Im annemarie green. We begin this morning with americas staggering death toll. The latest figures reveal more than a quarter of a Million People in the u. S. Have died from covid. As cases spike across the country, more than 70,000 americans have been hospitalized. The Health Care System is feeling the strain. Debra is in washington. How are state and local governments responding now to this worsening crisis . It ranges. In north dakota, there is a mask mandate. In ohio, a 21day curfew and in florida, there are no changes. State and local governments are reimposing measures to slow the spread. I need to ask a little more. We know this will cause some more harm out there. Restrictions mostly on restaurants, bars and gyms come as the total number of americans who have died from covid19 passes 250,000. The rate of growth from the middle of october until now is something we have not seen since march. A record 79,000 americans are currently hospitalized. We dont want to think about what will happen if we run out of beds but we have to think about that. Residents in pittsburgh are being asked to stay home. Im done asking and im telling you, these are things we must do to bring down the level of spread. New york city Positivity Rate hit 3 forcing them to remote learning. I guess we are ready. We are not really ready. Experts are concerned the holidays will exacerbate the situation. This is the first time where backtoback events are very used to getting together with family. His wife died from covid19. In october. One holiday missed is better than not having them at all. Im not going to have her with me for thanksgiving or christmas. Projecting 110,000 americans will die by inageration day. It is hard to believe. Yesterday president elect biden said the delay in the formal transition could lead to a delay to his administration being able to distribute the coronavirus vaccines. It is staggering, it is sobering. Thank you so much. Well the nfl will start operating under intensive covid19 protocols this weekend. Tightened rules. Masks will be required. In practice and weight rooms. Teams are mandated to meet virtually or outdoors. Use of locker rooms are discurbages. Over 112 players have pested positive since november 1. And pfizer to ask for approval to use the vaccine in days. They plan to produce enough vaccine for 25 Million People by the end of this year. Only half of its supply will go to the United States this year. In washington, president elect joe biden is putting new pressure on the Trump Administration to authorize transition of power. On a call with front line workers yesterday, biden said the agency task with the transition could act now to give him access to help him plan his coronavirus response. Mr. Trump has paid little attention to the coronavirus. Paula reed has more. Top Health Experts warn the pandemic is spiraling out of control. President trump made no mention, had no public appearances and tweeted only false hoods about the election. He hasnt attended a coronavirus meeting in months. We mourn for every life lost. The last time he expressed loss for the dead was october 31. Nearly 19,000 have died since then. Vice president pence was told he and the president must address a dire situation. The u. S. , they said, could see up to 2,000 deaths a day by christmas. We are up to a quarter million dead. Joo president elect biden told Front Line Health Care workers is blocking his Transition Team from getting up to speed on the pandemic. Weve been unable to get access to the kinds of things we need to know, which unless it is made available soon well be behind. An emotional nurse shared. Pleading for help. I myself have held the hand of dying dying patients crying out for their family that they cant see. Biden wiped aware tears. Chris krebs was let go. After disputing the president s false election claims. I was very disappointed. Even republicans question the move. As krebs oversaw a safe and sek occur election. One the Trump Campaign is still trying to reverse. Now seeking a recount in two counties in wisconsin as a georgia recount wraps up tonight with little evidence of wrongdoing. The Trump Campaign is strapped for cash and why they are focusing on two counties. That recount will cost them about 3 million. Where a statewide recount would cost 8 million. A recount is not expected to make a difference in that state. Reporting for cbs news, the white house. A former army green baret is facing life in prison for giving russia intelligence. Prosecutors say he met russian intelligence beginning in 1996 through 2011. He was even assigned a code name by russian intelligence after signing a statement saying he wanted to serve russia. The Northern Virginia man received a small payment for information. He will be sentenced in february. Coming up, outrage over the Deadly Police shooting of two black teenagers in florida. And a new book, a memoir of barack obama shatters firstday sales. This is the cbs morning news. Shatters firstday sales. Exactly where you need it. By getting to know you and your home, roomba makes cleaning easier than ever before. So say goodbye to cleaning and hello to clean. Hey google, tell roomba to vacuum the dining room table. Roomba and the irobot home app. Only from irobot. Frwhen you wash them, and theyet dajust dont look the same . Well now theres a solution, with downy defy damage. Downy defy damage protects your clothes from the stretching, fading and fuzzing that happens throughout the wash process. Protect your clothes, with downy defy damage i wanted my hepatitis c gone. I put off treating mine. Epclusa treats all main types of chronic hep c. Whatever your type, epclusa could be your kind of cure. I just found out about mine. I knew for years. Epclusa has a 98 overall cure rate. I had no symptoms of hepatitis c mine caused liver damage. Epclusa is only one pill, once a day, taken with or without food for 12 weeks. Before starting epclusa, your doctor