in greece and have them help us. >> and that is our show for today. i'm ali velshi. thank you for joining us. us. >> oh my god. >> punishing weather. >> you cannot candy coat it. it's massive. river banks overflowing, all the way down to the gulf of mexico thunder storms and tornados rip across several states and mexico - dozens are dead or missing fighting for iraq. i.s.i.l. torches the country's largest oil refinery threatening its main source of income as a new rift opens between the u.s.

and iraq over military strategy. duty honour country. americans remember the men and women who answered the call to serve and paid the ultimate price good evening, i'm antonio mora this is al jazeera america. tonight - texas and oklahoma officials are scrambling to assess the widespread devastation from record storms over memorial day weekend. at least five deaths are blamed on the heavy rain and floods. at least 12 are missing in one texas country. heidi zhou-castro is in dallas with the latest. >> the rains let up here in dallas but the rushing waters are headed south. that's where 12 are casing in kaiz country. it is experiencing record rainfall. the people missing were washed away in their home on saturday

night, and more flooding is still expected. >> oh my god. >> reporter: terrifying moments for many this holiday weekend as thunder storms and tornados bore down on large sections of the great playing states. >> oh nigh goodness hurry south central texas was especially hard hit, with record rain causing catastrophic floods. >> you cannot candy coat it. it's massive. grounds and rivers are saturated and filled. they have more water coming down now. >> south of austin the blanko river surged more than 40 feet. rising floodwaters took many residents by surprise. >> i had friend call me that lived on the river, and never had water in their house, and i called them at 10 o'clock to say it could be a big event. i say we never had a flood before, we'll watch out for it.

at 1 o'clock she called me and said we are on the third floor and the water is still coming what do we do. >> the strong surge washed hundreds of homes off the foundations. the governor surveyed the damage on monday. >> if you have seen the area around the river with huge massive massive trees mowed down like grass mowed down by a lawn mower. you see how powerful the river flow has been. >> dozens of texas counties have been declared disaster areas. the governor told residents down river to expect the worse. >> river banks overflowing all the way down to the gulf of mexico. stay out of harms way, saviour life. the emergency is expected to continue. that's where a tornado was spotted with a new line of storms. it's making the search for the 12 missing more difficult as

planes can no longer fly, and as the mission moves from not just rescue, but to recovery. >> thanks to heidi zhou-castro, and kevin corriveau, our meteorologist is here there's a lot of storms out there. >> absolutely it's one of the most extreme nights i have seen in a long time. take a look at the storms. this expands as it progresses. you can see it all the way down towards houston. i want to show you video, if we have it. this is as it is pushing through. we are seeing major rain pushing through. they are under watches and warnings for severe weather and flooding. we have had major flooding to

the north of san antonio and parts of san marcos. they are trying out, there's a lot of standing water on the ground across the area. shry port you have had the worst weather, but we'll watch the line. we have warnings in effect in louisiana, and to the east of san antonio. and, of course the watches and warnings for flooding are in effect. we expect it to stay in effect through to tomorrow. >> frightening pictures. >> thank you. >> the mayor of san marcos joins us tonight on the phone. mr mayor, i know your city is the seat of hay's county you have two rivers in your neighbourhood. markos and la blanco how bad is the situation. thank you for the opportunity to speak with your viewers.

this is our flood of record the most devastating ever experienced in our history. folks we have spoken to there were floods in the '60s '70s and the late '90s all the way to 1929. this surpasses all of them. >> according to some reports the blanko crested three times higher. it's 2.5 times that of niagra falls. >> portions of hay's county that is correct, especially in areas such as whelm berly, where homes were as you described, stripped from the foundation. i think you heard a comment from the governor where trees were mowed down like blades of grass. that's an accurate description. we saw 400 to 500 homes that have been damaged. devastated. a lot of those families have been relocated to friends and

family. at this time we have some evacuation facilities that are available as we track storms that are coming through. folks haven't had a chance to return to homes to assess damage and pick up belongings and prepare for a long clean up period. >> the u.s. sensis period reports that st. marcos is the fastest growing country in the united states and will be for three years in a row. what will the disaster mean for your city? >> it will be significant for a period of time. there'll be a lot of clean ups that will have to be done. i was speaking with the fire chief, and we anticipate challenges with our fire department. one of our primary fire stations were damaged. they have done a great deal of work to get that facility in operation. there's a lot of remark to do

with residential and municipal pass ilties. the team has joint to start that. >> what do you know about those missing? >> at this time the number is 12-13 people unaccounted for. one thing that needs to be included in the dialogue. being memorial weekend, we had a lot of folks in town from out of town for memorial purposes. areas devastated were popular vacation areas, and a good place to go and enjoy the weekend. a lot of folks may have gone home. some we are trying to lent for. at this time i don't have a whole lot more information in regards to adults or children. we know that we are looking for 12-13. >> are you getting the help you

need? >> absolutely. the county has been are supportive. the country has been identified as an area of destruction. we are working diligently to provide all the necessary data and information to document and be able to allow the governor to move forward, to pursue theme of funding, needed for the community as we work to rebuild. >> the mayor of texas - good of you to join us. we wish you the best in our efforts as a result of all of this. >> thank you, sir 13 peel died in northern mexico. the twister destroyed house, and upended vehicles leaving hundreds insured. the city has 200,000 residents, located across the border. officials expect the death toll to rise. three children were hurt when a

