THATS A LOOK AT SPORTS. STAY WITH US. BREAKING RIGHT NOW ...N O WJCL 22 MORNING NEWS ... A SHOOTING ... NEAR CI TY MARKET ... IN DOWNTOWN SAVANN. AH WHAT WE KNOW THIS MORNING ... INCLUDING ... WHY INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE THIS HAPPENED. I DIDN'T PULL THE TRIGGE R. GS: SO YOU NEVER PULLED THE TRIGGE R. AB: NO, NO, NO, NO. I WOD UL NEVER POINT A GUN AT ANYONE AND PULL THE TRIGGERT A THEM, NEVER. AN ABC NEWS EXCLUSI VE SIT- DOWN WITH ALEC BALDWIN.. ABOUT THE TAFAL SHOOTING ON HIS MOVIE SE T. THE EVIDENCE HE SAYS . .. PROVES ... HE *DIDN'T PULL THE TRIGGER. PRESIDENT BIDEN PREPARES TO SIGN A BILL TO KEEP THE GOVERNMENT OPEN PAST TONIGHT - I'M AIXA DIAZ IN WASHINGTON - WHY THIS DOESN'T RESOLVE THE BUDGET ISSUE LONG-TERM. A GROWING LIST OF CITIES AND STATES ... NOW CONFIRMING CASES OF THE "OMICRON" VARIAN T. WHAT WE'VE LEARNED ABOUT THE NEW STRAIN ... AND WHAT OFFICIALS ARE DOING ... TO CONTAIN IT. IT'S 5 O'CLOCK ON YOUR FRIDAY MORNING. HERE'S A LIVE LOOK FROM OUR SKYVIEW 22 CAMERA AT THE HOMEWOOD SUITES ON THE RIVE R. THANKS FOR STARTING YOUR DAY WITH WJCL 22. GOOD MORNING - - I'M EMMA HAMILT. ON WE WANT TO GET RIGHT OVER TO METEOROLOGT IS JONATHAN MEYERS -- JONATHAN... NOW, HERE'S YOUR STORM TRACKER RADAR... TODAY SUNNY, WITH HIGHS 74-78. WEST WIND AROUND 5 MPH BECOMING CALM. TONIGHT PARTLY CLOUDY, WITH A LOW AROUND 50. LIGHT SOUTH WIND. SATURDAY PARTLY SUNNY, WITH A HIGH NEAR 74. WEST WIND 3 TO 6 MPH. SATURDAY NIGHT PARTLY CLOUDY, WITH A LOW AROUND 50. LIGHT SOUTH WI. ND SUNDAY MOSTLY SUNNY, WITH A HIGH NEAR 74. CALM WIND BECOMING SOUTHEAST AROUND 6 MPH IN THEFT AERNOON. SUNDAY NIGHT PARTLY CLOUDY, WITH A LOW AROD UN 52. MONDAY PARTLY SUNNY, WITH A HIGH NEAR 76. MONDAY NIGHT MOSTLY CLOUDY, WITH A LOW AROUND 50. TUESDAY PARTLY SUNNY, THWI A HIGH NEAR 66. TUESDAY NIGHT A 30 PERCENT CHANCE OF SHOWERS, MAINLY AFTER 1AM. MOSTLY CLOUDY, WITH A LOW AROUND 50 WE'RE STAYING ON TOP OF BREAKING NEWS IN DOWNTOWN SAVANNAH ... A SHOOTING NEAR CITY MAET. RK POLICE LL UTES A MAN WAS SHOT NEAR WEST CONGRESS AND JEFFERSON STRES.ET THESE ARE LIVE PICTURES ... WHERE YOU CAN SEE DETECTIVES ARE STILL OUT THERE RIGHT W NO... WORKING TO LEARN ME. OR AS OF RIG NHTOW ... THEY BELIEVE THE SHOOTING - *COULD BE CONNECTED TO A PREVIOUS FIGHT. HERE'S A CLOSER LOOKT A EXACTLY WHERE THIS HA PPENED ... NEAR CITY MARKET AT WEST CONGRESS STRE NETEAR JEFFERSON STREET. IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION ... CALL SAVANNAH POLICE. LATER TODAY ... PRESIDENT BIDEN IS SET TO SIGN A SPENDING BILL.. . TO KEEP THE GOVERNMENT OP..EN. AVOIDING A SHUTDOWN ... FOR *NO W. OUR AIXA DIAZ ISN I WASHINGTON ... EXPLAINING ... WHY THIS ONLY RESOLVES THE ISSUE *TEMPORARILY. CONGRESS