>> whoa! >> (laughter) >> three. >> (laughter) this is am al jazeera america, live from new york city. w a look at food's top stories. untangling the mess down south. people trying to get to their cars as atlanta mayor defend the response to the storm. just in, the justice department sooking the death penalty for the man accused in the boston marathon bombing claims that syria is stalling on getting rid of it's chemical weapons now the u.s. reminds that the country that force is not off the table. and nearly one fifth of the nuclear force officers now implicated.

in a cheating scandal. he is responsible for the grid lock and the people stranded in the snow storm that caused such a mess in the south. nathan deal, also admits his state was not adequately prepared and vows to prevent it from happening again. i am the governor, the buck stops with me. i accept the responsibility for it. but i also accept the responsibility of being able to make corrective actions as they come into the future. and that's what the public can expect from our office. today the georgia national guard has been helping drivers return to their vehicles. the state patrol found more than 2,000 of them left on interstate highways but officials are warning drivers to be

careful of icy roads. robert gray is in atlanta, robert, good to see you, judging by the scene behind you, can we assume that most of the major interstates are passable today? >> yes, absolutely. temperatures are above freezing you can see the water lying around, it used to be pack snow and ice, this is like the only remaining car there this pocket we are in. we have been out here all day, and there were hundreds of vehicles sprung along, i 75 here. this seems to be the on one left where we are at, the national quart has been sweeping in here all day, helping people fill up their gas tanks, and bringing folks to their vehicles p so a lot of work has been done here in atlanta today, and some new news that just came out, not surprising but the city of atlanta and fullton county which

extends up into the suburbs has canceled school again. they just don't feel like they are ready yet, some zillion sitting on those hilly roads not quite ready, tony. >> you know, robert, maybe you can take a moment here and talk a bit more about the efforts from i guess it is the national guard, the state police, because that is a big sticking point right now. maybe it's nine or earlier, they will be towed correct? >> you got it, they are going to be towed. three to be honest with you, but they are making a pretty good effort, the national guards has been pushing people, pushing vehicles state might has been great today, and of coursely we saw the news.

saids the his fault, but he also put blame on gima, which is the georgia emergency management agency. specifically charley english saying that he found out that the warnings came at about 3:30 in the morning but yet the governor didn't know until 9:00 a.m., and that was about six hours too late to let terrorist metro area figure out what to do. a lot of balls being dropped here. here is what he said earlier. >> i know your questions have been have i been satisfied with the response that was made. and my answer is an unegiveble no, we did not respond fast enough, we did not response in the magnitude at an earlier enough time. to be able so void these. we can make excuses for the fact that this happened in the middle of the day, that did of course complicate the

situation. but never the less, with ewill be much more cautious and much more aggressive in terms of taking action in advance of future situations. >> so tony, you heard him, you rolled some sound earlier today, came out after the governor at that press conference, and said he made a terrible mistake, i think that the governors office is putting the blame a lot on him, and his staff. tony. >> all right, robert ray for us, in atlanta r the us, robert, appreciate it. the justice department said this afternoon it will seek the death penalty against the accused boston bomber. john is here with more on today's decision, good to see you, and remind us of the charges facing him. >> the magnitude of the alleged crimes were so egregious, that the death penalty has always been in the cards.

now today in which he says we have a graphic, after consideration of the relevant facts the applicable regulations and the submissions made by the defense council, i have determined that the united states will seek the death penalty in this matter. the nature of the conduct come bell this decision. 17 of the 30 charges which the younger of the two brothers involved in this case is facing, actually have the death penalty as a possibility. including using a weapon of mass destruction, to kill. he is also charged with the slaying of an m.i.t. massachusets institute of technology police officer, and a carjacking. it is interesting to note that massachusets itself where this happened doesn't have the death penalty. so if the authorities want to pursue jar cover on a death penalty

