>> hello and welcome to al jazeera, i'm tony harris in new york. here are the top stories we're following. the people of detroit have their day in court, the latest on their fight to get the bankrupt city to pay up. the clock is ticking for congress, pass a budget or face a government shutdown. pope francis says it is time for the kras lick church to end its obsession with abortion, contraception, and homosexuality. ♪

in detroit, it was the people's day in court. they are trying to block a judge from approving the city's bankruptcy. i understand the judge got an earful today. >> reporter: oh, he most certainly did, tony. today the federal bankruptcy judge. he heard from lawyers, and people here in the community, and retired workers, and that's where the focus was at today. these retired workers are terrified there will be cuts to their pension and health care benefits if this bankruptcy goes through. weeks after detroit's bankruptcy filing, residents and retired city workers finally got their day in federal court. more than a hundred of them are on a list to go before the u.s. bankruptcy judge to voice their opposition to what could be the largest municipal bankruptcy in history.

outside a handful of demonstrators hit the pavement, their pensions and health benefits on the lines. >> retirees will go hungry. many of us will lose our homes. we worked 10, 20, 30 years, many of us, with the promise of this pension. >> reporter: about half of detroit's $18 billion debt is owed to those who work or worked for the city. although there isn't a specific plan on the table to make any cuts to those benefits, the bankruptcy filing suggest otherwise, and retirees say that isn't going to happen without a fight. >> this isn't about detroit, it's about the pension funds throughout the country, and none of them will be safe. >> reporter: they call into question whether the manager had the authority to make the bankruptcy filing in the first place. they also believe their pensions are protected by the state constitution. >> it's not entitlement. everybody who works and one of

our benefits was our pension. we worked hard and we earned those pensions and we made plans accordingly, and now to say you might not have it, i don't even have the words for it. >> reporter: the judge's decision is expected next month. about 110 people were on the list to speak before the judge, each was given about three minutes to make their case. as i mentioned i talked to a lot of people in and out of court today, and while a lot of retirees feel uneasy, many people comfort in knowing they were able to voice their concern with the judge. >> there was a line earlier that this judge will share some of the views of the people with the governor in the coming days.

when will the judge make the decision on this bankruptcy filing? >> reporter: i am told that the judge could make the decision on this bankruptcy, sometime in mid-october. >> all right. good to see you. a partial government shutdown could be on the horizon and congress doesn't have much time to avert it. if lawmakers don't pass a bill, thousands of federal employees could be furloughed. and october 1st also marks the next phase of obamacare. mike viqueira joins us from washington now, and mike, i believe we have seen, as you have mentioned before, this movie at least a time or two. [ laughter ] >> that's right. tony, and if you are keeping score at home. the house is at war with the white house. democrats and republicans are at war. republicans are at war with each other.

other words it's status quo, but the upshot is putting the country in danger of a potential collapse and shut down of the government. >> this is a moment for republicans to unite. >> ted cruz and a group of house members are drawing a line in exchange for a favor of keeping the government running. >> this is bad stuff, and we have to do everything we can to halt it, stop it. >> friday the house votes on whether to do just that, something it has already done dozens of times before. the president has promised a veto, and the senate isn't likely to give into conservative demands. >> we will not blink. >> what i haven't been willing to negotiate, and will not negotiate is on the debt ceiling. >> the president has made clear he is not going to negotiate.

>> the republicans are crying foul. >> this is something that is not new. i have been discussing this with president putin for sometime now. >> while the president is happy to negotiate with vladimir putin he won't negotiate with congress. >> the video i thought showed a little bit of odd putin envy on behalf of the speaker. maybe he can explain that. >> reporter: if the gridlock goes on, the government would shut down on november 1st. center cruz vows to filibuster if he and his allies don't get their way. >> senator grassley and i and a great many others will fight

with everything we have. >> democrats call the gop stance reckless. >> putin envy, tony, there you have it, entering the vernacular here. the house tea party conservatives are running the show here. one thing we can add tony, they are taking this seriously. the house was supposed to be off next week, and they have canceled their vacation and are going to be in here trying to sort this out. >> mike as you mentioned we have seen this before, but does your experience tell you that there will be some kind of deal, probably at the very last moment to avert this shutdown? >> well, there usually is, and remember the last time there was a deal on the debt ceiling it resulted in part on the sequester, which no one thought would happen, but did it happen.

