a solution to reduce its $26 billion deficit, a new law requiring all e-commerce companies like amazon.comstate sales tax. what did amazon do? >> amazon launched an expensive campaign to overturn the law through a ballot measure. >> reporter: that's right amazon.com is using-- what else? -- but direct democracy paying firms to collect names at $3 per signature. its democracy at its finest. according to republican state assemblyman tim donnelly. >> this is freedom. freedom takes on many forms. >> reporter: what are you say to go the criticisms that this is being hijacked as a process by major companies? >> in this case the little guys are standing on amazon's shoulders. they're saying you know what? we just want to breathe some free air. >> reporter: that's not overstating it? >> no. i never overstate it. the people don't want to pay illegal taxes. they certainly don't want to pay illegal taxes that will be used to subsidize illegals. i don't think there's anything wrong with that. >> reporter: how can you get an amazon sales tax back to illegal immigrants. >> in i can tie anything to illeg

write it down, americans elect, what amazon.com did to books what the ipad did to music, what drugstore.comid to pharmacies america elects plans to do to the two-party duopoly to remove the barriers and flatten the incumbents and let the people in. watch out. what does it mean? what are you after? >> we're giving people directly the opportunity to express themselves in this campaign. americans elect has the focused goal on getting on the ballot in all 50 states and having the first ever convention online where the american people will take three functions that have normally been held in the hands of the parties and put them directly in their own hands. that is, shaping the process through the rules, shaping the issues that the candidates will have to deal with, and finally directly drafting or nominating candidates in 2012 a nonpartisan ticket, two people running from different parties will run as the third choice on the ballot. >> so the key is a nonpartisan ticket. elliott, why do we need this? >> right now we have a government that isn't working. we're seeing the continued and predictabl

you will receive payment eergtd by check or amazon.com gift card.holiday shores helped boost christmas sales. online sales spiked more than 16% from last year. a lot of them used their mobile device. the dollar amounts made with mobile device jumped 173% from last year. >>> seems like a lot of people are skipping the movies. ticket sales are running $500 million behind last year. experts blame the drop on the poor economy, too many family flicks, not enough star power. ticket revenue is expected to be $10 billion. >>> airlines want to show their appreciation. more than 30 airports have joined the thanks again program that allows flyers airline miles. register a credit card and rack up point. they include delta, american, continental, us airways and alaska. >>> it as been quite a year in washington with near government shutdowns and some of the lowest approval ratings ever. we'll take a look at how had happened. abc2 news at 6 starts right now. >>> now that we've blown our budgets, it's time to start thinking about tax see son again. how to take adva

you'll receive payments either by check or an amazon.com gift card. >>> they've been seeing increasee number of facebook fraud cases. thieves are conning people to becoming their friends and asking them for money. >> you'll see postings by an individual alleges to be a friend. they take the name off of your friends lacy, post something on your page and says you know, i've been arrested or i've been mugged and now i need money to get bailed out of jail or to return home from a flight overseas. >> to avoid being taken by the scammers, remember three simple tips. most messages that ask for money are fake. never share personal information over the internet unless you know exactly with whom you're talking and remember, messages that are overly urgent and contain spelling and grammatical errors are usually scams. >>> only three full days left for 2011 and that means only 3 days left to boost your tax return. put as much money as you can in a 401k and when you do that that's going to help lower your tax bracket. make your january mortgage payment in december and you'll get the interest dedu

amazon.com has 30 different product specific return poll says, make sure you read up. macy's affixes a return label to goods meaning you may not need a receipt when returning items. and overstock.com large tvs not returnable. there is up to a 60% restocking fee for some open, used or late yimts. if it bothers to post no returns or exchanges believe them. they mean it. consider buying elsewhere. remember that. >> good to know. thank you very much. >> and there is excitement at candle stick park. 49ers play their last home game. there have about been back ups an hour and a half ago. mike shumann is live tonight. and what an exciting time. they've had a great season. >> there is no question bit. two great times with great histories. and you can see people are starting to stream in here. and i'd say there are 70% 49ers jerseys there. and think were tail gating early on. last home game they're going playoff autos this is like 10 years of a dream come true. >> there is quite a season. >> thank god for har bcht augh. >> what about steelers? >> we're going win tonight and ther

