(WASHINGTON) -- As the city of Philadelphia fights to preserve the slavery memorial at the President's House, a federal appeals court ruled that the Trump administration can remove and replace the exhibit at the site of President George Washington's former home.

The Thursday ruling comes after the Trump administration stated in a court filing on Wednesday that it removed panels at the exhibit -- some of which were restored in February following a judge's order -- because they allegedly "disparage" Americans.

The outdoor memorial, "From Enslavement to Emancipation," is located at Independence National Historic Park. The exhibit tells the stories of the nine people enslaved by Washington.

The unanimous appeals court decision tosses a February district court ruling that ordered the National Parks Service (NPS) to restore the panels that were removed from the site. NPS took down the outdoor memorial in January before it was partially restored in February after a district court ruling, but not all materials were returned to the site.

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that while the city had standing to sue, the lower court wrongly interpreted the contract claims brought by the city and determined that they don't have merit. 

"In sum, the City has standing to sue because it alleges that its contractual rights were violated, but we should not, as the District Court did, mistake that jurisdictional determination for a conclusion that the City's underlying statutory and contract claims have merit. They do not," the appeals court ruling said.

ABC News reached out to the city of Philadelphia but requests for comment were not immediately returned.

Asked about the appeals court ruling and about a potential timeline for replacing the exhibit, a spokesperson for the Interior Department on Thursday provided ABC News with a three-word statement: "Trust in Trump."

The city of Philadelphia argued in a lawsuit filed in January that by removing the panels "without notice," NPS violated various congressional laws, as well as a 2006 agreement NPS made with the city and laid out the terms for building the exhibit, which opened to the public in 2010.

Amid pending litigation, NPS shared proposed changes to the panels at the slavery memorial that were published on its website in April.

The images shared by NPS don't show photos of the original panels, but share proposed new panels and revised text. Of note, are proposed changes to the panels titled "Presidents Washington and Adams on Slavery," and "The Constitution and Slavery."

The appeals court's ruling said, "These new panels are full of historical context. They highlight the momentous events that took place in the President's House and the other sites at Independence National Historical Park. They acknowledge the evil of slavery, including its injustices and hypocrisies, and, by telling the story of the nine slaves that Washington kept in the President's House, remind us of their essential humanity."

The ruling added, "Given all these developments, we cannot agree with the District Court that the exhibit removal six months ago was NPS's last word on the matter."

Avenging the Ancestors Coalition (ATAC), the advocacy group founded by attorney Michael Coard in 2002 to advocate for the building of the memorial, criticized the [proposed changes in an April statement, calling the replacement panels "deeply offensive."

"The National Park Service's most recent posting of proposed replacement panels at the President's House Slavery Memorial is deeply offensive and represents yet another troubling attempt to distort and censor American history," the group's statement said, criticizing NPS for not consulting with ATAC before proposing the new panels.

"What we are seeing now is not restoration--it is revision," ATAC's statement added. "It is an attempt to sanitize history and present a version of the past that is more comfortable, but far less truthful."

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Interior Dept. told ABC News in a statement on April 9 that the changes underscore the administration's commitment to "celebrating and acknowledging the full breadth of our nation's history."

"The hard work and sacrifices of the men and women who built this nation deserve to be remembered and honored," the spokesperson said. "By telling the full story, every triumph, every challenge, and every step towards a more perfect union we strengthen our shared understanding and ensure that future generations inherit not just the land we love, but the truth of the journey that brought us here."

The Interior Department told ABC News in several statements that the removal of the exhibit was made in compliance with a March 27, 2025, executive order in which President Donald Trump ordered the Interior Dept. to remove content that cast the United States' "founding principles and historical milestones in a negative light."

In the public filing on Wednesday, which stems from a separate lawsuit challenging the removal of materials at national parks across the country, the Interior Department indicated that while most glass panels at the slavery exhibit were restored in February after a judge's order, the "large format metal panels were damaged and not restored."

The government did not specify in the list the process for recreating the metal panels, writing "TBD" in that section.

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(NEW YORK) -- Some lucky stargazers in the United States will have an opportunity to catch a glimpse of the next solar eclipse, according to astronomy experts.

On Aug. 12, a partial solar eclipse will be visible from some parts of the U.S., from Alaska to North Carolina, according to NASA. Most of Canada, much of Europe and northwestern Africa will also be able to see the partial eclipse, according to NASA.

Those in the U.S. and southern Canada will only see a small "bite" taken out of the solar disk as the moon clips the sun, NASA said.

But the full show -- a total solar eclipse -- will pass over the Arctic Ocean, Greenland, Iceland, Atlantic Ocean, Portugal and northern Spain, according to the National Solar Observatory.

A sunset eclipse will even be visible for viewers along the western part of the eclipse path, from mainland Europe to Africa, according to NASA. A sunset solar eclipse occurs when the sun is setting while still partially eclipsed.

After Aug. 12, the next total solar eclipse will be visible on Aug. 2, 2027, in southern Spain and North Africa.

The difference between a total and partial solar eclipse

A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon slips in front of the sun. Viewers located in the center of the moon's shadow then experience a total solar eclipse, according to NASA. The moment of totality is when the moon completely covers the sun.

A partial solar eclipse occurs when watchers are inside the moon's shadow but outside the path of totality, according to NASA.

When the solar eclipse will occur

In the U.S., the maximum of the partial solar eclipse will occur in Anchorage at 8:21 a.m. local time but midday on the mainland. The maximum will occur in Bangor, Maine, at 1:53 p.m.; in Boston at 1:55 p.m.; in Detroit at 1:36 p.m.; in New York City at 1:54 p.m.; and in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., at 1:53 p.m., according to NASA.

The total solar eclipse will occur at midday in a small, remote region of northern Russia. From Greenland to Iceland, totality will occur from late afternoon to early evening.

In Spain and northwestern Portugal, the sun will be fully eclipsed during the late evening, shortly before sunset, according to NASA. A sunset solar eclipse is a "rare spectacle," according to Space.com.

How to watch the eclipse safely

Anyone who plans to watch the partial solar eclipse will need safe solar viewing glasses to protect their eyes, according to NASA.

UV radiation, whether from natural sunlight or artificial rays indoors, can damage the surface tissue, cornea and lens of the eye, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

The only time viewers can look directly at the eclipse without eye protection is during the brief moments of totality, when the moon completely covers the sun. It is never safe to look directly at a partial solar eclipse without eye protection.

