♪ left and took all the reasons i was working for ♪ "world news now" weather brought to you by crest pro health clinical toothpaste. . [ male announcer ] even after a dental cleaning... plaque quickly starts to grow back. but new crest pro-health clinical plaque control toothpaste can help. it not only reduces plaque... it's also clinically proven... to help keep plaque from coming back. plus, it works in these other areas dentists check most. ♪ new crest pro-health clinical plaque control toothpaste. life opens up when you do. for extra plaque protection try new crest pro-health clinical rinse. that's a good thing, but it doesn't cover everything. only about 80% of your part b medical expenses. the rest is up to you. so consider an aarp medicare supplement insurance plan, insured by unitedhealthcare insurance company. like all standardized medicare supplement plans, they pick up some of what medicare doesn't pay. and save you up to thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket costs. call today to request a free decision guide to help you better understand what medicare is all about. and which aarp medicare supplement plan works best for you. with these types of plans, you'll be able to visit any doctor or hospital that accepts medicare patients... plus, there are no networks, and you'll never need a referral to see a specialist. there's a range of plans to choose from, too. and they all travel with you. anywhere in the country. join the millions who have already enrolled in the only medicare supplement insurance plans endorsed by aarp, an organization serving the needs of people 50 and over for generations... and provided by unitedhealthcare insurance company, which has over 30 years of experience behind it. call today. remember, medicare supplement insurance helps cover some of what medicare doesn't pay -- expenses that could really add up. these kinds of plans could save you up to thousands in out-of-pocket costs... you'll be able choose any doctor who accepts medicare patients. and you never need referrals. so don't wait. with all the good years ahead, look for the experience and commitment to go the distance with you. call now to request your free decision guide. this easy-to-understand guide will answer some of your questions, and help you find the aarp medicare supplement plan that's right for you. my little helpers... and 100% natural french's yellow mustard. it has zero calories for me, and a taste my family loves. welcome back, everybody. time for a few news nuggets. a controversial firing at facebook's headquarters. a yoga instructor is out of a job now because she laid down a law that you would think is pretty much a no-brainer. no cell phones in yoga class seems straight forward. well, alice evelyn van ness spotted a woman texting. she stopped her instructions and shot the woman a look. >> i stopped talking. i looked at her kind of like, you know, disapproving look of kind of like, you really need to do that right now? and i didn't actually say anything. >> the woman, a facebook employee, says she felt humiliated. so vanness ended up being fired. she understands the need to be connected but thinks texting could have waited. she's landed another job at a yoga studio. >> isn't it kind of distracting, though, you're trying to have a zen moment, you have somebody texting away. >> seems like a weird spot. >> you have to turn your phone off on the theater and set, put out down. very distracting. >> you read the next story. i have to take care of business. a big party for one of the longest running soap operas, abc's general hospital celebrating the ten daytime emmy awards with a giant cake. the cast and crew was treated to a lunch. general hospital began in 1963, before the careers of some very big stars, demi moore, john stamos and rick springfield, elizabeth taylor even played a role in this show. >> this has been around for a great 50 years. it's pretty amazing that we can still be relevant today. and it takes somebody with a vision to do that. >> amorgue the awards for general hospital, best daytime drama. anthony geary, who plays luke, won an award for best actor. >> the marriage in 1981, like and laura, seen by more than 30 million americans. most ever for a daytime drama. but the most memorable tv moments are the ones that capture real-life droo ma. a new list that runs down the most impactful tv moments of the last 50 years. let's take a look, first september 11th attacks. second levees breaking during hurricane katrina during 2005. third, o.j. simpson verdict in 1995. and fourth, the 1986 "challenger" space shuttle disaster. finally, fifth, the death of osama bin laden, just last year in 2011. we all remember those moments. >> every one of those moments. every one of them. >> you remember where you were? >> absolutely. that brings us to our facebook question of the day this morning? >> what is your most memorable tv moment. make sure you weigh in at wnnfans.com. >> you can find the whole list at wnnfans.com. check that out. what sticks out in your mind? >> for me, obviously, september 11th. and the space shuttle. >> space shuttle. >> i still remember that. i was so young. totally. >> katrina for me. obviously, for personal reasons. watching the city flood was just nothing i will ever forget. >> you were there. working there. >> crazy. we'll be back with more right after this with more tv magic. >> announcer: abc's "world news now" will continue after this from our abc stati welcome back, everyone. an 18-year-old woman will make history this weekend when she competes in the miss florida usa competition. >> that's because she's the first ever legally blind contestant. abc's matt gutman introduces us to connor boss. >> here we go. >> reporter: imagine practicing this choreography, packed among 75 other women in the cutthroat world of beauty pageants. >> walk, walk, walk, walk! >> reporter: now imagine doing it blindfolded. connor boss is miss florida usa's first ever blind contestant. not that she would ever let you know it. >> i really don't consider myself any different. it's just something that i have got to face. i never just say, hey, i'm legally blind. you really have to pry it out of me. >> reporter: what she lacks in eyesight she compensates for in grace. you see, getting around isn't easy. and what most women, and especially beauty contestants take for granted -- you have to have an enormous amount of faith in people. >> i do. >> reporter: -- can be damagesing for this 18-year-old. >> sometimes i come downstairs, my mom will say i have mascara on my forehead or something crazy. i just have to be sure, you have to have good friends when you are legally blind. >> reporter: that's the painless part. >> there are so many challenges that await our delegates. >> the stairs. >> reporter: last year at miss teen florida usa she stumbled on the fairs in front of a full house. >> they are very nice. they give me a little extra reversal time. so i count my steps. and i just pray to god i hit my marks and look like everyone else. >> reporter: connor wasn't all way blind. her eyesight started deteriorating when she was 8 years old. >> i was diagnosed. >> reporter: with a degenerative genetic disorder. >> i was 20/60. i remember seeing the board from my seat. >> reporter: it deteriorated to 2400/2600. she can only read fonts today 36 and above. so why would a shy teen whose eyesight was ten times worse than legally blind ever enter a beauty pageant? >> all my friend were doing it. i thought why not? get dressed up. have a good time with my friend. >> reporter: ah, of course. >> miss connor -- >> reporter: she won. and now. >> i love pageants. i had a bad self-image. it has given me confidence. >> reporter: i'm matt gutman, abc news, hollywood, florida. >> she actually asks her boyfriends if the boys interested in her are cute or not. >> she had one boyfriend. in fact, there is the reigning queen of the overnights. >> my hair looks better there, doesn't it. >> oh. overnights. >> my hair looks better there, doesn't it. >> oh. ♪ it's our anniversary ♪ >> look at rob. he's 2 years old. >> yeah. ♪ our anniversary >> what's going on? >> congratulations to you. you made it two years. >> two years. >> two years ago today. >> july 12th. >> it ages you in dog years. >> 58 in overnight years. today. way back when. sitting in a different set with vinita nair. nervous as i have never been in my entire life. >> were you nervous? >> like a puddle under the chair. it is ridiculous. we have a gift, a look back at rob nelson. >> uh-oh. >> come on over here. >> the new face of "world news now." >> this is rob nelson. welcome aboard. >> best of luck to you, jeremy. >> new world cup champions and a new face. >> it is great to be here. hard to believe it is here. spent the last couple days watching behind the scenes. show time today. feels good. you got a man? that's what i am talking about sweetheart. you got man? come on, the situation. girl, don't leave me here. come on, girl. ♪ >> just gotta feel it. you gotta move. gotta get into it. >> my heels. it's tough with my heels. >> just another day here at the office. at the office. oh, it's all -- ♪ if you like breast milk, put your hands out, let me hear you ♪ >> his liveliness, smoking, sleeping, breathing. >> rob. rob. >> ooh. ooh, lord have mercy. ♪ ♪ >> this is so lovely. let me just. oh, that's not the mike. that happens. that's a real problem, too. that was very awkward. ah, come on. come on. you got to get into it. ♪ >> oh. >> i am a moron on national television. oh, my lord. >> we love you. >> that was very nice. thank you, guys. >> you are getting a 50% raise. >> really, now i am really happy. i'm staying in. >> you were nervous your first night. >> i was. >> you got over it real quick. >> thank you to the staff here. incredible crew. and you and all the anchors before you guys. this is one of the coolest jobs in tv. and two years. anxious to keep on going. thank you all very much fo this morning on "world news now" -- penn state bombshell. we're hours away from getting details of a far-reaching internal investigation into the jerry sandusky sex abuse scandal. >> there is already damage control before that report even comes out. it is thursday, july 12th. >> announcer: from abc news, this is "world news now." good thursday morning, everybody, i'm paula faris. >> and i'm rob nelson. good morning, everybody. and the big questions here, what did joe paterno really know? was there a big penn state cover-up? we will get to all of that. in just a second. that report should be very interesting, juicy stuff coming out today. also on top of that -- >> mitt romney gets an earful at the naacp, now the gop candidate is reacting to all the booing he got yesterday. then olympic outsourcing, why is team usa sporting outfits that are made in china? our made in america team is on the case. >> that does seem to be -- seems to be a little perverse that the usa -- >> where are you made? >> what does it say? >> i don't know. it doesn't say. can't get to it. >> weird that the olympic team is wearing stuff made in china. beyond bizarre. actress kristin chenoweth has a bad day on the set of "the good wife," the accident that sent the star to the hospital. all that and more coming up in a few minutes in "the skinny." >> she seems to be a little accident prone. i think this is like her fourth accident in the last couple years. >> she is tiny, 4'1". >> 3'9." she is adorable. >> if you round up. but we begin with the high-level investigation into what