Lee County sheriff calls Fort Myers 'ground zero' of Hurricane Ian
Fort Myers Beach Mayor Ray Murphy joins ABC News Live to talk about the destruction in the city and the rescue operations that are now underway.
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Good Morning AmericaShattered towns pick up the pieces as 2024 stacks up to be the most active tornado season since 2017
The town of Greenfield, Iowa, resembled a war zone on Thursday with uprooted trees and overturned cars in all directions and splintered wood that was once part of homes and businesses. Residents searched for belongings and family heirlooms in the rubble left by a devastating tornado that ripped through the community, killing four people. The funnel cloud that tore through Greenfield was confirmed by the National Weather Service to be an EF-4 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, with maximum wind speeds reaching 185 mph. It was on the ground for approximately 44 miles.
- ABC News
Senate Democrats are polling well. That could help Biden.
As Democrats wring their hands over their poor polling numbers in the presidential race, there is one spot of good news for them: U.S. Senate races. Democratic candidates have led in most recent polls of key Senate races like Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin* even as President Joe Biden trails former President Donald Trump in the very same polls. Stop me if you've heard this before, but Biden is unpopular; meanwhile, most Democratic candidates for Senate are popular incumbents, like Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey and Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, and/or have a track record of outperforming the top of the ticket, like Michigan Rep. Elissa Slotkin and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar.
- ABC News
Winemaker discovers approximately 40,000-year-old mammoth bones in cellar
While renovating his wine cellar, a man in Austria made a discovery far older than a vintage bottle of Merlot. Instead, he discovered a rare collection of mammoth bones, believed to date back approximately 40,000 years. Marking one of the most significant mammoth fossil finds in over a century in Austria, according to the Austrian Archeological Institute, researchers believe the prehistoric Stone Age bones belonged to at least three different mammoths.
- Good Morning America
Most younger women who want kids after breast cancer are successful, research data shows
Among younger women with breast cancer, it may be possible for many to have a baby after their diagnosis thanks to advances in breast cancer care, new research suggests. In a study of about 200 women ages 40 and younger with non-metastatic breast cancer who wanted children, roughly three-quarters were able to become pregnant after diagnosis, and about two-thirds had a baby. The research will be presented on Monday, June 3, at the 2024 ASCO Annual Conference, a major medical conference of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
- ABC News
Trump campaign accuses Secret Service of 'critical flaw' in RNC convention planning
The Trump campaign on Thursday fired off a letter to U.S. Secret Service Director Kim Cheatle, demanding she fix a "critical flaw" in the security perimeter of this summer's Republican National Convention, claiming that attendees' safety is at risk as protesters plan to descend on the area. The convention, slated for July 15-18 in Milwaukee, includes a perimeter that encompasses a nearby park, Pere Marquette. As of now, pedestrians would have to walk through Pere Marquette, which is owned by the city, to reach the facilities.
- ABC News
Democrats go on offense as the GOP opens the door to birth control restrictions
Former President Donald Trump opened the door to restricting access to contraceptives earlier this week, less than a week after Virginia's Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed two bills that would have established the right to contraception in the state. Now, Democrats are sounding the alarm over the fact that access to birth control methods are in question across the GOP ideological spectrum -- arguing that with Trump at its helm, the Republican Party is only further siphoning reproductive rights in the aftermath of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade in June 2002.
- Good Morning America
Senate again fails to advance border security bill in election-year showdown vote
For the second time in three months, an immigration and border security measure negotiated earlier this year by a bipartisan group of lawmakers failed to advance in the Senate, drawing the issue to a political stalemate. The legislation fell well short of the 60 votes needed -- the final tally was 43 to 50 -- as nearly all Republicans voted against it. The showdown vote came as both parties try to establish themselves as tough on border security ahead of the 2024 election.
- ABC News
GOP lawmakers grill Northwestern, Rutgers and UCLA leaders on college protests, alleged antisemitism
Lawmakers on the GOP-led House Education Committee grilled more university leaders on Thursday, insisting they defend their handling of pro-Palestinian protests and respond to allegations of antisemitism on campus. As in previous hearings, there were heated exchanges between lawmakers and school officials over what Republicans, especially, are making an election-year issue. Leaders from Northwestern, Rutgers and UCLA were called as the committee's main witnesses, joining previous appearances by leaders of Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Columbia University amid a months long probe the committee says is aimed at rooting out antisemitism.
- ABC News
He fell ill on a cruise. Before he boarded the rescue boat, they handed him the bill
Vincent Wasney and his fiancée, Sarah Eberlein, had never visited the ocean. The couple chose a cruise destined for the Bahamas in part because it included a trip to CocoCay, a private island accessible to Royal Caribbean passengers that featured a water park, balloon rides, and an excursion swimming with pigs. It was on that day on CocoCay when Wasney, 31, started feeling off, he said.
- Good Morning America
Justice Department seeks breakup of Live Nation-Ticketmaster through major antitrust suit
The Justice Department and dozens of state attorneys general filed a major antitrust lawsuit Thursday seeking the breakup of Ticketmaster owner Live Nation Entertainment over what they allege is the company's unlawful dominance over the concert ticket sales industry. The lawsuit, filed by the DOJ and 30 state and district attorneys general in federal court in the Southern District of New York, accuses the company of creating a monopoly over the live entertainment market that has harmed music fans, artists and promoters around the United States through higher prices and frustrating consumer experiences. "The result is that fans pay more in fees, artists have fewer opportunities to play concerts, smaller promoters get squeezed out, and venues have fewer real choices for ticketing services," Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement announcing the lawsuit.
