, they train their entire lives and they have just got one opportunity. >> reporter: 16-year-old alysa liu is the youngest member of team usa across any olympic winter sport. >> several athletes are still children. they are still growing. >> reporter: while a medal is every olympian's dream, liu decided not to do the challenging quads in beijing and focused on delivering a clean program. >> we are so proud of alyssa. so proud of her. i really honestly haven't dwelled at all on what's requesting on with the russians. >> reporter: in oakland, melissa colorado, nbc bay area news. >> there was a lot of tears of heartbreak and tears of joy as we mentioned. you can watch valiyeva's full performance this evening. you'll also see our two bay area skaters, karen chen and alysa liu, in the free skate competition. our coverage from beijing begins at 5:00 p.m. >> looking forward to. >>> >>> it is a crucial step to building a new ballpark for the a's and it could happening at any moment. the oakland city council is meeting right now. councilmembers may decide to vote to certify the plans environmental

figure stating featuring karen chen and alysa liu. there's also bobsled, freestyle skiing, men's hockey and it all begins at 5:00. >>> a bombshell allegation by san francisco's d.a. he said san francisco police investigators used dna from a victim's rape kit to identify the victim as a suspect in a new property crime case. sexual assault victims advocates say the practice raises huge concerns. today the sf d.a. criticized the methods of the san francisco police. the d.a. came across a sheet of paper late last week in a currently open case. he said those documents show that san francisco police detectives compared dna from a rape kit collected in 2016 with dna at a felon property crime seen. but the d.a. and victims advocates say this action violates the delicate trust the victims have during a rape or sexual assault investigation. >> we're here today to denounce the practice of using rape and sexual assault survivors' dna without their consent, of storing their dna indefinitely. >> it is revictimizing the victim. it is unacceptable. w

. >>> coming up on "cbs mornings," we'll talk with 16-year-old american figure skater alysa liu about gold in beijing. >>> i'm anne-marie green. this is the "cbs morning news." . >>> i'm anne-marie green. this is the "cbs morning news." nicorette knows, quitting smoking is freaking hard. you get advice like: try hypnosis... or... quit cold turkey. kidding me?! instead, start small. with nicorette. which can lead to something big. start stopping with nicorette unitedhealthcare medicare plans offer more... like the “visit a doctor anywhere our rv takes us” plan. and the “zero copays means more money for rumba lessons” plan. find the right plan for you from unitedhealthcare. get medicare with more. hello, how can i? find the right plan for you from unitedhealthcare. sore throat pain? ♪honey lemon♪ try vicks vapocool drops in honey lemon chill for fast acting sore throat relief ♪ahhh!♪ wooo! vaporize sore throat pain with >>> our top stories this morning -- millions of americans will have to deal with ice, power outages, and flight cancelations today as a monster winter storm makes its wa

karen chen of fremont, and alysa liu of richmond. u.s. figure skating has not picked which lady will represent the women's figure skating competition in the team event. it most likely won't be alyssa because she is still on her way flying here to china. but it also could be mariah bell. she's the third figure skater for team usa. the united states won bronze in this team figure skating event, both in sochi and pyeongchang. after tonight gold is looking pretty good, raj and jessica. >> janelle, it looks eerily quiet behind you like there is no one there and it's midday for you. are there any people? you've been there a few days now. >> reporter: right now we're in this olympic plaza which is in this closed circuit, and it's only media right here at this location because of opening ceremony. bus service is very limited and it's down. these buses that take us to each venue, so we're basically stuck in this plaza area which is right in front of the ibc, the international broadcast center. we're going to have to work out of here mostly today b

. >> reporter: for alysa liu, success came early. >> and the second one. >> reporter: at just 13, sheory, dazzling with her tri aels. >> yes. >> she is currently in first place. >> reporter: but still too small to climb on the podium without help. a whirlwind that brought high-profile tv appearances. but staying on top for the past three years hasn't been easy. you had such success at such a young age. do you feel like the same girl? >> i do not feel the same at all. yeah, i just matured a lot. >> she also grew. three inches in a year. almost like skating in a totally new body. >> i was like, what is this. people's center of gravity changes when you grow. so people have to change like their technique. >> reporter: so the first u.s. woman to land a quadruple jump in competition had to relearn those skills. she switched coaches less than three months ago and then came covid. >> please welcome to the ice, alysa liu. >> reporter: alysa tested positive in the middle of the national championship. but she was still able to make the olympic team. do you think about a podium moment? >> i haven

