by president biden, saying if americans remain vigilant and get their vaccinations when it's their turn, we could be gathering with loved ones and neighbors for the fourth of july. and directing every state to make all u.s. adults eligible for a vaccine in just seven weeks, may 1st the latest. how will this work? and news tonight on the pfizer vaccine coming in. whit johnson and mary bruce standing by. we're also tracking a major winter storm across more than a dozen states tonight. bracing for up to two feet of snow. in fact, the national weather service now warning of, quote, impossible travel conditions. rob marciano in denver timing this out for us. in new york city tonight, the newly released body cam. the shooting at a famous cathedral. the images revealing just how close this was to being much worse. and the woman appearing to play dead to survive. the unruly passenger fined more than $14,000 after forcing a flight from new york to turn around. among other things, he'd been asked to wear a mask. and it was something so many of you saw right here this week that moved us all. so who is our person of the week? good evening. it's great to have you with us here as we near the end of another week together, and like so many friday nights before, this is not a slow one. there's news on the virus, on one of the key vaccines. those stimulus checks in some americans' accounts as early as tonight now. but we do begin with the breaking news involving new york governor andrew cuomo tonight. just before we came on the air this evening, new york's two senators, chuck schumer and kirsten gillibrand, issuing a statement saying, we commend the brave actions of the individuals who came forward with serious allegations of abuse and misconduct, going on to say the governor should resign. the governor facing two allegations and the move by some state lawmakers to impeach amid growing allegations of misconduct. and of course the other investigation into his handling of the data involving nursing home deaths during the pandemic. the governor today denying the allegations of misconduct, urging lawmakers to, quote, wait for the facts. saying, i never harassed anyone, i never abused anyone, i never assaulted anyone. that voters know the difference between cancel culture, politics, and the truth. new york's two senators tonight who had said they would wait for the investigation now saying it is clear that he's lost the confidence of his governing partners and the people of new york. abc's stephanie ramos leading us off tonight outside the governor's office right here in new york. >> reporter: tonight, new york governor andrew cuomo defiant. >> i'm not going to resign. i never harassed anyone. i never abused anyone. i never assaulted anyone. now -- and i never would. >> reporter: the embattled governor under growing pressure to step down after allegations of inappropriate behavior. now the state's two senators saying cuomo must go. chuck schumer and kirsten gillibrand writing, governor cuomo has lost the confidence of his governing partners and the people of new york. governor cuomo should resign. they join nearly all member of new york's congressional delegation, including representative jerry nadler, one of the highest ranking democrats in congress, and representative alexandria ocasio-cortez, writing, we believe these women. we believe the reporting. governor cuomo can no longer effectively lead. over the last two weeks six women, including current and former members of cuomo's staff, have accused him of sexual harassment and unwanted advances. the most recent, an unidentified woman still working for the governor. her colleague telling "the albany times union" the aide alleged that she was summoned to help the governor with his cell phone and while they were alone, he reached under her shirt. today cuomo responding. >> the last allegation is not true, and i've not had a sexual relationship that was inappropriate. period. >> reporter: the three-term governor now facing two investigations. allegations of underreporting covid-19 deaths in state nursing homes and now the allegations brought forth by these women. today, cuomo asking that those investigations be allowed to unfold. >> people know the difference between playing politics, bowing to cancel culture, and the truth. let the review proceed. >> let's get right back to stephanie ramos, on this from the start. she's outside the governor's office in new york city. stephanie, i know the state attorney general's investigation into these allegations of misconduct against the governor moving forward tonight. >> reporter: yes, david. we've learned charlotte bennett will be interviewed next week as part of the state attorney general's investigation. she's a former aide to cuomo and the second woman to accuse him of sexual harassment. keep in mind, the attorney general's office does have subpoena power, so they'll be able to question any of his accusers and obtain any documents, emails, or text messages that might help them in this investigation. david? >> stephanie ramos leading us off on a friday night. steph, thank you. and now to the major headline out of minneapolis tonight. the city council there voting unanimously to a $27 million deal, a settlement with the family of george floyd. there's also news tonight in the trial of former police officer derek chauvin, accused in floyd's death. abc's alex perez tonight. >> reporter: a watershed moment tonight for the heartbroken family of george floyd. the minneapolis city council unanimously approving a $27 million settlement. >> no amount of money can ever address the intense pain or trauma caused by this death. >> reporter: floyd family attorney ben crump calling it the largest