this morning on "world news now" -- the president's pick for the supreme court hammers home his independence. >> in what has become a highly politicized issue in filling the seat, judge neil gorsuch is stressing a commitment to keeping the issues away from party politics. while democrats attempt to chip away, gorsuch tries to stick to the script. the full story ahead. >> breaking news now from north korea where another missile has been launched. the latest provocative move coming from the rogue state. >> in south america, rescue efforts under way to save victims of flood ravaged peru as we see more and more images of the powerful waters sweeping people away. ♪ ♪ >> spring break looking a lot different these days. with heavy

place of beer funnels. why cooped up co-eds wearing tank tops are riding around in tanks. this is not your daddy's spring break. it is wednesday, march 22nd. >> announcer: from abc news, this is "world news now." by daddy's spring break, you mean ours? >> i don't know that i would be -- >> tank tops involved in mine. no tanks. >> no tanks. yeah. i -- i would, i would miss the old spring break. >> maybe do both. no, at the same time. dangerous. moving on. we will talk about supreme court nominee neil gorsuch back before the senate judiciary committee today. more than halfway through the hearing process as the committee prepares to call other witnesses. >> so gorsuch insist heed will be a fair, independent judge who will sometime

president trump and in fact the federal appeals court judge says he already has. specially when the president called another justice a so-called judge after he ruled against mr. trump. >> i know these people. i know how decent they are. and when anyone criticizes the honesty or integrity, motives of a federal judge, well, i find that disheartening. i find that demoralizing. because i know the truth. anyone including the president of the united states? >> anyone is anyone. >> gorsuch had other tense and testy exchanges with democrats. but seemed to emerge with few scratches. >> so, he avoided declaring any positions on most of the controversial issues that might come before the high court. abc's terry moran has more. >> reporter: neil gorsuch came to his confirmation hearing with

>> the bottom line i think is that i would look to convey to you from the bottom of my heart is that i am a fair judge. >> reporter: democrats spent hours testing that claim. on torture, which president trump considers a legitimate option. >> let me ask you this, does the president have the right to authorize torture if it violates the laws passed by congress? or any oneses you cited. >> senator, no man is above the law. >> reporter: on the president's travel ban. >> i will apply the law faithfully and fearlessly and without regard to persons. >> how about with regards to religion? >> anyone, any law, is going to get a fair and square deal with me. >> on abortion, which president trump declared during the campaign was a litmus test. >> i am pro-life. i will be appointing pro-life

his meeting with president trump. >> in that interview, did he ever ask you to overrule roe v. wade? >> no, senator. >> what would you have done if he asked? >> senator, i would have walked out the door. it's not what judges do. >> several senators zeroed in on one case where gorsuch sided with a company that fired a truck driver for abandoning his malfunctioning trailer in subzero weather. >> seven judges took a look at the facts. came down on al madden's side. except for one. you. why? >> senator, this is one you take home at night. mr. madden chose to operate his vehicle, to drive away. therefore, wasn't protected by the law. >> that answer drew rebukes. >> it makes me question your judgment. >> the first rule of getting confirmed to supreme court is do no harm. judge gorsuch, calm, knowledgeable, genial, and put

distance between him and president trump directly krilt sizing the president's attacks on the judiciary, saying any time any one krilt sizescritici federal judge, he finds it disheart disheartening. anyone means anyone, he said. terry moran, the supreme court. >> time for light most. nebraska's ben sass got a few laughs when we read the text message from his wife. >> my wife sent me a text a little bit ago. and said, sure she dent expect me to read it. how in the world is gorsuch able to go so many hours at a time without peeing? >> sass said he wouldn't make gorsuch answer that. but he did add the supreme court bladder is something the whole country stands in awe of. >> luckily his answer wasn't -- depends. >> oh. >> the slow clap.

expected there again today. a volt te on the health care bi one day away. during a closed door meeting the president warned republicans they will lose seats if they don't back american health care act. sources say he also said that they would be fools if they don't stick together. some insists the president was kidding. he said it was a great meeting. secretary of state, rex tillerson hosting the largest gathering ever of the coalition to fight isis, the first meeting in more than two years of foreign ministers from all 68 coalition countries. the gel, reviewigel reviewing t progress made and the efforts to defeat and destroy terror groups in iraq and syria including disrupting financing. >> breaking news from north korea, the missile launch appears to have ended in failure this morning. the missile ex-ploetded seconds after the launch. a few days ago, north korea bragged about a breakthrough in its rocket development program. the u.s.

