(WAKEFIELD, Mass.) — An 18-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly trying to raise money for ISIS through a gift card scheme on the dark web.
Mateo Ventura, from Wakefield, Massachusetts, was arrested for “knowingly concealing the source of material support or resources that he intended to go to a foreign terrorist organization, namely the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS),” according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office of Massachusetts released on Thursday.
Ventura allegedly provided multiple gift cards to an individual that he believed was an ISIS supporter with the intention that those gift cards subsequently be sold on the dark web for slightly less than their face value. The proceeds and resulting profits from those sales would then be used to support ISIS, authorities said.
“Ventura allegedly stated that he wanted the proceeds to go to ISIS “for war on kuffar,” (disbelievers),” the U.S. Attorney’s Office of Massachusetts said in their statement announcing the charges against Ventura. “In total, it is alleged that between January and May 2023, Ventura donated $705 intended to support ISIS.”
If convicted, the punishment for knowingly concealing the source of material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organization carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000, authorities said.
Ventura appeared in federal court before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge David H. Hennessy on Thursday. It is unclear when Ventura will next appear in court.
“Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office of Massachusetts said. “The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.”
(BIRMINGHAM, Ala.) — Joran van der Sloot, the main suspect in the unsolved 2005 disappearance of American teenager Natalee Holloway, is heading to a federal courthouse in Birmingham, Alabama, on Friday to face federal extortion and wire fraud charges.
Van der Sloot, who is accused of trying to profit from his connection to the Holloway case, is scheduled to be arraigned at 11 a.m. CT.
The Dutch citizen was handed over to the FBI on Thursday morning to be extradited from Peru, where he had been serving a 28-year sentence for the 2010 murder of 21-year-old Stephany Flores. Van der Sloot’s plane took off for the U.S. Thursday morning from a military base in Lima and he landed on U.S. soil Thursday afternoon.
“For 18 years, I have lived with the unbearable pain of Natalee’s loss,” Holloway’s mother, Beth Holloway, said in a statement Thursday. “Each day has been filled with unanswered questions and a longing for justice that has eluded us at every turn. But today, with her perpetrator’s extradition to the United States, I am hopeful that some small semblance of justice may finally be realized, even though no act of justice will heal the pain we’ve endured.”
Mark White, attorney for Holloway’s father, Dave Holloway, called the extortion and wire fraud case “some form of accountability,” but “not accountability for the ultimate transgression of what a lot of people think this person did to their child.”
White told ABC News on Thursday that he feels “more than 100%” certain that van der Sloot knows where Natalee Holloway’s body is located.
“Beth and Dave Holloway, they have been living every parent’s worst nightmare,” he said. “We all hope … that somehow the truth will come out.”
Holloway, an 18-year-old from Alabama, went missing in May 2005 on a high school graduation trip in Aruba. She was last seen with a group of young men, including van der Sloot, then 17.
Van der Sloot, who was detained as a suspect in Holloway’s disappearance and later released, was indicted by an Alabama federal grand jury in 2010 for allegedly trying to extort Holloway’s family.
Federal prosecutors alleged that in March 2010 van der Sloot contacted Beth Holloway through her lawyer and claimed he would reveal the location of the teen’s body in exchange for $250,000, with $25,000 paid upfront. During a recorded sting operation, Beth Holloway’s attorney, John Q. Kelly, met with van der Sloot at an Aruba hotel, giving him $10,000 in cash as Beth Holloway wired $15,000 to van der Sloot’s bank account, according to prosecutors.
Then, van der Sloot allegedly changed his story about the night he was with Natalee Holloway, prosecutors said. Van der Sloot claimed he had picked Natalee Holloway up, but she demanded to be put down, so he threw her to the ground. Van der Sloot said her head hit a rock and he claimed she died instantly from the impact, according to prosecutors.
Van der Sloot then took Kelly to a house and claimed that his father, who had since died, buried Natalee Holloway in the building’s foundation, prosecutors said.
Kelly later emailed van der Sloot, saying the information he had provided was “worthless,” according to prosecutors. Within days, van der Sloot left Aruba for Peru.
White, Dave Holloway’s attorney, said “federal defendants awaiting trial are typically housed in one of the state county jails that has a contract with the federal government. And so they will pick one that has absolute security because the defendant is a flight risk.”
“The defendant has already been convicted of one violent crime, and so he will be in very tight custody,” White said.
ABC News’ Amanda McMaster contributed to this report.
(NEW YORK) — Former President Donald Trump has been indicted for a second time, this time on federal charges in relation to his handling of classified information while out of office, sources familiar confirm to ABC News.
The former president faces at least seven charges, sources tell ABC News, which include willful retention of national defense information, conspiracy to obstruct justice, withholding a document or record, corruptly concealing a document or record, concealing a document in a federal investigation, scheme to conceal, and false statements and representations.
Maximum sentences for the respective charges, per their statutes, range from five up to 20 years, although any eventual sentence should Trump be convicted would likely be much lower.
Trump is set to be arraigned in federal court in Miami on Tuesday at 3 p.m. ET, sources said.
