making news in america this morning, state of emergency in new orleans. hurricane watches now in effect along the louisiana coast. the city already swamped. what we're learning about the dangerous storm bearing down and concerns about whether the levees will hold. new turmoil in the ranks of the pentagon. the allegations against a military general nominated for the joint chiefs of staff. breaking overnight, a disturbing discovery in the months long search for a missing mother of four who gave birth to twins just before her disappearance. a dash for cash. an armored truck spills its load leading to this highway frenzy. how police are trying to get that cash back. roadside shocker. a mother driving with an inflatable pool on the roof. her two kids inside the pool.

and meet the football coach born with no arms or legs honored with the prestigious award. >> who says i can't? nobody. yeah! >> his message this morning. good thursday morning, everyone. thanks for joining us. we begin with the line of storms now swirling in the gulf of mexico. forecasters say the storm system could become a hurricane as early as tomorrow and flooding is a major concern. that system has already triggered this waterspout that touched down on lake pontchartrain. >> the big question now is whether the post-katrina $14 billion upgrade to the levees around new orleans completed less than a year ago will hold up. abc's trevor ault begins our coverage. trevor, good morning. >> reporter: good morning, janai and kenneth. this very well could be an early start to the hurricane season for the gulf. some areas like in new orleans have seen well over half a foot

of rain and that's only from round one in this series of storms. this morning parts of new orleans underwater. heavy downpours turning the streets and sidewalks into rivers. the french quarter submerged. >> this is ridiculous. this looks like venice out here. everybody need a boat or something. this is like sad. >> reporter: authorities declaring a state of emergency as the levee system faces one of its biggest tests since hurricane katrina. the mississippi river projected to reach its highest level in nearly 70 years. this waterspout spotted on lake pontchartrain, winds and rains tearing through homes and officials believe this first storm may just be a warning shot before the next wave arrives possibly as a hurricane. >> with more rain in store for the city of new orleans, this is the time to help us clear debris in front of catch basins. >> reporter: the latest forecast showing what will likely become a tropical storm thursday afternoon and a category 1 hurricane late friday or early saturday. then making landfall somewhere between houston and new orleans. right now authorities asking people to shelter in place but

some parts of louisiana are already ordering evacuations. with the memory of hurricane harvey still fresh, texas elevating the state of emergency response center in preparation. >> we want to make sure that the state of texas is doing all we can to prepare in advance for this storm. >> reporter: this storm is expected to bring 10 to 15 inches of rain across parts of the gulf with some areas seeing as much as 20 inches and in new orleans they already got eight inches of rain on wednesday in a span of just three hours. janai, kenneth. >> looks like it's shaping up to be a long weekend. trevor, thank you. we'll take a closer look at the forecast in less than five minutes. e second highest ranking loping officer in the military is facing sexual misconduct allegations. general john hyten's accuser came forward after he was nominated to be vice chairman of the joint chiefs of staff. the accuser is a military officer who tells the associated press that hyten subjected her to unwanted advances and tried

to ruin her career when she rebuffed him. a military investigation reportedly found insufficient evidence to charge hyten. just last week the admiral chosen to become the top officer in the navy withdrew his name because of his connection to a former staffer accused of misconduct. now to the firestorm over secretary of labor alex acosta and the plea deal he brokered years ago for accused child molester jeffrey epstein. acosta is defending the deal he reached while serving as u.s. attorney in florida in 2008. but this morning his former colleague is coming forward accusing the secretary of rewriting history. new video overnight of protests outside the department of labor in washington. demonstrators are demanding secretary acosta resign while projecting the words acosta enables sex trafficking onto the building. it comes after acosta defended a controversial plea deal his office negotiated with wealthy financier jeffrey epstein in 2008 when acosta was a u.s. attorney in florida. >> a good prosecutor will tell

you that these cases are complex, especially when they involve children. >> reporter: court documents in that case showed more than 30 women accused epstein of sexually abusing them as teenagers. the deal he cut with acosta's office allowed him to plead guilty to lesser charges spending just 13 months in county jail and still being allowed to travel to his office for work during that time. >> we did what we did because we wanted to see epstein go to jail. >> reporter: the deal faces new scrutiny after epstein was indicted this week by federal prosecutors in new york. the indictment claims epstein hired teen girls to give him massages at his mansions in manhattan and palm beach allegedly assaulting them. some of the allegations in the new case were also part of the investigation that acosta oversaw. the secretary was asked wednesday if he would make the same deal now. >> today's world does not allow some of the victim shaming that could have taken place at trial 12 years ago. >> reporter: the alleged victims in the 2008 case say they were not told about the deal the government cut with epstein or any of its terms.

