or go to our website. i'll see you at 3:00! announcer: captioned telephone - enjoy the phone again! massachusetts police officers coming out to defend one of their own. a cop who arrested an african-american hard professor. some say this is racism. who is right? teenaged girls working as strippers. 16-year-olds taking it off on stage and it's legal in rhode island, are you kidding me? that's as long as they're off the pole by 11:30 on a school night. there's a baby in here! a fiery wreck, a mother and two small children trapped inside a minivan. rescuers risking their own lives. an amazinging rescue, you just

can't stop watching. welcome, this is prime news, i'm mike galanos. an amazing rescue, neighboring coming together to save a mother and her two children from a burning van. what you're about to see, incredible video. let's take a step back and let you relive it. give it a watch here, a mom with her two kids, driving, we're going to see the crash here. and imagine you're a neighbor here, what do you do? what goes through your mind? who's going to be a hero? everybody jumped in. we see the little girl come out first. but the little boy, little 4-year-old boy is still stuck in there, he's trapped because he's in his booster seat and he's strapped in with a safety belt. the booster seat. so somebody had to get in there and get him out. two off-duty firefighters, they're heroes in the story, folks, let's be honest, john and joel ratcliff you can see the

verbiage here, anybody got a knife? this could blow. but in the end, everybody's out. the little guy is still recovering, suffered some pretty bad burns. but let's talk to the heroes here, john and joel. john, let me start with you, you guys off-duty firefighters, you got no protective gear. you so he this unfolding, john, what's going through your mind? >> the only thing going through my mind is getting this little boy out of the vehicle. there is no thought process, we're reacting to the situation unfolding in front of us. our training that we received in the fire department, our experience, just teaches us to react. >> joel, same thing with you? there's no thought, hey, i could get hurt here? you guys are just reacting. >> you know you're going to get hurt, you know you're going to

get burned, cut, but your number one goal is to save that child's life. just tremendous effort. >> joel, i'll stay with you, so you guys are in now. when you get to the van, what do you experience? what's going on? >> just -- panic. you could tell in everyone voices there's panic. everyone is just in a -- uneasiness. everyone is working very, very hard. at that time, john pulled back the windshield as you see in the video and i enter theed vehicle and i saw d.j. he at that time was okay and everything around him is burning and he's just screaming. >> john, i take it it's hot. let's be honest here. but that doesn't register, huh, you guys are thinking, let's rescue this kid. >> correct, correct. you know, when we first arrived and i was able to actually visibly see the child or look into the vehicle, i couldn't

believe how clear it was. typically, in our experience, when there's fire, there's smoke and our visibility is, is down to nothing. but in this case, visibility was fantastic. we, and that aided in the speed of the rescue. because we knew exactly where, where d.j. was. we knew where the straps were. even though we, we initially tried to pull them out and we couldn't find the release. that's when i had to you know, we had to call for the knife. >> you guys panicking at all? or were you guys pretty calm as this was unfolding? >> i think you can tell, there's definitely a sense of urge sevenseven urgency there. we need a knife, when you have a 4-year-old boy screaming for his life and he's literally on fire, there's a sense of urgency, but you're focused enough to know

what has to be done. john had the presence of mind to call for the knife and he went in and got it done. >> your feelings when you were able to cut that seat belt and free little dj? >> i tell you, i cut the seat belt, and again,dy get everything that i needed? when i started really feeling relieved at that moment, inside the vehicle was when i was able to pull him forward towards me. and then i basically i rolled out of the vehicle with him in my arms. and you see me with him on the street. >> joil, your emotions as you basically saved a light here. >> yeah, and again, i mean it's such a great story. and the best thing about it is that it's you know, a total eem effort. it shows how good milwaukee is, how good the training of the fire department has given us. and just how everyone comes together to save a life. and that story doesn't have a successful ending or a happy