they can be fund on amazon.com for $20.other item dropping down in price are the wireless ipad keyboards, kitchen gifts, the froth -- electric pepper mill for 15 bucks. for the kids, a star trek feeder. kids of almost any age love the power hand. this is going to cost you less than tadollars. -- $25. the pepper mill, man? >>> attempt to repair images, members of the fast are apologizing, the emotional response to saturday's basketball and suspending players left and right. two students trying out for a basketball team are in the hospital recovering after being shot. who officials say is to blame. [ sue ] wow! i've been so looking forward to this. when my asthma symptoms returned, my doctor prescribed dulera to help prevent them. [ male announcer ] dulera is for patients 12 and older whose asthma is not well controlled on a long-term asthma control medicine, like an inhaled corticosteroid. dulera will not replace a rescue inhaler for sudden symptoms. dulera helps significantly improve lung function. this was shown over a 6 m

toys r' us and sears have both shortened the return time for electronics, and amazon.com has 30 different policies, returns are tied specifically to the product you buy. >> even if you've been shopping at the same place or with the same retailer, they may have changed the rules this year so you have to pay attention. >> reporter: many retailers are still trying to ring sales out of an especially good holiday season before they ring in the new year. >> everyone has a lot of sales going on, so any gifts you missed for christmas is a great day to pick them up today. >> we're getting games, clothes and i just got this today. >> sales are wonderful. you should try it. you need christmas gifts for next year, start now. >> reporter: make sure you check the return policy before you go. mike hellgren, wjz eyewitness news. >>> nationwide sales are up 3% from november 3rd to this weekend compared to last rear. >>> coming up, striking it rich in las vegas, a man leaves sin city $10,000 richer. what he did next with the cash that is just as surprising. >>> and i got up and i threw my hands up and i sa

my friend gave this to me as a present and it's my go-to lift for under $20. 20 bucks, amazon.com.our house and it creates all these mini rainbows all around the room. it's really amazing. every single time it goes off, it makes me smile, it really fills your room with little rainbows. nice little option from amazon.com. >> okay. >>> next up, should we do our two -- >> let's do our interactive r2-d2 robot. >> and you're going to talk to r2 and he's going to respond? are you serious? >> after the break. >>> there we go. are r2d2. i haven't seen the "star wars" movie all the way through. >> i don't know what planet you're from. you were all into the light sabers yesterday. >> i called them light savers with a "v ." what's going on? >> this is truly the only thing i don't have i asked for for christmas in terms of gadgetry. an interactive r2d2 robot. on sale on amazon for $119. i'm going to show you how it works. hey, r2. go on patrol. >> like what kind of stuff can you ask him? >> you can ask him, hey, r2. you say, do you know princess leia? he starts sounding off princess leia sound

it's on amazon.com right now and be one of the first to get it and put it under somebody's tree unless you missed that already. stay connected to us 24/7 on twitter. my handle is @alivelshi. from all of us we wish you a very happy holiday and a happy new year. >>> from hollywood to helping humanity, trading glitz and glamour for giving and grace. >> that's the great part of being in the position i'm in. we can actually make a difference and really, really help people. >> big stars. >> to be able to use that voice, would be a pity if you didn't use it for some sort of good. >> big giving. >> i love this work. anybody that was given the gift that i was given by the american people, you would be crazy not do it. >> hello and welcome to a cnn special presentation, "big stars big giving." i'm alina cho. as we celebrate the holidays this season we also remember this is the season of giving. just ahead we'll talk to southeast biggest stars from hollywood, the world of politics and a man many call an international treasure. superstar jennifer lopez, it was a scare with her newborn baby that in

