>> and join the conversation online @ajamstream. welcome to al jazeera america, i'm del walters. these are the stories we're following for you. reviewing the nsa, a senate committee set to question those new measures recommended by the presidential panel. new jersey governor chris christie preparing to make his state of the state address. violence as egyptian voters go to the polls, deciding on a new constitution. ♪ a presidential panel tasked with looking at how the national security agency spies on you is set to testify today. the group recommending 46

changes after those disclosures that the nsa taps phone calls and collects millions of emails. the senate committee acting in advance of the president's recommendations. libby a front page article this weekend saying that contrary to what the white house says all of the information the nsa collects really didn't stop any terrorist attacks. >> yeah, that was previewing a study that came out yesterday that showed that traditional investigative techniques like using informants was more effective than the surveillance programs. now as you mentioned that runs contrary to what the white house administration officials have said initialally they said that nsa surveillance programs have prevented dozens of potential attacks. they later changed that and modified somewhat they said it

has thwarted one or two but it also gave americans peace of mind. >> what is the panel recommends? >> they'll be appearing before the same committee that we saw the nsa chief testify before. and we'll see this panel come forward and talk about their recommendations, those we have seen unveiled over the last couple of days. top of the list is ending the bulk collection and keeping of american's phone records and data. instead they believe that information should be held by the phone companies and only accessed by the government under court order. they also want non-u.s. citizens extended the same privacy and protections, and a third item any spying of foreign leaders have to be given greater scrutiny, so any orders to do so would have to come from the president and his advisors rather than security officials.

and that's significant because we saw such a blow upfrom angela merkel from germany -- she found out that she had been spied on. and that is to prevent that kind of thing in the future. >> how will this effect the president's address on friday? >> yeah, the senate judish eyre committee is cared by a democrat from vermont who is paired with a republican who make their own recommendations. and some of the ideas that they have are very much in line with what we'll hear from the president's panel, including the bulk collection of phone data by u.s. government. so this will be a chance for the presidential panel to get some publicity on this and talk it through right before the president has to deal with his own version of the proposals.

>> laibibby thank you very much. thomas drayton has our next report. >> reporter: with the threat of another government shutdown only days away the house and senate announced a $1.1 trillion spending fwhal will keep the country running through october. the bill drafted in december by democratic senator patty murray and republican congressman paul ryan is the latest display of bipartisan agreement after washington gridlock ground the country to a halt in october. a joint statement in the house and senate responsible for spelling out the details of the budget deal read . . . with the clock ticking, passing

the measure this week is critical because the current bill expires on wednesday, the same day the house is expected to vote. but the so-called omnibus bill needs to pass the senate as well. lawmakers have drafted one more short-term spending bill ensuring the go will be funded long enough for senators to vote. as for what is in the budget no clear victories for either side and both republicans and democrats had to compromise. democrats have rebelled in the repeal of $20 billion across the board spending cuts known as sequester. republicans praised a spending reduction of $23 billion. detailing vice president's high-feed train project and cutting funding to the tsa. and while most programs will see

slight increases, the president's affordable care act is not one of them. it will be reduced by $1 billion. democrats asked for and won increases for the military which accounts for more than half of the spending bill. the almost 1600-page spending bill does leave out one core group, the 1.3 million unemployed who stopped receiving benefits in december. their cause will be delayed a bit longer as harry reid hammers away a deal that will need at least six republicans for his unemployment bill to reach the senate floor. thomas drayton, al jazeera. after going five days without water to drink or shower finally some relief in west virginia. a chemical leak left much of the weert around the area

undrinkable. chemicals that spilled from a tank owned by freedom industries, the company now facing a dozen class action lawsuits. facing a series of scandals governor chris christie will deliver his state of the state address today in new jersey. last week we learned that ordering a lane closure of the george washington bridge and now there's a federal probe underway in how the governor used relief funds from superstorm sandy. the governor adding new meaning to that phrase stronger than a storm as these scandals continue to take hold. >> that's absolutely right, dell. we're here with other members of the national media and local media for the governor's state of the state speech.

