Widespread voter fraud. Plus, what the president plans to do with the reported 170 million hes raised since election day. Bidens Economic Team. The president elects message to the American People help is on the way. Odonnell Congress Considers a lastditch effort todu new dose of covid relief. So whats in the nearly 1 trillion bipartisan plan, and what will it mean for you . Dangerous winter storm the driving snow that might have sent this Freight Train off the rails. An actors journey the oscar nominated star of juno announces he is transgender, and speaks out about the violence their community faces. And, on this giving tuesday, we salute a 13yearold determined to help kids in need. This is the cbs evening news with norah odonnell, reporting from the nations capital. Odonnell good evening to our viewers in the west and thank you for joining us. Were going to begin with breaking news on the biggest and most complex Vaccination Program in american history. Tonight, a c. D. C. Advisory panel has just approved a plan to give the first doses of coronavirus vaccines to healthcare workers and People Living in nursing homes. That means that if the f. D. A. Approves the vaccines its reviewing, as many as 20 million americans could begin getting shots just two weeks from now, on december 15. Still, experts warn, that wont be soon enough to stop tens of thousands of americans from dying from the virus, which is now spreading out of control. Tonight, new york city is advising older people and those with underlying conditions not to leave their homes as the rate of infections there continues to climb. And with hospitalizations hitting another record high today, the nations top Infectious Disease expert, dr. Anthony fauci, is suggesting some areas may need to consider new lockdowns. And then theres also that breaking news tonight out of the justice department, where the attorney general, one of the president s most loyal defenders, now says hes found no evidence of fraud that would change who won the election. Thats another blow to the president s attempts to overturn the results. We have a lot of new reporting ening, norah. Our family tonight. Tinue to sam is covering it all. Cbs mola lenghi is going to lead off our coverage tonight from new york city. Good evening, mola. Reporter well, good evening, norah. As cases continue to surge across the country, folks continue to wait in line, some for hours, just to get a covid19 test. This as tonight were learning who the c. D. C. Is recommending to be the first to get vaccinated. Today, an official road map to ending this pandemic as members of a federal Advisory Committee officially voted 131 on who should be first in line. First up, our Health Care Heroes and nursing home patients ravaged by the virus, 24 million americans who could start getting the first doses in about two weeks. Once approved by the f. D. A. , the first batch of Pfizer Vaccines is expected to be delivered to hospitals on december 15; the first batch of the moderna vaccine, a week later. From there, states will use this road map to get the vaccine in the arms of americans, which is expected to take about five months. Dr. William shaeffner is an adviser for the committee that voted today. What are you still concerned about . Delivering it in the United States alone to 330 Million People. Well have to be reassuring. Well have to be persuasive. There are people who are skeptical, lots of people. Reporter the next phases, expected to begin in january, will forecast on the 87 million essential workers teachers, police, firefighters; and workers in Food Production and transportation. Phase 1c will include adults over the age of 65, and those with highrisk medical conditions, more than 153 Million People. This is the most complicated Vaccine Campaign in United States history. Reporter dr. Tom frieden, the former c. D. C. Director, says there are a lot of challenges in this rollout. And unless congress provides substantial funds to state and local governments, there is going to be a lot of difficulty getting this vaccine used as soon and safely as possible. Reporter Ohio Governor mike dewine has a plan in place. The National Guard is in charge here. They have been practicing. Theyre ready to go. This is necessary to get them out to the smaller the smaller counties. Reporter well, it will be up to state officials in each state as to whether to follow c. D. C. Guidance throughout the rollout of the vaccine, which, as you can imagine, will be a daunting responsibility considering Health Officials say at least 70 of americans ultimately need to be vaccinated if were going to flatten the covid19 curve once and for all, norah. Odonnell mola lenghi with that long line in the cold tonight to get tests. Thank you. We have a report tonight from two covid hot spots in americas heartland. South dakota and indiana have the highest rates of covid hospitalizations per capita in the entire country. Cbs David Begnaud spoke with battleweary healthcare workers on the front lines of the crisis. If i dont have covid, i cannot spread covid. Reporter we start in south dakota. As the virus rages, so does the debate. Its just a mask, wear it. This is a Public Health crisis. I dont know what else to say. When did government get to dictate what we wear. Dictate what we wear . Reporter that was in rapid city last night, in a state that leads the nation in percapita hospitalizations. For covid, indiana ranks second. Scott samlan is an emergency room doctor in hammond, indiana, near chicago. We first talked to him back in march. This is the most scared ive ever been being an e. R. Doctor. Reporter that was at the start of the pandemic. Now . Start