Jim Rasmussen points to the spot on his helmet that took the brunt of the impact from the crash. Submitted photo.
These are the boots and gloves Jim Rasmussen was wearing when he was invovled in a motorcycle crash. The boots are a special kind of motorcycling boot that won't come off in the event of a crash. Submitted photo.
Emergency personnel surround Jim Rasmussen at the accident scene. Rasmussen was talking with the Miltona First Responders telling them he was fine. Submitted photo.
This is what Jim Rasmussen's Can Am motorcycle looked like after the crash. Submitted photo.
Jim Rasmussen shows some of his gear he wears when he takes to the road on his motorcycle. Submitted photo.
This is a motto that Jim and Jaque Rasmussen live by when riding their motorcycles. And it was Jim's gear that helped save his life.
It was late in the afternoon on Friday, July 29. Jim took off from their home in Miltona and headed down Minnesota Highway 29 on his motorcycle. He was heading to Glenwood, Minn.
"All the further I got was to Jim and Judy's (at the intersection of County Road 5)," said the 74-year-old. "A vehicle pulled out and I came to an abrupt halt. I hit the front of the car and apparently, I went flying."
When Kyle Grinager heard his pager go off alerting him to a motorcycle crash, he immediately started thinking about the scene and what he could possibly roll up on.
"I was thinking this was going to be a bad, ugly deal," said Grinager, the Miltona Fire Department assistant chief and a first responder. "I was expecting to see a mangled, bloody mess."
However, Grinager was in for a surprise.
The scene was not at all like the images he had pictured in his mind.
"I walked up to him (Rasmussen) lying on the ground and he was talking," he said. "He was telling us he was OK. There was no blood. I thought, this just isn't right."
'Unbelievable' lack of injury
Grinager said it took him a few minutes to survey the scene and then he saw a tethered cord and asked Rasmussen what it was. Rasmussen told him it was his vest—a Helite airbag vest. When Rasmussen was thrown, a cord tethered to the Can Am motorcycle instantly inflated air pockets in the vest, breaking his fall, stabilizing his neck and head, which was covered by a helmet.
"It was crazy. After a complete T-bone crash and being thrown 12 to 15 feet in the air, I thought there was no way he could have survived," Grinager said, adding that the survival rate of that kind of crash is extremely low.
Jim admitted he really doesn't remember exactly what happened. All he knows is that a car pulled out, he hit his brakes and then the next thing he remembers, there were faces from the Miltona first responders staring down at him.
Shortly after he was on scene, Grinager said he called into the dispatch center and canceled the LifeLink helicopter, which had previously been called to the scene. He said the dispatcher had him repeat what he had said because in the majority of motorcycle crashes that have been similar, LifeLink is always used.
"I told them we didn't need it, that the guy was OK. There was no evidence of any serious injury," Grinager said. "It was seriously crazy. Unbelievable."
Jim was riding his Can Am roadster motorcycle, which he purchased last fall after he traded in his BMW motorcycle. The Can Am, with its two front wheels and one back wheel, was more stable for the aging motorcyclist, he said.
Although the motorcycle has changed, the amount of gear Rasmussen wears has not. Whenever they ride, the Rasmussens are fully outfitted in specific motorcycle gear including helmet, jacket, pants, gloves and boots that Jim says "won't fall off." The pants and jackets are made of special material that they noted is like Kevlar. It is a breathable material, kind of stiff in nature, that is designed specifically for motorcyclists. It is a heavier material than the normal leather gear associated with most motorcycle riders.
Last year, there was an addition to the Rasmussens' riding attire.
While at the national BMW rally, the Rasmussens purchased the Helite airbag vests—one for each of them. Jim thought they were a bit expensive, but his wife thought they were the best invention.
The retired pharmacist and his retired emergency room nurse wife have been riding motorcycles for close to 40 years. They have logged about 400,000 miles. Jaque noted they have ridden to New Mexico, Michigan, California, New York, Vermont, Canada and numerous other places—all without any incidents.
After the crash, both Jim and Jaque really believe in the worth of their gear. "We have always had gear on," said Jim. "It's hideously expensive, but definitely worth it."
Jim said that although he did have to spend the night in the hospital, he basically "walked away" from the crash. Something he believes wouldn't have happened if he wasn't wearing the protective clothing. He did end up with a broken wrist and a concussion. He has to have follow-up appointments with a neurologist.
Jaque said that is nothing compared to what it could have been. "He didn't get a broken neck. He didn't break his back. He's not paralyzed. He's not dead."
It's a very different outcome than most motorcycle accidents Grinager has seen. Since joining the Miltona Fire Department and becoming a first responder in 2009, Grinager has been called to about six or seven motorcycle crashes.
"That crash was eye-opening," said Grinager, who said he would highly recommend all motorcyclists to consider wearing the type of gear Rasmussen was wearing. "It's definitely worth it."
As for his gear, Jim said the back of his helmet was slightly crushed/scratched and there were two very small scrapes/marks on his clothing—one on his pants and one on his vest pocket. His Can Am motorcycle, however, was totaled. As for when he is getting a new one, Jim isn't so sure.
He hasn't been on a motorcycle since the accident.
"I might be done," he said. "But who knows. Never say never, I guess."
About the vest
The Helite vest provides a rigid neck brace, as well as firm support to the spine and back, chest, rib and kidneys and also provides hip and pelvic protection. The vest can be tethered to the handlebars of a motorcycle. Upon activation, a spring-loaded piston pierces the CO2 cartridge located on the front of the vest and rapidly inflates the airbag around the neck and body. The air chambers are designed to stabilize the neck, spine and torso, reducing the impact to vital organs. Once the vest is deployed, it stays inflated for about 15-20 seconds. It will then deflate on its own. Once the used CO2 cartridge is replaced with a new one, the vest is ready to be used again.

Motorcycle crash victim says gear saved his life


Emergency personnel surround Jim Rasmussen at the accident scene. Rasmussen was talking with the Miltona First Responders telling them he was fine.
Jim Rasmussen points to the spot on his helmet that took the brunt of the impact from the crash.
These are the boots and gloves Jim Rasmussen was wearing when he was invovled in a motorcycle crash. The boots are a special kind of motorcycling boot that won't come off in the event of a crash.
Jim Rasmussen shows some of his gear he wears when he takes to the road on his motorcyle. (Photos by Celeste Edenloff, Echo Press)
This is what Jim Rasmussen's Can Am motorcycle looked like after the crash. (Contributed)
This is a motto that Jim and Jaque Rasmussen live by when riding their motorcycles. And it was Jim's gear that helped save his life.
It was late in the afternoon on Friday, July 29. Jim took off from their home in Miltona and headed down Minnesota Highway 29 on his motorcycle. He was heading to Glenwood.
"All the further I got was to Jim and Judy's (at the intersection of County Road 5)," said the 74-year-old. "A vehicle pulled out and I came to an abrupt halt. I hit the front of the car and apparently, I went flying."
When Kyle Grinager heard his pager go off alerting him to a motorcycle crash, he immediately started thinking about the scene and what he could possibly roll up on.
"I was thinking this was going to be a bad, ugly deal," said Grinager, the Miltona Fire Department assistant chief and a first responder. "I was expecting to see a mangled, bloody mess."
However, Grinager was in for a surprise.
The scene was not at all like the images he had pictured in his mind.
"I walked up to him (Rasmussen) lying on the ground and he was talking," he said. "He was telling us he was OK. There was no blood. I thought, this just isn't right."
Grinager said it took him a few minutes to survey the scene and then he saw a tethered cord and asked Rasmussen what it was. Rasmussen told him it was his vest - a Helite airbag vest. When Rasmussen was thrown, a cord tethered to the Can Am motorcycle instantly inflated air pockets in the vest, breaking his fall, stabilizing his neck and head, which was covered by a helmet.
"It was crazy. After a complete T-bone crash and being thrown 12 to 15 feet in the air, I thought there was no way he could have survived," Grinager said, adding that the survival rate of that kind of crash is extremely low.
Jim admitted he really doesn't remember exactly what happened. All he knows is that a car pulled out, he hit his brakes and then the next thing he remembers, there were faces from the Miltona First Responders staring down at him.
Shortly after he was on scene, Grinager said he called into the dispatch center and canceled the LifeLink helicopter, which had previously been called to the scene. He said the dispatcher had him repeat what he had said because in the majority of motorcycle crashes that have been similar, LifeLink is always used.
"I told them we didn't need it, that the guy was OK. There was no evidence of any serious injury," Grinager said. "It was seriously crazy. Unbelievable."
Jim was riding his Can Am motorcycle, which he purchased last fall after he traded in his BMW motorcycle. The Can Am, with its two front wheels and one back wheel, was more stable for the aging motorcyclist, he said.
Although the motorcycle has changed, the amount of gear Rasmussen wears has not. Whenever they ride, the Rasmussens are fully outfitted in specific motorcycle gear including helmet, jacket, pants, gloves and boots that Jim says "won't fall off." The pants and jackets are made of special material that they noted is like Kevlar. It is a breathable material, kind of stiff in nature, that is designed specifically for motorcyclists. It is a heavier material than the normal leather gear associated with most motorcycle riders.
Last year, there was an addition to the Rasmussens' riding attire.
While at the national BMW rally, the Rasmussens purchased the Helite airbag vests - one for each of them. Jim thought they were a bit expensive, but his wife thought they were the best invention.
The retired pharmacist and his retired emergency room nurse wife have been riding motorcycles for close to 40 years. They have logged about 400,000 miles. Jaque noted they have ridden to New Mexico, Michigan, California, New York, Vermont, Canada and numerous other places - all without any incidents.
After the crash, both Jim and Jaque really believe in the worth of their gear. "We have always had gear on," said Jim. "It's hideously expensive, but definitely worth it."
Jim said that although he did have to spend the night in the hospital, he basically "walked away" from the crash. Something he believes wouldn't have happened if he wasn't wearing the protective clothing. He did end up with a broken wrist and a concussion. He has to have follow-up appointments with a neurologist.
Jaque said that is nothing compared to what it could have been. "He didn't get a broken neck. He didn't break his back. He's not paralyzed. He's not dead."
It's a very different outcome than most motorcycle accidents Grinager has seen. Since joining the Miltona Fire Department and becoming a first responder in 2009, Grinager has been called to about six or seven motorcycle crashes.
"That crash was eye-opening," said Grinager, who said he would highly recommend all motorcyclists to consider wearing the type of gear Rasmussen was wearing. "It's definitely worth it."
As for his gear, Jim said the back of his helmet was slightly crushed/scratched and there were two very small scrapes/marks on his clothing - one on his pants and one on his vest pocket. His Can Am motorcycle, however, was totaled. As for when he is getting a new one, Jim isn't so sure.
He hasn't been on a motorcycle since the accident.
"I might be done," he said. "But who knows. Never say never, I guess."
ABOUT THE VEST
The Helite vest provides a rigid neck brace, as well as firm support to the spine and back, chest, rib and kidneys and also provides hip and pelvic protection. The vest can be tethered to the handlebars of a motorcycle. Upon activation, a spring-loaded piston pierces the CO2 cartridge located on the front of the vest and rapidly inflates the airbag around the neck and body. The air chambers are designed to stabilize the neck, spine and torso, reducing the impact to vital organs. Once the vest is deployed, it stays inflated for about 15-20 seconds. It will then deflate on its own. Once the used CO2 cartridge is replaced with a new one, the vest is ready to be used again.


