New Year's celebrations toned down as COVID cases hit record highs
2022 is the third calendar year of dealing with the coronavirus pandemic
Omicron Variant
Omicron forcing change in NYE celebrations
The Omicron variant of COVID-19 has forced millions of people around the world to change their New Year's Eve plans. CBS News' Elise Preston reports and Dr. John Moore, professor of microbiology and immunology at Weill Cornell Medical College joins CBSN to discuss the surge and how it will affect New Year's celebrations.
U.S. posts record-breaking daily COVID cases
COVID cases are soaring across the U.S., but hospitalizations remain "comparatively low," according to the CDC. The U.S. set a new one-day record on Wednesday of nearly half a million new COVID cases. Nikki Battiste reports.
South Africa lifts curfew, saying COVID-19 fourth wave has peaked
A ban on alcohol sales after 11 p.m. has also been ended. South Africa is where the Omicron variant was first detected. New infections fell almost 30 percent last week.
U.S. reaches record number new COVID cases
Nearly half a million new COVID-19 cases were recorded in the U.S. on Wednesday. That number from the CDC is the highest single-day tally since the start of the pandemic. CBS News correspondent Nancy Chen reports from New York City. Then Dr. Payal Patel, an infectious disease physician at the University of Michigan, joined CBSN's Elise Preston to discuss the latest on the nation's health crisis.
U.S. reports nearly 500,000 COVID-19 cases in a single day
The staggering number comes as the Omicron variant continues to spread across the nation.
Impact of Omicron on Americans' mental health
The pandemic has taken a toll on many Americans' mental health. Now, as the Omicron COVID-19 variant surges globally, some people are reaching their breaking point. Riana Elyse Anderson, a clinical psychologist and assistant professor at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, joined CBSN to discuss.
Major flight cancellations continue as Omicron causes staff shortages
Over 1,000 flights were canceled Wednesday as airlines struggle with staffing shortages.
Fauci on risks of Omicron: "If you want to be fully protected, get boosted"
"This is a very dynamic situation," Fauci said. "We are dealing with a brand-new, extraordinarily transmissible variant, the Omicron variant."
Many U.S. New Year's Eve celebrations called off amid COVID surge
Many states are breaking their single-day case records. On Wednesday, more than 431,000 new cases were reported, the CDC said.
Why antigen tests may still work well for Omicron, despite "reduced sensitivity"
The FDA said some of the rapid at-home tests may have "reduced sensitivity" in detecting Omicron cases, but real-world results are still coming in.
Sharp rise in child COVID hospitalizations
There's an alarming spike in COVID hospitalizations among children, fueled by the Omicron variant. Nikki Battiste reports.
London Calling: The U.K.'s response to Omicron
Like much of the world, Omicron is dominating positive cases of COVID-19 in the U.K. In the latest installment of London Calling, CBS News contributor Simon Bates explains how the government is reacting and why the prime minister is delaying restrictions.
COVID cases rise globally
The World Health Organizations reported an 11% rise in COVID-19 cases last week, with nearly 5 million new cases reported worldwide. CBS News foreign correspondent Charlie D'Agata joins CBSN with more from London.
Is 5 days enough time for COVID isolation?
Former Surgeon General Jerome Adams criticized the CDC for reducing the isolation period for people who test positive for COVID-19. CBS News' Debra Alfarone has more on the new guidance, then Johns Hopkins virologist Andrew Pekosz joins CBSN to explain how the changes could impact how we navigate the pandemic.
Smithsonian temporarily closes 4 museums due to COVID case surge
Four museums in Washington, D.C. will be closed until January 3.
Omicron prompts return to remote learning
New York City's mayor said the nation's largest school district will reopen for in-person learning as planned. For other schools across the country, the decision is not as clear. Meg Oliver reports.
Nationwide Omicron surge causes major disruptions
New York City is once again the epicenter of the pandemic, with one in 50 Manhattan residents testing positive in the last week. Five states, including New York, New Jersey, Florida, Delaware and Massachusetts are reporting new daily records. Nikki Battiste has the latest.
U.S. hits record high COVID infections Monday
The U.S. has surpassed its daily record high of COVID-19 cases as a new wave of infections driven by the highly contagious Omicron variant continues. More than 441,000 new cases were recorded Monday, the highest daily total since early January. Officials say the Omicron variant accounts for 58% of cases, and remains the dominant strain. CBS News' Nikki Battiste and Meg Oliver report on the latest developments. Then, Dr. Adrian Burrowes, family medicine physician and CEO of CFP Physicians Group, joins CBSN's Elise Preston to discuss.
Expert breaks down COVID isolation guidelines
The CDC reduced the isolation period for people with asymptomatic COVID-19 infections from 10 days to five. CBS News' Debra Alfarone reports the decision came as the Omicron variant surges across the U.S. Then Dr. William Schaffner, professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, joins CBSN with more.
