that was al jazeera's paul beban reporting. the opening ceremony of the sochi winter olympics is february 7th. a pressure moment frozen in time. twin polar bear cubs cuddle with mum, keeping them warm. they were born at the munich zoo in germany. they have not been named. >> remember news at the top of every hour. you can lock on to aljazeera.com. we leave you with a late-night lo

a celebration in denver, paul beban is there. considered to be the largest in the country. >> i believe that's right, del. a day here of remembrance, celebration and a lot of activity as you can see here at the civic center. thousands of people have just marched about three miles from where we started the morning at city park in denver. they're here for a day of music and celebration and i have a couple of very special guests i want to bring in here, wilma webb, served 13 years and wellington webb, first african american mayor of denver. tell me wilma you were instrumental in making martin luther king day a state holiday here. >> i was dedicated because dr. king was such a great man. he was an easy person to know that we know he was deserving and that he was worthy of the holiday. i carried the legislation for four years four different times and each time i had to make it a different bill. i was so glad that i saw the bill grow over the years from first being a minority bill and then one being combined the sponsors to be black pe

and paul beban is live with more on that. paul?reporter: be be , john, that's right we sent the day outside at the mlk mar-ade. but tonight we're at the national western stock show, and tonight on martin luther king day, on the 8th annual mlk, junior african american heritage rodeo. it's all african american rodeo stars from across the country. celebrating the little known story of the african american cowboy. i have my new friend here. reggie harden. he has four children competing tonight. reggie you have had cowboys in your family for generations. tell me what cowboy culture means to you? >> it means a lot to me and my family. it's all we have ever known. we have taught our grandkids on up. all we know is rodeo and that way of life. >> right. and reggie -- as i said four of his children competing here tonight. the first event is steer wrestling, an event invented by an african american cowboy. tell me about that. >> it was an event invented by an african american cowboy by the name of bill picket. he invented it back in the early

paul beban has that story from colorado. >> this is the view from snow board cross racer mick deer dorfe's helmet. to do this, flying down a frozen obstacle course at 40 miles per hour, you need to be a certain person. and you need money. >> i have to cover all my equipment and travel, coach fee, program fees, food, it really adds up quick. >> all told 35 grand to train for sochi. deerdorfe says he needed more than help from a parent. back in may he turned to crowd-founding website gofundme.com. that means asking everyone he knows - families, friends, strangers - for money. it paid off. he raised $15,000 and counting. is it 28-year-old mark you'ric is an amputee ski racer. but needing one ski doesn't reduce his costs. >> skiing is $5,000, outrickers $600. to be a part of my team is $4,000, and races are anywhere from $1,000 to $1500. you'ric has part of his tab covered, but hoping to spend more time on the mountain. he told his story on gofundme.com. and raised $2,000. >> people can buy you a helmet or skis. >> you set up a wishlist, and can itemise it. >> if he races well you're ik could

paul beban is in denver for us. paul, if you would, you've been there most of the day, describe the scene. you still have a lot of people behind you. >> reporter: i do, tony. as you said, happy new year. it's more than a cultural shift. it's an economic shift. all the people that you see represent big business. they've been in line since before the sun came up this morning. and where they're headed is right over here to the purchasing room where you can see they've got cases of marijuana on display. you can also buy paraphernalia to smoke it or otherwise get it in your system. there are lots of ways. but hundreds of people have been passing through here all day. the cannabis center this is by far the biggest day they've ever had. prior to this they were a medical marijuana dispensary. they did about $1,000 a day. and they've been in business four hours and this is a huge economic windfall for the state. one of the first customers, the very first customer was an ex-marine iraq war vet who used cannabis to treat his pt

paul beban is live in denver, and paul it looks like business is already brisk. >> that's right.ell, as you were saying,lized recreational marijuana sales are about two hour's old now and the line here has been out the door all morning and stretches across the parking lot. they were lining up here before the sun even got up during a snow storm, so it shows you the enthusiasm. there has been a cheer almost every time people have been walking out with their bags, with their purchases. it's a very festive atmosphere. anyone over 21 can now legally buy up to an ounce of marijuana here. interestly the first person to purchase here was a symbolic choice. it was an iraq war vet buying marijuana to treat his ptsd. >> now i get to use this to help alleviate my ptsd, and it's a stepping-stone for ore states to help other veterans as well. >> he is a marine who has served in iraq and struggled with his ptsd symptoms. he had a hard time getting marijuana even when he had his medical marijuana card dell? >> paul, this is already having a different effect on the state. they are referring to it

