ABC News Live Rundown: Friday, February 24, 2023
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ABC NewsBoeing's Starliner capsule set for first astronaut-crewed flight to International Space Station
A new journey into space is set for blast off on Monday as The Boeing Company's Starliner capsule prepares for its first astronaut-crewed flight to the International Space Station after years of delays. The Starliner Crew Flight Test, developed in collaboration with NASA's Commercial Crew Program, will launch from Space Launch Complex-41 atop an Atlas V rocket at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 10:34 p.m. ET. The Starliner is designed to carry a seven-person crew, but aboard this "test drive" launch will be NASA astronauts Barry Wilmore, 61, a former U.S. Navy captain who will be commanding the flight, and Sunita Williams, 58, a former Navy service member who will be piloting the flight.
- ABC News
Starbucks sales are slumping. Is it a bellwether for the economy?
Starbucks shares have plummeted more than 17% in value since the company revealed a sales slump in an earnings report last week. The coffee giant is viewed by many analysts as a bellwether for consumer spending, which accounts for nearly three-quarters of the nation’s economic activity. The company's latest struggles, in turn, raise a question: Is the engine of the U.S. economy faltering, or is something wrong at Starbucks?
- ABC News
Trump trial: Witness says Cohen's checks were sent to White House to be signed
Former President Donald Trump is on trial in New York City, where he is facing felony charges related to a 2016 hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. Trump last April pleaded not guilty to a 34-count indictment charging him with falsifying business records in connection with a hush money payment his then-attorney Michael Cohen made to Daniels in order to boost his electoral prospects in the 2016 presidential election. As he departed the courtroom after Day 12 of his hush money trial, Trump expressed confidence in his defense team saying they are doing "very well."
- ABC News
'Racist' actions from counterprotesters at University of Mississippi prompt investigation
The University of Mississippi has opened an investigation into one student's conduct at a May 2 counterprotest surrounding a pro-Palestinian demonstration after administrators were made aware of "offensive, hurtful, and unacceptable" actions "that conveyed hostility and racist overtones," according to school officials. In a letter to students on May 3, Chancellor Glenn F. Boyce said school officials are working to determine whether further investigations are warranted. "As a public institution, we are committed to supporting the rights of our students, faculty, and employees to express their views in a respectful manner and to assemble peacefully as guaranteed by the First Amendment," said Boyce in the May 3 email, which school officials shared with ABC News.
- Good Morning America
'Mad Men' alum Christina Hendricks has 2nd wedding for mom with Alzheimer's: 'My best friend'
Christina Hendricks had a second wedding for a very special reason. On Sunday, the "Mad Men" alum shared to Instagram a slideshow of photos from her and her new husband George Bianchini saying "I do" again so that her mother, who has Alzheimer's, could attend the nuptials. "My mother has Alzheimer's and was not able to come to New Orleans for our wedding, so we brought the wedding to her yesterday in our backyard," Hendricks wrote.
- ABC News
US soldier detained in Russia on charges of criminal misconduct, Army says
A U.S. soldier was detained in Vladivostok, Russia, on Thursday on charges of criminal misconduct, according to the U.S. Army. "The Russian Federation notified the U.S. Department of State of the criminal detention in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations," Army spokeswoman Cynthia O. Smith told ABC News. During his leave, the soldier left of his own volition and was not granted any kind of permission to travel to Russia, the two officials said.
- Good Morning America
Vanna White wears Christian Siriano dress as designer competes on 'Celebrity Wheel of Fortune'
Vanna White donned a dress designed by "Celebrity Wheel of Fortune" contestant Christian Siriano for the episode slated to air Monday night. "You did some outstanding designing on our Ms. White here, right?" host Pat Sajak asked Siriano, while introducing him as a contestant in a sneak peek clip provided to ABC News. Siriano confirmed that he had dressed the longtime "Wheel of Fortune" co-host.
- ABC News
Israel-Gaza live updates: Cease-fire negotiations hit 'critical stage,' US says
As the Israel-Hamas war approaches the seven-month mark, renewed negotiations are underway to secure the release of hostages taken by the terrorist organization, as Israeli forces continue to prepare for an apparent invasion of the southern Gaza town of Rafah. Israeli Minister Benny Gantz said in a statement Monday the current proposal put forth by Hamas "has significant gaps.” Gantz said “every decision will be brought to the war cabinet,” which is made up of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and himself.
- ABC News
Tornado forecast: NOAA issues rare 'high risk' alert for intense, long-track tornadoes
Potentially intense and historic tornadoes are in the forecast for Oklahoma and other nearby states on Monday, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. NOAA's Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma, issued the highest severe weather risk alert possible, for multiple intense, long-track tornadoes Monday afternoon and evening. Nighttime tornadoes are very dangerous.
