National Headlines
Family sues New York City utility over woman’s fatal manhole fall
This screen grab from a video shows the manhole where the incident occured, on May 19, 2026, in New York. (WABC)(NEW YORK) -- The family of a Westchester grandmother who died after falling into an open manhole in Midtown Manhattan filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the utility responsible for the manhole, alleging its workers failed to properly seal the cover.Donike Goncaj, 56, fell into the manhole at 52nd Street and Fifth Avenue on May 18 and died of scald burns and thermal inhalation from the steam. The lawsuit, filed in New York State Supreme Court on Thursday, says she suffered "severe, horrifying, and catastrophic injuries."The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled Goncaj's death an accident.The utility, Con Edison, concluded a ... Read More
Canada wildfire smoke brings unhealthy air quality to over a dozen states in Midwest, Northeast: Latest
Wildfire smoke from Canada shrouds the sun as it rises behind the Chrysler Building in New York City, July 17, 2026. (Gary Hershorn/ABC News)(NEW YORK) -- Philadelphia issued a "Code Purple Air Quality Emergency Day" on Friday as smoke from hundreds of Canadian wildfires seeps down to more than a dozen states in the Midwest and the Northeast."Everyone may experience negative health effects from particulate matter in the air," Philadelphia officials warned. "Members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects."Canada has nearly 900 wildfires burning, with over 100 categorized as out of control. Almost 200 of the fires are in Ontario.Heavy rain moving over the Minnesota/Canada border Friday morning should help with some fires, but the storms could ... Read More
‘Beloved’ mom’s body recovered after boat capsized near Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay
An undated photo of Tondra Madruga who died when a boat capsized in San Francisco Bay on July 14, 2026. (Madruga Family)(SAN FRANCISCO) -- The body of a 58-year-old woman has been recovered after a boat capsized and sank near Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay, marking the second person confirmed dead from the incident.The San Francisco Medical Examiner's Office identified the second victim as Tondra Madruga. Two people remain missing.Madruga's relatives said in a statement that they're "heartbroken by the loss of our beloved mother, daughter, sister, and aunt.""Our hearts remain with every family impacted, and we sincerely appreciate your kindness and understanding," the family said. "We extend our heartfelt thanks to the U.S. Coast Guard, the San Francisco ... Read More
Texas flash floods leave at least 2 dead in region devastated a year ago
UVALDE (AP) — Catastrophic flash floods in Texas have killed two people and forced hundreds of rescues in areas still reeling from devastating floods a year ago, Gov. Greg Abbott said Thursday. Rescuers aboard boats and helicopters have saved more than 200 people, including stranded drivers and people trapped in homes, Abbott said. The governor said the hardest-hit areas are expecting more rain into Friday and are not out of danger yet, with some rivers expected to reach historic levels. After days of pounding rain, the National Weather Service said a large wave on Thursday barreled down the same river wrecked by flash floods last summer when two dozen children and counselors died at Camp Mystic. Much like last year, ... Read More
Bird strike likely caused New York City helicopter crash in Hudson River: NTSB
Police and firefighters work on the site after a helicopter crashed in the Hudson River on April 10, 2025, in Jersey City, New Jersey. All six people on board were killed when a helicopter plunged into the Hudson River off of Lower Manhattan. (Photo by Andres Kudacki/Getty Images)(NEW YORK) -- A bird strike likely caused last year's tourist helicopter crash in New York City's Hudson River that killed all six people on board, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.The more than 2,000 pages of information released by the NTSB is not the final report and does not state the probable cause, but the documents show the chopper slammed into multiple large birds before the crash.The birds hit the rotor blades and the ... Read More
1 dead in Texas Hill Country flash flood emergency, governor says
