National Headlines
Some of RFK Jr.’s views are finding support in some unexpected quarters
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- Since being tapped as President-elect Donald Trump's controversial pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been criticized by medical and public health experts for his anti-vaccine history, his current vaccine skepticism, his take on the COVID-19 pandemic -- and by some for his descriptions of fluorinated water. But some of the environmental attorney's views are also receiving support from some unexpected sources.On Wednesday, renowned food author Michael Pollan echoed those criticisms -- but offered some praise for Kennedy's criticism of the American food industry, which Kennedy has accused of propagating obesity and chronic disease."He's voicing a critique of the food system that is important," Pollan told ABC ... Read More
Defense rests in Daniel Penny subway chokehold trial
Photo by Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- The defense in the Daniel Penny manslaughter and negligent homicide case rested without their client taking the stand.Penny is charged with manslaughter and negligent homicide in the May 2023 New York City subway chokehold death of Jordan Neely, a homeless man. Neely was acting erratically in a subway car when Penny put him in the deadly chokehold.Penny, a former Marine, has pleaded not guilty to the charges.The judge will hold a charging conference with the attorneys Monday to discuss his instructions to the jury.The jury is off until after Thanksgiving, when the trial will resume with closing arguments, the judge’s instructions and deliberations.Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. ... Read More
Judge to make decision on releasing Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs on bail next week
Photo by Shareif Ziyadat/Getty Images for Sean "Diddy" Combs(NEW YORK) -- Sean "Diddy" Combs appeared again in a New York City courtroom on Friday as he continues to fight for his release on bail in his racketeering and sex trafficking case.Combs' lawyers argued he should be released on bail and placed on home confinement in a three-bedroom apartment on the Upper East Side under 24/7 monitoring by three full-time security professionals, while prosecutors said the hip-hop impresario "cannot be trusted" to follow the rules of pretrial release.The judge did not immediately rule but said he would have a decision next week.The defense said it was proposing conditions "far more restrictive" than Combs faces in jail, including limiting phone calls to ... Read More
Jussie Smollett’s attorney says actor was ‘harmed substantially’ by conviction
Chicago Tribune/Contributor via Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- Jussie Smollett's attorney said the actor was "harmed substantially" after he was found guilty of lying about a 2019 hate crime in an interview with "GMA3" following the overturning of his conviction.The Illinois Supreme Court threw out the former "Empire" actor's conviction in a decision on Thursday after concluding that the state's prosecution was unfair due to an agreement that initially dropped the charges.Smollett was first indicted on 16 felony counts of disorderly conduct for filing a false police report, though Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx agreed to drop the charges if he paid $10,000 and did community service. A special prosecutor later charged him again, leading to his trial and conviction.In ... Read More
Texas board to vote on Bible curriculum in public schools
STOCK PHOTO/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- The Texas Board of Education will vote Friday on whether to implement its new K-12 curriculum that calls for expanding Bible teachings in classrooms, after signaling its passage in a preliminary vote.The curriculum includes Biblical and Christian lessons about Moses, the story of the Good Samaritan, the Golden Rule, readings from The Book of Genesis, and more. The accuracy of the materials has come under scrutiny. For example, the curriculum claims "Abraham Lincoln and other leading abolitionists relied on a deep Christian faith," though Lincoln's religion has historically been debated.The instructional materials, called Bluebonnet Learning, are developed by the state, according to the Texas Education Agency. The lessons would be optional, but districts can receive ... Read More
Judge delays Trump’s Nov. 26 sentencing date in his hush money case
Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC(NEW YORK) -- New York Judge Juan Merchan has delayed President-elect Donald Trump's Nov. 26 sentencing date in his criminal hush money case, according to a brief order issued Friday.The judge is allowing the defense to file a motion to dismiss the case, which he said is due by Dec. 2.The judge provided no new sentencing date after adjourning the original Nov. 26 date.Trump was scheduled to be sentenced next week after he was found guilty in May on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to a hush money payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels in order to boost his electoral prospects in the 2016 presidential election.Judge Merchan's order also puts off any decision about whether the ... Read More
Jonathan Majors’ ex-girlfriend drops defamation and assault lawsuit
Emma McIntyre/WireImage(NEW YORK) -- Actor Jonathan Majors and his ex-girlfriend Grace Jabbari have agreed to resolve her civil claims that followed his misdemeanor assault conviction in New York, according to a court filing.Majors and Jabbari stipulated to a dismissal of her lawsuit for defamation and assault that she brought against him in March, the filing said.Jabbari's lawyer said the pair settled out of court."We are happy to announce that the lawsuit Grace filed against Jonathan Majors was successfully settled," attorney Brad Edwards said in a statement to ABC News. "It took tremendous courage for Grace to pursue this case. We are happy to have helped her close this chapter favorably so that she can move forward and begin to finally ... Read More
Police recover Travis Kelce’s watch after spate of burglaries targeting athletes during games
Oliver Helbig/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- Authorities investigating the rash of recent burglaries at the homes of professional athletes have recovered a watch belonging to Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce in Providence, Rhode Island, sources familiar with the case told ABC News.Kelce’s Leawood, Kansas, home was burglarized as the Chiefs were about to kick off Monday Night Football against the New Orleans Saints hours apart from a burglary at the home of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.Police had not previously disclosed a watch was taken from Kelce but did confirm that $20,000 cash was stolen.Police believe the athletes are being targeted based on their game schedules and are working to determine whether a crime ring is targeting them along with ... Read More
