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Inflation hits highest level in nearly 3 years, Fed's preferred gauge shows

A worker stacks groceries at a store in Brooklyn on May 12, 2026, in New York City. The rise in fuel, food, and other essentials for millions of Americans comes as the war with Iran continues to be a drag on both the domestic and international economy. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

(WASHINGTON) -- Inflation jumped for a second consecutive month in April as the Iran war drove up gasoline prices and strained household budgets, government data on Thursday showed.

Prices rose 3.8% in April compared to a year earlier, according to the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Index, an inflation gauge preferred by the Federal Reserve. The PCE stood at 2.8% as recently as February.

Inflation now stands at its highest level since May 2023, the Commerce Department report showed.

The savings rate, meanwhile, fell to 2.6%, its lowest level since 2022, suggesting some strapped consumers are struggling to stash away extra funds.

A persistent increase in consumer prices may put pressure on the Fed to raise interest rates as a means of dialing back inflation. The latest reading comes days after Fed Chair Kevin Warsh began a four-year term atop the central bank.

For now, futures markets overwhelmingly expect the Fed to hold interest rates steady when policy makers meet next month, according to the CME FedWatch Tool, a measure of investor sentiment.

However, markets peg the chances of a quarter-point rate increase by the end of the year at more than one in three, well above where odds of a rate hike stood prior to the war, the tool shows.

The benchmark interest rate stands at a level between 3.5% and 3.75%. That figure marks a significant drop from a recent peak attained in 2023, but borrowing costs remain well above a 0% rate established at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Middle East conflict prompted the Iranian closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a maritime trading route that facilitates the transport of about one-fifth of global oil supply. The standoff triggered one of the largest oil shocks ever recorded.

As a result, gasoline prices surged. The price of an average gallon of gas stood at $4.42 as of Thursday, AAA data showed – an increase of $1.44 per gallon since the war began on Feb. 28. That amounts to a 48% price jump in about three months.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Man fatally shot during Eid prayer service in Minnesota, suspect in custody

(MINNEAPOLIS) -- A suspect has been apprehended after a 26-year-old man was fatally shot while attending a prayer service in Minnesota, authorities said.

Khalid Ibrahim Abdi was shot multiple times just before 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Canterbury Park Expo Center in Shakopee, about 25 miles outside of Minneapolis, the Shakopee Police Department said.

He was taken to the Hennepin County Medical Center and later died from his injuries, police said.

A suspect was taken into custody Thursday morning and is being held pending charges, police said. The suspect's name has not been publicly released.

Abdi was a member and field representative of the AFSCME Council 5 labor union, according to AFSCME Council 5 executive director Bart Andersen.

"It is with unimaginable sadness and heartbreak to share that we lost our union brother and AFSCME Council 5 Field Representative Khalid Abdi today, who was shot and killed while attending an Eid prayer gathering," Anderson said in a statement.

"Khalid will be forever remembered for his tenacious organizing spirit, his warm and inviting presence, and his unyielding passion and drive to fight for the working-class and all historically marginalized communities," Anderson said.

"Please keep Khalid's family, friends, neighbors, and all of us coworkers in your thoughts," he continued. "Khalid's tenacity, heart, and joy lives in all of us forever."

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Hawaii police searching for man wanted in 3 homicides within 48 hours

Hawaiʻi Island police released this undated photo of Jacob Daniel Baker, 36. (Hawaiʻi Island Police)

(HAWAII) -- Police in Hawaii said they're searching for a 36-year-old man wanted in connection with three homicides within days.

"Over the past 48 hours, our island has experienced three separate homicides in the Puna district, all of which we believe are connected and involve a single suspect," Hawai'i Island Police Chief Reed Mahuna said at a news conference. Hawai'i Island is also known as the Big Island.

"We have mobilized significant resources and personnel to address this situation swiftly and thoroughly," the chief said. "Bringing this suspect into custody without anyone further being harmed is the No. 1 priority."

The suspect is identified as Jacob "Jake" Daniel Baker, of Pāhoa, Hawaii, police said. A gun wasn't used in any of the homicides, but Baker "should be considered armed and extremely dangerous," Mahuna said.

The first death was discovered Monday evening, when an officer responded to a home and found a 69-year-old man partially submerged inside a cement pond, police said.

On Tuesday afternoon, officers responded to a home just 400 to 500 feet away from the first victim and found a 79-year-old man dead from apparent blunt force trauma, police said.

On Tuesday night, the third victim -- a 69-year-old man -- was found dead about 19 miles away from the first two locations, police said.

No motive is known, police said. There's no known connection between the victims besides the first two living near each other, police added.

"These are a tragic series of events and our thoughts are with those who are grieving," the chief said.

Police urge anyone who sees Baker to not approach him and to immediately call 911.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Southern California man dies after being beaten outside his Trump-themed home

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during an event in the Oval Office of the White House on May 21, 2026, in Washington, DC. Trump announced an extension of Biden-era EPA deadlines for the phase-out of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) under the 2023 Technology Transitions Rule, claiming that phasing out deadlines and exempting road refrigeration equipment would lower grocery prices. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

(ESCONDIDO, Calif.) -- A 69-year-old Southern California man known for the display of American flags and Make America Great Again memorabilia he kept in his front yard has died, days after being attacked and beaten outside his home, authorities said.

Kerry George Sheron, whose family members said was an Army veteran and a supporter of President Donald Trump, was assaulted last week outside his Escondido residence that locals dubbed the "Trump House."

Sheron was pronounced dead at a hospital on Sunday, according to a statement from the Escondido Police Department.

Thomas Caleb Butler, 32, of Escondido and served in the Navy was arrested in connection with the incident, police said.

Police have yet to comment on a possible motive.

According to military service records provided by the Navy to ABC News, Butler enlisted in the Navy in December 2011. He served as an information systems technician and was discharged in January 2023, records show.

Butler was being held without bail on Wednesday at the San Diego County Jail, where he was booked on May 21, on suspicion of attempted murder, elder abuse, making criminal threats and battery, according to online jail records.

"The case is in the process of being presented to the San Diego County District Attorney's Office, which is reviewing the circumstances to determine whether charges will be amended," police said.

The cause and manner of Sheron's death are pending an autopsy by the San Diego County Medical Examiner.

In a GoFundMe campaign that as of Wednesday afternoon has raised more than $40,500 to cover Sheron's funeral expenses, family members called the incident that claimed Sheron's life "brutal and unprovoked."

Sheron's wife, Maria Garcia, told ABC San Diego affiliate station KGTV that she wants her husband to be remembered as a man of service and faith.

