09/05/2014 ABC World News with Diane Sawyer

willing may soon be able to do so. Time now for a look at the news as

seen across the United States a couple of hours ago, in ABC World

News with Dianne Sawyer. Welcome to world news, tonight, a

tornado strike, millions of people are told to watch out tonight. A big

storm with floods forcing the rescue of a small child, 11 planes hit by

lightning in one day. And we will tell you what happened next.

Sounding off, tonight, here the new recording. The disgraced NBA owner

defends himself on racism. And, shopping secrets. Do some stores

label you and then stick you with a higher price than the person next to

you? That is not fair. It is not making sense to me. See what we

found, our consumer investigation tonight.

Good evening, as we come on the air, 50 million Americans are being

told to brace for dangerous weather in places, it is like a superstorm.

Extremes of all kinds coming together. Postcards now from the

storm zone, you can see in Nebraska, a surprise in spring, nine

inches of snow! Watch this timelapse video in Oklahoma, the dot is a

house, with a menacing super self forming right there in the sky

overhead. ``cell. Tornadoes are the big fear, and Alex is tracking it.

The sound is loud, you can hear the tornado siren here. There are sirens

like this happening across the state, people will be listening

closely as they prepare for another night of severe weather. High

winds, tearing up homes, sirens, sounding the alarm in Dallas

tonight. Near the city today, a dramatic rescue, it took two hours

to save five boys from these raging waters. The boys are exhausted, but

OK. At least seven tornadoes were reported yesterday, including this

ominous dust filled lands about, going across the high plains of

Colorado. `` land spout. Baseball sized hail was battering the

Oklahoma landscape, in Kansas, pummelling homes, winds of 90 mph

derailing this train. I was shocked that it was strong enough to blow

the train over. We are going from Minneapolis to another town, I want

to show you what the roads are like. It is so bad, we may have to pull

over. In the last 24 hours, nearly 200 reports of severe weather, and

counting. In salt lake city, 11 planes were inspected after being

struck by lightning. Many of them as the planes were landing, terrifying

passengers. It is rare for so many planes to be struck at the same

time. Experts say every single commercial plane in the US is hit by

lightning at least once a year. And, aeroplanes are protected, when the

lightning strikes, the outer skin absorbs the charge. It is conducted

harmlessly around and out of the plane. Then, there is snow. It looks

like a winter wonderland in South Dakota, dusting trees and firewood

stacks. This wild weather is nowhere near being done just yet, the system

will shift east tomorrow, ringing in severe weather all the way to

Indianapolis. `` bringing in. We are keeping our eyes on the skies, we

are expecting large winds and heavy hail overnight. We are turning to

the growing national outrage about what is happening to American

veterans inside of hospitals. The government ordered a review of every

hospital after reports that patients were dying while waiting and waiting

and waiting for. Congress today demanded documents.

The epicentre of the scandal. Phoenix, Arizona, where as many as

40 veterans died at this hospital. While waiting for 21 months to see a

doctor. They never came in the door, we never saw them. The doctor

retired from hospital in Phoenix this year `` this doctor. Not before

exposing what he says is systematic fraud, but hid long waits. He

complains his superiors lied about delays to qualify for bonuses. We

realised that patients were dying because of it. That is the point

where we said that we cannot take it any more. This Phoenix veteran died

after waiting months for a specialist visit, to diagnose a lump

found in his neck after a routine checkup. He kept this journal,

documenting the cause, he made, for 15 months. Trying to schedule a

visit that never came. I am a purple heart be a non`fat, and I should be

receiving proper care `` Vietnam's veteran. Today, the Veterans

Administration announced it will conduct a face`to`face visit with

every clinic at every hospital to get to the bottom of the scandal.

Why can't our federal government and the VA do this for our fighting

soldiers that have given their arms, their side, their legs, and their

life, for this country? It has failed them and is still failing

thousands. As we said, a growing outrage

tonight, and next, we turn to the new tape of the man at the centre of

the firestorm over races and the NBA. In this one, the LA Clippers

owner, Donald Stirling, is her defending himself. `` heard

defending himself. This is the LA Clippers owner, Donald Stirling,

playing defence. His first extended comments of the

infamous racist grant which banned him a lifetime ban from the NBA. ``

rant. In this tape, it was leaked to a website, after it was recorded

with his friend. He is determined to prove that he is not racist.

He is telling his friend that there is nowhere that race his judgement.

His own wife is making sure that she is not forgotten in all of this. Her

attorney is now telling ABC News that she is a co`owner, with every

right to keep it that way. There was no comment from the NBA today, as

basketball and is decide whether to vote Donald out. `` as basketball is

to decide. US experts have landed in Nigeria to help with the search for

200 missing schoolgirls. There is life in a new campaign tonight.

Remember Sean Penn, Justin Timberlake, they are holding up a

sign that says real men do not hide girls. Our correspondent is moving

through Nigeria tonight to bring us the latest. With the world

watching, Nigeria's president is under so much pressure.

