And the tornado watches across several states. Severe weather were watching from oklahoma straight east to philadelphia. The cheerleader charged with murder after burying her own newborn in her backyard. Tonight, found not guilty of murder, sobbing in court. The takedown. The husband and wife wanted for mu we discovered. The wife surrendering, but then, what happens with the husband. The boat engulfed in flames, it w in nevada. Emergency crews rushing to the scene. The images coming in at this hour. And the midair emergency on a passenger jet. When the pilot spills coffee in the cockpit. And good evening from houston. Its great to have you with us here tonight. They say everything is bigger in texas, and true to form, this is a big night for democrats who want to beat president trump. You can see the stage is set behind me, just a short time from now, the top ten democratic president ial candidates, for the first time on one stage, on one night, the abc news debate. We are here at Texas Southern university, the crowd is building tonight. It will be a packed house this evening. Ten places there for the candidates and all day long here, we have watched the candidates come in for their walkthrough. Frontrunner joe biden, who will be center stage, checking out ll bedium and the sta beknee ee rising the sanders. All three senders at the top of the pack. Tonight, a lot of pressure on these candidates to break through, after labor day, millions back to school, back to work and back in the game with the race for 2020 now under way. Abcs mary bruce tonight, right here in the hall. Reporter with just hours to go, former Vice President joe biden taking in the debate stage. The stakes so high. No detail too small. Bidens team even testing out neckties. His predebate message, a new Campaign Video tying himself to former president obama. I think we should step back and Say Something we dont often say enough as a party or as a nation. Barack obama is an extraordinary man. Reporter tonight, for the first time, biden is sharing the debate stage with senator Elizabeth Warren. Hello, austin reporter shes been rising in the polls, and now voters will be able to compare her with biden sidebyside. Im someone who will fight for your family. Im not here to fight for the rich and the powerful. Im here to fight for the rest of america. Reporter on bidens other side, senator bernie sanders. Putting the ideological divide in the Democratic Party front and center. N see pete but the stage right now. These candidates on the wings are looking to seize the spotlight here tonight, hoping to jumpstart their campaigns. H. U. D. Secretary Julian Castro and senators canal la harris and cory booker. First of all, im the only bald person on that stage. Reporter the candidates descending on houston. Buttigieg and senator Amy Klobuchar sharing the same flight. The mayor tweeting, very funny, united. And theyve been blowing off some steam. Former congressman beto orourke rocking out on the drums. And businessman andrew yang shooting hoops, a longshot candidate looking for a slam dunk tonight. And you can see mary bruce live down on the stage right there behind me. You know you talked to a lot of candidates, but so many people tonight are going to be focused on joe biden and Elizabeth Warren right next to him. Weve seen her rising in the polls. There is a lot at stake tonight. Reporter david, for the first time here, they before sidebyside. Joe biden is arguing that he can build upon president obamas legacy, while Elizabeth Warren is calling for fundthal change to the way washington works. Tonight, that divide will be front and center. Stage . Ean wait. Mary bruce leading us off, thank you. An jus a short ago, presidenp sai he will o he thinks is the toughest contender right now on democratic correspondent Jonathan Karl with what the president just said. Reporter one person who says hell be watching tonight, president trump. Its going to be very interesting. I look forward to going home, im going to have to watch it as a rerun. They have all their weaknesses and their strengths. I think that theyre very different. You certainly have a lot of different voices up there, but it would look to me like it would be Elizabeth Warren and it looks like joe maybe will be able to get there, maybe not. I dont know. And certainly bernie is there, hes number three. Reporter the president is clearly annoyed by a wave of recent polls that show him trailing the top democratic candidates. He calls those polls know phon but today, in a sign hes taking the numbers seriously, the president s treasury secretary took aim at the democratic candidate on the rise. If you listen to the Elizabeth Warren plan, you know campaigning on his economic record and he seems to have fears of a looming recession on his mind. He says democrats are hoping for one. Theyre recession, please. They are willing to give up their results because they think it will help them win the election. They are not going to win the election. Reporter and tonight, over the houston skyline, the Trump Campaign is flying a massive banner declaring socialism will kill houstons economy. Jon karl live on the floor of the debate hall with us tonight. And jon, youve learned where the president will be when the democrats take the stage tonight and when he plans to watch. Reporter well, david, the president will be wrapping up a republican retreat in baltimore, heading back