this is norah o'donnell. >> it is, it really is! onnell: i wanted to call and say thank you for watching the news. i love that, at nine years old, that you already love journalism. how is your family doing? >> good. >> o'donnell: abby's dad, dr. bill hucker, treats covid patients at massachusetts general hospital. tell your dad that we are so proud of the work he does. what we didn't know is abby's dad is listening. >> okay. he's on the phone now. >> o'donnell: hey, doctor, how are you? >> i'm good. thank you so much. >> o'donnell: one reason abby watches us every night is to learn all about the pandemic. when she heard protective gear was in short supply, she offered her tooth fairy money to her dad's hospital. she sometimes goes weeks without hugging him as he quarantines to keep the family safe. >> hi, guys! >> o'donnell: abby's dad is her hero. how's it going? >> it's busy. >> o'donnell: yeah. >> exploding, i would say. i was in the e.r., it's like a zoo down there. >> o'donnell: i'm from a family of doctors so i admire so much w

this is the "cbs evening news" with norah o'donnell, reporting from the nation's capital. >> o'donnell evening to our viewers in the west and thank you for joining us. we are going to begin with that breaking news. the first vaccine for coronavirus here in the u.s. has just been approved by an f.d.a. advisory panel, all but guaranteeing it will receive emergency approval by the f.d.a., possibly within hours. now, that decision will immediately set off a frantic, nationwide operation by fedex and u.p.s. to get nearly three million doses of the pfizer vaccine to hospitals and drug stores, and to get shots into the arms of vulnerable americans. now, tonight's vote comes at the darkest and deadliest point in the pandemic here in the u.s. over the past 24 hours, more than 3,000 deaths from the virus have been reported across the country. think about it-- 3,000 american lives lost in a single day. that's larger than the death toll on 9/11. even more unimaginable? tonight, the head of the c.d.c. says we should expect that many deaths in the u.s. every single day for the next three months. as

. >> this is the "cbs evening news" with norah o'donnell, reporting from the nation's capital. >> o'donnell: good evening and thank you for joining us. we are going to begin with that breaking news, that frightening new warning from the head of the c.d.c. as many as 450,000 americans could die from the coronavirus by february, in what he calls the most difficult three months in the history of public health. now, that prediction comes from dr. robert redfield and it comes less than two weeks before "operation warp speed" says it should start distributing its first vaccines. great britain is moving faster than that, after the government approved pfizer's vaccine today, launching a plan to start giving shots within days. well, tonight, the commissioner of the f.d.a. tells cbs news that it will take longer for the u.s. to approve the vaccine to assure americans it is safe. still, experts say even when vaccinations begin, the damage from all that thanksgiving travel may already be done. and as we come on the air, the rate of new infections nationwide continues to grow. e viruslizations from the

norah. >> o'donnell: jonathan vigliotti, thank you. tonight we're getting an inside look into how the vaccines will be distributed. united airlines is already using chartered flights to fly pfizer shots from overseas ahead of f.d.a. approval. cbs's kris van cleave has more on the mass air shipment of a covid vaccine. >> reporter: some 40 million doses of coronavirus vaccine are already being produced. as soon as the f.d.a. approves, they will start shipping. this is going to be one of the most challenging public health distribution efforts we've seen. complicating the efforts, the pfizer vaccine must be kept at negative-94 degrees and is shipped in batches of about 1,000 doses, packed in specialized containers cooled by dry ice. >> every box will have a monitor that goes with it so we will be able to monitor not only the temperature but where the shipments are going. >> reporter: dhl will handle some international shipments of vaccine, moving them from the factory to be a airport under guard. >> no one wants to fail. everybody knows th