ending without the help of the neighbors smashing the windows and the garden hose and the person with the pocket knife. it's just a total community effort. it's uplifting. >> so well put. we've done some stories when people stand and watch when they should help and you had all the help you needed there. billy in texas would like to chime in. billy, your thought for our heroes here? >> caller: i'd like to add the same thing. you got, these firefighters that are off duty. but you've got all of these other people from the neighborhood that are stopping and that's -- that's what makes this whole thing worthwhile. this is america. this is how we help people. >> that's right, billy. as all of our hearts go out, hopefully it can inspire us all to want to jump in. i want you to listen to the boy's father, you may have heard this. just how thankful for again, neighbors, friends and heroes like. let's listen. >> i'm sorry i'm, i'm a little,

i'm trying to hold it together, it's my little boy. and i'm going to turn it over to the doctors, but i just want to thank everybody, everybody, for the citizens of milwaukee for helping us, angels all around us. and i'd like to thank everybody. >> you guys want to hear from both of you. your thoughts as you hear from an emotional father like that. >> i tell you, it's heart-wrenching. being a father myself, i can only imagine what he's going through and the feelings he's experiencing. you know, i was so glad i did get the opportunity, the following day, to get up there and meet dj's father, james. and give him a big hug. i really -- it was tremendously emotional. >> yeah, i'm sure. joel? >> it's just rewarding to see

that we as a community can come together at a time like that and be recognized as a community. and the father was just so thankful. and it just, it speaks volumes for the like the caller said, america and just how, as americans, we come together in times of crisis. >> before we let you go, we see you've got a bandage on your right arm. what are your injuries as well? >> nothing, for me, nothing compared to what dj's going through, some second-third-degree burns. i'll be back working in two or three weeks. all thoughts and prayers, please send them to dj, he's the trouper that's going through the pain and is going to go through the surgeries to make the full recovery. >> he's going to go through some recovery. he had some severe burns, correct, guys? >> yes. >> it's been an honor to talk to both john and joel rechlitz, thank you for your story and for doing the right thing.

guys, appreciate it. love talking to those guys. most of us need that morning cup of coffee to wake up and the afternoon to keep going. and what if that cup of coffee was your jump-start to financial success? we'll show you how this woman is turning her love of java into business success. sign up on the web on facebook, we'll take you behind the scenes, some great photos. there's a shot of the pensive mike galanos. join up.

this week's "money and main street" a massachusetts woman turns her love of coffee to a new business, here's our sister network, cnn. >> reporter: lucy villana is hooked o coffee. >> i had my first shot of espresso at 14, it was pretty amazing for me. >> reporter: with the dream of opening a coffee house, she went to seattle to learn at the aprons of the best. >> i got all the support ever. i'm not leaving this time until i know how to do that. >> reporter: she launched mobile coffee, her corporate headquarters -- >> this where the magic happens. >> reporter: she knew her business acumen could use a jolt. >> i wrote my business plan with all of these business plan writing for dummies. >> reporter: she then took her plan to the small business administration. and was directed to axion, usa,

a company specializing in microloans. it had just begun a partnership with samuel adams. to help small businesses get funding. >> i loved lucy's dedication to the quality of her product and i'm a big believer that you know, a great product and the patience that an entrepreneur brings to that can carry a long way if you have a helping hand. >> reporter: she started voltage with her $2,000 and the $4,000 loan she got through the sam adams brewing the american dream machine. >> the it covered espresso machine, the grinders, tables, membership and licensing and my costs for a few months with the commercial kitchen facilities i use. >> reporter: now she focused on a storefront. she had to incorporate, find a space and get a loan. >> i need to convince someone to give me $180,000. that's a good chunk of change. >> reporter: despite the

economy, she remains undaunted. >> i'm just going to keep working at it. i'm not letting up. i'm not letting up, boston. i don't care. >> reporter: stephanie elam, cnn, jamaica plain, massachusetts. you can see more "money and main street" tonight at 8:00 and every thursday morning on "american morning." maybe you can help me understand this one. how is it legal for an underage girl to strip at a strip club? yeah, in rhode island, there are no laws against it. so some 16-year-olds can dance naked in front of some dirty old man and that's perfectly legal, huh? that's coming up on prime news.

this one's going to shock you. 16-year-old girls stripping on stage and it's perfectly legal in rhode island.

