(NEW YORK) — A single ticket sold in New Jersey had all of the winning numbers in Tuesday evening’s drawing for the Mega Millions $1.3 billion jackpot.
The winning numbers were 7, 11, 22, 29, 38 and gold Mega Ball 4.
Thirteen tickets from across nine of the Mega millions-eligible states matched five numbers to each win $1 million. One of those tickets was a multiplier, bumping the prize up to $2 million.
This is the sixth time the Mega Millions jackpot prize has surpassed $1 billion. Tuesday’s jackpot win is the fifth-largest prize in the history of the game.
There were 30 consecutive drawings without a jackpot winner before Tuesday. The last jackpot was won on Dec. 8.
The jackpot prize has a cash value of $537.5 million, which can be offered as a one-time lump sum payment or an immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments.
The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 302,575,350, according to Mega Millions.
Mega Millions is played in 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Tickets are $2 for one play.
The largest Mega Millions jackpot prize ever won was a $1.6 billion prize won on Aug. 8, 2023.
(BALTIMORE) — Six construction workers are presumed dead after a cargo ship struck Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, sending the workers into the water.
Eight workers were fixing potholes on the span when the ship hit the bridge around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday. The workers plunged into the frigid water, and two were rescued, officials said.
Search and rescue efforts for the six missing people were suspended Tuesday evening, officials said. Operations are now shifting to a recovery phase, officials said.
“Based on the length of time that we’ve gone in the search, the extensive search efforts that we put into it, the water temperature — at this point, we do not believe that we’re going to find any of these individuals still alive,” Rear Adm. Shannon Gilreath told reporters Tuesday evening.
Among the six missing is construction worker Miguel Luna, who is originally from El Salvador, according to Court Appointed Special Advocates, a group that works with immigrants.
Luna “is a husband, a father of three, and has called Maryland his home for over 19 years,” the organization said in a press release.
He “left at 6:30 p.m. Monday evening for work and since, has not come home,” the organization said.
Two missing workers are from Guatemala: a 26-year-old from San Luis, Petén, and a 35-year-old from Camotán, Chiquimula, the country’s foreign ministry said. Their names were not released.
“The Consul General of Guatemala in Maryland was able to establish telephone communication with the brothers of the two missing Guatemalans,” the ministry said in a statement posted in Spanish.
(NEW YORK) — Mega Million’s jackpot swelled to $1.12 billion after no winners were selected in last week’s drawing. The next drawing is Tuesday night at 11 p.m. ET.
This is the sixth time the Mega Millions jackpot prize has surpassed $1 billion. If won Tuesday night, this would be the fifth largest prize in the history of the game.
The numbers drawn Saturday night were: 3, 8, 31, 35 and 44, plus the gold Mega Ball 16.
There have been 30 consecutive drawing without a jackpot winner. The last jackpot was won on Dec. 8.
The jackpot prize has a cash value of $537.5 million which can be offered as a one-time lump sum payment or an immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments.
The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 302,575,350, according to Mega Millions.
Mega Millions is played in 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Tickets are $2 for one play.
The largest Mega Millions jackpot prize ever won was a $1.6 billion prize won on Aug. 8, 2023.
(BALTIMORE) — Officials were able to stop the flow of traffic onto the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore before a massive cargo ship crashed into a support column, helping to save lives in the disaster, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said.
The container ship Dali issued a mayday call as it approached the 1.6-mile-long bridge at about eight knots, a “very rapid speed,” Moore said. Following that notification, officials were able to prevent more cars from going onto the bridge before the collapse, he said.
“These people are heroes,” Moore told reporters during a press briefing on Tuesday. “They saved lives last night.”
After personnel on the ship alerted the Maryland Department of Transportation that they lost control of the vessel, local authorities were able to close the bridge before it was struck, “which undoubtedly saved lives,” President Joe Biden said Tuesday during remarks on the disaster.
A review of traffic cameras by Maryland transportation officials confirmed there were “no vehicles transiting the bridge at the time of the incident,” according to an internal U.S. Department of Homeland Security briefing obtained by ABC News.
The Singapore-flagged vessel struck the bridge at about 1:30 a.m. ET, causing the bridge to partially collapse, officials said. Authorities said several workers who were part of a maintenance team fixing potholes on the span went into the water, along with multiple vehicles.
