the pentagon warning that russia could be preparing for a false flag operation as a way to invade ukraine, suggesting russia could stage an attack on their own troops or on russians inside ukraine. u.s. intelligence saying a russian invasion could soon be coming, and martha raddatz standing by with late reporting. tonight, the founder of the oath keepers in federal court, charged with seditious conspiracy for the january 6th attack. 11 members of the group now facing charges. prosecutors saying they were in the nation's capital, having purchased thousands of dollars in weapons and ammunition. tonight the founder's attorney now says they were there to provide security. pierre thomas standing by. tonight, inside the race to save lives. the harrowing videos just made public of the horrific fire near boulder, colorado. >> leave your stuff! go! the fire's at the back! >> residents with just seconds to evacuate. first responders driving through flames, going door to door to get families out. and tonight, how many families still seeking help. a remarkable scene on the train tracks. thieves raiding the train and what they left behind. there is news coming in tonight on alec baldwin. what he's now done after that deadly accident on a movie set. news coming in from from north korea tonight. we now have the images after two missile launches overnight, believed to be fired from a train. and here at home tonight, the american workers who hope you'll think of them when you buy dessert. who are our persons of the week? good evening, and it's great to have you with us as we near the end of another week together. we cannot wait for the weekend, even with this storm coming, and that's where we begin tonight. this massive winter storm now bearing down on multiple states at this hour from the midwest to the southeast and right up into the northeast. 31 states, 75 million americans now on alert for heavy snow, treacherous ice, and bitter cold. tonight, several states already declaring states of emergency as we come on the air. and take a look at the map tonight. the scope of this storm across more than 2,000 miles from the midwest, then the ice in the south, we're most concerned about there. then right up the east coast into the northeast. this could bring several inches of snow in some places. tonight already, these images from the northern plains. a convoy of snowplows at work in fargo, north dakota. to iowa in the central plains. look at this. snow falling in cedar rapids already. that significant icing danger in the southeast tomorrow. north carolina tonight pretreating the roads with salt already. and even before the storm hits the northeast, temperatures here will plunge overnight into the tomorrow. subfreezing wind chills tomorrow morning before it all starts. senior meteorologist rob marciano leading us off tonight to time this out for us. good evening, rob. >> reporter: good evening, david. we are already feeling that cold air here in hartford, connecticut, preceding that storm that's in the plains. we now have winter storm warnings posted from south dakota all the way to north carolina. the flakes are flying in iowa. could see ten inches of snow there. this thing dives southeast, where that cold air is already beginning to be in place. so we'll see a wintry mix in atlanta. by sunday morning, accumulating snow in tennessee. icy conditions. ice storm warnings through south carolina. this does pull in milder air through i-95. so snow turns to rain for the bigger cities but accumulations will be heavy. we could see anywhere from 5 to 10 inches in many spots. over 12 inches. but first things first, this bomb cyclone off the coast of new england right now, that's what's bringing in the cold air. it's going to feel like 2 in new york city, minus 7 in hartford. minus 21 in syracuse. that is dangerous cold to start off this weekend. >> take it easy this weekend for sure, and we'll be watching you all weekend long, rob. thank you. now to the pandemic tonight, and with the omicron surge pushing cases and hospitalizations to new record highs, the cdc tonight with new guidance on masks in this country, now warning that loosely woven cloth masks provide the least protection with omicron so contagious, and that n-95 and kn-95 masks provide more protection. and that they're especially important for people at high risk of infection or severe disease. tonight, as this moves across the country, in new york, the encouraging news -- a glimmer of hope on all of this. once the epicenter of this omicron wave at the start, what the governor here now says they're seeing. here's erielle reshef tonight. >> reporter: tonight, the cdc is out with that long-awaited guidance on masks, warning that loosely woven cloth masks provide the least protection, that n-95 and kn-95 masks might be a better option, and that these highly protective masks may be important for people in high-risk settings or at risk for severe disease. but the cdc stopping short of urging all americans to upgrade their masks, even though health experts have been recommending higher quality masks in the wake of omicron. >> the cdc is recognizing that n-95 and kn-95 masks really represent the gold standard right now, but at the same time, if those masks aren't available to you, a lower quality mask like a surgical mask or even double masking with a cloth mask, still is better than no mask at all. >> reporter: it comes just as the government rolls out a new program tomorrow, reimbursing insured americans for up to eight at-home covid tests per month. but insurance companies warn it will take time to set up the new system. >> keep that receipt, and you'll be reimbursed for that purchase. i just think it's going to be potentially a little bit bumpy here in the next maybe even several weeks. >> reporter: as for those free rapid tests the president has promised to send to american homes, the white house today said each