abc's neal karlinksky has details. >> reporter: the west is burning. a combination of excessive heat warnings and wildfires baking the region and threatening to shatter records in four states. >> the record is 115, expected to hit 118. >> reporter: in arizona, 25-year-old anthony quatela died and his friend was hospitalized after they ran out of water hiking this trail in the extreme heat. in phoenix, we found this father and his kids trying to help others by donating water. >> just give back, you know. i don't know. something to do. it was hot. >> reporter: the homeless, the elderly and even pets, all being given special attention amidst warnings the heat can be a killer. cooling stations are now open. >> we don't have earthquakes, tornadoes or hurricanes but the heat is our disaster. >> reporter: with a heat measuring gun in hand, we surveyed the temperatures on the ground. 158 degrees. 171 on this swing. the slide, 185 degrees. careful with the door handle. out in the sun, 146 degrees. many staying inside. >> when you're dehydrated, your head starts

abc's neal karlinksky is in the flood zone. >> reporter: we spent much of the day up in a helicopter, above hard-hit areas outside houston. much of south texas looks like one big lake, muddy water for miles. those rising waters already forcing blake perkins and his family to leave their horses behind. >> it was up to my chin. we stayed as long as we could. until they forced us to get out. >> reporter: the family air-dropping food to them from a rented helicopter. we checked on the animals. here's those horses, you can see them down below, still gathered on the porch. some others are out by the garage on the left side of the house. blake later returning to help lead them to higher ground. all are now safe at the vet. later, by airboat, we went into the town of rosenburg. house after house flooded. >> people have lost -- they've lost everything. >> reporter: every drop of rain brings more destation. this woman in odessa, texas, was one of several stranded motorists rescued. this jeep washing away in raging waters northeast of san antonio. >> there it goes. >> reporter: still more rain a

neal karlinksky, abc news, seattle. >> got to feel bad for her. clearly something wrong there. aviation consultants actually say the crew could have done a better job here. they should have called the paramedics before calling the police. >> that was one of the first things they do. that flight was heading to portland, oregon. i get upset sometimes over not having peanuts on a flight. not quite that sort of temper tantrum that took place there. it's getting increasingly hostile in the air for many people. by the time you get on the flight, you've gone through all the sa lines we've talked about. >> people's patience runs low. every now and then you find a passenger having a problem. sometimes it helps to catch the warning signs before it gets to that point. that's kind of what they're saying. either the crew could have handled it better or maybe the gate agents need to keep a better eye out. even other passengers. the crew can't catch everything. if you see someone that seems like they're agitated maybe there's a way to circumvent it. before it gets the to that point. >> if you

neal karlinksky, abc news. >>> it's a good warning. sometimes people think they're helping. i'm sure those guys didn't think that this is the way that story would end with that poor little bison. >> they were pretty convinced it was too cold to survive so they brought him in. bad idea. >> now we know. >>> coming up in our next half hour, those long lines at the airports we've been warning you about are here. some lines are so long some passengers are missing their flights and forced to camp overnight in airports. what you need to know to keep your travel plans on track. >> once you get to your destination, how secure are your valuables inside your hotel room you won't believe what our hidden cameras uncovered. when i have an asthma attack... i feel like a fish with no water. learn how to prevent your child's next asthma attack. because even one attack is one too many. ♪ you can check out any time you like but you can never leave ♪ ♪ >>> well, quite a few people are checking into their hotels are finding it's their belongings that are leaving without them. >> just becau

neal karlinksky, abc news, near ft. mcmurray, canada. >> overseas now, a cease-fire around the syrian city of aleppo has been extended for the third time just hours before the government announcement, the u.s. said a new agreement with russia would replace localized piecemeal cease fires in syria with a revived nationwide truce. also, the u.s. announced a $50 million aid program for the gaza strip. the money will be used over five years to provide basic humanitarian assistance and create jobs. >>> a security officer charged with killing three people in washington, d.c. has been ordered held without bond. eulalio tordil faces charges including first degree murder. among the victims was his estranged wife. >> in the race for the white house, donald trump put chris christie in charge of his transition team as he faces opposition from within his own party. several republican lawmakers followed the lead of paul ryan by refraining from supporting trump. marco rubio said he's not interested in being trump's running mate. >>> t

neal karlinksky, abc news, wichita, kansas. >> let's get the forecast not only for that region but also where the storm is going next. >> accuweather's paul williams joins us now. paul, good morning. >> good morning to you, as well. kendis, diane. unfortunately, we have another set of severe storms that will rip its way throughout the mississippi valley region from st. louis all the way down towards memphis, reaching down towards new orleans and eventually affecting the folks in springfield as well as little rock over toward shreveport and encompassing houston where it's not needed but it is going to hit. torrential down pours, isolated tornadoes, damaging winds and possibility of even worse storms. and if that's not enough, we have another very strong system that's going to slide across is the pacific northwest. and it will make its way throughout arizona and new mexico. now, this is how it's going to shape up. we'll have a strong jet stream that will create even more problems with additional storms that will flare-up again on friday in texas. diane, kendis. >> all right. our thanks to

