thank you for having me. >> that is our show for today. i'm david shuster in for ali velshi, on behalf of all of us thanks for watching. fear of flooding a search continues in texas, as the race for financial help. >> if you see the water line in the houses most of the houses in this area suffered major damage. >> facing charges - former house speaker dennis hastardt accused of paying millions in hush money and lying to the f.b.i.

addressing the scandal. >> we or i cannot monitor everyone all the time. >> f.i.f.a.'s embattled president brushes calls to stepdown as f.i.f.a. faces charges of bribery and corruption. and the chaps of a lift. >> -- chance of a lifetime. >> exciting and i felt honoured. >> reporter: a 97-year-old woman shares her story of meeting the president and vice president of the white house good evening, i'm barbara serra, tonight, flooding in texas and oklahoma is far from over. rivers are rising rain on the way, texas rescue crews pull people from the floodwaters. 21 died in the states since the flooding last weekend. robert ray joins us from houston, how are people preparing for another round of

rain this £. weekend. people are afraid. i'm not sure there is preparation. they are cleaning up the houses remnants of memories and lives that are sitting on kerbs across houston, a body was pulled out by police out of the port of houston, 30 miles from downtown as more main as you say, is on its way. >> reporter: while houston braces for more rain another water rescue outside the city. residents and officials are cleaning up surveying the damage. >> we'll do damage assessments. this is a form we use to collect data. he is among 40 teems documenting the destruction so federal aid can be justified. this is where some of the most

severe damage occurred. >> reporter: what are you guys looking for. we see backs of people's belongings. is this driving by and that determines what? >> that's one thing we look for. what we are looking for, if you see some of the water lines in the houses most of these houses in this area have suffered major damage. >> houston has until sunday to assess the damage and meet the deadline. a major task for katy's department in the houston neighbourhood. >> i think the perception from a lot the of people is that there's a disaster and money will come in. people don't realise that there's a lot of stuff that has to be taken to prove that the money comes in. that's what you guys do is that right. >> absolutely there's the perception that the federal government will come in and

purchase your house or whatever. what we are assessing is what they are after is the uninsured or the underinsured. though officials cannot put an exact price tag on the destruction. this neighbourhood south-west of houston, there are 5,000 homes, and the majority of them a cutting because of the water damage. is there a possibility that we'll go into the billions as far as damage here. >> i think that's certainly a possibility. now it's too early to tell. >> and with more rain and flooding prompting volunteer evacuation the task to secure federal and state honours is going on around the clock. >> 60 miles south-west of houston, a town walled warton the mayor did a voluntary evuation.

today, knowing that the rivers tribute ris and bayous were surging up and could crest over trapping the people. most of those residents took his advice and left warton. the issue is we haven't seen rain in two days here but we have all the water circling around in the rivers and they have nowhere to go as the earth and levies continued to collapse and residents feared what could happen as they continued the plans, moving forward, as so much of the houses and businesses are in ruin here. >> robert ray with the latest from houston central texas where the flooding devastated a popular town. a wall of water ripped homes from their foundations, watching the buildings and anyone inside down a river. eight people are missing. family members opened up about

the ongoing search. >> the search continued for two families swept away by floodwaters. the mc-homs had been vacationing with the charbis, randy, michelle son. this is what is left of the house where they were staying. after they rose 30 feet in less than two hours, sweeping the home off the foundation. laura called her as the house floated down the river. telling her sister that she loved her. that was the last time the mother of two was heard from. >> i think recognising what happened with the whether, we all know and it was accepted. >> the father is the only known survivor. he is expected to recover from a collapsed lung, sternum and

ribs. >> he is devastated he did everything he could to save them. miles downstream in the next country, the body of michelle was recovered tuesday, and a day later, an unidentified boy was discovered on the riverbank. seven from the group are still missing. >> this effort is not over. we are 100% committed to finding laura, andrew lleyton, randy, will ralph and sue. >> reporter: that task falls on an army of civilian volunteers. the search and rescue teams, and 32 groups deployed to the area. >> how hard are your hopes are finding a life. >> we never want to give up hope. search and rescuers are prepared to come across more bodies. we know if you find that you are allowing them to have

closure about the love ones. >> reporter: when you hear the names of those missing spoken out loud. it is unimaginable what the familiesar suffering through. there are 72 other families digging through the debris of homes destroyed by the flash flooding. thousands of others were badly damaged. >> federal officials say anthrax supports shipped by the military to research labs were not properly eradicated. investigators are at the utah ground figuring out what went wrong. the spores were sent to conduct new tests. they were not supposed to be live. sometimes they escape radiation. >> while he was speaker of the house for a decade.

they were indicted for financial fraud. he is accused of paying someone 2 million in hush money, and lying about it to the federal bureau of investigation? >> the indictment alleges that the former house speaker oak out it 11 million. he was doing it in 50,000 increments raising the attention of bankers, and he dropped down to taking $10,000 at a time avoiding the minimum threshold reporting requirements. the fbi asked why he was taking out money, if he was worried about the safety of the banking system, something he had said in the past and the pastor said yes, that is true. the indictment says it was a lie, and the money was not kept on hand but paid to an individual to conceal pastor's past act. that person is not named, and the specifics are not gone into in the indictment.