pretrial settlement in a civil rights wrongful death case in u.s. history. >> it's not just enough for america to say that black lives matter. we have to show that black lives matter by our actions. >> reporter: floyd's family thanking the millions of demonstrators around the world who they say created a movement. floyd's younger brother, philonise, believes his big brother is still by his side in spirit. >> if i could get him back, i would give all of this back. >> reporter: the historic settlement announced as jury selection continues in derek chauvin's trial. the second woman, a single mom of teenage boys, added to the panel today. >> you did indicate you have some empathy for the officers. fair? >> fair. i said earlier, too, that i have empathy for george floyd as well. >> reporter: david, the court now has about half the number of jurors needed. opening arguments are set to begin march 29th. david? >> alex perez on this all week long for us. thank you, alex. now to the coronavirus here in the u.s., and the across the country tonight, the race to meet the new goals set out by president biden, saying he will direct states to make every u.s. adult eligible for a vaccine by may 1st at the latest. that's just seven weeks from now. if we're vigilant and get vaccinated when it's our turn, we could be gathering with loved ones, with neighbors for the fourth of july. tonight here, here's where things stand. 65,839,000 people have received at least one shot. that's about 25% of all adults. more than 100 million doses overall. so many wonder, once you're vaccinated, can you still get the virus without sympoms and perhaps still give it to others? there is promising research on that front tonight as well. here's abc's whit johnson. >> reporter: tonight, across this country, the effort to reach president biden's new goal, for americans to be able to gather with friends and family on the fourthhat will ma independence day something truly special. where we not only mark our independence as a nation, but we begin to mark our independence from this virus. >> reporter: the president also directing all states to make every american adult eligible for the vaccine by may 1st, promising enough supply by the end of may. >> that doesn't mean everyone's going to have that shot immediately, but it means you'll be able to get in line beginning may 1. >> reporter: the administration vowing to reach every corner of the country with plans also in the works for a national website and a new 800 number to help people find the vaccine. for now, many still frustrated, like kimberly white agent in dallas, who has been struggling since december to get her 83-year-old stepfather vaccinated. >> just give us a number and tell us to show up! it's like they were -- it seems like they were playing with us like, okay, sign up, and then you might get it. you might not. >> reporter: tonight, 22 states now moving to ease restrictions. in tennessee, the governor making his pitch to spring breakers and tourists. >> tennessee is open for light to begin re-opening, including los angeles. indoor dining, gyms, movie theaters, and museums. this after the state was able to get 2 million vaccines to hard-hit communities. in south los angeles, this pop-up vaccination site aiming to reach communities of color who have struggled to get access. our kaylee hartung is there. >> reporter: in this community that's 98% non-white, 1 in 5 people have had covid but only 1 in 18 have been vaccinated. this grassroots effort is trying to change that. >> i'm really thankful and happy. i can't be any happier right now. >> and whit johnson joining us from a mass vaccination site in white plains, new york. whit, we mentioned here, a lot of people have wondered once you're vaccinated if you can still get the virus but be asymptomatic and perhaps give it to others. i know there's data coming in involving primarily the pfizer vaccine, and it's encouraging? >> reporter: this new real world study out of israel confirms the pfizer vaccine is effective, but another key finding here is that it's 94% effective against asymptomatic disease, which likely means it will also help to slow transmission of the virus. david? >> whit johnson, we know you and linsey davis will be here at the anchor desk this weekend and we'll be watching. thank you. and we have learned tonight that the treasury department has sent out the first of those $1,400 stimulus checks. about 85% of americans will get them. part of president biden's historic covid relief bill. and now of course it's signed into law. at a rose garden event today, the president telling american families that, quote, help is here. here's our senior white house correspondent mary bruce tonight. >> reporter: in the rose garden today, president biden kicking off a campaign to promote his historic stimulus plan, with a promise to millions of american families. >> to every american watching, help is here and we will not stop working for you. >> reporter: not a single republican present at today's ceremony because none supported the bill. but outside washington, the law has broad support. 