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(NEW YORK) — Protests have broken out at colleges and universities across the country in connection with the war in Gaza.

Many pro-Palestinian protesters are calling for their colleges to divest of funds from Israeli military operations, while some Jewish students on the campuses have called the protests antisemitic and said they are scared for their safety.

The student protests — some of which have turned into around-the-clock encampments — have erupted throughout the nation following arrests and student removals at Columbia University in New York City. Students at schools including Yale University, New York University, Harvard University, University of Texas at Austin, University of Southern California and more have launched protests.

Here’s how the news is developing:

Apr 29, 9:09 AM
Columbia cannot come to agreement with protesters, president says

Protesters at Columbia University, who sparked many of the protests across the nation earlier this month, are now being asked to voluntarily disperse after the school’s president said it was not able to come to an agreement through negotiations.

Since Wednesday, “a small group of academic leaders has been in constructive dialogue with student organizers to find a path that would result in the dismantling of the encampment and adherence to University policies going forward. Regretfully, we were not able to come to an agreement,” Columbia President Minouche Shafik said in a statement Monday morning.

One of the top demands of the protesters, for Columbia to divest from Israel, was flatly denied by the university, according to the statement.

The school asked protesters, who number in the hundreds, to voluntarily disperse, but offered no explanation for what would happen if they did not. The school said it did not “want to deprive thousands of students and their families and friends of a graduation celebration.” The school’s graduation ceremony is set to be held May 15.

“We urge those in the encampment to voluntarily disperse,” Shafik wrote. “We are consulting with a broader group in our community to explore alternative internal options to end this crisis as soon as possible. We will continue to update the community with new developments.”

Apr 29, 8:54 AM
Dozens of arrests made at Virginia Tech

Police cleared out an encampment at Virginia Tech late Sunday after protesters had set up tents on the lawn of the campus’ Graduate Life Center.

“Those who gathered were advised by university officials to remove their possessions and to disperse voluntarily; those who failed to comply were then approached by Virginia Tech Police and were again asked to leave and advised that anyone who failed to comply would be charged with trespassing, in accordance with Virginia law,” the school said in a statement.

The university added, “At approximately 10:15 p.m., police approached protesters to ask them to disperse within five minutes. Those who remained were subject to arrest.”

Dozens of protesters were taken into custody, according to Lynchburg, Virginia, ABC affiliate WSET.

Apr 28, 8:52 PM
UCLA increases security measures after physical altercations during protest

UCLA announced it is instituting additional security measures amid protests on campus over the Israel-Hamas war in a statement on Sunday.

“UCLA has a long history of peaceful protest and we are heartbroken to report that today, some physical altercations broke out among demonstrators on Royce Quad,” Mary Osako, vice chancellor of UCLA Strategic Communications said.

“We have since instituted additional security measures and increased the numbers of our safety team members on site,” Osako said.

“As an institution of higher education, we stand firmly for the idea that even when we disagree, we must still engage respectfully and recognize one another’s humanity,” Osako continued.

Addressing the physical altercations during the protests, Osako said, “We are dismayed that certain individuals instead chose to jeopardize the physical safety of the community.”

Last week, the University of California rejected calls to divest from companies that do business with Israel.

Apr 28, 10:07 AM
White House: ‘We don’t want to see anybody hurt in the process’

The White House said Sunday that President Joe Biden respects the right of demonstrators to make their voices heard — peacefully — and “we don’t want to see anybody hurt in the process.”

“The president knows that there are very strong feelings about the war in Gaza. He understands that, he respects that, and as he has said many times, we certainly respect the right of peaceful protest. People should have the ability to air their views and to share their perspectives publicly, but it has to be peaceful,” White House national security spokesman John Kirby told ABC News’ This Week anchor George Stephanopoulos on Sunday.

Kirby did warn that some language heard during the demonstrations crossed a line with the administration.

“We absolutely condemn the antisemitism language that we’ve heard of late, and we certainly condemn all the hate speech and the threats of violence out there. These protests, we understand they’re important, but they do need to be peaceful,” he said.