already won a silver medal in the team competition. 16-year-old alysa liu is the youngest team usa athleteinish in top sixth. as for the controversy at the olympic games, russian figure skater kamila valiyeva, who tested positive for banned substance. she can compete. partly because a minor and protected person. but ioc announced if she finishes in top three, there will be no medal ceremony at games and no medals handed out until it's resolved. team usa, mariah bell's coach, adam rippon. >> i think a lot of the athletes are really shocked and disappointed. it's completely unprecedented an athlete with a positive test would still compete, let alone at olympic games, questions the integrity of the olympics movement. >> reporter: the united states olympic and paralympic committee released a statement saying quote, athletes have the right to know they're competing on level playing field. unfortunately today that's being denied. appears to be another chapter in systemic and pervasive disregard for clean sports by russia. russian athletes are not competing under home country but roc, russian oly

and in women's events keep an eye out for mariah bell, karen chen and alysa liu. >> very good. >> i knowting is popular now, but the way tara lipinski and michelle kwan had me in a chokehold? i grew up in san diego. there wasn't much ice around, but i thought i was going to be them. >> as long as you stick the landing. >> and that jacket! ♪ - i got a hunch, like me, your home means a lot. - i love my home. i love my family. - you want to have the grandkids over. you want to have the family over. you want to say, "this is my place. look, i'm right next to the water." - [narrator] call aag today and find out if a reverse mortgage loan can help you eliminate monthly mortgage payments, pay for living expenses, and even high-interest credit card bills. call the number on your screen. - how did you come across the whole idea? - i think dad thought it would be something that would help us in the future. - i sat down with my son who's a financial advisor, and he told me about reverse mortgage. - and i went right to my attorney, michael, who i've known all my life. and told him what happened. and

we talked about alysa liu and elaine chen and eileen gu. all the action begins at 5:00 on nbc bay area. >>> it is a crucial step building a new ballpark for the a's, it could happen any moment. council members may decide to vote to certify the ballpark and environmental impact. it is also known as an eir. if it happens, other deals needed to build the new ballpark can go forward. the a's want to put that ballpark at jacqueline's square. it is possible they could push after next month. not everyone is on board with the ballpark plan. today a rally was held in front of oakland city hall. building the ballpark will cost jobs and hurt schools in the area and send too much traffic and pollution into neighboring west oakland. >> if you can't move around now, what's going to happen if they try to build a stadium. it is going to be hellish. >> not many people calling for that new ballpark to be built at the coliseum. >>> up next, a high-profile evening at stanford, supporters and protesters awaiting for the arrival of former vice president mike pen

with that, also karen chen and alysa liu. kamila is only female skater to land a quad in olympics competition. team usa is racking up golds from the quad king on the ice, let's go to the snowboard queen of the halfpipe. chloe kim nabbed second straight gold medal in this event. crushed first run with back-to-back 1080s, earning a comfortable lead that carried her to the win. >> not going to lie, had one of the worst practices i've ever had, does not put you in good place mentally, especially out here. dealing with all sorts of emotions, self-doubt. but getting ready to drop in, i remind myself it's brand new run, just have to land it. so happy i was able to do it. >> she laid it down. tomorrow, shaun white going for fourth gold medal, he's not favorite but going to give it everything he's got in last olympics before hanging up snowboard. retiring after these games. gold in women's snowboard cross. lindsey jacobellis won gold here in beijing, oldest snowboarder to win at 36, but her teammate could break that record. in just mi

. >> two americans performing tonight, alysa liu and sharon chen grew up in shark's ice around the baye has known them since they were young. >> there's no words. you love of to see the kids achieve what they want to do. and they have the dream and drive to do it. >> those from the same skating club of karen chen showed up in support. >> it's inspirational. >> he she made a big impact on me. especially to kind of continue skating. >> some worried that the competition had a cloud over it due to the controversy with the 15-year-old russian skater's failed drug test. >> in a way, yes, it's not fair to the skaters but i don't know if it's actually her fault. >> tonight, luu and chen finished 7th and 16th respectively. the rule -- the result and culmination of years of hard work. >> those dreams can continue in the south bay, they are hosting the u.s. figure skating championships in 2023, and they will be held here as well as the sap center. at shark's ice in san jose, we will send it back to you in beijing. >> a lot of figure skaters. a lot of olympians from the bay area. from the ice rink