this is the "cbs evening news" with norah o'donnell, reporting from the nation's capitol. >> o'donnellod evening to our viewers in the west and thank you for joining us. we're going to begin with breaking news. 70 million americans are now in the middle of a monster storm that's dumping snow, sleet and rain up and down the east coast. the powerful nor'easter is expected to unload as much as two feet of snow in some places, bringing with it 50-mile-per- hour winds and freezing rain that could lead to widespread power outages. tonight, cities and states including pennsylvania and new jersey are already declaring emergencies and shutting down services, including coronavirus testing. and as we come on the air, there are warnings from virginia to maine to stay off the roads as conditions get worse. what is shaping up to be the worst snow storm the east has seen in years is also hitting just as more doses of the nation's first coronavirus vaccine are being shipped out, potentially slowing down the nationwide effort to get shots into people's arms, even as they are needed more than ever. well

this is the "cbs evening news" with norah o'donnell, reporting from the nation's capital. >> o'donnellod evening to our viewers in the west, and thank you for joining us. ten months ago, it was a medical moon shot. tonight, it's america's best shot. after a day of inoculations and celebrations tonight at hospitals across the country, frontline doctors and nurses are lining up to receive doses of the first vaccine approved to stop the spread of the coronavirus, the last stop in a carefully choreographed logistics operation rivaling a modern day normandy invasion. but today's historic moment comes at yet another horrific milestone in the pandemic. as we come on the air tonight, more than 300,000 americans have now been killed by the virus. each a person with a name and a story and loved ones left behind, and with about 200,000 people now being infected in the u.s. every single day, and i.c.u. beds already filled at hospitals nationwide, experts warn many more people will die before they ever get their shot to take the vaccine next year. now, those dire warnings are pushing cities and sta

i'm norah o'donnell.y. >>> it is the first such authorization in the united states. the drugmaker is sending the first doses to hospitals and pharmacies all around the country. they are expected to arrive in california on tuesday. >>> also at seven this just in from the south bay, a multicounty coronavirus outbreak involving youth basketball teams. plus. >>> if there is 40 people sitting and we have a $20 fine it will not be so big. we cannot let the cure be worse than the virus. >> open defiance of health orders, the busy friday night crowd at bay area restaurants that are supposed to be closed now to diners. >>> also

norah. >> o'donnell: ed o'keefe, thank you. a scathing new report by the army describes a culture of sexual harassment and assault at fort hood in texas. 14 base leaders, including two generals, have been removed or suspended. cbs' mireya villarreal reports tonight from fort hood. >> we are not going to fix some of the challenges we have here at fort hood unless... >> reporter: in front of thousands of soldiers, fort hood's commanding officer, lieutenant general robert white, took full responsibility for the failures outlined in the report, including a finding that only 59 out of 93 accounts of sexual assault were actually reported. what do you say to the victims who did not have enough confidence in the army to report crimes like sexual harassment and sexual assaults? >> well, for those victims that are out there that will not report, the first thing i did was i gave everybody my phone number. you can call me 24/7 if you don't have confidence in your chain of command. >> reporter: in the 136-page report, an independent panel i

norah. >> o'donnell: jeff pegues, thank you. and there is still much more news ahead on tonight's "cbs evening news." s e frantic search for workers possibly trapped in debris after a demolition project goes wrong. and, a spacex rocket explodes while attempting to land. why the company is still calling the test a success. t a success. your big moment. that's why there's otezla. otezla is not an injection or a cream. it's a pill that treats differently. for psoriasis, 75% clearer skin is achievable, with reduced redness, thickness, and scaliness of plaques. for psoriatic arthritis, otezla is proven to reduce joint swelling, tenderness, and pain. and the otezla prescribing information has no requirement for routine lab monitoring. don't use if you're allergic to otezla. it may cause severe diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting. otezla is associated with an increased risk of depression. tell your doctor if you have a history of depression or suicidal thoughts or if these feelings develop. some people taking otezla reported weight loss. you

