48 million people, give or take, are expected to be on the roads this weekend. that's a dedplin the nearly 50 million in 2019, with the last push of pre-thanksgiving travel wrapping up by noon today. travel across the country is expected to be lighter than past years, you may find, particularly in major cities, actual traffic on the way home this weekend. congestion may be way above normal pandemic levels with delays of an hour or more expected in los angeles and san

france. around 40 minutes in atlanta, chicago and new york. due to the pandemic, aaa expects americans will be monitoring the health situation and looking at quarantine guidelines before making their plans, many at the last minute. which means these travel forecast numbers could be considerably lower. typically sunday is the busiest day on the roads and at the airports. last year the tsa set an all-time record at checkpoints for the number of people. that won't happen this year, but it's a day we're watching closely. happy thanksgiving. >> kris van cleave, thank you so much. cbs news meteorologist is climate specialist jeff berardelli is watching the weather. jeff, what can we expect? good morning. >> good morning. vlad, you must be a good luck charm, because a second ago it was pouring torrentially, and as soon as you tossed to me the sun came out -- well, it didn't, but

the rain stopped. good morning and happy thanksgiving. take a look at a quiet central park, as it should be this morning on columbus circle. the rain is now moving out, but it will be stuck in eastern new england for several more hours. the rest of the country is looking really good. as we look at the maps you'll see what i'm talking about. the rain is moving out, across the country temperature-wise we're looking typical for this time of year. a little on the chilly side to the north. on the warm side and humid side to the south. you can see, 70 in dallas, 73 mobile. boise will be chilly. temperature around 32. watch out in southern california. critical fire weather. santa ana winds, gusts to 70 miles an hour. relative humidity is 5% to 10%. you do not want to cook your turkey outside during the day today. this is a huge story. we're going to see the arctic jet stream move to the south and that will combine with the subtropical jet stream. lots of cold air, lots of tropical moisture. it all comes together for a blockbuster blizzard at the end of november here in the ohio valley, the great lakes, wind gusts plus 40 miles an hour,

probably higher than that, and maybe a foot to a foot and a half of snowfall. michelle, are you ready for a big snowstorm? >> that includes us? >> oh, no. >> no. you'll have to travel a few hundred miles to the west. >> that's good to hear. jeff, you're always a ray of sunshine. thank you so much. >> ah, thanks. our medical contributor, dr. david agus, joins us with ideas to keep you and your dr. agus, good morning. happy thanksgiving to you. >> happy thanksgiving. >> as we mentioned, the deadliest day of the pandemic was yesterday. the deadliest company that more than six months. so the question is, you know, there is a lot of second-guessing going on about how to stay safe. what's the best course of action? >> well, obviously 2,100 deaths each of the last two days, cases going up. so we all have to be careful. if we're getting together with people, and a lot of people are, the following you need to pay

attention to -- one is, each pod, who you live with is a pod, needs to have separate tables and be separated. one place there's food to go and have wipes. different utensils or wipe the utensils so each family's going to look different. focus the meal in short periods. so you're eating and the rest of the time you're socializing, social distance and wearing a mask is critical. we just saw the national weather map. the good news is most of the country can have their thanksgiving outdoors or with the windows open. better ventilation, doing it outdoors will dramatically reduce the risk of the spread of the virus. there's no question that getting together increases risk. the hope is you can do some of these things to lessen the risk. >> i know we've seen a lot of long lines for testing ahead of the holiday. does testing ensure safety? >> well, no. i mean, obviously you asked a leading question and the answer clearly is no.

it is not a free pass. so many people are being tested, first of all, because case numbers are through the roof and people have been exposed, but also they want to get together with grandma or their family during the holiday, and they've got to test. that test is not a free pass to keep the mask off. it's not a free pass to not social distance. testing is great, identifying people and then quarantining them or contact tracing critical, but conveyor a mask and social distance, please, even if you tested negative over the last couple of days. >> switching gears to back-scene news. astrazeneca is facing new questions about its vaccine's efficacy after admitting a key mistake in the dosage given to trial participants. how significant is this? >> well, early in the trial, i mean it shows you the complexity in manufacturing. the wrong testing reported in the vile. the first several thousand patients received a half a dose

instead of a full dose. and the second dose of the vaccine they got a full dose. it turns out in those individuals they had a better response than people who got full dose and full dose. and so there are a lot of reasons why we think it's because the vector, what is around the spike, you make an immune response to and that lesser dose, better results from that protein. still remarkably important trial. >> that's just one vaccine from one supplier, but we're looking for others. dr. david agus, thank you. michael flynn's three-year legal fight is over after president trump pardoned him yesterday. the president's first national security adviser admitted to lying about his contacts with russia. the presidential pardon could lead to others in mr. trump's final weeks in office. ben tracy reports from the white house where the president is spending thanksgiving. >> locker up! >> reporter: retired lieutenant general michael flynn campaigned long and hard for president trump in 2016,

but he lasted just 23 days as national security adviser, fired by the president in 2017 for lying to the fbi and vice president mike pence about contact with the then russian ambassador before the inauguration. flynn told the fbi he never advised the russians against retaliating for sanctions imposed by the outgoing obama administration, but the fbi had taped his conversations. flynn pled guilty and then later tried to withdraw his plea. president trump has claimed it's all part of what he calls the russia hoax. >> what they've done to general flynn and other people is a disgrace. >> reporter: while the president was issuing the pardon, president-elect biden was pleading with americans not to let down their guard during thanksgiving as the coronavirus surges. >> i know the country is growing weary of the fight. >> reporter: he said a vaccine is on its way. his transition team receiving the first briefing on vaccine distribution wednesday. >> there's real hope, tangible hope. so hang on.