remitted charge, then they must do it at the federal level. it was april the 17th last year, the end of the boston marathon, which is a celebrated event, this is a huge deal. and, of course, the issue spreads out right around the country, it is almost a national event. it was april 15th. there were two blasts, it was later determined by the authorities that they were in pressure cookers that were commercially built, and of course they happened on the finishing line of the boston marathon, just as the runners were coming over the line, the families were with there to greeted them. now subsequently investigations pointed the finger at shower cover tsarnaev, and his brother who was 26 years old, both of them had lived in the boston area for 16 years. as the elder brother was killed in a police shoot

out. but jar cover was found in a boat in the water town area. and there was a note on the boat which he had written which pointed out that the reason behind the bombing according to him, was the retaliation against the united states government for killing muslims around the world. so a terrible crime, three dead, 260 people injured. how likely is he to be executed if he is found guilty? >> it all remains to be seen, because there is no trial date yet. breaking news, the federal authorities reinstated the death penalty. >> right. >> federal level back in 1988. that's 26 years ago now. now, since that time, subsequent attorneys general have recommended that the government seek the death penalty on 500 defts whose cases have come before that. of that 500, only three

have actually been executed. and the last one, was ten years ago. john, appreciate it, thank you. a small kentucky town is grieving and searching for answers after nine members of the same family including eight children were killed. investigators say the fire broke out early this morning. that's about 130 miles southwest of louisville. authorities say only the father and the 11-year-old girl escaped. jonathan martin has the latest for us. >> inside this home, they include a mother, and her eight children. now, a total of 11 people were inside the home when the fire broke out, two were able to escape, the father chad watson, and his 11-year-old daughter, they have now been airlifted to nashville tennessee, the caughtser

in stable condition and the father we have learned is in critical condition. we are told first responders were able to arrive quickly after getting a call from a neighbor, because some live close by. many say they also heard the commotion and came over, but felt there was little they could. >> i just don't know, i am numb. i didn't know what to do, what to say, just stand and watch. >> investigators say they have not been able to pinpoint a cause but do not suspect foul play. they say it appears the fire started in the front bedroom. if the family trying to stay warm has anything to do with the fire. >> james says the force

has been set i am quoting now undue stress and fear. and that it is suffering from systemic problems. initially just 17 officers were involved to be cheating in the test that test, by the way, makes sure they know how to maintain and launch nuclear mistles. defense secretary says the u.s. is concerned. >> we believe that this effort can continue to get back on track even though we are behind schedule. was the syrian government has to take

responsibility of fulfilling its commitment. >> hagel says he asked his counter part to push syria to comply. with the chemical weapons deal. live from geneva, dare i say, this report perhaps provides a leverage point for the west. in negotiations there in geneva, and if not this week, certainly in the next round. to get a deal done. >> well, i think the u.s. will come out very strong against what it calls stalling tactics against the regime. and when it came to this deal, russia was one of the co-sponsors. the diplomates here, and in new york, and in vienna, where this deal is being discussed privately, have been talking about how asaad hasn't been living up to his end of the bargain, but today was the first

day they went public. and that shows that patience is wearing thin. there the international community, as well as in the white house, and the fear as you know, is that president obama will be pushed toward having to make any kind of military decision. obama said this was a red line, if asaad ever used chemical weapons they came very close to launching those. therefore obama is putting the pressure on now, so he doesn't get close to that have to make a decision. >> and nick, bringing you back to these talks, one more day in this round scheduled between the syrian government and the opposition. do they get anywhere today? sadly, no, in a word. that is happening now is the government wants to talk about terrorism, the opposition wants to talk about humanitarian access. and so the two sides are really just walking and

talking rather passed each other. into the refugee camp that is right outside of damascus, this is a place where there's been no food, water, mess sin for nearly a year. finally today the u.n. was about to get 900 food parcels. enough food for 900 families for the next month, but that is not enough for that camp, and not enough for the whole country. there is a new report out, that may make that impossible. the report accuses the government of destroying thousands of homes on purpose, those homes belong to residents who support the opposition.

