for more news download our app on your cell phone or connected tv. m tom hanson, cbs ne , new york. it's friday, december 17th, 2021. this is the "cbs morning news". echoes of 2020. covid cases are back up and many hospitals are overwhelmed with the spread of the omicron and delta variants. president biden's dire warning to the unvaccinated. settlement rejected. a major twist in the opioid case. why the maker of oxycontin won't be able to settle thousands of lawsuits yet. hollywood scandal. "sex and the city" star chris noth is accused of sexual assault. his assault to the allegations. well, good morning and good to be with you.

i'm anne marie green. with about one week before christmas, the coronavirus pandemic is impacting the holiday season once again. as cases rise fueled by the delta and omicron variants. president biden said americans face a winter of illness and death. he met with his covid task force yesterday and urged americans to get vaccinated. he said omicron variant is going to spread much more rapidly the next few weeks. it is in dozens of states, including florida, where lines for covid testing stretched for miles. the mayor of miami is asking families to eat outdoors during the holiday gatherings to curb the spread of the variant. laura, good morning. >> reporter: good morning, anne marie. the cdc said new york and new jersey have the highest spread of the omicron variant in the company. it has been detected in 13 samples here, four times the national average. the omicron variant of covid-19

is quickly spreading across the u.s. >> we're looking over our shoulder at omicron, which will assume a dominant role i would imagine within a period of a few weeks until we go into january. . >> between omicron and delta, new cases are up 36% in two weeks. what's normally a 15-minute wait at this miami testing site, was over an hour yesterday. at the white house, president biden urged americans to get vaccinated and boosted. >> for unvaccinated, we are looking at a winter of severe illness and death. >> reporter: many hospitals across the country are already overwhelmed with the unvaccinated, including at monroe in wisconsin. >> these patients do not improve overnight. they do not improve over days. it's weeks and weeks and weeks ata time. >> reporter: icu nurse janelle says patients tell her they wish they had gotten vaccinated. . >>er they are fed through a tube in their stomach, they're breathing through a hole in their throat. >> reporter: new york city mayor

bill de blasio said in cases continue to skyrocket, the city might scale back its new year's eve party. . >> we're going to watch very carefully. it is still more than two weeks away. and if at any point we need to alter the plan, we will. >> reporter: yesterday the cdc voted to recommend pfizer over johnson & johnson. the j&j jab will be able to those who want it. the one-dose vaccine is a good tool for vaccinating hard-to-reach groups like the homeless. anne marie. . >> thank you very much. so for the first time president biden acknowledged his build back better plan will not pass in congress by christmas. nearly $2 trillion bill includes funding for universal pre-k, child care, climate provisions and affordable housing.

west virginia senator joe manchin is the lone democratic holdout. he wants to trim the costs. the bill needs approval from all 50 senate democrats. in a statement last night, president biden said my team and i are having ongoing discussions with senator manchin. we will advance this work together over the days and weeks ahead. purdue pharma's agreement worth $4 billion to settle lawsuits linked to do opioid epidemic has been rejected. a judge found flaws in the way the bankruptcy settlement protects members of the sackler yesterday's decision sides with one federal government office, eight states, thousands of other parties with claims against purdue. the case will likely be appealed to another court. kentucky governor andy beshear will survey damage in parts of the state after a deadly tornado outbreak a week ago. the death toll has increased to at least 90 across several states. the majority are in kentucky, as

the cleanup includes in cities, including mayfield, where entire neighborhoods were leveled. . >> this is home. you know, i talked to a lot of people just walking down the streets. this is home. this is where they grew up. they're not going anywhere. and they want to see this place put back together. however long it takes, they're here. >> thousands of people have lost their homes in what is considered to be the worst tornado destruction in kentucky history. and turning to some bombshell allegations in hollywood. two women have accused chris noth, who plays mr. big in sex and the city of sexual assault. but this morning he's denying any wrongdoing. jericka duncan has the details. >> reporter: chris noth, who played mr. big in the '90 hit show sex and the city is facing explosive allegations of sexual assault. one woman named as zoe says in 2004, when she was 22 years old, noth raped her from behind

inside his los angeles apartment. she said she received medical treatment and counseling. the other woman, named as lily, says she was raped inside noth's new york city apartment after a night of drinking in 2015. noth has denied the allegations, calling them categorically false, adding, the encounters were consensual. it's difficult not to question the timing of these stories coming out. both women approached the hollywood reporter at different times. they told the magazine they wanted to tell their stories after seeing promotions for hbo max's "sex and the city" reboot and just like that. variety chief correspondent elizabeth. . >> he played the character of mr. big, which was this very showy ladies man. so it appears to be an instance of life almost imitating art but in the worst way possible. >> reporter: noth has starred on law and order and has a role on cbs "the equalizer."

peloton, which used him in a commercial as mr. big, pulled the ad. cbs says it is not responding to inquiries. the los angeles police department says it will look into the nature of this report. skwrer rica duncan, cbs news, new york. the remaining members of a missionary group held hostage in haiti have been released. they were kidnapped by a gang two months ago. 17 people altogether, including 16 americans. a police spokesperson did not provide additional details about the release. it is also unclear just how much, if any, of the million dollar ran some per person was paid. and coming up, movie set shooting investigation. why authorities want actor alec baldwin's iphone. later, a golden girl marks a milestone. however betty white wants you to join in her birthday celebration. this is the "cbs morning news". .