last year, remember the fiscal cliff heading up right to new years eve, we actually went over the cliff for a day or two, but they did work out a way. republican leadership wants us to believe that this will all sort it's a out. but these tea party representatives say they are not going to be fooled again. so we're going to have to see how it works out, tony. okay. mike appreciate. tom delay says he thanks god for his overturned conviction. prosecutors say he illegally helped funny money to texas candidates in 2002. pope francis criticized his church's obsession with abortion, gay marriage and con

intere -- contraception. >> reporter: pope francis is aiming to make the catholic church a more welcoming place for all. in a candids interview with a publication which had the vatican's blessing, francis shied away from talking about the church's moral teachings on gay marriage and abortion. a stark contrast from his predecessors. pope john paul ii, and pope benedict the 16th.

his remarks echo the same ones he made on a flight home from his first foreign trip, in which he said if someone is gay, who am i to judge. >> it's time for people to reconsider the catholic faith. when you have a leader like this, you can't help but think wow there is really something going on that is interesting. >> reporter: pope francis's remarks aren't changing the poll soifs the church, but the tone is decided by different. earlier i spoke with mary ann denny berke about the pope's comments. >> what pope francis said in

this interview is such a change from what we have heard from his two predecessors in terms of telling the leaders of the church to go out among the people who are in need. that's where the church needs to be, not preaching. >> is the pope laying a ground work for something, perhaps a change of policy down the road? >> there's definitely a change of tone already and hopefully that will trickle down, but i also see in the beginning of the interview where the pope talks about discernment and laying a foundation for change, that he is at least open to considering what the needs of the people of god are in 2013 and beyond, and they may be different from what was needed, you know, 30, 40, 100 years ago. so i think we have to wait and see, but he does talk about a

process of discernment and a process of consultation, and to me that signals openness to some possibly very substantial changes. a third person is now missing and presumed lead in larimer county, colorado. the number of confirmed dead remains at 6. some 200 people are still uncontracted for. the white house says vice president biden and his wife jill will travel to colorado to view the damage. mexico is struggling with back-to-back hurricanes. it looks like it might deliver another punch to an already battered country. david mercer has more. >> reporter: after leaving a path of destruction across southwestern mexico, tropical storm manuel has moved up the coast where it touched down early on thursday.

and what -- what we have didn't -- what we have been told is there could be winds as high as 125 -- kilometers an hour. and that could lead to more flooding, we haven't seen that yet, but they are expecting rain for the next 24 to 48 hours. the state is on high alert, schools have been suspended in the state. meanwhile down towards southeastern mexico, on the southeastern gulf of mexico, there is a tropical depression that is hovering and could convert into a tropical storm. so there is a possibility that mexico could be hit from both sides yet again. there are rescue relief efforts underway. we're here in front of a center -- a center that is being set up in mexico city to gather food that is coming from private

individuals as well as businesses. so far since last sunday, they have managed to collect 30 tons of food. and this food will be going out to the people who need it most, people in areas where they cannot reach any fresh water, and do not have access to food. so the food assistance will be greatly appreciated then. it's just matter of trying to get it to them now. the death tell is up to 97 and expected to rise. let's get a look at where manuel is now. >> the more important thing is where it is headed. it is only moving about 5 to 10 miles an hour to the northeast. that means it dumps a lot of rain over the same area. wind 45 miles an hour. it's a tropical storm now. made landfall as a hurricane, but has weakened as a tropical

storm. but there it is, you can see it. it does not move much. very heavy rain, getting amounts of 12 to 20-plus inches of rain. that is causing flash flooding and mud slides. again, the storm is only moving about 7 miles an hour. when they are moving slow, you get a lot of rain over the same area. we are watching the tropical development here in the gulf. it does not look to be intensifying much. it is a little bit, possibly becoming a main storm in the next 24 hours. dave thank you. america's largest bank paying up big. jpmorgan chase agrees to one of the largest fines ever to settle a $6 billion trading disaster. if you are one of those shoppers who likes to buy it, wear it, and then return it, one

luxury line is on to you. this is the 900-page document we call obamacare. it could change costs, coverage, and pretty much all of healthcare in america. my show sorts this all out. in fact, my staff has read the entire thing. which is probably more than what most members of congress can claim. we'll separate politics from policy, and just prescribe the facts.

