Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on Sunday said the Legislature should amend the language of the stateâs near-total abortion ban to address confusion over when doctors may terminate pregnancies.
âI do think we need to clarify any language so that doctors are not in fear of being penalized if they think the life of the mother is at risk,â Patrick said on the WFAA program âInside Texas Politics.â
Patrick is the first major state elected official to offer support for changing the stateâs abortion law in this legislative session. The Texas abortion ban went into effect in 2022 and prohibits abortions in all circumstances except when the life of the pregnant person is at risk.
Some doctors have said the law is unclear, however, as to how ill a pregnant person has to be to qualify for an abortion. Punishments for violating the abortion statute include up to life in prison and a fine of at least $100,000.
A group of 111 Texas obstetrician-gynecologists in November sent a letter to state leaders urging them to reform the law, which they said as written âthreatens physicians with life imprisonment and loss of licensure for doing what is often medically necessary for the patientâs health and future fertility.â
The letter cited two recent investigations by ProPublica of pregnant women in Texas who died after doctors delayed treating their miscarriages, which can conflict with the abortion law, which prohibits doctors from ending the heartbeat of a fetus. More than a dozen medical experts consulted by the news organization concluded that the deaths of Josseli Barnica, 28, and Nevaeh Crain, 18, were preventable.
The reporting earned a rebuke from Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, who said in an op-ed published in the Houston Chronicle that the Texas Health and Safety Code clearly defines when a pregnant patient is ill enough to qualify for an abortion. Hughes said doctors had performed 119 abortions in life-saving situations since the law took effect.
Patrickâs comment is not the first time Republican members of the Senate have suggested tweaking the law. Sen. Bob Nichols of Jacksonville said in 2022 said he would support extending abortion access to victims of rape. The Senate has passed no such bill.
How much of a priority this is for Patrick, who as president of the Senate wields tremendous power of the body, remains to be seen. He made no mention of reforming the stateâs abortion laws in 78 interim priorities he sent to Senate committees in April and September of last year.
This article was originally published by The Texas Tribune. To read the original article, click here.
The Brady Corbet-directed awards contender The Brutalist is causing a stir after the film's editor, DĂĄvid JancsĂł, revealed artificial intelligence was used to enhance the performances of the film's stars, Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones.
While speaking with Red Shark News, JancsĂł said the filmmakers used AI to change Brody and Jones' Hungarian dialogue to make it sound more authentic.
âI am a native Hungarian speaker and I know that it is one of the most difficult languages to learn to pronounce,â JancsĂł said. âIf youâre coming from the Anglo-Saxon world certain sounds can be particularly hard to grasp.â
He continued by praising the actors' performances, but saying the small tweaks were necessary to enhance some Hungarian vocal sounds.
âIt is controversial in the industry to talk about AI, but it shouldnât be,â JancsĂł said. âWe should be having a very open discussion about what tools AI can provide us with. Thereâs nothing in the film using AI that hasnât been done before. It just makes the process a lot faster. We use AI to create these tiny little details that we didnât have the money or the time to shoot.â
The revelation that AI was used has sparked outrage online. On Monday, Corbet issued a response to the backlash to Deadline.
âAdrien and Felicityâs performances are completely their own. They worked for months with dialect coach Tanera Marshall to perfect their accents. Innovative Respeecher technology was used in Hungarian language dialogue editing ONLY, specifically to refine certain vowels and letters for accuracy. No English language was changed," Corbet said. "This was a manual process, done by our sound team and Respeecher in post-production. The aim was to preserve the authenticity of Adrien and Felicityâs performances in another language, not to replace or alter them and done with the utmost respect for the craft.â
(WASHINGTON) -- Donald Trump was sworn into office on Monday for a second term in the White House, and international figures across the globe are sharing their reactions to the 47th president's inauguration.
Here's what world leaders are saying:
Russian President Vladimir Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Trump on his return to office, specifically his "desire to restore direct contacts with Russia, which were interrupted through no fault of our own by the outgoing administration."
"We also hear his statements about the need to do everything to prevent a third World War," Putin said during a meeting with members of the Russian Security Council. "Of course, we welcome this attitude and congratulate the U.S. president-elect on taking office."
Pope Francis
Pope Francis sent a message to Trump wishing him "wisdom, strength and protection."
"Inspired by your nation's ideals of being a land of opportunity and welcome for all, it is my hope that under your leadership the American people will prosper and always strive to build a more just society, where there is no room for hatred, discrimination or exclusion," the pope said.
He also encouraged Trump to be a promoter of peace, as "our human family faces numerous challenges, not to mention the scourge of war."
"I invoke upon you, your family, and the beloved American people an abundance of divine blessings," the pope said.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Canada's outgoing prime minister, Justin Trudeau, shared his congratulations to Trump.
"Congratulations, President Trump. Canada and the U.S. have the world's most successful economic partnership. We have the chance to work together again â to create more jobs and prosperity for both our nations," he wrote on X.
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer
Keir Starmer, the prime minister of the United Kingdom, also gave his regards to Trump.
"The special relationship between the U.K. and the U.S. will continue to flourish for years to come," Starmer said in a video posted on X. "With President Trump's long-standing affection and historical ties to the United Kingdom, I know that depth of friendship will continue."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wished success to Trump and said he looks forward to "active and mutually beneficial cooperation" between the two countries.
"Today is a day of change and also a day of hope for the resolution of many problems, including global challenges," he wrote on X. "We are stronger together, and we can provide greater security, stability, and economic growth to the world and our two nations."
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Narendra Modi, the prime minister of India, called Trump his "dear friend" while congratulating him on his inauguration.
"I look forward to working closely together once again, to benefit both our countries, and to shape a better future for the world," Modi wrote on X. "Best wishes for a successful term ahead!"
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen
Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, said the EU "looks forward to working closely" with Trump.
"Together, our societies can achieve greater prosperity and strengthen their common security," she wrote on X. "This is the enduring strength of the transatlantic partnership."
King Charles III
Buckingham Palace confirmed to ABC News that King Charles III sent a personal message of congratulations to Trump on his inauguration, reflecting on the enduring special relationship between the U.K. and the U.S.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said Trump's incoming term will "turbo-charge [defense] spending and production." "Together we can achieve peace through strength," he wrote on X.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Benjamin Netanyahu, prime minister of Israel, praised Trump's work in his previous term and said he believes working together again "will raise the U.S.-Israel alliance to even greater heights."
"On behalf of the people of Israel, I also want to thank you for your efforts in helping free Israeli hostages," he said in a video posted on X. "I look forward to working with you to return the remaining hostages, to destroy Hamas' military capabilities and end its political rule in Gaza."
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren fight for their home in the 1923 season 2 trailer.
The official trailer for the second season of the Yellowstone prequel dropped Sunday, showcasing the war between the Duttons and the wealthy businessman Donald Whitfield, played by Timothy Dalton, over their Montana property.
Season 2 of 1923 streams on Feb. 23 on Paramount+. It follows the challenges that a cruel winter brings, as well as "unfinished business to Jacob and Cara back at Dutton ranch," according to the season's official description. "With harsh conditions and adversaries threatening to end the Dutton legacy, Spencer embarks on an arduous journey home, racing against time to save his family in Montana. Meanwhile, Alexandra sets off on her own harrowing trans-Atlantic journey to find Spencer and reclaim their love."