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drug cartels are using social media to sell fake pills. and there's a new development in the alec baldwin movie set investigation. those are some of the headlines on the "morning newsstand. the los angeles times reports investigators in santa fe, nickname, issued a search warrant for alec baldwin's iphone in connection with the deadly shooting on the movie "rust". the phone could hold evidence that might be helpful in the investigation. they're looking for text messages, images, videos, calls or other information related to the production. baldwin was holding a prop gun during a rehearsal in october when it fired, killing the cinematographer and wounding the director. a former office worker testified in the sex trafficking trial of ghislaine maxwell. the former employee said she never saw any misconduct by maxwell while working closely with her for six years. maxwell is accused of recruiting and grooming under-aged girls for epstein to sexually abuse.

closing arguments could begin as early as monday. maxwell denies any involvement and has pleaded not guilty to all charges. >> "usa today" reports the dea says mexican drug cartels are using social media platforms to sell fake prescription pills. americans are buying what they think are real medicines but they are getting fake pills with dangerous levels of fentanyl, an opioid. the dea says social media is the perfect drug delivery tool for cartels. >> they have turned our smartphones into a one-click stop to market, to sell, and to deliver deadly drugs. drug traffickers are using snapchat, facebook, instagram, tiktok, youtube and other mainstream social media apps. >> the dea says the fake pills have led to a record increase in overdose deaths in the u.s. and still to come, betty white's birthday bash. how the actress is inviting all

her fans to celebrate a milestone next month. e a milest next month. er are living in the moment and taking ibrance. ibrance with an aromatase inhibitor is for postmenopausal women or for men with hr+, her2- metastatic breast cancer as the first hormonal based therapy. ibrance plus letrozole significantly delayed disease progression versus letrozole. ibrance may cause low white blood cell counts that may lead to serious infections. ibrance may cause severe inflammation of the lungs. both of these can lead to death. tell your doctor if you have new or worsening chest pain, cough, or trouble breathing. before taking ibrance, tell your doctor if you have fever, chills, or other signs of infection, liver or kidney problems, are or plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. for more information about side effects talk to your doctor. ♪♪ be in your moment. ask your doctor about ibrance.

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here's a look at today's forecast in some cities around the country. ♪ >> check out this awesome scene out of egypt. a man wearing a wingsuit got past the pyramids. he got closer than any wingsuit pilot before him. the daredevil through speeds up to 155 miles per hour at a minimum elevation of nearly 300 feet. in the past, wingsuit flyers were only allowed to fly above the pyramids, not next to them. on cbs "moneywatch" now, another major tech company is delaying return to office. >> and betty white is throwing a huge birthday party, and you're invited. diane king hall is at the new

york stock exchange with those stories and more. i love me some betty white. >> i know, right. we will book mark that and come back to her birthday. this morning, stock futures with a flat opening after three indexes ended in the red yesterday. investors mauled the prospect of the federal reserve raising interest rates three times next year. the dow fell 29 points the nasdaq dropped 385, the worst single trading day since september. and s&p 500 lost 41. the fda is loosening a law on abortion pills. millions of women can get a prescription through an online consultation and get the pills through the mail. the agency said a scientific review included no longer limiting dispensing to a small number of specialty clinics and doctors offices. prescribers will need to undergo training and dispensing pharmacies will have to be certified. apple is scrapping its february deadline for employees

to return to the office. the move comes amid rising covid cases across the country and the fast-spreading omicron variant. employees were initially set to return february 1st. no new return date has been set. tim cook said each employee will get $1,000 bonus for work-at-home needs. google and facebook have also offered their employees extra cash to help with work-from-home expenses. and betty white wants to thank you for being a friend. golden girls actress is inviting fans to celebrate her 100th birthday with her. she is holding a bash with the movie titled "betty white 100 years young a birthday celebration". people can buy tickets now. it will play in 900 theaters across the country january 17th, the day betty white marks the century milestone. that song has been in my head all morning ♪ thank you for being a friend ♪ right? >> totally.

