♪ ♪ welcome to al jazerra america. i am stephanie sy. here are the top stories. al jazerra has learn congressional lawmakers plan to draft legislation cutting down on the nsa's power. if passed the bipartisan bill would end the security agency's ability to collect u.s. phone records and restrict who the nsa can spy on. fighting in syria has blocked u.n. inspectors from accessing two chemical weapons facilities. it's a crucial setback in their attempts to rid the countries rivets a chemical weapons. the inspectors did not say whether syrian rebels or the government was responsible for the delay, just that negotiations for access are still underway. abortion rights supporters in texas are celebrating a legal victory after a judge found provisions of the state's new

abortion law unconstitutional. the federal judge ruled the measure restrict aid woman's access to abortion clinics. stat is filing an appeal. tuesday marks one year since super storm sandy slammed in to the eats coast in the u.s. 182 lives were lost and the storm caused $65 billion in damage. making it the second costliest storm in this nation's history. less than 10 billion of the 50 billion in emergency aid from the federal government has been distributed. those are the headlines, "america tonight" is up next on al jazerra america. just looking out for each other.

>> we are all alive and we have food to eat. nothing else really matters. >> as grown up as the perspective seems, they are kids who found mun -- fun way. >> when we cleaned up we didn't realise how powerful the power washers was. >> a few found a silver lining. >> i was imagining it would be like christmas. >> they are the perfect example of how resilient kids can be. there's no doubt the storm affected them all. now, their parents were sitting off to the side of our interview, and one mother told me this group conversation was

the first time she had heard her son describe his feelings just after the tomorrow. . our special series surviving sandy one year later. loopholes and flood insurance making it tough for families to rebuild. that's tomorrow morning at 7am on al jazeera america. >> hello, welcome back. tonight it's going to be a very dangerous night for some people. we are looking at freezing rain that is falling in some parts of the northern plains. i'm going go up a little closer and you can see how the storm is

evolving. pacific. you can see the circulation here across nevada. it's more than nevada and plains. where you see the blue is snow. where you see the pipping is -- pink is freezing rain. it's the dangerous precipitation that can fall, because it comes as rain and freezes on contact to the roads. if it is cold enough. actually, we do now have freezing rain advisories in parts of south dakota - sorry, wyoming as well as into nebraska. dangerous if you are driving. hopefully by tomorrow morning when the sun comes up it will not be a problem, but you can see it - that the rest of the western states are dealing with winter storm warnings. some places are expected to get

up to 12 inches of snow. now, tomorrow morning wherever you see this light blue is really into the below freezing point. so anything below 32 degrees is where you seat the light blue. salt lake city, you'll see 67, but go up a little bit in elevation, that is where you are going to see the snow. here across the plains, look at the temperature. north dakota 26, 27. rapid city about 28. we are not done yet, temperatures are going to continue to go down. here across parts of the central plain, you will see the central rain and where it transitions where the freezing mark is located. things are looking nice, but the same storm in the west is going to come towards the east. we'll get through the world series, but after the world

series things will deteriorate here across much of the east. we estimate 2-3 days of rain for many locations here. first of all, let's take a look at your boston forecast. you can see not too bad tomorrow. 48. temperatures coming up. by the time we get to thursday, 61, and then towards friday, that is when the rain comes in, and may last a little bit longer with the temperatures about 68. that's a look at the weather. have a great evening.

[[voiceover]] every day, events sweep across our country. and with them, a storm of views. how can you fully understand the impact unless you've heard angles you hadn't considered? antonio mora brings you smart conversation that challenges the status quo with unexpected opinions and a fresh outlook. including yours. it was a bold act of road rage. over the weekend dozens of women staged an unusual protest. they drove. it might not sound like much of a protest, but the more than 60 women were at the wheel drives in saudi arabia where there's an unwritten ban against female drivers. as part of their campaign, the women post videos of themselves online.

it's a bit of a repeat here. women proe tested the same way in the kingdom 23 years ago. just as before, there were arrests and nothing has changed. while there have been some changes, opponents warn if the ban on driving by women is dropped, it would have a damaging effect on saudi society. at's your father or husband. >> it's not just a male guardian. it's your -- you have one guardian, yes. and so i have nobody else in this country that would qualify for that position. i ntszed that i did not want to have my guardian have anything to do with it. i took responsibility for my actions, and i wanted to sign for my actions. in the end they actually allowed me to do that. they did have my estranged husband come in, but they allowed me to leave. i wasn't released into his custody or anything like that. >> just a quick last slot for those of us in the united states who may not understand this.