Throughout the trailer, both Ford and Mirren are seen protecting their property by any means necessary, slinging both guns and choice words.
âOf all the things Iâve had to do for this ranch,â Mirren says as she reloads her sniper, âthis takes the cake.â
LUFKIN, Texas (KETK) â Our news partner, KETK, reports that the Angelina County Commissionerâs Court has approved a contract to extend the Angelina County Airportâs longest runway to 6,000 feet.
The updated plan was unanimously approved by the court.
The $7,800 contract with KSA Engineers will use money from the COVID Cares Fund to extend Runway 725 by 600 feet from 5,400 feet to 6,000 feet. At the Angelina County Commissionerâs Court meeting on Wednesday, Angelina County Airport manager, Gary Letney explained they had originally planned to extend the runway by 1,600 feet but they now want to update that plan to do the extension in sections. This shorter, 600-foot extension is still long enough to allow the airport to start accommodating larger airplanes like military planes.
âPlanes that we do get in now, they canât take full loads of people or fuel. So, on some very hot summer days, some of the jets do have to find an alternate airport and this would prevent that from happening…even just the 600 feet would do that for us.â said Gary Letney.
WASHINGTON (AP) â President-elect Donald Trump is going to issue a series of orders aimed at remaking Americaâs immigration policies, ending asylum access, sending troops to the southern border and ending birthright citizenship, an incoming White House official said.
But itâs unclear how Trump would carry out some of his executive orders, including ending automatic citizenship for everyone born in the country, while others were expected to be immediately challenged in the courts.
The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to preview some of the orders expected later Monday.
Immigrant communities were bracing for the crackdown that Trump, a Republican, had been promising throughout his campaign and again at a rally Sunday just ahead of his inauguration.
The official previewed a sweeping update of what was to come as the Trump administration gears up to make due on a campaign promise to crack down on illegal immigration and carry out mass deportations. The measures seemed designed to bolster border security including sending an undetermined amount of troops to the southern border.
One of the key announcements is the effort to end birthright citizenship â one of Trumpâs most sweeping immigration efforts yet to redefine what it means to be American.
Birthright citizenship means anyone born in the United States automatically becomes an American citizen. Itâs been in place for over a century and applies to children born to someone in the country illegally or in the U.S. on a tourist or student visa who plans to return to their home country. Trump’s effort to end it is certain to face legal challenges.
Trump also intends to suspend refugee resettlement for four months, the official said. That’s a program that for decades has allowed hundreds of thousands of people from around the world fleeing war and persecution to come to the United States.
Trump similarly suspended the refugee program at the beginning of his first term, and then after reinstating it, cut the numbers of refugees admitted into the country every year.
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) â The mother of American journalist Austin Tice made her first visit to Syria in almost a decade Monday and said that the administration of President-elect Donald Trump had offered support to help find her son, who disappeared in 2012.
Debra Tice made the remarks at a news conference in Damascus in her first visit to the country since insurgents toppled President Bashar Assad last month. She did not present any new findings in the ongoing search.
Austin Tice disappeared near the Syrian capital in 2012, and has not been heard from since other than a video released weeks later that showed him blindfolded and held by armed men. Tens of thousands are believed to have gone missing in Syria since 2011, when countrywide protests against Assad spiraled into a devastating civil war.
Outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden told reporters at the White House in December that he believes Washington can bring Tice back, while admitting that âwe have no direct evidenceâ of his well-being.
âI have great hope that the Trump administration will sincerely engage in diligent work to bring Austin home.â Tice said. âHis people have already reached out to me. I havenât experienced that for the last four years.â
âAustin, if you can somehow hear this, I love you. I know youâre not giving up, and neither am I,â she said.
Tice said she had a productive meeting with Ahmad al-Sharaa, the leader of Syriaâs new administration, who she said was âdedicated and determinedâ to bring back Austin and the others missing in the country.
She also visited two military intelligence prisons in Syria, known for their mass incarceration and systematic use of torture, which she described as an âunbelievably, horrible nightmare.â
Tice, who is from Houston, has had his work published by The Washington Post, McClatchy newspapers and other outlets.
(WASHINGTON) -- At noon today, Donald Trump took the presidential oath for a second time, capping a historic political comeback to the White House.
As he did on the campaign trail, Trump painted a dark picture of America and took aim at President Joe Biden's leadership as his predecessor sat just steps away.
"My recent election is a mandate to completely and totally reverse a horrible betrayal, and all of these many betrayals that have taken place, and to give the people back their faith, their wealth, their democracy, and indeed their freedom," Trump said, promising a "golden age of America."
White House confirms Vivek Ramaswamy is leaving DOGE
The White House confirmed to ABC News that Vivek Ramaswamy, who Trump had picked to help lead his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) alongside Elon Musk, will now step aside to focus on running for governor of Ohio.
"Vivek Ramaswamy played a critical role in helping us create DOGE," Trump-Vance transition spokesperson Anna Kelly told ABC News in a statement. "He intends to run for elected office soon, which requires him to remain outside of DOGE based on the structure that we announced today. We thank him immensely for his contributions over the last 2 months and expect him to play a vital role in making America great again!"
An Ohio operative told ABC News last week that Ramaswamy would announce his gubernatorial run soon.
"Vivek's base plan remains [the] same: to get accomplishments at DOGE and then announce a run for governor shortly," the operative said.
-ABC News' Hannah Demissie
Trump enters arena to boisterous applause
Trump and Melania Trump walked into Capital One Arena together as "Hail to the Chief" was played by a military band.
The atmosphere is similar to that of Trump's campaign rallies, with attendees clad in red "Make America Great Again" hats.
Trump shook hands with supporters in the crowd, many of whom held up their cellphones to film his entrance.
DeSantis refers to Gulf as 'Gulf of America' in executive order
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order on an approaching winter storm on Monday that refers to the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America."
Among the first executive orders set to be signed by Trump is one that would rename the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America."
Amy Klobuchar discusses Trump and Biden limo ride to the Capitol
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, chair of the congressional inaugural committee, called into ABC News and spoke with anchor David Muir after the ceremonies on Capitol Hill.
Klobuchar was in the motorcade with Trump and Biden as they rode together from the White House to the swearing-in the Capitol Rotunda.
"I'm not going to reveal every detail, except to say maybe we did discuss football just a little bit, and some of the games yesterday," she said about what was discussed on the short trip. "And we also talked about the now-president's upcoming trip to Los Angeles, and I talked to him privately about that with the Olympics coming, and how important that is."
Kash Patel, Trump's FBI director nominee, addresses crowd
Kash Patel, Trumpâs nominee for FBI director, which is a non-partisan position, addressed Trump supporters at Capital One Arena ahead of his arrival.
"It's pretty cool to be speaking in Capital One Arena right before the boss," Patel said, as the crowd cheered.
"We are not only the beacon of hope, but we are the land of constitutional justice. We are the land under Donald J. Trump and JD Vance where we are going to end the two-tier system of justice. We are going to remove the weaponization of the intelligence community for political purposes, and we are going to put the men and women of America first."
Inaugural parade taking place at Capital One Arena
Normally, the president and his entourage would walk down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House after taking the oath of office.
But because of frigid temperatures in Washington, the events have been moved indoors to Capital One Arena.
