From 'super nerd' to superstar: Youngest pun champion writes punny pop songs
Ever heard a song that's also a crossword puzzle? Leave it to wordsmith and international pun championship MVP, J. Maya to write the ultimate pop-pun anthem.
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ABC NewsMan apparently sets himself on fire outside courthouse where Trump is on trial
A man apparently set himself on fire outside the New York City courthouse where former President Donald Trump is on trial. Trump is inside the downtown Manhattan courthouse and has been made aware of the fire outside, sources told ABC News. Trump is facing felony charges related to a 2016 hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.
- Good Morning America
Tennis pro Danielle Collins opens up about retiring amid battle with endometriosis, rheumatoid arthritis
At 30 years old, American tennis professional Danielle Collins is at the peak of her career, ranked 15th on the WTA Tour and winning two major tournaments, the Miami Open and the Credit One Charleston Open, this year. Collins was diagnosed in 2019 with rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease that causes painful swelling in the joints and can affect other parts of the body as well, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which notes that women are two to three times more likely than men to develop RA.
- ABC News
House Democrats help Johnson avoid defeat on foreign aid bills, despite GOP defections
The House on Friday cleared a key procedural hurdle in passing foreign aid to Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan, despite dozens of Republican defections, with Democrats helping Speaker Mike Johnson avoid a stinging defeat. The chamber voted 316-94 to advance the bills, setting up Saturday votes on final passage of $95 billion in foreign assistance that has been held up in a political fight in Washington for several months. Procedural votes such as Friday's are typically passed by the House majority alone, but Democrats stepped in to help push the legislation forward after Republican hard-liners collectively opposed the measure.
- Good Morning America
John Travolta walks red carpet with daughter Ella: What to know about his kids
Celebrated actor John Travolta is a proud father. The father-daughter duo walked the red carpet together with the elder Travolta in a black suit jacket and blue jeans and Ella in a square-neck floral dress. Travolta and his late wife Kelly Preston, who died in 2020, shared three children: their late son Jett, daughter Ella Bleu and son Benjamin.
- ABC News
Biden expands Title IX protections for pregnancy, trans people, and sexual assault victims
The Biden administration has finalized new Title IX regulations that codify protections for transgender people, as well as enhance protections for victims of sexual assault or harassment and pregnant people. "For more than 50 years, Title IX has promised an equal opportunity to learn and thrive in our nation's schools free from sex discrimination,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona in a statement on the revision. “These final regulations build on the legacy of Title IX by clarifying that all our nation’s students can access schools that are safe, welcoming, and respect their rights.”
- Good Morning America
'American Idol' alum and Grammy winner Mandisa dies at 47
Mandisa, who competed on season 5 of "American Idol" and went on to become a successful Christian recording artist, has died. A rep for the singer confirmed to ABC News that Mandisa was found dead in her home on April 18. Mandisa, born Mandisa Lynn Hundley, finished ninth on the "American Idol" season that was won by Taylor Hicks and also gave us Katharine McPhee, Chris Daughtry and Kellie Pickler.
- Good Morning America
School shooting survivors share their stories, from Columbine to Oxford High
On Dec. 14, Jackie Hegarty of Newtown, Connecticut, knows her phone will be "flooded" with messages, as it is each year on that day, the anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary School mass shooting. Hegarty, a Sandy Hook survivor, lost 20 young classmates and six educators in that shooting, which marks its somber 10th remembrance this year. This year, Hegarty said many of the messages she receives will be from people who weren't there that day with her, but who know exactly how it feels to survive a school shooting.
- Good Morning America
Breaking down Taylor Swift's 'The Tortured Poets Department' double album
Taylor Swift's 11th studio album, a double album titled "The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology" is here -- and, like any release from the singer, there's a lot to unpack. The album takes Swift's devoted fans inside the depths of her mind as she navigates the ups and downs of past relationships, and perhaps hints at where she's at emotionally these days. Follow along as we break down some of the biggest songs and trends from "The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology."
- ABC News
For second time in a week, Russian strike in Ukraine kills and wounds dozens of civilians
For the second time this week, Russian strikes have caused significant civilian casualties in a key Ukrainian city as Russian missiles hit areas around the southeastern city of Dnipro on Friday, killing at least 8 people -- including two children -- and wounding nearly 30 more. Two days earlier, Russian missiles struck the center of Chernihiv in northern Ukraine, killing at least 18 and injuring nearly 80 more -- one of the deadliest strikes in months. Friday’s strikes in Dnipro damaged several floors of a residential building as well as the station, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a statement.
- Good Morning America
Savannah Chrisley on hope for parents' future, raising teen brother and niece
Savannah Chrisley is opening up about her life after her parents Todd and Julie Chrisley's imprisonment, and sharing her hope for their future. The couple, who became famous for their show "Chrisley Knows Best," were sentenced in November 2022 to a combined 19 years in prison on charges including fraud and tax evasion. Todd was sentenced to 12 years in prison and 16 months of probation while Julie was ordered to serve seven years in prison and 16 months of probation.
