dozens of elderly people are displaced this morning after this fire broke out on the roof of their apartment complex in southeast washington, d.c. some residents say fire alarms and sprinklers never went off so they didn't leave their apartments right away and were trapped, but look at this, marines from a nearby barracks ran to the scene, joining firefighters going door-to-door and rescuing those who needed help getting out. smoke and flames from the fire were visible from the capitol. four people suffered minor injuries. a manhunt is under way for the suspect who stabbed a jogger to death. >> this was horrible. it happened in a popular neighborhood, logan circle, in what police believe was probably a random attack. here is pierre thomas. >> reporter: d.c. police desperately searching for this man, a potential suspect in the stabbing death of a woman whose killing has shocked her community. wendy karina martinez, 35, seen

here jogging, staggered into this restaurant after being attacked. >> there were customers in the carryout at the time. she collapsed. they tried to provide medical assistance to her. unfortunately, she was taken to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead. >> reporter: martinez had been recently engaged. the brazen nature of the attack has police offering a $25,000 reward. >> we believe a single assailant stabbed her. >> reporter: police have recovered the suspected murder weapon, a knife, and they're asking for the public's help. they're deeply concerned the murder was so brazen and in a very public place. pierre thomas, abc news, washington. >> such a horrible thing. you live in d.c. now. i used to live in d.c. for several years. this is an area that has a thriving night life as well. >> right. so many people around that area all times of day and night. it's terrifying. >> i've jogged in that area. it's absolutely terrifying for everybody who lives there. meantime, back in new york

state, a man there is enjoying his freedom after 27 years in prison for a murder he didn't commit. >> valentino dixon was all smiles. while behind bars he drew golf landscapes which led to a profile in "golf digest" magazine. that drew the attention of anned a advocacy group. their efforts led to dixon's release. >> this is the greatest feeling in the world. it's undescribable and we've been waiting 27 years for this moment. the fight doesn't stop now, you know? i have a bigger fight. i'm going to be fighting to help those that are still locked up that should be out. >> another man pleaded guilty for the murder dixon was convicted of. he's already in prison for a previous attempted murder conviction. this story and the series of events that led to him getting out, incredible. >> that, indeed. glad to know that he's out. all right. when we come back, super bowl halftime performers revealed. >> and more about bert and

ernie. "the skinny" is next. nkles.♪ ♪he's gotta play it cool to seal the deal.♪ ♪better find a way to smooth things over.♪ ♪if only harry used some... ♪...bounce, to dry. ♪yeah! ♪he would be a less wrinkly, and winning at life.♪

okay, what's in the abc news "start here" podcast? okay, what's in the abc news "start here" podcast? let's just say it's the most interesting, free rolling original news podcast you'll listen to today. is that too much? a little over the top? >> maybe just a little. >> yeah, thought so. ♪ ♪ kiss me till you're drunk and i'll show you ♪ time now for "the skinny." you can hear them, maroon 5 with a new gig next year, super bowl liii. you have not visited a club in the last five years. >> come on. you're so right. it's always the shoulders. it's always the shoulders. you're awful.

the nfl has announced that adam lavine and crew also known as maroon 5 will headline the halftime show. now speculation has shifted who they will bring out on stage as special guests. billboard magazine has learned both cardi b and travis scott are on the short list. i vote for cardi. >> maroon 5 has teamed up in the past with kendrick lamar, christina aguilera, wiz khalifa, so at this point it's anybody's guess on who might be there, but a lot of people have been reacting to this announcement, going -- so the super bowl is going to be in atlanta, was, like, usher busy? >> there aren't a ton of musical acts in atlanta, are there? >> it's really too bad there aren't a ton of musical acts. they really have gotten trashed for the selection. i think it's a great selection.

i really like maroon 5. >> i could dance all night to maroon 5 with my shoulders and not hear anything from you. >> i'm glad you're here because there is one black person with less rhythm than i on this set. >> i'll take it. next to some breaking skinny news. kiss has announced that after 45 years the band will soon be kicking off their final tour. >> so kiss hasn't revealed any tour dates but they said in a statement that their final shows will be part of a multi-year end of the road tour with dates announced on their website in a couple of weeks. >> this isn't the first time kiss called it quits, they announced their retirement back in 2000, which turned out to be is the last performance with all four original members. in other news, kiss is still performing. >> keep the makeup on. >> would you recognize them, like, at the supermarket? i wouldn't know what they look like. >> gene simmons i would.

>> yeah, okay, him. >> that was like the original rupaul, "rupaul's drag race." next, to the green light for "space jam 2." >> the hit in 1996 originally starring michael jordan is ranked as the highest grossing basketball film of all time. >> what's it -- what's it up against? >> wasn't shaq in -- >> "shazaam." something like that. producers are hoping lightning will strike twice as lebron james starring as small forward. where has bugs bunny been? >> trying to figure out when bert and ernie is going to invite him to be part of their thrupple. this morning, we're getting our first look at the teaser image released by the studio. there it is, a shot of the locker room. >> okay. all right. production slated to start next

year during the nba off-season. >> and, of course, the update on that story that rocked the world -- >> rocked. >> bert and ernie. >> former "sesame street" writer mark saltzman is now backpedalling on his suggestion that bert and ernie are gay. >> hey, bert. thinking about circles, bert. how many sides does a circle have, bert? i mean, does a circle have one side or does it have lots of sides or does it have no sides at all? huh, bert? >> huh, bert? so in an interview with the advocate, the gay magazine, saltzman said he wrote the characters as gay men based on his own relationship with his longtime partner. that triggered denials from "sesame street," and now saltzman saying his comments that bert and ernie were gay are misinterpreted and just two guys that love each other.

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i can breathe again! oh! (vo) vicks sinex. breathe on. ♪ kiki, do you love me, are you riding? ♪ say you never, ever leave are we sick of it yet? >> are you sick of my dance moves yet? >> the shoulder comes back. okay. it was that drake song that sent a very special 10-year-old girl in the national spotlight. >> sofia sanchez desperate for a new heart has now been given a whole new life. here is adrienne bankert. >> like do you have an itch? >> you might remember sofia famously messaging drake, yeah, that drake, and asking him to visit her in the hospital before her heart transplant. plus, she got that heart transplant. we're talking about her story and her journey. >> reporter: she's the little girl we met last month with the biggest penalty.

