his office handled upwards of 30,000 cases and often faced accusations of hard-line tactics. >> harry connickas tough on crime and death penalty cases. harry would have said no, you can't have a deal. he was very aggressive and wanted to lock them all up forever. >> jim williams took great pride in his convictions and kept a mini electric chair on his desk. >> he was regarded as one of the most aggressive prosecutors. he described sliding up behind defendants in the courtroom and buzzing in their ears to mimic the buzz of electricity. >> thompson's carjacking trial lasted only two days. the testimony of the lagarde children was enough to convict thompson of armed robbery. he was given the maximum sentence. >> your heart stops beating for a minute, you know? that was my first conviction. but he gave me the maximum, 49 1/2 years. i realized that i was in some serious trouble then for sure, because now, now we going to go to the murder trial. >> at the murdertrial, both kevin freeman and richard perkins testified that thompson killed ray liuzza and since thompson had no alibi, even his defense a

how harry connick and others made sure the music wouldn't stop after hurricane katrina. >> first all the anticipation for the little pink pill, the so-called female viagra. today is decision day at the fda for a medication that could be a game-changer. you're watching "world news now." >> "world news now" weather, brought to you by belsomra. d news now." >> "world news now" weather, brought to you by bell samra. weo?o? i ok the trash out. i know. and thank you so much for that. i think we should get a medicare supplement insurance plan. right now? [ male announcer ] whether you're new to medicare or not, you may know it only covers about 80% of your part b medical expenses. it's up to you to pay the difference. so think about an aarp medicare supplement insurance plan, insured by unitedhealthcare insurance company. like all standardized medicare supplement insurance plans, they help cover some of what medicare doesn't pay and could really save you in out-of-pocket medical costs. call now. with a medicare supplement plan, you'll be able to stay with your doctor. oh, you know, i love t

sr. >> harry connick sr.ertainly an iconic figure. he was a fan of jazz with a regular singing gig in new orleans but also fairly aggressive as well. it was a state of policy in his office to provide the desk the minimum and nothing more. >> we talked about the right way to handle this and rather than hold a big press conference and point the finger at the district attorney's office, we thought the right first step was to go to mr. connick himself. >> connick's reaction initially was he wanted time to think about it. told him he had a matter of two, maybe three hours. >> we've got an execution date in less than two weeks and said if you can't agree even with these facts, we'll, you know, take the next step that we think is appropriate. >> mr. connick realized he had no alternative. the evidence was all too clear. it was physically and scientifically impossible for thompson to have been the carjacker. >> michael gordon and connick met with quinnlin that presided over both trials. upon learning of the hidden bl

she's going to be speaking with harry connick jr.lives and bring back the music. that's coming up later. >>> but first here the big name in baseball, justin verlander who also counts model kate upton as his girlfriend is trying to make the game safer not for the players but the fans. >> he's sick of seeing them get hurt in the stands and wants more done to protect them. abc's linzie janis has the story. >> reporter: overnight detroit tigers pitching superstar and three time mlb strikeout champion justin verlander taking on the league's leaders urging more netting to protect fans after a foul ball hit this woman in the face friday night. >> they will take her out of the ballpark now. ooh. back in the seats. >> reporter: the fan was sitting behind the home team dugout when she was hit. the hurtling baseball leaving a welt on the side of her head. she was carried out of the stadium on a stretcher wearing a neck brace and taken to a nearby hospital released on saturday. >> it's something that needs to be addressed immediately. >> reporte

. >>> jennifer lopez harry connick junior and keith urban in town right now. final season of american idol here. >>> you feel the heat today, the humidity tomorrow, watching for showers and storms out there, in the seven-day forecast, i'll show you when coming up. . >>> atlantic city beach will be jammed with thousands of music fans tomorrow. maroon five will hit the stage and the music continues next sunday with rascal flats on the beach stage. two shows expected to draw 100,000 people overall. maybe a few more and the city says ticket sales have been going very well. >>> as you may have heard, this upcoming season of american idol will be the last for the music competition. >> they're holding season 15 auditions at the philadelphia convention center. of we got a sneak peak behind the scenes. scombluchs jennifer lopez, harry connick junior and keith urban will be handing out the tickets. we caught up with a local stufrt before he went went in to audition. >> i've been waiting around a couple hours to get in front of these judges, i drink water, listen to musi

