(WASHINGTON) -- The Trump administration is asking the Supreme Court to allow construction of President Donald Trump's White House ballroom to continue after a lower court put it on pause.

The administration on Friday asked the high court for an emergency stay of the injunction, which would halt substantial portions of the above-ground construction of the White House East Wing and ballroom while litigation plays out over its legality.

The injunction is set to take effect on Aug. 21 unless the Supreme Court acts.

The district court order would still allow below-ground construction or any other measures necessary to protect national security and the president's safety.

Solicitor General John Sauer called the injunction "extraordinary and unlawful," arguing that it would put the security of the president and his family at risk and override the advice of the nation's top military, intelligence and law enforcement officials. 

"If allowed to go into effect, the injunction would wrongfully install a single district judge as sole arbiter of what further construction is 'strictly necessary' to protect the safety of the President, his family, staff members, and visitors to the White House, including foreign dignitaries, and presidents and prime ministers of other countries," Sauer wrote. 

The district court concluded that President Donald Trump lacks the authority to overhaul the White House without congressional approval. A divided federal appeals court upheld the ruling earlier this month. 

In his appeal to the justices to intervene, Sauer suggested halting construction would directly put the life of the president at risk, citing six "recent assassination attempts," including "the threat of a missile attack against Air Force One on July 8."

"The President of the United States of America is not a tenant, but rather the sole, elected head of the Executive Branch, and Congress has authorized him to renovate, secure, and protect the White House and its grounds, as other Presidents  have been allowed to do, without exception," he wrote. 

The government argued that it is likely to win on appeal in the case, insisting that the National Trust for Historic Preservation lacks standing to bring the lawsuit and that federal law has long allowed presidents to undertake the "care, maintenance, repair, alteration, refurbishment, and improvement ... of the Executive Residence at the White House." 

The Supreme Court is expected to seek a response from the National Trust for Historic Preservation sometime in the next week before rendering a decision on the stay. 

Sauer indicated that the administration also plans to ask the Supreme Court to take the case up for expedited oral argument and decision on the merits. 

Separately, the administration's filing appeared to provide new details about the state of the construction operation. 

The government asserts that it is "on time" and "under budget" and that "zero taxpayer dollars are needed or required." 

Though there is no mention of the White House's $1 billion funding request to Congress for White House hardening and enhancements for evolving threats and technology which have been widely seen by lawmakers as related to Trump's ballroom.

Senate Democrats on Wednesday formally asked the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct an audit of the project and its funding.

“The scale of this project, the destruction of historic architecture, the opaque and unorthodox combination of public funds with private funding sources, and the absence of standard federal review processes raise serious concerns about transparency, accountability, and stewardship of this national landmark,” the lawmakers wrote.

Sauer claimed in Friday's filing that the project is 65% complete and that $200 million has been spent or committed to date. 

He says a 250-person crew is working 20 hours a day, 7 days a week. The structure is said to be 5 stories deep and 70-feet above ground across 50,000 square feet. 

The administration's filing also includes sworn declarations from some of the most senior officials in the government, including from the secretary of state, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as well as the heads of the FBI and Secret Service, in an effort to dramatically lay out the national security justifications for the ballroom.

One White House official also said in a declaration that the construction is simply too far along for the project to be safely stopped.

"[I]f work is stopped in line with the district court’s injunction, it will be a disaster,” wrote Joshua Fisher, the White House director of management and administration.  "Quite frankly, if the building were tragically ordered to be taken down, or even altered, by the court, there would be no way to do so."

Fisher says the concrete-and-steel superstructure is now "beyond the point of no return," adding that the freestanding walls "cannot be left as-is without being tied together with the designed structural steel."

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(WASHINGTON) -- U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro on Friday announced the arrest of a suspect who allegedly vandalized the WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C., saying in a post on social media that her office filed two felony charges against a woman, with a penalty of "up to ten years in prison."

In the post, Pirro identified the suspect as Melissa L. Farris and said Farris is in custody. An attorney for Farris could not immediately be reached for comment.

"Vandalizing our World War II Memorial is a despicable attack on a sacred monument honoring the Americans who fought and died for our freedom," Pirro wrote.

According to ABC affiliate WJLA, U.S. Park Police launched an investigation on Thursday after red paint was dumped onto the walls and floor of the Atlantic pavilion, and a substance poured into the fountain caused it to bubble.

A witness photographed a woman authorities later identified as Farris in the apparent act of spray painting the WWII Memorial on Thursday before Farris fled, according to the statement of facts filed in federal court. 

When the witness passed the images on to law enforcement, a U.S. Park Police officer recognized Farris as someone they had arrested on Aug. 10 -- just a few days prior -- for unlawfully camping on federal property a few blocks from the WWII Memorial, according to the complaint. 

Authorities found social media postings, including a livestream video before the alleged vandalism and another video where she allegedly admits to damaging the memorial and says she was surprised that no one immediately arrested her, according to the complaint.

“Why the [expletive] didn’t I get arrested?  You don’t think that’s weird," she said in the video, according to court records. 

Farris is charged with depredation against property of the U.S. and destruction of a veterans' memorial.

When asked for comment on the incident, a spokesperson for the Department of the Interior said: "The World War II Memorial is a sacred place to honor the service of our members of the Armed Forces and the over 400,000 Americans who gave the ultimate sacrifice in WWII. The vandalism that occurred is an utter disgrace and will not be tolerated."

Friends of the World War II Memorial, a group dedicated to preserving the monument, called the vandalism "unacceptable."

"There are many places in our country for expression, debate, and disagreement. A national memorial honoring those who served and those who never returned home should never be used as a canvas for vandalism," the group wrote in a statement.

President Donald Trump also weighed in on the incident on Thursday.

"Our beautiful World War II Memorial was just hit by Spray Painting Vandals. THERE CAN BE NO GREATER INSULT TO THOSE AMERICAN HEROES WHO DIED IN WORLD WAR II," Trump wrote in a social media post.

