making news in america this morning, dangerous conditions. a line of powerful storms rolling through several states heading south with a potential of damaging winds, hail and tornadoes. we are tracking it all. indicted. a u.s. senator facing serious charges and remaining defiant. >> this is not how my career is going to end. [ cheers and applause ] >> senator robert menendez promising a fight with his political future in jeopardy. dramatic crash. an out-of-control suv smashing into a school bus with students inside. new video showing the moment of impact. plus, if you thought tom brady's cliff jump was dangerous, what about what this nfl player is doing?

>> that has to violate an insurance clause, i'm sure. >> it's in there. >> good thursday morning, everyone. i'm bazi kanani in for reena this morning. >> and hello to you all. i'm t.j. holmes. we start, though, with weather. we've got severe weather once again striking the heartland. more storms expected today. >> the widespread weather danger can be seen on the radar right now. a line of storms capable of producing damaging wind and rain and you can see the flashes of lightning. up to 1 inch of hail reported this morning in some areas of nebraska. >> here's the scene in lincoln overnight. video we got from instagram, a bolt of lightning can be seen streaking across the sky. accuweather's justin povick tracking the storms for us. hello to you, justin. >> t.j. and bazi, thanks, and good morning. severe weather not letting down once again this afternoon. we are concerned about the potential for more damaging winds, large hail, isolated

tornadoes and extremely heavy rain. this go-around is setting up along interstate 44 from tulsa to st. louis. a little further east deep into the overnight, cincinnati, indianapolis, lexington, louisville, you could have some gusty thunderstorms, as well. the northeast prepping for wintry possibly at least over the interior regions later on this week and into the upcoming weekend. more of a mixture from central pennsylvania to central new york state. rain along the interstate 95 corridor. meanwhile, it heats up over the central plains later on this weekend and stays stormy in the northwest. t.j. and bazi, back to you. >> all right, justin, thank you so much. we turn now to california where they are having an unprecedented drought out there. now unprecedented water restrictions going into effect. again, this drought out there has been historic. >> and the hope now is to reduce water use in the golden state by a fourth. abc's rob marciano reports. >> we're in an historic drought and that demands unprecedented action. >> reporter: california's governor ordering all cities and towns to cut water usage immediately by 25%.

look, from above you can see the expanse of the snowless sierras. these snow riders at squaw valley not riding on much, but more important, california needs that snow to supply water through the year. reservoirs running dangerously low. these before and after pictures showing for the last four years they're the driest in history too. these nasa satellite images show the progression of underground water loss. california's river basins have lost 4 trillion gallons of water every year. far more than all of california would ever consume. the new mandate could possibly see further restrictions on homeowners who were already urged to reduce water by 20%. among the mandates and restrictions, any new home construction would require special water efficient irrigation systems. rob marciano, abc news, new york. >> well, the governor's new order bans watering of streets medians and replaces thousands of lawns with drought tolerant plants.

now, what if you're caught out there wasting water? you could see a fine of $500 a day. there's no word however, on whether any of those folks caught wasting water will be sent to jail. a possible fix this morning to indiana's religious freedom law that triggered a nationwide backlash. state house republicans have come up with new language to address claims of discrimination and another governor has abruptly changed course on the same issue. a bipartisan group of lawmakers in indiana will meet this morning to debate a bill clarifying the state's new religious freedom law. >> the religious freedom restoration act was about religious liberty, not about discrimination. >> reporter: but opponents say that since the state doesn't have an anti-discrimination law protecting sexual orientation, under this new law, businesses would have been allowed to turn away gay and lesbian customers. >> if a gay couple was to come in like say we wanted -- they wanted us to provide them pizzas for a wedding, we would have to say no. >> reporter: the comments led to