NYC schools to resume in-person learning Monday
Pediatric COVID-19 admissions have been on the rise recently in New York City, health officials say.
Biden lifts Omicron-related travel restrictions on 8 African countries
In a proclamation, Mr. Biden said the restrictions "are no longer necessary to protect the public health."
Child COVID hospitalizations up 30% as Omicron spreads
The U.S. is averaging 260 pediatric COVID hospitalizations a day, up nearly 30% from last week.
Children's COVID hospitalizations rising
Pediatric COVID cases are rising in the U.S., particularly in New York City. Health officials are urging parents to vaccinate their children as soon as possible as Omicron continues its rapid spread across the country. Meg Oliver reports.
Fauci: U.S. should "seriously" consider vaccine mandate for domestic flights
President Biden's chief medical adviser says it could be "another incentive to get more people vaccinated."
Over 12,000 feared dead after Iran's crackdown on protesters
Information trickling out of Iran suggests a far deadlier crackdown on protesters than previously reported.
Listen Live: Supreme Court hears arguments over transgender athlete bans
The Supreme Court is hearing two cases involving laws from Idaho and West Virginia that ban transgender athletes from participating in girls' and women's sports.
Trump is taking aim at borrowing costs. Will it work — or backfire?
President Trump's plans to ease the financial pressures on Americans are bold but could backfire, experts said.
Their 21 kids were taken by the state. They've since had more surrogate-born babies.
The couple had so many kids in their Los Angeles-area mansion a neighbor "thought it was a kindergarten." The investigation has only gotten stranger.
Scott Adams, Dilbert comic strip creator, dies at age 68
Scott Adams, the cartoonist who created the "Dilbert" comic strip, has died at the age of 68, his first ex-wife revealed on Tuesday.
Foreign central bank chiefs voice "full solidarity with" Fed chief Powell
The heads of 10 central banks and other financial institutions say it's "critical to preserve" the Fed's independence, as Powell is pressured by the Trump administration.
Mass resignations at DOJ Civil Rights Division, sources say
At least six prosecutors, most of whom are supervisors in the Civil Rights Division's criminal section, will be leaving their jobs.
Clintons won't testify in Epstein probe as House Oversight GOP threatens contempt
Republican Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, the committee's chairman, said the panel will move next week on holding them in contempt.
Trump administration ending deportation protections for 2,500 Somalis
The U.S. government is revoking the legal status of several thousand immigrants from Somalia.
U.S.
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Trump is taking aim at borrowing costs. Will it work — or backfire?
President Trump's plans to ease the financial pressures on Americans are bold but could backfire, experts said.
Remains of soldier who missed daughter's birth during WWII identified
U.S. Army Pfc. Wilbert Linsenbardt died when his daughter was 4 months old, and received photos of her, according to a newspaper article from the time.
Scott Adams, Dilbert comic strip creator, dies at age 68
Scott Adams, the cartoonist who created the "Dilbert" comic strip, has died at the age of 68, his first ex-wife revealed on Tuesday.
Clintons won't testify in Epstein probe as House Oversight GOP threatens contempt
Republican Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, the committee's chairman, said the panel will move next week on holding them in contempt.
What Trump's 10% credit card rate cap would mean for consumers
Capping credit card interest rates at 10% could save consumers billions of dollars, but potentially hurt lower-income Americans, experts said.
MoneyWatch
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Trump is taking aim at borrowing costs. Will it work — or backfire?
President Trump's plans to ease the financial pressures on Americans are bold but could backfire, experts said.
What Trump's 10% credit card rate cap would mean for consumers
Capping credit card interest rates at 10% could save consumers billions of dollars, but potentially hurt lower-income Americans, experts said.
Foreign central bank chiefs voice "full solidarity with" Fed chief Powell
The heads of 10 central banks and other financial institutions say it's "critical to preserve" the Fed's independence, as Powell is pressured by the Trump administration.
CPI rose at 2.7% annual rate in December as inflation remains sticky
Although there are signs that inflation is starting to ease, consumers still face pressures from high food prices and other costs.
Trump slaps 25% tariffs on any countries that do business with Iran
President Trump said Monday he's imposing 25% tariffs on all countries that do business with Iran, as the administration pressures the Iranian government amid anti-regime protests.
Politics
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Greenland's prime minister says "we choose Denmark" over the U.S.
The comments come ahead of Wednesday's meeting between the foreign ministers of Greenland and Denmark, Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Clintons won't testify in Epstein probe as House Oversight GOP threatens contempt
Republican Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, the committee's chairman, said the panel will move next week on holding them in contempt.
Trump administration ending deportation protections for 2,500 Somalis
The U.S. government is revoking the legal status of several thousand immigrants from Somalia.
