abc's brandi hitt has more on this. good morning, brandi. >> reporter: good morning, rob and paula. excitement is building as we approach the opening ceremonies. at the same time, some are questioning whether there is enough security at this year's olympic games. the olympic torch is taking its victory lap through london. and the athletes say they're ready. >> we want to start competing. we don't want to wait. >> reporter: is london prepared for opening ceremonies. >> our absolute top priority must be to keep people safe. >> reporter: british prime minister david cameron says security plans and contingencies include police on the ground, sky and water. but there are already some jitters. this week, fighter jets scrambled to meet a plane that lost communication. and a fire alarm also forced evacuation of a shopping mall next to olympic park. then, republican presidential hopeful mitt romney said this to nbc news. >> you know, it is hard to know just how well it will turn out. there were a few things disconcerting, stories about the private security firm not having enough people. >> w

>> our coverage continues with brandi hitt who is live, tell us about holmes, his appearance, demeanor and what legal observers are saying ab >> reporter: paula, it was very bizarre. obviously if you have seen the video, you have seen the bright orange hair, the dazed look in his eyes and also something you may not have se he never addressed anybody in the court. he didn't look at the judge or his own attorney during the hearing. some people are speculating eres riople are speculating say, well, maybe this is an act. this is a smart guy who got a degree in neuroscience. but we did speak with abc's dan abrams earliif goi go the route of a defense that there is some sort of mental defect, you are ing to be seeing a lot more of this behavior and him looking like this more in court. >> tot cng o whether he was medicated or not. what iao penalty then co

. >> brandi hitt joins us from centennial, colorado, this morning with all the details. good morning, brandi. >> reporter: good morning. in a few hours, we'll hear the charges filed against james holmes. it comes as the victims of this tragedy deal with even more heartbreak. >> monday july 30th. >> reporter: the prosecution is expected to lay down the hammer on 24-year-old james holmes ten days after colorado's movie theater massacre. at his ararnment -- arraignment, holmes could face hundreds of charges, including 12 counts of first degree murder, 58 counts of attempted murder and charges for the explosives at his apartment. >> i don't care what his motive is. he knew what he was doing. i said, i want to see him. i want to see justice. >> reporter: ashley moser's stepmother says she'll be in the courtroom. not only did ashley lose her 6-year-old daughter in the shooting spree, she was shot several times and suffered a miscarriage. >> it was because of stress. it was because of trauma. it was -- ashley's been through a lot. >> reporter: so have the victims' families. many

brandi hitt as a preview of the bombshell report. >> reporter: good morning, rob and paula. in a few hours, we'll know if officials tried to cover up the jerry sandusky sex scandal. that report will be released in this hotel. and it could impact the school's reputation. >> the mandate is clear. we've been tasked to investigate the matter fully, fairly and completely. >> reporter: penn state university trustees hired former fbi chief, louis freeh, to find out who knew what and when in the penn state sex abuse scandal. that involves athletic director, tim curley, and coaching legend, joe paterno. >> joe paterno is no longer the head football coach. >> reporter: the football coach admitted to learning of the incident in 2001, between sandusky and a boy in a shower. he told campus officials. and reportedly, there is an e-mail trail. schultz and curly have pleaded not guilty to failing to report child abuse. >> whether you're a football coach or the university president, or the guy sweeping the building, i think you have a responsibility. >> reporter: last month, a jury found san

here's abc's brandi hitt. >> reporter: on the run and wanted for murder, police say 40-year-old brian hedglin attempted to steal this passenger plane from a small airport in st. george, u taut, but he did not get far. the sky west delta pilot climbed over the airport fence, boarded the unlocked jet and headed for the runway. that's when he clipped the wing of another plane, went through a fence and into the parking lot hitting the terminal and several parked cars. officers arrived to find the engines still running. >> mr. hedglin was deceased in the plane from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. he was a wanted fugitive out of colorado springs. he had committed a homicide on friday, july 13th. >> reporter: investigators believe hedglin killed his ex-girlfriend, christina lopez cornejo, and was attempting to escape. the incident exposes a weak spot in airport security. >> aviation security is a system, and the system is only as strong as its weakest link. >> reporter: commercial jets are not locked. they have no security code, and there is no key to the door or ignition, which ra

