chris pollone, nbc news. >> we mentioned the cdc clearing the vaccine for distribution. cdc's robert redfield has to approve the recommendation, which he is expected to do and quickly. take a look at some of the agency's recommendations. it is cleared for people 16 and older. pregnant women can be vaccinated if they choose, though there is no data on vaccine efficacy in pregnant well. people who have had the virus should still get vaccinated. and those with allergies to injectable medication should not get the shot. >> bay area hospitals could see their first doses within days. ucfs should see the first doses on tuesday. each box has 975 doses in it. sanford expects a delivery by wednesday. they start to plan vaccinations on friday. the first doses will go to high-risk, front line health care workers. san francisco general is also on the list to get some of the first doses of the vaccine. we have reached out for details but have yet to hear back from hospital leaders. for the second day in a row, the case reported 35,000 new cases and 225 deaths. that's the most ever in

"today in the bay's" chris pollone live with the very latest for us. good morning, chris. >> reporter: good morning. so far the deposited checks going out are for $600. senate democrats would like to vote on a bill that would increase them to $2,000, but they might not get that chance. >> i'm ready. >> reporter: on the day vice president-elect kamala harris urged americans is to get the vaccine, president-elect joe biden slammed the efforts to get people vaccinated quickly and detailed his plan to vaccinate 100 million people in 100 days. >> i will lose my power under the defense protection act when i'm sworn in and order private industry to accelerate the making of the materials needed for the vaccine as well as protective gear. >> reporter: despite support from president trump senate democrats and a handful of senate republicans efforts to raise relief payments appear to be going nowhere. mcconnell blocked the first attempt. >> is there objection to the modification? >> i object. >> objection. >> reporter: then mcconnell introduced a payment but intro

"today in the bay's" chris pollone is live for us with the latest from capitol hill this morning. chris? >> reporter: marcus, good morning. the house of representatives yesterday voted to override a veto from president trump, the first one of his presidency over that big military spending bill. the question here today in the senate is whether republicans will back the bill or the president. a bipartisan rebuke for president trump. >> the yeas 322, the nays are 87. >> reporter: more than a two-thirds house majority voting to override his veto, the first time it's happened during the prum presidency. he said it would allow for the renaming of military bases and because it fails to strip liability protections from websites over what their users post. >> the bill is passed. >> reporter: a close vote to increase coronavirus stimulus checks from $600 to $2,000, a move pushed by the president but backed by democrats. >> do you support a $2,000 -- >> yes. >> this is not a stimulus, it is not. and it does nothing to help get people back to work. >> reporter: it sets up a test for those who

chris pollone joins us live with more this morning. chris? >> reporter: laura and marcus, good morning. the president still pushing to increase those direct stimulus payments to americans from $600 to $2,000. the house of representatives will vote on a measure that could do that today. the problem is many republicans oppose the idea. after a week of complaints about the $2.3 trillion bipartisan spending bill -- >> it really is a disgrace. >> reporter: president trump signed the bill sunday night. it includes $900 billion in covid relief money and funds the government for the next fiscal year. in a statement from his florida resort the president said i am signing this bill to restore unemployment benefits, stop evictions, provide rental assistance and much more. those enhanced employment benefits extended had expired for millions sunday after promises stimulus payments would go out this week, it's now unclear when people will see that money in their bank accounts. house majority leader steny hoyer said the president has resolved an unnecessary

live in washington, chris pollone, "today in the bay." >> so much help for so many families. thank you, chris. >>> we do have more details, though, in the massive bill. the new relev has serious implications for folks struggling in california. for one it means when this is all said and done some californians may end up receiving up to 70 weeks of pandemic-related relief. and jobless benefits. also $14 billion allocated for transit agencies including here in the bay area. b.a.r.t. expects to receive $377 million. again, the most in the bay area. >>> restaurants and stores are sitting empty from this latest regional stay-at-home order which more business owners are wondering how long can we survive? "today in the bay's" jackie live with possibly good news from san pedro square. there is an effort to keep the recounts and businesses afloat. >> reporter: that's for sure, marcus. this morning businesses are continuing to ask for something they've been asking for months. the data that proves the transition -- the transition, rather, of the virus is happening at their establishments.

