laura podesta is in new york with the latest on covid. laura, good morning. >> reporter: good morning. we're looking at several hot spots, particularly in the midwest where a surge of infections is filling icu beds. more than 200 million or just over 60% of americans are now fully vaccinated against covid-19. >> it feels good to be safer. >> reporter: many are getting their booster shot, a key defense against the omicron >> at first i was skeptical about do we need it or not. once there were other variant, there's no taking chances. >>>. >> reporter: pfizer says its shot increases protection 25-fold against omicron. >> that will induce immunity that is likely to protect from infection, symptomatic illness, and severe disease. >> reporter: only about a quarter of eligible americans have had a booster. meanwhile, covid hospitalizations jumped nearly 30% in the past month, driven by the delta variant. >> unless we really double down on what we're doing, we could see an increased spike that goes even higher than that as we get deeper into dece

laura podesta is following the latest from new york. laura, good morning. >> reporter: good morning, anne-marie. so tragic. officials say the gunman fired at least a dozen rounds hitting ten students and one teacher. 17-year-old madisyn baldwin, 16-year-old tate myre, and 14-year-old hana st. juliana were killed. investigators in cumberland county, michigan, are searching for a motive in the latest school shooting. >> the person that's got the most insight and motive is not talking. a preliminary investigation revealed that the weapon was purchased on november 26th. four days ago. by the boy's father. >> reporter: police say the 15-year-old suspect posted pictures that showed he had practiced with the semiautomatic handgun. >> medical assistance. multiple ambulances if possible. >> reporter: more than 100 911 calls came in. within five minutes, two deputies arrived at oxford high school and confronted the student who surrendered. >> they went in and searched out the threat. they went to the gunshots. >> reporter: officials say the gunman

laura podesta in mayfield, kentucky. thank you so much. >>> well, search efforts at that amazon facility that laura told us about are expected to take several days. as we reported, at least six people were killed in that illinois building. authorities say that they don't expect to find any more survivors. at this point it's unclear how many workers were inside when the twister hit on friday. the governor says this sudden tragedy is taking a toll on the community. >> there are no words to assuage the pain of losing a loved one. and even fewer when that cost and that loss comes so suddenly. >> authorities say at least 45 people escaped from the building. one person was airlifted to the hospital. >>> ahead on "cbs mornings," we'll talk with kathy stewart o'nan. the mayor of mayfield, kentucky, and we'll ask about the progress of recovery effort in her devastated community. >>> now to the latest on the coronavirus. a new study is shedding more light on pfizer's vaccine defense against the omicron variant. researchers in israe

laura podesta is on the ground in kentucky with the latest. >> i am trying to coordinate the recovery system, right now. we have quite a few people missing. >> reporter: in the small town of dawson springs, kentucky, dozens are still missing and officials estimate more than 60% of the town is beyond repair. >> this is the first time i have, you're looking at the damage. it is hard to believe this is my town. >> reporter: it is one of several communities ravaged by a cluster of tornadoes ready night. more than 450 national guard members are on the ground in kentucky. many, still working rescue and recovery. >> i expect we will find more bodies. there is so much destruction. >> reporter: state and local officials say it could take years to repair the damage. >> residents can grab everything from diapers to clothing to food, and volunteers are keeping shelves stocked. >> reporter: she came here to get supplies for her three children. >> i don't even know how to feel at this point. it is like a numb feeling. the first day we got out on were able to go try to find a store that was open, i

laura podesta is live in mayfield, kentucky, with more. laura, good morning. >> reporter: good morning, elise. down here on the ground those clouds were tornadoes, and they caused so much destruction and death. just down the road from where i'm standing, a 3-year-old died in his mother's arms. president biden visits kentucky today to survey the damage from last week's deadly tornadoes. >> will ask leaders directly what do you need, what are you not getting, and how can we make it faster for you. >> reporter: the president will visit mayfield and dawson springs, two hard-hit communities. >> we're trying to solving as much as we can -- >> reporter: alan patel says it will take more than a year to rebuild after his store collapsed. >> we don't know actually like what to feel. like just don't know what we're going to do. >> reporter: the cleanup is beginning. we're seeing piles of tree limbs everywhere as more roads are cleared. most homes are not salvageable and this destruction spans across western kentucky. >> there are lives effected with t

