next time. >> filling up. fema sends water to people in west virginia after a toxic chemical spill. and raising the estimate treat giant target revises just how many people were affected by that security breach. plus, paper trail. hundreds of new documents are released in the bridge scandal involving chris christie's office and they point to a cover up. hello and welcome to al jazeera america. i'm morgan radford live from new york city. fema is sending clean water to west virginia in the wake of a

chemical spill that has contaminated the local water supply. now hundreds of thousands of people in the state capital of charleston can't drink or even bathe. a federal disaster declaration has been issued. an investigation is into why and who might be responsible. the water supply is completely off limits and our jonathan martin is on the scene. >> fema has brought in tanker trucks to help with the situation. at this point it's not clear just how long this problem will last. it it all came to light yesterday morning when the industrial company freedom industries reported a leak from one of their containers, a chemical leaking right into the elk river. this was an immediate concern because their facility is really close, about a mile and a half upstream from the water treatment facility. so this chemical got into the water line and many people

started reporting a strange odor, a smell similar to licorice or sweet candy. realized this was the preparation used in the being preaption of coal, how much got into the water and how serious is the risk? >> do not use tap water for drinking cleaning washing or bathing. at this time i do not know how long the order will last. >> smelling it and including some chemicals that will oxidize the water. we've also learned that the state of west virginia has ordered the company, freedom industries to remove chemicals from their property. meantime there is a federal investigation going on officials really wanting to know how this chemical leak happened and when authorities were noifd here in the state. >> the people in west virginia are no strange to environmental

disasters, chuck was a coal minorrer and he became an activist. we asked him for his take on this disaster. >> i'm upset about it because i live with these every day and it impacts people's lives. i've seen people die of brain tumors and kidney cancer from the coal waste, where i live is a toxic waste dump. you know after they use this chemical, this chemical that spilled with other chemicals, there's 230-some chemicals that they use to clean the coal. when they clean the coal we know they actually get it ready for shipment. and the coal floats to the top. they rake the coal off and then they have to do something with the waste they have. >> that was chuck nelson a

former coal miner in west virginia. nearly 2,000 documents relating to the chris christie crisis was released on friday. >> so far the documents do not appear to undermine governor christie's position. he says he was not involved in the bridge scandal and didn't know about his staff's actions until this week. >> good morning. >> but e-mails released by this panel probing the constantly raise new questions about the lengths staff would have had to have gone to keep christie in the dark. in a september 13th e-mail, pack trifoye, laws of both states new jersey and new york. foye added, i'm appalled by the lack of process, failure to inform our customers in fort lee

and most of all by the dangers created to the public. one of the e-mails went to david samson the chairman of the port authority. according to other documents samson met with christie a week before bridget kelley the groarve's chief of staff asked to carry out the lain closures. the governor said that samson was not involved. >> i am convinced that he had absolutely no knowledge of this, that it was executed at the time operational level. and never brought to the attention of the board of commissioners. >> david wildstein wrote to one of the governor's staffers, "we are appropriately going nuts samson helping to us retaliate." several e-mails show the growing controversy under wraps. wrote to colleagues "i am on my

way to the office to discuss. there can be no public discourse." bridge and agency officials besieged by anger. e-mails were pouring into the port authority with complaints about the lain closures and the traffic jams in fort lee where four access lanes had been reduced to one. >> lawmakers who released the lateliest batch of documents, investigators feel the e-mails raise questions about authorities from the port authority all of whom as of now are staying silence. david shuster, al jazeera. >> the latest politics poll has governor christie the front runner in the 2016 presidential primary, but it's still unclear how these latest revelations

will affect his decision to run. on friday target says more customers were affected than what they thought. at least 70 million customers had their information stolen by cyber-crooks now to help customers target will offer one year free of credit monitoring and identity theft detection. a bleak december jobs report, just 70,000 were added to payroll last month which were well below expectations. the unemployment rate fell to 6.7% but there's more as ali velshi explains. >> the unemployment rate measures the number of people who are actively looking for work or working. the number who are not working. the problem is when people fall out of the workforce as they did in december basically the whole pool gets smaller and fewer people are working. so it doesn't reflect what is going on. this is something you'll see in

a dynamic job environment like this. the unemployment going down like this doesn't necessarily mean good news and.employment going up doesn't necessarily mean good news. something called the labor force participation rate dropped again this month and it's at the lowest number since 1978. >> those weak job numbers that ali just mentioned have renewed the where debate in congress as to whether to extend the exr unemployed benefits. >> the need to extend long term unemployment insurance has bogged down in the senate on hif

disparity, of economy, travel to north carolina to talk about the high tech sector of the economy and the need to bolster that. all of this leading up to the state of the union.

