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Tribune News ServicePatiala, October 12

A sanitation worker died from inhaling toxic fumes while cleaning sewer lines in Rajpura town, officials said on Monday.

Officials identified the victim as Sanjeev Kumar, and said another worker, Vicky Kumar, has been admitted to a hospital.

They were cleaning sewers at Talhi Wala Chowk.

Rajupra Executive Officer Ravneet Singh said that the man was employed at the municipal council but that the civic body did not carry out sewer works (sic), which he said came under the sewerage board.

He could have been working privately but it is yet unclear. Our inspectors have been directed to find out how the man went into the sewer line, he said.

Manual scavenging continues to pose a massive challenge to the country despite a 2013 legislation called the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Act (Manual Scavengers Act) banning it. The Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment said in its reply to a question in Parliament earlier this year that 282 people had died of asphyxiation in septic tanks and sewers across the country between 2016 and November 2019.

Critics have pointed out that the deaths are grossly underreported and could be much higher.

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Sanitation worker dies of inhaling toxic fumes while cleaning sewer lines in Patiala - The Tribune

Phosphorus pollution from farming runoff and septic and sewer systems is steadily declining in the St. Croix River, but the nutrients continue to threaten what has long been one of the cleanest waterways in the Upper Midwest.

Overall, the river is in relatively good condition, according to a study released this week by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA).

Bug and fish populations are thriving. Endangered freshwater mussels one of the strongest indicators of a healthy ecosystem that have been wiped out of more polluted rivers across the state are still surviving in the St. Croix. And, most importantly, nearly all of the historical wetlands and much of the forest protecting and enhancing the northern headwaters of the river are still intact.

But long reaches of the river, which runs along the Minnesota and Wisconsin border, still have too much nutrient pollution from runoff and urban development to meet health and environmental standards. Mercury levels, most likely carried in from air pollution, remain high in fish. Over the past few years the MPCA has also found evidence that PFAS, harmful forever chemicals that dont naturally degrade, have made it into every part of the river.

Phosphorus pollution, which causes toxic algae blooms that can kill off fish and make certain pools and lakes of the river unsafe to swim, gets worse as the river gets closer to the Twin Cities, according to the study.

While nutrient concentrations are still too high, they are lower than they were before the Clean Water Act was passed in the 1970s, said Pam Anderson, who manages the MPCAs surface water monitoring program.

Were seeing an improving trend, Anderson said. Wastewater treatment practices have improved, and theres been work to get better soil retention in agricultural areas to reduce runoff.

The St. Croix was added to the list of the states impaired waters more than a decade ago, largely because of excess nutrients. Still, it remains one of the cleanest and most resilient major water bodies in the region. It is being used as a refuge and incubator for young river mussels to grow and mature before they are reintroduced in other parts of the state.

Remarkably, more than 90% of the wetlands that were near the rivers headwaters before European settlement are still there, according to the MPCA.

Those wetlands act like a sponge, soaking up all the excess water from the heavy rains that have caused the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers to swell and flood in recent years, Anderson said.

The St. Croix is just not seeing those same big blowouts, she said.

The river was also one of the first in the U.S. to be designated as a National Wild and Scenic River, which allows the National Park Service to keep a quarter-mile-wide natural buffer along much of the rivers edge.

The rivers condition remains precarious, especially as more homes, businesses and farms are built within its watershed, said Deb Ryun, executive director of the St. Croix River Association. The association released a State of the River study at the same time the MPCA released its findings.

Were cautiously optimistic that well be able to keep this resource the way it has been for the last 150 years, Ryun said. We have to be diligent. It can tip really quickly.

Continued here:
St. Croix River water quality improving, phosphorus pollution remains a threat - Minneapolis Star Tribune

Marico Innovation Foundation (MIF), the not-for-profit arm of FMCG giant Marico, recently announced the winners for its biannual Innovation for India awards. See our interviews with Marico Chairman Harsh Mariwala and MIF head Priya Kapadia, as well as coverage of the 2018 awards edition.

Since 2006, more than 60 organisations have won MIF awards in the categories of startup, business, social, global gamechanger, and public services. This years innovation winners include Agatsa Software, Genrobotic Innovations, and Innaumation Medical Devices.

Goonj and Olympic Gold Quest were declared winners in the Global Game Changers Category. Indian School of Development Management (ISDM) won a special mention, as well as one of its pedagogies for creating social impact leaders.

