on kpix5 and streaming on cbsn bay area, with hundreds of flights canceled across the country bay area travelers are hoping they can get home to see their families. good afternoon. i am amanda starrantino. >> i am len kiese. airlines are blaming omicron variant for canceling hundreds of flights as families try to head out for the holidays. justin andrews has more on the frantic travel rush. >> reporter: it is a mad dash as people are flocking to flights so they can see family and friends they couldn't see this time last year. omicron is top of mind but not keeping the travelers from getting on their flights. >> fully boosted so i am hopeful that things won't be a problem. >> reporter: airports are seeing a surge in traveler as

doctors warn of omicron surge. >> i am not too fearful. i feel we should go on with our lives. >> reporter: leaving the bay area after spending quality time with family. concerns are growing wide as doctors say omicron is highly contagious. it is rapidly spreading so much that major airlines like united canceled 120 flights due to staff shortages. >> i am praying i get home quick and safe. >> reporter: united saying the variant had a direct impact on flight crews. delta, jetblue, other airlines have canceled flights. david is heading to canada. >> it's about managing risk, understanding what your risk is and making choices. >> reporter: airports are projected to see nearly 90% of prepandemic numbers. people are just wanting to see the ones they love. >> excited but cautious. i am getting to see one of my nieces for the first time since she was born in august 2020. >> reporter: we have seen more people going to testing and

booster sites before traveling to make sure they're protected. >> i got tested before i came. >> reporter: 2 million people have passed through check points every day since mid december, almost doubling numbers they saw this time last year. president biden is announcing he is lifting travel ban on eight southern african countries. according to the white house the restrictions will be lifted as soon as new year's day. the restrictions were imposed on november 29. the white house says the temporary travel bans brought scientists necessary time to study the variant first discovered in south africa. university of hawaii football team pulling out of its own state's bowl game due to covid-19. they were set to host memphis tigers but several players and transfers is why it is pullin ouof the hawaii bowl. are helping you stay on top

of the pandemic. we have a vaccine and testing resource guide at the very top of kpix.com. crews are working to clean up a gas spill along i-680. we have been telling you this all day. this was the scene after the semi overturned. around 100 homes were evacuated because of the smell. multiple hazard material teams are working to clean the gas that spilled into the storm drain. the police department estimates it will take up to 12 hours to reopen the stretch of freeway. in a few hours chp will begin the maximum holiday enforcement period. every available officer will be on the roads looking for drunk drivers. enforcement period kicks off at 6:00 tonight and runs through sunday. last year officers made nearly 600 arrests during the same period. the bon air bridge replacement is nearing completion. workers rebuilding are on track to complete the project by

june. the public works director says pile driving is complete and equipment has been removed from the creek. the project consisted of upgrading signals and lighting as well as a multi use path on both sides of the bridge. a beautiful afternoon. of course we have been seeing rounds of rain, so it is nice to catch sunshine as well. here is a live look with our san francisco cam looking across the bay. you see patches peeking through those clouds. high def doppler after a wet start to our day with the front that moved across our area earlier this morning. you see quiet conditions. we did pick up within the last 24 hours about an inch and a quarter in richmond, mount umunhum. a half inch in red wood city and peninsula and san francisco about .4 of an inch. we are catching a break from the rain for now this afternoon. that's going to change as we look to christmas day with another round of rain. we'll talk about what you can

expect for the holiday weekend forecast, coming up. >> thank you. san jose police want to know what led to a double shooting. this happened just before midnight on vine street east of 280. police say two men were taken to a hospital. both are okay. no arrests have been made so far in this case. a congressional panel is investigating live nation's role in the astro world tragedy in houston. the panel will look into security planning for the event and steps the company took after it was declared a mass casualty event. ten people died as a packed crowd surged to a stage where rapper travis scott was performing. live nation has until january 7 to respond and has been requested to brief the panel on january 12. two georgia election workers are suing, claim one america news and donald trump's former lawyer destroyed their reputations and prompted supporters to harass them after claiming fraud in the 2020 presidential election. free man and moss say they are

victims of political lies. giuliani and one america news are facing other charges related. voted to pass mayor breed's tenderloin emergency order. after a ten hour meeting the public expressed concerns as well as support after the plan to declare a state of emergency in the tenderloin. supporters hope this plan leads to more resources for those in need. opponents worry increased police presence will result in addicts being sent to jail. marin will be using $500,000 it received through american rescue plan act to help manage homeless camps. the board of supervisors voted to approve the allocation. it will be divided among three cities. sauce let oh, san rafael, novato. some people race home and some bay area residents are racing to get last minute shopping done. there was a steady flow of

