♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ tonight, the weather nightmare before christmas. a historic, dangerous storm wreaks havoc nationwide. deaths, crashes, power outages, and travel chaos at airports and on frozen roads. also tonight, the extreme conditions disrupting holiday deliveries while retailers hope for a miracle. pope francis celebrates christmas praying for those suffering in war, while ukraine gets hit with new russian attacks. i'm ian lee in kyiv, ukraine, where the christmas message is different this year. plus, former president trump

lashes out at the january 6th committee. >> there was no insurrection. while republican rivals ponder their future. maryland governor larry hogan weighs in. >> the former president, he's already in the race. does that intimidate you? >> not at all. i mean he seems to be dropping every day. and later, we're on patrol with the beagle brigade. cbs's mark strassmann joins them in atlanta sniffing out trouble. food smugglers, being warned this christmas season. officer mookie's nose knows all. ♪ ♪ good evening. adriana diaz is off. i'm robert costa in new york. an extraordinary and treacherous moment nationwide as extreme cold shatters holiday plans. these conditions near rockford,

illinois today. no one was seriously hurt in the crash, but the weather has proven deadly, claiming at least 19 lives. in seattle frozen streets sent some cars sliding out of control, backward and downhill. it is a deep freeze. blinding blizzards and icy kay chaos in nearly 5,000 delayed flights, stranding travellers. cbs's naomi ruchim is in newark, new jersey. >> reporter: good evening. all of the delays and cancellations are still coming in and people only have a few hours to get out if they want to make it in time for christmas. from coast to coast, brutal cold stranding thousands of holiday travelers at airports nationwide. >> it has been cancelled, delayed, moved to another flight. >> reporter: the wicked weather has made travel deadly. this devastating pile-up in ohio involving more than 40 cars and trucks on friday. at least four people were killed.

today in buffalo, new york, winds reduced visibility to zero in what some are calling a generational storm with multiple feet of snow expected through christmas. in long island, new york, drivers were swamped by chilly floodwaters. >> i feel like it was a flash flood. basically i came out and the water was just -- it was too late to move them. >> reporter: across the country bone-chilling cold taking a toll on people and animals. in montana, it has been 40 below or worse for much of the week. these cattle ran through snow as ranchers tried to keep their livelihood safe. tonight many states at risk for blackouts or rolling outages. one power operator overseeing 13 states now asking residents to conserve. in el paso, migrants huddled on the streets, wrapped in blankets in sub-freezing temperatures, waiting for shelters to open. at soldier field in chicago, ticket prices dropped faster than the temperatures to see the

bears take on the buffalo bills with some seats going for less than $10. airport disruptions are still plaguing travelers trying to make it home. >> we missed our flight. >> we missed our flight! >> what? no way. >> reporter: this family had to change their plans last minute, but they're hoping to make it a memorable holiday anyway. >> we'll just have to reroute santa claus and we will have a good time. >> reporter: and here at newark things are moving as folks are getting where they need to go, at least from this airport. one thing that's made this storm so challenging is the severe drop in temperatures with the mercury plunging in some places as much as 30 or 40 degrees, and this we know, christmas day will be bitterly cold for many americans. robert. >> naomi ruchim in newark, new jersey. thank you. is there any relief in sight? let's go to meteorologist paul goodlow from our partners at the weather channel.

>> bob, christmas eve across much of the south and southeast felt like perhaps the middle of february with the high temperatures we had today. we are talking the coldest we have seen for high temperatures for christmas eve in maybe 30-plus years in some cities. so the cold air is still going to stick around for our christmas day aross the southeast, and a very cold morning for santa and crew. but we are seeing, well, at least a slow warming, slowly starting from west to east as we head into next week. but we are still watching lake-effect snow for christmas day across the great lakes. otherwise we are fairly dry. in the pacific northwest we have rain showers, but it is not freezing rain like on thursday, thank goodness. but, hey, in the future we have warming for the last week of the year. we are talking by the middle of next week close to half of the population of the u.s. will be above average for high temperatures, finally. bob. >> paul goodlou of the weather channel. today fedex said all have

been disrupted nationwide. they're not alone. cbs's steve futterman is in los angeles in the last-minute rush at the mall. steve. >> reporter: robert, it hasn't been quite the holiday shopping season retailers had expected, but in the final hours as these shoppers grab gifts there's real concern among businesses and buyers. as shoppers made their last-minute christmas purchases here in los angeles. >> looking for some uggs for my mom. >> reporter: they were getting the final gifts and stretching their buying power. even though sky-high inflation numbers are cooling, many are dipping into their savings. >> for the recent hikes on everything, it is getting a little crazy. >> reporter: in minneapolis the lockdown lifted at the massive mall of america after shopping came to a sudden halt last night when a gunman opened fire, killing a 19 year old.

