>>>
>>> NOW
>>> NOW ON #HTOWN RUSH, A HUGE DAY ON CAPITOL HILL AND TEXAS
LAWMAKERS PREPARE TO TAKE
CENTER STAGE CHALLENGING JOE
BIDEN'S WHITE HOUSE WIN.
>> I PROMISE YOU COME THIS
WEDNESDAY, WE'LL HAVE OUR DELAY
IN CONGRESS.
IN CONGRESS. >> WHAT IT ALL MEANS.
WHAT COMES NEXT AND OUR VERIFY
TEAM TAKING ON THE VIRAL
CLAIMS.
CLAIMS.
CLAIMS. >>> VACCINE DELAYS CAUSING
SERIOUS CONCERNS.
SERIOUS CONCERNS. >> THERE ARE VAST AREAS WHERE
CLINICS DON'T EXIST.
>>> AND HOW TEXAS RANKS WHEN
THIS COMES TO VACCINATING
RESIDENTS.
RESIDENTS. >>> YOU ASKED, WE ANSWERED.
WE'RE GETTING TO THE BOTTOM OF
WHY SO MANY ARE STILL WAITING
FOR THOSE STIMULUS CHECKS TO
ARRIVE .
ARRIVE .
ARRIVE . >>> WE ARE TRACKING SHOWERS.
WE'VE GOT THE TIMING COMING UP.
>>> LATER, HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS
OF BUCKS ON THE LINE.
#HTOWN RUSH STARTS RIGHT NOW
IS.
>>>
>>> NOW
>>> NOW AT 6:30, WE TAKE YOU OUT TO WASHINGTON, D.C. WE'RE
FOLLOWING TWO STORIES.
>>> BREAKING OVERNIGHT, ONE
GEORGIA SENATE RACE IS SETTLED.
THE OTHER IS STILL UP IN THE
AIR.
AIR.
AIR. IT
AIR. IT COMES AS LAWMAKERS MEET TO
PUT THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE TO
REST BUT IT WILL NOT HAPPEN
WITHOUT A FIGHT.
I'M STEPHANIE SIMMONS.
FIRST, LET'S CHECK IN WITH
BLAKE MATHEWS WHO'S IN FOR
CHITA CRAFT.
CHITA CRAFT. >> YOU SOUND LOVELY THIS
MORNING, AS USUAL.
THE WEATHER WILL NOT BE LOVELY.
THERE COULD BE DAMAGING
STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS AND AN
ISOLATED TORNADO.
ISOLATED TORNADO. MOST OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS IS IN
THAT YELLOW ZONE.
THAT'S A TWO OUT OF FIVE, SO
JUST A HEADS UP ON THAT.
WE ARE LOOKING AT THE
POSSIBILITY OF HEAVY RAIN, UP
TO AN INCH OF ACCUMULATION.
THAT WILL BE JUST AROUND DRIVE
TIME THIS EVENING.
THERE'S THE FRONT THAT WILL
TRIGGER THE WHOLE THING.
AS IT PUSHES IN, YOU CAN SEE
THE SQUALL LINE PUSHING THROUGH
HOUSTON.
HOUSTON.
HOUSTON. WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THE TIMING
AND WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT COMING
UP IN A FEW FUSE.
>>> BREAKING OVERNIGHT, THE
SENATE'S FATE STILL HANGS IN
THE BALANCE AS THE VOTES ARE
COUNTED.
COUNTED.
COUNTED. DEMOCRAT RAPHAEL WARNOCK HAS
WON HIS RACE BUT THE OTHER IS
STILL TOO CLOSE TO CALL.
DEBRA ALFARONE HAS THE LATEST.
>> Reporter: GEORGIANS FLOCKED
TO THE POLLS ON TUESDAY.
>> YOU CAN'T COMPLAIN IF YOU
DON'T VOTE.
DON'T VOTE. >> Reporter: THE RUNOFF
ELECTION COULD SHIFT THE
BALANCE OF POWER IN CONGRESS
>> GOD GAVE US A VOICE TO BE
HEARD.
HEARD.
HEARD. >>
HEARD. >> Reporter: CBS NEWS PROJECTS
DEMOCRAT RAPHAEL WARNOCK HAS
BEATEN REPUBLICAN INCUMBENT
KELLY LOEFFLER THANKS TO STRONG
SUPPORT FROM BLACK VOTERS AND
YOUNG VOTERS.