went wrong at penn state. and the probe headed by fbi director louis freeh, released later today and could be especially damaging to the reputation of late coach joe paterno. >> in a just-released letter written shortly before his death, paterno passionately defended his program's integrity. he said this is not a football scandal. and should not be treated as one. he said sandusky's abuse of boys should not tarnish the team's accomplishments either. but it is interesting whenever they have the internal investigations you wonder how subjective they're going to be. but the fact that they have a former director of the fbi, as you mentioned, louis freeh on the case -- >> you would hope -- >> -- adds some credibility. >> as you hope, a legitimate investigation. you certainly don't get any more hefty than a former fbi guy. should be amazing what is uncovered. and really of course what is on the line is the legacy of joe pa. he will be a god on the penn state campus for what he did on the field. for decades. but if it does come out he did know more than he let on or did not report what he knew to the authorities. it is a huge kind of ding in the armor. >> mm-hmm. for sure. now to presidential politics where democrats and republicans are giving mitt romney points for speaking to the nation's oldest civil rights group. >> romney was booed when he attacked president obama's health care reform law, with more on this, here's abc's jon karl. >> reporter: he knew it would be a hostile audience, but mitt romney came to the naacp convention anyway. and then proceeded to tell them exactly what they didn't want to hear. >> i am going to eliminate every nonessential, expensive program i can find and that includes obamacare. and i am going to work to save -- [ crowd booing ] >> reporter: the boos lasted a full 15 seconds. romney went on to slam president obama's record and added this. >> if you want a president who will make things better in the african-american community, you are looking at him. [ crowd booing and applauding ] you take a look. >> reporter: talk about a tough sell. telling the nation's most prominent african-american organization to vote against the nation's first african-american president. after all, in our latest poll, 96% of african-americans said they would vote for obama. just 3% for romney. >> thank you. >> reporter: and while romney won't find many votes here, he may find respect -- showing he can stick to his beliefs before a hostile audience. romney did get a smattering of applause including when he promised to return if elected president. for his part, president obama is not speaking at the convention this year. vice president biden is. during the campaign four years ago, john mccain came before this group, but he praised his then-opponent. >> he has inspired a great many americans, some of whom have wrongly believed that a political campaign could hold no purpose or meaning for them. the success should make americans, all americans proud. >> reporter: after romney's speech, a spokesperson for the naacp criticized what he said but gave credit to romney for showing up. saying, quote, we appreciate he was courageous and took the opportunity to speak with us directly. jonathan karl, abc news, washington. >> the health care law was also being slammed on capitol hill. lawmakers voted for the 33rd time to scrap, defund, repeal or scale back the law. only a few democrats joined the gop. republicans say most of them backed it. the measure has no chance of passing in the democratically controlled u.s. senate. the battle over abortion in mississippi shows no sign of easing. it all centers on the state's only abortion clinic in the city of jackson. a federal judge yesterday continued blocking a new anti-abortion law which he had temporarily blocked two weeks ago. that law would require anyone performing abortions to be an ob-gyn with privileges to admit patients to a local hospital. the dl doctors at that particularclinic do not have those credentials. the burning this morning after the train derailment in ohio. fire officials in columbus say they have ruled out sabotage or a terrorist attack. leaning more towards a mechanical failure. abc's alex perez reports from the scene of the explosion. [ explosion ] >> jesus [ bleep ]! >> reporter: a frightening boom and orange glow of raging flames visible as far as ten miles away. it was 2:00 a.m., sean wall had come home after working the late shift. he grabbed his phone and started recording. >> reporter: what did it feel like on your skin? >> it felt like standing next to a bonfire. standing next to it i mean putting your hand right there next to the heat and your skin is starting to tingle and feel as much pain as it could. >> reporter: it all happened after 11 cars of a massive freight train derailed outside columbus. three tankers carrying some 90,000 gallons of ethanol exploded. authorities rushed door to door evacuating 100 nearby homes. >> i thought it was maybe one of the electrical lines or something. when i went outside it was just this big ball of fire. >> reporter: luckily there were no major injuries. the ntsb now has a team of investigators on the ground. >> we are gathering details at this time. >> reporter: across the country there are more than 140,000 miles of freight track crisscrossing our communities, carrying dangerous cargo, like ethanol, chlorine, sulfuric acid and nitrogen fertilizer. almost 100 million americans live close to a freight line. many local governments often don't know what is traveling through their backyards. >> they're not being notified in a routine way about this. they basically have to work very hard to find out what is coming through. >> reporter: not knowing can be deadly. graniteville, south carolina, january 2005, a train carrying chlorine gas explodes and the fire department didn't have hazmat suits. they had to call for outside help. by the time it arrived, nine people were dead. 500 others injured. still, the head of the association of american railroads tells abc news that the fear is largely unfounded. and that 99.998% of all hazmat shipments reach their destination safely. alex perez, abc news, columbus, ohio. in other news this morning, a frightening scene on the streets of new york. two window washers dangled for almost an hour outside the 42nd floor of a manhattan high rise. all that after their motorized scaffolding broke down. fire crews had to cut through glass in order to reach the two men and finally pull them inside. they were examined by doctors. amazingly they were not injured. >> mm. >> lucky guys. >> can't believe that. >> never understood how those guys do that job. you know what i mean? like just -- the window washers on these huge buildings we have here in new york, i don't know how they work up the guts to do that. >> after my son actually knocked his golf clubs out of their 16th floor window, i always look up whenever i am walking by a building. there is a crazy little 2-year-old toddler, throwing things out the window. >> fore! >> we got insurance the next day. renter's insurance. >> smart family. >> an umbrella. speaking of umbrella, here's a look at your weather. expect drenching rain with flooding across a huge section of the south, texas, carolinas, south to florida. strong storms over the dakotas. mostly sunny to dry in the northeast. >> still blistering hot. triple digits in phoenix and boise. 80s from the great lakes into the northeast. cooler than normal, hid to high 80s from new orleans into florida. well those pampered thoroughbred horses in kentucky have absolutely nothing on some cows in oregon. can you moo for me? >> moo! >> wow, that's really good. those cows are laying on -- or standing on waterbeds. yes, waterbeds. >> unbelievable. seriously though. they say it makes the cows healthier by reducing stress on their knees and on their hips as well. also they cut down on sores. >> huh, sores. uh, that sounds appetizing. >> bet a burger, huh? >> the beds are also said to balance the temperatures in the cow's stalls and workers say they're a lot easier to clean than areas that don't have waterbeds. >> the cows are living better than we are. >> i'm in the mood for a burger. right now. and chocolate milk. >> nice life, bessie. keep rolling, girl. >> it really is. they're living the high life. >> have you ever had a waterbed? have you ever? >> yes, i found them incredibly uncomfortable, hard to get out of. >> you like that whole vibe? >> kind of made me seasick. >> that will kill the mood. coming up in "the skinny," what may be secret conversations involving tom cruise's ex, and his future ex. >> that's a lot of exes. and the patriotic uniforms made for team usa but they are not made in america. can you believe that? >> unbelievable! >> you are watching "world news now." ♪ born in the usa ♪ born in the usa ♪ come back home to the refinery ♪ >> announcer: "world news now" weather brought to you by bounty basic. basic. [ dog barking ] ♪ [ female announcer ] life is full of little tests, but your basic paper towel can handle them. especially if that towel is bounty basic. the towel that's durable and scrubbable. in this lab demo, bounty basic is stronger than the leading bargain brand. everyday life. bring it with bounty basic. affordably priced. tested by everyday life. and try bounty napkins. welcome back, everyone. olympic athletes might be born in the usa, but are they wearing true red, white, and blue on their backs? >> as abc's sharyn alfonsi discovers just because the label bears the name of an iconic american designer doesn't mean they are american made. >> reporter: they're the pride of america, team usa. and for the opening ceremonies in london they will proudly be wearing red, white, and blue -- classic american style by ralph lauren. but just how american is? we sent our producer carlos and our katherine to get outfitted in the opening ceremony uniform. you look dashing! >> thank you. >> reporter: then we dug in. looking at the labels -- made in china. this is china. china. and the shoes? made in china. every item in the uniforms, made overseas. what do you think about that? >> i think it is a disgrace, i think it is a national disgrace. >> reporter: lynnette is one of the country's top fashion designers? could we have outfitted our olympians head to toe in american products is that realistic? >> absolutely. >> reporter: she says american manufacturers could have made our athletes' uniforms here and for less money. so we reached out to ralph lauren and the olympic committee to ask. the committee responded, the u.s. olympic team is privately funded. and we're grateful for the support of our sponsors. we are proud of our partnership with ralph lauren, an iconic american company. not exactly an answer. but american manufacturers insist, like our athletes, they can compete. sharyn alfonsi, abc news, new york. >> there is something weird. >> anti-american. >> yeah, come on -- the olympics, wearing clothes from china? i don't get it. maybe we can redeem ourselves with gold medals. >> you are trying to get a gold medal? aren't you? what are you competing in this year? >> that is the monica lewinsky competition. joking. joking, monica. >> equestrian, right? coming up, a scary situation, for a popular actress starring in the show "the good wife." >> wouldn't you like to eavesdrop on nicole kidman and katie holmes' secret conversations? it is all next in "the skinny." >> announcer: abc's "world news now" will continue after this @@q ú ♪ skinny ♪ so skinny ♪ so