In a statement on social media, Trump wrote Thursday he had been told of the indictment and insisted the case was a “hoax.”
He has repeatedly denied wrongdoing.
Trump wrote he is “INNOCENT” and it was a “DARK DAY” for the U.S.
Trump also claimed he is innocent in a video posted to Truth Social, saying: “I am innocent. We will prove that very, very soundly and hopefully very quickly. Thank you very much.”
Spokespeople for the Justice Department and special counsel Jack Smith’s office declined to comment on Trump’s statement.
The unprecedented federal indictment of a former president — who already faces a criminal case in New York City that he denies and who is the current front-runner for the Republican Party’s nomination for the White House in 2024 — further underlines what are potentially the most consequential prosecutions in U.S. history, with both global and domestic implications.
Experts say a current U.S. government criminally prosecuting its former leader and current leading opposition party candidate upends long-held norms and could test the nation’s democratic system in a manner that stretches far beyond the merits of the case itself.
The federal probe has been led by Smith, who was tapped by Attorney General Merrick Garland in November to oversee the Department of Justice’s investigation into Trump’s handling of classified documents when his presidency ended.
Smith is also overseeing the investigation into Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.
Central to Smith’s efforts in the classified documents probe is determining whether lawyers who represented the former president falsely certified in response to a grand jury subpoena that Trump had returned all classified records to the government, or whether Trump himself sought to conceal records he might have unlawfully retained.
As ABC News previously reported, prosecutors in the special counsel’s office have presented compelling preliminary evidence that Trump knowingly and deliberately misled his own attorneys about his retention of classified material after leaving office in early 2021, according to sources who described the contents of a sealed filing from a top federal judge.
In early 2022, sources told ABC News, National Archives officials asked the Justice Department to investigate Trump’s handling of White House records after the National Archives in January retrieved 15 boxes of records from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida that had been improperly taken in violation of the Presidential Records Act.
The DOJ probe hit a critical point on Aug. 8, 2022, when Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida was searched by FBI agents.
Federal investigators seized more than 100 documents with classified markings during the search, according to an unsealed detailed inventory list. From Trump’s office alone, there were 43 empty folders seized with classified banners.
The property inventory list also showed that agents gathered more than 11,000 documents or photographs without classification markings, all of which were described as property of the U.S. government.
Since the August search, Trump and his legal team have found additional classified documents and have received additional subpoenas for information the government believes could still be in Trump’s possession.
The former president, who in April pleaded not guilty to unrelated criminal charges that he falsified business records in connection with a hush money payment made in the days before the 2016 election, has said he will stay in the 2024 presidential race despite any indictments.
In addition to Smith’s probes, Trump is also under investigation in Georgia over his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election in that state.
ABC News’ John Santucci and Alexander Mallin contributed to this report.
(WASHINGTON) — Former President Donald Trump has been indicted on federal charges in an investigation into his handling of classified documents, sources familiar with the matter told ABC News.
The indictment of Trump, who has repeatedly denied any allegations of impropriety, is unprecedented for a former president.
The indictment comes after more than 100 documents with classified markings were found at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in August 2022.
Here’s how the news is developing. All times Eastern.
Jun 08, 9:19 PM EDT
What 2nd Trump indictment could mean for GOP White House race: Analysis
With former President Donald Trump now facing a second indictment, this time on federal charges, according to sources, it’s a turn of events that could shake up the Republican primary field as Trump makes a third run for the White House.
The aftermath of Trump’s first indictment in New York connection to an alleged hush money scheme could be an indication of what is to come. Before his first indictment, Trump pledged to continue on with his presidential bid despite charges and even argued that cases could give his campaign a boost. Trump wasn’t wrong.
In fact, he still outpaces his GOP rivals in recent polling.
Another boon to his campaign, the fact that Republicans by and large rallied around him after his first indictment — even most of those challenging him in the Republican presidential primary.
But the field of candidates is more crowded now, comprised of more candidates willing to clearly criticize Trump.
-ABC News’ Averi Harper
Jun 08, 9:07 PM EDT
Federal indictment expected to be ‘speaking indictment’: Sources
The federal indictment against former President Donald Trump is expected to be a “speaking indictment” that will lay out chapter and verse the government’s case to the public, according to sources.
-ABC News’ Ivan Pereira
Jun 08, 8:56 PM EDT
Trump team anticipated indictment for several days: Sources
Former President Donald Trump’s team has been anticipating a federal indictment for the past several days, sources said.
Sources said his team is already planning a trip down to Miami and is thinking of holding a campaign event around this indictment.
-ABC News’ John Santucci
Jun 08, 8:49 PM EDT
DOJ, White House decline to comment
Spokespeople for the Justice Department and Special Counsel Jack Smith’s office declined to comment Thursday evening on Trump’s announcement he was informed of his indictment.
White House Spokesperson Ian Sams also declined to comment on Trump saying his attorneys have been informed he has been indicted in the classified documents investigation.
Sams referred ABC News to the DOJ, which he said “conducts its criminal investigations independently.”