pandemic. Ne months and now. I were still at it. Im emotionally and mentally fatigued. And physically. I think everybody is. Reporter tonight, indiana set another record for hospitalizations, nearly quadrupling in just two months. This 25bed hospital in rural alssouri cannot keep up. It is overwhelmed. Take florida today, they hit one million total coronavirus cases. What is it about . Patient care reporter in new york, there was a walkout. We dont have enough staffing so we cant take adequate care ofthe patients. Of the patients. Reporter and listen to this nurse in north dakota one day your patient will be doing okay on a couple of liters of oxygen, and the next day theyre needing to be vented. Reporter one in four north dakotaans know someone who died from the virus. From the virus. Meanwhile, this from dr. Anthony fauci if you start to see overrunning of your hospitals and your health care systems, i can assure you that there will be serious consideration for lockdown. Reporter in michigan is patricia and leslie mcwaters, married nearly 50 years. Family members say both were taken to the same hospital where patricia worked as a nurse. They both died at exactly 4 23 p. M. , two days before thanksgiving. May their memory be a blessing. You know, the first cases of coronavirus in the United States . Turns out it was found as far back as december of 2019, even before china reported its first case. How do we know that . Well, it turns out the c. D. C. Sent researchers to look at red cross blood donations, and, norah, in some of those donations from december of 2019, they found blood that had covid 19 antibodies in it. Odonnell it was really one of the most stunning revelations today. Sevid begnaud, thank you. Claims of ram today, President Trumps false claims of rampant ballot fraud were again debunked, this time by a surprising source. Attorney general william barr, a staunch trump ally, says theres no evidence to support the president s allegations. To support pre we get more now from cbs ben tracy. Reporter attorney general bill barr, seen entering the white house this afternoon just after delivering a major blow to President Trumps claims of election fraud, telling the associated press, to date, we have not seen fraud on a scale that could have affected a different outcome in the election. Its a significant repudiation from one of the president s most loyal cabinet members. This is playing with fire. Reporter . Who himself questioned mailin voting before the election, and afterwards told federal prosecutors to look for evidence of voter fraud. Now, barr is debunking wild claims by the Trump Campaign. One of its most characteristic features is its ability to flip votes. Reporter including from one time trump Attorney Sidney Powell that Voting Machines were programmed to change election results. Barr says his department looked into that and hasnt seen anything to substantiate the claim. This election was a fraud. It was a rigged election. Reporter President Trump continues making baseless accusations, and his campaign is firing back tonight, saying, with all due respect to the attorney general, there hasnt been any semblance of a department of justice investigation, again claiming ample evidence of illegal voting. But the Trump Campaign is racking up a string of legal defeats due to lack of evidence, even as it now sues the state of wisconsin in a desperate attempt to disqualify more than 221,000 ballots in the states two most democratic counties. Yesterday, joe biden was certified the winner of wisconsins election. What are the odds that they all switched, overnight . Reporter tonight, the head of President Trumps legal team, rudy giuliani, is denying reports that he discussed getting a preemptive pardon from the president , possibly for his business dealings in ukraine. And according to the new york times, the Trump Campaign has raised more than 170 million for its legal fight. But 75 of all contributions are actually going to the president s new Political Action committee, which can fund his future political efforts. Odonnell ben joins us now from the white house. And ben, i understand there is breaking news about a possible bribery for a pardo scheme. What do we know . Reporter yeah, norah, in this 20page, heavily redacted court filing, the department of justice reveals that for months its been investigating a conspiracy in which someone would offer a substantial political contribution in exchange for a president ial pardon. Now, this does not say who is being investigated or who wanted the pardon, but it does say that 50 Electronic Devices have been seized. We have asked the white house about this tonight, and they say they have no comment. Norah. Odonnell more to come on that. Ben tracy, thank you. Well, today, president elect joe biden introduced his new Economic Team, pledging to move quickly as the recovery slows, the pandemic wears on, and millions of households and businesses struggle to stay afloat. Heres cbs ed okeefe. Reporter president elect joe biden today unveiled the team he says will be responsible for rebuilding the american economy. Our message to everybody struggling right now is this help is on the way. Reporter the incoming Economic Team stands out for its diversity, with two African Americans and four women total, including the first to be tapped as treasury secretary, janet yellen. Firmformer fed chair signaled she will move quickly on the economy once confirmed. Its an american tragedy, and its essential that we move with urgency. Urgency. Reporter mr. Bidens choice reporter mr. Bidens choice for white house budget director, neera tanden, recalled how her immigrant mother from india relied for a