"I want to remember my husband, you know, how he was [a] very good man, you know, [his] service in the church, service in the army," said Garcia, who called her husband "my hero."

Jim Gillie, one of Sheron's friends, told KGTV that Sheron's front-yard MAGA decorations had been targeted in the past.

"Back in March, people came through with razor blades and cut up a bunch of Kerry's flags," Gillie said. "Kerry was used to it because he'd come out here with his Trump signs and stuff during the week and flags, and people would drive by and honk and wave, and most of the people are good, but when someone would flip him off, he'd just look at me and say, they have their right to freedom of speech, too."

Escondido police said the incident with Sheron unfolded around 2:14 p.m. on May 20, when officers were called to Sheron's home to investigate a report that an assault had just occurred.

"Upon arrival, officers located an elderly male suffering from significant injuries," police said in a statement. "A bystander who intervened during the incident was also injured. Officers learned the suspect had fled the area on foot prior to their arrival."

Sheron was taken to a hospital in critical condition, police said.

Officers immediately searched Sheron's neighborhood and located Butler, who matched the description of the person witnesses said attacked Sheron, according to the statement.

Tanya Sierra, a spokesperson for the San Diego County District Attorney's Office, told ABC News on Wednesday that an announcement on whether to amend the charges against Butler is expected to be made at the suspect's next court date on June 3.

ABC News Steve Beynon contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Cruise ship killing: Stepbrother can stay out of jail, judge rules

A Carnival Cruise ship is docked at the PortMiami as the company becomes one of the first to be sued under Title III of the Helms-Burton Act at the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. U.S. Courthouse on May 02, 2019, in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

(FLORIDA) -- The 16-year-old boy accused of killing his stepsister on a cruise is allowed to stay out of jail with certain restrictions, a federal judge in Florida ruled.

In February, after the teen was charged as a juvenile, the 16-year-old was permitted to live with his uncle instead of being held in custody. But in April, when the case was moved to adult court, prosecutors said the teen should be detained.

"We do not know what triggered him," prosecutors argued in court Wednesday. "Who will be the next object he will become fixated on?"

The teen's lawyers have countered that he's a child who has been cooperative with the investigation and has shown no indication of hurting anyone in the months since his stepsister's killing. 

The suspect arrived at court Wednesday with his father and his uncle and was seen wearing an ankle monitor. The judge ruled he's only allowed to leave his house with his uncle and will be electronically monitored by authorities.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Edwin Torres said Wednesday that U.S. Marshals should examine options for potential detainment in the Tampa area.

Prosecutors allege the teenager "sexually assaulted and intentionally killed" his 18-year-old stepsister, Anna Kepner, during the family's November vacation on a Carnival cruise. Anna Kepner died from mechanical asphyxiation, officials said. 

The stepbrother has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse. He is set to go on trial in September.

Prosecutors are alleging more details about the night Kepner died from Wednesday's hearing as well as a newly unsealed transcript from a February detention hearing.

Closed-circuit television on the cruise captured many of the movements of Kepner and her stepbrother, as well as the movements of their 13-year-old sibling who was sharing their room, prosecutors said in the Feb. 6 transcript.

The night Kepner died, the suspect was seen entering their shared cabin around 7:35 p.m., the transcript said. At about 7:38 p.m., Kepner was seen entering the cabin -- the last time cameras would capture her alive, prosecutors said. 

At approximately 7:51 p.m., the 13-year-old sibling entered the cabin and quickly exited, prosecutors said.

The suspect was not seen leaving the cabin again until 10:13 p.m., when he is "looking left and right down the hallway, appearing to check if there is anyone in the hallway," prosecutors said. He's seen between 10:23 p.m. and 10:49 p.m. "entering and exiting the cabin approximately two more times," prosecutors said, and he put a privacy sign on the door at 10:53 p.m.

The video showed the 13-year-old and the suspect coming and going a few more times, prosecutors said. At 12:09 a.m., when the 13-year-old tried to get into the room, the suspect prevented him, and made the 13-year-old wait outside for a few minutes, prosecutors said.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


2nd person dies, 9 remain missing after chemical tank ruptures at paper mill in Washington state: Officials

The Longview Fire Department in Washington state released this photo of the unstable tank that ruptured at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging facility on May 26, 2026. (Longview Fire Department)

(LONGVIEW, Wash.) -- A second employee has died after a chemical tank ruptured at a paper mill in Washington state, officials said Wednesday.

Nine people remain missing, as recovery efforts are underway a day after the incident, officials said.

"We're bracing ourselves for this being the deadliest industrial tragedy in modern Washington state history," Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson said during a press briefing on Wednesday.

"When you have a tragedy of that scale, the impacts on individuals, on families and on communities is profound," he said. "I want to extend my deepest condolences to those who have been directly impacted by the loss of a loved one during this extraordinarily challenging time."

Fire authorities said the "hazardous materials incident" was reported Tuesday morning at Nippon Dynawave Packaging, a pulp and paper mill in Longview, a city of 38,000 people about 50 miles northwest of Portland.

The response transitioned from rescue to recovery as of Wednesday morning, Cowlitz2 Fire & Rescue Chief Scott Goldstein said during Wednesday's press briefing.

"I want to acknowledge again the tremendous support that we have received from our state and regional and federal partners, but more specifically the tremendous impact that this incident continues to have on the victims, the families, the coworkers, my responders, all the agencies, responders, and the broader community," he said. "Understand that there are members working the site tirelessly that have lost coworkers, lost friends, and they remain dedicated to focusing on our recovery efforts."

The effort to recover the nine employees will be "slow, methodical and deliberate," Longview Fire Battalion Chief Matt Amos said during the press briefing on Wednesday.

"The priority is ensuring responder safety while treating every victim with the greatest dignity, care, and respect as possible," he said.

Authorities said recovery efforts were delayed due to safety concerns over the unstable tank, which contains white liquor, a chemical mixture used in the paper-making process.

The remaining product in the damaged 900,000-gallon tank is roughly 25,000 gallons, a "significantly smaller volume" than initially believed, "allowing emergency responders to develop a plan to move forward to remove it," local authorities and Nippon Dynawave Packaging said in a joint statement Wednesday. The tank is believed to have been about 60% full at the time of the rupture, authorities said.

The tank ruptured at approximately 7:15 a.m. Tuesday, resulting in the release of white liquor, officials said. Authorities initially referred to the incident as a chemical explosion and then an implosion, before referring to it as a rupture and blast.