For a few brief months, it looked like America might take a step closer to sanity. And then came the news: the Obama administration will not loosen federal restrictions on marijuana after all.
Before delving into the issue of marijuana, consider its two fellow “gateway drugs:” alcohol and tobacco. Aside from the potential benefits from drinking a glass of red wine, neither one is good for you.
Alcohol can be incredibly harmful, either via acute alcohol poisoning or via chronic destruction to your life and liver. Cigarettes are always bad for you.
All three — alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana — supposedly entice users to take a timid step into the world of drug use and then find themselves plunged all the way in with “harder” drugs like heroin, cocaine, or meth.
And while illegal drugs like meth and heroin can ruin your life or kill you, so can legal ones like alcohol. Just ask any recovering alcoholic.
But among the three so-called gateway drugs, marijuana alone is illegal according to the federal government.
Marijuana is classified as a Schedule I drug, defined as having no medical use and being subject to abuse. It’s more regulated than cocaine, which hospitals have on hand for medical use.
But half of all U.S. states disagree and have enacted laws to legalize medical marijuana at the state level.
So recently, two governors asked the feds to take another look at its classification. The Obama administration and the DEA had a chance to ask themselves—should marijuana really be on the same list as heroin, as it is now?
Yes, they decided, it should.
They’ve agreed to expand the availability for “legitimate researchers” to conduct clinical trials to determine whether marijuana has any legitimate medical uses, but they currently say there’s no credible evidence that it does.
The hypocrisy is unbelievable, on two levels.
First, because alcohol and tobacco are allowed, even though people can abuse them, and even when they provide no medical benefit.
Second, because we use an entirely different standard to determine the safety and legality of any number of other chemicals.
In most cases, our laws treat chemicals as safe until proven dangerous. Marijuana, on the other hand, is being held to a higher standard. It’s not even that it’s considered dangerous until proven safe. The government says that they won’t lift regulations on it until it’s proven beneficial.
In the last 40 years, the EPA banned just five out of over 80,000 chemicals used in the U.S. So while asbestos was still legal, even after scientists knew how toxic it was, people were locked up in jail for smoking pot.
To be fair, Congress just passed a reform of toxic chemical regulations this year. But the new law only goes so far. The EPA is currently working its way down a list of 90 high-priority chemicals that are both toxic and legal, including asbestos and arsenic.
Why do we have one standard for thousands of chemicals—considered safe until proven otherwise—and another for marijuana?
Imagine a world in which asbestos had to be proven safe before it could be sold legally. How many horrible deaths from mesothelioma would’ve been prevented?
Meanwhile, what if marijuana, which has caused zero deaths by overdose, was considered safe until proven otherwise?
We could regulate it just like we do tobacco and alcohol. We could say no advertising its use, no driving or working while high, no selling marijuana to anyone under 21, and so on.
The decision to keep marijuana illegal on a federal level until it’s proven to be beneficial reeks of hy-pot-crisy.
http://dailycall.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_OTHER-WORDS-Richardson-Jill.jpg
By Jill Richardson Contributing Columnist
OtherWords columnist Jill Richardson is the author of “Recipe for America: Why Our Food System Is Broken and What We Can Do to Fix It.” (OtherWords.org)
OtherWords columnist Jill Richardson is the author of “Recipe for America: Why Our Food System Is Broken and What We Can Do to Fix It.” (OtherWords.org)


Dogs
Here are some of the dogs currently available for adoption at the Baltimore Humane Society. Some animals may have been adopted prior to publication. For a full list as well as fees, pictures and more information, visit http://bmorehumane.org/adopt/adopt-dog/.
Name: "Jett." Breed: Retriever, Labrador/Mix. Age: 6 years 9 months. Gender: Male.
Name: "Rowan." Breed: Terrier, American Pit Bull/Mix. Age: 3 years 1 month. Gender: Female.
Name: "Stewie." Breed: Bulldog/Terrier. Age: 2 years 9 months. Gender: Male.
Name: "Tam Tam." Breed: Terrier, American Pit Bull/Mix. Age: 5 years 11 months. Gender: Female.
Cats
Here are some of the cats currently available for adoption at the Baltimore Humane Society. Some animals may have been adopted prior to publication. For a full list as well as fees, pictures and more information, visit http://bmorehumane.org/adopt/adopt-cat/.
Name: "Bella Lynn." Breed: Domestic Shorthair/Mix. Age: 1 year 5 months. Gender: Female.
Name: "Bethany." Breed: Siamese/Mix. Age: 9 years 4 months. Gender: Female.
Name: "Charlotte." Breed: Domestic Longhair/Mix. Age: 2 years 1 month. Gender: Female.
Name: "Devin." Breed: Domestic Shorthair/Mix. Age: 11 years 4 months. Gender: Male.
Name: "Einstein." Breed: Domestic Shorthair/Mix. Age: 3 years 2 months. Gender: Male.
Name: "Eylee." Breed: Domestic Shorthair/Mix. Age: 6 years 2 months. Gender: Female.
Name: "Fannie." Breed: Domestic Shorthair/Mix. Age: 5 years 11 months. Gender: Female.
Name: "Garfield." Breed: Domestic Shorthair/Mix. Age: 4 years 1 month. Gender: Male.
Name: "George." Breed: Domestic Longhair/Mix. Age: 3 years 8 months. Gender: Male.
Name: "Jezzie." Breed: Domestic Shorthair/Mix. Age: 3 year 11 months. Gender: Female.
Name: "Ketchup." Breed: Domestic Shorthair/Mix. Age: 11 years 2 months. Gender: Female.
Name: "Lizzie." Breed: Domestic Shorthair/Mix. Age: 8 years 2 months. Gender: Female.
Name: "Lola." Breed: Domestic Shorthair/Mix. Age: 8 years 1 month. Gender: Female.
Name: "Melissa." Breed: Domestic Shorthair/Mix. Age: 1 year 5 months. Gender: Female.
Name: "Mia." Breed: Domestic Shorthair/Mix. Age: 3 years 1 month. Gender: Female.
Name: "Midnight." Breed: Domestic Shorthair/Mix. Age: 3 years 1 month. Gender: Female.
Name: "Olaf." Breed: Domestic Shorthair/Mix. Age: 1 year 1 month. Gender: Male.
Name: "Oliver." Breed: Domestic Shorthair/Mix. Age: 6 years 8 months. Gender: Male.
Name: "Olly." Breed: Domestic Shorthair/Mix. Age: 6 years 2 months. Gender: Male.
Name: "Oscar Mayer." Breed: Domestic Medium Hair/Mix. Age: 3 years 4 months. Gender: Male.
Name: "Poindexter." Breed: Domestic Longhair/Mix. Age: 7 years 4 months. Gender: Male.
Name: "Pumpkin Pie." Breed: Domestic Shorthair/Mix. Age: 7 years 2 months. Gender: Female.
Name: "Punky." Breed: Domestic Shorthair/Mix. Age: 3 years. Gender: Female.
Name: "Reeses." Breed: Domestic Shorthair/Mix. Age: 3 years. Gender: Female.
Name: "Remus." Breed: Domestic Medium Hair/Mix. Age: 6 months. Gender: Male.
Name: "Ronak." Breed: Domestic Shorthair/Mix. Age: 7 years 2 months. Gender: Male.
Name: "Secretariat." Breed: Domestic Shorthair/Mix. Age: 1 year 1 month. Gender: Female.
Name: "Shalom." Breed: Domestic Shorthair/Mix. Age: 11 years 2 months. Gender: Female.
Name: "Tavy." Breed: Domestic Shorthair/Mix. Age: 10 years. Gender: Female.
Name: "Virginia Slim." Breed: Domestic Shorthair/Mix. Age: 7 years 9 months. Gender: Female.
Name: "Watermelon." Breed: Domestic Shorthair/Mix. Age: 4 years. Gender: Female.


