this morning on "world news now" -- state of emergency. the michigan governor apologizing last night for the mishandling of the water crisis in flint. this as president obama meets with the city's mayor to see what can be done to help the children exposed to lead. sarah palin coming out last night with guns blazing. plenty of targets for the tea party favorite. and nobody off limits as she endorses donald trump for the presidency. her colorful comments just ahead. and new this half hour, the hollywood star's heroic actions. >> jamie foxx pulling a victim of a car crash from the burning wreckage. and now speaking out about the incident happening right in front of his home. and another hollywood star called out for being tone deaf. zac efron's racially insensitive post on martin luther king day. what he said that led to a

backlash from fans and a mea culpa from the star. that's later in "the skinny" on this wednesday january 20th. >> announcer: from abc news, this is "world news now." good wednesday morning. i'm kendis gibson. >> and i'm reena ninan. we begin with breaking news from northwestern pakistan where a terror attack is unfolding at a university. >> now, we're told that many people have been killed and more casualties are expected as police and army troops exchange gunfire with the attackers. witnesses say they've heard several explosions. two gunmen among those killed as others continued firing. the victims include students and professors. >> fog and low visibility have been hampering military and police efforts to regain control on the campus. but we're told it is now being searched door to door. >> now, we should point out the university is located about 20 miles from peshawar, where a similar attack by the taliban in 2014 left more than 100 people

dead. we're going to continue to monitor this breaking situation in pakistan. >> also new this morning, the governor of michigan speaking about the water crisis in flint. >> rick snyder has been strongly criticized for his response to this disaster. there have been calls for his arrest but he's now apologized and pledged another $28 million to fix the problem. it's been an ongoing crisis for several months. and we get the very latest right now from abc's elizabeth hur. >> i'm sorry most of all that i let you down. you deserve better. >> reporter: michigan governor rick snyder responding to critics and vowing to take action. >> i'm increasing the support from the mission -- michigan national guard starting tomorrow to ensure that every home we need to visit in flint gets visited as soon as possible. >> reporter: national guard troops are now on the ground passing out water and filters. but for some the damage has been done. >> our people need financial aid. we need it now. >> reporter: lawyers representing families from

flint, michigan confirm they have now filed three class action lawsuits seeking damages and an injunction to help families billed for water they could not use. this announcement comes as angry residents continue to rally, some even demanding the governor be arrested. the state is now under investigation after the city of flint changed its water source from lake huron to the flint river to save money. that change exposing residents to toxic levels of lead. but officials allegedly waiting five months to warn the public. >> we're paying for this water. and this water is poison. >> reporter: president obama, who earlier declared a state of emergency, on tuesday appointed an official to lead the federal response and met with the flint mayor in d.c. even though the water source has been switched back, we're told the pipe system is so badly damaged the water is still not safe to drink. elizabeth hur, abc news, new york. well, donald trump is celebrating a major endorsement this morning saying he's honored

that conservative favorite sarah palin has thrown her support his way. palin made her announcement last night in iowa, where trump has been locked in a dead heat with ted cruz. her speech was classic palin, marked by slams at the obama administration and the republican establishment. >> are you ready to stump for trump? i'm here to support the next president of the united states, donald trump! >> because a weak-kneed capitulator in chief has decided that america will lead from behind. and he who would negotiate deals kind of with the skills of a community organizer maybe organizing a neighborhood tea, we're paying for. some of their squirmishes that have been going on for centuries where they're fighting each other and yelling allah akbar calling jihad on each other's heads forever and ever. like i've said before, let them duke it out and let allah sort

it out. this election is more than just your basic abcs, anybody but clinton. it's more than that this go-around. how about the rest of us? right-winging bitter-clinging proud clingers of our guns, our honor, our religions and our constitution. tell us that we're not right enough? yeah, coming from the establishment. right. >> you know, i thought it was interesting, she was asked if she -- what department she would like to be head of if trump wins and she said energy because oil and gas are her strong suits. and then she said she would dismantle the program. >> i think what's her strong suit is that outfit. i'm just going to be superficial here. what do we think? is that like from the marilyn mccoo line of clothing? what do you think of -- >> somebody tweeted out it's from a concert of earth, wind and fire in the 1970s. >> it kind of does. it's pretty cool. by the way, this is how the "daily news" of new york on its cover for this morning regarded the endorsement.

