This is world news now. Stumped you, huh . You did. The best lady gaga song she asked me. That seems like a contradiction. Because theyre all so good. No, because theyre all so bad. Are you kidding me . I put lady gaga on and its the only time i run faster. Really . Yeah. The twice a year when i go running. I always make sure lady gaga. Lady gaga does it. Bad romance gets in your head bad romance. I cant remember the other one i have on my i i use an ipod. Am i the only person in america who still uses im the only person. I have a boombox that i carry. I look forward to seeing that one. But we do have some very serious breaking news at this hour from georgia. The states only female inmate on death row was executed just after midnight. This case even getting the popes attention. Yeah. The lethal injection carried out after a third appeal to the u. S. Supreme court was denied. Abcs lana zak has been n watchg the events unfold. Execution of Kelly Gissendaner was carried out in accordance with state law. Reporter not prayers or even a plea from pope francis could save Kelly Gissendaners life. For the first time in 70 years the state of georgia executed a woman. Tears and frustration as supporters stood in the rain. Hours after the scheduled execution the Georgia Supreme Court weighed in, deciding not to spare her life. In 1997 a jury convicted the mother of three of orchestrating the murder of her husband doug, convincing her lover to stab him to death. Gissendaner was not present for the murder. Behind bars the 47yearold had been a model prisoner, expressing remorse, even studying theology. Family life is sacred. Reporter tuesday pope francis sent a letter asking the georgia parole board to commute the sentence to one that would better express both justice and mercy. Her children have been pleading for clemency in videos like this. Every day i feel like my world is just falling apart. Reporter the kids had to choose spend time with their mom or appear at a hearing to plea for mercy. They chose to fight for her life but the board refused without explanation. Gissendaner sent this final message for her daughter and sons. I love you, i love you, i love you, i am so proud of you. Reporter she had been scheduled for execution back in march but it was postponed because of a problem with the lethal injection drug. Gissendaner was the only woman on georgias death row. Lana zak, abc news, washington. This morning were hearing about a big surprise from the popes visit that we didnt know about until now. Kentucky Clerk Kim Davis met with pope francis in washington, d. C. This according to her lawyers. Davis and her husband joe met with the pope at the Vatican Embassy according to a statement from the liberty council. The pope reportedly told davis to stay strong, and he gave her a rosary. The vatican, however, has not confirmed such a meeting took place. A convicted killer is on the loose after the man was mistakenly released from a louisiana prison. Ben Jewel Johnson was being transferred to another prison last week after completing a prior sentence. It was five days before officials realized the mistake. They blamed missing paperwork and miscommunication. His family says it doesnt know where hes located. Now to the extreme weather soaking the eastern third of the country. No, this isnt joaquin. Now strengthening off the east coast. But another storm. The heavy rain in the south like here in virginia forced the evacuation of homes and road closures. Some schools closed early just in time for the kids to see halloween pumpkins wash away down a creek. There is also a state of emergency in the Florida Panhandle with major flooding. Many homes and farms are cut off with roads impassable. Businesses closed early. Drainage systems are overtaxed. And the rain raised the shoal rivers water level by more than ten feet. That rainfall from the southeast is also drenching the northeast. And right behind this storm is joaquin, growing into a hurricane. Heres meteorologist Justin Povick at accuweather. Hey, justin. Good morning to you. Reena and kendis, thanks. And good morning to you. Were tracking more heavy rains throughout the northeast into portions of new england. And i do suspect this is going to cause additional flash flooding problems all throughout the day. New york city north and eastbound toward bangor. In fact, i wouldnt be surprised if some areas receive close to ten inches of rain before its all said and done later on this week. Then we have to worry about joaquin, which again is a strengthening system moving off to the west, bending to the north. Reena and kendis, back to you. All right, justin. Thank you there. President obama is back in the white house this morning, following a historic meeting with cuban leader raul castro. The two men met yesterday here in new york city. It was