Necessity is truly the mother of invention. When we faced a cardiac care emergency in our family, we realised there is no tool to recognise a heart problem quickly, said Neha Rastogi, Founder of Agatsa Software, in a chat with YourStory.

Existing methods were too cumbersome, complex, and time taking. We needed a tool to not just help in detecting the problem on time but also help in monitoring and managing the diseases, she recalls.

The Eureka moment came when she and her husband Rahul made a makeshift lab at home and started developing a simple Internet of Things (IoT)-based ECG device. It was portable and could connect to a basic smartphone.

The device integrates with the cloud and is useful for personal usage, small clinics, and in rural areas. The companys products can measure heart fitness and conditions like stress.

Neha Rastogi, Agatsa Software

A throat cancer patient who had come to us had not spoken for a very long time as he could not afford the expensive imported prosthesis available in the market. That is when I had this moment of conviction that I should be working towards making a speaking device for these patients, recalls Dr Vishal Rao, inventor of the Aum Voice Prosthesis, Innaumation Medical Devices.

Vishal and his co-founder Shashank Mahesh were of the firm belief that speech and communication are not a privilege but are everyones right. This has been the guide for me throughout this journey, he affirms.

The Bengaluru-based medical device startups award-winning innovation helps with voice restoration for throat cancer patients via affordable, affable, and accessible devices. Surgical removal of the voice box due to cancer therefore need not mean complete loss of speech.

Way back in 2016, we came across an article that led to the birth of our idea. The article was titled Braveheart Kozhikode auto driver dies after jumping into the sewer to rescue sewage workers, recalls Rashid K, Co-founder of Genrobotic Innovations, which makes robots to clean manholes.

Unfortunately, the two sewage workers also died in the reported incident. This newspaper heading shook us all and we collectively decided that we will develop a technology that completely eliminates manual scavenging from our society, Rashid affirms.

He cites shocking evidence that at least 110 workers were killed last year while cleaning sewers and septic tanks. Manual scavenging is strictly prohibited by the Supreme Court of India and is a punishable offense, Rashid adds.

To tackle this harsh reality, he founded the Thiruvananthapuram-headquartered company, which creates a robot called Bandicoot to clean manholes using computer vision and advanced robotics.

We realised there was a huge gap in learning, practicing, and understanding of development management in social purpose organisations (SPOs), explains Ravi Sreedharan, Founder, Indian School of Development Management (ISDM). Existing business and management practices have not been able to solve problems in the social development sector.

Ravi cites data, which shows India has 3.3 million Non-Profit Institutions (NPIs) employing over 18.2 million people, supported by funders, enabling organisations, the government, and businesses.

ISDM has come up with a new lens and approach to groom leaders for the development sector. The aha moment for seizing an opportunity came when we saw students from over 20 states across the country joining the first batch in 2017, Ravi recalls. Since then, more than 200 development managers have graduated.

ISDM was founded in 2016, and its Knowledge and Research Centre is working to create a Body of Knowledge for Development Management. Ravi was earlier at HSBC and former lead of the Education and Leadership Management at Azim Premji Foundation.

The founders also shared market activities, traction, and impact of their offerings.

We have sold more than 10,000 devices since launching our first beta product in 2017. It is available on all ecommerce platforms including our own webstore, says Neha Rastogi of Agatsa Software. The medical-grade devices are also used by state governments in their initiatives of improving rural health.

Having gathered huge data in our cloud databases, we are working on improving the outcomes of our products by continuously implementing our patented AI algorithms and making the devices more intelligent, she adds. Hospitals, diagnostic labs and tele-healthcare companies are integrating these services to improve judgment and diagnosis.

We have already reached out to more than 400 patients who have been able to speak with Aum Voice Prosthesis, says Vishal Rao of Innaumation Medical Devices. The company has also set up the Aum Voice Chain to help rehabilitate poor patients who cannot afford the device.

We are on a mission called #MissionRobohole, which is about converting manholes into 'Roboholes' and replacing manual labour with robots. Moreover, we are upskilling manual scavengers to become robot operators, says Rashid K of Genrobotic Innovations.

The Bandicoot robots have been deployed in 11 states with more than 40 implementations. Hundreds of manual scavengers have gone through our rehabilitation program to become robot operators and make a change to their life, Rashid proudly says.

Over the last four years, ISDM has developed a unique curriculum and pedagogy, and over 200 students have graduated across three batches since 2017, according to founder Ravi Sreedharan.