"There was a rupture, a failure, a blast," Goldstein said. "All of those to us mean the same. It's not why it happened, it's the damage that we observe. Vehicles are damaged, buildings are damaged, mechanical equipment is damaged, collapsed and failed."

There was a shift change around the time, with employees in their workspaces when the blast occurred, he said. Authorities have not found any video recording of the incident, he said.

One of the injured employees transported to the hospital following the incident has since died, officials said Wednesday, bringing the confirmed number of fatalities to two.

The Cowlitz County Coroner's Office will release the names of the deceased "when all individuals have been recovered and family notifications are complete," officials said Wednesday.

Family identified one of the deceased employees as Gilbert Bernal, a beloved husband, dad and grandfather.

"My father was the most selfless man I knew," Bernal's daughter, Geovana Bernal, said in a statement to ABC News on Tuesday. "He worked hard to provide for his family and he loved us so much."

Geovana Bernal said her brother viewed images of her father and confirmed his death after speaking with the coroner's office.

Seven other employees suffered injuries in the incident, including chemical burns, and remain hospitalized, authorities said Wednesday.

One firefighter was also injured in the incident and has since been treated and released from a nearby hospital, according to authorities.

The cause of the rupture is unknown, Goldstein said Tuesday.

White liquor is a chemical mixture of sodium hydroxide, sodium sulfide and disodium carbonate used in the paper-making process, according to Goldstein.

The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board said Wednesday it is opening an investigation into the incident "to determine how it happened and what can be done to prevent something like this from happening again."

A team of CSB investigators will be arriving at the incident site in Longview on Wednesday.

The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries said it is also investigating.

There is no direct threat to the public, authorities said.

Contamination was confirmed to have entered the nearby Columbia River, Goldstein said Wednesday, with mitigation efforts and more testing underway "to better understand the scope and extent of that environmental impact."

The Washington State Department of Ecology and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are helping monitor air and water quality, officials said Wednesday.

"At this time, there are no negative health impacts to air quality or the City of Longview's drinking water system," officials said Wednesday. "The public is asked to keep away from ditches and dikes in the city while water testing is underway."

The Nippon facility is located on the Washington-Oregon border near the Columbia River. The kraft pulp and paper mill and liquid packaging plant employs around 1,000 people, according to the Washington Department of Ecology.

"On behalf of NDP, these are our people," Brian Wood, director of support services for Nippon Dynawave Packaging, said during Wednesday's briefing. "We are focused on our people. We are focused on helping our responders find and recover those things. That is our people. That is our focus today."

"We are profoundly grateful for the people behind me, for the responders and what they've done with us and for us," he continued.

Wood said the company will cooperate with investigators and they "look forward to a full and complete investigation."

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

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


'They can go back to their country,' DHS Secretary Mullin says as tensions rise outside Newark ICE detention facility

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents stand guard in front of protesters outside Delaney Hall, which is being used as an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center, May 27, 2026, in Newark, New Jersey. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

(NEWARK, N.J.) -- Tensions continue to rise outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Newark, New Jersey, as activists and Democratic leaders clash with the federal government over conditions there.

A hunger strike inside the 1,000-bed Delaney Hall detention center has been ongoing since Friday after detainees alleged they are not being well fed or provided sanitary living conditions, according to activists.

"They're given rotten frozen food, or in the case of last week, they found live worms in their food. We're also hearing of people being denied toilet paper," activist Catalina Adorno told New York ABC affiliate WABC on Tuesday.

Several protests have taken place outside the facility since the strike began, and ICE agents were filmed using pepper spray and batons against protesters who have gotten close to them, according to WABC.

The Department of Homeland Security has denied the allegations of a hunger strike and inhumane conditions inside Delaney Hall, which is currently holding 300 detainees. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin claimed during a Cabinet meeting Wednesday that there were "only a handful of individuals that was refusing to eat" because they allegedly wanted their "ethnic right food."

"Well, they can go back to their country and get whatever food they want," he told reporters. "The fact is, we're giving them the calories they want. This isn't Holiday Inn."

Activist groups and several New Jersey Democratic Congress members, including Rep. Rob Menendez Jr., and Sen. Andy Kim, have pushed back against DHS claims and have participated in protests since Friday.

Menendez and Kim went inside the Delaney Hall detention center Saturday after repeated asks and said they saw the poor conditions and treatment of detainees firsthand.

"These are not the people that Donald Trump keeps saying that they were trying to lock up. You know, there is a woman that was pregnant that says she's not getting full, OB-GYN care," said Kim, who has called for Delaney Hall to be shut down.

"There is a woman that had a miscarriage that said that she did not get the care that she needed and was left to be able to manage that on her own," he added.

Kim joined protesters again on Monday along with New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill, who said she was denied access to the facility multiple times over the past couple of weeks.

The governor spoke with some of the protesters, which included families of the detainees, and joined calls for the facility to be closed.

"My request for access to Delaney Hall was formally denied this morning, raising serious questions about what they are trying to hide from public view," Sherrill said in a statement Monday, in part.

"I have long opposed private detention facilities and will continue to advocate for the closure of Delaney Hall and against any expansion of mass detention facilities in New Jersey," the statement continued.

"I came today to hear from families and advocates, and what I heard from them was heartbreaking. I will continue to hold ICE accountable," the statement further said, adding that Sherrill would continue working with Menendez, Kim and others "to demand answers, protect constitutional rights, and ensure humane conditions."

"The people inside Delaney Hall are fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, and members of our community. In New Jersey, we believe in the rule of law and that everyone deserves to be treated with basic dignity. We have a duty to safeguard the rights, health, and well-being of everyone within our borders," the statement said.

Shortly after Sherrill left the rally on Monday, things became more tense between the protesters and federal agents. ICE agents deployed pepper spray and fired rubber bullets into the crowd as they clashed with agents, who were moving vehicles in and outside the facility, according to WABC.

Several people were hit with the spray including Kim, who was seen trying to de-escalate the situation.

"Instead of engaging with me and others about the poor conditions, ICE sent in an armored vehicle and a line of armed agents that only poured gasoline on the fire," the senator said on social media Monday.

Mullin decried the Memorial Day protest and told reporters Wednesday that Congress members "probably shouldn't have been there."

Lauren Bis, DHS acting assistant secretary, accused the New Jersey lawmakers of conducting a "political stunt."

"We need these sanctuary politicians to stop peddling this garbage and cooperate with us to get these criminals out of their state," she said in a statement Monday.

The protests and clashes continue, with federal agents deploying pepper spray against protesters who formed a human barricade outside the facility.