skinny oh, some scary news for kristin chenoweth. everyone loves her. she's adorable, talented. emmy winner, tony winner. apparently though she was involved in an accident on the set of "the good wife." she will have a recurring role this season. a gust of wind came through and apparently knocked some lighting equipment and knocked her out cold right in the head. pretty scary moment for her. she's 43 years old. she is about 43 years old right now. right now her condition is not known just yet. not life threatening. she is going to be okay. according to early reports. struck in the head by a piece of lighting equipment came down because of a pretty big gust of wind. apparently, you saw the photo a second ago. you saw her getting fitted with a neck brace, took her out on a stretcher, paramedics came. a serious moment. she has a long history of kind of getting banged up at work. injured her neck during prebroadway engagement of "wicked" back in 2003. in '06, fell off elevated stage, during "the apple tree." and in 2011, she injured her back on "glee" when she tumbled down concrete stairs. kristin chenoweth is talented but maybe just a little accident prone. >> slightly injury prone. >> we hope she gets better fast. a real talent. get better, kristin. katie holmes is getting better. it appears. she reached a settlement with her ex, tom cruise, monday, primary custody of suri. according to "us weekly" she had a confidante in nicole kidman. the second wife of tom cruise. apparently, they have spoken over the last few weeks. they actually had started speaking right after they got married five years ago. but, they started speaking again recently. figuring out how to mastermind the exit strategy. nicole had actually been very helpful to her. nicole doesn't see her two adopted children with tom, that they adopted while she was married to tom, partially because of how things went down in that whole settlement. he filed for divorce from nicole kidman. >> to be a fly on the wall during that conversation. between tom's exes. >> she has been a good, private friend according to "us weekly." >> interesting. also, we talked about this yesterday. brad pitt's mom wrote this letter to the editor of a missouri newspaper, against gay marriage, president obama, against abortion rights, and brad and angelina, a liberal couple, politically not aligned with his mother here. according to "star" magazine, angelina was mortified by the comments. she's an advocate of same-sex marriage. a sour tells "star magazine," if brad won't do it, talking to his mother, she will have to do it, how the mother of a prominent celebrity she shouldn't write letters that clash with her son's personal opinions. apparently caused a little bit of a rift in the pitt-jolie household. mama has the a right to say what she wants. obviously no matter what her opinions are. apparently causing a little rift there. it's, you know, not exactly politically aligned. >> angelina seems so agreeable on everything. right? as a daughter-in-law. if you're a big rolling stones fan, raise your hand. are you? so they have been around 50 years. rumors are out saying they are starting to perform again. no dates that have been released. they're practicing saying it is definitely happening. can't say when. can't say exactly how soon. with veet wax strips. veet hair coating technology removes hair as short as 1.5 millimeters... ... and leaves your skin smooth for up to 4 weeks. try getting that with a razor. with veet you'll always be putting your best skin forward. veet. what beauty feels like. also try new veet high precision facial wax for salon-quality smoothness that lasts. that's a good thing, but it doesn't cover everything. only about 80% of your part b medical expenses. the rest is up to you. so consider an aarp medicare supplement insurance plan, insured by unitedhealthcare insurance company. like all standardized medicare supplement plans, they pick up some of what medicare doesn't pay. and save you up to thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket costs. call today to request a free decision guide to help you better understand what medicare is all about. and which aarp medicare supplement plan works best for you. with these types of plans, you'll be able to visit any doctor or hospital that accepts medicare patients... plus, there are no networks, and you'll never need a referral to see a specialist. there's a range of plans to choose from, too. and they all travel with you. anywhere in the country. join the millions who have already enrolled in the only medicare supplement insurance plans endorsed by aarp, an organization serving the needs of people 50 and over for generations... and provided by unitedhealthcare insurance company, which has over 30 years of experience behind it. call today. remember, medicare supplement insurance helps cover some of what medicare doesn't pay -- expenses that could really add up. these kinds of plans could save you up to thousands in out-of-pocket costs... you'll be able choose any doctor who accepts medicare patients. and you never need referrals. so don't wait. with all the good years ahead, look for the experience and commitment to go the distance with you. call now to request your free decision guide. this easy-to-understand guide will answer some of your questions, and help you find the aarp medicare supplement plan that's right for you. ♪ everybody! >> what is going on? >> 2 years old. >> i'm 2 years old. nearing 50. >> dime apers are removed, righ? >> yes, well. >> potty trained. >> his second anniversary, everybody. been here on "world news now" for two years. >> july 12, 2010. >> such a young pup when you got here. nervous young pup, too, man. i was nervous coming from new orleans. >> i loved your hair, almost have like a mohawk going on. >> real short cut. >> i don't know. >> so we know you love animals, we have some pictures for you. you and -- your, your dog. >> yes. look at that. there i am. >> pictures, you and uggie. >> my oscar-winning role. i love it. indeed. >> what other animals do you like? >> none. there we go. >> all of them. >> my whole litter. >> what did i get myself into? we couldn't let you go without being eaten by a dinosaur. >> bad time at jurassic park. no >>r >> yes, i have. >> i would like to biggie-size that. what's up with my hat there? >> i love a pawnshop. >> how much will you give me for my ring? >> $1. >> you and your tutu, baby. >> i don't remember that one. >> i think that is brand new for the second anniversary show. >> that's what i wear to the clubs. >> your favorite job of all time, as lingerie photographer. >> right outside paula's >> there i am with my southern fried cutie, paula deen. >> this is you on your celebrity beat. you love paula deen. the picture should be bacon wrapped. sophia. >> speaking of getting w up, there's my baby girl, sofia. >> sofia. we got booty-licious. >> that was a good weekend. >> what are you doing, facial expression? >> we had a few. >> i would like to buy a vowel. that's the wrong one. $20. how much we make a week. >> coming off the show. a good time. >> finally, rob walk it out. finally, rob rocking it out. >> yes in the glory days. > rig >> gory like i say. this is one of the coolest jobs it ihif.v.- thanks. that's part of the fun of ababab hey, your high speed internet here at home... and on the go... ...with some really big news. it's b-i-g, big. high speed internet from at&t at home... includes wi-fi access on the go -- whoo-hoo! it's an unbelievable deal. it's an unbelievable deal. 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[ female announcer ] go to the website below and get high speed internet for just $14.95 a month for 12 months with a 1-year price guarantee. that's all the speed you need at a great price. it's an unbelievable deal, so why wait? act now! act now! like he said. ♪ this morning on "world news now" -- fowl fears. scientists discover a super strain of e. coli in chicken that could be passed along to people. >> the link to serious health problems and who is most likely to get sick. it's thursday, july 12th. >> announcer: from abc news, this is "world news now." good thursday morning, everybody. i'm rob nelson. >> how close are we to friday? >> one more day. in sight, it's in sight, girl. hang on. >> i'm hanging on, i'm paula faris on this thursday morning. from chefs to scientists to supermarket shoppers a lot of folks really worried about the chicken that we eat. also a case where the punishment doesn't seem to fit the crime. cops taser a jaywalker and it is all caught on tape. >> please tell me there is more to that story than the dude was just jaywalking. please tell me. >> nope. >> disorderly conduct. >> did i just give it away? yep. maybe. i can't tell you. >> we'll get to that. also, shining a light on a hidden epidemic in america. this story is heartbreaking. every hour a baby born addicted to powerful painkillers. how one hospital is trying to give these tiniest victims a fighting chance. >> i mean that story, it was on "nightline" last night. and it broke my heart. >> yeah, it's -- sad is not even a word that does it justice. >> to see those innocent newborns that struggle like that. how this woman earns $60 an hour in bed. you can hire her, but you got to keep those pjs on. >> that story is just buck wild. up in rochester, new york. some of you folks upstate. >> creative. >> stay tunes. it's creative. and she's making her money. made in america. >> part of the made in america. >> stay tuned. >> made in america. made in america. first, we have the results of an abc news investigation into the use of antibiotics in chicken, it could be making us sick. >> top chefs are demanding the fda take action on this issue. here is abc's jim avila with the details. >> reporter: it is america's favorite food. 8.5 billion chickens raised for meat. nearly all of them, even healthy, fed ant biotics from hatch to frying pan. a diet that a growing number of leading medical researchers around the world say has created a dangerous strain of e. coli that is now highly resistant to antibiotic treatment. and here is what is new and alarming. they say that superbug in the bird is now infecting women. >> we are finding the same or related e. coli in human infections and retail meat sources chicken. >> reporter: top researchers have strong evidence of a link between the disease and chicken super bug. the grocery store meat carrying the same e. coli strain as the resistant strain causing painful and long-lasting bladder infections. same dna fingerprint. a writer for the food and environment reporting net work interviewed researchers as part of a joint investigation with abc news. >> when they looked at the infections and they looked at bacteria in the animals and looked at bacteria on the meat they all matched. >> reporter: and this is no ordinary infection. >> i couldn't function fully for -- for weeks. almost a month. >> reporter: the superbug hangs on longer, resisting antibiotics and comes back repeatedly as it did with atlanta's dory brigs. >> they ran the test again and confirmed that yes i still had the infection. and that let's try something else. >> reporter: veteran doctors say they often have to use several types of antibiotics now. trg toa th cf1& r s toa th cf1& we call them bugs. we think of them as stupid. but they are very smart. >> reporter: the chicken industry tee rs unlikely that this antibiotic-resistant superbug comes from poultry. but the independent researchers say they're confident the