dominic king has our stair. >> this is in the suburbs of dems. cause, it has been fought over repeatedly in the last few years. like much of syria, it prevent as picture of bombed out buildings and rebel june roads. but now new evidence suggests the destruction of property here is not an accident of war. lue man rights has compile add report that claims the government has been demolishing thousands of houses here and in the city of hama. the report using these images to show how extensive the damage is. this is the district. in hama seen in sent 2012. and this is the same place one month later. this is part of the capitol close to the military airport, seen in february of last year.

move forward from july and the contrast is clear. human rights watch says it has spoke ton the owners of some of the property whose confirm the demolitions. the group alleges that the government has systemically targeted residential buildings in areas which support the opposition. the got says the demolitions are merely part of approved urban planning. what the report points out saw that 24 urban planning if you like, is strategically done in areas are the army had quite strong presence, and was hunkered down and difficult to drive them out. >> the offers of the report say there is no evidence of such demolitions taking place in areas that generally support the government. the u.n. now says that almost 6 1/2 million people have been displaced inside syria.

and that almost 2.5 million refugees have left the country since the war began. dominic cain, al jazeera. >> really happy update to a story of a toddler buried alive after an air strike, she is said to be doing remarkably well. never forget these images from last week. being duck out from the rubble. she has reportedly been buried for at least three minutes before she was rescued, today the baby girl appeared you will see in a second here, unscathed. there she is. but her mother, sadly, was killed in the attack. >> afghanistan may be close to signing a security agreement that will allow troops. the national security advisor says he is optimistic afghan tribal

leadersening dorised the agreement, without a deal, american and foreign trips will have to leave afghanistan at the end of this year. new information that the u.s. may not be able to trust afghanistan, to handle the billions of dollars in aid that the u.s. gives it each year. none of the countries min industries are set up to manage an account for the billions in u.s. taxpayer dollars. the rother was released today, even though american officials tried to open coo it underrans, congress cut the budget behalf. to just over $1 billion. egyptian court sources say arrest warrants have been issued for 12 people who they say either currently work for al jazeera or have done so in the past. among those want redirect examination several foreigners, however, the al jazeera network has not received an official notice from the legal authorities in egypt. it had been more than a

month since the egyps detains three journalists. mo hamed have been held without charge since december 29th. they were accused of spreading false news and having links to the muslim brotherhood. the government in cairo says their cases have been referred to the criminal court by the prosecutor general, however, the al jazeera network has not been notified two more journalists from our sister channel, have also been detained without charge for more than six months. and coming up on at al jazeera america, new developments in the search for suicide bombers in russia investigators say they have made arrests just days before the winter olympics begin, and a new study concludes that by kindergarten you can tell if an adult will be obese.

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where it is assumed they are operating from. it is thought they had accommodation and their support were providing for. >> olympic athletes for more than 90 countries arriving at the games. >> let's get to some

business news. stock market declines. the dow up 109 points investors encouraged by a government report showing consumer spending jumped in the fourth quarter. and then some. let's talk with mariah summers. good to see you, did that number surprise you? >> it skid, most people were expect add 1.5 number. >> right. >> so 3.2 was a huge huge jump. >> and that's two-quarters in a row of really good growth, correct? >> correct. and the fourth quarter number is especially surprising. so if you have two-quarters in a row. with significant growth, are you a little concerned way may be overheating just a bit?

it is a concern, since the unemployment rate has dropped. but that number is a little bit unreliable. >> that's true. what's the story with ups? what et's doing in response to that. they are going to spend upwards of $11 million on improvements. they are going to improve technology that will make their root as little bit more efficient. and letting a secondary carrier take packages. >> really?