Mullin alleged in a social media post Tuesday night that law enforcement agents were sprayed with "an unknown chemical substance."

"Two individuals were arrested for assaulting, resisting, and impeding federal officers," Mullin said.

Sherrill did not immediately have a comment about Mullin's claims.

Protesters showed up to Delaney Hall Wednesday but the demonstrations were peaceful as of the afternoon.

ABC News' Luke Barr contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Google employee charged with using inside information to make $1 million on Polymarket

In this Dec. 19, 2023, file photo, a sign is posted in front of an office at Google headquarters in Mountain View, Calif. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images, FILE)

(NEW YORK) -- A Google employee fraudulently made more than $1 million by using inside information to place Polymarket bets on what users were searching for on Google, according to a federal criminal complaint unsealed Wednesday in New York. 

For Michele Spagnuolo, these were sure bets because, as a Google software engineer, he had access to company data that tracked user searches, according to the complaint, which said Spagnuolo "misappropriated confidential and valuable nonpublic information from his employer and used that information to place a series of Google-related bets on Polymarket, a prediction market platform."

Spagnuolo, 36, is charged with commodities fraud, wire fraud and money laundering.

"Unlike the counterparties to his trades, Spagnuolo knew the outcome of these wagers before the trading public did because he had accessed Google's confidential, commercially valuable internal data," the complaint said.  

He correctly bet -- using an account under the name AlphaRaccoon -- that Google's most-searched person in 2025 would be the singer known as D4vd, according to the complaint. At the time he placed that bet, the prediction market Polymarket "assigned a near-zero probability to d4vd being 'the #1 searched person on Google this year,'" the complaint said.

After Google publicly announced its Year in Search 2025 results on Dec. 4, 2025, Spagnuolo's AlphaRaccoon account profited $1.2 million on his Google Year in Search 2025-related bets, federal prosecutors said.

"Once he won, Spagnuolo then took deliberate steps to conceal his unlawful use of nonpublic information by attempting to obscure the source and ownership of his unlawful proceeds," the complaint said.

Spagnuolo, an Italian citizen, was arrested Wednesday morning in New York, where he appeared briefly before a federal magistrate judge.

He did not enter a plea and was released on a $2.25 million bond, secured by $1 million cash, $50,000 of which needs to be posted Wednesday. 

A Google spokesperson, responding to the charges against Spagnuolo, said in a statement, "We're working with law enforcement on their investigation. The employee accessed our marketing material using a tool available to all employees, but using such confidential information to place bets is a serious breach of our policies. We've placed the employee on leave and will take the appropriate action."

This is the second case involving Polymarket that the U.S. attorney's office for the Southern District of New York has brought this year.

A U.S. special forces soldier, Gannon Van Dyke, pleaded not guilty last month to making fraudulent bets on Polymarket about the raid that ousted Nicholas Maduro from Venezuela. Van Dyke was positioned to know about the raid because he helped to plan it and took part in it, prosecutors said. 

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Advocacy group asks NY bar to investigate Todd Blanche's role in Abrego Garcia case

Kilmar Abrego Garcia attends a rally for him as he arrives for his first check-in at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Baltimore Field Office the day after a federal judge ordered his release from a detention in Pennsylvania, on December 12, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. An undocumented immigrant who had been living in the United States since 2011, Abrego Garcia was detained by federal agents and deported to the CECOT prison in El Salvador in March 2025, which the Trump Administration

(NEW YORK) -- A legal advocacy group has asked the New York bar to investigate Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche for potential violations stemming from his role in the prosecution of Kilmar Abrego Garcia.

The letter, from the Campaign for Accountability, was sent days after the federal judge overseeing the human smuggling case against Abrego Garcia dismissed the indictment, citing a "tainted investigation" by Blanche.

"The objective evidence here shows that, absent Abrego's successful lawsuit challenging his removal to El Salvador, the Government would not have brought this prosecution," U.S. District Judge Waverly Crenshaw wrote in his ruling on Friday.

Abrego Garcia, who had been living in Maryland with his wife and children, was deported in March of last year to El Salvador's CECOT mega-prison -- despite a 2019 court order barring his deportation to that country due to fear of persecution -- after the Trump administration claimed he was a member of the criminal gang MS-13, which he denies.

He was brought back to the U.S. in June to face human smuggling charges in Tennessee, after which U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis released him from ICE detention while he was awaiting trial.

Judge Crenshaw, in his decision Friday, wrote that the timing of a DHS agent's decision to reopen a closed investigation of a November 2022 traffic stop, as well as "now unrebutted public statements tying the reopened investigation" to Abrego Garcia's successful lawsuit "taints the investigation with a vindictive motive."

The criminal charges in Tennessee stem from a 2022 traffic stop that was disclosed in an April 2025 press release issued by the Department of Homeland Security, which said it had a "bombshell investigative report" regarding the stop, alleging that Abrego Garcia was a suspected human trafficker. The release included a screengrab of body camera video from the traffic stop.

"Instead of investigating the November 2022 traffic stop to identify who was responsible for the human smuggling, Blanche started the investigation to implicate Abrego," Crenshaw wrote. "He did so to justify the Executive Branch's decision to remove him to El Salvador."

In its letter filed on Wednesday, the Campaign for Accountability said that Blanche may have violated several rules within the New York Rules of Professional Conduct, including "prohibiting dishonesty, conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice, and the use of criminal charges to gain an advantage in a civil matter."

"A federal judge found that Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche personally launched a criminal prosecution not to enforce the law, but to provide cover for the administration after Mr. Abrego Garcia fought against his illegal deportation to El Salvador where he was imprisoned in CECOT," Campaign for Accountability Executive Director Michelle Kuppersmith said in a statement. "It is imperative that the New York Bar hold Mr. Blanche accountable for his reprehensible conduct."

A spokesperson for the Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment from ABC News.

Abrego Garcia was not charged or arrested during the traffic stop. Body camera footage showed Tennessee troopers -- after questioning Abrego Garcia -- discussing among themselves their suspicions of human trafficking because nine people were traveling in the vehicle without luggage. 

A Justice Department spokesperson said in a statement following Crenshaw's order, "Another activist judge has placed politics above public safety. The judge's order is wrong and dangerous, and we will appeal."