chris pollone, nbc news. >>> still ahead, despite covid, glide memorial church keeps their christmas tradition of feeding those in need. but this year, many of the faces are not so familiar. we talk to a first-time patron. >>> we're saving money for viewers like you every single day. i'm consumer investigator chris chmura. some gifts for viewers like you straight ahead. >>> and if you live in the north bay and san francisco, you've already seen some rain. but if you live in the south bay, you're probably wondering where is it? full forecast coming up in just a few minutes. glide memorial chn francisco took a lot of its giving on the road t >>> the need is so great this year. glide memorial church in san francisco took a lot of its giving on the road today. nbc bay area's thom jensen reports on those experiencing unemployment for the first time, hoping more stimulus money comes soon but thankful for a real meal today. >> reporter: this is a first for danielle iglesias and her 4-year-old daughter, mia. >> it's been okay. we're just trying to tell her we'll be okay. >> reporter: they en

chris pollone was telling us about that stimulus checks for people who got it last time. basically at $99,000 cap out. additional money tacked on to unemployment checks as well. good news for restaurants. lawmakers tacked on a new rule that president trump had been pushing for, expanding to claim a business expense when eating out. some have dubbed it the three martini lunch tax break. there's no eating in restaurants allowed here at least for now. >>> tesla has added to the s&p 500 index today. a flood of buying on friday. new buyers pushed the price of shares up 6% for the weekend. tesla is the largest company ever added to the index for the first time. in fact, it's the sixth most valuable company in the united states. now various plans have rules that require them to add shares to companies on the s&p 500 on their funds so fund managers were forced to buy on friday. we may see it drop today in the stock because that whole buying spree is over. it tesla is up 731%, kris and marcus, in the last year. 731%. >> that is remarkable. are people who ordered cars are they stil

"today in the bay's" chris pollone is live in washington to talk with us about what this all means as so many families are listening are their whole hearts, chris. >> reporter: kris, marcus, absolutely right. and what this means is for people and businesses that have been suffering throughout this pandemic some help is finally on the way. some stimulus funds could be released as early as next week. congress passing a new coronavirus relief package just before midnight. $900 billion with aid for struggling families and businesses. >> it doesn't go all the way, but it takes us down the path, a first step. >> a big bipartisan majority of us recognize the incredible amount of good it will do. >> reporter: $600 for people making less than $75,000 a year and couples up to $150,000 with more for dependents living in the same household. more forgivable loans for businesses and for the jobless $300 more weekly in unemployment. >> if you're out of work, $600 isn't going to do much. but $300 a week is huge. >> reporter: the vote coming on the same day president-elect joe biden publicly got his f

let's bring in chris pollone chris, it seems even more far feched now to expect those payments to go up to $2,000. >> that's right, paul. senate majority leader mitch mcconnell said there's no likely path to increase the stimulus checks, which means the idea is likely dead. even with the support of some democrats, they're cautious about sending out that much money. they maintain that would be ineffective because it would go to some people who have not suffered any loss during the pandemic it simply calls for the payments to be raised for $2,000. instead he's offered a bill that lumps the increase in with two other priorities which aren't related to covid relief. it set up bitter exchanges with democrats who accuse republicans of long lines at food banks and other things stemmed by the pandemic. >> it will end up in the hands of rich people who don't need the help. >> let me make it clear for the majority leader that ten out of the poorest 25 counties in the united states of america are located in kentucky. >> reporter: another interesting development on the hill, in most years there

chris pollone is live in washington with the latest from capitol hill. chris? >> reporter: yeah, marcus, good morning. the house of representatives has voted to override a trump veto for the first time in his presidency over a big military spending bill. now the question is will senate republicans back the bill or the president? a bipartisan rebuke for president trump. >> the ayes are 372-87. >> reporter: the majority over the national defense authorization act. the first time it's happened during the trump presidency. mr. trump said he vetoed the bill for the renaming of bases and because it fails to strip liability protections from websites over what their users post. >> the bill is passed. >> reporter: the override followed a close vote in the house a move pushed by the president but backed by democrats. >> yes. >> this is not a stimulus. it is not. and it does nothing to help get people back to work. >> reporter: it sets up a test for those who oppose increasing the stimulus checks. >> i am telling donald trump don't just talk about it. act. the senate repu