Washington (CNN) The presidents' furry friends have been the source of adoration, humor and drama during their time as first dogs in the White House, from President Barack Obama's Portuguese water dogs Bo and Sunny to Franklin D. Roosevelt's beloved Scottish terrier Fala.
In honor of National Dog Day, here are some memorable stories about American presidents and their dogs:
That time FDR defended dog Fala against Republican attacks
President Franklin Roosevelt's August 1944 trip to Alaska was subject to Republican criticism -- and Fala was in the center of the dispute.
Critics accused Roosevelt of leaving Fala behind in the Aleutian Islands during his six-day fishing trip and alleged that Roosevelt squandered $20 million by sending a Navy destroyer to retrieve him, a story Roosevelt vehemently denied.
In a September speech to the Teamsters Union, which became known as the "Fala speech," Roosevelt blasted the critics for the "libelous statements" about his dog:
"These Republican leaders have not been content with attacks on me, or my wife, or on my sons. No, not content with that, they now include my little dog, Fala. Well, of course, I don't resent attacks, and my family doesn't resent attacks, but Fala does resent them."
Roosevelt poses with his dog Fala and a friend granddaughter, Ruthie Bie, at Hill Top Cottage in Hyde Park New York, circa 1940s.
Roosevelt said Fala's "Scotch soul was furious."
"He has not been the same dog since. I am accustomed to hearing malicious falsehoods about myself -- such as that old, worm-eaten chestnut that I have represented myself as indispensable. But I think I have a right to resent, to object to libelous statements about my dog."
That time Reagan gifted Rex to Nancy
On December 6, 1985, President Ronald Reagan gifted first lady Nancy Reagan with a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel named Rex, who joined the family's Bouvier des Flandres dog Lucky at the White House.
Reagan presents first lady Nancy Reagan with Rex at their suite in a New York City hotel on December 6, 1985.
Rex was an early Christmas present.
The Reagans were known to be dog lovers and both Rex and Lucky were buried at Ranch del Cielo in Santa Barbara, California, where the Reagans lived after the presidency.
That time President Gerald Ford and Liberty got locked out of the White House
Former first lady Betty Ford writes about the time Ford took their golden retriever Liberty out at 3 a.m. and got locked out of the White House:
Ford sits with his daughter Susan on the floor of the White House's Great Hall, watching their pet golden retriever Liberty, circa 1978.
"They got to the second floor, and the door to the hall was locked. You can get out, but you can't get back in. They went up again, to the third floor. Also locked. And there they were, a president and his dog, wandering around in a stairwell in the wee small hours of the morning, not able to get back to bed. Finally, they came all the way down again, and by that time, the Secret Service had been alerted, and somebody got the elevator started," Ford writes in her memoir, "The Times of My Life."
That time George W. Bush accused Putin of 'dissing' his dog, Barney
Former President George W. Bush told NBC in April 2014 that Russian President Vladimir Putin "dissed" his Sottish terrier Barney when they met.
Bush holds up his dog Barney upon his arrival at the South Lawn of the White House on February 3, 2002.
Bush, who was unveiling a collection of his paintings, which depicted both Putin and Barney, said Putin's treatment of Barney gave him insight into the Russian leader's character.
"Our dear dog Barney -- who has a special spot in my heart -- I introduced him to Putin. Putin kind of dissed him," Bush told his daughter, Jenna Hager Bush, on the "Today" show. "'You call that a dog?' A year later, your mom and I go to visit Vladimir at his Dacha outside of Moscow and he says, 'Would you like to meet my dog?' Out bounds this huge hound, obviously much bigger than a Scottish terrier. And Putin looks at me and says, 'Bigger, stronger and faster than Barney.'"
Barney passed away in 2013 after a battle with lymphoma.
That time Sunny knocked over a little girl at the White House
The Obama's newest Portuguese water dog, Sunny, couldn't control her excitement at a 2013 Christmas party for military families at the White House.
JUST WATCHED First dog Sunny overwhelms little girl Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH First dog Sunny overwhelms little girl 00:54
The energetic puppy jumped up to greet little Ashtyn Gardner of Mobile, Alabama, causing her to step back and take a tumble.
Sunny was quickly pulled back by first lady Michelle Obama, and no one was injured, though images of the incident quickly spread on social media at the time.

National dog day: A look at US presidents and their dogs


Presidential dogs have been the source of adoration, humor and drama during their time as first dogs in the White House.


On Tuesday, North Dakota Lt. Gov. Drew Wrigley visited the Herald to talk about the protest near Standing Rock against the Dakota Access Pipeline project. The following is a transcript, edited for clarity and length.
Q. Tell us why you're here.
The evolving situation with Standing Rock is obviously very serious, and I don't know that publicly it's been discussed as broadly as it's going to be. The governor went on the radio, and we'll be talking much more about what is actually transpiring there.
We're dealing with a very significant and challenging law enforcement issue.
It's an important story, it's an evolving story, and there's frankly a lot of misinformation going out.
It's also a complicated situation. It started off as a peaceful protest, although it was being conducted in part on land on which they did not have any permits to go. They were on the Army Corps of Engineers land, and that's where the main encampment is.
But it has become an unlawful protest. And there is no way to peacefully and lawfully participate in an unlawful protest.
I liken it to conspiracy law. When you're involved in an illegal enterprise of some kind, everyone is involved in what's taking place. When someone says, "Well, I've been lawfully standing here on the Corps land the whole time, I've been peaceful, and my intentions are peaceful," that person still is part of an unlawful protest.
And when you have a situation in which hundreds of people are walking down a state highway, then off in the ditches standing there—and a lot of the people out there at least initially were very young children. That is both a complicated and an extremely dangerous situation.
A chief concern was that the traveling public comes in there, somebody gets spooked, they're going through a crowd—who knows what their reaction is going to be. Very, very concerning.
So the governor had the Highway Patrol and Department of Transportation put that barrier across State Highway 1806, except for people who live there and emergency personnel and law enforcement. Everyone else has to be diverted around and detoured.
And that was purely about public safety and being able to maintain the law enforcement effort, which is now required in view of the unlawful protest.
Q. Why is it being termed an unlawful protest?
There have been hundreds of criminal acts, violating a variety of state and federal laws. They include two substantiated cases of lasers being pointed into the cockpits of aircraft coming over. Those are life-threatening federal crimes, and they're being investigated right now.
There has been talk of weapons that were taken off two of the protesters early on. Also early on, there was a substantiated case of people believed to be members of the protest traveling to Bismarck, going to the home of a member of the North Dakota Highway Patrol, walking around that property, then going back to their vehicle and leaving. Almost like a recon.
Trespasses have been documented. Threats on law enforcement, both on social media and in person.
Crimes committed by people riding horses into a police line. I've spoken with the people who were on that line. They were beyond threatened. You can call what happened a lot of things, but you can look at that situation and say, "That is an assault with a deadly weapon. That horse is no different than a car going into a line of people." Law enforcement retreated at that point.
Q. How many protesters are local?
We've not been able to go through and take a census, of course. But people talk of the Seven Sioux Tribes; they haven't been together and "sharing their campfires," some say, for over 100 years.
But I think it's clear that the tribes are not united down there, and that there is not a united leadership front. There are factions within this illegal protest. And numbers vary on how many members are from the Standing Rock reservation. We just don't know.
I think it could be helpful to the situation if the leadership of the various tribes that are represented recognize that their people are not only involved in an illegal protest action, they are also endangering themselves, the public and law enforcement.
Q. Where do you see this headed?
I don't have a prediction, because it would be easier to predict if it had unified leadership. Then you could size the person or persons up and assess what's been done in the past and what you can expect up ahead.
That's a very complicated thing to do, though, when there are many groups with many leaders involved.
Q. How many people are we talking about?
It varies. There are reports that it could swell to as many as 3,000; I heard rumors that we're already at 2,500 out there. But it varies, because it's not hard to go back to the Standing Rock reservation. Others have further to travel.
Q. What's happening with water and other services?
There were questions recently about some of the items that the state Health Department had provided for what initially was a lawful protest. The governor now has made clear that it has morphed into an unlawful protest, and there will not be the provision of water and other items of comfort out there. There still are ambulance and other services out there for everyone's protection.
There were some reports that people were concerned about there being water. There's plenty of water; it's just not at the protest site. There's plenty of water when people travel back to their homes and access it. So nobody's keeping them from whatever resources they need. But the state is not providing that.
Q. What's next?
The governor's declaration was the beginning of establishing what the lawful boundaries are for peaceful protest. Meanwhile, every violation accumulates more and more support for our observation that it is an unlawful protest.
And that's why I say, people still have the opportunity to extract themselves.
Anyone who wants to be peaceful, who wants to be law-abiding, still has the opportunity to withdraw from these protests. They got themselves there, they have the capacity to leave. No one is going to stop them as they disperse.
Q. Is the National Guard coming in?
The governor made clear from his declaration the other day that it wasn't a National Guard callout. He has not made that callout. The National Guard is always there as a resource in North Dakota to deal with emergency situations, whatever they might be. But they weren't called out as part of the emergency declaration.
Q. Are there discussions about calling out the National Guard?
You talk about all different options, but there is not a decision to call out the National Guard.
Q. It sounds a little like the Black Lives Matter protests in Minneapolis, where the activists blocked Interstate 94 for a time.
I know people think about examples like that, but I think you're dealing with a different group dynamic. I don't think anybody involved in this would seriously question that a significant number of people went out there with peaceful, law-abiding intent. But now, anyone aware of the facts out there would agree that it is an unlawful protest.
And you can't lawfully participate in an unlawful protest.
Q. Some protesters might respond by saying, "If we lawfully protest, nothing will change, and the pipeline will be built." And their goal is to stop the pipeline.
How would you respond?
There's always a lawful way in our society to push your perspective. There has been an extensive, long comment period, opportunity to weigh in, opportunity to be heard, to have your perspective be part of the formal record.
It's been documented out there, too, that those hearings had no representation from people who in many instances didn't have to travel very far to put that perspective out there. And that's not unimportant in this.
But even so, I'd be the last person to say, "Well, you didn't go, now you can't say anything." It's just that you've got to be lawful. And any time when things don't play out your way, it's not OK to resort to violence, threats and obstruction of lawful process.
That is not one of your options.
You can write letters. You can march peacefully. You can call your federal delegation. You can call your state legislator. You can call your community leadership. We have open and transparent and accessible leadership in this state.
But this is not an option: Unlawful, threatening, intimidating, dangerous protest.
Q. Does the fact that this involves Native American tribes make it harder? Given their history with the United States, their tribal leaders might not have much trust that the regular methods would work.
I wouldn't be the right person to ask about that. You'd have to ask them what their perspective is.
But I can say that we in North Dakota state government interact with the tribes regularly on matters of central importance to them and us. We have strong relationships—not because we always agree, but because we're dealing with very, very important matters.
Look at the Three Affiliated Tribes. It's the absolute heart of oil country out there, and the tax agreements that were reached between the state and the tribe that led to private enterprise feeling comfortable in going out there and conducting very expensive business and investment—that takes a lot of trust.
That was an opportunity, and look what happened: Benefit to the tribes, benefit to everyone involved, benefit to commerce, job creation, opportunity.
We also interact with the tribes regularly on environmental and other matters. We have regular meetings, and we'll meet any time the tribal leadership wants to come in.
Q. What are the discussions like?
It's like any negotiation or discussion. It never ends in a way that's perfect for either side, but you reach accord.
Someone commented the other day, "Why isn't Sen. Heidi Heitkamp out there? She has good relationships." Why, because she's a Democrat? She does have good relationships with the tribes. And so do we.
We know these folks. Standing Rock Chairman Dave Archambault and the governor speak regularly and comfortably, and they have in this situation, especially early on. There's a friendship there, or a kinship out of understanding that they both represent important interests.
So it's not for lack of opportunity to access.
Also, at every legislative session, the tribe comes in; they get their own opportunity to speak to a joint session. The governor gives the State of the State address; they give the State of the Relationship address.
No other other government leaders come in and get an opportunity like that. Sometimes our congressional delegation will address, but it's not the same thing as a joint session.
Also, the tribal leaders come in, there are days of meetings, they're there regularly petitioning the government to interact with them in this fashion or that, or adjust this agreement.
But that has not been accessed in all of this in ways that can be constructive.