Two workers were rescued while six remain unaccounted for following the collapse, officials said. Authorities were working to determine how many people may have been involved in the collapse, Moore said.
“The thing we do know is that many of the vehicles were stopped before they got onto the bridge, which saved lives in a very, very heroic way,” he said.
A search-and-rescue effort is underway, with divers and emergency personnel combing the area for people believed to have fallen from the collapsing bridge into the frigid water, officials said.
“To the victims of this tragedy and their loved ones, all our hearts are broken,” Moore said. “In the face of heartbreak, we come together, we embrace each other.”
Moore said there was no credible evidence that the crash involved terrorism. He said it appeared to be a tragic accident.
According to a Coast Guard memo obtained by ABC News, a harbor pilot and an assistant aboard the cargo ship reported the power issues that prompted multiple alarms on the bridge of the vessel and loss of propulsion.
The bridge is part of Interstate 695 and crossed the Patapsco River in the Port of Baltimore.
An estimated 30,000 vehicles crossed the bridge per day, according to the Maryland Transportation Authority.
ABC News’ Josh Margolin and Aaron Katersky contributed to this report.
(BALTIMORE) — A cargo ship crashed into Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge early Tuesday morning, causing a near-total collapse of the span and halting vessel traffic into and out of the Port of Baltimore.
A search-and-rescue effort is underway, with divers and emergency personnel desperately combing the Patapsco River for people believed to have fallen from the collapsing bridge into the frigid water below, officials said. At least six people are unaccounted for, officials said.
Mar 26, 5:25 PM EPA on standby, not aware of any concerns
The regional office of the Environmental Protection Agency is on standby to respond to the aftermath of the bridge collapse if needed but is not aware of any environmental concerns at this time, according to EPA Mid-Atlantic Public Affairs spokesman Shaun Egan.
Synergy Marine Group said Tuesday morning that there was no pollution from the ship.
The Coast Guard is the primary federal agency responding and they have not asked for EPA assistance. Coast Guard pollution responders were sent to the scene, and if any releases of fuel or other pollutants are detected, the EPA official said the agency is ready to support that response.
The Maryland Department of the Environment said it is “conducting water sampling upriver and downriver of the site.”
-ABC News’ Stephanie Ebbs and Beatrice Peterson
Mar 26, 4:09 PM Harris: ‘We are all praying’
Vice President Kamala Harris said she is “praying for the families of those who are missing and all those who have been touched by this tragedy.”
“I spoke with the governor of Maryland this morning, and we have directed the federal government to use all the resources that are available to assist with the search and rescue, to reopen the port and to rebuild the bridge as quickly as possible,” Harris said while making a joint appearance with President Joe Biden at an event in North Carolina.
-ABC News’ Libby Cathey and Justin Ryan Gomez
Mar 26, 4:00 PM ‘Very much still a search and rescue mission,’ governor says
Fourteen hours after the bridge collapse, crews are still desperately looking for the six people who remain unaccounted for, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said at a news conference Tuesday afternoon.
“This is very much still a search and rescue mission,” Moore said.
“We had the opportunity to spend time with the families. Had the opportunity to pray with them and pray for them,” Moore said. “And the strength of these families is absolutely remarkable.”
“We are hopeful and we are with the families,” Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., said.
“This is no ordinary bridge — this is one of the cathedrals of American infrastructure. It has been part of the skyline of this region for longer than many of us have been alive,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said. “So the path to normalcy will not be easy, will not be quick, will not be inexpensive. But we will rebuild together.”
Buttigieg did not give an estimate of how long it may take to resume vessel traffic into and out of the Port of Baltimore.
Mar 26, 3:00 PM What to know about the collapse
The container ship Dali struck Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge at about 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, partially collapsing the bridge, officials in Maryland said.
A local pilot was at the helm of the ship at the time, Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld said.
The crash appeared to be accidental, not intentional, officials said.
Two people were rescued from the Patapsco River and at least six people remain missing, officials said.
Mar 26, 2:28 PM Buttigieg meets with responders
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg traveled to the scene of the Baltimore bridge collapse, at the invitation of Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, according to the Department of Transportation.
Buttigieg posted a photo of him meeting with responders.
An estimated 30,000 vehicles crossed the bridge per day, according to the Maryland Transportation Authority.