. >> "today in the bay's" chris pollone is live with the details and a look at what happens next. chris? >> reporter: after weeks of haggling it appears both chambers of congress will have a vote on this relief bill. if it passes president trump has said he will sign it into law meaning money could start flowing soon for people and businesses hurt by this pandemic. negotiations went down to the wire but today a new covid-19 bill could be law. >> a package of nearly $900 billion packed with targeted policies that help struggling americans. who have already waited entirely too long. >> reporter: $600 in direct payments to qualifying americans. add $300 a week to unemployment checks, provide more loans to small businesses and direct extra funds to distribute covid vaccines across the country. there is also help for people struggling to pay their rent as well. >> our purpose has always been to crush the virus, to put money in the pockets of the american people which we do in this legislation. >> reporter: it does not provide liability protections, a republican push, or extra money to s

"today in the bay's" chris pollone is live in washington with the details. hey, chris. >> reporter: kira, marcus, all weeklong the white house indicated the president was going to sign that deal hammered out between democrats and republicans to provide some coronavirus relief. now the deal is in doubt. after signaling he would sign the $900 billion aid package president trump threatens to veto it. the president complained the bill's $600 cash payment to americans is too small. >> i'm asking congress to amend this bill and increase the ridiculously low $600 to $2,000 or $4,000 for a couple. >> reporter: house speaker nancy pelosi tweeting, let's do it. but time is running short. the federal government will shut down if a spending bill isn't signed. it was a busy day for the president who announced a flurry of pardons for giving four blackwater congressmen, a campaign adviser to lied to the fbi and london-based lawyer, the first person sentenced in the investigation. >> we would be sitting in a jail cell for a good long stretch of time. >> reporter: the u.s. sa

i'm chris pollone, "today in the bay." >>> a u.s. congressman elect from louisiana has died from covid complications. luke letlow announced on december 18th he tested positive. days later he was checked into a shreveport hospital where he died. he leaves behind a wife and two young children. he was just 41. kevin mccarthy sent his condolences on twitter. letlow had just won a run-off election and was set to be sworn into office on saturday. >>> now to our race for a vaccine. new for you this morning the uk is approving the oxford astrazeneca vaccine. they're hoping to begin administration within weeks. here in the uz t.s. it could be submitted end of january. speaking of the uk days ago we told you about the mutant strain of covid-19 and now it's being reported it made its way to the united states with some health officials believing it's already here in the bay area. "today in the bay's" cierra johnson to break down where the virus was found and how local officials are responding. >> reporter: yes, good morning, marcus. the mutant s

chris pollone is joining us from washington with the latest and chris, what are the odds that somethingappens with $2,000 payments? >> reporter: i'm reminded of a dan rather quoting slim and none and none just walked out the door you hate to be cynical you know, this is going to be one of the bringsiest christmas eve days in the capital over the last several years as you pointed out, the democrats and nancy pelosi putting forward a measure where they will try to appease the president and get those stimulus payments to go from $600 up to $2,000 that has been a priority of theirs for months. and to see the president come out and say that the covid relief act was in the appropriate or not enough for the american people, and that he wanted to see that go up, they are more than willing to try to get that done. the problem is, there are not very many members in washington right now. so in order to do this, nancy pelosi will have to try to do it by unanimous consent what that means is if one person objects, from either party, it will fail. and the republicans have already said that they are go

live in washington, i'm chris pollone. marcus, back to you now. >> i know a lot of people hoping to get an increase. chris, thank you. >>> you know what happens in washington has a direct impact here in the bay area. restaurant owners and workers are banking on relief. they say they need a second protection program. >> without any sort of federal funding there will be a ton of businesses that shut down. >> when restaurants close lots of jobs will go with them. that's why many of the owners and workers are pushing lawmakers to get things done in washington. >>> north bay breweries are reportedly joining a lawsuit to fight against the state's stay-at-home order. that suit was filed by breweries in southern california last week. under the stay-at-home order breweries are required to serve food in order to keep their on site business open. but wineries don't have to do that. some north bay breweries are hopping in on this new suit hoping that it triggers a quick response from state officials. >>> our other big story last-minut

