ABC World News Tonight with David Muir Full Broadcast - March 29, 2024

Tonight, the urgent mission to clean up the remains of the collapsed bridge in Baltimore, a record-breaking spring break trip over Easter weekend and tributes to actor Lewis Gossett Jr., first the non-stop effort to remove twisted steel of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. Maryland's governor now says an armada of cranes, tugboats and barges are on the way to assist in the massive recovery effort. One of the largest cranes on the East Coast is capable of lifting more than 2 million pounds of ions at a time. Four construction workers are still missing. Rescue crews racing to reopen shipping channel Our team with the Coast Guard to get an even closer look at the scene Elizabeth schy in Baltimore TSA reports record number of airline travelers over spring break on Easter weekend FAA investigating two planes that clipped wings of taxi en route another flight diverted due to engine problem Trevor alt standing next to large storm pointing at US during the holidays winter storm warnings flood watches and flood alerts wind from California to Colorado severe storms, including possible tornadoes moving east Rob Marciano timing everything here in The NYPD responded to an alarming number of reports of women being punched in the face during random street attacks.

Some of the victims posted videos online. At least two suspects were arrested by police who were searching for several others. President Biden, along with former Presidents Obama and Clinton, raised $26 million during an unprecedented fundraiser at Radio City Music Hall the three presidents in a show of force attacking Donald Trump the event interrupted several times by protesters pro-Palestinians late

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story about Pope Francis why the Vatican says he is skipping a Good Friday event

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pays tribute to Lewis Goset Jr, the barrier-breaking actor known for his powerful roles, the first black man in winning the Oscar for best supporting actor and Beyonce Goes Country Millions listening to her highly anticipated new album Cowboy Carter, which includes a cover of a Dolly Parton classic from ABC News

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headquarters in New York, this is World News Tonight with David M.

Good evening and it's great to have you with us on a busy Friday night. I'm Mary Bruce instead of David. We start tonight with the surroundings. clockwork operation to clear the wreckage of the Francis Scot Key Bridge, the search for four missing workers and the race to reopen those critical shipping lanes for one of America's busiest ports tonight major reinforcements are on the way heavy equipment now in the place, including the Chesapeake 1000, one of the largest cranes on the East Coast, capable of lifting more than 2 million pounds at a time, but this is just the beginning.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore says seven cranes, 10 tugboats and nine barges will join the salvage operation our team conducted today. With the Coast Guard closely watching the Destruction portion of the bridge covering the bow of the ship, massive amounts of debris made it nearly impossible for dive teams to search for the four highway workers who were on the bridge at the time. and are now missing and presumed dead Salvage crews are now trying to clear the shipping channel and resume traffic in and out of the Port of Baltimore as President Biden says he will visit the site next week.

ABC's Elizabeth Schy in Baltimore, taking us tonight to the urgent mission to clear the mangled debris blocking the port of Baltimore, one of the busiest in the country, this colossal crane, one of the largest on the East Coast, now On scene it is capable of lifting 2 million pounds at a time, but it will take more than that. This is just one of four heavy-lift cranes that will begin removing what remains of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge. Crews prepare to cut through the twisted steel and care

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y remove the huge chunks piece by piece before floating the freighter Dolly clearing the channel and reopening the port now we can see the cranes that arrived overnight, they have a tough job ahead of them.

Lifting those pieces of steel out of the river and clearing away the debris today we were back in the water with a Coast Guard cutter able to get closer than ever before to us. Now 150 meters from the container ship, the conditions here really give you an idea of ​​how difficult this will be for the first responders. Wind rises. All diving has been suspended at this time. The bodies of four construction workers are still trapped. Among the underwater remains, we know that there is at least one larger vehicle that is completely encapsulated by the structure. It will take some time to get there.

Maryland's governor is preparing the community for a long road of rebuilding. I can tell you that it is not going to be like that. It will be days, weeks or months, this will take time, this will certainly take some time, so let's get right to Elizabeth schy live on the scene there in Baltimore and Elizabeth, the federal government is approving $60 million in emergency funding and now the president Biden is planning a visit Mary President Biden says he will visit Baltimore next week and promises that the federal government will cover the

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cost of rebuilding the bridge.

That $60 million in funding will help cover startup costs. The entire project could cost billions and take years to complete. complete Mary Elizabeth following this story for us all week thank you now we move on to logging holiday travel over spring break and Easter weekend according to TSA reports yesterday saw the highest number of people at checkpoints of airports so far this year, flights full amid growing concerns over safety issues involving planes two planes clipping wings another flight diverted due to engine problem here's ABC's Trevor alternate tonight the first Easter break Rushes build up on top of spring break crush Travelers leave crowded airports I want to get where I'm going, so make sure I get here at least 3 hours before my flight officials at Heartfield Jackson in Atlanta predict that today will be the busiest day of the month and nationally, the TSA says Thursday was the busiest day so far this year, a United flight from San Francisco to Paris.