Giraffes need endangered species protection for the first time, US officials say
Thomas Halle/Getty Images/STOCK(NEW YORK) -- The tallest animal on Earth is in danger, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which has called for federal protections for giraffe species for the first time.In the face of poaching, habitat loss and climate change, the agency proposes listing three subspecies of northern giraffes from west, central and east Africa as endangered under the Endangered Species Act."Federal protections for giraffes will help protect a vulnerable species, foster biodiversity, support ecosystem health, combat wildlife trafficking, and promote sustainable economic practices," U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Martha Williams said in a press release Wednesday."This action supports giraffe conservation while ensuring the United States does not contribute further to their decline," Williams added.The subspecies ... Read More
Texas land commissioner open to offering Trump more land for mass deportation
John Moore/Getty Images(STARR COUNTY, Texas) -- A Texas official, who this week offered the incoming Trump administration a 1,402-acre plot of land to build "deportation facilities," says other parts of Texas near the border could be offered up in a similar fashion."Absolutely -- I have 13 million acres, if any of them can be of help in this process, we're happy to have that discussion," Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham told ABC's Mireya Villarreal in an interview.The Texas General Land Office purchased the plot of land from a farmer in October originally to facilitate Texas' efforts to build a border wall. Together with this land, the state office owns about 4,000 acres in Starr County, about 35 miles from McAllen, ... Read More
Financial aid applications are open: What you need to know after last year’s mess
jayk7/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- The college financial aid application used by millions of American families is now officially open for the 2025-2026 school year -- 10 days ahead of schedule.Top officials from the Department of Education said on a call with reporters Thursday they're "confident" in this year's FAFSA form after the botched rollout of a new form last year led to delays and glitches for students seeking financial aid.What do I need to know about applying for financial aid?The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, form is the main gateway for students and their families to qualify for financial aid through the federal government. It helps determine access to aid packages from colleges and universities, Pell grants ... Read More
Macy’s Thanksgiving parade could be target of terrorist threats, officials warn
Kena Betancur/Getty Images, FILE(NEW YORK) -- The 2024 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade may be an attractive target for both foreign and domestic terroristic violence, according to a joint threat assessment obtained by ABC News.Among the most significant threats facing the nation's largest Thanksgiving celebration "stems from lone offenders and small groups of individuals seeking to commit acts of violence," according to the report put out by multiple law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and New York Police Department.There is not a "specific, actionable threat," but the document raises a particular concern about vehicle ramming, which "has become a recurring tactic employed by threat actors" looking to target crowded pedestrian areas. The NYPD will have sanitation trucks and other so-called "blocker ... Read More
Brooklyn man convicted in 1989 murder of Yusuf Hawkins will try to prove his innocence
Moses Stewart and Diane Hawkins grieve over the slaying of their son Yusuf Hawkins; Nicole Bengiveno/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images(BROOKLYN, N.Y.) -- When Yusuf Hawkins, a Black 16-year-old, was shot and killed in Brooklyn in 1989 as he went to purchase a car, the crime set off months of angry protests.Now, the man convicted in Hawkins' murder, who has been behind bars for nearly 35 years, will get a chance Thursday to prove his innocence with what his defense attorney says is new evidence.Joseph Fama, who was 18 at the time of the murder, was part of a white mob that chased down Hawkins and three other unarmed Black youths in August 1989 in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, according to ... Read More
Wisconsin kayaker who faked death says he is ‘safe’ but won’t reveal his location, won’t come home
Green Lake County Sheriff's Office(GREEN LAKE, Wis.) -- Ryan Borgwardt, the husband and father of three who authorities said faked his own death at a Wisconsin lake and fled the country, is speaking to police but isn't revealing where he is, the local sheriff said.In recent weeks, as authorities worked to track Borgwardt down, they made contact with a woman who speaks Russian, Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podoll said at a news conference Thursday."On Nov. 11, we got in contact with Ryan through her. That was a big turning point," he said.When authorities reached Borgwardt, they asked him questions only he would know and asked him to film a video of himself, Podoll said.In the selfie-style video, which was ... Read More
Water levels at reservoirs all over the Northeast dried up due to drought conditions in recent months
ABC News(NEW YORK) -- Important bodies of water that supply water to populated regions in the Northeast have dried up due to drought conditions in recent months, according to experts.Water levels at reservoirs in the region have decreased to the point of concern for water supply managers, hydrologists told ABC News.Over the past three months, there has been a significant lack of precipitation all over the Northeast, Elizabeth Carter, an assistant professor in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at Syracuse University, told ABC News.Data from the U.S. Geological Survey shows rivers and channels throughout the Northeast region are at extremely low levels. Fall is the time of year when rivers and streams are typically near full capacity, refilling from ... Read More
Prosecutors recommend resentencing Erik and Lyle Menendez in 1989 killings of their parents