The venue has the capacity to hold roughly 20,000 people. A desk has been set up on stage for Trump to sign some of the first executive orders of his administration.
Brian Driscoll named acting FBI director
Brian Driscoll has been named acting director of the FBI by the incoming administration, days after Driscoll was tapped as the new head of the FBIâs Newark field office.
FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate resigned this morning, as did most of the executive staff, according to sources.
-ABC Newsâ Luke Barr
Focus will soon shift to Capital One Arena
The inaugural luncheon has ended and Trump is about to participate in the First Honors Ceremony at the Capitol.
His next stop will be Capital One Arena for remarks to a waiting crowd and the signing of executive orders.
Some Trump allies and officials have already spoken ahead of his arrival, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Also speaking was Kash Patel, Trump's pick for FBI director.
Milley's official portrait was removed from Pentagon hallway
Gen. Mark Milleyâs official portrait as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff was taken down this afternoon from the hallway where it hung along with those of previous chairmen.
Two U.S. officials confirmed that Milleyâs portrait was taken down from that hallway and referred questions to the White House.
One official told ABC News that the whereabouts of the portrait is unknown.
The portrait was officially unveiled on Friday, Jan. 10, at a ceremony in that hallway where both Milley and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin were present.
The portraitâs disappearance was first noted by reporters at the Pentagon who have posted uncleared photos of the empty space where the portrait was hung.
-ABC Newsâ Luis Martinez and Matt Seyler
Acting leaders named for Homeland Security, Defense departments
While awaiting the Senate confirmation hearing for South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, Trump's pick to lead the Department of Homeland Security, Benjamine Carry Huffman has been appointed acting secretary.
Huffman is currently the director of the Federal Law Enforcement Centers, the training arm for federal law enforcement.
Department of Defense official Robert Salesses was also named acting defense secretary until the Senate confirmation hearing is held for Trump's pick, Pete Hegseth.
Salesses is the current deputy director of the Washington Headquarters Service.
-ABC News' Luke Barr and Luis Martinez
Plans for Rubio's 1st day at the State Department
The State Department is charging full steam ahead with preparations for Sen. Marco Rubio's first full day as America's top diplomat.
Assuming all goes to plan, two State Department officials say that Rubio -- Trump's nominee to be secretary of state -- will give a speech to mark his arrival on Tuesday. He will also meet both one-on-one and as a group with the foreign ministers of India, Australia, and Japan -- the three countries that, along with the U.S., make up the Quad, a diplomatic partnership seen as critical to countering China's influence in the Pacific.
The Senate is expected to begin working to formally install as many of Trump's nominees as possible and Rubio is expected to come up first. He could be confirmed as soon as this evening.
-ABC News' Shannon K. Kingston
White House raises flag to full staff after Trump signs proclamation
The flag at the White House has been raised after Trump signed a proclamation for flags to be flown at full staff on all inauguration days.
The flag had been at half-staff following President Jimmy Carterâs death on Dec. 29. Trump is ordering the flag to return to half-staff on Tuesday for the remainder of the 30-day period, which began the day of 100-year-old Carterâs death.
Last week, House Speaker Mike Johnson ordered that the flags at the Capitol be raised for the inauguration.
-ABC Newsâ Justin Ryan Gomez
Trump advisers, DOJ prepare for legal challenges
With a flurry of executive orders expected today, President Donald Trump's top advisers, including his incoming Department of Justice leadership, are preparing for a storm of legal challenges to some of the most controversial ones.
"We're going to get sued on all of these things," one top Trump adviser said, adding that the volume of litigation is expected to be a full-time job for Trump's DOJ.
Trump has privately told advisers that he believes flooding the zone with executive orders will lead to lawsuits that may be less effective given the volume of actions he plans to take.
During Trump's first administration, he faced upwards of 400 lawsuits challenging his actions. His advisers anticipate more than that this time.
There will be a team inside the Justice Department that is dedicated just to defending Trump's actions in court, sources said.
The transition from the Biden White House to the Trump White House is well underway and crews are working quickly to make the changes before Trump arrives later this afternoon, but the choices are nearly identical to his first term.
In the Oval Office, gold curtains have returned behind the Resolute Desk, as well as the red-and-beige carpet with green leaves that covered the wood floor.
As Trump sits at his desk, the portrait of President Andrew Jackson returned to the wall on his left side, just as it was during his first term. Biden had a portrait of Benjamin Franklin.
To Trumpâs right, where Biden hung a 1917 flag-decorated Childe Hassam painting, President Abraham Lincoln is now back on display.
Other areas of the West Wing still need to be unboxed. In the Cabinet Room is a cardboard box with "DJT Office Bibles" written on the side.
-ABC Newsâ Justin Ryan Gomez
Politicians attend inauguration luncheon
Members of Congress, officials joining the new administration and tech leaders including Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg have congregated for an inauguration luncheon at the Capitol.
Pelosi criticizes Trumpâs inaugural speech
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was critical of Trump's inaugural speech, pointing out that he didn't mention his plan to cut taxes on the wealthy.
"In the Presidentâs first term, his only accomplishment was enacting tax cuts that gave eighty-three percent of the benefits to the top one percent while increasing the national debt by $2 trillion," she said in a statement.
"While he didnât say it in his speech, the President campaigned on an extension of those tax cuts being his first priority in the new Congress," Pelosi said. "The American people want us to build an economy from the middle out -- not from the top down."
Pelosi's statement came as Trump slammed the former speaker in remarks to his supporters at Emancipation Hall.
"She's guilty as hell," Trump said of Pelosi over her response to the attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Trump again airs grievances against Nancy Pelosi, Liz Cheney after pledging 'unity'
After promising 'unity' in his inaugural address, Trump is reverting back to bulldozing political opponents like Nancy Pelosi and Liz Cheney.
"She's guilty as hell," he said of Pelosi over her response to the attack on the U.S. Capitol -- where he was speaking -- buy a pro-Trump mob.
He called Liz Cheney, a Republican who endorsed Kamala Harris over Trump because of his actions after the 2020 election, a "disaster."
"She's a crying lunatic and crying, crying Adam Kinzinger, he's a super crier," Trump said.
Trump talks about Jan. 6 'hostages'
In more off-the-cuff remarks inside the Capitol's Emancipation Hall after his address, Trump spoke about people who have been convicted for their roles in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol as "hostages."
"I was going to talk about the J6 hostages," Trump said. "But you'll be happy because, you know, it's action not words that count."
Trump previously promised to pardon some Jan. 6 rioters on Day 1.
He also went after former Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, two Republican members of the House Jan. 6 Committee who are outspoken critics of Trump because of his actions after the 2020 election.
"And I was going to talk about the things that Joe did today with the pardons of people that were, very, very guilty of very bad crimes, like the Unselect Committee of political thugs," Trump said.
Biden's legacy: How will he be remembered?
Surveys show Americans have mixed views on Biden's four years at the pinnacle of power.
Historians told ABC News it will take years to fully assess his stamp on American politics, but that likely to be included are his legislative achievements while leading the country out of the COVID-19 pandemic and his foreign policy footprint.
But many said his 2024 campaign decisions -- first to run for reelection and later to drop out -- may overshadow his record while in office.
Biden departs the Capitol
Joe Biden, now the former president, left the Capitol on a Marine helicopter that will bring him to Joint Base Andrews for a final farewell to Washington.