I had to take a detour due to an engine problem. The journey of the Boeing 7. It landed in Denver and at St. Paul International Airport in Minneapolis. Two Delta planes collided on the taxiway. It was an amazing boom, and in most shakes I've had on an airplane, no one was hurt. but 287 passengers had to find another way to get to their destinations and next week's numbers could even eclipse what we're seeing now, as Spring Breakers will soon share the skies with travelers heading to cities along the way. of the next total eclipse, says the FAA. The busiest day next week will be Thursday, April 4 with more than 50,000 flights ready to take off and warning of possible delays due to the large volume of planes and drones trying to witness the total solar eclipse and Maria, of course, millions of people Driving and gas prices are rising even faster than they usually do this time of year, according to Gas Buddy, the national average is now $354 per gallon, or 7 cents more than this time of year. last year.

Mary and that urgency of travel and spring. pause also affecting roads there Trevor, thanks now to the major storm targeting the US over the holidays winter storm warnings flood watches and wind watches from California to color severe storms in Colorado, including possible tornadoes from Texas to Washington DC early next week, so let's go straight to ABC's Chief Meteorologist Rob Marciano, Hi Rob, Hi Mary, Holiday Travel, the weather here in the East is looking good, but out West It's another story with California on the front lines, there are flood watches there and winter storm warnings, strong winds heading towards Los Angeles.

Vegas and Arizona with this big system now hitting Northern California, tonight will push a big pulse of rain into Southern California, but that low is delayed so it will bring another round of rain for Sunday, which which will lead to flooding perhaps major flooding in landslides potentially from Santa Barbara to San Diego over the weekend Monday which injuries break out in severe storms on the plains we could see tornadoes in places like Kansas City towards St Louis east of up there on the Ohio River on Tuesday and then heading northeast some arrive on Wednesday and Thursday and may see some snow in some spots here late next week Mary, we know you'll be following along Rob, thanks next time night, the increasing number of attacks alarming here in New York City, several women come forward some post videos online claiming to have been punched in the face while simply walking down the street authorities say the attacks appear unrelated at least two suspects are in custody police Now looking for others here's ABC's Aaron Cersi tonight the NYPD is investigating this incident and Several others like: A woman was suddenly punched while walking on a Brooklyn sidewalk, apparently without reason.

I literally had a man punch me on the sidewalk. In the last two weeks, several young women have posted on Tik Tok about how they were randomly beaten on the streets of In New York City, out of nowhere, this man came up and punched me in the face tonight with those videos as part of his research. Police made two arrests, including this man, Skoki Stora, accused of attacking an influencer known as Haly Kate, the video of which has been seen. 49 million times I literally fell to the ground and now this TR is forming a concussion. A black-eyed design student, Michaela Tonado, shared a similar experience, so I just came back from the emergency room after being punched in the face.

Prosecutors said the man charged with assault. He left the 27-year-old with a concussion and a visible mark on her eye. Police are investigating at least seven random assaults where the victim later posted on Tikt. Neither is believed to be related to another tonight. Police are looking for this man in connection. with the assault of a 25-year-old woman in Time Square who was slapped in the forehead and this man allegedly punching a 24-year-old woman in the head, while police say these attacks are not part of a pattern that Mary doesn't make them any less scary, felony assaults in the city are up about 3%, although other statistics show the post-pandemic rise in violent crime continues to level off, Mary, yes, it's still a scary development .

Aon, thanks now to the race for the White House. President Biden joined former Presidents Obama and Clinton in raising $26 million during a record-breaking fundraiser at Radio City Music Hall. President Biden said today that the event showed skeptics and supporters that the party is United Donald Trump, the main goal of the night, although interrupted. several times by pro-Palestinian protesters here's ABC's Mary Alice Parks tonight President Biden just pulled off that record-breaking fundraising a show of strength with Presidents Obama and Clinton at his side his campaign claims a $26 million hall in just one night no press cameras allowed inside the campaign releasing select clips, the president presents a difficult choice for voters, this guy denies that there is global warming, this guy wants to get rid of not only Roie Wade, but he brags about having it In fact, he wants to get rid of the ability of anyone anywhere in the United States. ever elected and turned the tables on Donald Trump, I mean, all the things he's doing are so old, talk about old and, you know, anyway, he's a little old and out of shape, President Obama is trying to energize voters around Biden's record, you have a record. job growth have an unemployment rate that is as low as has been achieved.

Put your hands together. I see you all, the glitzy event at Radio City Music Hall that sounds like a p p p part of me, ladies and gentlemen, that was designed to be a show of party unity pierced by protesters criticizing Biden for his continued support for Israel's war in Gaza. Sh, you're spitting genocide and Palestine. Those party divisions are on full display tonight. The Biden campaign is trying to attract new voters with an appeal to Nikki Haley. Supporters argue in new digital ad that Donald Trump doesn't want his votes so how can he bring themback to these Mickey Haley voters?