. >> reporter: the other ladies' figure skater from the bay area, alysa liu of richmond. she's not here yet but she will be arriving in the next few days. the ladies competition doesn't begin until february 15th so they have some time. she's the youngest athlete on team usa at 16 years old. she tested positive and that's a bit of a concern because china's testing is ultra sensitive. if you had covid two or three months ago, you could test positive when you arrive in beijing. she tested positive about a month ago. home any she's negative and can continue on training and rehearsing and competing at these olympic games. events already started, as you mentioned. we've got curling, men's and women's mogul, and usa women's hockey. they face finland tonight in their first game of these olympic games. we have over a dozen bay area and tahoe area athletes here and we will be covering them all for you. live in beijing. back to you in the studio. >> get out of the wind. go watch some of the curling events where it is a lot warmer. we'll see you tomorrow. >>> all right. we have even

figure skater alysa liu. >> you look like you're having fun. >> yes. >> how are you having fun?, my god. just being here with my friends that i don't normally get to see so everything has been really fun. >> reporter: from a first time olympian it's such a nice thing to hear. stephanie gosk, nbc news, beijing. >>> coming up next the shocking death of an accused sex offender linked to jeffrey epstein found hanged in prison. >>> plus, the toddler locked up all alone inside a cody! hi!! hi! how are you? i'm good! i'm crocheting. i see that. started off as a hobby. kind of snowballed from there. and alex, i don't want to stop. well, i don't see why you should have to. let's set you up with a side gig savings goal on the u.s. bank mobile app. this way, you can turn it into your main hustle before you know it. you're my hero, alex! what are you working on now? pool cover. that's fun. oh! i made my wife a bathing suit. oh, did linda like it? she did not. oh. you should see what i made for max. max! look at him. he loves it. the confidence to make your dream a reality. u.s. bank. we'll

figure skaters alysa liu and mariah bell showed us how. >> some of the best things that we're going toutifully and finishing in the top ten. have you been able to sit back and enjoy it? >> yeah, absolutely. i'm at the olympics. i can only control what i can control, and i did that. and i'm so proud of how i skated, and i'm so proud to be here . . . representing team usa. >> reporter: for bell, this was the sweetest win. stephanie gosk, nbc news, beijing. >>> in nevada, a 64-year-old hiker is lucky to be alive after a trail accident and daring rescue on a cliff where she was trapped. here is miguel almaguer. >> reporter: before first responders arrived in emergency vehicles, before firefighters unwound spools of rope to pull a rescue bucket up a hill through thick brush, the 64-year-old victim clung to a tree, suspended on a steep slope dangling 400 feet off a road, so exhausted from a battle with hypothermia, she could only utter a single word, "help." >> she was in pretty bad shape. the fact that she was able to hold on the way she did just shows how much she wants to live. >> reporte

. >> reporter: here's someone else who can land a quad. 16-year-old alysa liu of richmond, californiaplace for team usa going into the free skate. mariah bell is in 11th. karen chen is in 13th. we have some good news regarding palo alto's vincent zhou. the figure skater has been in quarantine. he was just released yesterday after testing positive for covid on february 7th. he did secure a silver medal in the team competition but could not compete in the men's individual, which his teammate nathan chen won gold. i will be speaking to vincent zhou a little bit later today. i want to show you that's a hot commodity at these olympic games, the olympic mascot, bing dwen dwen, the ice panda. the athletes' have a gold wreath around it. this is for my daughter. i could only get one. now there's like a long waiting line to get one of these, six hours. and there's a limit. you can only buy one. when i went, you could buy like 100. but this thing is so big, i don't even know how i'm going to get this one in my suitcase, in my carry-on bag. i'm going to have to literally carry it onto the plane.

