Good evening. And its great to have you with us here on a wednesday night. And we begin with the breaking news. Those images coming in from the gulf of mexico tonight. A deadly blast. A ball of fire as an oil platform explodes offshore, workers jumping into the gulf to save their lives. One survivor saying, there was nothing you could do but run. At least four people killed, dozens injured. Hundreds evacuated. And this fire comes just as we approach the fiveyear anniversary of the bp disaster. And abcs matt gutman leads us off. Reporter the inferno lighting up the gulf of mexico tonight. The fireball sometimes blinding. Survivors of the blast saying they took these cell phone videos. This man describing the fire as huge. We couldnt do anything but run away. Many men leaping into the water. Mexican authorities said the blast and flames have killed at least four, dozens more were hurt and about 300 evacuated. Pemex, the mexican Oil Authority, said cruise shipsized firefighting boats have been dousing the flames since dawn. Those giant arcs of water apparently doing little. The Oil Authority did not say how the fire broke out on what it called a processing platform, and said the platform was not pumping directly from the seabed. The blast, just days before the fifth anniversary of the deepwater horizon explosion. The pictures of those skyscrapersized pillars of fire so eerily similar. Mexican oil authorities insist that burning platform is not attached to the seabed. But they refused to comment when we asked them whether or not this could cause another oil spill in the gulf of mexico. David . Matt gutman tonight. Matt, thank you. And as were on the air here in the west tonight, to the breaking news in california. The governor tonight now ordering every California Family to cut back on water significantly. The drought now an emergency. The before and after tonight from orville, california. Look at this. A marina four years ago, that marina today. A bridge then and now, of course, that water receding. And this image from space tonight. That snow pack drastically shrinking. Weve heard of local restrictions before but nothing this sweep egg,ing, and big fines if youre caught. Meteorologist rob marciano tonight. Were in an historic drought and that demands unprecedented action. Reporter tonight, californias governor ordering all cities and towns to cut watt earl usage immediately by 25 . The location for his announcement . The bonedry Sierra Nevada mountains. Were standing on dry grass and we should be standing in five feet of snow. Reporter today is supposed to be peak snow pack. Tonight, its at its lowest level in recorded history. Look. From above, you can see the expanse of the snowless sierras. These snow riders at squall valley not riding on much. But more important, california needs that snow to supply water through the year. Reservoirs running dangerously low. These before and after pictures showing for the last four years, theyre the driest in history, too. These nasa satellite images show the progression of underground water loss. Californias river basins have lost 4 trillion gallons of water every year. Far more than all of california would ever consume. The new mandate could possibly see further restrictions on homeowners, who were already urged to reduce water by 20 , facing fines for things like washing off sidewalks. And the real heat yet to come there. In the meantime rob is also tracking the Severe Weather up through the middle of the country. Where is it headed, rob . Reporter up until now, relatively quiet compared to last night. That could change. Lets look at the threat. Two spots that were highlighting tonight. One across the northern and Central Plains and then in through parts of arkansas. Windy conditions, some hail. Yesterday, we saw baseballsized hail. Thats not out of the question as we go through tonight. Then, the entire system moves to the east, and the area of concern tomorrow is going to be springfield, illinois, up through evansville, indiana, in through louisville. Large hail, strong winds. I think tomorrow is going to be a greater threat and maybe friday, too. Tornado or two not out of the question. Well be tracking it carefully. Speaking of the tornadoes, rob, youre back from the twisters last week, but tonight, a new view here of the aftermath in moore, oklahoma. The Police Body Cam showing an officer kicking in a door, urgently going from one damaged home to the next. Searching in the rain afterward for possible victims. 33 homes were destroyed in the storm and we now know that was an ef2 tornado. Now, to the major headline breaking in atlanta late today. The verdict after a massive cheating scandal. Elementary School Teachers principals arrested. And tonight, many of them convicted. Lead out of court in handcuffs. They could go to prison for decades, and Abcs Steve Osunsami on what they did. We the jury find the defendant guilty. Reporter striking images out of this georgia courtroom. The judge wasting no time throwing the 11 convicted educators in jail. Guilty in one of the largest u. S. School cheating scandals ever. They have made their bed and theyre going to have to lie in it and it starts today. Reporter the way it sounds, youd think they were mobsters convicted of racketeering. Tonight, facing up to 20 years in prison. But these are former elementary schoolteachers, principals and test coordinators found guilty of conspiring to give answers to students during achievement tests or correcting the answers before they were electronically graded. I think because of the decision of this jury today that people will stop. I think people will stop and they will make an assessment of our educational system. Reporter the scandal is a blow to Public School parents everywhere who worry if their children are getting a quality education. The investigation that uncovered the cheating, from the Atlanta Journal constitution, found suspicious test scores and curious erasures on standard achievement