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(NEW YORK) -- Alex Murdaugh appeared in a South Carolina courtroom on Friday for a hearing to work out some key issues ahead of his April 2027 retrial, including where it will take place, what evidence will be permitted, and how much of Murdaugh's testimony from the first trial will be available to prosecutors. 

Judge Debra McCaslin agreed that Murdaugh would be unable to receive a fair retrial in Colleton County, where the original trial took place, but she has not decided on where the trial will be held.

She ruled that the trial cannot take place anywhere in the 14th Circuit, where Colleton is located. She will issue an order later on the new venue.

After the South Carolina Supreme Court overturned Murdaugh’s conviction for murdering his wife and son earlier this year -- citing jury tampering by the court clerk in the case -- McCaslin scheduled his retrial for April 5, 2027. 

Murdaugh is pushing to dismiss the case -- accusing the lead investigator of misconduct -- and argues he cannot have a fair trial in some of the South Carolina counties where his family name has been "synonymous with the local legal system for nearly a century." 

The judge did not rule on the defense's motion to dismiss the case on Friday because prosecutors have not responded.

Defense attorney Dick Harpootlian called the Colleton County Courthouse the "scene of the crime" when it comes to the jury tampering by the Clerk of Court that triggered the new trial, calling it "poison."

The defense has lobbied to have the trial heard in Charleston, but State Attorney Creighton Waters said the expense would be an undue financial burden for the state, saying he is a steward of taxpayer money.

Murdaugh showed little reaction to the ruling on Friday.

McCaslin said she intends to stick to the trial start date she set. In a hearing that lasted over three hours, McCaslin moved through a list of motions from both sides. 

McCaslin ruled that Murdaugh's testimony from his prior trial may be used in the new trial, subject to what is being testified.

McCaslin will not allow the defense to use Murdaugh's polygraph test at trial, warning that the defense could face being held in contempt or even a mistrial if the test is mentioned.

The judge also ruled that if the defense plans to use data from Murdaugh's phone at trial, it must give prosecutors notice and access.

Both sides will work on the jury questionnaire, and the judge will directly supervise jury selection.

Citing jury tampering by Clerk of Court Becky Hill and the reason behind the retrial, the defense asked that it be privy to the full potential jury list before the trial. Harpootlian implied that Hill's intervention in the case may have begun as early as jury selection.

The South Carolina Supreme Court in May threw out Murdaugh's double murder conviction due to misconduct by a court clerk who communicated with some of the jurors during the trial and influenced their deliberations. 

"Both the State and Murdaugh's defense skillfully presented their cases to the jury as the trial court deftly presided over this complicated and high-profile matter. However, their efforts were in vain because Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill placed her fingers on the scales of justice, thereby denying Murdaugh his right to a fair trial by an impartial jury," the ruling said. 

Murdaugh's $600,000 civil lawsuit against Hill over the matter was dismissed this month.

Murdaugh, who remains in prison because he pleaded guilty to separate financial crimes, was sentenced to 27 years on state charges and 40 years on federal charges. While he had admitted to lying to and stealing from his clients, Murdaugh has maintained his innocence related to the deaths of his wife and son. 

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(NEW YORK) -- Luigi Mangione admitted to shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson as he pleaded guilty Friday to two federal stalking counts.

Mangione, wearing tan prison clothes, addressed the court himself, saying, "After years of enduring severe pain from a broken back ... I learned UnitedHealth would be holding an investor conference in New York City."

"I then researched the event online. I observed the annual conference of America's largest healthcare organization with the stated mission to make the healthcare system better for everyone," he said.

"I traveled to New York and emailed UnitedHealthcare with the intent to kill Brian Thompson ... I shot Mr. Thompson in the back," he said, adding, "I knew what I was doing was illegal."

Earlier in the hearing, defense attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo told the court, "Mr. Mangione is prepared to plead guilty to the indictment at this time," and Mangione himself then affirmed he was prepared to plead guilty.

Members of Thompson's family, including his wife and mother, are sitting in the front row of the courtroom, marking the first time they’re appearing in court. Thompson’s wife appeared to be crying as the hearing began. Executives from UnitedHealthcare are also in attendance.

When asked for his full name, Mangione replied, "Luigi Nicolas Mangione," and he affirmed his age, 28, and schooling at the University of Pennsylvania.

He told the judge he took a sleep medication two days ago but said it did not cloud his judgment.

The judge asked Mangione if he understood that he'd give up his right to a trial if he pleaded guilty, and Mangione responded yes.

Federal prosecutor Dominic Gentile explained that Mangione stalked Thompson with the intent to kill him and his conduct resulted in Thompson’s death.

U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett told Mangione a guilty plea would expose him to a possible life sentence. 

"Do you understand that?" the judge asked, and Mangione replied, "yes."

The judge confirmed there is no plea deal.

A guilty plea could complicate Mangione's murder prosecution in state court, where trial is scheduled to begin Sept. 8. His federal trial was set for Jan. 5.

Defense attorneys have already tried to dismiss the murder charges on double jeopardy grounds. The Manhattan District Attorney's Office is prepared to move forward, arguing stalking and murder address different harms.

About three dozen members of the public -- including at least one person who camped out in a tent overnight -- lined up outside the courthouse Friday morning to try to secure a seat in the courtroom.

Mangione's supporters are often outspoken during his hearings, but there were little-to-no demonstrators on Friday morning. And with the federal court limiting what members of the public can wear, Mangione's supporters were not donning their normal shirts proclaiming his innocence.

Mangione is accused of gunning down Thompson on Dec. 4, 2024, in Midtown Manhattan, and he was captured in Pennsylvania after a five-day manhunt. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced that Mangione was indicted on first-degree murder charges on Dec. 17, 2024, and federal prosecutors announced separate charges of stalking and murder on Dec. 19, 2024. 