♪ well today a former haliburton manager was charged with destroying evidence related to the 2010 gulf oil spill. he was involved in the effort to plug bp's blown out well with cement. he is accused of directing two of the workings to destroy computer data about the job. his actions earned haliburton a $200,000 fine. a specialist in regulatory issues has told al jazeera that jpmorgan's admission of guilt, and a fine of almost a billion dollars shows that violators

won't be getting off with just a slap on the wrist anymore. >> i think this is sending a message to the banks, that need to be more careful in how they communicate with their board of directors or it may cost them literally hundreds of millions of dollars. just minutes ago the house of representatives voted to cut funding for food stamps by $40 billion. the cuts would effect millions of people with military families, the hardest hit of all. tanya moseley reports. >> reporter: it's two hours before the doors open at the neighbors in need food bank in mount vernon, and chet is one of the first here. the 71-year-old army veteran relies on the food bank to supplement the $116 in food stamps he receives each month. even with the help he says he and his wife are barely getting

buy. additional cuts could be crippling. >> it will just mean we don't eat as much. cut down from two meals a day, to one meal one day and two the next. >> reporter: almost half of the people that come to this food bank are veterans. many are disabled and barely able to make ends meet. but it's more than just veterans. about 5,000 active military members are on food stamps. the majority are on lower pay grades. and spending on military bases tells the story. this year food stamp usage on bases is on track to exceed $100 million. >> you would like to think that people who are serving our country would be -- be able to

at least survive reasonably well and not have to worry about putting food on the table. >> reporter: justin keith helps veterans and families sign up for assistance. he fears increased cuts will put additional pressure on. >> many are getting the minimum which is $16 in washington state, and to cut that even further a lot of these folks will be relying even more on food banks. >> what choice do i have? [ laughter ] >> i mean, you know, you have got to go with the flow. >> reporter: a flow that congress will ultimately decide. tanya moseley, al jazeera, mount vernon, washington. the housing recovery is

gathering strength despite a recent spike in interest rates. david shuster will be sitting in for ali velshi tonight. david what do these new numbers tell us? >> to the extent that the economy is fragile, the housing sector is providing a major source of strength. it all totals something like 15% of gross domestic product of the united states. so every time you see a report that house sup, that the market is heating up, that's also great us in for the entire u.s. economy. >> yesterday we learned that the fed is going to continue to stimulate the economy. what does that mean for interest rates? >> it means that interest rates

are not going to go up to the extent that people thought. in fact it may mean that rates might fall a little bit. so people have another opportunity, perhaps until they meet again at the end of the year. >> these stories and you have more coming up at the top of the hour? >> yes, for everybody who is confused about obamacare, which will tell you how to evaluate the variety of plans, and why there might be some differences based on where you live. and tony today is international talk like a pirate day. >> arg! >> we'll talk about the businesses that have been fuelling this. >> all right. "real money," david shuster

sitting in for ali velshi. bloomingdales is trying to stop shoppers from buying expensive clothing, wearing the clothing, and returning it soon after. they are putting large black plastic tags on the front of all dresses over $150. once the tag is removed, the dress can't be returned. >> it's an illegal process, and also known as return fraud. we're losing almost $15 billion a year to return fraud. >> while bloomingdales is drabbinging down, not all is following suit. nordstrom's says it doesn't plan on changing its liberal return policy any time soon. ♪ jess is here with the sports headlines. and how rich is this ball game tonight in philadelphia? >> the story lines, headlines,