brandi hitt, abc news, los angeles. >>> coming up, hundreds of firefighters lost their lives trying tosave others on september 11th. what firefighters are doing here in baltimore today to honor those fallen heroes. and, back to school time almost here. what doctors say you should do every year before your kids head back. @ still thinking of replacing the truck? i just don't know where to start. glad you made it. start by choosing from over 30,000 used cars and trucks. carmax. start here. >>> there's new information tonight in the war against cervical cancer. doctors have always said the best chance for survival is early diagnosis. but, a new study finds insurance coverage could have an impact on when cervical cancer is detected. women with private health insurance found the disease earlier than women on medicaid or without insurance. researchers say the findings prove that all women need access to affordable cancer screenings. >>> women with demanding jobs g attacks. a new study shows that 38% of women in those positions have heart-related problems. including stroke, and need heart sur

brandi hitt, abc 7 news. back to you. >> brandi, thanks so very much. we are following a developing story in chinatown. police are on the scene of a shooting at 6th and f streets northwest outside of mcdonald's not far from the verizon center. police tell us the victim's injuries are nonlife-threatening. >> new this morning, hazmat crews were called to a fire at the u.p.s. center in laurel, maryland. a package caught fire. we're live at the scene with the latest. john? >> well, cynne, it appears at least this morning that morning operations here at this very large u.p.s. facility have resumed, and employees have been allowed to either go home or return to work. but this was quite a hazmat scare early this morning. it started at around 3:00. initially a fire was reported inside. that quickly turned into a hazmat situation. we believe there was a nitric acid spill inside. at least one person directly exposed to the chemical that can cause some severe burns. now, prince george's county fire and e.m.s., along with hazmat teams set up tents with showers, a d

thank you to abc's brandi hitt reporting live from centennial, colorado. thank you, brandi. stay with abc news on the air and online as we cover every development from colorado in this horrible story. you can find updates at abcnews.com. >>> turning to politics and the west coast where the president and mitt romney are trying to snag the military vote. president obama told a group of vets he kept his promises to end the war in iraq and scale back the afghanistan mission. he announced the government will launch a website this week aimed at reducing the number of americans claiming they have been awarded military medals when they have not. republican mitt romney will take his turn at the veterans of foreign wars convention today. he is expected to step up his claim that president obama is weakening the military and renew his criticism of current white house foreign policy. then he will set out on a six-day trip overseize, where he will visit england, poland and israel to put his foreign policy know-how on display. >>> unother news, joe paterno still has many fans on the penn s

. >> abc's brandi hitt in san diego. thanks, brandi. >> and we've now learned that the studio will make donations to victims. the studio said they will not reveal how much they're donating but sources say it's a substantial amount. >>> and match.com has taken down james holmes' profile from a dating site. it read "will you visit me in prison?" >> two more survivors are being sent home after recovering from their injuries. however, 16 patients are still in the hospital, seven of whom are in critical condition. and you can stay with abc news for all the latest on the colorado tragedy. much more coming up this morning, later today on "good morning america". >>> and now to other news, a new argument on the 2010 oil spill, and bp for failing to focus on systemic hazards. and safety standards to its contracted drilling rig than to its own. the findings are similar to those of an earlier panel appointed by president obama. >>> and a louisiana insurance company has paid a $104 million judgment in a class action suit stemming from

abc's brandi hitt in aurora with the latest on the investigation. brandi, what is the latest right now? >> reporter: good morning, rob, paula. it was just highly emotional evening for the victims and their families here. there was a prayer vigil held last night. and president obama was also here to share a lot of hugs and also tears. ♪ >> reporter: heartbreak and sadness filled the aurora municipal center as thousands gathered to remember the 12 people killed in friday's movie theater massacre. >> one day, lord, we know that one day we will march into the theater and claim the theater back, father god. it doesn't belong to the terrorist, it belongs to the city of aurora. >> reporter: president obama spent two hours with the victims' families and tried to comfort the community. >> i confessed to them that words are always inadequate in these kinds of situations. >> reporter: during this time of mourning, abc news obtained video of the suspect. >> hello, i'm james. >> reporter: it was taken six years ago when holmes spoke at a science camp. sources tel