>> hi, my name's sofia, i'm 10 years old and about to turn 11. >> reporter: sofia sanchez was in desperate need of a heart transplant. it was on her birthday list along with meeting her favorite singer, drake. sofia shared her own video of drake's "in my feelings" challenge hooked to an iv dancing down the hallways of lurie children's hospital. to her surprise, drake showed up. >> oh, my god! >> you asked me to come, i'm here. >> i didn't talk for a minute. is this real or fake? >> reporter: one week later, another surprise. >> guess what? >> what? >> it happened today. you're getting a heart. congratulations! >> i'm getting a heart, mom! >> yes, baby. i'm so excited. >> oh, my god. >> i know. i love you. >> reporter: that nine-hour operation a total success. three weeks later, this is sofia today. >> now you have a new heart. >> yeah, it's so much better than my other heart. >> reporter: sofia's mom natalee

extremely grateful. >> every day gets better and better. >> i feel more alive. >> reporter: full of life and a heart for others. >> it's really important for everyone to be a donor. >> we want to say thank you to the sanchez family and lurie children's hospital here in chicago. i'm adrienne bankert, abc news. >> it's great to see that she's going to be okay. >> it is. that story, i mean, it's almost a tear-jerker because that girl is so cute and it's so precious. >> very cute. she got to meet drizzle. >> drizzy drizzy drake. >> yes, absolutely. don't miss our updates on facebook at wnnfans.com. >> we've got more news next. stay with us. my shoulders, these dance moves coming at you. >> i'm not judging. yes, i'm judging. do f youways ♪ >> this is abc's "world news now," informing insomniacs for two decades.

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good thursday morning. i'm kendis gibson. >> i'm janai norman in for diane macedo. here are some of the top headlines we're following this morning. time is running out for brett kavanaugh's accuser. she has until tomorrow to decide if she will testify monday. president trump says it's hard to believe her story. we've got a full report up next. well, the president promises residents of the carolinas lots of money from washington to recover from hurricane florence. he made the promise to survivors of florence just one day ahead of the anniversary of maria that hit puerto rico. a manhunt under way in the nation's capital for a suspect who stabbed a jogger in the popular logan neighborhood. authorities released surveillance video of a man they want to question.

a former inmate in new york state can enjoy his first full day of freedom today. valentino dixon served 27 years for a murder he did not commit. his case drew the attention of legal advocates after his golf landscape drawings led to a profile in a magazine. those are some of our top stories on this thursday, september 20th. from abc news, this is "world news now." happy to see that smile. that is the look of freedom, no doubt. he says he plans to continue to fight for others who are in jail. >> we've got more on that coming up, but first we begin this half hour with republicans vowing to move forward with a vote on supreme court nominee brett kavanaugh with and without his accuser's testimony. >> professor christine blasey ford has until tomorrow morning to decide if she'll testify on monday about allegations that she was sexual assaulted by kavanaugh. her attorney says it's unfair to ask ford to share her story without an fbi investigation.

president trump is casting doub. here is abc's jonathan karl. >> reporter: president trump says he wants to hear from brett kavanaugh's accuser but that the time to talk is running out. >> i really want to see her. i really would want to see what she has to say, but i want to give it all the time they need. if she shows up, that would be wonderful. if she doesn't show up, that would be unfortunate. >> reporter: christine blasey ford alleges brett kavanaugh tried to sexually assault her when the two of them were high school students. kavanaugh denies the charges and the president has made it clear he's inclined to believe him. >> i can only say this, he's such an outstanding man, very hard for me to imagine that anything happened. >> reporter: ford has not yet agreed to appear before the senate on monday. lawyers say it would be difficult for her to face, quote, interrogation by senators who appear to have made up their minds that she is mistaken and mixed up. that is a reference to what republican senator orrin hatch

said earlier this week. >> reporter: do you believe the accusers or no? >> well, i think she's mistaken. i think she's mistaken something. >> reporter: samantha guery, who was a friend of ford's in high school said on abc's "the briefing room" there is no way she could be mistaken. >> frankly, it makes me angry. it's a way of dismissing her and suggesting her memory isn't clear. >> reporter: the president could order an investigation but is not inclined to do so. chuck glassi grassley says he s hopes she shows up. >> we're not going to cancel any hearing until the last minute. i don't know what the last minute is. but until the last minute in hopes that she'll take us up. >> reporter: in a letter to ford's lawyers, grassley writes, anyone who comes forward with allegations of sexual assault has a right to be heard. i have also offered her the choice of testifying in either public or closed session of the hearing. grassley has also offered to

send senate aides to california where ford lives to interview her there. kavanaugh spent monday and tuesday at the white house as his life faces renewed scrutiny. even this old joke about his high school. >> what happens at georgetown prep stays at georgetown prep. that's been a good thing for all of us, i think. >> reporter: the president doesn't seem to be wavering at all in supporting his nominee. >> i think it's a very unfair thing, what's going on. [ inaudible question ] >> well, i'd have to see what she has to say. i've given her a lot of time. the senate has given her a lot of time. we continue to give her a lot of time. we've held up the whole hearing. >> reporter: judiciary chairman chuck grassley revealed that kavanaugh sat down for a transcribed interview with republican investigators on the committee on monday, and according to senator grassley, he answered all questions, quote, fully, candidly and unequivocally and that he understood if he did not tell the truth in this interview he would be charged with a felony.

jonathan karl, abc news, the white house. >> well, the reason for the rush, republicans are trying to confirm kavanaugh before the supreme court's new term gets under way next month and before the midterm elections. even the republican senators who were the first to support having the hearing are speaking out against a delay and urging ford to testify on monday. the democrats want to hear from other witnesses as well. they say republicans are not doing enough to accommodate the accuser. >> i think when she said i want to comment, i will testify, i think she really expected to be treated like a person who should be taken seriously. it's as though the republicans have no sense -- have they never dealt with sexual assault victims? do they not read anything? do they not know how hard it is for someone to come forward? apparently not. >> all 11 republicans on the judiciary committee are men and

the pressure is also intense for other senators as they weigh kavanaugh's fate. many of them are up for re-election. counselors will be available later this morning at a wisconsin software company where an employee suddenly pulled out a gun and fired at his co-workers. within eight minutes of the first 911 call, police shot and killed the gunman before they could figure out his motive. abc's alex perez has the details. >> reporter: terrifying moments at this wisconsin business complex after an employee opened fire inside the offices of this software company. >> advising they heard multiple gunshots. >> reporter: the gunman, police say, was near his office cubical when he suddenly unleashed a spray of bullets. >> the shooter had a pistol, semiautomatic pistol. we're told that he had a number of magazines, extra magazines and so on. >> reporter: frightened employees escorted out. >> we saw one person that was really bloodied being escorted out to one of the ambulances. we just saw the police officers, you know, coming and storming towards the building. >> reporter: others hiding to stay alive. >> i'm on the phone with a

