techknow, every saturday go where science meets humanity. this is some of the best driving i've ever done, even thought i can't see. techknow. we're here in the vortex. tonight, 7:30 eastern. only on al jazeera america.

>> tough fighting talk from newly elected president petro poroshenko. he said the rebels would have to lay down their arms. he did offer some form of amnesty without blood on their hands, but that he was prepared to take the most serious measures to end the fighting there. and in one aspect one area where he refused to make any

compromises he said it would be over russia's annexation of ukraine. >> who comes with the sword will fall by the sword. citizens of ukraine will never enjoy the beauty of peace unless we settle down our relation with russia. russia occupying crimea as well. >> the newly inal inaugurateed president said ukraine will sign the u.n. trade agreement. this is something that will anger the russians. president vladimir putin has already stated stated signing that agreement with the e.u. would harm ukraine and harm russia and some form of sanctions, economic difficulties

could be placed on ukraine if it went ahead with that e.u. agreement. these issues, crimea in the east of the country and closer integration with europe that's going to force president poroshenko to the table with the russians, and they'll have to work out some kind of compromise if things are going to move forward with this new president in this country in ukraine. >> in iraq dozens of students have been released after a group stormed university today taking them hostage. the hostages were freed after the gunman withdrew from the skew during a gunfight with school security. ramadi is one with of two cities that has been seized by sunni groups since the beginning of this year. today egyptian courts sentenced ten muslim brotherhood

in abstentia. this is a member of the group that has continued to be oppressed since the hosting of mohamed morsi last summer. the president sec president-elect al sisi received 90% of the votes. fighting rages on in syria. the majority who have died are men. meanwhile the women and children left behind are struggling. some finding support in a refugee camp in lebanon. we report on the mothers there who are trying to hold on to what is left of their broken family. >> every day all day he keeps vigil. a window separates him from his family. they need here from syria, and their rations were cut off. in protest, hopeless and humiliated she set herds on

fire. >> i can only think of her getting better. i have nothing else. >> reporter: the war has ripped families apart, and that has left the mothers most vulnerable. three-quarters of syrian refugees are women and children. she has been in this home for widows for five months. she's from homs. the city once known as the cradle of the revolution today there are barely any signs of life. somewhere in there she lost her husband. today she keeps him alive by wearing her wedding ring, but here in lebanon she does not feel alive or safe so she's scared to reveal her face. when they fled she and her daughter didn't even have time to put on their shoes. when they fled her son didn't make it.

>> she spends her days teaching english. she contemplated suicide. her children kept her going. in this house the children of widows can play and live. and the women learn skills like hairdressing. the idea is to give them the ability to support themselves. they have because of all they've lost. she arrived here just two weeks ago with her sister and her nephew. they fled when they could no longer hide from the war. she is also from homs. she said last month the government bombed her house. >> the sounds were very loud. my little one would sleep under the bed. the children would see with their own eyes. they would see the glas

massacre with their own eyes. >> then a massacre took her family. this card shows one son is jailed for life. the other son is killed, her husband went missing. >> nobody in my family is left. five young men died. all of my family is gone. [ weeping ] >> reporter: each of these families have a message to the united states. >> what would you want the people of america to know your situation? >> the situation of the syrian people is very bad. there are millions. >> reporter: millions of lives five days after we interviewed him, five days after we filmed his wife 43-year-old miriam, she died from her burns. she died without the shell or thshelter or dignity that these women are clinging to so they

can try to rebuild their families. >> later today at 8:00 p.m. we'll have a deeper look at syria featuring in-depth analysis that you won't find anywhere else. that's tonight at 8:00 p.m. right here on al jazeera america. wisconsin is the latest state to allow gay men and women to marry. a judge declared the ban as uninstitutional. the wisconsin attorney general is now appealing that decision. with thousands of college graduates heading into the real world, president obama has called on congress to help them get ahead. he used the weekly address to highlight the problem of student debt right here in the u.s. the president is pushing a plan that would help college graduates refinance their loans and the senate is expected to begin debatin debating that

plan this week. meanwhile, gun rights activists are not hiding their demands in texas. their support of open and carry laws are in full force. >> their automatic rifles and shotguns have been banned from restaurant like chipotles, starbucks and chilis. the nra called it weird and counterproductive before taking it back. they carry their guns in front of the republican convention in fort worth. chris said he is a mechanic and engaged. he does really want to carry his ak-14 as protection. he is making a point. >> when you can open carry an ar-15 or shotgun or tha that a

revolve, buer you can be arrested for carrying. that's odd. >> reporter: texas is one of five states where you cannot carry a handgun out in the open. >> we're supposed to be the gun capitol of the world. >> reporter: open carry approached folks at the state g.o.p. convention. chris miller said his group is not out to scare or intimidate, but to do the opposite. >> you see on media all the time it's the bad guy with the gun. the bad guy this, the bad guy that. we want to show that good people own firearms, too, responsible people. >> a customer service call center rep with three cases said it's not practical to carry around an ak-14 for protection.