don't let yourself surrender to the fatigue, which i understand it is real fatigue. i know we can and we will beat this virus. america is not going to lose this war. >> reporter: president trump is still not surrendering to the reality that he lost the election. >> this election was rigged. [ cheers and applause ] >> reporter: he was greeted by cheers when he called into a republican event about supposed election fraud in pennsylvania on wednesday to urge gop lawmakers to overturn joe biden's more than 80,000 vote victory. >> it's a disgrace that this is happening to our country. we won this election by a lot, we got 74 million votes. >> reporter: he did get nearly 74 million votes, but biden got more than 80 million, and won the electoral college by as much as president trump beat hillary clinton in 2016. president trump met with lawmakers from that event in pennsylvania last night here at the white house. meanwhile, a judge in pennsylvania has issued a

temporary halt to the state's certification process until a hearing on friday, and that decision is already being appealed, but since pennsylvania already certified the election for joe biden earlier this week, it's unclear what impact that order would even have. vlad? >> ben tracy at the white house. happy thanksgiving and thank you ntina is in three days of national mourning or diego maradona, the country's greatest sports legend. the soccer superstar died yesterday of a heart attack. maradona was just 60 years old. >> we look back at the life of a world cup champion. >> reporter: it's hard to think of an american equivalent for diego maradona. think ruth and jordan, all rolled into one, and then wrap them in the flag and double it, maybe triple it. maybe use all the flags in the world. >> maradona just gets away.

>> this was maradona putting the dagger into the heart of england, scoring his second goal against them during the 1986 world cup. that game summed up the contradictions of his life. this goal was a thing of pure sporting beauty. this goal was a thing of sporti sporting infamy. it clearly went in off his hand, the hand of god he called it. some called it cheating. in an hbo documentary, he called it cunning. [ speaking foreign language ] >> reporter: revenge against the english for having humiliated argentina four years earlier during the faukland islands war.

he restored the pride of the nation. memories of the goal may have endured more than memories of the conflict. maradona's life was that of a tragic hero, small kid with unbelievable talent, emerges from the slums to become the superstar in the world's most popular sport. blessed with gifts, burdened with weaknesses. he follows the big money to europe, first with barcelona, then with naples, where he became the embodiment of the city, turning a failing team from a down and out town into champions. he also along the way developed a too close relationship with the mafia, which ran naples at the time, and with the drugs they trafficked in. he was a cocaine addict for decades. addiction and success, not dribbles and goals, became the hallmarks of his later life. they call soccer the beautiful game and the world will now

argue will maradona was the most beautiful ever player. his was not a happy ending, but the story of his life transfixed more than sports fans the world over. for "cbs this morning," i'm mark phillips in london. >> such a great writer. >> maradona, it's arguable, he is probably one of the greatest players. it's pele and maradona. >> have you ever heard of him? the golden boy? i think people were so connected to his life because of the struggles. they were cheering for him all that time when he was

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about the covid-19 virus. it's real. and it's dangerous. so, on behalf of all of us working on the front lines,

please take it seriously. and while we don't yet have a cure or a vaccine, we do know how to keep you and your loved ones safe. wear a mask. wash your hands. stay six feet apart. do your best to stay out of crowded spaces. and get a flu shot, it's even more important this year. we can do this. if we do it together. we have the power to harness california's abundant solar and wind energy, but it's not available all day long.

use less energy from 4 to 9 pm for a cleaner california. >> i just want to wish my friends and family a happy thanksgiving. i wish i could be there. >> i love you guys and i hope to see you soon. happy thanksgiving. >> happy holidays to my wife, my son, my man, and my daughter, cinnamon swirl. daddy loves you. >> i would like to send a message to covid-19, you better not screw up my travel plans, if you could just leave by the time i get back, that would be great. god bless america and the raiders. >> cinnamon swirl, got to love that. those are some of our service men and women overseas, giving a holiday shout out to folks back home. welcome back. last week the pentagon announced plans to bring back thousands of u.s. troops from iraq and

afghanistan. the u.s. is expected to withdraw about 500 of the 3,000 troops currently based in iraq. about 1,000 are still serving in syria. holly williams is traveling with the service members stationed in both countries to see how they are spending this thanksgiving amid the pandemic. >> reporter: for many serving in the middle east there will be no festive thanksgiving lunch today. instead, they're practicing strict social distancing with takeout meals. on this base in northern iraq, over 100 service members have been infected with covid. but this specialist, a mechanic who services apache attack helicopters, told us there's still plenty to feel thankful for. >> i just love the uniform. i love the respect. i love when they call you yes, sir, yes, sir. >> reporter: t.j., as he's known here, came to the u.s. from nigeria four years ago and then enlisted and said he plans to become a u.s. citizen when this

tour of duty is over. >> i'm feeling grateful that i'm on a path to make a better life for my family, to make a better future for my child. >> reporter: the base's chief medical officer is commander chris cole, an an anesthesiologist from walter reed medical center, who thought he was coming to treat combat injuries. instead, he's been setting up quarantine wards. >> covid has really united aus as a humanity on this base, as opposed to all of our individual units. it's really brought us together in a way that i never could have imagined. >> reporter: across the border in syria, at this small camp in the desert, this specialist from tulsa, oklahoma, is in charge of making sure there's running water for the troops here. she was inspired to sign up from her grandfather who served in vietnam and sent this message to her son.

