of emergency to make sure the state and new york city are ready for any impact from the new variant. and the governor ordering all nursing homes to make booster shots available. >> we have to deal in the realities of a highly transmissible, we believe, variant. >> reporter: president biden urging americans to wear masks indoors when out in public again, to keep yourself safe and those around you. tonight, new york city doing the same. >> and stephanie ramos with us live tonight. and stephanie, i know the cdc doubling down late today on 18 and older in this country, to get your booster. and tonight, you're also learning that boosters could soon be expanded from 18 and up to include 16 and 17-year-olds, too? >> reporter: exactly, david. a source familiar with the discussions tells abc news pfizer is going to ask the fda in the coming days to authorize boosters for 16 and 17-year-olds. pfizer's vaccine was authorized for adolescents back in may, so, many teenagers are already about six months out from their second shot. david? >> all right, stephanie ramos leading us off here on a monda

a gofundme page is now raising money for an asian woman bashed in the head with a rock in new york city while sweeping the sidewalk outside her home. she is expected to survive. a suspect is under arrest. police say they're investigating it as a possible hate crime. >>> and tonight new details on the man who authorities say survived stowing away in the landing gear of an american airlines flight from guatemala to miami. customs and border protection officials say they took the 26-year-old into custody yesterday and brought him to the hospital for an assessment. they say the man seen on the tarmac was in the wheel well when the plane landed. >>> when we come back, a potential huge development for the more than a million americans suffering from type 1 diabetes. how one man may have been cured. >>> and the touching tribute to iconic broadway composer stephen sondheim, how his legend is living on. we're carvana, the company who invented car vending machines and buying a car 100% online. now we've created a brand-new way for you to sell your car. whether it's a year old or a few years old.

abc's trevor ault leads us off tonight from new york. >> happy thanksgiving! >> reporter: tonight, americans taking to the streets in celebration of both the thanksgiving holiday and the return to tradition. cities across the country bringing back parades canceled last year, welcoming back the crowds that give them life. the macy's thanksgiving day parade, kept virtual in 2020, making a spectacular, oversized comeback. spectators packing the stands along the 2 1/2-mile route. >> we feel safe and it's great to be starting to get things back. >> reporter: it's because of the prominence of the vaccine that we can return to traditions like this. in fact, last night the streets were even packed for the inflation of the floats, and everybody who showed up had to prove they were vaccinated. and it's not just parades seeing crowds. the holiday travel rush is back. airports seeing prepandemic passenger totals. the tsa screening 2.3 million people wednesday. nearly as many as the same time in 2019, with even bigger numbers expected this weekend. relatives who've been ke

york city. the fbi warning of new cyber threats over thanksgiving. american businesses and government agencies told to beware of hackers following ransomware attacks over previous holidays. >>> your money. black friday deals available right now. huge sales on laptops, air fryers and air pods. and with major stores closed on thanksgiving, record sales online expected tomorrow. >>> and america strong tonight. the 8-year-old boy with the powerful thanksgiving wish to feed others. that wish granted and more. >>> good evening, it's great to have you with us on a busy wednesday night. i'm whit johnson, in for david. and we begin with that verdict in the ahmaud arbery case. three white men found guilty of felony murder. arbery, a young black man, was shot and killed while running through their neighborhood. the prosecutor saying he didn't have to stop just because they told him to. the jurors, 11 white, one black, agreed. travis mcmichael, his father gregory mcmichael and their neighbor, william "roddi

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[ everyone agreeing ] >>> tonight, the images of that high rise fire in new york city. the fire breaking out on the tenth floor of a 49-story building near rockefeller center. black smoke pouring into the sky. at least seven people injured. >>> and the new and damning report against former new york governor andrew cuomo tonight. a state assembly committee investigating finding, quote, overwhelming evidence that cuomo engaged in multiple cases of sexual harassment and misconduct. lawmakers calling the report, quote, extremely disturbing. >>> when we come back, that new video involving that tennis star who had been missing and new questions. are you tired of clean clothes that just don't smell clean? what if your clothes could stay fresh for weeks? now they can. downy unstopables in-wash scent boosters keep your laundry smelling fresh waaaay longer than detergent alone. pour a cap of downy unstopables into your washing machine before each load. and enjoy fresher smelling laundry. if you want laundry to smell fresh for weeks make sure you have downy unstopables in-wash sce

phil lipof joins us now from the west side highway here in new york city. phil, we know that oil prices have already started to come down. how will that affect gas prices over the coming weeks and months? >> reporter: well, linsey, with oil prices, there's never a guarantee. anything can happen globally. however, transportation experts tell us if oil prices stay where they are today, we could see a reduction of anywhere from 15 to 30 cents a gallon over the next 2 to 4 weeks. linsey. >> phil, thank you. >>> and another important factor as millions hit the road is, of course, weather. let's get straight to abc's senior meteorologist rob marciano. hey, rob. >> reporter: hi, linsey. good news -- we don't have a crippling storm on the docket, but a couple of systems will impact travel. here's the first one. the front itself is sliding across lake erie, down through pittsburgh, back across parts of tennessee. that will push east. some rain heavy at time but brief across the i-95 corridor. then winds kick up tomorrow, and colder air, lake effect snow for sure. lo