“We’ll leave it to local authorities to determine how these protests are managed,” Kirby told Stephanopoulos, “but we want them to be peaceful protests and obviously we don’t want to see anybody hurt in the process of peacefully protesting.”

Apr 28, 12:07 AM
USC temporarily closes main campus due to ‘disruption,’ LAPD issues alert

The University of Southern California closed its main campus Saturday evening “due to a disturbance,” the university said on X.

Los Angeles Police Department issued a citywide tactical alert due to a protest on USC’s campus, urging people to avoid the area.

A tactical alert allows LAPD to keep officers on past their shifts and to move officers between divisions if they need extra staffing in one area of the city.

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(NEW YORK) — A line of strong thunderstorms is pushing through Louisiana and southeastern Texas on Monday, making for a stormy morning from Houston, Texas, to Jackson, Mississippi.

A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect for the area until 9 a.m. CT on Monday. Flash flood warnings are also in effect along the line of storms. About 1 to 3 inches of rain has already fallen, with an additional 1 to 3 inches possible before the rain stops.

The storms in the region on Monday follow a weekend of severe weather, including strong deadly tornadoes in the heartland.

More than 130 tornadoes have been reported since Thursday in what amounts to a multi-day severe tornado outbreak.

The strongest tornadoes to have been surveyed so far have been in Sulphur and Marietta, Oklahoma, both of which were initially recorded as “at least” EF3 twisters, with winds up to 165 mph, the National Weather Service said. Those ratings may increase depending on further investigation, NWS said.

Another tornado with winds stronger than 135 mph was reported in Holdenville, Oklahoma.

Elba and Douglas County, Nebraska, were also both struck by tornadoes over the weekend.

Winds estimated to be up to about 145 mph demolished a well built metal structure and damaged a farm home in Elba. Another tornado with “at least EF3 damage” tore through Douglas County, according to the National Weather Service, with further detail expected to be released Monday afternoon.

Parts of southeastern Kansas are under a Flood Warning where up to 9″ of rain fell overnight. Roads are reportedly impassible, including two U.S. Highways.

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(NEW YORK) — Protests have broken out at colleges and universities across the country in connection with the war in Gaza.

Many pro-Palestinian protesters are calling for their colleges to divest of funds from Israeli military operations, while some Jewish students on the campuses have called the protests antisemitic and said they are scared for their safety.

The student protests — some of which have turned into around-the-clock encampments — have erupted throughout the nation following arrests and student removals at Columbia University in New York City. Students at schools including Yale University, New York University, Harvard University, University of Texas at Austin, University of Southern California and more have launched protests.

Here’s how the news is developing:

Apr 28, 8:52 PM
UCLA increases security measures after physical altercations during protest

UCLA announced it is instituting additional security measures amid protests on campus over the Israel-Hamas war in a statement on Sunday.

“UCLA has a long history of peaceful protest and we are heartbroken to report that today, some physical altercations broke out among demonstrators on Royce Quad,” Mary Osako, vice chancellor of UCLA Strategic Communications said.

“We have since instituted additional security measures and increased the numbers of our safety team members on site,” Osako said.

“As an institution of higher education, we stand firmly for the idea that even when we disagree, we must still engage respectfully and recognize one another’s humanity,” Osako continued.

Addressing the physical altercations during the protests, Osako said, “We are dismayed that certain individuals instead chose to jeopardize the physical safety of the community.”

Last week, the University of California rejected calls to divest from companies that do business with Israel.

Apr 28, 10:07 AM
White House: ‘We don’t want to see anybody hurt in the process’

The White House said Sunday that President Joe Biden respects the right of demonstrators to make their voices heard — peacefully — and “we don’t want to see anybody hurt in the process.”

“The president knows that there are very strong feelings about the war in Gaza. He understands that, he respects that, and as he has said many times, we certainly respect the right of peaceful protest. People should have the ability to air their views and to share their perspectives publicly, but it has to be peaceful,” White House national security spokesman John Kirby told ABC News’ This Week anchor George Stephanopoulos on Sunday.

