>> right in the middle is judge merrick garland who president obama tapped as his nominee. today he begins what is going to be a long road and that road ultimately could lead nowhere. >> we get the details from abc's kenneth moton joining us from d.c.c. good morning, kenneth. >> reporter: good morning, kendis and reena. senate rublican leaders have made it clear they will not fill the supreme court vancy until after the november election. but that won't stop the president's nominee from marching up to capitol hill today. this morning supreme court nominee merrick garland will meet face-to-face with democratic senators but it's the republicans who controlis fate. >> at a time when our politics are so polarized this is precise precisely the time to play it straight. >> reporter: it intensified the second president obama introduced his pick and the rose garden moment emotional for the 63-year-old husband and father. >> hadthis is the greatest honor of my life other than lynn agreeing to marrying me 2 28 years ago.

educated chicago native has dedicated his life to the law. a top prosecutor in the oklahoma city bombing, nearly two decades spent serving the d.c. circuit court of appeals. also known as a moderate, a compromise in the heat of this partisan election year. >> it's at senate's constitutional right to act as a check on a president and with withhold its concept. >> reporter: he is holdidi his ground. the next president should pick the next justice butut mitch mcconnell did take a call from garland reiterating his feelings before wishing h fell. >> any chance you'll change your mind? >> none. >> reporter: we found at least six republican senators open to meeting with garland. that includes senator orrin hatch who once praised garland. >> i didn't say he belongs on the supreme court. i said he belonged on the d.c. circuit court. >eporter: chuck grassley announced he's also open to meeting with garland but at this point there are no signs that any of these meetings will lead % to confirmation hearings.

>> political lines already being drawn, kenneth, thank you. well, the battle of garland's nomination will run right alongside the ongoing presidential campaign. >> after tuesday night's primary results it's looking more and more likely hillary clinton and donald trump are h hding to are a showdown. both of them already seem eager for the fight. it's "your voice, your vote." abc's lauren lyster joining us live with the latest. good morning. >> reporter: good morning, reena and kendis. a closed door meeting is scheduled today in washington with some influential conservative leaders to talk about how to stop donald trump and plot a third party run should he become the nominee. in the gop race for president a debate over the next debate. donald trump backing out prompting ohio governor john kasich to do the same. >> i've had more attention in the last two weeks than i've had in the last six months so it's fine and i'm pleased with how it's all going. >> repororr: debate host fox

event in salt lake city, utah, saying obviously there needs to be more than one participant. ted cruz firing back. meanwhile, trump is swinging at different targets first the republican establishment saying an attempt to block his nomination would lea to chaos at the convention. >> i think you'd have riots. i think you'd have riots. i'm representing a tremendous, many, many millions of people. i think you would have problems like you'veever seen before. i think bad things would happen. i realllly do. >> reporter: also attacking hillary clinton releasing this videotap mocking her as a weak leader in foreign affairs showing her barking like a dog. overnight, clinton gettinghe last laugh literally appearing on comedy central's "broad city." >> oh, no, no, it's the she. >> reporter: she'll hit 11 up coming fund-raisers in 12 days. a well respected globall analysis from the economist intelligence unit named a trump presidency a top ten global risk event saying

economy putting it on the list along lists like the fracture of the eurozone. >> unbelievable. thank you, lauren. well, three days until spring and snow is pummelling parts of the country overnight take a look at the radar. wier weather warnings posted and snow falling up to a foot expected in parts of michigan, minnesota and wisconsin and 60-mile-an-hour wind gusts expected this morning in chicago. that same system tore through several states yesterday spawning at least five tornadoes, piles of rubble where homes once stood in clinton county, iowa. debris hanging from the trees. yet another after another tornado tore through peoria county. the white house is demanding the release of an american student in north korea. the country sentenced otto warmbier to 15 years hard labor. he is accused of trying to steal a propaganda poster from a pi young gang hotel.

house is urgeing them to grant him special amnesty. new sanctioned were filed in response of missile and nuclear tests. the washington, d.c. area and metro system re-opens after a 29-hour shutdown for safety inspections. they turned up three areas in heavily traveled parts of the system. with severe damage to power cables. you're seeing it there. a faulty cable is believed to have caused a fire that spent smoke bowering into a tunnel. it is the second busiest in the country with 700,000 rides a day. okay, you'll probably be seeing plenty of green today, of course, we already donned our own. with it being st. patrick's day that means it's time for the 255th edition of new york's annual st. paddy's day parade. >> 2 million people either will watch it or march in the parade. about half of the official groups in the parade are marching bands. the grand marshal is former senator george mitchell. >> an important voice there,

>> yes. well still ahead, a major change coming to america and american made cars. and new this morning flames shooting from a refinery, hazmat crews rushing to that scene. how a balloon likely caused this. plus special bond. a woman in a bitter battle to keep her pet alligator. >> what in the world.