laura podesta in new york. thank you so much, laura. >>> well, there is some breaking news out of the nfl. former denver broncos wide receiver demaryius thomas has died. police in ross well, georgia, said the 33-year-old was found dead in his home. authorities say according to preliminary information, thomas's death stems from a medical issue and no foul play is suspected. thomas won a super bowl ring with the broncos in 2016. he was also named to five pro bowls. he last played in the nfl in 2019 and officially retired in june. >>> also breaking overnight, four-time indy 500 winner al unser has died. indianapolis motor speedway said unser died at his home in new mexico. he had been battling cancer for 17 years. unser, known as big al, was a member of one of america's most famed racing families. he's the only driver in history to have both a sibling and a child also win the indy 500. al unser was 82. >>> millions of teens in the u.s. can now get a covid booster shot. the cdc yesterday approved an extra dose of p

laura podesta is in new york with the latest details on this. laura, good morning. >> reporter: good morning, anne-marie. the united states joins about two dozen other countries with a confirmed case of the omicron variant. health officials had said it was only a matter of time before it got here, and as you mentioned, now the white house is announcing new plans to fight the virus as the winter surge approaches. dr. charles chiu is not surprised that the omicron variant made its way into the u.s. >> i'm almost certain that this finding is only the tip of the iceberg. >> reporter: he works at the california lab that detected omicron. >> essentially it's a microchip which consists of a bunch of electronics. >> reporter: his team used this sequencer to confirm it in just a few hours. >> if we had to run this on a traditional instrument, typically it takes at least a day. >> reporter: the infected person returned to california from south africa on november 22nd. they developed mild symptoms on thanksgiving day and got tested three days later. >> the

laura podesta in new york. thank you so much, laura. >>> now to the january 6th capitol attack. the leaders of the house committee investigating the attack are threatening to hold mark meadows in contempt of congress. the former white house chief of staff reversed course and said he will not cooperate with the panel. meadows had agreed to appear at a deposition today. his lawyer said the panel is not respecting boundaries concerning questions former president trump has claimed are off limits due to executive privilege. committee leaders blasted meadows' aboutface. >>> and a suspect is under arrest in the killing of "washington post" columnist jamal khashoggi. a french official said the saudi national was arrested near paris as he attempted to board a flight to riyadh. he is accused of being part of the team that murdered khashoggi. khashoggi, who wrote critical articles of the saudi crown prince, was killed in 2018 at the saudi consulate in istanbul. the saudi government admitted to the murder under intense international pressure. >>> for more than two hours, president biden met

laura podesta is in new york with the latest on this. ura, good morning. >> reporter: good morning, anne-marie. a big question is how transmissible is this new variant, how quickly or easily can others catch it. with that and other unknowns surrounding omicron, the u.s. is taking new steps to stop the spread. as of this morning, all travelers coming from the u.s. must undergo a covid-19 test within 24 hours of their departure. previously they had to be tested within three days of their flight. >> definitely another challenge that's coming up in the way for travelers. >> reporter: the tightened restrictions come as the omicron variant continues to spread. at least 17 states have reported omicron-related infections, many of the confirmed cases found in vaccinated people who reported having mild symptoms. >> we've got to be careful before we make any determinations that it is elderly severe or really doesn't cause any severe illness comparable to delta variant. but thus far, the signals are a bit encouraging regarding the severity. >> report

laura podesta is with the president in mayfield, kentucky. >> reporter: president biden surveyed the discrete destruction from the air and ground, seeing what is left of homes, businesses, and lives in tornado ravaged kentucky. the president came to a offer personal comfort and federal support to residents cleaning up after five twisters tore through the state, including one that carved it past 200 miles long. >> you can see looking on the television. >> reporter: the president toured nearby regions and said help is available now and down the line. >> the government will cover 100% of the cost of the first 30 days for all the emergency work, from clearing everything to -- every single cost the federal government will take care of. >> reporter: the states governor and first lady walked with president biden and thanked him for his support >> for me, this was always a safe place. that things do not happen here, until saturday. >> reporter: debris is being cleared and hauled away. the sound of construction is heard throughout mayfield. teams are out in neighborhoods with ipads, helping r