The Bidens and Trumps walked together to the helicopter. Both couples were holding hands.
Biden smiled and appeared to laugh as he spoke to Trump. Jill Biden and Melania Trump hugged as they said goodbye.
This is an exit for Biden after five decades in politics.
Just before he left, Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff entered their own motorcade. She is traveling home to Los Angeles, her office confirmed to ABC News.
Inaugural ceremony comes to an end
After Trump's speech, there were remarks from Rabbi Ari Berman, Pastor Lorenzo Sewell and Reverend Frank Mann. Christopher Macchio performed the national anthem.
Trump and Melania Trump left the Capitol Rotunda together.
Next, the Trumps will see off President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
Room joins in as Carrie Underwood sings 'America the Beautiful'
In a unifying moment, Carrie Underwood sang "America the Beautiful" after Trumpâs defiant inauguration speech.
The country star, who was standing in front of Biden, performed a capella after technical difficulties, and the crowd joined in. Biden, Hillary Clinton and Doug Emhoff were among those singing with her.
Trump celebrates his comeback: 'Here I am'
"Many people thought it was impossible for me to stage such a historic political comeback. But as you see today, here I am," he said. "The American people have spoken."
Trump's long road back to the White House included four indictments, one conviction, two assassination attempts and a campaign of ups and downs.
Trump references legal troubles: 'Never again'
Trump, who has been convicted by a jury of his peers and was indicted four times after his first term, again contended he was politically prosecuted.
"Never again will the immense power of the state be weaponized to persecute political opponents," he said. "Something I know something about. We will not allow that to happen. It will not happen again. Under my leadership, we will restore fair, equal and impartial justice under the constitutional rule of law."
The two cases against him were dropped after he won reelection, with prosecutors citing longstanding Justice Department policy that a sitting president cannot be charged with a crime.
Trump lays out Day 1 executive actions
Trump is now highlighting some of the executive actions he will take.
They include declaring a national emergency at the southern border and a national energy emergency.
He said he would send troops to the U.S.-Mexico border, reinstate "Remain in Mexico" policy and other immigration policies.
Trump takes aim at Biden in address: 'A horrible betrayal'
Trump is taking aim at Biden's leadership these past four years, specifically on immigration and on recent natural disasters, though he didn't mention his predecessor by name.
"My recent election is a mandate to completely and totally reverse a horrible betrayal, and all of these many betrayals that have taken place, and to give the people back their faith, their wealth, their democracy, and indeed their freedom," Trump said.
Like he did on the 2024 campaign trail, Trump's painting a dark picture of America.
"From this moment on, America's decline is over," he said. "Our liberties and our nation's glorious destiny will no longer be denied, and we will immediately restore the integrity, competency, and loyalty of America's government."
Trump: 'The golden age of America begins right now'
Trump began his inaugural remarks with a line he's said repeatedly since his election.
"The golden age of America begins right now," he said.
"Our sovereignty will be reclaimed, our safety will be restored, the scales of justice will be rebalanced."
Cheers erupted in the freezing cold in the line outside the Capital One Arena as Trump supporters huddled together, glued to their phones watching Trump take the oath of office.
Trump is sworn into office for a 2nd term, capping historic comeback
Trump just took the oath for a second time. Melania Trump and their children surrounded him as he did so.
Trump and Biden shook hands after he took the oath. Kamala Harris, who was standing next to Biden, clapped quietly.
JD Vance takes oath of office
JD Vance just took the oath of office with his wife, Usha, and their three children by his side.
Theme for inauguration is 'our enduring democracy' Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Republican Sen. Deb Fischer, who sit on the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, are speaking on the importance of democracy.
"Our theme this year is our enduring democracy, the presence of so many presidents and vice presidents here today is truly a testament to that endurance," Klobuchar said in her opening remarks.
Fischer noted the past several years have been a "trying" time for the nation but today's events marks its 60th inauguration ceremony.
"Endurance through the years is the ultimate test," she said. "To persevere through time is the truest measure of an idea."
Biden announces preemptive pardons of family members minutes before Trump takes oath
President Joe Biden issued preemptive pardons to his siblings and their spouses in the final minutes of his presidency.
"My family has been subjected to unrelenting attacks and threats, motivated solely by a desire to hurt me -- the worst kind of partisan politics. Unfortunately, I have no reason to believe these attacks will end," Biden said in a statement.
He pardoned his siblings, Valerie Biden Owens, Francis Biden and James Biden, as well as Owensâ husband, John Owens, and James Bidenâs wife, Sara Jones Biden.
"The issuance of these pardons should not be mistaken as an acknowledgment that they engaged in any wrongdoing, nor should acceptance be misconstrued as an admission of guilt for any offense," Biden said.
Trump enters Capitol Rotunda for transfer of power Trump walked into the Capitol Rotunda solo as he prepares to be sworn in for another four years.
It is a historic moment, as he is the first president in more than a century to win non-consecutive terms. He will also be the first convicted felon to serve as president.
Trump's children at his side but won't join his administration
Trump's five children were seen entering the Capitol, moments before he is set to be sworn in for a second term.
Unlike his first term, none will serve in his administration.
Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner, were advisers in the West Wing during his first presidency. But neither are returning this time around. Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. are currently leading the Trump Organization.
Omar rips Dems for attending Trumpâs inauguration after calling him a 'threat to democracy'
Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn. sent out a blistering X post criticizing fellow Democrats who called Trump a threat to democracy and are now "willing to be there and clap for him."
"People are more upset at performers/artists attending Trump's inaugural events but not upset at all the politicians who told them he was a 'threat to democracy' going to these events are not serious," she wrote.
"Performers at least know they are there to perform and get paid, but these politicians who ran their mouth for 4 yrs and are now willing to be there and clap for him, that's who they should be mad at," she added. "They lied to you and your criticism/anger should be rightfully directed at them.
-- ABC News' Benjamin Siegel
Clintons, Bushes, Obama arrive at Capitol
Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who lost the 2016 election to President-elect Donald Trump, have arrived at Trump's second inauguration. Trump supporters gathered at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., booed as the Clintons walked in.
Former Vice President Mike Pence was also not accompanied by his wife, Karen Pence.
Trump's Cabinet picks are in the Capitol. One could be confirmed tonight
Hundreds of people are gathered inside the Capitol Rotunda, including several of Trump's Cabinet picks: Tulsi Gabbard, tapped for director of national intelligence; Robert F. Kennedy Jr., chosen to lead Health and Human Services; and Pete Hegseth, his pick to lead the Pentagon.
His pick for secretary of state, Marco Rubio, could be confirmed as soon as Monday night. Rubio is considered one of Trump's least controversial picks.
A number of Senate committees that will vote on different nominees have scheduled meetings for later this week.
Chants, music, and a watch party inside Capital One Arena
With a sea of red hats and the campaign soundtrack blasting, Capital One Arena emulates the environment of a campaign rally.
Notably, a desk sits at the end of the stage across the podium. Trump is expected to sign executive orders from here.
There is a feed of Trump's movements being streamed live on the Jumbotrons as well. As the president-elect departed St. John's church, the crowd here burst into applause and chanted "USA."
There were also chants of "JD-48" as they watched the vice president-elect and his wife arrived at the White House.
ABC News Senior Political Correspondent Rachel Scott spoke to one couple from Alabama who arrived at 2:30 a.m. and said there were still âthousandsâ of people ahead of them.