NORTH DAKOTA LT. GOV. DREW WRIGLEY Q&A: 'An unlawful protest'


NEW YORK (AP) — Hollywood’s blockbuster machine frequently stalled and sputtered this summer, leaving behind a steady trail of misbegotten reboots, ill-conceived sequels and questionable remakes.
None of the movies that did poorly this summer were the spectacular species of bomb: an out-of-leftfield disaster like “The Lone Ranger.” The failures of “Ben-Hur,” ”Independence Day: Resurgence” and “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows” were, to most people who have seen a movie in the last decade, not exactly shocking.
Instead, the running theme was of big movies not living up to the hype, for either moviegoers, critics or both.
“Suicide Squad” is one of the biggest grossers of the summer with $577.6 million globally, but it and the previous Warner Bros.-DC Comics film, “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” may have left hundreds of millions on the table by not being better and more crowd-pleasing.
Still, Warner Bros. — while vowing to keep improving its DC superhero films — could celebrate a 39 percent uptick from summer 2015, with successes like the comedy “Central Intelligence” and the low-budget thriller “Lights Out.”
“It’s all about content and making the best movies you can. That’s true in any period of time,” says Jeff Goldstein, distribution head for Warner Bros. “The baby boomers are clearly going to the movies. But the audience that’s a little harder to attract is millennials. You have to come up with something they want to see and have it be cool and different.”
One of the priciest bombs came from Hollywood’s most bankable director. Steven Spielberg’s “The BFG” seemed a surefire combination of director and material, but the Disney release hasn’t made much more than its $140 million production budget globally.
“Alice Through the Looking Glass,” opening on the heels of domestic abuse allegations against its star, Johnny Depp, saw one of the steepest drops ever, compared to a predecessor. It made a staggering $740 million less than the 2010 original.
And yet the North American box office, according to comScore, is nearly equal to last summer. The industry projects somewhere around $4.4 billion in ticket sales, making it one of the highest grossing seasons ever (in today’s dollars). On the year, the box office is pacing ahead of last year, despite the potholes along the way.
“Even in the midst of mixed results from just about every studio, we’re still seeing some record numbers being put up,” said Dave Hollis, distribution head for Disney. “Lots of reasons to be excited, but there certainly have been some pauses momentum-wise.”
The overall numbers, however, obscure the losses for many movies and several studios. While business is booming at Disney, thanks to the likes of “Finding Dory” and “Captain America: Civil War,” it isn’t so much at Paramount or Sony. The top three films of the summer — “Dory,” ”Civil War” and Universal’s “The Secret Life of Pets” — account for more than 25 percent of the box office. Out of 14 sequels this summer (four more than last year), only three have outperformed their predecessors.
“More of the same is not working and that’s a pretty glaring problem for the studios,” says Jeff Bock, senior box-office analyst for Exhibitor Relations. “This was a crop of rushed, bad sequels.”
It’s not easy to sift through the wreckage of the summer’s numerous whiffs, particularly since the definition “a flop” is often debated. Few films bombed in North America more than the $160 million video game adaptation “Warcraft,” but that film made oodles of money in China — perhaps a sign of shifting international priorities.
The much scrutinized, female-led “Ghostbusters” was hailed by Sony Pictures as a hit, even while its lackluster performance doomed hopes for more installments from the cast and director Paul Feig. Before “Star Trek Beyond” made its tepid arrival in theaters, Paramount announced its plans for a fourth “Star Trek” film. Wishful thinking or smart marketing?
Other disappointments offer more clarity. Last weekend’s dismal opening of the big-budget “Ben-Hur” may have cost Paramount $100 million and could signal an end to the resurrection of the Bible epic. The 20-year-old “Independence Day” franchise, too, will likely surge no more.
“Hollywood needs to find a balance between ‘What are people really interested in?’ versus ‘We just want to make a sequel to this because that first one made money,’” says Bock.
The temptation for executives to quickly greenlight sequels is easy to understand. They remain by far the most lucrative releases. All but two of the top 13 movies this summer (“The Secret Life of Pets,” ”Central Intelligence”) are based on previously existing properties.
But if summer 2016 stands for anything, it’s that there may be a kink in the franchise formula. Quality has emerged as a vital ingredient for audiences facing ever-higher ticket prices and expanding home entertainment options. It’s no coincidence that the summer’s biggest hit, “Finding Dory,” comes from an animation studio, Pixar, with the most respected record of good moviemaking.
“The biggest lesson from the summer is: Try to maintain a level of quality and not take it for granted that just because something’s branded, a sequel, a known quantity, that’s it’s automatically going to be a hit,” says Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for comScore. “You can’t have audience members leaving feeling underwhelmed after they’ve spent their hard-earned money.”


Tater Town Special Events
WRESTLING
The Gleason Gazelles are hosting a night of SWAG Wrestling on Saturday night, August 27, at the Gazelle Grounds, beginning at 7 p.m. Admission is $6. For more information call Christi Clark at 415-3511.
GRAND MARSHAL RECEPTION
There will be a reception honoring the 2016 Grand Marshals, Jeff Hazlewood and The Gleason Downtown Revitalization Committee. The reception is held at the First Baptist Church at 6 p.m. on Monday, August 29.
THE GOOD TIME SINGERS IN CONCERT
The Gleason Gazelles are sponsoring a gospel concert featuring Tommy Moore and The Good Time Singers on Monday, August 29, at the Gleason First Baptist Church. The Singing starts at 7 p.m. and admission is free. For more information call Cil Weddington at 514-9007.
SPECIAL ADULT BINGO
The Gleason Gazelles along with Woodmen Of The World are sponsoring a night of free “Bingo on the Gazelle Grounds”. The fun starts at 7 p.m. on Tuesday night, August 30. Free admission. You must be 18 to participate. For more information call Jennifer Cook at 571-3885.
SPECIAL YOUTH NIGHT BINGO
On Wednesday night, August 31, the Gleason Gazelles and area churches will sponsor Youth Bingo. A short devotional will be held at 7:15 with Bingo to follow. You must attend the devotional to play Bingo. Kindergarten through age 17 are invited to play. For more information call Jennifer Cook at 571-3885.
BBQ COOK-OFF
The Tater Town Cook-off will be on Friday, September 2, at the Gazelle Grounds. Specialties to choose from include BBQ, chicken, ribs, hamburgers and hotdogs. Gates open to the public at 5:30 p.m. There will be live entertainment by the band Flashback. Adult admission is $7 to enter and eat. For more information call Tracy Gaylord at 514-6185 or Christi Clark at 414-3511.
ARTS & CRAFTS
Arts & Crafts Dealers and local merchants who wish to set up booths at the 2016 Tater Town Special should contact Melanie Maddox at 694-9849. The set up fee is $10.
SWEET POTATO BAKE-OFF
The Gleason Gazelles and Simply Southern Restaurant are sponsoring a “sweet potato” bake-off on Friday, September 2 at the Gazelle Grounds prior to the BBQ Cookoff. Individuals must submit their prepared dishes and recipes by 5 p.m. at the cook booth for judging. The dishes must have sweet potatoes as an ingredient. First Prize will win a $50 cash prize and second and third place receiving gift certificates from the restaurant. For more information contact Cil Weddington at 514-9007.
J C CAREY 5K MEMORIAL RACE
The Gleason Gazelles and McKenzie Medical Center are sponsoring the annual J C Carey 5K Memorial Run on Saturday, September 3. Entries will register in front of the Gleason School at 6:30 a.m. The race begins at 7 a.m. The race is in honor of the late Dr. J C Carey. The entry fee is $l5. For more information call Amy Reed at 415-1795.
SPECIAL ANTIQUE TRACTOR SHOW
An Antique Tractor & Truck Show will be held on the front lawn of the Gleason School on Saturday, September 3. Show entries may be driven through the Grand Parade if desired, then parked on the school lawn for show. There are no entry fees. Call Charles Anderson at 695-5753 or Zac Montgomery at 234-6491 or Dale Flowers at 514-5218 or Marty Morris at 445-4854 for questions concerning the tractor show.
PARADES
The Tater Town Parades will be on Saturday, September 3rd, beginning at 10 a.m. The theme for this year’s parade is “God; Faith; Family; Country”. Kids are invited to decorate bikes, trikes, 4-wheelers, go-carts, etc, and ride in the Jr Parade. Registration will be in front of Gleason Lumber Co. at 9 a.m. Registration for the Grand Parade will be in the American Legion Parking lot at 9 a.m. Trophies will be awarded in several categories. There is no entry fee for either parade. All horse entries will register at the Gleason Saddle Club.


BERLIN (AP) — Swiss media are reporting that a wingsuit flyer who fatally crashed in the Alps on Friday was broadcasting live on Facebook when the accident happened.
A video posted online shows a man readying his wingsuit before pocketing his phone and taking off. After a few moments, a shout can be heard and the sound of impact.
The video couldn’t immediately be verified.
The Zurich daily Blick reports that followers watching the video reacted with horror. Some sent messages asking that he “write or say something.”
Bern cantonal police said the body of a 28-year-old Italian citizen was recovered near Kandersteg, a popular BASE jumping location. Police spokeswoman Jolanda Egger declined Saturday to confirm the man’s identity, citing privacy rules. She said the cause of the accident was still being investigated.

Wingsuit flyer’s death reportedly streamed live on Facebook


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WILKES-BARRE — A skunk captured in the Miners Mills section of the city has tested positive for rabies, the city’s health department announced Monday.
The city is warning residents to be aware of potentially rabid skunks and report them to the city’s health department.
Residents of St. Clair, Finn and Cleveland streets, and Austin Avenue, have reported such skunks, the city said.
“Rabid skunks pose a threat to humans and other animals. During the latter stages of rabies, infected skunks tend to behave abnormally. Healthy skunks are typically docile and nocturnal, while rabid skunks often act aggressively and may be seen wandering during the daytime,” the city said in a press release. “Skunks with rabies also frequently lose their fear of humans and may seem approachable. Do not approach them.”
People with pets are encouraged to immunize them with a rabies vaccine.
To report a potentially rabid skunk, call 570-208-4268.