paul beban has the latest. >>> good afternoon, in martin luther king day, at the end of the martin luther king marade, they call it, a march and parade. a day of music work in the community as you can hear in the civic center. a little earlier i spoke to mayor wellington webb and his wife wilma. >> i was so dedicated to doing holiday because dr. king was such a great man. he was an easy person to know, that we know that he was deserving and that he was worthy of the holiday. i carried the legislation for four years four different times and each time i had to make it a different bill. i was so glad that i saw the bill grow for four years, first being a minority bill then one that combined the sponsors to be black people, white people, both democrat and republican and everyone in the legislature and finally getting all kinds of sponsors and it finally happened in 1984. >> you can see it really brings the city and state together. mayor webb, can you telling us the relationship of fling day and maybe a dedication he had to the whole movement. >> dr. king had been here several times. one of th

paul beban, al jazeera. there texas governor rick perry, says he supports softening of laws that permit are marijuana users. he says focus should be on counseling marijuana users not jail time. >>> this week's rn week's rnc ms have widened the field especially to women. but not everyone is getting the the story. >> that's the story the republican national committee tries, its rising stars. republican law maker monica youngblood. >> we are certifiesing that women do make up if republican party at all. we are mothers, students, we're house moms, soccer moms. >> and republicans have tapped a woman, represent.cast thy moor to deliver the president's state of the union address. reaching women voters who make up over halfful electorate. republicans only 44%. rnc chairman sharon day. >> the party's committed to that plan, we're going to reach out one vote at a time, one issue at a time. >> the republicans have to show the compassion issue in our politics and that they have better solution on the paramount issue whi

paul beban is live in denver where shops are scrambling to get ready and people are getting ready to. the shops are opening soon. what's the scene going to be like when they open their doors? >> well, good morning, del, happy new year to you. it's quite a festive atmosphere here this morning. we're in denver at the 3-d dispensary, just a handful of people here. you can see actually there's a coffee and doughnut stand set up. we had a guy playing acoustic guitar a minute ago, a half dozen here, not quite the crowds they expected. they were talking about needing crowd control measures and people lining up overnight. that hasn't materialized so far, but they expect a very busy day of sales here, people coming to denver where most of the shops are opening up. there are 18 open, more as time goes on. 130 in the state have been licensed. people lining up this morning, some coming from out of tate. we talked to a couple of them a little while ago. >> i think it's going to free up people that live under you anxiety and pressure all the time of being caught and they can live normal lives. >>

paul beban has that story. >> forget football. this is how they do "friday night lights" in steamboat springs. the kids line up. saturday morning it's time for speed camp and saturday afternoon a cross county race. this is base camp. it's the steamboat springs winter sports club, a place to play, meet and compete. >> this may be humble compared to the big sister steam boat. but here howl -- howelsen hill is built on dreams. they have been cranking out olympians for 100 years. a celebrated son, retired skier johnny spillane says winning is not what this place is about. >> first and foremost it's a great place for kids to have fun. >> johnny spillane grew up a few blocks from the club. at the vancouver olympics he was the first winner in the nordic conpined. >> you can't be successful without enjoying what you do. >> this is the history of the club. >> yes. this is the man that founded it. >> howelston founded the club. 96 olympians and counting. >> a large majority come back and settle and they become coaches. your mentors are olym

. >> that was paul beban reporting from denver. >>> the alleged gang rape of the 20-year-old indian women, village elders reportedly ordered the rape for an alleged love affair. we have this report from west bengal. >> reporter: the police say they're trying to peace together an alleged crime that has shocked the nation. they have reconstructed the movement of one of the men accused of raping a 0-year-old woman from this area on the alleged orders of a village court. earlier state government representatives surveyed the area. they went door-to-door from the home of the victim to the homes of the men she said attacked her. >> no one will be guilty. >> the victim's brother, who does not want to be identified said he fears for his life. he's not sure if his family will be able to return to this village. their lives, he says, have been ruined. >> my sister has been wronged. my family wants the people who did this for her to go to jail for a very long time. >> the victim arrived at a local hospital on wednesday. the authorities say her condition is now stable and while she continues to receive

