it's wednesday, december 28th, 2022. this is the "cbs morning news." flight fiasco. thousands of people stranded as southwest airlines cancels more than 7,000 flights in 3 days. the airline struggling to keep up as a massive snowstorm battered much of the nation. the stark warning from pete buttigieg. western new york still reeling from that deadly blizzard. at least 32 people have died in the buffalo area from the severe weather. who's being called in to help the paralyzed city? title 42 can stay in place for now. that's the latest ruling from the supreme court.

what the decision means for migrants who want to seek asylum in the u.s. good morning. i'm wendy gillette in for anne-marie green. the frustration is at a fever pitch at airports nationwide. southwest airlines is coming under intense scrutiny after canceling thousands of flights leaving travelers stranded. the airline struggling to keep up as a massive winter storm pounded much of the u.s. now transportation secretary pete buttigieg is getting involved. jarred hill is in new york. jarred, good morning. >> reporter: hey, good morning, wendy. there's no question that what's happening with these flights is a mess, to say the least, but government officials are investigating whether this mess with southwest in particular was avoidable. according to flightaware southwest still makes up the vast majority of today's cancellations. post-christmas chaos at the nation's airports after southwest airlines canceled more

than 60% of its flights for the second day in a row stranding thousands of frustrated flyers. >> it's just unacceptable. everybody knows that during the holidays there's going to be some delay, but just outright cancellations is not okay. >> reporter: with more cancellations today, some travelers looked for other ways to reach their destination. >> we tried to get a train, and the train was booked, and then we tried to get a greyhound bus, and that was booked, so we have a rental car. >> reporter: southwest offered heartfelt apologies and said, we were fully staffed and prepared for the approaching holiday weekend when the severe weather swept across the continent. >> our plan for the next few days is to fly a reduced schedule and reposition our people and planes, and we're making headway, and we're optimistic to be back on track before next week. >> reporter: southwest airlines' ceo bob jordan issued that video statement saying, the company is processing refunds.

he also said he's been in touch with the transportation secretary, pete buttigieg. the secretary told cbs news the situation is unacceptable. >> well, i want passengers to know that this department has their back, that we are going to be holding the airline accountable for the way that they are treating passengers. >> reporter: the senate commerce committee says it will probe the causes of the disruption and the impact on consumers. now, the secretary of transportation says that they're watching to make sure southwest airlines provides passengers with appropriate and promised compensation, things like paying for hotels or for meals as folks are stranded for days. wendy, back to you. >> a lot of frustrated travelers. >> reporter: yeah. >> jarred hill in new york, thank you. >> reporter: of course. western new york is still reeling from a deadly blizzard. at least 32 people in the region have died from the storm. up to 52 inches of snow fell over four days in buffalo paralyzing the city, which remains in a state of emergency. state police are using armored vehicles to clear snow and ice

from roads where a travel ban remains in effect. more than 100 military police have been called in to help. >> the blizzard conditions, of course, are gone, but we're going to be responding in some ways to this blizzard for still a number of days as they continue to open up the city of buffalo. >> temperatures are expected to rise in the coming days, which could cause flooding as the snow melts. there's also deadly weather affecting the western u.s. torrential rain and powerful winds toppled trees and power lines in oregon yesterday. police say multiple people died when their car hit a tree along the coast. more than 80,000 customers in oregon are without power this morning. intense rainfall hit san jose, california, yesterday. flash flooding is a major concern. the national weather service says a series of pacific storm systems will affect much of the western u.s. in the coming days.