will test if you have had hepatitis b, which may flare up, and could cause serious liver problems during and after treatment. Tell your doctor if you have had hepatitis b, other liver or kidney problems, hiv, or other medical conditions. And all medicines you take, including herbal supplements. Taking amiodarone with epclusa may cause a serious slowing of your heart rate. Common side effects include headache and tiredness. Ask your doctor today, if epclusa is your kind of cure. Relief from your worst cold and flu symptoms. Le so when you need to show your cold whos boss, grab mucinex allinone. And get back to your rhythm. Feel the power. Beat the symptoms fast. This is pretty much what it is going to look like in the northern most town of the u. S. For the next two months. In alaska, ushering in 66 days of darkness. The National Weather service in fair banks tweeting it is called polar night. Striking high altitudes in the arctic and antarctic circles. Former president obamas book is off to a great start. And protests over the shooting of two black teenagers. Those are some of the headlines on the news stand. Joo florida today said hundreds held a rally calling for justice after two teens were shot and killed by a sheriffs deputy. Leaving the 18yearold and 16yearold dead. A warning now the video is graphic. Stop the vehicle. Stop the vehicle. Stop. 1033. Stop the vehicle. One deputy can be heard repeatedly calling for the car to stop. He apparently thought the car might have been stolen. The sheriff said the car accelerated towards the deputy and he fired to prevent it from crashing into him. The two deputies involved have been put on paid leave pending the outcome of a state investigation. A Washington Post says a judge ordered the Trump Administration stop expelling Migrant Children trying to enter the u. S. Without a parent. Aimed at preventing the spread of the coronavirus at border station. The government has expelled more than 200,000 people trying to cross the border since then including thousands of Migrant Children. The wall street journal says former president Barack Obamas memoir sold more than 887,000 copies on the first day. Publisher said it was the largest firstday sale for any book it ever published. Ranks first on amazon and barnes noble best seller list. Still ahead, apples battery gate. They are set to pay a huge settlement over the practice of slowing down old iphones. Moments that define you. And drive you. To achieve even more. So, celebrate every one. Because success isnt just about where you want to get to. Its also about how you get there the all new 2021 cadillac escalade. Never stop arriving. Heres to the duers. Ple o realize they can du more with less asthma thanks to dupixent, the addon treatment for specific types of moderatetosevere asthma. Dupixent isnt for sudden breathing problems. It can improve lung function for better breathing in as little as 2 weeks and help prevent severe asthma attacks. Its not a steroid but can help reduce or eliminate oral steroids. Dupixent can cause serious allergic reactions including anaphylaxis. Get help right away if you have rash, shortness of breath, chest pain, tingling or numbness in your limbs. Tell your doctor if you have a parasitic infection and dont change or stop your asthma treatments, including steroids, without talking to your doctor. Are you ready to du more with less asthma . Talk to your asthma specialist about dupixent. If your financial situation has changed, we may be able to help. Try natures bounty sleep 3 a unique tri layer supplement, that calms you helps you fall a sleep faster and stay a sleep longer. Great sleep comes naturally with sleep 3 only from natures bounty anna could only imagine. A comfortable nights sleep without frequent heartburn waking her up. Now, that dream. Is her reality. Nexium 24hr stops acid before it starts, for allday, allnight protection. Can you imagine 24 hours without heartburn . Here is a look at todays forecast in some cities around the country. This feathered stowe away is melting hearts in new york city. The sawlet owl was seen in the Rockefeller Christmas tree. He was taken to a wild life refuge in new york where he was given fluids and is expected to be okay. On to money watch. Apple reaches a settlement over slowing down old iphones and Charlie Brown specials are back on tv. Diane has more. Good morning. Stocks ended lower yesterday fuelled by anxiety over the Economic Impact of rising Coronavirus Infections and lockdowns. The dow skidded 344 points. Nasdaq dropped 97 and s p 500. And s p 500 lost 41. Apple agreed to a settlement over claims that it slowed down old iphones. Brought by 34 states and washington, d. C. It alleges the company misled consumers with updates that purposely led to slowing of the battery life. They denied any wrongdoing. The deal is separate from a 500 million class action set slment earlier this year. General motors will soon offer car insurance. It will be called on star auto insurance. The name comes from the Safety System used in gm vehicles. Aimed at tayloring rates from consumers based on Data Collected from the vehicle but they are expected to sell their insurance to all vehicles along with with homeowners and renters insurance. Plans to make it available early next year. Charlie brown, snoopy and the gang are all coming back to broadcast tv after all. The special, a Charlie Brown thanksgiving and christmas are set to air at pbs and pbs kids. Backlash on apple tv because they were streaming the event. They have announced they will be streaming it adfree this year. I want to say this is a win for the kids but it is really just a win for us old people. My kid grew up on a steady diet of youtube so this is not nostalgic for her. But for me, it is great. This is part of the holidays and i did introduce my son recently to Charlie Brown. And he liked it so im going to try to bring him on board with this one too. Tell me how it works out. Diane king hall in new york. You got it. Next, time to break out the tinsil. Why some people are decking the halls early this year. Decking the halls early this year. Like an unjection™. Xeljanz. The first and only pill of its kind that treats moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, or moderate to Severe Ulcerative Colitis when other medicines have not helped enough. 