I'm not sure we need too many today Trump doubles down on law and order message after visiting family of murdered NYPD officer Jonathan Diller it has to stop we have to have Law and Order and when people repeat that this is not a repeat offender this is ridiculous Trump offers no details on how he would fight crime FBI data shows a recent drop in cases of violent crime in most cities and Mary Alice joins us now and there is also some

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tonight about election interference case against Donald Trump in Georgia Trump's team appeals judge's ruling allowing District Attorney Fonny Willis to stay on that case Yes, Trump and some of his co-defendants have now formally filed their appeal arguing that despite Since her lead prosecutor stepped aside, the case appears inappropriate given her past relationship with him, a three-judge panel now has 45 days to decide whether to accept the appeal the prosecutor is requesting. for a trial date in August Mary Trump continues to try to challenge that case Mary Alice thank you and tonight there is late news about Pope Francis after leading a solemn Good Friday service in St.

Peter's Basilica today the Pope will skip the procession of the Good Friday at the Colosseum In Rome, in what is usually a very demanding week, the Vatican says it is trying to preserve its health for Easter Sunday and tonight American journalist Evan Gershovich serves a year in prison in Russia, the Kremlin accuses him of collecting state secrets for the US, the Biden Administration. says that the Wall Street Journal reporter is being unfairly detained the newspaper that pays tribute to gershovich leaves a blank space on its cover with the headline his story should be here and today we found out that the actor Lewis goset Jr has died an actor pioneer the first black man to win best supporting actor for his role in An Officer and a Gentleman a commanding presence in films on stage and television, including the groundbreaking series Roots, here's ABC's Steve Oami, the winner is L Gossip J.

In an interview published earlier this year, the one and only Lewis Gosset Jr explained that this moment in which he won the Oscar for best supporting actor in 1983 gave him the ability. choosing good roles in movies that wouldn't necessarily have gone to a black man every time I say I understand I want the whole group to say yes sir understand yes sir understand yes sir after his role as a tough officer drill sergeant and The Gentleman Who Gave Up That Statue Golden came with roles that rewarded him in other ways, such as his long career in the big-budget action films Iron Eagle, to Runway, I'll Do the Rest and what the actor says was his favorite role as the alien.

Mind of soldier and enemy where he and a human soldier played by actor Dennis Quaid had to overcome their differences to survive. Saved my life. Why do I need to look at another face even as ugly as yours, but for many Americans who remember a time when there were very few black faces on American television they will always be remembered for their role in the miniseries Rud that aired on this same network and that introduced millions of people to the powerful and painful story of how black people came to America. You know what's going to happen to me I sleep on a mud floor I can eat what pigs don't eat I had to overcome some disappointments to know that God put me on the planet and gave me a gift to do Anyway, it was only the second black man to win an Oscar for acting in the real

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He would spend much of his life encouraging black men to get early screenings for prostate cancer, which he defeated. He was 87 years old. Mary, a remarkable legacy on and off the screen Steve thank you and when we return a shocking arrest in Florida two 10 year olds arrested at an elementary school for allegedly selling a gun and America strong tonight the entertainer overcoming obstacles and lifting spirits from everyone next night A stunning case In Florida, two 10-year-old students were arrested after a gun was sold at Country Oaks Elementary School. Police say one of the children, an officer's son, agreed to sell his deceased father's gun for $300.

This happened in February, but was discovered this week. after police said they found ammunition in the other student's backpack and now, with a CDC alert, a rare type of bacterial disease that can cause menitis is on the rise. 422 cases were reported last year, the most since 2014, one strain proved deadlier than usual, with one in six people dying, most victims are middle-aged adults, federal agency encourages those eligible to stay up to date on their vaccinations and when we come back, Beyonce Goes Country, her new album is already breaking records on the index tonight. an IRS news about $1 billion in unclaimed tax refunds for 2020 taxpayers have until May 17 to receive their money the IRS estimates the average refund for that year is $932 all this just as millions prepare to meet the deadline to file your 2023 taxes and tonight the wait is over Beyonce's Cowboy Carter is finally available, the country-inspired genre-bending album is already delighting critics and fans, the Grammy winner even covers Dolly Parton's classic Jolene jol jol jol jol and Parton herself features that song Willie Nelson and Linda Martell, a pioneer of black country music, also features songs, the album is already breaking music streaming records on the first day on Amazon, no wonder, and when we return to the United States with a vengeance, the Texas entertainer who inspires others and lifts spirits everywhere, finally tonight the entertainer makes her dream come true.

Inspiring others along the way Juliana Linton has wanted to be a competitive cheerleader for as long as she can remember. She was born with one arm. Juliana never let that stop her from pursuing her dream. Here she is at age 7 in a cheerleading competition. Today, Juliana is a student at senior at Sanch High School in Cypress Texas, in addition to cheering on the floor, he does this by flying high above his team members as a high flyer. I think it's super fun. I never get scared when I'm there. I love to fly and do a trick and show everyone that you should never let anyone doubt your abilities and that you are capable of doing anything you set your mind to and she is paying it forward for her love and skill in gymnastics three nights a week, train to preschoolers in the Many times, in the same gym where she trained as a young gymnast.

I'll show them how to do something and they'll do a handstand or a cart with one hand because they want to be like me, so it's really cool. Be an inspiration to others, Juliana, with this message to all of us. I hope to inspire more people around the world and show them that you never give up on your dreams. Juliana flying high, thanks for watching. I'm Mary Bruce to David and everyone. from us here good evening, thank you for making World News Tonight with David Mure the most watched newscast in the United States.