Viewers can also use handheld solar viewers and other safe solar filters that block out most of the Sun’s light and prevent eye damage.

An indirect viewing method, such as a pinhole projector to cast images of the Sun, can also be used to see the partial phases of the eclipse, NASA said. The device has a small opening that projects an image of the Sun onto a nearby surface.

It is not safe to look at the eclipse through a camera lens, telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device while wearing eclipse glasses or using a handheld solar viewer because the concentrated solar rays could burn through the filter and cause serious eye injury, NASA said.

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(LOS ANGELES) -- The Los Angeles Police Department said it's investigating an incident in which an officer shot and killed a dog while answering a 911 call, which turned out to be a false alarm over a woman celebrating the New York Knicks' historic championship win on Saturday.

LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said in a statement Wednesday that the department is thoroughly investigating the incident, which he called "incredibly tragic," and vowed transparency.

Around 8:55 p.m. Saturday, officers responded to a 911 call of a woman screaming inside a condo in Canoga Park, the LAPD said.

Witnesses and the son of the woman, however, later told ABC News Los Angeles affiliate KABC that she was just celebrating the Knicks' victory that night.

The LAPD said that while officers were speaking with a resident in the apartment at the center of the 911 call, a "large dog was barking by her side at the officers." The dog was wearing a Knicks shirt, witnesses told KABC.

The woman closed her door momentarily after officers asked her to secure the dog, who was named Jameson, police said. After she reopened it, the dog exited the apartment and allegedly "charged at one of the officers," prompting one of them to open fire, according to the LAPD.

Cell phone video circulated online of a woman crying over the dog's body, shouting "We were just celebrating the Knicks."

The neighbor who called police told KABC that they felt guilty about calling 911, but sincerely thought the woman was in trouble.

McDonnell sympathized with Jameson's family.

"The loss of a pet is deeply personal. For many, a dog is not simply an animal; it is a companion, a source of comfort, and a member of the family," McDonnell said in his statement.

"There is no incident more serious than when an officer fires a service weapon. For this reason, the LAPD has a specialized division of investigators specifically trained to handle these types of incidents. A thorough, multi-layered examination of this weekend's incident in Canoga Park is already underway, but it will take time to ensure fairness, transparency, and accountability," he added.

A memorial for Jameson was formed outside the condo and an online fundraiser has raised thousands of dollars for its family.

Local activists have called for more details about the incident, including body camera footage from the officers who responded to the call.

"The tragic killing of Jameson was unnecessary and unwarranted," Najee Ali, a senior organizer with the Los Angeles National Action Network, said during a news conference Tuesday.

"We demand immediate accountability, which can only happen through the prompt release of the body-worn camera footage and the names of the officers responsible for shooting and killing Jameson," he added.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also released a statement on Wednesday, saying that a thorough investigation will be conducted.

"Every life lost to violence is a tragedy, and we know that the devastating loss of Jameson will be felt by his family forever," she said.

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(NEW YORK) -- Tropical Storm Arthur, the first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, weakened overnight but its energy is still powerful enough to cause serious flooding and other issues in the southeast Thursday.

A rare High Risk, level 4 of 4, for life-threatening flood potential was in place over southern Mississippi, southern Alabama and western Florida panhandle along the central Gulf Coast Thursday, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). 

Historically, a third of all flood-related fatalities and 80% of all flood-related damages occur in such high-risk areas, according to NWS data.

Areas under the High Risk advisory include Pensacola, Florida; Mobile, Alabama; and the Mississippi cities of Gulfport, McComb and Hattiesburg. 

Rainfall rates of multiple inches per hour are possible, and some areas could see up to 20 inches of rainfall accumulation. 

A flash flood emergency was issued for Picayune, Mississippi, where 3 to 5 inches of rain had fallen by late Thursday morning. Another flash flood emergency was issued for southern Avoyelles Parish in Louisiana, where 8 to 12 inches of rain had fallen, while a third flash flood emergency was issued later in Stone County, Mississippi, where 6 to 10 inches of rain fell by noon.

Extremely heavy rain already hit the Gulf states Thursday morning. Kenner, Louisiana, near the New Orleans airport, saw a radar estimated rainfall rate of 6.5 inches per hour.

Some Gulf areas are under a level 3 of 4 risk for flooding, including Montgomery, Alabama, and Atlanta, Georgia.

Tornadoes are also possible in the central Gulf Coast Thursday. 

The life-threatening flood threat will continue into the overnight hours and people need to remain aware of their flood risk overnight into early Friday morning, forecasters warn. 

More heavy rain will continue in the South on Friday and more sporadically on Saturday. 

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(SENATOBIA, Miss.) -- An officer who fired upon a vehicle, killing a 1-year-old boy, outside a Walmart in Mississippi has been placed on administrative leave, officials said, as outraged community members call for justice amid an ongoing investigation into the deadly shooting.

The incident occurred Sunday afternoon outside a Walmart in Senatobia, located in northwestern Mississippi about 40 miles south of Memphis, Tennessee.

Law enforcement officers who responded to a shoplifting call encountered two adults allegedly fleeing from the store with a child and going into a vehicle, according to the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation. Officers attempted to stop the vehicle, with one opening fire when the driver allegedly drove toward them, the bureau said. The child was killed and an adult critically injured, officials said.

One-year-old Kohen Wiley, his mother and a family friend were in the vehicle at the time, according to Ben Crump Law, which has been retained by the victim's family. Kohen was killed and the family friend was critically injured, the law firm said.

The officer involved in the shooting has been placed on leave, according to Senatobia city officials. The decision was made during a meeting with city officials on Tuesday.

The name of the officer has not been released. 

The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is investigating the shooting. Mississippi Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell, who oversees the bureau, promised transparency in the investigation. 

"To make no mistake, this is a very tragic situation," Tindell said during a press briefing on Tuesday. "I want the public to be assured that the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation will conduct its independent investigation."

He said five agents are working on the case, gathering evidence and witness statements, to ultimately present to the state's attorney general's office. He said investigators are also working to get security footage from Walmart.

"I would ask that the public maintain patience as much as possible," Tindell said. I know this is a very frustrating time, but maintain patience as this process is done."

Tindell declined to get into the details of the case due to the ongoing investigation. He said body-camera footage will be released once the investigation is completed.

Civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump, who is representing Kohen's family, said the child's mother has not been charged with any crime and that she says she was "trying to communicate to officers that there was a baby in the car."