Mangione pleaded not guilty in the separate state and federal cases.

The charges in both cases have narrowed over the last year. In the federal case, Garnett in January threw out the murder and firearm charges, leaving two counts: stalking - travel in interstate commerce and stalking - use of interstate facilities.

In the state case, Judge Gregory Carro last September dismissed the first-degree murder and terrorism charges. In the state case, Mangione is still charged with murder in the second-degree, criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second-degree, and multiple counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second-degree, third-degree and fourth-degree.

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(NEW YORK) -- Tropical Storm Lala continues to track through the central Pacific Ocean and is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane as it approaches the Big Island of Hawaii on Saturday.

As of 5 a.m. ET, Lala is moving west-northwest at 10 mph with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph and is approximately 455 miles east-southeast of Hilo.

Hurricane warnings remain up for Hawaii County while tropical storm watches remain in place for Maui County, including the islands of Maui, Lanai, Molokai and Kahoolawe.

Lala is forecasted to continue gradually strengthening Friday into Saturday as it makes a close approach to the Big Island early Saturday.

While the exact timing and intensity of the impacts are still uncertain and will ultimately depend on how close Lala tracks to the Hawaiian islands, heavy rain, strong winds and rough surf impacts are likely this weekend.

Heavy rainfall and gusty winds will begin to impact the Big Island Friday, bringing the possibility of life-threatening mudslides and landslides, especially across areas with steep terrain.

Lala is forecasted to bring rainfall of 8 to 12 inches across Maui and the Big Island, with the highest totals reaching up to 25 inches across the higher elevations of the Big Island. The remainder of the Hawaiian Islands are forecasted to receive 4 to 6 inches of rainfall.

Large and dangerous surf, especially on the Big Island, is also expected this weekend. The greatest impacts are expected along exposed windward and southern shores. The prolonged period of heavy surf may cause localized coastal flooding and significant beach erosion.

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(FREEPORT, Fla.) -- Isabelle Johnson, a suspected murderer who authorities say had been using multiple disguises and identities, has been arrested and taken into custody, according to the Walton County Sheriff’s Office.

“We got her,” officials said in a post on social media late Thursday. “Isabelle Johnson is in custody.”

Johnson, 38, has been charged with the murder of 43-year-old Jason Christopher Coulthart who was found dead in a shallow grave in June in Florida after he had gone missing in May, according to the Walton County Sheriff's Office.

Investigators say Johnson used multiple identities to evade authorities, calling her a "master manipulator."

Coulthart was reported missing on May 24 after he was last seen leaving the College Condominiums complex in Florida, according to the sheriff's office.

Unidentified remains were found on a Freeport, Florida, property on June 25 -- after investigators were able to identify where Coulthart's body had been buried, according to the sheriff's office.

A DNA match confirmed the remains were Coulthart's in July, the sheriff's office said.

Five others have been arrested and charged in connection with the murder, including two people accused of aiding Johnson evade investigators, the sheriff's office said.

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(WASHINGTON) -- The Kennedy Center board voted on Thursday to close the famed cultural institution for two years for renovations and to again add President Donald Trump’s name to the facade, Democratic Rep. Joyce Beatty, an ex-officio member of the board, said in a statement.

This is a developing story.

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(WASHINGTON) -- The top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee sent a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao on Wednesday demanding more information about the extended deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln amid the war with Iran and raising further questions about the Navy's ability to preserve service members' well-being while sustaining its current "operational tempo." 

In his letter, Sen. Richard Blumenthal noted the Lincoln has been deployed for more than 250 days and has gone more than 200 days without a port call. 

"There have been widespread reports of shortages of basic supplies, water contamination, plumbing issues, deteriorating mental health, deck safety concerns, and disruptions in the mail system, which have caused many care packages en route to the ship to be lost in transit for months," Blumenthal wrote. "These reports warrant immediate attention, but they also raise a broader question: whether the Navy can sustain the operational tempo now being demanded of its carrier force, particularly as this Administration repeatedly commits U.S. forces to conflicts of its own choosing and increasingly relies on aircraft carriers to sustain those operations."

His letter comes amid reports that the sailors are exhausted and, according to Military Times, one family member alleges a sailor attempted to go overboard from the USS Abraham Lincoln.

A U.S. official confirmed to ABC News that a sailor went overboard last month from the Lincoln and was quickly recovered. The incident is under investigation, the official said. 

Hegseth on Thursday pushed back on reports of a sailor going overboard from the Lincoln and accounts of sailors struggling through an unusually long deployment have been "completely misrepresented."

"We make sure every ship, every crew, every captain has everything we can provide them at every single moment," Hegseth told Newsmax. "Some deployments are longer than others, and I have more respect and gratitude for those sailors than anybody."

A Navy official told ABC News in a statement that the Lincoln has not seen an uptick in mental health issues and has "not identified an increase in reported suicidal ideation or suicide attempts aboard the ship."

But it acknowledged sailors are strained.

"We know that extended deployments place a significant strain on our service members and their families, and we are grateful for the resilience and sacrifices they make in support of our nation's security," the statement said. 

A U.S. official told ABC News on Thursday that the Navy's data shows its not uncommon for suicidal ideation to occur on deployed ships and that typically the rates are higher at the start of a deployment. The official said the data shows the Lincoln is following that trend and so far there have been no deaths or suicides since the it departed from San Diego last November.

The 5,000 sailors aboard the carrier have access to mental health assistance as well as chaplains, according to the official.

The ship was slated for a normal six-month deployment to the Pacific but has been extended on an unusually long nine-month deployment due to the war with Iran, where it was redirected earlier this year. It's not clear when it will be allowed home and is currently serving in North Arabian Sea.

