Party. In brazil for todays world cup kickoff. The Program Helping troubled teens get off the street and learn the tools to make a brand new life. Good morning, welcome to Al Jazeera America. Im richelle carey. Im stephanie sy. There is concern that iraqs military is crumbling in the face of an alqaeda inspired group. The islam like state of iraq is expanding its power base. The fighters have toppled three northern cities in the past 48 hours and now taking aim at baghdad. Fighting between isil and army forces has been going on since tuesday. A half Million People ever fled the city. The target is the shia led government. This is just the latest round of fighting against isil and wont be the last. We dont have the numbers tothey dont have the numbers to take the city. They are considering possible air strikes against isil. President obama campaigned on ending the war in iraq. He did so in 2011 and 2012, campaigned on the fact that he did end that war. American officials are loathe to get involved militarily in iraq. They are under criticism now is president obama for not coming to an agreement to leave some sort of residual force to battle this kind of sectarian violence we are seeing now. As far as request for air cover, missile strikes, drone attacks, a lot of reluctance that from the part of the u. S. Government on that score. Heres what the spokeswoman said yesterday. The threat to iraqs stability is from isil. We have an idealogy that has little to do with iraqi politics, it has to do with taking territory and terrorizing the iraqi people. Theres more that can be done, including taking a more unified approach to the challenges and threats of terrorism that they face. Theres a code in there and that is that the iraqi government, se shia dominated government need to do more to bring sunnis into the government. Does it appear that the u. S. Will get involved in this conflict . The United States has provided billions of dollars in military aid in terms of heavy weaponry, f16 fighters, artillery, things of that nature, a great deal of concern that when some of those posts were abandoned, much of that hardware was simply left behind. The white house did put out a statement that reads as follows thats money, thats armament, thats material, that is not air strikes, at least not at this point. No active military involvement being contemplated by the United States. Mike viqueira reporting from washington, thank you. Its been three years since president obama with drew the last of the forces from iraq. A report by Brown University institute for National Studies said the iraq war cost 1. 7 trillion. It balloons when you factor in the benefits owed to veterans. The study says expenses can grow to more than 6 trillion over the next four decades when you add interest. A half Million People are trying to leave mosul. It has been under isil control for two days. Its a long wait under the scorching sun. Cues of cars stretch for kilometers. The searches are slow, but this is the only road to safety for iraqis who have fled mosul since the city fell under the hands of isil. Some took what they could. Others made their way by foot. The battle started in our neighborhood. They were just fighting the army. We dont know who they are, we left, because there is no water or electricity in our area. A half Million People left their homes, the vast majority hoping to cross into the kurdish region. This is a security challenge. At the moment, priority is given to families or to those who happen to have some cert of connection to the kurdish region, but everyone has to register. Single males are not allowed in. There are fears they could infiltrate the north among the flow of refugees. There is evidence some iraqi soldiers have made their way here. They have been the main target of the isil so far. This man would not give us his name nor show his face. The armed men are controlling the city. The ones who are there now are from mosul, but otherwise left. How can he make a difference now . Its a common feel. Many fear baghdad would unleash its air power over the city like in other parts of iraq where the fight against isil isengoing. The kurdish region government has put its forces on high alert, bracing itself for a bigger in flux of people in the days to come. Stay with aljazeera for continuing coverage of the violence in iraq. Coming up in 20 minutes, a live report from baghdad, plus a look at the mysterious leader of isil. Two American Drones are believed to have hit northern pakistan. The first strikes in that country in nearly six months. At least 16 people were killed in the attacks. Security Officials Say six suspected militants were killed last night. A second compound was struck this morning killing 10 and wounding four others. The u. S. Has yet to comment on the attacks. The last known american drone strike was on christmas day. Armed for a blood bath is how police in oregon described the student who gunned down a classmate before killing himself. 15yearold Gerald Michael packagant was carrying a car and duffle bag packed with a handgun and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. There was no link between the boy and the substituting victims. Mr. Risler made his way to the office, notified administration and then immediately initiated the lockdown. The teacher is a hero, whos quick thinking saved many lives. The shooting was the 74th in the 77 weeks since the newtown massacre. One priest is dead and another critically injured at a church in phoenix. A reported burglary of the mother of Mercy Mission near the Arizona Capitol building resulted in one priest shot who died at the hospital. A car was found abandoned a few blocks away. The suspect remains on the loose. House major city leader eric cantors stunning defeat sent shock waves through washington. In a matter of a few weeks, he will no longer be in congress. The first House Majority leader in history to lose a primary election, congressman eric cantor announced he is stepping down july 31. The man who toppled him from that position, dave brat, despite only spending 127,000 to fund his campaign versus cantors 5. 