continued to kick and hits victim behind a display. officers followed a trail of blood and rescued the injured woman, shot and killed lopez as he entered the end of the aisle. dead at scene, no gun found on him. footage released then captures the wailing of soledad or orellana-peralta, she recalls it hitting her 14-year-old daughter valentina. >> translator: something hit my daughter and she fell to the ground. >> reporter: chaos on a christmas shopping trip. >> translator: she died in my arms, i couldn't do anything. >> reporter: promised to seek justice, hired an attorney. police officers have called this tragic accident.

what do you call this? >> preventible, unnecessary, needless. >> reporter: and shooting has sparked debate over police tactics. lapd has shot and killed 18 people this year, more than double compared to last year, major. >> hugging and praying, jonathan vigliotti. thank you. now to denver, police investigating a shooting spree that left six people dead, including the gunman, 5:00 p.m., continued across multiple locations. suspect was killed after exchange gunfire with police. suspect identified as lyndon mcleod, some of his victims were targeted police say. federal investigators on scene of small plane crash near san diego. small laer jet crashed and

burned, power lines were knocked down. ntsb is handling the investigation. future is now, another example of american innovation. cbs's ben tracy. >> reporter: for more than a century, ferry boats moved people around san francisco bay, powered mostly by diesel. so this is the boat of the future? now a sea change coming. >> down the hatch. >> reporter: this is the first passenger ferry in the world. >> these are the fuel cells. >> reporter: powered entirely by hydrogen fuel cells. >> instead of a diesel engine, spinning happens in the fuel cells. >> reporter: jeff sokolik is with bellingham, washington. built boat that will launch with zero emissions. >> that's the holy grail of this. >> reporter: ron willie is

president of the company. what does a hydrogen powered boat allow for? >> the only by-product is literally hot water. zero emissions, completely clean. >> reporter: the marine industry, mostly international shipping is one of the dirty and not so little secre change. causes about 3% of all global carbon dioxide gas emissions, more than co2 emissions from airline industry. this is now being built in europe andould apply to container ships. but downside, if hydrogen leaks from the tanks, contributes to global warming. >> there's a lot of hope around it but in order for it to move forward and climate to be protected, we need to understand what the leak potential really is. >> reporter: back in bellingham, they're proud a cleaner future is being built in america. >> really think it's going to be a game changer as things move

forward. >> reporter: and sea change for the industry. ben tracy, cbs news, bellingham, washington. >> "cbs overnight news" will be right back.

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attorney found the allegations credible but did not warrant charges. cuomo is still investigated by two other county district attorneys. he's denied touching anyone inappropriately. follow-up on important issue we've been reporting on, military families facing food insecurity. it is a real crisis. the pentagon responded, so did you, and just hit a milestone, cbs's mark strassmann tells us more. >> reporter: if picture is worth a thousand words, your donations worth 1 million meals for families battling hunger. near fort hood in texas, hundreds of families each received 60 pounds of free groceries. >> this food makes huge impact on their family lives. >> reporter: in february we reported on military families struggling to feed themselves.

why? low income, frequent moves, denial up the chain of command. >> i can't feed my kids, unacceptable, really. >> reporter: from joint base lewis-mcchord in washington state to naval station norfolk in virginia? >> reporter: faced hunger issues at start of the covid era. finally the pentagon agreed to identify and help them. >> our men and women in uniform and their families have enough to worry about. basic necessities like food and housing shouldn't be among them. >> reporter: you jumped in to help. unprompted, donating more than $600,000. what an impact. >> i'm absolutely humbled and incredibly emotional to share with each of you with us today we just officially broke 1 million meals for military families. >> reporter: enough to feed

7,000 families. >> this would not have been possible without the support of cbs shining a spotlight on the issue and the viewers who leaned in to provide incredible support. >> reporter: these families have our backs, you had theirs. >> thank you cbs viewers! >> reporter: mark strassmann, ordinary tissues burn when theo blows. so puffs plus lotion rescued his nose. with up to 50% more lotion, puffs bring soothing relief. a nose in need deserves puffs indeed. america's #1 lotion tissue. hey, come here! nurtec odt can not only stop a migraine it can prevent a migraine as well. nurtec is the first and only option proven to treat and prevent migraines with one medication. onederful. one quick dissolve tablet can start fast and last. don't take if allergic to nurtec.