Cao told Lincoln families during a town hall last week that another carrier will eventually swap out with the Lincoln, though he did not provide a timeline.

A U.S. official told ABC News on Thursday that the aircraft carrier USS George Washington, which is homeported in Japan, will replace the Lincoln as part of a long-planned rotation of ships.

Blumenthal notes in his letter that the Lincoln is not an isolated case, highlighting the prolonged deployment of the aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford earlier this year.  

"Recent carrier deployments have repeatedly stretched beyond their originally anticipated durations, suggesting that extended deployments may be becoming a feature rather than an exception of the Navy's force-generation model," Blumenthal wrote. 

Blumenthal wrote that Lincoln's extended deployment is especially concerning because of the war. 

"The Administration has yet to adequately explain the objectives, end state, or anticipated duration of those operations. If the Administration intends to maintain a prolonged military campaign or an elevated carrier presence in the region, it must explain how it intends to ensure today's operational requirements do not create tomorrow's readiness crisis," Blumenthal wrote. 

The letter requests responses from Hegseth and Cao about the Navy's plan for sustaining carrier strike groups in the Middle East for the next 12 to 24 months, about who authorized extensions of the Lincoln's deployments and when, and about what military objective the Lincoln's extended deployment is aimed at achieving.

Blumenthal also requests an accounting of the "habitability, supply and quality-of-life problems" aboard the Lincoln, and he asks for further information on what metrics the Navy is using to address "fatigue, morale, mental health and crew readiness."

Blumenthal is not the only Democrat to weigh in. 

Sen. Chris Coons, the top Democrat on the Senate Defense Appropriations subcommittee, told CNN on Thursday that reports of a sailor jumping from the ship are "another reminder of how the president and his team, while asking for a huge increase in defense spending for all sorts of exotic new undertakings like the Trump-class battleship or Golden Dome missile defense system, are not making the investments in the daily lives and the care and the support of our sailors and soldiers, airmen and marines that they deserve."

Coons said this is an example of how the U.S. has "pushed our Navy to the limit."

White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales said in a statement to ABC News, "President Trump and Secretary Hegseth are committed to ensuring that the brave American patriots serving our country in uniform are equipped with the resources necessary to counter any threat to the United States." Coons said he is only aware of media reports about the Lincoln and has not been briefed on it. 

Coons blamed "unscheduled, unplanned deployments to the Southern Caribbean and the Eastern Pacific for repeated strikes against Venezuela and alleged drug boats, long deployments into the Middle East" and the "now six month war against Iran and deployments around the world because of increasing threats" for straining the Navy. 

Democrats earlier this year blocked the Senate from proceeding with consideration of the National Defense Authorization Act, a massive, must-pass defense bill that authorizes pay raises for the troops and funding for the military, due to their objection to the administration's actions in Iran that Congress has not authorized. 

A number Democrats in Congress have posted concerns about the Lincoln. Sen Ruben Gallego called for the Navy to allow a bipartisan congressional delegation to visit the Lincoln and investigate.

Sen. Mary Kelly wrote that "long deployments are hard" but that "they are a lot harder when the mission isn't well defined and there is no end in sight."

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(NEW YORK) -- Amid floodwaters already up to the roofs of some homes and turning the streets of multiple cities into rushing rivers, Midwest residents are bracing for more severe storms on Thursday.

"When I looked out my window, I saw my fence floating past my window," Karlie Frey, a resident of hard-hit Cambridge City, Indiana, told ABC Indianapolis affiliate station WRTV.

After being evacuated from her home on Wednesday via a rescue boat, Frey, who has lived in Cambridge City since 2009, said, "I've never seen it get this bad."

Indiana, which recorded three storm-related deaths this week, was in the path of more severe storms expected to pound the Midwest on Thursday.

Indiana Gov. Mike Braun declared a statewide disaster emergency on Thursday.

"Hoosiers' safety is my top priority. Our state response is fully mobilized, resources are moving where they're needed, and we will continue working around the clock to support every impacted community," Braun said in a social media post on Thursday.

Braun is expected to meet with first responders in Cambridge City and survey the damage there to "ensure state resources are available to support the response and recovery efforts," the governor's office said in a statement.

Meanwhile, rescue operations resumed on Thursday for one person in Delaware County, Indiana, who was among four people who reportedly went into the Mississinewa River on Wednesday during significant flooding, authorities said. Three others were rescued from the river on Wednesday night, officials noted.

Flood watches also remained in effect in Iowa, Kentucky and North Carolina, where showers and storms are possible on Thursday, keeping the threat of more flooding in place.

Like in recent days, storms expected from Des Moines, Iowa, to Lexington, Kentucky, and Knoxville, Tennessee, have the potential to train, or remain stationary, over the same areas, and could produce rainfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour.

The National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center said severe isolated storms on Thursday are expected to occur across Iowa and Illinois, including the cities of Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Springfield and Peoria.

The storms are expected to be accompanied by damaging winds, large hail and possible tornadoes.

Dangerous heat will also be a factor from the Midwest and Plains to the Southeast, all the way down to South Florida. More than 100 million people in over 15 states are under heat alerts on Thursday as a heat dome remains parked over the country's Mid-South region.

Extreme heat warnings are in effect for Wichita, Kansas City, St. Louis and Paducah, Kentucky. Heat indices, which include humidity, will make it feel 111 in St. Louis and 110 in Kansas City.

Meanwhile, authorities are continuing to assess the damage from storms, floods, and at least five tornadoes, including three in southwest Chicago suburbs, that devastated the Midwest over the past two days.

Images from flooded areas of Cambridge City and elsewhere in Henry County showed floodwaters up to the roofs of some homes and many flooded streets impassable.

In an interview with ABC's "Good Morning America," Cambridge City Town Council President Jim McLane described the flood in his small town of 1,700 people as "pretty devastating."