. >> this is the "cbs evening news" with norah o'donnell, reporting from the nation's capital. >> o'donnell: good evening, and thank you for joining us. we are going to begin with breaking news tonight. america is now in covid hell. in just 24 hours, the u.s. has broken every record set since the pandemic began 10 months ago with more new infections, hospitalizations, and deaths in a single day than ever. so many americans are now being killed by the virus, four people have died just since this broadcast began. that's a rate of one life lost every 30 seconds. as we come on the air tonight, more than 100,000 people are now in the hospital with coronavirus, pushing the country's healthcare system to the brink. california's governor says i.c.u. beds are filling up so fast there, he may soon have to shut down much of his state, ordering people to stay at home to try to stop the virus from spreading any faster. now, tonight, president-elect joe biden says he's going to ask all americans to wear a mask for his first 100 days in office. mr. biden also says today he asked dr. anthony fauci, the cou

i'm norah o'donnell.ng news." >>> right now at 7, breaking the rules, the bay area football team that seems to have no regard for travel quarantine. >> they are just focused on the season, trying to get what they can out of it. >>> the climb in california covid cases. >>> changing her tone, what the mayor of a san francisco said just what he five minutes ago about kamala harris's replacement. >> san jose state football team had the best season ever but now it is being shrouded in

. >> this is the cbs evening news with norah o'donnell, reporting from the nation's capitol. >> o'donnell: good evening. and thank you for joining us. we're going to begin with breaking news. the coronavirus is now rocketing across the u.s. so rapidly more than one million people have been infected in just the past five days and that is pushing the country past 14.9 million cases. dr. anthony fauci telling cbs news the coming books will be even worse, with the u.s. breaking records every day for new cases and deaths. and he says the country hasn't even seen the full brunt of infections from thanksgiving. tonight one model used by the white house says deaths could hit 3,000 a day by mid-january. and as we come on the air more americans are hospitalized with covid right now than ever. and that is pushing medical centers to the edge and forcing states to make some drastic moves to stop the virus from spreading. california's governor along with several bay area counties have put 33 million people-- nearly the entire state-- under virtual lockdown. and new york's governor now says if beds keep

>> this is the "cbs evening news" with norah o'donnell, reporting from the nation's capital. >> o'donnellod evening to our viewers in the west, and thank you for joining us. we're going to begin tonight with this devastating fact: more americans died from coronavirus this week than from any other cause. and tonight, for the first time, the c.d.c. is recommending universal mask use indoors, including in your home if you've been exposed to the virus. as we come on the air, a model often used by the white house says the death toll could hit half a million by march 1 if the current trend continues. that same model says if americans wore masks for the next four months it could save 66,000 lives. with so much dire covid news all eyes are anxiously on the f.d.a. next week. and take a look at these important dates. an f.d.a. advisory committee is set to meet next thursday to discuss emergency approval of the pfizer vaccine, and then a week later to consider one by moderna. and then the big question: how soon after that will americans begin to receive their first shots? well, earlier today, presid

. >> this is the "cbs evening news" with norah o'donnell, reporting from the nation's capital. >> o'donnellod evening to our viewers in the west, and thank you for joining us on a busy friday. breaking news, the f.d.a. has just authorized a second coronavirus vaccine for emergency use. that decision means millions of doses of the new shot made by the drug company moderna will start shipping out on sunday, giving a huge boost to the nationwide campaign to stop the spread of the virus just days before christmas. but with more but with more than 84 million americans now expected to travel for the holidays, there is real concern tonight that the virus' grip on the country will only grow stronger in the weeks ahead. it is, frankly, hard to comprehend, but every day, things are only getting worse. on thursday, the virus killed more than 3,000 americans. that's the second day this week that the death toll has been that high. and across southern california tonight, hospitals are out of i.c.u. beds. patients are now waiting outside on gurneys. waiting outside in america. and while the vice president

. >> this is the "cbs evening news" with norah o'donnell, reporting from the nation's capital. >> o'donnell: good evening, and thank you for joining us. we're going to begin with breaking news on the biggest and most complex vaccination program in american history. tonight, a c.d.c. advisory panel has just approved a plan to give the first doses of coronavirus vaccine to healthcare workers and people living in nursing homes. that means that if the f.d.a. approves the vaccines it's reviewing, as many as 20 million americans could begin getting shots just two weeks from now on december 15. still, experts warn, that won't be soon enough to stop tens of thousands of americans from dying from the virus, which is now spreading out of control. tonight, new york city is advising older people and those with underlying conditions not to leave their homes as the rate of infections there continues to climb. and with hospitalizations hitting another record high today, the nation's top infectious disease expert, dr. anthony fauci, is suggesting some areas may need to consider new lockdowns. and then ther