minors can dance naked in front of gawking old men as long as sheer off the pole by 11:30 on school night. the law forbids teens from under 18 from operating a power saw, or pumping gas, but they can lap das. how is that legal? call us, joining me to talk about it, welcome backing wendy murphy, a former prosecutor who specializes in child abuse cases. also joining us by phone, rhode island state representative joanne janini. thanks for your time as well. why is there not a law on the books protecting young girls? >> caller: well no state law in rhode island prevents minors from working in adult entertainment. state law does say that anyone who enemploys a person under the age of 18 for prostitution or lewd or indecent act faces up to 20 years in prison. but in rhode island, since we allow strip clubs, stripping is

not considered lewd or indecent behavior. >> are you going to take some action? >> oh, yes, i'm filing a legislation, such that they have in massachusetts, with a state law that would prohibit employers from hiring minors for live performances, involving sexual conduct and adult entertainment. >> just to backtrack, i don't see how this is legal. even the terms obscene, indecent, lewd, a 16-year-old stripper for some old man, that's not lewd or indecent? >> well, i tell you it is. and this is just the tip of the iceberg. we also have a loophole that there's, we have no indoor prostitution law in rhode island, which makes it a double-whammy. because if these girls are doing that, who's to say they cannot do prostitution indoors as well. >> you hit it on bolt fronts, that's frightening, joanne. >> i'm working on both bills. >> we applaud your efforts, joanne. wendy, you're with me on that,

how is this happening, wendy? what's the back story on this? >> mike, sometimes it's just a terrible understatement to say we applaud your efforts, there's are other things i would like to say that would include stronger language. how can rhode island, be a place where in a sense, you can go, if you're a dirty old man, who in a sense might enjoy child pornography and child rape, child sex abuse, you go to rhode island, you can have what you want with a 16-year-old girl anywhere in the state. including having sex with her behind closed doors, because they do have legal prostitution, if it's done in a private setting. you've got to be kidding me. what is it with the lawmakers in the state of rhode island? was this really a loophole or is something that reflects their values. if they don't pass this law quickly, then we have only one phrase to say to the parents in rhode island, hide the children and don't go to rhode island for a visit. >> i've been trying for an

indoor prostitution bill. four years, now that this came into light because of a 16-year-old run-away from boston who is dancing in a providence strip joint. that's how we found out about this. >> let me point something out, wendy. real quick on that, and joanne, correct me if i'm wrong, it was found out that she was with some 40-year-old against her will. >> right, who took her here from boston, right. and he was an alleged pimp. >> brother. >> and why not? you get in trouble in boston. you don't get in trouble in rhode island. but i have a question, because i know there's been an effort and good for you, joanne, trying to push the prostitution bill and better protection for kids in terms of these kind of strip joint jobs, quote-unquote, who are the people stopping your legislation? because i know it's been stalled a couple of times. what's the names? we want to help you get over that? >> we the people here from the aclu. we have senators and representatives who are against

it who feel that what people do behind closed doors is their right. and -- >> with children? >> with prostitutes have a right, some of them, to make a living. and i strongly think this is an outrage. that we can't get the law passed. >> name the head of your senate. who is the head of your senate? >> senator theresa pivareed. the bill passed the house overwelly 64-9 and it stalled in the senate. >> he's holding it up, that person, that person is responsible for children being raped and abused, that person. >> we'll take a quick break, more with wendy and joanne, call in, 1-877-tell hln the phone number. a 16-year-old can't drive without a parent, can't buy pornography, but they can sell sex behind closed doors? call in.

cnn, headlines news, or msnbc are locked on your favorites? if they are i've got the gift for you. i'm gonna richardson and my next guest is ken pullson. a pleasure to have you here. >> good to be with you >> what is the museum. most people know. >> sometimes there you an a museum in articling ton, virginia called the museum. it was an effort to remind

americans of the value of news gathering in america and a nod to the first amendment. we did so well there so we decided to take it where the action is. we have a brand new museum called a the museum on pennsylvania avenue. it's a -- it's a 45 word sign out front with the words of the first amendment 'em blazed there. we think it's healthy for them to read that says congress shall make no law. we're attempting to put it in neon. >> it is flashing? >> it's not a tribute to journalists. we had a blogger say i'm not going to set foot in that museum until they do an extra special to copy editors. it is not about you. it is a museum of history but a different kind that reports what