McLane said he has lived in the area for 60 years and had never seen flooding "anything remotely compared to this." He said flood waters rose "several feet higher than most people have seen it here before."

McLane described a seven-to-eight-block area of flooded homes in Cambridge City, and said dozens of people had to be rescued by boat.

Henry County Sheriff John Sproles said more than 50 people were rescued on Wednesday from a flooded apartment complex in Henry County.

Henry County officials are also investigating a possible tornado that moved through New Castle, Indiana, on Wednesday, toppling trees and ripping the roof off a commercial building.

Sproles said he is concerned about additional rainfall hitting the area.

"Any more rain is really going to put us into much more significant problems," he said.

Eric Stiles, who owns a plumbing company in Indiana, posted a video this week of damage caused by severe storms that hit Munster, Indiana, on Tuesday. The footage showed a line of massive trees uprooted in one residential neighborhood.

"It's like driving through a war zone," Stiles said in the video.

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(NEW YORK) -- El Nino conditions continue to intensify and are likely to be very strong, resulting in a potentially historic event in the coming months that could significantly influence our weather, the hurricane season and global temperatures, according to the latest forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The agency is now highly confident there will be a very strong El Nino during the upcoming Northern Hemisphere fall and winter seasons.

NOAA's latest forecast says that between October and December, there is a 69% chance of a historic event that would exceed the strength of all previous El Nino events on record, dating back to 1950. The current event ranks as the second strongest on record for this time of the year, behind 1997.

"Our team has become more confident in the possibility of a very strong El Nino by the end of this year," Michelle L'Heureux, a physical scientist at NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, told ABC News.

"There is a greater than 90% chance of a 'very strong' El Nino, which is the highest chance to date, and expresses our confidence in the growth and development of a potentially historic El Nino event," L'Heureux added.

NOAA noted that with an event of this magnitude, while the chances of experiencing impacts consistent with El Nino are greater, they are not guaranteed.

El Nino refers to the warmer-than-average phase of the El Nino--Southern Oscillation (ENSO), a natural cycle where sea surface temperatures across the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean rise and fall. The cooler-than-average phase is called La Nina, while near-average conditions are known as ENSO-neutral.

NOAA ranks the strength of El Nino events by measuring the sea surface temperature departure from average (anomaly) across this region, classifying events as weak, moderate, strong or very strong.

While adjectives such as "super" and "extreme" are popular ways of describing the strength of an El Nino event on social media, NOAA and the WMO classify the strength as weak to moderate, strong and very strong. The WMO noted in a recent statement that "the term [[super]] is not part of standardized operational classifications."

Typical El Nino impacts across the United States

Impacts from El Nino, similar to La Nina, tend to be most consistent and pronounced from late autumn through early spring following the event's onset, NOAA said. There is usually a delay between the onset of the event and many of the associated effects.

Experts caution that the impacts on weather patterns are nuanced. Each season is different, and typical El Nino conditions don't always materialize.

"The data is very clear that we can be more confident in certain impacts occurring during strong and very strong El Nino, but it is really important to emphasize that even if this ends up being a historic El Nino, there will be impacts in some locations that do not align with the expected El Nino impact," L'Heureux added. "This is why our seasonal forecasts are expressed in terms of probabilities."

Northeast: Typically, during El Nino, warmer-than-average temperatures are favored across the northern half of the United States during the winter months. However, its influence is less pronounced in the Northeast, compared to the Upper Midwest and Northwest.

El Nino typically increases the odds of above-average snowfall in the mid-Atlantic and coastal areas of the Northeast as storms often move up the coast. Farther inland, drier-than-average conditions and less snow are more likely.

South: Near- to below-average temperatures are favored along the southern tier of the U.S., especially from Texas to the Southeast.

For precipitation, wetter-than-average conditions are typically observed along the southern tier of the U.S., including parts of the Gulf Coast and Southeast. Below-average precipitation is frequently observed across parts of the south-central Mississippi Valley.

Midwest: Warmer-than-average temperatures are favored from the northern Plains into the Great Lakes. Drier-than-average conditions are frequently observed across parts of the Ohio Valley and Great Lakes regions.

El Nino typically increases the odds of above-average snowfall in the south-central Plains, with below-average snowfall favored in the northern Plains and Great Lakes regions.

West: During the winter months, warmer-than-average temperatures are likely across much of the Northwest. For precipitation, wetter-than-average conditions are typically observed across southern California and much of the Southwest, with below-average precipitation frequently observed across parts of the northern Rockies.

El Nino typically increases the odds of above-average snowfall in the southern Rockies, with below-average snowfall favored in the northern Rockies.

Meanwhile, above-average tropical activity in the eastern Pacific increases the likelihood of indirect impacts to the southwestern United States, such as sending more rain to the region and more frequent flash flood concerns.

Alaska: El Nino impacts in Alaska tend to be more pronounced than across much of the contiguous United States, with the strongest effects typically occurring during the winter and spring months. During winter, warmer- and drier-than-average conditions are more likely, with less snowfall and reduced snowpack.

Above average temperatures often persist into spring, while precipitation trends closer to average. However, warmer conditions typically mean more precipitation falls as rain rather than snow, prolonging snow deficits.

Hawaii: Rainfall is typically above average across Hawaii the year an El Nino event develops before conditions become drier during the winter months and remain dry well into the following year. The shift toward drier weather can increase the likelihood of drought and elevate the risk of wildfires.

Meanwhile, above-average tropical activity in the eastern Pacific increases the risk of impacts from tropical systems across the Hawaiian Islands.

How El Nino influences hurricane season activity

While El Nino is only one of several key factors that influence tropical activity, forecasts now indicate it will be a strong event through the peak of the hurricane season, making it the primary driver of activity in both the Atlantic and eastern Pacific in the coming months.

El Nino conditions often suppress tropical activity during the Atlantic hurricane season by producing unfavorable atmospheric winds. In the Eastern Pacific, the opposite occurs, with favorable conditions supporting above-average hurricane season activity.

