david kerley abc news washington. >> david kerley tonight, thank you. >>> tonight, jaw dropping allegations against a national charity claiming to raise money to help children battling cancer. raising $13 million. how much of the money went to patients. we are about to gept the answer from tom llamas tonight. >> reporter: tonight, the national children's leukemia foundation, a multimillion dollar charity group is under fire. new york's attorney general says the foundation raised $13 million dollars and devoted less than 1% on direct assistance to young patients. at most 6% to direct programs. the state files suit against steve shor who allegedly pocketed more than a million dollars in salary and perks running the charity out of the basement of his brooklyn home. that's shor in a video posted on the group's youtube site presenting the late randy "macho man" savage, a professional wrestler, with an award on national television for donating money to the foundation. >> thank you, macho man, thank you! >> reporter: state investigators say much of the money went to professional fundraisers asking

>> all right, david kerley live in washington for us. david, thanks. >>> now, to the race for 2016 tonight. donald trump flying to texas and heading straight out to the mexican border. trump saying of his visit to the border it's a great danger but he has to do it. before he arrived, our cameras capturing what authorities believe were two men trying to race across the border. but we wanted a reality check tonight. are there more people trying to cross the border now than just a few years ago? abc's tom llamas tonight with the numbers. >> reporter: donald trump emerging from his private jet. flashing a thumb's up. >> hello, everybody. >> reporter: then in a crush of reporters, trump was off. >> going to the border. and we'll see you later. hopefully we'll see you later. >> reporter: he says his visit, not without risk. >> they say it's a great danger but i have to do it. >> reporter: we piled into the trump motorcade to ask him about that. fbi statistics show some of america's safest cities are on the texas border. since 2003 the number of

david kerley abc news, washington. >>> let's turn to politics now. donald trump, still ahead of the pack. the big question now, can it last? a a new poll making it clear, a lot of people want it to. here's devin dwyer. >> reporter: tonight, donald trump's tough talk appears to be doing the trick. 52% of republican voters in a new national poll hope the billionaire businessman stays in the race. this, despite outrage over his recent ridicule of immigrants and former p.o.w. john mccain. >> he is basically selling fear and prejudice. >> reporter: the test for trump -- can he sustain the surge? four years ago, it was texas governor rick perry leading the field of gop candidates. a month later, businessman herman cain, catapulting to the front of the pack. both eventually dropped out. mitt romney becoming the nominee. >> thank you, everybody. >> reporter: for now, trump will be center stage at next week's first primary debate. but he's already trying to keep expectations low. >> i'm not a debater. i never did that before. i don't know if i'm going to be g

>> david kerley in maryland tonight, thanks. >>> we are also following those wildfires in the west and the fire and lightning right here in the east tonight. 49 fires in 8 states now, hundreds of acres burned evacuations under way at this hour. dramatic images from idaho, that mountain obscured by smoke. this home in spokane, washington flames racing right across the front porch there. in sacramento a blaze started not by the heat but by fireworks this weekend. abc's neal karlinsky on the front lines tonight. >> reporter: across the west tonight, relentless wildfires. >> somebody said fire with works. >> reporter: this this house in sacramento torched by an intense blaze sparked by fireworks. in idaho, flames rolling along acres along this rural community. >> it was very very intention. >> reporter: 150 people were evacuated for a time and at least six homes burned. firefighters working in dangerous conditions to save them. with the only road in cut off, we took a boat to the front lines. a battle largely fought from the air. >> how bad was it at its worst? >> you could actually see th

and kudos to david kerley for that exclusive interview.t's flying planes trains or automobiles. it's him. >> i get scared when i see him on because it's never good news. >> there's going to be an issue if you see david kerley reporting. >> kudos to david kerley. >>> coming up, why snoop dogg vows never to return to sweden. >>> plus, the premiere of caitlyn jenner's new tv show. "the skinny" is next. >> announcer: "world news now" continues after this from our abc stations. ♪ skinny, so skinny ♪ ♪ skinny so ♪ skinny so skinny ♪ >>> all right. we start "the skinny" this morning with the much-anticipated premiere of caitlyn jenner's docu-series. >> that's right. "i am cait" aired on "e!" last night, and it's being described as an emotional roller coaster. >> some of the big moments in the premiere, caitlyn meeting her 88-year-old mother, esther. jenner initially told diane sawyer it was her mom she was most afraid to come out to. but throughout the show, esther's reflections were positive and heartfelt. >> look at that smile. she looks so pro

