East and a warning about a, quote, godzilla el nino on the way. Good evening and its great to have you with us tonight. We begin with the case that horrified this country and a major decision today by the Supreme Court of connecticut. Youll remember the petit family, the home invasion, the mother, their two daughters tortured and killed, the home then set on fire. Only the father would survive. Two men convicted of the horrendous crime sentenced to die, but tonight a stunning reversal of fortune. Those two men given the Death Penalty, their lives now spared os the court bans the Death Penalty in that state. The husband reacts. Reporter with tonights ruling, the convicted killers of three members of this family will have their lives spared along with those of nine other death row inmates in connecticut. This is a solemn day in connecticut. Reporter it was a case that captivated and horrified the country. The wife and two daughters of dr. William petit, sexually assaulted and murdered in their own home. The intruders severely beat dr. Petit who narrowly managed to escape before they set fire to the house. Steven hayes and joshua come sar jeff ski sentenced to death. Dr. Petit was interviewed in 2010 by oprah winfrey. I think forgiving the essence of evil is not appropriate. Reporter but today the state Supreme Court ruled this states death p penalty no longer comports with contemporary standards of decency and no longer serves any peenlogical purpose. Tonight the doctor staying it disregarded the key stones of our governmental structure. Connecticut had not actually executed anybody since 2005. While 30 other states have capital punishment, in recent years seven states have moved to ban it. Ron, thank you. Were going to turn to the other developing story at this hour, the race against time in china. Tonight they are still franticly digging an urgent search for survivors after those powerful explosions felt miles away, the blinding white light and the boom. As weve been showing you in the last 24 hours, entire neighborhoods went up in flames, at least 50 now dead, hundreds injured. 24 hours later, the rubble still smoldering. A parking lot incinerated, only their shells remain there. Officials testing the air for deadly chemicals and abcs bob woodruff in china taking us right to the scene. Reporter the explosions hit like an earthquake, and today the view from above shows fires still burning, row upon row of burned out cars, piles of crumpled shipping containers. Theres still smoke. Its still burning. Theres flames in there. Reporter whole buildings reduced to twisted metal. These are peoples homes. This is where they live. Look at this, this is the fan, their room. Reporter we passed exhausted firefighters, searching for the dozens much people still missing tonight. More than 50 are dead and 70 wounded. The blast sending neighbors into the streets in just night gowns. American Michael Doherty watching from his window. The big one hit and that was rattling the whole building and it was, you know, first thought earthquake. Thought the whole building was coming down. Reporter the force as strong as 21 tons of tnt. I would say were probably almost a mile away and look at that power of that blast. Reporter tonight patients pack hospital hallways, long lines of people wait for clothes, and as battered cars drive empty highways, still a sense of danger, soldiers telling us to move. He thinks that the bridge is going to come down. At the hazardous chemical Storage Facility where the fire began, teams in hazmat suits are testing the air. Many people on the streets today wear face masks. Tonight students light candles for all who were lost. David, you can see that the sun is now rising here in tianjin and you can see the smoke coming from this site. Of those 50 that were killed, 17 were firefighters and among them the youngest of all, just 17 years old. Bob woodruff with us again from china tonight, bob, thank you. Were going to turn now to the race for 2016, donald trump taking a decisive lead in the polls in iowa now and making a decisive move on the ground in some early voting states as we get word of a possible curveball for Hillary Clinton. Could al gore be getting ready to run again. Abcs chief White House CorrespondentJonathan Karl tonight. Reporter donald trump plans to take iowa by storm this weekend, taking the trump helicopter right to the state fair, even promising free helicopter rides for kids. Ladies and gentlemen, president of the united states, donald trump reporter tonight abc news has learned trump is beefing up his campaign, hiring ten staffers in iowa, several more in New Hampshire and South Carolina and more coming in nevada. Hes also facing new attacks from his rivals, the latest rand paul using trumps own past statements to suggest hes not really a republican. I probably identify more as a democrat. And it just seems that the economy does better under the democrats. Liberal on healthcare. We have to take care of people who are sick. Hillary clinton is a terrific woman. Im biased because ive known her for years. The reason i tell women theyre ugly is because im so good looking. Everybody knows that, right . Reporter trump is shrugging it all off. I said, rand, ive had you up to here. Jon karl with us live. Were also getting late word that Hillary Clinton will be getting some new competition . Reporter heres what we know. Former vicepresident al gore, some of his former advisors have begun meeting to discuss the fees ith of a gore president ial campaign. These are preliminary discussions i am told, david. Gore has taken no concrete steps towards running but he is definitely not ruling it out. This could get very interesting. Jon, thanks. We are also following new headlines of whats being called a godzilla el nino that could directly affect the weather across this country. The images coming in from california. 