water spout swept across a crowded beech in fort lauderdale sending an inflatable playhouse flying. >> look at that the bounce house was carried across a parking lot, landing on a road. officials say the children were tossed on to the sand before the bounce house flew above the palm trees. one of the kids is in stable condition. >> a rescue operation is under way after a deadly fire. chinese state media reports 38 are dead mangled deadframes and wheelchairs remain where the building stood. officials have not said how the fire started. >> turning to iraq i.s.i.l. fighters set fire to the largest oil refinery. more iraqi security forces are racing to baiji to capture the

facility. imran khan has more. >> iraq's largest oil refinery burns in the distance. fighters from islamic state of iraq and levant set fire to parts of it in a bid to stop advances by iraqi security forces. i.s.i.l. set off at least nine car bombs, killing dozens of security forces and shia militia fighters. the video is said to show them burning machinery in the areas they control. iraqi security forces say the destruction is hindering efforts. >> we are about 2km radius from the refinery it is an open terrain, in which i.s.i.l. has booby trapped trenches sand barriers and road side bombs. we hope the forces will overcome the obstacles. the enemy is desperate, losing manpower and fire power and is trying different methods to halt the advance. >> the facility has been hard

fought over for the last six months with i.s.i.l. and iraqi security forces claiming that they have been in control. >> beijing oil refinery is a major source of income. it's unclear why i.s.i.l. would set fire for it. we have seen i.s.i.l. use the tactics before particularly the car bombs in ramadi when they took that city. this may be a direct push to keep the iraqi security forces out for good iraq responded to defense secretary ash carter's criticising to the military performance, when fighters seized ramadi last week. >> iraqi forces showed no will to fight. they were not outnumbered, they vastly outnumbered the opposing forth. they failed to fight. they withdrew from the fight. that says to me to most of us

that we have an issue with the will of the iraqis to fight i.s.i.l. and defend themselves. >> iraqi prime minister haider al-abadi told the bbc he was surprised by carter's comments and said iraqi forces will retake ramadi. >> i am sure as he was saying that he was fed the wrong information, and it makes my heart bleed because we lost ramada, but i can assure you we can bring it back soon. >> you say soon what are we talking about, months? >> no no i'm talking about days now. >> vice president joe biden called iraq's prime minister to reassure him that the u.s. will support iraqis in the fight against i.s.i.l. >> a human rights group says i.s.i.l. will destroy hundreds. the syrian observatory for human rights said i.s.i.l. beheaded

residents. state tv reports i.s.i.l. has killed at least 400 people. a month has passed since a massive earthquake struck knappal. in the capital city hundreds formed a human chain around what was once a u.n. heritage site. others held candlelight vigils. the u.s. needs $300 million. more than 8600 died in the quake and its aftermath. >> u.s. veterans are trying to get the help they deserve. >> we are disabled from our service to our country. >> the veterans administration disagrees. the fight over agent orange next. after a week and a protest, the city is ready to settle claims of unreasonable force by officers.

the city of cleveland reportedly reached a deal with the justice department to settle

accusations of unconstitutional policing and a pattern of excessive use of force. the government's report from the cleveland police department accusing them of using excessive force against mentally ill people and stun guns. dozens of people that took part in antipolice this weekend were reigned, and were arrestedly protesting the acquittal. he was cleared in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black couple. >> i think you think dialogue like rioters, looters and thugs, when we have been peacefully protesting is unjust. we have a long way to fight, i believe we'll wib win. >> it shows that this is a good

cause. >> most demonstrators were arraigned on misdemeanour disorderly conduct charges and released. >> memorial day is a tribute to those killed in the armed forces. it's been an american tradition since the civil war. lisa fletcher has more on this year's observances. >> reporter: it's a time-honoured tradition, americans from coast to coast paying tribe ute this memorial day to those that made the ultimate sacrifice, like at this cemetery outside chicago. >> for crystal, a visit to the cemetery is a chance to honour her husband, brother and father. they lay here side by side. >> it's important to me that we continue to honour these people and honour those that are still serving and alive. we don't want to forget them. >> near fort brag in north carolina plaques pay homage to

each conflict where americans died in uniform. >> my best friend in korea died in my arms. we set aside to honour and pay tribute to these men. >> in afghanistan, u.s. soldiers based in kabul remembered those killed in combat since 2001. >> we remember over 2300 american soldiers sailors, airmen and marines killed in action. >> at arlington where the toem of the unknown soldiers is synonymous with memorial day. that represents the final resting place for unknown soldiers from world wars one and two. as well as korea and vietnam. monday president obama laid a reeth where the first two have been standing and noted this memorial day's significance. >> today is the first memorial day in 14 years that the united

