i'm john henry smith. "techknow" is next.pdates throughout the day head to aljazeera.com. ♪ caltech >>> this is "techknow", a show about innovations that saves lives. we explore hardware and humanity in a unique way. this is a show about scientists by scientists. let's check out the team of so-called nerves. lindsay moran, an analyst - new technology can make guns safer. does it work. we put it to the "techknow" test.

reporter: jerry brown has a state of emergency and bringing federal funds to help fight the fire, john henry smith and dealing with the drought they are making matters worse for the crews in the area and let's go to dave and should we expect the winds to spread the flames or are we looking at some rain? >> we cannot get enough rain and the wind is picking up is the big problem there and the thunderstorms cause a little bit of rain and lightning, that rain could evaporate before it hits the ground and it ignites new fires and not the best combination. rain on the pacific northwest and moisture across the southwest and this is leading to flooding here across portions of arizona and new mexico but really not seeing that rain push west where it is needed. flash flood warnings are still in effect, very heavy rain over a short period of time, large areas seeing flash flooding and a watch remains in effect because that rain continues to come down here across the southwest. it's the heat we are talking about in the central portion of the country here. these are the real feel temperatures when you combine

i'm john henry smith. here are the stories we are following for you at this hour. evaluating the threat from the islamic state group, as the united states measures its response. >> hamas retaliation against alleged israeli contributors. >>> and another night of calm in ferguson, as the community prepares for the burial of michael brown. ♪

john henry smith, al jazeera. >> tonight's freeze frame dated back to 1938, the original superman comic book cost its owner, get this, 10 cents. sold on ebay for $3.2 million. the most expensive comic book. only about 100 copies are believed to exist. that's our program, thanks for watching, "america tonight" with joie chen is next, we'll see you back here tomorrow tonight. w tonight. only on al jazeera america vé real reporting that brings you the world. >> this is a pretty dangerous trip. >> security in beirut is tight. >> more reporters. >> they don't have the resources to take the fight to al shabaab. >> more bureaus, more stories. >> this is where the typhoon came ashore. giving you a real global perspective like no other can. >> al jazeera, nairobi. >> on the turkey-syria border. >> venezuela. >> beijing. >> kabul. >> hong kong. >> ukraine. >> the artic. real reporting from around the world. this is what we do. al jazeera america. kirk. >> on "america tonight": unarmed and gunned down by an officer. a community torn apart says good-bye to 18-year-old michael brown. >> michael this

john henry smith, al jazeera. >> two influential voices bill and melinda gates donating to a grou anti-gun donation. the move was a surprise as the two usually stay out of political debates. >>> it was a surprising move but details are ahead. >> welcome back to al jazeera america. i'm del walters. the mother of an american journalist held captive by the islamic state group is pleading for his release. he was kidnapped after he crossed syria through turkey. another journalist is speaking out. peter theo curtis is back home and speaking out for the first time. he thanked those who helped gain his release. >>> near thow well take a look at this video. it proves what meteorologists have been warning about all summer. turn around, don't drown. an inch and a half of rain fell on tucson, arizona. flash flooding followed. several drivers were stranded. police and firefighters rushing downtown. more than a dozen people were stuck in their cars. no injuries were reported. and let's go to dave warren, sometimes a picture is worth an oh thousand words. you cannot go through floodwaters in a car or mot

john henry smith has more. >> they charged a nation. >> i don't like losing. like a girl dumping you. >> they e energized a city. [cheering and applause] >> reporter: and they inspired millions by doing what few thought they could, making it all wait to the little league world series championship game. >> they are already on top. chicago is going crazy for them. >> reporter: the jackie robinson west all stars took the field in williamsport sunday as the only all african-american team to ever advance to the world finals. no surprise the team that had to win four straight win or go home games just to get to sunday's game didn't quit when it found itself down 8-1, rallying for three runs in the sixth. but this time, the rally fell short and south korea won 8-4. which in the end did nothing to tam pen the admiration of their coach. >> they were a little disappointed, teary eyed at the end but they handled it well. very proud. >> reporter: nor did it tam pen the enthuse of their fans back home in chicago. >> it's a blessing. it's history and honor and we support th