. >> as the anniversary approaches, robin roberts talked with singer harry connick jr.ped revitalize the gulf coast. >> reporter: right after the crescendo of katrina, there was a very real concern that music itself would become a katrina fatality. >> the people who formed the basis of that culture and music weren't able to come back home. and there was no place for us to come home to. everything was gone, everything was washed away. >> lord jesus. >> reporter: singer ellen smith whose house was destroyed in the flooding didn't have the means to rebuild. >> mold is growing up the walls. i was so devastated. it was so hard. it was hard for me to sing after the storm. it's hard to talk about it. my heart was broken. i needed to get back here and i had to do it any way i could. >> reporter: and it took a village literally to help her do that. musicians village. the idea came from hometown music heroes, branford marsalis and harry connick jr. >> so we got together with habitat for humanity and decided we wanted to build or be a part of building a musicians village which was

harry connick jr.'s 19-year-old daughter was arrested at his home in connecticut. >> harry once gave people magazine a tour inside the home. georgia faces minor charges of permitting minors to possess alcohol and procuring alcohol for minors. >> harry was in a good mood the morning after his daughter's arrest. we discussed the last season's crop of hopefuls. >> i don't know why they're intimidated by me. >> he was in good spirits, but but then again he was promoting idol. i would have been grounded. i wouldn't have seen the light of day for months. >> going to be interesting in their home for a minute. >> it is now joke she has a date in superior court september 2nd. >> look at this cute picture of georgia and her sisters at the premier of twilight back in 2009. anyway, i busted out that picture because last night there was a twilight reunion in hollywood. that tops tonight's quick hit. >> tw ihearts are digging this. kristen stewart and taylor lawsuit ner hanging tonight. >> i like love him and i reall

birnbaum the famous piano tuner who tuned pianos for frank's a notch liza minnelli and harrick -- harry connickr. the reinvestment development authority has been trying to seize his home using eminent domain. they claim this is for development purposes to entice new developers to atlantic city. i've been chasing the story for over year and a half and on august 19 a judge ruled that there was not sufficient grounds to seize charlie's home. how do you feel right now? >> i feel absolutely joyful. ♪ according to charlie the judge recognized the change in atlantic city. >> it took atlantic city's implosion for the judge to say wait, wait and he did wait. >> turley considers himself a part of atlantic city. he raised his family here and he has friends here and he fell in love with a white house bind his home. he stood in front of the white house in a picture of himself from 1969. there it is. >> when we first bought it at that attack which which had to be removed. >> there it is. for now the piano man stays. >> i am surprised, that was part of the reason why he was allowed to stay in his home because

judges jennifer lopez, harry connick, jr.rban will be handing out the gold tickets today and tomorrow we caught up with the local rowan university student right before he went in to sing. >> i'm nervous waiting around. i've been waiting around for a couple of hours now to get in front of these judges and there's something really you can do. i sit around and drink water. listen to mu sick. talk my uncle but as soon as i get in there i'll be okay. ooh want them to say yes. i'm not nervous. i just want them to say yes. >> well, maybe they will. judges auditions kick off right here in philadelphia. they'll continue across the country in hopes of finding the final american idol making history and you know american idol is right here on fox 29. >>> be out there again tomorrow. atlantic city beaches will be jammed with thousands of music fans tomorrow. maroon five will hit the stage on the sand on sunday afternoon. the music continues next sunday with rascal flats on the beach stage. the two shows aring expected to drove draw about

