Charges for not reporting it. That leak has been going on for months leading to Health Problems about the environmental effect. Prosecutors are taking action. John henry smith is here with details. What repercussions could the charges have . The charges are misdemeanours, and any fines would be small for a company that reaps billions in revenue. It would be a 75,000 fine for failing to report the league, and 1,000 per day for each day of the week. Juxtapose that against an unfolding disaster that could reach outside californias borders. Reporters this family is among 13,000 that had to leave their homes to escape a methane gas leak that spewed 80,000 of methane gas into the air since late october. Our 13yearold daughter has been sick. And missed school. And has a horrible cough. Now four misdemeanour criminal charges have been signed against the California Gas Company, and accuses the company of releasing Greenhouse Gases and reporting it leak for three days. This came as a lawsuit was fired against socalgas. The impact of this unprecedented leak was devastating to families in our state, our environmental and effort to combat global warming. The gas has been leaking from a take aidsold pipe, with no safety valve to turn it off. The people that put the well down were not intending that that encasing would be used to inject natural gas they were trying to extract oil it was insisted that the company complied with state and federal regulations in the time leading to the leak. We operate with safety, and we are in ompliance. Socalgas promised that a relief well will plug the week by the end of february counting the lawsuit by attorneygeneral harris, 11 local state for federal agencies are conducting investigations or filing lawsuits against socalgas. The company will face arraignment on criminal charges for two weeks we have been covering the story for some time. With so much gas released, how big a problem are we talking about . Experts are in agreement putting 80 tonnes into the atmosphere is equivalent to putting 70 million cars on the road. This, in essence runs counter to all efforts california made to cut emissions. Its a problem for the country, john henry smith, thank you. A man at the center of flints oil crisis will not testify at a congressional hero. State appointed manager darnell early was in charge when the city switched the water. His attorney said his client could not comply with a subpoena issued last night. We have the latest. Reporter the fbi says its teaming up to investigate the flint water crisis with the Environmental Protection agencies, the u. S. Postal Inspection Service and federal prosecutors in michigan. The fbi says the focus will be on whether anyone violated federal law. They called for the remove of led pipes from the water, starting with those at the highest risk of exposure. We want to start with the highest risk home of kids under six, and pregnant women, this must happen immediately. Thats what im asking for. I am morally obligated to use every bit of the power and authority my office has to make clients water safe. And the city successful for the people who live and work here. Under a state appointed emergency manager, flint switched a water supply from the system in 2014 to save money. It used polluted water leading to corrosion and supply lines and led contamination in tap apart. The e. P. A. s top environmental official made the first trip to flint since the start of the water crisis. Promising to use all resources to fight the crisis. We are not going to resolve the problem overnight. We have to work together, and it will take short and longterm commitments. We are here for the long haul. Mccarthy acknowledged that she called for the e. P. A. Response after traces of lead were discovered. They made it clear that failure for patrols, after switching for the water. Led to the crisis. We are here today because a state emergency manager made the decision that the city of flint would stop the water and perform untreated water, all to save money there are also growing concerns that the zika virus in the u. S. , someone in texas, but after having sex with an affected person. Reporter the vast major city of infections happened. For the first time a case was transmitted. It was acquirement. The newly infected person had not travelled there. If a person is travelling to one of those 26 countries declared to be transmitting the disease. Mostly in the caribbean and south america, they should use contacts infections are mild and deaths rare. Scientists are looking at the vir and yous a rise in birth virus and a rise in birth defects. Its been said the virus could affect 4 Million People, and announced a response unit. To have a tenfold increase in numbers and the potential for spread not just across latin america, but africa and asia, with the highest birth rates in the world, we believe is a matter of Public Health concern, constituting an international emergency. The french maker announced a project to develop the vaccine, the w. H. O. Is focussing on the spread. A vaccine may not be ready for a long time. At the minimum, we are talking about years, not months. Testing will be possible in texas. First state Health Officials need to make sure they have the right equipment. Right now they have to send samples. Dozens of u. S. Residents have been diagnose with zika, they were people that travelled abroad. In the state of florida, six travelasserted occasions, so officials are actively spraying. What about athletes training for the olympics. And they are around the corner. Brazilian Officials Say by then the mosquito population will be down, and are saying that athletes have zero risks, and are encouraging athletes to go down there. Brazil says it plans to deploy 200,000 soldiers and Health Care Workers to contain the workers. They are checking for stagnant water. Health Officials Say there has been 4,000 cases of