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. >> and brandy hitt last the latest tonight. >> given the nature of the charges, you are currently being held on a no bond hold. >> reporter: with dyed comic book colored air, james holmes sat silent in a colorado courtroom. looking dazed and confused. >> i was putting off look at his face. i had to get past that and see who the killer was. >> some of the victims' families walked into court, land in hand, it was the first time to see the man police say opened fire in a movie theater, killing 12. his bizarre behavior in court had some speculating he may have been drugged. abc news legal analyst says his appearance could help with an insanity plea. >> he is either seriously tired, has a serious mental defect, or is faking it. that's what a court and jury would have to determine. >> reporter: as police comb through mountains of evidence, including his computer and batman paraphernalia, the family said this. >> their hearts go out to their victims and families. >> it is something we'll grow through something. >> reporter: victims continue their healing process. the district attorney says she

from last time around because no cameras were allowed in the courtroom today so we turn now to brandi hitth the very latest. >> no cameras allowed in the courtroom, but we do know the hearing is underway. one is over, many legal experts believe james holmes will likely face hundreds of charges. >> filing charges this monday july 30. >> 24-year-old james holmes is formally hearing the charges against him and said a caller to a group of 10 days after the movie theater -- massacre in which 12 people were killed and 58 others with it, holmes changes -- faces charges of first-degree murder. >> if convicted of one count of first-degree murder, the punishment will be either the death penalty or life of the possibility of parole. >> the stepmother says -- ashley's stepmother will be in the court reporter she not only lost her 6-year-old stepdaughter in the shooting degree she has suffered a miscarriage after being shot. >> i do not care what the motive is. he knew what he was doing. i want to see justice. >> now at the center of this investigation is a notebook homes sent to citi a -- psychiatrist

abc's brandi hitt has all the details. >> reporter: 11 days after katie holmes filed for divorce fromise, sparking a immedime frenzy, a settlement has been reached. holmes' attorney said in a statement, the case has been settled and the agreement has been signed. we are thrilled for katie and her family. and are excited to watch as she embarks on the next chapter of her life. while details of the divorce have not been released, holmes' attorney also thanked cruise's counsel for a speedy resolution. >> tom is a private star. he doesn't want to drag his family through the mud. and both of them care about suri. they don't want to emotionally harm suri. >> reporter: holmes had request custody of 6-year-old suri. according to cruise's strong ties to the church of scientology and the possible influence on suri may have been involved in the split. in a joint statement, both parents say, quote, we want to keep matters affecting our family private and express our respect for each other's commitments to each of our respective beliefs and support each other's roles as parents. cruise has not see

brandi hitt, abc news. >>> you know i got all these question tuesday -- why 24 counts of first degreer? >> explain this. >> there are 12 victims. what's interesting they charged him under two theories. one either it was premeditated. or two he acted with extreme indifference to life. so both theories per victim. i got to tell you that says a lot. if as a prosecutor you can prosecute on two theories, that means to me at least insanity defense is just not going to happen the a no-go. rarely successful anyway. if you can get past premeditation -- or you can't get past premeditation, not going to happen. this is just whether or not he lives or dies. because i suspect it's death penalty case as well. >> either theory can get him the death penalty. whichever they get him on if not both. both can lead to death here. 24 counts of mufrder, 116 attempted murder in the first degree. one count possession of explosive device, one crime sentence enhancer. >> 116, 58 victims, two theories. >> a long list that's for sure. >>> sticking to courtroom news this morning. opening statements begin in the tr