we have got it all. thursday night football must-see tv. his first year as head coach with kansas city. and andy reid has his chiefs 2-0 to start the season, and he is make his first return to philadelphia where he coached for them for 14 seasons. mid-season blockbuster trade. colts running back, trent richardson. cleveland picked up will las mcgehee to fill the void. one of the few boxers to ever heat mohammed ali has died. ken norton was 70 years old. that is a look at sport headlines at this hour. >> thank you, jess. farmers in kentucky have been dependent on tobacco

fields for decades now. but as that industry is declining, the focus is changing to hemp. >> reporter: tobacco used to be king in kentucky. in the late 1990s, tobacco fields covered more than 250,000 air, of the blue grass state. now the state of kentucky thinks it has found the answer, hemp. >> hemp is a variety of -- of plant that looks a lot like marijuana, but has no thc, no drug content in it. >> reporter: a fifth generation farmer, bruce klein grows more than 300 acres of tobacco in kentucky.

>> could see hemp production being very good here in kentucky. >> reporter: during world war ii, kentucky was one of the leading producers of hemp. it was mostly used to make rope for the navy. >> my daddy raised it on our farms. >> reporter: farmers can harvest hemp using the same procedure they are using to harvest corn. many products already contain hemp, but they are from canada. but here is the rub, it's illegal to grow or transplant hemp seeds anywhere in the u.s. >> currently the dea considers industrial hemp a classified substance that would be treated the same way as marijuana. so we certainly can't grow it to sell it, and in fact we can't even grow it to do research on

it. >> reporter: but that's not stopping kentucky. this year the state passed a law, allowing licensing of industrial hemp with the hope of putting seeds in the ground by 2014. >> we're about creating jobs in this state. we have become a national leader on this issue, and we have been able to differentiate between industrial temp and its evil cousin, marijuana. >> reporter: but the police are not on board. >> it's still against the law, and we'll proceed as we have been. >> kentucky farmers say any knew crop would be a win for them. >> anything that we can do that will help our children stay locally and on the farms is a good thing. >> reporter: agriculture officials hope planting hemp will continue to root farming as a staple of kentucky's economic landscape. getting detroit to keep

paying. ahead on al jazeera, what the city's bankruptcy could mean for the pensions of retired city employees. plus caroline kennedy on capitol hill. real money. victoria azarenko

♪ i'm back on al jazeera, i'm tony harris. here is a look at your headlines at this hour. pope francis tells the catholic church that it has the potential to quote fall like a house of cards over its stances on topics like gays, contraception, and abortion. 11 days is how long congress has to pass a budget in order to avoid a partial government shutdown. some residents of detroit are trying to stop the city's bankruptcy claim. they say michigan's constitution doesn't allow detroit to change pensions. also residents are against the city's bankruptcy being run by an emergency manager since the citizens had no say in it.

sir, one of the key issues that people are look at is whether people who worked for the cities for years and years and years, could actually lose their pensions. what do you think? >> well, you know, there's go clearance, because what we have got set up here under think michigan constitution. the pensions are protected. under the bankruptcy code, contracted can be modified or rejected in some circumstances, but ultimately down the road, if judge rhodes termed that the city is eligible to proceed, and the city is able to propose a plan of adjustment, the law require that the city comply with state law. so you have a conflict which will have to be resolved somehow. >> can you look ahead here?

is there a precedent out there on how this might play out, federal laws, state laws, which side wins here? >> actually, tony, there isn't. >> oh. -- [ technical difficulties ] have been filed since the bankruptcy code was enacted. and most of the municipal bankruptcies, didn't involve cities. the definition of a municipality in bankruptcy law is very brood. you have hospital districts, sewer districts, not necessarily cities towns and villages is there isn't much precedent, in fact next to none that gives us any guidance. >> there seems to be an inherent unfairness about this. isn't there a social contract that could be broken if this