Mass resignations at DOJ Civil Rights Division, sources say
At least six prosecutors, most of whom are supervisors in the Civil Rights Division's criminal section, will be leaving their jobs.
Listen Live: Supreme Court hears arguments over transgender athlete bans
The Supreme Court is hearing two cases involving laws from Idaho and West Virginia that ban transgender athletes from participating in girls' and women's sports.
HealthWatch
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Nurses strike begins in New York City as thousands walk off jobs
The largest nurses strike ever in New York City is underway as thousands of NYSNA members walk off their jobs at major hospitals.
RFK Jr.'s MAHA movement has picked up steam in statehouses
"Make America Healthy Again" policies driven by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have made major strides in state legislatures, with food additives among the most common targets.
"Enough": Oprah Winfrey on her weight-loss lessons
Oprah Winfrey is one of the best-known, most-admired and successful people on the planet. But for years she seemed powerless to conquer her fluctuating weight problem … until new medications, and a new attitude about her weight, gave her a breakthrough, which she describes in "Enough," a new book she has co-written with Dr. Ania Jastreboff. They talk with Jane Pauley about an individual's genetically-influenced weight range, and how to reset it. Winfrey also relates the long road she traveled since she began her TV career in Nashville, facing sexism, racism, and comments about her weight.
NYC nurses strike looms as negotiations pass midnight deadline
The potential for a major nurses strike in New York City is growing by the minute, with major hospitals and the New York State Nurses Association failing to get a deal done before Sunday's midnight deadline.
State of denial: How insurance companies impact health care today
As millions of Americans struggle with paying for health care, doctors and health experts discuss how medical care is being eroded by insurers denying necessary tests and treatment, making it "more difficult to be healthy in the United States."
World
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Greenland's prime minister says "we choose Denmark" over the U.S.
The comments come ahead of Wednesday's meeting between the foreign ministers of Greenland and Denmark, Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Over 12,000 feared dead after Iran's crackdown on protesters
Information trickling out of Iran suggests a far deadlier crackdown on protesters than previously reported.
Foreign central bank chiefs voice "full solidarity with" Fed chief Powell
The heads of 10 central banks and other financial institutions say it's "critical to preserve" the Fed's independence, as Powell is pressured by the Trump administration.
BBC to seek dismissal of Trump's $10B defamation lawsuit
British public broadcaster BBC wants a Florida court to throw out Trump's lawsuit, with lawyers arguing a lack of jurisdiction.
Over 1,500 pounds of meth found in secret labs in Mexico
More than 1,500 pounds of methamphetamine were seized from clandestine laboratories in Mexico, authorities said.
Entertainment
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Entertainment
François Arnaud on "Heated Rivalry" series
Francois Arnaud joins "CBS Mornings" to talk about the popular series "Heated Rivalry," based on the "Game Changers" book series. It follows rising hockey stars Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov. What begins as a fling between two rivals turns into a yearslong journey of love, denial and self discovery. Arnaud plays Scott Hunter, a closeted gay professional hockey player in the same league who has fallen in love with a smoothie shop worker. He talks about the message in the series and how it developed into a hit show.
Scott Adams, Dilbert comic strip creator, dies at age 68
Scott Adams, the cartoonist who created the "Dilbert" comic strip, has died at the age of 68, his first ex-wife revealed on Tuesday.
Behind-the-scenes at the Golden Globes
Celebrities brought glitz and glamor to the red carpet Sunday at the Golden Globes. "CBS Mornings" co-host Gayle King spoke with some of Hollywood's biggest stars and gives a behind-the-scenes look at the awards night.
NAACP Image Awards nominations
The NAACP Image Awards celebrate the outstanding achievements and performances of people of color in arts and entertainment. Comedian and actor Deon Cole and NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson exclusively reveal some of the nominees on CBS Mornings for this year's awards.
The Grateful Dead's Bob Weir dies at 78
Bob Weir, a co-founder and guitarist for the iconic rock band the Grateful Dead, has died at 78. Anthony Mason looks back at Weir's life and music career.
Technology
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Technology
Mother speaks out over AI chatbot Grok
Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok is facing intense criticism, accused of allowing X users to generate sexually explicit images of real women and children. One of the alleged victims is Ashley St. Clair, the mother of one of Musk's children. She said she discovered people used Grok to generate and publish sexualized deepfake images without her permission and share them on X. Musk has not responded to a request for comment.
British regulators on Grok AI images
British regulators are investigating X for lewd AI images generated by Grok, the AI arm of Elon Musk's social platform. Michael Goodyear, an associate professor at New York Law School, joins CBS News with more.
How AI powered robots are helping small farms
From labor shortages to environmental impacts, farmers are looking to AI to help revolutionize the agriculture industry. One California startup, Farm-ng, is tapping into the power of AI and robotics to perform a wide range of tasks, including seeding, weeding and harvesting.