- Good Morning America
Kate Middleton: A timeline of her cancer diagnosis, surgery and absence from public duties
In March, Kate, the Princess of Wales, announced she was diagnosed with cancer. Kate, the 42-year-old wife of Prince William and mother of their three children, announced her diagnosis after weeks of speculation about her health and well-being. Since January, Kate has undergone abdominal surgery, taken time off from public duties and endured a photo editing controversy.
- ABC News
Why Louisiana is pushing to classify abortion pills as a controlled substance
Louisiana is moving closer to classifying the abortion pill regimen -- mifepristone and misoprostol -- as a "controlled dangerous substance," putting them in the same category as opioids and other addictive medications. The Senate, which is more than 70% Republican, approved the bill, 29-7, on Thursday. The Louisiana House approved the bill Tuesday.
- ABC News
Trump to hold rally in South Bronx in effort to court Black, Hispanic voters
Former President Donald Trump is set to hold a rally in deep-blue South Bronx, New York, on Thursday evening as he looks to court the Hispanic and Black voters that make up a majority of the area's population. Several thousand Trump supporters are expected to head to Crotona Park in the South Bronx for the former president's rally -- on a day off from his New York hush-money trial. Trump is expected to speak to the diverse voter base about crime -- a key issue for voters in the area. With his New York criminal trial coming to a near close, the state has been top of mind for the former New York business mogul, who has spent the last six weeks residing in Trump Tower and going to his trial in New York County Criminal Court.
- ABC News
Why British PM Rishi Sunak called snap election for July 4, according to expert
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has called for a snap general election in the United Kingdom on July 4, despite having until January of next year to hold one. Sunak, the leader of the ruling Conservative Party, and leaders of other political parties have already started their election campaigns. On a rainy Wednesday, the 44-year-old delivered a surprise announcement outside the prime minister's official residence at 10 Downing Street in London.
- ABC News
Officer in Scottie Scheffler arrest disciplined for no body-worn camera footage: Chief
A Louisville, Kentucky, police officer violated department policy when he failed to turn on his body-worn camera during a traffic incident involving golf star Scottie Scheffler during the PGA Championship, authorities said Thursday. The golfer, ranked No. 1 in the world, was driving near the Valhalla Golf Club on May 17 when authorities allege he drove past a police roadblock and injured an officer with his vehicle. Scheffler, 27, was arrested on charges of second-degree assault of a police officer -- a felony -- as well as third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving and disregarding traffic signals from an officer directing traffic, according to police.
- ABC News
Garland calls Trump's false claim of Biden DOJ plan to potentially assassinate him during FBI's Mar-a-Lago search 'extremely dangerous'
Attorney General Merrick Garland on Thursday slammed former President Donald Trump for insinuating President Joe Biden authorized his potential assassination during the FBI search of his Mar-a-Lago resort in August 2022 for confidential government material, pointing out that a similar Justice Department memo on the use of deadly force was also used in the FBI search of Biden's Wilmington, Delaware, home in January 2023. Garland called Trump's accusation, which came after documents were unsealed Tuesday by the special counsel investigating the ongoing federal probe into those missing documents, "false and extremely dangerous."
- ABC News
NOAA predicts record hurricane season for 2024
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has issued its highest-on record May hurricane forecast for the upcoming hurricane season. All categories of storms are expected to exceed the typical number seen every year, National Weather Service forecasters announced Thursday in a news conference for the 2024 hurricane outlook. NOAA scientists predict between 17 and 25 named storms, compared to an average of 14; between eight and 13 hurricanes, compared to an average of seven; and between four and seven major hurricanes, compared to an average of three.
- Good Morning America
Patrick Mahomes responds to teammate Harrison Butker's controversial graduation speech
Kansas City Chiefs' star Patrick Mahomes is offering his first public response to a controversial commencement address delivered by his teammate, Harrison Butker. Mahomes defended Butker's character on Wednesday but said he did not "necessarily agree with" everything Butker said in his May 11th address to graduates at Benedictine College, a Catholic liberal arts college in Atchison, Kansas. "There's certain things that he said that I don't necessarily agree with, but I understand the person that he is, and he is trying to do whatever he can to lead people in the right direction," Mahomes said of Butker, according to ESPN.
- ABC News
NASA announces new launch date for Boeing's Starliner astronaut-crewed mission after several delays
NASA announced the new target launch date for the first astronaut-crewed flight into space aboard Boeing's Starliner after several delays. It comes after the launch of Starliner was delayed several times. The crewed flight test was tentatively scheduled for May 6, but was scrubbed after a problem with an oxygen valve on a rocket from United Launch Alliance (ULA), which manufactures and operates the rockets that launch spacecraft into orbit.
- Good Morning America
Mary Lou Retton says she has 'very long recovery' 7 months after hospital release
Mary Lou Retton is opening up about her health scare seven months after she was released from the hospital for severe pneumonia in October 2023. "I still have a hard time breathing and getting breath to speak," Retton said in a new interview with "Entertainment Tonight," adding that she remains on supplemental oxygen for now. The five-time Olympic medalist and former gymnastics star, 56, said her doctors "still don't know" what really happened to her back then when she was admitted into the intensive care unit for two weeks in the fall and that recently, she "had a bit of relapse awhile ago" but has bounced back.