. >> this is the "cbs evening news" with norah o'donnell, reporting from the nation's capital. capital. >> o'don >> o'donnell: good evening, and thank you for joining us. we are going to begin tonight with usually blunt words from president-elect joe biden, who said our darkest days in the battle against covid are ahead of us, not behind us. his warning comes as americans is expected to top three million total deaths by the end of 2020, now that is a 15% increase since last year, and it's because of the pandemic. according to the c.d.c., that makes 2020 the deadliest year in u.s. history. today, top health officials in this country said we should assume the more new infectious covid-19 strain ravaging the united kingdom is already here in the u.s. this was the scene in the u.k. today as delivery trucks jammed the roads at border closures response to the outbreak there. we have learned that moderna and pfizer's partner, biontech, are testing to see if their vaccines are effective against this new strain. in the past few days, u.s. airports have been crowded with more travelers th

. >> this is the "cbs evening news" with norah o'donnell, reporting from the nation's capital. >> o'donnell: good evening, and thank you for joining us. we are going to begin tonight with breaking news. a second vaccine against coronavirus could begin shipping out this weekend after a group of doctors and scientists advising the f.d.a. signed off on it. now, that decision clears the way for the f.d.a. to officially authorize the new shot for emergency use later tonight or tomorrow, providing millions of additional doses of vaccines to americans. now, at the same time, pharmacists say that they've discovered many vials of that pfizer vaccine are so full, that they can get extra doses out of them. the f.d.a. says those extra shots are safe to use, potentially increasing the supply by millions. and it is desperately needed. tonight, the country has plunged into its darkest period of the pandemic, breaking every horrible record set in a single day since the crisis started. if you think about it, the numbers are simply staggering: more than 3,600 americans dead, 113,000 in hospitals, and nearly

i'm norah o'donnell.show, righ >>> right now at seven. >> we are seeing a spike unlike any we've seen since the beginning of this pandemic. we are in trouble. >> the new warning tonight in san francisco, tougher restrictions may be the only choice. >>> i almost one quarter of a city agency could be wiped off the map. >> we are facing the gutting of the basic cities service that our residents rely on. >>> the san jose mayor has admitted to a new apologized for avoiding health rules by attending a thanksgiving dinner with too many people. >>> coming up, the warriors return to the court is delayed. and kyle shanahan makes the promise to his

this is the "cbs evening news" with norah o'donnell, reporting from the nation's capital. >> o'donnellod evening to our viewers in the west and thank you for joining us. we're going to begin with that breaking news because tonight the federal government is preparing to ship out nearly three million doses of pfizer coronavirus vaccine in hopes that the shots will be given emergency approval by the f.d.a. tomorrow. but just 24 hours after the first widespread use of the vaccine in england, tonight experts are delivering a large dose of reality. tonight, the british government is warning people who have severe allergies not to take the shot after several people there who were vaccinated have adverse reactions. and back right here at home there are growing concerns the trump administration may not have bought enough shots to meet demands of the vaccine over the next few months, putting further strain on a health-care system already in crisis. just since our broadcast last night, another 200,000 americans have been infected with the virus. and, what are the first signs of skyrocketing cases