caller that is hiding under his desk. >> reporter: nearby buildings placed on lockdown as police search for the suspect, tracking him down and shooting him. four people shot in the rampage, three of them still recovering in the hospital. and the suspect was hospitalized but later died. leaving investigators searching for a motive. officials here calling those officers who moved in quickly to stop the gunman heros. alex perez, abc news, middleton, wisconsin. >> our thanks to alex. we are following breaking news from outside philadelphia where an all-out manhunt is under way for a suspect police describe as armed and dangerous. police say he showed up at a retirement community where he shot and killed both of his parents and took off in his van. earlier police say he fired six shots at his ex-wife minutes after learning he lost the family home in their divorce. she was not injured. the man charged with the

abduction of college iowa student mollie tibbetts said he didn't do it. cristhian rivera pleaded not guilty in court. rivera is from mexico. he's accused of being in the u.s. illegally. he will be tried next april. well, hundreds of people gathered in florida to celebrate the life of burt reynolds, the legendary actor's funeral service was held yesterday in west palm beach. he had deep roots in that community. among those seen arriving, sally field. she starred in many movies with reynolds and they had an off-screen relationship. reynolds died two weeks ago after a heart attack at the age of 82. we're hearing from demi lovato's mother the first time since her daughter's near fatal overdose. she didn't know for two days whether lovato would survive after smoking oxycodone possibly laced with fentanyl. she says lovato made it because of her friends and those who

care about her. lovato is in rehab. the mediterranean diet may not be as suck setful at least for one segment of the population. a new study finds that women who follow the diet focused on healthy fats, plant-based foods and fish have a lower rate of stroke, but men on that same diet do not. researchers say their 17-year study shows 22% fewer strokes in women but no significant change for the men. odd. >> wow. switching to other news now, a case of punishment fitting the crime is making news near cleveland. >> a few months ago, 19-year-old cody scott used a lawnmower to shave some not so nice words into the local high school's football team's practice field. >> so a judge this week gave scott a choice, ten days in jail or mow the entire field with this old school push lawnmower. old school. >> yeah, so he settled for the hard labor.

it took him three hours but he said it was better than being locked up. lesson learned. >> yeah. >> good choice. the judge actually brought the lawnmower into the courtroom just so he knows how bad it will be. >> and this judge actually over the summer, he sentenced another young man to shovel horse poo for something the guy did in a park, saying if you act like an animal, you're going to take care of animals. coming up, mark cuban's apology. why the mavericks owner is giving millions of dollars to women's charities. first, here is a look at your thursday forecast. you're watching "world news now." hey there people eligible for medicare. gimme one minute... and i'll tell you some important things to know about medicare. first, it doesn't pay for everything.

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a herd of cows near dallas decided to break loose and take a morning stroll. the cows you see there were spotted strutting down the middle of the street in south lake, texas. as you can imagine this was utterly problematic. they backed up traffic, creating beef with some commuters who had to wait until police finally mooved on in.

they reunited them with their owner. >> are the cows still with us? i guess they are. all right. carrying on now. a massive pile-up created a mess in the meantime on a highway near st. louis. 25 vehicles including a tractor trailer were involved in three separate accidents in arnold, missouri. seven people were injured. they're expected to be okay. the wrecks shut down part of the interstate 55 there for about two hours. well, dallas mavericks owner mark cuban is working to clean up a big mess. it stemmed from an investigation which backed up claims of a long-running culture of sexual harassment in the mavericks' front office. >> as a result, cuban is contributing $10 million to further the cause of women in sports and raise awareness about domestic violence. abc's brad mielke has more on this. >> this all started with a "sports illustrated" report in which employees of the dallas mavericks said there was a

culture of harassment towards female employees. the team launched an independent investigation, which basically said, yeah, it's true, and yesterday the owner, mark cuban, went on espn to apologize. >> just the pain that they went through at my company, and i apologize to them. just never in my wildest dreams did i think that this was happening right underneath me. >> reporter: ryan smith is an abc news legal analyst. he's also the co-host of espn's "outside the lines." he told me cuban will give a $10 million donation to women's charities but will not face any penalty from the league. >> well, it's interesting. what this report said in large part, first of all, cuban himself was not guilty of any sort of misconduct. they didn't find he did anything wrong. secondly, what's interesting about this is that the report found that mark cuban didn't have a lot of interest or connection to the day-to-day operations of the business side. basketball side, contracts, he

knew everything about that, but that complex even was a couple miles away from the business side of things and he said, and also the report agreed, that he hadn't even been there but more than a few times in the last several years. so what made that all the more troubling in this situation is he left a lot of that up to the ceo. the very same ceo who according to this report had multiple accusations of misconduct and inappropriate behavior on the job. >> according to the report, that created an office where people didn't just tolerate harassment, workers thought you needed to stay silent if you wanted to get ahead. we will have much more on "start here" later this morning. check it out on apple podcasts or your favorite podcasting app. kendis, janai? >> interesting take there. appreciate it, brad. coming up, it is a different take on garden of eden. >> meet the nuns whose life calling is to grow and sell pot. next. calling is to grow and sell pot. next. are you taking the tissue test?

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i welcome back. so with the legalization of marijuana in many states,

cannibis cultivation in those states is soaring. >> deep in northern california is an unlikely group of women who believe they are now doing god's work by growing weed. here is abc's juju chang. >> bless our food and bless our folk and keep us in your grace. >> reporter: prayer, ministry -- >> lead the way over to the abby. >> reporter: -- servitude. but these are not your typical nuns. ♪ >> how much have we had today? >> reporter: meet the sisters of the valley, the self-styled weed nuns, putting their faith in the healing power of cannibis. on this sun-drenched property tucked between vineyards and apple orchards, these women grow marijuana that contains cbd touted for its healing properties. >> it's medical marijuana. over the years, they've been able to develop strains that get you super high, we've developed strains that don't get you high at all.

>> reporter: which is the variety they grow in their garden of weeden. not affiliated with any church, the sisters of the valley are selling a different kind of belief contained in their potions. >> it smells like every grateful dead concert i've ever been to. >> reporter: cbd products have become wildly popular. while a handful of states have legalized recreational marijuana, 31 including d.c. have medical marijuana laws on the books. coca-cola is considering a cbd product. in the realm of cbd, business is booming, expected to be a billion-dollar industry by 2022. but the ladies are taking it slow. >> to nourish and restore us. >> reporter: every afternoon, they break for prayer and sustenance. >> in what way is this a religious life? because some people might not agree with that assessment. >> we take a vow of service, a

vow of activism, a vow of chastity, which requires privatizing our sexuality. it doesn't require being celibate, but keeping it very private. >> no vow of poverty. >> we feel with the just distribution of mother earth's gifts, no one should live in poverty. >> reporter: sisters of the valley raked in $1.1 million last year according to the sisters, but the sisters say their lives are not dedicated just to the herb, but to the idea of their sisterhood. a women-owned and operated business that nurtures others as well. >> so are you turning patriarchy on its head? >> that's what we're trying to do. we're trying to empower women to be their best spiritually, their own best activist. we're looking to inspire women. >> for "nightline," i'm juju chang in northern california. >> you guys, i think the nuns are high.

coming up, the man getting upset by his neighborhoods doing yard work in the buff. up, the man getting oods doing s neighborhoods do yard work in the buff. ds doing yard work in the buff. ds doing yard work in the buff. s doing yard work in the buff.

