available for your apple and android mobile device. download it now on "america tonight", a mission to help, and the desperation that led to disaster. iraq's stranded refugees. a reminder of how difficult it is to bring aid to the needy, and more of a challenge to bring stability to iraq. also tonight - investigation abandoned. weeks after a passenger jet is shot out of the sky over ukraine, what happened to mh17. >> the earth where the wings and engine went down was all scorched a "america tonight" follow

up - what investigators know about the aircraft and the lives lost. and a small movement, but one possibility. >> we saw a quiver in his fingers and his hand closed. >> why his effort to bring mind back to muscle could pave the way to hope for other paralyzed patients. good evening, thanks for joining us, i'm julie chen. we begin with a reminder that sometimes help is the hardest thing to deliver. tens of thousands of desperate yazidis are stranded on an iraqi mountain top as the u.s. effort to bring them supplies continues. the situation is so dire the rescuers were literally

overwhelmed as would-be evacuees rushed at a helicopter causing it to crash. the pilot was killed. passengers were injured, including two iraqi politicians and an american journalist. the pentagon is considering sending scores of boxers to iraq as it ramps up a campaign against the islamic state fighters. political tensions may be easing as western and middle east country threw support behind the new prime minister. still, his predecessor is clinging to power. he boarded forces to stay out of politics. more. more yazidis made their way off the mountains. thousands are trapped. eyewitnesss say they have seen many bodies after more than a week in the blazing summer sun. many, especially children and the elderly are dying of dehydration and exhaustion.

every time an iraqi aircraft ferries supplies on to the mountain, the crew is besieged by those desperate to get out. al jazeera's jane reports on a mission that ends in disaster. >> kurdish officials tell us the helicopter was russian, used by the iraqi air force, and it crashed as it tried to deliver food and water to thousands of members of the yazidi community trapped on the mountain. as it was hovering low to the ground so the aid packages could be dropped, some of the desperate displaced people tried to pull down the helicopter. it failed to feign altitude -- crashed. >> the mountain. the climate was declared dead and the u.s. launched a rescue effort taking 20 wounded people on board into hospital border. >> reporter: among those injured, an mp, who made a plea

for help in iraq's parliament last week. and "new york times" correspondent alissa ruben. u.s. navy jets flew more missions against is positions, targetting those close to the mountain, trying to open a safety. >> that's the tip of the iceberg of this humanitarian crisis in northern iraq. kurdish officials say they are dealing with a million displaced people. and have gone for months without receiving reeve knew from baghdad -- revenue from baghdad due to a dispute. in baghdad the political signs may be easing. the outgoing prime minister had been unwilling to give up power, and ordered security loyal to him on to the streets. today ordered them to stay out of politics and focus on defending the country. further signs that nouri al-maliki's ability to obstruct iraq's politics was over.

his key allies welcomed a successor. a statement from the head of the supreme national party saying he was constitutionally appointed. he can form a government and improve relations with the kurds. >> he could release the money that the kurds are owed from the federal government that maliki withheld since january. kurdistan is in an odd position for a place of 5 million people, taking care of a million people of other parts of iraq, and at the same time as the federal government has cut off the funding. >> "america tonight"s sheila macvicar back with us here. with that in mind, with the new leader trying to establish himself, the west has thrown itself behind the new prime minister, will they put their money where their mouth is? >> it's not just of the west, it's the sautys, the -- saudis, the iranians, the external

support in order to say this is the direction that we, the international community would like to see iraq go in, and this is the choice of the iraqi people, the parliament. there are a lot of challenges. we know the security situation is dire. it's terrible. there are 1.2 million internally displaced iraqis alone. there are nearly a quarter of a million syrian refugees who found shelter in iraq. so you have all of this, plus you have an uncertain security situation. there are lots of challenges. that, he's got to deal with, including dealing with sectarian issues building up under the previous prime minister. >> then we look to the yazidis, and the crisis, which captivated the world, the concern for the top. >> again, the u.s. trying to basically bomb positions that islamic state holds, so they can bring the people down off the mountain.

