USDOJ Stops All DAPL Crude Oil Pipeline Construction In Federal Lands

All DAPL crude oil pipeline construction in federal lands will stop, the USDOJ announced after a federal court denied an injunction to Native Americans.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

September 9, 2016

Washington, D.C. - After the decision to deny an injunction in federal court to halt construction of a crude oil pipeline in the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe v. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Department of Justice (USDOJ), the Department of the Army and the Department of Interior in a joint decision have decided that all Dakota Access Pipeline construction in federal land will be halted until issues raised by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe are addressed.
According to the USDOJ, the Department of the Army, the Department of Justice, and the Department of the Interior will take the following steps.
The Army will not authorize constructing the Dakota Access pipeline on Corps land bordering or under Lake Oahe until it can determine whether it will need to reconsider any of its previous decisions regarding the Lake Oahe site under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) or other federal laws.  Therefore, construction of the pipeline on Army Corps land bordering or under Lake Oahe will not go forward at this time.  The Army will move expeditiously to make this determination, as everyone involved — including the pipeline company and its workers — deserves a clear and timely resolution.  In the interim, we request that the pipeline company voluntarily pause all construction activity within 20 miles east or west of Lake Oahe.
"Furthermore, this case has highlighted the need for a serious discussion on whether there should be nationwide reform with respect to considering tribes' views on these types of infrastructure projects.  Therefore, this fall, we will invite tribes to formal, government-to-government consultations on two questions:  (1) within the existing statutory framework, what should the federal government do to better ensure meaningful tribal input into infrastructure-related reviews and decisions and the protection of tribal lands, resources, and treaty rights; and (2) should new legislation be proposed to Congress to alter that statutory framework and promote those goals.

"Finally, we fully support the rights of all Americans to assemble and speak freely.  We urge everyone involved in protest or pipeline activities to adhere to the principles of nonviolence.  Of course, anyone who commits violent or destructive acts may face criminal sanctions from federal, tribal, state, or local authorities.  The Departments of Justice and the Interior will continue to deploy resources to North Dakota to help state, local, and tribal authorities, and the communities they serve, better communicate, defuse tensions, support peaceful protest, and maintain public safety.
"In recent days, we have seen thousands of demonstrators come together peacefully, with support from scores of sovereign tribal governments, to exercise their First Amendment rights and to voice heartfelt concerns about the environment and historic, sacred sites.  It is now incumbent on all of us to develop a path forward that serves the broadest public interest," the USDOJ announced.
Neither Cody Schulz, the Morton County Commission Chair or Morton County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier have not released a statement on the USDOJ to stop all DAPL construction on federal lands. Schulz and Kirchmeier supported the DAPL pipeline project.
The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe announced that their attorney filed an "injunction pending appeal" in response to federal Judge Broasberg's decision and both DAPL and the Army Corps filed a response opposing the appeal. The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe attorney will file an appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals next week.
"As we understand it, there is NOTHING legally binding in the DOJ's joint statement. Again, not a victory yet," the Sacred Stone Camp posted on their Facebook account on Friday.

Ohio Couple Overdosed With Child In The Back Seat Of SUV

Couple survived a heroin overdose, according to the City of East Liverpool Police Department.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

September 9, 2016

City of East Liverpool, Ohio - On Wednesday, East Liverpool Police Officer Kevin Thompson noticed a man driving a Ford Explorer very erratic and weaving including crossing over the yellow center line of the street and ending on the road side. When Officer Thompson approached the vehicle, he noticed that James Lee Acord, 47, was under the influence of an intoxicant and Acord told the officer that he was taking the passenger, Rhonda L. Pasek, 50, to the hospital. At that moment, Acord became unconscious and the officer also noticed that Pasek was unconscious as well and saw a 4-year-old male child in the back seat of the SUV.

The officer kept Pasek's airway cleared and an ambulance was called to the scene. The Lifeteam EMS arrived and administered Narcan to both Acord and Pasek to reverse an opiate overdose. Police found a yellow piece of folded paper with a pink powdery substance that later turned out to be heroin in the front passenger's side, according to test results.

Both Acord and Pasek were transported to the East Liverpool City Hospital for evaluation, the two survived an overdose.

Acord was charged with endangering children-OVI and slowing and stopping in a roadway. Pasek was charged with endangering children, a seat belt violation and public intoxication.

Pasek's son was placed with the Columbiana County Children's Services.

The East Liverpool Police Department and City administrators released the photos in an attempt to show the other side of the story involving victims, especially children in a heroin overdose and to keep other drug users from doing the same thing.

