america this morning. making news in america this friday morning, breaking overnight, arkansas' first execution in more than a decade. the state putting a man to death after all his appeals were exhausted. the legal battles over plans for more executions. it's raging on. also breaking overnight raids in paris as the investigation of a deadly shooting rampage gets under way. isis claiming responsibility. the attack coming just days ahead of france's election. happening today family reunion bringing together a teenager who was kidnapped and taken on a cross-country odyssey. the small cabin where she was found and we'll hear from the man who called 911. and caught on camera, a close call on the side of the road. somebody you see here is very

lucky. and we do say good morning to everybody on this friday. i'm kendis gibson. >> i'm gloria riviera in for diane macedo. we begin with breaking news in arkansas. the state's executioner went back to work overnight for the first time in over a decade. >> the state ignored criticism for its plan to carry out several executions by the end of this month. ledell lee seen there was executed just before midnight as his death warrant was about to expire. abc's danya bacchus with the latest. >> reporter: in arkansas inmate put to death. >> earlier this afternoon ledell lee received as his last meal request communion. >> reporter: his attorneys making one last push to save his life filing a civil rights lawsuit to prove his innocence, but to no avail. >> these are lawsuits being filed are a sense to delay the executions, the lawful executions, of these individuals who have been convicted by

juries of absolutely heinous crimes. >> reporter: ledell lee's execution was on hold due to a temporary restraining order on the state's use of vecuronium bromide, one of the three drugs used in the lethal injection protocol. medical supplier mckesson claims the state purchased them last year under false pretenses without saying it would be used in executions. lee is just one of eight inmates scheduled to be put to death in arkansas this month. state officials actually expedited the execution time line because another one of the lethal injection drugs is set to expire at the end of april. the back and forth legal battle now ending with lee's death as those other death row inmates wait to learn their fate. this is the first time in 12 years that an inmate has been executed in arkansas. danya bacchus, abc news, los angeles. >> now to the other breaking news that we're following right now overseas, that terror attack in paris. >> police carried out raids

looking for anyone linked to the shooter. they say they found valuable information in his car. >> just moments ago we they discovered a shotgun and knives in that vehicle. isis claims the gunman was one of its fighters. a deadly attack right in the heart of paris. [ sirens] one of the world's most famous avenues, the champs-elysees, on lockdown overnight. >> stay back, please. >> reporter: the spray of gunfire. this video appearing to show the panicked moments of chaos. just after 9:00 p.m. in the shadow of the arc de triomphe, a gunman driving next to a police vehicle before getting out and opening fire using a military-style weapon. >> i had to run away. i was walking here in the champs-elysees. >> reporter: the attacker killing one police officer and wounding two additional officers along with a bystander. this witness describing what happened next saying they returned fire. they killed him. he fell on the floor.

police say the suspect was killed. he's now identified as a 39-year-old from a suburb in the east of paris, isis later claiming responsibility for the attack. the french president francois hollande who has seen so many deadly attacks since taking office appearing in front of the cameras somber, emotional saying we shall be of utmost vigilance. and police do say the gunman had a criminal record and was well known to anti-terror security forces. >> that attack taking place just days before the french go to the polls. 11 candidates are on the ballot sunday. in the first round of france's presidential election. >> that's a fairly controversial candidate right there, the far right candidate, marine le pen is among the favorites. she's promised to restrict immigration and hold a referendum on france's eu membership. centrist candidate emmanuel macron is also a front-runner. he hits the campaign trail today after some advice from former u.s. president obama. >> the main message i have is to wish you all the best in the

coming days and make sure that as you said you work hard all the way through because you never know. >> the former president's spokesman says his conversation was not an endorsement of macron. it's expected that no candidate will get 50% of the vote which will set up a runoff in two weeks. also breaking overnight, german police making an arrest in connection with an attack on a soccer team's bus. a player and a police officer were injured last week when three explosions damaged the bus which was on its way to an important match. the man in custody faces attempted murder and other charges. president trump is expressing confidence that the latest gop effort to repeal and replace obamacare may be approved before his first 100 days in office. conservatives and moderates are considering a proposal aimed at giving states more flexibility to opt out of certain obamacare provisions and the president is hoping for passage before he

