A good morning to you. This is al Jazeera America. Im here from new york. Good to have you with us. Well talk about the extreme weather conditions. They are having an impact on much of the country. A series of tornadoses touched down in the midwest. A blizzard causes problems. And Tropical Storm karen is moving in on the gulf coast. More wild weather is expected throughout the weekend. Now for more. At least six tornados touched down in the midwest friday as highpowered winds rolled through parts of nebraska, south dakota and iowa. It was two miles wide in nebraska. Causing damage, ripping up trees. What in the world. Come down. The next thing i know the yard looks like a bomb went off. More than a dozen people were injured during the twisters. Nebraskas governor issued an emergency declaration, making it eligible for federal assistance. In neighbouring iowa a milewide torn tornados cut through. Blizzards were in south dakota, wyonging making a foot of snow. Heavy wet snow is expected
Also a tornado. Blizzards dropped 33 inches of snow on the great plains, three are dead in related accidents. Its a state of emergency along the gulf coast as Tropical Storm karen approaches. Evacuations are in effect for parts of southern louisiana. We go to venice louisiana, with karen is heading. First well go to our metrologist who has the latest on the conditions. We are keeping close tabs on Tropical Storm karen. Winds are at 40kph. Its expected to make its way to gulf states. It will bring a lot of rain fall along the coast. Thats what we are watching closely. As it lifts to the north, and makes a curve to the northeast well see isolated rain fall amounts from pennsy cola. Well watch for that to make landfall tonight, early sunday morning. Its been weakening, not expected to see too many changes in its intensity. A lot of rain associated with it up ward of 6 inches and localised areas. Impacts are lessened the further inland you go. We could see an inch or two across southern ar
You are looking at live pictures of air force two in beijing china. Vice President Joe Biden landed, days after the b 52 flew no disputed airspace over the south china sea, and questions about the disputed islands between japan and china. Thats what the Vice President is talking about in budget after leaving japan. Well have more on that in a moment. We begin with this the deadly Train Derailment. Investigators say it was travelling at 82 Miles Per Hour, three times the limit before the crashing, killing four, leaving dozens injured. With the speed we are learning something new about the man at the controls and what happened in the seconds before the disaster. Lisa stark has more on that. They wouldnt say what condition rockefella may have been in. Theres no indication of mechanical problems. The brakes, which was barrelling at 82 Miles Per Hour into a 30 Miles Per Hour curve, the brakes were working fine out all the stocks. Here is m. T. S. B. Board member earl wiener. Theres no indic
Detained in north korea is on his way back to the united states. Merrill newman departed beijing airport about 15 minutes ago, headed for his home in san francisco. Hed been held in north korea since late october. Officials said they released newman on humanitarian grounds and for apologising for crimes committed during the korean war. He spoke to reporters before leaving beijing. Im glad to be coming home. Melissa chan has more. Great news that Merrill Newman has been freed. You can well imagine how distraught his family has been. Hes missed thanksgiving, but will be home in time for the holidays. We hear that Merrill Newman was part of a special unit called the white tigers. Military intelligence stole secrets we didnt know about the group until the 1990s. So from the north korean perspective they consider Merrill Newman, even though hes advanced in age, a serious enemy. From the north korean perspective and because of their propaganda they believe they are in imminent danger from an
With the white tilers. For Merrill Newman the war was ancient history. For north korea, ever ready to fight american imperialists. Merrill newman was an enemy of the state. The two countries never signed a peace treaty, are techniy at war and as such his release likely required the personal approval of the countrys leader kim jong un. Why he let Merrill Newman go now remains a mystery. After Merrill Newman is home and has a rest, well have more to say about his unusual and difficult journey. For now, though, we ask you to allow us time to be with him as a family. We ask that you not forget another american, kenneth bae. He sentenced to prison. Caught spreading the word of christianity viewed as a greater threat than a soldier Merrill Newman. What is interesting about the situation is something revealing about releasing Merrill Newman. If you look at the two people, a soldier and missionary. After all Merrill Newman was a soldier fighting in the korean war and was probably responsible f