it's not just about driving itself. there are a lot of other limitations on women, things they're not allowed to do without the guardianship or sponsorship of a man? >> it's primarily the guardianship. the guardianship is the crux of the problem. it is an archaic, unislamic, humiliating position to be in to not be considered an adult and not a full human being. >> you cannot bank. you cannot have a business yourself. there are a number of limitations. >> that's not true. you can bank and have a business. you can't have certain surgeries or travel outside of the country. so it's enough. it's significant enough, and it's when it comes down to divorce or separation and having to have somebody who is in charge of those other affairs. that is a problem. >> wow. it's quite striking to see, and it is interesting that you bring this with the women who joined you on the roads to the attention of the world.

we appreciate you being with us. thanks for joining us today. >> thank you. >> and as we continue to consider the role of women in the world both at the wheel and in positions of authority, we note an upcoming documentary called "speed sisters." it also puts women at the wheel. amber fares joins us on skype. you're part of a movement supporting women drivers, and your drivers are quite conscious of the women in saudi arabia and even this protest? >> yes, for sure. we've all been aware of the campaign from the very start. it was something that i talked to the team about. we decided that we really wanted to do something to contribute. the speed sisters have received international attention, and we wanted to use that reach to create awareness to the campaign and to let the women inside of saudi arabia to support them. we encourage people in our network that follow us on

twitter and facebook to take pictures of themselves with messages of support. then we put them on facebook and twitter and whatnot. i think some of them did actually get to the women in saudi arabia themselves. >> you know, we're looking at video, the film itself, and we see the incredible driving of the speed sisters. what is the impression of the world that you tell them that you're doing this film? >> yeah. you know, really one of the first reactions i get when people hear i'm doing a film about race car drivers and are they allowed to drive that? we need to keep in mind that saudi arabia does not represent the middle east. the middle east is much more diverse than that. i found that in palestine men have been extremely supportive of women racing in the speed sisters themselves and not like the rest of the world. women driving and really a non-issue in countries besides

saudi arabia. at the end of the day, this is a fight for equal rights, and it's not a stretch to see how palestinians living under a military occupation and fighting for their faith and human rights would support women in saudi arabia would fighting or equal rights. >> we see the driving. what's the story behind them? >> it's about the lives of these women and sort of what it takes to sort of break outside of that box and live the life that you really want to live. >> very high-speed life. will we see them in other places around the world, or are they going to be racing on other circuits as well? >> i hope so. that's their dream, to race internationally. hopefully with this film we'll be able to help them do that. >> amber fares, filmmaker.

"speed sisters" is her film. thank you for being with us. a bitter anniversary on the eastern seaboard. we will remember the horrible night when sandy came ashore and visit the communities still shaken by the storm. on inside story, we bring together unexpected voices closest to the story, invite hard-hitting debate and desenting views and always explore issues relevant to you.

now a snapshot of stories making headlines on "america tonight." the doctor convicted of overdosing and killing michael jackson is out of jail. he was released after midnight after serving half his sentence. a recent ruling on overcrowded prisons in california helped him win an early release. access denied for chemica weapons inspectors in syria. they said security concerns are stalling its team. two weapons sites out of 23 remain unchecked. at least 13 people have died in what's being called the worth storm to hit western europe in a decade. winds up to 99 miles per hour barrelled through cutting power,

splitting trees and leaving power. one year after superstorm sandy swallowed homes and communities along the jersey shore, rebuilding is under way. some beachfront towns attempted a valiant comeback for this summer, but for many the road back is a long and difficult one. al jazeera sat down with win resilient group, kids that survived the storm. >> we were right by the beach. whether the water came in, it was like a tsunami coming through the house. >> the water came so fast, we had to get out of there. >> i was like are we going to lose our lives? >> i'm john. >> i'm courteney. >> i'm naomi. >> i'm kevin and i'm 15 years old. >> reporter: seven children from five families who all suffered through superstorm sandy when it het staten island one year ago. >> my dad was screaming for help out the window the athe firemen. we were waiting and waiting and

my lizard and bird was in a box, my dog was all ready, and they never came. >> i was in a hotel. that night my brother and father had stayed home. so we couldn't get in touch with them. so we thought they had died. i was really sad. >> when the storm passed, what did you think the next day? >> that i was safe at the beach. >> and that's all that mattered? >> everyone was okay, thank god, but, yeah, like, we didn't expect this to happen at all. >> i didn't really care about anything else like my house and stuff. i was happy to be alive at that point. >> reporter: alive, yes, but their lives were turned upside-down. >> chairs got into places we didn't think was possible. >> i felt sad because all my toys were gone.

