>> right now on america this morning. new video as a tornado rips through a small town in texas. a disaster declaration expanding as severe flooding forces, evacuations. >> this driver heading straight into the flood waters. two feet of rain in two days. what to expect today with more storms on the move. >> traffic nightmare the crucial i-95 corridor from new york city into new england shut down in both directions for days after this fiery truck crash. the plan to demolish that bridge this morning and the chaos for commuters. >> terrifying moments at a university protest. hey, can

driver heading into the crowd then spraying people the new arrests and on a different campus? the moment of patriotism, how these students protected the american flag and are now being rewarded. >> it's the video that's outraged millions people seen dumping trash into the ocean off florida. what we've learned about the people on that boat trapped in the elevator. >> we hear from the mother desperate to rescue her daughter and the changes she's now calling for making the grade high honors at the white house for america's top teachers. >> the message from the teacher of the year. >> and watch out above. one hungry bird teaching a lunchtime lesson. >> from abc news in new york. this is america this morning. >> good friday morning everyone. i'm rhiannon ally and i'm andrew dymburt. >> we begin with breaking news, severe storms and extreme flooding.

>> yeah. the governor of texas now expanding his disaster declaration. abc's andrea fujii has the new images from overnight this morning. >> texas facing multiple severe weather threats, including life threatening floods. and now tornadoes. >> big tornado. >> at least one confirmed tornado touching down last night north of abilene in. >> the thing is just sitting there significant damage reported in the town of holly, where storm chasers were sifting through debris, searching for victims from above. >> drone video captured the destruction. entire homes ripped to shreds. it comes as major flooding grips part of southeast texas, leaving widespread damage and stranding cars in college station. >> in 25 years that i've lived here, i have never seen it flood like this. >> what are you doing? >> you're driving into the creek. no no no no no. stop! good news. the girl is okay. >> texas governor abbott expanded the state's emergency declaration last night as mandatory evacuation orders were

ordered outside houston. forecasters say 24in of rain fell in some areas in just 48 hours. rain totals more typical of a tropical storm or hurricane. >> unfortunate thing when you have 17in of rain overnight in the northern watershed that already had ten inches of rain two days earlier, that's that's added up. that's almost harvey level. amount of rainfall. >> people living along the san jacinto river in the houston area were asked to evacuate last night. officials said the river was rising to levels that could strand them for days. back in holly, where that tornado touched down, the school district says several families have lost their homes. rhiannon andrew. >> andrea, thank you for that. now to the commuter chaos along one of the busiest highways in the country. part of i-95 is now shut down, likely for days because of a fiery crash. schools are closed and people are being told to stay home. there were no serious injuries,

but there will be plenty of pain for commuters and for truck drivers this morning. demolition getting underway on this bridge over busy interstate 95 north of new york city, where a fuel truck sparked a massive fire, badly damaging the overpass. >> it's going to disrupt this whole coast. >> the tanker truck was carrying 8500 gallons of gas through norwalk, connecticut, when it was involved in a crash with a tractor trailer and a car. >> this bridge is less than ten years old and, you know, but the damage was pretty severe due to the amount of gasoline that was in the tanker. it took firefighters three hours to put out the flames, and now the highway is expected to remain closed on both sides until monday. >> i'm coming from new haven and it got stuck out here for six hours. so far, i-95 is a critical artery connecting new york to new england. >> more than 160,000 cars and trucks traveled this stretch every day. a similar crash in

connecticut last year shut down a different part of the highway after a fuel truck collided with a stopped car in new london, killing the truck driver. yesterday's crash, also reminiscent of an accident in philadelphia last year when a part of i-95 crumbled after a tanker truck caught fire beneath an overpass. but temporary lanes were opened within days after crews used tons of recycled glass nuggets to fill in the area. >> glass aggregate is not new. it's been used in pennsylvania for 7 or 8 years. it's safe. it's sound. it's ready to go to work. >> as for the crash in connecticut, still no word on who might be held responsible. local schools are closed today, and commuters are being urged to stay home if possible or to take the train. it could take up to a year to replace that overpass. >> authorities in new jersey are investigating a deadly home explosion. a 62 year old man was killed when the blast leveled this house in south river, new