>> i love you, i miss you. mom will be home soon. that's it. >> reporter: and out on patrol in syrian towns and villages, sergeant william mills, a pair trooper who hails from maryland, told us that at a time when he's missing his family, he's graceful for moments like these a with local children. >> it kind of takes your mind elsewhere and you kind of forget the situation you're in and it's nice to relax and hang out. >> reporter: being thousands of miles from home in the midst of a pandemic has given some here a new perspective on what it means to be thankful. for "cbs this morning," holly williams in syria. >> we salute our fighting men and women in uniform all over the world serving to keep us safe. >> yes, we do. >> happy thanksgiving to them. ahead, alternative social media sites are attracting

millions of new users after the election, but critics say apps like parler are not doing enough to filter misinformation. and a reminder, you can always get the morning's news by subscribing to the "cbs this morning" podcast. in less than 20 minutes, gayle likes to say that's a deal. we'll be right back. [alarm clock ringing] [thunder] ♪ ghirardelli caramel squares. try new white chocolate caramel squares.

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this morning we're looking at the role of social media in contributing to our country's political divide. sites like twitter and facebook have begun flagging posts by president trump and others that include misinformation on elections and covid-19. the move has frustrated many of the president's supporters who have responded by turning to platforms like parler, which calls itself a premium free speech app. we'll show why the emergence of these unregulated forums could make it harder for us to find common ground. >> i'm proud to join parler. this platform gets what free

speech is all about. >> parler, which is described as a twitter for conservatives has seen a rapid rise in popularity since the election, topping apple's download charts last week with more than 10 approximately users. >> can we now move everybody from twitter to parler? >> reporter: it's become a platform of choice for millions of conservatives, like re-elected colorado congressman ken buck to voice frustrations and share ideas. ideas buck says companies like twitter and facebook are sensoring. >> the best ant dotes to misinformation is more information. it's not sensoring or regulating or filtering bad information. we have to be educated as a public. >> you have seen, though, that i guess the expression has been proven true that a lie travels much faster than the truth. an erroneous headline will be shared online and engaged with by more people than the correction.

so do you really trust most americans to fact check everything they engage with? >> i absolutely trust americans and i think that's one of the differences between the left and the right and it's one of the reasons why an organization or a company like parler can get started. >> reporter: but as the number of users grow, so does the misinformation being spread, unproven accounts of voter fraud and covid-19 hoax claims run rampant on sites like parler, with almost no filter. >> parler, i think, is dangerous because it's actually encouraging people to get into another hyper confirming like-minded reality in which people will be more overwhelmingly convinced their side is right. >> this computer scientist says in some ways social media platforms create tailor made realities. post election protests have tightlied th highlighted this. >> we just want it to be revealed and if it goes to the courts, we're ready to go to

distance. >> reporter: battling over not just opinions, but basic facts. >> we know that social media has been dealing out conspiracies to us because it's never been easier to assert salacious realities that have no basis in fact than it is with social media. so i really, really worry about the death of trust. >> reporter: parler ceo told cnbc recently his app was for everyone and users control the content they see. >> the people who use the platform choose what they trust, what they don't trust. >> we candidates have an election stolen like this. >> reporter: now millions of loyal supporters of president trump will soon be adjusting to a new reality, joe biden entering the white house in january. but if the incoming president-elect wants to get anything done, harris says he'll have to break through the echo chamber. >> if he really wants to take on, whether it's covid-19, climate change or economic recovery or systemic racism,

you're not going to be able to take on any of those issues if the information that we're all consuming is in these different micro realities that are incompatible with each other. >> reporter: now, despite being viewed by the antidefamation league as a haven for hate speech, parler tells us the app is a destination for everyone who believes in the first amendment and free speech. we also asked them about online claims that it bans liberal viewpoints and their response was that they, quote, unequivocally deny there was a banning because of viewpoints. parler does say it bans for criminal posts, violence or spam. but this is where we are now, in a place where you can effectively choose your own micro reality. >> thank you so much. it seems like you can get your information a la carte. >> don't you welcome diversity of thought? i don't want to hear my own thoughts parroted back to me.

>> there are a lot of people who don't mind not having that sort of other point of view. but it will be interesting to see if a more liberal or progressive, however you want to describe it, moves on to that platform to offer that opportunity. >> i might just get rid of social media altogether. how about that. >> i don't think so. >> oh, vlad. >> don't call me out. >> you really are. >> i am on social media a lot. >> when i met you, you had like 12,000, 15,000 on twitter. i was trying to beat you. >> i am on social media a lot. my screen time keeps going up every week. >> take a break. >> yeah, take a breath. >> just breathe. >> ahead we'll look at the stories you'll be talkin about today, but first

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but with walmart's low prices, you still know how to do it up. and keep costs down. let's end the year enjoying more. ♪ you are all i need baby baby to get by ♪ ♪ this is how we do it >> throwback.

tony is working overtime because he sent this from mary beth from connecticut, and she says as tart as cranberries, as sweet as pecan pie, as sweet as a second helping. >> wow, a lot to live up to. ♪ i'm kind of buzzed and it's all because ♪ ♪ this is how we do it here are stories we think you'll be talking about. this heart-pounding rescue out of california, crews used a camera to locate an injury hiker after a boulder fell on him in a heavily wooded area. crews lifted him to safety tuesday morning. the man had been hiking when the boulder fell on him, hitting his right arm. he was stuck for several hours before he was able to rip open his jeans pocket and call for help on his cell phone. luckily, he is okay. >> what is the first rule of going out into the wild? >> when i was in the military, you always had a battle buddy.