hits the 100-day mark. >> the plan gets better and better and better, and it's gotten really, really good, and a lot of people are liking it a lot. we have a good chance of getting it soon. i'd like to say next week, but it will be -- i believe we will get it. >> after their attempt to overhaul health care failed last month, many republicans are still skeptical they'll have enough votes to pass a new measure so quickly. lawmakers are scrambling to avoid a government shutdown one week from today. they have just days to pass a massive spending bill needed to keep the federal government running for the rest of the fiscal year. the white house budget director says money for the president's promised border wall must be part of the bill, but democrats are expected to resist that provision. hillary clinton was back in the spotlight last night with an urgent warning for the lgbt community. clinton told those attending a fund-raising dinner that their rights may not be secure and that the trump administration is a threat to years of progress.

the advocacy group honored clinton with their trailblazer award. she urged them to stay vigilant. >> just remember, we need to resist, insist, persist and enlist and make sure our voices and our votes count. >> clinton also took the trump administration to task for not doing more about chechnya. there have been numerous reports of abuse of gay men. for just a second time in the month of april's history, a tropical storm right now is spinning in the atlantic. arlene is far from land and won't impact anyone. checking the radar, a new storm though is rolling out of the rockies and into the plains. heavy rain for the tennessee valley. same thing for the northeast corridor from washington to boston. and i love this story, former president george h.w. bush says he got a big morale boost and received a visit from

his son. both former presidents sent this photo out on social media. the elder bush said, quote, no father has ever been more blessed or prouder. he is recovering from a mild case of pneumonia. he was also hospitalized for it in january. still ahead, a cautionary story for all of us who love diet soda. >> that would be you as well. the cross-country ordeal of. the teenager expected with her family today. and scary scenes in seattle. police flood the city's downtown area when a suspect opens fire after a robbery. what investigators say started a terrifying scene on the

streets of seattle as police exchange gunfire with a robbery suspect in the middle of the day there.

three police officers were injured during the shoot-out, and one suspect is dead. this, the result of a convenience store robbery gone bad. at one point during the chaos people were told to stay off the streets. the officers are expected to survive. two other suspects are in police custody. the family of former nfl star aaron hernandez is donating his brain to science so it can be tested for the brain disease cte. the massachusetts medical examiner has ruled his death a suicide. the cause was asphyxia by hanging. investigators say they found three handwritten notes next to a bible in his cell. the hernandez family is seeking an independent autopsy and wants to know if head trauma played any role in his death. the man who shot and killed former new orleans saints player will smith has been sentenced to 25 years in prison. cardell hayes was convicted in december of manslaughter and attempted manslaughter for shooting smith's wife. she left the court sobbing and in a statement expressed deep disappointment at the sentence.

hayes shot smith after a traffic accident. there's fresh fallout over the ouster of bill o'reilly from fox news. critics outraged at what could be a $25 million payout package. sources tell "the new york times" that's the equivalent to one year's salary. fox dropped o'reilly wednesday amid mounting sexual harassment allegations. the president of the national association organization for women calls the payout obscene. and there's more evidence this morning that diet drinks are not good for you, kendis. researchers say people who drink diet sodas daily have three times the risk of stroke and dementia than those who have one less than once a week. >> well, they did not find the same risk for sugar sweetened drinks, but those consuming sodas and even fruit juices showed greater evidence of brain aging as well as other health problems, so water. >> water. when we come back, another painful setback for tiger woods. will he appear in a major

championship this year? and that close call on a road in texas. impact video ahead. it's late it's an all nighter when are we even going to sleep? got a little all nighter refuel going on this is the best morning ever! look at that joy and excitement mmmmm

