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Students protest Education Department closure in ‘Hands Off Our Schools’ rally

(WASHINGTON) -- Hundreds of college and high school students representing student governments from some of the largest schools in the Washington, D.C., area will rally outside the Department of Education on Friday to oppose the administration's gutting of the agency.

The "Hands Off Our Schools" rally is expected to turn out over 500 students, according to a spokesperson, who added that the rally has been working to increase its permit size to accommodate north of 1,000 participants.

The demonstration is organized by the student governments representing over 130,000 students at several colleges in the region, including Georgetown University, American University and Howard University, as well as along the Interstate 95 corridor up to Temple University, according to the organizers.

The coalition is a "historic alliance" standing against the "assault on education," including campus free speech and student financial aid programs, according to a release by organizers.

It has a list of four demands for congressional leaders: preserve and strengthen the department; ensure all students are protected; oppose anti-diversity, equity and inclusion actions that restrict classroom autonomy; and reject the targeting of individual students and academics for expressing their political views.

"The recent executive orders undermine the bedrock of our nation and limit opportunities for children of all backgrounds to learn and achieve their full potential," the organizers wrote in a statement. "By making educational spaces more restrictive and unwelcoming, these policies are set to leave lasting, harmful impacts on our generation and those who follow."

President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to abolish the department and return education control to the states. The department has already let go of nearly half its workforce to start downsizing the agency.

Critics say college students will especially be affected if the president follows through with rehoming the Federal Student Aid Office's responsibilities, such as the $1.6 trillion student loan portfolio, and terminating the federal workers who administer funds for higher education.

The rally is expected to run from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and have about a dozen speakers. Organizers are also expecting Washington, D.C., high school state board of education representatives and former progressive Rep. Jamaal Bowman, a former principal, among the list of speakers. Organizers said they have reached out to additional lawmakers and are working to confirm the final list of speakers.

The event follows about a month's worth of Friday demonstrations taking place at the department, including an "ED Matters" rally, "study-ins" and "clap-outs" for terminated federal workers.

More recently, lawmakers on Capitol Hill have been condemning the changes at the department. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., launched a "Save Our Schools" campaign this week against the administration's attempt to dismantle the department. Her campaign will include investigations, oversight, community engagement and lawsuits, according to the senator.

"The federal government has invested in our public schools," Warren said in an exclusive interview with ABC News. "Taking that away from our kids so that a handful of billionaires can be even richer is just plain ugly, and I will fight it with everything I've got."

Meanwhile, McMahon shocked about a dozen House Democrats on Wednesday when she crashed their press conference outside the department after she met with them in a closed-door meeting at the agency.

Beloved Catholic priest fatally shot at church in Kansas

(SENECA, Kan.) -- A man has been arrested in the murder of a Catholic priest, who was shot Thursday outside the residence at his church in the small town of Seneca, Kansas.

Gary Hermesch, 66, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, was charged with first-degree murder on Friday. He is being held on $1 million bond, according to Nemaha County Attorney Brad Lippert.

A 911 call was made at around 3 p.m. on Thursday to report shots fired at the Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, according to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.

Deputies arrived on the scene to find Father Arul Carasala, 57, outside the church residence, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, according to the KBI.

Carasala twas transported to the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital, but died due to his injuries, according to the KBI.

Kansas Highway Patrol troopers responded and helped secure the scene. Shortly after, deputies from the Nemaha County Sheriff’s Office and officers from the Seneca Police Department took Hermesch into custody, the KBI said.

He was booked into the Nemaha County Jail but has not yet been formally charged, authorities said.

Kansas City Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann said he was "heartbroken" by the news of Carasala's death.

"This senseless act of violence has left us grieving the loss of a beloved priest, leader, and friend. Fr. Carasala was a devoted and zealous pastor who faithfully served our Archdiocese for over twenty years, including as dean of the Nemaha-Marshall region," Naumann said in a statement on Facebook.

