News Wrap: South Florida cleans up from flooding while bracing for more rain

Read the Full Transcript

• Geoff Bennett:

  South Florida is hoping for a break from the rain after several days of downpours that have led to flash flooding. There's more rain in the forecast tonight and tomorrow, but it's not expected to be as bad as what the region's seen this week.

  Amna has the details.

• Amna Nawaz:

  South Floridians began the day cleaning up from torrential rains and navigating flooded streets, as they braced for more storms ahead.

  Gov. Ron Desantis (R-FL), Presidential Candidate: Hopefully, it's not approaching the levels that it was, but we have got a lot of resources staged here, and we will be able to offer the state's assistance.

• Amna Nawaz:

  Since Tuesday, a series of storms from the Gulf of Mexico has swamped much of Florida's Everglades, dumping almost two feet of rain in some areas.

  In less than a day, Ted Rico towed more than two dozen vehicles out of the water.

• Ted Rico, Tow Truck Driver:

  Looked like a beginning to a zombie movie, just cars littered everywhere, on top of sidewalks, in the median, in the middle of the street, no lights on, just craziness, abandoned cars everywhere.

• Amna Nawaz:

  Native Floridian Charlea Johnson was struck by how fast the water surged into her home.

• Charlea Johnson, Hallandale Beach Resident:

  Flew in through both entrances, just came in from both sides, and I was not overwhelmed. However I have been through this. I'm from the Keys. I have been through it a lot.

• Amna Nawaz:

  Waterlogged tracks paralyzed railway systems and flooded roads forced Floridians to find other ways to get around. At Miami International and Fort Lauderdale airports, more than 900 flights were canceled or delayed as of Thursday night.

  And for five counties across Florida's south, a state of emergency declared earlier this week remains in place.

• Geoff Bennett:

  In other headlines: NATO defense ministers approved a plan today to provide long-term aid in military training to Ukraine. The new agreement comes at the end of a two-day meeting in Brussels. The goal is to protect against disruptions in aid for Ukraine's war effort. That includes the potential for a drawdown in U.S. support should Donald Trump win back the White House.

  Meantime, in Moscow, President Putin said Russia is ready to end the war in Ukraine, but only if Kyiv ends its bid for NATO membership. He also wants Ukraine to hand over four provinces claimed by the Kremlin. Western leaders said the peace offer is not realistic.

• Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary-General:

  This is not a peace proposal. This is a proposal of more aggression.

  Lloyd Austin, U.S. Secretary of Defense: Putin has illegally, occupied, sovereign Ukrainian territory. He is not in any position to dictate to Ukraine what they must do to bring about peace.

• Geoff Bennett:

  This all comes ahead of this weekend's Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland. At least 100 delegations are due to attend. Russia was not invited.

  Muslims from around the world have started their annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Large crowds arrived at a tent camp in the desert today in the sweltering heat. More than two million people are expected to participate. This year's pilgrimage comes against the backdrop of the Israel-Hamas war. Palestinians in Gaza were not able to make the journey because of the closure of the Rafah Border Crossing in May.

  U.S. Catholic Bishops apologized to Native American communities today, acknowledging their role in a — quote — "history of trauma." In new guidelines for ministering to indigenous Catholics, they wrote: "The church recognizes that it has played a part in traumas experienced by Native children."

  That includes the church's role in operating boarding schools that tore children from their families. A Washington Post report last month detailed widespread sexual abuse at 22 such schools. And a separate Department of the Interior investigation found that 500 children died at these institutions starting in the 19th century.

  Meantime, Pope Francis today became the first pontiff to ever address a gathering of Group of Seven world leaders. In his speech to the G7 today, he addressed the threats posed by artificial intelligence.

  Pope Francis, Leader of Catholic Church (through interpreter): We should be very clear that decision-making must always be left to the human person. We would condemn humanity to a future without hope if we took away people's ability to make decisions, dooming them to depend on the choices of machines.

• Geoff Bennett:

  President Biden, who's a devout Catholic, had a brief exchange in front of the cameras as leaders gathered around the main table of the summit. The two men also met behind closed doors.

  The Justice Department said today it will not prosecute Attorney General Merrick Garland for contempt of Congress.

  In a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson, a DOJ official said Garland's actions — quote — "did not constitute a crime." On Wednesday, the House of Representatives voted to hold Garland in contempt over his refusal to turn over audio recordings of President Biden. They contain interviews from the special counsel investigation into his handling of classified documents.

  South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has been reelected by lawmakers after a dramatic late deal with the country's main opposition party. The agreement between his African National Congress and the Democratic Alliance gives Ramaphosa a second term in office.

  The 71-year-old's hold on power comes two weeks after the ANC lost its 30-year grip on control of Parliament. The parties will now co-govern South Africa in that country's first national coalition where no party has a majority.

  In Florida, demolition began today on the site of the Parkland school shooting where a gunman killed 17 people on Valentine's Day in 2018. Crews started tearing down the building at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School as family members of the victims watched from the parking lot. The structure was frozen in time to serve as evidence in the shooter's trial. He's now serving a life sentence without parole.

  Officials hope to finish the demolition by the time students return from their summer break.

  On Wall Street today, the Dow Jones industrial average slipped 57 points to close at 38589. The Nasdaq extended its run of record highs, adding 21 points. The S&P 500 ended the week virtually flat.

  And the U.S. cricket team is bowling over fans after securing a spot in the second round of the T20 World Cup. Those heavy rains in Florida we reported about earlier washed out Team USA's match against Ireland today. That cancellation combined with last week's stunning win over cricket powerhouse Pakistan left the U.S. with enough points to advance. It also means that this year's co-hosts qualify for the next World Cup in 2026.

Improved audio player available on our mobile page