it comes as a shock to washington. and the former house speaker's home state of illinois serving as the longest republican house speaker in washington d.c. stepping down in 2006 when democrats took control of congress. he's a lobbiest in his '70s and was a high school teacher and coach. in addition to the questions about the financial crimes there's a bigger question about why was a former speaker allegedly paying someone money to stay quiet about past allegations. it's bringing up questions f.i.f.a.'s president is defying calls for his resignation. sepp blatter said those calls tarnished f.i.f.a. but he is the one to lead them out of the scandal. it comes as he seeks re-election on friday for a record fifth term. john terrett joins me.

it's incredible that it look like he's going to stay as you see from the reports, the remarks have been amazing. they were remarkable. he was - did a little to help the situation. it's dawning, you see on soccer fans that the world cup tournament may be in jeopardy if f.i.f.a. can't turn it around and swiftly, not that you would know that though because of the way soccer's government body is partying in switzerland at the opening of the annual congress. in zurich 24 hours after the department of justice indicted f.i.f.a. official and asolings with core -- associates, the soccer elite is carrying on like noing happened. this is the opening ceremony of their get together in zurich led by defiant boss sepp blatter. we or i, cannot monitor

everyone all of the time. if people want to do wrong, they will try to hide it. but it falls to me the responsibility of the organization and to find a way forward. >> blatter, thought likely to win a fifth term in office on friday is refusing to go despite calls for him to step aside. >> the noirningt for f.i.f.a. is -- important thing for f.i.f.a. is sepp blatter steps down and someone takes his place who believes in transparency and honesty. >> translation: i feel insulted i feel disgusted and am sick of it. enough is enough. i can tell you tomorrow that the election. president, a very large majority of the european national associations will vote for

prince ali he is the european preferred candidate. it's not clear that he'll get enough votes for the support that sepp blatter enjoys in malaysia and asia. f.i.f.a. is hitting back that it paid $10 million in bribes to secure the 2010 world cup. we did not share part of your resources with criminals. i'm seeing it now and forever. also hitting back. russian leader accusing the d jo. j of raining on his parade in the 2018 world cup, which his company was awarded by f.i.f.a. >> this was an attempt to prevent sepp blatter being reelected to the f.i.f.a. presidency. it's a grave violation of principles. russia is where the probe is said to have begun, amid concerns the selection process for the 2018 world cup, and the 2022 tournament were rigged.

both countries deny impropriety. federal prosecutors say that there were similar fraudulent practices in preparation for the copa america soccer tournament that the u.s. will host in 2016. >> back in switzerland, it's difficult to see how this will end with f.i.f.a. emerging with a united voice. the likelihood is sepp blatter will be reelected, meeting with der rigs across europe and home. most of the rest of the world, russia africa and others are firm in their support for him. there's a nuclear option countries like germany, france and england and others may choose to breakaway. that would mean the end of f.i.f.a. and the beloved world cup tournament. you know who might have the fine say, the sponsors - mcdonald's coca-cola, adidas visa - they are not happy and are powerful too interesting to see what happens. we should mention the 2022 world cup is expected to be played in qatar, and al jazeera

is funded in part by that government at least 10 people have been killed in car bombings that hit two baghdad hotels on thursday officials believe the blast was coordinated. the first before midnight the second seven minutes later near a former sheraton. 30 were injured in the two attacks. iraqi officials say shia brigades are advancing an i.s.i.l. areas north of baghdad. this is a separate push to that of retaking anbar province announced by the iraqi government. shia militias joined the government forces in that battle. >> in syria, the u.s.-led coalition is lending a hand. kurdish fighters getting closer to raqqa near the turkish border. they are closing in. since the beginning of may, they have retaken more than 200

kurdish and syrian towns. >> it's killing thousands. feds are going after the wrong tart. that's coming up next and another entry in the crowded republican field. former new york governor george pataki jumps into the race for the white house. white house.

former new york governor george pataki joined the lift of governors running for president. he took issue with hillary clinton's claim that democrats are a party that speaks for the middle class. unless by middle class they charge $400,000 for half hour speech. that's their party's candidate.

she speaks for the middle class. they are the party of privilege, we are the party of the middle class. >> reporter: pataki served three terms as governor of new york. and has been out of office since 2006. the new jersey officer called for the end of common core in the state. speaking at a community college, the potential candidate says the standards are not working for new jersey students. and says it's brought confusion and frustration to parents and classrooms. >> instead of solving problems in the classrooms it's creating moral problems in those classrooms and at home. when we are not getting the job done for the children or need to do something different. >> new jersey adopted the common core standards, and they spill out what academic skills master. they are unpopular among

candidates a legal battle is pitting rights groups against the federal government. thousands have been killed there to protect the region's endangered salmon. allen schauffler is in that state. what can you tell us about this? >> this has been in the works for some time 15 years of research three years putting together an environmental impact statement. lots of comments vocal criticism from some quarters government employees will kill what will be 11,000 adult korma rants at the mouth of the columbian river. >> reporter: the army corp of engineers it not going to show us what is happening on east end island the biggest nesting ground for the double-crested korma rants. efforts to kill two-thirds of the colony started this week. how effective from the teams?