. >> this is the "cbs evening news" with norah o'donnell, reporting from the nation's capital. >> o'donnellod evening to our viewers in the west, and thank you for joining us. we are going to begin with breaking news. the fastest, biggest, and most- complex effort to eradicate a disease in modern history is now underway. tonight, the british government has started the first public campaign to vaccinate people for coronavirus, and as we come on the air the u.s. appears poised to approve the shots and begin giving them as soon as this weekend. the f.d.a. says data it has reviewed from the drug maker pfizer shows the company's vaccine is not only safe, it is effective. the agency will take up emergency approval of the shots in public hearings on thursday. still, it could take months to vaccinate enough americans to stop the spread of the virus, which is now exploding nationwide. more than 15 million americans have now been infected, and just eight days in, december is already on track to be the worst month of the pandemic. think about that. that is why president-elect joe biden is vowing tonig

this is the "cbs evening news" with norah o'donnell, reporting from the nation's capital. >> o'donnellod evening to our viewers in the west, and thank you for joining us. we're going to begin tonight with that breaking news from the united kingdom, where there is a new strain of coronavirus that health experts are warning may be more contagious. as a result, at least 40 countries are taking drastic action to isolate the u.k., from closing borders to cutting off trade routes and restricting travel, resulting in chaotic scenes like these at train stations, airports and on the roads. now, despite this, experts say there is no evidence that the new strain causes more severe illness. also not clear is whether that strain is already here in america. but tonight, there are growing calls to ban all flights from the u.k. to the united states. this is all happening as the u.s. today becomes the first country to employ two vaccines to prevent covid. moderna rolling out several million doses of its vaccine. we'll have more on who the c.d.c. thinks should get the vaccines next. and as we saw presid

norah. >> o'donnell: kris van cleave, thank you. and there's so much more news ahead right here on tonight's "cbs evening news." after more an a century, a confederate figure loses his place of honor at the u.s. capitol, and we'll tell you who will take its place. after a fiery eruption at one of america's most active volcanoes, look what happens next. in from fracture with 1 shot every 6 months. do not take prolia® if you have low blood calcium, are pregnant, are allergic to it, or take xgeva®. serious allergic reactions like low blood pressure, trouble breathing, throat tightness, face, lip or tongue swelling, rash, itching or hives have happened. tell your doctor about dental problems, as severe jaw bone problems may happen. or new or unusual pain in your hip, groin, or thigh, as unusual thigh bone fractures have occurred. speak to your doctor before stopping, skipping or delaying prolia®, as spine and other bone fractures have occurred. prolia® can cause serious side effects, like low blood calcium, serious infections, which cou

for norah o'donnell, i'm major garrett.tmas tree, near the white house. from all of us here at cbs news, merry christmas, and good night. captioning sponsored by cbs captioned by media acc >>> right now at 7:00.>> a soggy christmas isn't keeping surfers away. and it's all just a preview of what's to come. >>> plus, the raging pandemic and dreary weather didn't stop local congregations from worshipping this christmas day. >> it just reminds me that i'm not going through this alone. >>> plus, what overstretched hospitals in the bay area could do to free up space for covid patients. >> they're continuing to do unnecessary procedures, bringing in more and more patients on top of the super sick covid patients. >>> and one south bay city upping the ante to crack down on illegal fireworks. >>> right now on the kpix 5 news at 7:00 and streaming on cbsn

this is the "cbs evening news" with norah o'donnell, reporting from the nation's capitol. >> o'donnellod evening to our viewers in the west and thank you for joining us. we are going to begin with breaking news on just how soon americans may be able to get a vaccine for the deadly coronavirus. tonight, the drug maker moderna says it has applied for emergency approval from the f.d.a. for its vaccine, making it the second company, after pfizer, to ask for emergency authorization. the company says it's on track to have 20 million doses ready by the end of december. the army general in charge of distributing the shots in the u.s. says that by june, 100% of americans who want to be vaccinated, will be. and h.h.s. secretary alex azar tells cbs news that many seniors in nursing homes, along with front line workers, will have already gotten their shots before the end of the year. but it's what happens before then that has public health officials sounding alarms tonight. dr. anthony fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, says the country is now facing a surge on top of a surge. the