brandi hitt, abc news, new york. >> a special shout out to folks in suburban d.c.ot of public fireworks displays got canceled last night. no power. people aren't in the mood to celebrate trying to clean up wait for the power and spoiled food. >> they're hot. >> let's just get past this. not the ideal fourth of july for a lot of folks around the country. it is over. an hopefully the power will be on. yes, they're making progress. moving on to a developing story on this thursday morning. a big rescue operation in the walters off long island, new york. as many as 30 people were plunged into oyster bay harbor when the boat they were on capsized. at last word i should say, coast guard divers and local marine units said most of the folks have been accounted for but a few are still missing. storms may be to blame. we'll follow developments throughout the morning. >> new mexico is bracing for downpours and flooding after wildfires left nothing but scorched earth. in the county they placed sandbags in and around homes as a precaution. the national guard is there just in cas

thank you to abc's brandi hitt from centennial, colorado.ents from colorado later today. coming up in this half-hour, buying fire power with almost no questions asked. and we'll have your comments about a big debate from the tragedy, gun control in the country. keep it here on abc news. >>> to our other big story this morning. we turn to the unprecedented decision against penn state university. joe paterno's family is calling the severe punishment that was handed down by the ncaa panicked response that will hurt students. abc's jim avila reports on the university's fine and football victories wiped from the records. >> reporter: the joe paterno legacy crumbling, his 900-pound bronze statue already gone and the ncaa punishing joe pa in the grave. snatching back 112 wins. everything since the sandusky scandal began. his last official victory now, 1997. the quarterback that day, mike mcqueary, the key witness, and adding to the sting of dropping from first in college football wins to 12th. >> we didn't cheat in football. they shouldn't take our

abc's brandi hitt is following the campaign. good morning, brandi. >> good morning.ection is four months away. mitt romney calling on republican pig shots for help while president obama hits the road. >> reporter: president obama launched his first campaign bus tour of 2012 in ohio, one of the key battleground states. the two-day tour which takes him to pennsylvania will focus on the economy. >> our mission right now isn't just to recover from this economic crisis, although that is job one. our mission is to give back to america, americans all across the country, what's been lost -- that sense of security. that sense of security. >> reporter: his campaign co-chair even went on the attack questioning where mitt romney has invested his money. >> he invested in the cayman islands and he has a corporation in bermuda. >> governors jindal and pawlenty are shadowing president obama to push romney's message. >> and barack obama's basic slogan for this campaign is, hey, it could be worse. mitt romney's slogan is it will be better. >> ann romney hinted to cbs news her husband

abc's brandi hitt is in colorado. >> reporter: james holmes looked the same as he did last week in courtrange hair. only this time, cameras were not allowed inside. as the prosecution laid out 142 charges against him, including two murder counts for each death. >> 24 counts of murder in the first degree, 116 counts of attempt to commit murder in the first degree, one count is a sentence enhancer, and one county of class-four felony, possession of explosive device. >> reporter: in a show of solidarity many victims and families from the movie theater massacre attended the hearing and heard the accused killer speak for the first time. when the judge asked holmes if he wanted to waive his right to a speedy trial, holmes said yes. >> i do believe he should probably be locked away and -- and live with what he did every day of his life. >> reporter: when the judge mentioned the death penalty, holmes looked right at him. the judge also ordered prosecutors return the journal holmes sent to his psychiatrist that was intercepted by police. >> resentment that anybody could take away someone's life f

