Tonight, the Omicron-fueled COVID wave explodes.

Record-setting infections lead health officials to urge caution ahead of New Year's Eve celebrations.

We need to take action to protect ourselves, our families, and our communities at large.

Plus, Pfizer booster shots ready to be authorized for 12 to 15-year-olds,

while a new study shows the vaccine's

effectiveness at protecting children.

Extreme weather coast to coast, Colorado wind-wipped wildfires force thousands to evacuate,

more threats of severe storms across the south and flooding across Southern California.

There's a lot to clean up, and we've got these new storms coming in, so it's going to be a mess.

U.S. warning, President Biden warns Vladimir Putin of a decisive U.S. response if Russia invades Ukraine.

Zoo tiger attack. Police shoot and kill an endangered tiger after a man reaches into its cage.

What's happening?

I'm being attacked by a tiger.

Truck driver's 110-year sentence reduced. Colorado governor shortened sentence to 10 years' sentence to 10 years following nationwide outrage.

Violence Against Women Act,

why lawmakers haven't fully reauthorized

the landmark law since it expired in 2013.

American ingenuity,

how a group of young people came up with the idea

of saving the planet by feeding the hungry.

And a return trip to Atlanta to visit the airport's piano mail.

This is the CBS Evening News with Nora O'Don, reporting from the nation's capital.

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