in welcome to al jazeera america. i'm richelle carey. these are the stories we're following. >> what gang or race or anything. we still can be friends. >> violence in chicago. the city hits the problem with the gang summit. and days away from being on the ground in syria. find and destroy syria's stock pile of chemical weapons. and live pictures with all eyes on house of representatives. the issue at hand. keeping the government running. the sticking point for the obama healthcare law.

>> chicago, the country's murder capital with 1600 shootings alone. the city is fighting back. this week gang hey reason lated violence is front and center. we have more on this weekend summit that is much part of a much larger effort to stop the violence. >> right, richelle there, are programs around the city to get kids out of gangs or keep them from getting involved in the first place. a couple's daughter who took part of the obama inauguration

was shot and killed a week later. they said something like this does not hel the panacea for the community but it helps the community. >> we all should do our part. unfortunately we began our involvement at the loss of our daughter. because we know how this feels, we're encouraging everyone to get involved now. if you've had various experiences, that experiences that can restore. those of us who don't have the background cannot. >> now the pendleton versus started a foundation in their daughter's name. they're hoping to generate some money to give out scholarships to kids. but they want to get people to mentor kids in junior high and primary schools to keep them

from joining gains. >> this is a weekend of events, it's adults and kids. any idea what the turnout might be? >> actually the turnout has been rather small. it's been a bit disappointing. we were looking at 50 or 60 people who turned out. they hoped for hundreds. but it was a beautiful day, and that may have prevented people from coming in. we're in a break out session and one of the things that they're addressing is education. one thing that gets kids involved in gangs is lack of education, poverty. helping kids get their education, get jobs that might keep them from getting involved with gangs. >> coming up we'll talk with two part taking part of the summit, one of them a former gang memberment. u.n. chemical weapons experts are expected to be on the ground in syria in a matter

of days. inspection of the country's stock highly is expected tuesday. we have reaction of the approval of the long debated proposal. >> speaking to syrian activists inside syria many of them express skepticism. they're worried about the regime compliance. and one told us it's like the international community it procrastinating when it comes to dealing with the assad regime. ordinary citizens tell us while some do not know the details of the ordeal because there is significant infrastructure damage in the country, and watching something like television is quite the luxury for people. others express the fact that

this specifically a weapons deal that is only focused on chemical weapons, and many people told us what about conventional weapons, the main toll that hundreds of thousands of syrians were killed over the last it was and a half years. a lot of skepticism and concern to that mood of celebration of how this dealed was held in the united nations and new york. >> the u.n. resolution contains several key deadlines. syria must submit all it's chemical weapons facilities and destroy all its production equipment by november 1st and finally all existing chemical weapons must be destroyed by the

first half of the 2014. >> produced all over northern syria. prepare me to die. where are you, jihadi, the song goes as this fighter from the gulf enjoys the swimming pool. the armed group took over the area in august. in the border town azaz also seized by the same group, th ths was secretly filmed. the man who put down his rifle as a peace offer was later killed. they are feared by many civilians. he's too scared to appear on camera. >> they have left the front

lines and go into villages. we fear that their ambitions are no freedom and democracy. what they want is an islamic state. what we want is a democratic state and universal freedoms and human rights. >> summary executions are becoming common. this video was taken when the fighters took over. >> they can easily take to you, you're an infidel. and kill something so easy for them. it's their second nation. they don't think before they carry out an execution. >> reporter: some of these foreign fighters cross the board from iraq, but analysts say sir i didn't knows many more fly into the province on scheduled flights. it's a well well-route and manye

the taxi to this syrian border. the turkish government is very concerned that the fighters are just next door but has not answer missions to keep them from getting there. >> they can no longer ignore or keep accommodating the fighters. >> turkey tried to play the game but failed and made a total mess of it if we play this game with terrorists it will blow back in your face. >> analysts say between 5,000 and 10,000 foreign fighters, many syrians in the north want it to stop. >> the government one step closer to a shutdown. take a look at life pictures from capitol hill. this is the house of representatives, a special saturday session happening right now. they're taking up the spending