Milwaukee Toxic Lead Laterals Connected To Homes Will Continue To Be A Health Risk For Children

More than 70,000 City of Milwaukee homes that have toxic lead laterals connected to the City's freshwater water main will most likely lose selling value in the home buying market.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

September 8, 2016

Milwaukee, WI - On Thursday, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett didn't commit to removing all toxic lead laterals from 70,000 homes, but told residents in a press conference that they should let drinking water run for 6 minutes to clear any lead content from lead laterals and also to use water filters, which could possibly remove lead content from City home faucet drinking water.
Milwaukee tested twice as much in lead poisoning in 2014 than Flint, Michigan in 2015. In 2014, 8.6 percent of children tested in Milwaukee for lead poisoning were diagnosed positive compared to 4.9 percent of children tested that were diagnosed for lead poisoning in Flint, Michigan in 2015.
So, the Milwaukee test result indicates that the phosphate added to the water to provide a layer to prevent particles of lead from getting into the drinking water isn't working.
In others words, the City toxic lead laterals connected to homes built before 1952 will most likely continue to lead poison the children and renters including home owners should take their children to the City Health Department for a lead poisoning test.

Mayor Barrett did confirm that street construction does cause for lead particles to separate from phosphate treated lead laterals and get into the drinking water, according to City tests.

Home realtors and home owners who sell homes with lead laterals connected to the City's water main should list them as such on the market to warn home buyers of the potential lead poisoning health risk to their children, if they purchase a home in Milwaukee.

The following Milwaukee Southside Aldermanic Districts are among seven with the most toxic lead laterals in homes.

• Aldermanic District 15 - Alderman Tony Zielinski, toxic lead laterals in district 6,089 

• Aldermanic District 12 - Alderman José G. Pérez, toxic lead laterals in district 5,585

• Aldermanic District 10 - Alderman Michael Murphy, toxic lead laterals in district 9,166

• Aldermanic District 8 - Alderman Bob Donovan, toxic lead laterals in district 6,361
Total toxic lead laterals located in Milwaukee's Southside 27,201

Find City of Milwaukee properties with lead pipe laterals by address at http://goo.gl/poY5yv

A Southside Town Hall meeting will take place to discuss the lead poisoning health risk crisis and the removal of all toxic lead laterals from Milwaukee homes. Public meeting at UMOS, 2701 S. Chase Ave., from 6p.m. to 8p.m. on Thursday, September 29, 2016 in Milwaukee, WI.

Warrants Issued For The Arrest Of Green Party Candidates Jill Stein And Ajamu Baraka For Criminal Mischief And Trespassing

Misdemeanor charges have been filed in Morton County against Stein and Baraka in connection of spray painting a DAPL construction bulldozer blade.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

September 7, 2016

Mandan, N. Dakota - On Wednesday, a Morton County District Court judge issued a criminal warrant for Jill Stein, the Green Party Presidential candidate and Vice-presidential candidate Ajamu Baraka in connection with spraying a Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) bulldozer blade on Tuesday during a protest near Mandan. According to a warrant affidavit, both Stein and Baraka were charged with two misdemeanor counts each for criminal mischief and criminal trespass in connection with Tuesday's protest near the Sacred Stone Camp.
Stein in her Facebook account posted on Wednesday, "I hope the North Dakota authorities press charges against the real vandalism taking place at the Standing Rock Sioux reservation: bulldozing sacred burial sites, unleashing vicious attack dogs, endangering drinking water and pushing us toward climate meltdown."
Last Saturday, DAPL construction workers using bulldozers plowed through sacred historical markers and graves igniting a confrontation between DAPL hired security guards who attacked Native Americans (water protectors) with vicious dogs and pepper spray. At least 6 water protectors including a child were bitten by the dogs and 30 others were maced. Four security guards and 2 dogs were injured, according to the Morton County Sheriff's Office (MCSO).

A federal judge had issued a temporary restraining order stopping the crude oil pipeline construction for the eastside of Highway 1806, but DAPL construction workers located on the westside weren't restricted, since it didn't prevent them from continuing to clear an area where historical burial markers and graves were destroyed sparking for nearby protesters to confront them and stop further destruction of sacred burial grounds.

So far, the DAPL security guards involved in the attack of Native Americans with dogs have yet to be charged, but video taken at the confrontation on Saturday between water protectors and DAPL security guards show the attack on protesters. Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier is accused of being bought off by DAPL and no charges are expected to be filed against the security guards, according to water protectors at the Sacred Stone Camp.

The DAPL front line protest near the Sacred Stone Camp has been the largest tribal gathering since 1876, at 188 Native American tribes including Aztecs totalling an estimated 4,000 people who have joined the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe at the Sacred Stone Camp in solidarity against DAPL. The Native Americans say that the pipeline could fail and spill crude oil along the Missouri River affecting their freshwater supplies. The water protectors say, you can't drink oil.