♪ it's getting ♪ it's getting hot in here ♪ so hot ♪ so take off all your clothes okay, so residents of a neighborhood are a little heated over what they consider to be a particularly offensive eyesore. >> so it's their neighbor himself, and the reason, he's doing all of his yard work naked. >> is that wrong? is that socially accepted somewhere. florida. fr >> i came out, what was it, sunday night, put the trash out and i look over and he's bent over winding up his hose. that's my view in my neighborhood. >> reporter: concerned neighbors want to crack down on this naked truth. the man who lives at the end of their street is a nudist. >> he works on his car and he

does it naked, and, you know, everyone's called the police, but he's just out there doing his yard work, whatever he needs to do outside naked. >> reporter: nude yard work? neighbors can't bear it. >> have some respect for the neighborhood kids. kids catch the bus here. it's wrong. >> reporter: several people in the neighborhood have called the martin county sheriff's office, but say deputies tell them as long as he isn't touching himself inappropriately, there is nothing they can do since he's on his own property. >> i've seen these people actually stand on their front steps buck naked both of them and talk to a police officer at the sheriff's department. sheriff's department told me to turn my head. >> reporter: we found one person who doesn't have an issue with the neighbors stripped down to, well, nothing. >> i'm not one of those people that have concerns just because it's their way of life and it's on their property and i know it's legal. >> reporter: we spoke with the man in question off camera. he said he was not interested in doing an interview because he

and his family are private people. >> if they're private, you know, why are your privates on display? i mean, that's not private at all. that's very public. >> reporter: some neighbors say the next step is they're going to talk to him and see if they can work out some kind of compromise. reporting from stewart. >> if you're private, why are your privates on display in public? >> that is a gem. >> that is my favorite part of that line. >> yes. >> i see nothing wrong with it. if you want to do it, go ahead, you know? >> i mean, in a neighborhood where the full moon is out all the time. >> exactly. >> live your best life. >> go ahead and do your yard work with your weed whacker. i mean, weed whacking and all that kind of stuff. >> the neighbors want to crack down on the problem. >> we're just going to leave you with that image right there. nothing says florida more than that. that's the news for this half hour, everybody. >> remember to follow us on facebook at wnnfans.com. >> weigh in on what you think of

this this morning on "world news now," major developments in the supreme court nomination battle. >> the woman accusing nominee brett kavanaugh of assault decades ago facing mounting pressure this morning. senate republicans giving her few options other than a public hearing next week as they face outrage over how they're handling an accuser. breaking overnight, a shooting inside a retirement home. a gunman on the run after police say he killed his parents. that manhunt capping a day of deadly workplace shootings in america, including a courthouse and a software company. alarming new developments in a case of a well-known reality show doctor and his girlfriend. accused of drugging victims and assaulting them. prosecutors say more victims are coming forward. whoever did this paint job should have got an "f." can you see the problem?

this is "world news now." >> you had one job to do. one job. >> you had one job and somehow somebody did not do it very well. we'll break that down a little bit later on but we're going to start this half hour with the stalemate over the supreme court nomination. the woman accusing brett kavanaugh of sexual assault facing another deadline. >> christine blasey ford has until tomorrow morning to say if she intends to testify on monday. ford's attorney says the rush to a hearing with only ford and kavanaugh as witnesses is unfair and contrary to discovering the truth. >> as kavanaugh prepares to defend himself, republicans say there will be no fbi investigation into the allegations. abc's mary bruce on capitol hill. >> reporter: from the moment republicans like senator susan collins arrived back in washington, they have been under increasing pressure.

>> do you believe the accuser? >> i don't know enough to make a judgement at this point. >> reporter: but now those same republicans are turning up the pressure on christine blasey ford. >> there is a week between -- more than a week between when she made the allegations and the date of the hearing, which was slated for next monday. i just don't understand why the hearing shouldn't go forward. >> reporter: collins noting ford has been told she could testify in private. >> i don't think she can reject all those options because otherwise there are these very serious allegations hanging over the head of a nominee who has emphatically denied them. that's just not a good way for us to end. >> reporter: senator jeff flake, another key republican, tweeting, i now implore dr. ford to accept the invitation for monday. the committee should hear her voice. the message from gop leaders to ford, show up or we're heading for a vote.

>> she said she wanted to appear, but if she changes her mind and refuses to appear, there is not much we can do. >> reporter: but democrats say republicans are not doing enough to accommodate ford. >> the latest being a letter from the chairman to the democrats saying we have done everything we can to contact her. that is such [ bleep ] i can hardly stand it. >> reporter: democrats also want to be able to call other witnesses besides ford and kavanaugh, witnesses like mark judge. ford says he was there in the room when this alleged assault took place but judge says he has no memory of this incident saying, quote, i never saw brett act in the manner that ford describes. judge has made it clear he has no interest in testifying under oath. mary bruce, abc news, capitol hill. >> president trump says he wants to hear from the accuser but for the first time is casting doubt on her credibility. he says they'll have to make a decision of what ford says in high school proves convincing. he praised his nominee while expressing sympathy saying kavanaugh and his family are

being treated very unfairly. >> i can only say this, he is such an outstanding man, very hard for me to imagine that anything would have happened. i really want to see what she has to say, but i want to give it all the time they need. if she shows up, that would be wonderful. if she doesn't show up, that would be unfortunate. >> the president has declined to order an fbi investigation. ford's lawyer says it would be difficult for her to face interrogation by senators who appear to have made up their minds that she's mistaken and mixed up. well, the president has seen the damage caused by hurricane florence firsthand. he visited residents in the disaster zone, offering reassuring words to residents of the carolinas. here is marci gonzalez. >> reporter: president trump handing out hot meals and hugs. getting a firsthand look at the devastation left following hurricane florence. beginning in hard-hit new bern,

north carolina, the president thanking first responders and volunteer rescuers who have saved more than 4,000 people from floodwaters throughout the state. >> in moments of despair, we witness the true character of the american people. so true. citizens all across our country rally together to rescue the stranded, to protect the innocent and to restore hope to families who have experienced tremendous and unbearable loss. >> reporter: the president then visiting with residents in conway, south carolina. >> is everybody okay? >> better now. >> better now. >> better now. >> reporter: after facing criticism following hurricane maria, the president here describing florence as one of the most powerful storms to ever hit the country, promising quick and lasting federal assistance. the recovery efforts just beginning. neighborhoods and hundreds of roadways still under water, rescues ongoing and the governor of south carolina saying the worst flooding is yet to come.