i think that you should be out there with somebody to help. >> thank god he had his phone. >> don't go alone. they even made a movie out of it. "into the wild". >> i thought you were talking about "27 hours". do you even know? you're not in other words. moving on -- wait, did you just call me nerd? >> next. >> some people are making sure those less fortunate have a memorable thanksgiving. rapper travis scott and mayor sylvester turner showed up for a turkey drive. she gave out 1,000 turkeys and bags of food to families. in all, 3,000 boxes were handed out and basketball legend michael jordan donated $2 million to help feed the hungry. the proceeds came from money he made from the apsn documentary "the last dance". there are at least 15 million people who were be in food

insecure homes this time of the year, much more so than last year. so a spare thought for them. it's a very difficult time for a lot of people. >> if you can give, please do. >> if you are a first-time chef this thanksgiving -- >> hello. >> really? >> yep. >> so the butterball turkey hot line has you covered. >> thanks for calling butterball turkey hot line. how can i help you? >> experts have staffed the phones at butterball. i love saying that word, butterball. this year they will be doing it virtually from home. they are all on hand to dish out any advice to help you deliver a delicio delicious meal. butterball says since families won't be getting together due to the pandemic, they are expecting lots of first-time cooks in the kitchen. butterball, michelle is calling you. >> you have a party of six, right?

>> five. >> she didn't get it. wait, do you want to come over? check this out, a teenager from ireland built manhattan out of legos. he used the toy blocks -- >> wow. >> recreation of the greatest city on earth. he said it took him about seven days to design it. he was inspired after he went on a helicopter ride over manhattan with his family last christmas. >> oh, my goodness. >> he wants to be an architect and the buildings, i was just amazed by them. i always loved them so much and i thought i hope to design one of those when i'm older. >> wants to be an architect. his creation has racked up more than 2.5 million views. >> i would say he has a career. >> wow. bring out the lincoln logs. >> when he was 2 he started building and then at age 7 he built three-foot lego titanic ships. >> have you ever focused on

anything like that in that great of detail? >> my son was big on legos. he loved them. ahead, what may be the new normal for millions of american families. young adults tell us what it's like to live with their parents again after years of independence. welcome home. today's what to watch is sponsored by toyota. let's go places. toyotathon is on. come in today! right now! get 0% apr financing on a twenty-twenty camry. offer ends november 30th. that's a wrap! toyota. let's go places. that's a wrap! here's another cleaning tip from mr. clean. cleaning tough bathroom and kitchen messes with sprays and wipes can be a struggle. there's an easier way. try mr. clean magic eraser. just wet, squeeze and erase tough messes like bathtub soap scum... and caked-on grease from oven doors. now mr. clean magic eraser comes in disposable sheets. they're perfect for icky messes on stovetops... in microwaves...

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this is a kpix 5 morning update. >> good morning. i am michelle. san jose city leaders are naming the suspect behind a grizzly stabbing spree at grace baptist church. 32-year-old fernando lopez is accused of killing two and wounding three others but city leaders are blaming failures in the system. they say lopez should not have been on the streets with his violent criminal history. latinos continue to be the demographic most impacted by covert infections. the group represents nearly 60% of all cases in santa clara county despite only accounting for roughly a quarter of the population. right now charities across the bay area are preparing meals to feed those in need like at this church in san francisco where

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with all the gift for less. at ross. yes for less! it's thursday, november 26th, 2020. welcome back to "cbs this morning." i'm jericka duncan. gayle king, anthony mason and tony dokopil are off. the coronavirus threat overshadows thanksgiving. we'll look at efforts to feed millions in need and hear from young adults forced to live with their parents again. >> thanksgiving football, the nfl previews today's matchups, after one game is postponed due to covid. and diversity in holiday movies. made-for-tv films are changing. we'll talk with one of the actors who is breaking barriers. first, here is today's "eye opener" at 8:00. >> millions of americans are determined to celebrate, hitting the road at a time when health officials want us to stay at home.

doctors say they're more prepared for the latest surge, but the wave of patients is coming in faster than in the spring. >> analysts expect around 48 million people, give or take, are expected to be on the roads this weekend. that's a decline from the 50 million in 2019. >> lots of cold air, lots of tropical moisture. it all comes together for a blockbuster blizzard. a judge in pennsylvania has issued a temporary halt to the state's certification process until a hearing on friday. >> diego maradona, the soccer superstar died yesterday of a heart attack. >> i think people were so connected to his life because of the struggles. they were cheering for him all that time. according to a recent study, one in three households will take their guests' temperatures before allowing them in for thanksgiving gatherings. you just know once it gets to that relative that everybody doesn't like and they were hoping they wouldn't turn up,

people hosting will be like, oh, it says you've got a temperature of 140, so -- anyway, we'll see you next year. you can't see it. we'll see you next year. [ laughter ] >> if you've got that drunk uncle, you could be like, dude, your zoom is not working, end, end. >> you put a lot of thought into that. >> i could see my sister going, vlad, end, you're out. jericka is just staring at me. >> it's a tough time. we all agree, we're thankful to be here. >> we are definitely thankful to be here. as we talk more about the coronavirus, we know it's changed the way we celebrate the holiday. the u.s. has exceeded 170,000 new cases for seven of the last eight days. that's well over 1 million per week. yesterday's death toll, nearly 2,300, higher than any day since

