Capitol Christmas tree lighting
This year’s tree is a 65-foot Engelmann spruce from the Blanco Ranger District of the White River National Forest in Colorado. The tree was lit by Speaker of the House Rep. John Boehner during a ceremony on Dec. 4.
Latest Stories
ABC NewsVolkswagen workers in Tennessee have voted to join UAW, union says
In a seismic union election Friday evening, Volkswagen workers in Chattanooga, Tennessee, voted to join the United Auto Workers Union. The workers voted 2,628 to 985 for union representation, according to a spokesperson for the National Labor Relations Board.
- ABC News
USC cancels all commencement speakers after canceled valedictorian speech
Amid the decision to cancel this year's valedictorian speech, the University of Southern California announced it would be eliminating all outside speakers and honorees from its main-stage commencement taking place next month. Scheduled keynote speakers included USC alumnus filmmaker Jon M. Chu, director of "Crazy Rich Asians" and "Wicked." Sports icon Billie Jean King was also scheduled to speak.
- ABC News
New York AG asks court to reject Trump's $175M bond for civil judgment
Lawyers for the New York Attorney General asked Judge Arthur Engoron on Friday to reject former President Donald Trump's $175 million bond for his civil judgment and require him to post a new one within seven days. Letitia James contended that the former president failed to demonstrate that Knight Specialty Insurance Company, the company behind his bond, had the resources to pay the bond if Trump's appeal failed.
- Good Morning America
Savannah Chrisley talks about the fate of her parents Todd and Julie
Savannah Chrisley is opening up about her life after her parents Todd and Julie Chrisley's imprisonment, and sharing her hope for their future. The couple, who became famous for their show "Chrisley Knows Best," were sentenced in November 2022 to a combined 19 years in prison on charges including fraud and tax evasion. Todd was sentenced to 12 years in prison and 16 months of probation while Julie was ordered to serve seven years in prison and 16 months of probation.
- ABC News
5 big takeaways from Day 4 of Trump's hush money trial
After four days of jury selection, Donald Trump has a full jury in his New York criminal hush money trial, where he's facing felony charges related to a 2016 hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. Judge Juan Merchan swore in five additional alternate jurors on Friday and scheduled opening statements for Monday. Tensions ran high in the courtroom at times Friday, as defense attorneys attempted to grill potential witnesses about their social media histories and opinions on the former president.
- ABC News
5 teens injured in shooting at senior skip day gathering in Maryland park: Police
Five teenagers were injured after gunfire rang out at a large gathering of high school students taking part in a senior skip day in Maryland, police said. Officers from several law enforcement agencies were responding to help control a crowd of 500 to 600 students who had gathered in Schrom Hills Park in Greenbelt Friday afternoon when they heard multiple shots ring out, according to Greenbelt Police Chief Richard Bowers. Five male victims ranging between the ages of 16 and 18 were located with gunshot wounds, Bowers said.
- Good Morning America
What is April's full Pink Moon? What it means for your zodiac sign
As we welcome the warm weather in April, the Pink Moon will open up new beginnings as we head towards the summer. Celebrity astrologer Kyle Thomas, who is known for his cosmic guidance among celebrities, businesses and online influencers, spoke to "Good Morning America" about the best ways to take advantage of this resourceful full moon. When is the Pink Moon in 2024?
- Good Morning America
Jonathan Bennett marks 20 years of 'Mean Girls' in throwback photo with Lindsay Lohan
Jonathan Bennett is celebrating the 20th anniversary of "Mean Girls." On Friday, the actor, who played Aaron Samuels in the iconic film, shared two throwback photos with Lindsay Lohan and Lacey Chabert, and shared how the film changed his life in the caption of the post. "20 years ago today, the world met Aaron, Cady, Gretchen, Karen, Regina, Janis, Damien, Kevin G, Shane and Ms Norbury for the first time when Mean Girls premiered at the Cinerama Dome in Los Angeles, California on April 19, 2004," Bennett said.
- ABC News
Popular weight loss drugs in tight supply as Zepbound shortage could last through June
Shortages of popular weight loss medications are continuing amid an all-time high of drug scarcity in the United States. Wegovy, made by Novo Nordisk, and Zepbound, made by Eli Lilly & Co., are in tight supply and may be hard to obtain for the next several months, according to the pharmaceutical companies. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) updated its drug shortage database on Wednesday to reflect that most doses of Zepbound have limited availability due to "demand increase for the drug."
- Good Morning America
'American Idol' alum and Grammy winner Mandisa dies at 47
Mandisa, who competed on season 5 of "American Idol" and went on to become a successful Christian recording artist, has died. A rep for the singer confirmed to ABC News that Mandisa was found dead in her home on April 18. "American Idol" remembered Mandisa as "an adored icon" on the show and in the music industry.
- Good Morning America
Nothing to see here: US, Israel go radio silent on strike against Iran
Hours after a senior U.S. official told ABC News that Israeli fighter aircraft struck an air defense radar site inside Iran, top U.S. and Israeli officials on Friday declined to publicly acknowledge the incident in an apparent move aimed at de-escalating the situation and keeping Iran from retaliating. The radio silence was notable after weeks of U.S. officials publicly urging Israel to show restraint. At the end of a G7 foreign ministers meeting in Capri, Italy, Secretary of State Antony Blinken was asked why he wouldn't address what happened overnight.