US singer Chris Brown has been arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon after a woman told police he had threatened her with a gun.
Beauty queen Baylee Curran told the LA Times Mr Brown had pointed the gun at her face after she had been admiring his friend’s jewellery.
Mr Brown came out of his home after a stand-off with police on Tuesday.
The singer has several convictions for violence, including a 2009 assault on his then girlfriend, pop star Rihanna.
Police went to Mr Brown’s home following the emergency call early on Tuesday from Ms Curran, who by that time had left the property.
Ms Curran told the LA Times that she and a friend had gone to Mr Brown’s house with a business associate on Monday evening.
She said she had been admiring the diamond necklace of a man who had been showing off his jewellery when the man got angry and told her to back away.
That is when she says Mr Brown pulled out a gun, pointed it at her face and told her to get out.
“If somebody put a gun to your head, what would you do? Call the police,” Ms Curran said on her Instagram account, AFP news agency reported.
Once at Mr Brown’s sprawling mansion, police officers were allegedly denied entry and had to wait for a judge to approve a search warrant before going inside to search for a weapon.
It wasn’t until Mr Brown’s lawyer arrived that the singer eventually emerged.
Police said about half a dozen people had been escorted out of the residence and would be interviewed.
During the stand-off, Mr Brown posted videos online accusing the police of harassment.
“When you get the warrant for whatever you need to do, you’re going to walk right up in here and you’re going to see nothing, you idiots,” he said in one Instagram video, posted to 30m followers.
In another, Mr Brown also voiced support for the Black Lives Matter movement against police brutality, saying: “You’re all the worst gang in the world, the police.”
-bbc

Singer Chris Brown Arrested For Pointing Gun At Woman


US singer Chris Brown has been arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon after a woman told police he had threatened her with a gun. Beauty queen


BERLIN (AP) — Chancellor Angela Merkel says the influx of migrants won’t fundamentally change Germany, a year after she first insisted that “we will manage” the refugee crisis.
Merkel said in an interview with the daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung published Wednesday that her mantra — which has divided opinion in Germany — remains “the right motif for this task.”
On Sept. 4 last year, a few days after she first used it, she and Austria’s then-chancellor decided to let in migrants who had piled up in Hungary. Germany registered over a million newcomers last year, though the actual number is believed to be lower, and the influx has unsettled many residents.
Merkel was quoted as saying that “Germany will remain Germany, with everything that is dear to us.”

Merkel: ‘Germany will remain Germany’ after migrant influx


Two senior North Korean officials were executed with an anti-aircraft gun in early August on the orders of Kim Jong Un, South Korea's JoongAng Ilbo newspaper reported, citing people it did not identify.
Ri Yong Jin, a senior official in the education ministry -- possibly the minister -- was arrested for dozing off during a meeting with Kim and charged with corruption before being killed, the paper said. Former Agriculture Minister Hwang Min was purged over a proposed project seen as a direct challenge to Kim's leadership, it said.
If true, it would mark the first executions ordered by Kim from outside his party or the military, the paper said. A spokesman at South Korea's Unification Ministry said he couldn't immediately confirm the JoongAng report.
Kim has carried out a series of executions since taking power in 2011 after his father's death as he puts his mark on the leadership of the isolated nuclear-armed nation. The most high profile was the killing three years ago of his uncle and one-time deputy Jang Song Thaek. He had about 50 officials executed in 2014 on charges ranging from graft to watching South Korean soap operas.
"Kim is continuing to replace the old guard of his father's regime with loyalists," said Robert Kelly, a political science professor at South Korea's Pusan National University. "The charges are obviously trumped up, and this is how promotion or demotion often works in totalitarian states without legitimate venues for opposition."
Kim had his military chief Ri Yong Gil executed in February on charges including corruption, Yonhap News reported at the time. In January last year he executed General Pyon In Son, head of operations in the army, for disagreeing with him; and in May of that year he purged his defense minister Hyon Yong Chol for dozing off at a rally.
Still, reports of purges of senior North Korean officials are not uncommon and at times have proven to be unreliable.
Earlier this month, Seoul announced that a senior North Korean diplomat based in the U.K. had defected to South Korea. The man was among seven diplomats who have defected this year, according to JoongAng Ilbo.
South Korean President Park Geun-hye said Monday the defections signal a "serious fracture" within the North Korean regime and raise the prospects of fresh provocations as Kim seeks to maintain control. Her comments came as South Korea and the U.S. hold annual military drills that North Korea calls a prelude to an invasion.
Even so, Kelly at Pusan University said that the isolated state is probably more stable than many people think or want it to be.
"I don't think there has been a fracture," he said. "So long as China keeps the goodies flowing into Pyongyang, which is like a city-state in an ocean of deprivation, the elites won't turn on each other."

Kim Jong Un has North Korean officials killed by anti-aircraft gun, paper says


Gautam Lewis is a pilot, photographer and polio survivor from Kolkata. He spent his early years at Shishu Bhavan, under Mother Teresa's care, before being adopted.
(CNN) It's impossible for me to forget Mother Teresa -- soon to be Saint Teresa of Kolkata. She gave me a chance to escape poverty and live a different destiny in England.
I was born in Kolkata in 1977, although there is no official record of my birth. I've no memory of my birth parents and there are conflicting reports as to where and when I was born, and to whom.
Some paperwork traces my origins back to the 24 Parganas district, born to destitute parents in an impoverished part of Kolkata's urban sprawl.
Gautam Lewis, right, doesn't know how old he was when he was taken to Shishu Bhavan, Mother Teresa's home for children.
Another letter details my beginnings in the wealthier city of Howrah, to a high caste doctor and nurse. My adopted mother, Patricia, is of the view that this may have been a story fed to her, in the misplaced assumption that she might look upon me more kindly if my origins were more privileged.
It's hard to keep track of the conflicting claims and different paper trails.
Either way, maybe because I had polio and was paralyzed, my original family weren't able to look after me properly.
For me, I have limited lower limb mobility. Polio can result in death or permanent disability; I survived the virus, which attacks the nervous system, at a time and place when one in five children were dying of it.
The throwaways of society
Although my start in life could be seen as unlucky, I consider myself lucky because Mother Teresa took me into her care.
Photos: Mother Teresa and me Gautam Lewis is a pilot, photographer and polio survivor. He spent his early years under the care of Mother Teresa. He photographed these sisters praying on the tomb of Mother Teresa in May 2016. "It was very emotional being there," he says. Hide Caption 1 of 12 Photos: Mother Teresa and me This woman is a beggar from 24 Parganas, possibly the same district Gautam is originally from. She told Gautam she was also a victim of domestic violence. Hide Caption 2 of 12 Photos: Mother Teresa and me Mother Teresa opened Shishu Bhavan, a home for abandoned street babies and children, in Kolkata in 1955. Hide Caption 3 of 12 Photos: Mother Teresa and me Today, Shishu Bhavan still provides a home for abandoned and destitute children, including those with special needs. Hide Caption 4 of 12 Photos: Mother Teresa and me These orphans, photographed by Gautam in 2009, were rescued by the Missionaries of Charity and taken to Shishu Bhavan. Gautam says the time he spent at the home was tough. "My memories from that period are dark, sad, and lonely," he says. Hide Caption 5 of 12 Photos: Mother Teresa and me Gautam photographed this girl begging outside the children's home. "She reminded me of my little sister, Lindi, and my mother, Patricia," he says. Hide Caption 6 of 12 Photos: Mother Teresa and me Gautam photographed these sisters, who have stayed together as orphans at the children's home in the care of the Missionaries of Charity. "I probably have brothers and sisters but I don't know who they are," says Gautam. Hide Caption 7 of 12 Photos: Mother Teresa and me Gautam says it took him years to be able to return to Shishu Bhavan. "But now I feel as though I'm going back to my fellow siblings, to the brothers and sisters I left behind." Hide Caption 8 of 12 Photos: Mother Teresa and me Novice nuns stand and pray before they start their work at the Home for the Dying and Destitute. Hide Caption 9 of 12 Photos: Mother Teresa and me The Home for the Dying and Destitute was the first home Mother Teresa set up when she came to Kolkata. "I've never taken a photograph of a dying person before," says Gautam. "It's something I'll never forget." Hide Caption 10 of 12 Photos: Mother Teresa and me A tabla player is pictured at the Home for the Dying and the Destitute. "Even though he was in a place where he was being provided end of life care, he was still happy and musical," says Gautam. "Where there is joy, there is life -- one of the reasons Kolkata is also called the 'City of Joy.'" Hide Caption 11 of 12 Photos: Mother Teresa and me Women at the Home for the Dying and the Destitute. "I found seeing simple, everyday acts done with such care and support from the sisters really overwhelming," Gautam says. Hide Caption 12 of 12
It's unclear how old I was when I was taken to Shishu Bhavan, Mother Teresa's home for children in Kolkata; anything between 18 months and 4-years-old.
It must have taken my family a lot of courage to do that for me.
It was a chaotic place, but Mother Teresa was not trying to be a social worker -- that was not her job.
She was just following her deep love of her faith and her religion, and that's what drove her humanity.
She wasn't there to cure people and provide rehabilitation. She was there to pick the dying person, the throwaways of society, up off the street when no one else cared.
When Lewis stopped talking for six months, Mother Teresa brought in a psychologist to help him.
She had never run an organization like Shishu Bhavan, and probably had no idea how big it was going to get. When I lived there it was just endless rooms of cots and children, and all the sisters just trying to do their best.
But as long as you have food, and water and love, it's the foundation for everything else.
'My tall shadow'
I didn't see Mother Teresa every day because she had a lot to do in her daily work schedule. But she always made sure to check in on her "children."
Every Sunday, she would come and get us dressed up in our best clothes, take us to the chapel at the Mother House and give a mass for everyone.
I couldn't walk at that time, and though the sisters would carry me to mass so I didn't get my clothes dirty, at other times I had to crawl on the floor.
As a child, Lewis had to crawl because polio affected the use of his legs. He remembers Mother Teresa as a towering figure even though she was tiny.
Because I had to crawl everywhere, Mother Teresa seemed very tall to me as I looked up to her, even though she was actually very petite.
She was my tall shadow that kept a protective eye on me.
She spoke very softly, and with slightly accented English. I never saw her shout at anyone, but she was someone you knew you didn't want to mess with.
My three mothers
Many of the memories I have of Kolkata and living as an orphan are a nightmare. It was a dark, sad, and lonely period.
I even stopped talking for six months when I learned no one was coming to get me, and I may not have spoken again had Mother Teresa not brought in a psychologist to help me.
The few memories I have of her are happy ones, and I prefer not to embrace the demons from my nightmares, but instead focus on my fond memories of her -- especially her smile.
In my life, I have had three mothers. My birth mother, the woman who adopted me, Patricia, and Mother Teresa.
Most likely I wouldn't be alive had my path not crossed hers.
She gave me protection when I needed it the most.
She fended for me and fought in my corner so I could survive the "Black Hole of Kolkata." I wouldn't be sitting here writing this had it not been for Mother Teresa.
A different destiny
I was adopted by my mother Patricia in 1985 and taken to Auckland.
My adoption hearing was on the 12th February, so the judge assigned my birthday as the same day as the court hearing -- February 12th. He then chose my birth year as 1977.
12th February 1986 was when the nightmare ended and the dream started. We moved to England 18 months later, where I was lucky to lead a privileged life. I had a great education, good friends and the best medical treatment.
Today, Lewis has a business degree and is a qualified pilot. He's also the founder of a UK-based flying school for disabled people.
When I was 18, I returned to Kolkata for the first time since leaving. It was a difficult journey for me. I had no connection with the place, the culture, the environment.
Honestly, it forced me to confront some difficult issues relating to my sense of self and my identity. It wasn't until much later that I better came to terms with my roots, and it was another decade until I returned to Kolkata.
I did go and see her on that first trip though, and it was the year that she died.
I don't know if I said, "thank you for giving me life," but I should have.
This is what she said to me: "Nothing is difficult, just different. If you can't find anyone to help you achieve what you want to do, do it alone and don't be afraid of the unknown."