"i'm with stupid." >> it says what, "hate minds think alike. palin endorses trump." >> it can at least be entertaining over the next couple of weeks. all right. in the democratic race in the meantime new poll numbers show bernie sanders trouncing hillary clinton by 27 points. and with her lead in iowa also shrinking a little bit, clinton is upping her verbal attacks against sanders. abc's cecilia vega has details. >> reporter: losing ground in iowa and new hampshire, hillary clinton now issuing this admission. there's a real possibility we could lose those contests. her desperate e-mail plea to donors a stark contrast to this. a massive crowd for bernie sanders. in iowa the vermont senator gloating. >> today the inevitable candidate does not look quite so inevitable as she did 8 1/2 months ago. >> reporter: that new poll especially damaging to clinton in a state where she has been on the offensive, dispatching her

most powerful surrogates from bill -- >> you need to talk to everybody in new hampshire and bring it home for her again. >> reporter: -- to chelsea. >> senator sanders wants to dismantle obamacare. >> reporter: but clinton has said she's prepared for the long fight ahead, saying she's done it before. >> i want to win. but i have a very long view about this. look, i campaigned until june last time, as we all remember. >> reporter: and the clinton campaign calling these polls meaningless. now, around this same time back in 2008 there were some polls that showed barack obama with a double-digit lead in new hampshire. we all know that hillary clinton ended up winning that state. cecilia vega, abc news, new york. driver fatigue is suspected as the cause of a deadly greyhound crash in northern california. passengers reported that the driver appeared to doze off moments before the accident. this is south of san jose. two women died when the bus overturned. the ntsb is now investigating this crash. weather experts are using every strong word they can to

describe a snowstorm taking aim at much of the east later this week. one calling it a doozy. the storm is moving slowly but packing a huge punch of frigid temperatures. plenty of snow and gusting winds. road crews are all ready to work, trying to minimize dangerous conditions. you didn't like the doozy line, huh? >> i do. it's a technical term for a storm. it might not be cooperstown, but it is a baseball hall of fame. pete rose will be inducted into the cincinnati reds hall of fame this summer, and the team will also retire his number. just last month the baseball commissioner decided not to lift rose's lifetime ban from betting on baseball. the reds say that's one reason they're making the announcement now and they have the commissioner's permission to do so. well, the carolina panthers may be hovering around another trip to the super bowl. but they won't be doing it on hoverboards. coach ron rivera has banned the motorized scooters from the team's facilities. >> yeah. they've been very popular with panthers players.

rivera says someone tipped him to the rash of hoverboard fires and he saw the youtube videos. >> he banned it. so i'm kind of scared to keep it at home now. so i kind of keep it in the hallway, away from everything. just because if it decide to blow up on me. >> so he says he even caught some players drag-racing in the hallways with it. >> so they would go to and from practices on hoverboards? >> yeah. >> i would be upset as a coach. you can walk. it's good exercise, folks. or jog. >> i think they exercise enough. >> you think so? >> two-a-day exercises. >> i've never been to their practices, so i would not know. >> yes, it's true. >> every type of exercise is good. >> the hoverboard, it's core exercise. >> oh. maybe i should get a hoverboard. coming up, the growing distaste with the academy. lack of diversity among the oscar nominees leading to even more hollywood heavy hitters calling for change and a boycott of the ceremony. and why this man right there is hugging jamie foxx, thankful for the actor taking action right outside his home.

but first let's take a look at the forecast map, where it is cold. >> it's pretty cold. >> announcer: "world news now" weather. brought to you by mucinex sinus max. enough pressure in here for ya? ugh. my sinuses are killing me. yeah...just wait 'til we hit ten thousand feet. i'm gonna take mucinex sinus-max. too late, we're about to take off. these dissolve fast. they're new liquid gels. and you're coming with me... wait, what?! you realize i have gold status? do i still get the miles? new mucinex sinus-max liquid gels. dissolves fast to unleash max strength medicine. start the relief. ditch the misery. let's end this.

