How an immigrant farmworker beat the odds to become a NASA astronaut
Jose Hernandez talks about how his mission to outer space began with picking produce on a farm.
Jose Hernandez talks about how his mission to outer space began with picking produce on a farm.
As lawmakers and investigators dig into the roots of the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection, the question of who funded one of the galvanizing forces behind pro-Trump efforts to challenge election results remains shrouded in mystery. The nationwide "Stop the Steal" movement represented one of the most vocal efforts to contest the outcome of the 2020 election. The name, coined in 2016 by Donald Trump's longtime political adviser, Roger Stone, resurfaced during the 2020 race in a new effort led by far-right activist Ali Alexander, who is now the self-proclaimed national organizer of the "Stop the Steal" movement.
Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said he believes President Joe Biden’s nominee for attorney general could look into conspiracy charges surrounding former President Donald Trump's potential involvement in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. “Certainly we know that the activities of this group, this mob, this insurrection are being held to account by the Department of Justice, over 200 have been arrested and 500 under investigation,” Durbin told Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl and Political Director Rick Klein on ABC’s “Powerhouse Politics” podcast Wednesday. In his Senate Judiciary confirmation hearing on Tuesday, attorney general nominee Merrick Garland told senators he plans to pursue leads “wherever the investigation takes us,” in response to a question from Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., encouraging Garland to look “upstream” for connections.
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy on Wednesday offered a sobering review of the mail agency’s finances and performance capabilities but reaffirmed his intention to overhaul the agency and remain at its helm, telling one Democratic lawmaker: "Get used to me." Tapped to lead the Postal Service last summer, DeJoy’s tumultuous tenure has been marked by intense partisan scrutiny and a reform effort that slowed mail deliveries across much of the country. DeJoy apologized Wednesday for "unacceptable" mail delays during the holiday season.
Former President Donald Trump and his future with the GOP was the subject of an awkward clash Wednesday between two House Republican leaders. House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy was unequivocal when asked if Trump should be speaking this Sunday at CPAC, the Conservative Political Action Conference -- the large gathering of GOP and conservative leaders.
Vivek Murthy, President Joe Biden's nominee to serve as U.S. Surgeon General, plans to tell Congress on Thursday that his top priority, if confirmed, will be ending the pandemic -- which has taken the lives of seven of his own family members in the U.S. and India. In January, Murthy lost his great uncle, who he was very close with, an aide said. As "America's doctor," the potential surgeon general would play a central role in crafting the public message on the coronavirus, which has claimed more than 500,000 American lives.
No charges are anticipated against Tiger Woods after he was seriously injured in a rollover vehicle crash in Southern California, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva. "This is purely an accident," Villanueva said Wednesday via Facebook live, adding that there was no evidence of impairment. Woods was the driver and only occupant, and no other vehicles were involved.
At least 79 inmates have died in riots at four prisons across Ecuador, authorities said. Gen. Edmundo Moncayo, head of Ecuador's prison system, known by its Spanish acronym SNAI, told reporters that the violence erupted Tuesday between rival drug gangs trying "to seize the criminal leadership of the detention centers." The leader of Los Choneros was assassinated in December at a shopping mall in the port city of Manta in Manabi province.
Disneyland Resort announced more details for "A Touch of Disney," a limited-capacity ticketed experience opening at Disney California Adventure Park on March 18, one year after the park shut down due to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. This experience will offer "some of the world-famous food and drinks from around the Disneyland Resort, plus a chance to see Disney characters, shop for the latest Disney merchandise and pop in at unique photo locations," according to a press release. Beginning March 4, guests will be able to buy tickets for the "A Touch of Disney" experience for select dates between March 18 and April 5.
As more people in the United States are able to get vaccinated for COVID-19, the vaccines are not believed to have any "significant impact" on fertility, according to Dr. Jennifer Ashton, ABC News chief medical editor and a board-certified OBGYN. The myth that COVID-19 vaccines may negatively impact fertility has been spread largely on social media, according to Ashton. In the U.S., larger shares of women than men are concerned about the safety and possible side effects of COVID-19 vaccines, according to a report from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), a nonprofit organization focused on health issues.