acosta wednesday urged other victims to come forward but stopped short of apologizing. >> they say they went to you looking for help, and they didn't hear back from you until it was too late. do you owe them an apology? >> so you're raising the issue of victim notification. the career prosecutor in this case had a difficult decision to make, and she didn't make it alone. >> reporter: but this morning the former state attorney in palm beach is fighting back saying mr. acosta's recollection of this matter is completely wrong. the u.s. attorney's office produced a 53-page indictment that was abandoned after secret negotiations between mr. epstein's lawyers and mr. acosta. at the time epstein had formed a legal dream team including alan dershowitz who insists the 2008 plea deal was fair. >> they got him to be a registered sex offender, to pay vast amounts of money to all of the women and to get him to plead and go to jail. >> reporter: michelle licata says she was 16 when a friend recruited her to give epstein massages. she never got a chance to

confront him in court because of the plea deal. >> i really just wanted to be like, hey, do you remember me? of course not because it's been so many other girls you couldn't even put on your hands like, oh, yeah, i remember that one. i ruined her life. >> reporter: epstein has pleaded not guilty to the new charges. white house chief of staff mick mulvaney is dismissing a report that he wants acosta to be fired. mulvaney says the relationship is, quote, excellent. breaking overnight, a major development in the disappearance of a mother of four who gave birth to twins in december. police in kentucky say they found human remains about 30 miles from lexington on the property of a potential suspect's family. savannah spurlock was last seen on surveillance video in january leaving a lexington bar with three men. also breaking overnight, an actor from the classic movie "willy wonka and the chocolate factory" has died. >> holy toledo, what's happening to your face? >> cool it, dad. let me finish. >> yeah, but your face is turning blue.

violet, you're turning violet, violet. >> what are you talking about? >> so iconic there. denise nickerson played the gum-smacking character violet. she had been battling health issues recently including a stroke last year. she was 62 years old. time now for a look at your weather for this thursday morning. all eyes on this storm in the gulf which is going to continue to strengthen as we head throughout our thursday likely becoming tropical storm barry by the end of the day. the rest of the southeast still dealing with some spotty thunderstorms ahead of that cold front. now this system expected to strengthen into perhaps even a category 1 hurricane before making landfall in louisiana. moving northward bringing lots of heavy rainfall and storms in the northeast with that same cold front. some of those storms could be severe into the afternoon and evening. i'm accuweather meteorologist adam del rosso. coming up, the top five cities in america to visit on your vacation.

you may be surprised. you may be excited at number one. but first the bizarre car crash in arizona involving this huge cactus. how did this happen? and how an intruder was able to sneak into buckingham palace

an arizona driver found himself in a sticky spot. a cactus slammed through his windshield after he crashed on a street in tucson. he suffered only minor injuries but is charged with driving under the influence. if he needed some water, there was probably a lot in that one because that type of cactus can weigh 2,000 pounds. flames engulfed a charter bus filled with international college students near boston. the driver says he thought he had a blown tire and when he pulled over, those flames you

just saw broke out. firefighters smashed through the windows to extinguish the fire. everyone got out in time but students say it was terrifying. >> the smell was pretty bad. the fire was getting bigger and bigger and almost like half of the bus was burned, already burned so really scared. >> about 20 people were on board. they're all okay. the bus company is trying to determine what started the fire. a mystery is deepening in greece where authorities say an american scientist found dead was the victim of foul play. police on the island of crete found the body of 59-year-old suzanne eaton inside a world war ii bunker. authorities now say she was the victim of a criminal act. she's been missing since july 2nd after apparently going for a run. no arrests have been made. there are questions this morning about how an intruder got into the grounds of buckingham palace. police say a 22-year-old man climbed the front gates early yesterday while queen elizabeth was home and sleeping at the time. a published report says it was four minutes before the man was