resolution passed by the senate on friday. the issue, the g.o.p. wish to cut funding to the president's affordable care act. we're joined live in washington, an intense saturday for house of representatives. >> reporter: we have breaking news. house republicans want to take the senate bill and make some pretty major tweaks. in a few moments they'll vote on the house floor. this allows them to vote on a much bigger piece of legislation. here are the changes they want to make. they want to postpone implementation of obamacare by a year. they want to repeal a controversial medical device sales tax. they also push the funding package through decembe december 15th rather than november 15th so a little bit longer funding picture. this is an operate bill, they would make sure that the

military troops, fighting troops working at home would still get paid even if the government shuts down. that's a big one for both sides of the aisle. the republicans plan to put these amendments and the make sure the military gets paid bill on the floor today. >> that is quite a significant development, but i think it's clear how the president would respond to that, right? >> absolutely right. he's not interested in negotiating. we heard strong language from him both yesterday and today in his weekly draft that he was not interested in negotiating. >> in the next couple of days these republicans will have to decide whether to join the senate and keep the government open or create a crisis for the sole purpose of advancing their ideological agenda. >> even if the house passes

legislation today it's not likely to get a lot of interest in the democratically-led senate? >> that means what? >> stay tune on the house amendments and bill to keep the military pay going. we expect that to pass. if, indeed, that comes together this afternoon, which it looks like it is. then the house could go home and then kick it back to the senate. then it's the senate's job to pick up with the legislation. we inch closer and closer with this critical deadline. if the government does not have a plan going forward, it shuts down and even if the military do get paid, a lot of services americans will have to go without. many will be future lo furlough. the senate is not around. they've gone home. they're supposed to come back on monday. but they're willing to come back. people call it a ping-pong game, a tether ballgame.

that may be a better metaphor because they're really whacking each other. but bottom line they have to decide on something before monday night. >> that's a great ya wrap up, ad libby touched on this, not all government programs will be effected if the government shuts down. also in the clear, tsa and border patrol, but passport and visa applications will not be processed, and military veterans could see a delay in benefits although clearly that's something they're discussing. calling for peace in chicago. a summit aimed at curbing violence. one of them knows what it it's e to escape the gang life.

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chicago. there are promise in place keeping kids out of gang. joining us are two people part of the solution. part of these meetings. paul jacksobob jackson, tell use meetings have been like. >> it's very positive getting young men in the chicago area to come in and discuss the issues. we're trying to come up with solutions so they can stop and put their guns down. >> have you been encouraged by the number of gang members who have shown up, or would you like to see a better turn out? >> we've been encouraged, but of course it could always be better. especially we're trying to target the shooters, the ones

more likely to be shot or shoot someone. we're focusing on getting them in and trying to change their mental state and mindset on stop the violence because this is a mental health issue because waking up one morning and shooting someone is not the norm. we've got to change that whole behavior pattern and thinking about human life and how valuable it is. >> are they afraid to come? >> well, they might be afraid or the fact that they may have people that's in the audience that they may have beefs with. that's a concern with us. to make sure if someone is in there at a they have a beef with or grievance with, to let us know beforehand, then we can work that out before they get in the general population of the discuss. >> shakote, why would a gang member be afraid or not want to go to these meetings?

why do you think? >> maybe they feel like they're snitching or they're embarrassed or something. it could just be that logical, you know. because honestly those people out there are really ignorant if they were to come in contact at the summit, it might end up resolving in gang violence. >> i know that you have been the victim of violence more than once. you have been shot more than once. what was it that said for you enough of this? >> um, i lost my cousin to a shoosenseless shooting in ingle. i had a tough time when he died. i thought about where i was, where i came from, and i knew it was time for a change in myself. living in chicago, i seen a lot

of my friends senselessly murdered or they're locked up in the penal system. >> tell me who you are. >> i'm chatokay johnson, and i'm a former member of the black disciples. my gang let me out because i promised to stay with the code of silence for my own safety. since i'm a for black disciples i don't discuss what i used to do with the police or anything. i'm out of that. i'm glad. i want to finish school and pursue education. >> fantastic, and we believe that you are. how does that make you feel listening to him? >> very encouraged because with so many young men and women we work with, and to see that he is

actually on the right path, i know this for a fact because when we first met it was in the department of corrections. it was behind bars. we discussed his career path, what he needed to do to make a change. i can say to you and to the national public that chakotay has done everything he said he was going to do. he is staying in school. staying away from guns and staying away from guns. >> i hope others are seeing that if chatokay can do it, that they can do, too. thank you for talking with us, stay in school, and bob, thank you for everything you're doing in the community as well. >> the return of a 52-foot tall icon.