household will be able to order four tests at covidtests.gov starting next wednesday, and they will take 7 to 12 days to ship out. and today, growing concerns in chicago where hundreds of public school students staged a walkout to protest in-person learning and call for more safety measures. >> why are they sending us back to school? they should make sure everybody take their test, everybody take a covid test. >> reporter: the covid surge infecting 780,000 americans every day, more than twice the number rolling up their sleeves for the first vaccine shot. and just 24 hours after the supreme court knocked down the president's vaccine mandate covering 80 million workers, tonight general electric suspending its mandate. >> i think what businesses need to do is take this on voluntarily. instead of being compelled by the government, they should mandate these vaccines for their own employees. it's really good for keeping your workplaces safe and our country safe. >> reporter: and there are positive signs omicron is in retreat in the northeast where it hit hard first. cases in new york state dropping from 90,000 a week ago to 46,000 today. and hospitalizations are starting to decline too. >> turning the corner. you heard it here first. i've been waiting to say that. >> let's hope that's true here and then moves right across the country just as quickly. erielle, back with us tonight. and i know there's also a new study of nba players but it actually sheds light for us all on how transmissible this is and for how long. the new study suggesting the virus could still be transmissible after five days into the infection? >> reporter: that's right, david. that new study of nba players showing that more than half who contracted omicron infections could potentially still be infectious after those five days. experts say that's why it's so important of following the isolation guidelines of five days and mask for five more. david? >> erielle reshef with us tonight, thank you. now to the alarming intelligence tonight involving russia. the pentagon now warning that russia could be preparing for what's called a false flag operation as a way to invade ukraine, suggesting russia could stage a false attack on their own troops or on russians inside ukraine as a pretext to invade. and u.s. intelligence now saying a russian invasion could soon be coming. our chief global affairs correspondent martha raddatz tonight. >> reporter: tonight, independent sources inside russia providing unverified images of more heavy russian military equipment rolling west on rail cars. as we get a troubling new sign an invasion could be just weeks away, according to a u.s. official. in addition to the 100,000 russian troops massed on ukraine's border, the biden administration today accusing russia of pre-positioning operatives in eastern ukraine who are trained in urban warfare and explosives to create a possible provocation that vladimir putin would use to justify an invasion. >> an operation designed to look like an attack on them or their -- or russian speaking people in ukraine, again, as an excuse to go in. >> reporter: the white house saying that russian-influenced actors have been also fabricating provocations on social media. >> when there isn't an actual crisis to suit their needs, they'll make one up, and so we're watching for that. >> reporter: the accusations come after a week of talks with russia that did nothing to de-escalate the situation. the russian foreign minister today still insisting that russia wants a guarantee that ukraine will not join nato, a guarantee the u.s. will not provide, with putin threatening a military technical response if conditions are not met, a threat which he has not explained. but today, hackers penetrated and crippled dozens of ukrainian government websites, leaving ominous messages -- "be afraid and expect the worst." >> martha raddatz with us live tonight. martha, the timing of this major cyberattack on ukraine obviously suspicious, and now tonight's warning by the pentagon of a russian false-flag operation. these were some pretty extraordinary words from the pentagon today. >> reporter: really extraordinary, david. now, russia claims it doesn't want to invade, but the u.s. is not convinced of that, and a u.s. official said today if russia does make that decision, an invasion could begin any time between now and mid-february. david? >> martha raddatz with us on a friday night. martha, thank you. we turn now to the most serious charges in the january 6th capitol attack. 11 alleged members of the right wing militia group the oath keepers now indicted for seditious conspiracy. tonight, the leader of that group in court. in texas in court there today. - prosecutors saying they were in the nation's capital, having purchased thousands of dollars in weapons and ammunition. the founder's attorney claiming in court today that they were there to provide security. here's our chief justice correspondent pierre thomas now. >> reporter: today, stewart rhodes, the founder and head of the oath keepers facing a federal judge. and if convicted he faces potentially decades in prison. >> he intends to fight the charges to the very, very end. >> reporter: the hearing, a day after the fbi searched his home north of dallas, where rhodes, a yale law school graduate and a army vet, was taken into custody, accused of seditious conspiracy, of a premeditated plot to use force to block the certification of joe biden's election as president. according to the fbi, rhodes allegedly began planning to disrupt the transfer of power soon after the november 2020 election. this is what he said just days after the election. >> because we have men already stationed outside d.c. as a nuclear option in case they attempt to remove the president illegally. we will step in and stop it. >> reporter: that planning allegedly included reconnaissance of the nation's capital, buying