there are so many thousands up there. it's not reasonable or realistic to think that you can get everyone off the mountain by helicopter. they can only take maximum dozen, dozen and a half people each trip. there's thousands there. it's a question of time. the longer they stay there, the die. >> tragic. macvicar. >> on the unsettled crisis in ukraine, where other efforts to bring health and stability have fallen, it's a trojan horse situation. ukranian forces blocked russians, it was claimed to be humanitarian, but suspicion and fighting kept investigators from their work at the site of the malaysia airlines crash. dutch and australian leaders are trying to figure a way forward after pulling out the search

teams last week. lori jane gliha with an update. >> recovery teams suspended the search at the crash site of mh17. dutch and australian leaders say they are not done. >> it certain has not been finished. it's my determination. it is, as i understand it, prime minister routers determination, and the determination of the dutch government to resume operation bring them home, should the circumstances permit it. >> reporter: just days after the plane went down, grieving families told us how important it is to bring the loved ones home. they understood the process would take time. it's frustrating to know my brother is out there, not knowing whether they recovered his body, whether we'll see him or receive his remains, or whether it will never be found. >> now, weeks later, it's unclear whether remains have

been returned to the family. this weekend friends tweeted these photos as hundreds gathered at a memorial service to celebrate pim's life. forensic experts have only identified 65 of the 298 victims on the flight. 21 are dutch. >> we owe it to the dead, we owe it to their grieving families to do everything we can to bring justice. >> search teams recovered personal belongings and some human remains before fighting in the region escalated. the longer investigators are away, the greater the concern that it will become more compromised. the video shows pieces of plane already used as a road block. >> dutch video journalist shot this video in ukraine before evacuating. he followed recovery teams for days as they trekked through

the country side. the sunflower field is a contrast to the devastation of the crash site. >> all the personal belongings are there, the suitcase, the wreckage of plane, scattered over a wide area. it was intense to see that, especially for me as a father, you know, seeing the suitcases and a suitcase packed the way my daughter could have packed it. it was emotional. >> the search teams endured gun fire and hot textures. >> the wind -- temperatures. >> the wind was blowing hot. the fuel of the plane, the earth, especially where the wings and the engines went down, it was all scorched. it was a very landscape. >> fighters understand why the officials send.

but like the recovery teams, they are anxious to go back. >> what do you think needs to be future. >> when i was there at the last day on the site where the wings and the engines fell down, there was a lot of stuff laying around. and i think also even maybe some body parts are still there. i think they still have to do work there. >> the head of the dutch recovery mission says d.n.a. will be intact for a long time. the team will return when and if it was safe. >> yesterday the dutch safety board announced it would move its investigation from the ukraine to the netherlands, and plans to public a report based on data from the cockpit voice record are, flight data recorder and satellite and radar images.

they are investigating why the pilots chose the controversial flight path over eastern ukraine. the organization for security and cooperation in koourp was among the -- europe was among the first to reach the crash site. we are joined by a spokesperson for the o.s.c.e. monitoring mission who just returned from the crash site. we appreciate you being and talking to us about this. you and an international monitor are among the first to get to the scene, but you were not investigators. you were going to see. what did you see? >> you're right, we are not investigators, we have been on the ground in ukraine for three months. we have monitors in donetsk, close to the crash site. we were there when the plane came down. and our whole team of 25 that day was there 24 hours exactly after the plane came down. the reception was not great. at the time they were rebel

commanders there trying to humiliate us, embarrass us. it was - it was a horrific scene. there was dead bodies there, a lot of debris, smouldering. it took some time for the bodies to be collected because of the lack of the access to that area. that was etchly done -- eventually done. >> there is some questions that there are remains there, and a lot of aircraft itself, things that would help the investigators pursue their work. can you believe at some point this will be a full and complete said. >> at the moment there's an active conflict going on, and a humanitarian conflict on top of that. the villagers there are going through the plane crash, and the humanitarian crisis. the front line is moving, and if the ukranian government forces do actually succeed in flushing out the rebels from the area, it will return to government

control, and access can be restored. but there's a lot of logistical problems, a lot of investigators have moved back to the netherlands. there's - it's very, very difficult terrain, also it's exposed to manmade and natural factors. and in terms of the bodies, the human remains, there's a disprep si about 80 -- disprep sis about 80 bodies, and it was a slow search. there is a site that was a fireball with high temperatures. we don't want to speculate. >> a quick last thought, in addition to the horrible tragedy that occurred, people are living in the area. it must be incredibly difficult to believe they can be reached and helped wherever they are in the conflict. >> absolutely, in the last few days that we had access, we had villagers coming up to us, eyewitnesss to the crash, people