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massive flaring at the plant was result of a power interruption apparently happening when a my lahr balloon hit a power line in that ar. hazmat crews called in and roads nearby were closed. the same plant that suffered an explosion last february. well, a major sety step is being announced by automakers agreeing by 2022 to make automatic braking standard and on large suvss and pickups by 2025. automatic braking uses cameras and sensors to see objects in the way and slow or stop if the driver does not react. that could cut impacts by 40%. hoverboards are being banned and not over safety. they're blocking them that infringe on segway patents. a number of makers are based in other countries like china. segway's initial complaint involved 13 companies but at

those efforts to keep airline fees in check failed. they tried to prohibit airlines from setting unreasonable fees and also wanted the transportation department to establish what is reasonable. can't stand that on my -- what i pay f f an airline ticket. if. >> all the extras. >>&yes, seat belts. when we come back brazen prison break hoisted to freedom by a helicopter. a quick thrive thinking clerk saving a baby seconds before a mother collapses. with the pain and swelling of my moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis... ordinary objects often seemed... intimidating. doing something simple... meant enduring a lot of pain. if ra is changing your view of everyday things orencia may help. orencia works differently by targeting a source of ra early in the inflammation process. for many, orencia provides long-term relief

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surveillance video from monday night in florida capturing a car fleeing police careening over a bank flipping over and bursting into flames. the car had been stolen last month. two teenagers inside were rescued and treated at a hospital. when they were released they were arrested. well, there will be wet roads there in florida this morning as well as along most of the gulf coast. same goes for parts of the northeast. slippery around the northern great lakes and mountain snow in the northern rockies. if you're flyin on this st. paddy's day, morning airport delays possible in minneapolis, no luck of the irish there. well, we are learning disturbing new details about the fatal shooting of a m myland officer outside a police station. > authorities say jacai colson

he was wearing plain clothes and michael ford opened fire at the station and he was charged with second degree murder. a brazen prison break that turned into a comedy of errors. struggling to climb to a hijacked helicopter and freedom. one almost makes it to o e top, even gets a hand from a partner in crime only to fall a minute later. the chopper tries taking off but failed. all of this while the unarmed guards are watching and recording the spectacle prevented by praisen policy to intervene in an escape where guns may be involved. they flew off and were quickly caught. well, sudden passing overnight. frank sinatra jr. has died. heuyed yesterday o of cardiac arrest while on tour in daytona beach, florida. as a teen he was kidnapped. his family paying for his release. he then followed his famous father's footsteps into the music business eventually becoming his dad's musical direor and conductor.

on "the family guy." frank sinatra jr. was 72. alarming moment caught on camera. a story clerk grabs a baby before her mother f fls to the ground during a seizure. rebecca montana handed the baby to a customer as she rushed to help the mother. the woman is fine now and so is the baby. thanks mostly to montano. some are calling her a hero but the grandmother says that she was just trying to do good. and another heartwarming save. a beloved dog luna returned after more than a month w wn she fell overboard in the pacific ocean and was presumed that she had drowned. the dog turned up tuesday at a diego. yesterday luna was happened over to theowner's best friend who will care for the dog until the ownereturns from out of town. >> just absolutely incredible. swimming there. > all right. well, we call today thrilling thursdayarlier because today,

fifit bigig day of march madness. we now know the full march madness field of 64 so let'set hoop highlights from espn. steph curry just scored again. >> scored in bunches, once again warriors taking on the knicks in oakland. the warriors trying to get to 50-0 in their last 50 regular seasonames at home and, well, testify is goingo step. 12 for 20 from the floor. 8 for 1 from three including that one. history kick louse shot of the night which he seems to have every game, 34 points even though he didn't play in the fourth quarter. and the warors win again at home, 32-0 at home this season. they're taking on san antonio saturday on abc. >> he didn't play in the fourth, knicks didn't play in all four quarters. michigan is advancing to get notre dame. this is your first four or whatever fancy phrase they're

ch irvin there. pat burtrtthere. wrong there, that was irvin there. this is burt here for the tie. no. it was harrison who started it out. wolverines win and advance. >> that's all we got. back t t you. >> friendly reminder to everyone at home aren't brackets due at noon today. >> yes, got to get them in. i have sunni os being get -- they'r' not in it. kansas, who do you have have. >> the women of uconn. >> okay. all righty. that's a copout. up next in "the pulse," nike going back to the future for its newest kicks. >> i'm trying to remain neutral. a professional baseball player. why he's walking away from $12 million. >> but you're going with uconn? (vo) if you have type 2 diabetes, you may know what it's like to deal with high...

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time to check "the pulse" and for kids of the '80s your futuristic footwear is here. nike unveiled self-lacing shoes 27 years after marty mcfly made us want our own pair.

