>> 2014 has officially arrived around the globe. people packed new york's times square and millions watched at home as the city's famous crystal ball ushered in another new year. the new year brings a test for president obama's health care plans. patients who signed up can begin to use insurance for the first time. a showdown is brewing in south sudan. government troops are heading to bor to try to take it back from the rebels. international sides are trying to broker peace deals.

>> we have three people rolling joints for two days straight. >> giving new meaning for rocky mountain high. today smoking pot for fun is legal in colorado. [ ♪ music ] >> good morning. welcome to al jazeera america. on this january 1st, 2014. i'm stephanie sy. after watching millions around the world celebrate the new year it was america's turn to ring in 2014 with midnight fireworks and festivities, the celebration on the west coast took place three hours ago. thousands watched as the space needle went up. further down the coast san francisco had a 15 minute fireworks show over the bay and in chicago they brushed off a snow storm to view the fireworks over lake michigan.

in new york more than a million packed into times square. revellers packed in to see the ball drop. >> supreme court justice so. onya sotomyor returned to her home town, pressing the button that triggered the ball jot. she was at the center of a last-minute legal decision, hours before the affordable care act was set to take mect -- effect, the justices suspended the mandate covering workers with a wide range of care, including contraception which employees arg yud suspended belief. >> but that change won't stom health insurance coverage kicking in for americans who

signed up for it. after months of tech cole problems, apologies and an overhaul of healthcare.gov, obamacare is making a debut. >> three years after becoming law, president obama's signature health care legislation became a reality for millions. healthcare.gov's disastrous rollout in october was plagued by glitches and crashes, shutting out people hoping to shine up. improvements to the website may have turned the tide on months of setbacks and broken promises. i am sorry that they are finding themselves in this situation based on assurances from me. >> after an initial enrolment of 27,000. >> on christmas eve and the day before that, there were a million people on the website or on the roll. >> 1 million americans signed up for health insurance, with an additional million enrolling through state-run exchanges.

the administration hopes to have 7 million signed up when open enrolment ends. when some are looking forward to the coverage. >> anything that can help me and my family out. >> frustration for others, experiencing cancelled policies and sticker shop. >> i was helping the average american. how are we supposed to live. >> you don't make much to begin with. the prescriptions will kill me. those stories have republicans digging in for a 2014 midterm election site. obamacare is a reality, a failed program taking a less than perfect health care system from the standpoint of cost. the damage that obamacare has done and will do will have to be dealt with as part of any reform. now now the next step is making sure that the applications that flooded healthcare.gov are processed.

individuals who do not buy coverage face a $95 fine or 1% of taxable income. >> a lot of people don't care. they think, "nothing is going happen", until you need it. >> while the employer mandate does not kick in until 2015, business owners will take this year to sign up employees or face fines of $2,000. >> medicaid will see big changes under the affordable care act. 25 states will expand the program for the first time after the obama administration reported 800,000 people are eligible. >> there are fears rebels and government soldiers may go war. bor is at the center of the crisis. in an important strategic location. soldiers appear to have taken control of some regions, while the rebels control others. a possible ceasefire would end

more than two weeks of fighting leaving hundreds dead and displace 30,000 people. mohammed adow is in the south sudanees city of juba. agreement by both sides is scene as a political breakthrough. as they prepare to talk, the frosting will be an assess fire. how to get them to stop shooting at each other. however, many people here are wondering what else would follow as some sides took uncompromising conditions on key issues such as power sharing. they will not share power with riek machar. people are wondering what else might cause riek machar to stop the fighting other than a power sharing. are the talks expected to begin, more fighting in bor, the

capital of the jonglei state, where the government sent thousands of troops to retake it from the rebels in full control. >> that was mohammed adow in juba. tough talk from vladimir putin. paying respects to two suicide bombings in a city of volgograd. later in a televised address. he vowed to annihilate terrorists. the remarks were the public comments that killed 34 people. putin ordered tighter security nationwide for the upcoming olympics in sochi. >> the new year brings new threats from north korean leader kim jong un. he called for better relations with south korea, but in the next breath said the u.s. would not be spared from a nuclear disaster if there's another korean war.

there are 20,000 troops to defend against the west. kim referred to his uncle as factual dismissed. >> a team of al jazeera's journalists are starting the year under roast. producers mohamed fadel fahmy, and baher mohamed are being held in tora prison outside of cairo, where high-profile prisoners are kept. peter greste is at the cairo police station. al jazeera is demanding they be released >> farmer first lady barbara bush has been hospitalized. the 88-year-old is said to be in stable continue. >> the bush family released a statement saying:

>> people in north dakota are returning home after a fiery train crash. two freight trains slamming into each other causing multiple explosions. a train carried oil burning for hours producing thick black smoke. no one was hurt, hundreds of residents were forced to evacuate. data boxes from destroyed, complicating the investigation. >> utah is taking its fight against same-sex marriage to the supreme court. the state's attorney-general has filed an appeal. this month a federal district court overturned utah's ban. al jazeera's jim hooley looks at why some gay couples choose to live there. >> salt lake city is not san francisco. it's not new york. it's a great place for candice

and colleen. their same-sex parents of twins. >> this is scarl ot and lidia marie. >> not far away rachel and claudia are serving breakfast to their 8-month-old daughter loral. >> these women are among 900-plus rushing to get their licence after a ban was overturned. >> to be able to get married in utah is unbelievable. sometimes i pimp myself. like it heal happened. the ruling surprised everyone in utah and beyond. quietly out of the spotlight the gay community has been raising families here for years. >> there's an emphasis on families and children. it makes it easier to be a parent here. everybody else has children. >> that emphasis on family comes

in part because of the strong influence from the church of jesus christ. >> clifford lofty is a law professor. >> sensis data shows salt lake has the highest rate of gay parents. 26" of same-sex couples are raising families, behind san francisco's 13% in new york's 17%. >> one of the key things to remember is that when we say 26% of same-sex couples are raising children in salt lake city, that is in spite of serious obstacles. homophobia and hostility, and adoption. that became easier. >> under utah law, if you are allowed to marry, you are entitled to adop. >> it's a huge blessing, it's a worry for us that the babies were not legally protected in

utah or federally without the adoption. so it's going to make the process easier for us. >> married with children. it's a utah tradition. now that same-sex marriage is legal, the parents believe they'll put out the welcome mat for more same-sex families. >> the mormon church was a leading force behind proposition eight, california's short-lived ban on same-sex marriage. >> a storm system is ushering in 2014 with a blast of snow. let's bring in metrologist nicole mitchell. >> same to you and everyone with us. whether you are up this early or up from the revelry last night. >> here is the overview across the country. we have everything from the dry weather, bitter cold, and i know the midwest is cold this time of year. possibly so cold we are in record territory.

more coming up. >> snow and that system, and showers to the south, that will set the stage for more moisture, because as the two areas collide a lot of moisture coming to the north-east and that could be significant snow, probably midday thursday, late thursday and thursday overnight. that's what we'll have to watch for. as we continue, putting this into motion, you can see the snow area intensifying as you get into states such as massachusetts, the core of some of the heaviest amounts of all of this. what we'll watch for is because of that we have a loft of winter weather advisories up, not just for the snow, but the temperatures will be dropping and you have the wind along with it, not to blizzard categories, but blowing around enough that it will reduce visibility, making driving and travel difficult. here is the core north of that, and we could have places

isolated, that are seeing more than a foot. you see areas like new york city, around 6 numbers of, a lot of moisture from the two areas. we are seeing snow. indiana, and the other tier of the moisture is across the gulf coast. that will be a couple of problems as we get through the rest of the day. looking really dry on the west coast, but that is where we have been obviously dry and there's moisture. i'll have more on the temperature. >> a 15-year-old new jersry boy is accused of going on a homicide holiday spree. police say he killed two teenagers and shot a third on christmas day. 100 were killed, the most the city saw since 2006. >> colorado is the first state in the nation allowing anyone

over 21 to buy and smoke marijuana. we look at how businesses are progressing. >> harvesting pot is a family affair in garden city colorado. >> this is my aunt, mum and dad. >> three generations of roth work here. business is booming. we started with 1200 square feet. now we have 10,000, and we are bursting at the seems. the next row up is $10,000 square feet. >> pot is the biggest game in town in tiny garden city, population 300. four medical marijuana dispensaries account for a quarter of all tax revenues, before starting retail sales, a fact that has the mayor seeing green. >> i like to joke that there's

not a pot hol because we reinvest in infrastructure and do things we wouldn't have a chance to do without new norgey in down. colorado is about to reap a bumper crop of cash. one study says sales could hit 606 million in 2014. there are about 100,000 users of medical marijuana, but another half a million are expected to start righting up recreationally, not counting marijuana tourists. >> it's the next vacation destination. no doubt about it. we get so many phone calls, right now, being closer to the first, we have 50 phone calls a day. the u.s. department of justice will not try to shut down the recreational pot industry but some areas remain. banks are not taking retailer's

money, tleefrt for now. there are worries about crime and drug use. >> other states will see dollar signs through the haze. >> colorado will be a rich state. everyone will follow suit, if they can, if the voters allow it. >> while there are questions about how legal weed will play out, it is safe to say hopes for the future are high. >> washington state also voted to legalize recreational marijuana, but that law will not go in effect until later in the spring. >> stranded in ice. what is being down to free people trapped aboard a frozen ship in antarctica. >> a closer look at a troubling trend - homeless in america. >> autoscales is going full scale with people behind the wheel of a new car.

>> i'm mark morgan. there are great stories in college football. including one from a veteran who beat the odds to make his dream come true. that coming up in sport. >> we are looking at a live shot. a different scene a little over six hours ago.

>> good morning and welcome back to al jazeera america. i'm stephanie sy. >> the economy is showing signs of recovery and one sector that is booming is the auto industry. we'll show you what is drive people to buy now cars in record numbers. let's look at what temperatures are doing, meteorologist nicole mitchell is back. >> minnesota minus 6, and some of these temperatures are the coldest that we have had in years, could be the top 10

for the coldest new year's day in some locations, as we take the region as a hold. miami 75. the wind chill added into that. minus 20, it's brutal. they offer a lot of people, a good day to stay in bed. minnesota at 1 degree as a high, barely making it above zero. contrast it with the west coast. warmer air, not bad under high pressure. los angeles by 80 degrees tomorrow. up and down the east coast. more temperatures in the 30s and 40s, a lot of cold hair. >> back to you. argentinians are furious. >> power and water shortages during a stifling heatwave. temperatures topped 110.

the city's infrastructure is struggling to keep up with the power demand sips the heatwave began. some have been without water or power. three have died since the extreme heat. >> passengers aboard a ship are hoping to get rescued soon. >> they were forced to spend knew year's surrounded by ice. a group of them left the ship and tried to create a landing pad to begin simminging the traditional new year's eve song. tis the season for driving cars off the lot. december has been the top month for auto sales. according to edmond.com consumers were on pace to pend $34 billion. mark schneider tells us what is behind. >> you see the ads in the for

sale sign. that's at the end of every year. there's something different this year, another million and a half cars and trucks sold nationwide. >> maybe 5%, 6% increase. maybe it doesn't sound like much, but last december was is fantastic month, one of the biggest in 2012. >> >> the sales manager at this dealership says his business is not booming, it's exploding. >> 300-plus new cars from the day after christmas until the close of the year. it's more volume that most do in a month. >> so what is it about this december that has so many of us in a buying mood. first, many people need new cars after hanging on to older models longer than normal, and... >> part of what contributes to that is consumer confidence.