"They fired anyway, leading to the death of an innocent 1-year-old," Crump said in a statement. "We intend to seek justice for baby Kohen and the life that was stolen from him."

Kohen's mother, Vellesiya Wiley, said in a video released through her attorneys that her friend was being pursued for allegedly shoplifting diapers.

"I raised my baby up trying to show them that he was in the car," she said. "By the time I sat my baby down, it was like three to four shots. One of the shots hit him in his ribcage."

Wiley said her friend was driving the vehicle at the time.

"They tried to say that she forcefully was trying to drive and hit them, but they was all on the right side and she was driving towards the left," she said.

Protesters outraged over the deadly shooting gathered outside the Senatobia City Hall on Tuesday for a rally, some holding signs saying "Justice for Kohen."

Later that night, protesters gathered in the Walmart parking lot where the shooting occurred, shouting, "No justice, no peace." Officers in riot helmets and gas masks formed a line at the front doors of the store, at one point appearing to fire tear gas to disperse the crowd.

The Walmart temporarily closed, before reopening on Wednesday morning.

"We're saddened by what took place at our Senatobia, MS, store," a Walmart spokesperson said in a statement on Monday in response to the shooting. "The safety of our associates and customers is a top priority. We're working with law enforcement as they continue investigating."

City officials called the deadly shooting a "heartbreaking tragedy" while urging residents to await the results of the investigation.

"We understand that emotions are high and that many questions remain. We respectfully ask our community to avoid speculation and the spread of unverified information while the investigation is underway," the city said in a statement on Tuesday. "Please allow the investigative process to take its course so that the facts -- not rumors or assumptions -- guide our understanding of this tragic event."

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(PHILADELPHIA) -- The Trump administration can replace the slavery exhibit at the President's House in Philadelphia, a federal appeals court ruled on Thursday.

The unanimous decision by a three-judge panel tosses out a February district court injunction that ordered the National Parks Service (NPS) to restore the panels that were removed from the site.

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the lower court does not have the jurisdiction over the claims that were brought against the Interior Department and the National Park Service by the city of Philadelphia.

NPS took down the outdoor memorial, which honors the lives of the nine enslaved Africans who were held at the site by President George Washington, in January. The exhibit was partially restored in February after a district court ruling, but not all materials were returned to the site. ABC News reached out to the city of Philadelphia and the Interior Department for comment.

In April, NPS published proposed changes to the panels.

"These new panels are full of historical context. They highlight the momentous events that took place in the President's House and the other sites at Independence National Historical Park," the appeals court ruling said.

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

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(CLARK COUNTY, Wash.) -- Heart-stopping video has been released showing the moment a deputy in Clark County, Washington, saved a 2-year-old boy who was left alone in a hot car on a 92-degree day.

Witnesses called 911 in May to report the child in a parked car, and the witnesses tried to create shade around the car as they waited for responders, the Clark County Sheriff's Department said on Wednesday.

Deputy Ben Hulsey arrived at the scene to find the 2-year-old strapped in his car seat, "sweating heavily, with his head tilted to the side and not responding," the sheriff's department said. The car had a small crack in the back window, authorities said.

Hulsey broke a window to rescue the little boy, who was checked by medics, authorities said.

Investigators determined the boy was left alone for about 16 minutes, the sheriff's department said. When deputies found his parents, they had been inside a nearby grocery store for almost 30 minutes, authorities said.

The parents are facing reckless endangerment charges, the department said.

"Never leave a child or pet alone in a vehicle. Not even for a few minutes," the sheriff's department said in a statement Wednesday. "If you see a child or pet left alone in a vehicle and believe they're in distress, don't hesitate to call 911. That's exactly what these community members did."

At least seven children have died in hot cars so far this year in the U.S., according to national nonprofit KidsAndCars.org. Last year, at least 37 children died in hot cars across the country, KidsAndCars.org said.

Click here for what to know to keep your children safe.

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(NEW YORK) -- Recently released polling on Americans' opinions of artificial intelligence gives us an updated look at how people are interacting with AI, what they are using it for and whether they are skeptical of the technology.

About half of American adults (49%) said that they have used chatbots like ChatGPT, Gemini or Copilot before, up from 33% in 2024, according to a Pew Research Center report released Wednesday.

The study found 42% of adults who used chatbots used them to search for information, 38% used it for work tasks, 25% for fun or entertainment, 24% for creating or editing images or videos, 20% for medical advice and another 20% for diet and fitness information.

About a quarter of Americans -- 24%-- said they used chatbots daily, according to Pew.

The Pew study found that, overall, while Americans under 50 years old were more likely than those 50 and older to use chatbots, use has risen over time among adults of all ages. And while men and women both use chatbots at roughly the same rate overall, more men use chatbots on a daily basis than women.

The share of Americans using AI bots for advice and information on health has also increased. A KFF study released Wednesday found that 29% of Americans said they used AI tools or chatbots at least monthly for information and advice on health, up from 17% in 2024.

Most of these users, 56%, are confident they can determine what is true and what is false when accessing health information on chatbots. Younger adults were more confident than older adults.

Still, Americans are skeptical of AI chatbots.

Pew found that more Americans (40%) said that AI will have a negative impact on society over the next 20 years while only 16% said it will have a positive impact. Americans are also more negative on AI's impact on themselves: 31% said it will have a negative impact over the next 20 years rather than a positive one (23%).

Younger adults are more wary about the impacts that AI will have on society and themselves than older adults, according to Pew. Nearly half of adults under 30 (48%) believe that AI will have a negative impact on society, compared to 39% of those 30 to 49 and 37% of those 50 and older. While 37% of adults under 30 said the impact on themselves will be negative, that falls to 30% among those 30 to 49 and 28% of those older than that.

Americans largely think AI is moving too fast: A 63% majority of adults said that AI is advancing too quickly, according to Pew, while 19% said it was moving at the right pace and just 2% said it was moving too slowly.

Americans are also concerned about personal information and AI. Pew found about 7 in 10 adults (71%) said that the use of AI will make personal information less secure.

While Americans don't trust big tech or AI companies to do what's best, they also don't trust the government to keep them in check.

A CNN poll, also released Wednesday, found 69% of Americans saying they trust companies developing AI tools "a little" or "not at all" to do what is best for their users.

Pew found a similar share of Americans voicing skepticism that the U.S. government will regulate AI effectively (67%).