their second meeting this year and the first time a u. S. President has talked with his cuban counterpart on american soil in more than 60 years. They spoke about ways the u. S. And cuba relations can continue. Mr. Obama also raised the issue of human rights in cuba. Well, russian president putin is getting support from donald trump. The president ial candidate says he has no problem with russias recent military buildup in syria, and he says he thinks president assad may be preferable to the kind of people the u. S. Is, quote, supposed to be backing. And the war of words between trump and clinton is heating up. Heres abcs tom llamas. Reporter former president bill clinton taking on donald trump. You shouldnt be able to insult your way to the white house. Reporter for months trumps attacks on hillary fast and furious. Easily shes the worst secretary of state in the history of our country. Reporter but now hillarys husband is firing back, calling trump factfree. The day after you take the oath of office its yours. You cant go to an insult or have youre not in an episode of survivor. Youre actuallsupposed to show up and run the show. Reporter Hillary Clinton is using trumps words against him. And hillary, whos become very shrill. You know the word shrill . Shes become shrill. Reporter in a new fundraising email the Clinton Campaign painting the remark as sexist, saying is the woman who asks for the raise she deserves shrill . Trump insists he wasnt being sexist. The gop frontrunner whose new tax plan was praised by some republicans, getting clobbered by a conservative tax group. The Tax Foundation saying trumps plan would add more than 10 trillion to the deficit, something trump denies. Expect to see a lot more of bill clinton on the campaign trail. Hes about to hit the road in support of his wife, raising money. He says he wants to let people know what she can do. Tom llamas, abc news, new york. Thank you, tom. Stem cells may soon be used to reverse blindness. British doctors have treated the first of ten patients in a test. The 60yearold woman has agerelated Macular Degeneration in the procedure, eye cells are implanted in the back of the retina to replace diseased blood vessels. So far the researchers say the first patient has had no complications. What were hoping to do is reconstruct the macula so you dont have the disease. This is a different way of doing this and for the first time we feel were actually delivering a treatment to try and cure, as it were, the disease itself. One researcher says the test is important not only for treating a major cause of blindness but also for understanding how stem cells can be used. So a big announcement coming today from one of nascars most recognizable drivers. Tony stewart will make it official. Hell be announcing his retirement. The threetime nascar champion is expected to say he will be ending his sprint cup racing career after next years season. But hes not leaving racing, at least not completely. Stewart has several business interests that will keep him connected to the track. And there were a dozen Major League Baseball games last night with many thousands of fans in attendance. Its safe to say that none of those fans getting as much attention as a guy at the yankees game. This was just embarrassing. We should say hes getting attention for the wrong reasons. The guy in the light blue wellstarched shirt and glasses there, he couldnt catch a foul ball. Then he botched a foul grounder. This isnt fair. This would be me with the glasses out there. Finally the ball boy tossed him a ball in sympathy. And then he messed that catch up too. One, two. Three. He had to lean over and get the ball off the field actually. But he was a good sport about it. And so was his female friend in attendance. No, she was hiding her face. Well, the yanks have been like stumbling their way toward a playoff. Come on, he doesnt have a glove. A mitten. What do you call those things . A mitten. A mitten, yes. A dolly. A dolly . Id take anything. A towel, for goodness sake. Give him a break. Even the Baseball Players dont catch them youre really giving him a break. I am because i feel for him. I dont think we should be playing this on national television. Its embarrassing. He should have caught the ball from the ball boy. Give him a mitten and try it again. A mitten. Coming up in the skinny, who will play the role of a Young Nicki Minaj in a brand new tv show . Also ahead, put away your phone and have a conversation face to face. Imagine that. One expert admits its not as easy as it sounds. Later, taking a spin in a new car that has no steering wheel. Is googles new ride a smooth one . But first todays forecast. Youre watching world news now. Announcer world news now weather. Brought to you by nono hair removal. Today you can do everything in just one click, even