tests in 196 School Districts across nearly 20 cities. In atlanta, teachers who quit in disgust told us a familiar story. We were told that we needed to get these scores by any means necessary. Reporter they had to raise test scores or lose their jobs. Weve been following this case for several years now and part of the issue is the enormous pressure across this country placed on parents and teachers to find that magic bullet that will raise test scores. Sometimes the improvements are too good to be true. David . All right, steve osunsami. And as steve mentioned, on this case from the start. And this evening, there is also a Major Development in the case of that jet crash in the alps. This new view from the crash site, workers wrestling with chunks of the fuselage, as the ceo of lufthansa comes before the cameras, and it comes after the airline admitted it knew about the copilots major bout with depression, letting him fly anyway. Abcs Alex Marquardt in germany tonight, on what the ceo refused to answer. Reporter navigating with ski poles and wearing climbing spikes, recovery workers scaling the mountain, hoisting huge sections of the plane. This piece, the airlines tail, with its distinctive colors. And today, laying a wreath, the embattled airlines executives, now under fire after admitting that lufthansa hired andreas lubitz, even after he told them he had suffered a serious depressive episode. Were just very, very sorry that such a terrible accident could have happened. Reporter but they left in a hurry, ignoring questions. Sir, when did you find the 2009 email from lubitz . Im sorry. Im sorry. Why did it take you so long sir, your employee crashed a plane. Why are you refusing to take questions . Reporter the Airlines InsuranceCompanies Already setting aside 300 million to compensate victims families. To have an airplane accident in which your pilot may be culpable, and worse, that you may have had some previous knowledge of a handicap, is the mother of all nightmares. Reporter especially now, amid reports that the final seconds of the flight were filmed by a passengers cell phone, watched by two german and french uponly lypublications. The sounds of people screaming, screaming and screaming again. Reporter david, german and french authorities havent confirmed the video exists. They say they havent seen it and demand that whoever has it must turn it over. David . Alex marquardt reporting in from germany again tonight. Alex, thank you. We turn now to a major investin investigation back here at home at one of the nations top universities, duke. After a chilling discovery on campus today. A noose hanging from a tree. It comes just weeks after Something Else disturbing on that campus, as well. Abcs linsey davis on the story tonight. Reporter amid the stately buildings of this elite university, tonight, an ugly reminder of racism. A noose, discovered early this morning, hanging from a tree outside Duke Universitys student center. This evening, on campus, a protest. We are not afraid. We stand together. Reporter dukes Vice President of Student Affairs calling the incident cowardly acts of bias, saying he cant begin to describe his disgust and anger. This comes just weeks after an africanamerican duke student claimed a group of white men harassed her with a racist song. One black student, speaking in shadow, describes an increasingly hostile environment. Right now, our peers do not feel pressure to accept us. They tolerate us, but they dont feel like they have to accept us. Reporter another tweeting, ive never felt as unsafe here at duke as i have these last few weeks. Duke, just the latest college rocked by racism. The university of oklahoma still reeling from that fraternity chant, which apparently spread far beyond just oklahoma. Tonight, duke has set up a support group for students and launched an investigation into who hung that noose. Anyone with any information is being urged to come forward, david. To call the authorities. Linsey, thank you. Now, to that controversial religious freedom law in indiana. The governor calling for change now to the law after critics claimed the law opened the door to discrimination against gays. Well, tonight, another governor now in the crosshairs, this one from arkansas, saying he wont sign his states bill, after his own son urged him not to. Abcs gio benitez on this again tonight. Reporter tonight, the governor of arkansas refusing to sign the states newly passed religious freedom bill, demanding action. I asked that changes be made in the legislation and ive asked that the leaders of the General Assembly to recall the bill. Shame on you reporter after mounting pressure from critics who argue the bill would pave the way for discrimination against gays and lesbians. Walmart, one of the states largest employers, urging a veto tonight, tweeting it commends the decision. The governor calling the issue divisive across generations. Even in his own family. My son, seth, signed the petition asking me, dad, the governor, to veto this bill. Reporter hutchinson perhaps preventing the kind of heated debate weve seen in indiana. After governor mike pence signed a similar religious freedom bill into law, then called for a fix. Tonight, Officials Say they are working to amend the law so it cant be used to discriminate. Police say, one pizza shop in walkerton, indiana, inundated by threats after admitting publicly it would deny service to some same sex couples. If a gay couple was to come in like say they wanted us to provide them pizzas for a wedding, we would have to say no. Reporter here at the indiana state capital, legislators are hopeful they can come up with a fix by tomorrow. It will have to be voted on, but the governor wants to sign it into law before the final four this weekend. David . Gio benitez, thank you. And now to politics and the breaking story out of new jersey tonight. Democratic senator Robert Menendez indicted on federal corruption charges, bribery, accused of trading