and with weather causing havoc, sadly some gifts will not make it to their destinations in time. >> some of our amazon stuff didn't arrive, so we got to do some last-minute stocking stuffs. >> reporter: the holiday shopping season began with great expectations, but in november consumer spending rose only .1%. in one survey americans said they are buying nine gifts this season, down from 16 a year ago. unlike past holidays -- >> a barbie dream house. >> reporter: there is no hot christmas toy. and retailers are ready to slash prices. >> if they had a sneaker store with a 50% off thing, it would be amazing. >> reporter: while many americans right now are escaping in their christmas winter wonderland, there are also fears of recession and they're also wondering what next year has in store. robert. >> steve futterman, thank you. tonight pop francis offered the christmas eve mass in the

splendor of st. peter's basilica, celebrating the birth jesus the pope urged the world to think above all of the children devoured by war, poverty and injustice. the pope has also indicated he will dedicate his christmas day message to the people of ukraine. this christmas eve marks ten months since russia's invasion of ukraine, and today new attacks. cbs's ian lee is in kyiv. >> reporter: light is hard to find in the shadow of war, but their faith shines through. christmas can't be cancelled but it also can't be the same for mariano lasuk. >> i don't feel the holiday. i prefer this holiday for children, only for children, not for myself. >> reporter: her husband is serving now known in ukraine as hell on earth. he has already been injured but she says he won't stop fighting

because the russians won't. even today on christmas eve, russian troops shelled kherson, killing at least ten civilians. >> i am fighting, too, because i'm alone. all people in our country are now in the war. >> reporter: she raises their two girls and son mark by herself. the 10 year old tells me this christmas is happy and sad because his dad is on the front lines. are you proud your of father? >> yes. >> reporter: what do you want for christmas this year? he wants ukraine to win this war. father stanislav says only a third of his congregation remains. some are fighting, some have fled and others are dead. >> reporter: what has been the hardest part of this year for you? he tells me teaching people to love, especially when there's suffering all around. you have to be an example for everyone, like jesus.

even here the nativity show mug -- must go on, but the suffering lingers. just outside the sanctity of the church is disrupted by an air raid siren, russia's gift to ukraine this christmas eve. ian lee, cbs news, kyiv, ukraine. today in arizona kari lake, the outspoken ally of former president trump, suffered a legal defeat. a judge ruled against her challenge of the democratic governor elect, katie hobbs. that followed a trial where lake alleged misconduct. this ends the highest profile legal battle from last month's midterm elections. hobbs will be inaugurated in january. former president trump is responding furiously to the january 6th committee's final report, all as the latest drop of hope hicks' testimony sheds new light on his presidency. cbs's christina ruffini is at our washington bureau. good evening.

eporter: good evening.repa to dig into chstmae dinner, washingts thugh ousands ofes transcripts just dropped from the january 6th committee as the committee is all but done with its work. >> i was becoming increasingly concerned that we were damaging his legacy. >> reporter: one of donald trump's closest adviser, former white house communication director hope hicks says the former president felt he was being unfairly blamed for the january 6th riot at the capitol, asking was it really as bad as everyone was making it out to be. that's among the revelations in newly released transcripts from dozens of witnesses to the january 6th committee. hicks texted a colleague, in one day the president ended every future opportunity that doesn't include speaking engagements at the local proud boys chapter. in another new transcript, former first daughter ivanka trump told the committee she didn't know and didn't recall over and over again when asked directly about conversations with her father.

on social media, the former president slammed the committee's work. >> most importantly, the unselect committee did not produce a single shred of evidence that i in any way intended or wanted violence at our capitol. >> christina, the committee has also made criminal referrals to the justice department. what now? >> reporter: well, the committee will officially dissolve when the republicans take over the house next month and it will be up to the justice department special counsel to decide whether the former president is indicted. robert. >> christina ruffini, thank you. the general who led the union to victory in the civil war is about to be given a final promotion. here is cbs's david martin. >> reporter: general ulysses s. grant had been consigned to history as the stolid and plodding union general who defeated the dashing confederate general robert e. lee. no longer. >> there's an historic wrong, let's make it right.

>> reporter: senator brown sponsored making general grant, held by only two other hi wn a commander of american forces in world war i. >> i think it is always good to revisit history and to shine a bright light on those who have done well. >> reporter: brown could be accused of bias since he is the senator from ohio which was grant's home state. but ask retired general david petraeus. >> grant truly was the man who saved the union. his actions more than any other individual in uniform that ultimately ensured that the north won that war and that the union was preserved. >> reporter: as america's deadliest war ground on with no end in sight, president lincoln turned in desperation to grant, who took command and chased lee all the way to the courthouse at

appomattox and accepted his surrender. >> he is arguably the greatest battlefield general in american military history. no other u.s. army general did what he did, which was to demonstrate true brilliance on the battlefield at every level of warfare. >> reporter: a portrait quite at odds with many of the historical depictions of grant. >> he was dismissed as incompetent or corrupt or an alcoholic that couldn't manage his demons and his alcohol. lincoln when told that grant drank famously responded, find out what he drinks, give it to the other generals. at least he fights. >> reporter: the wheel of history has turned and grant now stands on the pedestal with only two other americans, while statues of robert e. lee are coming down. david martin, cbs news, the pentagon. straight ahead on the "cbs weekend news," when making a a family affair.for president i- also, before tonight's takeoff, santa hit the skis on

water. and later, meet the special agents sniffing for contraband in atlanta. ♪ ♪