keep your toilet clean and fresh. Introducing lysol click gel. Click it in to enjoy clean freshness with every flush. Lysol. Start healthing. Yeah, click a major drug bust for the u. S. Coast guard in the caribbean. More than 40 million worth of cocaine and marijuana. The shipment was first spotted by coast guard plane off the dominican republic, then intercepted by a cutter. The suspects threw some of the drugs overboard. The coast guard says this is a record year for drug busts by the service. Seizing more than 4 billion in cocaine just in the past year alone. A change is coming at the top of one of the most famous American Fashion empires. Ralph lauren is giving up the title of ceo at the company he founded nearly 50 years ago. Lauren is not leaving his company completely, though. Hell remain as executive chairman and chief creative officer. The president of old navy will take over as ceo in november. Boy, he just had some great a great run over there, ralph lauren. Great visionary. I love their clothes, i have to say. But they never retire, do they . They never retire. They hang on and theres no way he can let go of that brand that hes been with. I hope he hangs on because ive liked the revolution the evolution of it. Well, turning now to our phones, many of us feel we cant live without them. While that might be true, one things for sure. We cant live without each other. Yes. And as abcs dr. Richard besser reports, its something we know very, very well. So why dont we put down our phones and simply just talk with each other . So what i was saying was reporter our Technology Keeps us constantly connected and plugged in. Hey, jake, you want to pass the salt, please . Reporter but it also has a down side. Take this youtube parody, pass the salt. Viewed over 13 million times. Revealing dinner time forever changed. [ typewriter sounds ] dad. Sorry. I must have been a little distracted. Before we had our phones, conversation was the way in which we satisfied our need for stimulation. And now we have so many other ways to be stimulated that we sort of forget what conversation offers. Reporter in a recent New York Times article and in her book reclaiming conversation the power of talk in a digital age, m. I. T. Professor Sherry Turkle says our dependence on technology has dialed down human contact. Facetoface conversation. Conversation where you make eye contact, conversation where you are giving your full attention to someone else, lays the groundwork for empathy. Reporter but 78 of people say using their phones in a Group Setting is a way to share, not to disengage. A lot of times, you know, ill bring up a picture of my family for my friends who havent met my famy, or ill bring up something that i saw on instagram i thought was really, really funny. A lot of times it ends up actually adding to the conversation rather than taking away from it. Reporter and yet professor turkle says being constantly plugged in ultimately makes it harder for people to think for themselves. We think were doing ourselves a favor by sort of always being able to distract ourselves, but actually were working against our best interests. Knowing who we are and really developing our own identity. Reporter dr. Richard besser, abc news, new york. We should probably take a selfie. We should do a selfie. But does it matter . Does it help if i send my family an emoji . An emoji . Does that count as communicating with loved ones . Im not sure. Coming up, the rat pack reunited. Plus, whos naming lady gaga the woman of the year . The skinny is next. Did you take it already . What are you taking announcer world news now continues after this from our skinny so skinny all right. Topping our skinny headlines this morning mama monster herself, lady gaga. Shes being bestowed with the honor of woman of the year. Billboard made the announcement yesterday that gaga will receive the award in december during its annual women in music event. The magazine says it picked gaga for her contributions to entertainment. The 29yearold gaga has taken on many causes through music, including the empowerment of marginalized youth. Shes also shown her versatility in style, performing everything from pop to jazz. Lady gaga now joins taylor swift, pink, katy perry, and beyonce with the honor. Congratulations for her. Good for her. Turning now to another star that is being honored, the incomparable sammy davis jr. It has been 25 years, can you believe it, since his death. And yesterday a roadway in las vegas was named after mr. Show business. Members of daviss family attended a ceremony yesterday, unveiling the new street signs and the renaming completes a reunion of sorts. Sammy davis jr. Drive intersects with streets already named for fellow rat pack performers Frank Sinatra and dean martin. What took so long . By the way, daviss