conducting their annual joint military drills, and north korea often schedules missile tests during those exercises. >> back here at home, severe storms pummeling parts of south with drenching rains, heavy winds, large hail. georgia is gifting the brunt of the storm. jefferson kwounty, things turned dead leap last night. after a tree fell on a house. lightning also reportedly sparked a wildfire in sill vania, georgia. and storms knocked out power for 176,000 in that state. and rescue efforts ongoing in peru after scenes like this played out. deadly floodwaters sweep away a man's car. but, watch as the windshield actually gets shattered. he is able to walk right ow. the car though, completely lost cause. but he did go back. for his jacket. >> important. >> but again. many people not so lucky. at least 75 people have been dialed. in this flooding.

heavy el nino fueled rains, triggered mudslides, floods, bridges, homes. across the country. >> dramatic images from the area. the nhl, meantime, put its role in next year's winter olympics on ice. the commissioner says fans should not expect to see league players in south korea. bettman cited a dispute with the olympic financial committee over health concerns. owners don't look putting down the, the regular, season. the nhl participated in the olympics since 1998. >> and we know that -- the 20234 olympics will be in los angeles or paris. but both cities say they're not competing for 2028 games. only want 2024. this come as reports say international olympic committee wants to give 2028 olympics to the runner-up. the ioc

in september. laughing at the image of california. and l.a. because, when is the last time we'll saw the mountains there, san gabriel mountains. is that a green screen? >> does that work in beauty pageants. i will only accept the crown. no run nerup. or second place. >> may be my favorite. plenty of wheel of fortune fails in the past. this one may be one for the books. >> okay. >> literally. >> yeah, exactly. during yesterday's episode. contestant, kevin filled in every letter of this puzzle except one. can you guess this title? >> he is going for it. >> $600. >> k. >> a streetcar named desire! >> that's it. >> and although y

right answer. i would rather see kevin's play. >> naked desire. maybe he has a video at home that does have the title. that's what he was thinking about. [ laughter ] >> probably does. >> he's like, what? why is everybody looking at me look that. that's the title. >> i thought he was going to guess, l. no, no. he went a different route. >> understand it. >> exactly. >> so you did end up walking away with $1,000. he could make it rain some where. at a club where there is -- some one named desire. all right. we'll give him the benefit of the doubt. >> good luck, kevin. >> we feel you. >> all right. >> coming up. spring break vacation, the question is would you trade in your tank top for an actual nk

the new way to blow off steam and it is blowing up among millenials >> week long hunt for a teacher and 15-year-old student intensifying as family and friend plead for her safe return. >> this morning, we'll have the new details that police are releasing now about her alleged abductor. >> remember, to find us on facebook, wnnfans.com and on twitter at abcwnn. you're watching "world news now." ♪ ♪

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back now with the latest on the search for the tennessee teacher and the 15-year-old he is accused of stealing. abc's eva pilgrim has the latest. >> reporter: police in tennessee release a photo of the teacher and student he is accused of kidnapping. the two pictured in his office days before he was accused of having inappropriate contact with 15-year-old elizabeth thomas. police say teacher tad cummins pled with the girl last week after being suspended from school. >> our message to elizabeth is we are still coming for you. thomas last seen getting dropped off at a restaurant in columbia, tennessee, carrying what appears to be clothing. >> she said, you know if i am not back by 6:00 you need to come find me. >> reporter: the last cell phone ping, later that day in

silver nissan rogue. her father says her teacher spun tall tales of wealth and former missions as cia agent. >> been taken up so much by him. and he told her all these lies. and it just was so much more exciting than the world she had come up with. >> reporter: police believe all the while cummins was grooming his victim. >> declared himself a father figure. changes, social status to wife. add up to a scary picture. >> investigators haven't had many tips or sightings. the worry is the two may be lefg off the grid. eva pilgrim, abc news, columbia, tennessee. >> big plans for spring break. why not shoot up a minivan with a tank? >> oh, we'll check out the new trend in extreme vacationing. you're watching "world news now." [ gunfire ] some cough medicines only last 4 hours.