EMS first responders from Butler, Pennsylvania -- the site of that first assassination attempt -- are expected to be present as well.
-- ABC Newsâ Rachel Scott and Benjamin Siegel
What happens when Trump and Biden get to Capitol
According to the presidential inauguration committee, here is what will happen when Trump gets to the Capitol:
First, he will be sworn in around noon.
After, Trump will bid farewell to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Biden is leaving the Capitol via helicopter to go to Joint Base Andrews, where he will hold a farewell event with his staff.
Trump will then visit the overflow crowd gathered at Emancipation Hall to watch the swearing in and later participate in a ceremony in the presidents signing room. He will eventually return to Emancipation Hall for a review of the troops.
Biden and Trump depart White House together for Capitol
President Joe Biden and President-elect Trump are riding together to the U.S. Capitol for Trump's swearing-in.
Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who chairs the congressional inaugural committee, walked them out of the White House.
First lady Jill Biden and Melania Trump rode to the ceremony separately, as did Vice President Kamala Harris and Vice President-elect JD Vance.
Biden sees to peaceful transition of power Trump denied him four years ago
The peaceful transition of power is a hallmark of American democracy.
It's currently on display as Biden hosts Trump at the White House before they attend the inauguration together.
But four years ago, Trump denied Biden such a welcome. Instead, he bitterly left Washington hours before the inauguration while still refusing to concede he lost the 2020 election.
"The only president ever to avoid an inauguration is the guy that's about to be inaugurated," Biden had said when he confirmed he would be in attendance for Monday's events.
Biden leaves letter for Trump
As President Joe Biden prepared to pass the baton to President-elect Donald Trump, he's followed the tradition of leaving his successor a note.
While Biden confirmed that he wrote Trump a letter, he did not say what his message was.
President Ronald Reagan started the ritual of leaving his successor a letter in 1989. Every president since has taken part in the tradition. But since Reagan's letter to Bush, each handover has been from a Democrat to a Republican or vice versa.
Mike Pence to attend inauguration
Former Vice President Mike Pence announced his plans to attend the inauguration.
"Today, I will attend the Inauguration of President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance at the U. S. Capitol," Pence wrote on X. "This is a day when every American does well to celebrate our democracy and the peaceful transfer of power under the Constitution of the United States."
Pence was seen arriving at the U.S. Capitol at around 9:30 a.m.
Trump and Vance have had a contentious relationship and did not interact publicly for four years after Pence broke with Trump by refusing to reject the 2020 election results.
Biden tells Trump: 'Welcome home'
As Trump exited his limousine, Biden said to him: "Welcome home."
Trump walked up the steps with Melania Trump and they shook hands with the Bidens.
Trump is now at the White House
Trump has arrived at the White House, where he will have tea with President Biden.
The two men will later ride together to the U.S. Capitol for Trump's swearing in.
Trump's return caps what has been a remarkable political comeback unlike anything in American history.
This isn't Trump's first time back at the White House. Biden invited him for an Oval Office meeting days after his victory in November.
Hundreds available to attend inauguration from inside the Capitol Rotunda
Guests will attend the inauguration from the Capitol Rotunda and overflow areas, with 800 able to attend from inside the Rotunda.
About 1,300 can attend in the Emancipation Hall, and 500 can watch from the theater in the Capitol Visitor Center.
-- ABC Newsâ Justin Gomez and Allison Pecorin
Trump will rename Gulf of Mexico the 'Gulf of America' among 1st actions
Among the first executive orders set to be signed by President-elect Donald Trump will be an order to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America."
During his January press conference at Mar-A-Lago, Trump declared he would change the name, saying itâs currently run by cartels and that "itâs ours."
"We're going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, which has a beautiful ring that covers a lot of territory, the Gulf of America," Trump said. "What a beautiful name. And it's appropriate. It's appropriate. And Mexico has to stop allowing millions of people to pour into our country."
Presidents have the authority to rename geographic regions and features via executive order.
-ABC Newsâ John Santucci and Kelsey Walsh
Biden takes selfie with first lady at White House
President Joe Biden snapped a selfie with first lady Jill Biden outside the White House, documenting their final morning in office.
The Bidens will soon host the Trumps for tea and coffee at the White House.
Bidens greet Harris at the White House Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff have arrived at the White House.
They exchanged handshakes with President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden.
The Trumps will soon join Biden at the White House for tea. They have just exited St. John's Episcopal Church.
Supporters line up outside Capital One Arena before dawn, despite sub-freezing temps
Temperatures in the high teens and low 20s did little to stop Trump supporters from lining up early to attend inauguration events at Capital One Arena.
Those at the front of the line arrived at 3 a.m., despite the fact that Trump was eight hours away from taking the oath, and doors were four hours away from opening.
Thousands were lined up by the time doors opened at 7 a.m.
ABC News spoke with supporters from all over the nation including southern California, Florida, and New York. Many arrived with family members that spanned generations.
ABC Newsâ Meghan Mistry
Trumps arrive for church service
Donald Trump and Melania Trump have arrived for a church service at St. John's in Washington, a tradition for presidential inaugurations.
Trump said he's feeling "great."
After church, President Biden and first lady Jill Biden will welcome the Trumps to the White House -- an invitation that Trump did not offer the Bidens four years ago when he skipped the inaugural events entirely.
First to ABC: Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Tom Homan and Kellyanne Conway to speak at Capital One Arena, per sources
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, "border czar" Tom Homan and Kellyanne Conway will speak at Capital One Arena, per sources familiar with the planning.
Elon Musk will join the speakers list as well.
The president will also swing by the Capital One Arena for the 60th Presidential Inaugural Ceremony Viewing & Parade.
The evening will include the Oval Office Signing Ceremony, followed by the Commander and Chief Ball, Liberty Ball, and Starlight Ball.
-- ABC Newsâ Kelsey Walsh
Members of Trump's family arrive at St. John's
Trump is about to leave Blair House for the first event of the day: a service at St. John's Episcopal Church.
Members of his family, including his children Ivanka Trump and Eric Trump, were seen arriving for the service.
Senior Trump adviser dismisses significance of Biden pardons
Jason Miller, a senior adviser to President-elect Donald Trump, dismissed the significance of President Joe Biden's preemptive pardons for prominent political figures in an interview with "Good Morning America" on Monday.
"Today is about President Trump and starting to undo some of the disasters from the past four years," Miller said shortly after the news of Biden's inauguration day pardons broke.
"I really don't care about Joe Biden anymore," Miller added. "This is about the plan of action President Trump is going to start implementing, starting today."
A preview of Trump's inaugural address
Excerpts of Trump's inaugural address, obtained by ABC News, show Trump will call for a "revolution of common sense."
"I return to the presidency confident and optimistic that we are at the start of a thrilling new era of national success. A tide of change is sweeping the country," he will say.
Trump will also hint at the sweeping executive action he will take, with as many as 200 orders prepared for Day 1.
"Today, I will sign a series of historic executive orders," he'll say. "With these actions, we will begin the complete restoration of America and the revolution of common sense."
"My message to Americans today is that it is time for us to once again act with courage, vigor, and the vitality of historyâs greatest civilization."