protests outside the indiana restaurant and an outcry on social media as critics slammed the pizza shop online. >> if you're going to discriminate against somebody because of their sexual orientation, that's just not right. >> reporter: defenders of the restaurant started a go fund me page that has already raised more than $40,000 for the pizza shop owners. hoping to avoid the same controversy in his state, arkansas governor asa hutchinson has refused to sign a similar bill. he has asked for changes to the legislation calling the issue divisive across generations, even in his own family. >> my son seth signed the petition asking me, dad, the governor to veto this bill. >> reporter: and the ceo of walmart, one of arkansas' largest employers, is also speaking out saying the arkansas bill as it is currently written threatens to undermine the spirit of inclusion. indiana's governor says he expects the fix on his desk

before the final four this weekend. well, senator bob menendez is vowing not to go down without a fight after he was indicted on corruption and bribery charges. the new jersey democrat is accused of accepting nearly a million dollars in gifts and campaign contributions from a wealthy florida eye doctor allegedly taking luxury trips and flying on private jets in exchange for political favors. last night, menendez vehemently denied the allegations before a crowd of supporters. >> i'm outraged that prosecutors at the justice department were tricked into starting this investigation three years ago with false allegations by those who have a political motive to silence me, but i will not be silenced. >> now, menendez was a congressman for 13 years and then he switched over to the senate in 2006. he's the first u.s. senator to face a bribery charge in more than 30 years. talks over iran's nuclear program are getting back under way this morning as they struggle to find common ground. secretary of state john kerry is

staying in switzerland for now. iran and six world powers trying to hammer out an outline that would clear the way for a final deal that includes easing economic sanctions. the state department says they are making progress but so far no agreement. we have some breaking news from kenya where there's been a deadly attack on a university. this university is about 90 miles or so from the border with somalia. gunmen attacked this university. you could hear gunshots and explosions from a building on campus. two security guards among the dead. no group has claimed responsibility, but the al qaeda-linked group al shabaab has vowed revenge for kenya's sending of troops to somalia to fight militants, and they have launched a number of attacks in this same area again, near the border with somalia. a new disturbing report on fighters leaving home to join isis and al qaeda. the u.n. says more than 25,000 people from 100 nations have left their countries to join the terror groups. that's an increase of about 70% in just a year. among the nations with the highest number of foreign fighters, tunisia, morocco,

france and russia. illinois corrections authorities are warning an escaped murderer is still on the run this morning after he beat a guard, stole his keys and uniform and then took off in the guard's suv. they say kamron taylor is armed and dangerous, that he pulled off his escape wearing the guard's uniform. they also say he choked and beat the guard into unconsciousness. this morning that guard is in intensive care. my home state of arkansas can now claim we got the world's oldest woman, and she says she now wants president obama to attend her 117th birthday party. that's coming up on the fourth of july. her name is gertrude weaver. there she is. she's a well-known hog caller at the arkansas senior citizens center that's where where she lives and attends church every sunday with her 93-year-old son. she became the world's oldest person with yesterday's passing of a 117-year-old woman in japan. we'll see if he shows up. >> i hope she gets to meet the president. >> hopefully. i don't want to say she doesn't have much time left, but she

might not have much time left. >> you better get there soon. >> the clock is ticking, mr. president. still ahead, new questions about how kids are being treated for adhd. and collision course. dramatic new video of a school bus in the path of an out-of-control suv. plus, take a look at these two cars. can you tell which one is the bentley? well, there is a battle brewing over these two very similar-looking cars.

about 90,000 workers at mcdonald's are getting pay raises. effective july 1st starting wages will be at least $1 an hour above the minimum wage set by local law. the increase applies only to

workers at company-owned stores. franchises actually make up the vast majority of mcdonald's global workforce. well, maybe radio shack isn't done just yet. a bankruptcy judge has approved the sale of assets of radio shack to a hedge fund. that move will keep more than 1700 stores open and preserve more than 7,000 jobs. the store will carry a lot fewer item though, around 1,000 down from about 4,000. sprint will also set up shop inside the stores. two automakers are trading barbs over their luxury cars. now, take a look here. on the right you see the bentley flying spur. what a beauty. on the left you see ford's new lincoln continental. now, bentley's top designer calls the new ford, quote, a copy, says this is not respectable. they're kind of close, right, but are they that close? there may be some similarities there. ford is dismissing the criticism saying it's proud of the new lincoln. airbnb is branching out to cuba. the biggest u.s. business expansion since the obama administration eased half