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brazil's government today pledged $30 million in aid in wake of disastrous flooding. tens of thousands have been displaced by weeks of heavy rain in country's northeast and southern regions. got even worse on christmas eve when two dams gave way, at least 30 cities swamped with water. police in broward county, florida, searching for driver involved in deadly hit and run. near fort lauderdale, car struck a group of children and sped away. two girls, ages 6 and 5, were killed, four others hurt. time capsule revealed secrets today. conservationists opened box found under the statue of robert e. lee in richmond, virginia. bullets and full page illustration from harper's

weekly depicting president li when you humble yourself under the mighty hand of god, in due time he will exalt you.

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take control, get screened for colon cancer. 'tis the season of giving, we know that, arizona high school students have taken to heart. here is cbs's jamie yuccas. >> reporter: at tucson's university high school, these students are making dreams come true. >> thank you. >> reporter: latest uistmas decs the way nancy maltern had always done. >> i don't think think about what seniors are going through. >> they have no knowledge how huge this really is that they're doing and it is huge. this isn't about making a dream come true but bringing quality

to the life. >> reporter: coordinator belinda motzkin-brauer bridges the gap. asking to convey a message. >> they made my christmas, love every one of them for doing this. tell them to keep up their good hearts. >> i think a lot of the time we are not just giving back to patients but receiving life lessons. >> reporter: what life lessons have you learned? >> big one is appreciating simplicity. >> reporter: i feel you guys are wise beyond your years. >> just having that connection between the younger and older generation will make our society a better place. >> reporter: jamie yuccas, cbs news, tucson. that's the "cbs overnight news" for this morning, check back later for "cbs this morning" and follow us online. reporting from the nation's capital, i'm major garrett.

this is cbs news flash, i'm alice gainer in new york. california the first state to record more than 5 million known covid infections. it has 40 million residents. texas more than 4.4 million cases and florida, 4.9 million as of sunday. mourning harry reid who died after battle with pancreatic cancer. led under two presidents. hall of famer broadcaster and player john madden has died. making it to five afc title games and won the super bowl.

began broadcasting here at cbs. for more news. the cbs news app on your cell phone or connected tv. i'm alice gainer. cbs news, new york. ♪ this is the "cbs overnight news."en everyone. joini us, i' major garrett in for norah. we begin with the latest wave of covid infections, making it feel like, yes, december of 2020. as an example, new york city is once again the epicenter of this stage, but not alone. new jersey, florida, delaware and massachusetts also recently reported new daily records as the national average of new infections approaches an all-time high set almost a year ago. meanwhile, some medical experts are questioning the cdc's new isolation guidelines. long covid testing lines remain

throughout the country, wait times topping four hours in parts of florida. recent surge has another wave of postponements and cancellations. airlines canceled more than 1,000 domestic flights today, adding to misery of air travelers trying to return home from the holidays. and cdc has identified nearly 90 cruise ships where covid outbreaks have been detected. in the sports world, the holiday bowl was canceled just hours before kickoff, the fifth bowl game covid casualty so far. cbs's nikki battiste has it all. good evening. >> reporter: major, good evening. the cdc is now saying the omicron variant is responsible for 60% of all covid cases across the country as of christmas day. highly contagious variant is ravaging new york city. in manhattan, one in 50 residents tested positive last week.

tonight, new york's covid numbers soaring as high as skyscrapers. seen the average climb to nearly 20,000 a day, nearly 11-fold increase in last month, new york reporting more new cases per capita than any other state. across the country, hospitals starting to feel impact. after thanksgiving, jackson health in miami had 37 covid patients. it now has over 200. in massachusetts, new cases skyrocketing, one of seven states now reporting record high daily infections, more cases than any time since start of the pandemic. testing sites overwhelmed, lines still stretching for hours. >> trying to to be proactive and get it done, we could be spreading it around further. >> reporter: lines mask a bigger problem says dr. peter hotez. >> the hard reality is, it's hard to get a covid test, shouldn't be but that's the reality.