among them, the bay area's alysa liu.t head to nbcbayarea.com. >>> let's go ahead and take a look at our weather. it's getting chilly out there. >> yes. we're still in winter coming our way over the next couple of days. we did see a bit of a cooldown today and gusty conditions on the coast tonight. san jose not too windy at 49 degrees. a little bit of that breeze getting into walnut creek at 47. san francisco still seeing winds out of the southwest from about 15 to 25 miles per hour. 48 degrees. on the map, the areas in orange along the coast over the peninsula, san francisco gusts at times up to 35 miles per hour. this will be a consistent theme. the hour by hour wind gust forecast, those winds will be ongoing. as they begin to change direction out of the north, that wind will have a little extra bite. it's going to be much colder out there with wind speeds still staying in that 15 to 30 miles per hour range. for the morning, 30s and 40s to start. unlike this weekend, we're not going to get out of the 50s as we head towa

and 16-year-old alysa liu from richmond, california, is the highest ranked american right now in 8thng into the free skate. she had a little bobble but otherwise a great performance. >> oh, my god, that's what sucks, not having a medal ceremony and for the other skaters if they also happen to medal. >> you're paying something of a penalty for something you didn't do. >> yeah, a little bit, yes. but i understand why they did that. >> reporter: alysa is now focused on her free skate. she's not letting this doping scandal be a distraction. the combined scores of the short program and the free skate determine who makes the podium. and normally 24 figure skaters advance to the free skate. but in this competition, it will be 25 because the ioc is not counting valiyeva as a figure skater in this competition. let's talk about prime-time team usa raking up more hardware, especially in our event, men's free skate slopestyle. alex hall was unmatched in his creativity and his jump, landing every single one. he is a skier's skier. the 23-year-old from alaska wins gold. and three-time olympian nic

. >> we just saw nathan chen win gold we're seeing alysa liu and karen chen who are skating today as are doing these days it is so great to see, you know, diversity really coming into u.s. figure skating and so proud of the team and the skaters who are there and doing so well already, excited for the ladies that are skating right now that we'll see tonight. so, you know, the sport has just continued to advance and i'm just the biggest fan now. >> you blazed that trail, kristi we got to ask about what is going on with women's figure skating right now. of course you have the russian figure skater who had the positive drug test going back to december now she's being permitted to skate. former skaters have said this is a slap in the face it's a scar on the figure skating competition. what do you think? >> i mean, so many different things you know, i think frustration and anger first of all, because, you know, there is a lot of details and a lot of things going on with the case and still ongoing. but i think also sadness, sadness that figure skating is in this position, that it happened t

experience for those clean athletes like polina eight years ago and karen chen now like mariah bell and alysa liuenting the united states. it should be about their programs. you know, the question should be about their programs but instead we're asking very professionally and hopefully courteously and they're answering, and frankly, they're soaring because mariah bell is speaking from the heart about clean sport and doing things the right way. we are seeing the athletes rise to the occasion, but they shouldn't be having to be asked this question. they shouldn't be put in this position. they got to kick them out. think just have to kick them out. >> do you think they have the guts to do that? >> you know where it has to happen now, sponsors. how did the washington football team name change? sponsors. they got angry and that did it. these sponsors have to say -- we finally have to hear from them. they've been so quiet and silent on chinese human rights abuses. we need to hear from these sponsors and got to say to the ioc you've got to do something big because we're not going to be a part of this an

as for the american, richmond's alysa liu finished in seventh saying it exceeded her expectations, karenand mariah bell finished in tenth, but what this means is the fact that kamila valieva finished in fourth is that there will be a medal ceremony. her teammates will get gold and silver. japan gets bronze, but the team competition that took place almost two weeks ago, that is still up in the air. russia claimed gold in that, usa claimed silver. we still don't know what's going to happen there. we'll have to wait and see. >> so exciting and so much going on as well. the free skate event isn't the only big event. catch the women's speed skate willing, 1,000 meters and watch gu and sabouriny go for gold all getting under way tonight. kari has a final look at the wet are for us. >> mild temperatures, headed for sunshine and a nice warmup this afternoon. this weather continues into the start of the weekend until we see a big dip in temperatures as we go into the end of the weekend as early as next week. notice that we still don't have any rain in this forecast. we'll have more updates on tha