i'm john henry smith. "techknow" is next. for updates throughout the day head to aljazeera.com. ♪ caltech >>> this is "techknow", a show about innovations that saves lives. we explore hardware and humanity in a unique way. this is a show about scientists by scientists. let's check out the team of so-called nerves. lindsay moran, an analyst - new technology can make guns safer. does it work. we put it to the "techknow" test. kyle hill is a science writer with a background in engineering. tonight - earthquakes. they are frightening, devastating and can strike without warning. you. >> this red circle is what we have to worry about. >> announcer: they can. dr shini somara is an engineer and i'm phil torres, i'm an entomologist. that's the team, let's do some science. [ ♪ music ] >>> hey, guys. welcome to "techknow". i'm phil torres, with me kyle sil, cara santa maria, and lindsay moran. lindsay moran, the only c.i.a. operative - you are the in-house security specialist. you got me to look at a smart gun coming with controversy. >

i'm john henry smith. here are the stories we're following for you at this hour.threat from the grails group. the pentagon says all options are on the table. >>> and another night of calm in ferguson, as the community prepares for the burial of michael brown. ♪

i'm john henry smith. here are the stories we are following for you at this hour. evaluating the threat from the islamic state group, as the united states measures its response. >> hamas retaliation against alleged israeli contributors. >>> and another night of calm in ferguson, as the community prepares for the burial of michael brown. ♪ >>> how to respond to the threat posed by the islamic state group? that is the question the united states and other world governments are trying to answer today. the rebel militants who have seized control of portions of syria and iraq have been condemned by western powers, even condemned by other extremist groups like al-qaeda. the united states says i.s. is beyond anything they have seen before. let's turn our attention to libby casey in washington. libby is there any indication that the u.s. may expand i its -- operations against islamic state. >> we're hearing a lot of concern over just how powerful and deadly the islamic state may be at this point. the question is what can be done right now? and while we're hearing a lot of c

local time john henry smith, al jazeera. >> i'm del walters in new york. the stream is coming up next. i'll be back in 30 minutes with more news including the latest on the situation of the negotiations underway right now in cairo to extend truce in the middle east. see you then. >> are in "the stream" and the u. summit takes place this week and hear about the issues facing the second largest continent and ebola claimed lives across africa including doctors and how are they coping and can it be contained. the next generation of leaders shares their take on the nurture of the region. ♪

john henry smith, al jazerra. >> meteorologist: i am meteorologist dave warren, we'll continues to lookthe situation over the next two to three days, this is quite rare it hasn't happened in two to years normally hawaii is fairly protected from these tropical cyclones a typical area of low pressure creating wind shear normally in the central pacific and then you get this cooler water coming off the western coast of the united states, so it creates a little channel where the track has to be exactly perfect to maintain its intensity. and this is exactly what is happening here. we have iselle. and julio both storms over the last 24 hours going westward through that area which is favorable to maintain its intensity. and it will continue to weaken as it goes in to the cooler water and in to that air which is not quite favorable for development. but it hold together it's he intensity enough where it's at least a minimal hurricane effecting -- which the effects tonight of iselle and julio two days later most likely a tropical to remember or depression passing just to the north. because of this

john henry smith is here with the bizarre details. bizarre indeed. team captain and reliable player. many believed hits story when he had two injured ankles. shaw said he was hurt jumping from a 7 floor balcony to save his nephew from drowning. his ankles are sprapd. he received-- spraind. he received wide-spread prays. the school confirms in recent days coaches received calls saying that shaw is not telling the truth. reports say his name is appearing in los angeles police reports regarding a burglary call that happened that same night. shaw is not a suspect reports say when a woman hard the description of a burglary suspect na it soundedlike he boyfriend josh shaw. beside the mrs., u.s.c. is investigating the incident. here is the coach. >> he came to us with what had occurred saturday night. i have no reason, history to not believe josh and his story and what had occurred. obviously within the last few hours or so there has been a few phone calls contradicting what josh said occurred. we'll vet it. we are looking at it. behind that i know what i k