. >> susie: and finally, it looks like steve jobs is more popular in print than online. amazon.com today said the hardback version of walter isaacson's biography of steve jobs was its top selling book in print this year. the bio only clocked in at number three on its list of e-book top sellers. the stats are impressive either way, since the book only went on sale at the end of october. and tom, amazon could soon top its own list. little, brown and company has signed writer brad stone for a book on the spectacular rise of the retail giant. >> susie: that's "nightly business report" for monday, december 5. we want to remind you this is the time of year your public television station seeks your support... >> tom: ...support that makes programs like "nightly business report" possible. >> susie: thanks for joining us, and don't forget to support your public television station. i'm susie gharib. good night, everyone. you, too, tom. >> tom: good night, susie. good night, everyone. i'm tom hudson. we'll see all of you again tomorrow evening. "nightly business report" is made possible by: caption

amazon.com , ranked highest on the list. >> in the season of peace on earth and goodwill towards men, i'll only brawl. what dozens of religious leaders, leaders throwing punches about the site they believe jesus was born at. >> and what's in the air that has neighbor turning against neighbor. >> and wipe your area students invited to sing at the 2012 olympics may not actually get to the ceremony. >> i'd like to be singing in the rain right now but that isn't happening. lots of clout outside, close the rain before the end of the year? we will talk about that coming up. police stormed the basilica of the nativity in bethlehem today to break up a fight between greek and armenian o >> even the men of god can't keep their cool. palestinian police stormed the basilica of bethlehem today to break up the fight between greek and armenian orthodox clerics. this is the spot where jesus was believed to have been born. the dispute started between the preparation of orthodox christmas. the clergy man accidentally pushed his broom into space controlled by the other group. >>> terms, this ambitious i

amazon.com is collecting videos of somebody chronicling common christmas complaints >> we received over 3.8 million customer contacts telling us that they experienced an issue with the packaging. >> so the world's largest online retailer is putting pressure on manufacturers, signing up big suppliers like fisher price, mattel, and proctor and cam pbell in a program called "frustration free packaging". it includes 80,000 products. walmart has launched one of its own. according to the epa, every consumer in the u.s. throws out 800 pounds of packaging waste each year. >>> the spirit of the holidays, you can make the season brighter for those inned in. it's time for the 13th annual toy drive. when you're looking for gifts for family and friends, consider picking up a gift or two for a child in need. you have until december 22nd to donate new, unused toys. drop them off at walmart stores that are listed on abc2news.com. or fire stations in baltimore. and if you have any old instruments lying around the house, can you drop those off too along with the toys you're donating. >>> a disturbing abc

harder to find smart money magazine says most websites place restrict on free shipping process on amazon.com typically 25 dollars old navy $50. j.c. penney ll bean and gap require minimum purchases as well. one way to get around that is do a google search for free shipping codes and wait until friday december 16th that's been dubbed free shipping day. more on a thousand online merchants are promising to ship almost everything free of charge coming up next friday. >>> southwest airlines announced a seasonal route from bwi to tucson. daily nonstop flight is available from february 12th to april 9th. southwest says it will accommodate winter and spring break demands. the maker of the super teeny smart meny cars now moving to the mini pickup truck business. but don't expect a hemi powered monster vehicle under 140 inches long. the concept vehicle is about 6 feet shorter than america's best selling ford f-150 pickup. the truck is set to debut at an auto show set to be next month. >>> almost half of british consumers admit they shopped online while drinking. one in 7 admits to buying something whi

or you can find them on amazon.com. i'd like to thank mary mcdonagh murphy, who joined us from new york via skype, and john -- john is actually a descendant of the first chief justice of the u.s. supreme court. paulette frankl, "lust for justice," tony serra, and sheldon siegal. so before we take a break, i do have a surprise. a few years ago, i guess six or seven years ago, i met an amazing artist. i was visiting his home. and he had created this wonderful sculpture. i immediately recognized it as being clarence. it turned out that he had created a number of just amazing sculptures of trial lawyers. and he went on to do one of clara fults, the first woman attorney in california and became the leader of the public defender movement. and just by happenstance, he called me and had this idea of encapsulating one of the greatest trial attorneys of our times. so, bill? is he here? this is not a magistrate. [laughing] -- not a magic trick. >> i've never met tony serra, so i have to make use of the internet to get a sense of w