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whoa. close call for that texas police officer who had pulled over a truck when a car slammed into her patrol vehicle and spun out of control. police are actually using this video as a lesson for drivers reminding them to follow the move over laws when they see a car that is stopped on the side of a road. >> wow. now for a look at morning road conditions, flooding is likely across the southern plains with wet roads stretching from new england all the way across to the rockies where there could also be snow. >> it could possibly be a mess in the skies. you see all the possible cities there that might have airport delays today. and the nightmare is over this morning for the family of a tennessee teenager on her way home today after she was missing for six weeks. >> investigators say the girl is

safe and physically unharmed, but the former teacher accused of kidnapping her is in custody. this morning we're seeing the cabin where they were found and hearing from this guy, the man who alerted police. here's abc's erielle reshef with the details. >> reporter: an agonizing ordeal coming to a close. >> so many people in this community, so many people outside of this community, outside of this state have been vigilant and have been praying. >> reporter: 15-year-old elizabeth thomas found alive and safe in a residence in a remote area in the northernmost county of california. >> all we know is that she's apparently healthy and unharmed. >> reporter: her alleged captor 50-year-old tad cummins now in custody. >> authorities in siskiyou county followed up on a tip and found elizabeth and arrested tad cummins. >> reporter: thursday morning siskiyou county deputies locating the car in which thomas and cummins had been traveling then discovering the pair in a cabin in cecilville. >> i don't know the whole situation. maybe she even went willingly or

something but there was an amber alert. >> reporter: thomas has been the subject of a nationwide amber alert since march 14th. she and cummins spotted at a walmart in oklahoma two days later. cummins now accused of having an inappropriate relationship with the teen, kidnapping her then leading law enforcement on a cross-country manhunt. thomas' family now anxiously awaiting her return. >> our focus has been and will continue to be on elizabeth. >> reporter: erielle reshef, abc news, new york. so, don't look for tiger woods at any more golf tournaments this season. he had surgery on his back yet again yesterday for the fourth time. he'll likely miss the rest of the major championships this year. recovery from that type of surgery typically takes about six months. and nfl fans have plenty to talk about this morning now that the upcoming season's schedule has been released. the super bowl champs, those patriots open the season. they will be at home against the

chiefs. >> yeah, the pats will host a super bowl replay against the falcons in week seven, and there are four games on the schedule in london and one in mexico city and new year's eve will be especially festive with a full slate of games. >> and how about some of those games that were played last night? >> there were plenty. let's get highlights now from espn. >> lebron james and the cavaliers taking on the pacers. this was all indiana in the first half. check out myles turner. gets the rebound here and throws it down. tristan thompson not able to stop him. pacers up, 42-32. the pacers led 74-49 at the half but then lebron james. >> wait, say that score again. >> 74-49. they're up 25. >> what happened? >> largest deficit any team has ever overcome. in the second half in the nba playoffs. lebron james a triple-double. 28 of his 41 in the second half. cavaliers up 3-0. the spurs just beat down the grizzlies in the first two.

david fizdale, he -- take that data or whatever he said. got all the people behind him. >> take that for data. >> right, vince? something like that. vince, research, he knows about data. mike conley. >> he also said you're not going to rook us. >> zach randolph, he started him. former blazer. grizz outscored the spurs by two touchdowns in the third. >> oh. >> 105-94. the bear. >> so the grizzlies in the series 2-1 now. >> yeah. is vanessa talking in your ear about look at the cam? >> no. >> okay, like this is not my first time. >> that's all we got. back to you. >> hi, vanessa. up next in "the pulse," treasure found in the most unlikely of places. so, who gets to keep that gold? and a trip to the bathroom that one guy won't soon forget. ♪ if you said good-bye to me tonight there would still be music left to write ♪ ♪ what else could i do

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it's that simple. ♪ we are going to start your fry friday "pulse" with something that is buzzing. the strong reactions to starbucks' new drink. >> very strong. the unicorn frappuccino is only available through this weekend and the company says it's exceeded everyone's expectations. >> including this guy. so he's a colorado barista, his name is braden bersin, and he says he just can't keep up with demand and, well, he just -- he freaked out on twitter. >> for the love of god in everything that is good, don't get the unicorn frappuccino.