. >> harry connick, jr., and drew after the storm. >> harry connick, jr., and drew brees are t leavedream big wander more care less beat sunrise chase sunset do it all. on us. get your first month's payment plus five years wear and tear coverage. make the most of summer... with volvo. [female announcer] if the most is the staying awake part, day sleep train has your ticket to a better night's sleep. because when brands compete, you save during mattress price wars. save up to $400 on beautyrest and posturepedic. get interest-free financing until 2018 on tempur-pedic. plus, helpful advice from the sleep experts. don't miss mattress price wars at sleep train. ♪ sleep train ♪ your ticket to a better night's sleep ♪ >>> travel conversations provided by -- >>> look at all those stars celebrating birthdays this weekend. now, on saturday, ty turns 48. celebrating a birthday sunday, scott turns 39, and rick springfield is 66. i remember taking a picture with him all in his prime. now, with former snl star once waited tables in the executive dining in universal studio? that's kristin wig turni

a have harry connick, jr., tive of new orleans. we have terence blanchard, a composer who did the score for the special. drew brees, quarterback for the saints. i mean, who wanted to play for the saints back in the day? he chose after katrina and felt it was his calling. a good mixture of people you will meet on the special. jummy: all right, raven, we are looking forward to this one sunday night. as we mentioned, "katrina --10 years after the storm," sunday night at 10:00. coming up, your information at risk. we are learning more about the data breach at the irs. plus, making history. the major accomplishment for two women in the army, and the current rules holding them back. jummy: a major decision expected today regarding women's health. the fda's set to announce whether it will approve a drug known as female viagra. it is estimated that one in 10 women suffer from hyperactive sexual disorder. there are questions about the drugs efficiency and safety. stay tuned to abc7 for the fda ruling later on today. seven is on your side wi

that would be awesome. >> that was not cut the way you wanted it. >> she looks a lot like harry connick they love it here. there was a rumor keith might get the zach brown band concert at citizens bank park on the saturday. he said that is a great assumption because believe it or in the they will catch a show on the road but he said, lets see fit works. >> you have to talk to me keith and i will tell you what is going down. >> you have the low down. >> i think people here, are pretty laid back. i think they love good food. they love their football team. it is a nice, i think the size is similar. i always loved connection with people here. i have performed here countless times. i think people necessity how much i care about playing here. it is a wonderful town. this time of the year. i don't get here this time of the year much. it is a thrill. >> he is talking about philly. >> loves philly. >> again, he said philly and new orleans is about the same size. >> yeah. >> here's what i will tell you look at jennifer lopez right there. people keep asking me what does she look like in person? co

this is harry connick jr. and brac brac's shut -- barack obama's shutdown. >> democrats refused to budge. >> no willingness at all to compromise. >> the president won't negotiate. >> jon: it's not their shurtdown. is their name on the shutdown? they didn't do it. oj did it. i blame oj. if you glove doesn't fit you must -- remember the chase with the car? [laughter] party of personal responsibility ain't taking none. >> so listen here is the proof once and for all. sniffles magilacuty here, john mccain asked about a claim harry reid is making. >> he said publicly that you came to him in july and offered to pass a clean government funding resolution, no obamacare amendments. it was $70 billion below what the senate wanted they accepted and you've reneged on that offer. >> clearly there was a conversation about doing this. >> several. >> several. >> and you offered a clean resolution. >> i and my members decided that the threat of obamacare and what was happening was so important it was time to take a stand and w

this is harry connick jr.arack obama's shutdown. >> democrats refused to budge. >> no willingness at all to compromise. >> the president won't negotiate. >> jon: it's not their shurtdown. is their name on the shutdown? they didn't do it. oj did it. i blame oj. if you glove doesn't fit you must -- remember the chase with the car? [laughter] party of

let me tell you something harry connick, jr., he's not messing around with this farewell season. >> i care what they look like, male, female, tall, short, whatever, what they dress like, whatever, when i start seeing what they're there to do that's when i start doing my job which is judging them and sometimes people with a different perspective works and sometimes it's a distract. just depends on who it is. i'm looking forward to see everybody. >> we're hoping for a winner from fillman. >> wouldn't that be great. that would be awesome. >> the contestants can feel that energy. they know that these judges are looking for excellence. they're ready to show it to them. >> i just kind of been like if god is going to allow it to happen it's going happen. just do my thing. >> i you always want to be optimistic and everything but there's a lot of amazing singers here, and i didn't know it was going to happen but here i am. i'm so excited. >> once again, american idol this is only their second time coming and they had to come to philadelphia during their farewell season. so will someone that wa