doesn't work out to benefit the side of the pensioners here? >> well, the idea is that bankruptcy is to allow an honest debtor to restructure its debts. nobody is going to be happy. the idea is to distribute the wealth as fairly as possible, but nobody is going to walk away happy. whether it be the pensioners, other creditors, or the city itself, or the residents for that matter. >> precedent set moving forward? >> well, if there is a compromise and the parties are able to reach an agreement then it doesn't set a precedent for the next case. what will set a precedent is if the litigation continues, you have a decision by the bankruptcy judge, and it moves up to the line ultimately to the

supreme court who will determine the precedent to be used. >> douglas joins us from detroit tonight. thank you. the washington navy yard reopened today just 72 hours after the mass shooting that left 12 people dead. the building was still closed off, and the fbi is using the bases gym as a command center. secretary of state john kerry is pushing back against russia which claims to have evidence chemical weapons in syria were fired by the rebels not the government. >> you are entitled to your own opinion, but you are not entitled to your own facts. and those words are really worth using and focusing on as we head into next week's general assembly meeting in new york, of the united nations.

we really don't have time today to pretend that anyone can have their own set of facts approaching the issue of chemical weapons in syria. in syria, western-backed rebels are fighting with al qaeda rebels. they say al qaeda gunmen captured a town near the border after a clash with rebels. >> reporter: rebels fighting the syrian regime belong to various groups with huge idealogical differences. on one hand there is the al qaeda-linked fighters, and on the other hand there is the conservative fighters backed by the west. this started on wednesday evening when the al qaeda-linked fighters demanded that the moderate fighters hand over a german doctor, a german aid

worker operating in the border town. the more moderate group refused to hand him over, and as a result, the clashes ensued. attempts to immediate between the two sides have failed and now there has been reinforcements joining the fight. this has turned into one of the largest rounds of fighting between the rebel groups. this kind of fighting has been hugely problematic for the international community for countries trying to back the rebels. it is effecting the credibility of the syrian rebels in international eyes. if you back these groups and give them weapons, whether the weapons could fall in the wrong hands. so one of the largest confrontations taking place. if the al qaeda-linked fighters win this battle, they could

potential lay their hands on the border. as a result we are seeing the government shut down the border cross. caroline kennedy is president obama's next nominee. she says she wants to carry on her father's legacy. >> this appointment has a special significance. i'm conscious of my responsibility to uphold the ideals that my father represented. he had hoped to be the first sitting president to make a state visit to japan. if confirmed as ambassador, i will be humbled to carry forward his legacy in a small way, and represent the powerful bonds that unite our two societies.

i can think of no country i would rather serve than japan. the head of the u.s. postal service delivered more bad news to capitol head today. postmaster general told a senate hearing that his agency's finances are in a, quote, state of disaster, and an emergency mail hike might be needed to keep the mail moving. >> it is burdened by an outdated and inflexible business model without significant structural changes, it will continue to record large financial losses. >> he said the postal service has enough cash to cover just five days of operating expenses. it is like a money-backed guarantee on your college deg e

degree. the school that plans to take student loan payments for some grads. >> reporter: hey, i'm ross shimabuku. this is the place to see and be scene. homecoming night for andy reid. big question, will he get booed or cheered? we'll discuss that coming up.

♪ welcome back, everyone, to al jazeera. the class of 2013 is searching for ways to deal with a huge problem. student loan debt. the numbers are staggering. american college students owe roughly a trillion dollars, and that amount is growing. two-thirds of college seniors graduate with an average of nearly $27,000 in debt.

a 41% increase since 1989. patricia introduces us to an ohio man shining a spotlight on the issue. >> i just want to play off my student loan debt, oh, mighty god. [ laughter ] >> reporter: one man, one act, $1 trillion problem. >> $1 trillion in student loan debts. that's a big number. >> reporter: a number he is trying to cut down to size with for profit, a play recounting his journey through both sides of the student debt crisis. >> tuition is going up and up and up and the value of the degree is going down and down and down. >> all of my expenses came up at one time, and i'm not able to pate. >> reporter: it forced him to leave behind a budding acting degree in new york and return to