Pentagon adopting Musk's Grok AI despite growing backlash against it
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the Pentagon will start using Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok. The word comes days after Grok drew global outcry for generating highly sexualized deepfake images.
Meta names Dina Powell McCormick as president and vice chairman
Facebook owner Meta has named Dina Powell McCormick, a former Trump administration adviser and longtime finance executive, as its new president and vice chairman.
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Fossils found in cave shed light on where our species emerged
Fossilized bones and teeth dating to 773,000 years ago are providing a deeper understanding of the emergence of Homo sapiens.
The history and mystery of kissing
If you rang in the new year with a kiss, you took part in a tradition millions of years in the making. Scientists now say the origins of kissing go back much farther than most think. CBS News' Tina Kraus has more.
2025 was so hot it pushed Earth past critical climate change mark
2025 was the third hottest year on record and pushed Earth past a critical climate change mark, scientists say.
Major climate research center on Trump administration chopping block
The Trump administration intends to dismantle one of the world's leading climate research institutions, in Boulder, Colorado, over what it said were concerns about "climate alarmism."
Researchers capture video of rare polar bear adoption
The footage of a bear caring for an adopted cub was captured during the annual polar bear migration along the Western Hudson Bay in Churchill, Manitoba.
Crime
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Crime
Trump posts about Minnesota ICE raids
President Trump posted on social media about the expanding Minnesota ICE raids and promised a day of "RECKONING & RETRIBUTION" is coming. CBS News' Lana Zak reports.
Minnesota takes on Trump administration
The state of Minnesota, and the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, are suing the Department of Homeland Security and several Trump administration officials over the massive operations involving federal law enforcement. CBS News' Lana Zak has more.
Man admits to starting fire at synagogue
Investigators say Stephen Spencer Pittman admitted to starting a fire at Mississippi's largest synagogue. Newly obtained video shows a man dousing Jackson's Beth Israel Congregation with liquid from a gas container. Jason Allen reports.
Over 1,500 pounds of meth found in secret labs in Mexico
More than 1,500 pounds of methamphetamine were seized from clandestine laboratories in Mexico, authorities said.
Former U.S. Navy sailor gets more than 16 years for selling secrets to China
Patrick Wei, a former U.S. Navy sailor who sold manuals for ships and operating systems to an operative working for China, was sentenced to more than 16 years in prison, prosecutors said.
Space
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Space
ISS astronauts prepare for early return
Crew-11 is preparing for an unprecedented early return to Earth over concerns for an astronaut's medical condition aboard the International Space Station. Mike Massimino, a former NASA astronaut and engineering professor at Columbia University, joins with more.
Former astronaut on ISS crew coming home early
Four members of Crew-11 are preparing to return to Earth from the International Space Station later this week after a "medical concern" prompted NASA to cancel a scheduled spacewalk. Former astronaut Dr. Scott Parazynski joins with his reaction.
Space station changes command, setting stage for Crew 11 departure
Outgoing space station commander Mike Fincke, a member of the returning Crew 11, turned the station over to cosmonaut Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, saying the combined crew had developed deep friendships.
Astronaut says early return to Earth is "right call," but "bittersweet"
Mike Fincke thanked NASA for making crew health the agency's top priority.
NASA hopes to return Crew 11 to Earth next week over medical issue
NASA officials reported Thursday that an unidentified member of Crew 11 was dealing with "a medical situation" that would require the crew to return to Earth sooner than anticipated.
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Notable Deaths in 2025
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Evidence in the Barbara Kendhammer case
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Timeline: The disappearance of George Smith
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Latest CBS News Videos
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Warren on DOJ probe of Jerome Powell
Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren blasted the Justice Department for its apparent investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. CBS News' Taurean Small reports.
New data shows no change in inflation rates
New Consumer Price Index data depicts there was no change in inflation rates from November through December of 2025. Sam Goldfarb, a markets reporter for The Wall Street Journal, has more.
Sotomayor on transgender athlete bans
Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor questioned Idaho's solicitor general, Alan Hurst, during a Tuesday hearing over the state's transgender athlete ban. CBS News legal contributor Jessica Levinson explains.
François Arnaud on "Heated Rivalry" series
Francois Arnaud joins "CBS Mornings" to talk about the popular series "Heated Rivalry," based on the "Game Changers" book series. It follows rising hockey stars Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov. What begins as a fling between two rivals turns into a yearslong journey of love, denial and self discovery. Arnaud plays Scott Hunter, a closeted gay professional hockey player in the same league who has fallen in love with a smoothie shop worker. He talks about the message in the series and how it developed into a hit show.
ISS astronauts prepare for early return
Crew-11 is preparing for an unprecedented early return to Earth over concerns for an astronaut's medical condition aboard the International Space Station. Mike Massimino, a former NASA astronaut and engineering professor at Columbia University, joins with more.