the pandemic-era restriction on immigration known as title 42 will remain in place for now after a supreme court decision. president biden says, ending the policy is overdue. manuel bojorquez reports on what it means for migrants seeking asylum here in the u.s. >> reporter: for thousands who recently crossed the southern border and thousands waiting in mexico, the supreme court ruling means a trump era pandemic policy that allows the u.s. to quickly expel those who cross the border remains in effect for now. in the 5-4 decision justice neil gorsuch dissented writing, it should fall on elected officials. we are a court of law, not policymakers of last resort. dylan is among the immigrant advocates who argue title 42 has denied entry to those who do qualify for asylum or let others to attempt repeated or more dangerous crossings. will they be sent back? >> you know, it means a lot of

uncertainty because title 42 isn't a solution to what's happening at the border. people who need asylum now are often sent back to cities in northern mexico that aren't safe. >> reporter: since the policy has been in place, more than 2 million asylum seekers have been denied entry, but 19 republican-led states argued that lifting the policy would lead to an even greater number of migrants crossing the border into cities like el paso where shelters are overcrowded. we were there during a september spike in border crossings. we're inside el paso's migrant welcome center, which has been set up to accommodate the high number of migrants. title 42 likely will remain in effect until the supreme court makes a final ruling possibly next summer. manuel bojorquez, cbs news. new york republican congressman-elect george santos is facing mounting criticism from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. some house democrats and at least one fellow incoming

republican are calling for a house ethics investigation. it comes after santos admitted to lying about parts of his background during the campaign. he now says he never graduated from college despite claiming degrees from two elite schools. santos also says he never worked directly for goldman sachs and citigroup and also addressed inconsistencies about his claims of jewish heritage. >> i always joked, i'm catholic, but i'm also jew-ish. i believe i used a poor use of words, but i did work in the industry for a number of years. >> reporter: santos apologized for what he called embellishing his resume but says he is not a criminal. he's set to be sworn in next week. russian president vladimir putin is banning oil exports to countries that have imposed price caps on his country's oil products. earlier this month the g7, australia and the eu said they

would not pay more than $60 per barrel for russian oil. the move is aimed at limiting moscow's oil revenue during its war in ukraine. putin said the ban will last for five months starting in february. coming up, falling fuel prices. how much you'll spend to fill up your tank. that's across the country as the cost of gas continues to drop. and caught on video an alleged racist rant at a popular burger joint leads to hate crime charges. this is the "cbs morning news." from the first-ever triple action sleep supplement. to daily digestive support. to more wellness solutions every day. get more with nature's bounty. just between us, you know what's better than mopping? anything! at the end of a long day, it's the last thing i want to do. well, i switched to swiffer wetjet, and it's awesome. it's an all-in-one, so it's ready to go when i am.

the cleaning solution actually breaks down dirt and grime. and the pad absorbs it deep inside, so it prevents streaks and haze better than my old mop. plus, itafe to u on ay floo, even wood. swiffer wetjet? so worth it. best. decision. ever. love it, or your money back. this is going to be great. taking the shawl off. i did it. is he looking at my hairline? my joint pain isn't too bad. well, it wasn't this morning. i hope i can get through this. is plaque psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis making you rethink your everyday choices? otezla is a pill, not a cream or injection that can help people with plaque psoriasis achieve clearer skin. otezla is proven to reduce joint swelling, tenderness and pain in psoriatic arthritis. and no routine blood tests required. don't use if you're allergic to otezla. otezla can cause serious allergic reactions. it may cause severe diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting. otezla is associated with an increased risk of depression. tell your doctor if you have a history of depression or suicidal thoughts or if these feelings develop.

some people taking otezla reported weight loss. and may stop treatment. upper respiratory tract infection and headache may occur. tell your doctor about your medicines and if you're pregnant or planning to be. doctors have been prescribing otezla for over 8 years. don't hesitate. ask your doctor about otezla today. hang tight. an ohio police officer forced to jump out of harm's way when a pickup truck careens towards him and crashes. this frightening ordeal captured on dash cam video on an icy christmas morning. the officer was helping another