this is the "cbs evening news" with norah o'donnell, reporting from the nation's capital. >> garrett: good evening. thank you for joining us. norah is off tonight. i'm major garrett. we begin with new details in the nashville bombing. investigators have identified the bomber, anthony warner, a 63-year-old self-employed computer expert. investigators say he died when his r.v. went up in that christmas morning blast. three others were wounded and are recovering. what investigators are still trying to figure out is why exactly warner did it. officials are investigating whether his intent was not to harm others but to disrupt communications systems. the bomb went off, as you might recall, outside an at&t building and did just that. a neighbor now says days before the bombing, warner told him that the world "would never forget him." agents were able to match human remains found near the blast site with d.n.a. gathered from clothing warner left behind. authorities also of course continue to rely on information provided by the public, and it received more than 500 tips since the explosion. p

norah. >> o'donnell: ben tracy, thanks. tonight, president-elect biden is turning to a trio of obama- era veterans for top posts in his administration. even as he introduced more cabinet pick, the president faced more questions about his son hunter and his tax returns. cbs' ed o'keefe reports from wilmington, delaware. >> these are all friends. i'm not used to them standing for me. >> reporter: president-elect joe biden's cabinet has some fresh faces but unlike the so-called team of rivals formed by president obama, many of the new president's top choices make up a team of repeats. >> they bring deep experience and bold new thinking. above all, they know how government should and can work for all americans. >> reporter: if mr. biden's 14 cabinet picks thus far are confirmed, they'd represent the most-diverse collection of men and women to ever advise a president. today, he added susan rice to serve as domestic policy chief. she was mr. obama's national security adviser and once had a west wing office next door to mr. biden.

for norah o'donnell, i'm major garrett.the national christmas tree, near the white house. from all of us here at cbs news, merry christmas, and good night. captioning sponsored by cbs captioned by media access group at wgbh access.wgbh.org (triumphant music) hi, everyone. (phones ringing) and welcome to the legal help center. today, we have legal professionals standing by to answer your questions and give you a free consultation. so if you've been injured in an accident that was not your fault, and you don't have an attorney, give us a call right now and we'll let you know how much your case is potentially worth. now, this is a service to you, the viewers. there are legal professionals available right now offering you a completely free consultation. so if you've been injured in an accident and you're sitting at home right now thinking of how you're going to pay those medical bills or get your car fixed, we can help. go ahead, take action. pick up that phone right now. we have legal professionals standing by, answer your que

her to dismiss many of her fears. >> we asked her mom if we could give abby a call. >> this is norah o'donnell for watching the news. i love at nine years old, you already love journalism. >> how is your family doing? >> abby's doctor, dr. hucker treats covid patients at massachusetts general hospital. what we didn't know is that her dad was listening. >> okay. he's on the phone right now too. >> hi, doctor. >> one reason she watches is to learn all she can about the pandemic. she heard protective gear was in short supply, she offered her tooth fairy money to the hospital. she sometimes goes weeks without hugging him as he quarantines to keep the family safe. abby's dad is her hero. >> how is it going? >> busy. i was just in the er. it's like a zoo down there. >> i'm from a family of doctors, i appreciate what you do and the care of people. >> i appreciate that. i always say what you do matters a ton too. so i thank you for what you do and how you do it and how you portray this crisis for everybody at home. >> abby says when she grows up, she wants to be a journalist. i look forward to sharing

. >> this is the "cbs evening news" with norah o'donnell, reporting from the nation's capital. >> brennangood evening to our viewers in the west, and thank you for joining us. norah is off. i'm margaret brennan. we're going to begin tonight with some breaking news. president-elect joe biden says the white house's rollout of the coronavirus vaccine is falling far behind, and he's promising to use the federal government to make sure a million americans get the shot each day during his first 100 days in office. mr. biden's criticism of the trump administration's vaccination program comes after several prominent public health experts, including dr. anthony fauci, voiced concerns today about distribution delays. the c.d.c. says only about 2.1 million americans have gotten the vaccine even though the trump administration had promised 20 million would get it by the end of the month. and those shots are desperately needed because the rate of new cases nationwide continues to skyrocket. over a million americans have been infected with the virus in just the last week, with hospitalizations nationwi