everyone is relaxed about spending money. ashley web came here looking to buy her first car, a cam era. >> we talked about it. that's what we decided to do. >> what if he planned to by a new truck in 2014. is it too late to get an incredible deal. experts say, no. dealers are looking to clear the 2013 inventories to make room for new models. for consumers, that means discounts while supplies last. >> as you get into the period from mid december, early december. it's a fantastic time to shop, to get in the driver's seat, if you will, to use a phrase. >> lee chapman is the president of the dallas fort worth association. recent models, including 2013s,

are safer, more fuel efficient, better than they were a few years ago. >> we are up 11% year on year, which is tremendous. we continue to have a double digit increase year after year. we are pleased. >> experts say mid-sized distance, full-sized pick-ups are the biggest sellers. >> consumers are no longer shunning big gas gzlers. last year's two top sellers were pic-up trucks. >> mark morgan is here with a great story from a ball team. happy new year. >> a cool thing about the story is we hear so much about athletes. this gentleman took a different path. former texas head coach matt brown calls it the most unique story he has seen. he's referring to the story of

nate who after serving his country decided to play for the long horns, despite not playing in college. >> a few years out of the high school nate boyer found himself in a similar situation to a few young people. looking for a sense of purpose, and fulfilment. after failed stints at college and acting. boyer boared a plane to africa, with the hope of doing relief work. >> a lot of it was the view of americans where i thought previously that maybe they were jealous for whatever reason. and meeting the people and talking to them, and seeing how generous they are and how much they look up to our ideals and our country. >> i knew i was lucky, but how lucky. >> i felt inspired to do something more. >> something more he did. the idea came to boyer in high

school. later reaffirmed in 9/11. he enlisted in the army. he joined the green berets. >> it's not that you don't feel fear. i guess you emplace it and are excited by it. >> did you have close calls? >> yes, i never was hit with anything major or anything like that. i had buddies that, you know, aren't here and it could vice-president me. >> for his full-time service, boyer was thinking about his future and that's when he decided at the age of 29, he wanted to play college football despite having played the sport. he went to the internet. armed with his new knowledge he needed a team. >> i had been to austin, and i love it. university of texas is a great

school. i knew if i was going back to school i wanted to go to a great stool. often similar to a lot of places in california. texas provided so much support for veterans. >> boyer made the most of triumphs, running past and around younger prospects. his desire, passion and commitment made the impression on matt brown who gave boyer a spot on the team. before he settles into a current position. >> an accomplishment owed to his time in the military. despite a lack of intelligence or athleticism, lack of anything that you can't growl. you can't control how hard you work and when you have your mind stuck on something and are determined to do it, if you put yourself out there and are not afraid to fail, you can do

anything, literally. looking at it, at this time, as may age, being 29 before i came to college, i never would have thought anyone could do that. i'm like, "you're too old, you don't know the sport or how to do that. i was a special forces guy. the gift i have is resilience. i was able to come to the realisation that i work at it, give everything i have, and i can do anything. >> all right. that's michael eaves reporting. >> the longhorn season and the tenure ended with a loss to oregon. >> what an inspiring story, thank you mark morgan. >> sleeping on the streets. a look at the homeless and one of america's big cities. >> the housing market roaring bark. hurdles standing in the way.

>> good morning, and welcome back to al jazeera america. i'm stephanie sy. these are the top stories at this hour. >> insurance benefits under the affordable care act come into effect. covering americans in state and federal changes by december 24th. more than 2 million is signed up. >> representatives from south sudan and rebel forces agreed to hold ceasefire talks, as thousands of government soldiers head to the contested city of bor. they'll try to recapture the city from rebels who took control of it from tuesday. >> colorado's marijuana law comes into effect. anyone over 21 will be allowed to smoke pot and buy it over the counter. buying, selling and smoking pot is illegal under federal law. >> from tokyo to times square - billions rang in the world.

g we see how different cities celebrate the new year. >> midnight in new zealand - fireworks over auckland's skye toir. >> in sydney harbour, more than a million people ushering in the new year with fireworks that lit up the iconic opera house and bridge. >> it was temple bells in japan, ringing a customary eight time, a solid tradition ringing in the new year. >> 2014 was welcomed with a bang by the chinese. >> from the great wall to shanghai. if that wasn't spectacular enough, it was one for the record books. literally an attempt at the

largest display. moscow rang in the square. tens of thousands celebrated at the isle tower. big ben rang out the old and rang in the new. in new york city millions in times square celebrated the ball drop and the coming new year. that was stephanie stanton reporting. new york city was has the first democratic mayor. bill de blasio was sworn in shortly after midnight. >> i bill de blasio. do solemnly swear that i will support the constitution of theiates. >> aninaugural ceremony will take place outside city hall.

bill clinton will do the swearing in. bill de blasio replaces michael bloomberg. the former mayor held the office for 10 years. lower manhattan was rebuilt after the terror attacks and he instituted health initiatives. bloomberg says serving new york was the greatest privilege of his life. >> safe to say that it's clear that the golden age of the suburb is over. it's being replaced by an urban rena sans redefining the future. >> mayor michael bloomberg brought economic prosperity back to some. he's been cid sist for the homeless population. >> the name of homeless new yorkers went up by 75%. >> erica pitzi joins us with more on this story.

good morning. >> good morning. we saw so many people braving the cold to ring in the new year in timms square. after the ball dropped imagine if you didn't have anywhere to go. that's the reality for tens of thousands in the city. imagine on a cold night like this. many shelters are working overtime. one shelter that helps young people get off the street into a bed. >> if you knew me, you would know... >> as they proves in her poetry she loves her father. >> i will be on the treats, riding the sub way train, sleeping in restaurants, and i would wander where i would sleep after i got after school.

she found a place to sleep, a shelter for homeless youths. i can go to work and come home to a bed, to a shower, to food, so i was excited that i could calm down and think about what is my next step no live. >> she hopes it comes in the new year. >> to save enough money so i can move on. >> hector shares the same risk. he credits this program for helping him get back on his feet. >> you know what, if i go to a shelter, they can help me. >> these are two kids of thousands who need help. in fact, the need is so great especially here in new york city. they center to turn away 300 young people a month. the reason they do not have

enough resources to serve them all. >> it's a disgrace. that's the 300 that were having 300 every month. in the city there were 300 youths. those conditions lead to a dangerous lifestyle. >> 25% of youth on the streets engage in survival sex to get a safe place to eat. >> that's why the wish for the new year is for bill de blasio to be the one to create change, not just for the young people, but the homeless population, 50,000 people throughout the nation. >> it's a crisis of our conscience. >> this is good enough for hector and ky arna. >> i a somewhere to sleep, somewhere i can dream of programs in places like this one. >> i save my pennies in a jar, to close the book on homelessness. >> my father said even you can

have the newest cars. >> this house is in 21 cities nationwide, including canada and south america. many struggle with a decreasing budget and need. advocates in new york city says there must be more education, employment and affordable housing to tackle the problem. >> an important story. thanks for that report. >> a federal judge sided with new york on its strict gun laws. judge william in buffalo ruled the provisions of the law are constitutional. a ban on large capacity magazines and riving. >> the gun law was passed last january. >> welfare applicants in floor door will not take a blood test. the florida law violates the constitutional protection

against unreasonable searchs. >> tax money was going to those that need it. less than 3% of 4,000 people tested were found to be using drugs. applicants that tested positive were barred for a year from receiving benefits. the state will appeal the ruling. 2013 marks a record year. it's largest gain since 1995 for the dow. the s&p jumped 30%. a big jump since 1997. they started low but began to rise but the federal reserve kept the rates low. the fed kept its promise to invest in the economy and the stock market. consumer confidence is up, jumping into december higher than expected. on 20 sh hiring and economic growth.

consumer confidence is nearly back to what it was in october. >> home owners was almost what it was. prices hit a 7-year high, up by 14%. but as diane eastabrook reports, rising mortgage rates could scare off home buyers. >> the demand for help turns up housing prices across the u.s. all 20 cities in the s&k index posted games. the biggest were in the west. san francisco saw home values increase. there were major gains in other regions in cities like atlanta. this man's works with appraisers. housing demand is strong because real estate investors and consumers feel good about the

company. >> economic growth and employment - those are flat and steady. you are seeing a lot of pent-up demand from people in a knew years. >> for many, demand for homes is outpacing supply. in chicago, it's tough to find homes for sale. inventories are down 30% compared to last year, and bidding wars are breaking out. >> mark and barbara home shopped for several months before closing on the 3-bedroom. >> our need for inventory is low. for places that were nice would tend to go under contract quickly. >> however, rising interest rates could undermine the latest moves. the average interest rates on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is over 4.5%. more than ta percentage point higher much rates could rise.

real estate broker scott newman thinks the prospect of higher rates prompts many of his clients to buy now. when you explain the terms, your $600,000 mortgage will cost you $600,000, ultimately they'll snap out of it. i'm a consumer and i'll play by the rules. >> newman things some potential buyers would be sidelined it mortgage rates rise. >> if it happens sellers will have to lower expectations by lowering home prices if they want their properties to move. >> meanwhile, commerce department data shows that builders began to work on more houses in november than any dort time in the past five years. the housing market showing signs of strenth, some are wondering

if we are at the start of another bubble. former senior economist with the national association of home builders joins us from washington d.c. >> thank you for being with us. happy new year. help us to understand the latest report. it seems to show a strong housing market. >> it shows a strong housing market. you have limited supply on the existing homeside, and less supply on the new homeside. i see 14 as a pretty good year. we'll see continued price rises not as high as they have been going for the last 12 months, let's keep it to half a per cent. 5-6%. on the new housing side 5-20% growth. >> why are some sections of the country doing well. >> economics is showing the

story. there's tremendous population growth. it's hard to build tore get a permit. look at west dakota. it's the same story. people moving in. prices are rising. >> was there anything unexpected in the index report, was there anything that concerned you in it. last couple ofs years there has been 10-12% price rises, they are unsustainable. if we had them for three or four years we'd be back in high-priced territory. interest rates are rising. we don't want to see prices rise at the same time. >> it leads me to the question of clearly rising prices may be good for sellers. you heard some buyers preceding your interview that it's hard to

find a well of placed home. >> it is a problem we'll see in "14, hopefully less so. it may not be a case for prices rising. hopefully we'll see an improving job mix. we see more jobs in the mid level skill areas like manufacturing and home uction construction, where wages are higher than leisure. >> we should see higher wages on average, even though they are not rising in any particular seg tore. what does the report tell us about the strength of the economic recovery at this point? >> it's getting better. normally housing leads us out of a recession, and housing and autos pull the economy forward. autos have done that. housing has been lagging because of the number of people upside down in water. as the numbers

are subsiding, a good sign of a recovering economy or patient, now we are beginning to return to something resembling a semblance of a healthy housing market. >> thank you for joins youing this morning. >> the u.s. is not the only county with a new health care law going into effect. we check out an asian nation where millions act on free care. throwing down the effect of dementia, how a common vitamin may help. >> and a look back at technology that shaped our world in the last year. >> you're looking at a live shot of washington d.c. as the sun rises over a capital building on new year's day.