and here in north carolina, some rivers still have not crested and the levels of some that have, including this one, aren't expected to start receding for days. kendis and janai, back to you. >> and extra help is on the way for some of the children affected by florence. the government is providing free meals for school kids in north carolina disaster areas. the program will help more than 280,000 children through the end of october. we are following breaking news from outside philadelphia, where a man police describe as armed and dangerous is on the run right now. police say he arrived at a retirement community where he shot and killed both of his parents and then took off in his van. cops say after he had learned of losing the family home in his divorce, he drove to that house and also fired six shots at his ex-wife. she managed to escape uninjured. on the other end of the state in western pennsylvania, police shot and killed a gunman who opened fire in the lobby of a courthouse.

witness say the gunman walked in with his gun drawn already and exchanged fire with an officer. he was due in court on a domestic violence charge. executives of a wisconsin software company say they're heartbroken after a heavily armed employee suddenly opened fire on his co-workers. police say the shooter was near his cubical when he pulled out a semiautomatic pistol and started shooting, seriously injuring three people. within eight minutes of the first 911 call, they were able to shoot the gunman. amazon apparently has big plans for its cashier-less stores. new reports as the company is considering to re-open 3000 of those stores by 2021 -- to open them up, rather. right now there are three amazon go stores. two in seattle and one in chicago. it would put amazon in direct competition with the likes of 7-eleven. analysts say the high cost of opening up new locations, though, could be a challenge.

well, in other business news, a hong kong-based airline learned a valuable lesson, everybody needs a proof reader. >> this is what the side of the planes in cathay pacific's fleet look like. beautiful. all of them except one. >> this is what passengers saw at hong kong international airport. somehow officials missed the missing "f" or didn't give one. cathay says it cost a few thousand dollars. >> use that in a sentence. >> he gave zero "fs." they joked on twitter saying this won't last long. she's going back to the shop. how did that happen? it's a massive effort to get those planes painted. >> and a few thousand dollars to fix the mistakes. >> oh, yeah. >> a big "f" mistake. >> all right.

>> it didn't even look like there was an extra space in there. >> no, not at all. >> maybe i forgot something. >> they will not forget the "f" for fired for that person. all right. coming up, forget staycations, the new travel trend is the microbreak. yeah. >> okay. >> it's a new trend. first we had, like, toast -- avocado toast and now this. we're checking out some great mini vacation ideas that will help you recharge your batteries without blowing your remaining vacation days. and later in "the mix," outrage over these taped sneakers that are retailing for over $500. >> and remember to check out our behind the scenes pictures on instagram, abcwnn. you're watching "world news now." instagram, abcwnn. you're watching "world news now." n instagram. you're watching "world news now." ok i'll admit. i didn't keep my place as clean as i would like 'cuz i'm way too busy.

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and finally, in the bedroom our natural lubrication varies every day it's normal so it's normal to do something about it ky natural feeling the lubrication you want nothing you don't get what you want well, that is well, that is a drug enforcement plane that fell out of the sky and landed in a neighborhood near houston. three dea agents were on a training mission when the plane suffered mechanical difficulties. on the way down, the plane struck at least two cars and toppled power lines.

one of the agents suffered minor injuries. no one in the cars was injured. some residents lost power for awhile. police in east st. louis, illinois say a wild shootout there was something like the sort of stuff you'd see on tv. it happened outside a gas station. >> authorities say two men got into an argument before opening fire. you can see the bullets coming through there. surveillance video showed those bullets shattering glass including the front of a drinks fridge inside. customers ducked for cover in the aisles. look at them right there. amazingly no one was hurt in that shooting. >> incredible. they're very lucky. what a wild scene there in the suburbs of st. louis. prosecutors in southern california are investigating the claims of at least six more women against a well-known surgeon who once appeared on reality tv. >> that surgeon along with his girlfriend are already charged for drugging and raping two other women. here is abc's kayna whitworth. >> reporter: a growing

investigation into a california couple accused of using their good looks and charm to prey on women. authorities say they have three more potential victims of dr. grant robicheaux and his girlfriend cerissa riley. once named orange coast's bachelor of the year seemed like the perfect catch on this reality show. >> i'm looking for a wife to raise a family with. >> reporter: but police say he has a dark side. the couple now charged with drugging and sexually assaulting two women. one of those alleged attacks filmed. >> you said it was their m.o., that they would send her out first to meet the women? >> that's what we've seen, yes. >> reporter: investigators now searching for more possible victims on thousands of videos seized from the couple. one neighbor says police have been to their apartment before. >> my mom told me a story that she heard screaming. i don't want to -- i don't know if it was a year or two ago and the police came. >> reporter: the district attorney's office tells me it's possible they could have hundreds of victims but we know

three women have come forward and we're learning of possibly three more. attorneys for the couple saying they deny all allegations of nonconsensual sex. kayna whitworth, abc news, santa ana. coming up in our next half hour, the man freed after serving time for a murder he didn't commit. how a passion for drawing led to his freedom. but first, call it the happy medium between the staycation and the full-fledged vacation. how to maximize your time off with a microbreak. we've got the details next on "world news now." my gums are irritated. i don't have to worry about that, do i? actually, you do. harmful bacteria lurk just below the gum line. crest gum detoxify works below the gum line to neutralize harmful plaque bacteria and help reverse early gum damage. and, now there's new crest gum and enamel repair... it gives you clinically proven healthier gums and helps repair and strengthen weakened enamel. gum detoxify and gum and enamel repair, from crest.

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♪ in every life we have some trouble ♪ ♪ when you worry you make it double ♪ ♪ don't worry, be happy okay, so i hate to admit it but summer is pretty much over, which means your tan is starting to fade and you're running low on vacation days. god, i hate when my tan is fading. doesn't mean you can't unplug

anyway. expedia's courtney scott is here bright and early to tell us about microbreaks. what is that? >> i'm always on the hunt for new travel trends and this year microbreaks are on the rise. they're short one to two day getaways that won't break the bank, won't eat up all your vacation days but still give you the vacation glow and recharge the batteries. >> they sound like a fad like avocado toast or something popular with people on the coastal cities. >> research shows it's not a fad. 20% increase in one-night hotel stays in 2018. and more than 1/3 of americans have already taken a microbreak in the past 12 months. we're seeing that travellers are really catching on to this trend. they may not be able to take a week-long vacation, but they want to get out and recharge their batteries. one to two days might do it. >> that might explain why a lot of websites, not only expedia, but hoteltonight and kayak, they have one-day deals where you can book something right away.