. >> more than 5,000 people have lost $30 million so far, and abc's neal karlinksky has the story, including a father rushing to protect his son. >> reporter: with tax day looming, shameless phony irs agents are burning up the phone lines. >> the total balance outstanding on your name is $3,680. did you do this intentionally or was it by mistake? >> i am not aware of this at all. >> reporter: that is the sound of a call scott alexander recorded after his son fell for a scam to the tune of $500. the fake agent threatening his son with arrest if he didn't pay up. >> go to the walgreens right now, just bring a debit card with you. >> reporter: enraged, scott called back to record the scam and got a similar threat. >> i'm sending the cops to your doorstep right now. >> when they said, hey, we're going to come get you, that's when it just changed, in his mind, and he had to comply. >> it seemed like it was in a movie. just very unrealistic, but my fear got ahold of me. >> reporter: so we called the fake irs agents for ourselves to give them an audit of our own, but only 24 hours later -- >> pleas

neal karlinksky, abc news, cupertino, california. >> big mystery, who was that third party? >> that is the big mystery. >> apple so far, they sound a little skeptical of how that third party is going to break into it. there was during a conference call with a senior executive for apple on monday, they were saying the company wants more information about the method that would be used to break that iphone. i don't think they quite believe it is possible. >> my iphone did break over the weekend. cracked right in the middle and i can't touch it. >> not somebody hacking into it. >> no, but cracking is devastating enough. >> okay. all right. >> got to get that fixed today. >> there is that first world problem we'll call it. >>> well, coming up, the world rallying around brussels. >> look at these images, everybody, all around the world, remembering brussels and belgium. and belgium. e one thing i need to be predictable is to be flake free. because i have used head and shoulders for 20 years. used regularly, it removes up to 100% of flakes keeping you protected every week, every mo

here's abc's neal karlinksky. >> the hunt is on to dissect every moment of these three possible terror suspects' lives a search that will run straight through their cell phones as law enforcement struggles to uncover their digital footprints. investigators faced the same challenge last year in paris uncovering a huge stash of disposable cell phones can activated one day before the attacks. investigators continue to struggle to unravel the iphone used by said farouk. the justice department says it may not need apple at all. and telling a judge an outside party demonstrated to the fbi this past weekend a possible method for unlocking the phone. apple has fought the government's attempts to force it to weaken iphone security so investigators can break in. >> we have a responsibility to help you protect your data and protect your privacy. >> but it's not just apple. there are a number of encrypted third party messaging apps known to be used by terrorist and law enforcement worldwide is struggling to keep pace. neal karlinksky, abc news, cupertino, california. >>> big mystery who was that t

here's abc's neal karlinksky. >> reporter: more than 100,000 people seeking spiritual help flocked to this website, christian prayer center, desperate for the power of prayer and the help of pastors like john carlson. >> people are thinking their problems are going to be solved. >> reporter: the online church came with a digital collection plate, a fee of between $9 and $35 for prayers. washington state's attorney general says it was all a scam. pastor carlson is outraged too, saying his name was used without his permission. in fact, investigators say all kinds of fake religious leaders and testimonials were used to entice people to the tune of $7 million worth of paid prayers between 2011 and 2015. all of it, they say, the brainchild of this man, benjamin rogovy. >> at the basic level, it's a scam and he was asking people to give money under deceptive circumstances. >> reporter: rogovy couldn't be reached for comment. the website is closed saying, we thank you for all the prayers. they say he's now agreed to pay back $7.75 million to more than 150,000 customers. neal karlinksy, abc n

neal karlinksky, abc news, las vegas. >> mm. >> is this when the pizza gets delivered? >> i know. we always forget to get the pizza delivered. >> where's the pizza? >> jacko, that was your part. >> the pizza must have gotten lost with the waffles and the chocolate. >> i take it those are on the "world news tonight" set. >> always remember to tip your pizza man. always. no matter who he is, especially if he's kendis gibson. >> look at that. >> i look kind of -- >> now we know where the pizza went. >> i ate it all. insomniac pizza. you're in a group most likely to develop skin cancer, including melanoma. that's why your best shot is to check for a spot. follow through and check your skin. go to spotskincancer.org to find out how. >>> good morning. i'm reena ninan. >> i'm kendis gibson. topping headlines this morning >>> good morning, i'm reena nine that. >> i'm kendis gibson. topping headlines this morning on "world news now." flood watches over overnight in at least nine states after as much as a foot of rain falling from texas up to central illinois. louisiana has been particularl