chris pollone, nbc news. >>> we'll have much more ahead on today in the bay coming up. it's a christmas miracle. how food trucks jumped into action to save christmas dinner for some very special bay area folks. >>> and on this day after christmas and the first day of the week long kwanzaa celebration, a live look for you at sfo if you're headed there today. we are tracking your weekend weather. is more rain on the way? vianey arana, has your complete forecast ahead. you're watching today in the bay. the usual gifts are just not going to cut it. we have to find something else. good luck! what does that mean? we are doomed. [laughter] that's it. i figured it out! we're going to give togetherness. that sounds dumb. we're going to take all those family moments and package them. hmm. [laughing] that works. >>> welcome back. it's 7:11 on your saturday morning. a live look in san francisco where there's still a glimmer of the christmas spirit shining brightly. nice to see that as we bid farewell to the christmas holiday. >>> on christmas night a bay area agency that helps home

chris pollone is live on capitol hill to explain why. chris. >> yeah, marcus, good morning. the senate is in session today on the last day of the year. the number one priority passing that key military spending bill now that it appears efforts to raise stimulus checks from $600 to $2,000. days after president trump said it would be a death wish if republicans failed to back bigger $2,000 stimulus checks, it appears any hope for the increased payments is gone. >> the senate is not going to be bullied to democrat rich friends who don't need the help. >> reporter: mitch mcconnell packaging the measure into a new bill with two unrelated measures pushed by president trump. mcconnell's move is designed to kill it. >> is this where senate republicans will draw the line? $2,000 checks for the american people. that is a bridge too far. please. >> reporter: some republicans like mcconnell say the cost for bigger checks is too high. more than $400 billion would go to some americans who don't need it. >> all that i am asking is give us a vote. what's the problem. >> reporter: the stalem

is chris pollone. good morning, chris. could the president be setting up the ultimate loyalty test for his party? >> reporter: certainly looks like that, michelle. it looked like the president was looking for a way to claim victory after essentially blowing up a deal that his own team had negotiated on and signed off on. he was under increasing pressure and in signing the spending bill mr. trump said both houses of congress have agreed to vote on raising stimulus payments from $600 to $2,000 a vote is scheduled in the house but it's unclear whether mitch mcconnell will hold one in the senate while many republicans oppose raising the payments, democrats agree with the president and are using it to pressure republicans. chuck schumer tweeted, the house will pass a bill to give americans $2,000 checks. no democrats will object will senate republicans? the bill signing comes as the president remains focused on trying to overturn this year's election results and he's starting to get some pressure to give that up from his own al

in washington, chris pollone, nbc news. >>> it is 5:05 right now. here is a live look outside in fremont. some people already up and at emon this christmas eve. very cold out there, marcus. i could not get my heat in my car started fast enough. >> i thought you were going to say you didn't have any in your car. >> no, luckily i did. but not coming fast enough. >> i know that's right. it is warm where we are now. it's time to get a look at that forecast, too. is it going to warm us up a little bit today, kari. >> a little bit, but we are going to have more clouds coming in and we're starting out with some fog in some spots. we're dealing with that low visibility during that morning commute. i know that if you do have to work, you're really dreading it now. looking at the visibility in fairfield and continues to get lower. you can barely see ahead of your car. so allow some extra time to get there. now, we're also seeing these clouds spreading, again. that may also bring in some spotty light sprinkles especially near the coastline. most of the bay are

in washington, chris pollone, nbc news. >>> it is 6:09 on this christmas eve. and a live look outside for you in fremont. good amount of cars on the road. kind of surprises me how many people are out there working with me on this christmas eve morning and it is chilly out there. luckily it will be dry today and another good day to head out and finish your christmas shopping, marcus. i don't want to put you on the spot, but i'm going to put you on the spot. do you have any gifts to buy today and who are they for? >> no, i don't have any gifts. >> you're all done. i don't know if i'm all done, but i don't have any gifts to buy. >> i'm not sure what that means. >> gifts will be given. that's all i am going to say. all right. you know what, the gift we give to you every morning, courtesy of meteorologist kari hall. what you can expect today and, kari, what do we have in our package today. >> we have a lot of those essential workers already hitting the roads this morning and having to deal with the fog. visibility has been really low. moving through fairfield just a