-ABC News’ Molly Nagle and Alexander Mallin
Jun 08, 8:37 PM EDT
Trump charged in ‘rocket docket’ court — and why that could matter
Former President Donald Trump will face charges in the Southern District of Florida, a venue whose reputation for swift proceedings has earned it “rocket docket” status — a colloquialism that reflects its strict adherence to the speedy trial clock.
Walter Norkin, a former federal prosecutor in the Southern District of Florida, explains why that might be notable.
“The Southern District of Florida is one of the few districts in the country that operates under a ‘rocket docket’ and, in distinction from the District of Columbia, you can expect a criminal case to be resolved within six months of an indictment issuing,” Norkin told ABC News. “The judges in the Southern District of Florida adhere very strictly to the Speedy Trial clock, which, with limited exceptions, requires trial or conviction to occur within 70 days.”
As a strategic matter, according to Norkin, the special counsel may have chosen this particular venue as a means to circumvent that inclination as prosecutors face the prospect of “certain policy considerations that take effect as an election nears.”
“To the extent a defense strategy would be to delay trial,” Norkin continued, “they will have a heavier burden executing that plan in Southern District of Florida than they would in another district.”
-ABC News’ Lucien Bruggeman
Jun 08, 8:19 PM EDT
What an indictment means for Trump’s presidential bid
Former President Donald Trump can still be elected president again — even if he is convicted — experts tell ABC News.
But there are practical reasons that could make it a challenge, the experts told ABC News after Trump was indicted by a Manhattan grand jury in March.
Jun 08, 8:12 PM EDT
Who is special counsel Jack Smith?
Attorney General Merrick Garland tapped Jack Smith in November 2022 as special counsel to oversee the DOJ’s investigation into former President Donald Trump’s handling of classified materials after leaving office.
Former colleagues have characterized Smith, a longtime federal prosecutor and former head of the Justice Department’s public integrity section, as an aggressive prosecutor who would not shy away from taking on difficult prosecutorial judgments, with the background and temperament that make him a strong selection for the high-profile role.
Jun 08, 7:57 PM EDT
What to expect at Tuesday’s arraignment
When the former president arrives at Miami federal court on Tuesday, it will mark an extraordinary moment for the country: Trump will be formally placed under arrest by the very government he was once elected to lead.
Once he is arrested, Trump will be booked and processed as a federal defendant and then appear before a judge for an arraignment.
Trump, or one of his attorneys, will enter a not guilty plea, touching off the prosecution of the former president.
The courthouse has spent the last several days preparing for Trump’s arrival, but there is no outward sign Thursday night that he is days away from appearing.
Prior to news of the indictment, members of the special counsel’s team were seen going into and out of court and the room where a grand jury has been hearing evidence.
-ABC News’ Aaron Katersky
Jun 08, 7:51 PM EDT
Trump calls investigation a ‘hoax’
Former President Donald Trump posted on his social network Truth Social Thursday evening that his lawyers have been informed he’s been indicted.
He called the investigation a “hoax” and said he’s an “innocent man.”
Trump said he has been summoned to appear at the Miami federal courthouse on Tuesday.
Trump’s campaign sent out a fundraising email following news of the indictment.
(NEW YORK) — Wildfire smoke from Canada has clouded much of the Northeast, leaving millions of Americans exposed to unhealthy levels of particulate matter.
Here’s what you need to know on the dangers of wildfire smoke and why it is so toxic to your health.
What is considered a dangerous air quality level?
Air quality is measured by the Environmental Protection Agency’s air quality index (AQI), which ranges from 0 to 500. A higher level indicates a greater level of pollution and health concern.
Levels under 100 are generally considered safe. Unhealthy levels range from 101 to 300, where more sensitive groups may experience symptoms at lower levels. The EPA provides an interactive map to track air quality in your specific area.
In New York City, levels hit over 400 in some parts this week. A value over 300 is considered hazardous, where everyone is likely to be affected from the poor breathing conditions.
Some hospitals have already seen patients suffering from the poor air.
“We’ve seen a mild increase in the number of patients presenting specifically with what we suspect is related to the environment, which include things like coughs, wheezing, shortness of breath and even headaches,” Dr. Frederick Davis, vice chair of emergency medicine at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in Queens, New York, told ABC News.
What are the dangers of inhaling wildfire smoke?
Particulate matter (PM) is made up of tiny pieces of solid or liquid in the air including dust, dirt, soot and smoke, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Inhaled particles are typically categorized into two groups: PM10 and PM2.5 – the number representing the size across the particle in micrometers.
These particles are invisible to the human eye. The diameter of a human hair is almost 30 times larger than one of these smaller particles.
While larger particles may irritate your eyes, nose and throat, smaller particles pose an even greater threat. They can seep deep into your lungs or even your blood and cause long-term damage.
“The smaller particles are the dangerous ones. They can cause asthma. They can cause you to have not as good immune responses. You can get more colds, for example, you get more asthma,” Dr. Kari Nadeau, a professor at Harvard in the School of Public Health and chair of the Environmental Health Department, told ABC News.
“If you’re elderly, you can get more strokes and heart attacks. Over time, it can lead to increased cancer,” she added.
In fact, Nadeau estimates an AQI of 150 is equivalent to smoking an estimated seven cigarettes a day for someone spending the majority of their time outdoors.