firearms, ammunition, gun scopes, and other tactical gear. he allegedly bought tens of thousands of dollars' worth of ammunition and weapons in the days before january 6th, and plans were allegedly made for teams of heavily armed quick reaction forces to stand by right outside the nation's capital. prosecutors say these images show oath keepers staging weapons in a d.c. hotel. the indictment details a series of chilling communications, allegedly between rhodes and his followers. on december 11th, 2020, rhodes sent a message in a private group chat stating that if president-elect biden were to assume the presidency, quote, it would be a bloody and desperate fight. we're going to have a fight. that can't be avoided. and on christmas day, rhodes allegedly wrote of congress -- it will be torches and pitchforks time if they don't do the right thing. another of rhodes' attorneys who says his client never went inside the capitol claims the government's case is built on lies. >> they went into the capitol to provide security for a demonstration that turned into chaos. >> pierre thomas with us live from the capitol. pierre, we know this was an initial appearance, that he did not enter a plea. so what's coming next here? >> reporter: rhodes will stay in custody until a january 20th detention hearing where prosecutors are likely to argue that he's a threat and should not be released, david. >> pierre thomas live in washington. thank you, pierre. we're going to turn to the race to save lives and how harrowing it was in boulder, colorado. the newly released video from colorado's marshall fire. take a look. sheriff's deputies rushing into neighborhoods, going door to door telling families they needed to get out, the fire was here. more than 1,000 homes and businesses destroyed. tonight, will carr takes you inside the effort to save lives there. >> go towards denver! evacuate now! >> reporter: tonight, new heart-pounding body camera video showing the dramatic and dangerous escape from that deadly colorado wildfire. >> move now, leave your stuff, go! everybody head east! got out of the store now! >> reporter: first responders racing into this costco, telling shoppers to leave immediately. >> evacuate now! leave whatever you're doing, go! >> reporter: rescuers driving through thick smoke as flames devoured neighborhoods. >> sheriff's office! sheriff's office! >> reporter: going door to door urging families to get out. >> ma'am, you have to evacuate. >> yeah, we are, we're packed. we're leaving right now. >> let's load up and let's go. >> reporter: these officers racing to help horses get to safety. with smoke blanketing the sky, this officer rescuing a pair of dogs found running in the street. the december fire destroying more than 1,000 homes and businesses near boulder, killing at least one person. a second person still missing. tonight, the cause of that fire is still under investigation, and authorities tell us at this point they don't have any reason to believe it was started on purpose. it comes as more than 1,000 residents are still displaced. david? >> we think about those families of course again tonight. will carr, thank you. overseas tonight, north korea releasing new images of their latest ballistic missile test overnight, claiming they fired two missiles from a train just hours after they accused the u.s. of "escalating the situation with sanctions." the state department tonight condemning the launch. and in australia tonight, tennis star novak djokovic facing deportation for a second time. his visa has been revoked again. his lawyers tonight now appealing a government decision to revoke his visa again in this ongoing battle over his vaccination status. he wanted an exemption. the australian open starts monday. djokovic, the top men's player in the world for tennis, deportation could mean a three-year ban from coming back to australia. when we come back here tonight, the remarkable images on the train tracks. thieves raiding cargo trains. and what they left behind. you'll see it. there is also news tonight on alec baldwin. what he's done in that case after a deadly accident on a movie set. ♪ got my hair ♪ ♪ got my head ♪ ♪ got my brains ♪ ♪ got my ears ♪ ♪ got my heart ♪ ♪ got my soul ♪ ♪ got my mouth ♪ ♪ i got life ♪ you and me, partner. we meet center of town, high noon. hold on. nope. daisy's got lassoing lessons at noon. ok. high two o'clock? i got a spur fittin' at two o'clock, how's about three? i'm getting thrown through a saloon window at three. we don't need any more overscheduling. but we could all use more ways to save. i can squeeze you in between swim class and kevin's harp recital at 3:30. i thought we was eatin' beans at 3:30. right. switch to geico for more ways to save. tell you what. what about tuesday? tonight here, quite the scene on the train tracks in los angeles. the union pacific rails littered with thousands of shredded boxes, packages, and debris. authorities say thieves there have been raiding cargo containers for months now before crews have a chance to unload them. police tonight now increasing patrols in the area. and tonight, authorities say alec baldwin has now turned over his cell phone in the investigation into the deadly movie set shooting on the movie set in santa fe. the d.a. telling abc news that baldwin has now turned over his phone after being issued a search warrant nearly a month ago. baldwin holding the gun when it fired a live round during a rehearsal, killing halyna hutchins. authorities want to know how the live rounds ended up on set. baldwin insisting he's cooperating with the investigation. when we come back here on a busy friday night, the surprising request from fedex to the faa. what they now want attached to their planes. what can i du with less asthma? 