. >> reporter: with a distribution center here amazon.com hired more than 600 seasonal workers, full-time but temporary jobs the town of 10,000 couldn't fill from within. for the past few holiday seasons, in come the campers from families with children to retirees. >> it's a three to four-month convention. these people are here eating in restaurants. they need medical services. they are shopping in retail stores. they need camper repair. >> reporter: adding dollars to local businesses in a struggling economy. for most of the workers herea lifestyle, hopscotching around the country in search of a paycheck. when the job ends here in kentucky in a few weeks the campers pull up stakes and move on. deborah and mark pinson traded a three-bedroom house for an rv. they now travel the country from job to job staying in work countries rent-free. >> well, the rent was $1800. we pay zero here. >> reporter: benefits for those willing to travel in search of work. >> there are jobs out there. you have to be willing to look for them. >> reporter: mobile job hunters on the road of opportunity in a season

amazon.com is opening two new distribution centers which will employ over 1300 people. one of the distribution centers will be around chesterfield, the other will be around dimwitty. bob mcdonnell approved be grants to assist counties with the project. >>> west buy is having trouble keeping up with overwhelming demand for. best buy didn't say how many orders are affected or which products are out of stock. >>> still don't have gifts for everyone on your list? according to "consumer reports," 14% of shoppers tell a fib such as it is in the mail or mike, i forgot it at home. when confronted about not buying a gift for the special someone. 12% are grabbing an item off their own shelf and regifting. remember, it is the thought that counts. >> even if it is a retread. >>> every family has their own national way to help fight off a cold. we'll show you some of the most popular versions. >> we'll have more on that story and your weather first in less than two minutes. >>> howard bernstein is enjoying a long holiday weekend. olga breeze is here. we had heavy rain showers as we

that leaves out businesses like amazon.com. the comptroller says such a tax would be difficult to enforce and could lead to lawsuits. >> it's hard to stay in business. >> the comptroller says congress would have to change the federal law to allow states to collect tax. there is no momentum at all in annapolis right now to lower the sales tax back to 5 cents on the dollar because the state gets anywhere from $600 to 700 million a year for each cent of that tax. >> new tonight, the pressure of work led 50-year-old julio to use a box cutter on his wife and two daughters. but an anne arundel county judge found the man not responsible. he's been ordered to a psychiatric hospital. doctors say the man would was in charge of production at a prince george's county ice plant was working long hours, being on call, and struggling with psychiatric problems and that he just snapped. >>> we have a silver alert for a missing woman. she is 90 years old. her name is dolores mae huey. she was last seen this morning driving away from her home. she

and zappos, which is second only to amazon.com, knows that free return shipping boosts the bottom line. >> it's important that we have the fast shipping and free returns, because that's what drives our customers to our website. >> reporter: this season of giving now giving way to returns. and to handle all of the holiday rush and the returns, ups hired 55,000 seasonal workers, all the crews are working, getting ready for what ups is calling national returns day, happening exactly one week from today. lester? >> thanh truong, thank you. >>> mixed news today driving the markets after strong retail sales this holiday season, consumer confidence surged to an eight month high. but home prices dropped in major cities. on wall street the dow finished up even, down 2 points. the nasdaq and s&p 500 closed slightly up. >>> tonight, britain's prince phillip has returned to the royal family's country estate after four nights in the hospital, following treatment for a blocked coronary artery. queen elizabeth's 90-year-old husband smiled and waived for the cameras, as reporters and well wishers gath

