bisi onile-ere joining us live in detroit.isi how long could this take and is there a chance that pensions could be saved. >> reporter: the judge on this case is really trying to push this process forward, and i'm told that the trial at the most could last about five days. there's crowds of people out here. there were hundreds out here at one point, protesting this bankruptcy. the crowd made up of many retirees who have so much to lose if this bankruptcy moves forward. they have -- they could possibly lose their pensions as well as their health care, and as to the question as to whether their benefits can be saved these retirees, they really think they can be saved, because they say they are protected by the state constitution. so as i was saying a lot of drama out here earlier today. the crowd is beginning to die down a little bit. bankruptcy has been a huge topic here in detroit over the past couple of months, but there are things in the city that are showing signs of renewal. this is the detroit most of the world knows high

bisi onile-ere, set the scene for us. >> reporter: well, i can tell that you we learned this morning, del, that michigan governor rick snyder has agreed to testify in this bankruptcy trial. he's expected to take the stand on monday and among many of the questions he will be asked is how he allowed th the appointed city manager to file bankruptcy in the first place. bankruptcy has been the talk of the down in detroit, but the city is showing signs of renewal. >>> this is the detroit most of the world knows. high crime, blighted neighborhoods and poor city services. not this. new stores, restaurant, growth and small business. >> i've never seen it this busy in detroit. >> reporter: mark with the economic growth corporation said right now economic development in the city is thriving. tax start ups and small creative base companies are looking past detroit's problems and finding opportunity. shinola detroit, a luxury wrist watch factory could be based anywhere in the country. >> we came to detroit and met fantastic people in the business community and found the amazing energy about moving

. >> al jazeera's bisi onile-ere joins us from detroit. good to see you. what happened in court today? >> reporter: tony a federal bankruptcy judge heard from both the city and its creditors in opening argument lawyers for the union and the retirees basically came out saying that they don't believe the city of negotiate, that thedetroit,that they negotd faith back in july, and they're saying under the michigan constitution that healthcare is off limits. the city can't touch that. right now the city is saying bankruptcy is the only option since the city is facing $18 billion in long-term debt. governor rick snyder is expected to testify in this case and he's expected to take the stand on monday. this is a really big development in this trial. we're hearing among many questions he'll be asked why he allowed state appointed emergency manager to move forward with this bankruptcy filing. >> well, bisi, look, i'm wondering how long this trial could last, and is there a real chance that worker pensions, we're talking about pensions and healthcare as well actually

as al jazeera's bisi onile-ere reports many people are moving out of the city and leaving their dogsehind. wait for it, let's go. all right. we don't have it. parts of the u.s. are under a freeze warning, rebecca stevenson has the forecast for you next on al jazeera america. on august 20th, this is the 900-page document we call obamacare. my staff has read the entire thing. can congress say the same? >> there you see new york city just five minutes before 7:00 eastern standard time. beautiful shot there it's going to be a cold chilly weekend for most cities along the east coa coast. we'll get a look at our national forecast. >> meteorologist: tony, are you feeling the chilly in the air. >> i'm feeling the chill not only in the air. >> meteorologist: it's very lonely out here in the studio. we do have quite the cooldown going on in the midwest. as you get through parts of tennessee and kentucky. the south southeast is going to have frost and freeze advisories going into affect effect. we're going to head back into that cold weather. all this cold air has been pouring out of canada bec

. >> bisi onile-ere has more. a judge heard from the city and opening arguments. lawyers for the unions and retirees argued that the city did not argue in good faith, and that under the state constitution in michigan that retiree benefits, pensions and health care are protected. on the stit side they are saying now bankruptcy is the only option considering that the city they say is facing $18 billion in long-term debt. what was interesting is a that we learned that michigan governor, rick schneider will testify in the case and will take the stand on monday, and we are told that among many questions likely to be asked is why he allowed an emergency manager to move forward with bankruptcy filing. initially there were thoughts that had was a trial that would wrap up in five days, but it looks like it will go into november because the judge is giving both sides to explain what negotiating in good faith means. when it comes to those retiree benefits we hear from the lawyers that they believe they are protected under the state constitution, and as one lawyer put it - ba

bisi, good morning. >> good morning to you, thomas. as you know, detroit city workers or retirees have a lot to lose if this bankruptcy goes through. they are fighting tooth and nail to protect their health. we fits and their pensions. these are benefits that they strongly believe are protected by the michigan state constitution. arguments today, they're supposed to be very dramatic on both sides of the table. what's interesting is while the focus has been on bankruptcy, bankruptcy, bankruptcy, the local economy is actually showing signs of renewal. >> this is the detroit most of the world knows, high crime, blighted neighborhoods and poor city services. not this, new stores, restaurants and growth in small business. >> i've never seen it this busy in detroit. >> mark with the detroit economic growth corporation says right now, economic development in the city is thriving. tech start ups and small creative based companies are looking past detroit's financial problems and finding opportunity. a luxury wristwatch factory could have been

. >> bisi, how difficult is it to buy into the affordable care act?> it appears to be fairly easy. this health care clinic has been planning for this day for months. millions of federal dollars went into training staff at clinics here across metro detroit about these policies and how to help people. one thing i'm hearing from folks out here, one of the positives out of all of this is that much of this health is for free. >> you mentioned metro detroit area. how are people there reacting, with the weight of the bankruptcy on the one hand and the economy making a turnaround on the other. >> right now, it's a little too early to tell. on the one hand, you have people who are excited, people who don't have insurance, who have gone without who are now happy they have this option to be insured, and then on the other hand, you have small businesses who are worried about how the affordable health care act is going to impact their bottom line. >> bisi, thanks so much for joining us this morning. >> with every passing minute, the government remains shut down. a

bisi onlilineri has more. >> reaching the u.s. supreme court from back in 2006 when 58% of miven voters passed an amendment to the state constitution banning race-conscious admissions policies at their public universities. that initiative has led to a legal fight pitting michigan's attorney general who will argue to uphold the ban against the coalition to defend affirmative action, a civil rights act visit group who will argue against it. >> i really feel a responsibility. >> kevin gains, a promise professor of history and african-american studies at the just of michigan is among many named in the suit opposed to proposal 2 >> it's a lonely position to have to feel that you have to fight battles that you thought had been fought and won years ago. >> since proposal 2 took effect, the number of black and latino students entering the state's public universities has dropped by a third. professor gaines believes the ban on affirmative action is blocking out diversity. >> there is a misconception out there that race conscious admissions