1.0 and once you step into the shoes, your shoes hit a sensor that cause it to tighten and they will be available in three colors out at the end of the year but you must be a m mber of the nike plus program to buy them. >> i imagine they'll probably be pretty expensive. >> i would think so but still cool. >> renaldo loves them so why shouldn't we all? a major league baseball player and devoted dad is retiring rather than take agent cutback on the team time that his teenage son can spend in the clubhouse. >> chicago white sox first baseman adam laroche will lose about $10 million thahas left on his contract. the decision getting plenty of support from fellow players, mvpp bryce harper tweeting nothig like father and son in the clubhouse. it's a family game. laroche, by the way, knows about that. his dad played in the majors, as well. >> daddy standing by his son. >> although the team did say, keeps his son in the clubhouse

>> nothing with that. >> how about cutting a back a bit. >> nothing wrong with that. >> your kid is over there. this is a babyby a green and scaly one that only a mother could love. mary thorn of lakeland says this alligator named rambo is her baby. he's nearly six feet long and 15 years old. >> she hugs it, she kisses it, rambo even sleeps this her bed like they sleep together but state officials say the gator's got to go. thorn says that she'll die if they have to part and so will rambo. >> she says thaha he is too domesticated and just cannot survive in the wild. >> i understand her love for her ild rambo. but i think one day she might worry that he finds out that he's hungry and bites her head off. >> i hopo she survives that feeding time. come on. really? >> no.

with the state officials. a video of a magic trick going viral. >> 5 million views all because of a baboon'sriceless reaction many take a look. a man visiting a zoo standing in front of the animal and he pulls out a card and it disappears with a flick of the wrist. >> this is just priceless. look at that. the baboon's reaction amazed like a little kid. the baboon has a similar reaction when the magician makes it reappear. >> whats this? >> see. what is this magic thing? >> yeah. >> baboons are much smarter than we give them credit for. >> they know it's fake. there's no such thing as magic. >> maybe he's waiting for his fofoune to be told. >> i'm going to cuddle with my alligator over there. >> more news after this. and looking good and sandwich and soup

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they'll always be our babies. so there will be things to keep us up. but tonight johnson's can help with a bedtime routine. clinically proven to help them fall asleep faster. and stay asleep longer. tonight, we sleep. maybe almond breeze tastes so good because it's the only almondmilk made with california-grown blue diamond almonds. of course, if you ask one of our almond growers... there's no maybe about it. almond breeze. the bestlmonds make the best almondmilk. aking a look at our top stories on this thursday, president obama's pick for the supreme court, judge merrick

democratic senators on the hill. republicans in the senate maintain garland will not be confirmed. donald trump's backing out of a debate scheduled for next monday prompting fox news to cancel the event. john kasich also said he would not atnd. on this st. patrick's day, plenty of parades will be held celebrating irish heritage, the oldest andd biggest in new york city where 2 million are expected to watch or march. looking at today's weather could be rain along the parade route in new york. showers along the gulf coast, mountaininnow in the northern rockies. nice and sunny thrououout the entire west coast. >> very nice. > and finally this morning, we know onenehing is for certain as march madness gets under way, some wild finishes are all but guaranteed before a champion is crowned. >> whatever actuay happens the big boys have nothing on one little uy. abc news "world newstonight" anchor david muir introduces him.

baskball since he was 4. right there wearing number 21, nothing but net. now 8 years old l lk at this. and the championship game just this past week. jack now playing for the blue devils facing the number one panthers. his team down by three. only 6 seconds left. are you kidding me, jack in the half-court bzer beating tying the game. now in overtime and who gets the ball again? jack taking the shot from half-court again. from the other angle the team, the coaches on the court. jack checking in with us. >> hi, david. my name is jack jack jeffrey and i love basketball. >> reporter: we could tell he has one wish. >> when i'm older i want to be in the nba. >> reporter: david muir, abc news, new york. >> i got to say one thing about that man, the knicks and sixers

about now. he would be a star player on those teams and steph curry would probably like him as well. >> powerful punch. his favorite player blake griffin. >> i'd like to know what his bracket looks like. that's what a lot are dealing with today. this is one of those days that many say that not a lot of work gets done. about 90% of guys are probably going to be calling out later today or tomorrow because the games get under way at noon. kansas, of course. number one. >> lots of beer consumption, good for the economy in that's a good idea. >> that's what's making news in americahis morning. >> have a good one. developing right now

the everglades. emergency jet forced to land. emergency efforts stalled by a raging brush fire. a police officer caught on camera slapping a homeless man. em h hioest fan talking about the president's trip to cuba days before. hi, southlorida. i'm eats eats. >> i'm birr birr. happy saint patrick's day. you don't get pinched. you wore green. julie gets pinched. >> i have no choice. >> what you don't know is that whole wall behind her is green. >> unfortunately, happy saint patrick's day to everybody, whether you're irish or not. i'm happy to tell you the weather isoing to cooperate. grand, it will be warm and humid. when you have your nice drink to celebrate, make

water.it's already 72 degrees in miami, 74 in key west. we're not only seeing the 70s across parts of the coastal areas, 71 in prokes. 72 hyles, 71 in marathon. the winds are calm again. we could see the possibility of patchy fog inland. again, highs today rapidly warming up to the upper 80s. very warm, well above average temperatures. in chances increase by the weekend. i'll have those details coming up. breaking news right now, two people hurt after a car plowed right into a pizza shop. that car right there, smashing right into downtown pizza grill. two people inside thehe store were hit, taken to the hospital. we do have a crew at the scene giving the latestdetails. we'll have a live report coming up at 5:00. we begin with this small, emergency in the everglades.