neal karlinksky, abc news, las vegas. >>> mm. >> is this when the pizza gets delivered? >> we always forget to get the pizza delivered. jacko, that was your part. >> the pizza must have gotten lost with the waffles and the chocolate. >> i take it those are on the world news tonight set. >> always remember to tip your pizza man. always. no matter who he is, especially if he's kendis gibson. >> look at that. >> i look kind of -- >> i ate it all. insomnia >>> making news in america this morning, fight night in florida. another contentious debate between bernie sanders and hillary clinton. >> excuse me, excuse me. after all -- >> the deadlines battling out, their final pitch before the next big primary day. >>> plus, donald trump looking more confident than ever dancing into a rally. >>> breaking overnight an all-out search for two gunmen after opening fire on a group of people. the details just coming in. >>> midflight melee. a group of women pulling hair and throwing punches in the aisle of a packed passenger plane. >>> and color debate. bernie sanders' suit stealing the s

amazingly, the nine firefighters are out of the hospital with only minor sxwroirpz neal karlinksky, abc news, seattle. >>> so the city of flint, michigan will stop sending out water bills till they can straighten out you the billing. residents have been paying for water they can't drink for two years. the state legislature authorized $30 million to assist them with their bills. the average customer will get a credit of about $600. >>> there's a lead scare in new jersey's largest school district. water is shut off in 30 school buildings in newark after tests showed high lead level. investigators believe the contamination poses no serious health risks. no led has been found in the >> fans of corona extra, a recall of your favorite brew is under way. this one affects 12 and 18 packs of the bottles that may contain small particles of glass. the issue was discovered after routine quality checks at breweries where it is produces. according to its maker less than .1 of 1% of the bottles are impacted by this. >>> and another very important consumer story. generic vi aggragg has now been approve

here's abc's neal karlinksky. know pizza, trust us, you've pie. welcome to the world's largest pizza convention where dough spinning is an art form and serious international competition. saturday night fever with pizza dough. >> check. >> if i'm going to work out, i'm going to spin dough. >> workout spinning dough. >> just as good as running. >> britney saxton from a small town in ohio practices year round for her annual pilgrimage here, like the olympics of pizza. >> normally girls don't win this. i'm beating all these guys that think they're better than i am. >> it turns out being good at eating pizza doesn't qualify you for making it. >> i'm not getting a lot of air. >> especially the spinning part. >> there you go. former champion spinner joe carlucci says american style pizza is exploding in parts of the world that might surprise you. >> when you see korea here, japan, australia, brazil is here they're all here for pizza. >> reporter: every ingredient, imagine is here. dairy free pizza that tastes like real cheese. gluten free with beets on t

neal karlinksky, abc news, las vegas. >>> mm. >> is this when the pizza gets delivered? >> we always forget to get the pizza delivered. jacko, that was your part. >> the pizza must have gotten lost with the waffles and the chocolate. >> i take it those are on the world news tonight set. pizza man. always. no matter who he is, especially if he's kendis gibson. >> look at that. >> i look kind of -- >> now we know where the pizza went. >> i ate it all. i'm reena ninan. >> i'm kendis gibson. topping headlines this morning on "world news now." flood watches overnight in much as a foot of rain falling from texas up to central illinois. louisiana has been particularly hit hard with many residents forced to evacuate. full details ahead. >>> rematch in miami. the democrats battling it out on the debate stage for the second time this week. hillary clinton and bernie sanders forced to defend their records on immigration, the economy and much more. a full report straight ahead. >>> breaking news. at least five people are dead following a shooting in suburban pittsburgh. gunmen barge

abc's neal karlinksky now on the deepening mystery. >> reporter: as mysteries go, there aren't many that can match this one for being just as annoying as it is unexplained. [ screeching ] that high-pitched sound reeking havoc on forest grove, oregon, for weeks, mainly at night, even waking people up. >> it sounds like brakes to me. the cyclical, you know, screeching of, you need to change your brakes. >> reporter: local officials have ruled out a water valve, gas leak or wildlife. and the nearest train track is rarely used. >> want to hear the most annoying sound in the world? [ screeching ] >> guys, guys, guys! >> reporter: unlike "dump & funny to people who live here. the fire department doesn't know what it is either. >> welcome "the x-files" back on tv again, so, here we are. >> reporter: the truth is out there, and whatever it is, it sure is loud. and baffling. [ screeching ] neal karlinsky, abc news, seattle. >> you know, yesterday our crew sort of figured it out. and our belief -- i mean, our crew, thought that it was a water -- something in the water system. >> that's that loud o