>> for most of them rebuilding was rough. >> it seems like it takes forever to get the house rebuilt. we have to stay in an apartment for six months that i hated. >> some had to grow up fast because everyone had to pitch in with the family recovery effort. >> when i say the word fema, do you have a good reaction or a bad reaction? >> a good reaction. >> both. >> both. >> they just stopped helping us. we need the help, but they just stopped. >> fema is not there to, like, help you the entire way. you're supposed to help yourself with their help. >> school helped some kids cope. >> my friends gave me supplies. >> so you like going to school? others felt less safe in school since a couple of classmates were insensitive. >> all the girls made fun of me. go home and wash your clothes, and i'm like i don't have a home to go home to. >> for those forced out of their homes, homework got harder. >> my grades were down a lot, because we were in a hotel with

five people. it was hard to study. >> now a year later -- >> we're back in our houses, and just looking out for each other. >> we have food to eat. nothing else really matters. >> as grown-up as those perspectives seem, they're still kids that found fun along the way. >> whether we were cleaning up the first day, my cousin was outside. i shot him with the power washer. i didn't realize how powerful that was. >> a few even found a silver lining. >> i saw my toys, and it was like christmas. i was like, wait a second. it's july! >> resilient indeed. erica met the youngsters. the worries and pain of having to rebuild rest with the elders. the gotti family of staten island lost their home when sandy hit. two sons face the most

terrifying nights of their lives. one son had to return home to save his brother. the family owns now a vacant lot. one year after sandy we reached them where their home once stood. >> on the opposite side of the street. it was protecting me from the water rushing off the road. when i turned the corner off the street is whether i realized, oh, my god, what am i going to do? i didn't have time to think. all i did was -- i said to myself, i got to jump out of this car now. there's no time. it's taking me further away, and i couldn't get back here. all i could think of was how -- how do i explain it? my mother and father, i couldn't get my brother out of the car. it gets me all choked up. i didn't want to fail. i knew i had to do something and get it done. he gave me a lot of courage and

strength drawing off my brother. >> your father had sent you down there to look in on your brother, right? >> he sent me a text and said go home and help your brother. i didn't understand the word "help." take the garbage out maybe? i knew it was bad and my heart was racing. i got here as quickly as i could, and it worked out. we were there. we're still here. i remember driving here very fast on the opposite side of the street. when i turned the corner orr there i didn't have the car. the car left -- it was lifted by the water and threw me down the street where i had to jump out and pretty much swim to where my brother was. it still freaks me out, you know. sometimes it consumes me. what are you going to do?

>> dennis, what do you think about your brother today? >> well, i wouldn't be here if he didn't come. that's for sure. seeing his face through my car window was a sight for sore eyes at that point. i couldn't get out of the car on my own at all at that point. >> you were trying to push the door open? >> yeah. i kind of froze when i could have probably got the door open, and it was seconds by the time the water was up the door and the engine stopped and then i couldn't push against all that water. there was just no way. then he rolled up. he was yelling at screaming at me to push. he was pulling and i was pushing. then i don't know. i still don't know, really, how, but somehow we managed to get the door open. he grabbed me by the collar, and he pretty much dragged me back

into the house. >> that night wasn't just getting you out of the car. that whole night sounds like a terror every minute. >> there was another 10 or 12 hours from the first floor to the second floor to the roof. >> he told me, there's a chance we're going to die tonight. i said, where did you get the number from? i tried to reassure himself and myself at the same time. we opened the door and saw the water up the stair case. 13 steps and 11 were underwater already. a few more steps and the house won't hold the water and something will happen. luckily -- iwouldn't call it luck. i don't know what it was. it just stopped. it stopped coming up the stairs. we could breathe again, you know. we could breathe again. >> i was going to ask you, marge, what do you think about your

boys? >> i think they're pretty strong and brave . >> we were on the phone with them joie. we were on the phone with them all night, and pretty much giving them a play-by-play of the water rising and what happens disappearing, which was probably what did that and made them more nervous. somebody. >> i made about 17 calls to 911, and they kept tell me they were on the way .