- ABC News
5 primaries to watch in Indiana
Within each party are factions that often have competing goals and tactics — and as has been evident in the House of Representatives this congress, the size of these factions matters almost as much as the actual partisan breakdown. Tuesday's primaries in Indiana are a great example. There are multiple House primary races where more than one Republican is vying to become the nominee in a safely red district, all but guaranteeing the primary winner a seat in Congress.
- ABC News
Northern Gaza experiencing 'full-blown famine': UN official
Parts of Gaza are currently experiencing a "full-blown famine" and it could spread even further amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, a top United Nations official warned. World Food Programme (WFP) Executive Director Cindy McCain said during an interview on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday that northern Gaza is in a dire situation. "Whenever you have conflicts like this, and emotions rage high, and things happen in a war, famine happens," McCain said.
- Good Morning America
Reese Witherspoon's daughter Ava claps back at 'toxic' body shaming
Reese Witherspoon's daughter Ava Phillippe has a message for body-shamers on social media. The 24-year-old took to TikTok over the weekend to share a video of her set to a cover of No Doubt's "Just a Girl", in which she took aim at those spreading "toxic" negativity on the internet, saying that she "just achieved a major milestone as a woman online." Phillippe wrote in text overlaid in the video that she saw "2 different strangers" leave conflicting comments about her body.
- Good Morning America
Lana Del Rey announces 1st US stadium show: Details
Lana Del Rey is checking off a new career accomplishment. The "A&W" singer will headline a U.S. stadium for the first time when she plays a special, one-night-only show at Boston's Fenway Park on June 20. The "Summertime Sadness" singer is coming off her two weekends headlining Coachella in April.
- Good Morning America
David Corenswet featured as Superman in new image for upcoming James Gunn-directed film: See here
James Gunn has shared the first official photo of David Corenswet in his Superman suit. In the photo, which was shared on Instagram and Threads on Monday, Superman is sitting down as he puts on one of his red boots, suiting up likely to deal with a threat visible through the window behind him: a pink energy beam shooting from an eyeball-like entity in the sky, down onto Metropolis. "The above photo was taken on set by Jess Miglio and was entirely in-camera," Gunn said on Threads.
- ABC News
How campus protests of the past may inform pro-Palestinian student demonstrations
About 56 years ago, Columbia University's Hamilton Hall was overrun and occupied by student protesters calling for an end to what students called racist policies that displaced communities around the school's campus. It was one of several campus buildings occupied by protesters in dayslong demonstrations. Students setting up food pantries for protesters, hordes of students and faculty covering campus grounds or students flying flags out of Hamilton Hall windows in the 1960s are some of the familiar scenes echoed in today's protests.
- Good Morning America
Some Planters nuts recalled for potential listeria contamination
Publix and Dollar Tree shoppers should check their pantries for two types of Planters brand nuts that were recently recalled across five states. In a company announcement dated May 3 and posted on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration website, Planters' parent company, Hormel Foods Sales, LLC, announced a voluntary recall of two Planters peanut and mixed nuts products produced at one of its facilities in April "because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes." The recall is limited to two items, according to Hormel Foods: 4-ounce packages of Planters Honey Roasted Peanuts and 8.75-ounce cans of Planters Deluxe Lightly Salted Mixed Nuts.
- ABC News
Interest rates may stay high for longer. Here’s what it means for the 2024 election.
At the start of 2024, the economy appeared to deliver just about everything President Joe Biden could want: falling inflation, robust growth and a forecast of interest rate cuts at the Federal Reserve that might send economic output even higher. Inflation has proven stubborn and output has slowed. Perhaps most notably, the Fed has cast doubt over whether rate cuts will arrive after all.
- Good Morning America
It's Teacher Appreciation Week. Here's where educators can get freebies, discounts
Teacher Appreciation Week is being celebrated nationally this year from May 6-10. The theme for this year's week is "teachers are shining stars," according to the National Parent Teacher Association. Restaurants and retailers across the country are offering discounts, freebies and deals this week to honor the more than 3 million teachers throughout the United States.
- Good Morning America
Miss USA 2023 Noelia Voigt announces she is resigning title citing mental health
2023 Miss USA pageant winner Noelia Voigt announced Monday that she had "made the very tough decision" to resign from the title, citing mental health. Voigt, who won the title of Miss Utah USA 2023 in April last year, made the announcement in an Instagram post. The official Miss USA account later confirmed the news in a separate post.
- ABC News
Marjorie Taylor Greene to meet with Mike Johnson amid threat to oust him as House speaker
House Speaker Mike Johnson and Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene will meet privately on Monday, sources told ABC News, amid Greene's looming threat to try to oust him. The one-on-one meeting, slated for 3:30 p.m. ET, comes as Greene has said she will force a vote to remove Johnson from the leadership post this week. The timing of when Greene plans to trigger the motion to vacate, however, remains unclear.