100 miles north of san francisco, 150 people evacuated tonight, homes threatened, that street sign in flames. This image from los angeles tonight, those are called shade balls, millions being released into a Drinking Water reservoir, a new effort to keep that water from vevaporatinevaporating. California in the middle of a drought. Set up for dry weather, heat and wind. Red flag warnings are posted for the north and west and heat warnings to the south of some of these numbers are staggering. 98 in burbank, 107 in vegas. 114 in palm springs. We wanted to get to that thermal map. This is whats being called a godzilla el nino that could spun Severe Weather for the united states. This is significant and strengthening, likely to peek late fall and thats important because thats when california normally gets its rain, hasnt gotten it the past two seasons but we should see a strong southern jet that will bring the storms into southern california, cool wet weather for the northeast. Certainly all eyes will be on the west coast where theyre hoping for big things this next six months. Rob, thank you. From georgia this evening, a powerful Lightning Strike sending 40 army ranger trainees to the hospital. These images of that group last week in the swamps during grueling ranger school. All were treated and released in the last 24 hours and back in the field tonight. New details out of colorado this evening. That river contaminated with 3 million gallons of toxic chemicals. The epa now saying the water is safe. Tonight the agency facing possible lawsuits. This new image, the governor of colorado 2349 last 24 hours drinking the water from the animas river to prove it is safe. Next to the video of a terrifying ride to school for children on a bus today, a surveillance camera catching this, the bus clipping that suv and slamming into a store. 11 children on that bus have been rushed to the hospital tonight. Heres abcs gio benitez. Reporter tonight watch the startling video. Thats a school bus slamming right into a liquor store just after 8 00 a. M. Watch again, it runs into an suv before that final stop against concrete. One is a school bus with several students on it. Were taking count of the injuries right now. Reporter this man owns the store right across the street and rushed to help, seeing the 11 kids in that bus. They couldnt walk. They had to carry the kids out of the bus and put them on the sidewalks. What about the School Bus Driver . Did you see her at all . S yeah, she said, oh, my god, the brakes went out on me. Reporter the driver also injur injured. Your heart must have been breaking for those little kids. I was like, oh, my god, i was scared for these kids. Reporter you can still see some of the damage right there. Thankfully none of the injuries are life threatening but some of the children are still recovering in the hospital tonight. Thank you. An Alarming Development overseas tonight. We turn to iraq where u. S. Officials this evening are now saying they believe isis used chemical weapons in an attack there earlier this week. At this hour theres no word where those chemical weapons came from. Well stay on it. Back here at home tonight to South Carolina now, fresh outrage over the shooting death of a teenager by a police officer. The officer claiming the boy was about to run him over in his car. But an autopsy appearing to contradict that story, tonight his heartbroken family is now demanding answers, saying Police Shootings have to stop. Heres steve osunsami. He murdered our son. This time the grieving family of an unarmed teen gunned down in a Controversial Police shooting are these white parents. I mean, this is over a little bit of marijuana. You dont kill people over marijuana. Reporter paul and Angie Hammonds 19yearold son zachary was shot to death in his car in a parking lot in South Carolina where police were running a drug sting. Our kids are getting killed. Sure, you know, they make mistakes, but you cant just kill them for it. Reporter tonight the u. S. Department of justice is investigating. I would like to see the officer charged with murder. Reporter lawyers for officer mark tiller say he felt threatened when they claim that hammond tried to crash into the officer with his car. If not for his quick reflexes and his ability to push off the car, they write, lieutenant tiller would have been run over. But an autopsy shows that the 19yearolds gunshot wounds entered the back of his shoulder and his side and they ask police to explain that. They said us they break down when they see news reports of young People Killed by police like christian tailor in texas. We cried when we saw it on the news. Our trust is shaken. Reporter in South Carolina authorities report theyre up to 31 Police Shootings this year. A newspaper investigate finds that police fire their guns at someone every ten days. Police in this case arent commenting tonight. The family believes they have dash cam video, and if so, would like them to release it. David . Steve osunsami with us again tonight. Steve, thanks. Were following new developments in ge flat gate. Tom brady 24 hours ago walking into court, fighting to get that suspension lifted. Tonight we have learned that talks did continue today amid a firestorm about something else, too. The courtroom sketches of tom brady. Heres abcs ryan smith. Reporter tonight the patriots gearing up to take the field for the first preseason game against the packers. But will their star quarterback play . Meanwhile, team brady locked in tough negotiations towards a deal that can land him back for the regular season before his Suspension Ends october 18th. The judge putting the nfl on the defensive this week, pressing for any direct evidence implicating brady in deflategate. Go get em, tom reporter cheers for brady outside federal court, a stark contrast to the boos for commissioner roger goodell. The league acknowledging there may not be a smoking gun, but insisting there is evidence of culpability, a sign of just how much attention this showdown is getting. Those unflattering court sketches going viral, spawning comparisons to the mona lisa, American Gothic and e. T. That court artist is now apologizing, saying shes even gotten hate mail from patriots fans. As for bradys future, if the two sides cant reach a deal, they will be back in court to continue the case. Brady tweeting, good to be home. We turn to the sudden surge in gas prices for millions of americans in at least one part of the country tonight expected to jump by as much as 50 cents in a week, possibly up to a dollar. In the last 24 hours in fact jumping from 2. 