that helped to collect human remains, asking for help. they said they had no electricity, water, essential goods. that humanitarian disaster that has been highlighted at the crash site has widened. the study of donetsk is a third empty, they fled luhansk, which is near the russian boarder. the number of displaced people is horrendous figures. we hope that we'll monitor soon a ceasefire, and a return to ukraine. >> otherwise the folks are caught in the crossfire. thank you very much for being with us from the o.s.c.e. when we return, it's another tense night in north st. louis, protesters line the streets, bracing for a crackdown. a police killing and a community crisis leading the president to ask for calm. later here pain amid the laughter.

the shocking death of funny man robin williams exposes a grim line between genius and the gruelling life of celebrity.

now, the growing out rage in ferguson missouri, after the police shooting of an unarmed teenager.

so much so the f.a.a. has cited security concerns and banned flights. there's reports decisions were made after police reported shots were fired at their helicopter. after a night of unrest residents woke up to damage around town, and a desire for peace on the streets. rallies and community meetings took place throughout the day, the leaders pushing for nonviolence and an investigation into the killing. many, including michael broken's personalities criticised a refusal to release the name of the officer that shot and killed the 18-year-old. the police chief held a press conference to answer questions and discourage violence. the sentiment echoed by president obama who issued a statement calling to understanding. police officers in full riot gear used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse local residents. a dozen were arrested.

>> joining us from st louis, is a columnist for the "evening whirl", and you have been viewing what has happen. we are going into darkness. given what happened last night, do you anticipate another difficult night there? >> well, what i'm anticipating is the police amping up the presence. they just banned any low-flying vehicles, drones, which operation ferguson utilised, and i think there's a stand-off now, in ferguson in the greater north country area between the community and the police. i think they tried to clean out west lawson. >> it was difficult last night. we saw some of the shots of the law enforcement in riot gear, and the tear gas. it was a pretty difficult night last night. >> it was a difficult night last night. i saw people running to the

fire, but, like, i have been telling people what is happening, and this is not an issue by ferguson, but greater st louis countries. it's been burning since the '80s, but on the fighting began in the last couple of days. >> at this point you said there's a stand off and a couple protesters. >> there's a different group of protesters. in the heart of things, where the execution occurred, there's a hostile standoff, and the police are in military gear with military equipment. and it's cordoned off, like something you see in gaza. it's a very hostile situation. once you go across from the police headquarters, it's more of a relaxed vigil, people killing. >> the difficulty here is what to do to get out of the situation, to bring things under

control, and some calm to it. what is the plan here, what is the demand? >> there's no easy fix. there's some politicians and people trying to make a name out of themselves who never talked about north country before. what is needed is a serious investment. you have failing schools, you have jobs leaving. you have white flight, deindustrialization, all of them a subprime crisis, all of america's problems coming to north st louis country. i have been talking about it. couldn't get nobody to listen. we need serious federal attention to north st louis county. >> and immediate concerns, for the st. louis "evening whirl", appreciate you being with us. when we return, the funny man and the pain we didn't see. ahead we remember robin williams, and consider why comic

genius oftenened in tragedy. ahead - a medical miracle that reconnects mind to muscle. >> for me to see my hand open and close after four years was a great feeling and gave me hope for the future. >> are you doing this more to help other people? >> a look at a breakthrough technology, and a young patient determined to bring moved back. when you compare the top speed of dsl from the phone company

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now a snapshot of stories making headlines. an ohio inmate put to death experienced pain and suffering before losing consciousness, says a report, highlighting concerns about two drugs used. a moratorium in executions in ohio will remain in place until next january. >> thunder storms caused deaths and left motorists stranded in highways across the city. divers have been dispatched to search for submerged vehicles and people in detroit. >> donald sterling's rain is over, the l.a. clippers sold for $2 billion to steve balmer, former c.e.o. of microsoft. donald sterling banned for

making offensive comments is expected to appeal the decision an investigation into the death of actor and comedian robin williams. family, friends and fans grieve the loss of the 63-year-old academy award winner, we learn about his suicide and apparent battle with depression. >> movie reel: i'm melting. help me. genius. >> good morning vietnam. >> as well as a gifted dramatic actor. >> i suspect my wife again. >> who almost never left a dry eye in the audience - whether from laughter or from sadness. from the streets of hollywood, across the nation and the world, everywhere has a memory of robin williams, and a story about the impact he made on their lives. williams remembered from the boston bench, where he shot scenes for "goodwill hunting,"