>> jane ferguson, on routs that go out of their main rout. >> well, it would suggest to me that u.p.s. is more -- preparing for the fact that this could be the reality? more and more people are shopping online, and may need them delivered. >> definitely. u.p.s. was surprised by the late push, and how many people due to weather, or just the fact that they forgot some people unnethes christmas list were going online to shop. okay, so the big headline today is just a big number. definitely, yes. >> good to see you, from buzz feed. a program note, ali velshi will have a special all next week. you can see america's middle class rebuilding the dream starting monday night. right here on al jazeera america.

the new england journal of medicine followed more than 7,000 kids 12.5% were obese in kindergarten that rose to 21% by 8th grade. those who were obese in kindergarten were four to five times more likely to maintain their obesity through 8th grade, and those who were obese then, were likely to stay that way through adulthood. ebbs perts say this may show that combating obesity is best done at an early age. focusing on kids that protestor at the greatest risk, coming up, the booming marijuana industry in california, grows violent how illegal growers are exploiting the system. >> and congress debates cutting the federal food stamp program, we are in dallas with a look at the changing face of americans on food statutes.

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.

welcome back to al jazeera america, here is a look at your top stories. that two blasts last april killed three people and wounded more than 260. a mother and her eight children died in the small rural town, and a father and 1-11-year-old daughter were able to get out, they were both at the hospital in stable conditions minute investigators have ruled the fire an accident. originally just 17 were believed to have been involved. the senate votes today on a farm bill that is two years in the making. this bill is pretty big

compromise, it cuts the national fad stamp program by $800 million a year. a fum fridge is a luxury for 20 theo katelyn swain, a single mother who left college last semester. it's hard to find a job doing that because they want someone with experience, so for the first time, swain is applying for food stamps. historically, it's been children and the elderly who have made up the bulk of enroll lees but that changed after the recession, now the majority of recipients are working age adults. ages 18 to 60.

economists say a tepid economy and the loss of american more jobs have pushed people into lower wage work.

she says she is waiting to hear back from a job interview now. she is looking forward to buying groceries with her own money. years ago, but with greater domestic demand, comes greater growth opportunities. where illegal crops are in the spotlight. >> you can still see the remanence of an old grow, the green right there. >> mike sill and bill vincent are on the hunt for green. >> they are growing it, prevalently, basically right out in the open. >> marijuana plants hidden among fresno county's vast farmland. on this day, they found can bass behind a black tarp. >> this one guys little crop inside that black tarped area. will probably make more money than the whole

orchard. >> . >> leer in california it will gony from 800 to $1,000. all of this was scheduled or set to be outside the state. >> the way they have developed these is much higher. >> farmers say the green rush has turned fields into battlefields.

electric wires and armed men protected the crops. this farmer too afraid to show his face put up surveillance cameras after police say a teenager was shot to death, trying to steal pot plants. >> now it is like we are in our own little compound. our own little prison. >> marijuana related crimes have killed nine people in fresno county since 2012, the violence prompted the county's board of supervisors to band dispenries last year, and this month they banned growing marijuana all together in unincorporated areas. mess large grows are already illegal. what they have is an enforcement problem. >> that debate continues as they continue to struggle to control the trade. nearly 600 were counted last year, less than a

third were eradicated. al jazeera, fresno california. >> well, we with can tell you that california has been cracking down on illegal growers. drug enforcement officials destroyed more than 2 million illegal plants. the state issued some 8,000 medicinal licenses since july of that year. and more than 70,000 over the last ten years. burr these four counties highlighted here, experience an even bigger issue. in 2012, california's eastern district convicted 265 traffickers many of them trying to cash in across state lines. ukraine's president says he is taking an indefinite sick leave. the government says he has an acute respiratory illness. some speculate he may be faking it. as protest aimed at forcing him from power, intensified. jennifer glass joins us live now, and jennifer what has been the