online shopping sites like amazon.com bringing in new business by offering day after christmas deep discounts. this following a year in which online shopping jumped by 16%. >> as scott mentioned many shoppers were happy to use gift cards today. believe it or not a lot of people never use them. a retail group says every year 2% to 5% of all gift cards go unused. that's basically a $5 billion gift from consumers to retailers. here in california, gift card rules are stricter. most are not allowed to have expiration dates or service fees. merchants are required to reimburse you cash for any gift card balances less than $10. >>> a fire in san leandro killed a woman and her two dogs. the woman did not have a working fire alarm in the home. firefighters say she died in her bedroom, probably from smoke inhalation. it appears the fire started in the kitchen or hallway and made its way into the attic. from the outside, you couldn't tell there was a fire. >> as we know, smoke is a silent killer. and the carbon monoxide is usually what happens. >> you didn't see flames. it was all smoke. you know, and li

smart money magazine says most websites have put restrictions on free shipping, at amazon.com it's normally $25. old navy have you to spend $50, jc penny, required minimum purchases to. one way to get around it, do a google search for a free shipping code or wait until friday the 16th. its been called free shipping day. more than a thousand online merchants promise to ship almost everything free of charge next friday. >> when you have somebody shipped to your house you ever leave it on the porch? maybe are you at work. whatever the reason you could set yourself up to be a victim of porch robbers. it's thought 16 and a half packages are going to be shipped in the month before christmas, everything from computers to gift certificates. >> would you do something different out of worry people are taking packages? >> if i flew it was going to be taken i probably would be more careful. >> reporter: so how do you stop it in you ask for delivery by signature only, ask neighbors to take them or ask they be left in a specific area like behind a bush. >>> finding a good airfare or rental car rate is a

amazon.com, it is at this . clay 25 dollar -- at this .y 25 purchases and penny and ll bean and gap require minimum purchases as well and one way toget around that is do a search for free shipping codes. or you can wait until december 16th that's dubbed free shipping day. more online and more than a thousand online merchants arepromising to shift everything free of charge coming up next friday. >>> the maker of the super stiney smart mini cars -- tiny smart many cars is coming up with a pickup truck. it will be day boyd in detroit in -- it will be debuted in detroit in january. the vehicle is about 6 feet shorter than the america's best selling ford f-150 pickup. >>> traditionally cash and coins are dropped into the salvation army red kettle. last year $300 gold bar and swiss frank gold coin may be outdone by a kettle in kansas. a salvation army business manager says someone left a diamond a carat wrapped in paper. >> you can see where there's writing on it. so i thought it was trash. and so i started to open it up and saw that the differe

amazon.com is offering its customers a one-time discount if you play store spy.e's how it works. amazon will give 5% discounts, up to 5 bucks, on as many as three items. you use the company's price check app to compare prices of the same items inside a physical store. the amazon app is available for iphone and the android. this is only good this saturday, december 10th. happy shopping. thanks for joining us tonight. ♪ [ female announcer ] during the holidays, there's a lot to get done. and safeway select appetizers help you rise to every occasion. ♪ from delectable to amazing. there are over 20 affordable safeway select appetizers ♪ to make all of your gatherings just as merry as can be. ♪ only at safeway. ingredients for life. pillsbury holiday star cookies start with pillsbury cookie dough easy. then add my own favorite frosting and sprinkles. just three ingredients to sweet memories. holiday ideas made easy. your new progresso rich & hearty steak burger soup. [ dad ] i love this new soup. it's his two favorite things in one... burgers and soup. did you hear hi

>> target, wal-mart and amazon.com are clear winners here. people are spending what they have, the little that they have in these retailers as well. but online is a big winner here. 16.4% is the number sales rose online on christmas day. that's a huge number. 7% of those purchases were made with ipads. huge trend there, moving to mobile. 173% higher mobile sales this year versus last year. and that's the trend we're seeing overall in this market. >> glor: stunning numbers. rebecca jarvis, thank you. the white house today condemned syria for intensifying its attacks on protesters. syria's president, bashar al-assad has promised to stop the killings and international monitors have traveled to syria to ensuring he keeps his word. but elizabeth palmer reports tonight in one city, homs, not much has changed. >> reporter: with arab league observers on the way to homs this morning, syrian tanks began pulling back from positions they've held for weeks. but when the team hit the streets, the violence hadn't stopped. this cell phone video shows a polit