link is proven by dna. jim avila, abc news, washington. >> bon appetit, everybody. >> make sure your kitchen is very, very clean. to me the root issue is the use of antibiotics on the farms in the chickens. meaning the price we pay to eat goes far beyond the checkout line. >> dr. richard besser pointed out the main ramification of this particular epidemic is bladder infections that won't go away that just seems to be withstanding any antibiotic, it could be traced to this. >> why are we pumping up our food with all that crap? i know they want the chickens to be plump, juicy. that's all great. if it will kill us or make us sick. i'll take a smaller >arpprt chr an we're kind of like, feeding the beast. >> exactly. no pun intended. >> want to go grab a burger after this? >> sure. scientists may have discovered a new way to detect alzheimer's disease earlier than alzhcrsgons disease earlier than out a kind of timeline revealing hidden changes that occur in the body. they are markers that could be o uy are markers that could be coue teor also two maj thescan a & m uni after vowing to s the the university president has now abruptly resig james ammons' resignation came on the same day the parents of an apparent hazing victim sued the school. robert champion died after being beaten by fellow band members. his parents say the university simply did not do enough to stop that hazing. also from florida, an explosive story inh a was tasered by officers afte kin tasered by officers afte you were curious about he tory look at this, happened near orlando. the suspect and his friend, two was recording this incident, they are african-american. the officers, white. the man accused of improperly crossing the street, he refused to produce an id which is illegal. their confrontation escalated until the cops tasered the man, not once, not twice. but three times. >> give me your i.d. >> it's not a lawful command. >> put your hand behind your back. >> quit walking away! [ screaming ] >> now, after he was cuffed the police found a gun on the suspect. but he had a permit. the police chief says he plans to use the video to train officers on how to react to such situations. >> mm. investigators in ohio are now looking at a mechanical malfunction as a possible cause of the train derailment in columbus. the exploding freight cars full of ethanol made quite a scene but only minor injuries to report here. about 100 people who live within a one-mile radius of the derailment were evacuated by firefighters who decided to let the fire simply burn itself out. and more now on that frightening flight from aruba to miami rocked by sudden turbulence. about a dozen people needed medical care once the plane finally landed. was there ever any real danger? abc's matt gutman investigates. >> reporter: violent jolts sending passengers into hushed prayer on a jetblue flight last year. intense shaking on the 2009 continental flight kills one person and injures several others. and tuesday, for 15 terrifying seconds, turbulence panicked passengers on a flight from aruba to miami. the american airlines boeing 757 was 30,000 feet up when unbuckled passengers were tossed like coins in a can. 12 people injured. five were hospitalized. in a statement to abc news, american airlines says, the seatbelt sign was on at the time and nothing on the radar indicated that turbulence was in the area. a plane flying in clear skies can be rocked by a column of air from a storm thousands of feet below. severe turbulence can cause the plane to plunge up to 50 feet. turbulence is the leading cause of injury to airline passengers and flight attendants. on average injuring 58 people a year. to feel that type of turbulence, we took off with flight instructor charlie rodriguez in the simulator. >> it could be moderate and go to severe just like that. >> reporter: this is what they call moderate chop. the plane could be flopping up and down, 15 to 20 feet. in light chop, it's more like a couple of inches. in the back of the plane they're feeling this much more than we are in the cockpit. and pilots mean it when they flick on the seatbelt sign. >> if you get in severe turbulence and you're not with your seat belts on, you're going to get hurt. >> reporter: chances are you won't get killed, over 30 years, three people have died from turbulence. turns out you are more likely to get hit by a meteor. matt gutman, abc news, miami. philadelphia eagles quarterback michael vick can add clothing designer to his resume. vick was at a philadelphia sporting goods store promoting his new clothing line called v-7. he is donating part of the proceeds to filly's boys and girls club. it was three years ago protestors greeted vick's arrival at eagles' training camp, that followed vick's prison stay for running a dog-fighting ring. my, how one's fortunes can change. >> maybe donate some proceeds to humane society. do a world of good. >> could dot. there is something to be said. look, he paid his debt to society. apologized. trying to get his life back on the right track. can we give folks a little bit of credit? >> forgive. >> what he did was despicable. don't get me wrong. hopefully we can move on. an se sorry. did you want to say something? >> i head 's ill fr tha's watay. but the moment's passed. >> still good. a sign of the times on sidewalks in new york city. when's the last time you dropped a quarter and actually used a pay phone? when is the lat ti saw one on the sidewalk? the city has come up with a smart plan, or plan rather to start turning some old pay phone youhe qint the wi-fi will be available round the clock for free. actually saw a phone booth near the park the other day. my daughter was like, what is that? >> nobody knows anymore. the era is over. a look at your weather, everybody expect drenching rain and flooding and humidity. with more flooding and lots of humidity there. also, severe storms in the day co -- dakotas. hot and dry in the west. sunny and gorgeous here in the northeast. phoenix and boise blistering in the triple digits. 90s in sacramento. okay, you want some inspiration this morning? take a jump with retired army sergeant dana bowman. >> you wouldn't know it as he floated into odessa, texas. yesterday. bowman lost both of his legs in a military training accident back in 1994. after landing he got changed and talked to a local rotary club about overcoming physical challenges. >> when he makaddrs >> when he methemo ma what comes eir one more story of inspiration, encouraging us to plow through those tough times. >> and he had to do a lot of convincing to get the military to let him do that again, too. he did it. a man of his word. >> yes, he is. coming up next we'll take bg annside an intensive care and later, here's a money-making proposition. who is making a living cuddling with perfect strangers? you are watching "world news now." >> i just want to be held. ♪ stay with me >> announcer: "world news now" weather brought to you by colonial penn life insurance. ughhh. trash builds up and can make your dishwasher smell. over time, grease and residue get stuck inside. for an intensive clean, use finish dishwasher cleaner. it's taking out the trash for your dishwasher. welcome back, everyone. this is a hidden epidemic across america. one baby an hour is born hooked on prescription painkillers. >> it is devastating. these babies face an incredible uphill battle. in a tennessee hospital, doctors and nurses are determined to win the fight. abc's juju chang reports. >> reporter: it is noon in the neo-natal intensive care unit, at east tennessee children's hospital. and baby grayson, just 48 hours old, is shaking again. >> he's tremoring. >> reporter: grayson was born with a serious drug dependency because his pregnant mother was addicted to painkillers. now he gets morphine every three hours to cut the pain of withdrawal. grayson was brought here from a nearby hospital to this special unit for detoxing newborns. right now there are 23 tiny patients here going through withdrawal mostly from prescription pills like oxycontin, vicodin or percocet. >> good morning. >> reporter: carla saunders is the head nurse of this special unit. >> they will have really bad tremors, really bad jitters, very bad irritability, vomiting, diarrhea, cramping. >> reporter: ashton, just 19 years old, is grayson's mom. >> he has done so good today. >> good, i am happy. >> a big difference from two days ago? >> yeah. >> reporter: she says she tried a prescription painkiller for the first time as a party drug, while still in high school. how easy was it for you to score painkillers? >> they're pretty much easy to find if you want them. >> reporter: it is everywhere. >> it is crazy to see how many kids are strung out on opiates. >> reporter: ashton was trying to recover and on methadone when she got pregnant. doctors advise pregnant mothers not to stop using because the baby in their womb might suffer from potentially lethal withdrawal. it is clear why when you see grayson now. his mother says she is trying to keep clean, taking doctor- prescribed methadone to wean herself from an addiction to painkillers. >> reporter: your eyes look a little dilated to me? are you still using? >> i am still on methadone now, yeah, i have been since, since i had him, yeah. >> reporter: are you using other stuff outside of it? >> oh, no. >> reporter: no? >> no. methadone is the only thing i used since i got in the clinic. >> reporter: how do you up to him from here on out? how do you prove you deserve to take him home? >> you have to start detoxing yourself. you have to start doing it just yourself. you have to start doing it just like he is dog i understhim right now, what would you say to him? >> mama's sorry. it's just hard, i mean -- none of it was planned, you know? i wanted something better for him because -- i mean, i grew up around it. i know. and it wasn't fun. i didn't want that for him. i wanted better for him because i wanted to be the mom that -- i didn't have. >> reporter: i'm juju chang, in knoxville, tennessee. >> we can talk about health care and the economy and the wars all we want. there is nothing more devastating for america than this ongoing battle this nation has with drugs. nothing is worse. >> tennessee one of the few states that allows mothers who are pregnant to take painkillers. but as juju mentioned in the piece, the doctors advised her to stay on the painkillers because of the potential lethal and fatal side effects when the baby was this the woman. that its just heartbreaking to see an innocent child. >> we're rooting for the babies an upstate new york woman has come up with a unique business. it doesn't require much skill. but it does require a lot of guts. >> mm. we are going to have fun with this story. she's a professional snuggler, who, for 60 bucks an hour, will climb into bed with you and you. rachel barnhard reports from rochester. oh. >> i always liked to cuddle. it seemed simple to me. >> reporter: she started her business, the snuggery, she charges $60 an hour to snuggle. >> it sound interesting. i would look to learn more about it. >> reporter: the 29-year-old says her clients are looking for relaxation and physical comfort. >> this is not about sex. i'm really straightforward about that. >> reporter: samuels started her business without a license. there isn't one for cuddling. >> i thought i need to kind of validate my position, like i need to have some kind of certification or license that says i'm a qualified cuddler. but i couldn't find anybody else doing