The governor of Mississippi said he's dispatching the National Guard and more tanker trucks to the state's capital city to help bring an end to a water crisis that emerged following severe winter storms that crippled the community's aging infrastructure. Many residents of Jackson, a city of more than 160,000 people, have been struggling for over a week to secure enough water to handle basic needs, officials said. As he waited in line at a local high school to get water from a tanker truck, Alfred Anderson Jr. summed up the feelings that he said many Jackson taxpayers have: "This is pitiful and a shame."
New York teens who are 16 and older in juvenile detention centers, homeless shelters, and foster care facilities are now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. The state's Office of Children and Family Services issued a letter on Monday to its facilities and programs "to provide for residents age 16 and over access to schedule COVID-19 vaccination appointments," following prodding by local lawmakers and advocates. The guidance will impact 636 eligible children in Administration for Children's Services facilities and 637 in Department of Youth and Community Development facilities in New York City, officials told ABC News.
For eight seasons, Hayley Orrantia has played Erica Goldberg on ABC’s 1980s-set family sitcom, "The Goldbergs," on which she often showcases her singing chops. As she continues to work on new music from her home studio, Orrantia is acutely aware of the changes taking place in the country music industry, specifically when it comes to speaking out against racism following the Morgan Wallen controversy. “I absolutely think this is an opportunity for country music and people within country music to start having conversations that they were very hesitant to have before,” Orrantia, 27, told ABC Audio.
A makeup artist of former first lady Michelle Obama is sharing how to keep lipstick from transferring to your face mask. As many of us continue to wear protective coverings as advised by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help further stop the spread of COVID-19, makeup hasn't been the easiest thing to keep on your face. With that, Carl Ray's tips are perfect for beauty enthusiasts who want to stay protected but still swipe on their favorite lip shade of red.
A federal judge has extended the block on the Biden administration’s attempt to pause deportations. When U.S. District Court Judge Drew Tipton initially put a hold on the deportation pause last month, it marked the first major legal setback for President Joe Biden, who has proposed sweeping changes to the immigration system. Biden has put forward a sprawling legislative proposal that includes a pathway to citizenship for 11 million undocumented immigrants who would be otherwise be subject to deportation.
President Joe Biden's COVID-19 response team announced Wednesday it would make 25 million masks available to Americans at community health centers and food banks. If you were for this thing, you wore it.
Texas’ embattled power grid operator is facing lawsuits and resignations after more than 4 million customers lost electricity last week during a deadly winter storm. Morgan & Morgan, a Florida-based national law firm with over 700 attorneys, filed a class-action lawsuit on Tuesday against the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), alleging that the nonprofit corporation "utterly failed" to plan for the cold weather despite multiple warnings, leading to the collapse of its electrical network and resulting in widespread blackouts. "Despite receiving multiple unambiguous warnings, ERCOT’s alleged failure to ensure reliable generating capacity during anticipated conditions forced many of its customers to endure dangerous freezing temperatures for long periods of time," attorneys Mike Morgan and Rene Rocha said in a statement Tuesday.
All that was missing were the Razzles. Garner and Ruffalo, who played Jenna Rink and Matt Flamhaff -- two best friends who end up falling in love -- posed together for a photo the two shared to their respective Instagram accounts.
Martha Stewart's latest feature in the March 2021 issue of Harper's Bazaar is capturing attention. The 79-year-old businesswoman and television host is photographed for the publication's upcoming issue in a variety of fashion-forward looks. One of her most standout looks from the shoot is a Balmain minidress adorned with buttons down the center and paired with fishnet stockings and pumps.
"Queer Eye" star Jonathan Van Ness proudly rolled up his sleeve and received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and hopes to inspire those who are HIV-positive to follow his lead. Taking to Instagram on Monday, the 33-year-old television personality shared a snap of him getting his first jab and stressed the importance of those with preexisting conditions to check their vaccine eligibility. "In NY, where I’m working the vaccine program expanded to include people w pre-existing conditions, being HIV+ is one of the conditions that allows folks to be vaccinated," he said.
Bruce Springsteen pleaded guilty Wednesday to consuming alcohol in a closed area following an arrest at a New Jersey park. Judge Anthony Mautone agreed with the prosecution's request to dismiss two remaining charges -- drunken driving and reckless driving. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Baker said Springsteen declined to take a preliminary breathalyzer test but that is not required by law.