Kirby did warn that some language heard during the demonstrations crossed a line with the administration.

“We absolutely condemn the antisemitism language that we’ve heard of late, and we certainly condemn all the hate speech and the threats of violence out there. These protests, we understand they’re important, but they do need to be peaceful,” he said.

“We’ll leave it to local authorities to determine how these protests are managed,” Kirby told Stephanopoulos, “but we want them to be peaceful protests and obviously we don’t want to see anybody hurt in the process of peacefully protesting.”

Apr 28, 12:07 AM
USC temporarily closes main campus due to ‘disruption,’ LAPD issues alert

The University of Southern California closed its main campus Saturday evening “due to a disturbance,” the university said on X.

Los Angeles Police Department issued a citywide tactical alert due to a protest on USC’s campus, urging people to avoid the area.

A tactical alert allows LAPD to keep officers on past their shifts and to move officers between divisions if they need extra staffing in one area of the city.

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(NEW YORK) — Three police officers were wounded in a fatal standoff with a gunman in Louisiana on Sunday, officials said.

Kenner Police were called to the 700 block of Farm Avenue at approximately 9:45 a.m. local time after two people were shot outside of a residence, according to a statement from Jefferson Parish Sheriff Joseph Lopinto and Kenner Police Chief Keith Conley.

The residence belonged to a family member of Michael Lathers, 31, who was wanted for an attempted murder and armed robbery that occurred earlier in the week in Kenner, officials said.

In a standoff with Lathers, three Kenner police officers were wounded and Lathers was fatally shot by a Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office deputy, according to the statement.

“Multiple attempts were made to contact Lathers to open negotiations, but all efforts were unsuccessful,” Lopinto and Conley said in the statement.

The wounded officers were transported to a local hospital and are in stable condition, officials said.

Lathers was pronounced dead on the scene, according to the statement.

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(NEW YORK) — At least five deaths, including one of a 4-month-old child in Oklahoma, were confirmed Sunday from a severe storm that swept through the heartland, spawning multiple tornadoes across four states, including a powerful pair of twisters that touched down in Nebraska, officials said.

Emergency officials in Hughes County, Oklahoma, said the baby was one of four people killed in storms that struck Holdenville. One person died from storm-related injuries at a sports bar in Sulphur that was hit by a tornado, officials said. At least 30 people were injured in Sulphur, including 20 who were at the sports bar, according to officials.

Oklahoma Gov. J. Kevin Stitt confirmed Sunday afternoon that at least four people were killed in the storms that slammed his state.

One person was reported dead in Marietta, Oklahoma, and two people were killed in Ada, Oklahoma, Stitt said.

A state of emergency was declared in 12 Oklahoma counties, authorities said.

Sunday night, the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma, announced a preliminary determination of “at least” an EF3 tornado in Sulphur and also “at least” an EF3 in Marietta.

President Joe Biden spoke to Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt on Sunday, according to the White House. The president offered the “full support of the federal government” after Saturday’s fatal tornadoes.

Nebraska Gov. Governor Jim Pillen Sunday night issued an emergency declaration for Douglas, Lancaster and Washington Counties, making the eligible to “receive assistance funding through the state for recovery.”

A man who was injured and hospitalized when a tornado hit Minden, Iowa, on Friday, has also died, his family confirmed Sunday to Omaha, Nebraska, ABC affiliate KETV.

A tornado tore through Minden in Pottawattamie County around 6 p.m. on Friday, destroying 40 to 50 homes, or about half the town, according to the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office. County officials confirmed that three people were injured in the tornado.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds toured the devastated town on Sunday and activated emergency policies.

As communities were left reeling from the devastating twisters, a new tornado watch was issued Sunday afternoon for portions of eastern Texas just as two funnel clouds were confirmed near Rosebud and Freestone, Texas, officials said. The tornado watch will be in effect until 9 p.m. CT.

Sunday marks the third day of the severe weather outbreak across the heartland states. More than 22 million people are under a threat of violent storms Sunday in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas and Illinois.