>> david kerley at laguardia airport, david, thanks. >>> to the race for 2016, donald trump, new fallout after igniting a firestorm first with his comments about john mccain, then revealing a rival's private cell phone number on national tv. tonight the question, is trump helping or hurting his fellow republicans, and the new troubling numbers for hillary clinton. here's abc's chief white house correspondent jonathan karl. >> reporter: it's come to this, lindsey graham doing to his cell phone what many republicans would like to do to the trump campaign, after trump gave out the senator's private cell phone number on national television. >> i don't know if it is the right number. let's try it. 202 -- >> reporter: trump is relishing his attacks on fellow republicans. >> rick perry put on glasses so people will think he is smart. i'm not a fan of jeb bush. then i watch this idiot, lindsey graham. >> reporter: republicans are worried trump is hurting their party. we caught up with lindsay graham today on capitol hill. >> at this point he's not only the front-runner, he's way ahead of all of

abc's david kerley who covers aviation for us with details on the investigation. >> reporter: planes are packed but is that because airlines are working together illegally to keep fares that you pay higher? tonight the justice department saying it's investigating potential unlawful coordination by certain airlines after a call for an investigation by a u.s. senator. >> holding down supply economics 101. that is a violation of law if it is misuse of market power. >> reporter: united delta, american and southwest which together control 80% of the market have been told to produce statements and decisions from the past two years about the size of their fleets. the theory is that the airlines may have been working together to keep those fleets the same size so that the airlines could keep fares up. the airlines through their association say they compete vigorously every day. >> if the definition of kohl lugs that the airline exec tifs are calling each other up every day, there's no smoking gun there. >> david kerley joining us now. any sense of how long this investigation will take? >> re

david kerley, abc news, washington. >>> let's turn to politics now. donald trump, still ahead of the pack. the big question now, can it last? a new poll making it clear, a lot of people hope it does. here's devin dwyer. >> reporter: tonight, donald trump's tough talk appears to be doing the trick. 52% of republican voters in a new national poll hope the billionaire businessman stays in the race. this, despite outrage over his recent ridicule of immigrants and former p.o.w. john mccain. >> he is basically selling fear and prejudice. >> reporter: the test for trump -- can he sustain the surge? four years ago, it was texas governor rick perry leading the field of gop candidates. a month later, businessman herman cain, catapulting to the front of the pack. both eventually dropped out. mitt romney becoming the nominee. >> thank you, everybody. >> reporter: for now, trump will be center stage at next week's first primary debate. but he's already trying to keep expectations low. >> i'm not a debater. i never did that before. i don't know if i'm going to be g

david kerley, abc news, washington. >>> overseas now, to greece. a country on the brink of collapse. banks shuttered, atms running out of cash. and now echoes in our country, vacationing greeks left stranded here penniless. abc's alex marquardt reports in from athens on the eve of one of the biggest showdowns in greek history. >> reporter: tonight, a country deeply divided. all week, the banks closed, life savings locked up inside. endless lines at atms, with withdrawals limited to just $67, if you're lucky enough to find one that still has cash. >> the country really has to pull itself together somehow. >> reporter: heartbreaking scenes, like this retired man collapsing in tears after failing to get his wife's pension. last night, tens of thousands turning out on both sides of sunday's historic referendum that may impact not just greece's future in europe but the world economy, as well. a simple yes or no vote on a bailout plan, but the implications and the ballot itself could hardly be more complex. >> if you read the ballot, nobody can understan

>> david kerley thank you. >>> meantime a united pilot is in hot water tonight after a flight that took off from houston to munich. the captain accused of violating german gun laws carrying bullets while piloting the international flight. he tried to flush the bullets down the toilet when he realized his mistake. some pilots are allowed to carry guns on domestic flights here in the u.s. >>> to a developing headline from the fbi tonight. we reported on the concern over possible plots to kill americans on the fourth of july. tonight we have learned there were several arrested plots foiled. our justice correspondent meeting with the fbi director today who said those arrests disrupted efforts to murder americans. let's get right to pierre thomas live in washington. pierre what have you learned. >> reporter: fbi director james comey told reporters that about a dozen alleged isis sympathizers were arrested in the weeks leading up to july 4th. he said some had deadly intentions. quote, i do believe our work disrupt d efforts to kill people. comey declined to identify specific targets. this col