YOUNG VOTERS. >> I AM GOING TO THE SENATE TO
WORK FOR ALL OF GEORGIA.
>> Reporter: BUT LOEFFLER
DIDN'T CONCEDE WHEN SHE
ADDRESSED HER SUPPORTERS
OVERNIGHT.
OVERNIGHT. >> IT'S WORTH IT FOR THIS
ELECTION TO LAST UNTIL
TOMORROW.
TOMORROW.
TOMORROW. WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT
EVERY VOTE IS COUNTED.
>> Reporter: THE OTHER RACE
BETWEEN DAVID PERDUE AND JON
OSSOFF IS STILL UP IN THE AIR
AS MORE VOTES ARE COUNTED.
>> ONE VOTE CAN MAKE ALL THE
DIFFERENCE.
DIFFERENCE. >> Reporter: MOST OF THE
REMAINING VOTES COME FROM AREAS
THAT FAVOR DEMOCRATS.
IF BOTH DEMOCRATS WIN IT GIVES
JOE BIDEN A UNIFIED CONGRESS,
MAKING HIS LEGISLATION MORE
LIKELY TO MASS.
>> GEORGIA VOTERS HAVE NEVER
HAD MORE POWER THAN YOU HAVE
TODAY.
TODAY.
TODAY. >>
TODAY. >> Reporter: OSSOFF WOULD
BECOME GEORGIA'S FIRST JEWISH
SENATOR.
SENATOR.
SENATOR. WARNOCK WOULD BE THEIR FIRST
BLACK SENATOR.
BLACK SENATOR. >> THE IMPROBABLE JOURNEY THAT
LED ME TO THIS PLACE IN THIS
HISTORIC PLACE IN AMERICA COULD
ONLY HAPPEN HERE.
> Reporter: THE LOSING
CANDIDATE CAN REQUEST A RECOUNT
IF IT'S WITHIN A HALF
PERCENTAGE.
PERCENTAGE. DEBRA ALFARONE.
DEBRA ALFARONE. CBS NEWS, WASHINGTON.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT.
WARNOCK'S LEAD WAS OVER THE
MARGIN.
MARGIN.
MARGIN. PERDUE'S IS WITHIN THE MARGIN.
>>> CONGRESS WILL MEET TODAY
TOP COUNT THE ELECTORAL VOTES
BUT IT WILL NOT HAPPEN WITHOUT
A FIGHT.
A FIGHT.
A FIGHT. USUALLY THIS IS A SIMPLE
CEREMONIAL VOTE.
CEREMONIAL VOTE. HOW DOES THIS WORK.
USUALLY THIS IS A CEREMONIAL
EVENT BUT NOT THIS YEAR.
CONGRESS NEEDS TO MEET ON
JANUARY 6th.
JANUARY 6th. BOTH CHAMBERS, THE HOUSE WILL
GATHER.
GATHER.
GATHER. THE RESULTS OF COLLEGE ARE OPEN
ALPHABETICALLY BY STATE WITH
APPOINTED TOLLERS FROM THE
HOUSE AND SENATE, READING THE
RESULTS INTO THE RECORD AT THE
END VICE-PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE
ANNOUNCES THE RESULTS MAKING IT
OFFICIAL.
OFFICIAL.
OFFICIAL. AFTER THE TELLERS ANNOUNCE THE
RESULTS FROM THE STATE, ANY
MEMBER CAN OBJECT.
THAT OBJECTION MUST BE WRITTEN
AND SIGNED BY MEMBER OF THE
HOUSE AND SENATE.
IF THAT HAPPENS, THE JOINT
SESSION IS SUSPENDED AND THE
HOUSE AND SENATE GO INTO
SEPARATE SESSIONS TO CONSIDER
THE OBJECTION.
THE OBJECTION. FOR THAT OBJECTION TO BE
SUSTAINED, IT HAS TO BE
APPROVED BY A SIMPLE MAJORITY
IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE.
IF ONE DOES AND THE OTHER
DOESN'T, THE ELECTORAL VOTES
ARE STILL COUNTED.
DOZENS OF LAWMAKERS PLAN TO
CHALLENGE IT INCLUDING TED
CRUZ.
CRUZ.
CRUZ. JOHN CORNYN SAID HE WILL NOT
OBJECT.
OBJECT.
OBJECT. >>> HOUSTON AREA BUSINESSES
WILL HAVE TO ROLL BACK THEIR
REOPENINGS.