Democrats have become less confident in the government regulating AI. In a 2024 Pew Research Center poll, 54% said they had not much or no confidence in the government regulating AI effectively, rising to 74% in the new Pew poll. Republicans' lack of confidence has declined over the same period from 70% to 61%. This divergence in the views of Democrats and Republicans over time may be because there was a Democratic president in 2024 and a Republican president now.

The Pew Research Center poll was conducted Feb. 17-23 among 5,119 U.S. adults with an error margin of +/- 1.6 percentage points, including 2,605 AI chatbot users with an error margin of +/- 2.2 percentage points.

The KFF poll and the CNN poll were both conducted May 7-31 among 2,480 U.S. adults and have an error margin of +/- 2.7 percentage points.

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(NEW YORK) -- In the foothills of the Appalachians, where a coal plant once operated, now sits a massive data center operated by Google -- and it's about to get even bigger.

This week the tech giant announced a $1.5 billion expansion of its Jackson County, Alabama site. The company gave ABC News a rare exclusive look inside the campus -- including its high-security server room -- as public backlash grows against the buildout of data centers nationwide.

"There's a lot of negative sentiment," Thomas Gamble, the Southern Corridor Area Manager for Google Data Centers, told ABC News. "As we're building, we're trying to figure out the best, most efficient use of all the power, the water, any of the systems we can."

Gamble, who grew up just five miles from the sprawling campus, said that the company pays for 100% of the power it uses at the facility, where corridors stacked with servers feed global demand for the company's offerings, from maps to email to video streaming.

"We're just a lot of servers storing information, just like books are in your library," Gamble said.

Google is one of several big tech companies that has signed on to a voluntary "Ratepayer Protection Pledge" pushed by the Trump administration that seeks to protect American households from paying more for electricity costs associated with the construction of new data centers.

But the public remains skeptical. A Gallup poll conducted this spring found that 71% of Americans oppose the construction of AI data centers in their area, citing concerns about quality of life, the economy, local resources, pollution, water usage, electricity bills, and AI in general.

Of the poll respondents who said they would be in favor of a data center in their area, two-thirds cited local economic benefits as the reason.

ABC News has observed this debate play out in contentious town halls across the country, where impassioned residents and local leaders wrestle over the presence of these facilities, which developers say deliver hundreds of jobs and renewed investment in regions that may be otherwise neglected.

Lawmakers in at least 14 states are now considering slowing or banning the development of data centers. Proposed moratoriums in these states all target new facilities, and in some cases, include requirements to study the impacts of data centers.

Opponents of data centers argue that moratoriums will allow additional time to explore their effects on local communities, while proponents argue the moratoriums will hamper AI development and hurt local economies.

The map below shows states that have recently considered moratoriums, and the status of bills that include language on data center development. Click on or scroll over any of the shaded states for details on the bills.

Back in Jackson County, Chamber of Commerce president Rick Roden says Google's data center has made him more excited about the future than he's ever been.  

"This changes our history, this changes our future, and we're now known as a technology area," he told ABC News. "We know that that's going to open doors that we would have never had open before, just because we landed Google."

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(LOS ANGELES) -- The eight people killed in an Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bomber crash in California have been identified.

The B-52 was on a "routine test mission" Monday morning when it crashed shortly after takeoff at Edwards Air Force Base and burst into flames, officials said.

Everyone on board was killed: four crew members, one civilian and three contractors, officials said.

The victims were identified by the base as: Col. Gregory Watson, 53, weapon systems officer, Boeing; Lt. Col. Gabriel Estrella, 40, weapon systems officer, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center; retired Lt. Col. Miles Middleton, 50, pilot, Boeing; Maj. Alexander Davis, 34, weapon systems officer, 419th Flight Test Squadron; Maj. Robert Dee, 40, pilot, 419th Flight Test Squadron; Maj. Brad Hovey, 35, pilot, 419th Flight Test Squadron; Jeromy Smith, 32, flight test engineer, 419th Flight Test Squadron; and Christopher Rischar, 41, flight test engineer, JT4 contractor.

"They were dedicated professionals, beloved family members and irreplaceable teammates," Col. Thomas Tauer, 412th Test Wing Commander, said in a statement on Wednesday. "Our thoughts, prayers and deepest sympathies are with their families, loved ones and fellow Airmen, Air Force civilians and mission partners affected by this tragedy."

Two Boeing employees were among the victims. Boeing said in a statement, "The loss of Miles and Greg is deeply felt across our teams, and our hearts remain with their families, loved ones and those who worked with them."

The cause of the crash is under investigation, a process that will likely take several months, Col. James Hayes, deputy commander for the 412th Test Wing at the base, said Monday.

Test missions take place multiple times a day at Edwards Air Force Base, Hayes said.

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(SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.) -- Seventeen horses died after a fire broke out in a barn in Saratoga Springs, New York -- a city famous for its rich equestrian heritage.

The Saratoga Springs Fire Department responded to a structure fire at the Saratoga Casino Hotel harness racing facility early Tuesday, officials said.

When firefighters arrived, the barn was "heavily" engulfed in flames, the department said in a statement. They were able to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading to adjacent buildings, but the majority of the horses died as a result of the fire.

After the fire broke out around 2:30 a.m., security personnel from both Saratoga Casino Hotel and the nearby Saratoga Racecourse -- along with emergency responders -- acted quickly to evacuate horses from neighboring barns and secure the surrounding area, according to the Saratoga Harness Horseperson's Association. About 350 horses are typically housed in the backstretch, the association said.

Seventeen horses being housed within the barn died, located in the backstretch area of the harness racetrack, according to the association. There were a total of 18 horses in the barn, the association noted.

The horses belonged to two trainers who stabled their horses in the barn. Trainer Robyn Mangiardi lost 11 horses, while trainer Timothy Benson lost six horses, the association said.

"The loss suffered today is heartbreaking for our racing community,” Sam Gerrity, CEO of Saratoga Casino Hotel, said in a statement. "Our thoughts remain with Robyn, Tim, their teams, the horse owners, and everyone affected by this tragedy."

Sarah Burger, counsel for Saratoga Harness Horseperson's Association, described the horses' deaths as a "tragic loss" and thanked first responders for jumping into action so quickly.

"This is a sobering day in our industry, a horseperson's worst nightmare," Henry Westbrook, Jr, president of the Saratoga Harness Horseperson's Association, said in a statement. "We express our deep condolences to all impacted and thank all emergency responders and track workers for their quick response."