she wants to be able to carry a handgun. >> it takes time to pull it out from wherever it's being concealed at. if i had it openly on my side, open it up and pull the trigger. >> reporter: the hope here is that the attention will turn into new legislation. one person who really wants to see open carry handguns passed is a great grandmother. beverly who wants to carry a handgun as a deterrent. she said she doesn't want to use it. >> i don't wan to be a radical or a weird. i just want my second amendment right. >> reporter: some state leaders say they support open carry but fear these groups bringing long guns out into businesses is hurting the cause. the demonstrators disagree and don't plan to stop. mark snyder, al jazeera, fort fort worth. >> officials believe a man who open fired outside of a county court hours was planning to take

hostages. the police shot and killed this man dennis marks just as i made it inside the courthouse. he was due in court for a drug case, but he arrived in complete body armor, carrying an assault rifle, ammunition and grenades. they were able to slow marks down before a s.w.a.t. team arrived. >> it appears he wanted to go into the courthouse and take hostages. he had flex ties for the purpose of retraining people. >> that deputy was shot in the leg, but he's expected to make a full recovery. a memorial service for maya angelou is underway right now in north carolina. the poet died last week at the age of 86, and you're looking at live pictures from winston salem, north carolina, where she's being remembered in a ceremony at wake forest university.

the former president and first lady will both be speaking. coming up on al jazeera america, a race to the finish line. history could be made not just for california chrome. plus a big chance for apple stock on monday. we'll tell you all about it coming up next. only on al jazeera america

>> today on the stream.

the superstars. >> i love the underdog role, it's us against the world. we have this fight and this pride to play for the country. >> pushing for success. >> we've gone so far forward, the game's really really grown. >> gaining popularity. >> people are crazy for it. >> is now the time for u.s. soccer? >> anything is possible. i believe that this u.s. team, we can beat anybody. >> the stream, today 5:30 eastern. only on al jazeera america. >> apple stock is going to plummet on monday, well at least sort of. investors will get seven shares of apple for every one that they currently own. shares will cost $93 and lower shares mean that stock will be more accessible and that will allow more people to invest in apple. the last time shares of apple was under $100 was back in 2009. the keystone pipeline was the topic for years.

companies have found other alternatives that will by pass the united states. the keystone excel pipeline if it ever gets completed will pump an extra barrels a day from canada on to global markets but the obama administration has delayed the project for years because oil from alberta's oil sands is controversial. large quantities of water and natural gas are used to separate the tar-like oil called bitumen from the sand. regardless, oil producers in the region expect to double their production in the next ten years. if they can't ship it to the united states they'll use other pipelines to get the oil to other customers. >> there are two major pipelines

to the west coast. there is a pipeline that moves west to east and east to west in canada, and to move product to export off the east coast. we're going to find ways to move the crude oil. it comes back to a decision by the united states to where it wants to procure its oil from. >> oil company transcanada wants to build an energy east pipeline. it would be the largest pipeline in north america pumping 1.1 million barrels a day from alberta to terminals in news brunswick. where it will be loaded on shi ships. enbridge wants to build a northern gateway pipeline that would send 525,000 barrels a day

from alberta to british columbia and on to ships bound to aaron markets. they want to expand transmountain pipeline and bring 890,000 barrels a day to the pacific. even in canada getting approval to build more pipelines is no cake walk. in british columbia there is strong opposition from environmentalists and native communities that oil companies will need to overcome in order to proceed. >> i think we have to acknowledge and recognize there are legitimate concerns about things like energy mix and carbon policy going forward. we need to get those out of the context of the individual project because it's not the right place for the debate but we need to be participates in a broader dialogue. it's legitimate, and it needs to go on. >> age. >> going for the triple crown. california chrome competes for the belmont title.

and if successful he'll be the 12th horse to win the kentucky derby, the preakness and belmont, that's since 1978, but he's not alone. lisa rice was the first woman to win preakness last month, and now she looks to break down even more barriers. >> reporter: in the sport of kings linda rise may be considered queen. she is one of the most successful feel trainer female trainers in north america. having grown up in a family that was already in the industry she was a certified training by the time she was 23. the new york bred trainer of the year feels right at home in the male dominated profession. >> a lot of people talk about female trainers and think it's a novelty, but for you it's been second nature since day one. tell me about your history. >> i've been training horses in