customers earlier today full of shoppers getting their last minute gifts. some say they are planning to keep their holiday small and mellow because of the latest variant. >> most definitely. my immediate family is pretty small. me, mom, my sister, my niece. we usually get together and watch nba. other than that stay local, cozy, and warm. >> if you are looking for something fun to do, the ice rink is open every day. still ahead on kpix5 and streaming on cbsn bay area, shareholders are calling on apple to look into allegations of civil rights violations. when the company is expected to take the next step. another shortage putting a stopper on some americans' holiday cheer. what's causing a glass bottle shortage.

a group of apple shareholders calling on the company to under take a civil rights audit. three shareholders submitted a resolution calling for the inquiry and learned it will be

on the company's proxy follows efforts to diversity, equity, inclusion. wineries and distilleries are latest to be affected by supply chain issues. that's because there is a shortage of glass bottles and it could impact your holiday cheer. in the business of making whiskey. >> we wanted to resurrect the family name and whiskey was the way to do it. >> his tasting room and distillery has grown over the last nine years but these days his passion for making spirits has been shaken. this is where you keep your glass bottles. >> it is. we are living bottle to bottle. >> that's what's in here now? >> correct. >> this is just going to fulfill the next order. >> that's right. >> u.s. is facing a glass bottle shortage. >> even domestically we are at

about a 20% increase already. these are glass bottles that are already created. >> most of us are looking for different distributors. >> reporter: dana owns a micro winery and is president of a collective representing you are an wineries, cideries. it's a concern and is a concern since wineries need many types of bottles. >> burgundy bottles, bottles for chardonay. they're all shaped differently and have different purposes. >> some may struggle. >> i have never seen anything like it. >> how much have you had to raise prices? >> so far i haven't yet, but it is inevitable. >> creating holiday spirit is coming at a higher cost and it is not clear when this bottle

shortage will ease. christmas celebrations have kicked off around the globe. santa has been seen getting ready for his big night as cbs' ian lee reports. it's christmastime all over the world. the spirit is real in bethlehem. palestinian christians paraded in front of the church of the nativity where tradition holds jesus was born. at the vatican, pope francis urged people to be humble this holiday season. earlier today, the snow was thick as the man in red also gave a christmas message before his big night. >> now it is time to turn the worries into plenty of goodwill. let's give time to children and young people and do something together. >> santa stopped in paris to swim with the fish before

heading down to brazil to deliver 300,000 meals to people in need. but there are concerns covid will play a grinch again this christmas. here in the uk the prime minister used his annual holiday message to urge everyone to get vaccinated. >> getting jabbed not just for themselves, ourselves, but for friends and family and everyone we meet. that after all is the teaching of jesus christ. >> santa's helpers swapped reindeer for elephants to deliver hand sanitizers and masks to children. in spain there is a holiday rush to get tested for covid to give folks peace of mind when visiting family during the season of peace. it has been a wet week with system after system for us. it's nice to catch a little bit sunshine as well. here is a beautiful view with our sales salesforce tower camera as we look east across

the bay with breaks in the clouds, a little bit sunshine. our temperatures a the this hour, we are looking at those temperatures in the 50s. 54 in concord, oakland 53 and also san jose, santa rosa, 52 livermore and san francisco. a breezy afternoon with westerly winds at 16 at half moon bay, 21 mile-per-hour winds in oakland, 20 concord, 17 mile-per-hour winds in petaluma. this afternoon we are catching sunshine, a mix of sun and clouds with daytime highs in low to mid 50s. chillier compared to yesterday afternoon. we are catching a break from the rain. this afternoon it's going to be short lived for us. we are talking our next storm system that will bring the return of rain, another round of rain as we look to christmas day. so let's first take you hour by hour. we are catching a mix of sun and clouds as we head through our afternoon. a few showers are possible late tonight. watch as we look to tomorrow morning.