“We try to do the cigarette equivalent, but most likely the wildfire smoke is much more toxic than a cigarette,” Nadeau said.
Who is most at risk?
Those who have lung diseases like COPD or asthma as well as those suffering from heart disease are at highest risk from wildfire smoke.
Children and older adults are also more likely to be affected.
“Those that are most at risk are those that have underlying chronic pulmonary issues … others include those of the extremes of age so those who are very old, very young, particularly because of underdeveloped lungs or lungs that are older that maybe can’t handle as much of the debris as we’re seeing in the air,” Davis said.
Exposure to wildfire smoke may lead to physical changes during pregnancy and expectant mothers may be at risk of preterm birth or babies with a low-birth weight.
What are the symptoms to look out for?
While those who are more sensitive may be at-risk for severe symptoms, anyone can get sick from wildfire smoke.
Some of the immediate effects include coughing, trouble breathing, a scratchy throat and chest pain, according to the CDC.
Officials are warning residents to stay indoors as much as possible, use a well-fitting N-95 mask when heading outside and try using an air filter at home if available.
(WASHINGTON) — The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that Alabama’s congressional maps violate the Voting Rights Act, the landmark law designed to protect against racial discrimination in voting.
In a 5-4 decision by Chief Justice John Roberts, joined by Justice Brett Kavanaugh and the liberal justices, the court upheld a lower court ruling that said Alabama’s Republican legislature had to redraw its maps to include a second majority-Black district.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Srini Alaparthi (R) speaks with ABC News while sitting next to lawyer Ricky Patel. — ABC News
(NEW YORK) — It’s been a year since one family’s dream trip quickly turned into a nightmare, when a woman was killed and two children were injured while parasailing on vacation. Now, the woman’s husband is speaking out for the first time with the hope of warning other families to stay safe ahead of summer vacation.
“She kept everything together and she’s always having a smile on her face,” Srinivasrao Alaparthi told Good Morning America of his late wife in an exclusive interview.
On May 30, 2022, Alaparthi’s wife, Supraja Alaparthi, 33, was killed and their young son and nephew were severely injured after the three went parasailing while vacationing in the Florida Keys. During the ride, the weather quickly deteriorated, “pegging” the parasail in a strong wind where it is controlled by the wind and not the speed of the boat, according to a Monroe County Sheriff’s Office incident report that was previously reported by ABC News.
Alaparthi claimed that the boat’s crew could not reel in the parasail because of the weather and alleged that the captain decided to cut the towline with the three passengers still on the parasail. The passengers then dropped to the water and were dragged by the inflated parasail across the water until they collided into a bridge.
“Whatever he was doing, it was concerning for all of us. I didn’t exactly see when he cut the rope,” said Alaparthi. “[It was a] terrifying and horrible moment.”
“Sri is holding the captain’s leg, begging him to please go out there and save them. And he goes ahead and tells ’em, ‘Don’t worry, the bridge will help,” Ricky Patel, an attorney for Alaparthi and his family, told GMA.
The boat’s captain, Daniel Couch, was charged with manslaughter and multiple boating violations last September. He has pleaded not guilty.
Alaparthi’s family has since filed a lawsuit against Couch, Couch’s colleague, the boat company and the marina. The suit alleges the company and marina did not check weather reports, which should have prevented them from sailing. It also claims they failed to provide enough safety equipment, including life jackets on board, and didn’t properly bring the parasail down after losing control.
“There were so many opportunities for them to stop this from happening but yet, there’s failure, after failure, after failure,” said Pedro Echarte, another attorney for Alaparthi and his family.
Echarte said it’s important to not rely on websites alone to book vacation activities and to be sure to know their policies, procedures, and safety equipment.
“Don’t rely upon the signage. Don’t rely upon the websites. Ask questions. ‘What are your policies? What are your procedures? What type of safety equipment you have?’ If it doesn’t smell right, if it doesn’t seem right, don’t go,” said Echarte.
ABC News reached out to the boat company, the marina, and Couch, but has not received comment at this time.
A year later, Alaparthi said that his only wish is that an incident like this never happens to another family and that the lawsuit can help bring about change within the parasailing industry as a whole.
“Having fun is not worth the cost of life. There should be enough safety measures,” he said. “Otherwise, they will end up in a miserable situation.”
ABC News’ Meredith Deliso and Will Gretsky contributed to this story.
(NEW YORK) — Joran van der Sloot, the main suspect in the unsolved 2005 disappearance of American teenager Natalee Holloway, is en route to the United States to face extortion and wire fraud charges, according to Peruvian Interpol.
The Dutch citizen was handed over to the FBI on Thursday morning in Peru, where he had been serving a 28-year sentence for the 2010 murder of 21-year-old Stephany Flores.
Van der Sloot’s plane took off for the U.S. around 8:15 a.m. local time from a military base in Lima.
In the U.S., van der Sloot faces federal extortion and wire fraud charges stemming from an accusation that he tried to profit from his connection to the Holloway case.
Holloway, 18, went missing in May 2005 on a high school graduation trip in Aruba. She was last seen with a group of young men, including van der Sloot, then 17.