Mar 26, 1:38 PM Personnel on ship alerted officials before collision ‘which undoubtedly saved lives’: Biden
Personnel on the ship alerted the Maryland Department of Transportation that they lost control of the vessel, and officials were able to close the bridge before it was struck, “which undoubtedly saved lives,” President Joe Biden told reporters.
It appears the crash was a “terrible accident,” Biden said.
He said the search and rescue operation is the top priority.
“Ship traffic and the Port of Baltimore has been suspended until further notice. And we’ll need to clear that channel before the ship traffic can resume,” he said.
“It’s my intention that the federal government will pay for the entire cost of reconstruction. … I expect the Congress to support my effort,” Biden said.
“This is going to take some time,” the president said, adding, “We’re not leaving until this job gets done.”
Biden, who noted he’s been over the bridge many times, said he plans to visit Baltimore as soon as possible.
“Our prayers are with everyone involved in this terrible accident and all the families, especially those waiting for news of their loved one right now,” the president said. “To the people of Baltimore, I want to say: We’re with you. We’re going to stay with you, as long as it takes.”
Mar 26, 12:34 PM No cars transiting bridge at time of collapse: Internal DHS briefing
Maryland transportation officials reviewed traffic cameras and confirmed there were “no vehicles transiting the bridge at the time of the incident,” according to the latest internal Department of Homeland Security briefing obtained by ABC News.
The local pilot who was at the controls is “undergoing post-accident Drug and Alcohol Testing,” the briefing said.
The cargo ship “remains impaled in the bridge,” the document said. “Several shipping containers with unknown cargo fell into water. There is hull damage above the water line to the vessel and the ship is maintaining watertight integrity.”
A slight sheen of pollution was observed in the water, suggesting there could be some oil or other pollutant “in the vicinity of the ship and pollution booms have been requested,” the memo said.
-ABC News’ Josh Margolin and Aaron Katersky
Mar 26, 11:00 AM 6 unaccounted for
Six people remain unaccounted for as the desperate search continues at the site of the bridge collapse, Coast Guard officials said at a Tuesday morning news conference.
Two were rescued, including one who was hospitalized and later discharged, officials said. Construction workers were on the bridge working on potholes at the time of the collapse, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said.
“To hear the words that the Key Bridge has collapsed, it’s shocking and heartbreaking,” Moore said. “It’s not just unprecedented, what we’re seeing today — it’s heartbreaking.”
The collapse appears to be an accident, Moore said.
There’s nothing to suggest ties to terrorism, the FBI added.
The container ship was moving at 8 knots, which is considered fast, officials noted.
A local pilot was at the helm of the ship at the time, Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld said.
A harbor pilot and assistant onboard the cargo ship reported power issues, multiple alarms on the bridge and loss of propulsion prior to the incident, according to a Coast Guard memo obtained by ABC News. All personnel on the tanker are accounted for with no reported injuries, the memo said.
The Patapsco River channel is fully blocked, with approximately five inbound and seven outbound vessels in the queue for the next 24 hours, according to the memo.
The bridge was up to code, officials said.
Mar 26, 10:46 AM What to know about the cargo ship
The Singapore-flagged cargo ship, Dali, spans a length of 984 feet and a width of 157 feet, a listing showed. It holds 22 crew members, all of whom are based in India.
The ship departed from the Port of Baltimore at 1 a.m. on Tuesday, embarking on a 27-day journey to Colombo, Sri Lanka. The ship “lost propulsion” as it was leaving the port and warned Maryland officials of a possible collision, according to officials.
The waterway into and out of the port is closed and there is no other route into the port, which is the second busiest port in the Mid-Atlantic.
Mar 26, 9:47 AM Governor declares state of emergency
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has declared a state of emergency following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.
“We are working with an interagency team to quickly deploy federal resources from the Biden Administration,” Moore said in a statement.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott also declared a local state of emergency.
Mar 26, 9:28 AM The history of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge
The 1.6-mile bridge on the I-695 beltway crosses the Patapsco River, where Francis Scott Key was inspired to write the words of the U.S. national anthem in 1814, according to the Maryland Transportation Authority.
Key, after whom the bridge was named, was also an advisor to Andrew Jackson, served as the District Attorney for the District of Columbia from 1833 to 1841, and was a slave owner, according to the National Park Service.