PASSED A SHORT- TERM SPENDING BILL AGAIN - FUNDING THE GOVERNMENT FOR ANOTHER COUPLE OF MONT. HS IT PASSED WITH BIPARTIN SA SUPPORT - BUT NOT BEFORE SOME HEATED DEBATE - OVER FEDERAL VACCINE MANDAT. ES SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER/ (D) MAJORITY LEADER (TOO QUICK TO SUPER) "THE GOVERNMENT REMAINS OPEN" NO SHUTDOWN THIS HOLIDAY SEASON. WITH A DAY TO SPARE - CONGRESS PASSEA D CONTINUING RESOLUTION - TO FUND THE GOVERNMENT FOR ANOTHER 11 WEEKS. THE BILL PASSED IN THE HOUSE FIRST - THEN IT HEADED TO THE SENATE ... WHERE SOME REPUBLICANS TRIED DELAYING THE VOTE - BY INTRODUCING A W NE AMENDMENT. SEN. ROGER MARSHALL/ (R) KANSAS "IT PROHIBITS MONIES FROM ISTH BILL TO BE USED TO FUND OR ENFORCE THE WHITE HOUSE'S COVID VACCINE MANDATES ON THE AMERICAN PEOP" LE SEN. MIKE LEE/ (R) UTAH "THEY'RE BEING FORCED TO CHOOSE BETWEEN AN UNWANTED MECADIL PROCEDURE AND LOSING THEIR JOB" BUT THE AMENDMENT FAILED ... SEN. PATTY MURRAY/ (D) WASHINGTON "NO ONE WANTS TO GO TO WK OR AND BE WORRIED THEY MIGHT COME HOME TO THEIRAM FILY WITH A DEADLY VIRU" S. IN THE END - ENOUGH G-O-P SENATORS VOTED WH IT DEMOCRATS TO KEEP FUNDING FOR THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEAH LT ADMINISTRATION IN PLACE - AND AVERT A GOVERNME NT SHUTDOWN FOR NOW. (REPORTER LIVE TAG: NOW IT'S ON TO THE DEBT CEILING ... THE TREASURY SECRETARY H AS WARNED THE U-S MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PAY ITS BILL PAST DECEMBER 15TH - IF CONGRESS DOESN'T TAKE ACTION. IN WASHINGTON, I'M AIXA DIAZ. THE SHORT- TERM SPENDING BILL KEEPS GOVERNMENT RUNNING AT CURRENT SPENDING LEVS - EL AND ADDS 7 BILLION DOLLARS TO AID AFGHAN EVACUEES. I LET GO OTHF E HAMMER GUN.. THE GUN GOES O. FF I LET GO OF THE HAMMER GUN.. THE GUN GOES OFF. IN AN A-B-C NE WS EXCLUSIVE ... ALEC BALDW IN IS SPEAKING PUBLICLY FOR THE FIRST TIME ...BOUT A THE DEADLY SHOOTING ON HIS FILM SET .... THAT LEFT A CREW MEMBER DEAD. AB: WELL THE TRIGGER WASN'T PULLED. I DIDN'T PULL THE TRIGGER. GS: SO YOU NEVER PULLED THE AB: NO, NO, NO, NO. I WOULD NEVER POINT A GUN AT ANYONE AND PULL THE TRIGGER AT EMTH, NEVER. BALDWIN CLAIMS HE DIDN'T PULL THE TRIGGER OF THE GUN THAT KILLED LYHANA (HA-LEE- NAH) HUTCHINS. THE ATTORNEY FOR A WITNESS TO THE SHOOTING SAYING HIS CLAIM IS TRUE. BALDWIN WENT ON TO SHARE THE MOMENTS BEFORE THE GUN WENT OFF... WHERE HE SAYS HUTCHINS WAS INSTRUCTING HIM WHERE TO POINT THE PROP GUN. I'M HOLDINTHG E GUN WHERE SHE TOLD ME TO HOLD IT..... I LET GO OF THE HAMMER GUN.. THE GUN GOES OFF I LET GO OF THE HAMMER GUN THE GUN GOES OFF. A GUN EXPERT SAID . .. ACCIDENTAL DISCHARGES R FO THE COLT 45 REVOLVER USED ... ARE *RARE BUT POSSIBLE. INVESTIGATORS ARE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW A LIVE ROUND ENDED UP ON THE MOVIE SEINT NEW MEXICO. YOU CAN WATCH MORE OF THIS EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW LATER THIS MORNING ON GOOD MORNING AMERICA. THAT'S COMING UP RIGHT AFTER OUR SHOWS.. STARTING AT. 7 THIS MORNING ... MORE CASES OF THE NEW COV ID VARIANT "OMICRON" ARE POPPING UP ACROSS THE COUNTR Y. A NNDOW ... AS ABC'S EM NGUYEN (WIN) REPORTS . .. THE VARIANT HAS BE EN DETECTED IN SOMEONE WITH - *NO* TRAVEL HISTORY. GOOD MORNING - MORE CASES OF OMICRON ARE POPPING UP ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AND NOW - THE VARIANT HAS BEEN DETTED EC IN SOMEONE WITH *NO* TRAVEL HISTY. OR A GROWING LIST OF CITIES AND STATES CONFIRMING W NE CASES OF THE OMICRON VARIANT. LOS ANLEGES COUNTY CALIFORNIA HAS REPORD TE THE AREA'S FIRST INFECTION (GFX) DOCTORS SAY THE PATIENT'S SYMPTOMS ARE IMPROVING *THWIOUT* MEDICAL CARE. THE INDIVIDUAL IS A FULLY- VACCINATED - AND RECENTLY RETURNED FROM SOUTH AFRI CA WH ERE THE VARIANT WAS FIRST DETECTED. (GFX) ALSO OVERNIGHT - HAWAII'S HEALTH DEPARTMENT REPORTED S IT FIRST CASE OF OMICRON - SAYING THE PATIENT HAS "MODERATE" SYMPTOMS - AND IS UNVACCINATE D. BUT- THIS PERSON HAS *NO* RECENT TRAVEL HISTORY - EVIDENCE OF "COMMUNITY SPREAD ." IN NEW YORK - FIVE NEW CASES? AND IT'S RAISING CONCERNS IN MINNESOTA - WHERE DOCTORS DETECTED THE VARIANT IN SOMEONE W HO RETURNED FROM NEW YORK CITY - AFTER ATTENDING AN ANIME CONFERENCE BEFORE THANKSGIVING. SOT HOCHUL: WE DO ANTICIPATE THEY'LL BE MORE CASES. THIS IS NOT CAUSE FOR ALAR M. SCIENTISTS ARE RACING TO STUDY THE SEVERITY OF THE NEW VARIAN T. NEW *PRELIMINARY* DATA SHOWS RE- INFECTIONS ARE - *THREE TIMES* MORE LIKELY WITH OMICRON THAN WI TH EARLIER VARIANTS. BUT DOCTORS BELIEVE THE CURRENT VACCINES SHOULD PREVENT *SEVERE ILLNES* .- THE WHITE HOUSE IS ENCOURAGING THE *100 MILLION AMERICANS* STI LL ELIGIBLE FOR A BOOSTER SHOT.. TO GET ON E. AMID THE GROWING CONCERN ABOUT THE OMICRON VARIANT.. GOOGLE IS NOW DELAYING WHEN EMPLOYEES WILL BE REQUIRED TO RETURN TO THE OFFIC TE.HEY *WERE* SET TO RETURN IN JANUARY. EM NGUYEN ABC NEWS, WASHINGT. ON ALL NEW THIS MORNING ... A DRASTIC PUSH ... FOR A - *CIVILI MANILITARY FORCE. FLORDIA GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS SAYS ... HE WAN TS TO BEEF UP HIS STATE'S PLAN OF ACTION. "WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE T HE FLEXIBILITY AND THE AB ILITY NEEDED TO RESPOND TO EVENTS IN OUR STATE IN THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY POSSIBLE. SOME OF THAT WL IL REQUIRE US TO BE ABLE TO HAVE ACCESS AND BE ABLE TO USE PPSUORT IN WAYS THAT ARE NOT ENCUMBERED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THAT DON'T REQUIRE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. AND