>> and a look back at technology

>> welcome back to al jazeera america. just ahead a look at some of the most important technology advances of 2013. first, let's get a look at where the snow and rain may fall across the country, meteorologist nicole mitchell is here. >> good morning, i hope everyone

is starting off to a good year. we have rain and snow that we are dealing with. as we limp across the midwest, this is the next brewing system, we can see the energy skirting towards the great lakes and the north-east. somewhere like nebraska, and on a dividing temperature line, freezing precipitation. south work is the broad area of moisture. that'll be a concern. here is a look at the first piece of energy, snow, northern ohio getting some of that, and this will be what bruised up as we get to the east coast. you can see that number, but the moisture from the south blends up with that. that's why we'll see heavy snow in places like massachusetts tomorrow and friday. >> the u.s. is not the only country rolling out a new health care system.

starting today indonesia is starting to provide coverage for an estimated 240 million people. the plan will roll out over five years and will be one of the largest in the world. many report that they are worried they won't be covered. >> queueing for medical care, patients who could never afford to go to the hospital are finally being treated. the free health care plan is up and running in jakarta. the country will follow in 2014, more than 80 million poor people. >> it's a maimer break through. medical care was a guaranteed basic right. there are concerns that many will be left out. >> workers organizations protested. 35 million people will not be covered. >> if 86 million people who are

covered by insurance, it means not much will change. they only had 10 million, many will be rejected by hospitals. >> in a knew scheme people will have to pay a monthly frooemium per person, per month. this is a burden. five years ago. this man had a heart operation. he has to see a doctor every month. the government took care of most of the costs. in the new scheme he'll have to pay. >> my only business is selling noodles, i get around $15 every day, but i have to eat and pay the bills. how can i pay for the premium every month. >> but the government insists that entrepreneurs will pay.

>> most indonesians spend more than cigarettes than the cost of the premiums. >> health is a human rights issue. you have the right to achieve the highest possible status of health, okay. but there is no right without responsibility. >> the heath care scheme will not be fully implemented until 2019 due to doctors, nurses, midwis. the government started a nationwide program to increase capacity and quality. >> everyone should be able to enjoy professional health care five years from now. >> in its first stage indonesia's plans to cover 86 million citizens, more than twice the number of americans under obamacare. >> a sliler of hopes.

researchers say high doses of vitamin e may slow the spread of mid to moderate alzheimer's. the first time treatment comes close to altering the course of dimmen show. >> it delayed skills like getting dressed and holding a conversation. >> 2013 was a banner year, some of the most intriguing inventions could impact our voty for years to come. >> 2013 was a mix of goofy inventions. in personal technology shrinking technology gave rise to wearable computers. glasses sounded like a good idea, but it freaked out friends and made certainlyinga look scary. >> it will take time to work out

what to do. at least you can keep phones and tablets on on planes. apple was dull in 2013. no knew products and a growing perception that an android can do much the same as an iphone. >> why wait around for a company to make these things for you when you can print them yourself. 3d printers fell to the $1,000 mark. meaning budding inventors could print their own stuff. n.s.a. have been monitoring the communications of millions of americans destroying conventional notion. in 2014 companies will be competing to prove their products will put our text and emails out of the government's reach. the greatest area of achievement was in medicine.

scientists developed an experimental therapy using the body's immune system to fight cancer. a technique called crisper allows for genetic microsurgery, turning on or off that which leads to certain afflictions. scientists may figure out how to clone cells. it could create endless cells for research. >> what go attention this year was the brain, deep brain stimulation, a method of feeding elect rickal currents into our heads ease the parkinson's symptoms, and in 2014 it's hoped it can be used to treed things like post-traumatic stress disorder. >> $1.6 billion, and $250 researchers building the first complete brain. scientists figured out what sleep is for.

it clears toxins out of the brain. in 2014 of the discovery an lead to a better night's rest for everyone. >> at the end of the first hour, here is what we are following. >> that includes coverage for those who. rebel forces in south sudan agreed to hold talks. the ceasefire talks means a meeting between the two sides. >> colorado's marijuana laws begin, making buying and smoking pot legal as long as you are 21. al jazeera will be back in just 2.5 minutes.

>> a crystal ball ushers in another new year. >> the new year brings a big test for president obama's health care plan. patients who signed up can begin using their new insurance for the first time. >> a showdown in south sudan, government troops head said to a city held by rebels to take it back while international pressure is on both sides to broker a peace deal. >> we have three people that have been rolling joints for two days straight. >> giving a new meaning to rocky

mountain high, today, smoking possibility for fun is legal in colorado. >> good morning, welcome to a i go america on this january 1, 2014. i'm stephanie sy. after watching millions around the world celebrate the new year, it was america's turn to ring in 2014 with midnight fireworks and 50itys, the celebration on the west coast took place just three hours ago. thousands in seattle watched as the space needle was lit up in an explosion of color. further down the coast, san francisco celebrated with a 15 minute fireworks show over the bay, and in chicago, they brushed off a significant snowstorm to view the big fireworks display over lake michigan. here in new york city, more than a million people packed times

square, braving 20-degree temperature to see the famous ball drop at the crossroads of the world. senior supreme court justice sonia sotomayor helped lead the news countdown, pressed the button that triggered the ball drop and even did some dancing. she was at the center of a surprising last minute legal decision. just hours before president obama's affordable care act was set to take affect, the justice temporarily suspended the so-called birth control mandate. that mandate forces religious groups to supply workers with health insurance that covers a wide range of preventative care includessing contraception, which they argue violates their beliefs. she and god on a request of a group of catholic nuns in denver, granting an emergency stay. that change won't top health insurance coverage from kicking in today for americans who signed up for it.

after months of technical problems, apologies and overhaul of healthcare.gov, it is making its long awaited debut. >> the signature health care legislation becomes a reality for millions today. healthcare.gov disastrous rollout in october was plagued by glitches and crashes, shut i can out people hoping to sign up, but improvements to the website in december may have turned the tide on months of setbacks and broken promises. >> i am sorry that they are finding themselves in this situation based on assurances they got from me. >> after an initial enrollment of just 27,000. >> on christmas eve and day before that, there were about a million people that were either on the website or made a phone call to enroll. >> according to the white house, more than 1 million americans signed up for health insurance with an additional million enrolling in state run exchanges. the administration hopes to have 7 million people signed up by march it this one when open

enrollment ends. while some are locking forward to their new coverage. >> anything i can help me and my family out, that's what we're going to do. >> trust reactions for others experiencing canceled policies and sticker shock. >> how does that help the average american, how are we supposed to live? >> you don't make that much money to begin with and the prescriptions are going to kill me. >> it's those stories that of republicans digging in for a mid term election fight. >> obamacare is a reality. unfortunately, it's a failed program that is taking a less than perfect health care system from a standpoint of cost and making it worse, so the damage obamacare has already done and will do january 1, 2 and 3 will have to be dealt with as part of any reformal. >> for now, the next step is making sure all the applications that flooded healthcare.gov are processed. individuals who don't enroll

will face a fine or pay a percentage of their taxable income. >> you don't get it until you need it and then i panic. >> business owners with more than 50 workers will take this year to sign up their employees or face fines of $2,000 per employee. >> medicaid will also see big changes under the affordable care act today. 25 states will expand the program for the first time after the obama administration reported at least 800,000 people have now been deemed eligible. >> there are fears rebels and government soldiers may go to war over a contested city in south sudan in the oil rich state, and an important strategic location. soldiers appear to have taken control of some region witness be the rebels others. a possible ceasefire would be discussed, ending more than two

weeks of for iting that have left hundreds dead and displaced 30,000 people. aljazeera is in the capitol city of juba. >> agreement by both sides of the conflict to talk is seen as a political break through, and as they prepare the talk, the first thing on the agenda will be a ceasefire, how to get them to stop shooting at each other before discussing other issues in contention. however, many people here in juba wonder what else could follow talks as both sides have taken uncompromising conditions on key issues, such as power sharing. the president said he will not share power with his former deputy. people here are wondering what else there might be that would appease to stop the fighting other than a power sharing. now as the talks are expected to oh begin, more fighting is expected in the capitol where

the government have sent thousands of tropes to take it from the rebels who are now in full control. >> the delegations are expected to arrive in ethiopia today. >> tough talk from russian president vladimir putin, he paid respects to victims of two suicide bombings in the city of volgograd. later in a televised new year's address, he called it indefensible and vowed to annihilate all terrorists. they were his first talks since the attacks scott new year brings new threats from north korea's leader kim jong-un calling for better relations with south korea but said the u.s. would not be spared from a nuclear disaster if there is another korean war. the u.s. till has more than 28,000 troops in south korea to help defend against the north.

kim also said his country is 100 times stronger since he had his uncle executed last month for treason. he referred to the uncle as factionalist filth. >> aljazeera journalists are now held in prison outside of cairo. the facility is where a number of high profile prisoners are kept. aljazeera is demanding that the journalists be released immediately. >> former first lady barbara bush has been hospitalized, suffering from a mild case of pneumonia. the 88-year-old wife of one president and mother of another is in stable condition. the bush family released a statement that reads:

>> people in north dakota are returning home after a fiery train crash on monday, causing mull pell explosions. one of the trains was carrying crude oil, which burned for hours, producing thick, black smoke. no one was hurt during the accident, but hundreds of residents were forced to evacuate. that two of the trains black box data recorders were destroyed, which may complicate the crash investigation. >> utah is taking its fight against same-sex marriage to the supreme court. the state's attorney general filed an appeal asking justice to limit marriages to a man and a woman. earlier this month, a federal district court overturned utah's ban an gay marriage. we look at why some gay couples choose to live there. >> salt lakety is not san francisco, and it's not new york, but it's a great place for

candace and colleen. they are same sex parents of twins. >> this is lydia marie, and this is scarlett ann. >> not far away in another salt lake neighborhood, rachel and claudia are serving breakfast to their eight-month-old daughter, laurel. these women are among the 900 plus gay couples who rushed to get their marriage license when the law was overturned by a federal judge. >> to be able to get married in utah, it's just unbelievable. sometimes i still pinch myself. i'm like it actually happened. >> the ruling surprised everyone, in utah and beyond, but quietly out of the spotlight, salt lake's gay community has been raising families here for years. >> because there is such an emphasis on families and children, it just makes it easier to be a parent, period, because everybody else has children.