the president continues to put pressure on congress to pass those unemployment benefits extension as well as raise the minimum wage. back to you. >> a fire has destroyed a popular are attraction in china. at least 100 homes were damaged and so far there are no reports of injuries and investigators are trying to determine exactly what caused the inferno. this dates back more than 1,000 years. >> we've got a cool start but not as cold as we have been in the northeast. we've got temperatures starting out a lot warmer than what we've been experiencing. and the good news is high temperatures will continue to climb. so after a start, of a cold 17 for minneapolis, your high temperatures climbing a little warmer, 28, 58 for new york, with plenty of rainfall on the way. it's going to be rain also on

parts of the west coast but mountain snow is going to be the big story really in the west from the cascade to the rockies. so our outlook as friday went on, we had a strong storm system moving through but ultimately it's been pulling up warmer air from the south. so temperatures climbing up and this same frontal system or the storm is pulling in all the rain and it's going to be getting heavier as we get through saturday. do be prepared with your rain boots and your rain gear but it's going to be snow gear in the mountains for the west. now as this storm moves through to the west it's got several components to it. it's going to keep swinging little fronts in and that will bring several shots of snow to the mountains. the snow level starting out pretty high tonight so it's mainly rain in the passes. but saturday-sunday the passes you are going to need to pack chains if you want to travel because it's going to be a big problem. already you will see snow and rain developing for the west as we get through the morning hours

but really we're watching that larger storm in the east coast, going to be socking us as we get into saturday. winters warnings in the northwest, cascades, rockies, northern utah going to be problem with snow. a lot of avalanche concerns here. high concern for avalanche country, stay out of the backwoods in the washington cascades. area of yellow, considerable avalanche danger notice that stretches through wyoming and utah. that means you got to really know your snow pack before you go to your back country. >> thanks rebecca. as the conflit in south sudan rages on, plus it's been 50 years since the surgeon general spread the word that smoking kills. why more needs to be done. al jazeera america brings you more us and global news than any

other american news channel. find out what happened and what to expect. >> start every morning, every day, 5am to 9 eastern with al jazeera america. >> they have threatened our lives, our families' lives, i don't think anyone should be subjected to these e-mails and threats. >> the club has alerted the fbi. samuel said this is probably just a distraction. >> the message is the life of the endangered species is on the line. >> so what is the future? president of the humane seat of the united states join us tonight. i assume its no stretch to assume that your organization would be opposed to this. tell us why? >> well, joie there are many rare species in the world, and the black rhino is one of the rarest. because of poaching and habitat loss we should do everything we possibly can to protect them. the idea of linking a trophy

hunting exercise to conservation may make sense to folks who are involved in trophy hunting, but >> every sunday night, join us for exclusive... revealing... and surprising talks... with the most interesting people of our time... >> as an artist you have the right to fail... that's a big right to have >> his work is known across the globe. but little is known about the gorilla artist behind the glasses... we turned the camera on the photographer shaking up the art world. >> 2... 1... that's scary jr... >> talk to al jazeera with jr only on al jazeera america >> a jazeera america is the only news channel that brings you live news at the top of every hour >> here are the headlines at this hour breaking news... sports... business... weather... live news...every hour, on the hour only on al jazeera america

judge the obama administration play be facing a huge hurdle in keeping troops in afghanistan beyond 2014. afghan president hamid karzai is threatening not to sign annal agreement keeping american troops in the country. the president and the prime minister of the central african republic have resigned and thousands in the country are celebrating. the leaders stepped down after admitting they haven't been able to contain the violence in their country. christian militia groups have displaced close to a million. a u.n. group has 15 days to replayerreplace djotodia.

if humanitarian crisis on the ground continues to worsen. the international crisis group says close to 10,000 people have been killed in less than a month of fighting. >> the warring sides are meeting face too face in ethiopia. al jazeera mohamed ado is there. mohamed before we get into the premise of these talks can you remind us what the current fighting there is all about? >> well, currently, the -- both sides in the negotiations here in addis ababa are waiting for the mediators are waiting for a cease fire. concentrate efforts on what they

say the suffering the people been displaced and the killings have to stop first before the two sides can take their time and talk about the political issues between them. now there's been a lot of pressure coming open the shoulders of the -- on the people who are here, because of the united states and china which purchases much of south sudan's oil. and these threats are of sanctions some of them targeted seem to be working as both sides now say they are willing to sign as long as the wording, as long as they are in agreement with the wording of the cease fire agreement. >> mohamed i want to go back to the sanctions you just mentioned. we have reports that the targeted sanctions is that going to play a role at all in these talks? >> um -- i didn't hear the question. but i think you asked about sanctions being threatened by

the united states. >> yes. >> what the united states, whose officials are here, that are cent officials who are present as the talks are going on, thinks like a travel ban, freezing of the world or property or whoever is seen as being an obstacle to a peace deal being achieved here so this seems to be working for now and both sides say they are willing to sign agreement as long as they are in agreement with the wording of the cease fire deal. >> and mohamed ado in addis ababa thank you. >> same sex marriages are going to be recognized even though state refuses to do so. eric holder says they will be eligible for federal benefits. >> these marriages will be recognized as lawful and considered eligible for all

federal benefits on the same terms as other same sex marriages. these families should not be asked to endure uncertainty regarding their status as the litigation unfolds. >> opponents of the measure have spoken out against it. in fact the mormon church told local leaders that same sex wedding ceremonies and receptions are now prohibited in that its churches. overstepped federal authority. so far gay marriage is legal now in 17 states. 50 years ago ash trace were on particularly every table and smoking was endorsed in cartoons. kimberly hellcutt loobs at what happened since that stunning rel vacation. >> it was 1964 when luther terry released his report.

