Openly guy player in the nfl. Attorney general erik holder is calling samesex marriage the civil rights struggle of our generation. Today theyll give gay couples in all states legal rights from everything from courts to prison. We will never stop working to ensure that equality under the law is protected by the law. A pledge from the u. S. Attorney general himself is the latest move by the Obama Administration to recognize samesex marriages to the greatest extent possible. [ cheering ] the Justice Department is taking additional steps to further advance this fundamental truth, and to give real meaning to the windsor decision. Edie windsor is a lesbian whoslesbianunder the new poliy same sex spouses will now qualify for benefits within federal programs like the september 11th Victim Compensation fund and in federal prisons same sex spouses will now have visitation rights. It applies to legally married gay couples even if they live in states that do not recognize samesex marriage. This means that in every courthouse, in every proceeding, and in every place where a member of the department of justice stands on behalf of the United States they will strife to insure that samesex marriages receive the same privileges, the same protections, and the same rights as opposite sex marriages under federal law. The announcement comes as the attorney generals in some states face battles. A lawsuit in federal suing the state for discrimination on the grounds that same sex couples who live in wisconsin and go out of state to marry could face prosecution when they return to the state. At the same time in virginia a federal judge deciding whether the ban on gay marriage should be overturned. We just want the opportunity to be recognized the same as everybody else is, and have the same benefits that played couples have. Al jazeera. Right now there are no publicly gay players in either of the four major u. S. Sports, but that could change. A groundbreaking decision, it truly is. A few pro Football Players have come out of the closet after their careers were done, but now an nfl prospect is coming out before his nfl career has even gun. I came to tell the world that im an openly proud gay man. And with those words michael sam, if drafted, has set himself up to almost the nfls first openly gay player. In interviews with the espn and New York Times the 24yearold university of missouri allamerican defensive lineman said he came out last year to his teammates and to his coaches. They rallied around me, they supported me, and i couldnt ask for better teammates. Sam, the Southeastern Conference codefensive player of the year is hoping to enter the nfl draft. He came out now because he wanted to be in control of how his story is told. Its a story he says shouldnt make a difference no matter which team he ends up playing for. It shouldnt matter. If i work hard, make plays, thats all that should matter. Can he help us win games . Is he a team player . Thats all that should matter. Michael sam a big question in the coming months is sure to focus on whether the nfl locker room is ready for an openly gay teammate. The locker room is very ready. If the university of missouri players can do it, so can everybody else. Thattentment is echoe echoede nfl saying, quote this stand out defensive linemen will find out soon if hell get a chance to win a nfl roster spot. But for now sam seems content to have won the right to be who he is. Im not afried to tell the world who i am. Im michael sam, im a college graduate. Im africanamerican. Im gay. Well, michael sam is a 62 62, 260pound defensive end worthy of a selection as early as the third round in the nfl chance. And lest we forget football is a business, and hell put a lot of people in those seats. And some owners will recognize that. Some how i think youre right. Thank you very much. At this hour a congressional hearing investigating the Chemical Spill that tainted the water supply for residents across the state. 300,000 people without water in that state for ten days, robert ray is i is there, what are you learning from the hearing. Reporter i just stepped out of the courthouse behind me living to a lot of information. There is one theme arising from the officials speaking inside, a water like this could happen anywhere across america because of the lack of regulation that is on the state level and the federal level. Senator joe man san, the republican from West Virginia, came out swinging this morning saying that there was a lingering mistrust within the community, that there is an odor from Freedom Industries, and its not the licorice from the chemical. A low blow on that company that was invited to this hearing today, and decided they did not want to show up. We have not heard from them since a month ago since the spill. Another official said about freedom industry, they would have liked to hear from them. This is what was said in the hearing just an hour ago. We thought all above ground storage was being tested and checked, not knowing there was no laws on the books. If it was not a hazmat material, there didnt have to be. 1976 is the last time we tried to find out what chemicals were using and how it effects humans. Senator joe mansion asking the committee is the water safe . He ticked down the line. Couldnt get a definitive answer. Scientists from the Health Department said its up to the data to say whether its safe. The senator said im not going to get the answer here as to whether the water is safe, a recurring theme this morning. Also brought up the chemical september act in saying that he thought that that needed to be revisited, this could affect the entire country with above ground tanks being exposed, and no regulation, also someone from Emergency Management here in West Virginia testifying that just hours after he was on site with Freedom Industries, a gentleman from Freedom Industries saying that they he didnt think there was a whole lot of chemical coming from the actual tank. Just hours later sure enough the Water TreatmentCompany Along with officials here decided they would deem the water unsafe for nearly 300,000 residents, del, currently right now there are about 10 residents giving one minute saying to the officials in the courthouse