No civilians or firefighters were injured as a result of the fire, the department said. The area near the fire remains closed as officials investigate.

Grief counseling services are being made available to trainers, caretakers, owners and other members of the backstretch community affected by incident, according to the association.

The association declined to provide further comment to ABC News.

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(NEW YORK) -- Nearly 12,000 residents and over 2,000 structures have been evacuated after a wildfire broke out Tuesday in Washington state, spreading to 250 acres. No injuries have been reported. 

The fire was 0% contained as of Tuesday night.  

Officials said there "was an urgent need for evacuations," in a press conference on Tuesday. 

"Our teams are working hard to protect your homes. Stay out of the area. Please don't come back, that makes it very challenging for our crews," Spokane Fire District 9 Fire Chief Brian Mather said. 

The active fire is expected to last a couple of days, according to Mather. 

"Wind-driven fires are very, very dangerous. They're dangerous to work in. They move very rapidly," Mather said. 

"We have a lot of fuel in that area, it's a very densely populated area, and it's tough conditions," Mather said. 

There are 10 to 15 aircraft assigned to the fire with more expected, officials said. 

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson said he has been briefed on the fire and is monitoring the situation closely. 

"I just requested a fire management assistance declaration from FEMA, which I expect to be approved this evening. This gives our state access to federal funding for extraordinary costs in fighting this fire," he wrote in a post on X.

The fire started on Tuesday at around 12:30 p.m., according to Spokane County officials. A red flag warning was issued around 10:30 p.m. local time on Tuesday. 

The cause of the fire is under investigation, the Spokane Fire District said.

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(NEW YORK) -- Anguished relatives of the Gilgo Beach, New York, serial killing victims aimed decades of anger at their loved ones' killer, Rex Heuermann, as they gave victim impact statements at his sentencing on Wednesday.

"I can't even put into words the eviscerating hatred I have for you," said Jasmine Robinson, cousin of victim Jessica Taylor, who would have turned 43 on Wednesday. "You fill me with so much repugnance."

Another cousin, Violet Swager, remembered Taylor as "fierce, kind, compassionate, beautiful and intelligent."

She said to Heuermann, "You chose small women because you’re nothing more than a weak, disgusting coward."

Heuermann, 62, who gave his own brief statement in court, was sentenced to consecutive life sentences in prison.

In April, he pleaded guilty to killing seven women: Taylor, Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Amber Lynn Costello, Valerie Mack and Sandra Costilla. He also admitted to killing an eighth woman, Karen Vergata, though he was not formally charged in her death.

Brainard-Barnes' sister Missy Cann broke down in tears as she read a statement prior to the imposition of the sentence.

"You are a coward who preyed on vulnerable, innocent women," Cann said.

Mack's parents, Ed and JoAnn Mack, said Heuermann robbed their daughter of the chance to achieve her dreams.

"I would like to say to Mr. Heuermann, what you have done to our family is beyond what words can express," JoAnn Mack said. "Even though justice is done, it cannot replace what you have taken from us."

Barthelemy's sister, Amanda Funderberg, recalled how Heuermann tormented her after the murder by calling her and saying he was letting Barthelemy's body rot.

Funderberg turned to stare down Heuermann in the courtroom, telling him, "You can look at me while I'm talking -- it has been about 17 years since we've spoken."

She called him an "ogre" and a "repulsive monster."

Waterman's daughter, Liliana Waterman, who was 9 when her mother was killed, recalled finding out about how her mother died while scrolling on her phone.

"In an instant my world shattered,” Liliana Waterman said. "I have spent 16 Mother's Days without her."

Heuermann gave his own brief statement in court, saying, "There are no words I can say."

"The words I would say have no meaning and I’m going to leave it there," he said softly.

Someone in the gallery shouted, "Speak up!"

When Heuermann said nothing more, an incredulous Judge Timothy Mazzei asked, "Are you a little bit sorry for what you did [to] these poor, innocent women? Are you at least a little bit sorry for that?"

Heuermann responded quietly, "Yes I am."

After Mazzei pronounced the consecutive life sentences, the judge told the court officers to "get him outta here!"

The victims' families broke out into applause, shouting "ogre, ogre," before Heuermann was cuffed and led out of the courtroom.

In April, Heuermann agreed to serve three consecutive life sentences followed by four consecutive sentences of 25 years-to-life, according to prosecutors. Part of Heuermann's plea agreement also requires him to be interviewed by the FBI's behavioral analysis unit.

Prosecutors said the New York City architect targeted sex workers, strangled them and dumped their bodies near Long Island's Gilgo Beach over the course of 17 years. The Gilgo Beach cases went unsolved for years, until Heuermann's arrest in 2023.

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(WILMINGTON, Del.) -- A 19-year-old man died and another was critically injured in a targeted shooting at a Delaware hospital, police said.

The shooting occurred Tuesday afternoon at a hospital in Wilmington, prompting a lockdown.

The suspect in the shooting -- 23-year-old John Wallace-Bey -- was taken into custody Tuesday night in Philadelphia, about 40 miles northeast of Wilmington, and is awaiting extradition to Delaware, police said.

Law enforcement officials earlier told ABC News a hospital employee was suspected of shooting two co-workers.

"Our preliminary investigation has determined that this was a targeted, isolated incident," police said in an update.

The shooting occurred at Wilmington Hospital around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, police said.

Both shooting victims were 19-year-old men, police said. The wounded victim remains hospitalized in critical but stable condition, police said Wednesday.

The name of the victim who died will be released at a later time, police said.

Wallace-Bey faces charges including first-degree murder, first-degree attempted murder, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and carrying a concealed deadly weapon, police said.

Police believe the incident is strictly a workplace shooting, the law enforcement officials said.

"Regardless of what the motive is in this incident might have been, there is never an excuse for violence, and there is never an excuse for gun violence," Wilmington Police Chief Wilfredo Campos said during a press briefing Tuesday.

The hospital was on lockdown as officers searched the building, though the lockdown has since been lifted, police said Tuesday.

"I want to offer my thoughts and prayers for the employees at Wilmington High Hospital, who I know experienced a terrible day today," Wilmington Mayor John Carney said during Tuesday's press briefing. "It's hard to imagine what they were thinking as they were barricaded in rooms across the hospital as our law enforcement teams went through and cleared each of the floors."

Carney commended the law enforcement officers who responded for the "bravery that they showed in the face of this unthinkable threat."

Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer condemned the deadly violence.