There is evidence the violent tactics are winning. Today, girls

who escaped the mass kidnapping, their faces blurred, describing the

terrifying ordeal. They were told, if you run, we will kill you all. In

this school today, it is marching practice. But children turn out with

pride, despite the danger. I feel very scared. Everyone is scared to

die, but I know one day everyone will die. Lydia is 15, she loves

school and speaking her mind. The terror group has made it clear,

girls have no place in the classroom. Just days ago a bomb tore

through their town, killing 20 people. A month ago, Boko Haram

attacked, killing 70. For these children the threat is very real.

They have seen so much bloodshed, but everytime there is a burst of

loud noise their school... They may be afraid, but defiant.

Standing by the kidnapped girls... There is solidarity, but tonight the

missing girls need much more than that.

Also overseas tonight, a move from Vladimir Putin, one day after

signalling he is ready to decrease tension in Ukraine. Today, he said

another kind of signal. He oversaw a test of Russia's most deadly

weapons, including nuclear rockets. He claims these were just military

exercises that had been in the works since last fall. In Mexico, a 6.4

magnitude quake was felt as far away as Mexico City. A shudder inside the

so`called Ring of Fire. It happened in the middle of the day, workers

gathering in the streets, while inside lights was waiting. There

were no reports of major damage or injuries. And, to a super storm of

sand in Egypt. It is a wall of sand bearing down on the town of as one.

Reports of at least two people killed. And, a fiery courtroom

battle racing provocative questions about the heart of a modern family.

A former teen star, the actor is locked in a custody battle with

his child's father. A Hollywood custody feud playing out in it Los

Angeles courtroom today. This one possibly with sweeping consequences

for modern families. Actor Jason Patrick in a bitter fight to be

recognised as this little boy's father. I have to win this for my

son, I have to win this for fathers and mothers all over the country.

Patrick and ex`girlfriend Danielle conceived through in vitro

fertilisation. She claimed he was nothing more than a sperm donor, and

therefore has no parental rights to four`year old glass. So far, the

courts have sided with her. He or have any obligations, rights or

responsibilities for my child. a father from day one. At the sperm

clinic, he signed this intent to parent form. I am not a donor any

more than she is. Why, because I am a man, does that make the a donor?

It is a closely watched case that could redefine what it is to be a

father. It is difficult for law to keep up with changes in the family.

How far are you willing to take this? I will fight with everything I

have to get my son back. To parents fighting for their son, each vowing

not to give up. Up next, a shocking secret revealed.

Or the prices you pay the higher than other people write next is? I

don't think this is fair quests `` I don't think this is fair. We look at

an investigation in a moment. Next, a consumer investigation.

Imagine if you walked into a store and they charge you a different

price based on how you look, who you are or how much you make. It turns

out something like that is happening when you shop at some stores online.

Have you ever noticed you are paying more than someone sitting right next

to you? Online, some marketers are changing

the prize in a flash to capitalise on how much they think you are

willing to pay. We are looking under the hood. We discovered they are

putting you into consumer categories, with names like shopping

addict, frugal folks, high spenders, and they are using some of this data

to offer you the price they think you will pay. They are gauging it by

knowing where you live, what you buy, estimating how much money you

make. Information all collected from your internet history. We decided to

put it to the test. Two world news producers, two packs of pens. The

price on her computer, $15 19, and on he is, $30. And people all over

the country getting different prices. The companies admit it is

happening. The website tells us, if you find a lower price they will

match it. It is a pretty wide web, and I think our consumers will be

fairly surprised to see this is going on. I don't think this is

fair. Doesn't make sense to me why you would be charging me one price

and someone else other price. There is no transparency, you have no idea

that this is going on in the background. Just be aware that you

may be targeted as a working class, fashionista bookworm and soccer mom.

We have new confirmation of an old saying about an apple a day. A new

medical review says that fruit every day can decrease the risk of stroke

by 32%. The equivalent of just two apples per day. And, a revolution

under way as we learned today that the number of Americans who are

cycling to work has skyrocketed by 60% in ten years. Bike share

programmes and bike lanes are helping. What started out as a photo

for a wedding party on the beaches of Australia turned into a rescue

mission. Watch and listen. Those are groomsmen stripping down to their

underwear when they hear a fisherman's cry for help. His boat

had capsized, so they sprinted into the water and save the day, and even

managed to get a picture with the bride and groom. A little soggy, a

little underdressed. Some lessons from the kids at the

head of the class. We have told you about the crisis in this country

staying at the forefront of science and maths, but now we go to meet

some young Americans who can do some pretty dazzling things.

Chances are you have never met any kit like this. Six. They call them

on athletes, and they are the best of the best. `` mathletes. 56 teams

from every state and territory competing tomorrow for the top prize

at a national competition in Orlando.

Everyone is really shocked how they get the answers so quickly, but it

comes with a lot of practice. Tonight, these maths all`stars are

talking us. Behind`the`scenes, hard`core,

last`minute prepping. Are treated like it is sport. My team will

practice many hours a week. And they say there is hopeful of us. You have

to figure out what you did wrong, and work out a new way of doing it.

I took on athletes. `` I took on the mathletes.

The final school... A perfect zero. They told me not to give up. It just

takes a little bit of effort. We will all try to cheer him up! Thank

you for watching. I will see you again right here tomorrow night.

After a bit of a grim, wet day on Thursday, Friday promises more in a

way of sunshine. Having said that, nowhere is immune to a few showers.