Van der Sloot, who was detained as a suspect in Holloway’s disappearance and later released, was indicted by an Alabama federal grand jury in 2010 for allegedly trying to extort Holloway’s family.
Federal prosecutors alleged that in March 2010 van der Sloot contacted Holloway’s mom, Beth Holloway, through her lawyer and claimed he would reveal the location of the teen’s body in exchange for $250,000, with $25,000 paid upfront. During a recorded sting operation, Beth Holloway’s attorney, John Q. Kelly, met with van der Sloot at an Aruba hotel, giving him $10,000 in cash as Beth Holloway wired $15,000 to van der Sloot’s bank account, according to prosecutors.
Then, van der Sloot allegedly changed his story about the night he was with Natalee Holloway, prosecutors said. Van der Sloot claimed he had picked Natalee Holloway up, but she demanded to be put down, so he threw her to the ground. Van der Sloot said her head hit a rock and he claimed she died instantly from the impact, according to prosecutors.
Van der Sloot then took Kelly to a house and claimed that his father, who had since died, buried Natalee Holloway in the building’s foundation, prosecutors said.
Kelly later emailed van der Sloot, saying the information he had provided was “worthless,” according to prosecutors. Within days, van der Sloot left Aruba for Peru.
(NEW YORK) — Hazy and dangerous fumes from ongoing wildfires in Canada have engulfed the skies over much of the East Coast, prompting serious air quality alerts in at least 20 states from Missouri to Massachusetts.
Canadian officials said firefighters are scrambling to put out the blazes. So far this wildfire season, Canada has seen more than 8.7 million acres burned — an area larger than the state of Vermont.
Here’s how the news is developing. All times Eastern:
Jun 08, 9:00 AM EDT
LaGuardia, Philadelphia-bound flights paused from Northeast, Ohio, Mid-Atlantic
Flights from the Northeast, Ohio and the Mid-Atlantic bound for the Philadelphia International Airport and New York City’s LaGuardia Airport have been paused due to the smoke, the Federal Aviation Administration said Thursday morning.
The FAA cautioned, “We will likely need to take steps to manage the flow of traffic safely into New York City, DC, Philadelphia and Charlotte.”
Jun 08, 8:34 AM EDT
Latest forecast
Waves of smoke will continue to move south Thursday from New York City to Philadelphia to Washington, D.C.
By Friday morning the AQI levels will drop for New York City. Smaller smoke plumes will linger from Detroit to Pittsburgh to D.C.
By Saturday and Sunday, the winds will begin to switch and blow smoke away from the U.S.
Jun 08, 6:56 AM EDT
Some NY, NJ school districts modify schedules
Some school districts in New Jersey and New York announced closures or updated schedules for Thursday amid the heavy smoke in the area.
In New York, school has been cancelled in the Freeport, Long Beach and Yonkers districts, according to ABC News affiliate WABC-TV.
In New Jersey, school has been cancelled in the Newark, Elizabeth, Union and Orange districts, WABC reported.
Officials at Elizabeth Public Schools said they’d attempted to continue a normal schedule by holding indoor recess on Wednesday.
“As the day advanced and the air quality worsened, we consulted with both health officials who updated their recommendation to close school buildings tomorrow, Thursday, June 8,” Superintendent Olga Hugelmeyer said in a letter to parents.
Jun 08, 5:57 AM EDT
A million N95 masks to be made available Thursday in New York
One million N95 masks will be made available for people at state sites in New York on Thursday, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Wednesday.
Officials will distribute 400,000 masks at MTA stations, the Port Authority Bus Terminal, state parks and the Javits Center, Hochul said. About 600,000 masks will be available from the state’s Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Services, the governor said.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Wednesday visited New York City Housing Authority residents to deliver masks, according to his office, which released photos and a short video on Twitter.
Jun 07, 10:56 PM EDT
Biden speaks to Trudeau about wildfires: White House
President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke Wednesday about the wildfires in Canada, the White House said.
Biden offered additional assistance and also discussed the health impact of the fires, according to the White House.
“To date, the United States has deployed more than 600 U.S. firefighters and support personnel, and other firefighting assets to respond to the fires,” the White House said in a statement.
Trudeau also tweeted that “hundreds” of American firefighters have arrived in Canada, “and more are on the way.”
Jun 07, 9:27 PM EDT Hamilton and other Broadway shows canceled over health concerns
A number of shows on Broadway were canceled over health concerns of the actors, in the wake of the wildfire smoke blanketing NYC.
Shakespeare in the Park, which is performed outside, was canceled, as well as Hamilton and Camelot.
Jun 07, 8:14 PM EDT
New York City’s ‘smoke wave’ response time for warnings criticized
As New York City was bombarded with dangerous air and smoke that turned the skyline orange, some residents and environmental experts questioned if the city’s leader acted quickly enough to warn people about the dangers of the “smoke wave.”
The city’s Office of Emergency Management issued warnings on its social media pages and city alert system starting Tuesday afternoon and Mayor Eric Adams put out a news release about the dangerous air quality around 11:30 p.m.