reaction from the opposition to the president's leave of absence? this move took everybody by surprise when the announcement was made that the president is ill, and will not be attending to his duties. he hasn't signed into law the two that were passed. that was repealing those laws that criminalize freedom of speech and expression, and the amnesty law, and the former heavy weight boxer, says his toricly when a leader declared himself sick, that's not good news. that usually meant they were trying to do something unconstitutional popular, and that's the real concern. they aren't sure what the president is up to, but legally because he is on sick leave. from the government, areasoning with the announcement that he is

sick, the office also made a statement saying that the government has done all it can to solve this problem, and it is the opposition that is enflaming tensions. so not really good signs here. >> yeah, yeah. so i am wondering a couple of things. how much pressure is this government really under at this point? and does this leave an absence. >> it does, tony. i think the opposition always thought the president was playing for time for two months he ignored the protestors only when they broke out on to the streets violently about a week and a half ago, and when the protests spilled into towns around the country, towns and cities not only in the west but also in the east, was the president forced to act? he called an emergency session, parliament passed those two laws, but the president hasn't signed them. and now we sit at a stalemate. who has the power, and i

think that's the uncertainty. that people are concerned about here, what will the government do next, how far is it willing to go to get the people off the streets. and without the president's in power. his office says he remained in power, means he is not legally liable for everything, it is unclear what the next action may be. >> appreciate it, jennifer glass for us, thank you. asking for support, indigenous leader speaked with his community, about why they should work together with an armed vigilante group. a few days ago these same men confronted them when they arrived in the town. we were really worried

about what would happen when the self-defense groups came. we saw that many of them were not from the community, but we changed our mind after we spoke with the leader who we know and trust. tired of kid p thatting and extortioning groups have sprung up in the western with state to fight the cartel. >> in the absence of state security, the groups grew rapidly forcing the government to try to reign them in. but this week the government changed tactics choosing instead to integrate the groups into a rural defense core. this is one of the first times they have worked together in order to bring their message of security to the communities. it is a new strategy, one that they hope will pay off. >> vigilante leaders say the partnership is working. in the past few days they have moved into ten new communities.

we have won people's confidence. and they also see the results in other towns are people have risen up. age cysts say of the biggest challenges is how to put 20,000 heavily armed civilians under government control. the process of legalization will be complicated. lit be slow and there are risks. it is possible they could be corrupted and commit crimes. but it couldn't be worse than what we have witnessed. >> peace it seems might indeed come from the barrel of a gun. david mercer, al jazeera, san juan mexico. >> in a matter of just one decade, the prison population in brazil has doubled. more than half a million people are living behind bars. takestous the most famous prison in the south

eastern city. it is a prison inmates call hell. >> it is one of the largest and best known prisons brazil for all of the wrong reasons. be uh the capacity for 2069 inmates today has more than twice that number. in a country full of prisons, welcome to one of the worst. inmates make a signal which mean overcrowding, inside the complex inmates are stuck wherever there's room. this cell should hold four people, at night it often sleeps as many as 10. prison officials prevented us from freely interviewing inmates all of whom were removed from the cell blocks that we visited. there is a shower that is shared by hundreds of inmates. cables are stitched together for electricity,

and there's a fire there is little help. this is the kitchen where some of the inmates in this wing of the prison cook, as you can see it is just filthy, dirty, and even worse there's flies everywhere. there's mosquitoes and cockroaches. and above here, is where some raw sewage comes from the cells above. and goes out to the main patio. >> in one of the prison yards the infrastructure is in total collapse, in the past three years 15 inmates have died from drug overdose, or other health related problems. local judges and public dependers took the case to the human rights court of the organization of american states, which asks the brazilian government to take immediate measures to improve the conditions. >> there's a need to completely close the jail, there's no financially viable reforms that can be done to make it suitable for the number of inmates it

has. >> the state superintendent admits the situation is in his words not ideal, but says three new prisons are in the process of being built. >> the conditions and overcrowding are interrelated. but building new prisons is not somethingky do from one day to the next. outside the prison gates family members of inch mates bring sacks of supplies because of shortages created by overcrowding food and even toilet paper are essential. if i bring soap he can take a shower. >> mother whose describe the jail as in their words held, after seeing inside,s that a description few here could argue with. gabriel, al jazeera. brazil. new charges in the october murder of a