SO I'M GOING TO BE RECOMMENDING IN THE BUDGET 3.5 MILLION DOLLARS TO RESE-TABLISH THE FLORIDA STATE GUAR" D. THE GOVERNOR SAYS THE FLORA IDSTATE GUARD PROPOSAL WOULD BE CONTROLLED BY S HIOFFICE AND NOT THE PENTAGON. CRITICS RESPONDED BY SAYING NO GOVERNOR SHOULD HAVE HIS OWN SECRET POLICE. HOWEVER, STATE GUARDS ALREADY EXIST IN 22 STAT. ES THIS MORNING ... THE CITY OF SAVANNAH IS HOPING TO STRENGTHEN CONNECTIONS WITHIN ITS ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMUNITY. IT ANNOUNCED A NEW TASK FORCE YESTERDA Y. MAYOR VAN JOHNSON SAYS IT'S DEDICATED TO MAKING THE CITY OF SAVANNAH MORE INCLUSIVE FOR THOSE RESIDENTS. HE ADDED ... POPULATION HAS NEARLY TPLEDRI OVER THE PAST THREE DECADES .. AND IS AMONG THE FASTEST-GROWING IN THE COUNTRY. IN RESPONSE.. THE CITY IS FORMING A NEW TASKFORCE .. CALLED "A-A-P-I FOR SAVANNAH": "AND WHEN I THINK ABOUT AAPI, I THINK ABOUT HARMONY AND UNITY AND RAISING AWARENESS AND BRINGING IN THE CULTURE THAT LETS EVERYONE KNOW THAT WE E AR TRULY NOT ALONE AND WES A SAVANNAH ARE ONE BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY." MAYOR JOHNSONAY SS HE HOPES THGRE OUP WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO BRING BACK THE SAVANNAH ASIAN CULRATUL FESTIVAL. .WHICH HASN'T BEEN HELD IN ABOUT FOUR YES. AR RIGHT NOW ... WE'RE COUNTING DOWN TO THE BIG S-E-C CHAMPIONSHIPAM GE - *TOMORROW ... IN ATLANTA. THE GEORGIA BULLDOGS WILL TAKE ON THE ALABAMA CRIMSON TI. DE AND THE COST TO SIT IN THE STANDS... SKY HIGH! TICKETS FOR TOMORROW'S GAME ... AT MERCEDES-BENZ STADIUM ... ARE THE - *HIGHEST ON RECORD ... FOR THE ANNUAL EVENT. TICKET MARKETPLACE SAYS THE AVERAGE PRICE FOR RE-SALE TICKETS TO THE GAME ... IS EIGHT HUNDRED AND 50 DOLLARS. THAT'S MORE THAN DOUBLE ... THE AVERAGE RESALE OF A TICKET FROM UGA'S S-E-C CHAMPIONSHIP IN 20-19. KICKOFF IS SET FOR TOMORROW AT FO. UR BE SURE TO JOIN OUR FRK AN SULKOWSKI ... FOR AN IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION ... ABOUT THE BULLDO' GS CHANCES TOMORROW. CHECK OUT "CHAMPIONSHIP DRIVE: THE ROAD TO ATLANTA" TONIGHT AT SEVEN- 30 ... RIGHT HERE ON WJ. CL RIGHT NOW ... E TH HISTORIC MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL LOCKOUT CONTINUES THIS MORNING. IT'S THE FIRST WORK STOPPAGE ... IN NEARLY 30 YEAR S. THE LOCKOUT STEMS FROM A BARGANING AGREEMENT THAT EXPIRED AT TWELVE-OH-ONE YESTERDAY MORNING. OWNERS LOCKED OUT PLAYERS ... IN A MOVE THAT THREATENS SPRING TRAINING AND OPINENG DAY. "IT'S NOT A GOOD THING FOR THE SPORT. IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE UNDERTAKE LIGHTLY. WE UNDERSTAND IT'S BAD F OR OUR BUSINESS. WE TOOKT T I OF A DESIRE TO DRI T VE PROCESS FORWARD TO AN AGREEMENT NOW..." PLARSYE ARE ADDRESS