"Every Delawarean deserves to feel safe, whether at home, at school, at work, or seeking care at a hospital," he said at the briefing. "Today is a sobering reminder that no one is immune from the devastation of gun violence."

Meyer said the incident hit close to home for his family, noting that just minutes earlier, he went with his wife, Dr. Lauren Meyer, an emergency room physician, as she reported to work at the hospital.

"What I saw were heroes going to work in that building, and heroes who were involved in life-saving efforts leaving at the end of their shift," he said.

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(NEW YORK) -- Attorneys for Luigi Mangione plan to present an "affirmative psychiatric defense" at his state trial, alleging he was suffering an "extreme emotional disturbance" at the time of the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, Judge Gregory Carro said at a hearing Wednesday.  

Carro ordered Mangione's attorneys to turn over his psychiatric records to prosecutors immediately.

Carro also agreed to dismiss one of the criminal counts related to possession of a large capacity ammunition magazine.

Prosecutors consented to drop the charge after a ruling earlier this year that prohibited them from using the magazine at trial because it was improperly searched by the officers who arrested Mangione in Pennsylvania.

Mangione pleaded not guilty to state and federal charges after he was arrested for allegedly gunning down Thompson, a husband and father of two, on a Midtown Manhattan street in December 2024.

Mangione's state trial is scheduled to begin on Sept. 8 and his federal trial is set for next year.

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(NEW YORK) -- America has lost about half of one of its most prominent and iconic landscapes, and protecting what's left is key to ensuring healthy ecosystems and biodiversity in the future, experts told ABC News.

The continental U.S. has lost about half of its historic grasslands prior to European settlement, according to a press release from America's Grasslands Coalition, a network of conservation organizations, researchers and government agencies that aims to restore North America's native prairie and grassland ecosystems. An estimated 98% of native tall grass prairies has been eradicated, Ryan Sensenig, a grassland ecologist at the University of Notre Dame, told ABC News.

While grasslands are typically associated with the Great Plains, they used to exist in nearly every region of the U.S., Dwayne Estes, co-founder and executive director of the Southeastern Grasslands Institute told ABC News.

Grasslands were common everywhere from the Atlantic coastlines to the Mississippi River and into the Rocky Mountains and the West Coast,  according to experts. Regions that are not typically associated with grasslands, including New York, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and Florida, were covered in them, Estes said.

They are part of the very fabric of North America's natural heritage, "from sea to shining sea," Patrick Keyser, director of Tennessee's Center for Native Grasslands, told ABC News.

Grasslands continue to be threatened, experts say

Today, grasslands continue to disappear at an "alarming rate," the coalition said.

Invasive plant species have infiltrated many of the natural grasslands, said David Wedin, director of the University of Nebraska’s Center for Grassland Studies. And most recently, development of housing, shopping malls and interstate highways -- and now data centers -- are popping up in areas that would have been grasslands, Keyser said.

Currently, grasslands cover about 1 million square miles in the continental U.S., according to America's Grasslands Coalition. This includes savannahs and shrublands.

The most prominent pockets of native grasslands that still exist today are in the Flint Hills of Kansas, which contains about 4.5 million acres of grasslands, and the Nebraska Sandhills, which has about 12 million acres of grasslands.

The area of Nebraska is still an intact grassland. Much of the land is privately owned cattle ranches, but there is still a lot of native grassland and species left there, Wedin said.

Central Montana also contains scattered patches of native grasslands, Keyser said.

There are more than 1,000 native grasses that have been documented in the U.S. The two species of dominant native grasslands in the U.S. include the big bluestem, a robust grass that can grow to 10 feet tall and make for "excellent" cattle forage, and the little blue stem, a much smaller plant that is common on sandier, drier soils, Keyser said.

When US grasslands began to vanish

Indigenous communities relied on grasslands to survive, Sensenig said. They would practice prescribed burning to maintain the grasslands and enhance its biodiversity, Sensenig said. Native Americans would use the plant species for basket-weaving and currency and feed on the grazers, such as bison, elk and deer, Sensenig added.

"Eastern Massachusetts was historically dominated by grasslands before European settlement, and in that area people used to eat these things called prairie chickens regularly," Keyser said, adding that prairie chickens require extensive grassland for their habitat.

Other evidence of grasslands on the East Coast includes thousands of insect and plant species that are tied to grasslands that still exist in the region, Estes said.

Grasslands east of the Mississippi River have been gone for "a very long time," Estes said.

As early as the 1690s, grasslands began to disappear from places like Philadelphia and Baltimore, even before the nation was founded, Estes said.

In the 1700s and 1800s, pioneers began to clear land where there were fewer trees to create their farms. They tended to prioritize semi-open areas, Keyser said.

"Eastern grasslands were lost so long ago that basically they've been erased from society's collective memory," Estes said. "They were lost before the camera was invented."

Grasslands continued to be eradicated as settlers migrated West.

The Transcontinental Railroad later brought settlers into the Great Plains in the 1870s, and gasoline-powered tractors led to widespread plowing of the native grasslands in the region, Keyser said.

"So, consequently, what had been a grassland ecosystem became a cornfield," Keyser said.

Why grasslands are so important

Grasslands play a vital role in supporting wildlife, storing carbon, sustaining food systems and maintaining ecosystem balance, according to America's Grasslands Coalition.

Grasslands also store huge amounts of carbon, which helps to regulate the atmosphere, Sensenig said. It is important for soil conservation, water regulation and wildlife habitat, Wedin said.

Grasslands are thought to store 30% of the world's soil-based carbon -- and 80% of that carbon is beneath the ground in the soil, Sensenig said.

Keystone herbivore species such as the American bison, elk and mule deer live in grasslands and help to regulate the rich plant biota for other creatures to thrive, Keyser said. Birds, pollinators and smaller mammals, such as prairie dogs, also depend on the open, grassy ecosystem and assist in maintaining the biodiversity, Estes said.

Grassland ecologists are concerned about the gradual degradation of grasslands due to lack of management and climate change and other changes to the environment, such as intensive modern agriculture, Wedin said.

"These sorts of chronic, low-level threats have a cumulative impact on our grasslands," Wedin said.

Nearly half of 2,014 Americans surveyed are unfamiliar with grasslands, according to findings released Wednesday by America's Grasslands Coalition.

Increasing appreciation and awareness of America's grasslands is key to accelerating conservation action, according to the coalition.