. >> and thanks to celebrities like harry connick junior music is a pulse of the big easy. >> it's been the backdrop for good times and bad times, so the thought of it not being around any more was something that made me lose sleep at night. >> reporter: new orleans' spirit never went anywhere it was always there, it was dampened a little bit because of katrina, but it's alive and well. it's an emotional and raw and uplifting look, ten years after the storm airs tonight at 10:00 p.m. on 6abc. alicia vitarelli channel 6 "action news." >> we've been saying it's hard to believe it's been ten years. >> reporter: it seems like yesterday, i remember that storm, i remember how big it was, how ferocious it was in the gulf winds up to 215 miles per hour. there were like four or five category fives. >> there was another one before that and one after that. >> reporter: there was william and katrina. the two of them hit florida, that was a nasty year, homefully we don't see anything like as we march through the hurricane season, with the el nino continuing to grow in the pacific more than likely we

maybe they're outside your window, jaylo, keith urban, harry connick junior. we got big time idol, we got jen fred who's miss big time with the inside scoop you won't see anywhere else. >>. >>> a complex goes up in flames and a baby is left dangling from the third floor of a billy. what an off duty fireman did to shave save the child's life. >>> we're playing this song because it's a member of the fox 29 birthday but also madonna's birthday, gorgeous reading pennsylvania, we'll be back. what's happened to snacking? how did it become absent-mindedly eating one after the next? we are a creamy cheese that still believes in savoring our food. the laughing cow. reinvent snacking. . >>> following breaking news from overseas this morning, in dough emotion airline er is missing went off radar during a short flight across the country, wool flying into bad weather. officials say the plane lost contact minutes before scheduled to land, 49 passengers and five crew members were on board. we've just lerped the search for the plane has been suspended and will resume tomorrow

she will talk to j lo and harry connick junior and keith urban. >> on fox 29, right here on fox 29. >have believe it yes, can you believe it. >> yes. >> final season of american idol starts in january. i can't deal with you, mike. of course, it will be right here, on which channel. >> fox 29. >> we want to make sure you know what you are watching. >> the station you are watching right now. >> huge party on the beach in atlantic city. >> do you see pictures that were tweeted out yesterday, i didn't believe it. >> i just, thanked lord i decided not to go. >> would you not have been able to hand that will crowd. >> 50,000 fans, yes, nick jonas do you see him right here maroon five they were all at the beach concert yesterday. this was helped to market the the city as more than just a gambling donation. this year the show was not free but it did not stop thousands of people to come out and get on the boardwalk, too. organizers say the goal, to get people coming back as city tries to reinvent itself. >> we need to get more bodies here and let's be frank atlantic city need more than just ga

>> reporter: and thanks to celebrities like harry connick jr., music is once again the call of the big >> music has always been representation of who we are as northerlyians has been the backdrop. the new orleans spirit never went anywhere. it was always there. it was dampened a little bit because of katrina but you'll see in the special that it is alive and well. >> reporter: it's a very emotional raw and uplifting look, katrina 10 years after the storm airs sunday night at 10:00 right here on 6abc. alicia vitarelli, channel6 "action news." >> still to come on "action news" tonight developing news from france where two americans stopped a gunman on high speed train. >> in sports eagles are getting ready for the ravens. jaime apody is live at training camp ahead of the eagles' second preseason matchup this weekend. cecily. >> heat wave is officially over. 88 degrees, low humidity. i'll let you know how long we stay in this comfort zone in the accuweather forecast. >> all right, those stories and more when "action news" comes right back. (plays throughout) ♪ sometimes, at last doesn't h