REOPENINGS. YESTERDAY THE HOSPITALIZATION
RATE HIT 15%.
THAT MEANS ALL BARS ACROSS NINE
HOUSTON COUNTIES MUST CLOSE
LAND RESTAURANTS MUST ROLL
CAPACITY BACK FROM 75% TO 50%.
THAT INCLUDES BARS THAT HAVE
RESTAURANT PERMITS.
RESTAURANT PERMITS. ALL ELECTIVE SURGERIES MUST
ALSO BE PUT ON HOLD.
>> WE NEED THE TRAJECTORY TO
DRAMATICALLY CHANGE.
DRAMATICALLY CHANGE. WE NEED OUR HOSPITALIZATIONS TO
SLOW DOWN AND GO DOWNWARDS.
CURRENTLY NONE OF THAT IS
HAPPENING.
HAPPENING. >> ONCE AGAIN, HEALTH OFFICIALS
ARE ASKING YOU TO WEAR YOUR
MASK AND STAY HOME TO HELP GET
THOSE NUMBERS DOWN.
>>> NOW TO THE BEST SHOT TO END
THE PANDEMIC, THE COVID-19
VACCINE.
VACCINE.
VACCINE. WE ARE SEEING DELAYS IN GETTING
THE
THE
THE SHOTS
THE SHOTS TO PEOPLE WHO NEED IT THE
MOST.
MOST.
MOST. MICHELLE CHOI HAS MORE.
>> Reporter: IF YOU'VE BEEN
WONDERING HOW QUICKLY LEADERS
HAVE BEEN GETTING THE COVID
VACCINE OUT, IT'S MOVING SLOWER
THAN WE'D LIKE.
TEXAS IS RANKED 20th.
TO BREAK THAT DOWN EVEN
FRTHER,
FRTHER,
FRTHER, OUT OF THE 1.3 MILLION DOSES
DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT TEXAS,
ABOUT 439,000 DOSES OR ONE
THIRD HAVE BEEN GIVEN OUT SO
FAR.
FAR.
FAR. LOCAL LEADERS HAVE BEEN WORKING
TO GET IT TO THOSE IN NEED.
THE HARDEST HIT WHERE THE
HISPANIC AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN
MEMBERS LIVE, THERE ARE HARDLY
ANY CLINICS.
ANY CLINICS. NOW REPRESENTATIVE SHEILA
JACKSON LEE IS ASKING TO OPEN
UP TEMPORARY VACCINATION SITES.
>> ELDERLY HISPANIC SENIORS,
ELDERLY AFRICAN-AMERICAN
ELDERLY AFRICAN-AMERICAN SENIORS COMING OUT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS, THERE'S ALREADY
AN
AN
AN ECONOMIC CHALLENGE, A KNOWLEDGE
CHALLENGE.
CHALLENGE. YOU HAVE TO GO TO THEM.
>> Reporter: DURING PHASE ONE,
THE FOCUS WAS TO DISTRIBUTE
VACCINES ONLY AT HOSPITALS BUT
AS WE MOVE INTO PHASE 1B WE'RE
TOLD MORE SITES WILL COME
ONLINE.
ONLINE.
ONLINE. GUYS?
GUYS?
GUYS? >>
GUYS? >> PEOPLE REALLY ARE DESPERATE
TO GET THE VACCINE, THE COVID-
19 VACCINE.
19 VACCINE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, A GREAT
RESOURCE, JUST TEXT THE WORD
VACCINE TO 713-526-1111.
WE'LL SEND YOU BACK SOME VERY,
VERY HELPFUL LINKS.
>>> A CONFRONTATION BETWEEN
HOUSTON POLICE AND THE GUYS
THEY DESCRIBED AS A SERIAL
ROBBERY CREW ENDED WITH ONE
SUSPECT DEAD AND TWO OTHERS IN
CUSTODY.
CUSTODY.
CUSTODY. >> Reporter: HOUSTON POLICE AND
ATF CORNERED THE
THREE SUSPECTS DURING AN
OPERATION ON TUESDAY.
>> THE DRIVER CAME OUT ARMED
WITH A PISTOL, RAISED THE
PISTOL AND ONE OF OUR CST UNITS
DISCHARGED ONE ROUND FROM A
PATROL RIFLE STRIKING THE
SUSPECT.
SUSPECT.