>> i know looking at anthony's documentary that one of the things that they were thinking about after saving his brother's life, how can i save mom and dad's things. you got some boys there. >> yeah. we got dad's guitars and the laptops and their papers. the only thing i didn't get was dry clothes. when i got upstairs and my sister is a size zero. >> so many families along your community on the shore lost so much. >> i think we all helped each other. we understand what each of us went through. >> our neighbors when i watched the house on the side of the street over from us, and it -- we were next. when those houses come down, we just looked at each other. our eyes -- we just looked at each other and pleaded with each

other with our eyes. please let this not be the last night. that's what we needed to say to other people. we didn't want to go out like that. that would have been a bad thing. there's a lot of families in the neighborhoods that have been affected, the houses and people were just -- i mean, all over the place. i've heard stories and seen videos of families rushing to the attic when the water came up to the attic and they were in the water in the attic, you know. there's a lot of stories out here. ours is just one of them. >> it was a big house, a two-story and a lot of rooms. it filled up like an empty bottle. it filled up with the water. it was amazing. unbelievable. the worst part was when they took the house down. >> when you watched -- did you watch them take it down? >> yeah. we had a lot of support, but it still doesn't help. a lot of people came. >> a lot of memories here. >> i just want to see it go back up again.

that's what i want to see. >> michael, talk to me. you're the dad and patriarch in this. what do you want to see go up on that lot? >> i'd like to see a nice house razed up. whatever it has to be, 14 feet, and i'd like to come home. this is our home. >> it's still your home. i sense that so strongly. there will people that would say maybe you need to move somewhere else, maybe move inland or to the mountains or something. >> no, it's not the same. we move, and it's not the same. you have to come home. we have to be together. >> joie, you need to understand we've been through a lot in our lives, like a lot of other families. we've always been there for each other.

nobody has ever let anybody go. mom and dad have been there for each one of us children and each other. as time goes by, things change and everything changes, but we're still the same. the storm didn't take us, you know. it may have taken what we had, but it sure as heck didn't take us from each other. >> certainly didn't do that. you guys are a terrific family. thank you so much for spending time with us. >> you're welcome. >> thank you. >> thank you for taking the time. >> the gattis of staten island, you know they'll be back. ahead this week on "america tonight," it is destined to be bigger than mount rushmore. a vision in south dakota more than 60 years in the making. >> he was determined that it was going to be completed, no question about it. and i don't think he realized when he started how long it was going to take or how much work it was going to be. >> they're trying to do this their way, and i admire that.

but if they're going to do it their way, it's not going to done quickly. >> if it takes another 100 years, so be it. the fact they continue to move forward is very impressive. >> the monumental project to elevate crazy horse. meet the people helping to fulfill one man's dream. still to come here tonight, long, ice lanted and in international exile. the company called burma is chang changing, but for some sure-footed natives that means a very uncertain future. we'll explain, next. >> the most important money stories of the day might affect your savings, your job or your retirement. whether its bail-outs or bond rates this stuff get complicated. but don't worry. i'm here to take the fear out of finance. every night on my show i break down confusing financial speak and make it real.

what happens when social media uncovers unheard, fascinating news stories? it drives discussion across america. >> share your story on tv and online. (vo) al jazeera america we understand that every news story begins and ends with people. >> the efforts are focused on rescuing stranded residents. (vo) we pursue that story beyond the headline, past the spokesperson, to the streets. >> thousands of riot police deployed across the capitol. (vo) we put all of our global resources behind every story. >> it is a scene of utter devastation. (vo) and follow it no matter where it leads, all the way to you. al jazeera america. take a new look at news. it is a tradition that dates back thousands of years. elephants in myanmar used in the

lumbar trade. with the government banning timber exports, the future of these elephants is uncertain. >> reporter: he was originally caught from the wild and trained. now his handlers see him as strong and obedient. ideal qualities for a timber elephant. >> translator: some of the elephants are nice, but others are wild. >> myanmar has more captive elephants than any other countries. more than half help the timber enterprise. others in private hands. the times are changing fast. from april 2014 logging exports will be banned, but while that may be good for the forests, the elephants and their handlers face an uncertain future.