driver who had crashed when he saw the out of control truck headed his way. he ran and jumped on the median just in the nick of time. no one was hurt. hate crime charges are filed after an incident at a california burger joint. and one of the leaders in the plot to kidnap michigan's governor is sentenced to prison, those are some of the headlines on the morning newsstand. npr reports the co-leader of a plot to kidnap michigan governor gretchen whitmer was sentenced to 16 years in prison. adam fox was convicted earlier this year of conspiracy in the 2020 plot to abduct whitmer and blow up a bridge to help in the escape. the federal judge who handed down the sentence yesterday said it was needed as a punishment and deterrent to future similar acts. prosecutors had asked for a life sentence. the other convicted ringleader is set to be sentenced today. "usa today" says a colorado man was arrested on hate crime charges after an alleged racist rant was caught on video at a

california in-n-out burger. >> the japanese are doing -- >> i'm korean. >> police say 40-year-old jordan krah made homophobic and racist remarks to a man and woman of asian descent while eating christmas eve. the voice on the now viral video can also be heard telling the college students he would see them outside in a minute. krah has been charged with two counts of committing a hate crime. authorities say the students feared for their safety. and axios says an arizona judge ruled out sanctions against defeated republican gubernatorial candidate kari lake but ordered her to pay $33,000 in legal fees. democratic governor-elect katie hobbs asked the judge to sanction lake for a now dismissed lawsuit seeking to overturn the election results. lake claimed election officials committed misconduct. she was ordered to compensate witnesses who testified during last week's trial.

still to come, improving your credit score. some tips on what you can do now to raise the all important financial marker. [ music playing ] when we first arrived at st. jude, it was just claire and i. she was still recovering from her brain surgery. and side effects of that surgery meant that she had to relearn how to walk and how to speak. ♪♪ [ male announcer ] you can join the battle to save lives by supporting st. jude children's research hospital. two months after we arrived, my three-year-old came to visit, and claire lit up. she was quiet before. and i thought it was just because cancer's hard, but she was really missing her siblings, and i didn't realize how much. all right, young lady. we're going to see how much you weigh, and how tall you are real quick. ♪♪ mama. hey, claire.

[ laughter ] ♪♪ [ male announcer ] families never receive a bill from st. jude for treatment, travel, housing, or food, so they can focus on helping their child live. when you call or go online with your credit or debit card right now, we'll send you this st. jude t-shirt you can wear to show your support to help st. jude save the lives of these children. i experienced life at st. jude. every dollar that goes to st. jude goes to a good place. it's keeping families together during the hardest thing they'll ever face. ♪♪ the first thing i'm going to do when i get home is pet my dog. ♪♪ [ woman ] st. jude saved my daughter's life. [ claire ] i love st. jude. [ male announcer ] please call or go online right now

and become a st. jude partner in hope today. here's a look at today's forecast in some cities around the country. forecast in some ci the country. the price of gasoline continues to come down as we enter the new year. the national average price for a gallon of regular gas is $3.13. that's 15 cents cheaper than a year ago at the same time. in more than 20 states it costs under 3 bucks a gallon. tips to increase your credit score and a new tax incentive to buy an electric car. courtney kealy has those stories and more in today's "moneywatch" report. >> reporter: it was a mixed day

on wall street after re-opening after the christmas holiday. the dow gained 37 points, the nasdaq dropped 144, and the s&p 500 was down 15. the average amount of holiday debt has jumped to an almost eight-year high. about one-third of americans took on an average of $1,550 during this holiday season, which had the highest inflation in four decades. while inflation shows signs of cooling, high interest rates remain among other issues. if you're interested in buying an electric car in the new year, you may be in luck. the 2023 tax credit of up to $7,500 goes into effect on january 1st. it's part of the inflation reduction act, which includes encouraging electric vehicle use and reducing gashouse emissions. and if you're looking to raise your credit score, the number one tip is to pay off that holiday debt. also, don't apply for credit too often, and keep the credit you already have down to a utilization no higher than 30%.

that's yous eywa repor ning i'm courey, new york.nethina prevw onight's kennedy center honors that airs right here on cbs. cbs. te balan. together we support immune function. supply fuel for immune cells and sustain tissue health. ensure with twenty-five vitamins and minerals, and ensure complete with thirty grams of protein.