here's abc's david kerley. >> reporter: it's the nation's busiest airspace. >> we just got lasered from our, uh, about 10:00 o'clock position. >> reporter: dangerously, lit up again, six strikes near new york area airports. some near 7,000 feet. last night three hit much higher at 7,000 feet. one source tells us aircraft have been hit at altitude 35,000 feet. >> the approaches into new york's airport and most commercial airports are over neighborhoods. >> reporter: here on the ground it's easy for someone to use one of those powerful lasers and shine it up at a jetliner blasting the cockpit with light. a record pace this year averaging 15 strikes a night nine in dallas alone last night. but there an arrest, a 23-year-old suspect facing prison. >> since the criminalization in 2012 we've actually seen an increase and that trend is not good for the safety of the traveling public. >> reporter: even the light from one of these store bought lasers can travel more than four miles but it's the more powerful lasers that pilots are worried about could damage their retinas which is why they're cal

in fact, abc's david kerley tonight with those real-life moment young drivers caught behind the wheel>> reporter: in slow motion and backwards, this television commerical powerfully dramatizes what can be the outcome of doing what so many americans have done. bile device while driving. >> everyone likes the picture i posted of you. >> reporter: at&t produced the ad and is using these virtual reality goggles around the country to basically try and scare drivers off their devices while driving. we've seen the reality. watch these teens, just a few seconds changing the music on a device. ♪ or looking at a message and they are out of their lane. spinning and crashing. at any moment during daylight hours more than 600,000 of us are using a cell phone device while driving. that's about one in ten drivers which have led to more than 3,000 deaths attributed to distracted driving. do these ads, these campaigns make a difference? >> the campaigns do make a difference. there has been a reduction in the number of crashes, because they hit you hard, it makes you think what you are doing. >> report

and then start making officeers to those folks that own the vehicles. >> david kerley live in washington. david, thank you. >>> we turn now to the race for 2016 tonight. the latest republican contender under fire this evening for controversial comments. not donald trump, this time mike huckabee. the first debate just ten days from now. and the crowded republican field right there. 16 faces and names. but just ten spots on that stage. and if it were held tonight, that is the list based on the latest polling. some familiar faces would be left out. and this evening, something unusual here. president obama weighing in this early in a presidential race. and huckabee digging in over what he said. here's abc's tom llamas. >> reporter: tonight, mike huckabee doubling down on his criticism of president obama's iran deal after comparing it to the holocaust. >> he's so naive, he would trust the iranians and he would take the israelis and basically march them to the door of the ovp. >> reporter: his comments bringing a rare scolding from the president. >> 18 months i'm turning over the keys i want t

i had no idea david kerley just said there, that many are hit every single night. what in the world are people doing? >> i know. >>> all right, coming up here we've got the wow factor. the movie not meant to be shown in theaters just to potential buyers. the new way to sell a mega mansion in hollywood. >>> and in our next half hour cases of lyme disease on the rise even in states where it's never been found before. our dr. besser with the signs to look out for. you're watching "world news now." >> announcer: "world news now" continue ♪ >>> okay i'm going to put on my movie trailer voice. in a world where selling a hollywood mansion is especially tough, one realtor going the extra mile. >> okay. >> you weren't impressed. >> i'm sorry? >> you weren't impressed. >> i'm very impressed, because you went for it. that says a lot. >> yeah, as opposed to not going for it. >> i wouldn't have sold it that well. this real estate agent spends tens of thousands of dollars to make a movie for movie-makers? abc's nick watt with this story. >> the it's my house. >> reporter: it loo

abc's david kerley spoke to anthony foxx, transportation secretary, about the case. >> reporter: theests because fiat chrysler refused to share its data, one of nearly two dozen recalls, 11 million cars the government says chrysler botched. some jeeps, dodges and chrysler cars still on the road with bad axles, ignition switches, electrical problems, fixes that didn't work, consumers not notified. >> inconsistent, insufficient and inaccurate information given to the government and consumers. >> there's no way to defend what fiat chrysler was doing and whether it is a matter of comission or omission the reality is that consumers were not protected in this situation. >> reporter: in an exclusive interview, secretary foxx tells us he's slapping the biggest civil fine ever on a carmaker. $70 million in cash, $20 million to fix the problems, and if fiat chrysler doesn't perform, it could face another $15 million, potentially a $105 million fine. >> was fiat chrysler just a bad actor when it comes to recalls? >> well, this is a good example how not to do a recall. >> reporter: fiat chrysler

david kerley back on the case tonight. >> reporter: this is what could happen to lithium ion batteries and why tonight, boeing is taking action. 5,000 batteries in a test. within 45 minutes, overheating can lead to a chain reaction fire reaching 1,100 degrees. these batteries are youubiquitous. >> all lithium ion batteries have some risk of thermal runaway. >> reporter: so boeing is asking to avoid shipping these batteries. the company provided a safety checklist if airlines decide to carry batteries. this is a worldwide message, and later this month, a committee is expected to propose standards. >>> next to the severe weather we're watching for. 75 million americans at risk for storms this weekend. illinois multiple funnels. significant damage power lines down. rob marciano with the forecast and the pictures. >> reporter: tornadoes taking aim at illinois. outside cameron, an ef-2 tornado. transformers exploding. some residents still unable to return to their damaged homes. >> our dogs are still in our house, so we're worried about them. >> reporter: in delavan, another confirmed ef-2