Some environmentalists said the late notice was unacceptable given that the city’s environment was already showing poor visibility and unhealthy air earlier in the morning.
Click here to learn more.
-ABC News’ Ivan Pereira
Jun 07, 7:21 PM EDT
When to expect air quality to improve in the US amid Canadian wildfires
The wind conditions that are bringing plumes of smoke south are expected to last for several more days, experts say, as some fires in Canada continue to burn out of control.
The smoke is primarily from several wildfires burning in Quebec that is being blown south in a narrow band by an intense storm system around Nova Scotia that has not moved in several days, according to Mark Wysocki, an air pollution meteorologist who teaches at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.
-ABC News’ Meredith Deliso
Jun 07, 7:01 PM EDT
What to know about the Air Quality Index from wildfire smoke and how it affects human health
Wildfire smoke contains fine particulate matter, known as PM2.5, which are microscopic solid or liquid droplets — often 30 times smaller than the diameter of a human hair — that can be inhaled and cause serious health problems, according to the EPA.
PM2.5 is considered unhealthy for “Code Orange” and sensitive groups once the Air Quality Index surpasses 100, according to AirNow, a website that publishes air quality data. Once the AQI surpasses 150, it is considered “Code Red,” unhealthy for some members of the general public who may experience health effects, with sensitive groups experiencing more severe effects.
-ABC News’ Julia Jacobo
Jun 07, 6:44 PM EDT
NYC air quality deteriorates to new record level: Mayor
New York City Mayor Eric Adams updated residents on the current situation with the dangerous air quality due to the Canadian wildfires.
He said the city’s Air Quality Index, or AQI, hit 484, the highest level on record, on Wednesday afternoon. Anything above 300 is considered hazardous, according to Zachary Iscol, the commissioner for the city’s Office of Emergency Management.
“Tomorrow things may improve but an AQI over 150 is still considered dangerous,” he told reporters.
Adams said all outdoor events in the city were canceled Thursday and urged private groups to do the same.
A person wears a face mask as smoke from Canadian wildfires blankets New York, June 7, 2023.
“The best thing is that [people] remain indoors,” the mayor said.
He reiterated advisories to close windows and to wear a mask if anyone has to travel outside.
Schools were already planned to be closed Thursday, and no decision has been made about the rest of the week, according to the mayor.
Adams said the current forecast shows the situation should improve at the end of the week but warned that the situation can change.
“It is difficult to predict the movement of the smoke,” he said.
Jun 07, 6:31 PM EDT
New York to distribute 1 million N95 masks Thursday, governor says
One million N95 masks will be made available for people at state sites in New York on Thursday, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Wednesday.
Officials will distribute 400,000 masks at MTA stations, the Port Authority Bus Terminal, state parks and the Javits Center, Hochul said.
Approximately 600,000 masks will be available from NYS Div. of Homeland Security & Emergency Services, the governor said.
Hochul has urged New Yorkers to stay inside due to smoke from the Canadian wildfires.
Jun 07, 4:35 PM EDT
MLB games postponed in NYC, Philadelphia
The MLB has postponed Wednesday night’s games between the White Sox and the Yankees, set to take place in New York City, and between the Tigers and Phillies, set for Philadelphia.
The Phillies-Tigers game was moved to Thursday and the Yankees and White Sox will play a doubleheader on Thursday.
The WNBA said Wednesday night’s game between the Minnesota Lynx and New York Liberty, which was to take place in New York City, has been postponed due to the air quality.
Jun 07, 4:13 PM EDT
The forecast
More smoke is expected in the Northeast for the next few days.
The thickest smoke will drift south Wednesday afternoon and is forecast to envelop Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D.C., Wednesday night and Thursday. These cities may see AQI levels reach the most severe “hazardous” level over the next 24 hours.
On Thursday afternoon, another round of smoke is expected to move over Lake Superior and into Cleveland, Ohio; Erie, Pennsylvania; and Buffalo, New York.
-ABC News’ Dan Amarante
Jun 07, 3:55 PM EDT
Why the poor air quality could cause a host of symptoms — even in healthy people
Exposure to concentrated amounts of fine particulate matter can cause both short-term effects such as irritation of the eyes, nose and throat; coughing, sneezing; and shortness of breath, and long-term effects such as worsening asthma and heart disease, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Fine particles are able to enter the body through the eyes and lungs. Not everyone feels the same symptoms, and the pollution can exacerbate existing health issues, such as asthma and allergies, Peter DeCarlo, associate professor of environmental health and engineering, told ABC News.
Click here to learn more.
-ABC News’ Julia Jacobo
Jun 07, 2:55 PM EDT
New York City tops list of world’s worst air quality rankings
New York City is topping the list of the world’s worst air quality rankings by a landslide, according to IQ Air, which monitors air quality worldwide.
New York City reached 392 on the AQI Wednesday afternoon, which is in the worst category — hazardous — on the U.S. government’s air quality tracker. Wednesday shattered New York City’s record for the highest AQI since records began in 1999.
Dubai and Delhi came in at No. 2 and No. 3 in the world with 168 and 164, respectively.