99 a gone to 3. 29 a gallon. Whos in for it and why . Lets bring in rebecca jarvis. Reporter the hardist hit in the middle of the country. Just today in ft. Wayne, indiana, prices spiked 55 cents. Why is this happening . The biggest refinery in the midwest which supplies most of the gasoline to the area is partially closed for maintenance and will be for a number of weeks. There is a Silver Lining and that is the National Average for gasoline prices, 2. 63 tonight which is almost a dollar less than it was this time last year, david. Rebecca jarvis with us tonight, thank you. Theres still much more ahead this thursday, youll see a fiery collision, two tractortrailers colliding, triggering a series of explosions. You then see the driver on fire and the Good Samaritans who run to him. We also have a major break tonight in the mystery of baby doe, this Police Sketch of a little girl found on a beach. Tonight tests revealing an important new lead in the case. And then the headline that had a lot of people scratching their heads today. Sesame street moving . Crackers, follow me, were going to take a walk. Well follow them and tell you where theyre ending up after the break. Staying in rhythm. Its how i try to live. How i stay active. So i need nutrition. That wont weigh me down. For the nutrition you want without the calories you dont. Introducing boost 100 calories. Each delicious snack size drink gives you. 25 vitamins and minerals and 10 grams of protein. So its big in nutrition and small in calories. Im not about to swim in the slow lane. Stay strong. Stay active with boost®. You pay your Auto Insurance every month on the dot. Youre like the poster child for paying on time. And then one day you tap the bumper of a station wagon. No big deal. Until your Insurance Company jacks up your rates. You freak out. What good is having insurance if you get punished for using it . Hey insurance companies, news flash. Nobodys perfect. For drivers with accident forgiveness, Liberty Mutual wont raise your rates due to your first accident. See Car Insurance in a whole new light. Liberty mutual insurance. [music] jackies heart attack didnt come with a warning. Today her doctor has her on a bayer aspirin regimen to help reduce the risk of another one. If youve had a heart attack be sure to talk to your doctor before you begin an aspirin regimen. Were going to turn next tonight to that fiery crash on a major highway in the middle of rush hour. Two rigs colliding, erupting into flames. Youre about to see the driver of one of those trucks emerging on fire and the Good Samaritans who rush in to rescue him. Heres abcs mara schiavocampo. Reporter commute collision, a massive fireball erupting on the new jersey turnpike, two tractortrailers slamming into one another. Drivers and onlookers horrified. Oh, my god. Thats a look at that did you see the explosion . Reporter then more horror, a driver emerging from a truck with his clothes on fire. A couple visiting the u. S. Running to his aid. Tourists from australia. I think he was in shock. We tried to get his jeans off and get the fire out and tried to get him away from the truck. Reporter thanks to their heroic actions, the driver miraculously suffering only minor injuries. A day later the charred shels of the trucks still smoldering. One of the trucks involved in the accident was carrying paper, the other medical gas. An explosive combination. Mara schiavocampo, abcs, new york. Were getting word of a deadly roller coaster accident. Well have that in a moment. When we come back, can you guess the new longest flight in the world. And the question that had millions checking out that sketch, who is baby doe . The whale in trouble tonight, what they did on this boat, the before and after next. Sfx crowd cheering sfx crowd booing sfx crowd chanting sfx crowd cheering music stops sc johnson, a family company. Try phillips fiber good gummies plus energy support. Its a new fiber supplement that helps support regularity and includes b vitamins to help convert food to energy. Mmmmm, these are good nice work, phillips the tasty side of fiber, from phillips. We value sticking with things. When something works, people stick with it. More people stick with humana medicare advantage. Because we stick with them. Humana medicare advantage. The plan people stick with. Every time you take advil youre taking the medicine doctors recommend most for joint pain. More than the medicine in aleve or tylenol. The medicine in advil is the number one doctor recommendation for joint pain. Relief doesnt get any better than this. Advil fedid you know it may be coming . From being on your feet all day . Dr. Scholls custom fit orthotic inserts are uniquely designed to provide immediate all day relief from lower back pain. Have my stomach feeling all knotted up. Ive tried laxatives. But my symptoms keep returning. My constipation feels like a pile of bricks. That keeps coming back. Linzess can help. Oncedaily linzess treats adults with ibs with constipation or chronic constipation. Linzess is thought