it said that smoking causes disease and death. tobacco was one of the most profitable industries in the world, hiring celebrities and even doctors to promote the safety of cigarettes. the surgeon general's report on smoking and health led the u.s. congress to explore warning labels on tobacco products. the legislation was part of the most successful public health campaigns in the united states. smoking rates are now down 59%. back in 1964, 42% of u.s. adults were smoking. compared to just 18% in 2012. in government tobacco control efforts which have included taxes on cigarettes and bans on smoking in public spaces have hepped to save as -- helped to save as many as 8 million lives. >> in the past half century

nothing else has come close to this contribution to the health of americans. nothing. >> but antismoking advocates argue there's still much more work to be done. they say the number of americans smoking may have dropped over the decades but globally that's not the case. this antismoking campaigner says in the last 03100 million people have died -- 100 million people have died. until tobacco companies are restrained that number is expected to raise to 1 million smokers. >> targeting the populations in those countries. everywhere we go, we see the kind of marketing in low and middle income countries that hasn't been allowed in the united states, europe and other wealthy nations for decades. >> even in the u.s. he says more than 3,000 children still try their first cigarette every day.

it's a trend he says will only be reversed through even stricter antismoking legislation in antismoking campaigns started in 1964. kimberly hellcutt, al jazeera washington. >> speaking of smoking, completely sold out and colorado is the first state to legalize recreational use of the drug. federal law still bans the use of cannabis for anything other than medicinal purposes,. martial arts is not something usually sorted with people in wheelchairs but a program right here in new york city is teaching people with cerebral palsy karate.

>> unlike any he or anyone he know had every taught. >> people here don't depend on the use of their legs because they're mostly in wheelchairs. >> the students here all have cerebral palsy, some are also deaf, have limited body movement. 27-year-old angel navarro has been in a wheelchair since he was an infant. he focuses on moving his arms. >> difference is they stay seated they gain upper body strength by pushing themselves off their seats. >> here karate is less about self defense and more about learning to focus and release stress. like kenny and his girlfriend angie. >> i'm not really a fighter but when it comes to angie if she's

in trouble, trust me, island fight, i'll fight to the death. >> karate is making students like angel strong per. >> you hear the bang, right? >> angel lives with his parents in public housing. his mom helps him with life's most basic activities though she's noticed that karate has made him more flexible. >> what are your hopes for angel for his future? >> to keep going independent right angel? he better get married. yes you're going oget married. >> most people with vee cerebral palsy will never be totally independent. but karate is giving these students a sense of inner strength. >> if you can turn inward and consider what you have achieved that is certainly a boost for

self-confidence. >> this realization is ex powering. roxann sabei, al jazeera new york. >> helped many cerebral palsy students with their range of motion. coming up rising tides, change in climate could be coming to the california coast.

>> beach erosion is already causing problems on the california coast making rising sea levels a real danger. brian rooney tells us about cities like los angeles that are looking for ways to adjust. >> marina del rey, cities like los angeles are going to have to start to think about engineering

a future about rising california storms. >> as we have more severe storms we have bigger waves and when those are coupled with high tides we will see more flooding. we will certainly see more flooding in those coaflt areas. >> in potential danger are densely populated areas like the famous venice beach. these power plants will be vulnerable to flooding. bigger waves and higher tides beach communities in southern california and beyond may have to begin building protective barriers for homes and public facilities along the coast. los angeles officials say they need to do it in the next few years and not when it becomes an emergency. especially in communities where low income renters live in older buildings that are not prepared to weather storm. >> those are the places where we expect to see the most flooding. they are also the communities that have the most social vulnerability. the populations that are least

able to deal with problems. >> and part of the danger of losing the beach is losing tourists, southern california gets 40 million tourists a year, no sand, not as much tourists. >> looks like the hand of god but it's actually a result of a star exploding and ejecting an enormous amount of material. this cosmic site is more than 17 million miles away. check that out. the tiled of lucky man, as transition has it, 1500 men and women gather at a shrine, then they rush, at the sound of a gong. the winner was awarded with the title of lucky man of the year, this year's winner was a 19-year-old college student. thanks so much for watching al jazeera america.

i'm morgan radford. i look forward to seeing you again at 4:00 a.m. eastern. pl the largest number remain in any mi ni nimibia, a very unlikely source a group of hinters in texas who say they want to help the black rhino by killing one.