to his home in northern california, where his life came to a shocking end. >> he was so giving, so amazing and we are all shocked. i mean, you never know the depth of depression. he was found dead monday at his home, across the golden gate bridge from san francisco. >> mr williams personal assistant became concerned at approximately 11:45am when he failed to respond to knocks on the bedroom door. at that time the personal assistant was able to gain access to mr williams bedroom and entered to find mr williams clothed in a seated position, unuponsive with a belt secured around his net, the other end weged between the closed closest door and the door frame. >> impossible to believe someone with success and so much to enjoy and a life apparently full of laughter could end his own life.

his publisher says williams battled depression. >> it's a serious condition, it's not something that someone can snap out of. it can lead to death. >> long-time friend jamie, m ajs sada, owner of the laugh factory spoke to "america tonight". his star rose at the club, when he was another stand-up trying to make it big. he said highs friend needed the one thing that fame and fortune couldn't buy - privacy. >> he didn't want to lose his privacy. that made him depressed. that made him take steps and do problems with the depression, and that type of stuff. finally, it took his life away. it was too much. he couldn't take it. >> there were hints of trouble. his representative said williams returned to rehab to "fine tune his sobriety".

>> we didn't know the depths of his despair or the demonstration that haunted and troubled him. that's so sad. >> a sadness shared quickly through social media. another legend, steve martin: . >> a close friend, billie caistal: -- crystal: >> the shared loss of a generation that mork. the president wrote "he arrived in our life as an alien but touched every element of a human spirit. a human spirit who thought about the next life and what a comedian might find there. >> it's nice to know there's laughter, that would be good thing. just to hear god go "two jews

walk into a bar." the marquee outside the laughter factory offered an epitaph to a life well lived. robin williams was not alone in his battle with depression. close to 15 million americans suffer from it, according to the journal of general society. we have a chronicle of depression by our next guest. this is shocking to the arrest of us who panelling him as a laughing -- remember him as a laughing, smiling funny guy. from someone in the business you from? >> i can. i think a lot of comedians do that. i wrote "laughing in the dark" to talk about an honest evaluation of what it's like to walk through the dark and walk

out in a spotlight and make people laugh. it seems like two strange things to go together. maybe those that live in the dark despair, we are inclined to want to enjoy the gift of laughter more than anyone. >> your life story saw many sadnesses. you had a lot of personal loss. i wonder if it makes you look back and consider which comes first - the sadness and the jokes. do the jokes become a cover for what's? >> sometimes people are funny, you have the class clown, the middle child and all the things that give the tendency for someone to go into comedy or be good at it. even a great acting skill is great for comedy. also, there is that kind of dark space in some of us who have walked a dark road. i can remember making jokes at my sister's finals, sometimes a

security, a mask, helping you get through the moment. it's that comic relief that sometimes you have to have. if you didn't have that, then there would be desperation and some tough moments that would land you somewhere else. punchline. >> a friend of robin williams said to us that he wanted privacy. which seems the opposite thing that a comedian wants. you want everyone to look at you. >> you know, i think that's so. i can't say i knew robin personally, we had close ties and friends, and share a lolly or two. my indication of what i know of addiction, and being and rehab and psychiatric hospital and medicated for a long time to push back on the dark side, i don't know that it's privacy is what made him depressed. i think there's something deep

inside that perhaps it was unresolved issue. i'm a firm believer that depression is a very physical disease. it's a physical ailment that you can feel in a physical way. sometimes your brain stops firing in a way that it is supposed to and the darkness you want out so badly you'll do anything to end the pain. it's great pain that you're escaping from. it's not a loved one or someone, it's not an event, you're just in such pain that you would like for that to end. to me, that's the saddest thing about the last i am not sure of his life. the complete thing is the laughter and love that he brought, and the love we'll have for him for all time, and they are the memories we hold on to. >> we wish you laughs and appreciate your insight. >> thanks. when we return, nature meets technology. the story behind that ebola treatment you heard about, and