in new york city. the exoneration of two men convicted more than 50 years ago in the assassination of malcolm x. the manhattan district attorney, cyrus vance, requested the move after a netflix docuseries and a lengthy investigation uncovered new evidence. the d.a. today apologizing. muhammad aziz, who was exonerated, was in court today, and kalil islam both served decades in prison. aziz addressing the court. >> those events were and are the result of a process that was corrupt to its core. one that is all too familiar to black people in 2021. >> after the hearing, islam, who, of course, did not live to see this day, his sons said they did not think they would ever see this. aziz celebrating with his family. >>> in upstate new york tonight, a judge near buffalo facing backlash after sentencing a young man, an admitted rapist, to probation. the 20-year-old defendant ple pleading guilty to sexually assaulting four teenage girls. the judge said prison time would have been inappropriate. here's elwyn lope

in new york city, the little pie company, since 1985, they're lining up. the pies on display. you see them stacked up, the signature sour cream apple walnut pie. it was grandma's recipe. >> hi, david. >> founded by arnold wilkerson, a former broadway actor. >> lots of people seem to be ordering pies for thanksgiving and we're happy to be here to serve them. >> made in america! >> in san jose, california, the giving pies. >> i have a lemon, a cherry, a blueberry. >> five workers. >> hey, david! >> opening during the pandemic. grateful to the community. hoping to hire special needs employees in this new year. >> we are hoping to see you soon! yeah, maybe! >> in magnolia, texas, victory pie company. the blackberry cobbler, the pecan pie, chocolate cream pie. giving a portion of every sale to veterans and their families. >> we haven't even just survived. we have thrived because of this community and the way that they give back and the way they support our business and our mission. >> and in worcester, massachusetts, fresh pies coming out of the oven at table talk pies, family owne

to new york city to end the work week, david. >> yeah, real whiplash. we're thinking about the folks in the northwest tonight for sure. ginger, thank you. >>> now, to president biden in new hampshire, michigan next, all on a tour, getting the message out on his bipartisan win on infrastructure. today at a rusted bridge in woodstock, new hampshire. that's on the so-called red list. and tonight, how local newspapers across this country are reporting on just how sweeping this will be for roads, bridges, airports and internet broadband in this nation. projects across all 50 states. here's abc's rachel scott. >> reporter: today, president biden traveling to new hampshire, in an effort to show americans his new infrastructure law will improve their lives. >> despite the cynics, democrats and republicans, we can work together. we can deliver real results. >> reporter: the president standing in front of a decrepit bridge that's been marked as dangerous and in need of urgent repair for nearly a decade. in new hampshire alone, there are more 215 bridges in poor c

and new york's governor new york city's mayor tonight now joining authorities from new mexico, colorado and california, all now calling on adults 18 and older to get the booster shot. even before official word from the fda and the cdc. also tonight, the major news involving the flu. the pocket of new cases, hundreds of them. the sudden spike that has authorities concerned tonight. >>> breaking late today, the shooting near a high school in aurora, colorado. six teens shot and wounded. the victims between 14 and 18. >>> steve bannon surrendering to authorities today, for refusing to comply with a subpoena investigating the january 6th capitol riot. bannon saying on his podcast the day before those attacks, "all hell is going to break loose tomorrow." >>> in the uk at this hour, they have just raised the terror alert to severe. the second highest level, after a car explosion outside a hospital. warning another attack is highly likely. the images coming in now. the control ded explosion elsewhere. >>> back here at home tonight, the small plane crash in tampa. the escape as the plane goes u

philly to new york city tomorrow afternoon. maybe some wet flakes because here comes that cold air, not just for the northeast and midwest but all the way into the deep south. near freezing sunday morning. david? >> all right. watching it this weekend, rob. thank you. >>> when we come back here, the scare on the subway here in new york. a woman shoved on to the tracks and what happened next. >>> and later here tonight, amy robach, we take to you antarctica. her journey to find the penguins. our climate series continues. if you can help heal your skin from within. with dupixent adults saw long-lasting, clearer skin and significantly less itch. don't use if you're 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 don't change or stop them without talking to your doctor. talk to your doctor about dupixent. is now a good time for a flare-up?

in new york city, u.s. air force master sergeant george garcia holding his daughter at the veterans day parade. and in penfield, new york, outside rochester, an incredible discovery. world war ii veteran army corporate george stites. he was 20 years old and he spent two years overseas. he would write letters home to his parents and to his sister madeline. >> my mother, my father and my sister. >> and he had no idea that madeline had saved those letters for decades. they recently found them in a metal box in the attic. >> this is the box that everything was in and i couldn't believe it. >> george now at 97, reading those letters he wrote home. >> dear mom and pop, just a few lines to let you know i am well. >> he wrote to his family the day before d-day. >> dear mom and dear pop, it's june 5th. >> he told us he remembers everything. >> you're packed in like sardines and you would hear them yell, "keep the rifles over your head." we were all scared and praying. >> writing of capturing a german fighter pilot.