paul beban reports. >> the school should have and could have done more to prevent this tragedy. that's when carl pierson shot claire davis. claire davis would die of her wounds eight days later. the security guard's name is cameron russ and in a lengthy facebook post last night, he daylights what happened before and after the shooting. the school officials warned about ernz poo, that he had been -- about pierson, and on that facebook posting, they said individuals such as clarl pierson was known for a long time. russ goes on to say he overheard school officials saying, we will read about that kid, carl pierson, just not aa at arapaho. he is the only member of the school security team not to return so far, that's raising a lot of questions among parents and teachers. a lot of questions about is information being withheld, why handy russ returned to school just a little month ago. >> photofinish our picture of the day and holiday on ice, we'll take you to south korea's huge ice fishing festival. >> good evening, my name is morpgd. coming to you live from new york city. a break thr

paul beban in colorado, thank you. >>> the president's new healthcare law has encountered a legal hurdlerom the woman he placed on supreme court. justice sonya sotomayor acting on behalf a group of nuns who say that the mandate violates their beliefs and it applies to other non-profit groups that have the same health plan. the white house has until friday to respond. but that change won't stop coverage from kicking in for millions of americans who signed up. from hawai'i, healthcare for the majority of people is nothing new. jennifer london is in honolulu for us. jennifer, good to see you. >> tony, happy new year to you, and you know when most people think of hawai'i images like the one behind me comes to mind. you think of the beach, the surf the sand the sun. but take a closer look and perhaps people should start thinking of hawai'i as the health state. inside eden and love, a small boutique in honolulu customers are looking for deals. but those who work here might actually have the best deal of all. >> we have clothing lines, we have jewelry. >> reporter: shop owner offers healthcare

aljazeera's paul beban reports. >> forget football, this is how they do friday night lites in steam boat springs. the kids lineup and launch themselves into the darkness. >> go! >> saturday morning, time for speed camp. saturday afternoon, a cross country race. >> the hill may be humble to big sister steam boat across the valley, but this is mount olympus. they say it is built out of dirt andrews. >> they've been cranking out olympians for 100 years. johnny spilane grew up a few miles from the club and became the first north america medalist in the nordic combined. >> it produces so many athletes because all the kids are having fun. you can't be successful in nip sport without enjoying what you do. >> this is the history of see town, u.s.a. >> yes, and here is the man who started it all. >> he founded the club in 1914. its culture has a formula generation after generation. brothers club kids all grown up are on their way to sochi. mom penny says the club means more than medals. >> it's kind of a community gathering spot for them to come here, train and learn sportsmanship, morals, ethics

paul beban has the story from steamboat springs. >> forgot football.this is how they do friday night lights in steamboat springs. the kids line up and launch themselves into the darkness. saturday morning it's time for speed camp. ♪ >> and saturday afternoon a cross country race. for all these kids, this is base camp. the steamboat springs winter sports club at howellson hill. it is a place to play meet and compete. it may be humbling compared to big sister steamboat but around here, howellson is built out of dirt and dreams. on these slopes they've been quietly cranking out olympians for 20 years. johnny spillane says winning is not what this is all about. >> first and foremost, it is a place for kids to go have fun skiing. >> in the vancouver olympics. >> winter sports club produces so many good athletes because all the kids are having fun. you can't be successful in any sport without enjoying what you do. >> this is the history of ski town? >> yes, this is the man who founded it all, carl howellson. >> generation after generation, 96 olympians and c

. >> paul beban reporting from denver. >>> well, they wait a lifetime to ride these waives, sometimesfeet tall. they grab their waves for what is called the greatest surfing competition on the planet. melissa chan has the story. >> they say it's the mt. everett of the surfing sport. mavericks. some of the biggest most dangerous and potentially lethal waives. surfers ride down 40 foot walls of water as high as four story buildings. the waves crash so powerful they even show up on earthquake sensors in the san francisco bay area. we caught up with some of the competitors before dawn as they are heading out. >> we are taking a huge risk for our lives. but the guys who do it are really, really comfortable. >> that's what's part of big wave surfing, it's part of your dna if you love it or not. >> the reason i surf out here, keep coming back is the feeling you get from it, the near, i don't know, the thing that almost kills you like make you feel alive. >> and at sunrise with little ceremony, the best of the best pushed off to face the sound and the fury. the mythic waves are offshore. some

