this morning on "world news now" a disaster zone in the big easy. >> tornadoes ripped their way through new orleans as a storm system marches across the south. there's some major damage reported to homes and property as the governor declares a state of emergency. we have an up-close look at the destruction. and happening right now, senators pulling another all-night talk thon, this time in protest of president trump's choice for attorney general. and see how elizabeth warren was silenced while reading a letter from coretta scott king. the dangers of off-roading. it's a popular activity involving ryers of all ages but a serious atv accident involving the niece of britney spears is shining a light on some potential safety issues that every parent should be aware of. and the good samaritan jumping into action to help

seemingly impossible feat. a dramatic conclusion you'll have to wait to see on this website, february 8th. >> announcer: from abc news, this is "world news now." they're donkeys. they're notoriously stubborn, right? >> exactly. >> i wonder how long that went on. >> i'm they'll, actually, looking at the clip right now, they're still at it. and it's been like two days. >> we will update you on that very important story coming up. but we're actually going to start things off this morning with a disaster zone in louisiana after several powerful tornadoes ripped through the state. as many as seven tornadoes destroyed homes and businesses, flipped cars and trucks, and injured dozens of people. amazingly no, fatalities have been reported. but the worst of the damage happened in the same part of new orleans heavily flooded during hurricane katrina. the national guard and state police are now on patrol overnight. >> one of the twisters actually struck along the

river between new orleans and baton rouge. several homes were damaged, including one that was moved off its foundation by the storm. now, take a look at the radar right now. the severe storm system is now over the florida panhandle and georgia but not before leaving thousands of people who are spending these hours right now in the dark. abc's phillip mena in the storm zone. >> reporter: a tornado emergency in the deep south. >> we had a very serious tornado touch down. there's substantial damage. a lot of property damage across the entire way. >> reporter: this is what it looked like as a storm moved through new orleans. [ thunder ] security cameras catching the powerful winds peeling the roof right off this building. >> into this area here. >> reporter: dozens injured. this drone showing the destruction from above. homes splintered to pieces. terry brazley sr. and his son in their hallway as the tornado tore through. >> the wind was just tossing me and my son from

aftermath. >> reporter: this massive wall of wind taking aim at nasa's mishu assembly facility. in all four reported tornadoes hammering louisiana. as students sheltered in school hallways. this massive wedge tornado crossing interstate 55. storm chasers just yards away. their vehicle shaking. this gas station here took a direct hit. it really is a miracle that no one here was killed. many here are now homeless and staying in shelters. as they begin to pick up the pieces. phillip mena, abc news, new orleans. >> unbelievable images there. there's also severe weather on the west coast. the strong storms there brought heavy winds and rains causing mudslides, flooding and power outages. >> and guess what, there's more bad weather in store for the u.s. today. let's get the details from accuweather's cam tran. cam? >> good morning, kendis and diane. the barrage of storm systems continue out west. another system will be moving in this afternoon, bringing heavy rainfall from seattle all the

way down to san francisco. we're also watching out for concerns for flash flooding, especially across central california as we continue to see stormy weather through the end of the week. while out east a new storm system moving through will bring some snowfall across the mid-atlantic states tonight moving into new england by tomorrow. diane and kendis, back to you. >> cam, thank you. and now to the federal appeals court showdown over president trump's travel ban. attorneys on both sides have made their arguments before three judges in san francisco. the trump administration's lawyer argued that the ban should be restored, claiming that the president alone has the power to decide who can enter or stay in the u.s. but the attorney for washington state and minnesota countered, saying a restraining order should remain in effect while the ban is being challenged. a decision is expected in the next few days, but no matter what the outcome is either side could ask the supreme court into the veen. after a historic tie-breaking vote in the senate, betsy devos has been sworn in as the new education secretary. it was vice president mike pence who was presiding as

deadlocked 50-50 on her nomination. pence then cast the tie-breaking vote. it was the first time ever that a vice president had to break a tie on a cabinet nominee. now, hours later devos was sworn in there, promising she would be a tireless advocate for all students. happening right now, a long contentious night on the senate floor has turned into another morning. i actually think that's the same guy we were looking at 24 hours ago. this is not tape from yesterday. is that the senator from hawaii? i believe it is. democrats are in the middle of their second consecutive all-night session. they're highlighting their opposition to the nomination of this time alabama senator jeff sessions as attorney general. at least they have a consistent schedule there of speakers. >> see that? they are consistent. they are determined. they are represented by the symbol of the donkey, just like the ones that we saw earlier. >> yes. exactly. persistent. >> it's all coming around. >> yesterday, by the way, he had a red tie.