there are new aerial photos of the aftermath, laura podesta has the latest from hard-hit mayfield in western kentucky. >> reporter: the cleanup is beginning for kentucky. heartbreak has taken hold. >> just came out of the pandemic, you know? so, we are just wondering, what else? then this. >> reporter: hunter taylor survived the tornadoes by taking shelter in the basement of his mayfield home. >> about the most terrifying thing i've ever experienced. >> reporter: the family across the street lost a child and taylor said he helped recover the body. >> that's the worst part of it all, is seeing someone lose their kids. >> reporter: at least four tornadoes hit kentucky friday evening. one stayed on the ground for more than 200 miles as the search for survivors continues, the death toll fluctuates, bringing governor andy bashir to tears. >> the range is five months to 86 years, six are younger than 18. >> reporter: this entire neighborhood in mayfield is a shell of what it once was, neighbors have pulled out the lungs that could be saved but there are no homes for them to go back to. >>

laura podesta, cbs news, mayfield, kentucky. >>> cbsn bay area, a major kata italic converter theft ring busted in san jose. we'll tell you about the operation dubbed operation cat scratch fever. >>> and why derek chauvin is heading back to court this week in the george floyd case. from one moment to the next, our kids become the most important part of our lives. and even though the years pass, that never changes. we never stop worrying about them. that's why it's important to have health insurance. with covered california, we got a plan we could afford. it includes free preventive care, like cholesterol and blood-pressure checkups. because even though they grow up, they'll always be your baby. covered california. this way to health insurance. enroll by december 31st at coveredca.com. >>> more now onth coru deadline for employee vaccinations. it applies to all b.a.r.t. employees and contractors. anyone with valid religious or health exemption does not have to be fully vaccinated. >>> two emergency requests to block new york state's vaccine mandate today. the supreme court ruled. the just

laura podesta is at the center of the damage in mayfield, kentucky. >> ♪ joyful and triumphant. >> reporterless than two weeks before christmas, two congregations prayed outside ruins of this church sunday. >> a part of us has been taken. >> reporter: the community is grieving after friday night's massive tornado leveled the small city. >> there are tears but there are also hugs. >> search and rescue working for survivors across the region are battling against time and hoping for miracles. >> emergency management people are out there going door to door but there aren't any doors. >> the twister wiped out a candle factory where more than 100 people worked ahead of the holidays. authorities found 40 survivors saturday. >> i pray that maybe original estimates of those we lost were wrong. if so, it's going to be pretty wonderful. >> 11 shelters and state parks will give refuge to people's whose homes were leveled or damaged. >> it is insane what mother nature did in a span of minutes. >> my back door blowed in my face, the glass. >> her home was hit but still standing. >> we got down over our d

laura podesta. >> health officials say the data is still early. a continues that omicron seems to cause less severe infection. >>> the search for the arsonist who lit a lit mass tree in the most grinch like way. >> and an east bay neighborhood transformed in to candy cane lane. the sights and sounds from the long time extradition up next. >>> welcome back. it's 4:43. investigators in oakland are searching for the arsonist who targeted the christmas tree in jack london square. the suspect was seen talking off on a bike early yesterday morning. about 15% of the decorated tree was damaged but at this point saturday's lighting ceremony is still a go. >>> speaking of throwing a damper on the holidays. this was one zoom call you definitely didn't want to be invited to. >> big surprise. the ceo of digital mortgage lender better.com invited more than 900 employees to join him on a call and then fired them all. that's about 9% of the company's work force. according to fortune magazine [inaudible] accused them of stealing from customers and colleagues by on

cbs reporter laura podesta joins us live right now times square. >>> good morning. so the iconic ball drop in times where will still be attended by thousands of partygoers. however, they have to show proof of vaccination. they have to be masked up and this area usually fits about 60,000 revelers on a normal new year's eve. it will only 15,000 in order for there to be some social distancing. 2022, as it is run and we will sort of see a repeat of 2021. it is because cova cases arising with nearly half million new infections reported just yesterday alone. 15 states plus dc and puerto rico are averaging more daily case is now and never before >> we are at the very beginning, unfortunately, and likely have at least 4 to 8 weeks before we are going to see it rise and they began to fall again. >> reporter: dr. fauci, the white house chief medical advisor is urging people not to attend large celebrations. and atlanta speech drop was canceled for a second year and awoke. and as you mentioned the san francisco waterfront fireworks celebration is off. here in new york city, th