behind me. Theyre listening to the folks here on the ground, and thats something that senator joe mansion addressed this morning. Senator mansion said he wanted to come and see how severe the water situation was here and the mistrust here as most people in the community are still drinking bottled water because they dont think that the water is safe. Theyre not listening and trust to what the scientists are saying. Robert ray, thank you very much. President obama is set to meet with french president Francois Hollande in just a few hours. Climate change along with other topics will be at the top of their agenda. We take a look at the complex relationship. A familiar landmark in an unfamiliar location. Its often forthen that the statute of liberty is one of a pair, a gift to the americans from france, which helped them win their independence. The old aalliance between the u. S. And france has had its ups and downs over the years, but now under obama and hollande Foreign Policy interests are lining up once again. This was Francois Hollande in timbuktu a year two after french troops pushed back alqaeda linked rebels. The war on terror conceived by the United States is now being pursued by france, which makes hollande a key ally. He is very important for obama in areas where french have deeper ties, historic ties, maybe better intelligence in northern africa, french speaking west africa, mali, iran, where the french have never stopped ct diplomatic relations. Reporter they have worked side by side. They put diplomatic pressure on the syrian peace talks. American comedians have jokingly referred to the french as cheesy, but the relationship between the two countries have changed. When airstrikes against syria looked imminent last year it was the americans not the french who got cold feet first. Shaken by the nsa spying scandal, but france has not been as affected as germany, there are no reports of Francois Hollandes phone being tapped. Politics is politics, they have common interests to show that they are close to each other, and they understand each other. And so the old alliance between france and the United States is evolving into a new partnership. One based on pragmatism and shared global interests. Jackie roland, al jazeera, paris. There has been another setback for kenneth bae. North korea took back its offer to discuss baes release. The reverend Jesse Jackson has offered to travel to north korea at the request of baes family. North korea accusing him of antigovernment activities. Meanwhile the u. S. Saying those joint military exercises with south korea are not linked with kenneth bae, north korea threatening to cancel family reunions separated from the war. Opposing these military exercises, annual exercises carried out between United States and south korea forces ear in south korea. Two sets of them. The first is computer simulation of scenarios involving thousands of troops every year north korea calls these acts of war and aggression and rehearsals for invasion. This year north korea is links these exercises to the prospects of family ruines rue reunions. Ithe reunions have been suspendd since 2010 but north korea saying that that cannot happen during these exercises, then appeared to change its mind and agreed to a date of those reunions february 2025th has been agreed to between the north and south, but then the next day north korea coming up with a strong statementing saying dialogue and military exercises could not happen hand in hand. Now it is back in north koreas court. Those exercises are set for february 24th. When both sides sit down at the table to talk, the question stilquestionis who will run syr. I think even though things were bad in the first round of talks its quite possible now they are even worse than they have been before, and that may explain why the mediator, the man chairing these talks, the veteran u. N. Mediator has decided not to let both sides sit around the same table. Theyll have separate meetings starting with the opposition and then with the government to try to find some common ground, but there isnt much common ground, and we heard angry attacks. There are reports coming out of alone poe that there are 15 people dead after bombings from aircraft. In recent weeks i there are reports of major aoffensive on alone poe. For weeks barrel bombs have been dropped on aleppo. The barrels are filled with metal and explosives. The damage done is clear, so, too, the trauma caused by the conflict. Im 74 years old. Ive never seen anything like this in all my life. Its gods will. The neighborhood has been target of heaviest bombardment by government forces. The attacks are part of an effort to take recontrol of the city. Aleppo was taken by the rebel in 2012. Theyre shelling us day and night with tanks, barrel bombs. Reporter the intensity of the violences that forced twothirds of the citizens to flee to governmentcontrolled parts of the region. In all around 2 Million People have left aleppo since fighting began three years ago. U. Is warning americans not to fl flights to guyana. The warn something rare because it is so specific. It is in affect through wednesday. A farmer and his farm hand are under arrest charged with running a massive cockfighting ring. Calling it operation angry birds. 3,000 birds requested from a threecounty cockfighting takedown, this weekends bust was the largest in history. Nine felony arrests have been made. Coming up on Al Jazeera America, closing arguments in the case against former mayor ray nagin, accused of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes. And youre looking live at the pictures from sochi as home of this years winter olympics. Right now it is 8 18, the United States has two gold medals and three bronze. Three e events still taking pla. Closing arguments begin in the trial against normal mayor ray nagin charged with accepting bribes and money laundering. There has been intense testimony over the last two weeks. Reporter yes, del, its been a tough couple of weeks foray nagin because of the level of evidence and the high profile in this case. Six people have either pled guilty or been convicted on charges related to nagins case. Those people have been brought in to testify and admitted