Construction on the bridge, which was intended to ease traffic and maintenance concerns regarding the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel that serviced the waterway, began in 1972 and finished in March 1977, according to the MDTA.
Mar 26, 8:36 AM 1 person hospitalized in very serious condition
Two people have been rescued from the water and crews are still searching for others, fire officials said.
One person rescued has been taken to a hospital in very serious condition, Baltimore Fire Department Chief James Wallace said.
The second rescued person denied medical treatment.
Mar 26, 8:30 AM ‘No indications this was an intentional act,’ Mayorkas says
Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas said “there are no indications this was an intentional act,” adding, “we are assessing the impacts to the Port of Baltimore.”
“Our thoughts are with the families of the missing and injured,” he said.
The Coast Guard is “actively involved in search and rescue operations,” he said.
Mar 26, 8:09 AM Biden briefed on collapse
President Joe Biden has been briefed on the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge and the ongoing search and rescue efforts, according to a White House official. He will continue to receive updates from his team throughout the day, the official said.
Senior White House officials have been in touch with the Maryland governor and Baltimore mayor to offer any federal assistance they need, the administration said.
-ABC News’ Selina Wang and Molly Nagle
Mar 26, 7:32 AM Ship lost propulsion, warned of collision, CISA report says
An unclassified Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency report said the container ship Dali “lost propulsion” as it was leaving port and warned Maryland officials of a possible collision.
The crew notified officials that they had lost control, the report said.
“The vessel notified MD Department of Transportation (MDOT) that they had lost control of the vessel and an allision with the bridge was possible,” the report said. “The vessel struck the bridge causing a complete collapse.”
The waterway into and out of the port has been closed and there is no other route into the port, which is the second busiest port in the mid-Atlantic.
-ABC News’ Sam Sweeney, Aaron Katersky and Kevin Shalvey
Mar 26, 7:15 AM Cargo ship company says all crew members safe
The owners and managers of the cargo ship Dali, a Singapore-flagged vessel, said all crew members had been accounted for following the crash.
“All crew members, including the two pilots have been accounted for and there are no reports of any injuries,” Synergy Marine Group said in a statement.
The company said the 22 crew members, including the pilots, were based in India.
The 984-foot ship is owned by Grace Ocean Private Ltd, the statement said.
The cause of the crash is “yet to be determined,” the statement said.
-ABC News’ Jenny Wagnon Courts, Laura Romero and Kevin Shalvey
Mar 26, 6:05 AM Secretary Buttigieg offers DOT support
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg said in a statement that he’s spoken with local officials to offer support.
“I’ve spoken with Gov. Moore and Mayor Scott to offer USDOT’s support following the vessel strike and collapse of the Francis Scott Key bridge,” he said. “Rescue efforts remain underway and drivers in the Baltimore area should follow local responder guidance on detours and response.”
(NEW YORK) — The judge in Donald Trump’s criminal hush money case in New York has granted the Manhattan district attorney’s request for a limited gag order on the former president.
The order, by Judge Juan Merchan, restricts Trump’s public statements about witnesses and others.
Statements made by Trump about witnesses, prosecutors, judges and others tied to his criminal and civil cases “were threatening, inflammatory, denigrating” and represent “a sufficient risk to the administration of justice,” Judge Merchan said Tuesday in deciding to impose the partial gag order.
“The consequences of those statements included not only fear on the part of the individual targeted, abut also the assignment of increased security resources to investigate threats and protect the individuals and family members thereof,” Merchan said.
The order prevents Trump from making public statements about witnesses in the hush money case, prospective jurors, members of the court staff and their families, and lawyers other than Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
The partial gag order follows Trump’s disparaging remarks about Merchan and his daughter after the judge on Monday rejected Trump’s bid for a delay and set the trial date for April 15.
“Such inflammatory extrajudicial statements undoubtedly risk impending the orderly administration of this Court,” Merchan said, adding “there exists no less restrictive means to prevent such risk.”
Trump last April pleaded not guilty to a 34-count indictment charging him with falsifying business records in connection with a hush money payment his then-attorney Michael Cohen made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels just days before the 2016 presidential election. The former president has denied all wrongdoing.
“Given that the eve of trial is upon us, it is without question that the immanency of the risk of harm is now paramount,” the judge said in his ruling Tuesday.
Also Tuesday, Trump again sought to delay the trial, seeking a new delay based on “exceptionally prejudicial pretrial publicity.”