microcephali, babies born with small heads. A group of officials are meeting in uruguay to come up with a unified response from the virus. We are less than a week away. And the dehli candidates are stepping up. Sanders and Hillary Clinton will take part in a Television Town hall meeting tonight. As Al Jazeera Lisa stark reports, New Hampshire is known for his crisis. After iowa, a double dose of the clients. Im so thrilled that im coming to New Hampshire after winning iowa. Reporter it was a squeaker of a win, but the campaign will take it. Hillary clinton told her supporters that they will need to work hard as they battled Bernie Sanders, who has a considerable lead in the polls. As they court voters, she is looking ahead. New hampshire will decide who will go toe to toe for the republicans to make sure they dont wreck us again Bernie Sanders is wellknown and liked in New Hampshire. Last night we began the Political Revolution not just in iowa and New Hampshire, but all over this country. The polls are likely to tighten aren before the primary. Anthony ray hintons number one supporter told al jazeera, she has her work cut out for her. I think shell win. If she gets a good debate. And has enough time. Reporter what we saw last night was we saw that old regan coalition coming back together again. On the republican side, while ted cruz has a win in his column, adding another may not be easy. Hell have more of a challenge. Its a different demographic make up. More libertarian. A lot less socially and religiously conservative. Its more establishment candidates, such as marco rubio, who could pull out another surprise showing in New Hampshire. I can take our message to people that have not voted before. Reporter hes squaring off against governors, and as for donald trump, he has a wide lead in the polls. Do we thing some air will go out of the balloon now that hes not the winner. Second or third place finish. I think other candidates will be emboldened to go after him more aggressively. For both side, the nest side is critical. Weeding out some candidate and propelling others forward. Al jazeera on the campaign trail. Barcelona said he accepted policy. Ben carson was spent when the crewss campaign suggested he was leading the race in iowa. The team, the candidate was going home to rest for New Hampshire. It should have corrected what was said, and that ben carson was not leaving the race. Meanwhile. While a senator used a private act to send an email to Hillary Clinton on the personal server, it happened in 2011. And the message contained information. There was no indication that the information was classified when it was sent. House republicans vowed to press on. They couldnt overtirn a vito that would have ended key parts of the Affordable Care act. The house needed twothirds majority, and failed with a final vote of 231186 a powerful snow storm swept through the colorado, all the way through to dakotas, and white outs closed highways. Strong winds made it tough on travellers. Part of the south under threat from thunder storms. Several tornados touching down in alabama. Causing property damage. In tennessee, the high winds damaging homes and schools. Schools will be closed today. Theres a chance for severe weather. Heavy rain could be the bigger problem. Nicole mitchell. Good morning, with the same system causing problems today. As mentioned yesterday, yesterday was the bigger day in terms of snow and rain and the potential for severe weather. Here is where we have it. Lingering snow in places lis wisconsin and michigan. Look at the rain, up and down. Lined up with the east coast. As it moved through last night. Look at what it did. The reds are areas with different toronto reports. Nine that you saw. Powerlines down and homes damaged. It was expected, but still a lot of severe weather. It moves on. Its not out of the question of the its a lower risk, but we have a marginal risk. Wind damage would be the biggest thing. Weather storms now, so we have heavy rain, alabama, to portions of tennessee, north of the area, and some places could be 34 inches through the day today. Coming down quickly, the reds are the biggest concerns. Overnight we were concerned about that because its hard to see and tell how deep the water is. That will be a problem. Ahead of the front, temperatures in the 50s and 60s. The other place we have to watch is marylands, north pennsylvania, new jersey. All the heavy rain could be a flood area as this all moves through. Is it unusual to have tornado late in the season. Or early. We do get them. Seems we have a few more winter tornado than formal. On the front line. The defense secretary improving levels of combat. Some are skeptical. And a mid air explosion. A hole ripped in the side of a plane. President obama today will make the first visit of his presidency to a u. S. Mosque. Hell sit with muslims at the Islamic Society at baltimore. The white house says the president will focus on the need to speak out and promote religious freedom. Care says the number of hate crimes against Muslim Americans, and the attacks. The president and founder of the Republican Muslim Coalition will be with the president at the mosque later today. Thank you for being with us. When you meet with this president , who, himself, is accused of being a muslim, and denied it, but never said so what, what will you say to him . Well, we are very excited that he is finally visiting a mosque. I think president bush visited a mosque during his first year of presidency. Its sad to see its taking until his last year of presidency to step on a mosque. Im looking forward to having him. Im excited that he is reaching out to Muslim Americans, and meeting us at our place of worship. Like hes gone to churches and synagogues before. I think its time to see dehli candidates and the president show up at our mosque. You mentioned the ward finally three times, seems theres a bit