states has not engaged in a major ground war. on this day we honour the sacrifice of thousands of american service members - men and women - who gave their lives since 9/11. >> the commander in chief told crowd of the family of the fallen that the nation can never fully re pay the debt to those that have gin so much. >> the americans that rest between of the beautiful hills, and in sacred ground they are why our nation endures 40 years after the war in vietnam ended, a group of u.s. navy veterans is fighting for medical benefits the sailors say they were exposed to agent orange and suffered from injuries caused by it. >> the u.s. government is refusing to cover medical costs. >> this man has been fighting the department of veteran affairs for years. >> i wanted to go to vietnam

with the army not the navy. i want to go and i did. >> he was an electrician on the u.s.s. "prairie", sailing the blue waters off the vietnam coast and is known as a blue water vet. 20 years ago paul said he was sick. >> the doctor did blood work came in the room and said "how long have you been diabetic?" i said "i didn't know i was." >> reporter: with no family history he blames diabetes prostate problems and burning sensation in hands and feet on agent orange. it was a defoliant the u.s. used to clear jungles. the better to see the enemy. the government poured 20 million gallons. paul says veterans' affairs will not help to pay for treatment, because it has no record of the u.s.s. "prairie" being in

vietnam. >> the ship keeps logs. and 43 years ago nothing was entered into the deck logs. it baffles me and ship mates as to why. >> reporter: secondly if it was there, paul was a sailor at sea, rather nan a soldiers with -- than a soldiers with boots on the ground. ships picked up the chemical through sea water. >> navy shoots pull in the salt water and we desal vannize it. there has been studies showing when it's desal vanished the chemical stays in the water and becomes thousands of times more concentrated than what they were exposed to boots on the ground. >> reporter: the v.a. says those serving on water from not exposed to the ate. what do you say to that? >> we were exposed. we do know it. from 1991 to 2002.

the blue water veterans received from the v.a. ben fates for their dibilityies. >> in 2002 the rules were changed excluding blue water veterans claiming for illness from agent oranges. . senator gillibrand is sponsoring the bill again. >> agent orange didn't discriminate between those that stood on boats on rivers or those standing on boats offshore. in a statement, al jazeera was told: . >> my goal is to right the wrong as quickly as possible. >> former u.s. navy vice said

these people have been left behind. the head of the v.a. has the ability to act immediately. >> with the stroke of a pen, today he could say those veterans who served on ships are eligible for medical benefits. >> as he heads to work the bumper sticker on his car says all you need to know. he is proud of his service in vietnam. now he wants his government to step up to the plate in the same way that he did over 40 years ago. >> we served our country, and we are sick from a chemical that was used during the war. we need to be taken care of the fbi is investigating a series of memorial day threats against commercial airliners. the anonymous threat set off alarms involving flight in new jersey and massachusetts. a u.s. military fighter jet

escorted a flight. investigators are trying to trace the source of the calls. >> forget the sloppy joes and french fry, a few schools are trying to help kids stay healthy with vegetarian mills. are kids eating them and cuba marked with ice. [beeping] ooo come on everybody, i think this is my grandson. [lip syncing] ♪little girl you look so lonesome

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many school cafeterias are changing menus to get kids to eat healthy foods. two new york city schools are the first in the nation to become vage tare yap -- vegetarian kristen saloomey went to one school to see what the kids say about it. >> reporter: the kids at school 442 in queens are like most of the ask about favourite subject. ask them about favourite foods? >> i like lettuce and apple. >> wait what was that? >> i like the lettuce and apple. >> that's right, no chicken nuggets or french fries here. on this day the hot lunch includes chickpeas and ravioli. the kids seem to like it.

>> i thought healthy food didn't taste good. >> it's made healthy lifestyle choices a theme. and with the backing of parents, eliminated meat from the menu. >> it was one day a week plant based, two days a week three days a week. trying out menu items, asking kids what they like it's a plant-based menu the healthiest options available within the system. >> a healthy dialogue has benefits for a growing mind or body. there's a palpable difference since switching to a plant-based menu. >> that includes kids with energy, focus and attendance much the new menu doesn't cost more than the old one. the school got some help. >> in the manhattan scene, where vegetarian is gourmet, amy is raising money to teach schools to make the switch.

>> the good thing that we feel is wonderful. >> she is with the new york coalition for healthy schools. >> since all schools must serve fruds, vegetables the protein component is the one where there's the most room for improvement. we feel offering plant-based options is a healthy option. it's a great way to fight childhood obesity and related diseases. >> it makes you stronger. >> now that ps 244 paved the way, other schools in new york are following in their footsteps in havana an artist is using ice to highlight the thawing relationship between the u.s. and cuba. duke riley built a rink where children and families skate. the new york artist is trying to promote a cross-cultural exchange between the two countries, the white house is expected to remove cuba from a list of state-sponsored

terrorism this week. >> i'm antonio mora thank you for joining us for the latest news head to aljazeera.com. ray suarez is up next for "inside story" have a great night. >> the agonizing wait is over. the wait list reach schools and safety schools have made their wishes known and thousands of high school seniors have had to cope with what they might see as college failure before they take a single class. they will be in school in fall just not their dream school. have we created crazy unworkable expectations at toop schools? does it matter that you go to college and less where you go? the deposits for the fall are in the mail. the sticker's already going on the rear window of the family car. rethinking the rat race for the