SUSPECT. >> Reporter: MEDICS TRIED TO
SAVE THE INJURED MAN BUT HE
DIDN'T SURVIVE.
DIDN'T SURVIVE. TWO OTHERS WILL BE CHARGED.
>>> WE UNDERSTAND THERE ARE A
LOT OF GROUPS.
>> Reporter: PROTESTERS HIT
THE STREETS IN KENOSHA,
WISCONSIN.
WISCONSIN. DEMONSTRATIONS BEGAN AFTER THE
DISTRICT ATTORNEY SAID HE WHO
NOT PURSUE CHARGES AGAINST THE
OFFICER WHO SHOT JACOB BLAKE IN
THE BACK.
THE BACK.
THE BACK. THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY SAID THE
OFFICER ACTED IN SELF-DEFENSE.
>>> SOMETHING UNPRECEDENTED IN
THE RACE FOR MAYOR IN
DICKINSON, A TIE.
THE TWO CANDIDATES, JENNIFER
LAWRENCE AND SEAN SKIPWORTH
EACH RECEIVED 1,010 VOTES.
SO TOMORROW NIGHT A DRAW WILL
DECIDE THE WINNER.
>>> CONGRESSMAN KEVIN BRADY OF
THE WOODLANDS TESTED POSITIVE
FOR THE VIRUS.
HE TESTED NEGATIVE ON NEW
YEAR'S DAY.
YEAR'S DAY. HE SAID HE WILL BEGIN TREATMENT
TODAY AND SHOULD BE FINE AND
THOSE ARE THE BIG STORIES ON
THIS WEDNESDAY MORNING.
>>> WELL, A FEW DAYS AFTER THE
IRS LAUNCHED THE PAYMENT
PORTAL, A LOT OF YOU STILL HAVE
QUESTIONS.
QUESTIONS. I'LL TACKLE SOME OF THE MOST
COMMON ONES.
COMMON ONES. THIS QUESTION IS, APPARENTLY
MINE WENT TO H&R BLOCK AND, OF
COURSE, I CAN'T GET THROUGH ON
THE PHONE.
THE PHONE. THOSE WHO FILED WITH H&R BLOCK
OR TURBO TAX ARE HAVING
PROBLEMS.
PROBLEMS.
PROBLEMS. IT'S WHETHER THEY USED THEIR
TAX RETURN TO PAY FEES OR PAY
FEES UP FRONT.
THEY SAID THE MONEY WENT TO A
BANK ACCOUNT THAT WASN'T
THEIRS.
THEIRS.
THEIRS. IT APPEARS THE IRS SENT THE
MONEY TO THE TAX PREPARERS
INSTEAD.
INSTEAD.
INSTEAD. H&R BLOCK SAID THEY ARE SENDING
THAT MONEY THE SAME WAY YOU
RECEIVED YOUR REFUND.
EITHER A DIRECT DEPOSIT, CHECK
OR EMERALD CARD.
NEXT UP LAURA ASKED WHEN I
CHECKED, IT SAID IT WAS SET TO
DEPOSIT ON THE 4th.
IT'S IN A DIFFERENT BANK
ACCOUNT THAN I USED BEFORE.
IF YOU CAN'T GET THE ISSUE
RESOLVED, ANYONE WHO IS
ELIGIBLE FOR A CHECK AND DIDN'T
GET ONE WOULD HAVE TO FILE A
CLAIM ON THEIR TAX RETURN.
FINALLY DESTINY COMMENTED I GOT
MY STIMULUS CHECK DEPOSITED
JUST FINE.
JUST FINE. NOT A THING HAS CHANGED.
I HAD THE STIMULUS SENT ON
JANUARY 4th, 2021.
THE GET MY PAYMENT APP SAID
UNAVAILABLE FOR NO REASON.
A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE ASKING
QUESTIONS.
QUESTIONS. THEY GOT THE FIRST STIMULUS
PAYMENT WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM.
REMEMBER, THAT ONE WAS BASED ON
YOUR 2019 TAXES.
SO IF THERE WERE CHANGES LIKE
USING A DIFFERENT TAX PREPARER
OR MAKE MORE MONEY THAT COULD
AFFECT THE PAYMENT.
MAYBE YOU DIDN'T GET AS MUCH AS
YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO.
YOU WILL STILL BE ABLE TO GET
THAT MONEY WHEN YOU FILE YOUR
2020 TAXES BUT YOU'LL HAVE TO
WAIT.