>> that emphasis on family comes in part from the strong influence of the church of jesus christ of latter day saints and mormons who call the city home. clifford is a law professor at the university of utah. >> it is a family values state. also has been and always will be. >> it has the highest rate of gay parents of any city in the country. 26% of couples living here are raising families, beyond san francisco's 13% and new york's 17%. >> i think one of the key things to remember is that when we say 26% of same-sex couples are raising children together in salt lake city, that's in spite of some serious obstacles. >> among the obstacles, homophobia and hostility. another, adoption just became easier. >> if you're allowed to marry, you're entitled to adopt. >> it's a huge bless i can. it would have been a -- well, it's just been a worry for us that the babies weren't legally

protected in utah or federally without the adoption, and so it's going to make the process much easier for us. >> married with children, it's a utah tradition. now that same-sex marriage is legal here, these parents believe they will be put out the welcome mat for many more same sex families. >> supreme court justice sonia sotomayor said backers will have to respond to the ruling by noon friday. >> 2014 is welcomed in with a big blast of snow. let's bring in meteorologist nicole mitchell. happy new year. >> same to you. if you're one of those people that think the first day of the year helps set the tone, it's going to be a cold tone for the northern tier of the country. snowing south of that line and as we get to the deep south, more rain. these two areas, the snow and the rain are actually kind of

moving up the coast as we get into tomorrow, and that that's going to cause a big weather system in terms of snow. here's how all that plays out. we are putting this into motion. through the rest of the day, more of this moves around the lakes. tomorrow morning, you can see moisture from the south lifting up. that will enhabs all of that, so as we get all of that into play for thursday, starting mid-day and later especially is the best chance for that new the northeast, but then it stays very neolate thursday, especially thursday night and then possibly liquoring into friday morning, the system will bring a lot of wind with it, reducing visibility, that could make it difficult trying to get around. friday morning, that commute could be a bear. because of all of that, we are seeing winter storm watches in effect. they are watches right now, because we're preparing. i wouldn't be surprised if some of these convert to warnings as we get closer to the time.

as we continue on, the heaviest part of the snow is going to be some of the lighter blue, four to six-inches, maybe more in a couple isolated supposed. some places in this heavy core, parts of massachusetts easily could get over a foot, isolated locations more than that. this is going to be a big mess hiding into the weekend. bigger picture right now, we already have that band of snow. this morning, in nebraska, we are starting to deal with that and farther to the south, we are going to see from texas to louisiana, a little more widespread into parts of florida. i mentioned the cold. i'll have more on the details that have. that could be record-setting, as well. that's coming up. >> ok, nicole mitchell, thank you. >> a 15-year-old new jersey boy is accused of going on a homicide holiday spree. police in newark, new jersey said he killed two other teenagers and shot a third on christmas day.

colorado is the first state in the nation to allow anyone over 21 to legally buy and smoke marijuana. we report on how local businesses and communities are already benefiting from the pot the trade. >> harvesting and processing pot is a family affair here. >> this is my aunt judy and my mom and this is my dad. >> three generations work here and business is booming. >> we started out with 1200 square feet, and right now, we've got about 10,000 square feet all finished and we're bursting at the seems. the next grow off we're finishing is 10,000 square feet and we have plans for two or three for facilities of that size. >> pot is the biggest game in town in typy garden city, population 300. the four medical dispensaries account for a quarter of all tax revenues and that's before they start retail sales, a fact that

has the mayor seeing green. >> there's not a pothole in my entire town, because we've been able to reinvest in our infrastructure and do some had things that we wouldn't have a chaps to do without new industry or new energy in town. >> colorado is about to reap a butcher crop of cash, thanks to legal weed. one study said sales could hit $606 million in 2014. right now, there are about 100,000 users of medical marijuana in the state, but another half million expected to start legally lighting up recreationally. that's not even counting marijuana tourists. >> it's the next vacation destination. no doubt about it. that i mean, we get so many phone calls a day. i would say right now, being closer to the first, we're getting 50 phone calls a day. >> the u.s. department of justice has said it won't try to shut down the recreational pot industry, but some gray areas

remain. banks, proceedings, aren't taking marijuana retailers money at least for now, and there are of course worries about increased crime and underage drug use, but john thinks other states will soon see dollar signs through the haze. >> colorado's going to be one of the richest states and eventually i think everyone will follow suit, if they can. if the voters allow it. >> so while there are questions about exactly how legal weed will play out here in colorado, it is safe to say that hopes for the future are high. paul beban, aljazeera denver are. >> washington state voted to legalize recreational marijuana, but that law won't go into effect until later in the spring. >> celebrating the new year on ice, how people stuck on a ship in antarctica range in 2014. >> a record run for wall street, by the markets are starting newt year off with a bang. >> no place to live and new york city was behind the dramatic

jump in homelessness here.

>> you're looking at a live shot of new york city, the heart of mid town, pretty empty, a much different scene than over seven hours ago. welcome back to aljazeera america, on this new year's day. just ahead with the new year comes new laws. we'll look at new rules and regulations that are now if i recallly on the books. first, let's look at what temperatures we can expect across the nation today. meteorologist nicole mitchell is back. >> a lot of people have the day off and you might be taking advantage of that to kind of dig in and under the covers today as we head towards part of the midwest. it's typically cold this time of year, january, as we get into states like minnesota, but minus six, that's well below average and some of these temperatures will start with record lows. this is one of the top 10 for the region, coldest new year's that we're going to see once everything is said and did you and all those numbers come in. the rest of the country, 46 in

houston, 47 in los angeles, so we do have a few places that's a little more tolerable. the midwest, we add wind into it and feels like minus 24 fargo. a lot of people will probably be taking advantage of the chance to stay in with a day off and some of the temperatures don't go above zero for the entire day. if you want some warmer air, head to maybe vegas, 63 degrees. that that was probably a fun news spot last night. then into the day tomorrow, miami, 83 degrees. that sounds good. back to you. >> for real heat, you can head to south america where people in argentina are furious over power and water shortages during the stifling heatwave. in buenos aires, people protested as temperatures topped 110 degrees. the city's infrastructure is struggling to keep up with the power demand since the heatwave began last month.

some have been without water or power for two weeks. >> passengers stuck aboard a ship in antarctica forced them to spend news surrounded by chick ice. despite being trapped, their spirits seemed high. that a group left the strip and tried to create a landing pad for a rescue helicopter, even began singing the traditional new year's eve song. >> a federal judge sided with new york on its strict gun control laws. activists filed suit against new york saying a ban on large capacity magazines and semiautomatic rifles in training on second amendment rights. the judge in buffalo ruled most of the provisions in the law are constitutional. he did strike down a rule saying gun owners could not load magazine clips with more than seven rounds. >> people in florida will no

longer have to take a drug test to receive welfare. a federal judge ruled the allow is unconstitutional. governor scott signed the law that make sure tax money was going to those who really needed it. since it took affect in 2011, less than 3% of the 4,000 people tested were found to be using drugs. applicants who tested positive were barred from a year from receiving benefits. the state mr. and mrs. to appeal the ruling. >> there are about 40,000 new laws slated to go into effect nationwide this year, many of them starting today. aljazeera takes a look at some of the laws that could impact you. >> some guns are banned in connecticut following the shooting deaths of 26 at new town sandy hook elementary school. gun owners lined up to rental at her assault rifles and ammunition mag deeps that can hold more than 10 rounds. >> basically, what the law is, you have to declare dehe attachable magazines. >> in order to keep them legally.

>> if cigarettes are getting a lot of attention in the new year with a new ban on smoking e cigarettes in public places. the big apple joins four other states imposing this law and several others are debating whether to restrict the devices. >> if you got or gave a pet for the holidays, the new pet lemon law in illinois allows a new owner to return a pet or be reimbursed for vet bills if they coffer any undisclosed illness. illinois is duraking down on drivers who pass stopped school buses. schools can in stall cameras to catch them. in california, students can choose a bathroom or sport on the gender they identify with, not what they were born with. in wisconsin be you can drink while riding in a portable pub that takes you from bar to bar. some may take effect several

months into the new year, but 2014 will bring more changes than just a calendar year itself. aljazeera, new york. >> one of the most controversial laws for the new year is part of the affordable care act. starting this year, adults will have to pay a penalty of $95 or 1% of the family's income if they do not have health insurance. >> 2013 marked a record year for the u.s. stock market. the dow rose more than 26% over the year, its largest gain since 1995. the s and p. jumped 30%, it's biggest one year jump since 1997. the rally started when the federal reserve promised to keep interest that rates low. it kept its promise. consumer confidence also up, it jumped in december higher than expected with higher forecast on hiring and economic growth. consumer confidence is nearly

back to its level before the government shutdown in october. >> celebration preparations for the biggest night of the year, an inside look at how one major city got ready to ring in 2014. >> sleeping on the streets, the growing number of homeless in one of america's biggest cities. >> the u.s. isn't the only country with a new health care law going into effect today. an asian nation where millions of people will be able to access health care. >> football and calculus go hand-in-hand, right? for one big 10 player, it's a perfect match. that story coming up in sports. you live news at the top of

every hour. >> here are the headlines at this hour. >> only on al jazeera america.

>> an exclusive "america tonight" investigative series >> we traveled here to japan to find out what's really happening at fukushima daiich >> three years after the nucular disaster, the hidden truth about the ongoing cleanup efforts and how the fallout could effect the safety of americans >> are dangerous amounts of radioactive water, leaking into the pacific eververyday? >> join america tonight's michael okwu for an exclusive four part series, as we return to fukushima only on al jazeera america >> welcome back to aljazeera america. i'm stephanie sy and these are our top stories at this hour. insurance benefits under the affordable care act go into effect today, covering americans who purchased through exchanges by december 24.

so far, more than 2 million people have sign said up. >> representatives from the government of south sudan and rebel forces agreed to hold ceasefire talks. the agreement comes as thousand of government soldiers head to the contested city of boar. they are expected to take the city from the rebels. >> colorado's new recreational marijuana law goes into effect today. anyone over 21 will be able to buy pot in licensed stores. it is still illegal under federal law. >> syria failed to meet a deadline to hand over the first part of its chemical weapons stockpile. two ships sent to collect the arsenal were forced back. access to the weapons has been thwarted by heavy fighting. >> this blast was caused by a barrel packed with explosives dropped from a syrian air force aircraft, according to the voiceover on this video posted on line. the target is a damascus suburb.

forces loyal to president bashar al assad have been intensifying their attacks on rebel-controlled areas across syria. the regime may have been stripped of its chemical weapons but that seems to have little effect on that its campaign against anti-government forces. the ship were that were supposed to take those chemical weapons out are returning to port empty. the combination of bad weather and poor security on the ground means the december 31 deadline to take the weapons out of syria hasn't been met. >> everything which syria needs to complete the process of removing and transporting out of syria the chemicals, all the equipment has been provided and has been delivered, so now it's a matter of getting the train rolling. wwe understand that a number of factors have made the syrian authorities unable to meet the

31 december deadline. >> the organization for the prohibition of chemical weapons says it's still on track for the june 30 deadline when syria's chemical weapons program must have been dismantelled. the syrian government is responsible for removing, packing and transporting the chemical weapons to the port. earlier this month, bashar al assad forces gained control of the highway hunk lineuping the roads to the coast, but con voice are still vulnerable to attack. it is the conventional weapons causing death and destruction. this is in southern syria on new year's eve. more than 46,000 civilians have been killed since the con applicant began in 2011. >> the british-based observe tore for human rights said

130,000 people have been killed since the conflict began in march, 2011. the overwhelming majority have been killed by conventional arms, not chemical weapons. >> millions in the u.s. range in 2012 last night but not before flexion around the rest of the world did it first. >> 3-2-1. >> tie you was not counted down to 2014 more than 16 hours ago. that here you see celebrations in taipei. >> in moscow, security was tight in red square, but the fireworks blasting over the cathedral were spectacular. big ben range in the new year in london. they called it a multi-sensory display. the spectacle included peach snow, edible banana confetti and orange scented bubbles. >> for years in seattle, new year's eve reveler's watched

fireworks near the space needle. setting it up is no simple task. >> that's the way it looked last night as seattle welcomed 2014, but let's rewind, go back in time and see what it took to produce this show. first of all, a talent and a stomach for high altitude work. >> you don't look down, because if you start looking down, you get vertigo. you focus on what you're doing and go to the next one. >> we know how to handle explosives, but now we have to handle them 600 feet off the ground. >> a 12 person crew works three days prepping the space needle for one of the world's largest fireworks display. >> this is a world icon struckure. >> it's a special challenge, placing charges where they'll accentuate the architecture. >> with a structure like this, we've got the opportunity with the circular roof and then we have the opportunity with the

legs, vertically, so we'll be moving things up and down the regulars as we go through the show, too. >> the fireworks are prepacked and lefted on to the roof and legs for careful positions, each effect with a specific rule. >> this is the 26th year they've lit the fuse, but this doesn't get old. there's always something new. >> new for 2014, more motion, waves and waterfalls of light. >> com by thatting tilt, we can create wave movement be which are unique to the structure because of the sauce as her roof. >> this is an early animated version of what the show should look like, a designer's vision, a vision which the crew brought to reality on new year's eve. >> basically, that's our show. all of this takes place in eight minutes. >> a computer printout details every split second of action, choreographed to music.