caught. he wasn't armed, and he was taken into custody. it happened almost 37 years to the day after a man broke into the palace and actually got into the queen's bedroom before being arrested. if you're planning a vacation, "travel and leisure" magazine is out with its new list of the best cities in america to visit based on a readers survey. coming in number five is new new york. in fourth place is the beautiful city of savannah. third, new orleans. making second place, santa fe, new mexico and number one, charleston and the great state of south carolina on top once again. >> you know how much he loves the great state of south carolina. >> my favorite city. coming up, the health headline about fruit juice and cancer. also ahead, the football coach born with no arms or legs and the honors he's now received. but first the doctor who says she was humiliated for wearing this outfit on a plane. she describes how she was treated. but first the doctor who says she was humiliated for wearing this outfit on a plane. she describes how she was

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we're back with this kiddie pool on an audi. police arrested the illinois mother who was behind the wheel. they say she was driving with the pool on the roof and her two kids inside it. they say she was using them to keep it from blowing away while driving home. she is charged with child endangerment. a chain reaction crash was caught on camera in houston. an 18-wheeler hit a car. that impact triggered another crash sending an suv flipping over several times down the highway. one person was taken to the hospital. the crash is under investigation. we turn now to the doctor who says she was humiliated by american airlines because of what she was wearing. she said she was forced to cover up. >> abc's victor oquendo reports the woman claims her race was a factor. >> reporter: this american airlines passenger is outraged after flight attendants alleged lihue mill yachted her because of what she was wearing. she believes it only happened because she's black. >> i was walked down the aisle with my head down. i didn't want to see another passenger's face.

it felt like this walk of shame. >> reporter: dr. tisha rowe, a houston family physician, and her 8-year-old sone were returning from vacation flying from jamaica to miami and they just boarded when she says the pilot who was white authorized her removal from the plane. >> you have pulled me off the plane to ask three times do i have a jacket. in a tropical climate? there has to be more to this. >> reporter: she says the flight attendant also black requested that she cover up. eventually she asked for a blanket and ordered to stay on the flight. later posting these images online drawing immediate backlash against the airline. in a statement american airlines telling abc, we apologize to dr. rowe and her son for their experience and have fully refunded their travel. american airlines plans on hiring a chief inclusion and diversity officer. dr. rowe says she just doesn't want another woman of color to let two enor oqudo, ws, miami. laver mix-up in

planting embry ong mother. a california couple had to figt worn to a new york couple who contacted cha fertility because their twin boys were not asian like them. it turns out, the boys weren't even related to each other and one of them belongs to the california couple who is now speaking out. >> i almost fell to the ground. i felt my heart beating outside of my body. i was crying. i was hysterically crying and i was just lashing out. >> just can't imagine. the couples underwent the ivf procedure on the same day. the new york couple still doesn't know what happened to their embryos, and there's no word on the identity of the second baby. before you grab that glass of juice this morning, you may want to hear what researchers are now saying. a new study finds that drinking even a small glass of 100% fruit juice per day can increase your overall risk for cancer by 18% and by 22% for breast cancer. those results involve sugary drinks only.

no increased risk of cancer was found in artificially sweetened drinks. sports' biggest night brought all-star athletes to hollywood for the espy awards. the night started with tracy morgan's monologue that left him trending on twitter and not in a good way. then it was time to celebrate the winners as the world cup champion u.s. women's soccer team took the award for best team. one of the most emotional moments was when high school football coach rob mendez born without arms or legs was honored with the jimmy v award for perseverance. >> when you dedicate yourself to something and open your mind to different possibilities and focus on what you can do instead of what you can't do, you really can go places in this world. i made it this far. who says i can't go further. that's my message tonight. who says i can't? nobody. yeah! >> we told you about him before. he is such an inspiration.

also last night basketball legend bill russell took home the courage award. the activi a fmer nba stared tr bryant, samuel l. jackson and former president obama. it was quite a show. >> big honors there. and up next in "the pulse," the dog who took on a bear and won. also ahead, a dash for cash on this highway after an armored truck spills its bills. would you give the money back? plus, a young baseball coach making a statement. making a statement. with uncontrolled moderate-to-severe eczema, or atopic dermatitis, you feel like you're itching all the time. and you never know how your skin will look. because deep within your skin an overly sensitive immune system could be the cause. so help heal your skin from within, with dupixent. dupixent is not a steroid, and it continuously treats your eczema even when you can't see it. at 16 weeks, nearly four times more patients taking dupixent saw clear or almost clear skin