4 million, the tea party believes the underdog won because the republican leader is out of touch. This historical primary election ousted a 14 year washington power player. Cantor called on republicans to join forces for the conservative cause. While i will not be on the ballot in november, i will be a champion for conservatives across the nation who are dedicated to preserving liberty and providing opportunity. Truly what divides republicans pales in comparison to what divides us from the left and their democratic party. I hope that all republicans will put minor differences aside and help elect a Republican House and senate. The dems are claiming the gop has been taken over by extremists, saying condition tores loss will not hurt the democrats. Majority whip Kevin Mccarthy of california and peter sessions of texas are supposedly tossing their hat in the ring. Well have reaction to the stunning announcement in the next half hour. Erica pitzi reporting. Republicans and democrats give us their views of the leadership shake up and where this leaves the gop in the next half hour. Americans are becoming more politically poll rides than ever before. There are fewer people who have a mix of political views. More than 38 have unfavorable views of the opposite party. Defense secretary chuck hagel faced tough questions over the deal that freed Bowe Bergdahl. It got tense at moments. Hagel wasnt backing down. Defense secretary chuck hagel walked into a packed hearing room. He strongly defended the deal to hand over five taliban prisoners in exchange for Sergeant Bowe bergdahl. I would never sign any document or make any agreement, agree to any decision that i did not feel was in the best interest of this country, nor would the president of the United States. Takingle said the administration had to move fast to free bergdahl, who was believed to be in poor mental and physical health, that the qatari government warned to the risks to his safety were growing. For all these reasons and more, the exchange needed to take place quickly, efficiently and quietly. We believe this exchange was our last best opportunity to free him. Committee members particularly republicans blasted the deal. This transfer sets a dangerous precedent in negotiating with terrorists. It reverses long standing policy and could innocent vice other terrorist organizations, including alqaeda to increase their use of kidnappings of u. S. Personnel. Both republicans and democrats are angry that the five taliban were released from Guantanamo Without Congress getting 30 days notice, as required by law. If the president can vital the law and say no in this case, were not going to give you the information, it undermines the oversight process that we have with the intelligence community. Theres no word of whether bergdahl whos still in a Military Hospital in germany would be back in the u. S. , which prompt add heated exchange. Youre trying to tell me that hes still being held in germany because of his medical condition . Congressman, i hope youre not implying anything other than that. Im just asking a question. Im going to give you the answer, too, i dont like the implication. Answer it. Hes being held there because our medical professionals dont believe hes ready until they believe he is ready. When that happens, said hagel, bergdahl should be judged by the facts, not hearsay or innuendo. Before he disappeared from his military base, bergdahl wrote about frustrations about life in the soldier. He described coming under fire after a vehicle in his convoy through an explosive device. He blamed the situation on commanders who were too stupid to make up their minds. S residents of his hometown just want to see him reunited with his loved ones. He said hes disappointed in people who have made threats against his family and friends and takes a jab at the town. We ask not to direct misguided rage against his family and this community. We appreciate the interest thats been shown in our community but acknowledge now we will be getting back to our lives, businesses and normal activities. He warned against rushing to judgment over whether bergdahl left his post. The department of Veterans Affairs at the center of the v. A. Scandal, the Justice Department working with f. B. I. Agents in phoenix to determine if there is a basis for criminal charges. Recent revelation of long waiting lists for appointments and attempts to cover them up led to last months resignation of eric shinseki. The u. S. Passed a bill to make it easier for veterans to get treatment from local doctors. Under the bipartisan plan, the v. A. Will pay for doctor visits. The bill would allow the v. A. To hire addition doctors and nurses and lease 26 new health care facilities. Lawmakers hope a compromise version will soon go to president obama for signature. Lets bring in meteorologist Nicole Mitchell. What is that . Im going to go around the world first, it isnt here were dealing with flooding concerns. This is out of argentina and some of the impressive flooding in some of these areas, as it flows downstream, even impacting the soccer going on in brazil. You can see how impressive this has been in some of these areas, other areas like paraguay dealing with this, as well. Theyve had to shut down famous sites out here. In our country, we are looking at potential flooding, probably not like that video. In the northeast, band after band of rain. This was expected and tomorrow is another day of it. Its a soggy go of it. The southern areas have seen at least southern on this image, places like maryland and the rest of the region under the watch with the core new york into pennsylvania could get an inch or two of rain. Other places its going to be spotty and more do tomorrow. We have the lingering boundary into the northeast, another setting up in the midsection of the country is causing