daughter tracy said, quoting here, im so happy to see my father reunited in the town we have loved with his best friends. Im sure uncles frank and dean along with my legendary father are smiling right now. We love any reunion of these guys. Well take it. And next up, nicki minaj we know from one of her songs that shes feeling herself. Im feeling myself. But shes but now shes actually looking for herself. Thats a different song by the divinyls. Nickis on the hunt for a younger version of herself since news broke yesterday of her deal with abc family. The rapper and singer can add Television Producer to her list of accomplishments. Minaj is working on a comedy based on her life growing up in queens, and shes already revealed that the First Episode will center on her preteen self. She took to social media to launch a nationwide search for an 11 or 12yearold to play her and will also be writing raps that will be performed by the actress to be named on the show. Okay. Well, good. Well see who they get for that. Finally, 007 racking up some major numbers when it comes to his car collection. According to an interview in the daily mail with the chief stunt coordinator for the new James Bond Film specter, 36 million worth of cars were destroyed while shooting. That includes 7 out of 10 aston martins, a land rover and a concept jaguar. Or as bond would say, jaguar. Specter by the way, opens the 24th. Specter by the way, opens the 24th. Lysol disinfectant spray kills 99. 9 of bacteria on more than just the trashcan. Its the pungent gym bag stink neutralizer. And the prevent mold and mildew on the shower curtain for up to 7 days spray. Its also the odor causing bacteria fighter. And even the athletes foot fungus killer. Discover more ways you can use lysol disinfectant spray to help keep your home healthier. We do . I took the trash out. I know. And thank you so much for that. I think we should get a Medicare Supplement insurance plan. Right now . 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It cools on contact, and also keeps you 100 flake free. Try head shoulders instant relief. For cooling relief in a snap. And finally this half hour, a commuters dream. A car that drives itself. You know, theyve been in development for many years and even spotted on some roadways, and now were one step closer to the future. Abcs Neal Karlinsky got a first look at googles selfdriving car, taking cameras along for a ride in the passenger seat because, well, theres actually no drivers seat. Reporter here it is. It just pulled up all by itself. At googles normally secret google x facility in Silicon Valley the future is now, and it comes in the shape of this little round bubble of a car. Google invited us to be among the first outsiders to ride in their prototype selfdriving car, a ride like no other. We havent gone very fast, although i cant tell you how fast we have gone because theres no speedometer in here. Theres no control at all. Reporter we were on a closed course for a fourminute ride, filled with obstacles meant to simulate the real world. This is what the car sees through a series of cameras radars and lasers. It identifies people, other cars, everything. Apple, uber, and tesla are also said to be working on nextgeneration cars. No steering wheel, just two seats and the hum of the electric motor. Feel free to text and drive or take a nap for that matter. Not coming soon exactly, but according to google sooner than you think. Neal karlinsky, abc news, mountain view, california. Im not so sold on this. I prefer e. T. On a bike. With a basket. The part that scares me is that theyve had a dozen accidents in the six years of practicing it. But they say its all because of humans. But you know, its a good concept. Theyre going to continue to work at it. But it might be the way of the future. It allows you to drive and text. Did somebody say road trip . Not when youre in the front seat. Why do i get to drive . Women have come so far along and yet. Im the driver. Im scared of you driving. You should be. I try to practice like a new york cabbie. Oh. Announcer this is abc world news now, informing insomniacs for two decades. World news now, informing ins making news in america this morning, tracking the tropics. Joaquin gaining strength overnight. Who should be on alert. Plus, another weather event happening right now. Housing surrounded by water. A College Campus flooded. We have the details. Breaking overnight, a georgia woman executed despite a plea for mercy from the pope. What she was saying during the execution. A plane coming in for a landing. The wick scraping the ground. Fan fail. A major league spectator going viral for his inability to catch. Good wednesday morning to you. Were tracking two very serious weather situations right now. Yes, the system is dumping a lot of rain on more than