early may. >> americans gather to celebrate thanksgiving with the virus lingering in the background and so are fears with food insecurity with millions of people still out of work and no relief in site. we're looking into the effect on families struggling. adriana, what have you found? we were talking about this earlier. >> reporter: vlad, according to the usda before the pandemic an estimated 35 million people were food insecure. these were people who couldn't afford balanced meals or any food at all and that was one of the lowest rates in the past 20 years. now, because of the pandemic, that number is expected to explode to 50 million people by the end of the year, including 17 million kids. that's one in every four children. hunger is a huge concern here in the midwest with covid cases soaring and people are stepping in to help this holiday season. just outside often chicago this week, local officials partnered with groups like black menu nighted to give out 1,000 thanksgiving meals and bags with

masks and hand sanitizer. in minnesota, the governor dropped by a local food bank to talk about helping people unemployed in the pandemic. >> many of these people are at home and are in this position because they're protecting their neighbor's health. they're in industries that needed to close to stop the spread of the virus. >> reporter: and if you are able toe give to your local food banks, i know a lot of our viewers know this, but advocacy groups say the best donations are nonperishables like canned food. today is a great day to clear out the pantry, after thanksgiving. >> absolutely. and money always works, too. thank you. many young adults did not have to go very far to spend thanksgiving with their families because of the pandemic. research says a majority of them are already living with their parents. nearly 3 million u.s. adults moved back in with their parents or grandparents in march and april. we spoke with a few of them.

laura hopkins left a teaching job in mexico to move in with her parents in california. this man left brooklyn after he was laid off and moved in with his parents in new jersey. chrissy walker left new york city to work from her parents' home in texas. ♪ who says you can't go home >> at first it felt special, we got to celebrate, and it felt nice. and then it got old. ♪ who says you can't go back >> i was able to play video games with my brother and i learned how to make sourdough bread. >> after being home for quite a while, i feel like i've regressed to my teenage years. i have chores again. i'm responsible for the dishwasher. i'm out with friends and i'm having a couple of drinks and my

initial reaction is to sneak in. then i realize, eric, you're 30. >> over here is my work-from-home setup. one of the perks of moving back home would just be that i have a lot more time to myself, i don't have to commute. so i've definitely been a lot more productive. ♪ got the sunshine >> before covid there wasn't a tradition of group facetime calls but now i've got a group of friends that does it once a week. >> i have not cooked a meal for myself probably in the past, like, four months. >> one of the biggest highs about being home is being able to spend more time with friends and family. i'm home for birthdays, baptisms and special occasions, simple moments that i was kind of missing out on.

>> i just moved to a new city by myself and i had definitely found my independence and moving back with my parents was not my game plan for any point ever really. >> i think the hardest thing was just not being ready to say good-bye to what my life was like before. i don't know when i'll be back, and so i am just accepting this new reality and just going with it. ♪ hold on to me as we go >> definitely the hardest part is the uncertainty, not knowing how severe it would be, how much it would effect the economy and job opportunities. it's hard to make goals or plans when you just don't know what the state of the world will be. >> when i was in the city, a lot of my friends were laid off or

furloughed so we would kind of be able to figure out what our next plans are and how to help each other. so being home is a little polarizing, away from that world. you kind of start spiraling, am i ever going to move out of this house. ♪ another turning point >> i just found myself with no real options other than moving back home for a little while. these are very uncertain times and i'm just trying to get through it. >> my dad now gets the fact that when the door is closed, he shouldn't come in. but i teach right in front of a window, so he'll always come in and wave. >> avocado toast. >> my basic day consists of getting up early. since i teach in mexico city, it's a two-hour difference. it's hard but the kids make it worth it. >> the coronavirus, it makes you mad, got it. >> i really appreciate this time working from home. i want to take that kind of authority over my life back with me to new york.

i'm generally pretty excited and optimistic about life post-pandemic. >> i'm still hopeful about finding a job and moving out on my own again, but that timeline is a moving target. i'm hopeful that things will go back to semi normal or whatever this new normal will be, but that's just what time will tell. ♪ i hope you had the time of your life ♪ >> always go home. >> some people can and i think that's what's really great about this story is the fact that they have a place to go at a time when some people are still trying to figure it out. >> that is a great point. it really is. my son never left, like so many freshmen who had to go virtual for college, his friends, it's tough for them. >> going to have to wait just a little bit longer, michelle. >> thank god for russell and jonathan, his pod. thank you. football is always a part of thanksgiving and coach bill cower of cbs sports will talk to

us about today's matchups. and how coronavirus is affecting th

there is a big push to make holiday movies more diverse this year. "the christmas house" is the first holiday movie with an lgbtq plus story line. ahead, we'll hear from one of the stars, actor jonathan bennett. you're watching "cbs this morning." jonathan bennett. you're watching "cbs this morning."

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a look at heinz field in pittsburgh, which will be silent because the steelers/ravers matchup has been postponed after players tested positive for the coronavirus. it is an example of how one of america's annual traditions is being disrupted by the pandemic. former head coach bill cowher is our analyst and he joins us now with what to expect in today's matchups. good to see you again this year. >> good to see you, vlad. happy thanksgiving to you, michelle and jericka.