jersey, damaging several nearby homes, blowing out windows. another man was seriously injured and rushed to the hospital. >> more than 2000 people have now been arrested as police cracked down on protests at college campuses nationwide. meanwhile, some fraternity brothers are in the spotlight this morning for this, for protecting the american flag from protesters at unc. abc's perry russom has details on that. perry. good morning. >> rihanna good morning to you. those fraternity brothers are quickly becoming famous while we see more unrest on campuses elsewhere. overnight, new video of dramatic moments as this car drives toward israel-hamas war. protesters at portland state university in oregon heard the driver then firing what appears to be pepper spray. he was later taken into custody. police, citing mental health concerns with the building. now force will be used against you. police returned to portland state last night after protesters reestablished an encampment in the library, tearing down the security fencing put up by police. it's back at ucla. more

than 200 protesters arrested in a massive police crackdown. hundreds of officers peeling back plywood barricades and launching flashbangs to break up the crowds who defied orders to leave. >> protesters basically spent all of yesterday putting up this barricade. we're watching law enforcement tear apart one by one, firing these projectiles here as this encampment is basically slowing slowly coming down. >> at george washington university, protesters targeting a statue of george washington draping a palestinian flag and black and white scarf on it many of the protesters, described as outside agitators. police in new york say of the 282 people arrested at columbia and nearby city college, nearly half 134 were not affiliated with the schools. and of the 22 initially arrested at portland state, only four were students. president biden, addressing the recent violence for the first time yesterday. >> destroying property is not a peaceful protest, it's against the law. vandals term

trespassing, breaking windows, shutting down campuses, forcing the cancellation of classes and graduations. none of this is a peaceful protest. >> meanwhile, praise is rolling in for a group of fraternity brothers at unc chapel hill seen protecting an american flag that pro-palestinian demonstrators were trying to take down. a fundraising website set up to throw this frat, the party they deserve, has now raised more than half $1 million, and country music star john rich is now offering them a free concert . and as for the war in gaza, which started all of this unrest , hamas is sending a delegation to egypt for more ceasefire talks, a sign of at least some progress. andrew. all right, perry, thank you. >> a january 6th rioter who pleaded guilty to multiple felony counts has been sentenced to five years in prison. ryan nichols shot pepper spray at officers during the capitol riot and later threatened more violence. he's also been fined $200,000. >> former president trump will be back at the defense table this morning after testimony from a key witness in his hush

money trial, an attorney who once represented star stormy daniels detailed trump's alleged efforts to keep her quiet. a text message detailed the $130,000 payment from trump's former lawyer, michael cohen, and the jury heard a recording of cohen explaining that trump often complained about paying daniels. >> i can't even tell you how many times he said to me, you know, i hate the fact that we did it. and my comment to him was, but every person that you've spoken to told you it was the right move. >> daniels attorney, keith davidson, also testified that he realized the hush money deal may have helped trump win the 2016 election. prosecutors are trying to prove that trump falsified business records to hide the payment, federal investigator will be in augusta, georgia, today at the scene of a deadly small plane crash. >> the pilot died on impact, but this morning he's being remembered as a hero. officials say he likely saved lives by

avoiding homes, and a pilot landed his cessna on this beach on long island, new york, after reporting engine failure. despite the plane tipping onto its nose, the pilot and passenger are said to be okay. >> glad to see that. time now for your friday weather >> good morning. we have another risk for severe weather today into tonight across texas. the dry line will instigate thunderstorms with large hail, even tornadoes, so you can see these waves of thunderstorms moving east. and they originate largely from western texas. and we'll get them not only friday into saturday, but also again as we go through saturday afternoon into saturday night. so these rounds of thunderstorms continue into our weekend. another storm working into the western u.s. and some showers and thunderstorms to cool things down for the eastern u.s. from accuweather, i'm melissa konstanzer >> coming up, halle berry on capitol hill, her fight to