so the fight reached its peak late last night when massachusetts senator elizabeth warren was banned from speaking on the nomination. warren read a 31-year-old letter written by the late coretta scott king opposing sessions' bid to become a federal judge in 1996. that broke a rule against questioning a senator's character. majority leader mitch mcconnell then stepping in. >> i ask leave of the senate to continue my remarks. >> is there objection? >> i object. >> the objection is heard. the senator will take her seat. >> senator warren responded by reading the letter on facebook live. a vote on sessions' nomination is expected this evening. investigators are searching for who is responsible after a deadly suicide bombing in afghanistan. at least 20 people were killed, more than 40 others hurt by the blast at the supreme court building in kabul. authorities say the attacker was on foot and that they targeted building workers. no one

but it's the latest in a series of attacks on the afghan court system. and we're seeing some new images of what's being described as a human slaughterhouse in syria. a report from amnesty international claims 13,000 people were secretly hanged in this prison between 2011 and 2015. that's based on the testimony of former prisoners. the human rights organization says the killings were authorized by president bashar al assad's government. back in this country and to ohio now, a massive explosion has sent at least one person to the hospital. investigators suspect a gas leak may have caused the explosion in akron. witnesses said it was heard more than a mile away and several neighboring homes were evacuated in the aftermath. the hunt for a man suspected of killing four women in the south is now over. william boyett died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound during a standoff at a motel in georgia late last night. his alleged accomplice is under arrest. more now from abc's lana

>> reporter: police in true county, georgia moved in on billy boyette wanted for murder and mary rice believed to be his accomplice. earlier police in florida issued this warning to the pair. >> mr. boyette, there are two places you can end up -- prison or a cemetery. the choice is yours. >> reporter: she was apprehended. he chose the latter, she'sing himself as the s.w.a.t. team moved in. >> ms. rice was allowed to surrender by boyette and then boyette succumbed to a gunshot wound, he took his own life. >> reporter: initially police were not clear on rice's rule, a hoft mg or accomplice. >> video in walmart she was away from him shopping and then she went back to him in the parking lot. yeah, she's a willing participant. >> reporter: police say the killing spree started with a former girlfriend of boyette, 30-year-old alicia greer, a mother of three killed alongside 39-year-old jacqueline jeanette moore in florida. and then the sheriff's office says the connection to the victims appears to end. the third woman, 52-year-old peggy rose, murdered in alabama.

the fourth kayla crocker in florida. >> what's normal now? there will never be a return to normalcy. these families, they were changed forever. >> reporter: lana zak, abc news, new york. health alert. officials in washington state are warning about a growing mumps outbreak. nearly 370 people have been diagnosed or suspected of having mum sxpz it's expected to keep spreading. the vast majority of the cases so far have been amojz school age children but while the numbers are expected to rise officials believe the mumps vaccine is protecting against more serious complications. the standing rock sioux tribe is promising a court bat toll stop the dakota access pipeline. thement for the prjt to cross the missouri river in north dakota is expected to be issued today. this after the army yesterday announced it will not prepare an environmental impact statement to address concerns about the project. the army says that's because there's already enough evidence to grant the easement. attorneys for the tribe, however, say they believe the easement cannot be legally granted at this time. now to that developing story we

throughout the day. with less cooperation. these donkeys were stopped by a split rail fence. the first couldn't squeeze through between the top and the bottom rails. their legs just apparently don't bent that way. and then -- >> the older donkey comes over, has a good idea. >> oh, yeah. >> just remove the rail, silly. no need to limbo. just walk right through. >> no limbo. ♪ dun, dun, dun, dun, dun, dun, dun ♪ oh. so that's the key. that's actually really smart on that donkey's part. >> funny enough, there's a video of a rabbit agility course where they're doing jumps. this one does the same thing. doesn't get the point of jumping over, just removes the bar and walks right through. >> that's brilliant. you're welcome. >> got to hand it to them. way to be determined, donkeys. coming up, a listen in instant karma. >> two hooded individuals appear to either rob a convenience store or take out their aggression on the window. >> didn't work out too

and the new warning about all terrain vehicles involving britney spears's nice has many parents asking how they can keep their kids safe while riding quads. and we post stuff on facebook at wnnfans.com. and also on the twitter twitters @abcwnn. you're watching "world news now." (achoo!) did you know you can pick up cold & flu viruses from things in your home for up to 48 hours? it's like having a sick family member that you didn't even know was there. and we all know what happens when one family member gets sick. but lysol spray and lysol wipes kill 99.9% of germs including 8 common cold & flu viruses to help protect your home. this cold and flu season help keep your home happy and healthy and lysol that.