Trump’s attorneys argued in a court filing that “potential jurors in Manhattan have been exposed to huge amounts of biased and unfair media coverage relating to this case,” particularly, they said, the new documentary about Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford.
Defense attorneys did not say when the trial should start — only that it should not begin “until the prejudicial press coverage abates.”
“President Trump’s constitutional right to a fair trial is at stake,” defense attorney Todd Blanche said. “Many of the potential jurors already wrongfully believe that President Trump is guilty.”
Jury selection for the trial is currently scheduled to get underway April 15 in New York City.
(BALTIMORE) — A cargo ship crashed into Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge early Tuesday morning, causing a near-total collapse of the span and halting vessel traffic into and out of the Port of Baltimore.
A search-and-rescue effort is underway, with divers and emergency personnel desperately combing the Patapsco River for people believed to have fallen from the collapsing bridge into the frigid water below, officials said. At least six people are unaccounted for, officials said.
Mar 26, 3:00 PM What to know about the collapse
The container ship Dali struck Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge at about 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, partially collapsing the bridge, officials in Maryland said.
A local pilot was at the helm of the ship at the time, Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld said.
The crash appeared to be accidental, not intentional, officials said.
Two people were rescued from the Patapsco River and at least six people remain missing, officials said.
Mar 26, 2:28 PM Buttigieg meets with responders
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg traveled to the scene of the Baltimore bridge collapse, at the invitation of Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, according to the Department of Transportation.
Buttigieg posted a photo of him meeting with responders.
An estimated 30,000 vehicles crossed the bridge per day, according to the Maryland Transportation Authority.
Mar 26, 1:38 PM Personnel on ship alerted officials before collision ‘which undoubtedly saved lives’: Biden
Personnel on the ship alerted the Maryland Department of Transportation that they lost control of the vessel, and officials were able to close the bridge before it was struck, “which undoubtedly saved lives,” President Joe Biden told reporters.
It appears the crash was a “terrible accident,” Biden said.
He said the search and rescue operation is the top priority.
“Ship traffic and the Port of Baltimore has been suspended until further notice. And we’ll need to clear that channel before the ship traffic can resume,” he said.
“It’s my intention that the federal government will pay for the entire cost of reconstruction. … I expect the Congress to support my effort,” Biden said.
“This is going to take some time,” the president said, adding, “We’re not leaving until this job gets done.”
Biden, who noted he’s been over the bridge many times, said he plans to visit Baltimore as soon as possible.
“Our prayers are with everyone involved in this terrible accident and all the families, especially those waiting for news of their loved one right now,” the president said. “To the people of Baltimore, I want to say: We’re with you. We’re going to stay with you, as long as it takes.”
Mar 26, 12:34 PM No cars transiting bridge at time of collapse: Internal DHS briefing
Maryland transportation officials reviewed traffic cameras and confirmed there were “no vehicles transiting the bridge at the time of the incident,” according to the latest internal Department of Homeland Security briefing obtained by ABC News.
The local pilot who was at the controls is “undergoing post-accident Drug and Alcohol Testing,” the briefing said.
The cargo ship “remains impaled in the bridge,” the document said. “Several shipping containers with unknown cargo fell into water. There is hull damage above the water line to the vessel and the ship is maintaining watertight integrity.”
A slight sheen of pollution was observed in the water, suggesting there could be some oil or other pollutant “in the vicinity of the ship and pollution booms have been requested,” the memo said.
-ABC News’ Josh Margolin and Aaron Katersky
Mar 26, 11:00 AM 6 unaccounted for
Six people remain unaccounted for as the desperate search continues at the site of the bridge collapse, Coast Guard officials said at a Tuesday morning news conference.
Two were rescued, including one who was hospitalized and later discharged, officials said. Construction workers were on the bridge working on potholes at the time of the collapse, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said.
“To hear the words that the Key Bridge has collapsed, it’s shocking and heartbreaking,” Moore said. “It’s not just unprecedented, what we’re seeing today — it’s heartbreaking.”
The collapse appears to be an accident, Moore said.
There’s nothing to suggest ties to terrorism, the FBI added.
The container ship was moving at 8 knots, which is considered fast, officials noted.
A local pilot was at the helm of the ship at the time, Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld said.