what i was doing. i decided to just start. >> reporter: let's face it, cuddling isn't too difficult. >> i would hope it is something that everybody knows how to do. i think we kind of lose the interest or the drive in our society. >> reporter: studies show cuddling reduces stress and blood pressure, but you won't find samuels doing a lot of advertising. >> it is cuddling. either you want it or you don't. >> and it is spooning. do you want to be the spoonee or the spooner? >> spoon or spooner? no, no, that feels weird. be the spooner. >> i won't charge you. 3q there she is ! hey, i got a leak ! yoo hoo ! wait a minute, come back ! um, miss ? up here! right. like 85% of us, you have hard water stains and that cleaner's not gonna cut it. truth is, you need something powerful. you need lime-a-way. it's 4 times more effective at removing limescale than the leading bathroom cleaner. because lime-a-way is specially formulated to conquer hard water stains. for lime, calcium and rust... lime-a-way is a must. ♪ welcome back, everybody. we did find this interesting story in "the washington post." i think it is very telling. have abbreviations gone too far, in terms of facebook languages, test messaging? we want to put up a few of these abbreviations. they've become way too popular. we all know, omg, and lol, and tots. tots is short for totally. my girlfriend says it. do you want to go to dinner friday? tots. what does that mean? it's ridiculous. we have ridic, short for ridiculous. cray-cray short for crazy. >> which is actually longer than crazy. >> exactly, which is dumb. and then we have gorg, short for gorgeous. then adorbes, adorable. and sunnies, sunglasses. >> not sunny hostin? like plural? >> we are an overabbreviated nation. it's getting to be a little tm -- too much. >> a little out of touch aren't we? >> all i'm saying. i don't get it. if you remember not long ago, the accou"time" magazine controversial cover of the 25-year-old boy on his mommy's breast. >> indeed. >> from the creators of bridezillas, and dance moms, comes extreme parenting, another reality show, yes, they're going to cover, obviously extreme parenting techniques. they don't know what network it is going to be on. they don't know exactly the launch date. but sometime in the fall. >> one year. give it up after 1 year. >> you're a little too old now. yave iblek upgin cf1 lee. rob worked in new b fan of cajun fo >> oh! >> now, for the occasion, we have brought in some cajun cuisine. what is all this stuff? >> this looks like some shrimp, i see, i see some hush puppies, os ee, i see some hush puppies, where did y'all get this from? >> from the back. >> i will eat. t.ats good stuff here. >> this goo times ton nk s ton incredible i am not gonyw just marking the two-year date. and thank you to the guys, in the control room, editors in the and a show tlglglglglglglglglgl i'm only in my 60's... i've got a nice long life ahead. big plans. so when i found out medicare doesn't pay all my medical expenses, i got a medicare supplement insurance plan. [ male announcer ] if you're eligible for medicare, you may know it only covers about 80% of your part b medical expenses. the rest is up to you. call and find ou1 about an aarp medicare supplement insurance plan, insured by unitedhealthcare insurance company. like all standardized medicare supplement plans, it could save you thousands in out-of-pocket costs. call now to request your free decision guide. i've been with my doctor for 12 years. now i know i'll be able to stick with him. you'll be able to visit any doctor or hospitpt that accepts medicare patients. plus, there are no networks, and you never need a referral. see why millions of people have already enrolled in the only medicare supplement insurance plans endorsed by aarp. don't wait. call now. this morning on "world news this morning on "world news now" -- demanding justice. the parents of a florida college drum major killed in a hazing incident now speak out. >> as the controversy costs the top university administrator his job. it's thursday, july 12th. >> announcer: from abc news, this is "world news now." good morning, everybody. i'm rob nelson. >> and i'm paula faris on this thursday morning. we're gonna get to that fallout at florida a & m in just a moment. then to some political fallout as well for mitt romney who addressed the naacp. we're going to tell you why the audience booed him on several occasions. but they did give him a standing ovation at the very end. >> half the crowd gave the standing ovation. correct. also this morning, the yoga instructor who tells her class, no texting and no phone calls. how her policy got her in trouble with her employer. and you may have heard of this group, it's called facebook. >> you don't text during the show, do you? >> i don't have my phone. today i brought it out by mistake. i don't like to have my phone out here. i find it too distracting. i am like a crack addict. >> if you don't have it next to you, you're gonna lose it. >> yeah, i've lost many of them. later this half-hour, the beauty pageant contestant making history not because of her looks or talent. but because of something that she cannot do. obviously looking good is not what she cannot do. because she is gorgeous. >> inspiring story. very cool story. stay tuned for that for sure. first, the president of florida a & m promised to stay on the job, quote until the final bell rings. but now, he has suddenly resigned. >> the abrupt departure just the latest blow to the college and its famed marching band after the death of a drum major during a hazing ritual. abc's t.j. winick here with the late-breaking details. t.j. >> reporter: good morning, rob, and paula. the parents of robert champion clearly want someone held responsible for their son's death. first they sued the bus company involved. now they're suing the university. florida a & m president james ammons has resigned the day the parents of drum major robert champion added the university to a wrongful death lawsuit. >> they need to clean house. and that's the only way. >> reporter: 26-year-old champion died last november after being beaten by fellow band members during a hazing ritual on a bus called "crossing bus c." >> now the journey begins for us to figure out how we can eradicate a culture, not just a florida problem, it's an american problem. >> reporter: this man went through the same ritual, walking one end of the bus to the other. he told espn's "outside the lines," champion did it voluntarily. >> people that disrespect me, are going to respect me, i did bus c. >> it was his choice? >> his choice. >> reporter: 11 famu band members face hazing charges. two face misdemeanor charges. they all have pleaded not guilty. julienne white insists he didn't know about the hazing. >> the bus c initiation, i heard about it after robert's death. >> reporter: you'd never heard a reference to it before that? >> no. >> reporter: champion's full autopsy shows he had a slightly enlarged heart. but this diagram included in the autopsy shows contusion marks and tissue damage consistent with enduring a beating. a judge set an october trial date for the 11 band members charged with felony hazing. now it is more likely that trial will take place next year. rob and paula? >> all right, thanks a lot, t.j. we turn now to another college campus rocked by scandal. the results of an internal penn state investigation into the jerry sandusky sex abuse case will be released today. at the center of the scandal is whether coach joe paterno knew sandusky was a pedophile. in a just released letter, written before his death, paterno rejected the idea that sandusky abuse was actually a football scandal or that all of it had tarnished penn state's reputation. and something of a mystery still surrounds congressman jesse jackson jr. all this despite a statement from his office that says he is receiving treatment for what has been declared, quote, a mood disorder. the statement from jackson's office did not say where he is being treated. the illinois democrat has been on medical leave for more than a month now. his office that said reports he is being treated for alcohol or substance abuse are simply untrue. and now to the battle over health care reform. republicans in the house have again voted to repeal it. >> and mitt romney took heat from an influential group after saying he, too, would do away with that law. abc's karen travers has more from washington. good morning to you, karen. >> reporter: good morning, rob. good morning, paula. republicans are dead set on repealing president obama's health care law. and yesterday they successfully voted to do that, but it has no chance of going anywhere. two weeks ago the supreme court ruled that president obama's health care law is constitutional. but that didn't stop house republicans from yet another attempt at getting rid of it. >> the bill is passed. >> reporter: the vote marks the 33rd time republicans have taken action to defund, dismantle, or fully repeal the affordable care act. >> this bill is making our economy worse, driving up the cost of health care, and making it harder for small businesses to hire new workers. >> reporter: with the democratic controlled senate and white house, the bill has about the same chance for survival as a snowball in washington during this heat wave. democrat after democrat dismissed the vote as a colossal waste of time. >> i think people want us to create jobs. that's what we should be using this time on the floor for. >> reporter: but, republicans say the american people are on their side. and they've stayed hell-bent on taking the law down. but americans are divided. a recent abc news/"washington post" poll found an even split on the supreme court ruling. so the health care law is still a hot button issue on the campaign trail. >> i will work with anybody to improve the health care law where we can. but this law is here to stay. >> reporter: in his speech to the naacp, mitt romney reiterated his vow to make it go away. and it didn't go over well. >> i am going to eliminate every nonessential, expensive program i can find. that includes obama care. i am going to work to reform and save -- [ crowd booing ] >> reporter: republicans say it is now up to voters to get rid of the health care law by getting rid of president obama in november. rob and paula, back to you. >> thank you, karen. so much political theater these days. the president's tax plan has no chance of passing. he went out and touted it anyway. repeal of health care has no chance of passing. you will see all republicans yesterday vote to do that. so much of this is just to rile up the base, get people talking about it. none of it has any substantive political traction. >> well, you have to at least give romney a little bit of credit for going into a hostile environment. what was the statistic? that 96% of african-americans vote for obama? he knew kind of what he was getting himself into. the speech he gave, he said, i gave the same speech. i don't give different speeches to different audiences. and he did say i had the privilege of speaking at the naacp. they said quote, he was courageous to speak with us directly. didn't tell them what they wanted to hear. of course they're very, very pro obama. it's different. different than john mccain from four years ago. >> john mccain, let's be clear. john mccain gave a speech at the same convection four years ago, got a true standing ovation. said a lot of nice things about obama, gave a very gracious speech. we