why the search for the cure owes much to the cold war and dirty bombs. also had - a modern medical miracle in action. that small motion and why it had huge implications patients. >> chris brewery and the determined patient putting mind to work on muscle. >> al jazeera america presents a self portrait of generation now... >> so many of my friends is pregnant... >> i feel so utterly alone... >> you need to get your life together >> i'm gonna do whatever needs to be done... >> ya boy is lookin' out to becoming a millionaire... >> an intimate look at what our kids are facing in school and beyond 15 stories, 1 incredible journey >> in this envelope is my life right now... >> edge of eighteen coming september only on al jazeera america

in the fight to contain the world's largest and deadliest ebola outbreak, the last remaining doses of an experimental treatment have been given to the government of liberia. the west african nation, one of the hardest hit says it will use them to treat two doctors. with 2,000 suspected case, there's demand for any drug, even something untested and unproven. those in ebola research are building on decades of science, much paid for by the pentagon. >> reporter: in liberia people have been told to avoid public places. they are filling the churches, coming to pray together for a salvation from the virus. after a plea for help from the libyan president u.s. officials approved a request to send after zmapp, an experimental drug used on two americans. the company that produces the drug says that's it, there's no more doses and it could

take months to produce any more. still longer to properly research whether the treatment actually works. zmapp is just one of several possible treatments being developed. an effort to understand and treat ebola, that goes back decades. an effort led by the pentagon. the reason, biological war and terrorism. it poses a risk to the public and national security, because it can be spread and transmitted, resulting in high death rates. that makes ebola a weapon. in 1973 the soviet union launched a bioweapons programme, among which the weaponisation of ebola and other viruss. >> it's clear that the soviet union were trying to interpret a number of biological agents into

weapons, including viruses like venezuela's virus, ebola. as a matter of fact there was a concern they may try to turn small pox into a bioweapon, that's why there was an agreement between the united states and soviet union, that there'll be two locals where small pox would be stored. one in united states and one in vector. >> reporter: the soviet union was not alone. a japanese cult travelled and collected samples of the virus. it is not clear whether they were successful. but they released sarin nerve gas killing people on a train. the department of defense says:

>>reporter: experts say the threat is not necessarily that it can kill many people. >> when you think about terrorism, using a biological weapon, you think about what is the purpose of terror. it is not to kill people. it is to cause social logical, economic or political change. something like ebola can be effective in that sense because of the panic which it causes. >> it may not be panic but the outbreak shows how powerful the be. >> let's continue the discussion with the last shipment of the experimental treatment, zmapp in liberia, how long will it take to create more. we turn to dr robert giry, biol gift at the school of medicine. we want to make the point,

because we heard the report about ebola's history. with the defense department, your laboratory, like others, gets money from the government, but your researchers are in no way associated with the defense department, correct. >> that's correct, yes. we get most of our money from the national institutes of help. >> let's talk about the who decision to move forward on zmapp. we have heard a lot of complaints or demands for the serum in west africa. is it the right decision to move forward when we said it's unproven, untested. >> it's the right decision. the medications need to be given to the peep of west africa so that when people are infected with the virus, there's a better chance that they can survive. >> let's talk about how to get more of it. after all, the zmapp company involved says we are completely

out of any more of this medication. isn't it possible to quickly ramp up the production of it? >> it is, but quickly could be a matter of weeks or months. this is a complicated medication. it involves actually what we call free monochrome bodies mixed in a cocktail. they have to be grown up. in this case in tobacco plants, and they don't grow overnight, and the drug has to be - the three compounds have to be purified mixed together so they are safe to give the people. >> it strikes people that look, research has gone on four years, decades. shouldn't it be in place? why does it take so long? >> there's multiple steps in the drug approval process, the drug is in of the experimental phase. the next phase to scale it up to where it can be used in large amounts in the eastern people,

it also takes some time, and a lot more money. so only the most promising drugs will go forward. this is going forward. i did expect them to have larger cannedities of this in the future. >> other drugs are being worked on through other facilities and laboratories. appreciate you being was. >> my pleasure. >> thanks. it sounds impossible, moments like science for example, someone moving his hand through the power of thought alone. that is happening thanks to a chip implanted in the brain of a young man who is qued pleegeic -- quadripledging, it's a modern miracle bringing hope limbs. >> i was active, wanted to go outside and build a fort or play in the woods. >> reporter: as he grew up in ohio, ian says the two words