Holdenville, a town of about 6,000 people 77 miles southeast of Oklahoma City, was left reeling after a violent tornado touched down near the city late Saturday amid a statewide tornado outbreak.

A search for victims and an assessment of damage was launched Saturday night after storms passed through the area, Hughes County Emergency Management officials said.

A Holdenville family told Oklahoma City ABC affiliate station KOCO-TV that a relative lost their home in the storm and remained hospitalized Sunday.

At one point, crews searched the damaged Holdenville home for the child before finding the baby, who was pronounced dead at a hospital, according to the Hughes County emergency manager.

“My prayers are with those who lost loved ones as tornadoes ripped through Oklahoma last night,” Gov. Stitt said in a statement Sunday. “Thank you to Oklahoma Emergency Management and those who have worked through the night to keep Oklahomans safe and have worked to clear debris and assess damage.”

A destructive tornado also hit Sulfur, Oklahoma, in Murray County, destroying buildings and scattering debris for miles, authorities said. At least four other people were injured in Sulphur, including three with major injuries, officials said.

An ABC News crew in Sulphur on Sunday observed several damaged businesses, including one with a collapsed roof and others with broken windows. Several cars were seen flipped over in the downtown area.

“I never dreamed it could do this much damage,” Julie Cox, a Sulphur business owner, told ABC News.

Cox’s business, Pamper Me Boutique, was destroyed, and she tearfully told ABC News she let her insurance lapse due to the economy and now doesn’t know how she will rebuild.

Tornadoes were reported Saturday across Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas and Nebraska, officials said. There were nearly 120 tornado reports in the last two days, according to the National Weather Service.

NWS teams were working Sunday to confirm the tornado reports but cautioned that the numbers are constantly being adjusted as new reports come in and duplicates are removed.

An enhanced risk for severe thunderstorms is in the outlook Sunday from eastern Texas to southern Missouri, as well as the possibility of strong tornadoes, damaging wind and large hail.

While Oklahoma was taking the brunt of the tornado outbreak, Nebraska endured the strongest tornadoes confirmed on Saturday.

Preliminary information suggests that two “strong, rare tornadoes” touched down in Douglas County, Chris Franks with the National Weather Service said during a press briefing Saturday. The NWS found evidence of EF-2 and EF-3 tornado damage there following Friday’s storms, Franks said.

No fatalities have been reported so far following the Nebraska storms, officials said.

Widespread damage was reported in the Elkhorn neighborhood of Omaha, officials said. New photos emerged Sunday showing numerous destroyed homes in the area.

“For that big of a storm, to have the property damage that was so extensive, without the loss of life,” Douglas County Emergency Management Director Paul Johnson said during the press briefing. “It’s a tremendous attribute to the city of Omaha.”

Another tornado emergency was issued Saturday for Knox City, Texas, where a large and damaging tornado was reported near the town. Baseball-sized hail was also reported with this tornadic storm, officials said.

A tornado was also confirmed Saturday near the intersection of Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri. The confirmed tornado was eight miles north of Robinson, Kansas.

Storms are forecast to continue Sunday across the multistate region with heavy rain expected at times.

A flood watch remains in effect Sunday for a large area in the southern Plains and Ozarks, covering portions of seven states. Flash flood warnings were issued Saturday night and into Sunday morning as many communities reported 2 to 5-plus inches of rainfall and emergency officials urged residents to avoid flooded roads.

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At least two deaths, including one of a 4-month-old child in Oklahoma, were confirmed Sunday from a severe storm that swept through the heartland, spawning multiple tornadoes across four states, including a powerful pair of twisters that touched down in Nebraska, officials said.

Emergency officials in Hughes County, Oklahoma, said the baby was one of two people killed in storms that struck Holdenville.

Sunday marks the third day of the severe weather outbreak across the heartland states. More than 22 million people are under a threat of violent storms Sunday in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas and Illinois.

Holdenville, a town of about 6,000 people 77 miles southeast of Oklahoma City, was left reeling after a violent tornado touched down near the city late Saturday amid a statewide tornado outbreak.