>> good to see you. let me ask you about this matchup. baltimore ravens, pittsburgh steelers, now we've got to wait until sunday. is the nfl doing enough to keep its players safe? >> i think they are. i think what we're doing is trying to keep everything as normal as possible, making decisions at the last minute based on the information they're given. you're talking about people testing positive and the contact tracing, so it's a very fluid situation in the nfl, but we've gotten all these games in, which is pretty remarkable. >> should the nfl consider a bubble format, similar to what we saw in the nba? >> well, i think the bubble would have to be almost within a city, when you talk about it. and as we get closer to the playoffs, maybe that's something to consider. as you take the data that we're getting from people and try to keep them isolated to a certain degree within their families, maybe it's a hotel within each city. it's something i think the nfl is considering and it's a very fluid situation, so you have to

take the numbers as they come and make the decisions accordingly. >> coach, you coached your fair share of thanksgiving day games. what makes it so special? >> well, michelle, i think when you think about thanksgiving, i always go back to -- for me, football was a big part of it and, you know, the only time i actually was able to coach on one was back in 1998 on cbs up in detroit. it was a game i really didn't enjoy very much. it kind of ruined my thanksgiving because we lost in overtime on a coin flip sdr. when you think about thanksgiving, you think about football and you think about family and food, right? so i always remember when i was a kid growing up in pittsburgh, the fact that we always would eat after the first game, have dessert after the 4:00 game and everyone was usually asleep by 7:00. >> how is the pandemic changing things? it's changing it for the players, certainly on the field,

but what's it going to be like for you in the booth? >> as we go into the studio i think what we can do is bring back some degree of normalcy. you look and see the people that are going through tougher times than you are, and for that one three-hour period of time, the block of time, we can take them back and to be a fan and think about tradition and think about their teams. that's what it's all about. you're talking about the houston texans, watson, statistically one of the best years he's ever had. unfortunately, they're not winning games. matthew stafford coming off being shut out last week and i think when you look at professional athletes, the thing that's going to motivate them is pride. this game today is going to be two teams that know they're on a national stage. this is your resumé. so there's a lot to be gained right here.

>> coach cowher, jericka here. i think you recall i'm a bills fan. >> you're having a good year. >> 7-3, not bad, not bad. what are your predictions? >> not bad. and how about the year josh allen is having as well. you're talking about patrick mahomes and josh allen and let's not forget about ben roethlisberger. the buffalo bills are fun to watch. they've lost a couple of close ones, but you're looking at josh allen, who to me each and every week is gaining confidence and more command of the offense. they've got weapons around him, diggs, bringing him into the mix. when you get a guy that you know, what you want to do is give him as many weapons as you can and i think the buffalo bills are going that and they're going to be a team to be

reckoned with in the playoffs. >> we'll be watching you today on cbs. you're calling the texans/detroit lions game. thank you so much and happy thanksgiving. >> happy thanksgiving to you guys. >> the nfl begins coverage of the texans versus the lions today at noon eastern, 9:00 a.m. pacific, right here on cbs. coming up, our series, a more perfect union, this morning how a child's struggle with a rare disease inspired a legacy of giving. >> she had these piercing blue eyes. >> how did it make you feel that strangers were coming to help you? >> when you go through something like this, the first thing that people want to do is help but they don't know how to help. >> everybody asks what they can do. >> now we were able to say this amazing fund was started, you can donate there. and then people felt like they were doing something and we were getting something out of it. >> ahead, the partnership that led to a new platform to raise money for first responders and family members in need.

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this is a kpix 5 news morning update. >> good morning. i am len kiese. health officials say fewer than 50 beds are available for icu patients with 500 cases reported to state alone. officials are warning people not to gather with people outside their household and 90% of those who tested positive for covid-19 did not have symptoms and that this will likely allow the disease to spread. and innovative way to help struggling businesses. the concord chamber of commerce has a new gift card program

where shoppers can get gift cards and the city will add 50% more value. it is breezy and you can tell just by looking at the water on the bay with the view over alcatraz you can almost visualize the water getting pushed to the lower left with the northeast winds pushing the water at bay. the cameras are shaking around a bit and it is clear skies. even though it might be breezy today we do have a beautiful set up with the low 60s for the daytime highs. it will keep going like this through sunset and after sunset the winds will start to die down. these are dry winds .

welcome back to "cbs this morning." it is time to bring you some of the stories that are the top of the table this morning. michelle, you know you're going first. what you got? >> you know, some people say thanksgiving dinner is all about the side dishes. if you don't know how to cook it at all, you're in bad shape. which are the most popular? google searches were analyzed and mashed potatoes topped searches in most states. interesting idaho didn't make that list. the dish's popularity spans both coasts, including california and connecticut. right behind it is green bean casserole, which topped searches in seven states.

it was more popular in the midwest and southwest, including, texas, new mexico and ohio. then there's mac and cheese. it topped searches in six states in the district of columbia, the cheesy dish was number one. along the east coast in states like virginia, maryland and georgia. what is your favorite? >> mac and cheese for sure. >> i love my mother's stuffing. my mom makes incredible stuffing. we don't have any of those dishes at our table. my parents are immigrants. so it would be interesting to do a story on people who have -- who celebrate thanksgiving, but sort of bring some of their cultural foods to the table. >> in new orleans it's all about the oyster dressing and gumbo. >> are you doing gumbo? >> heck, no. i'm working today. >> come on, now. >> i'll be lucky to have a turkey. it's my first. wish me luck. >> once you get done with the turkey and sides, save room for