Mother Teresa: The saint who was my mother


It's impossible for Gautam Lewis to forget Mother Teresa -- soon to be Saint Teresa of Kolkata. She gave him a chance to escape poverty and live a different destiny in England.


Ohio’s toll road, a heavily traveled connector between the East Coast and Chicago, is moving closer to allowing the testing of self-driving vehicles.
Testing is likely to begin within 12 months, and possibly before the end of the year, the Ohio Turnpike’s executive director told The Associated Press.
Officials overseeing the roadway have spent more than a year looking at the possibilities, said Randy Cole, the turnpike’s director.
Ohio is among several states competing to play a role in the testing and research of autonomous vehicles, which is advancing at light speed.
Ride-hailing service Uber said plans to start hauling passengers in self-driving cars with human backup drivers on the streets of Pittsburgh within the next several weeks.
Much of the testing, up to now, has been in California along with a handful of Western U.S. states and on closed courses, such as one operated by the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
More testing is needed in new places and where there’s snow and ice.
“It’s got to start happening on real roads,” Cole said. “That’s part of getting the consumer confidence.”
The Ohio Turnpike, which takes Interstate 80 across northern Ohio and links Youngstown, Cleveland and Toledo, is set up well for testing autonomous vehicles, he said.
It is relatively straight and flat with three lanes in each direction, wider lane markings and space for maintenance and support crews, Cole said.
The 241-mile highway is less congested than other interstates in Ohio and already has a fiber network along the entire roadway.
Fiber optic lines aren’t necessary for self-driving vehicles that rely on their own GPS systems. But they could allow vehicles connected to the network to relay information back-and-forth — such as road conditions — or help collect testing data, said Jim Barna, an assistant director with the Ohio Department of Transportation.
“That’s where the fiber optics may come into play,” he said.
The U.S. Transportation Department has said it will propose federal government guidelines for self-driving vehicles later this year.
States also are grappling with how to regulate the technology. Just a handful — including Nevada, California, Michigan and Florida — have approved guidelines for testing.
Because Ohio’s toll road has its own governing authority, it can more easily allow the testing, Cole said.
“We will make sure any vehicle testing is as safe, or safer, than any other vehicle on the road,” he said. “It shouldn’t scare people.”
Cole said he sees more opportunities right now coming with the trucking industry.
One possibility already being tested in Europe is called platooning — a tractor-trailer with a driver that’s linked to a self-driving truck following closely behind.
Lowering freight costs will help the state’s manufacturing industries and could create new jobs, Cole said. “This is part of Ohio’s future,” he said.
Republican Gov. John Kasich has been pushing state agencies to take a leading role in the rapidly growing development of self-driving autos.
The state’s highway department is working on creating another testing area along a divided highway northwest of Columbus.
It’s planning to install a fiber optic cable as soon as next spring on a stretch of U.S. 33, Barna said.
The state’s largest city, Columbus, won a $40 million federal grant this summer to put new transportation technologies, including self-driving cars and connected vehicles, into use.
— The Lima News

Editorial: Turnpike test could prove self-driving really works


Spain starts countdown to possible third national election in year
By Sonya Dowsett
MADRID, Aug 29 (Reuters) - The clock starts ticking on Wednesday towards what could be Spain's third national election in a year when acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy faces a confidence vote in parliament for a second term in office.
Spain has been without a functioning government since inconclusive elections in December and June failed to hand a convincing mandate to any political party. So far, party leaders have been unable to agree on forming a coalition.
The eight-month political deadlock has delayed investments in infrastructure such as roads and rail and put high-ranking government appointments on hold, leaving some Spanish embassies without an ambassador.
Rajoy's centre-right People's Party (PP) won the most votes in June's election but lacks the majority it needs to win the vote even with support from centrists Ciudadanos (Citizens), Spain's fourth-biggest party.
The opposition Socialists have refused to back Rajoy or smooth the way to a PP-led minority government by abstaining in a second confidence vote, which will be held on Friday if Wednesday's ballot fails. In the second vote a simple majority will suffice to put Rajoy back in power.
The Socialists are unlikely to back down from that position given local elections in September in the northern regions of Galicia and the Basque Country where support for Rajoy's PP could cost votes for the left-wing party.
Spain's economy, on the rebound from a recession which ended three years ago, has powered ahead despite the lack of a functioning government, with the latest data showing strong growth fueled by consumer spending and demand for exports.
The acting government expects the economy to expand 2.9 percent this year - one of the fastest rates in the euro zone. However, economists say growth could be even higher if political uncertainty was removed.
"The lack of government is having a negative impact," said Miguel Cardoso, an economist at BBVA, whose estimate of 3.1 percent for economic growth this year would be about 3.5 percent if there was a government in place.
His forecast for growth next year would be about 0.7 percentage points higher if there was a central administration in office to firm up public spending plans and provide certainty over policy for potential investors, he said.
DELAYED DECISIONS
The political uncertainty is already sending a chill through sectors like construction.
Construction activity dropped 0.7 percent in the second quarter from the previous period, government data showed on Thursday, down from growth rates of over 1 percent at the end of last year as decisions on public works projects stalled.
Seopan, an association that represents builders like ACS and OHL, said spending on public contracts slumped by more than half to record lows in the first quarter, battered by the lack of a central administration to sign off on projects and six years of spending cuts.
Beyond industry, the political vacuum means all appointments of high-ranking public servants have been put on hold.
This has left Spanish embassies in Jamaica, India and Belgium without an ambassador as former diplomats died or left their posts, a Foreign Ministry source said, while ambassadors to Italy and Russia are staying on past their retirement age.
The political deadlock also delays drawing up next year's expenditure plans and risks missing the European Union's deadline of mid-October to submit a budget. This could damage investor confidence and raise the possibility of sanctions.
If Rajoy's bid to become prime minister fails in the second vote, it will open a two-month window to try and form a government, after which a new election would automatically be called, possibly on Christmas Day.
Opposition parties, however, want to change Spain's electoral law to shift the election to an earlier date.
By the time of Wednesday's vote, Spain will have been 254 days without a government, the longest time in the country's democracy although falling short of Belgium's 589-day world record for a democracy to form a coalition government.
Spaniards are growing increasingly impatient with politicians who have struggled in recent days even to agree on who sits where in parliament, leading to increased disengagement with politics.
"I've never abstained before, but if there's another vote maybe I will," said Isabel Moreno, a 34-year-old doctor speaking in a busy central Madrid square.


By Sonya Dowsett MADRID, Aug 29 (Reuters) - The clock starts ticking on Wednesday towards what could be Spain's third national election in a year when acting...


Spain starts countdown to possible third national election in year


Armed men loyal to the Houthi movement ride on a vehicle during a protest against the Saudi-backed exiled government deciding to cut off the Yemeni central bank from the outside world, in the capital Sanaa, Yemen August 25, 2016. REUTERS/Mohamed al-Sayaghi
NAJRAN, Saudi Arabia Yemeni Houthi forces are again firing rockets at this corner of southern Saudi Arabia, ending a lull of several weeks and complicating efforts to revive talks on ending Yemen's 18-month-old civil war.
This month's collapse of negotiations on the Yemen conflict - which like the Syrian civil war pits allies of Saudi Arabia against those of its regional rival Iran - is taking a toll in the Saudi city of Najran, albeit on a much smaller scale than in Yemen itself.
Last week, one rocket fired by the Iranian-allied Houthi movement from northern Yemen landed in Najran, which lies 30 km (20 miles) from the border. It hit a car scrap yard, killing five Saudis and two Yemenis as they were driving past.
Another hit a Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) power station in Najran on Friday, spilling diesel from a punctured tank into acrid black lakes coating the surrounding streets.
On Saturday, nine-year-old Mahdi Saleh Abbas sat lying in a hospital bed with bandages over his eyes and shrapnel wounds pockmarked on his face. His cousin Yehyia, 3, had died that morning after a Katyusha rocket landed outside their home.
"They were playing. They're kids. It was normal," said Mahdi's father, Saleh, standing over his son's bed.
ROCKETS
Saudi Arabia and its Sunni Muslim allies view the Houthis, who hail from a branch of Shi'ite Islam, as proxies of Iran. The Houthis deny this, saying the exiled Yemeni government and the Saudis are Western pawns bent on dominating Yemen and excluding them from power.
The Houthi attacks on Saudi territory started anew in early August, which is also when a Saudi-led coalition resumed air strikes in Yemen against the Houthis and their local allies.
Saudi authorities say the latest wave of shelling has killed 29 civilians and injured around 300 in Najran, a city framed by jagged brown mountains that separate Saudi Arabia from Yemen.
Those figures are much smaller than the number of civilians killed by the coalition air strikes in support of the internationally-recognised government, for which the Saudi military has come under increasing criticism.
The United Nations human rights office said on Thursday that the coalition was responsible for 60 percent of the 3,799 civilians killed in Yemen's war. The coalition says it does not target civilians.
Still, the Najran casualties point to the Saudis' difficulties in securing their border against the more mobile Houthi forces and allies loyal to former Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh, even as the Houthis lob mostly unsophisticated Katyusha rockets into their territory.
The shelling had trailed off for several months as the peace talks held in Kuwait pushed forward. But in the last three weeks, after the negotiations crumbled, the rockets resumed.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said last week he had agreed with Gulf Arab states and the U.N. on a plan to restart the talks.
However, he said the Houthis must cease shelling across the border, pull back from the Yemeni capital Sanaa which they took control of two years ago, cede their weapons and enter into a unity government with their domestic foes.
Yemen's Houthi-run governing council said on Sunday it was ready to restart the talks, provided the coalition stopped attacking and besieging Houthi-held territories.
That same night, another rocket fell in Najran and killed two young girls, said the civil defence department.
NO MILITARY SITES
On Saturday, the Saudi information ministry escorted foreign journalists on a tour of parts of Najran city directly affected by the shelling, highlighting civilian suffering.
"They've hit schools, hospitals, civilian government buildings, markets," said Colonel Ali Omeer al-Shahrani, a spokesman for Najran's Civil Defence department, showing reporters photos of damage caused by the about 10,000 rockets launched on Najran since the start of the war.
There were no military sites within the city of Najran, he said, "just civilian and residential areas".
Najran residents interviewed at the city's King Khaled Hospital likewise decried the attacks, using government-approved terminology to describe the Houthis and their allies.
"A Houthi is an untrustworthy person. He lies. He targets civilians," said Manea al-Ghobari, a 39-year-old teacher in Najran. "They can't hit our army or our soldiers at the border, so they're hitting civilians in their homes instead."
A Saudi government official followed the group of journalists throughout the day, filming the interviews.
STABLE SERVICES
Still, even as the attacks accelerate, life appears to carry on as normal for much of Najran. There were no signs of militarisation inside the city on Saturday: no checkpoints, no tanks, no heavily-guarded ammunition depots.
Instead, on the main road through town, the shops were open and active. Down the block from a man selling water melons off the back of a pickup truck, a Paris Hilton store advertised luxury handbags and accessories.
Although Houthi rockets have hit both water and electrical facilities, service provision to residents there was never interrupted, said Shahrani.
In the industrial eastern part of town, the most frequent target of attacks, the damage was more evident.
Pools of black diesel covered the streets, leaked from the SEC power station that had been struck the day before. Machines lay mangled and blackened by a fire that swept the plant after the strike.
An SEC spokesman said its service to the city was "solid and reliable". Asked about the financial effect of the damage to the facility, he said that neither the company nor its customers had experienced any impact.
(Reporting by Katie Paul, Editing by William Maclean and David Stamp)

