(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) — The six victims of a fatal shooting at a private school in Nashville, Tennessee, have been identified by law enforcement officials.
Three children and three staff members were killed at the Covenant School, a Christian school for students in preschool through sixth grade, on Monday morning.
The Metro Nashville Police Department identified the victims as Evelyn Dieckhaus, 9; Hallie Scruggs, 9; William Kinney, 9; Cynthia Peak, 61; Katherine Koonce, 60, and Mike Hill, 61.
Here’s what we know about the victims so far:
Katherine Koonce, 60
Koonce was the head of the Covenant School, according to police.
Cynthia Peak, 61
Peak was a substitute teacher, according to investigators.
Mike Hill, 61
Hill was a custodian, investigators said.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
(SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY, Calif.) — A train carrying raw material derailed in California on Monday, according to San Bernardino County fire officials. There were no passengers on the Union Pacific train, but multiple cars containing iron ore derailed, officials said.
According to Union Pacific officials, 55 train cars, including two locomotives, derailed at 8:30 a.m., local time.
One locomotive suffered a minor leak, which is being investigated by hazmat officials, county fire officials said.
There were no injuries and no active fires, as well as no threat to the public or the environment, San Bernardino County Fire tweeted.
In a statement to ABC News, Union Pacific confirmed that the derailed cars did have iron ore, which spilled, but that it isn’t hazardous and that there were no hazardous materials on the train.
“The crew was not in the cab at the time of the derailment and there was uncontrolled train movement,” Union Pacific said in a statement. “The crew was not injured.”
The derailment is currently being investigated, Union Pacific said.
The incident comes more than a month after a Norfolk Southern foreign train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, releasing vinyl chloride, ethyl acrylate and isobutylene into the environment.
Norfolk Southern officials had conducted a controlled burn of toxic chemicals from the train a few days after the derailment, which worried residents who expressed concerns they were exposed to high levels of the colorless gas vinyl chloride, which easily burns and is associated with an increased risk of several cancers, according to the National Cancer Institute.
Earlier this month, 28 cars of another Norfolk Southern train derailed near Springfield, Ohio, but no hazardous materials were involved, officials said.
The four empty tankers were previously carrying diesel exhaust fluid and an additive commonly used in wastewater treatment, according to Clark County, Ohio officials.
According to the United States Geological Survey, iron ore is important for steel production as it is the source of primary iron for steel and iron industries around the world.
In December, a Union Pacific freight train carrying iron ore derailed in Southern California, according to the Associated Press. There were no reported injuries.
ABC News’ Matthew Fuhrman contributed to this report.
(NEW YORK) — CVS Health Corp announced Monday it would be closing its acquisition of home health care services company Signify Health.
The deal, which was originally agreed upon in September 2022, allows retail pharmacy chain to acquire Signify for $30.50 per share for a total value of approximately $8 billion.
“We have nothing additional to share at this time; we’ll of course have more to say upon expected closure of the deal,” a spokesperson for CVS told ABC News.
By buying Signify, CVS will be among the first pharmacy chains in the U.S. to enter the at-home health care space after building its successful Minute Clinics.
Signify Health has thousands of employees including physicians, nurse practitioners and other clinicians which provide a “holistic suite of clinical, social, and behavioral services to address an individual’s healthcare needs and prevent adverse events that drive excess cost, all while shifting services towards the home,” the company said in a press release.
Here’s how the deal may affect services including COVID testing and abortion care.
COVID tests performed at home
While every American has been able to either buy at rapid at-home antigen tests at their local store or get them delivered to their doors, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests have been reserved for doctors’ offices, clinics and pharmacies.
PCR tests, which look for genetic material from the virus, are considered the “gold standard” when it comes to COVID-19 testing.
While less accurate than PCR tests, antigen tests are still considered quite accurate when used in people with symptoms of infection. The tests look for proteins on the surface of the virus and can deliver results in 15 minutes or less.
CVS has been offering PCR testing at its stores but, with Signify already having a system in place providing on-site COVID screening, clinicians may be able to perform such testing in people’s homes.
Abortion services
It’s not clear how the CVS acquisition will affect abortion pills, but at-home care could be provided.
In January, after a change in rules from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, both CVS and Walgreens announced plans to seek certification to distribute abortion pills where legally allowed.
Despite Walgreens saying it would not distribute mifepristone in 21 states after conservative attorneys general threatened legal action, CVS has not said it will be doing the same.