how many separately explosions or effects? even the boss won't put a solid number on it. >> we have 1750 lines of code, which is february 50 cows that will actually be shot. each cue is anywhere from one to about 100 items, so if you start doing the math, it's thousands and thousands, a whole bunch. >> which translates into a whole bunch of fun and a memorable first few minutes of the new year. aljazeera, seattle. >> the seattle space needle stands 605 feet tall and can withstand winds of up to 200 miles an hour. back in 1999, the city designated it a historic landmark. >> new yorkty has its first democratic mayor in 20 years, work in outside his home in brooklyn shortly after midnight. >> i, bill deplaza yo do solemnly swear that i will support the constitution

of the united states. >> he replaces the former mayor michael bloomberg. crime was dramatically reduced in the city, lower manhattan rebuilt after the 9/11 terror attacks and he initiated self health initiatives, including bans on smoking indoors and large sodas. bloomberg said the city will be playing a growing role in america. >> it's clear that the golden age of the suburb is over, and it is being replaced bay new urban renaissance that is edefining the future. >> while bloomberg proceeded in bringing prosperity back to new york, he's been criticized for the city's growing homeless

population. during his administration, the number of homeless went up by nearly 75%, aljazeera explains what's hinte behind the rise. >> raising small children would be tough for any mol, danielle is doing it without a home. >> when you're homeless, it makes it 20 times more pressure and i want the best for my kids and this is not the best. >> this is where they've stayed for a year and a half, along with more than 90 our families, at a city-funded shelter in the bronx. >> it's infested with mice and all types of things, and you know, it's not withle kept. >> since 2012, the number of homeless people in new york city rose 13%. >> families make up the largest and fastest growing homeless population. advocates blame the recession and outgoing mayor michael bloomberg. >> for the first time in three decades, there's no permanent

housing assist oops to help children and families move from shelters to homes. >> he abandoned policies for the homeless and made cuts in states and federal funding, opting to to expand the shelters. that rents are rising across new york city to an average of more than $3,000 a month. >> most low in come and homeless people can't afford to rent in this city and subsidized public housing simply doesn't have enough openings. >> the soup kitchen at the church serves around 1200 people a day, more than it ever has over the past three decades. >> some college students, they come out, captain find a job, a lot of people who are underemployed, people in between jobs, people really struggling. >> many of them are homeless or on the verge of being homeless, like sharon scott, a mother of

five. >> the mayor and president has to do something. this must come to an end. >> danielle agrees and says without more help from city hall, her family will be stuck in a shelter. >> people look at us like we're not trying to do nothing, but that's a lie. i do everything for my kids. in work many jobs and in keep working, but again, with the minimum wage and no housing, how is it possible? >> bill deblasio who campaigned as an anti bloomberg populist has promised to help the poor. starting january 31, he'll get that chance as mayor. aljazeera, new york. >> according to the coalition for the homeless, there were more than 50,000 homeless in new york city in 2013. >> new year's day is traditionally the showcase for college football bowl games and we are here with those who accel in the classrooms as well. >> we found someone who gives weight to both the academic world and performance on the

field, as well. over the last decade or so, the term student athlete has started to take on a different meaning at the major college level. lucrative deals and the need to win now has made college football big business. as we report, a former penn state football player was able to balance both and made his mark in the classroom, as well. >> at 6'3", 300 pounds, penn state offensive lineman john would appear to be more super jock than scholar, but when you look at his are resume, scholar may not describe his academic prowess. he carries a 4.0g.p.a. while working towards his second masters degree and teaches calculus. for his efforts, he picked up college football's top academic awards this season with the senior class awards given to the

top senior athlete in college football, as well as the trophy known as the academic heisman. >> i look like a football player. i'm a little wide, but people are surprised to hear that i'm a math major and surprised to hear how well i do in the class rule. i'm equally competitive with both. i just try to accel in both the class rom and on the football field, and i just have a drive to be the best as what i do. >> while he he truly loves the game of football, mathematics will always be his first true love. >> there's something about mathematics, the beauty of it, how there's an explanation for everything. there's rigorous proof, and i'd say some of the proofs i get to see day in and day out, some of the most beautiful things. >> oftentimes, we talk about athletes who are very good students, as well. we talk about the transfer of, you know, being able to analyze the situation, use part of information to execute. >> that really true and is there

really a help from using the classroom aspect on the football field? >> there's definitely a carry over, especially for offensive lineman. i think having to go to the line, look at what the defense is showing you, make calls, make adjustments, it's nice when you have intelligent offensive linemen. that definitely helps me. >> how much his academic abilities help his nfl future is yet to be determined as he is rewarded as only the 13th best offensive guard in the 2014 nfl draft class and the 238th best prospect overall by cbs sports. >> i intend to thin for the nfl combine. i feel that anyone who, you know, truly loves something, wants to do it at the highest level, and afterwards, however many years my career will be, i intend to go back to school and get my p.h.d. in math. >> he will likely continue to be one of the positive aspects of the penn state football program, as the school continues to

recover from the damage of the jerry sandusky sexual assault scandal, which not only resulted in the former assistant coach going to prison and firing of the legendary coach joe paterno, but the sanctions of a scholarship reduction and four year bowl ban for the in it know lions. >> i'm just on thattorred to be able to represent my university as best i can. it's a university that's done a lot for me, given me the privilege of being on full scholarship, alleviating that financial responsibility from my mother, allowing he me to get a master's degree and i'm currently working on my second masters. i just -- i take it as a responsibility i have to my university for all thee done for me, and i do it with pride. >> all right, michael eaves reporting. >> with football season over, his teaching and tutoring duties take center stage. he has limited spare time but enjoys playing his fender guitar

and honing his chess skills, as well. >> what doesn't that guy do? >> i know. i don't see how he has time in the day to do the fun things, right? >> thank you. >> the u.s. is not the only country rolling out a new health care system. indonesia is going to start providing coverage today affecting 240 million people. the plan rolls out over the next five years and eventually will be one of the largest in the world. as aljazeera reports, many are already worried they won't be covered. >> cueing for medical care, patients neve before able to go to the hospital finally treated. the free health care plan is up and running. the whole country will follow in 2014 when 80 million poor people will get insurance. >> national health care for all,

that will be before it was a guaranteed right, but many fear they will be left out. >> workers organization have protested, saying more than 35 million people who live just above the poverty line will not be covered. >> if 86 million people will be covered by insurance, this means that not much will change. the government already covers them with anti poverty programs, the new scheme, they only add 10 million people, this means that many will be rejected by hospitals. >> in the new scheme, people known as near poor will have to pay a momentum premium of around $2.50 per person per month. for many, this is quite a burden. five years ago, he had a heart operation. the government took care of most of the cost. in the new school, we will have to pay the month insurance premium. >> my only business is selling

noodles. i get around $15 every day, but then i still have to eat, and pay all the bills, so you can count yourself how can i pay for the premium every month. >> but the government insists that small entrepreneurs will be able to pay and argues many poor in dough he national leagues spend more money on cigarettes than the cost of the premium. >> it's a human rights issue. health is a human rights issue. you have the right to achieve the highest possible status of health. ok? but there is no right without responsibility. >> there will be a lack of doctors and mid wives in remote areas. the government has started a national program to increase quality so everyone will be able

to enjoy national health care five years from now. >> to give you a sense of the scale of the project, in its first stage, the new program will cover 86 million uninsured citizens. that's more than twice the number of uninsured americans that would be covered under obama care. >> remembering some of the important people the world lost in 2013. plus a deadly threat to the bald eagle. what's killing the emblem of america. >> the stream is uniquely interactive television. we depend on you, >> you are one of the voices of this show. >> so join the conversation and make it your own. >> the stream. weeknights 7:30 et / 4:30 pt on al jazeera america and join the conversation online @ajamstream.

>> good morning, welcome back to aljazeera america. i'm stephanie sy. >> a look back at some of the notable figures we lost in 2013, but first let's get a look at the snow and rain we face across the u.s. today. meteorologist nicole mitchell is back. >> we have a couple pieces of energy causing problems already and really when they get together, it's going to cause more concerns into the day tomorrow. we're starting off with, you can see this line, nebraska to south of the great lakes, we've been dealing with the snow.

with the wind pattern, a little lake affect that we'll expect in places like new york. we also have the energy to the south bringing rain into anywhere from texas all the way through florida, so we'll watch for that. but remember, once this combines with what we have into the midwest, that's going to pound the northeast tomorrow. back to you. >> nicole, thank you. >> there is new information on the mystery illness that killed 27 bald eagles in utah last month. state wild hive officials say the west nile virus is to blame. the birds contracted the illness after eating infected water fowl in utah. five eagles are responding to treatment as rehabilitation centers. 20,000 water birds have died in and around salt lake since november. they do not pose a risk to humans. >> the world loft many great men and women last year, giants in the world of sports, politics and education. we look back at some the most

notable figures lost in 2013. ♪ ♪ >> one of the original mercury seven, he was the second american to orbit the earth. stan the man was one of baseball's greatest hitters. >> defensive end deacon jones tried quarterbacks. >> pat summerall became a beloved sportscaster. >> ken norton broke humid ally's jaw and was heavyweight champion of the world. >> he became the first musician

to get a ticker tape parade in new york. >> maria was our first great ballerina, bringing worldwide acclaim to american dance when ballet was dominated by russians. tom clancy thrilled us with the hunt for red october. the first latino to win the bulletser prize. doris won the nobel prize for literature. children everywhere have her to thank for the missed up files of mrs. base sell e. frankwiler. >> a walk on the wild side influenced many generations of rock. ♪

♪ >> fame came to folk singer richie havens after an improvised performance at woodstock. >> dear abby gave millions advice in her daily column. psychologist joyce brothers counseled americans on t.v. and print long before dr. fill. sex therapist virginia johnson of masters and johnson fame helped to make talking about sex no longer taboo. >> millions of infer tile couples are grateful to robert edwards. >> a.d. toyota took the cars to prominence audio systems and ear phones changed the way we listened to music. the chef's innovations made chicago a dining destination.

>> peter o'toole shot to fame, nominated for more oscars than any other actor without winning until honored for lifetime achievements. joan fontaine won two oscars. the sopranos turned james began gandolfini into a huge star. >> americans first fell in love with annette funicello from the mickey mouse club. >> with all in the family's eating digit bunker, she became a symbol of the feminist

movement. julie harris was the first woman of the theater to win five tony awards. >> jonathan winters unpredictable comedy kept generations of americans laughing. hollywood careers and movies could go boom or bust depending which way roger ebetter held his thumb. his way with words made him the country's leading movie critic. >> helen thomas spent five decades covering and some might say badgering presidents at the white house. she was a trailblazer for women journalists. >> at first, critics mocked u.s.a. today, calling it mcpaper, but it's founder al new heart had the last laugh when it became the widest circulated print newspaper in the country. >> michael hastings reporting brought down the top commander of sufficient forces in afghanistan. david frost talked you with richard nixon, maybe the most

watched political interview in history. speaker of the house served 30 years in congress. frank lawsuitenburg of new jersey served almost 30 years in the senate. >> feisty and beloved by new yorkers, mayor ed koch led it to economic boom. >> the iron lady margaret thatcher was britain's first prime minister. her strong alliance with ronald reagan helped end the cold war. >> mel son mandel in a triumph factual release, generous spirit and towering world substitute at your as the countries first black president helped heal a racial divide. they will all be remembered.