happened over the last several centuries through the eyes of journalists. so you get contemporary coverage of the assassination of kennedy and arrival of the beatles and the civil war and fascinating >> exactly. what have the visitors reactions been for the first year? exciting. we see the full range of course. tremendous amount of school groups and a lot of tourists visiting washingt washingto was. we bill ourselves as the world's most interactive museum. young people can play the part of a reporter or an editor or a journalist. we can even stand up in front of what you and your business called blue screen, to tape a broadcast announcement for their friends and family and then send it out to friends at home. amazing exhibits there. i well tell you, i can say this

with some degree of humility. i just joined the museum in february, i've been the editor of u.s. a. today for the last five years. we have the largest piece of the berlin wall in north america. you can go there and see that and the guard tower in collaboration and partnership with the f.b. i.we celebrate their 100th anniversary and we have phenomenal artifacts. we have the unibomber's cabin believe it or not. and depending on your age, some of your viewers probably remember patty hurst and her tenure with the liberation army. we have the gun she used in the bank robbery and the leather jacket she wore. we have can coverage including

dillinger's death mask and the bullet pruf vest he zn wear on that night >> with you have so many different exhibits. what do you have planned for us your second year? >> one of the great things about working for a museum where news is in the title we're updating and reflect the headlines in the museum. not long ago when there was an uproar in iran we covered the social network and the twittering. when newspapers have collapsed and some markets we quickly reported that. upcoming exhibits include: throughout the next year you'll be able to see manhunt exhibit about the assassination of abraham lincoln and barack ob a obama. >> i'm so sorry. we've run out of time but

everyone has got and go and see the museum. >> thank you very much >> my guest has been ken pullson president of i'll clean the pool if you clean the windows. pick the windows, pick the windows! anything but the windows. deal. oh! new windex outdoor all-in-one... cleans outdoor glass fast. just spray with water, wipe with a windex cleaning pad, and rinse for a streak-free shine in half the time. you're done? she pulled a fast one! ( laughs ) new windex outdoor all-in-one. a streak-free shine in half the time. s.c. johnson, a family company. i'm sorry. i can't hear you very well. announcer: does someone you know have trouble hearing on the phone? dad. dad, let me help you with that, okay? announcer: now, a free phone service shows captions of everything a caller says. i'd like to make an appointment to see the doctor. announcer: to learn more about captioned telephone, call 1-800-552-7724

or go to our website. i'll see you at 3:00! announcer: captioned telephone - enjoy the phone again! welcome back. two big developments today centering on michael jackson's death. a new report from the "los angeles times" just coming out that cops are focusing on fake names that michael jackson may have used to score prescription drugs. one name out there -- omar arnold used just days after business death. and we know exactly what cops seized in this week's raid of dr. conrad murray's office, items that experts say a cordologist is not even supposed to have. we welcome back jim murray, an "inside edition" correspondent and also dr. jeffrey guy, professor of surgery at

vanderbilt medical center. doctor, i want to start with you, let's get specific with some of these drugs here. heap us with the pronunciation, one of them, klozipam. why would dr. murray even like that? >> this drug, clonepin, is a relaxes you, is it a drug that a cardiologist would typically use, it's a mood depressant drug, something used for anxiety and typically within the scope of a practice of someone like a psychiatrist. >> jim, that fits, doesn't it, with something that michael jackson might have been taking, right? >> it does. we've heard that michael jackson wanted to come down, at night and come up in the day. that's the description used by one doctor, specifically in treating him. and michael jackson had an addiction, we know, to demerol,

that he's admitted to. and he was treated for that. and the interesting question is, what other drugs was he taking? one doctor i talked to who has treated michael jackson in the past, tells me today on ""inside editio edition"" that he had 11 aliases that he would use to obtain various drugs, which is shocking. >> 11 aliases? well since you brought that up, i we were doing some research and the story of winony ryder it gets with winona ryder, guy, let's talk about that. that's where it gross, doesn't it? somebody could have their own pharmacy at home when these numbers add up. >> patients will get very elaborate. they'll keep notebooks to make sure they have the right alias to the right pharmacy. so they don't present as alias a

