National

smolaw11/iStockBy ANNE FLAHERTY, ABC News(NEW YORK) -- The United States' attempt to return children to the classroom this fall has turned into a slow-motion train wreck, with at least 2,400 students and staff either infected with COVID-19 or self-isolating because of exposure, and the vast majority of large school districts opting to go online this summer amid rising cases of the virus.President Donald Trump and Education Secretary Betsy Devos have […]

ABC NewsBy MAX GOLEMBO, ABC News(NEW YORK) -- At least 94 wildfires are burning in the U.S., as record heat scorches the West. Several new wildfires exploded in southern California Thursday, including the Ranch Fire in Azusa, east of Los Angeles. The Ranch Fire is currently burning 3,000 acres, with no containment. Mandatory evacuations are still in place. There is no imminent threat to structures, according to officials. The Skyline […]

Michael Ver Sprill/iStockBy ELLA TORRES, ABC News(NEW YORK) -- The Tribute in Light, a 9/11 commemoration that takes place over Lower Manhattan, has been canceled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic."This incredibly difficult decision was reached in consultation with our partners after concluding the health risks during the pandemic were far too great for the large crew required to produce the annual Tribute in Light," according to a statement […]

Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty ImagesBy JOHN SANTUCCI, KATHERINE FAULDERS and AARON KATERSKY, ABC News(NEW YORK) -- Robert Trump, the younger brother of President Donald Trump, has been hospitalized in New York, sources told ABC News, a development confirmed by the White House.The details of his condition remain unknown though he is described by several sources as "very ill."White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany confirmed the hospitalization to ABC News, adding […]

Samara Heisz/iStockBy MORGAN WINSOR and EMILY SHAPIRO, ABC News(NEW YORK) -- The novel coronavirus has now killed more than 750,000 people worldwide.Over 20.6 million people across the globe have been diagnosed with COVID-19, the disease caused by the new respiratory virus, according to data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. The actual numbers are believed to be much higher due to testing shortages, […]

sshepard/iStockBy ALEXANDER MALLIN and MEREDITH DELISO, ABC News (WASHINGTON) -- The Department of Justice has accused Yale University of illegally discriminating against Asian American and white applicants.A two-year civil rights investigation, in response to a complaint by Asian American groups, found that race was a factor in hundreds of admissions decisions each year, officials said. It also found Asian American and white applicants have one-tenth to one-fourth the likelihood of […]

BlakeDavidTaylor/iStockBy ALEXANDER MALLIN, ABC News(KANSAS CITY, Mo.) -- The Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department announced on Thursday the arrest of a suspect in the murder case of 4-year-old LeGend Taliferro, whose tragic killing in late June inspired the namesake for the Justice Department's "Operation Legend" law enforcement initiative.Police charged 22-year-old Ryson Ellis with second-degree murder, unlawful use of a weapon and two counts of armed criminal action, saying in a […]

crisserbug/iStockBy MEREDITH DELISO, ABC News(NEW YORK) -- A community college in Ohio has had no reported cases of COVID-19 traced to the school since reopening for in-person classes three months ago.As of Wednesday, the school, Stark State College, said it hasn't had any confirmed cases across its multiple locations. The news is somewhat surprising, as most college campuses have not been free of the virus this summer. A New York […]

ABC NewsBy MAX GOLEMBO, ABC News(NEW YORK) -- Wildfire season is in full effect Thursday as multiple fires throughout the West are being fueled by bone dry conditions. The Lake fire broke out north of Los Angeles Wednesday afternoon and grew to 10,000 acres in just hours. It is currently 0% contained. Evacuations were issued for residences in the area.In Oregon, the Mosier fire broke out and scorched 500 acres […]