The approach resonates well with CSR groups under Hindustan Unilever Foundation, Srijan, Dasra, and Azizji Premji Philanthropic Initiatives, among others. Faculty collaborations have been formed with the IIMs, Wharton, Oxford, HBS and INSEAD.

Winners: Genrobotic Innovations (L), Innaumation Medical Devices (R)

The global COVID-19 pandemic has turned life upside down for societies and businesses around the world. But despite the challenges, resolute entrepreneurs have ploughed on.

The worldwide pandemic has been a very unfortunate event and slowed down many business activities from design to supply. The lockdowns posed manufacturing and logistic challenges, Neha Rastogi of Agatsa Software recalls.

But the company changed track to more of R&D and innovation. We shifted our focus towards understanding the need for user-friendly, portable, and connected devices during the COVID-19 pandemic, considering health concerns, social distancing, and quick screening, she explains.

The company launched a multi-parameter device, SanketLife Multi-Vital that is capable of taking blood pressure, SpO2, temperature, and ECG all with one single device.

Due to the pandemic, many cancer hospitals have been converted to COVID centres and are not seeing laryngectomy patients, according to Vishal Rao of Innaumation Medical Devices. Most of the patients are not visiting these hospitals due to the fear of contracting COVID-19. This has impacted sales negatively, he adds.

But the company has utilised this time to set up the distribution network for India, and reach out to patients and surgeons using digital media. We have used this time to develop a breathable bib made from Dupont Tyvek to help patients stay protected, Vishal adds.

Recent studies show the presence of COVID-19 RNA in sewage, and there is a risk that sewage-related activities can be the next source for spreading the virus, cautions Rashid K of Genrobotic Innovations. Medical waste from quarantine periods has also increased.

Sanitation services cannot be postponed or locked down, hence the life of sanitation workers became riskier, he adds. This became a challenge and an opportunity for his company.

I am happy to share that the Bandicoot robot is helping sanitation workers clean manholes without any direct contact with sewage. Thus, it avoids the chance of getting the virus from sewage, Rashid proudly says.

The shutdown of all educational institutes to curb the spread of COVID-19 has had an unprecedented impact on the entire education sector of India, laments Ravi Sreedharan of ISDM. The batch this year has been the smallest, and the institute had to adopt to online activities.

However, the pandemic and the humanitarian crisis has not been able to dampen the spirit or resolve at ISDM. We see the present crisis as requiring, more than ever before, strategically equipped and trained development managers who are able to navigate challenges with critical innovations, he emphasies.

A Learning Management System (LMS) helps students access all academic and research resources without barriers. We have also strengthened our subscription to journals and resources to ensure that all learning continues for students without any interruptions, Ravi adds.

MIF has helped the winners with support and handholding in their journeys to sustain and scale ahead.

Being recognised by MIF is a very important and prestigious event in the world of startups. They also work very closely with the winners to guide and steer them through various challenges, Neha Rastogi of Agatsa Software explains.

MIF has helped in areas like digital marketing activities and factory set-up in Bengaluru, says Vishal Rao of Innaumation Medical Devices. We are certain that this will lay a strong foundation for our activities and help us scale up our operations in the near future, he adds.

MIF has given great support and guidance as well as an excellent platform to spread #MissionRobohole and help make India free of manual scavenging, according to Rashid K of Genrobotic Innovations.

We hope that being recognised for our work on the prestigious MIF platform will help open new doors for us and give us the opportunity to collaborate on building a pool of knowledge, wisdom and new ideas, adds Ravi Sreedharan of ISDM.

The award-winning founders shared tips and advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, ranging from mindset to skillsets.

Everyone looking to be an entrepreneur should believe in the problem they are solving. And there are a lot of problems to be solved in our country, says Neha Rastogi of Agatsa Software.

Your own belief will compel others to believe in your idea, and thats where the magic starts. Other than that, perseverance is the key it takes time to progress and succeed, she adds.

Always keep identifying the problems and study its root cause, then get into the process of solving it. This will help you to develop the best solution for the customer, advises Rashid K of Genrobotic Innovations.

Founders should not lose focus or patience. Just put your heart and soul into the process completely, he adds. The combination of dream, passion and hard work will bring the best output.

Innovators should believe in themselves, and begin with an innovation for a single user. Markets will develop around the innovation. Leverage the power of uncommon collaborations, recommends Vishal Rao of Innaumation Medical Devices.