This ABC News graphic shows flood warnings in Texas as of July 16, 2026. (ABC News)(NEW YORK) -- At least one person has died as a result of the flash flooding emergency currently ongoing in Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott confirmed on Thursday.The death was reported overnight between Kerrville and Comfort, Texas, Abbott said. More than 70 people have been rescued so far, he added.Rescue operations are underway for people stranded in homes and potentially larger facilities, with 1,300 emergency personnel responding, according to the governor.For the third day in a row, torrential rain prompted flash flood emergency warnings for Texas Hill Country as water levels in creeks and rivers rose rapidly.Three flash flood emergencies were issued Thursday across Texas Hill Country.As ... Read More
New Washington, DC, bill would allow foster youths to select their own legal families
ABC News' Alex Presha (middle) discusses the SOUL Act with Princess (left) and Kay Kay (right). (ABC News)(WASHINGTON) -- A new bill in Washington, D.C., would allow foster youth to help define their own families — and it's crafted by the very young people it seeks to serve.Former and current foster youth helped create the Support, Opportunity, Unity and Legal Relationships Act, known as the SOUL Act. It's a Washington, D.C., bill that would allow teens -- ages 16 and up -- to legally enlist multiple guardians, blood relatives or other trusted adults for support without having to completely cut legal ties to their birth parents.Five of the youth involved in the legislation process sat down with ABC News' Alex ... Read More
Teen charged in triple murder outside DMV while another shooter remains at large
In this Feb. 21, 2025, file photo, a police perimeter is erected at the crime scene at the Fairdale Kentucky branch DMV in Louisville, Kentucky. According to Louisville police, three people were shot and killed outside a drivers licensing office. (Stephen Cohen/Getty Images, FILE)(LOUISVILLE, Ky.) -- A teenager has been arrested in the 2025 fatal shooting of three people outside of a DMV in Kentucky. Another shooter remains at large, police said. The unnamed teen, who was 17 years old at the time of the murders, has been charged with three counts of murder complicity, five counts of first-degree wanton endangerment and receiving stolen property, according to the Louisville Metro Police Department. The teen is now 19 years old, according to police. The ... Read More
Amid wildfires, Minneapolis’ air quality ranks worst in world among major cities
An aerial shows smoke from Canadian wildfires blanketing the city on July 16, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)(MINNEAPOLIS) -- Minneapolis' air quality ranked the worst in the world among major cities Thursday due to thick smoke from wildfires burning throughout northern Minnesota and Ontario, Canada.Much of the city's air quality entered the "hazardous" category Wednesday night and remained there into Thursday. Parts of the city reached an air quality index, or AQI, of 460. A hazardous AQI is categorized as 300 and above. The air quality in Detroit also ranked worst in the world alongside Minneapolis. All people are advised to remain indoors while the air quality is hazardous. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey urged residents to "please take this seriously" in a post ... Read More
Driver in deadly Tesla crash pressed accelerator to 100% before hitting house: NTSB
This image released by the Harris County Precinct 5 Constable's Office shows the damage to a home after a Tesla crashed into it, in Katy, Texas, on June 19, 2026. (Harris County Precinct 5 Constable's Office)(KATY, Texas) -- The driver in a deadly Tesla crash in Texas pressed the accelerator to 100% before colliding into a house, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.On June 19, the driver, Michael Butler, was behind the wheel of a 2025 Tesla Model 3 electric car when it went off the road and crashed into a home in Katy, killing 76-year-old resident Marta Avila, officials said.Butler, who said the car was in self-driving mode, was arrested for manslaughter on July 1. He's not entered a plea and is set to ... Read More
Democrats urge DHS to shut down Dilley immigration detention center
Texas State Troopers arrive in a Dilley I.S.D. school bus before dispersing a crowd protesting Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the South Texas Family Residential Center on January 28, 2026 in Dilley, Texas. (Joel Angel Juarez/Getty Images)(WASHINGTON) -- Rep. Joaquin Castro, along with more than 110 Democratic members of Congress, has sent a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin urging the shutdown of the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in Texas.The facility, which is the only family detention center in the country, was closed during the Biden administration but was reopened last year as part of the Trump administration's ongoing immigration crackdown. In the letter, which was first obtained by ABC News, they write, "There is no humane way to imprison ... Read More