>> it's affordable. there are a lot of last-minute deals on expedia curated to your specific city and travel style. microbreaks are not only easy and hassle-free, but they're much more affordable, especially when you're traveling with your whole family. >> what are successful tips for a microbreak. >> keep it simple and central. try not to travel more than four hours from your home city. try to find a property that is centrally located. i recommend prioritizing your experiences. if your goal for your microbreak is to do a spa getaway, pick a hotel that has luxurious facilities. >> let's talk about great locations for a microbreak. >> let's start with new york. >> okay. >> so the east end of long island. my pick would be greenport on the north fork.

staying at the gallery hotel. it's a ten-room charming boutique property and it is also a contemporary art gallery. it's right on main street in greenport, so you're centrally located, you can get out on foot and explore the seaport town. it's really quaint and charming. >> as someone who lives in new york i know it takes a good two to three hours to get anywhere on long island on any given weekend. there might be other locations that are easier to get to, right? >> yeah, absolutely. west coasters, lake tahoe, i came back from a two-day break in lake tahoe after burning man. i recommend staying at the landing resort and spa. it has beach access and walking distance to heavenly ski resort. rent a paddle boat, get out on the lake, see the sights. >> after burning man, i'm sure everybody would like to go to lake tahoe and unwind for a little bit. all right. let's go down south. what's the most popular down

there? >> a great pick for a microbreak is san antonio. driving distance from dallas, austin, from houston. because of the scale of the city, it's small, it's manageable and you can see sights within a day or two. i recommend the valencia property, the valencia riverwalk right along the riverwalk so you can rent a bike, explore the alamo. >> columbus, ohio? >> an unexpected pick for a vacation, right? but a really easy drive from pittsburgh, from indianapolis, from cincinnati. you might be surprised to know that columbus has a blossoming foodie and art scene. there are farmers markets, wine festivals. the german vegetable is a really quaint and charming district, cobblestone streets and i recommend the weston there, it's a building that dates back to 1897. >> home to great football as well. our thanks to courtney scott. for more travel tips, visit our website, wnnfans.com. you're watching "world news

now." ♪ be happy you're watching "world news now." ♪ be happy

it is time for "the mix," it is time for "the mix," and time is of the essence for two master chefs at benihana's. the restaurant is marking today, september 20th, as the first ever national fried rice day. >> it is fried rice day. >> check out this. they are busy in the kitchen whipping up some fried rice. this video was taken at the 24-hour mark. they're trying to break a guinness world record title for the longest cooking marathon. they have to beat 40 1/2 hours. they've got eight more hours to go. they're cooking up fried rice for essentially two days. if you go to benihana's and order some food today, you can get some fried rice. >> when does it get interesting? >> they don't look excited. maybe the first hour or so. looks like 24 hours in, it's dry.

happy fried rice day. >> 40 hours of this. just imagine. >> it's not the same fried rice. they're making new fried rice. they're not just burning it. good to know. >> that was stimulating, benihana there. >> i love fried rice. >> i love fried rice, too, but it's like 40 hours of the same thing. what's interesting and a little bit of a ripoff, about a year ago, nordstrom got a lot of heat for selling jeans with fake mud for more than $400, well, they've one-upped themselves right now with this one. or the high-end brand golden goose has one-upped them. these are sort of crumpy old hold it together taped, distressed-looking sneakers. do you see the price tag? more than $500. $530.

they said it is an homage to the west coast skater culture. >> what? >> it comes prescuffed and even appears to have -- >> they do all the dirtying for you. >> they do all the dirty work for you so you don't need to worry about it. >> you just need to keep looking cool. just look cool. now here's one that looks cool, a man who converted a jet ski riding it on wheels down a road in jacksonville, florida. you hear a very astute kid in the car who said, that goes in water. what is that doing on the road? turns out it's legal as long as it's got the correct taillight and approved headlight. it's an '89 honda scooter. >> this is from the florida files, right? >> yes, florida man rides jet ski. >> of course. dog copies owner doing lunges. one and two and three. >> oh, he's as mad as i would be >> oh, he's as mad as i would be doing lunges.

i thought, "the red cross does katrina. they don't help single moms. hi. hi. what happened to our house last year? it flooded. and the water flooded out. yeah. the red cross arranged the hotel for us. they gave me that break, that leverage, to be able to get it together and... take care of them, you know? i feel like we've come full circle. like that! this is how i'll do it. sarah: there you go.

this morning on "world news now," carolinas' long journey back, president trump paying visit to the florence-ravaged region, handing out food and a hug. thousands still living in shelters and struggling to get back to normal. the president is also weighing in on the accusations against his pick for supreme court. saying it's hard for him to believe anything happened so many decades ago. he's taking aim yet again at his favorite target, his own attorney general, saying he doesn't have an attorney general. new this half hour, a gator alert. an alligator is on the loose in new jersey. watch out. >> yes, new jersey. authorities are warning residents and pet owners take no chances. they've got the moves like jagger and just booked one of

the biggest stages in all of entertainment. maroon 5 has big plans 4 1/2 months from now. we'll have full plans in "the skinny." it is thursday, september 20th. ♪ i don't need to try to control you ♪ >> from abc news, this is "world news now." ♪ i got the moves like jagger >> i forgot they sang that song. are those what jagger moves are like? i think mick himself might like those moves. that's great. we'll break it down. some of the reaction to the big news about maroon 5 later on in "the skinny," but we're going to start with hurricane florence. it was one week ago it started battering the carolina coast and still thousands of people remain unable to go back home. >> president trump was on the ground in both north and south carolina handing out food to families trying to rebuild after the storm washed away much of their lives. north carolina's governor says as many as 10,000 people are still in shelters. here is abc's eva pilgrim.

>> reporter: president trump in the storm zone touching down in north carolina bringing a message of support. >> to the families who have lost loved ones, america grieves with you and our hearts break for you. >> reporter: visiting the hard-hit town of new bern, where the water rose so quickly families were told by dispatchers to run to their second floors. he was there with governor roy cooper handing out hot meals and a hug at a relief center. reassuring families in this neighborhood who have a long road ahead. >> we'll be here. you know that. >> reporter: one homeowner telling him insurance wouldn't cover the damage to their property. the president answering, that's not good. >> that's not good. the insurance company doesn't want to pay. >> reporter: the president then visiting south carolina. there in conway just inland from myrtle beach.