to washington. And as you heard him say, he plans to watch it on tape. And whats wild here ishe ggting ttoeen o even berers his toughest opponent. And he went on to say that he believes that biden can ultimately win the nomination if he doesnt make a major mistake. David . Jon karl on the floor there where the crowd is growing at this hour. Jon, thank you. The debate just a short time from now, ill be moderating with our George Stephanopoulos and linsey davis. So, we hope youll keep it right here on abc, 8 00 p. M. Eastern. In the meantime, we turn to the other news tonight, and to the plane crashing right off takeoff onto a maryland highway. Right into a car, crashing into the median. One of its wings sheared off, landing next to that car. Two people on the plane and two people in the car, all of them surviving. Heres abcs david kerley. Reporter a remarkable scene, a pilot and passenger in the median of a highway having survived this crash. Im blessed that were not m overloaded and were still running on carrying two other enwapr quickly and so were happy to hear that they werent hurt seriously or anything like that. Reporter traffic backed up for miles. The pair telling our affiliate wjla that they were taking off just east of washington d. C. , had an instrumentation problem and decided to abort. The plane running off the end of the runway at Freeway Airport and into traffic on the actual freeway. Yeah, i mean, we could have got hit by a tractor trailer. And like you said, the way the plane spun, i think it absorbed a lot of the energy. The remains of the plane were removed and the highway was reopened. The faa and the ntsb are both now investigating. David . David kerley tonight. David, thank you. We are also following a troubling new forecast tonight. A very similar track to dorian. The bahamas, then florida, then the east coast. A short time ago, Warnings Issued for the bahamas tonight. This new system could also hit florida and at this hour, the Severe Weather were watching, too. A tornado watch in three states. And this funnel cloud in union hall, minnesota, in the past 24 hours. Flooding in mitchell, south dakota, after seven inches of rain there. Tonight, 32 million americans in the storm zone from the plains to chicago and philadelphia and washington. Lets get right to rob marciano, tracking it off. Reporter david, h ndate wiimpact its going to be on or near the florida coastline as a tropical storm. Everyone from the carolinas to the northern gulf need to be staying tuned. David . Rob marciano, thank you. Next tonight, the vehicle in the trial of a former High School Cheerleader accused of murder after burying her newborn in her backyard. Prosecutors said he didnt want to be an 18yearold single mother. Her lawyers argued the baby had been stillborn. Tonight, the verdict, not guilty of murder. Chef was sobbing in court. And heres abcs stephanie ramos. Reporter tonight, a former ohio cheerleader accused of killing her newborn baby girl and burying her in her parents backyard, breaking down while listening to the verdict. Now 20yearold Brooke Skylar richardson acquitted of the most serious charges. The jury clearing her of aggravated murder, Involuntary Manslaughter and child endangerment charges. Prosecutors claiming richardson didnt want to be a teen mom, so when she gave birth alone at home in 2017, just days after her senior prom, prosecutors say she killed her daughter and buried her, never telling anyone. But the defense countering, the baby was stillborn, playing a Police Interview where richardson described those moments. Did you ever hear a cry or a whimper . Were her eyes opened or closed . They were closed. They were closed. Reporter when richardson went back to the doctor to obtain Birth Control two months later, she told doctors what she had done. They called police. Richardson was found guilty of abuse of a corpse. Shell be sentenced tomorrow and faces up to a year in jail. David . Stephanie ramos tonight. Epni thank meantime, we have been watching the urgent hunt for a husband and wife wanted for murder. On the run after overpowering their guards and then tying them up with shoelaces. Tonight here, the takedown, and heres abcs clayton sandell. Reporter the takedown in the dark, captured from a Police Helicopters infrared scam are. About 9 00 last night, federal agents and local cops surrounding this hideout about 80 miles northeast of phoenix, first arresting susan barksdale. Her husband blaine coming out next. He became very verbally abusive to the officers, flipping them the bird, not reporter Authorities Say thats when officers used a taser and shot blaine in the leg with a nonlethal bean bag round. Uhoh. All right, pepper ball or something deployed. Reporter the barksdales are suspected of murdering of a 72yearold tucson man. On august 26th, Authorities Say they were being transported in a van, somehow overpowering two guards, tying them up with shoelaces and escaping. On the run for 16 days until this we got a tip that came in that said that, you might want to look in the area of pumkin center. This is obviously a big relief. Reporter this investigation, not over, david. Authorities believe at least three or four people may have helped the couple while they were on the run. With everything from car rides to clean clothes. David . Clayton, thank you. We have new reporting tonight in that horrific fire on a boat in california. 