saw something different yesterday. some folks to speculate that the booing that he got was -- orchestrated. that he wanted that moment. that sound bite you saw to play on, as it did on newscasts around the country. and which it did. as a way of riling up his base. because there was this politically awkward moment where this guy was getting booed, the longest boo of his campaign in more than a year. one of those moments. to me the more telling sound bite is when he stood there and told a room full of black folks, if you want a president who will do the best, best for the african-american community, you're looking at him. come on. all politics are orchestrated. that, to me, is where they wanted the boos for a little political traction with the base, not the folks in the room. who are not ever going to take kindly to a line like that, for the first african-american president in the country. it is debate. politics. at the highest level. it's a show. >> obama was running on hope and change four years ago. that's probably why mccain was very gracious. that now you look at his record, that's what romney was trying to attack. so there is political theater. >> four months of it left. a busy section of highway 24 in colorado was shut down indefinitely. an enormous sinkhole measuring 100 feet deep, 20 feet across. engineers say an old railroad tunnel below the road is to blame. it collapsed years ago, but soil above it was frozen solid until recently. it has been an especially harsh year weatherwise as we all know in the midwest. but vineyard owners in missouri say their grapes are doing surprisingly well. first came an early, warm spring. now it is extreme heat. and a lack of rain. and that combination actually is causing grapes to change color weeks ahead of time. growers say, they will be smaller but still tasty. so, good news for all the winos across the country. the grape crop is good. >> yes, yes. vineyards, orchards, grapes grow better under distress because it produces that concentrated -- you would think a typical grape from a vineyard would be plush. they actually almost look like raisins. produce concentrated juice which makes the wine. >> as long as my yellowtail goes down easy, i'm good. >> okay sorks, so what if it's midsummer. it was the holiday season for some in southern california yesterday. dozens of children from homeless families in los angeles they had a great time. look at them playing in 40,000 pound of snow. >> they called it christmas in july. even santa claus, wearing sandals and surf shorts, got in on the act. there were games. fun stuff to do. the snow, of course, was the real attraction. now santa can go rest up for a few months before the real thing. >> snowball fight. >> halfway through the year already. know what i mean? we're already -- it's already mid july. >> where did it go? >> oh, see. >> snowing. >> getting in the spirit, look at that. beautiful. where is the fireplace? some chestnuts. let's go sledding. >> yellowtail. what is that? sledding? >> another indoor activity. coming up, the most memorable tv news moments of all time. and what a yoga instructor at facebook head quarters did that cost her a job. not a zen moment here. you are watching "world news now." what are we doing in front of the fireplace? ♪ left and took all the reasons i was working for ♪ >> announcer: "world news now" weather brought to you by crest pro health clinical toothpaste. . [ male announcer ] even after a dental cleaning... plaque quickly starts to grow back. but new crest pro-health clinical plaque control toothpaste can help. it not only reduces plaque... it's also clinically proven... to help keep plaque from coming back. plus, it works in these other areas dentists check most. ♪ new crest pro-health clinical plaque control toothpaste. life opens up when you do. for extra plaque protection try new crest pro-health clinical rinse. that's a good thing, but it doesn't cover everything. only about 80% of your part b medical expenses. the rest is up to you. so consider an aarp medicare supplement insurance plan, insured by unitedhealthcare insurance company. like all standardized medicare supplement plans, they pick up some of what medicare doesn't pay. and save you up to thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket costs. call today to request a free decision guide to help you better understand what medicare is all about. and which aarp medicare supplement plan works best for you. with these types of plans, you'll be able to visit any doctor or hospital that accepts medicare patients... plus, there are no networks, and you'll never need a referral to see a specialist. there's a range of plans to choose from, too. and they all travel with you. anywhere in the country. join the millions who have already enrolled in the only medicare supplement insurance plans endorsed by aarp, an organization serving the needs of people 50 and over for generations... and provided by unitedhealthcare insurance company, which has over 30 years of experience behind it. call today. remember, medicare supplement insurance helps cover some of what medicare doesn't pay -- expenses that could really add up. these kinds of plans could save you up to thousands in out-of-pocket costs... you'll be able choose any doctor who accepts medicare patients. and you never need referrals. so don't wait. with all the good years ahead, look for the experience and commitment to go the distance with you. call now to request your free decision guide. this easy-to-understand guide will answer some of your questions, and help you find the aarp medicare supplement plan that's right for you. my little helpers... and 100% natural french's yellow mustard. it has zero calories for me, and a taste my family loves. welcome back, everybody. time for a few news nuggets. a controversial firing at facebook's headquarters. a yoga instructor is out of a job now because she laid down a law that you would think is pretty much a no-brainer. no cell phones in yoga class seems pretty straightforward. well, alice evelyn van ness says she spotted a woman in her class teking. she stopped her instructions and shot the woman a look. >> i stopped talking. i looked at her kind of like, you know, disapproving look of kind of like, you really need to do that right now? and i didn't actually say anything. >> the woman, a facebook employee, says she felt humiliated. so vann ness ended up being fired. she understands the need to be connected but thinks texting could have waited. she's landed another job at a yoga studio. >> isn't it kind of distracting, though, you're trying to have a zen moment, you have somebody texting away. >> seems like a weird spot in a yoga class. >> you have to turn your phone off on the theater and set, put out down. very distracting. >> you read the next story. i have to take care of business. a big party for one of the longest running soap operas, abc's "general hospital" celebrating the ten daytime emmy awards with a giant cake. the cast and crew was treated to a lunch. general hospital began in 1963, before the careers of some very big stars, demi moore, john stamos and rick springfield, elizabeth taylor even played a role in this show. >> this has been around for a great 50 years. it's pretty amazing that we can still be relevant today. and it takes somebody with a vision to do that. >> among the awards for general hospital, best daytime drama. anthony geary, who plays luke, won for best lead actor. >> and that marriage back in 1981 of luke and laura, was seen by more than 30 million americans. most ever for a daytime drama. but the most memorable tv moments are the ones that capture real-life drama. now there's a new list that runs down the most impactful tv moments of the last 50 years. let's take a look, first september 11th attacks. second levees breaking during hurricane katrina during 2005. third, o.j. simpson verdict in 1995. and fourth, the 1986 "challenger" space shuttle disaster. finally, fifth, the death of osama bin laden, just last year in 2011. we all remember those moments. >> every one of those moments. every one of them. >> you remember where you were? >> absolutely. absolutely. that brings us to our facebook question of the day this morning. >> what is your most memorable tv moment? make sure you weigh in at wnnfans.com. >> you can find the whole list at wnnfans.com. check that out. what sticks out in your mind? >> for me, obviously, september 11th. and the space shuttle. >> space shuttle. >> i still remember that. i was so young. totally. >> katrina for me. obviously, for personal reasons. watching the city flood was just nothing i will ever forget. >> you were there. working there. >> crazy. we'll be back with more right after this with more tv magic. >> announcer: abc's "world news now" will continue after this from our abc stations. welcome back, everyone. an 18-year-old woman will make history this weekend when she competes in the miss florida usa competition. >> that's because she's the first ever legally blind contestant. abc's matt gutman introduces us to connor boss. >> here we go. >> reporter: imagine practicing this choreography, packed among 75 other women in the cutthroat world of beauty pageants. >> walk, walk, walk, walk! >> reporter: now imagine doing it blindfolded. connor boss is miss florida usa's first ever blind contestant. not that she would ever let you know it. >> i really don't consider myself any different. it's just something that i have got to face. i never just say, hey, i'm legally blind. you really have to pry it out of me. >> reporter: what she lacks in eyesight she compensates for in grace. you see, getting around isn't easy. and what most women, and especially beauty contestants take for granted -- you have to have an enormous amount of faith in people. >> i do. >> reporter: -- can be monumentally challenging for this 18-year-old. >> sometimes i come downstairs, my mom will say i have mascara on my forehead or something crazy. i just have to be sure, you have to have good friends when you are legally blind. >> reporter: that's the painless part. >> there are so many challenges that await our delegates. >> the stairs. >> reporter: last year at miss teen florida usa she stumbled on the stairs in front of a full house. >> they are very nice. they give me a little extra he rehearsal time. so i count my steps. and i just pray to god i hit my marks and look like everyone else. >> reporter: connor wasn't all always blind. her eyesight started deteriorating when she was 8 years old. >> i was diagnosed. >> reporter: with a degenerative genetic disorder. >> i was 20/60. when i was first diagnosed. i remember being able to see the board from my seat. >> reporter: it deteriorated to 2400/2600. meaning today, the high school grad can only read fonts 36 and above. so why would a shy teen whose eyesight was ten times worse than legally blind ever enter a beauty pageant? >> all my friends were doing it. i thought why not? get dressed up. have a good time with my friends. >> reporter: ah, of course. >> miss connor -- >> reporter: she won. and now. >> i love pageants. i had a bad self-image. it has given me confidence. >> reporter: i'm matt gutman, abc news, hollywood, florida. >> she actually asks her girlfriends if the boys that are interested in her are cute or not. >> really? she's said she's only had one boyfriend, in fact. there is our reigning queen of the overnights. >> my hair looks better there, doesn't it. >> oh. ♪ it's our anniversary ♪ it's our anniversary >> look at rob. he's 2 years old. >> yeah. looking in the prompter. what's going on? >> congratulations to you. you made it two years. >> two years. >> two years ago today. you started on "world news now." >> july 12th. >> it ages you in dog years. >> 58 in overnight years. today. way back when. >> can you believe it's been two years? >> sitting in a different set with vinita nair. nervous as i have never been in my entire life. >> were you nervous? >> like a puddle under the chair. it is ridiculous. >> we have a gift for you. a little look back at rob nelson. >> uh-oh. >> come on over here. >> the new face of "world news now." >> this is rob nelson. welcome aboard. >> best of luck to you, jeremy. >> new world cup champions and a new face. >> it is great to be here. hard to believe it is here. spent the last couple days watching behind the scenes. showtime today. it feels good. you got a man? you got a man? that's what i am talking about sweetheart. you got man? come on, the situation. girl, don't leave me here. come on, girl. ♪ >> just gotta feel it. you gotta move. gotta get into it. >> my heels. it's tough with my heels. >> just another day here at the office. at the office. oh, it's all -- ♪ if you like breast milk, put your hands up ♪ let me hear you! >> his liveliness, smoking, sleeping, breathing. >> rob. rob. >> ooh. ooh, lord have mercy. ♪ ♪ >> this is so lovely. let me just. oh, that's not the mike. that happens. that's a real problem, too. that was very awkward. ah, come on. come on. you got to get into it. ♪ >> oh. >> i am a moron on national television. oh, my lord. >> we love you. >> that was very nice. thank you, guys. >> you are getting a 50% raise. >> really, now i am really happy. i'm staying in. >> you were nervous your first night. >> i was. >> you got over it real quick. >> thank you to the staff here. incredible crew. and you and all the anchors before you guys. this is one of the coolest jobs in tv. and two years. anxious to keep on going. thank you all very much for the stroll down memory lane. for better or worse. this morning on "world news now" -- penn state bombshell. we're hours away from getting details of a far-reaching internal investigation into the jerry sandusky sex abuse scandal. >> there is already damage control before that report even comes out. it is thursday, july 12th. >> announcer: from abc news, this is "world news now." good thursday morning, everybody, i'm paula faris. >> and i'm rob nelson. good morning, everybody. and the big questions here, what did joe paterno really know? was there a big penn state cover-up? we'll get to all of that in just a second. that report should be very interesting, juicy stuff coming out today. also on top of that -- mitt romney gets an earful at the naacp, now the gop candidate is reacting to all the booing he got yesterday. then olympic outsourcing, why is team usa sporting outfits that are made in china? our "made in america" team is on the case. >> that does seem to be -- seems to be a little perverse that the usa -- >> where are you made? >> oh. k-mart? what does it say? >> i don't know. it doesn't say. can't get to it. >> weird that the olympic team is wearing stuff made in china. beyond bizarre. actress kristin chenoweth has a bad day on the set of "the good wife," the accident that sent the star to the hospital. all that and more coming up in a few minutes in "the skinny." >> she seems to be a little accident prone. i think this is, like, her fourth accident in the last couple of years. >> she is tiny, 4'1". >> 3'9." she is adorable. >> if you round up. but we begin with the high-level investigation into what went wrong at penn state. results fof proof the the probed by the former fbi director louis freeh, will be released laider today and could be especially damaging to the reputation of late coach joe paterno. >> in a just-released letter written shortly before his death, paterno passionately defended his program's integrity. he said this is not a football scandal. and should not be treated as one. he said sandusky's abuse of boys should not tarnish the team's accomplishments either. but it is interesting whenever they have the internal investigations you wonder how subjective they're going to be. but the fact that they have a former director of the fbi, as you mentioned, louis freeh on the case -- >> you would hope -- >> -- adds some credibility. >> you would hope this is a legitimate investigation. you certainly don't get any more hefty than a former fbi guy. should be amazing what is uncovered. and really of course what is on the line is the legacy of joe pa. he will forever be a god on the penn state campus for what he did on the field for decades. but if it does come out he did know more than he let on or did not report what he knew to the authorities, it is a huge kind of ding in the armor. >> mm-hmm. for sure. now to presidential politics where democrats and republicans are giving mitt romney points for speaking to the nation's oldest civil rights group. >> romney was booed when he attacked president obama's health care reform law, with more on this, here's abc's jon karl. >> reporter: he knew it would be a hostile audience, but mitt romney came to the naacp convention anyway. and then proceeded to tell them exactly what they didn't want to hear. >> i am going to eliminate every nonessential, expensive program i can find and that includes obama care. and i am going to work to reform and save -- [ crowd booing ] >> reporter: the boos lasted a full 15 seconds. romney went on to slam president obama's record and added this. >> if you want a president who will make things better in the african-american community, you are looking at him. [ crowd booing and applauding ] you take a look. >> reporter: talk about a tough sell. telling the nation's most prominent african-american organization to vote against the nation's first african-american president. after all, in our latest poll, 96% of african-americans said they would vote for obama. just 3% for romney. >> thank you. >> reporter: and while romney won't find many votes here, he may find respect -- showing he can stick to his beliefs before a hostile audience. romney did get a smattering of applause, including when he promised to return if elected president. for his part, president obama is not speaking at the convention this year. vice president biden is. during the campaign four years ago, john mccain came before this group, but he praised his then-opponent. >> he has inspired a great many americans, some of whom have wrongly believed that a political campaign could hold no purpose or meaning for them. the success should make americans, all americans proud. >> reporter: after romney's speech, a spokesperson for the naacp criticized what he said but gave credit to romney for showing up. saying, quote, we appreciate he was courageous and took the opportunity to speak with us directly. jonathan karl, abc news, washington. >> the health care law was also being slammed on capitol hill. lawmakers voted for the 33rd time to scrap, defund, repeal or scale back the law. only a few democrats joined the gop in the vote. republicans say most americans backed their fight against the law because polls show the law is unpopular. it was called political theater, mostly because the measure has no chance of passing in the democratically controlled u.s. senate. the battle over abortion in mississippi shows no sign of easing. it all centers on the state's only abortion clinic in the city of jackson. a federal judge yesterday continued blocking a new anti-abortion law which he had temporarily blocked two weeks ago. that law would require anyone performing abortions to be an ob-gyn with privileges to admit patients to a local hospital. the doctors at that particular clinic do not have those privileges. the tankers are still burning this morning after the train derailment in ohio. fire officials in columbus say they have ruled out sabotage or a terrorist attack. leaning more towards a alex perez rm lure. the scene of the explosion. [ explosion ] >> jesus [ bleep ]! >> reporter: a frightening boom and orange glow of raging flames visible as far as ten miles away. it was 2:00 a.m., sean wall had come home after working the late shift. he grabbed his phone and started recording. what did it feel like on your skin? >> it felt like standing next to a bonfire. standing next to it i mean putting your hand right there next to the heat and your skin is starting to tingle and feel as much pain as it could. >> reporter: it all happened after 11 cars of a massive freight train derailed outside columbus. three tankers carrying some 90,000 gallons of ethanol exploded. authorities rushed door to door evacuating 100 nearby homes. >> i thought it was maybe one of the electrical lines or something. when i went outside it was just this big ball of fire. >> reporter: luckily there were no major injuries. the ntsb now has a team of investigators on the ground. >> we are gathering details at this time. >> reporter: across the country there are more than 140,000 miles of freight track crisscrossing our communities, carrying dangerous cargo, like ethanol, chlorine, sulfuric acid and nitrogen fertilizer. almost 100 million americans live close to a freight line. many local governments often don't know what is traveling through their backyards. >> they're not being notified in a routine way about this. they basically have to work very hard to find out what is coming through. >> reporter: not knowing can be deadly. graniteville, south carolina, january 2005, a train carrying chlorine gas explodes and the fire department didn't have hazmat suits. they had to call for outside help. by the time it arrived, nine people were dead. 500 others injured. still, the head of the association of american railroads tells abc news that the fear is largely unfounded. and that 99.998% of all hazmat shipments reach their destination safely. alex perez, abc news, columbus, ohio. in other news this morning, a frightening scene on the streets of new york. two window washers dangled for almost an hour outside the 42nd floor of a manhattan high rise. all that after their motorized scaffolding broke down. fire crews had to cut through glass in order to reach the two men and finally pull them inside. they were examined by doctors. amazingly they were not injured. >> mm. >> lucky guys. >> can't believe that. >> never understood how those guys do that job. you know what i mean? like just -- the window washers on these huge buildings we have here in new york, i don't know how they work up the guts to do that. >> after my son actually knocked his golf clubs out of their 16th floor window, i always look up whenever i am walking by a building. there is a crazy little 2-year-old toddler, throwing things out the window. >> fore! >> we got insurance the next day. renter's insurance. >> smart family. >> an umbrella. well here's a look -- speaking op umbrella, here's a look at your weather. expect drenching rain with flooding across a huge section of the south, texas, carolinas, south to florida. severe storms over the dakotas. mostly sunny to dry in the northeast. >> still blistering hot. triple digits in phoenix and boise. mostly 80s from the great lakes into the northeast. cooler than normal, mid to high 80s from new orleans into florida. well those pampered thoroughbred horses in kentucky have absolutely nothing on some cows in oregon. can you moo for me? >> moo! >> wow, that's really good. those cows are laying on -- or standing