Sentenced tonight to 15 years of hard labor in north korea. His tearful plea. The white house responding tonight. Good evening. And we begin tonight with the epic battle already under way. The showdown at the Supreme Court. President obama revealing his choice to replace Justice Scalia on the court, nominating Merrick Garland. The president aware of this nations divided politics, but warning to go down that path would be wrong. Tonight, Senate Republicans vowing the nomination will go no further. At the rose garden ceremony, the president introducing garland, the court of appeals judge long respected on both sides of the aisle, describing him as one of the nations finest legal minds. But it was not long after, republicans said they will take no action. And tonight, Mitch Mcconnell and his phone call to the judge. All of this as 63 of americans in our most recent poll said the senate should hold hearings on the Supreme Court nominee. Covered the court for years, is back at the court tonight. Reporter after weeks of anticipation, there was president obama striding into the rose garden, introducing his nominee. Ive made my decision. Reporter judge Merrick Garland, standing quietly at the president s side, then stepping forward. The emotion of the moment overwhelming him. This is the greatest honor of my life, other than lynn agreeing to marry me 28 years ago. Reporter his family there watching, minus daughter becky. I also wish that we hadnt taught my older daughter to be so adventurous that she would be hiking in the mountains out of cell service range when the president called. Reporter for decades, Merrick Garland has been a prominent figure in american law. 63 years old, hes one of the oldest nominees ever. He is the chief judge of the u. S. Court of appeals in washington, where hes served for 18 years, and before that, a top federal prosecutor. Associate Deputy Attorney general Merrick Garland. In Oklahoma City in 1995, as seen here in a video released by the white house today, leading the prosecution of timothy mcveigh, a Death Penalty case. He carried the names of the victims with him everywhere he went while prosecuting that case. We promised that we would find the perpetrators, that we would bring them to justice, and that we would do it in a way that honored the constitution. Reporter he also led the prosecution of the unabomber. As a judge, garland is known as a moderate on the appeals court. Though he would tip the balance of the Supreme Court by replacing staunch conservative antonin scalia. Now, he faces a partisan firestorm, and in the rose garden, president obama began the fight for his nominee, speaking of the Supreme Court. Its supposed to be above politics. It has to be. And it should stay that way. Terry, we all heard the president there saying this is supposed to be above politics, but is a Major Political battle inevitable here, and did the reporter it is, david. And it looks like the president did factor that in. On his short list, he could have chosen a more strongly liberal candidate or a candidate offering diversity, to rally the democrats to the cause, but in Merrick Garland, the president has chosen a nominee who has had support from both sides of the political aisle over the years who in any normal time would be confirmed. Its not a normal time. David . Terry, thank you. On capitol hill tonight, our team went to ask republicans who say this will go no further, to ask why, and if they would reconsider. Abcs mary bruce with what she heard. Reporter minutes after that rose garden ceremony, the senates Top Republican declared judge garlands nomination was going nowhere. It is the senates constitutional right to act as a check on a president and withhold its consent. Reporter republicans are insisting the pick should fall to the next president. Senator cornyn, any chance youll be changing your mind . None. Reporter we chased down the vote, including orrin hatch who once praised garland. He belongs on the court. Reporter but today . You said before that he belongs on the court. Why not at least consider him now . I didnt say that he belonged on the Supreme Court. I said that he belonged on the d. C. Circuit court. Reporter why not at least have hearings and consider what has changed since then . I think the Supreme Court has been politicized enough. Reporter but late today, signs the republican wall may be cracking. Mitch mcconnell, who wont meet with garland, speaking with him by phone. And now other republicans say they will, too, including the powerful committee chairman. What are you looking to hear from him . I dont know. He has to talk to me. And mary bruce with us live tonight from washington. Getting answers from republicans. But republicans have an argument, too, mary, pointing to something Vice President joe bide once n once said. Reporter they call it the biden rule, referring to the Vice President s comments in 1992, saying Supreme Court say can sips should be treated differently during an election year. But today, biden tweeting, he that every Supreme Court nominee get a hearing and a vote. Period. David . Mary bruce with us tonight. Mary, thank you. And of course all of this playing out as the heated race for the white house moves forward tonight. Donald trump, fresh off major victories overnight, now warning of riots if the republicans try to stop him at a contested convention. Trump winning several states, those in bright red on the map. But not winning ohio, which makes it much harder for him to reach that magic number, the total delegates he needs to clinch the nomination before the convention. Trump now calling on the party to embrace him, saying, you cant ignore the tens of thousands who turned out