National

(HOUSTON) — A relentless heat wave with triple-digit temperatures is continuing to affect millions of people in the South.

Much of Texas and Louisiana will have temperatures at the 100-degree mark by Sunday afternoon, but the heavy humidity will cause heat indexes to soar another 10 to 20 degrees, forecasts show.

More than 33 million Americans are currently under heat alerts from Houston to New Orleans. The temperature in Houston has not dropped below 80 degrees in nearly a week, with no relief in sight. Lack of overnight cooling can strongly contribute to heat-related illnesses.

Numerous records have been set in southeast Texas for warmest low temperature. The heat wave is considered to be much more dangerous than the typical scorching climate the South is known for during the summer and has arrived much earlier in the season than normal.

A persistent ridge of high pressure is what’s causing the heat wave to sit over parts of the U.S., Tim Cady, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Houston, told The Associated Press.

It could be more than a week before the region starts to see some relief from the extreme temperatures.

Heat is the No. 1 weather-related killer. More than 600 people die from heat-related illnesses every year in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

On average, more people in the U.S. die from extreme heat than any other severe weather event.

Mild symptoms of heat-related illness are typically sunburn or a heat rash or heat cramps, with signs including muscle pain and spasms. These symptoms can progress to heat exhaustion — which includes symptoms of headaches, dizziness, muscle cramps, nausea and vomiting — and possibly heat stroke, if the body reaches extremely high temperatures.

Populations including the elderly, infants and young children, outdoor workers and people with low socioeconomic status are at higher risk of heat-related illness.

A perilous heat wave is also currently plaguing India, where nearly 100 people have died in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh and eastern Bihar over the last several days, the AP reported.

Temperatures in parts of the region reached up to 109 degrees Fahrenheit on Sunday — five degrees higher than normal, according to the AP.

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(NEW YORK) — Relatives and friends poured into a funeral home in the Bronx Friday to pay respect and condolences to the family of Anadith Danay Reyes Álvarez, an 8-year-old girl who died in U.S. Border Patrol custody in Texas last month.

Teddy bears and pink balloons featuring Minnie Mouse surrounded the casket. A Honduran flag was prominently placed near the front of the chapel during the service.

Anadith was a Panamanian national and her parents are Honduran.

“We are not going to bury her. We are planting her. May the future generations know who she was,” said Pastor Arnold Ciego.

Her father shared that Anadith was a caring girl who would turn to him and say “let’s help them” when she saw people in need on the street.

Anadith died on May 17 and an ongoing investigation by U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), which upholds the agency’s ethical standards, has resulted in several of the medical providers involved in the incident being prohibited from working in CBP facilities.

A CBP official told ABC News the agency’s top medical officer, Dr. David Tarantino, has been temporarily reassigned, but did not disclose what his new roles would be.

“Dr. David Tarantino has played a key role in significantly expanding the provision of medical care to individuals in CBP custody. As CBP works to implement required improvements to our medical care policies and processes, including from the ongoing investigation into the tragic in-custody death of a child in Harlingen, we are bringing in additional senior leadership to drive action across the agency,” CBP said in a statement.

Anadith’s parents and two siblings were taken into custody near Brownsville, Texas, on May 9, according to CBP. During a medical screening the next day, the family reported Anadith suffered from sickle cell anemia and heart disease. CBP says Anadith complained of abdominal pain, nasal congestion, and a cough on May 14 and tested positive for influenza.

Medical personnel gave Anadith flu and nausea medication and transferred the family to a Border Patrol station in Harlingen, Texas, that is used for detainees that need medical isolation or who have been exposed to communicable diseases.

Between May 14 and the early hours of May 17, medical personnel had around 9 encounters with the girl and her mother, Mabel, the preliminary CPB report said.

On May 16, she had a fever of 104.9 degrees, the review said. Personnel treated her with ice packs, fever reducing medications and a cold shower.

“Despite the girl’s condition, her mother’s concerns, and the series of treatments required to manage her condition, contracted medical personnel did not transfer her to a hospital for higher-level care,” CBP said in a statement.

The OPR investigation found that Anadith was seen by a nurse four times after she complained of stomachache, nausea, and difficulty breathing on May 17.

The nurse “reported denying three or four requests from the girl’s mother for an ambulance to be called or for her to be taken to the hospital,” CBP said.