. >> this is the "cbs evening news" with norah o'donnell, reporting from the nation's capital. >> garrett: good evening, everyone. thank you for joining us. norah is off tonight. i'm major garrett. we begin with a staggering number of new covid deaths in the united states. more than 4,400 were recorded on tuesday, and for the first time since the pandemic started, the u.s. has seen more than 19,000 covid deaths in a single week. the number of hospitalizations has surged to a new record of 118,000. but tonight, there are also encouraging developments. the u.s. government struck a deal to purchase another 100 million pfizer doses, doubling the nation's supply of that vaccine. so far, more than one million americans have received a covid shot, and health and human services secretary alex azar said today, there should be enough vaccine by june for every american who wants it. as for congress' hard-fought covid relief package? well, president trump threw a monkey wrench into the works as he headed to florida for the holidays. the president is now threatening to torpedo this veto-proof deal, ca

this is the "cbs evening news" with norah o'donnell, reporting from the nation's capital. >> brennan: good evening and thank you for joining us. norah is off. i'm margaret brennan. we're going to begin with breaking news. that highly contagious new strain of coronavirus appears to be spreading across the u.s. a dangerous new development at what may now be the worst moment of the pandemic. tonight, california's governor says the mutation of the virus has been found in southern california, and colorado says it's now investigating a second case there. and while scientists say the new variant is not more deadly, it is much easier to catch, further fueling the crisis already out of control. as we come on the air, the u.s. has again shattered a grew some record for lives lost. on tuesday the u.s. reported more than 3,700 americans were killed by the virus, the most in one day since the pandemic began. and tonight, the c.d.c. is projecting things will only get even more dire, saying nearly 100,000 americans could be killed by covid-19 just next month. with the situation across the country no

this is the "cbs evening news" with norah o'donnell, reporting from the nation's capital. >> garrett: good evening to our viewers in the west, and thank you for joining us. i'm major garrett. norah is off tonight. we begin with breaking news. nearly a third of all americans are facing dangerous weather this christmas eve from florida to new england. the storm that began with snow in the midwest will bring torrential rains and damaging winds. that combination could knock out power and severely impact travel. this comes as many ignore advice to stay home to stop the spread of coronavirus. america's airports averaged about a million passengers a day for the past five days. here's why health officials are so concerned: a record 119,000 people will wake up christmas morning in hospitals across the country suffering from covid. and those facilities are being stretched to the limit. many hospitals in southern california are now diverting patients. there's just not enough room or staff. this, as the state has just passed two million confirmed cases. and we must tell you this unsettling number

norah. >> o'donnell: that's more like a new year's gift than a christmas gift.et shamlian, thank you. and there is still much more news ahead on tonight's "cbs evening news," including the remarkable story of a state trooper who rescued a man whose car was buried in the snow for 10 hours. and like father like son-- tiger woods tees off with one of golf's rising stars. the remarkable story of a state trooper who rescued a man whose car was buried in the snow for 10 hours. and like father like son-- tiger woods tees off with one of golf's rising stars. make more of what's yours. an herbal stress reliever ashwagandha, that helps you turn the stressed life... into your best life. stress less and live more. with stressballs. sprinting past every leak in our softest, smoothest fabric. she's confident, protected, her strength respected. depend. the only thing stronger than us, is you. let's be honest. quitting smoking is hard. like, quitting every monday hard. quitting feels so big. so try making it smaller, and you'll be surprised at how easily starting small can lead

norah. >> o'donnell: ed o'keefe, thank you. the disappointing jobs report is adding new incentive for a deal on hundreds of billions in stimulus spending. today, house speaker nancy pelosi said it could get done by next week, raising hope for millions facing financial hardship that help could finally be on the way. here's cbs' chief congressional correspndent nancy cordes. >> reporter: this is normally peak shopping season, but the new numbers tell a grim story. the retail industry shed another 35,000 jobs last month, 550,000 since the pandemic began. >> families are falling into poverty as a result of our inaction. >> reporter: congress has been gridlocked over more relief since may, but suddenly, leaders are talking and expressing new optimism that they can cut a deal fast. >> there is momentum. >> compromise is within reach. >> reporter: their talks come as a $908 billion bipartisan framework gains traction from both sides. the plan would provide an additional $300 a week for the pnemployed, and it would help small businesse