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prepared for what would happen next. >> 2020 tonight on abc. >> we have new details about the boaters seen throwing trash into the ocean off of boca raton, florida. we've learned they're teenagers who have yet to be publicly identified. but another teen who says he was also on the boat is speaking out. he says he did not participate in the dumping. >> i completely disagree, i do not think that that should have been the choice he made, but it's what happened and i do feel a little remorse for him. but i also feel like he deserves whatever happened because he made a really bad decision. >> authorities are working to determine what charges the teens

might face. a search is underway for an american and two australian brothers who went missing while on vacation in mexico. >> jack carter road and callum and jake robinson were camping in the mexican state of baja california. their families, though, haven't heard from them since last weekend. now, three people have been detained in connection with their disappearance. that area is known for drug cartels and one of four americans charged with illegally bringing ammunition on to turks and caicos is speaking out, saying it was an honest mistake. brian hager says he forgot the ammo was in his suitcase after a recent hunting trip. he was arrested in february in front of his wife and kids as they were headed home to pennsylvania. he could now face 12 years in prison under the terms of a new law. there 12 years is a long time and just all those special things, you know, you look forward to as a parent, knowing that you potentially couldn't be there for those.

>> that's what keeps me up at night. >> hargreaves hoping local officials will find a way within the law to allow him to return to his family. three other americans are facing the same charges. >> the fbi is reportedly looking into whether senator lindsey graham's phone has been hacked. graham says his phone is, quote, in the hands of the fbi after he got a message from someone impersonating senator chuck schumer. a spokesperson for graham confirmed a possible hack of graham's phone is under investigation. the sergeant at arms, which investigates cybersecurity in the senate, has warned members of a phishing scheme coming up next, mortgage rates rising again. >> the five least affordable cities for homebuyers. >> also ahead, the mother, desperate to rescue her young daughter stuck inside this elevator

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frightening moments were all caught on camera. loanee otis and her three kids were heading out for the day when five year old zoey put her hand on the elevator door. when the door opened, they say her arm got sucked into the tiny space between the door and the elevator wall. >> me and my friend jen grabbed the elevator so it wouldn't pull her in more, and my friend nicole was with her down there trying to figure out how to get her arm out. >> they tried for three minutes to get her free. a neighbor heard the commotion and handed them a bottle of lotion, and she put it on her arm. >> and then she opened it. she opened it for you and she pulled. she pulled her arm free. >> luckilly emts rushed zoey to the hospital, where she needed 20 stitches on her wrist and was left with a large scar. >> it's pretty big, and it's something that we deal with on a daily basis. she wants to cover it. it doesn't feel good. it hurts her. it's sensitive. now. >> the family is suing the building's owner and the elevator company, claiming negligence. the operator of the elevator said it doesn't comment on pending litigation, but said

safety is an integral part of what we do. we remain steadfast in our commitment to moving people safely every day. no comment yet from the building owner. for zoey and her mom, it was a moment they'll never forget. >> did you know mommy was going to help you? yeah. family is seeking compensation. >> they're also hoping the lawsuit will lead to safety improvements. >> nice to see her. okay there. actress holly berry joined a group of senators announcing a bill addressing a health issue that affects every woman. menopause they're calling on congress to approve $275 million for research and education. perry says menopause is misunderstood by most people. i said i'm in menopause, okay? >> the shame has to be taken out of menopause. we have to talk about this very normal part of our life that happens. >> so far, 17 senators support the proposed legislation. all of them women coming up, special honors for the teacher of the year. also ahead, speeding up your walk. the robotic shoes

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>> no one was prepared for what would happen next. 2020 tonight on abc. >> time. >> beginning with the first ever white house state dinner honoring teachers, the president and first lady paid tribute to hardworking and dedicated educators who are shaping the next generations. >> this year's national teacher of the year is missy testerman from tennessee. >> they are doctors, nurses, lawyers, architects, pilots and more, sitting in our classrooms every single day. they may be second graders who still need help tying their shoes, but one day they'll heal people from insects from illness, fly planes , drive busses, transport goods, or maybe they'll be just like us

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now at five developing news in the south bay. two police officers shot while responding to a call. the suspect also shot. we're live where the investigation is happening right now, and a much calmer night on college campuses across the country. >> after a violent week. we now know thousands have been arrested. president biden's message to protesters a group of uc alumni siding with pro-palestinian protesters, and they're using their checkbooks as collateral. >> the petition to withhold donations now circulating, and the new partnership with police bringing a cinco de mayo celebration back to the south bay. good morning. it is friday, may 3rd. >> we want to begin with a check of our weather. we know it's going to be a rainy weekend. >> yeah, a little bit on saturday. not the whole weekend, but today will still get that gorgeous sunshine. those warm temperatures, a live look outside the exploratorium camera this morning. we do have s