- Good Morning America
Trans care restrictions force some families to travel hours, spend hundreds for treatment
Misty Stamm was working tirelessly to figure out the details: waking up early, the hourslong drives, booking hotels and finding doctors who could legally administer gender-affirming hormone therapy to her 16-year-old transgender daughter. Stamm is living in one of the 24 states where legislation is restricting gender-affirming health care for transgender youth, so she and parents like her must make long, expensive trips out of their home states to find the care their children need, according to a new report from the Campaign for Southern Equality Research and Policy Center. “If we didn't have the care, I don't think she'd be alive,” said Stamm.
- Good Morning America
How the UN Plastics Treaty aims to tackle the pollution crisis
As Earth Day 2024 puts a spotlight on the world's climate crisis, negotiators from 175 countries are gathering for the fourth round of the United Nations Plastics Treaty negotiations next week in Canada. Held in Ottowa, Canada, from April 23-29, the last major round of negotiations will bring together the treaty's Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to draft a global, legally binding agreement by the end of 2024, according to the U.N. "Global plastic production and consumption has grown exponentially since the 1950s and is set to increase by 70% by 2040 if business continues as usual," the INC reported in a press release ahead of the negotiations.
- Good Morning America
Injured in a Russian strike, a 13-year-old Ukrainian girl runs to raise money for other victims
A Russian missile strike on April 8, 2022, changed Yana Stepanenko's life forever. A tragic story of loss turned into an example of resilience and growth thanks to the Ukrainian and American doctors who treated the girl. Stepanenko, who is now 13, ran a 5K at the 2024 Boston Marathon on Saturday to show the courage and strength of Ukrainians and to raise money for a Ukrainian soldier.
- ABC News
UAW vote at Tennessee plant will test resurgent labor movement
Carmakers and labor leaders are closely watching for results to be released on Friday in a seismic union election that could supercharge organizing in the nation’s auto sector and demonstrate the strength of a resurgent labor movement through a victory in the South, a region typically resistant to unions. As many as 4,300 employees at a Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, are voting on whether to join the United Auto Workers. Workers began casting ballots this week in the most significant test for the UAW since a strike last fall against the Big 3 U.S. carmakers that delivered substantial gains and a burst of interest from employees at non-union firms.
- Good Morning America
Gaza aid timeline: How the hunger crisis unfolded amid the Israel-Hamas war
As the Israel-Hamas war continues, experts and aid organizations have said a humanitarian crisis is unfolding in Gaza following Hamas' attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023 and Israel's military response. At the beginning of the war, Israel implemented a blockade, severely limiting the amount of food and other supplies into Gaza, resulting in extreme shortages, according to aid officials. A top U.S. humanitarian official, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Samantha Power, testified before Congress last week that it was "credible" to assess parts of Gaza are experiencing a famine.
- Good Morning America
Taylor Swift's 'The Tortured Poets Department' double album is out now
Taylor Swift's new album, "The Tortured Poets Department," is here and it's a double album! "It’s a 2am surprise: The Tortured Poets Department is a secret DOUBLE album," the singer said in a social media post. Swift previously shared the tracklist for her album in an Instagram post.
- Good Morning America
25 years after Columbine, survivors say they're still haunted by the attack
The epicenter of the Columbine High School mass shooting was the library, where Craig Scott was studying for a biology test on April 20, 1999. Scott, then 16, said he had just sat down next to his friend, Matt Kechter, when his life turned upside down. This week marks 25 years since two seniors at the Colorado high school committed one of the most infamous school shootings in American history, killing 12 students and a teacher.
- Good Morning America
Matt Gaetz attended 2017 party where minor and drugs were present, woman's sworn statement obtained by Congress claims
The House Ethics Committee is investigating whether or not Rep. Matt Gaetz used illicit drugs as a member of Congress, multiple sources familiar with the committee's work told ABC News. Committee investigators have inquired about whether Gaetz was under the influence of drugs at parties in Florida after becoming a member of Congress in 2017, according to the sources. According to a sworn written statement that has been obtained by the Ethics committee, a woman says that in summer of 2017, when she was 20 years old, she attended a party in Florida that Gaetz also attended, which featured alcohol and drugs including cocaine and MDMA, sources familiar with the committee's work told ABC News.
- ABC News
5 big takeaways from Day 3 of Trump's hush money trial
Twelve jurors have been seated in the historic criminal hush money trial of former President Donald Trump. Jury selection is scheduled to resume on Friday to find the remaining five alternate jurors for the case. Opening statements are expected as early as Monday.
- Good Morning America
'The Witcher' announces 5th season will be last as Liam Hemsworth joins cast
Fans of "The Witcher" have bittersweet news regarding the medieval-themed fantasy show. The Netflix series, which is currently in its fourth season of production, has been renewed for a fifth season, and it will be the show's last, according to an April 18 Netflix announcement. "It is with huge pride that we begin shooting our penultimate Season of The Witcher with a stellar cast, including some exciting new additions, led by Liam Hemsworth as Geralt of Rivia," read a statement included in the Netflix announcement from Lauren Schmidt Hissrich, creator of "The Witcher."