Other factors, such as sea surface temperatures, also play an important role in tropical cyclone development and strength. Unseasonably warm ocean waters can partially offset the effects of unfavorable atmospheric winds, according to forecasters.

Global temperature records will likely be challenged

2024 ranked as the planet's warmest year on record, following the last El Nino event, which emerged in mid-2023 and persisted through spring 2024, according to NOAA. However, the return of El Nino means global temperature records will likely be challenged again in the near future, especially since a very strong event is unfolding.

Record highs in global average temperature often occur during El Nino years, combined with the long-term global warming trend driven primarily by human-caused greenhouse gas emissions.

"Warmer ocean temperatures associated with El Nino, together with its tendency to favor warmer conditions in many areas, often contribute to warmer than normal global annual temperatures," Jon Gottschalck, chief of the Operational Prediction Branch at NOAA's Climate Prediction Center said.

According to the latest outlook from NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information, it's virtually certain that 2026 will rank among the five warmest years on record, with a 99.9% chance.

However, the probability of it becoming the warmest year currently stands at less than 1%. These odds will likely rise significantly for 2027, based on the latest forecasts.

There is usually a delay between the onset of El Nino and its peak impact on global temperatures, NOAA says. As with the most recent event, its greatest influence often occurs in the months after it peaks, which can keep global temperatures elevated into the following year.

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(WASHINGTON) -- A federal judge on Thursday is set to press lawyers with the Department of Justice to explain why some materials from the Epstein files were withheld from the public. 

U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan scheduled the hearing in a lawsuit filed by an independent journalist who sued over what she alleged were improper redactions and withheld materials from the files on Jeffrey Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.

In June, Sullivan concluded that the redactions and withheld materials violated the Epstein Files Transparency Act. He ordered the DOJ to either turn over the materials or explain why the materials needed to be withheld.  

"The Attorney General has conceded that he is in violation of the Act," Sullivan wrote in his ruling. 

In recent weeks, the DOJ has sought to justify the redactions, rather than turn over the materials. Unsatisfied with some of those reasons, Judge Sullivan set Thursday's hearing to press DOJ lawyers about the release of the Epstein files. 

Specifically, the judge said the DOJ has not provided documentation to prove that redactions were made to some files because "[lawyers for] victims or potential victims ... have contacted the government and requested that the persons be treated as victims."

He also raised concerns that the DOJ withheld handwritten notes from an interview with a woman who made unsubstantiated allegations against President Donald Trump, who has denied any wrongdoing. 

The DOJ has argued that the handwritten notes are "substantially similar to" the FBI reports of the interviews that were publicly released, and that the notes risk exposing victim information. However, Sullivan noted the Epstein Files Transparency Act does not have an exception for "substantially similar" or duplicative documents, and that the DOJ has released similar versions of other documents.

"The Defendant shall be prepared to explain why the handwritten notes cannot be redacted manually, or why the redactions cannot be accomplished in another way," Sullivan wrote. 

The DOJ has argued that all the redactions were lawful and asked to delay the case for two months. 

"The Department has not knowingly violated, nor has it ever acknowledged violating, the EFTA as it continues working to comply with statutory requirements," DOJ lawyers argued in a court filing. 

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A Powerball ticket sold in Illinois matched all six numbers in Wednesday night's drawing, winning an estimated $1.04 billion jackpot, according to the lottery organization.

The winning numbers were 4, 26, 66, 67, 69 and red Powerball 9.

It's the largest Powerball jackpot so far this year, and the eight-largest Powerball jackpot in the game's history.

The winner can top for the annuitized prize paid out over 29 years or a lump cash payment of $450.5 million. Both prizes are before taxes.

Wednesday's drawing was the 44th consecutive drawing since the last jackpot win on May 2.

Last year, there were two Powerball jackpots that hit more than $1 billion, including $1.8 billion jackpot won on Christmas Eve that was the biggest U.S. lottery prize ever.

A $1.787 billion Powerball jackpot won in September 2025 by two tickets in Missouri and Texas was the third-largest prize in U.S. lottery history.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

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(NEW YORK) -- Nick Reiner has been indicted on charges alleging he murdered his parents, renowned director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Reiner, by means of lying in wait, prosecutors announced Wednesday.

The indictment, which was returned on July 20 and unsealed Wednesday, charges Reiner with two counts of murder with the special circumstance allegations of multiple murders and murder by means of lying in wait, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. Reiner also faces a special allegation that he used a dangerous and deadly weapon, a knife, the office said.

Nick Reiner, 32, pleaded not guilty to the indictment on Wednesday. He remains held on no bond and is next scheduled to appear in court for a pretrial hearing on Sept. 15.

Rob Reiner and Michele Reiner were found stabbed to death in their Brentwood home on Dec. 14, 2025. The night before their deaths, Nick Reiner -- who had been living on his parents' property at the time -- got into an argument with Rob Reiner at a holiday party and was seen acting strangely, sources told ABC News in December.

Nick Reiner was arrested and initially charged with two counts of murder with the special circumstance allegation of multiple murders, as well as faced a special allegation that he used a dangerous and deadly weapon.

The indictment, which added a special allegation of lying in wait, means the case will no longer have a preliminary hearing that had been scheduled to occur in the coming weeks.

"This was a profound betrayal by someone who was loved and trusted by the very people he is accused of killing," Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in a statement. "The indictment unsealed today also adds a special circumstance allegation that the defendant committed the murders by means of lying in wait. We hope that by having a grand jury return an indictment in this case it will bring us one step closer to a trial and achieving justice."

If convicted as charged, Reiner faces death or life in state prison without the possibility of parole. The district attorney's office said it has not yet made a decision on whether to seek the death penalty.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

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(WASHINGTON) -- In his first news conference since his narrow confirmation as attorney general, Todd Blanche reiterated Wednesday that the Justice Department's "Anti-Weaponization Fund" will not be revived -- but suggested there could be other ways of compensating so-called "victims" of "weaponization."

