On the eve of Thanksgiving, two members of the West Virginia National Guard on duty in Washington, D.C., were shot and critically wounded in what U.S. officials described as an ambush-style, targeted attack just blocks from the White House. Cellphone video captured the immediate aftermath; first responders were on scene quickly. Law enforcement says 10 to 15 shots were fired. A suspect was wounded, taken into custody and is in critical condition. President Trump called the shooter an “animal” and ordered 500 more National Guard members deployed to Washington; more than 2,100 Guard members were already on duty after earlier deployments. Officials said no motive had been identified and there was no indication of other suspects.
A major winter storm struck the Midwest as holiday travel began, bringing the season’s first heavy snows to parts of Minnesota, North Dakota and western Wisconsin — up to 17 inches in some areas — and wind gusts over 40 mph that created whiteouts and blizzard-like conditions. State patrols reported hundreds of crashes and more than 500 spinouts and slide-offs, and there were weather-related fatalities. Forecasters warned of additional systems bringing more snow to the region and cold air across the eastern two-thirds of the country, along with rain in the Northeast later in the weekend. In New York, winds threatened balloon flights for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Travel nationwide remained heavy: AAA expected more than 73 million Americans to drive 50 miles or more for Thanksgiving. Airports have seen millions pass through TSA checkpoints, with thousands of flight delays partly tied to winter weather. Road congestion impacted cities like Nashville, Atlanta and New York, where Thanksgiving rush-hour traffic compounded holiday travel.
Internationally, a devastating high-rise fire in Hong Kong engulfed a residential complex that housed nearly 5,000 people. At least 44 people were confirmed dead and hundreds reported missing; parts of the building were under renovation and covered in bamboo scaffolding, which appeared to help the fire spread. Authorities said hundreds of firefighters battled the blaze and some arrests were reported.
In U.S. legal news, the last remaining criminal case against President Trump connected to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election was dismissed in Georgia after the prosecutor who took over the case declined to pursue charges. Separately, the president’s special envoy planned to travel to Moscow for talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine; Jared Kushner has been involved in early peace proposals that have been revised with input from Ukraine and Russia.
NASA and the International Space Station prepared to host a visiting crew in time for Thanksgiving. Astronauts showed off a can of Russian cranberry sauce and planned traditional Thanksgiving dishes aboard the station.
On consumer news, prices for imported artificial Christmas trees have risen because many are made overseas and are subject to U.S. tariffs. Meanwhile, prices for real, North American-grown trees have held steady. Farmers in northern Michigan expected strong demand for Fraser firs and promoted the scent and tradition of real trees.
Eye on America reports show Americans are becoming more active: a recent study indicated 80% of Americans — nearly 250 million people — are moving more through sports, exercise and recreation, an increase from 2019. Young people (ages 15–24) and women over 65 are among those most active, but more than 20% of Americans remain physically inactive.
A human-interest story highlighted a selfless gift: 25-year-old Nick Kolor, a diving instructor in the Florida Keys, donated a kidney to a nine-year-old child he did not know — an altruistic act that saved the child’s life. Kolor launched the “Spare Parts Project” to encourage others to consider living kidney donation.
Other brief headlines: the International Space Station crew prepared for a holiday visit; additional reporting traced rising costs and supply-chain effects on holiday items; and local and national reporters continued coverage of ongoing national security, legal, and travel developments.
From CBS News headquarters, Jericka Duncan anchored the broadcast and closed the program wishing viewers a healthy and happy Thanksgiving.
