Thanksgiving Eve: Guard Shooting, Storms, Hong Kong Fire, Travel

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 officials described as a targeted, ambush-style attack just blocks from the White House. Cellphone video showed first responders arriving quickly after 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 additional National Guard members deployed to Washington, where more than 2,100 Guardsmen were already on duty. Authorities 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 — with totals up to 17 inches in some areas — and gusts over 40 mph that produced whiteout and blizzard-like conditions. State patrols reported hundreds of crashes and more than 500 spinouts and slide-offs; there were weather-related fatalities. Forecasters warned of additional systems that could bring more snow and push arctic air across much of the country, while rain was expected in the Northeast later in the weekend. In New York City, high winds threatened the balloon flights at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Travel remained heavy nationwide. AAA expected more than 73 million Americans to travel 50 miles or more for the holiday. Airports continued to see millions of passengers pass through TSA checkpoints, with thousands of flight delays tied in part to winter weather. Road congestion added to travel headaches in cities such as Nashville, Atlanta and New York during the holiday rush.

Internationally, a catastrophic high-rise fire in Hong Kong engulfed a residential complex that housed thousands of people. At least 44 people were confirmed dead and hundreds were reported missing. Parts of the building were under renovation and wrapped in bamboo scaffolding, which officials said appeared to help the blaze spread. Hundreds of firefighters battled the inferno and authorities reported some arrests as investigations continued.

In U.S. legal and diplomatic news, the last remaining criminal case in Georgia connected to President Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election was dismissed after the prosecutor who took over the case declined to pursue charges. Separately, the president’s special envoy planned to travel to Moscow to pursue talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine; Jared Kushner has been involved in early peace proposals that have been revised with input from both Ukraine and Russia.

Back on Earth and above it, NASA and the International Space Station prepared to welcome a visiting crew in time for Thanksgiving. Astronauts even displayed a can of Russian cranberry sauce and planned to enjoy traditional holiday dishes aboard the station.

On the consumer front, prices for imported artificial Christmas trees have climbed — partly because many are made overseas and subject to U.S. tariffs — while prices for North American-grown real trees have remained steadier. Farmers in northern Michigan are expecting strong demand for Fraser firs and are promoting the scent and tradition of real trees.

A new study featured on Eye on America found that about 80% of Americans — roughly 250 million people — are moving more through sports, exercise and recreation compared with 2019. Young adults (15–24) and women over 65 were among those showing notable activity gains, though more than 20% of Americans remain physically inactive.

A human-interest story highlighted 25-year-old Nick Kolor, a Florida Keys diving instructor who donated a kidney to a nine-year-old stranger and launched the 'Spare Parts Project' to encourage more living donations.

CBS News continued reporting on ongoing national security, legal and travel developments. Jericka Duncan anchored Thursday’s broadcast and closed the program wishing viewers a healthy and happy Thanksgiving.