Jun 07, 3:34 PM EDT
New Jersey closes state offices early
New Jersey’s state offices closed early Wednesday as the air conditions worsened, Gov. Phil Murphy announced.
The governor has urged residents to limit their time outside.
Jun 07, 2:11 PM EDT
NY issues another Air Quality Health Advisory for Thursday
New York state officials have issued another Air Quality Health Advisory for Thursday for the entire state with the exception of the Adirondacks.
Jun 07, 1:47 PM EDT
How to stay safe from wildfire smoke
The most effective way to protect yourself during wildfire emergencies is to stay indoors or limit time outdoors when there is smoke in the air, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This is especially important for those with heart or lung conditions who are at higher risk for adverse health effects.
If you can, try to avoid exercising outdoors until the air quality improves, especially those with underlying lung disease.
“People with asthma and people who already have lung disease or underlying lung problems, it can exacerbate that, it can irritate that. And if the air quality is bad enough, it can even cause some symptoms of feeling unwell and respiratory symptoms in people who are healthy,” said Dr. Stephanie Widmer, a member of ABC News’ Medical Unit.
Pregnant people should also try to avoid spending time outdoors, especially those who are further along, Widmer said.
You should wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth, fits tightly to your face and can filter out smoke or ash particles before you breathe them in, according to the CDC. N95 or P100 masks can help protect your lungs from smoke or ash.
-ABC News’ Nadine El-Bawab and Youri Benadjaoud
Jun 07, 1:06 PM EDT
FAA slows NYC air traffic due to low visibility
Due to low visibility, the Federal Aviation Administration has slowed flight traffic in and out of New Jersey’s Newark Liberty International Airport and New York City’s LaGuardia Airport.
A ground stop is in effect at LaGuardia, meaning some flights are being held at their origin airport to ease congestion.
The average delay at Newark is about 84 minutes.
-ABC News’ Sam Sweeney
Jun 07, 11:32 AM EDT
Worst air quality yet may be headed to NYC
The worst air in the U.S. Wednesday morning is in upstate New York from Syracuse to Binghamton, where the air quality has reached the worst level — “hazardous.”
That air will move toward New York City and Philadelphia on Wednesday afternoon and evening.
Tuesday brought the worst air quality to New York City since the 1960s, officials said, with New York City Mayor Eric Adams calling it an “unprecedented event.”
The mayor urged New Yorkers to avoid going outside if they can.
Adams warned Wednesday, “Air quality conditions are anticipated to temporarily improve later tonight through tomorrow morning, but they are expected to deteriorate further tomorrow afternoon and evening.”
-ABC News’ Max Golembo
Jun 07, 10:19 AM EDT
Poor air quality will last into weekend for Toronto
In Toronto, the poor air quality will last into the weekend, officials warned Wednesday.
“Air quality and visibility due to wildfire smoke can fluctuate over short distances and can vary considerably from hour to hour,” officials said in a “Special Air Quality Statement.” “Wildfire smoke can be harmful to everyone’s health even at low concentrations. Continue to take actions to protect your health and reduce exposure to smoke.”
Jun 07, 9:32 AM EDT
NYC, DC public schools cancel all outdoor activities
Washington, D.C., public schools have canceled all outdoor activities, including athletic games, for Wednesday due to the poor air quality.
A “Code RED Air Quality Alert” has been issued for the nation’s capital.
New York City public schools also canceled outdoor activities.
“We urge everyone to reduce prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors,” NYC Public Schools tweeted.
Jun 07, 8:22 AM EDT
Long Island school district keeping students inside
In Port Washington, New York, on Long Island, the superintendent announced Wednesday that all students will stay inside during physical education and recess.
“This decision is aimed at minimizing exposure to the poor air quality and ensuring a safe learning environment for everyone,” the superintendent said.
Jun 07, 6:37 AM EDT
Air quality alerts issued for 13 states
Most of New England and much of the East Coast were under air quality alerts on Wednesday, with smoke from Canadian wildfires expected to reach as far south as South Carolina.
A new dose of very thick smoke was expected to drift into New York City and Philadelphia by Wednesday afternoon, lasting into the evening.
That smoke is then expected to move south into Washington, D.C., on Wednesday night and into Thursday morning.
Conditions around New York City and in the I-95 corridor could improve Thursday evening, but get worse in western New York, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, as the winds shift.
Jun 07, 12:49 AM EDT
NYC mayor says air quality expected to ‘deteriorate further’ Wednesday
The air quality in New York City worsened Tuesday evening and is expected to “deteriorate further” Wednesday afternoon and evening, New York City Mayor Eric Adams said in a statement.
“At this point, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has issued an Air Quality Health Advisory for all five boroughs. While conditions are anticipated to temporarily improve later tonight through tomorrow morning, they are expected to deteriorate further tomorrow afternoon and evening,” Adams said.
“Currently, we are taking precautions out of an abundance of caution to protect New Yorkers’ health until we are able to get a better sense of future air quality reports,” he said.
Adams said students should still go to school on Wednesday, but New York City public schools won’t have outdoor activities.
“These recommendations may change based on updated air quality conditions that come in, but, in the meantime, we recommend all New Yorkers to take the precautions they see fit to protect their health,” he added.