. >> harry connick, jr., and drew brees are t a new sea chance to tryew look. something different.tions and experience a cadillac for yourself. ♪ the 2015 cadillac srx. lease this from around $339 per month, or purchase with 0% apr financing. >>> travel conversations provided by -- >>> look at all those stars celebrating birthdays this weekend. now, on saturday, ty turns 48. celebrating a birthday sunday, scott turns 39, and rick springfield is 66. i remember taking a picture with him all in his prime. now, with former snl star once waited tables in the executive dining in universal studio? that's kristin wig turning 42 saturday. >>> monday, an entertainment world tonight exclusive. our day on set with carrie underwood. >> thank you! >> badder than ever after baby. >> i'm not making an album of mommy songs. >> monday on "e.t." >> for all the late breaking hollywood news, of course, go to our website, etonline.com. >> before we go, academic out the music video from haley. >> from "love myself," the most added number one song on top 40 radio. she's on fire right now. she's already co

. -- harry connick. there is a connection here. reporter: when did it start? how does it work?uilding on this lot june 1. we now currently have 27 homes under construction. we will be dedicating the first -- three have been dedicated area it will dedicate another 30 lots on this site august 19. 11 of them are musicians locally here in new orleans. complete weses are will begin building on the interior of this lot. an additional 40 lots. some are going to be elder friendly units. selling not going to be those. to make sure the older generation of musicians also have affordable housing options. there will be 40 more homeowners going on this lot. is thiss village particular core area. norlin's at the habitat humanity is the upper ninth ward. we are going to be sustaining our building projects here. why the upper ninth ward? neighborhood other , it needs right battle is asian revitalization. reporter: how do you apply and qualify? >> the first of the application , the first of is a credit check. the second is a loan application. the third is a home visit. they do a home visit where

sarrah: it was the brain child of ellis marcellus and harry connick.five houses before the storm, with the new orleans area habitat for humanity. the connection here. questioner: tell us more about it. when did it start? how does it work, who gets to live here? sarrah: we started building on this lot on june 1. we now currently have 27 homes under construction. we'll be dedicating the first -- well, three have already been dedicated. we'll be dedicating another 30 . ts on this site on august 19 there are 33 families, 11 of them are musicians here locally in new orleans. once the 30 houses are complete, we'll start to begin, we'll begin building on the interior of this lot, there will be 40 lots. some of the lots are going to be elder-friendly units which are duplexes. which are not going to be -- we're not going to be selling those homes. those will be rental units so we can make sure that the older generation of musicians also as affordable housing options. there will be 40 more homeowners going on this lot. and the musicians village concept is kind o

>> ellis marsalis and harry connick. there is a connection here. reporter: when did it start?ow does it work? >> we started building on this lot june 1. we now currently have 27 homes under construction. we will be dedicating the first -- three have been dedicated. it will dedicate another 30 lots on this site august 19. 33 families, 11 of them are musicians locally here in new orleans. once the houses are complete we will begin building on the interior of this lot. an additional 40 lots. some are going to be elder friendly units. they are not going to be selling those. to make sure the older generation of musicians also have affordable housing options. there will be 40 more homeowners going on this lot. musicians village is this particular core area. our focus at the norlin's habitat humanity is the upper ninth ward. we are going to be sustaining our building projects here. reporter: why the upper ninth ward? >> like every other neighborhood, it needs revitalization. reporter: how do you apply and qualify? >> the first step of the application process, the first step is a cred

it was the brainchild of ellis marsalis and harry connick.ey built houses with the new air lens -- new orleans habitat for humanity. robert: when did that start? sara: we started june 1. we now have 27 homes under construction. --will be dedicating the three have already been dedicated, we will dedicate onther 30 lots on this side august 19. families, 11 of them are musicians here locally. the 30 houses are complete, we will build on the interior of this 40 lots. some of those lots will be elder friendly, duplexes. those will not be sold. those the rentals -- will be rentals. that will make sure the older generations have affordable housing options. there will be 40 more homeowners going on this lot. the musicians village concept is bigger then this particular core area. is because core, our focus is the upper ninth ward in the next 1-3 years. we will be sustaining our building projects. we are committed here and will keep building. robert: why the upper ninth ward? sara: like every other neighborhood it needs revitalization. robert: have you