>> reporter: misery continues at nation's airports, today alone more than 1,000 flights canceled. more than 5,000 since christmas eve, some due to staffing shortages fuelled by omicron variant. and tonight, more reaction to the new cdc guidelines which cut suggested isolation time for those who test positive and are asymptomatic from ten days to five. >> it's not only health care workers but other essential workers in work force, fire and rescue, often are shedding virus before they have symptoms and are contagious and are contagious mostly two or three days after they start having symptoms, not six, seven, eight or nine days afterwards. >> reporter: but there's pushback from the association of flight attendants, said it could create unsafe work environment and cause much greater disruption than any staffing shortage. one immediate concern is impact

of the holiday get-togethers. >> omicron is so highly transmissible. i'm advising people if you don't have to have new year's party or can delay it a few weeks, might make a big difference. >> reporter: adding to the worry, flu is making a comeback this winter. cdc said hospitalizations are up and two children have died from the flu so far. major. >> hard numbers and key realities, nikki battiste, thank you so much. with the rise in cases in both adults and children, question now turns to schools. new york city's mayor said the nation's largest school district will reopen as planned monday. for other schools across the country there's feeling of deja vu and uncertainty, cbs's meg oliver. >> it's all timing. >> reporter: tiffany jacobs is working mom of five in paterson, new jersey. before christmas the school district announced return to all remote instruction for

first two weeks of january. >> i just felt like here we go ag again. but it was inestible, knew it was coming. >> reporter: how did your kids react to going back to all remote? >> they'd rather be out. >> reporter: covid cases are soaring in paterson, and before winter break, 20% of school employees were ab cents. eileen shafer is the superintendent. how hard was it to make this decision? >> it was extremely hard to have to go back to remote, a tough decision but we have to error on the side of caution all times. >> reporter: nearly 300 schools in four states will start virtually. d.c. and baltimore will take two days off to allow students and staff to test. other cities like seattle are telling families to prepare for possible last-minute switch to remote learning. but following guidance from top health officials, new york city has decided it's better for kids to be in person.

>> your children are safer in school, the numbers speak for themselves. >> reporter: with covid cases rising, is it safe to reopen schools? >> if you have the protocols in place. >> reporter: washington state superintendent chris reykdal points to protocols like mask wearing and high vaccination rate among staff. >> we know how to control it and keep spread minimal in schools. sports are harder but effective with the strategies, did it before we had vaccine. >> reporter: in paterson, newark, new jersey, the superintendent plans to keep schools all remote until january 18th and offering families free rides to vaccination clinics. major. >> meg oliver, thank you. now to denver. where police are investigating a shooting spree that left six people dead, including the gunman. began around 5:00 p.m., continued across multiple locations. suspect was killed after

exchanging gunfire with the police. two other people, including a police officer, were injured. exchange gunfire with police. suspect identified as lyndon mcleod, some of his victims were targeted police say. federal investigators on scene of small plane crash near san diego. four people were killed when the small lear jet crashed and burned just after 7:00 p.m. monday night. no one on the ground was hurt but one home was damaged, power lines withknocked down. ntsb is handling the investigation. tonight a prosecutor said former new york governor andrew cuomo will not face criminal charges following accusations of unwanted kissing made by two women. the westchester county district attorney found the allegations credible but they did not merit charges. cuomo is still investigated by two other county district attorneys. he's denied touching anyone inappropriately. the "cbs overnight news" will be right back.