to help calm painsensing nerves and accelerate bowel movements. Linzess helps you proactively manage your symptoms. Do not give linzess to children under 6 and it should not be given to children 6 to 17. It may harm them. Dont take linzess if you have a bowel blockage. Get immediate help if you develop unusual or severe stomach pain especially with bloody or black stools. The most common side effect is diarrhea, sometimes severe. If its severe, stop taking linzess and call your doctor right away. Other side effects include, gas, stomacharea pain and swelling. Bottom line, ask your doctor about linzess today. To you, theyre more than just a pet. So protect them. With k9 advantix® ii. Its broadspectrum protection kills fleas, ticks and mosquitoes too. K9 advantix® ii. For the love of dog™. Were going to turn to the index tonight and word of a tragic accident at an Amusement Park coming in late today, a man struck by a coroller coaster in cedar point, ohio. The accident is under investigation tonight. A new development this evening in that cold case out of boston, baby doe, the little girl, her body discovered on a beach not far from Logan Airport in june. This Computer Generated photo viewed over 53 million times. Tonight authorities revealing a clue. Pollen on her clothing came from trees in and around the boston area meaning the little girl is likely from that region. The winner for the worlds longest flight, nonstop from dubai to panama city, 17 hours 35 minutes, 8,590 miles. Beating out the previous record holder. Off the coast of australia tonight, a what tangled in fishing line, a plastic bag stuck in its mouth. Seeming to ask for help. They pull the bag out and the boaters are even able to get a selfie. When we come back, the big change coming to sesame street tonight, a lot of questions today, really, 30 minutes instead of an hour and where will we be able to see it, coming up. So youre a Small Business expert from at t . Yeah, give me a problem and ive got the solution. Well, we have 30 years of customer records. Our cloud can keep them safe and accessible anywhere. My drivers dont have time to fill out forms. Tablets. Keep it all digital. Were looking to double our deliveries. Our fleet apps will find the fastest route. Oh, and your boysenberry apple scones smell about done. Ahh, youre good. I like to bake. Add new Business Services with at t and get up to 500 in total savings. My opis slowing my insides to a crawl. Millions of people are estimated to suffer from opioidinduced constipation, oic, caused by the opioids they use to manage chronic pain. Oic is a different type of constipation. Opioids block pain signals, but they can also block activity in the bowel. Im really struggling to find relief. Ready to paint a different picture . Yes talk to your doctor about oic and prescription treatment options. I can do that as we age, certain nutrients. Longer than ever. Become especially important. From the makers of one a day fiftyplus. New one a day proactive sixtyfive plus. With high potency vitamin b12. And more vitamin d. Ii accept im not the sprinter i was back in college. I even accept that i live with a higher risk of stroke due to afib, a type of irregular heartbeat, not caused by a heart valve problem. But i wont accept giving it less than my best. So if i can go for Something Better than warfarin,. I will. Eliquis. Eliquis. Reduced the risk of stroke better than warfarin, plus it had less major bleeding than warfarin. Eliquis had both. That really mattered to me. Dont stop taking eliquis unless your doctor tells you to, as stopping increases your risk of having a stroke. Eliquis can cause serious and in rare cases fatal bleeding. Dont take eliquis if you have an artificial heart valve or abnormal bleeding. While taking eliquis, you may bruise more easily and it may take longer than usual for any bleeding to stop. Seek immediate medical care for sudden signs of bleeding, like unusual bruising. Eliquis may increase your bleeding risk if you take certain medicines. Tell your doctor about all planned medical or dental procedures. I accept that im not as fast, but im still going for my personal best. And for eliquis. Reduced risk of stroke. Plus less major bleeding. Ask your doctor. If eliquis is right for you. Finally tonight here, the big change for sesame street soon on hbo . Reporter we searched the archives and why not let the muppets tell the story. Todays letter is the letter h. The letter o. But that round like cookie reporter cookie monster still a little confused because after more than 45 years tonight sesame street is adding a new second home. Hbo. Sunny days reporter they reveal today new episodes of the iconic Childrens Program will air on hbo first, reruns months later on pbs. Sesame workshop saying the deal helps provide critical funding, keeping the show going and preserving its original home, too. Turns out the must be ets have parodied it already. Turning boardwalk empire into their own bird walk. You want me to show em whos boss . Ill handle this, capone. Reporter many having a field day asking is this the new cast of true detective . Is this the new game of thrones . Will the be the new girls. No matter where they are, kids will come, even central park with us. A fist bump with the muppets on the move tonight. Were staying put. Well see you right back here tomorrow night. Until then, good night. This is the jeopardy tournament of champions. Here are our three finalists a 20time jeopardy champion from kenilworth, illinois. A compliance analyst, voiceover artist, and blogger from broadview heights, ohio. And an i. T. Consultant, originally from florence, South Carolina. And now here is the host of jeopardy alex trebek thank you, johnny. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. Ben was not mouthing, i love you to me. That was for someone else