>> i think the most exciting part is going to be that rebuild because we're going to have a lot of rebuilding. >> reporter: the white house aware the president faced criticism after hurricane maria and just last week argued the death toll was raised to make him look bad. this time, the president himself tweeting out this video message on the eve of his visit to the carolinas. >> this is a tough hurricane. one of the wettest we've ever seen from the standpoint of water. >> reporter: the president having seen it firsthand with many of the rivers still rising and the lines of those in need growing. there have been areas where the water has receded only to come back again and these waters are dangerous. a police officer actually told me not to step foot in this water behind me because it's sewage. >> eva, thank you. and today marks one year since puerto rico's hurricane maria nightmare began. the deadliest atlantic hurricane since 2004 made landfall on the island's southeast coast just before 6:00 a.m. a recent study estimated nearly 3,000 people died because of the storm.

maria also left millions of people without power for months and caused nearly $140 billion in damage. before heading to north carolina, president trump said he wanted to hear from the woman who accused the supreme court nominee brett kavanaugh of sexual assault but he also said it's very hard to imagine that anything happened. republicans have rejected the accuser's call for an fbi investigation and they now say she must let them know by tomorrow morning if she intends to testify on monday. here is lana zak. >> reporter: in a letter to the democrats on the senate judiciary committee, chairman chuck grassley accuses them of abuse of this confirmation process and now the senate is divided, should they hold a vote or press the pause button. at's wstthsuartsnd i think we o meet it. >> this nomination has been pushed and pushed and pushed with artificial deadlines. >> reporter: the attorney of blasey ford says a hearing that

has only two witnesses is not a fair or good faith investigation. >> it's as though the republicans have no sense, having never dealt with sexual assault victims. do they not read anything? do they not know how hard it is for someone to come forward? >> reporter: democrats still stung by republicans refusing to even meet with merrick garland, president obama's supreme court nominee in 2016, are upset that republicans are now rushing to get brett kavanaugh's confirmation done before the midterm elections and president trump is urging both patience and speed. >> i want to give it all the time they need. they've already given it time. they've delayed a major hearing. >> chairman grassley is under increased pressure from his fellow senate republicans to move forward with the nomination process and he says that judge kavanaugh has denied these allegations under oath. kendis? janai? >> our thanks to lana zak there in washington. so far attorney general jeff sessions is not responding to

one of president trump's fiercest attacks yet. in an interview with the publication "the hill" the president said, quote, i don't have an attorney general. he also slammed sessions' performance at his confirmation hearing, saying he seemed mixed up and confused and complained about how sessions is handling immigration at the border. >> i'm disappointed in the attorney general for many reasons, and you understand that. >> the president has been furious over sessions' decision to recuse himself from the russia investigation. when asked if he'd fire him, the president said, we'll see what happens. even after the latest criticism, sessions praised the president in a speech as a strong leader. an attorney for wanda barzee says the woman who helped kidnap elizabeth smart now just wants to be left alone. the 72-year-old barzee was released from a prison in utah after serving 15 years. they had miscalculated her sentence and would be set free six years earlier than expected.

she just undergo mental health treatment and is barred from contacting smart and her family as well. smart says she still believes barzee is dangerous. >> it certainly has been a roller coaster of emotion and at the same time i've received an outpouring support of love and prayers. it makes such a huge difference. >> barzee will be under federal supervision for the next five years and she could be returned to prison if she violates the terms of her release. singer bono says the pope is aghast about the sex abuse scandals. the u2 front man had a private meeting with francis yesterday. it seems sometimes abusive priests are more protected than their victims. the irish singer said the comment brought a look of sincere pain to the pope's face. francis is under pressure to reveal what he knows about abusers inside the church. nike sales are not suffering

despite the controversy over the new kaepernick ad campaign. >> researchers say the company sold out of 61% more merchandise in the ten days after the first spot aired. that's compared to the ten days before its labor day weekend debut. nike's stock has also shot up 7% after an initial drop-off. atlantic city, new jersey, has seen its share of snakes and sharks, as you know, now the area is on the lookout for an alligator. >> the 3 to 4-foot-long reptile was spotted outside a home tuesday. residents are being warned to keep small pets inside and stay away from the gator. if they see it, don't go looking for it. >> they think it was a pet that just kind of outgrew the household. >> whose pet? find that person first. >> somebody's pet that outgrew. all right. coming up, a wrongly convicted man is finally free after nearly three decades and it's his love of drawing that helped lead to his release. plus, "space jam 2" has been

cleared for countdown. what we're now hearing about the highly anticipated sequel to the 1996 michael jordan classic later in "the skinny." 1996 michael jordan classic later in "the skinny." what's the #1 new skincare product in 2018? olay whips. absorbs faster than the $100, $200, and even $400 cream. feels amazing. i really really love this. i will 100% swap up my moisturizer. can i have it? olay whips.

around here, nobody evreally? it i didn't do it so when i heard they added ultra oxi to the cleaning power of tide, i knew it was just what we needed so now we can undo all the tough stains that nobody did dad? i didn't do it it's got to be tide

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dozens of elderly people are dozens of elderly people are displaced this morning after this fire broke out on the roof of their apartment complex in southeast washington, d.c. some residents say fire alarms and sprinklers never went off so they didn't leave their apartments right away and were trapped, but look at this, marines from a nearby barracks ran to the scene, joining firefighters going door-to-door and rescuing those who needed help getting out. smoke and flames from the fire were visible from the capitol. four people suffered minor injuries. a manhunt is under way for the suspect who stabbed a jogger to death. >> this was horrible. it happened in a popular neighborhood, logan circle, in what police believe was probably a random attack. here is pierre thomas. >> reporter: d.c. police desperately searching for this man, a potential suspect in the stabbing death of a woman whose killing has shocked her community. wendy karina martinez, 35, seen here jogging, staggered into

this restaurant after being attacked. >> there were customers in the carryout at the time. she collapsed. they tried to provide medical assistance to her. unfortunately, she was taken to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead. >> reporter: martinez had been recently engaged. the brazen nature of the attack has police offering a $25,000 reward. >> we believe a single assailant stabbed her. >> reporter: police have recovered the suspected murder weapon, a knife, and they're asking for the public's help. they're deeply concerned the murder was so brazen and in a very public place. pierre thomas, abc news, washington. >> such a horrible thing. you live in d.c. now. i used to live in d.c. for several years. this is an area that has a thriving night life as well. >> right. so many people around that area all times of day and night. it's terrifying. >> i've jogged in that area. it's absolutely terrifying for everybody who lives there. meantime, back in new york state, a man there is enjoying

his freedom after 27 years in prison for a murder he didn't commit. >> valentino dixon was all smiles. while behind bars he drew golf landscapes which led to a profile in "golf digest" magazine. that drew the attention of an advocacy group. their efforts led to dixon's release. >> this is the greatest feeling in the world. it's undescribable and we've been waiting 27 years for this moment. the fight doesn't stop now, you know? i have a bigger fight. i'm going to be fighting to help those that are still locked up that should be out. >> another man pleaded guilty for the murder dixon was convicted of. he's already in prison for a previous attempted murder conviction. this story and the series of events that led to him getting out, incredible. >> that, indeed. glad to know that he's out. all right. when we come back, super bowl halftime performers revealed.

