more intense wildfires, stronger hurricanes, extreme floods and drought around the world. the scientists braved poler bears, days of complete darkness and isolation for months on end. and when they finished, they took samples of the ice for further study back home. but home looks very different. they left dry land before anyone had heard of covid only to return to a global pandemic. >> some people think that perhaps because of this focus on the global pandemic, we also can't address the issues of climate and global warming but they are not schusive. we must take action. >> that action includes producing clean energy, recycling, repurposing, and consuming less. the choices we need to make about how we sustain humanity must be different. >> choice-ss she believes that can help halt the damage to our

warming world. cbs news. >> closer to home now, the stress of the ongoing pandemic is landing hard on the nation's front line health care workers. and it's also taking a toll on members of the u.s. military. many are returning home to a different country, after repeated deployments overseas. but a program in texas, is helping bhelp ing vets and first responders back on track. >> here near houston, veterans on the fast track to rebuild their lives. >> i remember going, man, today was amazing and i want more of that. he was facing depression and ptsd. >> i got to ride the world's greatest roller coaster. i lived my childhood dream. when you don't have it anymore, you don't feel a purpose, you don't feel worthy. >> now he is finding purpose, with the unique monday profit,

usmc racing. started to help struggling marines meet up and shift in to high gear. >> they are shaking from the adrenalin, they are smiling ear to ear. >> it's abelievable how healing that adrenalin is. >> it does not stand for u.s. marine corp, but uncle sam's misguided children. >> it's getting on the track and doing your part to accomplish your mission. we feel the comradery and having the purpose. >> reclaiming that purpose is personal for him. >> i have buried more friends due to suicide, i have seen more guys go to jail, drinking problems. i got sick is of seeing it and i felt like, i needed to do something. >> and with almost 18 veterans a day taking their lives, something more than just spinning his wheels. >> making people aware of something, to me, that is kind

of a cop-out, we are doing it. >> and this is no race to the cure. like the process of helping vets, it's a test of endurance. and teamwork. >> all right had, go ahead and. >> and relays that can run 24 hour straights. called 24 hour lemons. look at them, squeezing all that is left of the junkyard jewels. >> once called halloween meets kass le gasoline. here the most colorful and crazy the car, the better. each having a second chance, and maybe that's a part of the appeal for those that served they find new life here. like a.j. jackson who said he ended up in a dark, dangerous spiral. jackson now finds new thrills, challenges and rejuvenation racing with his wife, rebecca as the track shut down for the night, we spoke with the couple.

>> you have somebody that is driven? >> team guy. i just -- >> what have you seen in him since he has discovered this kind of racing? >> he is back. >> back on track. like the over 300 troops, veterans and first responders, u.s. mc racing has put in the driver seat. >> the family environment that is created here, a lot of times it gives me goose bumps. i don't know what i would do without this, this is my therapy. >> a therapy that is raising the spirits and pulses of those who have risked everything to keep us safe. >> jamie hi, i'm jonathan, a manager here

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try new metamucil fiber gummies made with a prebiotic plant - based fiber blend that helps promote digestive health. most years, new york city at christmas time is a winter wonder land, this year, not so. we have a look at the changes. new york, lights up like no other city during the holidays. 600,000bulbs are twink he will and it's not like times past. there's no christmas spectacular this area are. normally the rockettes put on

five shows a day this time of year. i went as a kid and took my own years but for the if first time in years the rockettes won't be kicking. >> it's coming on christmas, they are cutting down trees. >> about 7 million you tourists visited new york city to browse the department store windows, or skate in the park. this year, the pandemic has kept most of them away. at rockefeller center you can still see the tree as long as you stay socially distant. the tree has been here since the 1930s when rockefeller was built during the great depression. those were bleak times too. but the tree became a symbol of this city's spirit. >> does christmas in new york feel different to you this year? >> well, come on, are you kidding me?

of course it's different. i mean, we are trying. everybody is trying to get in to the spirit. >> for the past ten years, cindi lauper has hosted a benefit, and this year it was streamed. ♪ there's no place like home for the holidays ♪ >> it's got to feel pretty cool having made your own sort of new york christmas tradition. >> to me, yeah, it is. it is a tradition. and i hope we are back next year doing it. and i think we will. we are coming back. >> down broadway, lincoln center is also quiet. the center piece of its holiday season, the new york city ballet's production of "the nutcracker," has been cancelled for the first time since 1954. the nutcracker has been

important in your life. >> when i saw the new york city's ballet's production, i said, daddy i want to dance on that stage some day. >> principal dancer tyler pack w who has been dancing for years gave us a special performance in a theater that will otherwise remain dark this holiday season. >> i can't pretend that it's not very sad. but getting to just dance on the stage and show you the sugar plum fairy was so wonderful because this feels like my second home. >> in times square, where tourists normally flock during the holiday season to take in a broadway show, you can feel people want to celebrate and they are not sure how. this was your first theater?

>> this was my first theater that i performed in. >> your first show. broadway has been shuttered since march and will miss out on the most lucrative weeks of the year. how does broadway feel to you like this some. >> it feels sad, you know, the nice part is this too shall pass. ♪ ♪ the unreachable >> mitchell has been determined to make the best of it during the pandemic. after recovering from covid himself last spring. >> when i was singing out my window, for instance. >> that's right. >> and i did not realize how people wanted to see a live performance. ♪ >> with a tradition aal hanukka hymn the message of the season is shared, remain strong with wh times get dark. >> we need to know that things

will be brighter and we will pull through this as a city. >> do you feel that when you give is more important than ever, now? >> i think so. many people have been broken down in a way and we need to lift others up is and rededicate ourselves to bringing light to other people and that's what the message of hanukkah is for us. >> light reflected in holiday decorations around the city. ♪ >> or in a christmas wreath. to brighten up the home. and cindi lauper like most new yorkers is hopeful. >> show me your wreath? >> this too big for the door? you think? it's a great photograph. so the spirit is still here, isn't it? >> i think so, yeah. listen, we have been here, i was born here. right? >> me too. >> you cannot kill this city, this city will always come back. there's no place like new york.

♪ ♪ happy, happy christmas

in a time when our health care professionals are overwhelmed, one health professional in utah showed his appreciation in a unique way. here is chip reid. >> covid patient grover wilhelmson's request was from his icu bed was one that his medical team have never heard before. intubated and unable to speak at intermountain health care last month, the retired music teacher used paper and pen to ask if his wife diana could bring his v violin so he could play to the doctors and nurses. was he speaking through the violi (. >> that was the only way he

could speak. >> he wrote the note to his nurse. >> what was the reaction when you first heard him play? >> i cried. >> she was so inspired she piped the music in to the hallways so her colleagues could hear. >> how important was it that he did it for you? >> one of the co-workers described it as a light in the covid darkness. which was perfect. >> she said, he played his heart out and it touched hers. >> this is something that will follow me for the rest of my career. >> sometimes music is the very best medicinefor the patients and those who heal. chip ooed, cbs news, washington. >> and that's the overnight news for this friday. for some of you the news continues, for others check back later for cbs this morning and follow us online all the time, at cbs news.com. reporting from the nation's capitol. ♪

it's friday, december 18th, 2020. this is the "cbs morning news." another shot in the arm. a second coronavirus vaccine is on the cusp of being approved for emergency use. what you need to know about the major decision that could speed up our road to recovery. much needed relief. congress is closing in on a coronavirus stimulus deal that would bring financial help to struggling americans. and cyber warfare. a suspected russian hack attack is more serious than previously thought. the latest government agency to be impacted. ♪ good morning. very good to be with you, i'm anne marie green