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guess what? it is, guess what season it is? >> oh, spring. >> yes which means. >> uh-huh. >> spring break! >> yes. shot, shot, shot, shots. everybody. >> quite literally. >> so rather than heading to the beach, apparently some people are looking for more adventure. >> not tequila shots but real shots. here is clayton sandell.

and excess and booze and beaches seen here in "spring breakers." but deep in the heart of texas they're heating up spring break differently. by basically going to war. at this 18,000 acre ranch two hours west of san antonio, we found drivetanks.com where you can play army for real. taking control of real tanks on battlefield with special effects right out of a "saving private ryan." >> right here, the russian ak 47. >> john and patty brought their son josh a tank buff and pal ethan, both 12. you love tan ticks. tell me about that? >> mainly world war ii stuff. he loves tanks. world war ii history. any kind of history. so here we are. >> 1944 sherman. >> reporter: the brain child of a former houston koch and green beret. >> all kind of

the world. every period. >> reporter: none of this is cheap. >> always wanted to say this, say hello to my little friend. >> reporter: this frame thrower sets you back $300. flattening a car, $1,000. firing the sherman tank, costs $3,000. for one group, the sky was the limit. >> their day was, over a $30,000 day. >> reporter: $30,000. driving tanks. wow. >> yeah, yeah, that's everything we had. >> reporter: the company's crown jewel, the 1944 sherman tank. the same type brad pit made famous in fury. >> you will let me drive this thing? >> absolutely. what i will do is get in there, get you basic skills. so you can drive it. i will be next to you. get too out of control, i will cut it off. think you are going to do great. >> stick or automatic? >> stick. >> okay. we are in trbouble. >> reporter: high slowly roll it

mile-long war zone. that was absolutely amazing. so smooth, really. >> reporter: this is the only place in world you can fire a sherman tank. and they're not using blanks. the company's weapons and explosives are closely regulated by the atf. 12-year-old josh gets his chance to pull the sherman trigger on the 50 caliber machine gun first. [ gunfire ] how was that? >> it was very in veg rating and fun. >> here we go. time for the main gun. got the earplugs in. >> we're ready. >> three, two, one. fire in the hole. >> reporter: as spring breaks grow, josh thinks this one was right on target. >> i have seen amusement parks, rommer coasters, stuff, this is nothing compared to

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tampax pearl power over periods. it is "the mix" time. we have breaking "the mix" news, breaking -- there is no banner. we couldn't afford the banner for "the mix," right now. exactly. so, we know the most popular breed of dog. >> wow. >> take a look at top ten. >> mucho importante. >> american kennel club. top ten. >> the lab. >> these are the was. hanger-ons. but. >> the top five. >> when is it going to make the top of list? bald ones, a mohawk. >> big deal, for the 26th year, labrador is the number

breed. because of temperament, the dog is nonto save lives. makes fantastic canine partners. great drinking buddies. an all-around, good dog. >> all right. >> for 26th year. >> congratulations to the lab retriever. >> tom brady of dogs. >> chinese crested. one of these years. >> one of these years. >> yeah. on to a dog probably not going to win. best in show. a picture making the round. sent around by ape vet tech. who posted this x-ray of a dog apparently decided to snack on monopoly piece. a dog eat dog world. >> don't get it. what do you mean? >> he ate the dog monopoly. >> dog eat dog. ♪ ha-ha-ha. oh, my gosh. >> keeping with the theme. >> the story. >> of dog eat dog. >> i get it. >> dog eat dog. dog eat dog. >>

little boy from new jersey. 11 months old. cutest thing. just wants to get a nap in. so, of course, where does he try to get a nap on this little dog there, leo. just kind of hanging out. i don't know about you, but i am sleeping. and just like trying to, get the right position. he, his parents say, that he has tried, the dog is just kind of look what are you doing? [ growling ] >> every morning when i get to work. >> hey, what's up, how is it going? >> oh, what do you want? >> are you all right. didn't mean to do the diane voice again. >> i've don't sound look that. >> hey, guys, how is it going? >> and a much easier time than the baby did. he got a nice warm spot. the owner's laptop. >> oh. >> when the owner decided he wanted to use the laptop, the cat was none too happy. >> oh, yeah. >> the cat. >> that can happen with cats. >> it's attacking.

this morning on "world news now," breaking news out of north korea. another aggressive act. early this morning as tensions grow in the region. the details on this latest missile launch ahead. president trump making his push for the gop health care bill. saying it is time to get busy, get to work and get the job done. we have the latest on the bill and whether or not it has enough support to pass. >> new this half-hour, musician wyclef jean, claiming he is the vick film -- victim of of racial injustice at the hands of police. >> sheriffs deputies pulled him over and handcuffed him. they're saying it was a case of mistaken identity. more coming up. >> have you ever watched a performance and cringed over it. what we call, "world news now," every morning. >> every morning when we watch