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winslow, arizona returned the favor, remembering frey. they gathered at the statue that commemorates the 1972 song and listened as a dj played "take it easy" and other eagles songs. >> it's a very sweet tribute. >> yeah. well, actor jamie foxx played superman monday night, pulling a car crash victim from his burning car. the accident happened right in front of foxx's gate at his estate north of los angeles. with the burning car laying on its side, the driver trapped inside, foxx broke the window, cut the seat belt, dragged him about 30 feet away. he's now downplaying his actions. >> i don't look at it as heroic. i just look at it like, you know, you just had to do something. you know. and it all just worked out, man. i mean, without going too far into it, it all worked out. >> and just hours ago on instagram, look at this. foxx sharing a touching photo of him hugging the driver's dad. he said, "no heroes. just happy fathers." oh, i love to hear this. it's such a great story that could have been so horrible, had

a horrible outcome. >> they were both very teary-eyed afterward. >> yeah, it was very emotional you could tell. elsewhere in los angeles a backlash against this year's academy awards gaining more traction. >> a number of actors of color are sounding off against the lack of diversity among this year's nominees. and now actor george clooney is adding his voice. here now is abc's linsey davis. >> reporter: george clooney now one of the hollywood heavyweights weighing in, telling "variety" magazine "i don't think it's a problem of who you're picking as much as it is how many options are available to minorities in film." >> the academy has a problem. >> reporter: actor david oyelowo blasted the academy. >> for 20 opportunities to celebrate actors of color, actresses of color. to be missed last year is one thing. for that to happen again this year is unforgivable. >> reporter: and now a growing number vowing to boycott this year's oscars, including jada

pinkett smith. >> i will not be at the academy awards, and i won't be watching. >> reporter: spike lee. >> we need to have some serious discussion about diversity and get some flavor up in this. >> reporter: and oscar-winning director michael moore, also a member of the academy, planning to be a no-show this year. the academy's president vowed to make big changes. >> what we all need to do now is actually take some action. >> reporter: the academy president knows there's a long road ahead with the academy at last check 93% white and just 2% black. linsey davis, abc news, new york. and with that note, tune in to "good morning america" later this morning to hear director spike lee speak more on his boycott of the academy awards. okay. when we come back, why zac efron is apologizing on twitter. and guess which famous country singer just turned 70. here's a hint. she's been a platinum blond since the johnson administration. >> she's one of my favorites. >> yeah. >> all-time faves. "the skinny" up next.

♪ skinny ♪ so skinny time now for "the skinny." and topping the headlines this morning, an apology from zac efron. >> so the actor posted a tweet

on mlk day saying "i'm grateful for martin luther king and 10 million followers on instagram." but he also followed it with a raised fist and a pointing figure emoji both in the black skin tone emoji that you have on your iphone. >> i had no idea there was one. >> oh, i do. >> after a social media backlash the very next day efron deleted the post and issued an apology saying, "i have nothing but the greatest admiration and respect for dr. king. i realized that last night's post was completely insensitive, and i apologize to anyone who i may have offended. so sorry." >> all right. well, speaking of zac efron, here is his best asset. him shirtless. >> we're getting an eyeful of efron's pecs you see there in the first official trailer for "neighbors 2: sorority rising." in the sequel to "neighbors" seth rogen and rose byrne's characters are having a second baby, and just when they think the neighborhood's calmed down a sorority moves in right next door. >> it's a little hard to call the cops without a phone. >> give us that back!