hi, i'm lauren, i lost 67 pounds on golo. i got picked on as a child. and ensure complete it really got to me, so i tried everything there was. golo and release has definitely shown me that there is hope out there.

here's a look at today's forecast in some cities around the country.

nfl superstar j.j. watt made the shocking announcement that he's retiring at the end of the season. yesterday he posted this tweet with a picture of his son. it reads, koa's first ever nfl game. my last ever nfl home game. the 33-year-old defensive end played ten seasons with the houston texans and the last two seasons with the arizona cardinals. he's a three-time defensive player of the year. the annual kennedy center honors airs tonight here on cbs. skyler henry has a preview of star-studded celebration of the arts. >> we're thrilled with welcome the 45th class of kennedy center honorees. >> reporter: it is back in full swing as stars of the stage and screen are being recognized for decades of work that shaped american culture. >> tonight we have more stars i

think in the show than we've had before. >> reporter: a packed house of celebrities, artists, even politicians including the president and first lady. the eight honorees, actor/director and human rights activist george clooney, all four members of the band u2, amy grant, composer tania leon and grammy award winning legend gladys knight. academy award winner ariana debose brought the house down singing one of the empress of soul's biggest hits. >> let's look at this guy. there he is. [ laughter ] >> reporter: some of hollywood's biggest names shared memories and had jokes on the famous prankster. it was what clooney's father said that nearly brought him to tears. >> i said, let's grab my parents and fly them up and they can come. i had no idea he was in on the game. >> reporter: amy grant said she felt the love. >> completely surrounded by love. that's how i felt. >> reporter: cuban american composer tania leon who is

coin coincidentally working on a new project for the kennedy center thought the call announcing her honor was about the production. >> the president of the kennedy center told me what the whole thing was like, i had to sit down. >> reporter: and the biggest rock performances capped the night for u2. >> has a different resonance than other awards. it's very particular to the united states, so we're very proud and pleased and honored and to have received the award. >> are we the first irish -- >> we are the only irish artists. >> reporter: the band together for nearly 50 years says this honor is distinct from any other they've received. skylar henry, cbs news, from the kennedy center. >> you can watch the 45th annual kennedy center honors right here on cbs tonight at 8:00 eastern, 7:00 central. coming up on "cbs mornings," we'll hear more from kennedy center honoree, amy grant. what the honor means to her and the surprising lesson she learned after a bad bike accident this summer. i'm wendy gillette. this is the "cbs morning news."

there's something going around the gordon home. it went from gabe. to gretta. to gabby. to grandma. then, gertrude found something for it. delsym. and now what's going around is 12-hour cough relief. and the giggles. and the great dane pup. and grandma's gluten-free gooseberry pie. which is actually pretty great. the family that takes delsym together, feels better together. and try new delsym no mess vapor roll-on for cough. alice loves the scent of gain so much, she wished there was a way to make it last longer. say hello to your fairy godmother, alice. and, long lasting gain scent beads. try gain odor defense. be gone, smelly everything! ready to shine from the inside out? say “yes” to nature's bounty advanced gummies

and jelly beans. the number one brand for hair, skin and nails. with two times more biotin to bring out more of your inner beauty. get more with nature's bounty.

♪music playing♪ ♪♪

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ nothing brings the pack together like a trip to great wolf lodge. now open in northern california.

from cbs bay area news this is the morning edition. good morning, it is wednesday, december 28. we have a big cleanup underway for an east bay business after the roof collapsed in the soaking storm. what is next for shoppers in that area? the race is on for rental cars. people are stuck a bay area airports, and now they are looking for other ways to get home as the airlines struggled to get the planes back into the sky. we are catching a break from the rain. it will return late tonight . we will talk about rainfall totals coming up in a bit. let's look at this morning's top stories. david depape will be warmly arraigned today in his estate case. he faces attempted murder and other charges in connection with the october break-in at nancy pelosi san francisco home. he is facing felony charges in the ensuing attack. paul pelosi needed surgery to repair injuries to his arm , hands, and a skull fracture.