>> we have oiled 769 nests and culled 149 adult cormorants. >> reporter: bob salanger one of the groups sues to stop the killing say they'd like a lot more information than the brief weekly press release that the army corp is offering. >> we have a right to see what money is being spent on. there's no excuse for not being transparent. a 75 word release providing no information is not an acceptable surrogate for that. >> reporter: a federal judge ruled the programme can continue while the lawsuit is occurring. the suite is coming because of hood roe dams and -- hydrodams and fish. the corp operates the dams which could be deadly for young salmon coming downstream.

one thoughed used is to kill cormorants that feast on the fish. critics say the birds are blamed for what human being and the dams are doing. >> the fact is they are turning the largest colony in the country. they are going out there at night, they are killing the birds on the nest as they take care of eggs and the young. >> to the core it's necessary wildlife management to protect the 13 species listed as endangered or threatened. it's estimated the birds eat 11 million salmon every year. the plan is to kill 3500 cormorants and oil the eggs on 5800 nests, to protect hatching. >> no big surprises. it's a positive result. >> what exactly is positive in this case. >> positive meaning we are not disturbing the colony or

dispersing birds. they admit they started behind schedule. that won't save the shooting or egg oiling in august. the core didn't tell the public or the press when they began the shooting and told us flatly that they are not going to alert us when this action is taking place. they say it will take place periodically and could last until the end of the summer. >> thank you for that. >> a woman that spent years, got the surprise of a lifetime. >> lillian bailey and her trip to the white house is next. the new champions crowned the winners, and the final word from the national spelling bee. bee.

reminders of a brutal winter in boston. this snow fall was 75 feet. now it's a mound of dirt and gash in as it melts, crews hauled away the crash, removing 85 tonnes of debris. a 97-year-old maryland woman took her first ever school field trip and it was one to remember. on tuesday, vivian bailey went to the white house where she

unexpectedly met president obama and vice president joe biden. she was the invited guest of running brook elementary school from her home town in columbia maryland and spent the last 16 years raising money for the school some of which was used to pay for underprivileged students to take field trips. i'm happy to say vivian bailey joins us from silver bring. >> thank you for joining us at al jazeera, "a pleasure to have you on the programme. >> thank you for inviting me. >> you raise said thousands. the school invited you on a field trip your first ever school field trip. not only was it your first, you met the president and the february. it hust have been an -- must have been an exciting day. tell us about it. >> we knew we would have a tour of the white house. we had no idea we'd see the president and the vice president. that was a dream thing, i always

wanted to meet the president and the first lady. so it was an exciting awesome, thrilling visit, and i felt very honoured to have been able to meet both the president and the vice president. the first lady was not there, she sent a nice letter to me saying she regretted that she wasn't there. i hope to meet her in the future. i also hope and have a wish that at some time we might be able to get the first lady to come out to our school. that would be really very very special thing, and unforgettable for the children. >> you have been very involved in the school. you raised thousands of dollars for running brook elementary school in columbia maryland. part of that funding paid for field trips for schoolchildren. you feel that they are incredibly important, and you from not able when you were a child to go on field trips. why is it you feel they are important for children.

>> it's a learning thing, a lot of children don't probably have the advantage of travelling. they tie in the trips with what they study at school. not only is it enjoyable for them, it's a learning experience and for some of them it's unforgettable trip i am sure. >> you were born in washington d.c. in 1918 and you grew up in tulsa oklahoma and you, yourself attended a segregated school. in light of that how did it feel to meet the u.s. president. you told us how exciting that was, and to meet president obama, the first african-american president. >> it was, of course an honour to meet a president, but particularly wonderful to meet the first - i don't use african-american american but the first negro president. >> what will you remember most of the first school field trip that you took. >> i think i was just so thrilled that the children were able to go with the learning experience.

for me the joy was seeing what the children were getting out of it. >> just specifically when you went to the white house, what do you think the children took out from being there? >> i am sure they are thrilled that i got to do that. i know they share my joy, they saw me getting something. >> vivian bailey it's been a pleasure speaking to you. >> thank you for asking me now, for the second straight year, two teams share the top prize in the scripts national spelling bee. >> n-u-a-t-a-k... >> correct. >> neither misspelt a single one, beating 283 spellers in the finals. more than 11 million students competed reaching the finals.

the sister won in 2009. and look who finished third last year. >> i'm barbara serra, thank you for joining us for the news. ray suarez is next with "inside story". as our machines got smarter and smarter technologyists said hey, don't worry, they on the know what they tell them. when certified smart guys like physicists steven hawking says wait a minute you are playing with fire is it time to be nor careful about artificial intelligence machines smart enough to mistake