12/16: More severe weather ravages the central U.S. The U.K. reports record-high COVID-19 case numbers as Omicron spreads throughout Great Britain.

Severe windstorms, including 100 mph wind gusts, have caused significant damage in several states across the Great Plains. Iowa and Nebraska reported more than a dozen tornadoes, and Minnesota issued tornado warnings in December for the first time. President Biden visited the community devastated by last week’s tornadoes in Dawson Springs, Kentucky, yesterday; he said the federal government would fully cover emergency recovery costs for the first 30 days. Omicron cases are on the rise nationwide, as schools, states and colleges are taking action to combat its spread. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expects a surge in COVID-19 cases ahead of the holidays. The U.K. reported 78,000 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, its highest daily tally since the start of the pandemic. Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin pleaded guilty to a federal charge of violating George Floyd’s civil rights during the May 2020 arrest that led to Floyd’s death. CBS News Business Analyst Jill Schlesinger joins CBS Mornings to discuss the latest news from the Federal Reserve and how inflation and interest rate hikes next year will impact consumers.

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