The upcoming 250th birthday of America is an integral time to raise awareness of the importance of grasslands, Ginette Hemley, senior vice president of wildlife conservation at the World Wildlife Fund, said in a statement.

"As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, this is a moment to recognize the landscapes that have shaped the nation," Hemley said. "From iconic species like bison to the communities that depend on them, grasslands are part of that heritage -- and protecting them is part of our shared future."

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(CHICAGO) -- For former President Barack Obama and former first Lady Michelle Obama, the opening of the Obama Presidential Center Friday is the culmination of their shared journey from Chicago’s South Side to the White House.

In their first joint network TV interview since leaving office in 2017, the couple reflected on their accomplishments in their eight years in the White House and the hope they have for the country ahead.

"People are a little discouraged right now," Barack Obama told ABC News' Robin Roberts in an interview that aired Wednesday on "Good Morning America." "But, again, I believe that we go through these cycles, and there's going to be a younger generation that pops up and there are going to be leaders who pop up."

The former president said since leaving office, he has largely refrained from inserting himself too much into public policy debates as he sees himself these days as less of a “player” and more of a “coach” for the new generation of leaders.

"You pick and choose your spots. I'm not suggesting I've done it perfectly," he said, going on to cite the example of how George Washington stepped away from politics after his time in office.

"He kind of said, 'All right, I've done my stint. And now I'm going, you know, back home,'" Barack Obama said of the nation's first president. "I think Michelle, you know, very much would prefer a quieter life for us. And on the other hand, there've been some folks who would like to see me out every day, right, banging the drum."

With the Obama Presidential Center, part of the hope, he said, is to "encourage the next generation of leadership."

The center’s campus encompasses 19 acres in Chicago’s Jackson Park, just steps from the University of Chicago. At a cost of $850 million, it includes 3.7 acres of parkland, offices for the Obama Foundation, an auditorium for public events, public art and athletic facilities, and a new branch of the Chicago Public Library.

In collaboration with the National Archives and Records Administration, the Obama presidential archives are fully digital.

The center’s centerpiece is a four-story museum that places the Obama years within a greater context of social change, starting with the Declaration of Independence and spanning the civil rights and labor movements, as well as the grassroots political movement in Chicago that led to Barack Obama’s political ascent.

Obama on his greatest accomplishment in office
When asked by Roberts what he considers the greatest accomplishment of his two terms in office, Barack Obama cited the passage of the Affordable Care Act in March 2010, which expanded Medicaid, provided greater consumer protections, and lowered health insurance costs, especially for households at or below the federal poverty level.

He said the legislation continues to show that his administration represented all of America.

"For all the resistance from our political opposition, the Affordable Care Act has now helped 50, 60 million people, and continues to help people even though the current Congress has tried to weaken it and taken away some of the subsidies that were really helping a lot of working people," the former president said. "I'm very proud of the message we sent to the country that we're representing everybody."

In addition to his legislative accomplishments, museum also tells the story of Barack Obama's political ascendancy and how the core messages of “hope” and “change” were critical to his campaign for his first term.

Despite the harsh partisanship of today’s political culture, Michelle Obama said those messages are still possible.

“People just have to be fed up enough. They have to want more," she said. "And I think the presidential center hopefully will remind people of just how close we are to moving this country in the direction that we want to move it in."

Michelle Obama said an exhibit in the center that reflects on the Obamas' position as the first Black first family in the history of America reflects that.

"You have one exhibit where people thought that it could never happen, that a Black man, a Black family would never live in the White House. That America would never accept that," she said. "And lo and behold, the whole country, you know, the vast majority of the country believe differently."

Amid the museum's focus on the promise of democracy, Barack Obama said Americans, in times of disagreement, can focus on making their voice heard with their vote.

"The premise of this country is everybody gets a right to say, 'No, I don't agree with that. I challenge that. No, Obama, I think you're making a mistake,' you know?" he said. "And then we have a conversation about it, and then it gets settled in an election. And if enough people decide I didn't know what I was doing, then you move on to the next person."

Tune into the ABC News special "The Obama Legacy: First Joint Interview Post-White House," streaming Thursday, June 18, on Disney+ and Hulu.

The Walt Disney Co. is the parent company of ABC News.

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(NEW JERSEY) -- Six people were injured, including three teenagers, in an apparently targeted acid attack in New Jersey, police said.

A juvenile has been arrested in connection with the incident, with charges pending, a police spokesperson said Tuesday.

The incident occurred Monday night in a residential area of Jersey City, officials said.

The victims were outside when "individuals riding in a vehicle drove up and threw what is believed to be sulfuric acid at them," Kim Wallace Scalcione, a spokesperson for Jersey City's Department of Public Safety, said in a statement.

"The incident appears to have been targeted and may have stemmed from a dispute between a large group of people earlier in the day," she said.

The victims were transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, including skin burns and peeling. One of the victims, a 21-year-old woman, was transferred to a burn unit on Tuesday to be treated for second-degree burns to her face and scalp, Wallace Scalcione said.

Jersey City Mayor James Solomon said he has directed police to "use its full resources" on the investigation, which remains ongoing.

"My thoughts are with those hurt in this horrific attack, and I want our communities to know that violence like this has absolutely no place on our streets," Solomon said in a statement.

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(WASHINGTON) -- The FBI disrupted an alleged plot targeting the "UFC Freedom 250" fights at the White House on Sunday that included explosive drones designed to target buildings in the area to spark a mass evacuation, according to authorities.

Five people are in custody as of Tuesday morning, authorities said, and one person has been formally charged. The suspects were allegedly in Signal chats discussing preoperational plans, according to court documents, with some of those involved in the plot allegedly traveling to Fredericksburg, Virginia, on June 12 or 13.

FBI and Department of Homeland Security officials warned in a bulletin earlier this month that the fights were "attractive symbolic targets." There were no credible threats listed in the bulletin at the time.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship event was held in the evening on Sunday, June 14, on the grounds of the White House. Billed as a celebration of America's 250th anniversary, it also coincided with the 80th birthday of President Donald Trump, who was in attendance.

The alleged plot involved explosive-laden drones, according to court documents, which were designed to hit buildings in the area to spur a mass evacuation.

A "second wave" targeting a security checkpoint was then planned, authorities said.

In a statement to ABC News, FBI Director Kash Patel praised the "rapid action" of the FBI and its partners, that involved a "a multi-state operation."