"We are in shock and disbelief. Please allow our parish community to process. We will release official information as it becomes available," Saints Peter and Paul Parish said in a statement on Facebook.

Carasala was ordained in March 1994 in his home Diocese of Cuddapah, India, according to the Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kansas.

"He ministered at Sts. Peter and Paul for nearly 14 years and also served as dean of the Nemaha-Marshall deanery. His deep faith, pastoral care, and generous spirit touched the lives of so many," the archdiocese said in a statement on Facebook.

Hermesch is scheduled to make his first court appearance on Friday afternoon.

Weekend Watchlist: What’s new in theaters, on streaming

Ready, set, binge! Here's a look at some of the new movies and TV shows coming to theaters and streaming services this weekend:

Prime Video
The Bondsman: Kevin Bacon hunts demons in the horror-action limited series.

Netflix
Love on the Spectrum U.S.: Watch people search for true love connections in season 3.

Devil May Cry: The animated series is based on the popular video game franchise.

Pulse: A young ER doctor is promoted to chief resident in the new series.

Hulu
Dying for Sex: Michelle Williams stars in the true story about a woman who explores her own desires after she's diagnosed with cancer.

Movie theaters
A Minecraft Movie: Jack Black stars in the live-action adaptation of the bestselling video game of all time.

That’s all for this week’s Weekend Watchlist – happy streaming!

Fed Chair Powell says he expects Trump’s tariffs will hike inflation and slow growth

Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

(WASHINGTON) -- Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said Friday he expects President Donald Trump's tariff policy will hike prices and slow economic growth, while noting that key indicators "still show a solid economy."

Policy changes implemented by the White House have contributed to a "highly uncertain outlook," Powell said, making the remarks as stocks plummeted amid an escalating global trade war.

Despite the murky outlook, Powell said Trump's tariffs would likely increase consumer prices.

"While tariffs are highly likely to generate at least a temporary rise in inflation, it's also possible the effects will be more persistent," Powell told the audience at the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing conference in Washington, D.C.

Minutes before Powell was set to speak, Trump sharply criticized the Fed chair, calling on him to reduce interest rates.

"This would be a PERFECT time for Fed Chairman Jerome Powell to cut Interest Rates," Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

Trump also claimed without evidence that political considerations have played a role in Powell's decision-making on interest-rate policy.

On Friday, Powell declined to directly respond to Trump. Still, Powell strongly rebuked concern about his political independence.

"I don't respond to political remarks," Powell said, adding that it would be inappropriate for the central bank to comment on U.S. trade policy.

"We try to stay as far as we can from the political process," Powell said. "That's what people expect from us."

The remarks from Powell came about two weeks after the Fed opted to hold interest rates steady, even as the central bank said it expected higher inflation and slower economic growth than it had forecast in December.

Despite escalating trade tensions and market turbulence since Trump took office in January, the economy remains in solid shape by several key measures.

The unemployment rate stands at a historically low level. Meanwhile, inflation sits well below a peak attained in 2022, though price increases register nearly a percentage point higher than the Fed's goal of 2%.

A new jobs report on Friday showed a surge in hiring last month, exceeding economists' expectations and defying growing concern on Wall Street of a possible recession.

The U.S. added 228,000 jobs in March, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That figure marked a major increase from 151,000 jobs added in the previous month.

Still, the backward-looking report about the labor market failed to assuage investor fears in the aftermath of sweeping tariffs issued by Trump earlier this week.

On Friday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average plummeted 1,600 points, or 4%, while the S&P 500 plunged 4.5%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq declined 4.6%.

The selloff extended losses from Thursday, which marked the worst trading day since 2020.

Addressing the conference in Washington, D.C, on Friday, Powell said it remains too early to determine how the Trump administration's policy changes will impact forthcoming interest-rate decisions.

For now, Powell said, it is "too soon to say what will be the appropriate path for monetary policy."

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

Measles outbreak in Texas hits 481 cases, with 59 new infections confirmed in last 3 days

Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

(AUSTIN, Texas) -- The measles outbreak in western Texas has hit 481 cases, with 59 newly identified infections confirmed over the last three days, according to new data published Friday.