A search for victims and an assessment of damage was launched Saturday night after storms passed through the area, Hughes County Emergency Management officials said.

At least four other people were injured in the Hughes County storms, including three with major injuries, Hughes County officials said.

A Holdenville family told Oklahoma City ABC affiliate station KOCO that a relative lost their home in the storm and remained hospitalized Sunday.

At one point, crews searched the damaged Holdenville home for the child before finding the baby, who was pronounced dead at a hospital, according to the Hughes County emergency manager.

“My prayers are with those who lost loved ones as tornadoes ripped through Oklahoma last night,” Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt said in a statement Sunday. “Thank you to Oklahoma Emergency Management and those who have worked through the night to keep Oklahomans safe and have worked to clear debris and assess damage.”

A destructive tornado also hit Sulfur, Oklahoma, in Murray County, destroying buildings and scattering debris for miles, authorities said.

Tornadoes were reported Saturday across Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas and Nebraska, officials said. There were nearly 120 tornado reports in the last two days, according to the National Weather Service.

NWS teams were working Sunday to confirm the tornado reports but cautioned that the numbers are constantly being adjusted as new reports come in and duplicates are removed.

An enhanced risk for severe thunderstorms is in the outlook Sunday from eastern Texas to southern Missouri, as well as the possibility of strong tornadoes, damaging wind and large hail.

While Oklahoma was taking the brunt of the tornado outbreak, Nebraska endured the strongest tornados confirmed on Saturday.

Preliminary information suggests that two “strong, rare tornadoes” touched down in Douglas County, Chris Franks with the National Weather Service said during a press briefing Saturday. The NWS found evidence of EF-2 and EF-3 tornado damage there following Friday’s storms, Franks said.

No fatalities have been reported so far following the Nebraska storms, officials said.

Widespread damage was reported in the Elkhorn neighborhood of Omaha, officials said. New photos emerged Sunday showing numerous destroyed homes in the area.

“For that big of a storm, to have the property damage that was so extensive, without the loss of life,” Douglas County Emergency Management Director Paul Johnson said during the press briefing. “It’s a tremendous attribute to the city of Omaha.”

Another tornado emergency was issued Saturday for Knox City, Texas, where a large and damaging tornado was reported near the town. Baseball-sized hail was also reported with this tornadic storm, officials said.

A tornado was also confirmed Saturday near the intersection of Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri. The confirmed tornado was eight miles north of Robinson, Kansas.

Storms are forecast to continue Sunday across the multistate region with heavy rain expected at times.

A flood watch remains in effect Sunday for a large area in the southern Plains and Ozarks, covering portions of seven states. Flash flood warnings were issued Saturday night and into Sunday morning as many communities reported 2 to 5-plus inches of rainfall and emergency officials urged residents to avoid flooded roads.

ABC News’ Jessica Gorman and Alexandra Faul contributed to this report.

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Severe weather left a trail of destruction in the Heartland on Friday with 83 reports of tornadoes across five states.

The multi-day tornado outbreak continued Saturday, with powerful storms expected from Texas to the Great Lakes.

Emergency officials in Hughes County, Oklahoma, confirmed one death due to storms in Holdenville.

There is a tornado watch in effect for parts of six states, from Texas to Iowa into the late evening. This watch will likely expand east slightly as the day wears on.

A moderate risk — level 4 out of 5 — is in the outlook for parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri Saturday, with storms expected to flare up again in the afternoon and evening across a huge area of the country. There is a chance for strong long-track tornadoes as well as very large hail up to 3 inches in diameter and thunderstorm winds up to 80 mph.

In addition to dozens of tornado reports, Friday saw 33 damaging wind reports and 60 large hail reports.

In Iowa, four people were injured Friday and approximately 120 structures were damaged after severe weather hit Pottawattamie County, officials in that county said.

The city of Minden was the hardest hit area in Friday’s storms, according to the county. Gas and power have been disrupted, and a 10 p.m. curfew has been issued until further notice.

Gov. Kim Reynolds, Pottawattamie County, and the City of Minden have all declared a state of emergency.