that describe him best are active and independent. >> i tried to be as independent as possible, did my own laundry, did what i co on my own. >> reporter: four years ago when ian was 19, it changed dramatically in a split second at a north carolina beach. >> just happening out with friends. we went to the o. i dove -- ocean. i dove into a wave that pushed me into a sandbar, and i broke my neck, c 5 and c 6. >> reporter: ian was paralyzed over most of his body. what do you miss the most since your accident? >> the biggest thing is independence, doing things for myself. i have to rely on other people for basic things as far as getting up and getting dressed. >> ian decided he would not let the accident that changed his life dictate his future. >> you can say "this is awful", and stay at home and not do

anything about it, or you can make the best of it. >> reporter: so when the doctor overseeing ian's rehabilitation suggested he take part in an experiment, ian jumped at the chance. patel, a nonprofit company spent 10 years to translate signals from the brain sending it to the human muscle. they call it the neurobridge. the purpose is to look at the signals in the brain, as someone things about movement, particularly movement that they have lost. >> for ian burke heart, joining the project came with a catch. he would have to volunteer for brain surgery. >> brain surgery is pretty invasive. there was a lot to consider, because i was saying sign me up for brain surgery.

>> the doctor, a neurosurgeon at the ohio state implanted a ship, the size of a pea in the motor cortex of ian's brain. you have to be precise and get a spot on the surface of the brain that is controlling the leg. >> the chip containing elect roads to scan brain signals, attached to wires, screw the into the skull. they are hooked up to a powerful computer decoding the signals, literally reading ian's mind. he sends the command to a sleeve. wrapped around ian's arm in the blink of an eye. >> we are getting about a gigabyte of data every three minutes. it's generated from neurons in the motor cortex. it is responsible for controlling his hand. >> for months ian worked five hours a day, three days a

week with the patel team. concentrating his thoughts to computer screen. >> reporter: how hard do you have to consep strait? >> i have to concentrate very hard. >> reporter: in june, was the moment of truth, could ian move from manipulating the computer hand to his open. >> what was it like for you, watching whether it would work for you? seats. -- edge of our seats. we saw a quiver in his fingers, his hand closed. it was incredible. [ clapping ]. >> reporter: for the first time scientists bypassed the spinal cord to move the muscles of a grain. >> i don't have sensation in my hand, for me to see my hand open and close after four years was a great feel, giving me hope for the future. >> in the future scientists say

the technology holds great promise for treating victims of stroke and other forms of paralysis, that the chips in the brain may be wireless, and the computer as smartphone. home? >> i would love to. >> for now, ian can only use the neurobrim at the lab with the help of technicians. >> he's not doing it for himself. if anything, it's a burden. it's a selfless act to volunteer for this. >> are you doing it to help others or help yourself. >> i think so. >> if it gets to the point it's something they perfect, something that everywhere can use, and can help me, i would love that, that would be great. really, just wishing it forward to help others is the main goal that i have. >> ian keeps pushing, understanding that he may never regain the independence si lost on the

north carolina beach, but knowing, too, that his pioneering effort may make it easier for patient to once again move their muscles minds. a remarkable technology putting mind over muscle. we'll look at another major development on wednesday on "america tonight", when we talk about the rapid growth of states approving the youse of medical marijuana. idaho has been firm against marijuana legalization. now a child battling a debilitating disease could soften the stance. that story form on "america tonight". next in the final segment of our programme, a highly celebrated teacher put in teacher gaol by the l.a. school district. there's more to her story though. we are headed back to school next.

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as we wrap up the hour, several weeks ago we brought you the story of teachers in california put in detention, often for unspecified reasons and an unquit amount of time. we focussed on ira stefan son, a beloved music teacher that wanted nothing more to be back in class. there was more to her story, and she got her wish. michael oku brings the original story. [ singing ] . >> reporter: this is the voice that inspired thousands of high school students to sing out. this is the passion for music that brought award to one of la's toughest schools. and for ira stefan son, the

piano was a life line to a 30 year teaching career frozen when the los angeles unified school district sent her to so-called teacher jail. where teachers facing disciplinary action are sent, unpaid leave. >> i had never heard of what they called teacher gaol. i didn't know. i was very, very naive about that. what stefan son knows is how music inspires students. teaching a nationally acclaimed music programme. nearly every year since 1985 stefan son has taken her choral groups on the road. they performed at musical festivals in jamaica, korea, belgium and often france. last december their trip was capped by a private performance for the president at the white house.