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


White House says Americans in Africa exposed to Ebola will be sent to Kenya facility

Health workers wearing protective equipment are disinfected after leaving the isolation area at the General Referral Hospital during the Ebola outbreak response on May 21, 2026, in Mongbwalu, Democratic Republic of Congo. The World Health Organization has declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda a "public health emergency of international concern," as the death toll and number of confirmed cases continue to rise. (Photo by Michel Lunanga/Getty Images)

(WASHINGTON) -- The White House confirmed Wednesday that the U.S. is setting up a health facility in Kenya to receive Americans who are exposed to the Ebola virus while in regions affected by the ongoing outbreak.

According to an administration official, the U.S. will establish what they called a “state-of-the-art facility” in Kenya “through a coordinated effort with the Departments of State, Health and Human Services, and War."

The news was first reported by The New York Times. 

The official said that the purpose and design of the facility would be to “provide access to high-quality care for Americans who would need to quickly get out” of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to quarantine, and argued that it would cut down on the “risks of a lengthy transport back to the U.S.”

“Time is of the essence for Ebola patients, and this facility will enable Americans in the region who contract Ebola to receive lifesaving care as quickly as possible without 12-plus hours of medevac flight time,” the official said. 

The official added that the treatment capabilities at the Kenya facility are “expected to be able to care for the full-spectrum of Ebola Virus Disease, including critical care needs,” but added that patients would be evaluated on a case-by-case basis for possible “forward transport” for more advanced care as needed. 

The White House did not immediately respond to an ABC News request for additional specifics regarding patients who would be quarantined and treated at the facility.

The president previously invoked his authority under Title 42, barring travel to the U.S. for non-citizens, with specific exceptions, who have visited the DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan within the last 21 days. The order was expanded last week to include U.S. green card holders. 

American citizens who have visited those countries are being directed to specific U.S. airports for additional health screening, including Dulles International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, and George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston. 

The news comes as New York-based International Rescue Committee (IRC) aid organization warned on Tuesday that the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the DRC and neighboring Uganda is now spreading faster than responders can contain it and risks becoming "the deadliest on record" without urgent international action.

"The outbreak is spreading faster than the response, with over 900 suspected cases and at least 223 deaths already reported across DRC and Uganda, including in major transport hubs like Goma and Kampala," the IRC wrote.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Beloved dad killed in Washington state chemical tank rupture: 'We are so heartbroken'

An undated photo of Gilbert Bernal with his wife Maria and grandson Jameson provided by his daughter Geovana who said he died in the chemical tank rupture in Washington state on May 26, 2026. (Courtesy of Geovana Bernal)

(LONGVIEW, Wash.) -- A beloved husband, dad and grandfather was killed in the chemical tank rupture at a pulp and paper mill in Washington state, according to his daughter.

Geovana Bernal told ABC News that her father, Gilbert Bernal, died in Tuesday morning's incident at his workplace, Nippon Dynawave Packaging in Longview, Washington.

At least one person was killed, multiple people suffered critical injuries and nine employees remain missing, officials said. The ongoing recovery efforts are "extremely complex" due to the unstable tank, which contains white liquor, a chemical mixture used in the paper-making process, according to authorities.

Geovana Bernal said in a statement, "There are not enough words to express on how devastated we are right now."

"My father was the most selfless man I knew. He worked hard to provide for his family and he loved us so much," she said. "He was going to celebrate his 32nd wedding anniversary with mom in just a couple weeks and he loved my son, his first grandson, so much."

She said Gilbert Bernal often helped out at his church, "volunteering his time to help repairs or help anyone in need."

"He was a great man, husband, father, grandfather, son, brother and friend," Geovana Bernal said. "We are so heartbroken."

The coroner's office has not released the identity of the confirmed fatality, but Geovana Bernal said her brother viewed images of her father and confirmed his death after speaking with the coroner's office.

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Fatalities confirmed after chemical tank ruptures at pulp and paper mill in Washington state

(LONGVIEW, Wash.) -- A chemical tank ruptured at a facility in Washington state, resulting in multiple critical injuries and an unknown number of fatalities, authorities said.

The "hazardous materials incident" was reported Tuesday morning at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging, a pulp and paper mill in Longview, fire authorities said.

A tank containing white liquor ruptured at approximately 7:15 a.m., according to a joint statement from local authorities and Nippon Dynawave Packaging.

Authorities initially referred to the incident as a chemical explosion and then an implosion, before referring to it as a rupture.

"The incident is stable, but is in the recovery phase," Longview Fire Battalion Chief Mike Gorsuch said during a press briefing Tuesday, calling it "tragic."

"Recovery efforts remain underway at the facility," he said.

The number of fatalities is undetermined at this time, Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue Chief Scott Goldstein said during the press briefing.

A number of personnel are missing, Goldstein said, declining to confirm how many.

Nine people at the facility suffered injuries, including chemical burns, and were transported by ambulance to area hospitals, authorities said. The injuries ranged from critical to minor, according to Goldstein.

One firefighter was also injured in the incident and has since been treated and released from a nearby hospital, according to Gorsuch.

Patients with traumatic injuries are being treated at nearby medical facilities, while patients experiencing burns and exposure are being sent to other hospitals around the area, including in Portland, which are considered burn centers, Rick Graves, the spokesperson for Portland Fire and Rescue in Oregon, told ABC News.

PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center in Longview told ABC News it received nine patients from the incident -- including one deceased. Six are in fair condition, and two other patients have been transferred, it said.

Legacy Health confirmed to ABC News it is treating patients in the incident, including at the Legacy Oregon Burn Center in Portland, though did not go into further detail.

Information on those killed and injured in the incident is being held pending next-of-kin notifications, authorities said.

The 80,000-gallon tank was about 60% full at the time of the rupture, according to Goldstein. White liquor is a chemical mixture of sodium hydroxide, sodium sulfide and disodium carbonate used in the paper-making process, he said.

The cause of the rupture is unknown at this time, Goldstein said.

"We're dealing with life safety concerns and incident stabilization at this point," he said. "That will come in the hours and days to come."

There is no immediate threat to the public, authorities said.

"The scene remains in the recovery phase as emergency responders continue operations," the joint statement said. "Responding agencies continue coordinating closely with facility personnel and partner agencies as the investigation and recovery efforts continue."

Residents were urged to avoid the area amid the active emergency response.

The Nippon facility is located on the Washington-Oregon border near the Columbia River. The kraft pulp and paper mill and liquid packaging plant employs nearly 1,000 people, according to the Washington Department of Ecology.

ABC News' Trevor Ault and Alyssa Pone contributed to this report.

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

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Evacuation zone shrinks after 'worst-case scenario' of Southern California chemical tank explosion averted, officials say

An emergency hazmat incident at an aerospace facility in Garden Grove, California, has prompted evacuations in the area, May 22, 2026. (KABC)

(LOS ANGELES) -- The evacuation zone around a failing chemical tank in Southern California is shrinking after officials said the "worst-case scenario" of a catastrophic explosion has been averted.