century-old restrictions. starting today the popular online home rental service will feature more than a thousand properties in havana and other tourist destinations in cuba. an airbnb executive says cuba could become one of its biggest markets in latin america. lots of demand. when we come back, racketeering and conspiracy, but this is not a mob case. why a group of educators is facing prison time. and caught on camera, a massive ship runs aground just feet from shore. l. it's the beat you move to, the track you don't want to end. that's why these all-new special k snack bars are full of the good stuff like golden oats, dark chocolaty chunks and salty pretzels. each for 100 feel-good calories. ♪ because you should give life all the flavor you've got. special k snacks. be flavorful.

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watch out, folks. that's a 600-foot freighter floating out of control, if you can't tell. this is the delaware shoreline. this is near philadelphia. the ship lost power finally stopped in the mud just feet from shore. several tugboats were used to get it free. well, some major trouble spots for this morning's commute. you should watch out for snowy conditions from montana to idaho south to northern utah and heavy rain possible with flooding in parts of the midwest extending almost as far as the east coast. >> and if you're flying, plan on possible airport delays in memphis, chicago, as well as dallas. well, the giant inferno sparked by a deadly explosion on a mexican oil rig is under control. >> the oil company's director says the cause of the blast appears to be something mechanical.

he says there is no evidence of a spill. the explosion ignited huge fireballs that engulfed the rig sending hundreds of panicked workers jumping into the sea. four were killed and at least 16 others were hurt. two of those with life-threatening injuries. newly released dash cam video shows the terrifying moments when a tulsa school bus carrying 37 students was hit head-on by an suv. the suv suddenly careened into oncoming traffic and then slammed into the school bus. the bus driver did manage to stop but simply had nowhere to go. some of the students suffered bumps and bruises. investigators say the suv driver may have had a seizure. nearly a dozen atlanta educators face prison time after being convicted of cheating on standardized tests in order to earn bonuses or to keep their jobs. the judge had them put in handcuffs and taken to jail immediately after the verdict. prosecutors say they either gave students the answers or changed the answers once the tests were turned in. well, the first of its kind

study on adhd raising concerns for millions of families across the country. the cdc finding a quarter of preschool children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are being treated only with medication. experts say behavioral therapy should be the first line of treatment in children that young expressing concern over serious side effects from drugs. >> time to take a look at what's happening in sports now. >> yeah, some college hoops may be going on this weekend you might have heard about but for now the pros will have to do it. highlights now from our guys at espn. >> i'm neil. he's not. >> that's right. we are going to show you some national basketball association, the kids call it the association. i call it the federation. that's james harden, plays basketball for the rockets and he's left-handed. >> and he has a beard. >> yeah, has a very long -- look at that. so when we say he goes left-handed, it's really not that big a deal. he made that. he had 51, disappointing night because the record was 100. >> not even close to the record

was james harden and he's humiliated but his team did win by 4. you want a disappointing night, let's go up to portland, the trail blazers had a 19-point lead over the we're tired, we got beat the night before against golden state and blew a 17-point lead. well, portland came and blows a 19-point lead in this one or vice versa. it was vice versa, but you understand what i'm saying. there was a big lead lost. yes, chris paul and chris kaman are not hanging out then his own teammates are bloodying his own lip and j.j. reddick, you push -- listen, you push chris paul, you pushed all of us. >> over and back. >> boy, portland thought they had this one. this is a big gut check by the clippers and they win it. >> chris paul had 41 points so he's bummed too. >> not even close. giancarlo stanton hit a huge home run. go to espn.com. it's been revamped. it's on the internet. >> we turn to tom brady's cliff jump video. you've seen that. well, here's another nfl pro putting brady to shame.

he is up there on the wing. detroit linebacker deandre levy. >> later we see him get back out of the cockpit and hang onto a wing support while the plane does several big loops several thousand feet in the air. a lions executive told fans earlier this week that the team's official position about all of this is, quote, don't fall. >> i bet there was a more serious conversation behind the scenes, however. >> i would hope so. probably a more serious conversation with his family. >> uh-huh. >> after that. coming up next on "the pulse," summer winds and secret surgery? the medical procedure just uncovered about frank sinatra. plus, the mother who went to the store for a birthday cake and left $3 million richer. well, put on a breathe right strip and shut your mouth. cold medicines open your nose over time, but add a breathe right strip and pow, it opens your nose up to 38% more.