dessert. did you like that? >> that was good. >> what do you think is america's favorite thanksgiving pie? according to a survey, it's actually pumpkin pie. 35% said it was their favorite on this holiday. pecan pie was a distant second. 16%. followed by apple pie. >> i love cherry pie. >> banana cream pie. >> sweet potato pie. >> anybody for banana cream pie? >> yummy. how about the bean pie? >> okay, only -- you know what? >> i'm moving on. >> some people right now are like, bean pie, what is a bean pie? >> we have a hilarious video. it's a video of an oregon dad video bombing his daughter's

school project and it's become an internet sensation. take a look at this. >> so you put them down wherever you want. >> so that's isaac jones, who also gets the other two kids involved. their daughter knew what was going on the whole time and she would say, what is wrong with my family? turns out the joke is on dad because the daughter had to upload the embarrassing video to the classroom and share it with her teacher. look at this. it's "uptown funk". >> is that kid okay? >> she's doing her school project. this video has been viewed more than 13 million times. isaac said he's glad to spread a little levity during these tough times and joked there's actually a guy out that that is worse than you. he's doing the uptown funk. all right, michelle, over to you. >> are you good to read?

>> whew, as people look for escape during the pandemic, many are turning to holiday movies. thanksgiving is the unofficial start of the christmas movie season, but new movies began airing last month between hallmark and lifetime. 74 holiday movies are premiering this season, at least five of them feature lgbtq plus couples. nicky is in manhattan. you started this look. we're so glad you get to go back and finish it up. >> reporter: yes, michelle, it was so nice to revisit this and i think everyone can agree we could all use holiday cheer and fans of these movies say they believe they found the perfect recipe. we spoke with some hallmark stars who told us they hope this year everyone can see themselves represented on screen. >> don't forget the trees and tons of indoor fake snow.

>> reporter: this holiday movie season -- >> he has no idea. >> no. >> reporter: actor jonathan bennett is not only continuing his reign as a king of christmas movies. >> you guys are adopting? >> we're trying. >> reporter: he's also breaking barriers. >> my agent called me and said you have a hallmark christmas offer. i said, great, who is my girl? they go, jake. my jaw hit the floor. >> reporter: he's starring in hallmark channel's first christmas movie with an lgbtq plus story line. we first met bennett last year at christmas-con in new jersey, sponsored by hallmark. >> we're making holiday movies, but they're important. they make people feel happy and bring people a sense of hope and joy. >> reporter: bennett lives in california with his boyfriend, james. he said his goal with this film was to help people feel less alone. >> it feels like i'm a part of

progress and it feels really good. i can just imagine what younger me would have thought watching this movie. >> reporter: it's also a big step for hallmark. last year, after criticism from a conservative group, the network pulled a commercial that showed two brides kissing. the network later apologized after backlash on social media. they also pledged to diversify the cast of their holiday movies. hallmark says nearly 40% of its christmas movies include diversity and inclusion this year. lifetime, their biggest competitor, says that more than one-third of their movies feature people of color in leading roles. lifetime have their first movies starring an asian-american company and an lgbtq couple. >> it's a shift in making sure representation is represented. >> reporter: she's starring in two hallmark movies this year. she's an executive producer on

one of them, "the christmas doctor" which was written and filmed during the pandemic. >> in the past christmas movies, we've had big, giant tables full of people. but this year we were very mindful in having smaller gatherings so that that would reflect sort of what a lot of people are experiencing. >> reporter: filming during a pandemic presented its own set of challenges. actors quarantined, production staff wearing masks, and as bennett told us, he had to gargle hydrogen peroxide before his kissing scene. >> every three days the entire cast and crew was tested. >> reporter: actress rachel boston received this covid test while on set. her movie "the christmas carousel "comes out next month. viewers love them. why do you think that is? >> you do know everything is going to work out in the end and i think there is so much peace that comes from that. if the world around you is chaotic.

>> reporter: in an unpredictable time, hallmark movies are predictable. but fans at christmas-con told us they don't mind that. >> we love the joy and happiness it brings. >> reporter: this psychologist says she believes the pandemic will increase the appetite for holiday movies. >> if you could give a metaphor for holiday movies, what would it be? >> it's the classic dream that everyone has, the dream of being happy in all areas of your life. and when our lives aren't so perfect, we kind of like to see and gain hope from stories that are really very perfect. >> reporter: bennett knows life isn't always merry or bright like in the movies. this year especially. >> for fans who may be struggling this holiday season, what is your message to them? >> just remember you're not are a lone. if you feel a little weird this year and everything feels off, that's okay. but at the same time, have hope.

because we will get through this. >> reporter: well said. hope and love. merry christmas, happy holidays, jonathan. >> merry christmas. make the yule tide gay this season. >> reporter: hallmark told us it has three other movies with minor lgbtq plus story lines. it's worth pointing out that back in march when the pandemic began, hallmark actually started airing its christmas movies for people stuck at home after requests for them on social media, vlad. >> nikki, thank you very much. i like how he says the film was to make people feel less alone. that's such a wonderful sentiment and it's important to see the diversity. >> it's striking a cord because i walked into the den last night and my 14-year-old was like, mom, i'm watching the hallmark channel. she doesn't even watch television. >> the fact that these films now are exhibiting some of that is really great. >> yeah, it feels like it represents.