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lantern was actually a bird feeder but you see what happened there. he took it down and enjoying a snack when riley the oghaedd med the bear in the gut forcing him to take ofways chec kids when they're outside in the pool, so i guess he saw the bear and came running and chased him out. this dog is getting a steak dinner. >> we agree with the outcome. riley was the winner all the way. also the winner our graphics department because this was incredible. >> i love that. riley said not today, bear. >> not today. next a russian lake is the newest example of things not being what they seem on instagram. >> the siberian lake is attracting visitors because of its turquoise water but russian officials are now telling people to stay away. they say the man-made lake is that color because of the waste from a toxic coal plant that is dumped there. >> but it's beautiful. >> it's like, ooh, and i feel like this mud mask. >> yuck. >> feels so great. >> yuck. >> it ain't mud.

all right, there was a real cash grab along the highway near atlanta. >> wow, drivers put on the brakes when an armored truck spilled money all over interstate 285. look at this. people just pulled over. an estimated $175,000 flew out and now police are asking everyone in this video, look at that truck swerving to get over. give the money back. >> so far at least two people have returned some cash including one who picked up $2100, so what would you do? >> tell us. tweet us. would you give it back? >> let us know, yeah. finally a pint-size pitching coach. >> this 6-year-old paid a visit to the mound during a baseball game in michigan. the kalamazoo growlers call him coach drake. and he's all business. >> all business. >> during his walk from the dugout. >> it's a gimmick by the team but coach drake is taking his duty serious. it's unclear what he said to the players at the mound. when the chat was over he gave the players a little motivation right there. smack on the back side. good game, huh?e with his his fist clenched.

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. making news right now at 4:27. there's word that the i.c.e. raids will happen this weekend. agents will target ten cities, including san francisco. >> we have information on an acid trip that went very bad. a guard ended up stabbed. a ban on vaping devices in san francisco will be in the hands of voters. a measure to overturn it has qualified for the november ballot. good morning, it's thursday july 11th. >> it's early, 4:27, but you're here, we're here. let's get over to mike. >> let's take a look and show you what's knowing going on wit temperatures. let me see if i can get the system to load better. doesn't seem to want to get up

this morning. let's take a look at our temper, sorry aboutthat. we'r dealing 50s to mid 60s out there. san ramon, 66. not as warm as it was yesterday but it will be warmer inland later today. you can see 90s showing up in antioch, 83, san jose, near 90 in concord. 68 san francisco, 75 in oakland to near 80 in fremont. we'll take a look at that planner coming up next and the hot weekend on the way, also. good morning, mike. we're looking at a little bit of a slowdown. we possibly have a cash westbound 205 near the 580 merge. we're seeing red on our traffic maps. possibly having the collision on the eastbound side as well. a couple calls into chp. they're sorting out the location. i'll have an update as soon as that's confirmed. the other slow spot this morning, the cash lanes for the bay bridge toll plaza seeing a

stackup, but no slowdowns if you're using fast track. aids on thousands of undocumented families are set to begin this sunday. back on after the president delayed them last month. >> san francisco is one of the cities that is supposed to be targeted according to the "new york times." we're tracking the developing details. >> reporter: these developments from the "new york times" came out late last night. the report says i.c.e.'s goal is to deport the families as fast as possible. it will be in ten major cities, including san francisco, also atlanta and houston. family members arrested together will be held in family detention centers in pennsylvania and texas according to the times. president trump had previously postponed the raid to give lawmakers time to work out their owra taetinmigrants. right now, i.c.e. is not commenting on the specific

details on the operation ahead. the plan is being heavily criticized by democratic lawmakers and some mayors who say they'll not cooperate with i.c.e. many advocates have started campaigns to make sure people know their rights. i.c.e. agents are not legally allowed to forcibly enter someone's home. abc 7 news. thank you. >> it's 4:30, if you're just waking up to us, sorry about that. not that i'm ashamed by what we're doing, i'm sorry you have to be up. >> here's what's going on with live doppler 7. a little bit of fog that's trying to push in towards petaluma. we'll see if that works its way up to santa rosa. concentration of clouds between the san rafael bridge and the d dumbarton bridge, you can see how it's squeezing d