>> and more about bert and ernie. "the skinny" is next. nkles.♪ ♪he's gotta play it cool to seal the deal.♪ ♪better find a way to smooth things over.♪ ♪if only harry used some... ♪...bounce, to dry. ♪yeah! ♪he would be a less wrinkly, and winning at life.♪

okay, what's in the abc news "start here" podcast? okay, what's in the abc news "start here" podcast? let's just say it's the most interesting, free rolling original news podcast you'll listen to today. is that too much? a little over the top? >> maybe just a little. >> yeah, thought so. ♪ kiss me till you're drunk and i'll show you ♪ time now for "the skinny." you can hear them, maroon 5 with a new gig next year, super bowl liii. you have not visited a club in the last five years. >> come on. you're so right. it's always the shoulders. it's always the shoulders. you're awful.

the nfl has announced that adam lavine and crew also known as maroon 5 will headline the halftime show. now speculation has shifted who they will bring out on stage as special guests. billboard magazine has learned both cardi b and travis scott are on the short list. i vote for cardi. >> maroon 5 has teamed up in the past with kendrick lamar, christina aguilera, wiz khalifa, so at this point it's anybody's guess on who might be there, but a lot of people have been reacting to this announcement, going -- so the super bowl is going to be in atlanta, was, like, usher busy? >> there aren't a ton of musical acts in atlanta, are there? >> it's really too bad there aren't a ton of musical acts. they really have gotten trashed

for the selection. i think it's a great selection. i really like maroon 5. >> i could dance all night to maroon 5 with my shoulders and not hear anything from you. >> i'm glad you're here because there is one black person with less rhythm than i on this set. >> i'll take it. next to some breaking skinny news. kiss has announced that after 45 years the band will soon be kicking off their final tour. >> so kiss hasn't revealed any tour dates but they said in a statement that their final shows will be part of a multi-year end of the road tour with dates announced on their website in a couple of weeks. >> this isn't the first time kiss called it quits, they announced their retirement back in 2000, which turned out to be the last performance with all four original members. in other news, kiss is still performing. >> keep the makeup on. >> would you recognize them, like, at the supermarket? i wouldn't know what they look like. >> gene simmons i would.

>> yeah, okay, him. >> that was like the original rupaul, "rupaul's drag race." next, to the green light for "space jam 2." >> the hit in 1996 originally starring michael jordan is ranked as the highest grossing basketball film of all time. >> what's it -- what's it up against? >> wasn't shaq in -- >> "shazaam." something like that. producers are hoping lightning will strike twice as lebron james starring as small forward. where has bugs bunny been? >> trying to figure out when bert and ernie is going to invite him to be part of their thrupple. this morning, we're getting our first look at the teaser image released by the studio. there it is, a shot of the locker room. >> okay. all right. production slated to start next year during the nba off-season.

>> and, of course, the update on that story that rocked the world -- >> rocked. >> bert and ernie. >> former "sesame street" writer mark saltzman is now backpedalling on his suggestion that bert and ernie are gay. >> hey, bert. thinking about circles, bert. how many sides does a circle have, bert? i mean, does a circle have one side or does it have lots of sides or does it have no sides at all? huh, bert? >> huh, bert? so in an interview with the advocate, the gay magazine, saltzman said he wrote the characters as gay men based on his own relationship with his longtime partner. that triggered denials from "sesame street," and now saltzman saying his comments that bert and ernie were gay are misinterpreted and just two guys that love each other.

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i can breathe again! oh! (vo) vicks sinex. breathe on. ♪ kiki, do you love me, are you riding? ♪ kiki, do you love me, are you riding? ♪ say you never, ever leave are we sick of it yet? >> are you sick of my dance moves yet? >> the shoulder comes back. okay. it was that drake song that sent a very special 10-year-old girl in the national spotlight. >> sofia sanchez desperate for a new heart has now been given a whole new life. here is adrienne bankert. >> like do you have an itch? >> you might remember sofia famously messaging drake, yeah, that drake, and asking him to visit her in the hospital before her heart transplant. plus, she got that heart transplant. we're talking about her story and her journey. >> reporter: she's the little girl we met last month with the

biggest personality. >> hi, my name's sofia, i'm 10 years old and about to turn 11. >> reporter: sofia sanchez was in desperate need of a heart transplant. it was on her birthday list along with meeting her favorite singer, drake. sofia shared her own video of drake's "in my feelings" challenge hooked to an iv dancing down the hallways of lurie children's hospital. to her surprise, drake showed up. >> oh, my god! >> you asked me to come, i'm here. >> i didn't talk for a minute. is this real or fake? >> reporter: one week later, another surprise. >> guess what? >> what? >> it happened today. you're getting a heart. congratulations! >> i'm getting a heart, mom! >> yes, baby. i'm so excited. >> oh, my god. >> i know. i love you. >> reporter: that nine-hour operation a total success. three weeks later, this is sofia today. >> now you have a new heart. >> yeah, it's so much better than my other heart. >> reporter: sofia's mom natalee extremely grateful. >> every day gets better and

better. >> i feel more alive. >> reporter: full of life and a heart for others. >> it's really important for everyone to be a donor. >> we want to say thank you to the sanchez family and lurie children's hospital here in chicago. i'm adrienne bankert, abc news. >> it's great to see that she's going to be okay. >> it is. that story, i mean, it's almost a tear-jerker because that girl is so cute and it's so precious. >> very cute. she got to meet drizzle. >> drizzy drizzy drake. >> yes, absolutely. don't miss our updates on facebook at wnnfans.com. >> we've got more news next. stay with us. my shoulders, these dance moves coming at you. >> i'm not judging. yes, i'm judging. ♪ because i want you and i need you and i'm down for you always >> this is abc's "world news now," informing insomniacs for two decades.

america. >> stay with us for "good morning america." making news in america this morning, a new deadline in the supreme court showdown between nominee brett kavanaugh and the woman accusing him of sexual assault. the vote now expected to be held and the new demand from the accuser's attorney. president trump in the storm zone making a new pledge to the hurricane victims as we learn just how much of an economic toll the storm may take. even driving up the price of cars for people far away from the floods. caught on camera, the jogger murdered in a popular washington, d.c. neighborhood. this morning the urgent search for her attacker. the clues police have now. 27 years later, a man wrongfully convicted for murder walks out of prison a free man. how his artwork played a role in his release. plus, the health alert about