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this is the "cbs overnight news." i'm major garrett in washington, thanks for staying with us. 2021 will probably be remembered for among other things, the great resignation, americans quit their jobs to retire, find other employment or just stop working. left companies scrambling for workers. some turned to app called instawork, connects people willing to work day-to-day, and some of the workers say it's a pandemic godsend. >> this is one of our most

popular gifts. >> 'tis the season for succulents. but ceo said getting holiday help in the pandemic worker shortage is a challenge. have you hired people who haven't shown up. >> definitely. >> reporter: instead of placing a want ad, ordered instaworkers on an app and they show up next morning. >> yeah. >> reporter: do you have to send them a paycheck? >> that's best part, put the credit card on the app, it charges automatically. >> every worker has a schedule that can change week tot week. >> reporter: cofounded instawork in 2016. what makes this different from temp agency? >> economy opportunity at touch of a button. worker can create a profile, get to work within a day. >> reporter: and when covid hit last year, business took off. >> the whole work force changed

how they work in the pandemic. not just looking for better jobs or better pay but more flexible work. >> reporter: that appealed to chester who lost his job in the pandemic. now he has selection of shifts and pay. >> i can comfortably say i'm my own boss. >> reporter: how does that feel? >> good. >> reporter: one day at clothing warehouse, then a concert. >> i did bts this morning. >> reporter: best part, getting paid immediately. when you go home the money will be in your bank account? >> before i get to my car. >> reporter: 1.5 million workers in 25 u.s. cities, can provide realtime economic insight. since april of this year, wages are up an average of 20%. >> we found half of our professionals are not willing to work for less than $15 an hour. >> reporter: more than double the federal minimum wage. company charges employers a

commission but workers pay nothing. say it's just another middle man who adds cost. >> workers speak with ■their swipe. >> reporter: independent contractor, no benefits or overtime. did you ever see yourself having another 9:00 to 5:00 job? >> i've gotten so used to this now. you know you can just make money tonight, tomorrow. anytime you feel like it. >> reporter: for now the job flexibility is priceless. >> had numerous job offers from companies i've worked with. numerous. >> reporter: you turned them down? >> yep. >> reporter: how did it feel to say no? >> very good. >> reporter: los angeles. lot of workers find it in the return business. christmas is time for giving but after christmas is time to bring back all the gifts you don't want. online sales topped $200 billion

this holiday season and analysts expect will be a record number of returns. big business. janet went behind the scenes to see. >> reporter: it's familiar scene, delivery workers making trek to front door with point and click gifts. onlin online purchases likely to top 25% of sales. but more startling number, e-commerce return rate is 25%. compared to 8% for physical store. this is what that can look like. mountains of cardboard and plastic packaging with valuable products inside. not equipped to take it back? >> typical retailer hasn't invested in this yet, returns come back, pile up, sit and

quarterly or twice a year liquidate them for potentially destroy them. >> reporter: the ceo helps companies solve problem of tsunami of returns. >> racks behind me, bulk cases. >> reporter: this massive warehouse outside nashville is one of three dozen they use across the country, processing for american eagle, target, bed, bath & beyond and others. relisting the product for a new sale. >> here to grade it, make sure it was upc and correct description. >> reporter: these will never go back to retailer's warehouse, they're held here until sold again. volume is incredible. on this two racks 120,000 items that were returned, most will

leave as new sale within the stoce,s shipments,tohes waste. t has to be.on say they won't b again if the process is difficult. in houston, abby mcdonald used happy returns, service that collects unwanted goods, it's postage and box free. >> i have the code. >> reporter: qr code is all you know, sent back dress bought online. >> close to office, easy to pop out at lunch for free. >> reporter: among 3800 collection points, 20 returns from multiple sellers in a single box, reducing waste and expediting turnaround time.

increases foot traffic for the store collecting the goods. takes back through happy returns. says making returns seamless is critical not just for customers but for the company's bottom line. >> i think the speed and efficiency with which we can get the product back on the shelf and available for another customer is really integral to our overall business model. obviously impacts our sales and revenue. >> reporter: and the environment. almost 6 billion tons of returned items will end up in landfills after the holiday season. finding right person for returned product is key. >> connects it to next best home as efficiently as possible. >> reporter: minimizing shipments and getting product back into stock quickly, a win for buyer, seller and the

planet. lebanon, tennessee.

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environmentalists in florida say they're in a race against time to save one of the state's most beloved animals, the manatee, their food supply is being killed by pollution. one conservationist group is threatening to sue the federal government for not taking the proper steps. ben tracy. >> they really are everywhere all around us. >> they are everywhere this morning. >> reporter: flotilla of manatees in the morning mist. >> they are stacked on top of each other. >> reporter: a manatee traffic jam? >> it is a manatee traffic jam.