Blanche's comments, during a press conference on an unrelated criminal fraud matter, came after President Donald Trump told reporters in the Oval Office earlier this week that the Anti-Weaponization Fund's future would be Blanche's to decide. 

The $1.776 billion fund was announced in May by the Justice Department to compensate those who allege they were wrongly targeted under the Biden administration. Blanche affirmed in a written order prior to his confirmation as attorney general that the fund was dead, under pressure from two Republican senators whose support for his nomination hinged on whether he would make such a declaration. 

"I keep on saying this over and over again, but I'm happy to say it one more time," Blanche said at Wednesday's press conference in response to a question from ABC News. "I have testified under oath that it's dead. I have testified in front of the House where I wasn't under oath where I said it was dead. I have answered questions after my hearing where I said that it was dead, I have rescinded the order that that set up the weaponization fund, which means that it does not exist."

"I'm not sure how I can further say that the anti-weaponization fund doesn't exist, or we use the word 'dead,'" he added. "But if anybody has any ideas, we also have said under oath that if Congress would like to make it a law, that we would support that, as would the White House."

At the same time, Blanche suggested the department would entertain other means to pay out so-called "victims" of "weaponization" under the Biden administration, as President Trump has repeatedly said he wants.

"The president feels very strongly, as do I, that there were people who were victims of a Department of Justice that was absolutely weaponized, and he feels very strongly that that he would want to -- to make them whole, as do I, but it will not be through the Anti-Weaponization Fund," Blanche said.

The fund was proposed in exchange for Trump agreeing to drop his $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS as well as two civil claims for $230 million related to the Russia collusion investigation he faced during his first term in office and the 2022 search of his Mar-a-Lago estate -- sparking accusations by critics of self-dealing and a bipartisan uproar over the possible use of taxpayer money to pay rioters who attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

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(NEW YORK) -- Inflation eased slightly in July but price increases stayed above the pace recorded before a surge in fuel prices set off by the Iran war. The reading matched economists' expectations.

Prices rose 3.4% in July compared to a year earlier, marking a slight cooldown from an annual inflation rate of 3.5% in the prior month, federal government data released on Wednesday morning showed.

Inflation stands more than a percentage point higher than the Federal Reserve's target rate of 2%.

In July, prices rose for medical care, airline fares, communication, education and recreation, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said.

The prices of meat and milk each climbed more than 5% over the year ending in July, clocking in well above the overall inflation rate.

Egg prices, by contrast, plummeted more than 25% over the previous year, indicating continued recovery from a shortage caused by an outbreak of bird flu.

Energy prices, meanwhile, climbed nearly 15% over the year ending in July. Shelter prices -- made up primarily of monthly rents and an equivalent cost assigned to home owners -- jumped 3.2% over that period, registering slightly below the overall inflation rate.

The reading arrived days after government data showed unexpected job losses last month, suggesting strain on the economy as a months-long bout of elevated price hikes weighed on shoppers.

The Iran war drove up gasoline prices and catapulted inflation to a three-year high in May. A preliminary peace agreement in June offered up some relief, but a burst of on-again, off-again fighting over ensuing weeks caused crude prices to climb.

Global oil prices stood at about $89 a gallon on Wednesday morning, keeping them well above pre-war levels.

The national average price of a gallon of gas registered at $4.03 on Wednesday, AAA data showed, marking a 35% rise since the outbreak of war in late February.

A prolonged bout of elevated inflation has raised the chances of an interest rate hike, futures markets show. Investors peg the odds of a quarter-point rate hike next month at nearly 50%, according to the CME Group's FedWatch Tool, a measure of market sentiment.

The odds of a rate increase have ticked lower since last week, however, when a lackluster jobs report showed the labor market had shifted into reverse.

The U.S. lost 23,000 jobs in July, according to the federal government's monthly jobs report, which marked a decline from 57,000 jobs added in June.

The unemployment rate fell slightly from 4.2% in June to 4.1% in July. Unemployment remains low by historical standards.

A government report issued last week showed a steeper slowdown in gross domestic product than expected over three months ending in June, indicating softness in the underlying economy over the early months of the war.

The Fed could raise interest rates in an effort to cool off prices, but the move risks an economic slowdown that may pinch hiring.

Fed Chair Kevin Warsh, who took the helm of the central bank this summer, has repeatedly vowed to dial back inflation.

"The committee remains resolute -- you’ve heard this before -- that we will deliver price stability," Warsh told reporters in Washington, D.C., last month.

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(NEW YORK) -- Prosecutors and defense lawyers in Luigi Mangione's federal case are expected to discuss a possible plea deal during a conference scheduled for federal court on Friday, sources familiar with the matter told ABC News.

Prosecutors and defense lawyers are not commenting.

Negotiations for a possible guilty plea had also occurred prior to a hearing in June, sources said, though a deal was not reached.

If Mangione ends up pleading guilty to federal charges in connection with the 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, prosecutors in the Manhattan District Attorney's Office have said they are prepared to lobby the federal judge presiding over the case for a stiff sentence.

Mangione has pleaded not guilty to federal and state charges stemming from the assassination-style killing and is scheduled to stand trial beginning Sept. 8 in New York State Supreme Court and Jan. 5 in Manhattan federal court. 

In its letter, the district attorney's office said it is aware of public reporting by ABC News and other outlets about Mangione's earlier contemplation of a guilty plea in the federal case. 

"If a proposed federal guilty plea would operate to defeat a just outcome in the state prosecution, the People could advise the federal district court if that consequence, and the court should consider that fact in deciding whether to accept the plea, as well as any opposition by the victim's family to such a resolution," the letter said. 