>> so the 19-year-old says he didn't think his tweet would go viral even with that impassioned tweet, and the unicorn frappuccino, by the way, he says is a great drink and starbucks says it will be reaching out to him to, quote, talk about his experience and how to make it better. >> exactly. well, now to a treasure trove found stashed inside a piano in great britain. hundreds of gold coins minted in the 19th and 20th centuries were found in packages and pouches. wish i found those. the british authorities say they don't know who hid the coins, the school that owns the piano and the person who found the gold are now in line for a windfall. >> yeah, but the couple who owned that piano for decades before donating it to the school are not eligible. >> i don't know why that's fair. >> that's not fair. >> the coins are worth about, wait for it, a million dollars. >> oh, my word. that's too bad. and finally, you know, it's difficult sometimes for some guys to go to the restroom with other people around and add to that pressure high school

with a bully waiting in the bathroom and all that kind of stuff. >> no good. there was no bully in this texas school, but one kid, well, he got more than he bargained for. >> yeah. ♪ for the longest if you said good-bye to me tonight ♪ ♪ there would still be music left to write ♪ ♪ what else could i do i'm so inspired by you ♪ ♪ that hasn't -- >> see, the fellas are part of a singing group there at the school, but i don't think the guy who was in the stall was loving all that attention. >> i don't know. the a cappella sounds good. time's up, insufficient prenatal care. and administrative paperwork... your days of drowning people are numbered. same goes for you, budget overruns. and rising costs, wipe that smile off your face. we're coming for you, too. for those who won't rest until the world is healthier, neither will we. optum. how well gets done.

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good morning, bay area. let's get up and get going. >> this is "abc7 mor mornings." it's friday, and 4:30. we are almost at your weekend. welcome to april 21st. >> so happy. we only worked four days this week and it just seems -- >> do we really make it that tough on you? >> just back from vacation? come on, reggie. >> yeah, get back in the groove. mike, looks like a gorgeous day, right? >> yeah, even out to the coast we will have warm sunshine. and live doppler 7 completely bone dry and let's jump into mount tam pieious. a little cooler this look at the mid-60s at the coast, and mid to upper 70s at

4:00. 58 to 71 still at 7:00. let's see if we are off to maybe a friday light start, alexis. >> oh, yeah. maybe a lot of folks playing hooky with the forecast. we have a rollover crash past napa. we'll show you some of the light volumes coming up next. we are starting this morning with breaking news in the south bay with a car drove into a building. >> tiffany wilson is live for us in san jose. tiffany. >> reporter: good morning, natasha. i want to show you the route that tree took, and it came down the street and down the sidewalk and took out the tree. it's now resting over here, and then smashed into this medical office building. it took out one of the

and into the next pillar. you can see the suv and where it came to a rest. san jose say it happened around 1:00 a.m., and there was w coming out of the building but they were able to turn that off. i am told by people who were here earlier that nobody was in the office building at the time, and when police arrived they did not find a driver inside of that vehicle. the vehicle was removed a couple hours after this took place. they are now inspecting the building to make sure if it's safe, and we are waiting to learn if it's structurally sound. you can seat damage, pretty significant from the suv that slammed into the building overnight. tiffany wilson, san jose, abc7

news. and an alleged plot to kill an 11-month-old baby, and this may not be the first time these two suspects tried to kill that child. here are the new details. >> all i know is marcel is a great dad. >> she did not believe her nephew had anything to do with the murder of his 11-month-old son. >> he would never be involved in nothing like this. >> the san leandro investigators say otherwise, and they say brooks asked the mother to meet him at this mcdonald's so he could see his son. police say brooks was in the area but never went inside, and they say a donna aoeuby was there instead. >> approached the female and her child and fired one shot. close range. and then exited the restaurant. >> the