for him. Abcs tom llamas with trumps warning tonight. Reporter tonight, donald trump warning if the republican establishment tries to block his nomination, there will be chaos at the convention. I think youd have riots. I think youd have riots. You know, we have im representing a tremendous, many, many millions of people. I think you would have problems like youve never seen before. I think bad things would happen. I really do. I wouldnt lead it, but i think bad things would happen. Reporter trumps words coming with these images still fresh in american minds. Anger and violence at his campaign rallies. Trump now saying its time for, quote, a Natural Healing process. We have a great opportunity, and the people that are voting are democrats are coming in, independents are coming in and very, very importantly, people that never voted before. Its an incredible thing. Reporter this morning, Florida Governor rick scott falling in line, endorsing trump, telling other republicans to accept and respect the will of the voters. But Ohio Governor john kasich, fresh off a big victory in his home state, now vowing to fight all the way to the convention floor, but with a positive message. I want to remind you, again tonight, that i will not take the low road to the highest office in the land. Reporter one place we wont see the candidates clash today, trump pulling out of mondays showdown on fox. Kasich then dropping out, too. I think weve had enough debates. How many times can the same people ask you the same question . Reporter but today, senator ted cruz, who thrives on debates, mocking trump as ducking donald. And tom llamas with us live tonight. And tom, with all the talk of a contested convention, theres the very real question of who could emerge as an alternative to donald trump and today, House Speaker paul ryan making it clear, it wont be him . Reporter thats right, david. Speaker ryan saying today, if you want to be president , you should run for president , and that there is no situation in which he will accept the partys nomination this year, including at the convention in cleveland, david. Tom llamas live in florida tonight. Tom, thank you. And now, to the democratic side tonight. Hillary clinton with a string of victories, now pivoting to donald trump. Four more victories for her overnight. All of those states in light blue on the map. But in missouri, still too close to call. Clinton, when asked by us if the against donald trump gives her pause, she said no. Heres Abcs Cecilia Vega now. Reporter the democratic nomination now within arms reach, and Hillary Clinton is focusing her fire on donald trump. We should be breaking down barriers, not building walls. Our commander in chief has to be able to defend our country, not embarrass it. Reporter trump, today, firing off, too, saying clinton doesnt have the strength or energy to be president , recycling an attack line thats become one of his favorites. By the way, hillarys low energy, okay . She doesnt have the strength or the stamina. Shes got no strength. Shes got no stamina. No, she doesnt. Reporter clinton earlier told me, shes ready. He. He can talk about whatever he wants to talk about. If he wants to focus on me and talk about me, thats his choice. Reporter tonight, clinton closer than ever to locking up and when that happens, she said she will ask Bernie Sanders for help. I would hope to be able to enlist bernie in helping me reach out to his supporters. Reporter sanders still defiant. Dont let people tell you that you cant think big. Reporter the vermont senator would need to win every remaining primary state by nearly 40 points in order to clinch the nomination. The path to victory for him now next to impossible. And cecilia vega is with us tonight. Pretty steep climb for benear sanders. When you talked to Hillary Clinton, she made it clear, this is his decision to make. Reporter thats right, david. She said, even if his prolonged presence in this race ends up hurting her in the end, she told me, quote, im never going to tell anybody to step out. David . Tonight. Thank you, cecilia. Next, from maryland tonight, new details about a chaotic gun station. That officer jacai colson, undercover and out of uniform at the time, was reportedly killed by friendly fire. Well, tonight, the police chief now saying the preliminary investigation reveals what they feared. That it was a fellow officer who shot him. Heres abcs senior justice correspondent Pierre Thomas now. Reporter the tragic death of detective jacai colson has shaken the Prince Georges CountyPolice Department to its core. Today, the fears that a fellow officer was responsible were confirmed. A one of colsons fellow officers shot him, thinking he was one of the suspects. The shot that struck and killed detective colson was deliberately aimed at him by another police officer. Theres no intention, as ive seen the facts to indication any malice. Reporter colson was killed during an exchange of gun fire attack. On monday, i asked the chief one of his officers may have mistakenly shot another. You struck another defender down thats particularly devastating. Reporter police must now resolve critical questions, including how and why this mistake was made and how tragedies like this can be prevented in the future. David . Pierre thomas in washington tonight. Pierre, thank you. We turn next here to the dangerous weather on the move tonight. Tornadoes and Winter Weather battering the upper midwest, turning deadly now. These swirling clouds, an ominous warning in western illinois. Alarm. The powerful winds ripping up trees, damaging homes. Also, the snow and icy roads. This tractor trailer jackknifing. Abcs alex perez with the threats across