The temperature inside the tank is now a steady 92 degrees with the big stream of water turned off, Orange County officials said Tuesday. Once the Methyl methacrylate cools and turns into a solid, the threat of a release goes away, Orange County Fire Department Capt. Wayhowe Huang said at a press conference Tuesday.

No chemical has leaked out, and there is nothing in the air, Huang said.

Things are looking good enough that they were able to turn off one of the master hose streams pouring water on the tank. They will still use the onsite sprinklers. But no need anymore for that big stream of water that we have seen for days, Huang said.

About 16,000 people remain under evacuation orders, Garden Grove Police Chief Amir El-Farra said during a press briefing Monday evening. That's down from 50,000 in the city of Garden Grove and several surrounding communities at the height of the crisis when officials thought they faced only two options: an explosion or a chemical spill.

"The most catastrophic and worst-case scenario was mitigated and resolved," Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) Interim Chief TJ McGovern said during the evening press briefing.

Officials said earlier Monday the crisis is not fully averted, but if an explosion or leak were to occur, it would be significantly smaller than the initial worst-case scenario.

The tank is located at an aerospace facility in Garden Grove, about 30 miles south of Los Angeles.

Earlier Monday, local authorities said the temperature was declining within the chemical tank, located at an aerospace facility, eliminating concerns of an explosion, local authorities said on Monday morning.

"We are happy to report that the threat of a BLEVE [Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion] is now off the table," McGovern said during an update. "That threat has been eliminated."

Since the temperature inside the tank has decreased, it has allowed the chemical inside to solidify, but it is unclear how much, according to McGovern.

The situation began unfolding on Thursday, a chemical tank filled with toxic chemicals at GKN Aerospace, a manufacturing company that builds engines and landing gear for both commercial and military aircraft, was showing signs of overheating, which could cause it to overheat or spill, officials said.

The 34,000-gallon tank contained methyl methacrylate, an industrial chemical used in plastic manufacturing, according to the OCFA. The chemical is primarily a respiratory irritant. Short-term exposure can cause skin and eye irritation, as well as breathing problems, according to the EPA.

The "unprecedented" situation caused officials to order about 50,000 people in the vicinity to evacuate in case a leak sent toxic fumes wafting through the neighborhood or caused an explosion could result in a dangerous fireball.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a state of emergency in Orange County in response to the incident.

Authorities said a crack in the tank, discovered by firefighters late Saturday, relieved some of the pressure within the tank, Covey said.

While officials were confident that the crack wouldn't lead to any chemical leaks, they continued to monitor air quality in the region.

Any areas outside of the roughly 10-square-mile evacuation zone "are currently considered completely safe and day-to-day activities can continue as normal," the OCFA said in an update Sunday afternoon.

Within the zone are schools, hospitals, nursing homes, fire and law enforcement stations and critical infrastructure. Multiple roads were also closed in the area.

"We appreciate your support and the patience while we work through this incident together," Covey said.

In a statement on Monday, GKN noted that its technical specialists worked with OCFA "to assess the storage tank more closely" on Sunday evening.

"The team safely and successfully removed external insulation material from the tank in order to help advance efforts to cool its contents," the company said.

Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer, the top prosecutor in Garden Grove, has launched a criminal probe into the ongoing chemical tank incident at GKN Aerospace, ordering the company not to destroy or manipulate any records, his office said.

The probe seeks to determine how a major military and commercial aircraft gear manufacturer could have allowed such a toxic failure to occur, according to the district attorney.

"This is an incredibly volatile situation with extraordinary efforts being made by first responders to prevent a potentially catastrophic disaster," Spitzer said in a statement on Monday.

Spitzer has also established an anonymous tip line and online reporting form, calling on anyone with information to come forward -- including current and former employees of the company who might offer insight into the quality control and safety at the site.

"Given the very real risk to human life as a result of this event, it is crucial that anyone who has information about this incident or the industrial operations of GKN Aerospace Transparency Systems, Inc. come forward and report it so that it can be thoroughly investigated by law enforcement," he said.

GKN declined to comment specifically on the district attorney's investigation, but pointed to its Monday statement.

"We are continuing to work around the clock with the OCFA, the EPA and all relevant federal, state and local agencies to mitigate the ongoing risk of a leak. We remain extremely thankful for their dedication and hard work," the company said.

"We apologize for the ongoing disruption this incident is causing and our priority remains its safe resolution, so that residents can return to their homes as quickly as possible."

ABC News' Meredith Deliso, Nadine El-Bawab, Jaclyn Lee, Alex Stone, Jenna Harrison, Connor Burton and Sasha Pezenik contributed to this report.

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Trump says Walter Reed medical exam went ‘perfectly’

U.S. President Donald Trump returns to the White House following a visit to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Oct. 10, 2025, in Washington, DC. (Anna Rose Layden/Getty Images)

(WASHINGTON) -- President Donald Trump visited Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Tuesday for his "annual dental and medical evaluations," as announced by the White House earlier this month. A White House official confirmed Tuesday's visit to ABC News.

“Just finished my 6 month physical at Walter Reed Military Medical Center. Everything checked out PERFECTLY,” the president wrote on his social media platform. “Thank you to the great Doctors and Staff!”

The visit took about three-and-a-half hours, a White House official told reporters, adding that details regarding the visit could be expected "in the next day or so."

The White House said prior to the appointment that it would consist of "routine annual dental and medical assessments." The visit was Trump's third scheduled medical appointment at Walter Reed in 13 months.

Trump will soon celebrate his 80th birthday.

The president underwent a physical examination at Walter Reed in April 2025. In a memo detailing the findings of the physical, Trump's physician – U.S. Navy Capt. Sean Barbabella – concluded that Trump was in "excellent health" and "fully fit" to serve as president.

The president also visited the dentist in Florida in January and in May.

"President Trump is the sharpest and most accessible president in American history who is working nonstop to solve problems and deliver on his promises, and he remains in excellent health," a White House spokesperson said in a statement to ABC News.

Trump has frequently been photographed with bruises on his hand, which he attributed to frequent aspirin intake during an interview with The Wall Street Journal published in January. In December 2025, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the bruising on Trump's hand was caused by frequent handshakes.

A rash also appeared on the right side of Trump's neck earlier this year, which the White House said was due to a "preventative skin cream treatment" that he was using for "one week," causing redness that was "expected to last for a few weeks."