To all aspiring entrepreneurs, we would like to say please continue to dream enormous and audacious dreams much as we have at ISDM. We would encourage people to become social entrepreneurs, treading the balance between helping society and finding adventure in what you pursue, advises Ravi Sreedharan of ISDM.

As alumni examples, he cites those working on waste recycling and management in urban areas (HaritGriha in Meerut), helping the elderly (Grey Shades), and creating fellowships for social purpose (Kayantar Foundation).

Entrepreneurs now shoulder the responsibility equally, alongside policy makers and decision makers, to attain a syncretic relationship where each grows without impeding on the other, Ravi signs off.

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From problem to product: entrepreneur insights from winners of the Marico Innovation Foundation 2020 awards - YourStory

Mallika* returned to her parents' house earlier this year after being abused by her husband Amar*, who belongs to a higher caste, for over a month.

"He used to rape me every day. He forced a cloth into my mouth so that my screams couldn't be heard outside when he beat me. It's like he wanted to destroy my very existence," she said.

Like many women in Indias conservative areas, Mallika married her rapist. Although she filed a complaint at a local police station, the group of village elders or khap panchayat intervened to save him and forced them to marry.

After the marriage, Amar's family physically and mentally abused her, in the hope that she would die and Amar could marry again."I was on the verge of dying. They didnt give me food to eat or water to drink. They used to constantly refer to me as achoot [untouchable], because of my caste," she told DW.

Read more: Opposition calls for 'satyagraha' sit-ins following rape, murder

Mallika ran away from Amars house and filed a report alleging domestic violence and criminal intimidation, among other charges. Her case was disposed by the district court, but she is contesting the judgement. However, she is under immense pressure to retract her complaint.

"The female police officers keep telling me that I should settle the matter outside the court. They say I will lose my case as I am powerless against an upper-caste family," Mallika said. She is being supported by Manisha Mashaal, an anti-caste activist and founder of Swabhimaan Society, an NGO.

In a nutshell, the caste system is a classification of people into four groups or Varnas: the Brahmins, who are priests and teachers, are on top, followed by Kshatriyas or the warriors, the Vaishyas or the merchants and the Shudras, including groups like cobblers, butchers and so on. The last group is considered outside the caste system and comprises the so-called untouchables, who were traditionally involved in cleaning, disposing off corpses and similar work. In the past and in several parts of India today, untouchables known collectively as Dalits have been marginalized, forced to live outside villages in deplorable conditions and have little or no access to health, education and sanitation.

Mallika belongs to the Valmiki caste. In several parts of India, Valmikis engage in manual scavenging - the manual cleaning of septic tanks and sewers, and the removal of human excreta from streets and public toilets. Their dirty work is often cited as a reason for them being at the rock bottom of the caste hierarchy and makes them susceptible to discrimination from both upper castes and other Dalits, who may be slightly higher placed in the caste hierarchy.

"People of the Valmiki community are referred to as suar or 'pig' by members of upper castes, owing to the nature of their profession," Vijay Kumar, a Dalit rights activist in New Delhi explained, adding, "Most people in the Valmiki community are extremely poor, and existing caste hierarchies and discrimination impede their social upliftment.

The plight of Valmiki women has come into focus after a 19-year-old woman belonging to the community was raped in Hathras, a city in Uttar Pradesh in north India recently. Their low status makes them particularly susceptible to violence from upper caste men in villages because they go out of their homes to work, according to JP Chaudhary, a writer and commentator on Dalit rights.

"Almost 80% of India's manual scavengers are women, because gender discrimination within the Valmiki community forces women to take up work such as sweeping. They sweep homes or streets, making them vulnerable to violence from upper-caste men, as they are seen as easily available," he told DW.

For upper caste men, raping a Valmiki woman isn't just a sign of their caste privilege it also establishes power over the untouchables. "There is this feeling of entitlement among upper caste men that they can do anything to a Valmiki girl and get away with it," Dalit rights activist Vijay Kumar said.

According to activist Manisha Mashaal, women from the Valmiki community are usually missing from the mainstream narrative around gender-based violence as the voices that speak up for women are mainly upper-caste.

Read more: 'Indian government only provides a band-aid after rape'

"Caste-based violence is quite common, but it doesn't receive coverage in upper-caste dominated newsrooms. It's common for Dalit villages to be burnt down, for the cops to refuse a post-mortem for women who have been raped, for the local administration and upper caste people to suppress cases filed by Dalit people. The atrocities are immense, and the rape case in Hathras is just the tip of the iceberg," added Mashaal. Also, India's National Crime Records Bureau does not separately detail data on rapes against women belonging to specific Dalit communities, making it difficult to ascertain how many Valmiki women exactly have experienced assault.