Severe damage was also reported across eastern Nebraska, including Douglas County, where hundreds of homes were damaged in the Omaha area Friday.

Preliminary information suggests that two “strong, rare tornadoes” touched down in Douglas County, Chris Franks with the National Weather Service said during a press briefing on Saturday. The National Weather Service found evidence of EF-2 and EF-3 tornado damage there following Friday’s storms, Franks said.

No fatalities have been reported so far following the storms, officials said.

“For that big of a storm, to have the property damage that was so extensive, without the loss of life,” Douglas County Emergency Management Paul Johnson said at the press briefing. “It’s a tremendous attribute to the city of Omaha.”

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen urged people to continue to stay safe as the storm threat continues into Saturday evening.

There have been seven tornado reports so far Saturday. One tornado emergency was issued for Knox City, Texas, where a large and damaging tornado was reported near the town. Baseball-sized hail was also reported with this tornadic storm.

A tornado was confirmed Saturday near the intersection of Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri. The confirmed tornado was eight miles north of Robinson, Kansas.

All modes of severe weather are likely on Saturday.

Damaging winds, huge hail, and long-track tornadoes are all in the cards, especially in Kansas, Oklahoma and northeast Texas. Overall, there is a severe weather threat stretching across the central U.S. from Canada to Mexico.

The threat for these dangerous storms continues into the overnight hours.

In addition to the thunderstorm threat, there is also a flash flood risk with this major storm system.

A flood watch is in effect for eight states from Texas to Iowa until Monday afternoon. This is because heavy downpours may dump significant rainfall in a short time and lead to dangerous flash flooding.

More than 2 to 5 inches of rain may be falling in a short period of time, prompting the Weather Prediction Center to issue a Moderate Risk for Excessive Rainfall from Texas to Missouri.

“Confidence continues to be high in a major flash flood event unfolding for portions of east-central Oklahoma with higher end rainfall totals Saturday beginning late this evening into Saturday night,” the Weather Prediction Center said.

A “high risk” for excessive rainfall is the greatest level threat possible. One-third of all flood-related fatalities occur in high-risk areas. It is a rare and serious life-threatening flood event forecast that leads to a high-risk issuance.

The National Weather Service will be conducting damage surveys this weekend to determine the number of confirmed tornadoes, as well as the intensity ratings and other details.

On Sunday, the threat is reduced, but still there is a chance for damaging wind, large hail and a few tornadoes from Austin, Texas, to Davenport, Iowa, and includes Shreveport, Louisiana; Little Rock, Arkansas; Kansas City and St. Louis, Missouri.

ABC News’ Victoria Arancio contributed to this report.

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(LAKELAND, Fla.) — Two deputies in Lakeland, Florida, were shot and a suspect was killed after a gun battle ensued in an area known for vehicle break-ins and burglaries, according to police.

One deputy is in critical, but stable, condition and the other is in stable condition. Both are recovering in the ICU, according to police

A deputy approached a vehicle deemed suspicious in a park and asked a male to exit the vehicle but he refused, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said at a press conference Saturday.

The deputy then retreated to her patrol vehicle and called for backup, according to the sheriff. With four deputies on the scene, they attempted to remove the male — who the sheriff described as a “sovereign citizen,” — when the vehicle started moving before the suspect produced a gun and shot two deputies.

One deputy suffered four gunshot wounds in his right arm and another was shot once through the arm and into his chest. Police returned gunfire and “shot a lot,” but police are unsure how many rounds were shot, according to the sheriff.

The suspect, who is believed to have been living out of his vehicle, was killed in a gun battle.

“He asked for a gun fight and we gave him a gun fight. And he’ll never be in another gun fight again because he’s dead, like he asked for,” Judd said.

“He chose that outcome and we obliged it,” Judd said.

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(LUPTON, Ariz.) — Federal authorities are investigating after a freight train carrying fuel derailed near the Arizona-New Mexico border, igniting a large fire and prompting an evacuation and traffic closures.

A BNSF freight train derailed on Friday at 1:45 p.m. MT near Manuelito, New Mexico, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.