Federal prosecutors unsealed a criminal complaint on Tuesday charging 19-year-old Tycen Proper, of Ohio, with conspiring against the United States, attempted murder of an officer of the U.S. and firearms charges in connection with the alleged weekend plot.

Officers with the Knox County Sheriff's Office and Danville Police Department were dispatched to Proper's home on June 10 after his mother raised concerns about his recent actions including firearms purchases and communications with certain individuals online, according to the complaint.

When officers spoke to his parents, they said Proper had recently met people online and had been planning "recons" with them. They also said he had plans to leave to meet up with them the weekend of June 13, according to the complaint.

Proper's father told investigators the 19-year-old had recently acquired camping gear, food, ballistic plates, a new shotgun and rifle and "lots" of ammunition, using roughly $3,000 of money he had received for graduation, the complaint alleges.

Proper's mother told investigators he "had recently begun interacting with a group online that was comprised of individuals who claimed to be ex-military and Christian-based" who had "expressed ultra-religious and antigovernment sentiments, specifically citing grievances about government corruption, the handling of the Epstein files, data centers taking up all the water in communities, and other government actions," according to prosecutors.

The suspect's mother also told investigators she had observed him engaging in physical training and that she had overheard recent conversations her son had allegedly been having with this online group, the complaint said.

Proper allegedly told his mother he couldn't tell her exactly what they were planning but described "recon" and "hit and run" missions which she believed meant conducting shootings and leaving, according to the complaint.

Prosecutors said Proper also allegedly quit his job recently in preparation to meet the individuals he was interacting with online.

During an interview on June 11 at the medical facility, Proper allegedly admitted to planning a coordinated attack at the UFC event held at the White House, according to prosecutors.

Proper told investigators that members of the group he was communicating with "believed that the United States needed to be torn down so that it could be rebuilt" and that their coordinated attack would help bring about a revolution, according to the complaint.

He told investigators he was allegedly planning to drive to Fredericksburg, Virginia, to meet up with other members of the group -- taking his weapons, body armor and ammunition including an AR-15, according to the complaint.

"PROPER said that although he was not going to the protest in order to shoot people, several other members of the group were intent on violence," the complaint alleged.

The complaint alleged that a review of Proper's cellphone revealed Signal chats aligning with the alleged plotting and members specifically discussed escape and evasion resources for the attack, a location of a potential "safe house" and other plans -- one of which included members of the group planning to travel from the White House to the Potomac River to escape.

In one of the chats, Proper allegedly identified Sen. Marsha Blackburn as a target for her support for Israel and then sent other images of politicians including Sen. Jim Justice, Sen. Shelly Moore Capito, Rep. Carol Miller and Rep. Riley Moore, according to the complaint.

Proper was transported to the local hospital after the interview where they submitted an application for admission based on "homicidal ideations," the complaint said.

Proper has not entered a plea yet, according to court records. An attorney for Proper did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for comment.

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(NEW YORK) -- Gulf Coast states already dealing with massive floods are bracing for even more extreme weather as the first tropical storm of the season could form as early as Tuesday night.

Tropical Storm watch issued for 2 states

The National Hurricane Center issued a tropical storm watch on Tuesday for the Gulf Coast from southeast Texas --including the cities of Brazosport, Galveston and Port Arthur-- to parts of southwestern Louisiana. 

Potential Tropical Cyclone One, the name of the low-pressure system developing, is forecast to become a tropical storm later Tuesday or early Wednesday along the Gulf Coast.

If it becomes a tropical storm, it will be named Arthur, the first named storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season. 

A hurricane is not expected to form, according to the latest forecast.

Very heavy rain is forecast for New Orleans as early as Wednesday evening or as late as Thursday morning, depending on how quickly the storm develops. New Orleans is under a flood watch. 

Winds will gust over 40 mph at times along the coast and coastal flooding may also become an issue, according to the forecast.

Deadly flash flood threat continues in the South

A woman in Bandera County, northwest of San Antonio, Texas, called 911 on Monday morning, saying her car was being swept away into a creek by floodwaters, the county's sheriff's office said on social media.

Within moments, the call dropped, the office said, and hours later the woman was found dead in the vehicle "several miles downstream" of its initial entry point, the sheriff's office said. The woman was not immediately identified.

In San Antonio, Houston and Waco there were stalled vehicles due to high waters on roads. In Shreveport, Louisiana, there were water rescues and water entering buildings.

In St. Martin, Mississippi, ramps to I-10 and I-110 were closed due to high waters. South of there, at Kessler Air Force Base, several roads became impassible.

More than 17 million Americans remain on Tuesday under a flood watch from Texas to Mississippi. 

Heavy rainfall may lead to localized significant flash flooding from Corpus Christi to Houston to Lafayette and Alexandria, Louisiana, and McComb, Mississippi. A level 3 of 4 threat for flash flooding is in place there. 

The greatest risk is likely along a frontal boundary laid over central Louisiana and into southeast Mississippi -- rainfall may be heavy for a few hours in this area on Tuesday and could lead to significant flooding. 

Rains closer to the coast are going to be more difficult to sustain but there is certainly enough ingredients there that if they get going, localized instances of significant flash flooding are possible. 

Tomorrow, the level 3 of 4 flood threat is for Houston, Beaumont, Lake Charles, and Lafayette.

On Thursday, the level 3 of 4 flood threat moves to Baton Rouge through Jackson, MS, Montgomery, AL and Birmingham, AL. 

This heavier rain for Wednesday and Thursday will come from a developing tropical low over the western Gulf. 

The National Hurricane Center gives it a 60% chance of forming into a tropical storm later on Tuesday or on Wednesday. If it becomes a tropical storm, it will be named Arthur, the first of the season. 

Severe weather outbreak in the Midwest on Wednesday

About 40 million Americans are in the storm zone where a severe weather outbreak is expected on Wednesday

The greatest likelihood for a destructive outbreak is in Illinois and Indiana, and possible for parts of Missouri, Iowa and Ohio, too. 

A level 4 of 5 moderate risk for destructive storms is in place for central Illinois and northern Indiana on Wednesday. This includes Springfield, Peoria, Decatur, Champaign and Bloomington, Illinois, along with Rensselaer, Indiana.

Large and long-lived tornadoes are possible, along with destructive wind gusts up to 80 mph, and hail up to the size of baseballs.

The level 3 of 4 risk includes Chicago, Indianapolis, St. Louis and Fort Wayne.

-ABC News' Ivan Pereira contributed to this report.

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