Climber found dead in Alaska after fall: Officials
The West Buttress route in the Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska is the highest peak in North America.
Latest Stories
ABC NewsWildfires turn deadly in New Mexico as firefighters also work to contain California blazes
An early start to the U.S. wildfire season remained in full swing Wednesday in the West as blazes in New Mexico turned deadly and prompted a state of emergency. At the same time, California firefighters were juggling challenges from five major fires burning at both ends of the state. Firefighters in New Mexico were simultaneously battling two massive wildfires that broke out Monday in the same general area.
- ABC News
Tropical Storm Alberto forms in Gulf, brings heavy rain to Texas
A tropical system off the coast of Mexico has strengthened into Tropical Storm Alberto and is bringing heavy rain, coastal flooding and gusty winds to Texas. Alberto -- the first named storm of the season -- is forecast to make landfall in Mexico overnight and will impact Texas through Thursday.
- ABC News
Top Israel officials to meet with US national security adviser Jake Sullivan Thursday
Israel’s national security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi and Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer -- were traveling from Israel to Washington to meet with national security adviser Jake Sullivan at the White House on Thursday. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant will also meet with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in the coming days.
- ABC News
60-year-old among 2 confirmed dead in New Mexico wildfires: 'He made friends everywhere'
Dual wildfires in New Mexico turned deadly, as state police announced Wednesday that two people were discovered deceased in the fires that remain uncontained. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham declared a state of emergency earlier this week as the South Fork Fire and Salt Fire spread with 0% containment as of Wednesday afternoon. New Mexico State Police reported Patrick Pearson, 60, died after sustaining numerous burns from the South Fork Fire, where he succumbed to his injuries.
- ABC News
Triple murder suspect on the loose in Arkansas: Police
An "armed and dangerous" suspect connected to three murders and a slew of other crimes across the country is on the loose in Arkansas, according to authorities. Stacy Lee Drake, 50, is wanted in connection with three homicides in Oklahoma, stemming from two separate carjackings, according to Arkansas State Police. "Drake is separately wanted on multiple felony warrants from multiple jurisdictions, with charges including aggravated robbery, carjacking, and murder," investigators said in a statement.
- ABC News
East Palestine train derailment spread 'hazardous' pollution to 16 states: Study
The destruction from a massive train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, spread far beyond the initial wreckage site, spewing "hazardous" pollution across 16 states, according to a newly released study. Researchers estimate that 110 million residents, or one-third of the nation's population, were impacted by pollution.
- ABC News
Police release photo of suspect wanted in connection with 'antisemetic' NYC subway car chant
New York City police released a new wanted poster Wednesday as they continue to look for the man who yelled for "Zionists" riding on a southbound number 5 subway train last week to identify themselves. The man can be seen in the newly released image wearing a piece of cloth with a design resembling the Palestinian keffiyeh and the Palestinian flag's colors draped on his shoulders.
- ABC News
Louisiana public schools to display Ten Commandments in classrooms after controversial law passes
Louisiana public schools and colleges will be required to post an image of the Ten Commandments next year after a controversial bill was signed into law Wednesday. Under H.B. 71 public classrooms starting from kindergarten to the collegiate level must have a poster of the Commandments up at the start of 2025. Civil rights groups have already questioned the law that passed in Louisiana's Republican-controlled state legislature on May 28, contending it violates the separation of church and state in public buildings.
- ABC News
US attorney 'declined' to prosecute over threat to congressman, letter claims
The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana declined to prosecute a man who threatened to kill an Indiana congressman and his family, according to a letter obtained by ABC News. Republican Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN) was left threatening messages by Aaron Thompson, who was later sentenced to two years of probation by the local district attorney in Indiana, but the new letter raises questions about why the U.S. Attorney, which normally handles threats to members of Congress, did not prosecute the case. Thompson said in one threatening voicemail, according to the letter.
- ABC News
Families of those killed in Boeing Max crashes ask Justice Department to impose $24 billion fine
The Department of Justice should impose a more than $24 billion fine on Boeing, according to the families of the 346 victims of two 737 Max 8 crashes in Ethiopia and Indonesia. The families' attorney, Paul Cassell, stated in a letter Wednesday to the Fraud Section of the Justice Department that a "maximum possible fine" is "legally justified and clearly appropriate" for what has been called "the deadliest corporate crime in U.S. history." The letter from the families came in response to a request from the Justice Department for their views on how the department should proceed, now that the government has deemed Boeing to be in breach of a 2021 deferred prosecution agreement that followed the crashes.