we're all going to be watching very closely for self-things. first of all his body language. how does he present himself? will he be contrite? will he mention the george washington bridge scandal, and the jersey shore scandal. because as you said dell the problems are piling up on the plate of chris christie. last summer this ad was one of many pushing tourism on the jersey shore. but this post sandy marketing campaign is now under scrutiny from federal authorities amid allegations that chris christie put himself and his family front and center of the ads, right in the middle of his reelection bid. the christie team spent $2 million more on production costs than the next lower bid. new jersey congressman says he alerted the department of

housing and urban development. the latest dent to christie's reputation comes days after the governor was forced to apologize for a traffic scandal at the gorge washington bridge. a close aide ordered lane closures for days after a mayor's refusal to support christie's run for a second term. >> i had no knowledge or involvement in this issue, in its planning or its execution, and i am stunned by the abject stupidity -- >> reporter: the aide responsible was fired, others were pushed down the pecking order within new jersey politics. christie went to fort lee to apologize to the mayor in person. the mayor said he would take

christy at his word but cautioned he wanted to wait and see what the investigation turned up. and now released emails showing meetings with the governor and many senior appointees were canceled in july hours after he refused to back the governor's bid for reelection. an email reads within the past hour i received phone calls from, and list four names, all of which canceled meetings on the 23rd. until all of this same to light, christie appeared poised as a contender to make a run for the white house in 2014. and dell look for chris christie to say he thinks the state of the state is pretty good. look for him to talk b a education, and look for him to try to move on to try to put this behind him, try to use this

as a chance to rewrite the political agenda and remember he is one of the most if not the most powerful republican governor in the country. we're following breaking news out of roswell, new jersey -- new mexico. there has been a shooting at a middle school. we'll bring you the details as they become available. egyptians are taking to the polls for the first time since last summer they are voting on a referendum to revise the constitution. and security is tight. >> reporter: voters queue at a polling station. they are being asked to approve a new constitution. one that would undue many of the

rules brought in under president morsi. >> translator: yes to the constitution, and may god bring calm to the country. many people have been lost. >> reporter: these are some of the proposed changes. the military will be charged with appointing the defense min ter for the next two presidential terms, several of the articles give the military more fowler. the police will be empowered with a view of senior officers. egypt's army chief cast his ballot at a polling station in cairo. >> translator: this constitution is a reflection of egypt's current situation along with the challenges egypt and the

egyptian society face. therefore, there is a great focus on freedoms and rights of the egyptian people without neglecting any portion of society. >> reporter: it remaintains the military's right to arrest civilians who attack it. the proposed constitution also bans any party based on religion further eroding the position of the muslim brotherhood, which is already been classified as a terrorist organization. despite this another party with a strong religious core has indicated it favors a yes vote. >> translator: moving away from the constitutional amendments would lead to chaos. these are all factors that effected our party's position, and we can confirm that not only are we saying yes, but we hope

that all egyptians would also vote yes. >> reporter: supporters of the ousted president are boycotting the poll. protests against the military continue across the country. security forces fire tear gas at demonstrators in this neighborhood. >> translator: we can never participate and give legitimatesy to a regime which fools the people. >> reporter: security has been tightened for the vote but along with peaceful protest has become violence. this was the aftermath of a bomb blast just before polling stations opened in giza. no one was hurt and no one has claimed responsibility. this is the first big test of responsibility since the removal of president morsi. if they do vote yes, egyptians

will then have seen three different constitutions inless than three years. charles stafford, al jazeera. tunisia is marking the third year of their revolution. but the road to democracy has been rocky. >> reporter: during the revolution this main tunisian avenue was filled with the sound of protesters. now there is music. this is a national army band. at the time the army stood by the people and not tunisia's dictatorship, but three years on there are mixed feelings about what has been achieved. >> translator: we have the same problems if not more. tunisians are divided between religion and democracy. >> translator: it's a blessing

that we got rid of that man. now we have to work hard in hard. >> reporter: they are talking about this man. his departure marks the beginning of the so-called arab spring. the revolutions in libya and other areas have been hit by violence. in tunisia the path to a functioning democratic state hasn't been easy. they still have some of the problems that created the revolution issues like unemployment poverty and crap shun. one of the main differences is that three years on people are free to voice their discontent. that discontent has sometimes lead to violent protests like this one last week. people were angry at tax rises. in tunisia political compromise between mislammist and secular

parties have given some people hope. >> the challenge is to have a constitutional text which thrusts our society in the future giving let's say tunisians men and women, youth, children tunisian handicapped persons their rights as full citizens. >> reporter: this is a country that is far from stable. there is a threat from armed groups linked to al-qaeda and the government is almost bankrupt. three years ago, people risked their lives for change. at the time it was called the death of fear. tunisia has shown that there is hope of democracy in the arab world. and across the world media organizations joining the call to release five al jazeera journalists detained in egypt.

more than 30 outlets issuing statements that the three ak accused of spreading laws and joining a terrorist group. the two other are from our sister station. up next, a volcano destroying the lives of many in indonesia. town. the boat was overloaded are refugees, many women and children. heavy fighting has been reported today in the city as rebel forces attempt to seize the town. control of the town has changed hands twice since that conflict began last month.