they, in fact, did bribe the normal mayor. His Defense Council saying thats not true. These people are just trying to save themselves. Closing arguments are under way right now. Prosecutors right now presenting evidence. What theyre doing is showing a bullet point, saying this is the evidence weve shown you over the past two weeks. This is how important it is when youre making your decisions. Do we have idea right now when we can expect the jury to get the case . Yes, so each side has an hour and a half, the prosecutors began an hour ago. Just in about 30 minutes the defense will have its hour and a half. We suspect the jury will get the case shortly after lunch today. Experts saying they could expect a verdict as early as this afternoon. We should point out that this case has its origins all the way back to Hurricane Katrina. Yes, you know, this all has to do with recovering money. Billions of federal dollars that were flowing in the city, and of course up for grabs because 80 of the city was underwater and destroyed after katrina. People came in from all over the country trying to get those lucrative contracts to come rebuild the city. Yes, Hurricane Katrina was certainly what started all this. Ben, thank you very much. Wall street in a wait and see mode as they gear up for Janet Yellens testimony before congress tomorrow. The dow is down 38 points after posting its best week this year last week. Mcdonalds serving up mixed sales for january. The weather taking its toll on u. S. Sales but global sales from up 1. 2 , better than expected. Gains in europe and china help to offset sales of the big mac in the u. S. Hasbro with lower than expected profits after the holiday season, earnings falling slightly 130 million. The Postal Service is trying to cut costs and is thinking of offering financial services, it is thought it could generate 8 million a year by offering banks services. Among the table, prep aid, money cards and small loans. The idea is to help under served communities. Up next on Al Jazeera America, well tell you how much Mark Zuckerberg spent in 2013. Thats straight ahead. And new york was lucky enough to avoid a big snow tournament last night. Will there be any more . Your headlines are straight ahead. Im John Seigenthaler in new york. Stories that impact the world, affect the nation and touch your life. Its like a brawl here in the waters around monterey. Only on Al Jazeera America. Start with one issue education. Gun control. The gap between rich and poor. Job creation. Climate change. Tax policy. The economy. Iran. Healthcare. Ad guests on all sides of the debate. This is a right we should all have. Its just the way it is. Theres something seriously wrong. Theres been acrimony. The conservative ideal. Its an urgent need. And a host willing to ask the tough questions how do you explain it to yourself . And youll get. The inside story ray suarez hosts inside story weekdays at 5 eastern only on Al Jazeera America welcome back to Al Jazeera America. Im del walters. Here are your headlines at this hour. The Congressional Committee is holding a meeting in West Virginia investigating a Chemical Spill that tainted Water Supplies that left 300,000 people without water for days. Attorney general erik holder is giving gay couples rights saying the u. S. Cannot refuse to recognize same sex marriages. And the president is said to meet with french president phrase sunny hollande in the white house. There thereby a state dinner on tuesday for french president Francois Hollande. The dow is losing ground after posting its best week this year. Wall street in a wait and see mode waiting to hear from fed chair janet yellen tomorrow. Meteorologist were still looking at Stormy Weather out in Pacific Northwest with some snow and ice being picked up by the radar causing a lot of problems on the roadways, but a welcomed sight here to see rain and snow coming into Northern California at least. There is still Winter Weather advisories, winter storm warnings in affect with blowing drifting snow, high wind in east of the rockies, mountains of california seeing that snowfall coming down. Now this was the snow depth, and this was just about a few weeks ago, early february a lack of snow a big concern there, but still seeing a lack of snow with the drought continuing, but welcoming to see more snow falling here. We need to see in number go up quite a bit because april 1st is where we see that snow melt and go into the reservoir. This is north in washington and oregon right along the coast the mountains of the cascades getting heavy snow. Bitter cold temperatures across the northern plains, then we go to the south here, temperatures in Oklahoma City at 20. Problems because we have rain falling into that very cold air, so more Winter Weather advisories and winter storm warnings in affect across the southeast. You can see the radar showing that were picking up a little bit of snow and ice. This will continue throughout the day today, but really peak overnight tonight and tomorrow as this area of moisture moves east. Here is this mix predicted there, so right through the area there could be sleet, freezing rain and snow eigh late tonightd tomorrow. Late in the morning were still seeing that mix but this area of rain will clear out slowly, and then the temperatures will try to warm up a bit. Look at what happens in texas. The rain starts to fill in again. Another storm is developing there, and that could cause big problems along the east coast by thursday. Heres monday snow and rain. Tuesday, that area of snow moves into north korea. There is this mix area across soutthat area of snowmoves in. And we see heavy snow and mixing with the air is cold enough, but thursday is the day to watch this storm. Well look at the latest information. Dave warren, thank you very much. The world knows mar Mark Zuckerberg as the founder of facebook. The couple gave 18 million shares ever Facebook Stock to a silicon foundation valued at 970 million. The money will go to education and health initiatives. Thank you for watching Al Jazeera America. Im del walters. Inside story is next. Century Death Penalty is the inside story. Hello, im ray suarez, once a Court Decides a defendant has committed a crime so