A harbor pilot and assistant onboard the cargo ship reported power issues, multiple alarms on the bridge and loss of propulsion prior to the incident, according to a Coast Guard memo obtained by ABC News. All personnel on the tanker are accounted for with no reported injuries, the memo said.
The Patapsco River channel is fully blocked, with approximately five inbound and seven outbound vessels in the queue for the next 24 hours, according to the memo.
The bridge was up to code, officials said.
Mar 26, 10:46 AM What to know about the cargo ship
The Singapore-flagged cargo ship, Dali, spans a length of 984 feet and a width of 157 feet, a listing showed. It holds 22 crew members, all of whom are based in India.
The ship departed from the Port of Baltimore at 1 a.m. on Tuesday, embarking on a 27-day journey to Colombo, Sri Lanka. The ship “lost propulsion” as it was leaving the port and warned Maryland officials of a possible collision, according to officials.
The waterway into and out of the port is closed and there is no other route into the port, which is the second busiest port in the Mid-Atlantic.
Mar 26, 9:47 AM Governor declares state of emergency
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has declared a state of emergency following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.
“We are working with an interagency team to quickly deploy federal resources from the Biden Administration,” Moore said in a statement.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott also declared a local state of emergency.
Mar 26, 9:28 AM The history of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge
The 1.6-mile bridge on the I-695 beltway crosses the Patapsco River, where Francis Scott Key was inspired to write the words of the U.S. national anthem in 1814, according to the Maryland Transportation Authority.
Key, after whom the bridge was named, was also an advisor to Andrew Jackson, served as the District Attorney for the District of Columbia from 1833 to 1841, and was a slave owner, according to the National Park Service.
Construction on the bridge, which was intended to ease traffic and maintenance concerns regarding the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel that serviced the waterway, began in 1972 and finished in March 1977, according to the MDTA.
Mar 26, 8:36 AM 1 person hospitalized in very serious condition
Two people have been rescued from the water and crews are still searching for others, fire officials said.
One person rescued has been taken to a hospital in very serious condition, Baltimore Fire Department Chief James Wallace said.
The second rescued person denied medical treatment.
Mar 26, 8:30 AM ‘No indications this was an intentional act,’ Mayorkas says
Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas said “there are no indications this was an intentional act,” adding, “we are assessing the impacts to the Port of Baltimore.”
“Our thoughts are with the families of the missing and injured,” he said.
The Coast Guard is “actively involved in search and rescue operations,” he said.
Mar 26, 8:09 AM Biden briefed on collapse
President Joe Biden has been briefed on the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge and the ongoing search and rescue efforts, according to a White House official. He will continue to receive updates from his team throughout the day, the official said.
Senior White House officials have been in touch with the Maryland governor and Baltimore mayor to offer any federal assistance they need, the administration said.
-ABC News’ Selina Wang and Molly Nagle
Mar 26, 7:32 AM Ship lost propulsion, warned of collision, CISA report says
An unclassified Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency report said the container ship Dali “lost propulsion” as it was leaving port and warned Maryland officials of a possible collision.
The crew notified officials that they had lost control, the report said.
“The vessel notified MD Department of Transportation (MDOT) that they had lost control of the vessel and an allision with the bridge was possible,” the report said. “The vessel struck the bridge causing a complete collapse.”
The waterway into and out of the port has been closed and there is no other route into the port, which is the second busiest port in the mid-Atlantic.
-ABC News’ Sam Sweeney, Aaron Katersky and Kevin Shalvey
Mar 26, 7:15 AM Cargo ship company says all crew members safe
The owners and managers of the cargo ship Dali, a Singapore-flagged vessel, said all crew members had been accounted for following the crash.
“All crew members, including the two pilots have been accounted for and there are no reports of any injuries,” Synergy Marine Group said in a statement.
The company said the 22 crew members, including the pilots, were based in India.
The 984-foot ship is owned by Grace Ocean Private Ltd, the statement said.
The cause of the crash is “yet to be determined,” the statement said.
-ABC News’ Jenny Wagnon Courts, Laura Romero and Kevin Shalvey
Mar 26, 6:05 AM Secretary Buttigieg offers DOT support
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg said in a statement that he’s spoken with local officials to offer support.
“I’ve spoken with Gov. Moore and Mayor Scott to offer USDOT’s support following the vessel strike and collapse of the Francis Scott Key bridge,” he said. “Rescue efforts remain underway and drivers in the Baltimore area should follow local responder guidance on detours and response.”