Almost all of the cases are in unvaccinated individuals or in individuals whose vaccination status is unknown, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS).

Three of the cases are among people vaccinated with one dose of the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine and seven cases are among those vaccinated with two doses.

At least 56 measles patients have been hospitalized so far, the DSHS said.

Children and teenagers between ages 5 and 17 make up the majority of cases, at 180, followed by children ages 4 and under, who account for 157 cases, according to the data.

Gaines County, which borders New Mexico, remains the epicenter of the outbreak, with 315 cases confirmed so far, DSHS data shows.

"We're continuing to see a rise, and so it certainly does tell us that we're not quite in a place yet where the outbreak has been contained," Dr. Sapna Singh, chief medical officer for Texas Children's Pediatrics in Houston, told ABC News in reference to the state data.

"What it does not tell us is how many undiagnosed cases we are potentially missing," she continued. "I suspect that there are greater numbers of patients out there who have infections but may not be seeking out testing and or medical care for symptoms that may not require it."

Singh said the low number of rare breakthrough cases show how effective the vaccine is, and that there are many reasons breakthrough cases might occur, including someone who has a condition that causes their immunity to wane over time.

"Even in those cases, we know that those patients are less likely to develop severe infection, they're less likely to have complications, and they're also much less likely to be the spreaders of the infection, and that is very important in terms of community protection and the protection of vulnerable people in the population," she said.

It comes as the CDC has so far confirmed 607 measles cases in at least 21 states: Alaska, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont and Washington.

This is likely an undercount due to delays in states reporting cases to the federal health agency.

About 12% of measles patients in the U.S. have been hospitalized, mostly among those aged 19 and under, according to CDC data.

Among the nationally confirmed cases by the CDC, about 97% are in people who are unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown, the agency said.

Of those cases, 1% are among those who received just one dose of the MMR inoculation and 2% are among those who received the required two doses, according to the CDC.

The CDC currently recommends that people receive two doses of the MMR vaccine, the first at ages 12 to 15 months and the second between 4 and 6 years old. One dose is 93% effective, and two doses are 97% effective against measles.

"This is an unfortunate part of just declining vaccine rates, not just within the country, but internationally as well," Singh said. "Many of these other cases that you're seeing in isolated areas, not necessarily large outbreaks, are coming from international travel. … But it is certainly of concern to see the number reach this this high,"

Last year, just 285 cases were confirmed during the entirely of 2024, according to CDC data.

Singh says having more than double the cases in just the first three months of 2025, is "of significant concern" and said it's important to educate people on the importance of vaccination.

"Our greatest defense against the infection is vaccination" she said. "Texas Children's pediatrics, we are really encouraging families to come in speak with their pediatricians if they think their child needs a vaccine, if they think they are due for an additional dose or are unsure about their vaccine status. Your physician, your pediatrician, is going to be the best source for you to get your concerns and questions answered."

David Rancken’s App of the Day 04/04 /25 – Sky Guide!

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Loomer urged Trump to remove NSA director and others across multiple agencies: Sources

(WASHINGTON) -- The director of the National Security Agency, Gen. Timothy Haugh, was among the numerous officials far-right activist Laura Loomer urged President Donald Trump to remove during her official Oval Office meeting earlier this week, citing evidence of disloyalties, multiple sources tell ABC News.

In her Oval Office meeting, Loomer presented the president with printed files of research she compiled on various government officials -- not only from the NSA and National Security Council, but also from other federal agencies, including the State Department, sources said. She urged the president to take action against those she claimed were disloyal or were appointed during former President Joe Biden's administration, the sources added.

Haugh, who is the director of the NSA and also heads U.S. Cyber Command, and his civilian deputy Wendy Noble, were both removed from their positions, according to a U.S. official. Their firings came after Loomer's meeting with the president on Wednesday.