70% of americans back it, including 41% of republicans. the $1.9 trillion plan gives 85% of americans a $1,400 check. those payments starting to hit bank accounts tonight. the law also extends unemployment benefits at $300 a week through early september and lowers health care premiums for millions of americans on obamacare. the airlines also getting a boost -- $15 billion, allowing american airlines and united to tear up furlough notices for nearly 30,000 workers. for flight attendant brittney riley, who was facing down possible bankruptcy, it's a game changer. >> i literally felt like there were bricks just lifted off my chest. the biggest sense of relief knowing that we could get back to work and focus on providing for our family and providing for ourselves. >> let's get right to mary bruce. she's at the white house tonight. president biden and vice president kamala harris and others hitting the road in the coming week. you have been reporting on this. they hope to explain how the law, how this relief will help american families and small businesses. and they also know the polling is on their side with this. >> reporter: they do. even though this bill is already popular, the president is still making a big sales push. next week he and his team will be criss-crossing the country, with biden himself visiting pennsylvania and the critical state of georgia, david. >> mary bruce, thanks to you as well. thanks. meantime, overseas tonight, a reality check really for us all, and likely why president biden cautioned last night when he mentioned the fourth of july gatherings with family and neighbors remains a goal, cautioning that things could change. because so much has been unpredictable. tonight, a new lockdown in italy for half of the country. schools, restaurants, and stores set to close again. germany's top disease expert warning of a third wave there. here's james longman. >> reporter: tonight, italy learning half the country will go into lockdown starting monday, including rome and venice. schools, all restaurants, bars and nonessential stores to close through easter. it's been exactly a year since the country became the first in the world to lock down the entire nation. i saw for myself the toll covid took. this plaza at the colosseum is normally packed with visitors. now take a look at it. virtually deserted. and now hospitals in the north swamped again. in germany today, a top health official warning that a third wave of covid infections has begun. much of central and eastern europe struggling to cope. pwhy? new variants, mainly the one first discovered in britain, are spreading far more quickly, especially in countries with fewer restrictions. and the eu's slow vaccination rollout doesn't help, complicated by several countries suspending use of the astrazeneca/oxford vaccine as a precautionary measure after a small number of people developed blood clots. but the w.h.o. tonight saying there's no link to the vaccine and that countries should keep using it. the eu is vaccinating at a third the rate of the united states, and eu leaders publicly doubted the astrazeneca vaccine and now they're paying the price. david? >> james longman reporting from london. thank you, james. back home here in new york city, newly released police body cam video of a deadly encounter outside a famous cathedral. a gunman opening fire as people were entering the church. a warning tonight, this newly released video is difficult and it shows just how much worse this could have been. here's gio benitez. >> drop the gun! drop the gun! >> reporter: tonight, terrifying new police body camera footage capturing the moment a gunman opened fire after an outdoor christmas concert at new york's cathedral of st. john the divine. surveillance cameras outside the cathedral also capturing the chaos. police say that's 52-year-old luis vasquez waiting in line to go inside the church on december 13th. suddenly, police say he pulls out two guns and fires five shots into the air. the crowd panics. three officers nearby order him to drop those guns. >> drop the gun! drop the gun! >> reporter: and here, a woman appears to be playing dead when an officer tells her to leave. officers fire back at the suspect. with 14 bullets. >> he's right there. he's rig >> where is he? >> he's right there. i might have hit him. >> reporter: and david, that suspect later died at the hospital after being shot in the head. incredibly, despite all that gunfire, nobody else was seriously hurt. david? >> incredible, indeed. gio, thank you. when we come back tonight, a major winter storm tonight. more than a dozen states. the national weather service now warning of impossible travel and reports at this hour of a tornado on the ground right now. rob is standing by. sure, your health insurance tells you to see a doctor but, um, look around. these days it's not that easy. you're telling me. but humana helps make it easy. human care gives you tons of ways to talk to your doctor: phone, computer, in person, or tablet. hey jean! hi! this is just a quick follow up. your numbers are looking great. you don't even have to put on shoes. ooo! easy peasy. you like that, huh? mhm. humana. a more human way to healthcare. i've lost count of how many asthma attacks i've had. i've been on and off oral steroids to manage my asthma. does that sound normal to you? 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>> we'll be watching all week. rob, thank you. when we come back, the airline passenger fined $14,000. that's a very good question. will there be an ev for me? what about me? an ev for me? what about me? can i get one too? an ev for this princess? what's an ev? and there better be one for me. and what about michelle from michigan? me? what about me? us? will there be an ev for me? me? me? me? ♪ ♪ ♪i've got the brains you've got the looks♪ ♪let's make lots of money♪ ♪you've got the brawn♪ ♪i've got the brains♪ ♪let's make lots of♪ ♪uh uh uh♪ ♪oohhh there's a lot of opportunities♪ with allstate, drivers who switched saved over $700. saving is easy when you're in good hands. allstate click or call to switch today. ♪ got my hair ♪ allstate ♪ got my head ♪ ♪ got my brains ♪ ♪ got my ears ♪ ♪ got my heart ♪ ♪ got my soul ♪ ♪ got my mouth ♪ ♪ i got life ♪ we do it every night. like clockwork. do it! run your dishwasher with cascade