What Trump has said he'll do on Day 1
Mass deportations, Jan. 6 pardons and tariffs on trade partners. That's just some of what Trump repeatedly vowed to do immediately after he is sworn into office.
Sources told ABC News Trump is likely to sign executive orders at the U.S. Capitol after his swearing-in and then additional ones later at Capital One Arena.
Separately, top Trump officials told ABC News he is preparing to take more than 200 executive actions on his first day in office.
While plans are still being finalized, sources said they could include declaring a national emergency on the U.S.-Mexico border, rescinding any DEI directives from the Biden administration and offsetting limits for offshore drilling on federal land.
Biden's attendance restores hallmark of American democracy
After a bitter 2024 campaign, Biden will put politics aside and stand near his successor as he takes the presidential oath spelled out in the Constitution.
The gesture is a tradition of American democracy, but especially notable given that Trump skipped Biden's inauguration four years ago after refusing to concede.
Still, Biden made sure to issue a final warning to Americans before he left office to be vigilant against potential abuses of power ahead.
"Today, an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power, and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights and freedoms, and a fair shot for everyone to get ahead," he said in his farewell address. "We see the consequences all across America."
How to watch Trump's inauguration
ABC News will have comprehensive coverage of the inauguration throughout the day.
Trump is expected to begin his day with a service at St. John's Episcopal Church and a private tea at the White House before his swearing-in ceremony at noon in the Capitol Rotunda.
The network's coverage will begin with a special edition of "Good Morning America" at 7 a.m. EST, followed by a day-long special report beginning at 9 a.m. EST and led by "World News Tonight" anchor and managing editor David Muir from Washington.
Inauguration coincides with MLK Day
Trump's second swearing in is occurring on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
The last time that happened was former President Barack Obama's second inauguration in 2013. Obama, the nation's first Black president, took the oath of office that year using two Bibles, one that belonged to King and one that belonged to Abraham Lincoln.
The overlap isn't expected to happen again until 2053.
Fauci, Milley react to preemptive pardons from Biden
Following Bidenâs announcement of preemptive pardons to potential targets of the incoming Trump administration, the recipients express their gratitude to the outgoing president.
"I really truly appreciate the action President Biden has taken today on my behalf," Dr. Anthony Fauci told ABC News Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl. "Let me be perfectly clear, Jon, I have committed no crime, you know that, and there are no possible grounds for any allegation or threat of criminal investigation or prosecution of me.â
Retired Gen. Mark Milley also expressed that he was âdeeply grateful for the Presidentâs action.â
"After forty-three years of faithful service in uniform to our Nation, protecting and defending the Constitution, I do not wish to spend whatever remaining time the Lord grants me fighting those who unjustly might seek retribution for perceived slights. I do not want to put my family, my friends, and those with whom I served through the resulting distraction, expense, and anxiety."
"I wish this pardon weren't necessary, but unfortunately, the political climate we are in now has made the need for one somewhat of a reality,â said Harry Dunn, former Capitol Police officer. âI, like all of the other public servants, was just doing my job and upholding my oath, and I will always honor that.â
(LONDON) -- A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza went into effect on Sunday morning. Hostages held in the strip and Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails will be freed in the first phase of the deal.
Meanwhile, the November ceasefire in Lebanon is holding despite ongoing Israeli airstrikes on Hezbollah targets, which Israeli officials say are responses to ceasefire violations by the Iranian-backed militant group. Israeli forces also remain active inside the Syrian border region as victorious rebels there build a transitional government.
Tensions remain high between Israel and Iran after tit-for-tat long-range strikes in recent months and threats of further military action from both sides. The IDF and the Yemeni Houthis also continue to exchange attacks.
At least 10 killed as Israel continues operation in Jenin
At least 10 Palestinians were killed and 40 injured as Israel continues a large operation in Jenin, turning its focus to the West Bank.
Israel launched a "significant" operation to "eradicate terrorism in Jenin," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement Wednesday.
"This is another step towards achieving the goal we set -- strengthening security in Judea and Samaria. We are acting systematically and resolutely against the Iranian axis wherever it extends its arms -- in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Judea and Samaria -- and with our hands still outstretched," Netanyahu said in a statement.
4 injured in Tel Aviv stabbing attack
At least four people were injured in a stabbing attack in Tel Aviv on Tuesday, Magen David Adom, Israel's emergency services organization, said in a release.
Two men, ages 28 and 24, are being treated with upper-body stab wounds and are in moderate condition. Two other patients, ages 24 and 59, are in mild condition, the MDA said.
The injured are being taken to Ichilov Hospital.
The stabbing occurred on Nahalat Binyamin Street in Tel Aviv, the Israeli Police Spokesperson's Unit said. The attacker has been killed by police, the spokesperson's unit added.
-ABC News' Jordana Miller and Nasser Atta
At least 21 Palestinians injured in West Bank settler violence
At least 21 Palestinians were injured, 11 severely, after dozens of Israeli civilians, some of whom were masked, arrived at the area of Al Funduq, in the West Bank, and "instigated riots, set property on fire and caused damage," according to the Israel Defense Forces.
Three homes were burned down and five cars were torched as well, the IDF said.
The civilians hurled rocks and attacked the security forces dispatched to the scene, according to the IDF.
Israeli Minister of Defense Israel Katz, despite freeing settlers who committed the same types of crimes, said he condemns the violence.
Over 1,500 aid trucks entered Gaza on day 1 and 2 of ceasefire, UN says
More than 1,500 trucks with humanitarian aid have entered the Gaza Strip in the first two days of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
That includes more than 630 trucks on Sunday and 915 trucks on Monday, according to OCHA. Of the ones that crossed into Gaza on Sunday, OCHA said at least 300 trucks went to the north, which the U.N. has warned is facing imminent famine.
OCHA cited âinformation received through engagement with Israeli authorities and the guarantors for the ceasefire agreement.â
âThere is no time to lose,â the U.N.âs aid chief, Tom Fletcher, said in a statement Monday. âAfter 15 months of relentless war, the humanitarian needs are staggering.â
-ABC News' Morgan Winsor
IDF says riots in the West Bank have dispersed
Israel Defense Forces and Israel Border Police Forces were dispatched to Al Funduq in the West Bank after reports of rioting in the area, the IDF said on Monday.
The alleged incident occurred shortly after Israel's defense minister released all settlers being detained under administrative detention orders, though it cannot be certain that any of those settlers were involved in the reported riots. ABC News was able to confirm that fires had ignited in that location.
Shortly thereafter, the IDF confirmed that it had successfully dispersed rioters.
There have been no confirmed reports as to the extent of the damage or any injuries. Israeli officials are expected to conduct a formal inquiry in the area tonight.
-ABC News' William Gretsky
Israeli forces recover body of fallen soldier in Gaza
Israeli forces recovered the body of Oron Shaul, an Israel Defense Forces soldier who was killed in 2014, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the IDF announced Monday.
Shaul was killed during a battle in Gaza on July 30, 2014, and his body had been held by Hamas for the past 10 years, the IDF said.
"The recovery of Staff Sergeant, Oron Shaulâs body, was made possible due to a decade-long ongoing intelligence effort, which intensified during the war," the IDF wrote in a statement about the operation on Monday.
Netanyahu spoke with Oron Shaul's mother, Zehava Shaul, after the operation was successfully completed, a statement from his office said.