. >> paul beban in colorado. david shuster. >> reporter: tony in mississippi, a former martial arts instructor who tried to sign poisoned letters to president obama and other government officials pled guilty. he appeared in court today. he seemed to choke up when confirming the deal that will send him to prison for 25 years. prosecutors say he tried to frame a long-time enemy and elvis impersonator, who was initially charged and jailed in the investigation. community negotiations are begun in new jersey over the lane closure scandal. a state panel issued spokens to 17 people and three government agencies involved. david wild steen who helped carry outs the efforts said he will share information if he is granted immunity from prosecution. prosecutors will make the ultimate decision on immunity deals. right now they will not comment. >>> the breakthrough comes from the tech giant google. the contacts would replace the finger prick use to measure blood levels. it is expected to be on the market in five years. >>> an

paul beban reports. >> hundreds have come through the 3d cannabis officer. to purchase legal weed. a big historic day, of course for the entire state, a massive economic windfall underway and an historic cultural shift in colorado. >> i'm standing in the snow outside, that's how important it is for me. >> i've been waiting 42 years for this day. >> earlier on, it was a media madhouse. propot activists held a press conference to mark a beginning of a new age. >> it is a watershed moment as we end marijuana prohibition in our country and move into a more sensible era. >> today in colorado we shift marijuana from the underground into the regulated market. >> finally at 8:00 a.m., the first customer in that regulated market, sean azaridi, an ex-marine, who served two tours in iraq, spent years to ease post-traumatic stress. he bought buba koosh and cannabis laced truffles. after azaridi i.t. was nonstop. -- it was nonstop. by noon the wait was four hours and the atms were running dry as they came from near and far. store owner tony fox was thrilled but says it's about more than the mon

paul beban has the story. >> until recently trains were not carrying that much oil around the countrynce 2008 u.s. domestic oil production soared 25% thanks in large part to the boom in oil shale production in north dakota. that means tanger trains of 80 to 100 cars are common and potentially more dangerous. >> last year $1.15 million gallons were spilled in train accidents, according to a new government report. that's more oil spilt in train accidents in one year than the previous 40 years combined. that does not include a disaster in canada when a run away oil train derailed and exploded. that accident killed 47 people and spilled 1.5 billion gallons of oil. the problem, some experts say is the alternative is not better. last year, for example, in arkansas river, there was a million gallon release from a six-inch pipeline. many go undetected. neither rail nor pipelines are risk free. oil train accidents can be kata trophic. they are rare. 11.5 billion gallons of oil travelled by rail. 99.99% of it arrived safely. >> rare or not, these accidents can be deadly, cost billions to clean

paul beban, winter don ver. >>> a winter wonder lim, jim hooley is there? >> in colorado, they are having fun with tools like this, too. we will tell you what's happening here in breckin ridge at the international snow sculpting commission and the winnin winnings. >> we have winter temperatures breaking records and snowfall. intense amounts. i will show you and tell you when to expect the next arctic blast. real reporting that brings you the world. >>> for some, it's been a brutal winter, but the town of brec breckenrid breckenridge, colorado is creating a winter wonderland, the snow sculpt temperatuure ch. i am dying to know: do we have a winner yet? >> yes, we do, jonathan. we will have more on that in just a moment. but take a look at some of the tools. this is what they take to win competitions like in breckenridge in the frigid cold. some of the work is on display for us right here behind us right now. thousands of people coming through here today. it's been an incredible competition. over the past couple of days really for the past week, some of the t

paul beban, aljazeera, denver. >> the national institute for drug abuse estimates that one in nine users become addicted to marijuana. for teenagers, that's one in six. >> marlin mccarthy is calling it quits, both she and carolina congressman will not seek reelection this year. mccarthy became a congresswoman in 1996 after her husband and son were shot in the 1993 long island railroad massacre. >> wednesday marked the third anniversary of the deadly attack on former congressman gabby giffords and others. about 100 people gathered outside the university of arizona medical center for a reading of the victims' names and moment of silence. gifford survived being shot in the head. her injuries forced her to resign from congress in 2012. the former congresswoman sky dived with a fend. her husband met her on the ground after she landed and tweeted this, gabby landed beautifully, happy she's safe. so proud of her bravery. i think we all are proud of her. >> absolutely. >> dennis rodman is now apologizing for comments he made about an american missionary held captive in north korea. he was celebr