>> at the end of our second hour, del walters unions us with a look at what we're following this morning. good morning. >> major benefits under the affordable care act taking effect today includes coverage for those who purchased insurance before december 24. >> government and rebels in south sudan agree to talks. the ceasefire talks marking the first meeting between the two sides since that conflict began in mid december. >> colorado's new marijuana law makes buying and selling pot in the state legal as lock as you're 21. we'll be back more in two and a half minutes on this chilly morning in the big apple.

>> the new year brings a big test for president obama's health care plan. patients who signed up can now begin using their new n tort first time. >> bracing for a big blast of winter, nasty storm could impact 7 million americans. >> a showdown brewing in south sudan, government troops head to a city controlled by rebels trying to take it back while international pressure is mounting for a peace deal. >> we have three people who have been rolling joints for three days state i don't rocky mountain high, starting today, smoking pot for fun is legal in colorado.

>> good morning, welcome to aljazeera america. i'm del walters, and happy new year. today, after months of technicalle problems, apologies and that overhaul of healthcare.gov, making its long debut, the affordable care act. stephanie sy taking a closer look at what today's deadline really means. >> three years after becoming law, president obama's signature health care legislation becomes a reality for millions today. healthcare.gov disastrous rollout in october was plagued by glitches and crashes, shutting out people hoping to sign up. improvements to the website in december may have turned the tide on months of setbacks and broken promises. >> i am sorry that they, you know, are finding themselves in this situation based on assurances they got from me. >> after an initial enrollment of just 27,000.

>> on christmas eve and day just before that, there were about a million people either on the website or made a phone call to enroll. >> according to the white house, more than 1 million americans signed up for health insurance with an additional million through state run exchanges. the administration hopes to have 7 million people signed up by march 31, when open enrollment ends, and while some are looking forward to their new coverage. >> anything that can help me and my family out, that's what we're going to do. >> frustration for others, and for others, sticker shock. >> how is this helping the average american working 40 to 50 hours a week? how are we supposed to live. >> you don't make that much money to begin with and the prescriptions are going to kill me. >> this has republicans digging in for a fight. >> obamacare is a reality. unfortunately, it's a failed program that is taking a less than perfect health care system from a standpoint of cost and

making it worst, so the damage that obamacare has already done and will do on january 1, 2 and 3 will have to be dealt with as part of any reform. >> for now, the next step is making sure all of the applications that flooded healthcare.gov are properly processed. individuals who don't buy coverage face a $95 fine or 1% of their taxable income. >> a lot of people go about it as in they don't care, nothing ain't going to happen to me until you need it and then you panic. >> while the employer mandate doesn't kick in until 2015, workers will that i can this year to sign up employees or face fines of $2,000 per employee. >> that is stephanie sy reporting. medicaid will see big changes under the affordable care act today. 25 states expanding the program now for the first time, the white house saying at least 800,000 people have now been deemed eligible. >> supreme court justice sonia

sotomayor making a surprising legal decision hours before the affordable care act was supposed to take effect, suspending the birth control mandate. the justice acting on a request from a group of nuns in denver. >> a major storm system could be bricking lots of snow for lots of people. for more, we turn to nicole mitchell. >> this could be a brutal start to newt year. all right today, we're starting to see a couple different weather patterns emerge. we have everything from the brutal cold in the midwest and cold this time of year, but this is exceptionally so, to snow on the southern tier of this, showers in the south and the problem that we're going to be watching for is these two different pieces of energy colliding into the northeast, which could bring us some heavy areas of snow, especially as we get into the day tomorrow. this is as we already look at this scout look for today, some of this snow, especially around

the great lakes region, but thursday, more of this cranks up and you can start to see moisture from the south add into all of that, that system that's pulling up from the south will also add into what we're seeing as wind, so that will create a problem, as well. here's a look at those two pieces of energy and the snow we're expecting for the core of the heavy stuff, places like massachusetts that could easily see over a foot of snow as everything is said and done as we get farther to the south parts of in the morning, four to six inches poll, isolated spots that run high are than all of this. this is going to drop temperatures, as well as it goes through for friday and into saturday. it's cold and will stick around before temperatures warm back up. with all of this in the offing, we already have the winter storm watches in effect. it's as you get closer to the event, then the warnings start to upgrade, but a widespread area, you can see all the way

into portions of maine dealing with that and it's a combination of the snow and the blowing snow, really creating difficulties. where we see the heavy stuff, that's the stuff that could go over a foot. as we get into more of the lighter blues, four to six, maybe seven or eight inches in spots. it's going to be a mess friday morning as people try to get out. already dealing with some of that snow through the great lakes back into nebraska and the rain along the gulf coast. i'll talk more about those temperatures coming unin a few minutes. >> nicole, thank you very much. happy new year. >> after watching millions celebrate the new year's, it was america's turn to ring in 2014 with fireworks and activities, a celebration taking place on the west coast a few hours ago. thousands watched as the space needle was lit. in san francisco, they celebrated with a 15 minute firework display over the bay. >> in chicago, they brushed off a significant snowstorm to view

fireworks over lake michigan. >> in new york city, braving 20-degree temperatures to see the ball drop. >> russian president vladimir putin paying his respects to victims of those two suicide attacks earlier this week. he visited hospitals in volgograd sitting with the injured expressing his sympathies. he questioned security measures. he has vowed to annihilate all terrorists. the bombs killing 34 people and injuring more than 60. putin ordered meyer security nationwide ahead of the upculling olympics in sochi. >> a new year, new threats from north korean leader kim jong-un. in his new year's message, kim calling for better relations with south korea, but then saying the u.s. would not be spared from a nuclear disaster if there is another korean war. the u.s. still that more than 28,000 troops deployed in south korea to help against the north,

kim also saying his country is 100 times stronger since he had his uncle executed last month for treason, referring to that uncle at filth. >> barbara bush is in the hospital, suffering from a mild case of pneumonia, the 88-year-old wife of one president and the the mother of another is in stable condition. the bush family release in a statement that says former first lady barbara bush was admitted to the hospital for the treatment of a respiratory related issue. she is in great spits they say and received visits from her husband and family and is receiving fantastic care. >> people in north carolina dakota are going home after a fiery train crash, two freight trains crashing into each other causing numerous explosions. one of the trains was loaded with crude oil which burned for hours produce i can thick, black smoke. thousands were forced to

evacuate. black box data recorders were destroyed. that could complicate any investigation. >> a 15-year-old new jersey boy accused of going on a homicide holiday spree, police in newark saying that he killed two teenagers and shot a third on christmas day. more than 100 people were killed in newark new jersey last year, the most the city has seen since 2006. >> utah is taking its fight against same-sex marriage all the way to the supreme court. the state's attorney general filing an appeal asking justice to rule marriage should only be between a man and woman. laugh month the state overturned the state's ban on gay marriage. we look at why some gay couples still choose to live there. >> salt lake city is not san francisco and it's not new york. it's a great place for candace and colleen. they are same sex parents of twins.

>> this is lydia marie, and this is scarlett ann. >> not far away in another salt lake neighborhood, rachel and claudia are serving breakfast to their eight-month-old daughter, laurel. these women are among the 900 plus gay couples who rushed to get their marriage license when the law was overturned by a federal judge. >> to be able to get married in utah, it's just unbelievable. sometimes i still pinch myself. i'm like it actually happened. >> the ruling surprised everyone, in utah and beyond, but quietly out of the spotlight, salt lake's gay community has been raising families here for years. >> because there is such an emphasis on families and children, it just makes it easier to be a parent, period, because everybody else has children. >> that emphasis on family comes in part from the strong influence of the church of jesus christ of latter day saints and mormons who call the city home. clifford is a law professor at

the university of utah. >> it is a family values state. also has been and always will be. >> it has the highest rate of gay parents of any city in the country. 26% of same-sex couples living here are raising families, beyond san francisco's 13% and new york's 17%. >> i think one of the key things to remember is that when we say 26% of same-sex couples are raising children together in salt lake city, that's in spite of some serious obstacles. >> among the obstacles, homophobia and hostility. just became easier. became easier. >> if you're allowed to marry, you're entitled to adopt. >> it's a huge bless i can. it would have been a -- well, it's just been a worry for us that the babies weren't legally protected in utah or federally without the adoption, and so it's going to make the process much easier for us. >> married with children, it's a utah tradition.

now that same-sex marriage is legal here, these parents believe they will be putting out the welcome mat for many more same sex families. >> a team of aljazeera journalists starting the new year under arrest in egypt are now being held in prison outside of cairo. that that prison is where a number of high profile political prisoners are kept, one also detained at the cairo police station. aljazeera continues to demand the release of all of its journalists right away. >> fighting intense filing in south sudan today as rebel forces continue to hold a hotly contested city there in the oil rich state and an important strategic location. more than two weeks ofifying has left hundreds dead and displaced

30,000 people. aljazeera is in juba. the rebel forces control the by of bor, but what can you tell us about the situation there now that civilians have evacuated to safer areas? >> bor is now in the hands of the rebel fighters, although the government forces are not far away from bor town where they are calling this a tactical retreat and now the government is sending thousands of forces from juba and other areas to go and retake this town, which is strategic, from the rebels. fighting is going on on at least two other fronts near some of the most productive oil fields here in south sudan, fighting

broke out in the morning after the rebels attacked this town. the fighting there is still going on, also in another oil producing state known as unity state, fighting is just less than 50 kilometers away from the capitol and the government is holding up toes around that city. >> there's a meeting set to take place between government and rebel leaders today. what can we expect from that meeting? >> the main thing and maybe the first thing expected from this meeting is a ceasefire, so that both sides can top shooting at each other. how often, the delegations, some of them have not even left, the government has just finished the woke of putting together, there will be eight of them led by a former cabinet minister and they will leave juba on thursday morning and it will not be until

thursday when these talks begin, but the first item on the agenda will be how to get a ceasefire between the two groups. >> aljazeera from juba, the capitol of south sudan. thank you very much. >> the new year and a big change for the boy scouts after years of controversy, the group now accepting gay scouts in 2014. >> auto sales going full throttle closing out the year. why so many people are getting behind the whole of some new wheels.