. >> here is norah o'donnell with the preview. >> good evening, coming up after kpix 5 news at 6, 2020 will go down in history as america's deadliest year and we are learning that the new work contagious covid strain is a likely already here in the u.s. we have that and more news tonight on the cbs evening news. >> that does it for us. and we are going to have a little bit of wet weather on christmas, captioning sponsored by cbs ♪ ♪ >> o'donnell: tonight, 2020 will go down in history as america's deadliest year as president- elect joe biden warns the darkest days are ahead of us. the heartbreaking news tonight that more than 115,000 americans could spend christmas in the hospital fighting coronavirus. and that new more-contagious covid strain is likely already here in the u.s. while overseas it's isolating england, stopping thousands of delivery trucks at the border. biden blasts trump: the president-elect blames the president for the enormous cyber attack on the federal government. >> this has all happened on donald trump's watch when he wasn't watching. >> o'donnell: his warning toni

here is norah o'donnell with a preview. >> good evening, good to see you. coming up, new hope during this holiday season, as a key fda panel clears the way for a second vaccine. the first doses of moderna shot to be delivered next week giving the u.s. an extra boost to get 50 million vaccinated i january. >> thank you for watching ♪ ♪ captioning sponsored by cbs >> o'donnell: breaking news tonight: a key f.d.a. panel says the moderna vaccine is safe, giving new hope during this holiday season, as the u.s. once again sets a deadly record. more than 3,000 americans die from coronavirus in a single day. ambulances in california waiting up to seven hours as hospitals across the country run out of i.c.u. beds. in tennessee, the state with the highest infection rate. the governor tonight has a warning: >> this vaccine will not cure foolish decisions. >> o'donnell: tonight, moderna ready for delivery, and the news that, along with pfizer, it could mean 50 million americans vaccinated by the end of january. what's the difference between the two shots? and, are ther

the cbs evening news is coming up, here's norah o'donnell with a preview. >> coming up after kpix 5 news and 6, the moment the world has been waiting for. the first job of the first fully authorized covid vaccine does your vitamin c last twenty-four hours? only nature's bounty does. new immune twenty-four hour plus has longer lasting vitamin c. plus, herbal and other immune superstars. only from nature's bounty. ♪ ♪ captioning sponsored by cbs >> o'donnell: tonight, the world watches as the first coronavirus vaccines are given, injecting hope as infections spike here in the united states, surpassing 15 million cases. it's the moment we've all waited for, the first jab of an authorized covid vaccine in a 90-year-old woman. ( applause ) >> this is the best thing that's ever happened. >> o'donnell: but the u.s. waits on f.d.a. approval, which could come in days. so what happens next? are states ready to vaccine millions of americans? and could the pfizer vaccine offer protection after just one dose? plus, health officials warn this won't end the pandemic immediately. >> we'd love to take ou

norah o'donnell exclusively sat down with army secretary ryan mccarthy and asked him what happens next. >> what you'll see is one of the most comprehensive steps in accountability in the army history to get after this. >> the most comprehensive and accountability in the history of the u.s. army? >> it will be among one of the largest, yes. >> you can hear more of this exclusive interview with army secretary ryan mccarthy coming up on "cbs this morning." >>> off to california, where crews rushed to stop the spread of a brush fire in southern california. this was the scene last night in a riverbed near oxnard, located just northwest of los angeles. the 50-acre blaze dubbed the perkin fire broke out shortly after 4:30 p.m. firefighters said they had a handle on the fire less than two hours later with crews working on containing flare-ups. no injuries were reported. an investigation is under way. >>> so coming up on the "cbs morning news," why los angeles police are facing backlash after busting a massive underground house party. >>> and caught on video, where a hiker captured this dramati