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♪ i looked on ancestry and just started digging and found some really cool stuff... it was just a lot of fun. just to talk to my parents about it and to send it to my grandparents and be like, hey this person we're all related to look at this crazy stuff they did in arizona 100 years ago. it actually gives you a picture of their life, so you get to feel like you're walking the same path they did. ♪ ♪ to the "index" of other news tonight. and to a request from fedex to the faa. the company now asking the faa to allow some of its fedex cargo planes be equipped with anti-missile infrared lasers for when fedex flies over potentially dangerous contested regions. the defense system would have to be approved by the faa after ensuring it won't harm the plane or crew or other planes in the region. when we come back on a friday night, what are you having for dessert? the american workers who hope you'll think of them. they've got quite a scoop. who are our persons of the week? when caught in early stages it's more treatable. i'm cologuard. i'm noninvasive... and i detect altered dna in your stool to find 92% of colon cancers... even in early stages. early stages. yep. it's for people 45 plus at average risk for colon cancer, not high risk. false positive and negative results may occur. ask your provider if cologuard is right for you. we're in. inner voice (kombucha brewer): i'm dramatically holding this bottle, so the light hits it just right, and people think... wow... ...he knows what he's doing... ...when i'm actually pretty lost with my payroll taxes. intuit quickbooks helps you manage your payroll taxes. cheers. 100% accurate payroll tax calculations guaranteed. 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we're on it. we're on it. with jardiance. ask your doctor about jardiance. it is never too cold for ice cream, especially when you meet our persons of the week. tonight, with the deep freeze moving in, the american workers who specialize in something frozen. >> hi, david muir. come on in. >> reporter: coleman jones first took us inside howdy homemade ice cream in dallas, texas, more than three years ago. 34 flavors. >> what's this one? >> coffee and cookies. >> coffee and cookies, huh? >> reporter: when they started, a dozen employees, all with special needs. >> it just jumped out that, hey, this is what the restaurant industry needs. >> reporter: tom landis, the founder of howdy homemade, designing the store to give his workers a chance. everything here is tailor made. even the cash drawer, only bills, to help simplify transactions. >> $4 is your change. >> reporter: anne marie carrigan had trouble finding a job. >> it makes me feel like there's not a place for me in this world. >> reporter: her lesson for us all -- >> never take no for an answer. grab what you are passionate about and make it happen. >> reporter: and that's what they've done ever since. >> howdy, mr. muir. >> howdy, david muir! >> reporter: brandt urban and his favorite flavors. >> dr. pepper chocolate chip. but a little bit better is "chocolate as all get out." >> reporter: the new locations and new hires since we first met them. now in lubbock, texas, gyorgi, a new hire. >> howdy, david muir. it might be cold out there, but we might have some ice cream to warm your heart. >> howdy, david. >> reporter: founder tom back, too. >> since y'all talked about us last time, we've had 281 franchise inquiries. we've signed ten franchises. we're in 123 h.e.b. grocery stores. >> reporter: a grocery store chain in texas. the workers' faces on every pint. and in north carolina -- >> howdy, david muir, from asheville, north carolina. >> reporter: the brewer family opening their own franchise with the same mission. >> we are so excited to be opening a howdy homemade ice ceam to provide jobs for adults with amazing untapped abilities. >> reporter: tonight we're learned soon in indianapolis, too. >> howdy, david. >> reporter: every new location, at least 15 new jobs. and tonight from indianapolis, their sales pitch already. >> it's really good ice cream. but don't take my word for that, david. come grab a scoop. >> it's a deal. we love their mission and their ice cream. good night. deal. we love their mission and their ice cream. good night. >> tonight, see what has happened since we broke the story of millions of dollars of personal protective equipment left outside in the rain. this is equipment that was bought with your tax dollars. >> i do want to offer a glimmer of hope. larry: she is one of the bay area's best public health experts. tonight, you will hear what is making her confident in the face of the pond -- of the pandemic. plus, what is the difference between n95 and kn95 masks? we will explain in what matters when you are choosing a mask. >> building a better bay area. moving forward, finding solutions. this is abc 7 news. ama: the abc 7 news i team reported last night about millions of dollars of brand new ppe out soaking in the rain and getting major reaction across the country. good evening, thank you for joining us. larry: a tip led our i.t. reporter to pallets and pallets of personal protective equipment sitting in the rain at the san mateo county event center. tonight, dan shows you what has happened since the report aired last night. reporter: more than 20,000 square feet of boxes soaking in the rain. personal protective equipment worth more than $10 million. this is your federal tax dollars. hospital gowns, face shields, goggles and more outside the san mateo events in her since last september. the story i broke yesterday getting reaction across the country. >> it has to be investigated. reporter: congresswoman jackie speier came to san mateo to talk about transportation but we talked about the ppe mystically uncovered. she called it troubling but said to remember that the county has been a leader in drive-through testing, vaccines and boosters. >> we need to keep in mind that san mateo county has been at the forefront and we have one of the highest voles