Even if CVS does follow in Walgreens’ footsteps, licensed physicians may be able to prescribe pills directly in a woman’s home in states where procedure is legal,.
Signify Health declined to comment to ABC News.
Expanding health care into rural areas
According to the American Hospital Association, there are just 1,805 rural hospitals in the U.S., the latest date for which data is available. It also represents a 59% decrease since 2019.
What’s more, a January report from the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform found that 631 rural hospitals — or roughly 30% — are at immediate risk or high risk of closing due to low financial reserves or being too dependent on certain forms of revenue such as state subsidies.
By comparison, CVS has more than 9,000 stores across the country.
The acquisition may allow the company to be able to reach traditionally underserved communities that live far away from metropolitan areas.
(WASHINGTON) — Rep. Dan Crenshaw and Sen. Tammy Duckworth are reflecting on their past military service in Iraq on the 20th anniversary of the U.S. invasion there.
Both lawmakers recently sat down with ABC “This Week” co-anchor Martha Raddatz for a segment that aired Sunday, looking back at the fighting and what they’ve learned.
Crenshaw, who lost an eye serving in Afghanistan but had previously deployed to Iraq, and Duckworth, a former helicopter pilot who lost both of her legs when her aircraft was hit with a rocket-propelled grenade, said they have no regrets over their service.
Though Duckworth, D-Ill., disagreed with the reasoning behind the invasion, she told Raddatz: “I was proud to go because it was my job as a soldier to obey all lawful orders. And this was a lawful order.”
“My sacrifice is for the Constitution of the United States, and that is always worth it,” Duckworth added.
Crenshaw, R-Texas, echoed those sentiments, saying the invasion of Iraq was “complicated” but that his service was “a time in my life that I don’t regret for a second, even with the missing eye.”
“I don’t want anyone to feel sorry for us. … I chose to do what I did,” he said.
In her interview with Raddatz, Duckworth recalled the emotional toll of being injured as a pilot, when she initially thought she had crashed her helicopter and caused harm to her crew until her family told her otherwise. “I’ve been fine ever since,” she said.
Crenshaw said that while the debate over invading Iraq — a protracted occupation that began on March 20, 2003, in part as a hunt for “weapons of mass destruction” that were never found — may never be reconciled, he thought American forces withdrew too soon, possibly creating a vacuum for the Islamic State to fill.
“All of these bad guys we were tracking, they’re always in Syria, always on the eastern side of Syria, right on the border. That was their safe haven. And it’s the equivalent of Pakistan for the Taliban in Afghanistan,” he said.
“Pretty obvious that it’s American presence that was keeping them there.”
Both Duckworth and Crenshaw said their experience taught them that more planning could help prevent yearslong interventions — or having to deploy the military in the first place.
“We better know what the parameters of the fight are going to be and what the end goal of the fight will be, so that we’re not stuck there for decades with no off ramp,” Duckworth said.
“War sucks, which is why you to try to prevent it,” Crenshaw said. “You don’t prevent it by waiting until the last minute to act.”
(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) — Three children and three staff members were shot and killed at a private school in Nashville, Tennessee, according to officials.
The shooting unfolded Monday morning at the Covenant School, a Christian school for students in preschool through sixth grade.
The female suspect, who appeared to be in her teens, was shot and killed by authorities in a lobby area on the second floor of the school, police said at a news conference.
No one who was shot survived, officials said.
The suspect entered the school through a side entrance and was armed with at least two assault-type rifles and a handgun, officials said. She has not yet been identified, police said.
Alex Apple told ABC News Live that his mother works at the school’s front desk. Apple said she was at her car when she got an alert saying to shelter in place.
“She got out of her car, heard the gunshots, so she fled,” he said.
The school has about 209 students and about 40 to 50 staff members, officials said.
First lady Jill Biden briefly addressed the shooting at the top of her remarks at the National League of Cities conference on Monday.
“I am truly without words. Our children deserve better,” she said.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee tweeted that he’s “closely monitoring the tragic situation.”
“Please join us in praying for the school, congregation & Nashville community,” Lee said.
(LOS ANGELES) — Taylor Swift fans will get their day in court on Monday, months after the botched release of tour tickets prompted widespread outcry.
A federal court in Los Angeles will hear arguments in a case brought by fans who allege that Live Nation — and subsidiary company Ticketmaster — violated antitrust and consumer protection laws.