Trump told the WSJ that he received a CT scan last October, though he initially referred to the test seemingly incorrectly as as an MRI exam. Barbabella said the CT scan was done "to definitively rule out any cardiovascular issues" and showed no abnormalities.

Last summer, Trump was diagnosed with a chronic venous insufficiency after appearing with swollen ankles and legs. This is a "benign and common condition, particularly in individuals over the age of 70," Leavitt said at the time.

Over the past year, Trump appears to have fallen asleep during events, though he has denied experiencing any difficulty staying awake. During a Cabinet meeting in January, Trump said the press simply caught him "in a blink" and that he closed his eyes because the event was boring.

Trump has made a point to repeatedly proclaim "perfect" health and mental sharpness. On Friday, Trump again said he took multiple cognitive tests that he "aced." The president has also frequently demanded that his opponents take cognitive tests.

Earlier this month, Trump said he feels the same as he did 50 years ago, though he noted that "someday, there'll be a day when that won't happen."

ABC News' Meg Mistry, Karen Travers and Mariam Khan contributed to this report.

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Judge grants James Comey's request to delay his seashell trial

Author James Comey, former FBI Director, speaks at the Barnes & Noble Upper West Side on May 19, 2025 in New York City. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

(NEW YORK) -- A federal judge on Tuesday granted former FBI Director James Comey's request to delay his criminal trial for allegedly threatening to kill President Donald Trump by posting a photo of seashells.

U.S. District Judge Louise Wood Flanagan scheduled the trial to begin on Oct. 21.

The former FBI director's arraignment is scheduled for Sept. 30. 

Prosecutors did not object to the request to delay the proceedings. 

Comey was charged with threatening to kill Trump by posting a photo on Instagram of seashells on a beach arranged in the numbers "86 47." Citing the slang meaning of "86" as to "nix" or "get rid" of something, allies of the president allege that the post was a veiled threat against Trump, who is the 47th president.

Following backlash over the post, Comey removed the photo from Instagram and said he was unaware that the post could be associated with violence.

Critics of Trump say the indictment is another effort by the administration to punish the president's perceived enemies after a judge last year threw out an indictment against Comey on unrelated charges.

"Well, they're back. This time about a picture of seashells on a North Carolina Beach a year ago," Comey said in a video posted online after the seashell indictment was unsealed. "And this won't be the end of it, but nothing has changed with me. I'm still innocent, I'm still not afraid, and I still believe in the independent federal judiciary, so let's go."

At a press conference announcing the charges last month, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche argued that Comey's post crossed the line between First Amendment-protected speech and speech that warrants prosecution. 

"It's not a very difficult line to look at, and it's not, in my mind, a difficult line for one to cross over, one way or the other," Blanche said. "We cannot, you are not allowed to threaten the President of the United States of America. That's not my decision. That's Congress's decision, and a statute that they passed that we charge multiple times a year." 

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Woman killed by patio umbrella while dining at South Carolina restaurant: Coroner

Oliver Helbig/Getty Images

(LAKE MARION, S.C.) -- A woman died after being struck by a patio umbrella during strong winds at a lakeside South Carolina restaurant over Memorial Day weekend, officials said.

The incident occurred Saturday evening at a restaurant along Lake Marion in Summerton, authorities said.

The woman and her husband were dining on the restaurant's patio "when a sudden strong wind blew an umbrella from a table," striking the woman in the head and neck area, the Clarendon County Coroner's Office said in a statement.

First responders found the woman unresponsive with lacerations to her head and neck area, and she was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the coroner's office.

The victim is a woman from Huger, South Carolina, the coroner's office said. An autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston.

The restaurant, Driftwood Grill Home of the Lazy Gator, confirmed the incident occurred at its restaurant during a "sudden severe weather event at Lake Marion."

"This has deeply affected many people in our community, including guests, staff, first responders, and everyone involved," the restaurant said in a statement Sunday on social media. "Out of respect for the family and those impacted, we ask for continued prayers, compassion, and privacy during this incredibly difficult time."

The restaurant said it held a support session on Monday with authorities, chaplains and others for those impacted by the "tragic" incident.

"This has impacted many people -- including staff members, guests, first responders, families, and community members -- and we are grateful for the continued support, prayers, understanding, and encouragement being shown throughout the area," the statement said.

ABC News' Jason Volack contributed to this report. 

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Forest ranger details dramatic cave rescue of man stuck in crevice

Lieutenant John Gullen, an emergency response forest ranger for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, detailed how he rescued a hiker who was stuck in Merlin's Cave. (New York State Department of Environmental Conservation)

(NEW YORK) -- Forest rangers in New York rescued a man last week who had been stuck in a crevice in a cave for six hours, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

The unidentified Brooklyn man was hiking with friends at Merlin's Cave in the town of Canaan on May 17 when he became stuck in the crevice, the department wrote in the caption of a Facebook post Friday.

Forest Ranger Lt. John Gullen, who helped safely pull the man out, said in a video posted on the department's social media page that the man "was really jammed in there more than I had expected."

"It was like his full body was stuck in a crevice that was basically designed the exact shape of him," Gullen said.

The man slipped into the crevice about 400 feet from the cave entrance, according to department officials, and had become completely immobilized.

Gullen said three of the man's friends were still with him when rescuers arrived and had attempted to get him out themselves, but all of them had become hypothermic.

"With any cave rescue, hypothermia is a guarantee," Gullen said. "It's about 50 degrees [Fahrenheit] in the cave, and it's almost 100% humidity, and that gets you cold quick, especially when you're not moving."

Gullen said the man maintained a positive attitude throughout the ordeal, as rescuers worked to free him.

"For most people, that's like their worst nightmare. So he did such a great job keeping a positive attitude. He was giving me thumbs up ... we were telling jokes," he recalled.

The rescue crew were able to use a rock drill to carefully remove parts of the surrounding stone "inches from the subject's head and back" until he was finally able to wiggle himself free, officials said.

"Once we were able to get to a point where we could high-five, we were high-fiving," Gullen said. "It's a feeling that I wish everyone could experience, because there's nothing like it."

The man was ultimately able to walk out of the cave on his own after being warmed up, according to officials.

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19 injured in crowd stampede at South Carolina motorcycle festival

At least 19 people were injured when a stampede broke out, May 24, 2026, at the Black Pearl Cultural Heritage and Bike Festival in Atlantic Beach, South Carolina, according to police. (Horry County Fire Rescue)

(ATLANTIC BEACH, S.C.) --At least 19 people were injured early Sunday in a crowd stampede at an annual motorcycle festival in Atlantic Beach, South Carolina, authorities said.