abc's brandi hitt has been following the saga. good morning. >> reporter: it is a done deal.m cruise have signed an agreement to end their five-year marriage. 11 days after katie holmes filed for divorce from tom cruise sparking a media frenzy, a settlement has been reached. holmes' attorney said in a statement the case has been settled and the agreement has been signed. we are thrilled for katie and her family and are excited to watch as she embarks on the next chapter of her life. while details of the divorce have not been released, holmes' attorney also thanked cruise's counsel for a speedy resolution. >> tom is a very private star and he doesn't want to drag his family through the mud. and both of them care about suri. they don't want to emotionally harm suri. >> reporter: holmes requested sole custody of suri. according to "people" magazine, cruise's strong ties to the church of scientology and its possible influence on suri may have been behind the split. in a joint statement, both parents say, quote, we want to keep matters affecting our family private and express our

with more here is abc's brandi hitt. >> reporter: for millions across the country the hottest fourthapolis and chicago. >> we are staying cool, sitting in the shade. we've got water bottles and we're just ready to enjoy a great day. >> reporter: on top of the heat at least 1 million homeowners in the midwest and mid-atlantic are without air conditioning, electricity or working bathrooms. >> it feels like we're if a big, long campout in our house. it's been rough. >> reporter: patience is wearing thin in west virginia where many are relying on ice and water deliveries. in texas they're chilling out in cooling centers. >> it helps me a lot because i won't be out there all sweaty and wondering where i'm going to lay my head or what's going to happen to me. >> reporter: out west the big concern continues to be wildfires. firefighters quickly put out this raging brushfire in palmdale, north of los angeles. and there is word the most destructive fire in colorado's history is finally contained. zoos across the country are also taking extra precautions in these hot and dry conditions. >> we

abc's brandi hitt has this incredible story. orter: good morning, rob and sunny. what would you do if you saw an alligator swimming towards you? a florida teen followed his instinct and it probably saved his life. >> i am going to lose this arm or i an going to die. >> reporter: that was the split decision 17-year-old caleb had to make when he came face to face with a 10-foot alligator swimming in the florida river. >> when i was swimming, throwing my arms back and forth. this one he got it. he did a death roll and broke all the bones. >> reporter: friends swimming with him tried to warn him the gator was coming. it was too late. he put his arm in the way. instead of letting it get his body. it took his arm, and took him under. >> i put my feet. tried to jerk my arm off trying to break it free. it finally broke free. >> reporter: lanedale was able to swim to shore. he used spider webs to help close the wound and was air lifted to the hospital. >> once i saw him i was okay. been fine since, because he lived. >> reporter: trappers

abc's brandi hitt has the latest. good morning. >> reporter: good morning, rob, paula.w stepping in and katherine jackson is putting rumors to rest. the jackson family feud has taken another turn. a judge has now granted t.j. jackson, tito's son temporary guardianship in the absence of their grandmother katherine. >> getting paperwork immediately filed to get her reinstated as guardian. >> i am devastated that while i have been away my grandchildren have been take any way from me. >> reporter: the grandchildren claim they were cut off from katherine during her trip to arizona and t.j. told the judge when he spock eak to katherine the phone. i never heard her talk like that some words sounded slurred. in an exclusive interview. katherine said she is returning to los angeles. >> there are rumors to say that i was kidnapped and held against my will. i am here to let everybody know i am fine. >> reporter: surveillance video shows janet, jermaine and randy jackson at katherine's estate where tmz reports there were several fights. there is speculation this family fight is all

abc's brandy hitt has details. >> reporter: this video may be hard to watch.nimal rights groups say this is the standard in which many pig farms are run. pregnant pigs crammed into pigs with open wounds. mercy for animals says this undercover video taken at minnesota's christianson farmgs shows horrific abuse. piglets being slammed head first into the pavement. >> every day is a living hell for them. >> television icon bob barker is nowution his star power to spotlight the conditions. >> gestation crates deprive animals of even the most basic natural behaviors and needs. and as a result, these animals literally go insane. >> reporter: this week, costco and kmart joined several grocery and fast food chains in requiring pork suppliers to stop using gestation crates. it is time for walmart to take a stand against blatant animal abuse. in a statement, walmart says it offers gestation crate free products and will continue ongoing discussions with their suppliesers, ngos and food producers. christiansen farms is firing back saying, quote, taking proper care of our a