>> translator: the handler might be worried. even the government offices are worried. when logging he can traction is reduced and it'sen economical, they'll be eliminated. >> reporter: private owners who has 20 elephants are in a dilemma. >> translator: we are in a situation where we have to sell our elephants. if we don't get any help, we have no choice. we will just release them into the jungle. >> reporter: like in other countries, the elephants could be trafficked, sold, exploited and abused. in the wild they could clash with farmers. the forest has fallen below 30%, and elephants are left with ashrinking habitat. they're concerned about their fate. >> the government won't do everything. those associated with the elegant and close to the elephant in the jungle, they are

also. >> reporter: the big question is whether elephants will remain relevant orel gated to tourist spectacles like these white elephants. they're considered awe suspicious in buddhism because buddha's mother dreamt of a born. also like here in myanmar they've been reduced to curiosities. myanmar's elephants face a turning point. they have survived wars and dictatorships. now they must survive democracy and a free market. ahead on "america tonight," the fiery layers of indian dance. their moves take decades to master, and we'll meet a revered >> every morning from 6 to 10am al jazeera america brings you

more us and global news than any other american news channel. find out what happened and what to expect. >> start every morning, every day, 6am to 10 eastern with al jazeera america. (vo) friday night ... >> does the nsa collect any type

it is one of the oldest dance forms in the world with some of the oldest performers involved as well. the fall festival of indian arts brought classical dance from the temples of india to the shakespeare theater in washington, d.c. sheila macvicar sat down with two performers where love and dance are truly intertwined. >> reporter: from the lines of a movie and the stunning performance of miss america 2014. the image of indian dance that most of us have is of young women energetically dancing. when people arrived at the shakespeare theater in washington, d.c. recently, they hoped to see some of indian most sought after performers. they probably weren't expecting 70-year-olds.

auf been dancing for how many years? >> almost 60 years. >> you've been together that long? >> one year senior to him. >> 61 years? >> yes. i started in 1952. ♪ >> reporter: they're performers in the 10th annual fall festival of indian art. >> it's a common indian dance theme with older dancers. we've had five nights of the festival, and the youngest dancer was about his mid-30s, but everyone else is over 60. >> reporter: in sharp contrast to the short careers and early retirements of ballet dancers, in indian classical dance age only brings more reverence.

>> as you mature, it brings a different quality to a dancer. the expressive part becomes very much more important and the experience in life, the more you experience life it brings more maturity to your expression on stage. >> reporter: she's often called the ba rich kov of indian dance. she's an acclaimed dancer. she began dancing at age 4. that was nearly 60 years ago. >> you don't have to finish when you're 30. you only start with wh-- when you're 45 anyway. you're very much with the gravity. we work with the force of the gravity, and we stamp out the concept of rhythm. it's very, very strong. and enunciating the symbols through tapping of the feet.

>> what special about the indian dance is the facial expressions and codified hand gestures. >> as the body becomes frail -- >> community with your facial expressions. not like crying or anger. or the tiger. everything we can think and do with our eyes. so you don't have 90 or 95 and then you use your eyes and expression to move it. you can communicate by sitting with the people you enjoy. >> reporter: that's not the only reason older performers find so much success in classical indian

dance. >> you to know the music and rhythm and sand script and five or six different languages. you have to be able to interpret it and you've improvization on stage. it's almost like a jazz musician. we spend years learning the skills so that when you are in your 50s and 60s, you finally master it because it takes so long to get there. >> the partners in dance and life have collaborated with musicians and choreographers of as diverse as the ohio ballet company, there's one piece they've performed throughout their long careers. the love story of rada and crishna. show me the most important part of the communication you show the audience tonight. >> the expressions of what is love. >> show me.

>> sure. she's very annoyed because she's uncomfortable. ♪ >> she even says get out. out you go, i don't need you anymore. you've been a cheat on't need your sweet talk. >> she says please open your mouth, won't you? turn your face, and give me a small kiss. won't you do that? your anger is gone. yes, okay, then let's go with it together like that.

>> that's wonderful. that's fantastic. they have a life all of their own. >> even if i do the story every day, every day, i still feel fresh every time i go on stage. >> they met while studying with the same teachers, dance is far more than their livelihood, it's life itself. >> we performed together and learned together and then we decided to marry. so it's been like really part of growing. i just didn't know anything other than dancing. that was like my breathing. >> retirement? their fans won't let them. >> well, we wanted to actually retire, but then the musicians said, no, we want to see you.

reporti reporting, and that's it for us here on "america tonight." please remember if you'd like to comment on any stories you've seen tonight, logon to our website, aljazeera.com/americatonight. there you'll meet our team and get sneak previews on stories we're working on and tell us what you want to see. please join the conversation with us on twitter or at our facebook page. good night, and we'll have more of "america tonight" tomorrow. ...

u.s. president barack obama orders a review of his country's spying program. ♪ hello there i'm laura from al jazeera in doha, ahead, troops in the philippines accused of shooting hostages and said they were caught in cross fire. the u.s. drone strike heads to washington to tell its story. and i'll be reporting on how swarms of