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cough doesn't sound so good. take mucinex dm. i'll text you in 4 hours when your cough returns. one pill lasts 12 hours, so... looks like i'm good all night! some cough medicines only last 4 hours. but just one mucinex lasts 12 hours. let's end this. this gas station convenience store probably looked like easy pickin

in florida but this is what happens when you're a burglar in florida. their attempt to break the glass panel with a hammer failed. one of the crooks then ran into the window and bounced off of it. his buddy then tried the hammer and the body slam, with the same result. apparently i guess it looks like that impact-resistant glass -- >> they didn't case the joint very well, did they? >> not at all. it lived up to its name. >> now they'll learn. research. and the 8-year-old daughter of jamie lynn spears is now awake and talking after an atv accident over the weekend. >> she had been in critical condition but stable condition but according to a statement is now aware of her surroundings. linzie janice with more. >> reporter: britney spears is asking for wishes and prayers prairz for her 8-year-old niece maddie aldrich after getting into an accident in an off-road vehicle believed to be the one seen in this instagram video, given to her on her seventh bi

>> reporter: local authorities say she was driving it alone when it flipped over and became submerged in a pond on the family's louisiana property. they say within seconds her mother jamie lynn, stepfather and other family members jumped into the water to rescue her but she was trapped by a seat belt and the vehicle's safety netting. ambulance workers reportedly arrived within two minutes, freeing the little girl and rushing her to the hospital. a spears family representative tells abc news the family appreciates all the prayers and support for their family. aldridge is believed to have been in a polaris off-road vehicle like this one, an rzr 170. the instruction manual reads never allow a child under the age of 10 to operate or ride as a passenger in this vehicle. it also goes on to say it is up to the parent to make the final determination. a spokesperson for polaris, the company that makes the vehicle maddie is believed to have been driving, told abc news, "the safety of our riders is our absolute top priority. our thoughts and prayers

with the family." but safety experts say these vehicles can still be dangerous. >> the danger of a child driving an off-highway vehicle is that they don't have the experience to handle these vehicles and sometimes the vehicles are very heavy and difficult to control. >> reporter: in 2015 alone there were over 350 off-road vehicle fatalities. six-time olympic gold medalist swimmer amy van dyken rouen severed her spine on an atv, another popular off-road vehicle. >> my doctor said i i'm giving you an 8% chance to live and i need to you say good-bye to your husband. >> reporter: linzie janis, abc news, new york. the off-highway vehicle and atv industries have voluntary standards which the consumer products commission says are absolutely too weak. so the advice if you're going to operate any of these vehics

training course first. >> good advice. coming up in our next half hour, a woman in hot water for her steamy past. the dallas teacher who claims she was fired for her previous career in pornography. but first, a piece of space shuttle "challenger" history finally makes it to space. you're watching "world news now." two thirds of americans have digestive issues. i'm joy bauer, and as a tritionist i know probiotics n often help. but many probiotics do not survive your stomach's harsh environment. digestive advantage is different. its natural protein shell is tougher than your stomach's harsh environment, so it surivies a hundred times better than the leading probiotic, to get where you need it most. get the digestive advantage, and enjoy living well.