The investigation also found the nurse had “declined” to review a “pile of documents” that were in the family’s possession, but gave the girl a folic acid tablet upon her mother’s request. By 1:55 PM, Anadith “appeared to be having a seizure” and became unresponsive. Doctors at Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen declared her deceased by 2:50 p.m.

CBP Acting Commissioner Troy Miller said in a statement earlier this month, that in addition from barring some of the medical providers involved in the incident from working at CBP facilities, the agency is addressing “deficiencies.”

The agency is now deploying clinicians from the United States Public Health Service to CBP facilities across the country and it has ordered a review of the medical contractor’s practices, Miller said.

The ongoing investigation also revealed that medical personnel “failed to document numerous medical encounters, emergency antipyretic interventions, and administrations of medicine.”

“Ana’s death could have been prevented if her and her mother’s cries for medical attention were not dismissed while in CBP custody. When it comes to Black people, we always must fight to prove our humanity and even then, our humanity is denied. No mother and father should have to endure this immense pain,” said Guerline Jozef, the co-founder and executive director of the nonprofit Haitian Bridge Alliance.

OPR said records indicated here was an outage of the camera surveillance system at Harlingen Station during the time of the incident and that it was not reported to them as required.

“The recent in-custody death of an eight-year-old child in our custody in Harlingen, Texas was a deeply upsetting and unacceptable tragedy. We can —and we will— do better to ensure this never happens again,” Miller said.

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(TOPEKA, Kan.) — The FBI and multiple state agencies are investigating after dozens of letters containing a “suspicious” white powder were sent to Kansas state legislators and public officials on Friday, law enforcement said.

More than 80 such letters have been reported across the state, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation said in an update on Saturday.

“Law enforcement is working to safely collect the letters and investigate the incidents,” the agency said in a statement. “Currently, no injuries have been reported, but we ask everyone to remain vigilant in handling mail.”

The FBI, Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Kansas Department of Health and Environment, the Office of the State Fire Marshal, Kansas Highway Patrol and multiple local authorities have responded to reports of unidentified government officials receiving mail containing a white powder.

Kansas state Rep. Tory Marie Blew indicated in a social media post that she received one of the letters, while sharing a photo of a white envelope addressed to her state district office.

“This is not okay,” Blew, a Republican who represents the Great Bend area, said in the post. “I’m very thankful for our first responders — words can’t describe my gratitude after this event.”

The investigation remains ongoing, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation said.

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

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(BALTIMORE) — More than a dozen people were injured in a crash involving a public bus and two vehicles in Baltimore on Saturday morning, police said.

The incident occurred around 10:15 a.m. and involved a Maryland Transit Administration CityLink Blue bus, the Maryland Department of Transportation said.

The bus collided with a Lexus and then struck a Nissan, before coming to a stop in a building in the city’s Central District, Baltimore police said.

Sixteen people suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the incident and were transported to local hospitals, according to the Baltimore City Fire Department.

Baltimore City Police, Maryland Transit Administration Police, Baltimore City Fire Department medics and building inspectors are at the scene, police said.

The building was evacuated amid the response, fire officials said.

The cause of the crash is unknown at this time. Maryland Transit Administration and Baltimore police are investigating.

ABC News’ Clara McMichael contributed to this report.

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

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(NEW YORK) — More than 40 million Americans are under heat alerts as scorching high temperatures continue for Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida. Meanwhile, a multi-day severe weather outbreak is stretching from the plains into the south.

Excessive Heat warnings are in effect for major cities like Houston, San Antonio and New Orleans.

The combination of heat and oppressive humidity will lead to heat index values of 110 degrees to 120 degrees on Saturday afternoon.

Overnight, low temperatures have been setting records for how warm they are. Houston didn’t drop below 82 degrees on Friday and San Antonio tied a “warmest low temperature” record for the month of June at 80 degrees.

This cumulative heat offers no relief, and often contributes to potentially deadly heat exhaustion.

Since Tuesday, there have been well over 1,000 severe storm reports, ranging from damaging wind and flooding in Pensacola, Florida, to the deadly EF-2 tornado in Perryton, Texas. There was even a confirmed EF-0 tornado in New Jersey on Friday, but that severe weather threat in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast has since ended.