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(WASHINGTON) -- A federal district court in Massachusetts on Tuesday issued a temporary order blocking the U.S. Postal Service from implementing President Donald Trump's 2026 executive order on mail-in voting.

The same court in June blocked other portions of Trump's order in 23 states and Washington, D.C., related to the Department of Homeland Security's compilation of a federal voter citizenship list and requirement that states submit voter registration lists to the USPS, in addition to printing ballots that can be easily tracked.

Both injunctions apply only to the Nov. 3 midterm elections as litigation continues. Both indicated that the administration likely exceeded its authority in attempting to impose election requirements on states, which have the primary responsibility under law for regulating voting.

Both cases are likely to be addressed by the U.S. Supreme Court very soon. The court will essentially decide whether Trump can implement the order for the November elections.

The issue of standing remains a key question in both cases. The administration alleges that neither the states nor the coalition of nonpartisan voting rights groups has suffered concrete injury from the executive order that would allow them to challenge it.

The Trump administration has already appealed the states' case to the U.S. Supreme Court, seeking permission to move forward. That decision could come down at any time, as soon as this week.

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(NEW YORK) -- The jurors in accused CEO killer Luigi Mangione's state murder trial will be kept anonymous over concerns that they may be subject to "harassment, intimidation, or improper outside influence" if their identifying information is publicly released, according to the judge.

Judge Gregory Carro said Tuesday that only prosecutors and defense lawyers will have access to the jurors' names and addresses.

Jury selection starts on Sept. 8.

Carro justified his decision in part by noting that individuals identifying themselves as Mangione's supporters have "engaged in inflammatory and hostile public statements outside the courthouse and announced their intention to attend jury selection to attempt to speak to prospective jurors."

"Given the extraordinary public attention and the documented instances of threatening or hostile behavior by individuals outside the courthouse, the court finds that disclosure of juror names to the public poses an unjustifiable risk of interference with the administration of justice," Carro wrote in an order. "Restricting public disclosure of juror names while making the names available to the parties and counsel is an appropriate and necessary safeguard."

Defense lawyers opposed withholding the names of jurors, arguing that prosecutors failed to demonstrate an "actual threat to the safety or integrity of the jury" and alleged that the concerns raised by prosecutors were "speculative" and "hypothetical."

"They have identified no specific facts demonstrating that any actual, existing threat to the safety or integrity of the jury presently exists," Mangione's lawyers wrote. 

Carro disagreed, writing that prosecutors have demonstrated that individuals related to the case have been subject to threats and harassment. 

"The court finds that these circumstances create a realistic and substantial risk that prospective and sworn jurors could be subject to harassment, intimidation, or improper outside influence, and that disclosure of their identifying information would meaningfully increase that risk," Carro wrote.

Prosecutors allege Mangione gunned down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in an assassination-style killing on a Midtown Manhattan street in December 2024. Mangione has pleaded not guilty in separate state and federal cases, and faces the possibility of life in prison if he's convicted in his state murder case. 

Carro's written order came hours after Mangione appeared in a packed courtroom for a pretrial conference, possibly the last time the accused killer will be seen in public before jury selection begins.

The last two rows of the courtroom were filled with about 20 Mangione supporters, some wearing shirts declaring his innocence or calling for expanded courtroom access. 

At the hearing, Carro shot down the defense's claims that access to the trial was limited or that prosecutors were involved in dictating the coverage plans.

He said this was not the court's "first rodeo" when it comes to high-profile cases. 

"There has never been a discussion or decision by this court to exclude the public for these proceedings, and quite the opposite is true," the judge said, adding that there will be an overflow room for the trial. 

Carro noted that more than 80 media organizations have signaled plans to cover the trial. 

"There will be less room for the public because of that, but there will be room for the public," he said.

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(GARFIELD COUNTY, Colo.) -- The oldest son of Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., was arrested on charges of sexual exploitation of a child, authorities said Monday.

Tyler Boebert, 21, of New Castle, Colorado, was arrested Sunday on a warrant on "multiple charges," the Garfield County Sheriff's Office said in a press release.

Court records show he was arrested on five felony counts, including three counts of sexual exploitation of a child and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

The arrest follows an investigation conducted by the sheriff's office and the 9th Judicial District Attorney's Office, according to the sheriff's press release.

Tyler Boebert's bond was set at $10,000, which he posted the same day, the sheriff's office said. His next court appearance is set for Aug. 19, court records show.

Attorney information for Tyler Boebert was not immediately available.

"I love my son," Rep. Boebert said in a statement to ABC News. "We take these allegations very seriously and pray for everyone affected during this challenging time."

-ABC News' Lauren Peller contributed to this report.

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(NEW YORK) -- Five 17-year-old boys died when their vehicle went off a cliff in Colorado and crashed, authorities said.

The crash occurred in a residential area of Grand Junction late Saturday, according to the Mesa County Coroner's Office.

Police and fire personnel responded shortly before 8 a.m. local time Sunday to a report of a possible vehicle that drove off the edge of a cliff in the 2000 block of Lookout Lane, according to the Grand Junction Police Department. They located the crashed vehicle on the hillside, police said.

All five victims were pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said. 

"Initial investigation indicates the vehicle was traveling southbound on Lookout Lane when it veered off the roadway and down the steep incline of the hillside," the Grand Junction Police Department said in a release on Sunday.

Speed is being considered as a factor in the crash, which remains under investigation, police said.

First responders from multiple agencies worked to recover the bodies from the crash site. All five teens died from injuries sustained in the crash, the coroner's office said in a statement Monday.

The driver, front seat passenger and a third occupant were wearing their seatbelts, while the two other occupants were not and were ejected from the vehicle, according to the coroner's office.

The teens were residents of Grand Junction, according to the coroner's office, which did not publicly identify them, citing a policy not to release the names of minors.

"Our hearts are heavy following the tragic losses this weekend," the police department said.  

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