-ABC News' Ellie Kaufman and Jordan Miller
Next hostage exchange expected to take place Saturday
Both Israel and Hamas have confirmed the next hostage release will take place on Saturday.
A senior Israeli official confirmed the deal must take place on Jan. 25, as outlined in the ceasefire agreement. Hamas confirmed the date, saying "the second batch of prisoner exchange will take place on the scheduled date."
Three hostages, all Israeli women, were released on Sunday, while 90 Palestinian prisoners were released from Israel in exchange.
Houthis say attacks on Israeli shipping will continue
Yemen's Houthi rebels announced that they will limit their attacks in the Red Sea to only Israel-affiliated ships, signaling a temporary easing of their broader assault on commercial vessels.
The decision coincided with the ceasefire and hostage-release deal agreed between Israel and Hamas that went into effect on Sunday.
The announcement was made via an email sent to shipping companies by the Houthi Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center, the Associated Press reported.
Attacks on Israeli-linked vessels will end "upon the full implementation of all phases" of the ceasefire, the Houthis said, adding that attacks on U.S.- or U.K.-linked shipping may resume if the two nations continue airstrikes in Yemen.
The Houthis have targeted over 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones since the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip started in October 2023, significantly affecting global shipping, particularly through Egypt's Suez Canal.
The Houthis have also attacked American and allied military shipping in the region, plus launched drone and ballistic missile strikes into Israel.
-ABC News' Somayeh Malekian
10,000 bodies may be under Gaza rubble, Civil Defense says
The Palestinian Civil Defense in Gaza said there could be as many as 10,000 bodies buried under rubble all across the strip, as many displaced Gazans try to return to their homes under a nascent ceasefire agreement.
The Civil Defense said in a post to Telegram that 10,000 missing people are believed to be "under the rubble of destroyed homes, buildings and facilities." They are not counted in the 38,300 fatalities listed by the Civil Defense since Oct. 7, 2023.
The Gaza Ministry of Health -- which has separately tracked deaths during the conflict -- said on Sunday that 46,913 people had been killed in the Hamas-run territory during the war with Israel.
The Civil Defense said Israeli forces prevented its crews from accessing large areas of the strip during the fighting, "where there are hundreds of bodies" that have not yet been recovered.
The Civil Defense called for the entry of foreign rescue workers "to support us in carrying out our duty to deal with the catastrophic reality left behind by the war, which exceeds the capacity of the civil defense apparatus in the Gaza Strip."
The organization called on Gazans to assist rescuers "with all necessary capabilities, including rescue, firefighting, and ambulance vehicles and equipment, as well as heavy machinery and equipment that will help us retrieve the bodies of martyrs from under the rubble of thousands of destroyed buildings and homes."
Freed hostage is 'happiest girl in the world,' mother says Mandy Damari, the mother of Emily Damari -- who was among the three Israeli captives freed from Gaza on Sunday -- released a statement thanking all those involved in her daughter's release "from the bottom of my heart."
"Yesterday, I was finally able to give Emily the hug that I have been dreaming of," Mandy said in a statement shared by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum Headquarters.
"I am relieved to report that after her release, Emily is doing much better than any of us could ever have anticipated," she added.
"In Emily's own words, she is the happiest girl in the world; she has her life back," Mandy said.
"In this incredibly happy moment for our family, we must also remember that 94 other hostages still remain," she added. "The ceasefire must continue and every last hostage must be returned to their families."
-ABC News' Anna Burd
Red Cross details 'complex' hostage release operation
The International Committee of the Red Cross said in a statement that Sunday's operation to collect three freed Israeli hostages from Gaza "was complex, requiring rigorous security measures to minimize the risks to those involved."
"Navigating large crowds and heightened emotions posed challenges during the transfers and in Gaza, ICRC teams had to manage the dangers posed by unexploded ordnances and destroyed infrastructure," the ICRC said in a Monday statement.
"More families are waiting anxiously for their loved ones to come home," ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric said. "We call on all parties to continue to adhere to their commitments to ensure the next operations can take place safely."
The ICRC also stressed that "urgently needed humanitarian assistance must enter Gaza, where civilians have struggled for months to access food, drinkable water and shelter."
Released Palestinian prisoners arrive in the West Bank amid high tensions
Tensions were high as people waited in Beitunia, in the West Bank, for the arrival of the 90 Palestinian prisoners who were released from Israeli custody just after 1 a.m. local time.
Israeli forces used cars and tear gas to attempt to clear the roads, ABC News reporters on the scene said.
ABC News' team saw flash bangs where people were gathered waiting for the prisonersâ release.
Israeli Police did not immediately respond to ABC Newsâ request for comment on the matter.
The prisoners were released from Ofer Prison in Ramallah, West Bank, as a part of the hostage exchange and ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.
People were seen on top of the buses waving flags and chanting as the prisoners arrived in Beitunia at approximately 1:42 a.m.
-ABC News' Ellie Kaufman, as well as Tom Soufi Burridge and Hugo Leenhardt in the West Bank
Photos show 3 Israeli former hostages reunited with their mothers
Photos were released by Israeli officials on Sunday showing the three released hostages hugging their mothers as they were reunited.
The images showed former hostages Romi Gonen, 24; Emily Damari, 28; and Doron Steinbrecher, 31, all sharing emotional embraces with their mothers.
Did you miss Ridley Scott's Gladiator sequel in theaters? You're in luck. Gladiator II is set to make its streaming debut on Paramount+ in the U.S. and Canada on Jan. 21. The historical epic, which stars Paul Mescal and Denzel Washington, has grossed over $455 million at the box office and garnered nominations at the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards. The movie also stars Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger and Connie Nielsen ...
Two new cast members are joining Silo for its third season. The Apple TV+ show has recruited Ashley Zukerman and JessicaHenwick to join its cast as series regulars for season 3, according to Variety. Zukerman will play Daniel, a young congressman, while Henwick has been cast as Helen, a journalist. The Rebecca Ferguson-led sci-fi series follows the story of the last 10,000 people on Earth ...
Bosch star Titus Welliver is taking on a brand-new TV crime drama. He and Juani Feliz will lead a new potential spinoff of TheEqualizer for CBS, Deadline reports. Welliver will play Hudson Reed, a former CIA operative with a secret, while Feliz will play Samantha Reed, a woman trained to be a weapons expert and skilled martial artist. Their new characters will be introduced during an episodes of the Queen Latifah-starring procedural The Equalizer during its current season ...
BUCKHOLTS, Texas (AP) â On rural Texas farmland, beneath hundreds of rows of solar panels, a troop of stocky sheep rummage through pasture, casually bumping into one another as they remain committed to a single task: chewing grass.
The booming solar industry has found an unlikely mascot in sheep as large-scale solar farms crop up across the U.S. and in the plain fields of Texas. In Milam County, outside Austin, SB Energy operates the fifth-largest solar project in the country, capable of generating 900 megawatts of power across 4,000 acres (1,618 hectares).
How do they manage all that grass? With the help of about 3,000 sheep, which are better suited than lawnmowers to fit between small crevices and chew away rain or shine.
The proliferation of sheep on solar farms is part of a broader trend â solar grazing â that has exploded alongside the solar industry.
Agrivoltaics, a method using land for both solar energy production and agriculture, is on the rise with more than 60 solar grazing projects in the U.S., according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. The American Solar Grazing Association says 27 states engage in the practice.