>> good morning, welcome back to aljazeera america. i'm del walters. the economy showing signs of recovery and one sector really booming is the auto industry. we'll show you why people are driving off the lot in a new set of wheels. first, let's find out how cold it is going to be where you are. >> it was brisk if you were outside for cell braces last night. the midwest, minus six in minneapolis. it's cold in the midwest this

time of year, but this has been exceptionally cold and once these temperatures come in, some of this could major for the region one of the top 10 coldest starts to the new year, so it has really been exceptional. miami, though, if you were celebrating on south beach last night, you were fine with the temperature. the midwest, wind brings the wind chills well below zero and even as we wham up today, not going above zero in some cases, for go the high expected at minus 10. if you want warm, the southwest, los angeles, 74. >> some americans are going to have to dig just a little deeper this time of year, especially when tax time rolls around, that's because more than 50 tax breaks to put money in the pockets of teachers, parents and homeowners went away once the clock struck midnight. we have more on how the effects are going to be widespread. >> while 2013 came in with a bang, its end may mean a higher

tax bill for many. tax breaks are expiring that affects a range of americans from small business owners to educators. >> teachers in the u.s. spend $1.3 billion on out of pocket school supplies. that's right, $1.3 billion every year. >> more than 3.5 million teachers in the u.s. spend money out of their own pockets to make sure students have the supplies and resources they need. since twee, they've been able to deducts up to $250 for out of pocket expenses. that disappears at the end of the year. >> i hope that the counselors and teachers and aides continue to spend those funds on behalf of the children, but it's going to cost them a little more in 2014. >> it may cost parents with children in college more to send kids to school. the tuition and fees deduction allows families earning legs than $150,000 a year and single parents less than $80,000 a year to exclude more than $4,000 from

their income, giving them a lower tax bill. >> we hope congress makes incentives more permanent to provide certainty. when you're trying to decide whether to go to school, you really need to know the after tax expense for tuition and fees. struggling homeowners are going to face what many experts call a financial disaster with the expiration of the mortgage debt forgiveness relief act of 2007. the law pro vents for given mortgage debt from being taxed as income. affected lenders reduced the size of distressed mortgages by an average of $108,000 so that month payments were affordable. if congress doesn't act, mortgage reductions made in 2014 will be taxed as income. >> it's going to hit these people who are the very most

vulnerable, people who are already struggling with their mortgage payments, people who have been heard by a declining home price market, and that just hurts the housing market, it hurts the economy. >> small businesses in the united states create more than 60% of private sector jobs. many economists say their ability to grow will be hurt by the expiration of a deduction, less the write off oh of $500,000 spent on many new equipment. 2014, it drops to $25,000. >> just because these exemptions are set to expire at the end of the year does not mean that taxpayers won't get relief. it's always possible that congress con reinstate provisions and make them retroactive. that doesn't mean they'll come back in the same size or form. for now, it's a waiting game. millions of taxpayers and businesses need to brace themselves for a higher bill from uncle sam. aljazeera, new york. >> that two year tax break

extension that congress passed last january costing the government $76 billion if those tax breaks were permanent, it would have added $400 billion to the deficit over the next decade. >> openly gay scouts will be welcomed by the boy scouts of america. under the new rule, kids can't be banned for sexual orientation, but the scouts still have a ban against gay troop lookedders. the director of the family equality counsel is with us this morning. happy new year. >> the boy scouts have been around for hundreds of years, tied to some very conservative groups including the catholic church so what does this message mean and what does it not mean? >> first of all, 2013 in general has been an incredible year for civil rights and for the rights of families with lesbian and gay parents. this step by the boy scouts of america is a tremendous step forward for all americans and for the values that we want our children to learn. unfortunately, it doesn't go far

enough and excludes great parents like jennifer, a lesbian mother who has been fighting to change the laws. >> because it allows the scouts but not the scout leaders. >> that's absolutely right. it is essentially telling children that they are accepted until they turn 18. that's really not a message we want america's children learning. we want them to feel like they are fully equally citizens, to be respected and to be able to grow up and be themselves and be productive members of society. >> is there another side to the story, in your opinion. >> in my opinion, there really isn't. all of the research that we have points to lesbian and gay and transgender americans being fully -- full participants in society, being wonderful people, fully capable of being parents and guardians and we really have to teach that to our children. >> now, with rewards to the scouts itself, there are changes, but then there are other things that haven't changed, including the uniform. what's that about?

>> well, you know, i don't work at the boy scouts of america, but i can say that i think they have the best of intentions. i think they're working hard, they've always worked hard to educate children and bring them up with values. this is a point in time they need to make decisions about whether they value families and americans or are going to stick to old notions. >> those old notions being what? >> that not all americans are equal. i myself am a father, my husband and i have a 5-year-old. i can't imagine sending him to a program that teaches him that we as americans aren't equal and can't be trusted to take care of him and his friends. >> some gay kouts have grown older and come out. do you expect more to do so now that this law has taken effect in 2014? >> i hope so. leaders that made this change happen, this tremendous change are people like the head of

scouts for equality and the coach of our outspoken generation program. he is the sun of two lesbian moms, grew up in iowa, a tremendous activist for equal rights. by gay scouts coming out about their sexuality, they are going to change the scouts from within. >> what hams to the rest of the world now that the scouts have made their decision? are there other otherses that you think might follow suit? >> well, i hope so. i think there are schools and organizations around the country that really need to evaluate their values and if they believe that americans are created equal, that families should be valued above all else, and i think they will make that decision. that this has been an incredible year, for the past few decades, we've made tremendous strides in civil rights in this country and we're hoping to do so that continue. >> do you think the president actually opened up a lot of doors when he came out about a year ago and said that he that the it was time for change? >> absolutely. there's nothing like great

leadership. on this issue, president obama has really made it clear that americans are equal, that parents who are lesbian and gay and transgender should be treated equally and with respect and that children who are gay and lesbian and transgender should be treated equally and with respect to happy new year. >> happy new year. >> elsewhere, it was a rather big year for the dow in 2013, rising more than 26% over the year. it began a steady rise when the federal reserve promised to keep interest rates low. the fed kept its promise, meaning investors could borrow money and invest in the economy and stock market all year long and they did so. consumer confidence jumping higher than expected last month, following positive forecast on hiring and growth in 2014, consumer confidence almost back where it was before the government shutdown in october. >> apparently it's the season

for driving new cars off the lot. for the last four years, december has been the month for auto sales. edmunds.com saying consumesser now on track to spend a record $34 million in the month evidently. we tell you what's behind the drive to own a new set of wheels. >> you see the ads and bright sale signs, got to move out this year's models, great deals to be had, but that's at the end of every year. there's something different this year. another million and a half new cars and trucks sold nationwide this december. >> we're looking at a 5%, maybe 6% increase over last year, which maybe doesn't sound like all that much, but last december was a fantastic month and one of the biggest months in 2012. >> the sales manager at this dealership said his business is not booming, it's exmoding. >> 300 plus new cars from the day after christmas through the close of the year, which is

incredible. i mean, that's more volume than most dealerships can imagine doing in a single month. >> the sticker price on this one is... >> what is it about this december that's got so many of us in a buying mood? first, many people need new cars after hanging on to older models longer then normal. >> part of what's contributed to that is consumer confidence. everybody's getting a little more relaxed about spending money. >> ashley webb came looking to buy her first car, a camaro. >> we said wait until the end of the year to get better deals. >> what if you plan to buy a new car or truck in 2014. is it possible to still get a good deal? experts say no, dealers are looking to clear their 2013 inventories to make room for new models. that means discounts as supplies last. >> mid december to early

december into january and february, it's really a fantastic time to be shopping, to really get in the drives seat, if you with will to be to use a phrase. >> the quality is just unreal today compared to what it was. >> lee chapman is the president of the new car dealers association. that he said recent models including 2013s safer, more fuel efficient and just better than they were even a few years ago, which helps sell cars as much as any discount. >> we are up 11% year over year, which is tremendous. we continue to have that double digit increase year after year, so we're extremely pleased with that. >> experts say mid sized distance abfull size pickups and crossovers are the biggest sellers now. >> consumers no longer walking away from those big gas guzzlers, last year the top sellers both pickup trucks you. >> lighting up a big business,

looking at the legalization of pot in colorado. >> no place to live unnew york city, what is behind the dramatic jump in the homeless population. >> a new year, a new mayor taking charge in the big apple. what bill deblasio is planning in new york city. >> one coach is leaving campus and heading to the nfl ranges. that story coming up next in sports. ideas, your concerns. >> all these folks are making a whole lot of money. >> you are one of the voices of this show. >> i think you've offended everyone with that kathy. >> hold on, there's some room to offend people, i'm here. >> we have a right to know what's in our food and monsanto do not have the right to hide it from us. >> so join the conversation and make it your own. >> watch the stream. >> and join the conversation online @ajamstream. many worry that the gains made in education will not stick in the future. aljazeera's jane ferguson takes

us to a school in kandahar city that was long considered a success and is now facing closure. >> it's a place offering more than these girls know, a quality education in real tangible skills, a path away from positivity and early marriage and towards university and a career. since 2002, the modern stud has been teaching women languages, like management and computer skills. that they are skills that speak of ambition which in the heart of tallle ban country is remarkable. >> we are a unique school, preparing women to go to jobs. our school is preparing women to go to universities. consider this: the news of the day plus so much more. >> we begin with the government

shutdown. >> answers to the questions no one else will ask. >> it seems like they can't agree to anything in washington no matter what. >> antonio mora, award winning and hard hitting. >> we've heard you talk about the history of suicide in your family. >> there's no status quo, just the bottom line. >> but, what about buying shares in a professional athlete? >> welcome back to aljazeera america. i'm del walters approximate. these are our top stories at this hour. that insurance benefits under the affordable care act going into effect today cover americans who purchased insurance before december 24. so far, more than 2 million people ever signed up. >> government representatives and rebel forces in south sudan

agreeing to ceasefire talks as the government tries to recapture bor from rebels. >> colorado's new recreational marijuana law going into effect today. anyone over 21 can buy from licensed stores. that goes for people who live an visit the state, as well. buying, selling and smoking pot still illegal under federal law. >> with so much money at stake and so many potential pit falls, you can bet officials in other states are now watching colorado very closely. paul beban is live in denver where shops are scrambling to get ready and people are getting ready to light you. the shops are opening soon. what's the scene going to be like when they open their doors? >> well, good morning, del, happy new year to you. it's quite a festive atmosphere here this morning. we're in denver at the 3-d dispensary, just a handful of people here. you can see actually there's a

coffee and doughnut stand set up. we had a guy playing acoustic guitar a minute ago, a half dozen here, not quite the crowds they expected. they were talking about needing crowd control measures and people lining up overnight. that hasn't materialized so far, but they expect a very busy day of sales here, people coming to denver where most of the shops are opening up. there are 18 open, more as time goes on. 130 in the state have been licensed. people lining up this morning, some coming from out of tate. we talked to a couple of them a little while ago. >> i think it's going to free up people that live under you anxiety and pressure all the time of being caught and they can live normal lives. >> a lot of people here talking about it's high time, no pun intended, that marv be legal,

that people using it for recreational services can feel safe of prosecution. there are gray areas, no smoking in public, people worried about where they can consume they're marijuana. if you come from out of state, you need to consume it here. you can't give it to friends unless it's one person and in private, you can't do that in public, so a lot of rules, no driving while high and certainly no taking it to the airport. >> you said no pun intended, but the truth of the matter is, we say it adds new meaning to rocky mountain high. what effect is this going to have on the mountain state? what are they saying? >> it's going to be an experiment watched closely by states across the country primarily because the estimates are there is just so much money involved. one study says sales of legal marijuana could hit $600 million in 2014 alone. that is a lot of money of course and that kind of revenue

especially in these hard times is something states may be taking a very hard look at. >> paul, happy new year to you, as well. washington state also voting to legalize recreation ago marijuana, but doesn't go into effect until later this spring. >> rachel is an attorney who practices marijuana law in denver. happy new year. >> happy new year. >> we hear reports of people going to colorado, buying marijuana, they want to do so today, and then take it back to sell in other states. what do you say about that? >> i say that's a very bad idea. it is illegal to take colorado marijuana out of state. you can legally purchase it in-state and use and enjoy it in the state, but you could get into some very big trouble if you take it across state lines. >> that test balloon floated all the way back into prohibition. does anybody think it's going to