>> no. >> ooh. >> what the -- >> it's called a cord. >> it's an old people phone. >> "neighbors 2" hits theaters on may 20th. when you get to see more of zas s six-pack abs. and seth rogen's as well as you can see there. >> and set to hit the small screen, a big fat dose of retro nostalgia. >> netflix has released a teaser of the first peewee herman movie since 1988. "peewee's big holiday" stars paul reubens himself meeting with a mysterious stranger who inspires peewee to take his first ever holiday. >> a traffic light. just like i've seen in national geographic! >> can you believe that paul reubens is 63 years old? isn't that incredible? he still looks like the same on saturday morning cartoons from the '80s. >> and he does. >> "peewee's big holiday" scheduled to debut on netflix in

march of this year. that's incredible. he hasn't aged in three decades. >> and speaking of getting up there in years, an american cultural icon has crossed -- that's kind of mean. anyway. an american icon has crossed over into her seventh decade. >> oh, my gosh. this is so hard to believe, but dolly parton turned 70 years old yesterday. the country music hall of famer has been performing professionally since 1956. but her singing career really, really took off in 1967 and then came one of her signature songs. oh, this is my favorite. from 1973. ♪ jolene ♪ jolene ♪ jolene, jolene ♪ please don't take him just because you can ♪ ♪ jolene, jolene, jolene, jolene ♪ >> and there she is with her goddaughter miley cyrus. >> over the course of her career parton had 110 career charted singles, eight grammy awards, 46

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♪ ♪ as we've been reporting all morning, donald trump has been given a major boost in his bid for the white house. the endorsement of former alaska governor sarah palin. >> it comes as two high-profile daughters hit the campaign trail. here's abc's david wright. >> mr. trump has a great capacity to use bluster and bigotry. >> publicly and professionally, hillary clinton was the single worst secretary of state in the history of this country. >> reporter: hillary clinton and donald trump apparently can't stand each other.

but when it comes to their dutiful daughters -- >> i have my daughter, ivanka, here. >> reporter: ivanka trump there in new hampshire. >> i am so incredibly proud of my father. >> reporter: just as chelsea clinton was a few weeks ago. >> my mom is running to be president, and she's going to be president. >> reporter: they have more in common than you think. ivanka and chelsea's parents used to be friends. so they've known each other for years. as chelsea told "e.t." >> ivanka and i talk about everything. i'm so grateful she's my friend. i think she's a great woman. >> reporter: two 30-something women now earning their own place in the world. >> the responsibility sort of has to fall on you all now. >> reporter: ivanka apprenticed on "the apprentice." now she's an executive vice president for the trump organization. chelsea works for the clinton global initiative. both are pregnant, expecting before the election. both married to jewish businessmen. both have fathers-in-law who went to prison. long before the campaign ivanka tweeted this quote from chelsea's book -- "life is not about what happens

to you but what you do with what happens to you #wisewords." chelsea told "vogue" ivanka "reminds me of my dad and his ability to increase the joy of the room." while their parents may not be speaking anytime soon, ivanka and chelsea are reportedly planning a play date with their kids after the election. david wright, abc news, new york. >> all right. i can see why you'd wait until after the election. >> yeah, i think they'll be a little busy over the next eight or nine months. >> but it's good that they know -- that they are putting out there that they want to keep their relationship on track but they know they need to take a little breather. >> but many political experts are saying this is actually -- the fact that they're both pregnant will be a boon to both campaigns, trump and clinton's campaign. >> does that increase voters? >> at least two. in 18 years. >> in 18 years. well, don't miss our updates on facebook. wnnfans.com. >> announcer: this is abc's "world news now." informing insomniacs for two decades.

making news in america this morning, breaking overnight, a terror attack happening now. gunmen storming a university open fire on students and professors. the details just in. big endorsement. sarah palin returning to the national stage throwing her support behind donald trump. plus, more bad news for hillary clinton. the newest polls showing bernie sanders pulling away. we're live in washington. winter storm in the central plains with another massive storm waiting in the wings. confidence growing for huge snow amounts on the east coast. real-life hero. jamie foxx talking about pulling a man from a burning truck and overnight the embrace with the grateful father.