here's david kerley. >> reporter: dash cam video shows the destruction when a train plows through a tractor-trailer. >> confirmed truck struck by the train, on fire. >> reporter: look closely. the lights don't come on until the train is nearly in the crossing. the rail guard arms aren't down. the truck driver with the dash cam saw it all. >> it wasn't down, and the lights, all the signal lights were not working. >> reporter: or were those crossing signals not triggered possibly because the train was moving too quickly? the speed limit is just 15 miles an hour in this part of queens. every day, there are more than six incidents involving vehicles and trains at crossings. far too many, say experts. >> the infrastructure is old. it's ageing. it requires a lot of upkeep. and quite frankly, drivers are inattentive when they cross the tracks as well. >> reporter: in the new york incident, investigators will be looking at speed and the signals. the good news, the truck driver received only minor injuries and the two locomotive engineers were not hurt. david? >> thank you. >>> a major development after the

here's david kerley with more tonight. >> it's hard work to be a tuna >> reporter: fiat chrysler says tonight -- >> built with honor. guts, glory, ram. >> reporter: that for nely 200,000 of its ram pickups, and other 2008 to 2012 vehicles out there, it might be forced to buy them back because of steering or axle problems. >> the buyback of the rams is going to be anything but smooth. i can foresee this two-month process is really going to stretch out. >> reporter: the buyback is part of the penalty for 23 previously mishandled recalls, covering 11 million vehicles. inconsistent, insufficient, and inaccurate information given to the government and consumers. >> there's no way to defend what fiat chrysler was doing. and whether it's a matter of commission or omission, the reality is that consumers were not protected in this situation. >> reporter: total possible fine, the biggest civil penalty ever for a car company. up to $105 million. fiat chrysler, which saw its stock slide nearly 5% today, says it accepts the penalty and "resulting consequences with renewed resolve to improve our ha

david kerley, abc news.he texas/mexico border today. he will hold a meeting with members of the border patrol union. republican rival rick perry used the visit to take a jab at trump saying i hope he can find the border because i'm not sure he's ever been there before. meanwhile, senator lindsey graham tries to prove he can take a joke. the south carolina senator, seen here finding different ways to destroy his cell phone. that's after trump infamously now gave out graham's cell phone number during a campaign stop. at the end, graham says "this is for the veterans," as he throws the phone out of range. another jab at trump. by the way, the first gop debate is two weeks from today. is that right? >> yeah, it is right. >> i thought it was sooner than that for some reason. it's two weeks? >> august 6th, right? >> what's today? i don't know what day it is. >> about two weeks. >> i'm struggling. >>> we mark the end of an era, the closing of the longest operating pizza hut restaurant has officially been announced.

let's check in with abc's david kerley. >> reporter: planes are packed but is that because airlines arey to keep fares that you pay higher? the justice department saying it's investigating potential unlawful coordination by certain airlines after a call for an investigation by a u.s. senator. >> holding down supply, economics 101. that is a violation of law, if it is misuse of market power. >> reporter: united delta, american and southwest, which together control 80% of the market have been told to produce statements and decisions from the past two years about the size of their fleets. the theory is that the airlines may have been working together to keep those fleets the same size so that the airlines could keep fares up. the airlines through their associations say they compete vigorously every day. >> if the definition of collusion is that the airline executives are calling each other up and saying what they're doing the next day with their businesses, there's no smoking gun there. >> reporter: senator blumenthal who called for the investigation, is also calling on the justice departm

here's david kerley. >> reporter: with that derailment shutting down the vital northeast amtrak corridor for days, travelers flocked to the airlines with complaints of sky-high prices, raising questions tonight. >> did they gouge prices so high and take advantage of a situation? >> reporter: the transportation secretary launching an investigation. demanding information from five airlines on those reports of $500 fares doubling, with one account suggesting a $2,300 ticket. you've not made a conclusion as to whether the airlines gouged passengers who were trying to get around the derailment? >> no, but we do feel that there's a sufficient amount of information and evidence to begin an investigation and to learn more. >> reporter: already the head of one airline -- >> absolutely not, sir. >> reporter: -- asked on the record, says travelers ended up paying last minute fares, which are higher. >> we would never take advantage of an opportunity like that, if you viewed it as an opportunity. >> reporter: the airlines say they didn't change their pricing because of the derailment. american airli

