this morning on world news now, nigeria s nightmare. new inside information about the kidnapped girls, who s offering a big reward and who s demanding action. running for cover. the gunfire and close calls in ukraine. the turmoil and violence as russia pushes for peace. tough talk. veteran actress valerie harper takes her fight for life to capitol hill. her big demands as she fights cancer. and michelle obama, her appearance last night on the hit abc show nashville. her star power and special message that s in the skinny on this thursday, may 8. announcer: from abc news, this is world news now. good morning. i m reena ninan in for diana perez. i m john muller. good to have you here, reena.
this morning on world news this morning on world news now, nigeria s nightmare. new inside information about the kidnapped girls, who s offering a big reward and who s demanding action. running for cover. the gunfire and close calls in ukraine. the turmoil and violence as russia pushes for peace. tough talk. veteran actress valerie harper takes her fight for life to capitol hill. her big demands as she fights cancer. and michelle obama, her appearance last night on the hit abc show nashville. her star power and special message that s in the skinny on this thursday, may 8. announcer: from abc news, this is world news now. good morning. i m reena ninan in for diana perez. i m john muller. good to have you here, reena. nice to be here. always a pleasure.
nearly 31%. those are some of our top stories on this thursday, may 8. announcer: from abc news, this is world news now. good thursday morning, everybody. reena, good to have you. nice to be here, john. always a pleasure. we begin with wild weather in the nation s heartland. an early heat wave collided with a cold front triggering powerful storms. spawning tornadoes, baseball sized hail and wind gusts approaching 90 miles an hour. that derailed this train north of wichita, kansas. he s watching it a reporter: there are twisters in colorado. this tornado one of several. it touched down near the small town of akron. there are no reports of injuries or damage. golf ball sized hail is pounding texas and kansas. spring is turning severe with heat sizzling the south. temperatures as much as 20 degrees above normal.