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♪ ♪ off the ground ♪ cool it down the loss of the space shuttle "challenger" and its crew more than 30 years ago is a moment most americans will never forget. but now we have a special new way to remember those lost. >> hard to believe so many decades later. one of the astronaut's personal items has finally made it into orbit. here's abc's lindsay davis. >> reporter: astronaut shane kimbrel with special cargo aboard the international space station, a mission more than 30 years in the making. "challenger" astronaut ellison anazuka took that same soccer ball from his daughter janelle's soccer team on that fateful flight. the "challenger" never made it into space. >> the shock in the nation has given way to grief. on a florida beach they are gathering the bits and pieces. the driftwood of

>> reporter: that ball was recovered intact and returned to clearlake high school in houston. you can barely make out messages like this one. "good luck shuttle crew." before his launch commander kimbrel, who has a son at that same school, asked to take this piece of history with him so it could finally float in space, where it was always intended to go. anazuka's daughter janelle says "the soccer ball has continued the mission my father embarked upon so many years ago, inspiring so many through its history. mission accomplished." linsey davis, abc news, new york. >> when they return with the soccer ball it will then go back to the school it originally came from and put on display there so people can go see it. >> so amazing seeing those writings on that ball. and kind of creepy. but i'm glad they were able to get it up there. >> cool that this much time has passed and the writing's still on there. >> yeah, true. >> coming up, merriam webster's dictionary adds 1,000 new rd

>> and lego my burger? it makes sense. i'm not saying my burger. >> good. because i'm going to take it. my sweethearts gone sayonara. this scarf all thats left to remem... what! she washed this like a month ago

mthat stuff only lasts a few hours. or, take mucinex. one pill fights congestion for 12 hours. guess i won't be seeing you for a while. why take medicines that only last 4 hours, when just one mucinex lasts 12 hours? let's end this. you knmegared omega-3s... but did you know your eyes, your brain, and your joints really love them too? introducing megared advanced 4in1... just one softgel delivers the omega-3 power of two regular fish oil pills... so give your body mega support

cough doesn't sound so good. take mucinex dm. i'll text you in 4 hours when your cough returns. one pill lasts 12 hours, so... looks like i'm good all night! some cough medicines only last 4 hours. but just one mucinex lasts 12 hours. let's end this. allure best of beauty and marie claire's most wanted. eyes show emotion, not your age.

time now for "the mix." and you know, every year we look forward to this moment when the merriam-webster folks come out with what are the brand new words of the internet and the world. internets hasn't made it there yet. so 1,000 new words were just add. i'm trying to get there. among them, throw shade. do you know what that means? throwing -- like -- that's side eye. that's not throwing shade. >> throwing shade is when you're talking bad about somebody. side eye is when you're throwing shade with your eyes. >> yes. you can throw shade and side eye at the same time. so throwing shade is a slang term for publicly criticizing someone subtly or

the indirectly part would be like a dorinda from "real housewives." >> she's more of a stirring of the pot. >> she likes to stir the pot. okay. first world problems. that's when diane goes to the burger king near her and the fries aren't warm. >> onion rings aren't hot enough for her. >> it is a problem. >> it is. >> and yowza. originally sport yowsa and s-a-h. was used as a catchphrase by radio personality ben bernie in the 19 330s. >> i'd like to see one of these words make it into the spelling bee. like y-o-w-z-a. yowza. >> can you use it in a sentence, please? >> this one will make you smile if the new words didn't. 14-month-old abigail aybar. she was pretty fussy at the table and just nothing would make her happy. her parents tried everything. >> not spaghetti? >> no, no. >> not the

>> just for a laugh they tried a glass of wine. and look at that. it's the only ping that would make abigail smile. the video has gone viral. 20 million views. half a million shares. mom and dad say calm down for anybody who didn't just find this hilarious. they say they have not given alcohol to their children. >> they'll give it in a couple of years. no, just kidding. so for people who are loving lego, they can get their lego-inspired burgers in the philippines. there is a brick burger that has been built there in this philippines lego-themmed fast food joint. they have block -- they have -- >> can you stack them all together into one giant burger? >> yeah, exactly. >> i've always wanted a lego burger. >> you can make a lot of nothing out of those burgers. >> i want to get to our quick heart warmer. remember ray johnstone, he was a fisherman looking for a fishing

this morning on "world news now" -- legal face-off. president trump's immigration ban facing a tough challenge from federal judges. the latest on where the case stands right now. plus, fact checking the trump administration's claims of media bias. and louisiana is facing major damage as residents start to clean up from at least four tornadoes. the storms injured several people, intense winds also turned over vehicles and damaged homes as well as knocking out power. we'll have the latest. and new this half hour, high-flying fun on obama's winter vacation. >> why the former president's caribbean getaway is giving the internet plenty of meme material. and gronk gone wild. well, the shirt's -- >> there it is. >> there it is. the gun show. the patriots star crushing it at the parade yet again. and hear why he says he got to