According to Leslee Udwin, who directed India's Daughter, a documentary on the 2012 gang rape of a 23-year old woman in Delhi, violence against Valmiki women cannot be prevented by dealing with just the violence and not its cause, which is the caste system.

"Rape isn't an India-specific issue. Caste and caste-based gender violence is specific to India, she told DW, adding, If you're born as a Dalit, you can't even walk in the shadow of someone who is sacred just because they were born into an upper caste family. The rest of the world shouldn't ignore this blatant discrimination and should impose economic sanctions on India for this discriminatory practice."

Read more: India bans documentary 'India's Daughter' on rape

But even Dalits as a community are hardly homogeneous and often divided into hierarchies of upper and lower-rung castes. "Other Dalit communities also discriminate against the Valmikis. They don't even allow marriage with the Valmikis owing to the caste difference," writer-activist Chaudhary, who is a Valmiki himself, said.

Valmikis have traditionally voted for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has exploited the marginalization of the Valmikis within the Dalit community for its benefit. Valmiki support for the BJP has come into question following the rape in Hathras, but according to JP Chaudhary, the case won't make much impact, because Valmikis vote according to economic need.

"This community is very poor. They can't even afford more than one meal in a day. A day before the election, if someone pays them to vote, then they vote for that person, Chaudhary said, adding, "Valmikis can put India to a grinding halt if they choose to not work for just a week. But they can't afford to do that, as they are too poor. That's the tragedy of being a Valmiki."

*Names have been changed to protect privacy

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Gruesome rape in India's Hathras reveals the plight of lower castes - Taiwan News

The difference between a so-so stretch of grassand a truly beautiful lawn both now and next spring is two fall feedings. Fertilizing in early fall helps your lawn begin rebuilding grassroots that were damaged during the hot, dry summer. Since fall is also a great time to kill several types of lawn weeds, including clover and dandelion, you can do two jobs at once (boom!) by applying a weed and feed likeScotts Turf Builder WinterGuard Fall Weed & Feed3. If you live in the South and have a St. Augustine, zoysia, or centipedegrass lawn, use Scotts Turf Builder Southern Triple Action instead. It not only kills weeds and nourishes the lawn, but also kills and prevents fire ants. (Because, as the name implies, fire ants are never a good thing.)

Follow-up with a second fall feeding 6-8 weeks after your first fall fertilization. Scotts Turf Builder WinterGuard Fall Lawn Food gives your fall grass the nutrients it needs to store up energy for a healthy spring push, plus helps to break down mulched-up leaves.

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Fall Lawn Care Prep, including Lawn Food and Mulching Leaves

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Get out the lawn chair, because it's time to enjoysome fresh cut 'grass.

Enigmatic songsmith Sturgill Simpson releases a 20-song collection of bluegrass recordings this Friday, according to a post on the singer's Instagram page.

Called "Cuttin' Grass Vol. 1: The Butcher Shoppe Sessions," Simpson tracked the album with an ace bluegrass band after the ongoing global health crisis derailed his arena tour with fellow Kentucky songwriter Tyler Childers.

"Welp," Simpson wrote on Instagram, "was hoping to surprise everybody on Thursday but somebody somewhere (Germany) got all excited and just couldnt hold their horses."

The collection features 20 Simpson songsin a reimagined bluegrass flavor. Staple Simpson songs such as "Turtles All The Way Down," "Life of Sin" and "Long White White" get the 'grass cuttin' treatment.

Sturgill Simpson performs for his fans at Bonnaroo on June 13, 2015, in Manchester, Tenn.(Photo: John Partipilo / The Tennessean)

Simpson enlisted a handful of primetime Nashville players for his studio band. The lineup, per his Instagram, includedMark Howard onbanjo, Scott Vestal onbanjo, Mike Bub onbass, Sierra Hull onvocals mandolin, Tim OBrien on vocals and guitar,Miles Miller onvocals and snare and Stuart Duncan onfiddle.

David Ferguson produced the album, which Simpson and company recorded at the Butcher Shoppe in Nashville.

The project follows Simpson's promise to record an album if fans raised money forNashville tornado relief, the Special Forces Foundation, the Equity Alliance and MusiCares' COVID-19 fund.