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the united states. >> reporter: former president e desion.ump, of course, is who knows what nkname he might give you. >> ron desanctimonious. >> and some may wait to decide. others such as governor larry hogan are moving closer to taking on trump, but first that talk. >> ultimately it is a family decision in your house it seems whether you run for president in 2024, but do you ultimately have veto power? >> i guess i could probably veto, but i'm going to really probably listen to the advice of the family. you know, i sometimes joke that i might be the governor of maryland but i'm not the governor of my house. the first lady is -- she has some veto power as well. >> is she interested in the idea? >> we probably will spend time

od's plan. she is trying to punt and kick it to higher power. ening. >> the former president is already in the race. does that intimidate you? >> not at all. first of all, he's the only one in the race and he seems to be dropping every day. i think he is at his lowest point ever in popularity. >> a lot to discuss around that holiday table, that's for sure. still ahead on the "cbs weekend news," mega jackpot and dreams of a very green christmas. ♪ ♪ s. so am i. because i'm at risk for pneumococcal pneumonia. i'm asking about prevnar 20® because there's a chance pneumococcal pneumonia could put me in the hospital. if you're 19 or older, with certain chronic conditions like copd, asthma, diabetes, or heart disease or are 65 or older, you may be at increased risk for pneumococcal pneumonia. prevnar 20® is approved in adults to help prevent infections from 20 strains

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desanctimonious♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ there's no christmas miracle for mega million there's no christmas miracle for mega million lottery players. no tickets matched last night's winning numbers. that means tuesday's jackpot rises to an estimated $565 million, the sixth largest in game history. now to some hockey history. washington capitals' star alex ovechkin is now number two on the nhl all-times goals lists, scoring 801 and 802 last night against the winnipeg jets. that moves ovechkin past the legendary gordie howe. only the great one, wayne gretzky, has scored more. even for santa the freezing temperatures are a challenge. in alexandria, virginia, these upped the ante, hitting the freezing potomac on skis.

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here is mark strassmann. >> reporter: international food smugglers had no chance. >> hello, ma'am. >> reporter: not in atlanta. not with the beagle brigade, especially officer mookie. >> what kind of food do we have in here? >> reporter: mookie has a superpower. >> what you got, mook? >> reporter: his nose. >> you know how when we walk into a house and smell spaghetti cooking? a beagle can smell every ingredient in that spaghetti. it is amazing. >> what is that? good boy. >> reporter: mookie sniffs out banned food and plants that can carry disease that can carry bugs hitchhiking to america. >> i'm looking for his response. once he figures out there's something there he will chase the bag. >> reporter: what's the signal he's hit something? >> his butt should hit the floor. >> reporter: mookie sits and gets a treat. >> good job. >> reporter: duck and blueberry, his favorite. find food, get food. >> they're happy to be here because to them this is not work. it is a big game of hide and seek.

>> reporter: and what is your favorite part of all of this? >> the dogs. >> reporter: dogs catching passengers like the jones family. mookie's nose found a ham sandwich. >> that crazy thing there. >> the dog is the best part i think because, well, he's cute and cuddly. >> reporter: don't get fooled, this beagle is all business. >> they're like, oh, he's cute. once he sits beside their bags they're like, uh-oh, what do i have in my bag. >> reporter: busted. >> right. we have lots of sausage, salami, have your beef. >> reporter: on this table, one flight from nigeria, an international buffet of seizures. so mookie found all of this? >> yes, he did. >> reporter: good day's work. >> very good day's work. >> reporter: mookie, the nemesis of food smugglers from all over. good boy. mark strassmann, cbs news. atlanta. that is the "cbs weekend news" for this saturday. i'm robert costa in new york. good night and merry christmas. ♪ ♪

now at 6:00. a once in a generation winter storm is wreaking havoc across the country and it is responsible for a growing number of delays and cancellations. san francisco police were ordered to stop clearing homeless and cabins. a look at the lawsuit accusing the city of mistreating people living on the streets. with so much to worry about we asked folks about the good news that's happening in their lives this christmas season. live from the cbs studios in san francisco on this christmas eve we will begin tonight with developing l ane hahed a airport.

into an rv storage unit. paramedics are working to get somebody out of the plane. we are not sure exactly how many people were in it but we will keep an eye out for updates. meanwhile a large part of the u.s. is facing conditions on a historic holiday storm. this is buffalo, new york. driving conditions are dangerous. power outages and widespread delays are affecting a large part of the country. at least 17 storm deaths have been reported for everything from exposure to wrecks on the highway. here's a look at the bay area airport major delays. it is affecting travelers tonight, including here. showing more than 3000 cancellations nationwide with 7000 delays. that number is only going up. it has led to a lot of roadblocks for many who are trying to get the family members this christmas season. more than 80 delayed flights and 40 cancellations. one traveler tells us in their case not ngrom the airl