34 people below deck trapped and killed. The ntsb tonight now saying no one was on watch. The entire crew, say they, was asleep. And there is also a new warning to passengers about batteries to hes abcs wreckage of the killing 34 people onboard. Mayday, mayday, mayday. I cant breathe. Reporter the ntsb releasing its preliminary report, saying for the first time that despite regulations requiring a watchman to be onduty, all six crew members were asleep when the devastating fire broke out. Completely engulfed boat. Main objective is to look for victims. Reporter tonight, investigators working to determine whether lithium ion batteries played a role in the inferno. The coast guard now warning boat operators to limit the unsupervised charging of electronics, such as cell phones and camera equipment in the wake of the tragedy. And tonight, investigators revealing three of the five surviving crew members have been interviewed. It could take another day for that boat is brought back to shore for inspection. David . Marci gonzalez, thank you. Here in texas, in el paso tonight, the alleged gunman in the walmart massacre is now facing capital murder charge. The grabbed jury indicting 21yearold patrick crew shus, who allegedly drove from the dallas area to the El Paso Walmart near the border of mexico before opening fire. 22 people were killed, dozens injured. Courthouse yus allegedly telling authorities he set out to kill as many mexicans as he could. The el paso d. A. Says he will seek the death penalty. Meantime there was an urgent call for action on gun violence today from some of the s. E ceos uber, twitter and royal caribbean, writing to members of the senate, saying they want after after these deadly shootings and the epidemic of gun violence involves even more than Mass Shootings and is preventable. Next, to the triple crown drug scandal involving the horse justify. The trainer tonight denying it. The New York Times reporting that justify failed a drug test but was allowed to compete in the Kentucky Derby bikes later. Heres abcs matt gutman tonight. Reporter thats the racehorse justify bolting through the mud. Hes just awesome. Usfy h w take the 2018 triple crown, one of only 13 horses in history. But what no one knew is that weeks before the Kentucky Derby, california regulators slowwalked the investigation for months. If they would have enforced the rules, that were on the books at the time, he would have been disqualified. Reporter the times saying the positive results came in april. Justify was sold to a breeder for a reported 60 million in may and won the Belmont Stakes nd n hes just immortal reporter but it wasnt until august that the california racing board convened on the matter, according to the times, ruling justify wasnt doped, but may have eaten contaminated food. The california horse racing board says it takes seriously the integrity of horse racing and justifys training unequivocally ejects any implication of doping. And david, both the california racing board and this track here are facing mounting scrutiny with the los angeles District Attorney now investigating the mysterious deaths of 30 racehorses here, just in the past nine months. David . Matt gutman reporting tonight. Matt, thank you. There is still much more ahead on world news tonight this thursday. Enseveral peopinss fhe basket. The midair emergency on a passenger jet when the pilot co. And the discovery in space making news tonight. Scientists for the first time detecting water vapor on a planet outside our solar system. Of course, the big question, could that planet possibly support life . A lot more news ahead on a thursday night. Thursday night. Ill be right back. High triglyc, can be tough. You diet. Exercise. But if youre also taking fish oil supplements, you should know, they are not fdaapproved, they may have saturated fat and may even raise bad cholesterol. To treat very high triglycerides, discover the science of prescription vascepa. Proven in multiple clinical trials, vascepa, along with diet, is the only prescription epa treatment, approved by the fda to lower very high triglycerides by 33 , without raising bad cholesterol. Look. Its clear. Theres only one prescription epa vascepa. Vascepa is not right for everyone. Do not take vascepa if you are allergic to icosapent ethyl or any inactive ingredient in vascepa. Tell your doctor if you are allergic to fish or shellfish, have liver problems or other medical conditions and about any medications you take, especially those that may affect blood clotting. 2. 3 of patients reported joint pain. Ask your doctor about vascepa. Prescription power. Proven to work. But allstate helps you. With drivewise. Feedback that helps you drive safer. And that can lower your cost now that you know the truth. Are you in good hands . tiffany with counseling nicotine patch and gum, i quit for good. My tip is get help to find the best way for you to quit smoking. announcer you can quit. Call 1800quitnow for help getting free medication. Next tonight here, the hot air balloon scare in nne mak aad landing in the desert. Seven people injured, two thrown from the basket. And heres abcs kayna whitworth. Reporter tonight, Police Outside las vegas describing a terrifying scene after two people are ejected from a hot air balloon. Attempted to make a landing. The basket of the hot air balloon tipped over. Eporr ouhe balloonted. There flattened on the ground, after whats