>> that's right. nikki, thank you very much. ahead in our "more perfect come experience the grand opening

of floor and decor's newest location in the east bay area! our expansive store is fully equipped with safe distancing guides, so you can browse our wide aisles and be amazed with our even wider selection. or easily order online, and pick up all the products you need for your flooring project curbside! so come discover the perfect floor at the perfect price in whatever way is perfect for you. floor and decor, now open in san leandro for safe in-store shopping and curbside pickup. also open in milpitas and burlingame.

our series a "more perfect union," aims to show that what unites us as americans is far greater than what divides us. this morning we learn about the

power of partnership. meg oliver shows us how an nypd detective's desire to help a former colleague with unimaginable tragedy has turned into a platform to support first responders around the country. >> reporter: she was born august 21st, 2017. just eight months later she was diagnosed with alexander's disease. >> she had her first seizure at 11 months old. >> reporter: it has only affected 300 people in the last 80 years. >> she never talked, but she communicated with her eyes, with her gestures, her smile. >> reporter: callie was hospitalized 40 times last year. >> will you ever be able to get out of medical debt? >> i don't think so. i mean, it is just stifling, the amount. >> reporter: their medical bills multiplied. >> we want them to know we're here. >> jason is a new york city sergeant and his former partner,

detective robert garland, suggested a campaign, but the family was worried about potential online scammers. >> and i didn't really want to do that because i know that there would be so many duplicates right off the bat. >> i said, listen, i'm going to put pen to paper and we're going to make something just for you guys so you get the help you deserve. >> reporter: what started as a way to help a friend in need became a three-year project to develop the fund the first website. garland's research discovered that out of more than an estimated 50,000 campaigns online that focused on military and first responders, at least 3% have duplicates. he partnered with a system that helps securely verify someone's identity, including their job as a first responder. it's the only crowd funding website dedicated to those on the front lines. >> so when a donor comes to a campaign, they know the money is

actually going to a trusted source. >> reporter: so far, they have more than 66 active campaigns that have raised more than $350,000, including one to help the lake charles police department recover from hurricane laura. 22 employees lost everything. >> they were legitimately sleeping on the floor in the squad room that night because they had nowhere else to go. >> reporter: they're trying to raise $100,000 to help their officers buy furniture and rebuild. >> really re-energizes you and restores your faith in folks. >> reporter: outside of atlanta, captain butler set up a campaign for the families of two colleagues who recently died in a car accident. >> it shows that they really do care and you see the response and the outpouring of love. >> reporter: and in southern oregon, firefighters are using the site for help rebuilding a pivotal fire station lost in

this summer's alameda fire. >> without the campaign, that means we're waiting that much longer to be able to restore vital services and equipment. >> reporter: that's all since the launch of fund the first in july. five months after callie passed away. >> what does it mean to you that callie's legacy is going to live on through this site of helping others? >> it's huge. it means so much, not just for us, but a lot of other people are going to be helped. >> reporter: a little girl's legacy, paying it forward one campaign at a time. for "cbs this morning," meg oliver, new york. i know you said earlier you can use money. we've given you some ideas here on this show of how to k contribute. >> callie's memory lives on. >> it's hard to lose a child and hard during this time of year. we're sending out love to you. before we go, we have an

uplifting story about the holidays from illinois. how a photographer is helping kids meet santa safely during the pandemic. we'll be right back. ernest hemingway wrote the old man and the sea at 52

satchel paige was still dominating batters at 59. celia cruz was still winning grammys at 77 john wheeler illuminated our ideas of the universe at 70 and roger crouch was 56 when he first went into space

your best is yet to come

before we go, one of santa's helpers is going above and beyond to keep the christmas spirit alive during the pandemic. an illinois photographer figured out a way for kids to still meet santa and tell him what they want for christmas. alicia johnson set up a social distanced studio in her bag yard. santa stays in a shed and the kids talk to him through an open window. the entire time johnson snaps photos documenting the unique holiday memory. >> that is so awesome. >> great idea. >> creativity blossoming in the midst of the pandemic. >> i love it. that does it for us. we will see you tomorrow because we will be back right here. >> happy thanksgiving, guys. we had fun today. >> we did. >> didn't we? >> i think we may have had too much fun. do you think they'll ask us back? >> if you don't see us here tomorrow, there's your answer. >> have a good one, everyone. >> happy thanksgiving.

this is a kpix5 news morning update. good morning. 8:55. san jose city leaders are naming the suspect behind a stabbing spree at grace baptist church. fernando lopez is accused of killing two and wounding three others but city leaders are blaming failures in the system. they say lopez should not have been on the streets with his violent criminal history. healthcare workers in san francisco could become some of the first to get coronavirus vaccines. the first doses of pfizer's vaccine could be there before christmas, if the fda issues an emergency use authorization. the so-called philippineos feed the front lines campaign is helping serve healthcare workers in san francisco.

the campaign also highlights how a large number of nurses dying from covid-19 are filipino. take a look at that full screen. it is about 20-mile-an-hour wind out there today, that's probably the main thing you might notice that's different about this thanksgiving, it's breezy out there. temperatures in some spots are much warmer or much colder than yesterday, depending on how windy it is where you are. if you look at the current gusts right now, it's windy in petaluma, windy in livermore. those are your two places that will notice this more than most. looking ahead to the rest of your thanksgiving, it is going to be sunny and breezy, which we just covered, and in the mid- 60s. daytime highs will stay in the low to mid-60s for much of the rest of this seven-day.

[captioning funded by cbs sports division] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. visit ncicap.org] james: a very different scene at ford field in downtown detroit but it's a continuation of a thanksgiving tradition and we are just about a half-hour away there kickoff of our thanksgiving day showdown. boomer: matthew stafford has appeared in nine games on