john henry smith reports. >> reporter: the junction fire began monday afternoon averaged uncontainedtside of yosemite natural park. the flames have already consumed 800 buildings. you can't believe how powerful that is. the trees are a couple of hundred feet tall and you see flames at least two or three feet higher. >> reporter: highway 41 is usually packed with cars heading into the park during the busy tourist season, but the flames have forced local authorities to order the evacuation of 13,000 people, including everyone staying at the 130-room best western. >> we have been real worried about something like this. and now we have got it. >> reporter: this family has been visiting from boston. during their visit the fire broke and roads were closed. >> we walked about a half mile to get our suitcases and now we're going to try to find some shelter. >> reporter: the fire got too close for comfort to the oak hurst community shelter causing managers to shut it down and sent people south where the red cross has set up shot. >> this is a really tight knit community. and everybody has off

john henry smith has more. >> if the nation says large evident police department were to adopt the proposal it would become the latest in a growing list of police departments nationwide to outfit officers with cameras. some have had success, some not. >> in new york city, videos shot by on lookers have brought to light incidents like the eric garner chokehold death that have troubled many, including new york city public advocate laticia james. she wants to outfit officers with cameras. such cameras are either in use or being tested by a growing number of police departments across the country. over 3,000 of them, many in major urban areas like miami, oakland, california, dallas, and los angeles. james and see proposal would be for now to outfit officers only the highest crime, highest complaint precincts. she estimates that it would cost just over $30 million to outfit the whole force, but she says, that's a savings compared to the $152 million new york city paid out in settlements last year for police misconduct. >> a city in california experienced an 80 yea% drop in police complaints in on

jited is now -- john henry smith is here with that story. >> this doesn't just build character it revealsheir run revealed tough possess, sportsmanship and love from their fans. >> reporter: they charmed a nation. >> i don't like losing. it's like a girl dumping you. >> they energized a city. and they inspired millions by doing what few thought they could, making it all the way to the little league world series championship game. >> they are on top. chicago is going gradesy. the jackie robinson west all as far as took the field as the only all african-american team to advance. the team that had to win 4 straight win or go home games to get to the game didn't quit when it found itself down 8-1, rallying for three runs in the six. it fell short. south korea won 8-4, which, in the end, did nothing to dampen the admiration of their coach. >> we are proud of what happened. we were the best team in the united states. >> nor did it dampen the enshoesias of their fans. it lifted the spirit of a chicago beset by violence, and raised hopes that african-americans may return to the sport. current pla

john henry smith is in the crow's nest with more. >> chicago "sun times" is reporting that the federalnvestigation plans to dispatch 65 of the 100 agents its placed in the city to work the streets of the south and west side of chicago, both rife with gaining activity and crime. they will work on gang suppression missions and on street level drug surveillance. this move would come a week after illinois governor pat quinn approved sending 40 state troopers into the city to partner with police on so-called surge teams meant to corral wanted violent criminals. in july, the federal bureau of alcohol, tobacco and firearms assigned seven agents to the area after maintaining for weeks that man power wouldn't help police officers, who weren't warming up to the idea. >> we want to arrest people. if we recover guns, we solve other crimes when we do that. doing more of that is obviously something that's good. >> the anger of frustrated residents reached a boiling point in late july, after 11-year-old shamia adams was killed by a bullet coming into a home. >> sources say the troopers could be in pl

. >> john henry smith said she brings the fire, she has smoke. >> 9/11 9/11 museum skeptical tt ground zero workers became ill, making them angry. first responders and their families are furious, demanding answers. they say there is as health fund set up. they thought this issue was done away with. now they're hearing reports at the 9/11 museum that it could be -- >> panels describe that people have claimed their health effects. >> it's the word claimed they are taking exception to. >> another temporary truce in gaza. what will it take for a more permanent peace. >> we'll talk about that with former ambassador pinkiss live from tel aviv. >> hitting the pool to stay cool. a surprise in a kiddie pool. >> details ahead in this morning's discovery of the day. overy of the day. water for coal only on al jazeera america >> take a listen and take a look, this is the sound of quiet in gaza today. israel and palestinians agreeing to a new ceasefire. the latest 72 hour truce went into effect sunday night. the number of gasses killed now 1940. on the israeli side, 64 soldiers and three civilians