time on federally subsidized housing and food stamps. Im here today because of social programs, because of budgetary choices, because of a government that saw my mothers dignity and gave her a chance. Reporter but tanden, head of the liberal think tank center for american progress, is facing stiff Republican Opposition for her sharp criticism of the g. O. P. If we want to make sure this nut job, tanden, doesnt become director of the budget, in charge of the office of management and budget, then make sure we win in georgia. Reporter georgia is a reference of course to those two Senate Runoff elections scheduled for january 5 in georgia, around the time the new congress is set to begin. Today, mr. Biden called on the senate to schedule confirmation hearings for his picks early next year, regardless of which Party Controls the senate. Norah. Odonnell ed okeefe, thank you. Unless Congress Acts soon, millions of americans will face eviction, a loss of unemployment benefits, or both. But there are signs of compromise after months of gridlock. Heres cbs nancy cordes. Reporter in miami today, this was the line for a chance to nab a 250 grocery gift card handed out by the city. My coworker picked me up at 3 15. We got here about maybe 3 50. Reporter in the morning . Yes. Reporter a vaccine may be in sight, but the job market is still ailing. Today, Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell urged congress to pass another big relief bill, now. The risk of overdoing it is less than the risk of underdoing it. Reporter Nura Moshtael it. Reporter nura mos agrees. Shes lost two jobs, forcing her and her son to move in with her mother in macon, georgia. I mean, its a little scary. I have a lot to be grateful for, that i have, you know, a roof over my head, anyway. Reporter a brief glimmer of hope came today when a Bipartisan Group of lawmakers announced a 900 billion compromise plan, with more funding for small businesses, state and local governments, and unemployment benefits. In a crisis, the people expect congress to act. Reporter which could we actually see a bill that is would have one ready ver we would have one ready very soon. Reporter but their plan was greeted with silence from House Speaker nancy pelosi, who wants a bill twice that size. The senates republican leader, mitch mcconnell, blew it off, too. We just dont have time to waste time. Reporter instead, he released his own, smaller proposal. Theres likely to be discussion about some additional package of some size next year, depending upon what the new administration wants to pursue. Reporter what all this means is that there are now multiple proposals of varying sizes floating around the capitol, but no consensus. Norah. Reporter nancy cordes, thank you. About 30 Million People got an early taste of winter today from a late autumn snowstorm. Heres cbs errol barnett. Reporter this major storm system is being felt from ohio to maine with dangerous Winter Weather all the way down the eastern seaboard. Drivers across ohio spinning their wheels as up to a foot of a foot of and wind gusts up to heavy snow and wind gus 35 Miles Per Hour caused whiteout conditions, the state declaring a snow emergency in several counties. The one word that sums up today . Devastating. Devastating. Reporter Shaker Heights public works assistance director john becker says his snow plow operators are working 12hour shifts, but we saw firsthand it isnt enough. I guess we should get out of the way so you can help this guy out. We appreciate that. Reporter an investigation under way in amherst tonight after this Freight Train derailed amid the snowstorm. No one was injured. High winds in maine sent trees crashing into homes, and a tornado touching down in northern florida causing minor damage. And back here in ohio, theres more to come. Arctic air is actually following this entire system, so wednesday and thursdays temperatures in the morning here outside of cleveland will feel like 20 e 20ees. In much of the midwest it will feel as if its in the teens, with some locations, norah, feeling as if it is in the single digits. Odonnell wow, winter is here. Errol barnett, thank you so much. And there is still much more news ahead on tonights cbs evening news. The oscarnominated star of juno shares a very personal announcement. Ts new . Grandparents we want to put money aside for them, so. Change in plans. Alright, lets see what we can adjust. Wed be closer to the twins. Change in plans. Okay. Mom, are you painting again . You could sell these. Lemme guess, change in plans . At fidelity, a change in plans is always part of the plan. Whove got their eczema under control. With less eczema, you can show more skin. So roll up those sleeves. And help heal your skin from within with dupixent. Dupixent is the first treatment of its kind that continuously treats moderatetosevere eczema, or atopic dermatitis, even between flare ups. Dupixent is a biologic, and not a cream or steroid. Many people taking dupixent saw clear or almost clear skin, and, had significantly less itch. Dont use if youre allergic to dupixent. Serious allergic reactions can occur, including anaphylaxis, which is severe. Tell your doctor about new or worsening eye problems, such as eye pain or vision changes, or a parasitic infection. If you take asthma medicines, dont change or stop them without talking to your doctor. Odonnell wow, winter is here. Earl, thank you so much. There is still much more news ahead on tonights cbs evening news. The oscarnominated star of juno shares a very personal announcement. We may be able to help. To give you the protein you need with less of the sugar you dont. [grunting noise] ill take that. Wooh