nbc's chris pollone joins us with more on that. more crucial names on that, right? >> that's right.the president gave full part on the charles kushner. if that sounds familiar, that's the father of his son-in-law jared kushner who pleaded guilty in 2004 for making illegal campaign donations in another rebuke, president pardoned paul manafort he also gave a full pardon to longtime campaign adviser roger stone. you might remember the president commuted his sentence previously stone was convicted last year on charges of making false statements, obstruction, and witness tampering. on tuesday the president granted clemency to more than a dozen other people meanwhile mr. trump has taken action on one spending bill while leaving another in limbo the fate of that bill is uncertain. he left for florida without signing it he wants to see direct stimulus payments increased from $600 to $2,000 it turns out the democrats do as well. >> we need the relief to get to them one thing we should not be doing is holding up the bill when at the end of the month the benefits are going to end. >> reporter:

vaccines, the senate's approval coming hours after the house signed off on the len lags nbc's chris pollone joins us with the details good morning. >> reporter: good morning. this came down to the wire with the senate passing the relief bill shortly before momenients. what does this bill do we've been talking about it for a couple of days now we're getting to see what exactly is in the bill it calls for about $600 in stimulus checks going to people who make less than $75,000 a year dependent children will also get $600 $300 a week extra for people who are collecting unemployment. there are billions of dollars for small business loans that can be forgiven. colleges and schools, money in there to purchase vaccines to help distribute them to help the u.s. get out of the pandemic and people paying rent or mortgage garages, the eviction moratorium continues this is what the leaders had to say once the deal was done. >> this package must be viewed only as a down payment most of us can hardly wait to begin the new year with a new hope. >> it doesn't go all the way, but it takes us down the path, a

majority leader mitch mcconnell shot down a democratic bid to increase payments to $2,000 nbc's chris pollone joins us now from our nation's capitol. good morning mcconnell has teed up a new way to pass $2,000 but with strings atta attached, right? >> that's right. he says, oh, you want a vote to increase stimulus payment? then you're going to vote on a couple of the president's other legislative priorities he's introduced a repeal of section 230. that's the law that protects internet sites and says websites cannot be held responsible for posts they place on them president trump has said the sooilts are unfair mcconnell also calls for a voter fraud commission president trump has insisted that it's caused him to lose several swing states it's unlikely the democrats would allow on this. they would ultimately keep the payment at $600. the good news is the treasury saelkt has said the $600 payments have already start. direct deposits were supposed to start last night and paper checks would go in the mail so that people would have them by the end of the week. if congress somehow passes the stimulu

going to be a test for majority leader mitch mcconnell who is against overspending joining us is chris pollone>> reporter: good morning. you never know what's going to happen on the hill, but you can be sure the democrats will do everything they can to get the stimulus check from $600 to $2,000 it's because the republicans are in a weird spot. most of them finding themselves on the opposite side of their leader president trump he wants to see the stimulus check raised to $2,000 from $600, but most republicans oppose the increase saying it's too costly and unnecessary now, you mentioned senate minority leader chuck schumer will try to pass this today by unanimous objection. after the override that passed the house yesterday of the defense authorization act, senator bernie sanders, the independent from vermont said he will object and try to delay the vote on the veto override until there is a floor vote on the stimulus money phillip? >> so much at stake. people need that money now, chris. thanks. >>> meanwhile president-elect joe biden blasting the trump administration for allegedly throwing up

still reeling from the pandemic lawmakers are expected to vote on the legislation today nbc's chris pollone is on capitol hill with the latest. >> reporter: as you well know, democrats and republicans have been going back and forth on this covid relief bill for weeks now. it would appear that they had an agreement, and then something would scuttle it but now an agreement has been reached and set to be voted on today. take a look at what's inside, according to lawmakers first of all, important to most people, $600 in stimulus checks to people who qualify. unemployment, people who are unemployed will get an extra $300 in their check per week small business loans, rental assistance as well, and money for people who are struggling to pay their rent both sides say this is a start, not an end >> at long last, we have the bipartisan breakthrough the country has needed now we need to promptly finalize checks, avoid any last-minute obstacles, and cooperate to move this legislation through both chambers. >> this bill is a good bill. tonight is a good night. but it is not the end of the story, it is n