the country tonight. Reporter tonight, in parts of the midwest, winter refusing to let go. In duluth, minnesota, the driver of this pickup losing control on i35. In wisconsin, one passenger killed after a car and semi this time lapse capturing the dangerous lightning overnight. One strike setting this iowa dorm on fire. Another revealing this funnel cloud in illinois. One twister ripping a fivemile scar through rock island county. Its going to be a year before i can get back here with my family and neighbors. Reporter meanwhile, in the south, a never ending flood emergency. Abcs phillip mena is in deweyville, texas. The sabine river is running wild again tonight. This is the worst flooding in Southeast Texas since hurricane ike. Nearby, interstate 10, a major artery, overrun with water, causing travel chaos. Reporter in tangipaho parish, louisiana, cleanup under way, as the waters finally recede. About 2,000 homes damaged there alone. And david, back here in illinois, theres actually a home underneath this huge pile of rubble. And take a look at this tree. All kinds of debris, even a bike flying along with it. The cleanup, just beginning here. David . Alex, thank you. We turn overseas tonight, korea with new sanctions tonight for its nuclear and Ballistic Missile activity, and it comes on the same day that a American College student was paraded in front of the cameras there, and sentenced to 15 years of hard labor. Accused of trying to steal a political banner. This afternoon, the state department now condemning the conviction. The administration calling for his immediate pardon and release. There is still much more ahead on world news tonight this wednesday. The brazen prison break. Inmates escaping using a high jacked helicopter. Take a look at this. The chopper waiting on the roof top. That was only the first problem with their getaway. Also, brian ross standing by, his investigation on the air ambulances that come to your rescue after youve had a crash or an accident. What they tell you and what they dont, and it could cost you thousands. And the young basketball star, look at this, hitting a buzzer beater from half court. The crowd goes wild. But that was just his first play. Youre not going to believe this. And hes right here tonight. 8 layers of wheat. And one thats sweet. To satisfy the adult and kid in all of us. Nutritious wheat for the adult youve grown into and delicious sweet for the kid feed your inner kidult with frosted miniwheats. Try new kelloggs miniwheats harvest delights with Sweet Drizzle and bits made with real fruit. I accept im not 22. I accept im not the rower i used to be. P i even accept i have a higher risk of stroke due to afib, a type of irregular heartbeat not caused by a heart valve problem. But i wont accept is getting out there with less than my best. Better than warfarin, i will. Eliquis. Eliquis reduced the risk of stroke better than warfarin, plus it had significantly 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 seek immediate medical care for sudden signs of bleeding, r eliquis may increase your bleeding risk r tell your doctor about all planned medical or dental procedures. Ti accept i dont r but im still going for my personal best. Reduced risk plus less major bleeding. P ask your doctor if switching were going to turn next tonight to an abc news investigation. 400,000 americans rushed to the hospital by helicopter last year alone. Many of them lifesaving flights, not fully covered by insurance, costing patients tens of thousands of dollars. Abcs chief investigative correspondent brian ross tonight with some families and what they say they were not told. Reporter a growing fleet of helicopter ambulances is credited with saving thousands of lives. Theyre just angels in the sky. Truly. Reporter but an abc news investigation has found that some of the very people saved ended up facing financial ruin. The bill from one company to transport the daughter of brenda and Warren Larson of kentucky was 47,000 for a 79mile flight. And insurance only covered about a third of that. Its definitely going to reporter jean medina got a 35,000 bill from the same company after her teenage gaugter, sophia, was air lifted 37 miles. Its just a crazy amount of money. Reporter the bills came from airmethods, the biggest forprofit air ambulance company, operating in 48 states, posting a profit last year of more than 100 million. Company officials acknowledge airmethods charges far more than the actual cost of a flight, because they say they have to make up for underpayments by the poor and the elderly. Look, if everybody paid their fair share, you know what the charge for this service would be . 12,000. Reporter but Many Insurance Companies refuse to pay what they regard as the excessive cost, leaving the patients and their families on the hook. They said, dont worry about it, its just a standard form, just give us permission to transport your daughter. Reporter but the standard form, which made him personally and fully responsible, did not disclose the sky high cost. Why dont you put the price here . I i can i can get back with you on that. Reporter you dont know the answer to that . Reporter airmethods will lower the bills that those that can prove financial hardship. But weve found theyve sued or sent debt collectors against hundreds of people they once saved. David . Brian, thank you. When we come back, the city with the worst traffic in america. The new report out. Any guesses . Also, that dramatic prison break. The high jacked helicopter, and everything that went wrong after. And the major fire on the water. Millions up in flames tonight. This just got interesting. So why pause to take a pill . And why stop to