- ABC News
2024 federal budget deficit projection rises to nearly $2 trillion
In a new projection from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, the federal budget deficit – the gap between government revenue vs. spending – will be $1.9 trillion for the 2024 fiscal year. The deficit forecast is $400 billion higher than the CBO’s last estimate in February, an increase of 27%. The CBO cites a handful of reasons, including recent legislation to provide $95 billion of aid to Ukraine, Israel and the Indo-Pacific region, which Congress passed in April after months of delay, increasing Medicaid spending and $70 billion attributed to the 2023 bank failures because of a slower-than-expected recovery of payments by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
- Good Morning America
Justin Timberlake arrested, charged with DWI in the Hamptons
Singer Justin Timberlake has been arrested and charged with misdemeanor driving while intoxicated in the Hamptons, according to police. Timberlake drove through a stop sign and swerved into a lane of oncoming traffic at 12:37 a.m. Tuesday, according to Sag Harbor Village police. When police pulled him over, they said Timberlake "was operating his vehicle in an intoxicated condition," according to police.
- ABC News
Tight Virginia GOP primary between Good, McGuire a test of Trump's influence
A contentious and closely watched Republican U.S. House primary in Virginia remains too close for any projection, as House Freedom Caucus chair Rep. Bob Good attempts to fend off a challenge from state Sen. John McGuire, who received endorsements from former President Donald Trump. The outcome of the race could signal the power of Trump's endorsement. Trump then attacked Good -- an effort to take down the candidate he once endorsed, too.
- ABC News
Biden administration strongly denies Netanyahu's claim US is blocking arms shipments amid war with Hamas
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's public assertion that the Biden administration is broadly withholding military support for Israel amid its ongoing war with Hamas in Gaza prompted confusion and frustration across Washington on Tuesday, as Biden administration officials flatly denied the allegations. "We genuinely do not know what he's talking about," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at her daily press briefing. Netanyahu made the accusations in a video posted to X.
- Good Morning America
Russia and North Korea solidify partnership, vowing mutual assistance against 'aggression'
Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a partnership agreement on Wednesday in Pyongyang, further solidifying their strategic cooperation in opposition to Western leaders. Putin, in an opening statement, had thanked Kim for his "unwavering support" for Russia's war in Ukraine.
- Good Morning America
Heat wave latest: How long the dangerous temperatures will last
Dangerously high temperatures are hitting 14 states across the Midwest and Northeast on Wednesday as an unrelenting heat wave continues. Record highs were shattered in the Northeast on Tuesday, including a scorching 97 degrees in Manchester, New Hampshire, and 94 degrees in Scranton, Pennsylvania. On Wednesday, temperatures are forecast to soar to 94 degrees in Detroit and Pittsburgh; 95 degrees in Syracuse, New York; 93 degrees in Boston; and 97 degrees in Concord, New Hampshire.
- Good Morning America
Environmental protesters spray 'orange powder paint' on Britain's Stonehenge
Environmental protesters sprayed an orange substance across part of Britain's Stonehenge on Wednesday afternoon. British environmental activist group Just Stop Oil posted video of the incident on the social media platform X, showing two of its supporters spraying three of the stones within the prehistoric megalithic structure on Salisbury Plain in southern England's Wiltshire county. Wiltshire Police confirmed in a statement Wednesday that its officers responded to the scene at Stonehenge and "arrested two people on suspicion of damaging the ancient monument."
- Good Morning America
All eyes on New York's congressional races as key House seats at play
As Election Day nears, battleground states like Florida, Arizona and Michigan are taking the spotlight in the presidential race. Political experts and analysts, however, say a traditionally blue state could disrupt the balance of power in Congress. Several House seats in New York state are up for grabs this election with Democrats and Republicans eyeing to flip seats in Long Island, Westchester County and upstate, particularly in districts that went red during the 2022 midterms, according to experts.
- Good Morning America
Witness tells House Ethics Committee that Matt Gaetz paid her for sex: Sources
In recent weeks, House Ethics Committee investigators have conducted a string of interviews behind closed doors with numerous women who were witnesses in the yearslong Justice Department sex trafficking investigation into Rep. Matt Gaetz, multiple sources familiar with the committee's work tell ABC News. Investigators have interviewed at least half a dozen women who allegedly attended parties where the Florida congressman was also present and who were paid by Joel Greenberg, Gaetz's one-time close friend. Greenberg was sentenced in 2022 to 11 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to multiple charges including sex trafficking a minor and introducing the minor to other "adult men," sources tell ABC News.
- Good Morning America
There may be an increase in COVID cases this summer. Experts say this is why many shouldn't be concerned
As the United States heads into the summer season, early indicators show the country is likely to experience an increase in COVID-19 infections. For the week ending June 8, the latest date for which data is available, COVID test positivity was 5.4% across the U.S., an increase of 0.8% from the previous week, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In the Western region -- which is comprised of Arizona, California, Hawaii and Nevada -- COVID test positivity was 12.8%, higher than any other region of the U.S. The New England region -- made up of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont -- had the next highest test positivity rate at 5.4%, matching the national rate.