Wildfires prompt state of emergency, air quality alert in Minnesota
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer speaks before Democratic presidential candidate, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and Democratic vice presidential candidate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz appear on stage during a campaign event on August 7, 2024, in Detroit, Michigan. Kamala Harris and her newly selected running mate Tim Walz are campaigning across the country this week. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)(ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Minn.) -- A northern Minnesota county declared a state of emergency and an air quality alert was issued on Tuesday due to wildfires raging across northern Minnesota and Canada.St. Louis County in northeast Minnesota issued a State of Local Emergency and a State of Local Disaster due to wildfire damage and the utilization of public resources needed.The U.S. Forest ... Read More
Yale faces backlash for talks with the Justice Department regarding its admissions
In this April 29, 2024, file photo, Yale University President Maurie McInnis attends an event in New York. (John Lamparski/Getty Images, FILE)(NEW HAVEN, Conn.) -- Yale University said it's negotiating with the Department of Justice over a potential resolution of the Trump administration's findings of alleged racial discrimination in its medical school’s admissions processes, according to a statement by the university's president.President Maurie McInnis also confirmed for the first time that the DOJ's inquiry extends beyond Yale's medical school, with two pending investigations into admissions processes at Yale College and Yale Law School.The statement issued on Monday describes recent university-wide changes to admissions processes to meet federal guidelines, stating that "academic strength" is its main consideration when evaluating Yale College ... Read More
Group seeks to bar US from sharing info about asylum seekers with Iranian government
In this undated file photo, the State Department building is shown in Washington, D.C. (STOCK PHOTO/Getty Images)(WASHINGTON) -- The Iranian American Legal Defense Fund filed a motion Wednesday asking for a stay and a preliminary injunction barring the U.S. government from "sharing the confidential information of Iranian asylum seekers with the Iranian Government" while the issue is adjudicated in court.The filing came a week after the organization sued the Trump administration over those allegations.According to that complaint, many Iranian asylum seekers are pro-democracy protesters, members of religious minorities, or members of the LGBTQ community who have sought refuge in the U.S. -- and that disclosing their confidential information to the Iranian government puts them "at risk of persecution, torture, and ... Read More
Woman accused of killing man found in shallow grave still on the run
In this image released by the Walton County Sheriff's Office, Isabelle Johnson, who has been charged with killing 43-year-old Jason Christopher Coulthart, is shown. (Walton County Sheriff's Office, Florida)(NEW YORK) — A Florida woman is on the run as she faces a murder charge in the death of a man found in a shallow grave last month, according to police. Isabelle Johnson, 38, has been charged with killing 43-year-old Jason Christopher Coulthart, according to the Walton County Sheriff's Office. Coulthart was reported missing on May 24 after he was last seen leaving the College Condominiums complex in Florida, according to the sheriff's office. Unidentified remains were found on a Freeport, Florida, property on June 25 after investigators were able to identify where Coulthart's ... Read More
Kathy Ruemmler, former top lawyer at Goldman Sachs, calls Epstein ‘masterful liar’ in House probe
Kathryn Ruemmler (C), former general counsel of Goldman Sachs and former White House Counsel to U.S. President Barack Obama, arrives to a closed-door hearing with the House Oversight Committee on Capitol Hill on July 15, 2026, in Washington, D.C. The committee is continuing to hold closed-door interviews as part of their investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)(WASHINGTON) -- Kathy Ruemmler, who once served as White House counsel for President Barack Obama and later worked as the top lawyer for investment bank Goldman Sachs, on Wednesday told House investigators that convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was a "masterful liar," according to a copy of her prepared remarks reviewed by ABC News.Ruemmler is appearing Wednesday in ... Read More
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