Saturday’s risk covers a huge area and includes more than 36 million Americans from Colorado to Florida. Damaging winds and large hail are the main threats for most of this area, but there is a risk for powerful tornadoes around Oklahoma.

On Sunday, there is yet another chance for significant storms. An Enhanced Risk is already in the outlook from Arkansas to Alabama. All modes of severe weather are possible in this area.

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(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) — Six people were found dead, including three children, at a Tennessee home in an apparent murder-suicide.

Marion County deputies and Jasper police officers responded to reports of shots fired around 9 p.m. local time on Thursday, only to find the home was set on fire, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

Once firefighters put out the flames, police found the remains of three adults and three children inside the home.

A seventh person who had sustained gunshot wounds in the incident was found alive and was transported to the hospital, according to officials.

The individual believed to be responsible for the deaths was among those found dead, according to officials.

The remains of all six people were taken to Nashville for autopsies, according to officials.

Marion County Sheriff Bo Burnett said it was a domestic situation in a single-family home.

“This is probably one of the worst things I’ve seen,” Burnett said in an interview with Chattanooga ABC affiliate WTVC.

“There was children involved and that’s just terrible, a tragic loss of life,” he added.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s special agents are investigating the deaths. Officials said there is no concern for public safety.

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(PRESCOTT, Ariz.) — A person was killed by a bear in Arizona on Friday, marking the second reported deadly bear attack in the state, authorities said.

The bear involved in the attack has also been killed, according to the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office.

The incident occurred in the Groom Creek area near Prescott, which is located about 100 miles north of Phoenix. No additional details on the attack were immediately available.

“We have had no other reports that would indicate that the public is in danger,” the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office said.

Following Friday’s attack, the sheriff’s office advised residents to not shoot bears “unless there is an immediate threat,” as it is otherwise against the law.

Aerial footage from the scene showed authorities responding to a forested area. Yavapai County deputies and Arizona Game and Fish Department officials responded to the scene and are investigating.

Arizona is home to only black bears and attacks are uncommon, according to Arizona Game and Fish Department spokesperson John Trierweiler.

Friday’s incident marks the 15th reported bear attack in the state since the late 1980s, and the second fatal one, according to Trierweiler.

The last deadly bear attack occurred in 2011 in Pinetop, the department said.

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(NEW YORK) — The residents of Perryton, Texas, are digging out after a deadly tornado ripped through the small town, destroying at least 200 homes.

Devastation in Texas

Three people in Perryton were killed: Becky Randall, a woman in her 60s who was found in a print shop; Cindy Bransgrove, a woman also in her 60s who was found in a food bank; and Matthew Ramirez, an 11-year-old boy who died at a trailer park, according to Ochiltree County Sheriff Terry Bouchard.

Becky Randall is survived by two sons and four grandchildren, who were “her world,” Randall’s daughter-in-law, Randi Cunningham, told ABC News.

“She loved life. She found joy in everything. There wasn’t a single day that she wasn’t smiling or laughing or making me feel better,” Cunningham said.

Randall grew up in Perryton, Cunningham said.

“She loved this town, and loved the people in it. And they loved her,” she said.

Perryton Fire Chief Paul Dutcher estimated the tornado’s path through Perryton, near the state line with Oklahoma, was about 1.5 miles. Dutcher said 2 1/2 blocks of the downtown area is “completely wiped out.”

Tommy Kerbl’s daughter’s trailer park neighborhood was among the areas hit.

Kerbl helped with the search and rescue efforts for hours and said he found the body of Ramirez, who was thrown more than 150 yards from his trailer home.

“It’s such a panic mode,” he told ABC News. “Mom was screaming crying, there was nothing we could do but cover the kid up.”

“I’ve never seen anything like this in my 33 years doing this,” Dutcher told ABC News as he held back tears. “We know these people. They go to our church, they live and volunteer here.”

Julio Garcia Merces told ABC News that eight people were in his daughter’s trailer home when the tornado touched down.

They first huddled in a back room and hallway, he said, and then he directed everyone to hunker down in a bathroom.

As Merces ushered everyone into the small room, he said the wind threw him into the air and against the wall like a rag doll.

He said he yelled out to God to protect them.

They all survived, but the home is barely standing. They’re now staying at a small hotel nearby while they figure out what’s next.