The fall release of tickets for Swift’s “New Era” tour, her first in five years, prompted government scrutiny of antitrust laws, including a Senate hearing in January at which Live Nation president and Chief Financial Officer Joe Berchtold apologized for the fiasco.
The lawsuit, filed in December, claims that the 2010 merger of Live Nation and Ticketmaster illegally stamped out competition in live events ticketing, allowing the company to charge exorbitant prices for tickets.
In a court filing last month, Live Nation tried to end the court proceedings and force the dispute into private arbitration, claiming that ticket buyers had agreed on multiple occasions over the course of online shopping to resolve any claims through arbitration.
Live Nation and Ticketmaster did not immediately respond to ABC News’ request for comment.
“We are not going to just settle,” Julie Barfuss, a lead plaintiff, told ABC News’ Good Morning America. “We want to see some change.”
Fans of Swift are expected to hold a rally outside the courthouse on Monday.
Days after the tickets were released, in November, Swift spoke out about the difficulty faced by ticket purchasers.
“There are a multitude of reasons why people had such a hard time trying to get tickets and I’m trying to figure out how this situation can be improved going forward,” she said.
(NEW YORK) — Israel’s controversial judicial overhaul plan pushed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been delayed until the parliament’s next legislative session, according to the head of the far-right Jewish Power party.
“I agreed to remove the veto for the postponement of the legislation, in exchange for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s commitment that the legislation will be brought to the Knesset for approval in the next session, if no agreements are reached during the recess,” Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir said in a statement.
The Jewish Power party was critical in bringing Netanyahu back to power late last year.
Protesters had stormed Israel’s streets overnight, as thousands voiced their opposition to a controversial justice reform bill and the prime minister’s decision to fire the defense secretary who spoke out against it.
Netanyahu on Sunday unceremoniously dismissed Yoav Gallant a day after Gallant called for a halt to the planned overhaul of Israel’s judiciary that has fiercely divided the country. Military and business leaders have also spoken out against the plan.
Netanyahu’s office announced Gallant’s firing in a terse statement, saying “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has decided, this evening, to dismiss Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.” The prime minister’s office did not provide further details.
Gallant, a former army general, is a senior member of Netanyahu’s ruling Likud Party. On Saturday, he called for a pause in the controversial legislation until after next month’s Independence Day holiday, citing the threat to Israel’s national security.
After a night of protests, including police water cannons shot at demonstrators, thousands gathered on Monday morning outside the Knesset, where Israel’s parliament meets. Many more assembled in central Tel Aviv, where a massive rally had been planned.
Ronen Bar, the head of Israeli’s intelligence operations, arrived at Netanyahu’s home in Jerusalem just after midnight on Monday as protests continued outside.
Ben Gurion Airport, the country’s main international airport, halted all departures on Monday, as Histadrut, the country’s largest trade union, protested against the planned reforms. Arrivals will continue to land at the airport, although as many as 35,000 people were expected to have their travel disrupted.
Netanyahu crossed all the “red lines” on Sunday night, Histadrut’s leader, Arnon Bar-David, said in a statement posted to Facebook on Monday, according to a translation. He called for an “historic” strike to begin on Monday.
The strike action extended to hospitals, cafes and shopping centers, with many remaining closed on Monday morning. The country’s stock market was set to be closed on Tuesday.
Washington urged Israeli leaders to find a compromise, with National Security spokesperson Adrienne Watson saying in a statement that the White House was “deeply concerned by today’s developments out of Israel, which further underscore the urgent need for compromise.”
“As the president recently discussed with Prime Minister Netanyahu, democratic values have always been, and must remain, a hallmark of the U.S.-Israel relationship,” Watson said.
Protests have simmered in Israel for months, since the planned changes were rolled out in December. Under Netanyahu’s reforms, Knesset lawmakers would be able to override decisions made by the country’s supreme court, a change that’s seen by many as a move to consolidate power.
The prime minister and President Joe Biden discussed the changes on a March 19 phone call.
Biden at the time told Netanyahu that “democratic societies are strengthened by genuine checks and balances, and that fundamental changes should be pursued with the broadest possible base of popular support,” the White House said.
Two prominent Israeli lawmakers came out against Netanyahu’s judicial reforms as protests continued in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
Aryeh Deri, one of the founders of the Shas political party, called on Netanyahu to pause the judicial reforms early Monday morning, according to local media reports.