(BALTIMORE) — A ship struck Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge early Tuesday, causing a partial collapse and sending vehicles and people into the water, officials in Maryland said.
“I can confirm at 1:35 a.m., Baltimore City police were notified of a partial bridge collapse, with workers possibly in the water, at the Francis Scott Key Bridge,” the Baltimore Police Department said in a statement.
The Maryland Transportation Authority said the collapse occurred “due to ship strike.” The container ship Dali, a Singapore-flagged vessel, struck the bridge at about 1:30 a.m., according to MarineTraffic, a ship-tracking company. The about 984-foot ship had departed from port in Baltimore at about 1 a.m. and was bound for Sri Lanka, the tracker said.
Multiple vehicles plunged from the bridge at the time of the collapse, the Baltimore City Fire Department said. Overnight work had been underway on the bridge and divers were searching for at least seven people in the water, the department said. The bridge, which is part of Interstate 695, crosses the Patapsco River in Baltimore’s harbor. “All lanes closed both directions for incident on I-695 Key Bridge,” MDTA officials said in a statement at about 2 a.m. on Tuesday. “Traffic is being detoured.”
ABC News’ Victoria Arancio, Alex Grainger, Sam Sweeney and Felicia Alvarez contributed to this story.
(NEW YORK) — Flaco, the Eurasian eagle owl who escaped from his vandalized Central Park Zoo enclosure in February 2023, had high levels of rat poison in his system and was suffering from “severe herpesvirus” that he contracted from eating pigeons when he died last month in Manhattan.
The post-mortem necropsy report was released Monday afternoon by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), which runs New York City’s Central Park Zoo, revealing its findings regarding what caused Flaco’s demise on Feb. 23 of last year, when he was found critically injured in the courtyard of a residential building on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.
“Bronx Zoo veterinary pathologists determined that in addition to the traumatic injuries, Flaco had two significant underlying conditions. He had a severe pigeon herpesvirus from eating feral pigeons that had become part of his diet, and exposure to four different anticoagulant rodenticides that are commonly used for rat control in New York City,” according to the statement issued by the Wildlife Conservation Society. “These factors would have been debilitating and ultimately fatal, even without a traumatic injury, and may have predisposed him to flying into or falling from the building.”
Zoo officials said the identified herpesvirus can be carried by healthy pigeons but may cause fatal diseases in birds of prey, including owls, who can be infected by eating pigeons.
“This virus has been previously found in New York City pigeons and owls,” the WCS statement said. “In Flaco’s case, the viral infection caused severe tissue damage and inflammation in many organs, including the spleen, liver, gastrointestinal tract, bone marrow, and brain.”
No other contributing factors to Flaco’s death were identified by “the extensive testing that was performed,” the WCS said.
“Flaco’s severe illness and death are ultimately attributed to a combination of factors – infectious disease, toxin exposures, and traumatic injuries – that underscore the hazards faced by wild birds, especially in an urban setting,” the zoo official said.
Toxicology testing also revealed trace amounts of DDE, a breakdown product of the pesticide DDT, the WCS said.
“But the levels detected in Flaco were not clinically significant and did not contribute to his death,” the WCS said. “Although DDT has been banned in the United States since the early 1970s, it and its breakdown products are remarkably persistent in the environment, and this finding is a reminder of the long legacy of DDT and its dire effects on wild bird populations.”
The WCS initially said preliminary results of the necropsy found that Flaco died after crashing into a building, leaving him with a “substantial hemorrhage” under the sternum and around the liver. No bone fractures were found in the initial report.
Flaco, dubbed “the most famous owl in the world,” became a cause célèbre during the year he spent as a free bird after bolting from his zoo exhibit on Feb. 2, 2023, when a vandal cut a hole in the stainless steel mesh covering his exhibit, police and zoo officials said at the time.
Flaco subsequently transformed from an obscure bird to a celebrity fowl and a symbol of freedom and resilience by defying the odds of survival in America’s largest city.
Having been hatched and raised in captivity for the first 12 years of his life, many avian experts doubted he had the flying skills and hunting abilities to survive outside of his enclosure.