of ir takes that he has not gone to a mosque. How is this that this is the first time and this is a big deal . It bothers me a lot. Hes using lastditch effort to retch out to voters and gather up support for elections for democrats, but i think republican candidates visiting mosques need to reach out to the local communities to get over the fear of islam and get the minority voters. In the defense of democrats, not one said ban all muslims. You wrote an article saying all muslims should be banned. You invited him to visit a mosque with you. You did so in december. Did he write you back . We are talking to his campaign. Ive talked to his Campaign Manager cory a few times. We are working on setting up a visit for him to visit a mosque later this year. I think, you know, trying to target donald trump, and getting him to attend a Prayer Service at a mosque is going to take some time. We are starting to invite marco rubio, cruz, a lot of. Why, why will it take time . Because of the antiislamic sentiments floating around. He has worked with muslims and has property all over the middle east. I think lately hes advised by antiislamic advisors, and behind the rhetoric and banning all muslims, i would like him to change his perspective. Yes or no, you have not heard from the candidate himself. Not from donald trump himself, no. I want to ask and talk about the broader issue. When the issue was racism and president kennedy, trying to entering grate blacks across the country, do you think this president has been forceful enough in rhetoric and actions to protect the nation from muslim phobia . No, i dont think so. Antiislamic sentiments have known up. I think hes failed foreign policies, defense policies. A lot of policies created it. And thats why we are the ones that suffer and become the targets. What more can he do . I mean, he should have been strong. He pulled out of iraq. They created i. S. I. S. Calling them a jv team. Its all directed at our community. And all terrorism with islam and muslims we are seeing hate crimes come up. Mosques are getting attacked. People are targeted for wearing head scarves and muslims are being hurt all over. I think, you know, he could have helped. His visit will be a first step. And i hope the other. You blame him more than the republicans for that . I think republicans are reacting to his policies. I think, you know, he could have been stronger and more assertive on the world stage. I think he pulled out and he made the first speech in cairo, and now, 7 years later, he was going to a mosque, what was he doing for the last six years, j didnt he show up at a mosque the first time it was burnt down during his president say. We had several hate crimes go on. I feel he could have done a lot more. We are hope thfl this is a first step for dehli candidates. They may not use the rhetoric, when it comes to National Security they talk against islams and muslims. Wed like to see it change. Thank you for being with us this morning. And we invite you to stay tuned. Al Jazeera America will bring the president s remarks at 12 15 eastern time. Military officials are searching for answers in the marine Helicopter Crash in hawaii. Trace elements of d. N. A. Have been recovered in the water. None of the 12 marines have been found. The navy is looking for debris military leaders say it may take years before they can fully integrate women in december roles were opened to women. The implementation is proving to be complicated. Reporter much of the more than two hours of testimony concerned a controversial yearlong experiment at 29 palms california, and which mixed gender units were found to be less proficient at combat tasks than male unit. The Navy Secretary came under fire from john mccain for dismissing the results. Showing you that the marine study is flawed and bias even if you didnt see the study. Reporter mavis argued that the study was not a true test. The troops had to pass a minimum test. No one had to meet a standard for the Ground Combat units. There were no standards. Womens advocates say that the marine corps experiment was a way to justify excluding women from the infantry. Among the critics senator christian jilly bad. The people ail marines female marines were scrutinized for the minor fitness. Competing a gains men with many years experience. The pentagon was accused of being too quick to dismiss difficulties against men and women. When it comes to brute tasks, a general that admitted in combat size matters. Being big, strong, having a certain body mass gives you an advantage. Reporter there was broad agreement that standards must never be lowered to accommodate women, some senators were skeptical that the promise would be kept to promote more opportunities. Its hard to imagine down the road five years from now, 10 years from now, if we dont have successful gradation us from this physically demanding programme. Its hard to imagine that this conversation wont take a different tone, and i dont see how we can guarantee na in the future the standard will not be diminished. The last thing in the world a woman needs it to join a unit with everyone looking over their shoulder saying well, you are not the same as we are. So i dont think anybody here thinks that standards should be lowered. Also during that senate hearing, two top generals suggested that american women should be required to register for the draft. Army chief of staff, and marine Court Commandant said theyd support the move. Theres not been an involuntary draft inns is the vietnam war. When we come back, we talk about the battle for alep jox. The opposition warns it could jeopardise talks in geneva and how the u. S. Is preparing for a possible megaquake. From rural midwest to wartorn mideast. She went for the money and found a greater calling. That could cost her everything. This is one of the most important sites in the century. Proudest moment in my life. Welco