During a livestream bluegrass concert at the Ryman Auditorium earlier this year, Simpson confirmed his listeners rallied for nearly $250,000 in a week. Fans raised an additional $150,00 during the livestream event, Simpson said at the time.

In return, Simpson said he'drelease two bluegrass collections.

"These are how these songs were originally written and Idecided after climbing the ropes ofcountry music stardom and completely destroyingthat career to make a rock 'n' roll record I have great ambitions of a life ofgravel lots and Porta Potties. I'mgonna be a bluegrass musician," he said during the Ryman livestream in early June.

He continued, "That's the music in my heart and soul. That's the music I was raised on."

More: Music returns to the Ryman with a bluegrass show from Sturgill Simpson: Watch

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Sturgill Simpson's 20-song bluegrass album is coming this Friday - Tennessean

Fall is a time when we spend a lot of time cleaning up our yards, raking up leaves, washing the car, and getting ready for winter. As you do these things, there are lots of ways you can help keep the Cannon River cleaner as well.

When I think of fall, one of the first things I think about are leaves. The maple trees turn brilliant shades of red, orange, and yellow in my neighborhood. But after the leaves turn color, they also fall into the yard. Since leaves are natural and biodegradable, some folks dont worry if a lot of them go into the street and down the storm drain.

What many people dont realize is that one definition of pollution is the right stuff in the wrong place. While our rives and lakes contain bacteria and insects that can consume some leaves, if too many leaves wash into rivers and lakes, those leaves decompose into the fertilizer phosphorus that feeds lake algae and can turn our rives and lakes green and stinky.

So how many leaves is too many? While youre not in charge of what your neighbors do, you can be in charge of what happens on your property. Rake up leaves as soon as possible and either compost them on your property or take them to a local leaf collection or compost site. Visit your citys website for information about local compost sites.

You may also want to wash your car this fall. But when you do, keep in mind that our storm drains dump directly into local rivers and lakes. So, anything that does down that drain ends up in the rivers where we swim, fish, and canoe. The best car washing solution for clean rivers is to go to a commercial car wash. The soapy wash and rinse water from those businesses goes down wastewater pipes and gets cleaned up at the citys wastewater treatment plant.

That isnt what happens when you wash your car in the driveway. If you wash your car with soap and water on your driveway or street, that soapy water drains to your storm drain and then right into the Cannon River, the Straight River or into a nearby lake. So, what can you do?

You can park your car or truck on the lawn and wash it. Grass lawns filter the soap and keep it out of our waterways.

You can just use plain water to wash your car. That way soapy water doesnt run into our rivers and lakes.

Of course you can go to a commercial car wash.

If we each do a little, we can accomplish a lot. Have a good fall!

Kevin Strauss is the community engagement director for the Cannon River Watershed Partnership.

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Fall cleanups that keep the rivers clean as well - Southernminn.com

Oregon voters will decide this fall whether to approve and regulate psilocybin therapy for certain patients, putting the state at the head of a potentially groundbreaking movement.

The ballot initiative, Measure 109, aims to make Oregon the first state in the country to legalize psilocybin the chemical compound found in magic mushrooms for supervised therapeutic use.

Unlike the 2014 ballot measure that legalized cannabis, Measure 109 would not allow recreational use of psilocybin and would not allow it be sold to the general public. A separate ballot measure this year, Measure 110, would decriminalize possession of small amounts of street drugs, including psilocybin.

Recent studies at prominent universities like Johns Hopkins, Imperial College in London and the University of California, Los Angeles, have shown promising results with psilocybin therapy, revealing it to be an effective treatment against depression, PTSD and addiction.

Tom and Sheri Eckert, the husband and wife chief petitioners behind the measure who both practice therapy in Beaverton, insist that the drugs use must be rooted in science and regulated with the guidance of scientists and health care professionals.

Federally classified as a Schedule 1 drug under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, psilocybin has only recently been re-legalized for research studies, along with MDMA, also known as ecstasy or molly. In the 1950s and 60s, researchers published thousands of articles on the therapeutic use of another psychedelic drug, LSD, which was used successfully to treat alcoholism and other mental health issues.

Chris Stauffer, a researcher and psychiatry professor who studies psychedelic treatments at Oregon Health and Science University, said psychedelic drugs like psilocybin and MDMA had recently shown overwhelmingly positive results reducing depression and PTSD.