Miki Zohar, minister of Culture and Sports, said early Monday morning that while the “reform of the judicial system is necessary and essential … when the house is on fire, you don’t ask who is right,” according to a translation.
“If the prime minister decides to stop the legislation in order to prevent the rift created in the nation, we must support his position,” Zohar said.
ABC News’ Joe Simonetti, Edward Szekeres, Ellie Kaufman, Nasser Atta, Bruno Nota and Jordana Miller contributed to this report.
(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) — The Nashville Fire Department is reporting multiple patients from an “active aggressor” at a private school in Nashville, Tennessee, on Monday.
The Covenant School is a Christian school for students in preschool through sixth grade.
The fire department said it’s responding and described the school as “an active scene.”
Additional information was not immediately available.
(JERUSALEM) — Tens of thousands of people are marching in the streets in Israel on Monday, the latest day in a series of protests against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s planned judicial overhaul.
Here’s what you need to know about the deepening political crisis:
Why are people protesting in Israel?
Stores, restaurants and the biggest airport in Israel were closing their doors on Monday amid an escalation in protests that have kept the nation’s attention for weeks. Tens of thousands — perhaps hundreds of thousands — of people filled the streets in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and elsewhere. The country’s stock exchange is set to close on Tuesday as part of a strike.
The country’s biggest union, Histadrut, announced on Monday that it would begin a “historic” strike, with most of its 800,000 members stopping work in protest of Netanyahu’s reform plan.
Israelis are protesting against a judicial reform plan proposed by Netanyahu’s hardline nationalist government — a plan that some see as a consolidation of power, with parliament increasing its oversight of the court system.
Netanyahu on Monday called for protesters to “behave responsibly and not to act violently,” according to a translation of a statement he posted on Twitter.
“We are brotherly people,” he said.
Supporters of Netanyahu’s plan are also scheduled to counterprotest Monday night.
Netanyahu was meeting with Itamar Ben-Gvir, the minister of national security, and other politicians at the Knesset Monday afternoon but still has yet to make any public statements on the legislation.
What is the judicial overhaul in Israel?
After Netanyahu, a member of the conservative Likud Party, formed a right-wing coalition government in December 2022, he announced he would return to his role as Israel’s prime minister.
His government, which is said to be the most right-wing government in the country’s history, then announced it would introduce a measure countering what it saw as the growing influence of the judicial system.
The changes would allow lawmakers at the Knesset — Israel’s parliament — to override many decisions made by the country’s Supreme Court. It would also give ruling lawmakers more control over appointments to the high court. Opponents of the plan say it amounts to a power grab.
Some officials have said Netanyahu, who is currently on trial for charges including corruption and bribery, should bow out of the discussions over the reform, calling his participation a conflict of interest.
Netanyahu spoke on March 19 with President Joe Biden, who told him that “fundamental changes should be pursued with the broadest possible base of popular support,” according to a readout of the call from the White House.
In his conversation with Biden, Netanyahu said “that Israel was, and will remain, a strong and vibrant democracy,” according to a statement from his office.
Why did Netanyahu fire the country’s defense minister?
The biggest spark in the continuing protests was the firing of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Sunday.
On Saturday, Gallant had spoken out against the judicial overhaul.
“The events taking place in Israeli society do not spare the Israel Defense Forces — from all sides, feelings of anger, pain and disappointment arise, with an intensity I have never encountered before,” Gallant said in a televised address on Saturday after the end of the Jewish Sabbath. “I see how the source of our strength is being eroded.”
Gallant said that the national crisis over the judicial overhaul has created a “clear, immediate and tangible danger to the security of the state.”
Netanyahu’s office did not provide further details of the firing, but it signaled he doesn’t appear to be backing down from the judicial plan yet.
What happens next?
Several top lawmakers and Netanyahu allies called on Sunday and Monday for Netanyahu to postpone or suspend his plan. But the prime minister during months of public debate has not signaled his willingness to do so.
“In case you haven’t noticed, Israel is in the midst of a little thing on judicial reform,” Netanyahu said in a speech at the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations in February.
He said at the time that Israel is “a democray and will remain a democracy, with majority rule and proper safeguards of civil liberties.” Much of the conversation about the proposal as been “frankly reckless and dangerous,” he said at the time.
Parts of the overhaul could be enacted as early as this week.
The prime minister was meeting late Sunday with top officials at his home in Jerusalem, with thousands of protestors nearby. Observers said he may be considering whether to pause the changes.