>> sectarian violence in the central african republic has claimed 1200 lives, displacing thousands of relatives and people there. entire villages have fled, hiding in the bush from christian and muslim militias. some villagers who left are now starting to return. >> people have fled, houses burnt down. these village have suffered attack after attack. in this settlement, near the town, hundreds of people emerge from the bush for the visit of a u.n. official. >> we are back now to rebuild your lives. >> they were hanging on his every word.

al jazeera america. we understand that every news story begins and ends with people. >> the efforts are focused on rescuing stranded residents. >> we pursue that story beyond the headline, pass the spokesperson, to the streets. >> thousands of riot police deployed across the capital. >> we put all of our global resources behind every story. >> it is a scene of utter devastation. >> and follow it no matter where it leads - all the way to you. al jazeera america take a new look at news. in france the president's traditional new year's press conference being overshadowed by recent scandal. the french president accused of having a secret love affair with an actress. today is his first time facing members of the media since those allegations surfaced. at least 11 people with dead, more than 25,000 fleeing the region in and around

indonesia's volcano area. >> reporter: this has become his daily work removing vulcanish ash from orange frees hoping they will survive for months he has not had any income. like many he feels like the victims have been forgotten. >> translator: the government should not just talk in the offices with their nice shoes, nice ties and nice cars. we small farmers have no more hope. >> reporter: the slopes are being choked by a thick layer of volcanic ash more and more ever day, killing the livlihoods of those who have lived here for generations. this man says never before has it shown its destructive dark

side like this. the government wants to relocate villages, but he doesn't want to move >> translator: if we are going to move it will be suicide. how will we be able to make a living? >> reporter: the government admits that after four months farmers still have not been compensated. >> translator: the government is thinking about compensation for the farmers, but we haven't thought about the amounts yet. i promise the government will help. >> reporter: the number of evacuees is growing every day since eruptions have become more regular and more violent. >> translator: what i'm worried about is that people will become depressed when they are in camps for such a long time. and what will become of the children? this whole generation will be effected. >> reporter: after his wife and children have moved to a safer

location he can only wait until the mountain becomes peaceful and quiet again something he hopes will happen sooner than later. we are seeing a better day so far on wall street that means your 401k is smiling. the dow up right now 76 points. investors seem to be encouraged by sales and earnings reports out this morning. general motors is saying that global sales in 2013 were 4% higher because of world demand. 11% which was a record in china. analysts say gm will likely remain the world's number 2 auto maker after toyota.

ali velshi will reporting live from the detroit auto show on "real money." coming up on al jazeera america, firsthand accounts from world war i, going online now for everyone to see.

activists show the

welcome back to al jazeera america. i'm del walters. here are your headlines at this hour. egyptians casting their ballots on a referendum on a revised constitution. if they vote yes, the country will vote for a new president in the summer. members of a presidential review panel that recommended big changes to the nsa surveillance program with set to testify today. the five-member panel making 46 recommendations in its report. new jersey's governor chris christie set to deliver his state of the state address today. the governor facing several

scandals including traffic congestion, and possible misuse of hurricane sandy's relief funds. and we continue to follow that breaking news out of roswell, new mexico. there has been a shooting at a middle school. the school is now on lockdown. one is the has been injured, and a suspect is in custody. we'll follow the story and bring you the details as they become available. ♪ i'm meteorologist dave warren. we're following some light snow a clipper that quickly clears out of the area. a little bit of snow to north dakota south dakota and minnesota. a little heavier snow is expected here but the wind picking up behind this. there's a fire danger across the

central portion of the country, and the wind brings in colder air. there is the snow forecast you see today it's just through the great lakes and then it will lift north not continuing to push south. this is the pattern here big trough of low-pressure in the east. and it keeps the dry weather across the southwest. should be getting rain now. that's normally when you see the most rain here this month. but we're seeing dry weather and fire conditions there. so not the best news. 51 in los angeles, temperatures into the 20s, and that colder air comes down behind the snow. here is rain in the mid-atlantic straights. the radar tracks the rain clearing out, the back edge already moving through western

pennsylvania. ahead of the rain it's warm. we're into the upper 40s now, climbing just above 50 but a mild day. dry a bit. overnight tonight as the rain ends but the temperatures drop from the 50s down into the 30s and teens. and the mild weather returns with the fire danger that wind picks up from texas through south dakota. dell? thank you very much. pages and pages of world war i history now just a click away. the first batch of diaries went online today. 1.5 million pages making up the collection. historians are now hoping the project will shed new light on what life was like during ward 2. thank you for watching al jazeera america.

i'm del walters in new york. check us out 24 hours aday just by going to aljazeera.com. >> the plain language of the constitution seems pretty clear. it's the wrestling match between the president and a divided senate is a little muddy. the supreme court is the referee on this "inside story." >> hello, i'm ray suarez. you can find it right there in the institution, which is the handbook for running the country, article 2, section 2, the president shall have power to fill vacancy that is accept