Patients in Stauffers studies which included combat veterans, long-term AIDS survivors and methamphetamine users were also often more able to confront grief and felt a sense of connectedness to themselves, friends and families that had been lost to years of unresolved trauma, Stauffer said.

I dont think its just about making people love rainbows and want to hug trees, Stauffer told The Oregonian/OregonLive in September. "It does things to the mind that are powerful.

But if our motivation changes from wanting to heal to something else, that could be problematic, he said.

The Oregon Psychiatric Physicians Association, which says it represents more than 38,000 physicians, opposes the measure. It calls the proposal unsafe and accuses it of making misleading promises to those Oregonians who are struggling with mental illness.

The association, contends that despite the number of promising studies, science does not yet indicate that psilocybin is a safe medical treatment for mental health conditions.

Michael Pollan, a journalist and professor who wrote a 2018 book on psychedelics and their benefits, How to Change Your Mind, has also expressed concerns.

As much as the supporters of legal psilocybin hope to follow the political playbook that has rapidly changed the status of cannabis in recent years, Pollan wrote in the New York Times, they need to bear in mind that psilocybin is a very different drug, and it is not for everyone.

Those potential dangers are why the Eckerts are proposing a regulatory system that aims to take care when choosing who to administer psilocybin to and how to do it in a way that ensures a healing experience, rather than a bad trip, they say.

The hope for transformative healing has earned Measure 109 support from several veterans' groups as well as some local healthcare workers and therapists. This years voters' pamphlet publishes dozens of arguments in favor of the measure and only one in opposition.

Proponents of the ballot measure have raised more than $2.1 million, as of Friday, according to the Oregon Secretary of State.

The biggest donation by far was $1.48 million from New Approach PAC, a political action committee based in Washington, D.C that has primarily supported recreational and medical marijuana initiatives around the country.

In 2020, New Approach got the vast majority of its money $4.86 million out of nearly $7 million raised through August from Dr. Bronners soap company, which also gave $1 million directly to the Oregon measures backers this spring to help them gather signatures.

The national PAC also received money from individuals and organizations around the country with ties to the cannabis industry. Among them: California-based venture capital firm Ghost Management Group known for Weedmaps ($250,000), Seattle entrepreneur Brendan Kennedy who until 2018 was the CEO of Leafly ($500,000), and late New York philanthropist Henry van Ameringen ($1 million). The PAC also received $375,000 from The Scotts Company, a multinational lawn and garden corporation that makes Miracle-Gro and Roundup.

Major individual contributors to Measure 109 include three big out-of-state donors: $25,000 from Austin Hearst, grandson of famed newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst; $10,000 from Chicago investor William Sterling; and $10,000 from Adam Wiggins, a tech entrepreneur who founded a nonprofit research and educational organization dedicated to psychedelics and marijuana.

Oregon already has some of the highest rates of depression, anxiety and addiction in the country, Sheri Eckert pointed out in a news release over the summer, arguing that the current options for treatment just arent enough.

We need better mental health treatment options now more than ever, Eckert said, and this initiative has the right supervision and safeguards in place.

Bryce Dole contributed to this story.

-- Jamie Hale; jhale@oregonian.com; 503-294-4077; @HaleJamesB

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Future of psilocybin therapy will be decided by Oregon voters - OregonLive

Revitalization of the former Sheets building, located at 20 E. William St. in downtown Delaware, is officially a go as Main Street Delaware (MSD) held a ceremony at the building Thursday to kick off its fundraising campaign and the start of renovations.

Delaware City Council approved a lease agreement with MSD in August that will allow MSD to move its offices from East Winter Street to the new building, as well as to establish a Delaware Welcome Center.

The initial lease will span 10 years, with a renewal option, at a cost of $1 per year to be paid to the city by MSD.

Since 2011, we have had our offices in the Strand building on East Winter Street thanks to the generosity of the Strand Theatre and Cultural Arts Association, MSD Executive Director Susie Bibler said Thursday. But its time to return that space to the Strand and support its mission, and its time for Main Street Delaware to expand to support our community and downtown with a new welcome center.

We have collaborated with the city to lease this historic building to create an office space, meeting space, community restrooms, which are much needed, and, of course, a very welcoming welcome center. We are also launching a Front Porch Campaign Main Street Delawares first capital campaign to raise $210,000 to renovate this building to make our welcome center vision a reality, she added.