platinum. and save water. did you know certified dishwashers... ...use less than four gallons per cycle, while a running sink uses that, every two minutes. so, do it with cascade. the surprising way to save water. you could take your ulcerative colitis treatment in a different direction. talk to your doctor about xeljanz, a pill, not an injection or infusion, for adults with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis when a certain medicine did not help enough. xeljanz is the first and only fda-approved pill for moderate to severe uc. it can reduce symptoms in as early as two weeks, improve the appearance of the intestinal lining, and provide lasting steroid-free remission. xeljanz can lower your ability to fight infections. before and during treatment, your doctor should check for infections, like tb and do blood tests. tell your doctor if you've had hepatitis b or c, have flu-like symptoms, or are prone to infections. serious, sometimes fatal infections, cancers including lymphoma, and blood clots have happened. taking a higher than recommended dose of xeljanz for ra may increase risk of death. tears in the stomach or intestines and serious allergic reactions have happened. you could take your uc treatment in a different direction. ask your gastroenterologist about xeljanz. to the "index" and to an to the "index." and to an unruly jetblue passenger facing a $14,000 fine from the faa. the jetblue passenger is accused of removing his mask, drinking alcohol he brought on board, and interfering with flight attendants. the captain had to declare an emergency. the december flight from new york to the dominican republic had to be turned around. when we come back here tonight, something so many of you saw right here this week that moved us all. so who is our person of the week? 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because we... never... ...left. we never left. at weathertech, we're not bringing manufacturing back to the usa. because the truth is, we never left. weathertech. made in america for decades. finally tonight here, we have all learned so much from our grandparents, and this past year they have taught us yet again about patience and perseverance. our persons of the week. tonight in ajo, arizona, they are dancing for joy. this is great grandma julia fulkerson, fully vaccinated, and at 102 years old, now dancing with her great grandson brodie all over again. they have not seen each other in more than a year. >> 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3. >> reporter: so they have been making up for lost time. great grandma julia taking his first grade virtual gym class together with him. stretching arms and legs, and then a rest. >> rest. >> rest. ahh. >> reporter: in fact, it's happening in every part of this country. grandparents now fully vaccinated. and the hugs. >> granddad! >> reporter: in detroit, grandpa bobby daniels. in louisiana, 12-year-old patrick dowell surprised by his grandparents, tom and fran searly. here in new york, in the bronx, you'll remember grandmother evelyn shaw. fully vaccinated, not hugged in a year. >> i love you very much. >>epte florida,e il inorcity, pennsyan 3-year-old trax, and moment he loved, running right into his grandmother's arms. while back in arizona tonight, that newest image to come in. >> hey, david. >> hey, david. >> reporter: little brodie and mom angie telling us they are just grateful to have their family back together again. >> i missed her a lot, and i was really excited to see her finally. >> and so we choose our grandparents. an easy choice this week. we could watch those hugs over and over again. i'm david muir. whit and lindsey here this weekend. i'll see you monday. good night. changes that are cause for celebration. this weekend will bring revised rules for one industry and for two local counties as well. we have details about what you can look forward to. and on monday, a new section of californians become eligible to get vaccinated. so are you one of them? what can you do now to get the best place in line? >> i can see being the larger part of this year. >> year? >> because we really have to slow things down. >> it's been a year since dr. patel said that in studio here on abc7. today we talk about how the pandemic surprised all of us. >> building a better bay area for a safe and secure future, this is abc7 news. >> stimulus checks arriving. restrictions lifting, and expanding vaccine eligibility. it's a whirlwind of activity from today through monday, and we're going walk you through it day by day right now. so good evening and thank you for joining us. i'm ama daetz. >> and i'm dan ashley. right now the first anniversary of this pandemic. a slew of updates and changes to the rules, expectations we've lived with for a year now. across the bay area wineries and brewery and distilleries will enjoy relaxed rules that will take effect tomorrow. today we learned the only two counties not in the red tier will move there on sunday. the two counties contra costa and sonoma. and on monday, the next phase of vaccine distribution begin, which opens it up to people with disabilities for certain health conditions, as well as transit workers. >> we'll address each of those changes in depth, but first a closer look at the battle between the bay area's largest county and the insurance giant the state has picked to take over vaccine distribution. we've reported on this all week long, because it can affect how and when millions of people get vaccinated. abc7 news reporter chris nguyen has today's update. >> reporter: tonight the bay area's largest county is pushing for a fairer share of the state's covid vaccine supply. >> we have a county that's put a lot of effort into taking