Loomer appeared to confirm her involvement in a post on X, writing, "NSA Director Tim Haugh and his deputy Wendy Noble have been disloyal to President Trump. That is why they have been fired ... Thank you President Trump for being receptive to the vetting materials provided to you and thank you for firing these Biden holdovers."

Trump on Thursday acknowledged that Loomer has made recommendations to him and that he sometimes listens, but claimed that she was not involved in the NSC firings following their meeting on Wednesday.

"So Laura Loomer is a very good patriot. She is a very strong person, and I saw her yesterday for a little while. She makes recommendations of things and people, and sometimes I listen to those recommendations, like I do with everybody. I listen to everybody, and then I make a decision," Trump said.

In a separate post Thursday night, Loomer said she reported names of "disloyal people" in the NSC to Trump. On Friday, she wrote on X that she planned to release "more names of individuals who should not be in the Trump administration due to their questionable loyalty & past attacks on President Trump."

Asked about these recent X posts from Loomer, the White House referred ABC News to Trump's previous comments about her making recommendations.

Loomer's involvement comes after weeks of both public and private pressure, sources said, as she raised concerns about the administration's vetting process and the inclusion of officials she perceives as disloyal to the president.

Loomer has frequently spread misinformation. In July, she claimed in a social media post, without citing evidence, that President Joe Biden had a medical emergency after landing at Joint Base Andrews.

She had also started unsubstantiated claims about family members of Judge Juan Merchan in Trump's New York hush money case, including that his daughter posted a fake photo of Trump in jail on social media, which the court has denied. It prompted Trump to share Loomer's posts and spread the rumors.

Loomer accompanied Trump to several campaign events last fall -- a move that prompted criticism from some Republicans at the time.

ABC News' Justin Gomez and Molly Nagle contributed to this report.

Man at large after allegedly gunning down estranged girlfriend and her daughter: LA sheriff

(LOS ANGELES) -- A man is at large after he allegedly gunned down his estranged girlfriend and her daughter in their car, authorities said.

Donte Lamont Brown, 41, of Compton, is considered armed and dangerous, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department warned.

La'von Hall and her daughter, Ma'Laysia Martin, were stopped at a traffic light in Compton around 7 p.m. on Tuesday when Brown allegedly drove up alongside their car and shot them, according to the sheriff's department.

After Hall was shot, she got out of the driver's seat and fell to the ground, authorities said. Her car kept moving until it struck a pole.

Responders found Hall lying on the ground and Martin in the passenger seat, the sheriff's department said. The mother and daughter both died at the scene, authorities said.

"Detectives have exhausted all leads" in their search for Brown and are asking for the public's help to find him, the sheriff's department said.

Anyone with information is urged to call the sheriff's department at 323-890-5500 or call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 800-222-TIPS (8477).

David Rancken’s App of the Day 04/03/25 – Weather on the Way!

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Trump says it could take 2 years before tariffs result in American manufacturing boom

Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images

(WASHINGTON) -- As markets nosedived and foreign allies recoiled after the unveiling of sweeping tariffs to be imposed by the U.S., President Donald Trump said he was looking toward the future impact of his levies.

In the case of manufacturing growth, a key administration interest in imposing a 10% levy on all trade partners and significantly higher tariffs on certain nations such as China, Trump said it could take years.

"Let's say it's a two-year process," Trump said when asked by a reporter on Thursday how long it will take to get the industry where he wants to see it.

"You know, they start a plant, and they're big plants We're giving them approval to also, in many cases, to build the electric facility with it," he continued. "So, you have electric generation and the plant, and they're big plants. Now, the good news is a lot of money for them, and they can build them fast, but they're still very big plants. I'd always say it would take a year-and-a-half to two years."

Meanwhile, Trump brushed off concerns about the short-term pain economists expect to be passed on to American consumers.

"It's to be expected where this is a patient that was very sick," Trump said, comparing his economic policies to surgery.

"It's going to be a booming country, a very booming country," the president said.