Bibler, who was named the Main Street Executive of the Year by Heritage Ohio on Thursday, said the Front Porch Campaign concept was chosen to recognize the distinctive architecture of the Sheets building, as well as Ohio and the city of Delawares legacies as the mother of presidents.

With continuing support from the community, we will restore this beautiful front porch and building to enhance the experience for everyone who stops by to learn more about the city and community we love, Bibler said.

MSD Board President Zach Price said the hope for the buildings restoration is to provide modern amenities and memorable experiences for residents and visitors. He added the building needs a lot of work, which includes updated finishes, new mechanical equipment, masonry restoration, and repair to the great porches. In addition to those repairs, Price said a handicap-accessible ramp will also be installed to ensure the building is truly open to everyone.

Mayor Carolyn Riggle said during the ceremony, When I look at this building, this crowd, and this city, I see purpose and potential. I am grateful for everyone who works with us to help Delaware thrive and grow every day I commend Susie, Zach, and all of the Main Street Delaware Board for its vision to renovate this building, preserving its history, and beginning a new chapter as a welcome center.

I am looking forward to seeing their renovated center, but even more importantly, seeing the impact it has on the city and county as it helps to share more information on the vibrant destination that Delaware has become, she added. It is this type of entrepreneurial spirit and forward thinking that has made Main Street Delaware so valuable in our community

City Manager Tom Homan called MSDs renovation plans a rebirth of the building, adding that it makes sense to expand MSDs footprint closer to the citys main street and increase the organizations presence in the community.

While the project is officially underway, much work still remains for MSD as it attempts to raise the necessary funds to complete it. Bibler announced the fundraising campaign would be kicking off with $28,240 already having been raised through various matching grants from local investors.

As you can see, we have a lot of fundraising to do, and we hope that you will all consider making the tax-deductible gift for the porch, Bibler told those in attendance. Working together, we know that we will succeed. We have so much faith in you and all of Delaware

Those interested in learning more about the Front Porch Campaign, or donating to the effort, can do so by visiting http://www.mainstreetdelaware.com.

During Thursdays ceremony, Main Street Delaware Executive Director Susie Bibler and MSD Board President Zach Price held up a banner showing how much money MSDs Front Porch Campaign has raised to date to help renovate 20 E. William St. into a welcome center with public restrooms and a literal front porch for the community.

Delaware City Manager Tom Homan speaks during Thursdays ceremony, while Mayor Carolyn Riggle, middle, and Main Street Delaware Eecutive Director Susie Bibler, right, look on.

Main Street Delaware Executive Director Susie Bibler speaks to the crowd that gathered Thursday afternoon for a renovation groundbreaking ceremony at 20 E. William St. in downtown Delaware. MSD, which is leasing the building from the city, plans to relocate its office to the historic building and transform it into a welcome center.

Reach Dillon Davis at 740-413-0904. Follow him on Twitter @DillonDavis56.

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MSD aims to revive old building - Delaware Gazette

Deputies apprehended an Eagle Mountain woman for her alleged involvement in the theft of at least three packages.

Deputies with the Utah County Sheriffs Office made contact with 32-year-old Michelle Marie Poll of Eagle Mountain as she was parked in her vehicle in a church parking lot. Poll had allegedly been named as a suspect in at least three package thefts between Tuesday and Thursday, according to the probable cause statement filed in support of the arrest.

While speaking with Poll, police reported that she allegedly confirmed she had been in the location of at least one of the thefts.

Poll allegedly gave officials permission to search her vehicle, and while conducting that search, deputies reportedly located three opened envelopes belonging to two of the homeowners who reported package thefts, according to arrest documents.

Police also discovered a red Xbox controller and a galaxy Xbox controller face plate, which had allegedly been reported stolen by a homeowner, as well as two LifeStraw water filters that had also been reported stolen.

After being read her Miranda Rights, Poll allegedly said she had stolen two packages containing the Xbox accessories from a neighbor but reportedly told police she didnt remember taking the package containing the LifeStraw water filters. However, Poll allegedly said she did remember opening the package in her car and throwing the water filters into the backseat.

One of the opened package envelopes discovered in the vehicle had originally contained dice. Poll reportedly said she didnt remember taking the package but had opened the package and threw the dice in the back seat of the vehicle, according to the probable cause affidavit. The dice were not located.

Officials took Poll into custody under the suspicion of three third-degree felony counts of mail theft.

Link:
Authorities apprehend alleged Eagle Mountain porch pirate - Daily Herald