“The preliminary information we have is the train derailed at least 22 cars including multiple propane tank cars,” the NTSB said in a statement on Saturday.

Two of the tank cars caught fire, the NTSB said. No injuries were reported, the agency said.

A team of NTSB investigators is en route to the scene and is expected to arrive later Saturday to begin documenting the scene and examining the train and equipment.

Investigators with the Federal Railroad Administration also responded to the derailment on Friday, according to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

The train was carrying gasoline and non-odorous propane, according to New Mexico State Police. Heavy black smoke could be seen following the derailment as the train cars burned.

BNSF said in a statement Friday that its personnel were “working to clear the site as safely as possible.” The cause of the derailment is under investigation, the freight railroad said.

The derailment has caused traffic disruptions, forcing the temporary closure of part of Interstate 40 and the track. Amtrak has suspended service between Albuquerque and Los Angeles until the track reopens.

The Apache County Sheriff’s Office in Arizona, which was among the agencies that responded to the train derailment and fire, said the scene was being treated as a hazardous materials incident and an evacuation was expanded to within a two-mile radius of the event.

The evacuation order impacted parts of the Navajo Nation.

“Our deepest concern is for the safety and well-being of our citizens and those directly affected by this incident,” Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren said in a statement on Friday. “At this time, we urge everyone to stay clear of the affected area to allow emergency and hazmat teams to manage the situation efficiently.”

Nygren said local emergency crews had informed them there is a “low risk of immediate danger to the public,” though they are taking all necessary precautions, including evacuating several homes.

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs said she is “deeply concerned” about the derailment.

“As we learn more about the situation on the ground, the State of Arizona stands ready to deploy the resources necessary to keep our communities safe,” Hobbs said on X Saturday.

Arizona Rep. Ruben Gallego also called the train derailment “incredibly concerning.”

“As we gather more information on the severity of the derailment, I stand ready to work with our state partners, federal counterparts, and all Arizonans,” Gallego said in a statement on Friday.

Buttigieg said in a statement Friday night on X that the department is “coordinating across state, Tribal, and local agencies to ensure safety in the region.”

Michael Chupco was among several Amtrak passengers stranded in Albuquerque train station following the derailment. He told ABC Albuquerque affiliate KOAT that the next train he could get was on Monday.

“I’m stuck three days out here on the street,” Chupco told the station. “I’m 68 years old. I can’t handle living on the street.”

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(NEW YORK)  — A coat hanger or “very tiny screwdriver” could be used to unlock the Mar-a-Lago storage room where former President Donald Trump stored highly classified documents for more than a year, according to a witness in Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigation.

The account was relayed to FBI agents by an unidentified aide to Trump in January 2023, according to newly released exhibits, and further undercuts claims by Trump that the highly-classified materials he’s accused of taking with him after leaving office were secured at all times.

The transcript of the interview was released as part of an ongoing effort by Trump and his co-defendants to make additional evidence gathered by Special Counsel Smith public.

Investigators were told by the witness that in summer of 2021 the storage room door had a knob “with a pinhole” that visitors could lock from the inside via a push button.

“Kind of like what you would find on a residential door inside of a home?” an FBI agent asked.

“So it might have a lock like that on one side of it then other side, rather than an actual place for a key,” an agent added.

“Yeah,” the witness said.

“–very tiny screwdriver?”

“Um-hmm,” the witness said.

The witness’ lawyer, John Irving, soon added, “Like when my kids lock themselves in the bathroom.”

“Yeah,” the witness said. “And then they’d pop it open.”

The revelation further bolsters concerns raised by Smith about the lack of security surrounding the documents while they were stored in Mar-a-Lago. In his indictment of Trump, he included photos showing boxes believed to have contained classified documents in a ballroom at the club as well as a bathroom.

Trump was indicted last June on 37 criminal counts related to his handling of classified materials after leaving the White House. Prosecutors said he repeatedly refused to return hundreds of documents containing classified information ranging from U.S. nuclear secrets to the nation’s defense capabilities and that he took steps to thwart the government’s efforts to get the documents back. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.

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