christmas morning does look wet. we are looking at 8:00 a.m. and that line of rain indicates that cold front pushing through. at 8:00 a.m., wet conditions, wet for late morning for the south bay and still looking at some showers through the afternoon for tomorrow. estimated rainfall amounts, this is through december 30, two to three inches of rain for the north bay, one to two and a half around the bay, two to four for the santa cruz mountains. winter storm warnings still in effect, heavy snow in the sierra. that's in effect until 10:00 a.m. sunday and we are looking at a winter storm warning for lake and mendocino counties as well. heavenly picking up in the last 24 hours a foot of snow with winter storm warnings in effect and several more feet of snow as we look to our weekend and into monday. the seven-day forecast san francisco, oakland, san jose, we are looking at rounds of rain coming our way. again especially wet saturday

morning, christmas morning and drying out after that with a few showers sunday and another round of rain monday into tuesday. inland east bay, north bay, coast, rain chances every day in the seven-day forecast and we will be watching with those cold temperatures next week the chance for lowland snow. be watching all that as we look to the next several days. back to you. >> thanks, mary. coming up, during holiday season we usually think about donating money. today we'll learn why donating your time is as important. streaming today, our full interview with dr. monica gandy. she shares her advice ahead of holiday gatherings. find this on kpix.com or the kpix app. we are also on

enjoy the gift of being together. the binaxnow covid-19 antigen self test has the same technology used by doctors and detects multiple variants. so in just 15 minutes, you can test, know, and go. available in stores and online. ♪♪♪

enjoy the gift of being together. the binaxnow covid-19 antigen self test has the same technology used by doctors and detects multiple variants. so in just 15 minutes, you can test, know, and go. available in stores and online. ♪♪♪ welcome back. if you are low on cash and want to help those in need this holiday season, volunteering your time is just as food for b families campaign mary lee

breaks down why volunteering is so important. >> i am red wood volunteer food bank in santa rosa where volunteers are working hard this holiday season and really all year long for our community. you have logged about 900 hours. how does it feel to really step up and give back? >> feels great. this is a great organization to be part of. being one of many volunteers at the warehouse or distributions and it's a way you show up and immediately are making a difference in people's lives. >> what was it that inspired you to start volunteering? >> i was aware of the food bank before because i used to deliver food for another nonprofit. there was a huge need in the community and it was a way to have immediate impact. >> that's so great. also joining us is liz berry at the red wood empire food bank. how does it feel to see so many volunteers? there is such a need in our

community for this. >> it's amazing. the volunteers are so great. the need has been huge. since start of the pandemic we have seen twice as many people. the lines aren't stopping. we can't do it without the work of the great volunteers. >> thank you both so much. hopefully you can do your part this holiday season to give to help our community. go to kpix.com/give. thank you both so much. >> so many people helping out. a wheel of fortune contestant is getting a new car despite failing to win one due to technicality. audi is giving the q3. she almost got one as a price on the show but paused too long while answering a puzzle. criticism of the loss poured in. on twitter a spokesperson for audi says technicality or not, it wants to give her some holiday cheer. >> so awesome. >> she still wins. >> a great surprise. still to come, we are tracking santa clause with

norad. we've got where he was spotted last. today on the drew barrymore show ... watch

a breath of fresh air

coming to the port of oakland. the $5 million upgrade that could really drive down emissions. that story and more is coming up at 3:00. let's get a last check of weather. you can see the sunshine on our roof cam. low to mid 50s at your lunchtime hour. we are looking at a mix of sun and clouds. here we go for tonight. a few showers are possible. tomorrow morning, christmas morning at 6:00 a.m., you see that line of rain. that is pushing across the north bay for tomorrow morning. here we are at 8:00 a.m. a wet christmas morning. here we go at 2:00 p.m., that's pushing to the south bay and inland east bay. 5:00 p.m., still a few showers for tomorrow. back to you. it is stmaeve u santclause is coming to town. here is a live look at the santa norad tracker.can even ca

command center at 877-hi norad. right now he is in the democratic republic of the congo and so far has delivered more than 3 billion presents. >> oh he is busy. >> hey santa. >> boys and girls are just waiting. >> y'all still be good. he is still watching. >> all the time. that's it for the kpix5 news a

["we wish you a merry christmas" instrumental] ♪♪♪ >> eric: here we go, you two. here we are. merry christmas eve. >> paris: as to you. famous eggnog. >> eric: oh, you remember? zende, here. >> zende: thank you. >> eric: that's for you. go ahead. >> paris: how could i forget? cheers. >> zende: cheers. >> quinn: so eric told me that rick and r.j. are skiing? >> ridge: yeah. >> brooke: i wasn't thrilled when they told us that news, but you know? at least they're together. and they're having fun. >> ridge: yeah, and you're going to see them tomorrow when we're all together. we're gonna video chat with them, all right? it's going to be okay. >> brooke: okay. >> ridge: excuse me one second, carter's here. >> quinn: so, before one of us says something that's going to, you know, set the other one off, ju