The incident at the Black Pearl Cultural Heritage and Bike Festival occurred just after 1 a.m. local time near a stage at the event. Police suspect it was started by an individual who suddenly began running through the crowd, officials said.

"At no time were there any confirmed fights, weapons, or direct threats to public safety. The situation appears to have been triggered when an individual began running, causing a brief chain reaction within the crowd that lasted only seconds," Atlantic Beach Interim Town Manager Titus Leaks said in a statement.

Leaks said that police officers assigned to crowd control at the event in Atlantic Beach, about 17 miles north of Myrtle Beach, quickly calmed the panicked crowd and restored order.

In an earlier online statement, Horry County Fire Rescue (HCFR) referred to the stampede as a "mass casualty incident."

HCFR reported that 19 people were evaluated for non-life-threatening injuries and three people were hospitalized.

Leaks said that once the situation was stabilized, the event resumed normal operations.

"First and foremost, we want to express our sincere concern for anyone who was injured or impacted," Leaks said. "Any situation where individuals are harmed is taken seriously, and our thoughts are with those affected as they recover. The safety and well-being of our residents and visitors remains our highest priority."

The Black Pearl Cultural Heritage and Bike Festival has been held every Memorial Day weekend for the past 40 years, attracting visitors and motorcycle enthusiasts from across the country, officials said.

Last year's event was marred by several high-profile incidents, including a party boat shooting in Little River and multiple fights that sent several people to the hospital, according to ABC affiliate station WCIV in Charleston, South Carolina.

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Soggy Memorial Day weather may not be a total washout in the Northeast and Midwest

Memorial Day forecast. (ABC News)

(NEW YORK) --A soggy weather pattern will continue to plague the eastern half of the nation on Sunday with wet and cool conditions, but some improvement is in store for the Northeast and Midwest leading into Memorial Day.

Flood watches have been issued for the eastern Texas coast and into southern Louisiana and Mississippi, including the cities of Beaumont, Baton Rouge and New Orleans, for heavy rain through Memorial Day.

A widespread one to two inches of additional rain is likely from southern Louisiana up to the Carolinas, with pockets of two to four-plus inches possible with the heaviest downpours.

Some of these storms could also be strong enough to produce gusty winds as well as some small hail.

The rainy weather is causing some flight delays on Sunday at airports, including O'Hare International Airport in Chicago.

The Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago Sunday morning due to thunderstorms. Arriving flights at O'Hare were experiencing average delays of 44 minutes, according to the FAA. Flights scheduled to depart from O'Hare were experiencing delays of up to one hour and 45 minutes, according to the FAA.

Thunderstorms forecast for central Indiana on Sunday afternoon could interrupt the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The race is scheduled to begin at 12:45 p.m. ET, but the National Weather Service office in Indianapolis is forecasting a chance of isolated showers and thunderstorms that could affect the race.  

Memorial Day forecast
Scattered rain and thunderstorms continue to linger in the South for Memorial Day.

The Northeast will see some rain move through early Monday morning but it will gradually begin to clear out, making way for a drier and mild afternoon and evening. Most of the region warms back up to average temperatures for Memorial Day.

The Midwest may see an isolated shower or two but will mostly be dry, with warm temperatures.

Much of the West remains warm and dry, except for the Pacific Northwest, where some clouds and showers will begin moving in, causing cooler temperatures.

Post-holiday forecast
For folks going back to work or school or making their way back home from the holiday weekend, the South will continue to see scattered rain and thunderstorms into the new work week. This may cause some minor travel hiccups for those traveling by plane and some slippery conditions for drivers.

The Northwest will see some clouds and showers move into the region and begin to spread into the intermountain areas of the West later on in the week, but it won't be a complete soaker. 

This will also usher in noticeably cooler temperatures for much of the West for Tuesday into Wednesday, with highs going from the 70s and 80s for most of Monday down into the 60s and barely reaching the 70s on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Suspect dead, bystander wounded after exchange of gunfire near White House: Secret Service

Emergency teams work the scene after multiple rapid-fire gunshots ring out near the White House on May 23, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Andrew Leyden/Getty Images)

(WASHINGTON) -- The Secret Service said officers shot and killed an armed man who opened fire at a White House checkpoint Saturday evening.

A bystander was also struck by gunfire in the incident, but it was not immediately clear how, the Secret Service said.

The man, who has not yet been named by authorities, allegedly walked up to the checkpoint in the area of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW around 6 p.m., removed a weapon from a bag and began firing at the officers posted there, the Secret Service said.

"Secret Service police officers returned fire, striking the suspect, who was transported to an area hospital, where he later died," the Secret Service said in a statement.

Regarding the bystander who was struck, the Secret Service said: "It remains unclear whether the bystander was struck by the suspect's initial gunfire or during the subsequent exchange of gunfire."

There was no immediate word on the bystander's condition.

No Secret Service members were hurt during the incident, which is still under investigation.

President Donald Trump praised law enforcement for their response, writing on social media, "Thank you to our great Secret Service and Law Enforcement for the swift and professional action taken this evening against a gunman near the White House, who had a violent history and possible obsession with our Country’s most cherished structure."

Trump added, "The gunman is dead after an exchange of gunfire with Secret Service Agents near the White House gates. This event is one month removed from the White House Correspondent'Dinner shooting, and goes to show how important it is, for all future Presidents, to get, what will be, the most safe and secure space of its kind ever built in Washington, D.C. The National Security of our Country demands it!"

What we know about the alleged suspect
The alleged suspect was a 21-year-old who was known to the Secret Service, multiple officials told ABC News. 

Courts records indicate that the same alleged suspect had a stay-away order from the White House put in place on July 11, 2025.

He had been arrested the day before after attempting to get into the White House and get past a security checkpoint, according to a court record. He told officers he was "Jesus Christ" and allegedly told officers he wanted to get arrested.

In a separate incident on June 26, he was involuntary committed, according to the same court record.

Reporters told to run for cover
At the time of the shooting, Trump was in the Oval Office working with aides Steven Cheung, Natalie Harp, Margo Martin and others, according to a White House Official.

ABC News' Selina Wang was filming a piece for social media platforms at the White House when the apparent gun shots sounded. She and crew members quickly ducked for cover.

FBI Director Kash Patel said in an X post that the agency was on scene and assisting the Secret Service.

"We will update the public as we're able," Patel said. 

When the gunshots sounded, reporters were told to sprint into the White House Press Briefing Room.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


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