ohio. >> i took a job as an admissions advisor in a for profit institution. hi, aaron, please, i don't want to be here, i'm getting a lot of pressure. hi, i have to put you in debt. >> reporter: a dramatic confession he hopes will act as an entry point for a broader discussion. >> i think when people see a human face, a human experience, they are more likely to take action. >> reporter: now he is hoping to take his campaign national by encouraging others to go public with their stories. working through student debt crisis, a nonprofit he cofounded he has launched out with student debt, an online platform thank invites anyone to upload their

stories. >> i owe $148,258. >> $144,000 in the hole. >> it tears you up. >> reporter: he hopes to turn the project into a larger video tool to pressure lawmakers to enact student finance reform, a mission that has become more urgent since his daughter was born. >> i need to do my small little part to help tell the story so when she grows up, she'll have the opportunity to get a higher education but not destroy her life economically. thank you. [ applause ] and earlier i spoke to jeffery docking. he is the president of adrian college. the school has come up with a pretty novel way to deal with student debt. >> let me tell you quickly how it is going to work there every freshman and transfer student

who en roles this year, will be guaranteed that will make a job at least $37,000, if they less some or all of the student loan will be paid. if they make $20,000 or below, we'll pay all of it, each month until they get a job that pays over $37,000, and there's obviously a prorated scale between 27 and $30,000, but it really takes the worry away from parents. a lot of students that go to small private colleges like to go into say the peace corps or the ministry, but they are worried that they are saddled with student loans they won't be able to do those things. this gives them the opportunity to do that and do some things for society before they launch their career. honda is recalling nearly 400,000 cars in the united states.

the problem was found in odysseys from 2003 to 2004, and in the accura ndss. test -- tesla is planning on going public. they hope to offer a car that is 90% automated in just three years. jess is here. will you get us ready for football? >> i'm going to try. it is made for tv drama. all eyes on philly as the eagles get set to host the chiefs. there are no shortage of emotions or story lines. let's go live to the main event where every loves ross. that's why we sent our ross

shimabuku to the city of brotherly love. andy reid didn't have to watch a lot of game film for this one with the eagles? >> that's right. because reid picked most of the players on the roster. over 68,000 fans will be rocking the house here tonight. the big question will they boo andy reid or cheer andy reid. he spent 14 years as head coach, five nfc championship games, and one super bowl appearance. but tonight he comes in as the kansas city coach, and public enemy number 1. >> this is not a one-man show. this will take a team effort. >> adding to tonight's drama, the eagles will deretire

jonathan mcnabb's jersey. the 5-year-old reid is still considered a father figure to many of these current eagles, because he drafted most of them, and even gave michael vick a second chance in 2009 after the quarterback was released from prison. >> seeing him in red there is something about that -- it is different for me. but i'm just happy coach is happy. he had an opportunity to start fresh and do what he loved doing. >> i love coach reid. he is an excellent person. i think people don't realize how good of person he was. i think to the media he showed a different type of person, and to the players he was something else. the guy that made jokes and got the best out of all of the players. >> great respect for andy, he was head coach here for 14 years. any coach that stays in one spot for 14 years, you think holy

smokes. and you look at what he has done, and he has had a huge impact on this organization. >> reporter: but after two disappointing seasons, the eagles fired reid. the manic named big red is now sporting red for the chiefs, and he has already turned things around in kansas city. alex smith and the offense has not committed a turnover, the defense is ranked third over all, and the chiefs have matched their win total for last year. >> i think we certainly understand what -- what this is like for him. he was there for so long, and going back and playing his old team. these are guys he coached and drafted and brought there, so we recognize the situation. >> reporter: it's going to be very interesting to see how things play out tonight. kansas city has improved to 3-0. can they stop the chip kelly's

high-powered offense, but the biggest question of all will they boo or cheer andy reid and jonathan mcnabb. philly fans are tough. the drama will kick off tonight in about an hour and a half. i can't wait for thursday night football, jess. >> thank you so much, ross. and it's a good thing even with the red we can still recognize him because he has the same mustache. and meanwhile let's go to philly, where a blockbuster trade has fanned. trent richardson was given to the colts for a 2014 pick that will most likely end up being much lower than the number 3 they originally got with trich.