Trump's tariff plan, announced in the White House Rose Garden on Wednesday, includes a baseline 10% tariff against all U.S. trade partners and steeper, more targeted levies against nations that place duties on U.S. imports.

Jay Timmons, the chief executive of the National Association of Manufacturers, released a statement on Wednesday night criticizing the rollout.

"Needless to say, today's announcement was complicated, and manufacturers are scrambling to determine the exact implications for their operations," Timmons said.

Timmons, who oversees the country's largest manufacturing trade association, said the administration should instead make inputs that manufacturers use to produce products in the U.S. tariff-free and try to negotiate "zero-for-zero" tariffs for American-made goods in foreign markets.

"The stakes for manufacturers could not be higher," he said. "Many manufacturers in the United States already operate with thin margins," he added, and "the high costs of new tariffs threaten investment, jobs, supply chains and, in turn, America's ability to outcompete other nations and lead as the preeminent manufacturing superpower."

Fallout continued on Friday to Trump's tariff plan. China hit back with retaliatory tariffs of their own: a 34% levy on all U.S. goods. Markets slipped further in early trading, after recording their worst day since June 2020 on Thursday.

Trump on Thursday signaled an openness to negotiation, despite White House officials throughout the day denying any chance of bargaining on the tariffs.

Then on Friday morning, Trump appeared to only double down, writing on his social media site: "MY POLICIES WILL NEVER CHANGE."

Texas Republicans grapple with Trump’s tariffs as stock market drops

HOUSTON – The Houston Chronicle reports that less than a day after President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs against U.S. trading partners, Texas Republicans were divided on whether to endorse a trade war that business leaders say is likely to hurt the state’s economy. Many jumped up to support the president, even as financial markets dropped and trade partners ramped up threats of counter tariffs. U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt, R-Houston, cheered Trump on X for “restoring fairness and strength to the global stage on behalf of the American people.” U.S. Rep. Brian Babin, R-Woodville, said Trump’s tariffs weren’t starting a trade war, “they’re ending one.” “For decades, other countries ripped off American workers with unfair tariffs and barriers. Now, we’re finally fighting back. America First!” he wrote on X.

Meanwhile U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, viewed as a possible presidential candidate in 2028, appeared on Fox News Thursday proclaiming his distaste for tariffs, which he called, “a tax on consumers.” “Time is going to tell in the next month or two or three what happens,” he said. “My hope is these tariffs are short lived, and they serve as leverage to lower tariffs across the globe.” Many Texas Republicans chose to say silent on trade moves that stood to hurt businesses and farms across Texas, which exports more goods overseas than any state in the country. U.S. Reps. Dan Crenshaw, Chip Roy, Tony Gonzales and Jody Arrington, chair of the House Budget Committee, made no mention of the tariffs on social media as of Thursday afternoon and their offices did not respond to requests for comment. Nationally, some Republicans are already speaking out against tariffs, following a recent downturn in global financial markets. The S&P 500 is down 10% since Trump took office Jan. 20 with the promise to upend longstanding trade relationships.

Comedian Russell Brand charged with rape, UK authorities announce

Actor and comedian Russell Brand has been charged with one count of rape, one count of oral rape, two counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault, the Metropolitan Police in London announced Friday.

The charges relate to four separate women. The alleged crimes span from 1999 to 2005, authorities said.

"The women who have made reports continue to receive support from specially trained officers," Metropolitan Police Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy said in a statement. "The Met's investigation remains open and detectives ask anyone who has been affected by this case, or anyone who has any information, to come forward and speak with police. A dedicated team of investigators is available via email at CIT@met.police.uk."

Brand, 50, is due in court in London on May 2.

ABC News has reached out to representatives for Brand for comment on the charges.

In a video message shared to social platform X on Friday, Brand responded to the charges.

"I've always told you guys that when I was young and single, before I had my wife and family ... I was a fool, man, I was a fool before I lived in the light of the Lord," Brand said. "I was a drug addict, a sex addict and an imbecile. But what I never was, was a rapist. I've never engaged in nonconsensual activity. I pray that you can see that by looking in my eyes."