on waterbeds. yes, waterbeds. >> unbelievable. seriously though. they say it makes the cows healthier by reducing stress on their knees and on their hips as well. also they cut down on sores. >> huh, sores. mm, that sounds appetizing. >> better burger, huh? >> the beds are also said to balance the temperatures in the cow's stalls and workers say they're a lot easier to clean than areas that don't have waterbeds. >> the cows are living better than we are. >> i'm in the mood for a burger. right now. and chocolate milk. >> nice life, bessie. keep rolling, girl. >> it really is. they're living the high life. >> have you ever had a waterbed? have you ever? >> yes, i found them incredibly uncomfortable, hard to get out of. >> really? you didn't like that whole vibe? >> kind of made me seasick. >> that will kill the mood. coming up in "the skinny," what may be secret conversations involving tom cruise's ex, and his future ex. >> that's a lot of exes. >> a lot of them. and the patriotic uniforms made for team usa but they are not made in america. can you believe that? >> unbelievable! >> you are watching "world news now." ♪ born in the usa ♪ come back home to the refinery ♪ >> announcer: "world news now" weather brought to you by bounty basic. basic. [ dog barking ] ♪ [ female announcer ] life is full of little tests, but your basic paper towel can handle them. especially if that towel is bounty basic. the towel that's durable and scrubbable. in this lab demo, bounty basic is stronger than the leading bargain brand. everyday life. bring it with bounty basic. affordably priced. tested by everyday life. and try bounty napkins. welcome back, everyone. america's olympic athletes might be born in the usa. but are they wearing true red, white, and blue on their backs? >> as abc's sharyn alfonsi discovers just because the label bears the name of an iconic american designer doesn't mean they are american made. >> reporter: they're the pride of america, team usa. and for the opening ceremonies in london they will proudly be wearing red, white, and blue -- classic american style by ralph lauren. but just how american is it? we sent our producer, carver, and our katherine to get outfittoutfit ed in the opening ceremony uniform. you look dashing! >> thank you. >> reporter: then we dug in. looking at the labels -- made in china. this is china. china. and the shoes? made in china. every item in the uniforms, made overseas. what do you think about that? >> i think it is a disgrace, i think it is a national disgrace. >> reporter: lynnette is one of the country's top fashion designers. could we have outfitted our olympians head to toe in american-made products? is that realistic? >> absolutely. >> reporter: she says american manufacturers could have made our athletes' uniforms here and for less money. so we reached out to ralph lauren and the olympic committee to ask. the committee responded, the u.s. olympic team is privately funded. and we're grateful for the support of our sponsors. we are proud of our partnership with ralph lauren, an iconic american company. not exactly an answer. but american manufacturers insist, like our athletes, they can compete. sharyn alfonsi, abc news, new york. >> there is something weird. >> anti-american. >> yeah, come on -- the olympics, wearing clothes from china? i don't get it. maybe we can redeem ourselves with gold medals. >> you are trying to get a gold medal? aren't you? what are you competing in this year? >> that is the monica lewinsky competition. that i'm in. joking. joking. i kid, monica. >> equestrian, right? coming up, a scary situation, for a popular actress starring in the show "the good wife." and wouldn't you like to eavesdrop on nicole kidman and katie holmes' secret conversations? it is all next in "the skinny." >> announcer: abc's "world news now" will continue after this from our abc stations. ♪ skinny ♪ so skinny ♪ so skinny oh, some scary news for kristin chenoweth. everyone loves her. she's adorable, talented. emmy winner, tony winner. apparently though she was involved in an accident on the set of "the good wife." she will have a recurring role this season. sounds pretty bad. a gust of wind came through and apparently knocked some lighting equipment and knocked her out cold right in the head. pretty scary moment for her. she's 43 years old. right now her condition is not known just yet. not life threatening. she is going to be okay. according to early reports. struck in the head by a piece of lighting equipment came down because of a pretty big gust of wind. apparently, you saw the photo a second ago. of her kind of getting fitted for a neck brace. took her out on a stretcher. paramedics came. a serious moment. she has a long history of kind of getting banged up at work. injured her neck during prebroadway engagement of "wicked" back in 2003. in '06, she fell off an elevated stage during the revival of "the apple tree." and in 2011, she injured her back on "glee" when she tumbled down concrete stairs. kristin chenoweth is talented but maybe just a little accident prone. >> slightly injury prone. >> we hope she gets better fast. she's a real talent. get better, kristin. katie holmes is getting better. it appears. she reached a settlement with her ex, tom cruise, monday, primary custody of suri. >> she's better. she's better. she's better. >> what we're finding out, according to "us weekly," she had a confidante in nicole kidman. >> oh, the wives club. >> the second wife of tom cruise. apparently, they have spoken over the last few weeks. they actually had started speaking right after they got married five years ago. but, they started speaking again recently. figuring out how to mastermind the exit strategy. nicole had actually been very helpful to her. nicole doesn't see her two adopted children with tom, that they adopted while she was married to tom, partially because of how things went down in that whole settlement. and of course, he fieled for divorce from nicole kidman. >> to be a fly on the wall during that conversation. between tom's exes. >> she has been a good, private friend according to "us weekly." >> interesting. also, we talked about this yesterday. brad pitt's mom wrote this letter to the editor of a missouri newspaper, against gay marriage, president obama, against abortion rights, and brad and angelina, a liberal couple, politically not aligned with his mother here. according to "star" magazine, angelina was mortified by the comments. she's a big advocate of same-sex marriage. a source tells "star magazine," if brad won't do it, talking to his mother, she will have to do it. how the mother of a prominent celebrity she shouldn't write letters that clash with her son's personal opinions. apparently caused a little bit of a rift in the pitt-jolie household. mom has a right to say what she wants. obviously no matter what her opinions are. apparently causing a little rift there. it's, you know, not exactly politically aligned. >> angelina seems so agreeable on everything. right? as a daughter-in-law. if you're a big rolling stones fan, raise your hand. are you? so they have been around 50 years. rumors are out saying they are starting to perform again. no dates that have been released. they're practicing saying it is definitely happening. can't say when. can't say exactly how soon. >> anyone shocked keith's still alive? it is definitely happening. can't say when. can't say exactly how soon. with veet wax strips. veet hair coating technology removes hair as short as 1.5 millimeters... ... and leaves your skin smooth for up to 4 weeks. try getting that with a razor. with veet you'll always be putting your best skin forward. veet. what beauty feels like. also try new veet high precision facial wax for salon-quality smoothness that lasts. that's a good thing, but it doesn't cover everything. only about 80% of your part b medical expenses. the rest is up to you. so consider an aarp medicare supplement insurance plan, insured by unitedhealthcare insurance company. like all standardized medicare supplement plans, they pick up some of what medicare doesn't pay. and save you up to thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket costs. call today to request a free decision guide to help you better understand what medicare is all about. and which aarp medicare supplement plan works best for you. with these types of plans, you'll be able to visit any doctor or hospital that accepts medicare patients... plus, there are no networks, and you'll never need a referral to see a specialist. there's a range of plans to choose from, too. and they all travel with you. anywhere in the country. join the millions who have already enrolled in the only medicare supplement insurance plans endorsed by aarp, an organization serving the needs of people 50 and over for generations... and provided by unitedhealthcare insurance company, which has over 30 years of experience behind it. call today. remember, medicare supplement insurance helps cover some of what medicare doesn't pay -- expenses that could really add up. these kinds of plans could save you up to thousands in out-of-pocket costs... you'll be able choose any doctor who accepts medicare patients. and you never need referrals. so don't wait. with all the good years ahead, look for the experience and commitment to go the distance with you. call now to request your free decision guide. this easy-to-understand guide will answer some of your questions, and help you find the aarp medicare supplement plan that's right for you. ♪ everybody! >> what is going on? >> 2 years old. >> i'm 2 years old. on this shift. that makes me 50. >> diapers are removed, right? >> yes, well. >> potty trained. >> his second anniversary, everybody. he's been here on "world news now" for two years. >> july 12, 2010. hanging on. >> such a young pup when you got here. >> nervous young pup, too, man. i was nervous coming from new orleans. >> i loved your hair, almost have like a mohawk going on. >> real short cut. i don't know what it was. >> so we know you love animals, we have some pictures for you. you and -- your, your dog. >> yes. look at that. there i am. >> pictures, you and uggie. >> my oscar-winning role. i love it. indeed. >> what other animals do you like? >> none. there we go. >> all of them. >> all of them, yes, my whole litter. >> you're like, what did i just get myself into? we couldn't let you go without being eaten by a dinosaur. >> bad time at jurassic park. not good. >> you have had great care >> ha >> i would like to biggie-size what's up with my htere >> i love a pawnshop. >> how much will you give me for my ring here? >> i'll give you $1, girl. >> look at you in your tutu, baby. >> i don't remember that one. >> i think that is brand new for the second anniversary show. >> that's what i wear to the tim linoogp >> right outside paula's >> oh. i ain't looking like that. >> there i am with my southern fried cutie, p >> th yourty you ove e the picture sh bacocf1-pwred. and this -- she should be wrapped up in you right now, sofia. >> speaking of getting wrapp >> sofia. we got booty-licious. >> that was a good weekend. >> what are you doing, facial expressi >> we had a few that night. we had a few. >> i would like to buy a vowel. that's the wrong one. $20. how much we make a week. >> coming off the show. a good ti >> finally, rob rocking it out. >> yes in the glory days. >> right. >> glory days on the show like i s if thy days on the show like i in tv. >> glory nights. >> glory nights. glory mornings. show is the