showers and storms in oklahoma this morning, ahead of that, the moist flow is the humidity, the stickiness and all the way into the dry line of texas, you get on the other side of that, we have the drier air. Ahead of that line, its been very oppressive. The biggest chance for strong storms would be into the Southern Plains for today. As i say, you can already see some of that line thats been going through over the course of this morning. Youve got plans that eastern third of the country, keep the umbrella handy into tomorrow. An explosive situation that could have turned deadly all caught on camera. A disabled driver slammed into a gas pump right there, and then it bursts into flames. How another drivers day job helped save his life. I look at things a whole different way. I look at everything as a positive situation. Life lessons with a side of grits. A new orleans restaurants giving troubled kids a job and a second chance. Our big number of the day, what it has to do with do your laundry, after the break. The Performance Review. That corporate trial by fire when every slacker gets his due. And yet, theres someone around the office who hasnt had a Performance Review in a while. Someone whose poor performance is slowing down the entire organization. Im looking at you phone company dsl. Check your speed. See how fast your internet can be. Switch now and add voice and tv for 34. 90. Comcast business built for business. Americans are paying a big bill, a huge bill to dry clean their clothes. Todays big number is 9 billion. Its actually regular laundry were talking about. I was speakingful my dry cleaning, sorry about that. Thats how much americans spend operating inefficient dryers. Lets break this down. Typical electric dryers use as much energy as a new refrigerator, washing machine and dishwasher combined. Power dryers, thats what were talking about here, the dryers havent improved Energy Efficiency since the 1970s. Americans could save 4 billion if all their electric units were updated to the hybrid model used in europe. Soon it will be easier to tell which dryers are the most efficient. Energy star will label dryers using 20 less energy than the standard. Consumers could save energy by drying clothing on a not outside on the line, on a low temperature setting and putting in consecutive loads while the drum is still warm. You have to be on top of things. The report says consumers can save more if they do the Old Fashioned line drying. Like my grandmother. All right. A trade group is suing seattle over its 15 an hour minimum wage. They say the plan should be blocked because it invites federal and state allows. The complaint argues seattle discriminates against its members by treating them at large businesses, despite being independently owned and operated as a small business. The 15 an hour plan is expected to be gradually phased in starting next year. A restaurant in new orleans is serving up second chances. The cafe trains teens including lessons in budgeting Effective Communication while building selfesteem. Once homeless with no job and running the streets of new orleans. Michael johnson found himself on a dangerous path. Started hanging with a bad crowd. He spotted someone wearing a shirt with the words cafe reconcile on it. I said what is that, are they hiring. She said its a Training Program for troubled youth. I jumped at the chance to come in and fill out an application. They say you receive a pension. The cafe is more than a go to stop for southern food. Its best known for the young faces that cook and serve it. The vision from the founders were to go into the worst area or one of the worst areas of our city and to make sure that we plant a seed for change. In a city with such a vast hospitality industry, the cafe eequips the young with skills to work in top restaurants and hotels. From the time you greet the customer, take the order, receive the food, deliver it, thats very similar to life. If you make a misstep along the way, your guest is not going to be happy. Its hectic, but i love the work. Working in the cafe happens after learning life skills. You learn how to invest your money and save money. What were you doing on the streets before cafe reconcile . Drugs. Six weeks into the training, this 23yearold is learning discipline, having to wake up at 7 30 every morning to clock in and pass regular drug tests. I learn to control my attitude, working well with other people. [ applause ] the payoff is a paid internship, which usually leads to a full time job for the graduates. Since starting more than 10 years ago, cafe reconcile has helped more than 1,000 young adults find hospitality jobs. Michael finished the program a year ago and landed a job and now has his own apartment. He works part time in the cafe, training those new to the program. For me, i look at things a whole different way. I look at everything as a positive situation. With help from big donors from emrelevant la gas see, the cafe was recently expanded, adding more opportunity to help people like michael, who are hungry for success. Thank you all for coming in and supporting us. Aljazeera, new orleans. This week, the cafe graduated another 22 students. That is outstanding. All right. Up next, a heroic save caught on tape. Lets find out with meteorologist Nicole Mitchell. We have warm air as we get to the midsection of the country where we have the humidity. Anywhere that in eastern third of the country, 60s and 70s this morning and it is still sticky already today, 40s and 50s behind that. Through the rest of the day, the heat will still be on, especially places like houston through the southwest, cooler into los angeles. A lot of this will be in the hundreds. Back to you guys. Thank you. A video of an act of heroism. An elderly man lost control of his car and slammed into a gas station. You can see it caused this huge fire. The impact knocked the pump over and almost hit an off duty officer. The policeman managed to run to safety but he turned around t