At least 56 people in Perryton were hurt, with injuries ranging from minor to severe, officials said.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management to deploy state emergency response resources to meet urgent life-safety needs in Perryton.

Abbott said in a statement, “I encourage all Texans to heed the guidance of state and local officials and to take all necessary precautions to protect yourselves and your loved ones. We remain ready to quickly provide any additional resources needed over the course of this severe weather event.”

Fatalities in Mississippi and Florida

Perryton wasn’t the only area hit; tornado warnings and severe thunderstorm watches extended across the South.

One person was killed and at least 69 homes damaged in Mississippi from the severe weather, state officials said, and a tornado struck Pensacola, Florida, killing one person after a tree fell on their home, according to Escambia County Fire Rescue.

More storms to come

More storms are still in the forecast.

A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for eastern Virginia for Friday night.

On Saturday, there’s an enhanced severe weather threat for Oklahoma.

On Sunday, tornadoes and strong winds are in the forecast for Little Rock, Arkansas; Memphis, Tennessee; Jackson, Mississippi; and Birmingham, Alabama.

Meanwhile, dangerous, triple-digit heat is baking the South. Record-high temperatures are possible over the next few days in Houston, San Antonio, Dallas and New Orleans.

ABC News’ Izzy Alvarez, Jenny Wagnon Courts, Jessica Gorman, Marilyn Heck, Chris Looft, Mireya Villarreal and Morgan Winsor contributed to this report.

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(SURFSIDE, Fla.) — Federal investigators looking into the Surfside, Florida, condo collapse that killed 98 people in 2021 said Thursday the structure did not meet building codes when it was erected 42 years ago.

“Our preliminary analysis of the original structural design of CTS shows that the building did not meet building codes in effect at the time, nor today’s building codes,” National Institute of Standards and Technology project leader James Harris said at a public hearing. “Furthermore, there’s evidence of errors in construction and renovations that compounded those deficiencies.”

NIST cautioned that these updates are preliminary. Investigators are placing a particular emphasis on the pool deck, with NIST’s Glenn Bell saying there were pervasive concerns with the deck’s design and misplaced slab reinforcement, along with possible problems with planter changes, the addition of fill and paving and slab reinforcement corrosion.

“Our analysis to date shows that even absent any sudden overload or obvious initiator of a failure on that tragic night of the collapse, the conditions that existed in the pool deck slab at that time represented a serious safety concern for the building,” Bell said.

NIST is hoping to find footage from Champlain Towers South’s surveillance cameras. It also plans to create a virtual reality model and conduct more testing.

Martin and Pablo Langesfeld, whose sister and daughter Nicole died during the collapse, spoke at the meeting.

“What many of the affected families find most troubling is the possibility of new development on the site of the collapse,” Martin Langesfeld said, referring to plans filed on Monday for new condominiums that could be built starting in 2024.

He went on, “You have repeatedly mentioned that NIST will inform the public if any signs of danger are discovered but how will this work if the building has already been developed?”

If approved and ultimately constructed, the new luxury development at the site of the collapse would be 12 stories tall, just like Champlain Towers South. In a letter to Surfside officials, an attorney representing the company proposing the new building said the project “will be a significant improvement to the property and a benefit to the area.”

The developer bought the property last year for $120 million.

NIST’s investigation will not be finished until May 2024 at the earliest. The final report could take an additional year.

“We do not need hypotheses. We need concrete answers,” Pablo Langesfeld said. “While I understand that a proper investigation takes time, it feels like an excessive delay.”

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(DELPHI, Ind.) — Prosecutors are alleging that Delphi, Indiana, double murder suspect Richard Allen, while in custody, confessed five or six times to the killings.

Defense attorneys didn’t dispute the allegation in a Thursday hearing, but argued the confessions were unreliable because of Allen’s deteriorating mental and physical health.

Judge Fran Gull is considering the defense’s request to move Allen to a different facility.

Allen was arrested in October 2022 and charged with two counts of murder for the deaths of Abby Williams, 13, and Libby German, 14. The best friends were enjoying a day off from school when they were killed on a Delphi hiking trail in February 2017.

Allen, a Delphi resident, has pleaded not guilty.

Allen’s trial has been scheduled for January 2024.

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