>> i know. >> i love the idea that the movie is in theaters. to me, i want to experience it the way i have always experienced her, wrapped up on my couch, in a robe, with a glass of something, and pretending like she is my friend, along with all the other golden girls. >> i know. she totally feels like your friend. your pal and a confidante. i love all the lyrics. i'm celebrating betty white. she is just an icon. >> i know. we don't deserve her. we don't deserve her. >> right. >> thank you so much, diane. >> thank you. you got it. up next, can you spell inspiration? actor levar burton reveals his latest gig involving a spelling bee. eals his latest gig involving a spelling bee.

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here's a look at some forecasts in cities around the country. ♪

we'll be hearing more from facebook whistle-blower frances haugen. she signed a book deal with little, brown and company. the plan memoir does not yet have a title or release date. she released thousands of internal documents earlier this year and accused the company of caring more about money than public safety. tiger woods returns to competitive golf for the first time since badly damaging his leg in a car crash. he and his son charlie will play in the pnc championshi in orlando. it pairs pro golfers with family members. woods suffered serious injuries when his suv crashed outside los angeles. last month woods said he does not expect to play full-time golf again. and there's a new miss america. >> your new 100th miss america is -- miss alaska!

>> emma boyles was crowned last night in connecticut. it was the 100th anniversary. 51 women representing each state and the district of columbia, competed in various categories, including talent and communication skills. swimsuits are no longer part of the event. she takes home a $100,000 college scholarship. and levar burton will be the host of next year's scripps national spelling bee. scripps named the actor as the host yesterday. burton was the long-time host of the children's educational program, reading rainbow and guest host on "jeopardy!" earlier this year but lost in his bid to be named the permanent host. coming up on cbs mornings, anthony mason profiles singer/songwriter joni mitchell, one of the newest kenedy center honors. i'm anne marie green. this is the "cbs morning news". i'm anne marie green. this is the "cbs morning news".

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ this year take the time to melt into your holiday moments with lindor. ♪ ♪ irresistibly smooth chocolate. from the lindt master chocolatier. there are many reasons for waiting to visit your doctor right now. but if you're experiencing irregular heartbeat, heart racing, chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue or light-headedness, don't wait to contact your doctor. because these symptoms could be signs of a serious condition like atrial fibrillation. which could make you about five times

more likely to have a stroke. your symptoms could mean something serious, so this is no time to wait. talk to a doctor, by phone, online, or in-person.

our top stories this morning. president biden is urging americans to get vaccinated and boosted against covid to avoid a winter surge of new infections. the omicron variant is now detected in at least 38 states. many hospitals across the country are overwhelmed with unvaccinated patients. and purdue pharma's agreement worth more than $4 billion to settle lawsuits linked to the opioid epidemic has been rejected. they found flaws in the way laws protect the sackler family. the case will likely be appealed. a solemn ceremony at the white house. three u.s. soldiers received the medal of honor.

two of them posthumously. here's david martin. >> reporter: a mother and daughter received the medal of honor three years after their husband and father, army ranger christopher solis, used his body to shield a battlefield casualty in afghanistan. >> i was in awe that he would be so selfless, but that's who chris was. i wouldn't have expected anything less. >> reporter: eight years ago, master sergeant plumlee stopped a suicide attack on his outpost in afghanistan. >> you see 10 guys coming at % you. what did you think? >> that i would be killed. >> so what do you do when you think you're going to be killed? >> try to take a few of them with me. >> 16 years ago, sergeant first class cash pulled soldiers from a burning vehicle in iraq. >> flames are spewing out of every port out of the bradley fighting vehicle. >> reporter: colonel mathias was there.

>> he's going in and out of the bradley trying to pull them out one by one. it's just an intense inferno. >> reporter: colonel hathoway arrived on the scene. >> cash has been burned 70% of his body, still standing up, walking around, pushing everybody to take care of his boys, as he would say, first. >> reporter: cash and three other badly burned soldiers were medevaced to the united states. his sister was at his bedside. he was still worried about his boys. >> he was like just please tell them to fight. they can do this. >> reporter: one by one, the soldiers died. >> he was the last one to pass away. >> reporter: ever since, his sister has been leading the campaign to recognize his sacrifice. >> i just want to know that sergeant first class allen c. cash has been awarded the medal of honor that he earned. >> reporter: honor delayed, but no longer denied. david martin, cbs news, the pentagon. >> well, coming up on cbs mornings, the aftermath of the

tornado outbreak in kentucky. we'll take you to a shelter in dawson springs and hear from a family of six who lost nearly everything. plus, anthony mason profiles singer/songwriter joni mitchell, one of the kennedy center honorees. and a special look back at the biggest news stories of 2021. that is the news for this friday. thanks for watching. i'm anne marie green. have a great weekend. that is the news for this friday. thanks for watching. i'm anne ma