massachusets high schoolteacher maria joins was that story, and more. headlines from across the country marx rhea? >> thank you, tony. in massachusetts the 15-year-old accused of killing a high school math teacher has pleaded not guilty to raping her. phillip already pleaded not guilty to rape, robbery, and murder charges. last week, a second charge of rape was added. police say he killed and raped her after she asked him to stay after school for extra help. he was 14 years old at the time of the murder. in new york, police arrested 81 people for prostitution and dealing cocaine in the week leading up to the super bowl. an 11 month investigation show p they call the sex have drug combination a party pack. officials say the ring texted potential clients in new york. in texas a fort worth police officer will not face charges for the shooting death of a man he mistook for a burglar.

when he did not drop the weapon. in salt lake city parents are outraged after a school threw out children's lunches. 40 students at the elementary school had their lunches taken from them bought of because of outstanding balances. the school district says it could not know who owed money until the lunches were served. n't pas say they were not notified and that they children were humiliate bid the schools actions. and in pittsburgh, a mcdonalds employee has been arrested for selling heroine at the drive through window. customers who made a special request for a happy meal with a toy, would get an extra serving of heroine. >> come on. >> in their order. and police arrested chante' dennis wednesday. investigators say for an

extra $80 he would put heroine in the box for those that gave the password when they placed their order. >> wow. >> that takes imagination. >> yeah, it does. >> happy birthday birthday girl. >> oh, thank you. just 21 years old. >> you are so kind. >> thank you. >> in kabul afghanistan, it could very well be the last picture show, a movie house once the place of magic memories about to be shut down again. jane ferguson has more now. >> time almost stands still here, at the park cinema the staff still show old bolllywood movies using antique tools of the trade. >> the sin mall who remember well it's hay day, but technology and a rapidly changing society has killed the buzz.

it wasn't decades of war destroy add culture of communal socializing it pushed people back into their homes. the theater itself has hardly changed in over 50 years. but the current generation are less likely to come here and watch films and they end up playing to an empty house. mo hamed remembers with pride how upmarket the place once was. >> this cinema as i remember it it was very deluxe, and limited beam will come with their families here, it was hardly a free seat, everybody was perfect. carpet, curtains. it was fool of men and women. while the rest rush to modernize using the influx of cash, few

investors wanted to throw their money into something now so unpopular. the cinema remains open simply because the government covered it's most basic costs. even they are sentimental about it, now a crumbling tribute to a culture lost. jane ferguson, al jazeera, kabul afghanistan. coming up, we often think concussions are caused by direct hits, but we'll explain why the field surface itself can be a problem. and the emotional reunion between a man who was about to commit suicide and a stranger, who talked him out of it.

>> an italian court has found aman do knox guilty of mud. her former boyfriend also found guilty in the death of knox's former roommate

meredith can he rememberer. knox has been sentenced to 28 years six monthing in jail, she has just put out a statement says she is frightening and saddened by the unjust verdict, this is the third trial for knox in this case. she was convicted once and acquitted. attorneys say they will appeal the ruling again. federal prosecutors will seek the death penalty for othercav tsarnaev, the bombing suspect, three people were with killed and more than 300 wounded. after one of the biggest man hunts in the country, police tracked down star knave and his brother. authorities killed the brother, a police say that a fire that kill add mother and eight of her children started with a combustible material against an electric baseboard heater. the father and one of the children managed to escape. both are in the hospital in stable condition. at a press conference,

nathan deal said response by the state was not adequate, a snow and ice storm left thousands stranded for hours the national guard is helping people to get back to their abandon cowers today. tony harris inside story is next on al jazeera america. wharves., ii'm ray in a hearing before the na