. >> we turn now to john henry smith with more. we understand a lot of towns there are cut off completely. >> at least two that we know of because of severe flash flooding happening in california, about 60 miles east of los angeles. debris and mud has been responsible for splitting those towns in half, cutting off key access points and leaving thousands of people stranded. >> fierce rains falling as much as four inches per hour have turned san bernadino county, california streets into mud-filled rivers. >> this is the worst since 1969 and it doesn't look like it's stopping. >> every unit in the county has responded, but mudslides up to 15 feet high and flooded streets kept rescuers from get to go thousands of stranded people who need them in the mountainous towns. 500 people are stranded as a church camp. >> heavy downpours in the area caused the roadways to be completely blocked by heavy debris, mud, rocks, boulders, basically splitting the town in half. we're still looking at just trying to clear the roadways and make sure that p

. >> we want to go now to john henry smith. this is something that we didn't expect to see in arizona. >> even though we think of arizona as a dry state, july to august in those parts is known at monsoon season, a time the region collect as quarter of its yearly rainfall. they expect more rain in arizona this time of year, but apparently, not this much more. >> touched trailers and trucks in our well tank. it just -- it's havoc over there. >> around homes and in the roadways, there's havoc everywhere in the phoenix area after two nights of storms dumped four and a half inches of rain and collected a flood to remember. >> this is something that happens in arizona periodically. it's kind of magical, kind of scary and exciting all at once. >> the flooding was a little too exciting for some, like these people trapped in their home and waving for help. rescuers saved them. >> i'm feeling blessed. >> rescuers were able to get this woman out of her deluged car. >> this is excellent work by everybody involved. >> look at the horses. >>

. >> john henry smith, thank you. >> rescue workers in china trying to save 16 miners trapped in a flooded coal mine. according to chinese state media, the crews pulled more than 40 workers out. there are no details at this hour as to what caused that flooding. >> a utah family is asking how someone made a potentially fatal mistake as a restaurant. jen harding is in critical condition. she drank lye that had been mixed into herrized tea supposed to suburbs of salt lake city. >> she took a sip and immediately coughed it out and spat it out. her first words to her husband, she said i think i just drank acid. either the store manager or the employee put six cups of this white powder substance into thized tea mixer. >> the powder looks like sugar. police are treating what happened as an accident. the restaurant owner is cooperating with the investigation. >> let's look at other headlines making news around the world. an arizona prison inmate making headlines. he has filed over 5,000 lawsuits about the prison food, asking for a trillion dollars in damage. gold or cold hard cash would be good. h

john henry smith tell us how they did. first thing you said was we're going to tell you and we wanted to know how they did. >> it's one of the reasons sports matter in this country, certainly an uplifting story. the girls team in still afloat. tournament rules wouldn't let davis take the mound sunday after pitch ago shutout. she became only the fourth girl ever to drive in a run with her single in the second. scored to give pennsylvania a 2-0 lead, but rallying to take the lead, spear man hit one under the glove of adams to bring him him. he would be the winning run if shanahan could drive him in. at the plate, grounds out to short, but the throw to first, way too high. spearman scores to give pennsylvania the 7-6 win. also sunday, the eyes of chicago were watching as the jacki robinson west all-stars representing the south side and all of illinois in round two, but the first african-american team make the series won friday by mercy rule. on this day, they would lose to the powerful team from nevada by mercy rule. 13-2. si

john henry smith is here with more. it's not often the nfl admits it was wrong. >> no, it is not.s makes what the league has done here all the more stunning and some would say refreshing. from now on, nfl team members who commit domestic violence will be doing serious damage to their career. >> many thought the nfl would discipline baltimore ravens star ray rice after this video surfaced of him dragging his unconscious fiancee out of a casino elevator after allegedly hitting her. >> whether it was two games, four games, six games, eight games, i was going to own my actions and be a man bit and take whatever was given to me, but i don't have any control over what the punishment was given. >> nfl commissioner roger goodell did. early they are month, goodell explained he thought he was going above and beyond with his two-game penalty. >> the criminal justice system, you know, put him in a diversionary program. we talked to the appropriate detectives. >> the avalanche of criticism that ensued indicated a great many did not think two games was appropriate, especially from a commissione