new york for two decades now, i was a bit of a novelty when i first showed up. >> she has been the top ten trainers of any gender in the past decade and has won 1200 races and made history at saratoga in 2009 when she was the first-ever female to finish in the lead of final trainer standings at the historic meet. one gender barrier she has not broken yet is to be the first female trainer to win the triple crown. >> i have my eye on the traverse, that's on my bucket list. >> what is it that makes rice such a good trainer? she said it's essentially like being a talent scout and coach. >> you have to train your players between fitness and weight training, and you also have to judge their ability as

to what their strengths and weaknesses are. >> rice admits that she may spend more time with horses than people, and she has a few favorites. >> i had a horse soldier field that my brother sent to me that was one of my favorite horses. he won all over the country. at every track, california, new york, he was a terrific shipper, and a great performer. he wasn't my successful, but he was my favorite. >> at belmont park in elmont, new york, jessica taff, al jazeera. >> speaking of sports, one of the biggest events in football is moving house. it has been a new york radio hall, but it means that nfl needs a new site. more than a dozen cities want to hold the 2015 draft, the decision is quite an important one. the new location will host next year' picks in april or may. and coming up on

al jazeera america tornadoes rip through parts of colorado and meteorologists dave warren will be right here with an update on that destruction. plus he was deployed on d-day 70 years ago. now one veteran has just achieved his lifetime goal. r

>> good morning and welcome back to al jazeera america. live from new york city. i'm morgan radford with a look at today's top stories. in ukraine, petro poroshenko is inaugurated as the country's fifth president. he said there will be no criminal charges against separatist who is have not murdered. and in iraq dozens of students are freed after a group attacked a school in ramadi. and a memorial service for poet maya angelou is being held

right now in north carolina. you're looking at live pictures of oprah winfrey speaking at wake forest university. angelou died last week at the age of 86. miami is one of the busiest cities in the country. but now it's at rick of being destroyed. there are serious efforts under way to save it. believe it or not this colorful thriving coral reef is living in the water of the main shipping channel of the port of miami. >> it's beautiful, exciting, and sad a little bit because you know they are all going to be gone. >> that's because beginning on saturday the army corps of engineers is dredging the channel as part of an expansion project. it will destroy the coral colonies underneath. on the edges army divers have

achieved healthy coral and transplanted them to a coral reef north of the channel. there they will be out of the path of cargo and cruise ships. the effort was mandated by the state of floor. but biologist andrew baker said that there are still coral reefs at risk. >> we have one of the largest coral reaves in the world, and they're very valuable and some of the few we have left in florida. i think unfortunately the economic concerns are going to win once again. >> reporter: for almost two weeks the university of miami professor and his students have been diving for corals despite bad weather and poor visibility they have retrieved 1200. researchers thought they had until mid you'll to keep diving, but the state who issued the permit to dive said that the date was always subject to change given the dredging project. the state cannot afford to give

the diverrers extensions. >> it's a missed opportunities we could have gotten more. we could have saved more. and we could have had years and years worth of research coral at our disposal. >> reporter: the coles are now sitting in this pool. baker and his team hope to study them and learn more about how coral reefs can survive in inhospitable environment. >> these are the cole corals we should be protects because they may represent the future of coral reefs in florida. >> reporter: the coral reefs will grow back as they did back in 1991. but some believe that's faulty, as mother nature has shown all around the world, that it does not always bounce back.

al jazeera, miami. >> i'm meteorologist dave warren. we're talking about severe weather with the forecast. many reports that came in yesterday. the orange dots there are wind damage. blue is the hail. and that was the one storm that came through arkansas. a few red dots in there indicates tornadoes witnesses or detected by the radar. the severe weather was out there yesterday with wind damage with this line of storms. it's moving through parts of the midwest currently but that will clear out and push to the south. not quite as active as yesterday. but the threat is there in the same area over texas and oklahoma. flooding will be a big problem as the next area of rain could dump inches of rain in the same area. it will not happen in the northeast. many cities in the northeast was going through a cool start this morning warming up to 80 degrees with my pressure. here is this area of rain,

though, and another storm developing, the amount of rain looked to be four to six inches over parts of texas and oklahoma. that's why we have flash flood watches in effect for the entire weekend. nothing expected across the northeast. temperatures climbing close to 80 degrees with bright sunshine heating up in the southern planes and the southwest is hot again. not much picked up here with the radar plus the clouds. temperatures could climb up to 100 degrees. we have heat warnings and red flag warnings in effect as that fire danger. that's pretty hot here with the nine and light wind. >> many world war ii veterans had to leave school when the war started. some never got to return and earn an degree, but john did just that. he left school 70 years ago to work and help out his family. he said he never expected to finish high school after fighting in the war. but on friday at the age of 89el he got his diploma. thank you for watching

al jazeera america. i'm morgan radford. we leave you now with live pictures from winston-salem, north carolina, where the memorial service is being held for the late poet dr. maya languag my maya angelou. >> the far north of europe - a place of extraordinary beauty - home to an astonishing array of plants and anima w