Immediately after leaving the zoo, Flaco caused a stir on one of Manhattan’s most fashionable shopping streets, Fifth Avenue, where he landed on the sidewalk near the Bergdorf Goodman department store, drawing a crowd and the NYPD. Officers cordoned him off with yellow crime scene tape and set an open cage next to him, apparently in case he wanted to surrender. Before they could move in to catch him, however, the mottled-colored creature flew off into a tree in front of the Plaza Hotel.
“He’s certainly my most photographed bird of 2023” said David Barrett, the creator and manager of Manhattan Bird Alert, who encountered Flaco told ABC News last year. “He’s the most famous bird in the world.”
Flaco continued to draw crowds while his survival and flying skills rapidly improved, and the territory he explored expanded all the way downtown to Manhattan’s Lower East Side.
After committing resources to recapture the bird, zoo officials released a statement on Feb. 12, 2023, saying they were scaling back on their recovery efforts after noticing that Flaco was successfully hunting for prey.
“Several days ago, we observed him successfully hunting, catching, and consuming prey. We have seen a rapid improvement in his flight skills and ability to confidently maneuver around the park,” zoo officials said at the time.
(LANCASTER, Penn.) — Several drag queen story hours across the country have been faced with bomb threats, backlash and cancellations. On Saturday morning, Lancaster Public Library in Pennsylvania became the most recent story hour impacted by such threats.
A Lancaster City Police K-9 and Lancaster County Sheriff Deputy K-9 alerted handlers to a suspicious package inside the Lancaster Public Library during a preplanned sweep ahead of a drag story hour. Bomb threats had also been made via email with claims of explosive devices planted in the surrounding area.
After an investigation by the Pennsylvania State Police bomb squad, the scene was cleared and no explosive devices were found.
“Not only do bomb threats disrupt the peace and safety of our community, they waste valuable public resources,” said Lancaster Police Chief Richard Mendez. “Bomb threats will not be tolerated, and we are committed to identifying and prosecuting those responsible.”
Other recent drag events have also faced similar bomb threats, including story hours in Massachusetts and Minnesota, according to local reports.
Before the threat, the event faced backlash from some community members, including Lancaster County Commissioner Josh Parsons.
He accused the event of being “not age appropriate” for children in a social media event earlier this month: “This is about the library signaling to the world that they are a fully woke, politicized organization and if you do not embrace their agenda completely, you are not welcomed at their library,” he said.
The hosts of the event, including Lancaster Pride, denied such claims, calling the event “100% family-friendly, age-appropriate.”
“They are turning something that is so innocent into something that it’s not, this is a family-friendly, fun time where we all get together and enjoy each other’s company,” Tiffany Shirley, president of Lancaster Pride told FOX43. She argues that opponents are misconstruing the event’s goal. “There’s no agenda, there is nothing indoctrinating or sexualizing in this event.”
A post for the event in Lancaster, in which a drag queen reads children’s books to attendees, states that the event “isn’t just about reading tales of wonder and imagination – it’s about celebrating diversity, fostering inclusivity, and teaching our children (and ourselves) the beautiful lesson of embracing everyone just as they are.”
Drag queen story hours have been at the center of recent conservative efforts to restrict drag events in public. In recent years, the U.S. has seen a record number of bills targeting the LGBTQ+ community — including restrictions on drag events.
However, such bans have faced legal challenges. Laws in both Texas and Tennessee were blocked, with judges citing the First Amendment and calling drag bans unconstitutional.
Supporters of drag bans say the legislation “gives confidence to parents that they can take their kids to a public or private show and will not be blindsided by a sexualized performance,” said Sen. Jack Johnson, a sponsor of the Tennessee policy, in a tweet.
Simultaneously, drag shows, events and other LGBTQ+-related programs have seen a rise in threats, hate, and backlash.
Although threats have put drag performers, event hosts, and law enforcement on high alert, many say they refuse to hide in the face of hate.
“While we support the freedom of speech: we stand firm and cannot and we will not let hate, fear, and intimidation stop our collective movement for love and support for all. Many have been asking how to help, and in truth we are still determining the best way to channel all of this incredible energy,” Lancaster Pride posted on Facebook in reaction to the event’s cancellation.
The statement continued, “Today is a deeply challenging day for us, but we remain hopeful, thankful, and more determined than ever thanks to your continued support. We will continue to create a world where understanding, acceptance, and celebration is a reality for all of us.”