float this time when it didn't the last time. >> i think this is a new bottle. we have a lot of opportunity here to show that the taxation and regulation of marijuana can work. we know that the drug war has failed, and i think that yes, this can work and i think there are going to be other states that going to be following colorado said lead in taxing, regulating and legalizing the permanent use of marijuana. >> rachel, you heard the report by paul beban and the fact that the puns have already begun, rocky mountain high. is this going to have a negative impact on the state's reputation? >> i don't think it will. that i think this is a new progressive industry. i think colorado has a lot of opportunity to create jobs, to have a lot of opportunities

arise out of the regulation and taxation of marijuana. we know that local jurisdictions are going to be getting tax revenue from it. we know that the state is going to be getting tax revenue from it. i don't think that this is going to have a negative effect. i think other states are going to follow our lead. >> in fact, the state as you mentioned was going to tax it, 25% tax on marijuana sales and ski season coming up, so do you expect people are going to be lighting up in the ski he resorts? >> i, you know, a lot of ski resorts are on federal land, so i don't -- and ski resorts have their own policy rewarding marijuana use on the slopes, so i would say that people should not be smoking marijuana while they're skiing. it is still illegal to take marijuana in colorado on federal land or into federal buildings or into federal parks, so definitely be wary of that. i do think there will be people

that come to colorado to ski and then they could perhaps purchase some legal marijuana in a store at a ski resort and enjoy it after they ski, the sale way you would enjoy an alcoholic beverage after you ski, as well. >> in the long run, do you think that this is going to be a good thing or bad thing for the state and do you expect other states to follow suit? >> i do think it's going to be ultimately a good thing. you know, the prohibition of marijuana unfortunately has come at a tremendous cost to the people of the united states, so ultimately, i think there's going to be tremendous savings in that we're not going to be prosecuting people for possession of marijuana. i think the tax revenue that is raised from marijuana sales can be put to very good use. already $40 million of the he can size tax is going to be used for the construction of schools

in colorado, so, you know, it's a new industry. it means jobs, it means tourists and you know what, it's not a bad thing, we're trying to regulate it like alcohol. it is safer than alcohol, and tobacco, so i think that it's good to give adults, responsible adults a choice in their recreation. >> rachel, thank you very much and happy new year. >> new york city has its first democratic mayor now in 20 years. bill deblasio sworn in outside his home in brooklyn shortly after midnight. >> i bill deblasio do solemnly swear that i will support the constitution of the united states. >> an inaugural ceremony will take place outsidety hall tonight at noon.

he has pledged to improve economic opportunities in minority and working class neighborhoods, bill clinton swearing him in. >> did he brass yo replacing former mayor michael bloomberg, the mayor holding office for 10 years. that during his tenure, the crime rate went down. lower manhattan was rebuilt and he initiated bans on smoking indoors and on large sodas. bloomberg said serving new work was thes the agreesest privilegf his life. >> the gaudin age of the suburb is over and being replaced by a new urban renaissance redefining the future you. >> did the homeless numbers grow larger during the bloomberg administration? during his term, the number of new yorkers living on the streets went up 75 percent. >> we saw so many people braving

the cold to ring in the new year here in times square, but just imagine not having a place to warm up after the ball dropped. that's the reality for 10 was thousands of people living in new york city alone. you can imagine in this cold, that many of the city shelters were working overtime overnight including one shelter just steps away from times square that helps young people find a warm bed and get them off the cold streets. for many of these kids, they are wishing that this new year brings new hope for a new life. >> if you really now me, then you would know that i'm a daddy's girl. >> as she proves in her poetry, she loved her father. he died when she was 16 years old and she took it so hard, she had to leave her home in the bronx. >> i would be on the streets from time to time, like riding the subway train, sleeping in restaurants, and i would wonder

where i would sleep after i got out of school. >> she found a place to sleep at the covenant house, a shelter for homeless youth between 18-21. >> i can go to work and come home to a bed, to a shower, to food, so i was excited that i could actually calm down and think about what's my next step in life. >> she hopes that next step comes in the new year. >> to save enough money so i can move on. >> hector showers the same wish for 2004. he came to the covenant house when he did not have a place to sleep, either. he credits this program for helping him get back on his feet. >> i applied for housing. that didn't work. i thought maybe figure to a shelter, maybe they can help me get my own place. >> they are just two kids of thousands who need help. in fact, the need is so great, especially here in new york city, that the covenant house alone has to turn away 300 young people a month.

the reason, they simply do not have enough resource to say serve them all. >> that's agraste in the city and that's the 300 that we're turning away every month. in the city, there are a the least 3800 youth sleeping on our streets every night. >> those conditions lead to a dangerous lifestyle. >> 25% are going to engage in survival sex to get a safe place to sleep, to get food. >> that's why their wish for the new year is for the new mayor to be the one to create change, not just for these young people but for the hole homeless population, 50,000 people throughout the nation's biggest city. >> that's a crisis. it should be a crisis of our conscience, as well. >> for now, this is good enough for hector and kiana. >> i have somewhere to sleep, where i can dream. i save my pennies in a jar. >> to help close the book on

homelessness. >> my father told me that even you can have the newest cars. >> the covenant house is in 21 cities nationwide as well as south america and canada. many of them say they struggle with a decreasing budget and increasing need. advocates here in new york city say there needs to be more education, employment and affordable housing in order to truly tackle this problem, del. >> thanks for the perspective,er da, thanks very much. >> in sports, new year's day is the winner of winter conditions and more. >> it's not just college football we're talking about as far as new year's traditions. it's hockey the way it was meant to be played, the way many nhl players especially com canada grew up playing the game, outdoors. that was the thought behind the winter classic played for the sixth time this afternoon. the venue, michigan stadium in ann arbor, a crowd of over 100,000 expected to be on hand

when the toronto maple leafs face the detroit redwings at 1:00 p.m. eastern. the winter classic a casualty of last season's lockout, adding to today. the foreclosure calls for light snow and a high of 18 degrees. >> if last night's performance by johnny manziel was the final bow of his career, he went out on a high note. the chick-fil-a bowl, manziel takes it on his own, a three-yard score closing the gap to three. the blue devils back on top by 10. reefs tiptoes into the end zone for the 21-yard score, now 48-38 duke. manziel drops back looking for walker, there he is, 44 yards on the play. he threw for four, ran for one. ages still down three. duke what the ball late, trying

to run out the clock. throws the key interception to tony heard, jr., taking it 55 yards to the house. the agoies wane shoot without and after the game, all eyes on manziel. >> we just came back and got momentum in our offense and defense helping us out through the first few drives. gave us the ball back. we shot ourselves in the foot the first few drives and then did good things. >> this was unreal. i can't even tell you how proud i am of these guys. in love texas a&m and my teammates. >> battling in the bowl, watch first and goal, takes the handoff, a two-yard score, one of his two touchdowns on the day, arizona in control early on, 169 yards on 27 carries.

boston college right back into the hands of parks, wrong jersey. he takes it 69 yards without being toughed. 14o.6, arizona on top. then tosses one up to griffey. it's former baseball great ken griffey, jr.'s son. >> shifting gears a bit, the task of quickly turning around the 4-2 houston the accident sends falls on the shoulders of bill o'brien. he reached an agreement to coach the texans, the official announcement expected no later than this weekend. in penn state, he was 15-9, taking over the program in the wake of the jerry sandusky abuse scandal, was an assistant under bill belichick from 2007-2011. >> bowl games today, pretty good pairings. big 10 versus s.e.c., wisconsin

taking on south carolina. the best matchup of the day, michigan state, the team that knocked ohio state out of the national title game facing number five stanford in the rose bowl. it's been a long time since the spar tons have made it to pasadena. >> finally tonight in the fiesta bowl, the nation gets a look at him racing up the draft board. the bears led the country in scoring, over 53 points per game. that's a wrap that for sports this hour. >> michigan state, they say back. >> i know, 26 years since they were last in the rhodes bowl. >> it's been that a while. >> the beginning of the one year means the end of another. we look back at some of the most captivating moments of 2013. >> slowing down the effects of dementia. how a common vitamin could help.

(vo) al jazeera america

>> welcome back to aljazeera america. straight ahead, we're going to look at some of the biggest and most compelling 2013 stories,

but first, we're looking at where it might be snowing and a lot of it. here's nicole mitchell with all the details. >> yes, if you think the first day of the year is kind of sets the tone, it's going to be a snowy one based on that. we have already seen one piece of energy in the midwest, another in the south. they're going to merge. what we have so far snow, pretty widespread in nebraska and some of that is also trailing south of the great lakes. we'll have lake enhancement in places like new york. then we have rain all the way across the gulf coast. now the heaviest stuff should stay offshore, but still pretty widespread area that is going to get at least light and occasionally moderate rain out of this. those two different areas are merging together. here's what it looks like getting into the day tomorrow. we're going to see the snow really pile up in the northeast, a lot of those watches for winter weather already tarting to add up. back to you. >> nicole, thank you very much. >> a sliver of hope in the fight against alzheimer's disease. high doses of vitamin e. can

slow the spread of the disease in mild or moderate cases. it's the first time any treatment coming close to changing the course of dementia. the vitamin delays the decline in daily living skills such as getting dressed and holding conversation. >> even though it's officially 2014, it's fun to take a look back at the year that was. for those of us as aljazeera america, what a year it was. >> this is the first-ever news hour from aljazeera america. welcome, everyone. >> the fire jumps the highway we took earlier. this is a remote and mountainous part of california and one of many wildfires happening simultaneously across the western united states. >> this plane just came back from a fire from dropping that retardant. it's going to reload and do it again. >> with no funding, the white

house ordered the shut down process. >> the american government doesn't want the a shutdown and neither do i. >> there's no winning when families don't have certainty about whether or not they'll get paid. >> election day still not over, but that isn't stopping the speculation about the 30. >> governor christie came here seeking a second material in office and he got it in spades, 60% of the vote going to him, so much so, people are now saying this is the beginning of christie 2016. >> the website has been too slow, people getting stuck during the application process. i think it's fair to say that nobody is more frustrate bid that than i am. >> i intend to release every last document that is in the the public interest that is newsworthy and doesn't endanger the lives of human beings. >> we now declare you married. >> they were legally married in new york, but like many couples tying the knot across new

jersey, it meant more to them to have their marriage count at home. >> it was a mass shooting that began at 8:20 in the morning in the midst of the monday rush hour as thousands of navy employees and civilian prepared for work. >> it is official, detroit once the nation's fourth largest city is bank up. >> these people are the victims of attacks using chemical weapons. >> we cannot turn away from the massacre of civilians with chemical weapons. >> throwing it to congress means he's getting cold feet or he thinks he has the vote. [ explosions ] >> 11-year-old, a survivor of an air strike. these children are traumatized and scared to go back home. >> the screams as president mohamed morsi leaves office are

getting louder. >> ukraine's government is lurched into its biggest crisis in almost a decade. >> white smoke, the conclave announcing that they have chose an pope, white smoke. >> the attack on the boston marathon shocked all of america. >> we are at airport. >> spanish media reports that the train was traveling at more than twice the speed limit. >> my daughter is in there. she's been working in the garment factory for three years. >> huge waves pounded the coast as typhoon haiyan hit the central fill teens. >> it's hard to imagine anyone could live through this and then a shout. >> that's your brother? >> it's her older brother,

fausto. >> south africans saying they will wait all night to say goodbye to the man they call father. >> that's going to do it for this edition of aljazeera america. i'm del walters in new york. as always, have a safe and happy new year and remember, there are more headlines straight ahead in just two and a half minutes. one other thing, the news continues 24 hours a day at aljazeera.com.