nbc's chris pollone on the hill with the latest. break down the deal. >> reporter: democrats and republicans have been going back and forth over the last several weeks and they finally reached a deal last night. this is what they say is in it probably of most interest for many americans are $600 stimulus checks for people who qualified mostly last time unemployed people will get an extra $300 in benefits small business loans and rent assistance and money to buy and distribute covid-19 vaccines across the country. what's not in it, the sticking points for the bill over the last few days, liability protection for lawsuits for businesses and also no funding for state and local governments. that's what democrats wanted now both sides today are saying that this is a start not an ending >> at long last we have the bipartisan break through the country has needed now we need to promptly finalize checks, avoid any last-minute n obstacles and cooperate to move the bill through the chambers. >> this bill is a good bill. tonight is a good night

off on a measure to boost stimulus checks up to $2,000 the measure now heads to the senate and chris pollones live in washington with what happens next >> reporter: yeah, also the house of representatives voted to override a trump veto for the first time in his presidency over a key military spending bill the question now as whether senate republicans will back those bills or the president a bipartisan rebuke for president trump. >> the yeas are 322, the nays are 87 >> reporter: more than a two-thirds house majority voting to override his veto of the national defense authorization act, the first time it has happened during the trump presidency mr. trump said he vetoed the bill because it would allow for the renaming of military bases which now honor confederate military leaders and because it fails to strip liability protections from websites officer what their users post. >> the bill is passed. ri >> reporter: it followed a close vote in the house to increase stimulus checks from 600 dollars to $2,000. a move pushed by the trump and backed by the democrats. >> this is not a stimulus. it is

developing story surrounding the fight over the covid relief bill and gft fundi g government funding chris polloneoins us with the latest >> president trump continues to push to raise the direct cash payments from $600 to $2,000 there's a vote in the house of representatives on that very measure later on today, but it's a move many republicans oppose after a week of complaints about the $2.3 trillion bipartisan spending bill and covid relief package, posting on twitter -- >> it really is a disgrace >> reporter: president trump signed the bill sunday night, includes $900 billion in covid relief money and funds the government in the next fiscal year the president said "i'm assigning this to restore and prevent evictions. after promises stimulus payments would go out this week, it's unclear when people will see that money in their bank accounts democratic house majority leader steny hoyer said the president has resolved an unnecessary crisis he himself created. president still backing an effort to raise thosepayments to $2,000 for adults and $600 for children democrats support it minority leader chuc

chris pollone joining us now live good morning >> reporter: good morning.his is certainly a monkey wrench thrown into the works here democrats and republicans thought they had a deal hammered out late sunday night for this $900 billion covid relief bill, all indications from are the white house from that point forward were that the president would sign the bill and that money would start going by direct deposit to some americans in the form of $600 payments by early next week. the president was largely absent from the negotiations, instead letting his team do it including steve mnuchin. mnuchin lauded the deal when it was agreed to the other night. and it appeared that everything was set to go. but as you mentioned, the president called the deal a disgrace and he demanded that congress change to $2,000 payments for individuals as opposed to $600. so obviously this left senior leadership of the republican party kind of scratching their heads wondering what is going to happen next. the president didn't say he was going to veto the bill, but he certainly hibnt

so he went looking for a solution chris pollone has the story. >> reporter: while this a technology story, it's really a story about a dad who like so many others would do absolutely anything for his little girl the dad is nashville songwriter barry dean the little girl and his daughter catherine. she's 20 now, but she was born four months early and weighed less than two pounds >> are you ready to drive? >> reporter: because of cerebral palsy she spent most of her life in a power wheelchair which barry quickly discovered could be dangerous >> when she first got her power chair as a little girl at the clinic they put her in the seat and they hadn't calibrated the speed, and it took off down the hall and went into a wall. >> reporter: it turns out hospitals treat thousands of power chair injuries every year. barry wanted to make catherine's chair safer. >> we didn't intend to start a company. we intended to solve a problem >> reporter: enlisting the help of his brother jarrett, an engineer in a colorado, they've worked over the past four years developing a computer system with radar, camera