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Prosecutors will recommend Erik and Lyle Menendez be resentenced for the 1989 killings of their parents in the family’s Beverly Hills home, providing the brothers with a chance at freedom after 34 years behind bars. An official with knowledge of the decision who was not authorized to speak on the record ahead of a planned press conference confirmed that Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón would recommend resentencing for the brothers. They were sentenced in 1996 to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Prosecutors must now seek court approval. Lyle Menendez, then 21, and Erik Menendez, then 18, admitted they fatally shot their entertainment executive father, Jose Menendez, and their mother, Kitty Menendez. ... Read More
Hurricane Milton live updates: Monster storm pummels Florida after landfall
Hurricane Milton made landfall on Florida's west coast Wednesday night as a Category 3 hurricane. The monster storm roared ashore with life-threatening storm surge, powerful winds and flooding rains. Here's how the news is developing. 4 killed in tornadoes in St. Lucie County Four people were killed by tornadoes in St. Lucie County on Florida’s east coast, county officials said. "Numerous homes" have "suffered significant damage," officials added. 25 minutes ago Roof of Tropicana Field rips off Wind gusts climbed to 97 mph in Tampa and 102 mph at the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport as Milton slammed the coast. Milton's powerful winds even ripped part of the roof off of Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Bay Rays. A drone ... Read More
Fed cuts interest rate by half a point
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve on Wednesday cut its benchmark interest rate by an unusually large half-point, a dramatic shift after more than two years of high rates that helped tame inflation but also made borrowing painfully expensive for American consumers. The rate cut, the Fed’s first in more than four years, reflects its new focus on bolstering the job market, which has shown clear signs of slowing. Coming just weeks before the presidential election, the Fed’s move also has the potential to scramble the economic landscape just as Americans prepare to vote. The central bank’s action lowered its key rate to roughly 4.8%, down from a two-decade high of 5.3%, where it had stood for 14 months as ... Read MoreWynn Resorts paying $130M for letting illegal money reach gamblers at its Las Vegas Strip casino
LAS VEGAS -- Casino company Wynn Resorts Ltd. has agreed to pay $130 million to federal authorities and admit that it let unlicensed money transfer businesses around the world funnel funds to gamblers at its flagship Las Vegas Strip property. The publicly traded company said a non-prosecution settlement reached Friday represented a monetary figure identified by the U.S. Justice Department as “funds involved in the transactions at issue†at the Wynn Las Vegas resort. In statements to the media and to the federal Securities and Exchange Commission, the company said the forfeiture wasn’t a fine and findings in the decade-long case didn’t amount to money laundering. U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath in San Diego said the settlement showed that casinos are ... Read More
What we know about the shooter
WASHINGTON (AP) — The man identified as the shooter in the apparent assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump was a 20-year-old from a Pittsburgh suburb not far from the campaign rally where one attendee was killed. Investigators were working Sunday to gather more information about Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, who they say opened fire at the rally before being killed by Secret Service days before Trump was to accept the Republican nomination for a third time. An FBI official said late Saturday that investigators had not yet determined a motive. Two spectators were critically injured, authorities said. Relatives of Crooks didn’t immediately respond to messages from The Associated Press. His father, Matthew Crooks, told CNN late ... Read MorePrayers for Trump also pour in from political rivals
Prayers for the former president are also coming from his political opponents. “I am horrified by what happened at the Trump rally in Pennsylvania and relieved that former President Trump is safe. Political violence has no place in our country,†said Sen. Chuck Schumer in a statement. “We should all condemn what happened today and I am hoping for the health of the former president and everyone else at the rally,†Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy posted on the social platform X. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a post on X that his “thoughts and prayers are with former President Trump†and expressed thanks “for the decisive law enforcement response.†... Read MoreWikiLeaks founder facing pivotal moment in long fight to stay out of US court
LONDON -- The host of a news conference about WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's extradition fight wryly welcomed journalists last week to the “millionth†press briefing on his court case. Deborah Bonetti, director of the Foreign Press Association, was only half joking. Assange’s legal saga has dragged on for well over a decade but it could come to an end in the U.K. as soon as Monday. Assange faces a hearing in London's High Court that could end with him being sent to the U.S. to face espionage charges, or provide him another chance to appeal his extradition. The outcome will depend on how much weight judges give to reassurances U.S. officials have provided that Assange's rights won't be trampled if ... Read More
DOJ schedules meeting with Boeing victims as decision nears over whether company breached prosecution deal
Thinkstock/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- The Justice Department on Tuesday contacted the families of victims of two fatal Boeing 737 Max crashes as it nears a crucial decision over whether the company violated a 2021 deal that allowed it to escape criminal prosecution over the incidents, according to a letter obtained by ABC News.The letter, sent by the department's fraud section, invited families to attend a May 31 meeting where they will be informed of the DOJ's decision as to whether the company breached the deferred prosecution agreement, or DPA.If prosecutors believe they can make the case that Boeing violated the agreement's terms -- which demanded the company's continued cooperation with the government, a requirement it disclose any allegations of fraud, and ... Read More
Top of page