they have willis mcgehee going with andrew luck and the colts. let's take a look at the video from mcgehee. he was released by the broncos where he spent the last two seasons. and finally, the world of boxing losing another former champion, ken norton died today of congestive heart failure at the age of 70. he was one of the few fighters to ever have beaten mohammed ali. he went on to earn the wbc heavyweight crown in 1978. norton finished his career with a record of 42-7-1, and 33 knockouts. >> jess appreciate it. thank you. the palm oil industry boom in malaysia is having serious

consequences for the pygmy elephant population. growers are using greater swaths of land and pesticides to protect the groves. >> reporter: take away the people, and she's aloan, so far the only pygmy elephant at the malaysian state's first rescue sanctuary. the expectation is there will be as many as 50 injured elephant joining her. the center was officially opened by a government minister, but it's mainly money from the palm oil industry that is paying for it. the very industry some accuse are doing more to damage wildlife than help it. >> what we have done is we are -- that's a realization that we cannot live in isolation.

i think it's a realization that we should be part of the overall effort. >> reporter: it is still possible to see striking wildlife down the river, though the chance of seeing an elephant in the wild is highly unlikely. there are thought to be fewer than 2,000 left. no one knows quite how many there once were. loss of habit is to blame. first logging and then rubber, and now palm oil plantation. they cover 20% of the land around the river. for kilometer after kilometer after kilometer, this is all you see, palm oil trees. its fruit and their seeds, crushed and pressed and their oil used in hundreds of products. sometimes animals are not just pushed out, but hurt.

14 elephants were found dead. one baby survived. he has been named joe and now lives in a zoo where he will probably be until he dies. there are other threats too. >> their trunks get caught by hunting snares, and they cause horrific injuries, and basically it's a slow death to the elephant. so this sanctuary is for this group of elephants. >> financial support is welcome. but even those in the palm oil industry, say in the past they have been part of the problem. a huge swath of the u.s. is about to get a brief taste of summer. the national forecast is coming up, and ahead at 7:00 pm on "real money." >> coming up on "real money." home sales at a six-year high,

and obamacare shifts in to high gear in less than two weeks. we will tell you which plans make sense for you and your family. all of that and more on "real money." with us tonight. up next is the golden age of hollywood going golden but elsewhere. why l.a.'s mayor has declared a state of emergency for the entertainment industry there. next. hi, my name is jonathan betz, and i'm from dallas, texas, and

♪

we are looking at the flooding problem moving from colorado into nebraska now, and this is all along the south platte river. this is taken from space, this is what it normally looks like, and there is the river flooding that occurred a few days ago near greeley, colorado. it is moving from colorado to nebraska. these are flood warnings in place along that river. the latest flood gauge shows it has climbed above flood stage and will stay there until at least saturday or sunday. although not as severe as it was in colorado, still there are some flooding problems moving across this country. this storm over north and south dakota, we're seeing a big warmup. we're also getting severe weather forming a line now.

as this moves through it will be followed by colder air. tomorrow this area of thunderstorms moves into chicago, down to missouri, oklahoma, and northern texas. it is clear and will be cooler. temperatures are dropping into the 50s and 60s, but 80s and they hit 90 in kansas city. here is the taste of summer and it will continue to push east. moving into chicago. these thunderstorms around today -- just for today and maybe tomorrow and then dry air moves in. keep building tomorrow in the northeast. temperatures climbing into the 80s and mid-70s in new england. it will be followed by storms and colder air. new york dropping to 70 on monday and tuesday. that's a look at the national forecast, stay tuned, headlines coming up.

welcome to al jazeera, i'm tony harris. these are some of the top stories we are following. the people of detroit have their day in court. they can are asking a judge to stop the city from filing bankruptcy. they are saying that michigan's constitution does not allow them to change pennings. congress has 11 a days to pass a budget. pope francis says the catholic church needs to stop obsessing over topics like abortion, contraception, and homosexuality. and he said the church will fall like a house of cards if it