Rockets hit Saudi border town as Yemen war flares anew


Yemeni Houthi forces are again firing rockets at this corner of southern Saudi Arabia, ending a lull of several weeks and complicating efforts to revive talks on ending Yemen's 18-month-old civil war.


ASCOLI PICENO, Italy (AP) — In the chaos of Italy’s devastating earthquake, an older sister’s embrace allowed a young girl to survive.
The heartbreaking story of 9-year-old Giulia Rinaldo and her younger sister Giorgia was recounted Saturday by the bishop who celebrated a funeral Mass for 35 of the 290 people killed by the quake that ravaged central Italy before dawn Wednesday.
Bishop Giovanni D’Ercole recalled that around 6 or 6:30 p.m. Wednesday — 15 hours after the quake struck — he returned to a church in his diocese in the town of Pescara Del Tronto to recover its crucifix.
At the time, only meters (yards) from the church, firefighters were using their hands to dig out the two sisters, he said.
“The older one, Giulia, was sprawled over the smaller one, Giorgia. Giulia, dead, Giorgia, alive. They were in an embrace,” D’Ercole said.
He spoke beneath the crucifix that he recovered that evening, hung in a community gym transformed into a makeshift chapel, as Italy held a national day of mourning.
As weeping Italians bid Giulia and 34 other quake victims farewell with a state funeral, Giorgia spent her fourth birthday in a nearby hospital Saturday, recovering from her ordeal.
Massimo Caico, the firefighter who pulled the girls out, told Italy’s La Repubblica newspaper that the position of the older girl’s body apparently created a pocket of air that allowed Giorgia to survive.
He recounted how a black Labrador, Leo, first gave a sign that he smelled something. Rescuers began digging, finding at first a doll and then a cold human leg, that of Giulia.
Then he saw the ground nearby moving “in the rhythm of what could be breathing.”
“Maybe they hugged each other in their sleep or in fear, and the body of Giulia saved Giorgia,” Caico told the newspaper.
According to Italian news reports, Giorgia is in a state of shock and is practically not speaking anymore. She is only sleeping, crying and asking for her doll and her mother, who is also recovering from earthquake injuries.
___
Gera reported from Rome.
___
This story corrects the spelling of dateline to Ascoli Piceno.

The embrace of life: A story of 2 sisters in Italy’s quake


Theresa May holding the first Cabinet meeting of the new government
THERESA MAY TO MEET CABINET MINISTERS FOR BREXIT DISCUSSIONS
Theresa May is set to meet senior Cabinet ministers to discuss department-by-department Brexit action plans.
The meeting is due to take place at the Prime Minister's country retreat Chequers and working on the UK's divorce from Brussels will be at the top of the agenda.
Mrs May has tasked her colleagues with setting out the opportunities that leaving the European Union will create in each of their portfolios.
'UNACCEPTABLE LEVEL OF DISCRIMINATION' AGAINST PREGNANT WOMEN IN WORKPLACE
Urgent action is needed to give pregnant women and new mothers more protection at work, after research revealed a "shocking" increase in discrimination over the past 10 years, a parliamentary report has said.
MPs on the House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee called for a German-style system which would ban employers from making women redundant during and after pregnancy except in specific exceptional circumstances.
The committee also called for a "substantial" cut in the £1,200 fee for women taking a pregnancy-related discrimination case to an employment tribunal, and said rights to paid time off for antenatal appointments should be extended to casual, agency and zero-hours workers.
BUSINESSES SHOW FLICKER OF CONFIDENCE AFTER POST-BREXIT VOTE SLUMP
Business confidence has shown signs of recovery from the slump seen in the immediate aftermath of the Brexit vote, a report has revealed.
The Lloyds Bank business barometer found that UK business confidence dropped by 13 points to 16% in August, but remained higher than the reading taken in the days after Britain's voted to leave the European Union.
It said the net balance for companies expecting trading to improve slipped to its lowest level since December 2011, falling 22 points to 19% in August.
POLL BOOST FOR JEREMY CORBYN IN LABOUR LEADERSHIP BATTLE
Jeremy Corbyn has a 24-point lead over Owen Smith in the Labour leadership contest, according to a poll.
A YouGov survey for The Times of those entitled to vote in the contest puts the current Labour leader on 62% with Mr Smith trailing on 38%.
Mr Corbyn received just shy of 60% of the vote when he was elected to the job in September 2015.
CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS THREE 'WORRY ABOUT BEING FAT OR UGLY'
Children as young as three are showing signs of being unhappy with their appearance and bodies, a survey of childcare professionals has suggested.
Almost a third of nursery and school staff said they had heard a child label themselves fat while 10% said they had heard a child say they felt ugly.
Nearly a quarter said they had "seen signs" that children aged between three and five were "unhappy with their appearance or bodies" and this figure almost doubled to nearly half of six to 10-year-olds.
NINETEEN NHS TRUSTS TO REVIEW CHEMOTHERAPY OVER HIGH DEATH RATES
Nineteen hospital trusts have been told to review their cancer treatment after data showed too many patients died within a month of receiving chemotherapy.
The research, published in The Lancet Oncology Journal, found the trusts had higher rates of 30-day mortality after chemotherapy for lung and breast cancer than expected.
Age, general wellbeing and other factors affected the death rate following treatment, the study of more than 30,000 patients in England suggested.
ISLAMIC STATE SPOKESMAN 'KILLED IN SYRIA BY US AIR STRIKE'
Islamic State has said that its spokesman and senior commander has been killed while overseeing military operations in northern Syria.
The IS-run Aamaq news agency said Abu Muhammed al-Adnani was "martyred while surveying the operations to repel the military campaigns in Aleppo".
His death, if confirmed, would be the latest blow to the group, which has been on the retreat in Syria and Iraq, where it declared a self-styled Islamic caliphate straddling both countries.
CHRIS BROWN ARRESTED IN LA ON SUSPICION OF ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY WEAPON
Singer Chris Brown has been arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon.
Los Angeles Police Lieutenant Chris Ramirez said Brown was being taken to central Los Angeles for booking after a lengthy search of Brown's home.
Baylee Curran told the Los Angeles Times that Brown pointed a gun at her face in his home early on Tuesday. She said another man at his home and Brown became angry with her when she admired the man's diamond necklace.
HOSTEL KNIFE ATTACK HERO TOM JACKSON NOMINATED FOR POSTHUMOUS BRAVERY AWARD
A British backpacker who died a week after he was stabbed trying to save a fellow traveller as she was attacked at an Australian hostel has been nominated for a posthumous bravery award.
Tom Jackson, 30, died a week after he was critically injured as he tried to shield Mia Ayliffe-Chung, 21, during a knife attack at Shelley's Backpackers in Home Hill, Queensland.
Mr Jackson, from Congleton, Cheshire, died in Townsville hospital on Tuesday, and his family said they were "indescribably proud" of what he had done.
CHALLENGE TO DECISION NOT TO PROSECUTE SIR CLIFF RICHARD IN ABUSE CASE
The decision not to press charges in the abuse case against Sir Cliff Richard is being reviewed.
The singer was the subject of a long-running South Yorkshire Police investigation which centred on sexual assault accusations dating between 1958 and 1983 made by four men.
The 75-year-old was never arrested or charged and his case was discontinued by the Crown Prosecution Service in June on the grounds of insufficient evidence, but at the beginning of August an application under the victims' right to review scheme was lodged by an accuser, challenging the decision by the CPS not to pursue the case.