>> since i have been at cin shaw high school we started trailing because i believe in a classroom without walls. i believe that harping ensues outside -- learning ensues outside the classroom. >> reporter: stevenson was stunned to find after the trick she was in detention, ordered to report to a room in distribute headquarters instead of the classroom. the district has not told her what allegations she faces, unofficially she is said to have jetted her student to paris and washington without permission. she and her supporters say not true, the district approved her trips every year. >> they knew the itinerary down to the telephone numbers. >> for teachers in gaol, the experience varies depending where they serve time. the reality sets in. they are restricted to a set of cubicles, facing blank walls computers.

>> i saw in teacher gaol many individuals that were broken, depressed, suicidal. >> reporter: suicidal. >> very, very sick, and we just had to lift their spirits. >> reporter: that's what stefan son did. detention. >> i wrote music. so it was fine. and then i involved others in getting - okay, "come on, sing with me." we began to sing. >> the new president of united teachers los angeles, and says getting exact figures from ls u.s. d is nearly impossibleful. >> we have made requests to the district for demographic information, time information, et cetera. we can ballpark it. we haven't got in that information from the district. there have been people who have been in teacher gaol for three years, without any completed investigation or

anything like that. >> and that, say teachers, is where the injustice lies. what seems like an endless way to investigate behaviour poses no imminent individuals. they say: >> reporter: yet you have people in teacher gaol fo and months, sometimes years, followed. >> the number of teachers removed for assignment, we use the term housed, is approximately 251. there were other employees as well. not just teachers. >> john has been the sprpt of l.a. unified school district for four years.

he will not discuss specific cases, he defend the current detention process. are some investigations taking too long? >> no, they take as long as necessary to show the right of children. >> reporter: does the system need fixing? >> i don't believe so. i think we did a tremendous amount of fixing during the time i have been superintendent. i think the way that l.a. u.s. d operates is under the complete obligation of child safety, and the obligations to make sure no decision will be made for an adult in employment without complete information. >> reporter: the union charges lingering investigations may be an attempt to force out veteran or outspoken teachers. do you have a sense that the administration is targetting specific teens of teachers? >> now, what i found out is that they are over 40, many of them are over 40.

many of them are minorities, many of them are very active in the schools. >> this week after more than 8 month, the l.a. u.s. d released stefan son from detention. her investigation is ongoing, today she is back in the classroom. once again, connecting with the students she's been making music with for years. and you can see from the big smile that ira stefan son's risk came true, she was brought back to class and joins us from los angeles now. i have to ask - how was school today? >> it was tremendous. it was amazing. it was uplifting, exhilarating. classroom. >> you had the kids singing.

>> today, as soon as we walked in. in fact, they rushed into school, around 6:49 this morning, and, you know, actually school starts at 8 o'clock, but they knew i would be there earlier, so they rushed into the room, and they rushed in and started singing, and hugging and crying at the door. it was just fantastic. it was so emotional. >> sounds terrific. i have to say here your problems are not necessarily over. your case is still being looked at vetted. >> my case is still under investigation, under interut ni -- scrutiny. however, the part they have done cleared me for today. and i understand there's ongoing process, but what i thank god for it's a process that means finished. >> do you know what allowed them to let you go back to the classroom, did they explain it to you? me.

>> you were happy to be there. >> absolutely, absolutely. >> i have to ask you the all-important question. you are a teacher in the class, i know you are working on your curriculum throughout the time you were in detention. was there homework? >> yes, they received it today. they were wow. on the first day of school. please. i said "yes, you know how we roll, homework today." >> they are back at school at crenshaw high, as is teacher ira stefan son. thank you for being with us. >> thank you. that is it for us here on "america tonight". please remember that if you would like to comment on any stories you have seen, log on to the website aljazeera.com/americatonight and join the conversation on twitter or facebook.

iraq in crisis, it's prime minister clippings to power. thousands of refugees struggle to survive and the u.s. sends more military advisors, and the robin williams death, the links between depression and commission. hello, i'm antonio mora, welcome to "consider this". those stories and more ahead. >> as many as 35,000 yazidi refugees are stranded on mt sinjar in iraq. >> an iraqi helicopter crashed