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 youve had hepatitis b or c, have flulike 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. Needles. Fine for some. But for you, theres a pill that may provide symptom relief. Ask your doctor about the pill first prescribed for ra more than seven years ago. Xeljanz. An unjection™. Unlike ordinary memory want supplementster . Neuriva has clinically proven ingredients that fuel 5 indicators of brain performance. Memory, focus, accuracy, learning, and concentration. Try our new gummies for 30 days and see the difference. With new bounce pet hair lint guard,tually attract pet hair . Your clothes can repel pet hair. Look how the shirt on the left attracts pet hair like a magnet pet hair is no match for bounce. With bounce, you can love your pets, and lint roll less. A look at todays forecast in some cities around the country. 2020 nba draft, minnesota people timberwolves select anthony edwards. The first pick in last nights delayed nba draft. Originally scheduled for june but was delayed due to the pandemic. The Golden State Warriors represented Center James Wiseman with the second pick. Christmas has always been a time of joy. With all thats gone on this year, and people may be ready for some cheer. How it is beginning to feel a lot like christmas. Old st. Nick is headed our way. For millions of americans, he cant arrive soon enough. Making you forget the world tiny bit. This year, basically after halloween, i was ready to go. Trees are going up even before thanksgiving. Stores that sell christmas items are packed. Double or triple. Our business is crazy. People want to be happy. We sell happy. In new york, homeowners spare no expense when it comes to outdoor decorations. Usually we start around halloween. This year because of corona, we wanted to start earlier. We saw our neighborhood depressed and we wanted to bring joy. When it comes to decorate cars, tyler is tough to beat. Santa and his sleigh strapped to the top of the car. Lights are run by solar power. Kids are like amazed. Parents will grab their phones and take a video. Giving a little cheer when people can use a list. Cbs news new york. Coming up next, sam smith talks about their new you album and coming out as nonbinary. And his coming out. Support bea, glowing skin, and healthy nails. And try advanced, now with two times more biotin. Now, braava jet mops right where you need it with an adjustable Precision Jet spray and an advanced pad system. And offers personalized cleaning suggestions unique to your home. Braava jet m6 and the irobot home app. Only from irobot. Lyis committed to being here. Ols program braava jet m6 and the irobot home app. To encourage kids to keep a little distance. Here to reassure parents who are a little worried. Here to support teachers who make limited resources feel limitless. And for lisa, who needs unlimited reminders. By providing disinfecting wipes and Healthy Habits resources like reminder posters, social distancing guides, and timely lesson plans. Lysol is here for healthy schools. Our top stories this morning, the death toll in the u. S. Has now surpassed 70 a quarter of a million americans. More than 70,000 are hospitalized. State and local governments are reimposing strict measures to slow the spread. In new york city, the Positivity Rate hit 3 forcing the Largest School district to return to remote learning. Pfizer is set to ask the fda to authorize emergency use of its vaccine within days. Finding the vaccine to be 95 effective. Pfizer and its partner plan to produce enough for 25 Million People by the end of the year. Only half will go to the u. S. The process of transitioning joe biden to the white house remains stalled as President Trump continues to fight election results. Yesterday, biden spoke with frontline Health Care Workers. We have more. President elect joe biden held a virtual round table with Health Care Workers as he continues to craft a Pandemic Response plan without the cooperation of the Trump Administration. There are a whole lot of things we dont have available to us. Unless it is made available soon, we are going to be behind. In wisconsin where biden won more than 20,000 votes. The Trump Campaign has wired 3 million for partal recounts in two counties. We must recount by december 1. It will begin on friday. On twitter, President Trump attacked georgias recount as a joke. I think at this point, the American People want to make sure every legitimate vote is counted. Georgia is in good shape to finish by the wednesday deadline. By noon tomorrow, our goal to have the information out to everyone. President trump fired his top Election Security official chris krebs after he pushed back over claims of widespread voter fraud. A spokesman said, quote, krebs was fired foretelling the truth. He was always capable and knowledge to me, any president is entitled to surround himself with advisors of his choice. Kreb served as Cyber Security official. He told cbs news in a phone call, he expected to be fired and has no regrets. Reporting for cbs news in delaware. Coming up this morning, britains Prince William speaks out about a controversial interview with his mother Princess Diana that she did with a bbc journalist and well talk to sam smith about their new album coming out and coming out as nonbinary. And in our series a more perfect union, well show you a boarding school in washington creating a safe space for students amid this pandemic. That is cbs news for thursday. Thanks for watching. Im annemarie green. Have a great day. Right