for the ladies of team usa alysa liu in igt-in and karen chen in 13th and mariah bell in 11th place. just a few hours ago i spoke with vincent zhou of palo alto out of quarantine after testing positive for covid over a week ago hemp was asymptomatic but had to withdraw from the men's individual competition. he said it was a really dark time and one he will try to block out moving forward. >> how is your mental health right now? >> well, i tend, to you know, keep a level head and stay grounded. i'm pretty good at seeing different perspectives. i think i'm doing okay. it's -- it will be impossible for me to feel great about what happened here, but i think there's still plenty to be thankful for. >> on instagram, vincent wrote to his fans i'm extremely grateful for everyone's love and positivity. your support means the world to me. vincent trying to stay positive. he's been invited to perform in the exhibition figure skating gala taking place on sunday and he's going attend closing ceremonies, so he's really looking forward to that as well as the world figure skating championships next

news for all the other skaters who will not get their podium moment in beijing, including american alysa liu is in eighth place and uggs favorite karen chen, who, despite falling in the short program, will look for a big score in the free skate. i want to bring in gadi schwartz, who has been covering this story for us. u.s. olympian scott hamilton, gold medalist from 1984 in sarajevo. he is also an nbc figure skating analyst. great to have you here. gadi, bring us up to date. >> yeah. chris, the latest is coming from the ioc, one of the commissioners who says kamila valiyeva claimed she had the drug in her system after some sort of cross-contamination from medication her grandfather was taking. but, chris, she hasn't offered any further explanation publicly like how the contamination might have happened, whether this was a pill, whether this was the sharing of food. and we still don't know how much was found in her system. however, among other olympians, there is outrage with many now drawing comparisons with another athlete who tested positive before the olympics, u.s. track star sha'carri

. >> but for the american figure skating stars alysa liu, mariah bell, and karen chen, they tell me theyl treasure their time in beijing >> its been such an incredible experience >> reporter: at 25, bell soaking in her olympic moment as she left the ice what was going through your mind >> it was just taking it all in. and i'll have that mental picture forever. >> reporter: and this morning a "today show" exclusive american bobsledding legend, elana meyers taylor, the original opening ceremony flag bearer who had to miss it because of covid learning she will be our country's flag bearer during the closing ceremony >> i know you have been through a lot. >> reporter: look at that reaction we are absolutely thrilled for elana. also happy for the skaters, alyssa, mariah and karen as well had a great time chatting with them you can see more of that conversation in our third hour but here in beijing, things not over just yet. you can watch the latest action on nbc tonight complete coverage of pairs figure skating and bobsledding, including the highly anticipated olympic return of that jamaican

. >> reporter: mariah bell, karen chen and alysa liu all qualifying for thursday's free skate. 16 year liu finishing in the top 10 looking forward to that tomorrow one other note from figure skating. american vincent zhou out of quarantine after the positive covid test he said he plans to skate again here in beijing. he'll do it this weekend's during the exhibition gala. as for what to watch tonight. on nbc mikaela shiffrin competing live in the women's combined. plus that big gold medal game in women's hockey a rematch between rivals team usa and canada usa looking to avenge the defeat a few days ago to canada so should be a great game, guys. >> definitely. craig. thank you. and you talked to the players. >> i cannot wait yeah we're going to sit down and do an interview with three players. someone a brand new player and the game is on late. so, you know >> or early for -- >> yeah. exactly. >> all right craig, thank you plus the legendary shaun white is going to be right here fresh off his fifth and final olympics. >> cool. right now let's get a check of the weather from mr. roker. >>

as we speak behind me right now, alysa liu and mariah bell both on the ice warming up. we've got the women's figure skating finals underway right now, and here's of course the biggest story right now, kamila valieva, the 15-year-old, she is in first place, which means tonight she'll be skating last, the gold medal favorite from the one of her national teammates gold medal. but all three turned in solid performances. >> this morning, a shocking end to the troubled olympic run of valieva, the 15-year-old, she is in first place, which means tonight she'll be skating last, the gold medal favorite from the usa speed skating star brittany bowe powering to bronze in the women's 1,000 meter. a meaningful olympic journey for bowe after she selflessly gave up her spot in the 500 meter to friend and teammate erin jackson when jackson stumbled in the qualifiers. jackson later went on to win speed skating gold becoming the first black woman in history to do so at the winter olympics. and overnight, a surprising silver medal for team usa in the epic women's hockey gold medal showdown