Morning news headlines: Theresa May to meet Cabinet Ministers for Brexit discussions; 'Unacceptable level of discrimination' against pregnant women in workplace


The latest news from Briton and around the world


(CNN) Imagine getting a letter from a federal agency saying that your yard is exposing your children to an invisible poison that is known to decrease IQ. Then, you find out the agency tested for this toxic substance more than a year and a half ago, but the results are just now being delivered to you. And you learn that your 2-year-old shows blood-lead levels 6.6 times above the upper level of concern set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That nightmare is Shantel Allen's reality.
"It's devastating," Allen said. "I blame everybody who knew. Everybody that knew and didn't inform us."
The 27-year-old mother of five has been living in the West Calumet Complex in East Chicago, Indiana, for about six years and says her life got turned upside-down when a Department of Health official knocked on her door last month and said her family needed to be tested for lead poisoning.
"I hadn't heard anything about lead. I said, 'What lead? How were we exposed to lead?' " Allen said. "They said, 'It's in your yard.' "
In a letter from the EPA dated July 11, 2016, she was informed that some parts of her yard had lead levels up to 66 times above the lead limit and 55 times above the arsenic limit set by the Environmental Protection Agency. But what shocked her even more was that the letter said her "property was tested for lead and arsenic at the end of 2014." Which means the test was somewhere in a lab, on a shelf, on a desk or getting processed for more than a year and a half before she learned of the danger she and her children were in.
"I was pregnant while in this complex -- exposed to lead, sleeping on a contaminated bed, laying on a contaminated couch -- nobody said anything. They kept this very well hidden from all of us," Allen said.
Allen's worst fear became a reality when she received a letter from the Indiana State Department of Health saying that her 2-year-old daughter, Samira, had a lead result of "33 capillary." Compare that with the CDC's upper level of concern, which is 5.
The letter, dated July 28, 2016, says her "child was tested for lead poisoning on February 10, 2015." Samira was 1 year old at the time.
"She wasn't even able to go outside and play in the dirt, and her level was so high. So it was terrifying, you know, to think of what the other children -- what their results could be. They've been playing in the yard for years," said Allen.
Allen's 9-year-old son was recently diagnosed with hyperactivity disorder, she says. And her other children, ranging in age from 4 to 8, have also displayed symptoms that she says she couldn't explain before.
"They show all the signs and symptoms of having lead poisoning. They have fevers, chills; they vomit. ... I've taken them to the emergency room a number of times," Allen said.
'A perfect storm of lead contamination'
The West Calumet affordable housing complex is within the US Smelter and Lead Refinery Inc. Superfund site, according to the EPA
A Superfund site is an area that has been contaminated by a dangerous substance and the EPA has determined that it poses health and environmental risks. The West Calumet Complex was built on top of the Anaconda White Lead company, according to EPA records. It is also south of the former USS Lead industrial site and next to a DuPont site. Together, these companies smelted, dealt with or processed lead for decades.
The Allen family and about 1,000 of their neighbors in the West Calumet affordable housing complex, including 670 children, were advised in a letter issued July 25 by East Chicago Mayor Anthony Copeland that they needed to relocate because of the elevated levels of lead found in the soil.
According to EPA documentation, the most contaminated yards showed lead levels 227 times above the lead limit and 135 times above the arsenic limit set by the EPA.
"It's actually a perfect storm of lead contamination," attorney Barry Rooth said. "The wind actually blows that lead right across the property and deposits it right where the residents live."
Rooth represents Allen, her five children and at least 80 other children living in the housing complex and says the local, state and federal governments failed all of his clients when they allowed people to live in an area with a long history of lead contamination.
"It can take 10 minutes to get on the Internet and go to the EPA's Superfund site and describe the years of knowledge and efforts made by people to do something about it. Literally those documents go back 40 years," Rooth said.
In 2009, the site was added to the National Priorities list, which one EPA project manager described in a 2012 transcript of a public meeting as the "EPA's nationwide list of the most contaminated sites in the country." The list is made up of more than 1,300 properties.
A lost generation
Of the 474 children and adults screened as of August 24, 29 have preliminary test results above the CDC level of concern of 5 micrograms per deciliter, according to the Indiana State Department of Health. Of those tested, 19 are children 7 and under. The health department notes that the majority, but not all of those tested, live in the West Calumet Complex.
"Between the air and the soil, you are creating an environment that was so dangerous to the children. You can call them a lost generation in terms of cognitive and mental problems," Rooth said.
Signs instruct West Calumet residents not to play in the dirt.
It is nearly impossible to escape the lead exposure at the West Calumet Complex. Even though the EPA posted signs outside homes that read "Do not play in the dirt or around the mulch," children can still be seen playing on the soil. Home interiors were tested July 25, according to city officials, and elevated lead levels were found there as well.
"I kind of panicked, because it's like we're just sleeping in it. And lead -- we're sitting on contaminated furniture; our kids are walking barefoot on these contaminated floors," Allen said.
Who dropped the ball?
CNN followed the paper trail to find out who dropped the ball: the EPA, the state health department or the city.
CNN obtained documents showing that the East Chicago mayor blames the EPA's Region 5, the same region that Flint, Michigan, belongs to, for "flawed analysis" that "has allowed our residents to be exposed to the potent and unsafe levels of lead and arsenic for many years." The mayor also says the EPA created a "Public Health Disaster" at the West Calumet Complex due to the agency's "incomplete and ineffective" work, which "failed in its duty to protect human health."
The mayor wouldn't talk to CNN on camera, but in a letter to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy that was obtained by CNN, he says Region 5 "received soil sampling data in December of 2014, showing that lead contamination within the West Calumet Housing Complex is extremely more pervasive, severe, and extensive than identified by the EPA's prior inadequate sampling, yet failed to share such data with the city until May 24, 2016."
CNN made repeated requests to interview the EPA's Region 5 administrator, but those requests were denied. Instead, the EPA sent CNN this statement:
"In retrospect, with spikes in the preliminary data, we realize that with increased scrutiny of that initial data it could have triggered action to be taken sooner, instead of having to wait until the data was fully assessed. EPA will institute a process to review preliminary data to flag the need for immediate action."
As for the Indiana State Department of Health, why did the Allen family receive young Samira's high blood lead level result only last month? The department said it cannot speak about specific cases but maintains that "it is the responsibility of the local health department to convey test results to patients and follow up with them. Direct communications of blood lead results with patients by the Indiana State Department of Health are outside the standard process but, if made, are intended only to supplement the work of local health departments."
The City of East Chicago points the finger back at the health department, saying in a statement to CNN, "The State of Indiana withdrew funding for blood lead testing in 2011," which led to cuts to local programs. The city says it was checking the state database for excessive blood lead results, but the state was no longer updating that database, instead emailing results to outdated employee addresses.
State Sen. Lonnie Randolph lives in East Chicago, near the West Calumet Complex, and says he is determined to hold the responsible parties accountable. He says he needs the help of top brass in Indiana, including Gov. Mike Pence, the Republican vice presidential nominee.
"I'd like to see the governor come here, and I've talked with his office, and they've been here, and they indicated they're going to provide whatever we need and all that," Randolph said.
When asked whether the governor had visited West Calumet, Randolph said, "Not yet. Not yet. And I'm hoping he will, because I think with his presence, it'll give a lot of hope."
Randolph said the state has released $200,000 to help with the response at the West Calumet Complex.
Mom: 'Shame on you'
The US Department of Housing and Urban Development has provided $1.9 million for rent vouchers and $400,000 for relocation specialists to help the Allen family and their 1,000 neighbors move to a safe neighborhood, according to agency spokesman Jereon Brown.
Little Samira was retested for lead, and her new reading is 6.7 micrograms per deciliter, still above the CDC level of concern of 5 micrograms per deciliter. Her siblings have readings ranging from 2.6 to 5.4 micrograms per deciliter.
For the 2-year-old, who has been exposed to a toxic substance her entire life, government inefficiency could have irreversible consequences.
When asked what she would say to those who knew of the dangerous lead she and her family were exposed to, Samira's mother didn't mince words.
"Shame on you. We're people. We're human people with families," Allen said. "How dare you keep this from us and just let our kids play in lead and arsenic soil? How dare you? Shame on you."

Lead creates 'lost generation' in Indiana town


Mom to government officials: "Shame on you. How dare you ... let our kids play in lead and arsenic soil."


The SWIFT logo is pictured in this photo illustration taken April 26, 2016. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri/Illustration/File Photo
SWIFT, the global financial messaging system, on Tuesday disclosed new hacking attacks on its member banks as it pressured them to comply with security procedures instituted after February's high-profile $81 million heist at Bangladesh Bank.
In a private letter to clients, SWIFT said that new cyber-theft attempts - some of them successful - have surfaced since June, when it last updated customers on a string of attacks discovered after the attack on the Bangladesh central bank.
"Customers’ environments have been compromised, and subsequent attempts (were) made to send fraudulent payment instructions," according to a copy of the letter reviewed by Reuters. "The threat is persistent, adaptive and sophisticated - and it is here to stay."
The disclosure suggests that cyber thieves may have ramped up their efforts following the Bangladesh Bank heist, and that they specifically targeted banks with lax security procedures for SWIFT-enabled transfers.
The Brussels-based firm, a member-owned cooperative, indicated in Tuesday's letter that some victims in the new attacks lost money, but did not say how much was taken or how many of the attempted hacks succeeded. It did not identify specific victims, but said the banks varied in size and geography and used different methods for accessing SWIFT.
A SWIFT spokeswoman declined to elaborate on the recently uncovered incidents or the security issues detailed in the letter, saying the firm does not discuss affairs of specific customers.
All the victims shared one thing in common: Weaknesses in local security that attackers exploited to compromise local networks and send fraudulent messages requesting money transfers, according to the letter.
Accounts of the attack on Bangladesh Bank suggest that weak security procedures there made it easier to hack into computers used to send SWIFT messages requesting large money transfers. The bank lacked a firewall and used second-hand, $10 electronic switches to network those computers, according to the Bangladesh police.
SWIFT has repeatedly pushed banks to implement new security measures rolled out after the Bangladesh heist, including stronger systems for authenticating users and updates to its software for sending and receiving messages. But it has been difficult for SWIFT to force banks to comply because the nonprofit cooperative lacks regulatory authority over its members.
SWIFT told banks Tuesday that it might report them to regulators and banking partners if they failed to meet a November 19 deadline for installing the latest version of its software, which includes new security features designed to thwart the type of attacks described in its letter.
The security features include technology for verifying credentials of people accessing a bank's SWIFT system; stronger rules for password management; and better tools for identifying attempts to hack the software.
SWIFT is trying coerce members into prioritizing cyber-security by threatening to share confidential information about security lapses that banks want to keep private, said Shane Shook, an independent security consultant who advises central banks.
"That type of information sharing is something that no bank likes to see happen without their direct approval and involvement, because it can affect market confidence," Shook said.
SWIFT disclosed the new hacks after reports of previous incidents prompted regulators in Europe and the United States to urge banks to bolster cyber-security.
Other cases involving fraudulent transfer requests include the theft of more than $12 million from Ecuador's Banco del Austro and a failed attempt later in 2015 to steal money from Vietnam's Tien Phong Bank.
The attacks have prompted regulators globally to press banks to bolster defenses.
The Bank of England in April ordered UK firms to detail actions to secure computers connected to the SWIFT system, while the European Banking Authority in May said domestic authorities should stress test banks for cyber risks.
The Federal Reserve and other U.S. agencies told banks in June to review protections against fraudulent money transfers.
Six U.S. senators on Monday urged the G20 nations to agree when they meet at a summit this weekend on a “coordinated strategy to combat cyber-crime at critical financial institutions.”
(Reporting by Jim Finkle in Boston. Additional reporting by Jonathan Spicer in New York.; Editing by Brian Thevenot.)

Exclusive: SWIFT discloses more cyber thefts, pressures banks on security