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>> u.n. chemical weapons are on the ground. this comes after a resolution to destroy chemical weapons. live pictures from capitol hill, the house of representatives are taking up the spending bill, the sticking point, provision to cut funding of the affordable care act. and a likely partial government shutdown is expected on tuesday. the 106th million dollars facility opened on the mount vernon george washington compound in virginia.

>> meteorologist: well, it's going to be a very wet 36 hours across the pacific northwest. and that's the case across seattle. look at the next several days, saturday, sunday, and monday. we could see anywhere from four to eight inches of rain. that could certainly trigger some mudslides and flash flooding. we're going to continue to monitor this massive winter like storm that is pushing into the pacific northwest. it will really stall out across the gulf of. we're going to continue to monitor the system as it pushes onshore. heavy rain and light rain being reported across seattle. if you're traveling out there today, tomorrow, and monday be careful on the roadways. we'll continue to monitor the hazards across the region, flash

flood washes and gusting wins as it pushes on floor. the temperatures are going to climb to a 60 days. mostly cloudiy and overcast skies. in chicago it's a lot warmer with the high coming in at 82. that cold front is bringing rain all the way from minnesota down into northern texas. the heaviest of the rain falling across oklahoma that sweeps into missouri. we're looking at strong thunderstorms right now just to the east of oklahoma city along i-35 all the way down into dallas where strong thunderstorms push on through right now. we'll continue to monitor this cold front. by tomorrow it will be cooler. in chicago with the high coming in at 72. high pressure will build, sunshine is on the way, and it will feel like a comfortable day and look like a beautiful day. in the northeast we have few

clouds floating around in the skies. mostly sunny skies in new york and will climb to a daytime high of 72. we'll reach a high of 74. we could see a reach of body shower of 73 but gets closer to 80 on tuesday and wednesday. >> wisconsin's governor signed an emergency funding for a ridge after one part of it sagged. they're trying to determine what caused the damage to the bridge in greenbay. the government would provide federal money for the repairs. the bridge has been closed since wednesday. everything is bigger in texas, so the saying is go. this is very true in this case. last year the iconic symbol of the state fair of texas was

burned to the ground. now a bigger symbol, and we will' tell you why it's such a big deal. >> a fire that burned the 52 tall texas icon to a crisp. people mourned. almost a year later as the 2013 state fair of texas begins, a new bi big t ex is born. >> my son had just got out of the hospital. my father was in his last years of life. everybody was in wheelchairs and we made pictures of big t ex. it was a memorable time. >> i'm 66 years old. i remember the first year of big t ex. i was five years old and he scared the heck out of me. >> welcome to the state fair of texas.

>> reporter: the new big t ex is three feet tall and 19,000-pound heavier, which will allow him to stand on his own and resist tornado winds. >> i think he looks great. he looks like the old big t ex but friendlier. >> i look the boots and the shirt. he looks really good. >> he looks a little more energized. think. >> why does big t ex mean so much so-so many? we asked the marketing professor daniel howard. >> big t ex came to symbolize culturally how a lot of texans look at themselves. and big t ex a has come to summarize a lot of emotional experiences that these people have had at the affair. >> reporter: big t ex has been a place to meet up with friends and family and is the backdrop

of texas state fair photos. when it came time to design, everybody knew better than to mess with big t ex. >> you can't mess with big t ex any more than you can mess with coca-cola or campbell soup. >> reporter: all is right in the world, at least this world at the texas state fair. >> from collectors to the curious, hundreds are flocking to nebraska to bid on classic cars. 500 leftover vehicles from a local dealership are hitting the auction block. some of these classic cars have been in storage for decades. it's taking place in an 80-acre oat feel. some of these things have less than 20 miles on their odometer. quite a deal. i'm richelle carey.

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