and the twin flights taking off from heathrow, bound for new york city. passengers required to have proof of vaccination and a negative covid test within three days of traveling here. tonight, images of emotional reunions coming in. families together at jfk airport. a couple hugging following a flight from germany to chicago's o'hare airport. and this image near buffalo, new york. cars lining up at the canadian border, waiting to come in. and just before we came on the air, we learned of the request soon coming from pfizer. there could soon be boosters for millions more americans. stephanie ramos leads us off tonight. >> reporter: american borders reopening today for thousands of fully-vaccinated visitors from 33 countries for the first time in at least 18 months. for families and loved ones separated by the pandemic, emotional reunions. >> she was a little girl when i last saw her. she's a big girl and an adult now. >> reporter: bhavna patel finally getting to meet her grandson. >> there's no words. you can't describe -- how do you describe this feeling?

and a major milestone here in new york city. phil lipof reports. >> reporter: tonight, new york city looking more like it did pre-pandemic. the world's largest marathon back after a two-year delay. >> our whole mantra has been welcome back. let's run this city. let's be back, let's come together. >> reporter: 30,000 runners required to show proof of vaccination or a negative test before the race. and tonight, the white house not backing down as the justice department vowing to defend the biden administration's vaccine mandate for all businesses with 100 employees or more after a federal appeals court blocked it this weekend, questioning its constitutionality. >> it's good for people's health and for the economy. that's why these requirements make so much sense. >> reporter: federal officials aso promising to ramp up the vaccination effort for children ages 5 through 11 this week. starting monday, new york city opening pop-up vaccination sites at all public schools where kids in that age group can get the shot. in chicago, mayor

here in new york city tonight, offering children $100 each to get the shot. abc's whit johnson tonight leading us off. >> reporter: after weeks of protests against local vaccine mandates, tonight, a new federal deadline for two-thirds of the american workforce. the biden administration giving businesses with 100 or more employees until january 4th to require workers to be fully vaccinated or face weekly testing. the new rule also includes 17 million health care workers who do not have the option of testing. violators could face a $14,000 fine or potential loss of medicare and medicaid dollars. at a hearing on capitol hill today, dr. fauci defending the mandates. >> we know that vaccines absolutely save lives and we know that mandates work. >> reporter: in fact, in new york city just days ago, front line workers protesting a vaccine mandate. hundreds of firefighters calling out sick. but now, more than 92% of the city's workforce vaccinated. but with this new federal deadline impacting 100 million american workers, republican leaders in 26 states are vowing to

tonight, new york city announcing they will be vaccinating children at public schools. and for parents tonight, major pharmacies are now launching appointment websites and the government's vaccines.gov website will be up by friday. here now, whit johnson. >> reporter: across the country today, from california to connecticut -- >> great job! >> good job! >> reporter: -- thousands of elementary school children rolling up their sleeves to get their first covid shots. how did it feel? >> it felt good. and some people don't need to really be worried about it. it may hurt for a little bit, but then it will be fine after. >> reporter: millions of doses making their way to thousands of doctor's offices, pharmacies and vaccination sites over the next week, after the cdc director gave the pfizer vaccine the green light for kids 5 to 11. >> i feel relieved. it's just relief. just an extra burden that's kind of been taken off. >> ready? here we go. >> reporter: some brave youngsters getting a little support from therapy dogs. like 9-year-old patrick and his 5-year-old brother paxto

and tonight in new york city, staying home in defiance. thousands of police officers, firefighters, city workers who did not come to work, they do not want the vaccine. but what about response time in an emergency in new york? and what the mayor is now saying tonight. >>> all eyes on the supreme court tonight, taking up the case of that controversial texas law, banning virtually all abortions in that state. and new signals tonight that some of the conservative justices might have a problem with the way that law was designed. >>> the travel nightmare in the u.s. tonight. american airlines canceling hundreds of flights today, grounding 2,000 flights over the weekend. first southwest, now american. what's going on? with thanksgiving travel just weeks away. >>> tonight, actor alec baldwin breaking his silence on the deadly shooting on that movie set. what the actor is now saying. >>> and the abc news exclusive. tonight, we take you inside madagascar where the u.n. is now warning they're on the brink of the first climate change famine. more tha

in new york city, thousands of municipal workers will not be paid as of tomorrow if they remain unvaccinated. defying the city's mandate. already a number of fire companies taken out of service this weekend, short staffed with multiple sick calls. but the mayor tweeting 91% of city workers are now vaccinated. compared to that 91% of city workers, the fdny tells us late today that 75% of its firefighters are vaccinated. the fdny commissioner said the closures this weekend didn't hamper response times at all but did go on to say that calling in sick to protest the mandate could actually cost lives. linsey? >> phil, thanks so much. >>> and next to the final sprint in virginia's race for governor. it is an election that is largely seen as something of a referendum on president biden's agenda, as well as ahead of next year's midterm elections. former governor terry mcauliffe in a close race with republican challenger glenn youngkin. president biden won the state by 10 points last november. abc's kenneth moton is in arlington, virginia. >> reporter: tonight the candidates in the virginia governor'