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♪ time for us to check "the pulse" starting with a fresh denial from the sinatra family about ronan farrow, he's mia farrow and woody allen's son but some say he looks a lot like mia's ex, ol' blue eyes himself. >> mia farrow admitted two years ago that her ex-husband frank could be ronan's father, but now sinatra's daughter tina is weighing in. >> yeah, she's telling showbiz 411 that ronan couldn't be her half father because her father had had a vasectomy. next up a chance encounter for a boy with a baseball idol. >> justin verlander posted a selfie with a boy at a starbucks who was wearing a shirt with verlander's name on it and he says the kid was pretty surprised when he simply turned around and he was standing there. that is a very cool picture. >> great surprise. well, most people out there winning a free vacation would be a thrill but not so for a man in kentucky. he went to puerto rico without his wife because she had to stay home apparently to take care of their baby, they say. >> so he posted a series of sad

face photos like this one when he was about to go snorkeling and those photos have now gone viral. >> he wanted to make sure there was no evidence that he might be having a good time without her whether he was out enjoying the sun on the outdoors or playing the slots indoors or even when he was sleeping. it all worked. he says his wife got a good laugh out of it. >> i'm sure she believed him that he was miserable the whole time in puerto rico. >> the whole time. >> without her. >> the whole time. right? >> no fun at all. and finally, a suburban new york mom says she has no plans of leaving her job as a postal worker even though darlene smith is now a millionaire. she recently bought a scratch-off lottery ticket at a supermarket while she was getting her husband's ice cream birthday cake. that ticket was worth $3 million. >> she says she's not sure yet whether she'll take the lump sum payment or choose to receive her money over 20 years. our vote, take the cash, sister, and run. well for some of you out

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live from the kgo-tv broadcast center this is abc7 news. >> good thursday morning at 4:28. i am credit -- kristen sze. >> i am eric thomas. leyla gulen is here with meteorologist mike nicco. the winds are not so fast as yesterday but fairfield is 21 miles per hour and novato is 14 miles per hour and double digits in san francisco at the airport and half moon bay. everyone else is quieter. the forecast shows the next twelve hours what it will show we are starting off cool this morning. 40s and 50s. headed into the afternoon hours, the pieces will not be so brick -- brisk as yesterday with total sunshine we are in the upper 50 to my sick at noon and low 60 at

4:00 and you need the coat in the evening. it will be almost as cold tomorrow as last night. >> leyla? >> the bay bridge toll plaza shows traffic flowing nicely from the east bay and moving over to walnut creek, southbound 680 the tail lights are not fining any construction in the northbound direction but we have projects on the san mateo bridge. details are ahead. thank you, leyla. duffle it in -- did you feel >> a 3.6 earthquake hit 12:06 centered four miles northwest the san ramon originally listed as 3 updated and it was as far south at fremont. no reports of damaged.

>> thousands will turn out this morning to honor a fallen san jose police officer. 14-year veteran michael johnson was shot and killed by a suspect last westbound. the memorial. be held at the sap center in san jose. that is where matt keller joins us. >> we expect more than a thousand at the sap center for the funeral service for officer michael johnson. preparations have begun. the procession begins in los gatos at 9:30 this morning. the route will start at north santa cruz avenue and head northbound on winchester boulevard and eastbound on stevens creek boulevard that changes to san carlos street and south montgomery county street and ending at the sap center. it will be an emotional day for law enforcement and the community. officer johnson is a first san jose officer to die in the behind of duty since 2001. paul kelly with