Green Party Presidential Candidate Jill Stein Sprayed DAPL Construction Equipment In N. Dakota

The Morton Sheriff's Office responded to protesters being chained to construction equipment at the DAPL blockage.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

September 6, 2016

Sacred Stone Camp in Cannon Ball, N. Dakota - The Morton County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) reported that deputies responded to a call that about 350 Native Americans (water protectors) protesting the DAPL crude pipeline construction at Highway 6 and County Road 135 near the Sacred Stone Camp had broken a wire fence and gathered at the heavy equipment and vandalized it. The MCSO says, no construction by DAPL was being done on Tuesday. No arrests were reported by the MCSO.

The vandalism was reported as water protectors including Dr. Jill Stein, Presidential Candidate for the Green Party had sprayed a blade of a DAPL bulldozer. KX News posted a video on the Facebook showing Stein spraying a bulldozer blade. Morton deputies remained nearby the scene, but no arrests were made.

Last Saturday, DAPL construction workers using bulldozers plowed through sacred historical markers and graves igniting a confrontation between DAPL hired security guards who attacked Native Americans with vicious dogs and pepper spray. At least 6 water protectors including a child were bitten by the dogs and 30 others were maced. Four security guards and 2 dogs were injured, according to the MCSO.

A federal judge had issued a temporary restraining order stopping construction for the eastside of Highway 1806, but DAPL construction workers located on the westside weren't restricted, since it didn't prevent them from continuing to clear an area where historical burial markers and graves were destroyed sparking for nearby protesters to confront them and stop further destruction of sacred burial grounds.
The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe released the following statement after a federal court denied a temporary restraining order on Tuesday for the DAPL to stop construction west of the Lake Oahe. "Today's denial of a temporary restraining order against Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) west of Lake Oahe puts my people's sacred places at further risk of ruin and desecration.
"We are disappointed that the U.S. District Court's decision doesn't prevent DAPL from destroying our sacred sites as we await a ruling on our original motion to stop construction of the pipeline," said David Archambault II, Chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.
DAPL is a subsidiary of Energy Transfer Partners (ETP) and the CEO is Kelcy L. Warren. The ETP networth is $1.7B.
A change.org petition has been started to recall Morton County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier for being bias and lying to favor DAPL. The recall petition states, "We are calling for the removal of Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier, of the Morton county sheriff's office, North Dakota and calling for an ethics investigation into this office. Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier, has displayed gross neglect of duties in his failure to protect North Dakotans from vicious dog attacks, has failed to bring justice and criminal charges against the agressors, has displayed public bias on facebook and news media interviews, has lied to the public and withheld vital information from North Dakotans, in order to further the agenda of the Dakota access LLC and parent company Energy Transfer Crude Oil company LLC. The Victims of the attack deserve justice, we the people deserve the truth and we need to let our elected officials  know, loud and clear that their is no room for this in Legendary North Dakota."

News video: Green Party Presidential Candidate Dr. Jill Stein sprayed a blade of a DAPL bulldozer at protest site http://bit.ly/2ci2WGw

Video: Jill Stein speaks at the DAPL front line http://bit.ly/2cz9JcE


Update: The ACLU in N. Dakota warned Governor Jack Dalrymple (R) and Morton County Sheriff Kirchmeier about taking action to violate the rights of Native Americans to protest and if they violated those rights, the ACLU will take legal action against the governor and sheriff. Sheriff Kirchmeier in a press conference confirmed that he is seeking criminal charges against Stein, the Green Party Presidential candidate for vandalism and trespassing. Kirchmeier who is accused of being bought by DAPL didn't say, if any of the DAPL security guards who used vicious dogs to attack protesters would be criminally charged as well.
Both Dalrymple and Kirchmeier were caught making false claims against the protesters when social media videos showed that DAPL security guards attacked protesters with dogs after construction bulldozers destroyed sacred Native American burial sites and markers igniting a confrontation between water protectors and DAPL security.

Native Americans Stopped Dakota Access Pipeline's Destruction Of Historical Sacred Grave Site Markers

Thousands of Native Americans have staged a major stand against the Dakota Access Pipeline construction, which has now destroyed historical grave markers long the 150 corridor, according to Earth Writings.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

September 6, 2016

Sacred Stone Camp in North Dakota - A video posted on YouTube shows Tim Mintz from Earth Writings confirming that some historical Native American sacred grave site markers were destroyed on Saturday by Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) construction earth movers (bulldozers) along the 150 corridor. The corridor is located outside of the reservation, but it contained grave site markers, burial and ceremonial sites. 