being described at a hard landing. Looks like the balloon landed and dragged for quite awhile here. You can see the drag mark. Reporter First Responders racing to get to the rugged location. The fact that the pilot has fallen out of the air balloon lets get Additional Resources coming. Reporter nine were onboard, seven injured, one of them airlifted. But fortunately, police tonight saying none of the injuries appear to be life threatening. David, this happened in such a remote area that some of the injured had to be transferred by atvs to the rescue vehicles. The ntsb is said to investigate. David . Kayna whitworth in nevadak y when we com back, the close sky divers nearly struck by two american fighter jets. And then the passenger plane making an emergency landing, the pilot spilling coffee in the cockpit. My money should work as hard as i do. 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Well, when you have copd, it can be hard to breathe. So my doctor said. Symbicort can help you breathe better starting within 5 minutes. It doesnt replace a rescue inhaler for sudden symptoms. Symbicort helps provide significant improvement of your lung function. Symbicort is for copd, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Ititncase urisngnftion osoposis, ansome eye problems. Ll youdoctor if ve a heart coition or high Blood Pressure before taking i symbicort could mean a day with better breathing. Watch out, piggies ask your doctor if symbicort is right for you. If you cant afford your medication, astrazeneca may be able to help. To the index of other news tonight. The midair scare for two skydivers outside london. The two in a freefall when two american fighter jets from a nearby air base flew right under them. The incident happened in april and a new report tonight says the f15 pilots had not been warned about skydivers in the area. The emergenng cause any les acdentally dumped coach fee onto the cockpit controls. Investigators say the incident happened when the pilot didnt use a cup lid or a cup holder. There are new developments in the case of that missing mother of five in connecticut. Estranged husband fotis pleading not guilty. The judge issuing a gag order in the case to stop information about the investigation from being made public. And tonight, the New Discovery in space. Nasa says astronomers have located the first planet outside the solar system containing water vapor and temperatures possibly capable of supporting life. The Hubble Telescope spotting the super earth 110 lightyears away. Its mass . Eightes greater than earth. When we come back, well take you live down to the debate stang. What weve just learned tonight what weve just learned tonight about some of the candidates. At average risk. Honey, have you seen my glasses . Ive always haknack for finding things. Colon cancer,to be exact. 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And we have just learned that seven of the ten candidates are right here in theeall already. Of course, the top ten candidates making final preparations before taking the stage. Joe biden, Elizabeth Warren, stenter stage. A lot of focus on biden and warren. Biden tying himself to former president obama again today. Warren rising quickly in the polls. The other candidates will be trying to break out, as well. President trump has said he will be watching, and we hope you will be, too. Im david muir. Ill see you shortly for the debate, moderating with george, linsey and jorge ramos. Ill see you right back here tomorrow night. Good night from all of us at abc news. Its a spectacular sight. Look at that, lots of blue sky blankets the bay with warm temperatures. Get ready, though, here comes the heat. Good afternoon, thanks for joining us. Im ama daetz. Im larry beil. The mercury will often soar in september and that is exactly what will happen here. Temperatures will reach triple digits in some places so the question is will it be sweltering in your neighborhood . Spencer christian has that answer for us. Spencer. Ama and larry, its going to be sweltering in many neighborhoods tomorrow. Sunny skies right now and it is very warm out there. Let me show you the 24hour temperature change. It is 12 degrees warmer in San Francisco and oakland right now than at this time yesterday. 15 degrees warmer in hayward. 11 degrees warmer at half moon bay. Let me give you a look at what that means. Its 87 right now here in the city, 90 in oakland, 92 in hayward, 94 in santa rosa, 93 at san ramon and livermore, concord 95. Notice we just had a couple of temperatures change as we were watching. 92 vallejo, 95 fairfield, 91 san jose. Going into the evening hours, dont expect much of a cooldow. Even late tonight well have temperatures well into the 70s, approaching midnight still in the 70s. Early tomorrow morning at 7 00 as a matter of fact, it will be up for 70, 71, 72 degrees in so and of course by midday well many, ma10degree readings in the afternoon. In fact tomorrowilir day. The poorest air quality is in the inland east bay and santa clara valley. When will this heat break . The good news is ill have the accuweather forecast in just a few minutes. Now to the murder that was called one of the most sensational crimes of the peninsula. Tiffany li, the heir of a wealthy chinese family, showed up to court today. She and her boyfriend are accused of murdering the father of her two children. Opening statements were scheduled for tod