to the pharmacy one week and come back the next week to somebody else. to keep such a lie alive for so long, it takes a lot of planning and forethought. >> do you as a doctor, and you mention with burn victims who need pain medication, do you have to double-check to make sure, someone, a patient, is not doctor-shopping? >> well, yes, and we have contracts, lab patients say, any time we're giving you these medications we can sit there and ask you to produce the pills, we can count them. we find out if you're getting these medications from another prescription, we can droch you as a patient. we'll talk to those physicians and say, what is the group plan of how we're going to deep with these medicationings. there's databases in the state of tennessee, we go onto the database and see if they're getting medications from other providers. that's what a responsible provider would do. >> that's a challenge to the entire medical field. guys, we're going to take a quick break, when we come back. more on this.

on the other side of that, who else might have used fake names to get michael jackson prescription drugs. we'll talk about the specifics found at dr. conrad murray's office and take more of your calls.

welcome back. once again, an invitation to you, you're a huge part of the show. we love hearing from you.

call us, 1-877-tell hln or email us or text message us. all you have to do is start your message with the word "prime" and your text messages pop up on the bottom of the screen. noer way to get in on the conversation, become a fan of prime news on facebook. we'll take you behind the scenes. you'll get an early heads up on some of the stories we're following. wow, okay, cnn.com/primenews, let's get back to michael jackson and we're taking your calls, michelle is in florida. hey, michelle, your thoughts here? >> caller: hi, i'm got two real quick comments. one, if the pharmacy knew that he had over $100,000 that they owed to them, i know if it was a normal person, they would have called the doctor, whoever wrote those prescriptions, and told them that you know, this person had inquired such a bill of over

$100,000, you know how many pills he's getting. per time -- >> good point, michelle. some double-checking. go ahead. >> caller: and also the doctor was saying they have to sign a form whenever they're getting their cottics after the burn. why did anyone do a urine test on him to see what medications he was actually taking? >> good point there. first off, jim, help us clarify that the large bill that the caller was talking about. how long did michael jackson own $100,000. >> it was a pharmacy in beverly hills. i asked the doctor i spoke with, how could that pharmacy not have known? this doctor told me that it is his understanding that 19 doctors and 11 aliases are involved here. and specific to this pharmacy. the only way that they were actually able to trace that it was all to michael jackson was basically following the money. how it was all paid. who was responsible for the bill. because the $100,000 bill didn't necessarily have to be all in

michael jackson's name from one particular doctor. that's what makes this whole investigation so much more complicated. the authorities have put names and doctors together and cross-reference and ultimately follow the money. >> dr. jeffrey guy is with us. doctor, there's no way you as a doctor, an individual doctor would have any idea that a patient of yours is racking up that kind of bill, would you? >> no, there's a disconnect. and the caller brings up a good point about the large quantity of medications, a legitimate practice of people with chronic pain, that's done in a chronic pain-type clinic or in practices like cancer practices or burn practices where patients have long-term pain. this was not a legitimate relationship. a downer, another now,

phentermine, that's a downer, right? >> one takes you down, one brings you up. >> an appetite suppressant. we're hearing that michael jackson weighed 110 pounds. >> why is it an appetite suppressant. it regulates your metabolism. it's like an automobile, you can make the car rev faster. it's a drug that gets your body running and revving and that's how these patients lose weight with this medication. >> jim, before we go, i want to hit, we've heard, you and i talked about it, there could be a possible third meeting with dr. conrad murray or his lawyers. and it was supposed to possibly happen today. do we know anything about that? >> we've heard nothing more about it. we've put in requests to the lawyer for interviews, comments, and we've heard nothing. it's possible, we know that authorities specifically, the coroner wants to talk to dr. murray. and we also know now, based on what was filed with the court,

that dr. murray is the focus of this criminal investigation. and he may not be the only doctor. >> and his own lawyer saying that the authorities are looking for evidence of manslaughter. dr. jeffrey guy, and jim moray, we appreciate it, guys. coming up, like the hot-button topic. cops arrest an african-american harvard professor at his own home. he was having trouble getting inside. the police officer sticking to his guns as well. president obama is weighing in on that. that's coming up in our "what matters" segment. we want to know what you think of the situation. call us, at 1-877-tell lnl and now meet our hero of the week. >> this is cnn news. >> in 2004, i was diagnosed with breast cancer. and initially, there's shock, but i realized how blessed i was to have health insurance. it made me think about all the women who didn't have health insurance. i wanted to make a difference in their lives.