>> reporter: cora works for the nonprofit save the manatee. every morning she hand counts those that flock here for the warmer water. >> we've had days of over 600. >> reporter: wow. >> that's harry. harry the manatee. >> reporter: she knows most by name because of their distinctive scars from being hit by boat propellers. >> they're like family coming back. >> reporter: she's worried many of them will not survive. manatees have been starving to death, their bones washing up on shore. zoos and places like sea world rush to save the marine mammals. >> that's never happened before. >> reporter: patrick rose is the executive director of save the manatee he says starvation is the leading cause. in the spike of manatee deaths. more than 1,000 have died this year, more than any year in state history.

it's especially grim considering there are about 6,000 in florida's waters. >> those that succumbed to starvation, it was agonizing death. >> reporter: more than half of the manatees have died inside this inner river lagoon along the east coast. the reason they are starving is because their food is disappearing. manatees are vegetarians and often called sea cows. they eat more than 100 pounds of sea grass. for decades, this sea grass has been disappearing because of human-caused water pollution from florida's development boom, sewage from systems and runoff from farms. super blooms of algae darken the water and block out the sun killing the sea grass manatees are left struggling for food. >> we think we're at tipping

point. >> reporter: researcher at the oceanographic student, they are experimenting with growing sea grass and transplanting to try to restore the lost beds. >> reporter: how much sea grass has been lost? >> 60 to 70% if you look at whole lagoon. >> reporter: desperate animal welfare groups feeding them roe main lettuce. >> reporter: more than 30 have been rescued and slowly nursed back to health. this one lost much of her body weight but in october was strong enough to be released. bertram said it is humans that caused this problem and we need to fix it. >> it is not a quick fix. i strongly believe if we all work together and do our part, we can make a difference.

>> reporter: ben tracy, vearro beach, florida. ea hom the most restrictive tobn

world and about to get tougher. restricting where they can be smoked or sold. and to keep those under 14 to ever be able to buy cigarettes as they get older. >> reporter: new zealand wants to snub out smoking for good. >> this is important milestone in history of tobacco control. >> reporter: new law make it illegal for anyone 14 or younger to ever buy a cigarette, even as they get older. >> future generations will never be able to purchase because

there is no safe age. >> reporter: the minimum will rise year after year and also wants to reduce appeal, addictiveness and availability. >> only products with low levels of nicotine can be sold. >> reporter: country of 5 million, 5,000 die ever year from smoking and new zealand health officials want to cut it to 5% by 2025. and lifetime ban has broad support, even among some smokers. >> i think it's good idea, end of the day it's bad for you, hard to quit. >> and good for myself. save more money. >> reporter: sav savin lives lec that is the overnight news for wednesday, some it continues, others check back later for "cbs this morning" and join me for "the takeout,"

discussing entertainment and holidays with frank callenddo. reporting from the nation's capital, i'm major garrett. this is cbs news flash, i'm alice gainer in new york. california the first state to record more than 5 million known covid infections. it has 40 million residents. texas more than 4.4 million cases and florida had 3.9 million cases of as sunday. mourning harry reid who died after battle with panc with pan cancer at age of 82. democrat led t senate under two presidents, republican george w. bush and democrat barack obama. >> nfl hall of fame coach and broughter john matten has died at 85. making it to five afc title games and won the super bowl.

began broadcasting here at cbs. for more news. the cbs news app on your cell phone or connected tv. i'm alice gainer. cbs news, new york. it's wed 29 it's wednesday, december 29th, 2021. this is the "cbs morning news." new covid concerns. people wait in long lines to be tested as the omicron variant continues to fuel cases across the nation. the states that are being hit the hardest. two legends lost. we're remembering the lives of former senate majority leader harry reid and nfl hall of fame coach and commentator john madden. and demanding justice. the parents of a california teenager killed in a store dressing room by an officer's stray bullet speak out. what the grieving mother says happened to her daughter. good morning. good to be with you. i'm tom hanson.