abc's david kerley was there. >> police military and civilian, flooding the walter reed military medical center heavily armed tactical officers entering the building from the ground and the roof. campus on lockdown. patients and workers trapped after a 911 call reported the sound of gunfire at 10:4 made from the campus's tower building. loud speakers blaring the warning to the up to 7,000 workers. all personnel are directed to healther. >> the report active shooter. just about an hour after that initial call s.w.a.t. teams started arriving here at the main entrance to the facility and donning their gear. law enforcement going floor by floor in the 20-story building clearing out workers, some leaving the buildings with their hands up. it was just last thursday when the navy yard eight miles to the south was also locked down. here at walter reed after clearing each floor looking for signs of a shot officers is then used bomb-sniffing dogs. >> there is no evidence or any indication of a firearm being discharged. >> even though this was a false alarm, police say with the heightened terror al

david kerley, back on the case tonight. >> reporter: this is what could happen to lithium ion batteries, and why tonight, boeing is taking action. this is an faa test. 5,000 batteries in a cargo container. within 45 minutes, just one pf them overheating can lead to a chain reaction fire reaching 1,100 degrees. and hard to put out. these batteries are ubiquitous. powering the digital age, your phone and computer. and there have been real-life cases of chain reaction fire including deadly crashes. >> all lithium ion batteries have some risk of thermal runaway. >> reporter: so, boeing is warning airlines to avoid carrying large shipments of batteries until safer methods of packaging are implemented. the company provided a safety checklist if airlines do decide to continue to ship batteries. this is a worldwide message, and later this month, a committee is expected to propose standards. >> david, thank you. >>> next to the severe weather we're watching at this hour. nine reports of tornadoes, 45 million americans at risk for storms this weekend. this tornado, battling illinois. multiple fun

here's more from abc's david kerley. >> reporter: it's the nation's busiest air space. >> we just gotreporter: dangerously lit up again. six strikes near new york area airports. some of the jets at 3,000 feet where many aircraft are hit. three hit much higher at 7,000 feet. and one source tells us aircraft have been hit at altitude 35,000 feet. >> the approaches into new york's airport, in fact, most commercial airports in this country are over neighborhoods at a few thousand feet. so here on the ground it's very easy for someone to use one of those new powerful lasers and shine it up at a jetliner, blasting the cockpit with light. a record pace this year averaging 15 strikes a night. nine in dallas alone but there an arrest. a 23-year-old suspect facing prison. the light from even these store bought lasers can travel more than four miles. but it's the more powerful laysers that pilots worry that can damage the retinas which is why they're call for stricter controls. david kerley, abc news. >>> donald trump makes a visit to the texas, mexico border to told a meeting with members of th

abc's david kerley with the tense moments in the sky. >> reporter: passengers on the tarmac, their plane in an isolated area as the bomb squad responds and bags are pulled. a passenger claimed to have a bomb on the united express flight from st. louis to washington d.c. diverted to columbus, the passengers put on buses. bags pulled and checked. the passenger who made the threat was questioned and then released. but this holiday weekend, with the worry of an attack, passengers are seeing the security presence. >> there seem to be a lot more canine units out and a lot more people on the ground. >> reporter: a government official says there may be more random screenings and pat downs and plenty of additional security efforts behind the scenes. >> we've got a significant threat environment right now and we've got to continue to take protecting our aviation and transportation security very seriously. >> reporter: one airport security official tells me there is no specific threat but they are, quote, leaning forward with additional security measures throughout the holiday weekend. amy? >> davi

abc's david kerley covers aviation for us. >> reporter: the four-engine cargo plane slammed into the suburbs just after noon, hitting a hotel, houses tearing in two, body after body recovered as crowds gathered. then family members learning that none of the 113 on board the c-130 survived. why so many on board? the indonesian air force often transports members and families to remote outposts. the plane takes off at 12:12 from the military base in north sumatra heading to the southwest but quickly develops engine trouble. the pilot turns right, saying he'll return to the airport. >> perhaps as he's turning back he gets distracted, the airplane gets low. probably mechanical failure but the mishap itself likely caused by human error. >> reporter: at 12:14, two minutes later, the plane goes down just three miles from the runway. the c-130 made by lockheed is a work horse. the longest military production line in history. it can land on short dirt runways, be a gun ship, carry cargo or troops. the plane that crashed was 50 years old. not a problem if it was well maintained, but indonesia's