i'm andrea ivory and i'm fighting breast cancer one woman at a time. we're targeting working-class people and we're going to make a difference and save some lives. we have a take it to the streets approach. we feel like little pixies spreading breast cancer awareness. we target women 35 years or older and make appointments on the spot for a free mammogram. i look forward to seeing you, i'll be there. bringing the mobile mammography van into the neighborhood is one of the most important facets of the work we do. we provide a service that is so needed. i know i'm saving lives. >> they said it was free, so come right over and get it. >> is the lady of the house at home? we give free mammograms on the 25th. that's easy. >> thank you so much.

>> i was saved from breast cancer to serve other women. every time i knock on the door, it's another opportunity to save a life.

the arrest of an african-american harvard professor this past weekend has created a racial firestorm across the country. our prime news correspondent michelle carey looks at that the debate in our weekly feature, what matters. >> reporter: henry louis gates' arrest has reignited racial relations in the united states. it turns out that the front door was stuck and he and his driver were just trying to get in. charges against him were dropped this week. the arresting officer, sergeant james crowley, says race did not play a factor. the debate heated up when president obama said the cambridge police department acted stupidly. today, he talked on the phone to both professor gates and sergeant crowley.

then publicly clarified his remarks. >> i unfortunately gave an impression that i was maligning the cambridge police department or sergeant crowley specifically. and i could have calibrated those words differently. and i told this to sergeant crowley. i continue to believe, based on what i have heard, that there was an overreaction in pulling professor gates out of his home to the station. i also continue to believe based on what i heard, that professor gates probably overreacted as well. >> joining me to talk about this royce watkins, founder of yourblackworld.com. and a self-proclaimed hip hop

scholar and first, i want to go to you what was your reaction to the president speaking out today? i think some people in the press corps were caught offguard when he walked into a briefing room. >> i think the president made the right move. i think that any logical person knows that you don't start a very damning statement by saying that skip gates is my friend, i'm probably biassed and i don't have all the facts, but they behaved stupidly. not only was that literally, like a verbal warstrike on this department, which probably led to some heads rolling. it also was undermined by his admission that he didn't know the facts. but president obama is a smart guy and he admits when he screws up. and i think he handled this very well. and i think what has to happen now is we've got to open up the brower dialogue -- broader dialogue. right now this situation is between crowley and gates. it may not even be about race. this may be about egos, more a

class issue than it is a race issue. but there is a broader race issue that we have to deal with across the nation. >> actually, james, i want your reaction as well to what president obama said today. >> well i'm glad that he backed off his comments a bit. but i agree with his original assessment, especially considering the fact that the officer in question, officer crowley, claims to be diversity trainer, a well-decorated and well-respected officer. cooler heads should have prevailed and the fabts are out, he did not have to arrest professor gates. now people want to be calm and cool and collected about it. it's very, very difficult for me personally to divorce this issue from the long and sad history of the poor relationships between police departments and the african-american communities they have to police. >> he said even though there is a police report, none of us were there. i want to hear right now from sergeant crowley and from

professor gaetsz both. let's do that right now. >> i was continuously telling him to calm down during this whole exchange, because i really didn't want this, either. although i didn't know at the time who professor gates was. knowing he was an affiliate of harvard, i really didn't want to have to take such a draft ig action. because i knew it was going to bring a certainty amount of unwanted attention on me. nonetheless, that's how far professor gates pushed it and provoked and just wouldn't stop. >> it was the fault of the policeman who couldn't stand a black man standing up for his rights right in his face and that's what i did. and i would do the same thing exactly again. >> steve, i want to ask you at what point, there was obvious tension between them at professor gates' home. at what point, as long as you're not putting your hands on an officer, does an officer have a right to arrest you in your own