political influence for private jets, caribbean vacations, Luxury Hotels in europe. He could face years behind bars and abcs david wright is in new jersey for us. David . Reporter good evening, david. Just a short while ago, surrounded by boisterous supporters a defiant senator bob menendez vowed to clear his name. I am proud of what i have accomplished and i am not going anywhere. Im angry im angry and ready to fight. Reporter menendez is now facing 14 counts of corruption and bribery charges. Prosecutors say he accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in Campaign Funds and political perks from a florida ophthalmologist in exchange for political favors. Men den then december denies any wrong doing. Hell be in court tomorrow. David . David wright tonight, david, thank you. Overseas now, and to switzerland tonight. Those high stakes Nuclear Talks with iran. That deadline has now passed. The negotiations, though, now stretching into yet another day. The u. S. Saying secretary of state john kerry will remain in switzerland, saying theyve made enough progress to keep going forward. To the medical headline breaking at this hour. And it involves millions of american families. The 6 million children who suffer from adhd. A first of its kind study out of the cdc about small children, preschoolers as young as 4 and 5 years old. Questions tonight about how they are being treated. The medications theyre being given and whether behavioral therapy would be better. So, lets get right to dr. Besser and rich you were telling me in the newsroom this afternoon that this is very concerning. Reporter its very concerning. What they found is that a quarter of children who are in preschool with attention Deficit Disorder are only getting drugs. As a pediatrician, i know the first line therapy is behavioral therapy. It works. And you need to try it for nine months before you would start any medication. The study saying that therapy is better. So, what is the concern about the medications . Reporter well, they can have serious side effects. Especially in very young children. Problems with sleep, with appetite and behavior. Its very troubling. And as you always say, check with your doctor. Rich, thanks very much. There is still much more ahead on world news tonight this wednesday. The new York City Police detective under investigation tonight because of this. How long have you been in this country . I dont know what [ bleep ] planet you think youre on right now. The tirade caught on camera, yelling at an uber driver. The passenger in the backseat recording everything. Tonight, the citys top cop now weighing in. Also, the mystery death in the hollywood hills. A billionaires son, one of the richest families in america. The investigation tonight. And we showed you superstar tom brady, taking that flying leap off a cliff. Patriots fans asking, what were you thinking . Tonight, in what appears to be a hospital bed, in a cast . Well get to the bottom of it. Thank you for being a sailor, and my daddy. Thank you mom, for protecting my future. Thank you for being my hero and my dad. Military families are thankful for many things. The legacy of usaa Auto Insurance could be one of them. Our worldclass service earned usaa the top spot in a study of the most recommended Large Companies in america. If youre current or former military or their family, see if youre eligible to get an Auto Insurance quote. Do you have something for pain . I have bayer aspirin. Im not having a heart attack, its my back. I mean bayer back body. It works great for pain. Bayer back body provides effective relief for your tough pain. Better . Yeah. Thanks for the tip curling up in bed with a. Favorite book is nice. But i think women would rather curl up with their favorite man. But heres the thing about half of men over 40 have some degree of erectile dysfunction. Well, viagra helps guys with ed get and keep an erection. And remember, you only take it when you need it. Ask your doctor if your heart is healthy enough for sex. Do not take viagra if you take nitrates for chest pain; it may cause an unsafe drop in Blood Pressure side effects include headache, flushing, upset stomach and abnormal vision. To avoid longterm injury, seek immediate medical help for an erection lasting more than four hours. Stop taking viagra and call your doctor right away if you experience a sudden decrease or loss in vision or hearing. Ask your doctor about viagra. When eating healthy and Drinking Water just isnt enough to ease my constipation i trust dulcolax tablets. I take dulcolax for dependable overnight relief and in the morning i am back to myself dulcolax, designed for dependable relief next tonight here, the nypd detective under investigation tonight, caught on camera appearing to berate an uber driver, and the customer recording the whole thing. Heres abcs mara schiavocampo. I got news for you reporter tonight, an investigation into one cops conduct, caught on camera. Let me tell you something okay. Okay what . You going to let me [ bleep ] finish . Reporter on duty nypd officer patrick cherry, a detective on the joint Terrorism Task force, seen berating an uber driver. Detective cherry reportedly upset the driver had gestured at him to use his blinker while the officer was parking in an unmarked car. The tirade recorded by a passenger. Okay. Okay . Do you understand me . Yes. I dont know what [ bleep ] planet you think youre on right now. Reporter the officer slamming the car door. Even appearing to mock the drivers foreign accent. Stop it with your for what sir, for what sir. Stop it with that [ bleep ]. How long have you been in this country . Reporter the video coming as the nypd retrains all of their officers in community relations, as they recently shared exclusively with our david muir. How important is that . I think right now, its the number one issue in policing in our nation right now. Reporter now, the nypd is calling this officers behavior unacceptable. That off