Jun 06, 10:09 PM EDT
Smoke from wildfires visible over Yankee Stadium
Smoke from wildfires from Canada was visible on Tuesday night over Yankee Stadium in The Bronx, as the Yankees played the White Sox, video obtained by ABC News shows.
Wildfires burning in Canada are continuing to create poor air quality conditions in parts of the U.S., with smoke clearly visible during Tuesday night’s Yankees-White Sox game in The Bronx. https://t.co/yhKArhnaNtpic.twitter.com/Np8mJyVKCa
Jun 06, 10:01 PM EDT
New York City currently has the worst air quality in the world, data shows
New York City currently has the worst air quality than any other city on Earth, as smoke stemming from wildfires in Canada makes its way across the Northeast, according to the latest data from Swiss technology company IQAir.
The air quality index in NYC is at 196 as of Tuesday evening, followed by Doha, Qatar, and Delhi, India.
The next U.S. city on the list is Detroit, which currently places eighth, according to IQAir. Toronto, Canada, sat in ninth place as of Tuesday night.
Jun 06, 11:00 PM EDT
Who is at most risk from unhealthy air
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has specific guidance for vulnerable groups if the air quality in their area is deemed “unhealthy.”
While the agency warns that all people will experience adverse side effects from exposure to the unhealthy air, it said those with heart or lung disease, pregnant people, children and the elderly are most sensitive.
Those groups should consider moving all of their activities indoors until the air quality alert is lifted, the EPA said.
Jun 06, 11:02 PM EDT
Northeast covered in haze as forecasters warn of more smoke to come
Millions of people in New York City and other locations in the Northeast scrambled to keep themselves free of the smoky air throughout the day and evening Tuesday.
The city’s skyline was barely visible for most parts of the day, and the smell of the smoke was strong as commuters hit the evening rush.
Large cities with the lowest air quality include New York City; Albany, New York and Cincinnati, a map by Airnow, a website that publishes air quality data, shows.
Another large and dense plume of smoke will be moving down across parts of the Northeast on Wednesday, according to forecasters.
That batch of very dense smoke will push down across the Northeast throughout the day on Wednesday, giving some relief to New England and the Midwest.
(WASHINGTON) — The powerful House Oversight Committee is in the “early stages” of preparing a hearing on UFOs in the wake of unconfirmed claims from a former intelligence official that the U.S. has allegedly found crashed alien spacecraft — an account the Pentagon says is unsubstantiated.
Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., was first asked about these claims by a NewsNation reporter on Tuesday and said, “I’ve heard about it, I don’t know anything about it. … We plan on having a hearing.”
In a subsequent statement to ABC News on Wednesday, Oversight Committee spokesman Austin Hacker said: “In addition to recent claims by a whistleblower, reports continue to surface regarding unidentified anomalous phenomena. The House Oversight Committee is following these UAP reports and is in the early stages of planning a hearing.”
Republican Reps. Anna Paulina Luna and Tim Burchett confirmed on Twitter that they will lead the committee’s investigation into UFOs, officially referred to as unidentified anomalous phenomena or UAPs.
A spokesperson for the Pentagon said that the Department of Defense’s UAP task force, reorganized since 2022 as the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), “has not discovered any verifiable information to substantiate” the claims about crashed alien craft.
“To date, AARO has not discovered any verifiable information to substantiate claims that any programs regarding the possession or reverse-engineering of extraterrestrial materials have existed in the past or exist currently,” Pentagon spokesperson Sue Gough told ABC News on Monday night.
The former intelligence official, David Grusch, had alleged on Monday that the U.S. government has a covert program focused on recovering debris from crashed, non-human origin spacecraft and is attempting to reverse-engineer the technology, the online tech outlet The Debrief reported.
There has been no public confirmation of Grusch’s account, and a leading House Republican, intelligence chairman Mike Turner, also expressed skepticism about the idea that the U.S. government has recovered alien spacecraft.
Grusch has said he gave evidence of such a program to Congress and the Office of the Inspector General for the Intelligence Community, according to The Debrief.
Grusch said that for a little more than six months, until July 2022, he was assigned to a UAP task force that was a predecessor of AARO. He acknowledged to The Debrief that his task force did not have access to the alleged program related to crashed spacecraft but said he became aware of it through his work.
“Every decade there’s been individuals who’ve said the United States has such pieces of unidentified flying objects that are from outer space,” Rep. Turner of Ohio said when asked on Fox News about Grusch’s claims. “There’s no evidence of this and certainly it would be quite a conspiracy for this to be maintained, especially at this level.”
In an April hearing, Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick, the director of AARO, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that his agency was reviewing 650 incidents dating back decades but “found no credible evidence thus far of extraterrestrial activity, off-world technology, or objects that defy the known laws of physics.”
Last week, Kirkpatrick said that the total number of incidents had grown to “well over 800 cases.”
“The majority of unidentified objects reported to AARO demonstrate mundane characteristics of balloons, unmanned aerial systems, clutter, natural phenomena, or other readily explainable sources,” Kirkpatrick told lawmakers in April.