home? explain that to us. >> well, rochelle, after he did produce his identification, the certainliant was berated and yelled at and called aracist, a you know the statute reads, public inconvenience, annoyance, and alarm. and looking at it objectively, we have to wonder, did mr. gates prejudge this officer as a racist prior to having any other interaction with him, before he even interacted with him. >> i understand that, but my question is, regardless of the verbal interaction between them, i'm just asking you, as a police officer, at what point was it okay to arrest him? that's what i'm asking. >> yeah. once he became -- >> i realize you weren't there, steve. i do understand that. >> once there was difficulty in dealing with mr. gates and sergeant crowley warned him that his behavior was out of order, there comes a point in a police officer's timing during a situation like this where he

makes the decision to affect the arrest to stop this person from creating a disturbance, having people gather, and creating annoyance and alarm for those in the surrounding area. >> all right. obviously a difficult situation to judge, if we're not there. we're not done talking about this. we've got people lined up who want to talk about it, share facebook comments and e-mails. don't go anywhere. people have been fired up about this topic. more to come on the other side of the break.

[ music ] >> welcome to comcast local edition, i'm donna richardson, and my guest this hour is christine bergmark who is the executive director of the southern maryland agricultural development commission. welcome, christine, it's good to have you here. >> thank you for having me. >> that's a big mouthful, and i know that you're working on an extremely exciting program, bi-local challenge. >> it is an initial that we launched two years ago, and essentially what it is is the last full week of july we ask everyone across the state of maryland and beyond to take a pledge, and the pledge is eat

something or drink from a farm every day during that week. >> oh. so where do we get the information about where to find the farms or how do we sign up for this pledge? >> well, there's a website. it's www.by-local-challenge.com that website will give you all sorts of information why to buy local and where to buy local and it connects you to other statewide initiatives that are going on at the same time. if you go to the website, we've added a count. people used to say, where do i sign up? normally you have to go buy, eat something from a local farm. this year we decided to add a counter to the website. when you are' counted, you can receive a certificate with your name on it that you can put up in your office or your home or wherever. >> which is very, very important. it's reduces your carbon foot

print because you're driving hopefully a shorter distance, you have access to local products that are available, and also it helps the farmers. >> well, and in fact, our theme this year is healthy plate, healthy planet. all kinds of benefits to buying local, benefits for you, healthy, nutrition, it's fresh, and preserving our farms survive, we keep clean water, we keep clean air, we reduce the carbon footprints from things traveling 1500 miles, and it tastes good. >> exactly. now for those people who may not cook, how can they be a part of this? >> yeah, sometimes people say, well, i hate to cook. that's okay. you can go to a store or to a restaurant that features local farm products, and there are more and more restaurants every year, some of them are on our website, and you can click throughout to find out who they are,. >> what kind of items can we

acquire localfully. >> during the last week of july, there is so much product available. there's sweet corn, blackberries, all kinds of tomatoes and melons are in season, and of course, there's always wine, cheese, eggs, meatss. >> so we do have a wide variety of things we can get. say that i go and i go to a local farmer's market and purchase something, what is a vegetable that i'm not quite familiar with, how did i find a recipe. >> excellent question. there are recipes on our website. people can post their own recipes of their own events and own blogs by why they buy local. some of the things i wanted to mention is the economic benefits. we talked about the planet, we talked about the fact that it

tastes good, and it's fun, but there's also the benefit of supporting our farms, and if every household in the state mucofmaryland were to buy just 2 worth of products for 8 weeks, basically the summer season that, would put $200 million straight back into the pockets of our farmers. that would do a lot to keep our farmers thriving. >> which is so important. i know we have less than 30 seconds, but you have some partners that you wouldn't typically think of who have now joined in. >> yes. hospitals are joining in this year. fact, they're looking to do a competition to see how many people they can get involved. >> have you exciting. christine, thank you very much for coming in today. >> thank you. >> my guest today has been christine bergmark with the southern agricultural commission. if you're interested in what comcast is doing in your area, go to on demand and click get

local. for comcast local edition, i'm donna richardson. [ music ]