- Good Morning America
Tennis pro Danielle Collins opens up about retiring amid battle with endometriosis, rheumatoid arthritis
At 30 years old, American tennis professional Danielle Collins is at the peak of her career, ranked 15th on the WTA Tour and winning two major tournaments, the Miami Open and the Credit One Charleston Open, this year. Collins was diagnosed in 2019 with rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease that causes painful swelling in the joints and can affect other parts of the body as well, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which notes that women are two to three times more likely than men to develop RA.
- ABC News
House Democrats help Johnson avoid defeat on foreign aid bills, despite GOP defections
The House on Friday cleared a key procedural hurdle in passing foreign aid to Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan, despite dozens of Republican defections, with Democrats helping Speaker Mike Johnson avoid a stinging defeat. The chamber voted 316-94 to advance the bills, setting up Saturday votes on final passage of $95 billion in foreign assistance that has been held up in a political fight in Washington for several months. Procedural votes such as Friday's are typically passed by the House majority alone, but Democrats stepped in to help push the legislation forward after Republican hard-liners collectively opposed the measure.
- ABC News
Biden expands Title IX protections for pregnancy, trans people, and sexual assault victims
The Biden administration has finalized new Title IX regulations that codify protections for transgender people, as well as enhance protections for victims of sexual assault or harassment and pregnant people. "For more than 50 years, Title IX has promised an equal opportunity to learn and thrive in our nation's schools free from sex discrimination,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona in a statement on the revision. “These final regulations build on the legacy of Title IX by clarifying that all our nation’s students can access schools that are safe, welcoming, and respect their rights.”
- Good Morning America
School shooting survivors share their stories, from Columbine to Oxford High
On Dec. 14, Jackie Hegarty of Newtown, Connecticut, knows her phone will be "flooded" with messages, as it is each year on that day, the anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary School mass shooting. Hegarty, a Sandy Hook survivor, lost 20 young classmates and six educators in that shooting, which marks its somber 10th remembrance this year. This year, Hegarty said many of the messages she receives will be from people who weren't there that day with her, but who know exactly how it feels to survive a school shooting.
- Good Morning America
Breaking down Taylor Swift's 'The Tortured Poets Department' double album
Taylor Swift's 11th studio album, a double album titled "The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology" is here -- and, like any release from the singer, there's a lot to unpack. The album takes Swift's devoted fans inside the depths of her mind as she navigates the ups and downs of past relationships, and perhaps hints at where she's at emotionally these days. Follow along as we break down some of the biggest songs and trends from "The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology."
- ABC News
For second time in a week, Russian strike in Ukraine kills and wounds dozens of civilians
For the second time this week, Russian strikes have caused significant civilian casualties in a key Ukrainian city as Russian missiles hit areas around the southeastern city of Dnipro on Friday, killing at least 8 people -- including two children -- and wounding nearly 30 more. Two days earlier, Russian missiles struck the center of Chernihiv in northern Ukraine, killing at least 18 and injuring nearly 80 more -- one of the deadliest strikes in months. Friday’s strikes in Dnipro damaged several floors of a residential building as well as the station, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a statement.
- Good Morning America
Trans care restrictions force some families to travel hours, spend hundreds for treatment
Misty Stamm was working tirelessly to figure out the details: waking up early, the hourslong drives, booking hotels and finding doctors who could legally administer gender-affirming hormone therapy to her 16-year-old transgender daughter. Stamm is living in one of the 24 states where legislation is restricting gender-affirming health care for transgender youth, so she and parents like her must make long, expensive trips out of their home states to find the care their children need, according to a new report from the Campaign for Southern Equality Research and Policy Center. “If we didn't have the care, I don't think she'd be alive,” said Stamm.
- Good Morning America
How the UN Plastics Treaty aims to tackle the pollution crisis
As Earth Day 2024 puts a spotlight on the world's climate crisis, negotiators from 175 countries are gathering for the fourth round of the United Nations Plastics Treaty negotiations next week in Canada. Held in Ottowa, Canada, from April 23-29, the last major round of negotiations will bring together the treaty's Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to draft a global, legally binding agreement by the end of 2024, according to the U.N. "Global plastic production and consumption has grown exponentially since the 1950s and is set to increase by 70% by 2040 if business continues as usual," the INC reported in a press release ahead of the negotiations.
- Good Morning America
Injured in a Russian strike, a 13-year-old Ukrainian girl runs to raise money for other victims
A Russian missile strike on April 8, 2022, changed Yana Stepanenko's life forever. A tragic story of loss turned into an example of resilience and growth thanks to the Ukrainian and American doctors who treated the girl. Stepanenko, who is now 13, ran a 5K at the 2024 Boston Marathon on Saturday to show the courage and strength of Ukrainians and to raise money for a Ukrainian soldier.