âThe industry tends to rely on gas-powered mowers, which kind of contradicts the purpose of renewables,â SB Energy asset manager James Hawkins said.
A sunny opportunity
Putting the animals to work on solar fields also provides some help to the sheep and wool market, which has struggled in recent years. The inventory of sheep and lamb in Texas fell to 655,000 in January 2024, a 4% drop from the previous year, according to the most recent figures from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Because solar fields use sunny, flat land that is often ideal for livestock grazing, the power plants have been used in coordination with farmers rather than against them.
Sheepherder JR Howard accidentally found himself in the middle of Texasâ burgeoning clean energy transition. In 2021, he and his family began contracting with solar farms â sites with hundreds of thousands of solar modules â to use his sheep to eat the grass.
What was once a small business has turned into a full-scale operation with more than 8,000 sheep and 26 employees.
âJust the growth has been kind of crazy for us,â said Howard, who named his company Texas Solar Sheep. âItâs been great for me and my family.â
Following the herd
Some agriculture experts say Howard’s success reflects how solar farms have become a boon for some ranchers.
Reid Redden, a sheep farmer and solar vegetation manager in San Angelo, Texas, said a successful sheep business requires agricultural land that has become increasingly scarce.
âSolar grazing is probably the biggest opportunity that the sheep industry had in the United States in several generations,â Redden said.
The response to solar grazing has been overwhelmingly positive in rural communities near South Texas solar farms where Redden raises sheep for sites to use, he said.
âI think it softens the blow of the big shock and awe of a big solar farm coming in,â Redden said.
Fielding more research
Agrivoltaics itself isn’t new. Solar farms are land-intensive and require a lot of space that could be used for food production. Agrivoltaics compensates by allowing the two to coexist, whether growing food or caring for livestock.
There is a lot still unknown about the full effects of solar grazing, said Nuria Gomez-Casanovas, an assistant professor in regenerative system ecology at Texas A&M University.
Not enough studies have been done to know the long-term environmental impacts, such as how viable the soil will be for future agriculture, although Gomez-Casanovas suspects solar grazing may improve sheep productivity because the panels provide shade and can be more cost-efficient than mowing.
âWe really have more questions than answers,â Gomez-Casanovas said. âThere are studies that show that the land productivity is not higher versus solar alone or agriculture alone, so it’s context-dependent.â
As one of Texas’ largest solar sheep operators, Howard has more clients than he can handle. He expects to add about 20 more employees by the end of this year, which would nearly double his current workforce. As for the sheep, he has enough already.
___
Lathan is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
BOSTON (AP) â Residents across the country from the Northern Plains to the tip of Maine are bracing for dangerously low temperatures as tens of millions of residents along the East Coast contend with a thick blanket of snow â and more snowfall in the forecast.
Winter storm warnings issued by the National Weather Service were in effect for parts of the Mid-Atlantic through Monday morning, and warnings began in New England on Sunday afternoon. Heavy lake-effect snow was expected in western New York state Monday through Wednesday morning, with 2 to 3 feet (about 60 to 90 centimeters) possible in some areas including Oswego along Lake Ontario.
Marc Chenard, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in College Park, Maryland, projected that as many as 70 million residents will be under some kind of winter storm warning in the coming days.
Return of the Arctic blast
Sunday snowfall was just the start of a chaotic week of weather. Much of the Eastern Seaboard will be enduring some of the coldest temperatures this winter.
An area from the Rockies into the Northern Plains will see colder than normal weather over several days, with temperatures forecast to drop to between minus 30 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 34 degrees Celsius) to minus 55 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 48 degrees Celsius) on Monday. Sub-zero wind chills are forecast to reach as far south as Oklahoma and the Tennessee Valley.
Minnesota residents were urged to wear appropriate clothing and carry a survival kit for travel. Kristi Rollwagen, director of homeland security and emergency management at the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, also urged motorists to drive with a full tank of gas and a fully charged cellphone to keep in touch with loved ones.
âItâs not something we havenât experienced before, itâs just a good reminder that it does get cold in Minnesota,â Rollwagen said.
Meanwhile, temperatures in Washington, D.C., are expected to dip into the 20s (about minus 7 C to minus 1 C) with wind gusts upwards of 30 mph (48 kph), Chenard said. The forecast prompted President-elect Donald Trumpâs inaugural ceremony to be moved inside the U.S. Capitol Rotunda.
Like earlier this month, this latest cold snap comes from a disruption in the polar vortex, the ring of cold air usually trapped about the North Pole.
The cold air will moderate as it moves southward and eastward, but the Central and Eastern U.S. will still experience temperatures in the teens and 20s Monday into Tuesday, Chenard said. The Mid-Atlantic and Northeast also will have highs in the teens and 20s, lows in the single digits and below zero degrees F (minus 18 C), and wind chills below zero.
Unusual mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain
The colder temperatures will dip into the South early this week, where as many as 30 million people starting Monday could see a wintry mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain. The unusual conditions are expected to stretch from Texas into northern Florida and the Carolinas. Impacts are expected starting Monday night in Texas and then spreading across the Gulf Coast and Southeast on Tuesday into Wednesday.
Frigid air combined with a low-pressure system over the Gulf is behind the storm, which could bring heavy snow just south of the Interstate 20 corridor across northern Louisiana and into Mississippi and a mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain near the Interstate 10 corridor from Houston to Mobile, Alabama.
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry on Saturday issued a state of emergency ahead of the severe weather, urging residents to prepare and keep watch on the forecast.
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Julie Walker contributed to this report from New York. She can be reached at https://x.com/jwalkreporter. Dave Collins contributed from Hartford, Connecticut. Bruce Shipkowski contributed from Toms River, New Jersey.
TYLER â Family and friends of Harley Morris were in downtown Tyler on Saturday to hand out new missing flyers ahead of Wednesday which marks one year since his disappearance. According to our news partner KETK, Morris was last seen in north Tyler at 3 a.m. on Jan. 21, 2024. He was heading north after leaving the 50 Grand Club in the 2100 block of North Grand Avenue. Morris was wearing a black jacket with grey sleeves, black pants and a black Prime 102 baseball style hat when he was last seen.
It was a tight race at the box office this weekend, with One of Them Days squeaking past Mufasa: The Lion King to land at #1.
According to Box Office Mojo, the Keke Palmer-starring comedy brought in $11.6 million in its debut week to earn the box office crown, with Mufasa earning $11.53 million to land in second.
Coming in third was this weekendâs other new release, Wolf Man, with $10.5 million, followed by Sonic the Hedgehog 3 in fourth with $8.6 million and last weekâs number one, Den of Thieves: Pantera, dropping to fifth with $6.6 million.
Here are the top 10 films at the box office:
1. One of Them Days - $11.6 million 2. Mufasa: The Lion King - $11.53 million 3. Wolf Man - $10.5 million 4. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 - $8.6 million 5. Den of Thieves: Pantera - $6.6 million 6. Moana 2 - $6.06 million 7. Nosferatu - $4.3 million 8. A Complete Unknown - $3.79 million 9. Wicked - $3.55 million 10. Babygirl - $2.02 million
Winter weather closings and delays – As more winter weather hits East Texas, several local school districts have announced that they will be closing on Tuesday. Our news partner KETK has the complete up to date list here.