He then thanked his supporters, adding he is "incredibly grateful" to defend the charges in court.

Metropolitan Police said Friday that the charges stem from an investigation that began in September 2023.

That month, Britain's Channel 4 program Dispatches aired a documentary episode, the result of a joint investigation with The Times and The Sunday Times, called Russell Brand: In Plain Sight. The documentary involved four unnamed women who claimed they had been raped or sexually assaulted by Brand between 2006 and 2013.

Following the airing of that episode, Metropolitan Police announced they had opened an investigation after they "received a number of allegations of sexual offences." Police did not name Brand at the time but referenced a television documentary and news investigations, according to The Associated Press.

In October 2023, in a separate case, the Thames Valley Police in South East England told ABC News they were also investigating allegations of harassment and stalking against Brand "dating back to 2018."

The actor, known for his stand-up comedy acts and his film role in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, denied all allegations.

Brand claimed in a September 2023 YouTube video, posted prior to the documentary's release, that he had received a pair of "extremely disturbing letters" from what he described as a "mainstream media" outlet and news publication that outlined "very serious allegations that I absolutely refute."

At the time, Brand claimed the allegations "pertain to the time when I was working in the mainstream" and "in the newspapers all the time, when I was in the movies."

"As I have written about extensively in my books, I was very, very promiscuous," he said in that video. "Now, during that time of promiscuity, the relationships I had were absolutely, always consensual. I was always transparent about that then, almost too transparent, and I am being transparent about it now as well."

Brand suggested that the allegations were part of a "coordinated media attack" intended to discredit him.

In addition to acting and comedy, Brand has worked as a political commentator and wellness influencer.

He was previously married to singer Katy Perry from 2010 until their divorce in 2012. Brand married Laura Gallacher in 2017. The couple have three children.

School districts in East Texas announce early release

TYLER – As severe weather hits East Texas, several school districts have announced they will be releasing students early on Friday to ensure students and staff stay safe.

As we head into Friday afternoon, severe storms are predicted with the possibility of creating hail or tornadoes. To ensure student and staff safety, our news partner, KETK, has compiled a list of schools that will release students early. To view the full list, click here.

2 people missing after boat capsizes on Wisconsin River: Police

(MADISON, Wis.) -- Two people are missing after a boat capsized on the Wisconsin River on Thursday, according to the Wisconsin Dells Police Department.

At approximately 4:24 p.m. on Thursday, police received reports that a "boat had capsized on the Wisconsin River, south of the Kilbourn Dam," which is an hour north of Madison, police said.

Three people were in the boat at the time of the incident, with one being able to "safely swim to shore," police said. The recovered boater was met by police and rescue units and handed over to medical services for treatment, officials said.

The two other boaters were not seen after "disappearing under the water, near where the boat had capsized," police said.

Rescue boats were launched on Thursday to begin searching for the missing individuals, police said. Officials also requested the assistance of dive teams, but "due to the high flow of water from the Kilbourn Dam and the fast-moving currents" divers were not able to commence their search.

Aerial and underwater drones, shoreline searchers and boats with sonar capabilities were also deployed for the search, police said.

Officials suspended the search on Thursday evening due to the "unpredictable flow of the river" but said efforts will continue Friday morning.

The names of the missing individuals are not being released at this time, police said.

West Rusk parents advocating a bond for new school building

NEW LONDON – Parents are pushing for the 2025 school bond project which includes a new elementary building. According to our news partner, KETK, it would be the third time voters are asked this question following two previous failed attempts.

West Rusk parents who drop their children off every morning at the elementary school said they are concerned with the current conditions. Some of the problems include leaks, aging floor, mold and have termite damage in their classrooms and windows that leak during rain.

“My daughter cannot run in the gym in certain spots because the floors buckled up so high and kids will trip and fall,” concerned parent Nathan Bishop said. “The kids have to bring their own water because we can’t drink out of the water fountain.” Continue reading West Rusk parents advocating a bond for new school building