cbs news correspondent laura podesta joins me from new york.day? it was an emotional day with graphic _ court yesterday? it was an emotional day with graphic testimony _ court yesterday? it was an emotional day with graphic testimony in - court yesterday? it was an emotional day with graphic testimony in the - day with graphic testimony in the first alleged victim testified that maxwell�*s will find jeffrey epstein had abused it since the age of 14. she took the stand as jane in order to protect identity. she said that she was frozen in fear during her first sexual contact with jeffrey epstein. this was not a very young age, she says she met him in 1994 at age, she says she met him in 1994 at a summer camp and said she was eating ice cream at this summer camp in michigan when she was approached by maxwell who befriended her. she said that ten point maxwell would sometimes be in the room during the sexual abuse with jeffrey sometimes be in the room during the sexual abuse withjeffrey epstein that went on for years. and in her contact through tho

laura podesta joins us live from times where. i'm sure this is not what people were hoping for. >> reporter: yeah, it is not going to look like 2019 or 2018. but there will be roughly 15,000 people who will be socially distancing here in the pins beside me. they must be fully vaccinated, show proof of that and wear a mask. all of this comes as the omicron variant is surging. not only here in new york city, but nationwide we are seeing increases in 15 states plus dc and puerto rico. all of them are averaging more daily cases than ever before. and nearly half million new infections were reported just yesterday. >> we are at the very beginning, unfortunately, and likely have at least 4 to 8 weeks before we are going to see a rise in the begin to fall again. >>> dr. fauci is urging people not to attend large new year's eve celebrations. atlanta speech drop was canceled for a second year in a row. as you mentioned the fireworks show along the waterfront is off. but there are some cities this see the show must go on including seattle.

laura podesta.lso convicted of another crime, cutting off their ears. sadly, there is a demand for dogs with ears mutilated. they cut the floppy bit off. this is what he should look like. it is purely aesthetic, to achieve a look that some people think is attractive. it is illegal to cut a dog's ears like this in the uk. at the moment, you can import one when they have already been cropped. there are laws in place to protect animals, but we found plenty of backyard breeders who are staying one step ahead of the authorities to make some serious cash. social media is awash with breeders, many legitimate. we went undercover and spoke to one breeder who offered us a puppy for a £13,000. he describes what could be done to her ears. you can have them off. if it ever comes back to us we are going to say it was present when you collected it, nothing to do with us. the breeder denied doing anything illegal. we showed our evidence to an expert. abhorrent. they are breaching the animal welfare act. he is advoc

let's go to new york now, with laura podesta from cbs news. that first case detected in the us.date with the latest developments on 0micron there. good developments on omicron there. good mornin: , developments on omicron there. good morning. joanna- _ developments on omicron there. good morning, joanna. just _ developments on omicron there. (13mm morning, joanna. just officially announced by the white house moments ago, the president is now extending ago, the president is now extending a requirement that people wear masks on planes, trains and buses from january to mid—march. so the end date for these necessary masks was going to be january, it's been extended to mid—march not only because of the winter surge but because of the winter surge but because of the winter surge but because of 0micron now being on our shores and having been detected in california. the white house is also tightening the rules for anyone who is flying into the country. right now, international travellers must have a negative test within 72 hours of their flight. next week, that is going to change to 2a

laura podesta from cbs news is in mayfield. to structure yesterday, and they'll continue today, as they continue to look for more people who could potentially still be alive underneath the rubble that is apparent in this community and in the surrounding neighbourhood. just some numbers to give you, the latest we've heard is that 88 people are dead due to these tornadoes, and that stretches over five states. 74 people have been killed here in kentucky, and the death toll is expected to climb as they continue to identify people. the number ofjob vacancies in the uk has reached another record high — with almost 1.2 million roles being advertised between august to october — that's one vacancy for every 25 people working. delivery drivers, warehouse workers, hospitality staff, cleaners, health and social care workers are in greatest demand. our business correspondent nina warhurst has been speaking to some bosses to find out how they're affected. who could have predicted this? from a pandemic that punished the economy, lots ofjobs n