The DAPL construction workers began to plow through the 150 corridor without waiting for the North Dakota State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) to survey the area first, which resulted in a confrontation between DAPL security guards and Native Americans. The Native Americans from the Sacred Stone Camp and the Oceti Sakowin (Big Camp) stopped the bulldozers from doing any further damage to the burial sites.

A federal temporary restraining order took affect last week halting construction of the crude oil pipeline, but DAPL construction workers began work over the weekend and destroyed grave markers of burial sites in the area.

At least several camps have been setup by multiple tribes that has drawn more than 4,000 Native Americans to the DAPL front line. On Saturday, security guards hired by DAPL attacked Native Americans with vicious dogs and pepper sprayed dozens and six people including a child were reported bitten by the dogs. The all White security guard group were forced to retreat after Native Americans defended themselves from the attack.
The Morton County Sheriff's Office released the following statement, "Private security officers were assaulted Saturday after around 300 protestors broke down a wire fence and stampeded into the construction area, which is on private property. “Any suggestion that this was a peaceful protest, is false. This was more like a riot than a protest," said Morton County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier. "Individuals crossed onto private property and accosted private security officers with wooden posts and flag poles. While no arrests were made at the scene, we are actively investigating the incident and individuals who organized and participated in this unlawful event." Sheriff Kirchmeier says, 4 DAPL security guards and two dogs were reported injured, but he failed to mention that DAPL construction workers with bulldozers destroyed sacred burial markers and graves, also that the security guards attacked Native Americans and pepper sprayed about 30 people.

A federal judge in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued a temporary restraining order until Tuesday, September 6, when a hearing will be heard concerning claims by the plaintiffs Standing Rock Sioux Tribe v. The United States Army Corps of Engineers, the defendants.

The Army Corps of Engineers and the Obama administration supported the temporary restraining order to bring a peaceful resolution to the claim by Native Americans that they are protecting the freshwater Missouri River from any anticipated spill of crude oil into the water, if the pipeline fails.

The Native Americans also claim that their treaty agreements and rights have been violated by the U.S. government.

At least 188 Native American tribes from around the U.S. have joined the struggle to stop DAPL. Their movement to protect the Missouri River from an underwater DAPL crude oil pipeline has gained national attention and support from numerous groups from around the nation.

For food and other donations, people can contact Sacred Stone Camp on Facebook, http://www.standingrock.org or send an email to: sacredstonecamp@gmail.com

Dakota Access Pipeline construction workers destroyed historical Native American grave markers along the 150 corridor. Video: http://youtu.be/9EAWpI5L_Bc

Update: North Dakota State Police and local law enforcement have set up road blocks with concrete barriers and sandbags to stop additional Native Americans and supporters from joining others at the Sacred Rock Camp and reaching the Standing Rock pipeline blockade. Police allowing people to leave Cannon Ball, North Dakota, but restricting access to camps, according to reports.

Support the frontlines!

www.gofundme.com/sacredstonecamp

Milwaukee Police Officer José Acevedo And Detective Alexander Ayala Recognized By Common Council For Bravery Act

Several off-duty Milwaukee police officers who kept a child with autism from falling into the Menomonee River near Miller Park were recognized by the full Milwaukee Common Council for their bravery and heroism act in July.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

September 1, 2016

Milwaukee, WI - On Thursday, the full Milwaukee Common Council recognized both Milwaukee Police Officer José Acevedo and Detective Alexander Ayala for their bravery act that kept a child with autism from falling into the river near Miller Park Stadium. The Common Council awarded both Acevedo and Ayala a resolution recognizing each for their bravery and act of heroism.

Last July 26, several off-duty Milwaukee Police officers and on-duty officers are being called as heroes for locating and preventing an unaccompanied child with autism from falling into the Menomonee River. According to a press release by the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD), Alert on and off-duty Milwaukee Police officers worked together and helped rescue a child with autism near Miller Park.  MPD bike officer Juan Lopez was on patrol for the July 26 baseball game when he was flagged down by a father from Glendale who said his 6-year-old son with autism was missing.  Officer Lopez and Officer Michael Maldonado began immediately searching the surrounding area.  A few minutes later, a woman yelled to officers that the child was in the Menomonee River near the pedestrian bridge.  

The child was standing in the water and MPD Detective Alexander Ayala and Officer Jose Acevedo, who were off-duty and attending a tailgate, ran to the river and took the boy to safety.  The child was reunited with his parents and no medical attention was needed.  

The quick response by everyone involved prevented a potentially dangerous situation and demonstrated that officers, even when off-duty, are always there to help the community, according to the MPD news release.