>> coming up, geneva, diplomatic talks between john kerry and sergey blackrock continue -- sergey layrov continue. in new york, a judge has ruled in favor of strippers against a manhattan nightclub that was sued for denying workers minimum wage pay. more on this victory for workers rights coming up. in a lawsuit was dismissed, the

atheist groups behind a lawsuit claims that having "in god we trust" violates the separation of church of stat -- the separan of church and state. it is friday, september 13th, 5 p.m. in washington, d.c.. we began today with a diplomatic negotiation over the syrian crisis. the head of the u.n. chemical weapons team announced that the report was complete and will be sent to you when secretary -- the u.n. secretary. this will determine whether chemical weapons were used in syria on august 21 but it will not determine who mad may be responsible for their use. the international envoy held a three-way meeting with the u.s. secretary of state john kerry

and the russian foreign minister sergei lavrov. key talks in geneva into the second day. >> people are holding their breath in geneva and around the world at the moment while the top diplomats meet to try to come to a diplomatic solution to disarming syria other weapons. this is currently on course while john kerry and serge sergi lavrov will me to try to have a tip solution. some progress has been made. we have seen confirmation that there aren't treaty papers. this morning saw a meeting between john kerry, sergei lavrov, and the international envoy for syria will stop they

expressed cautious optimism about the prospect of coming to a viable resolution, a diplomatic solution to the crisis. >> now the assad government joined the chemical weapons convention and we have to engage our professionals together with the chemical weapons organization as they agreed with the u.n. to design a road which would make sure this issue is resolved quickly, professionally,, as soon as possible. >> our residents are deeply concerned about the death toll and instruction, the acts on both sides all sides. we are committed to try to work together, beginning with this initiative on the chemical weapons in hopes that those efforts can pay off. >> despite talk of working towards a diplomatic solution, it seems that there are a number of sticking points that remain

between all of the sides. one major issue could be the question of timing. bashar al-assad has said that damascus will start to provide information on its chemical weapons stockpiles 30 days after sign up. this is something that john kerry has rejected. he has rejected this timeframe. he said that bashar al-assad should be able to give up all of their chemical weapons in a week and he does not think that is very viable, that damascus would be able to do that. he led an international observer to question how constructive such a strict timeframe from the usa is. whether or not is is even viable consider the process of chemical disarmament is extremely likely and indeed dangerous. a u.s. military remains prepared and poised to strike syria if a deal is not come up with in

geneva. that is what is at stake here at these negotiations. russia has said that this very strict condition is unacceptable. that they are not going to be able to come to a diplomatic solution if the usa is threatening to use force against syria. this was something that was echoed by bashar al-assad in his latest interview. >> this will not be about serious signing a protocol and delivering with no positive feedback. it has to be a mutual process come above all the u.s. has to give up its policy of threatening syria. the u.s. should refrain from threatening us. once we see them stop supplying weapons to terrorists, then we will consider this process is truly exceptional for syria and we look to finalize it. russia should play a major role in the disarmament process.

we don't trust washington, we don't talk to them. moscow is the only party that can fulfill this role now. >> many tough positions and sticking points that need to be reconciled here in geneva before the end of the day. many say it is up to russia and israel to mediate and to help a realistic plan for ratings. other chemical weapons and implementing it as well. we are expecting a press conference at the end of the day where we are going to see if all of these major differences have been ironed out and if the two sides have been able to come together and issue a realistic plan and avoid a military strike. >> is the foreign intelligence starting a new trend of transparency? according to a u.s. spy court

judge, more disclosures are justified. to explain his opinion, the judge reference to the unauthorized disclosure by edward snowden. he said that this has engendered considerable public interest and debate. section 215 is a revision of the patriot act that expanded the government's power to spy on ordinary people through what was called a sensitive collection program. this comes three days after the nsa declassified 1800 pages of documents that shed light on its collection of american phone records. that release was the result of a request from the aclu and the electronic frontier foundation. now, they say any opinions not already subject to litigation under the freedom of information act should be reviewed for declassification. it is undetermined when that

information will be released. >> succession fever seems to be sweeping the nation. we are seeing the largest wave in these type of movements since the south tried to break apart from the union. right now, the state of texas is seeking to become its own country, not to mention parts of california and colorado are trying to break off into separate states. the latest movement lost in maryland where five counties are fed up with the liberal majority and say they want an amicable divorce. we went to an area with some activists that hope this will be the 51st state. >> in maryland is mostly known for his city of baltimore. this is where the bulk of the state's population lives. the population made up of mostly democrats. take the drive out west and you will find a different side of maryland. it is a different way of life in

western maryland. the counties around here remain rural. farming and agriculture remain a major heart of day-to-day life. >> we are a very small community and i feel like sometimes we can be overlooked. >> you had out here past places like liberty town. vast cornfields and farmhouses, you are clearly in red territory. in carroll county, people find little in common with the rest of maryland. many people no longer want to be part of the state. >> we no longer wish to give our consent. we think our differences are irreconcilable. >> this is heading the western initiative to make five western maryland counties break off and form a new state. >> the biggest issue for me is the gerrymander districts. the state, senate, and districts

to ensure single party and we cannot be properly represented that way. >> he has a lot of support. in a few weeks since he launched a facebook fan page page, it has garnered more than the 600 likes. they say they are tired of being ignored by political leaders until tax season comes around. how many western marylanders really want to be left on their own? not everyone would like to be the 51st on the flag. >> we don't need to separate. this is stupid. >> what revenue do we bring in to support ourselves? even as maryland as a whole, we struggle. >> i love this state. >> he says he will not move forward unless the people really want it. if that happens, there are a number of steps that need to occur before a new state is born. >> we have to go to the maryland legislature and get

their approval. >> it might be a longshot for western maryland to secede. one resident has an idea for the time being. >> if we could come together as a state, i can see them benefiting each other. this is a trip. >> separate state or not, at least some people here in western maryland feel like for once they are being heard. still ahead, a group of strippers won a victory for workers rights. they won their suit that was not offering minimum wages. more on the court decision after the break. >> drummers that cannot be ignored. -- dramas that cannot be

ignored. stories of others refuse to notice. face is changing the world right now. a full picture of today's news. live, from around the globe. >> it was him terrible mistake and we are working very hard. >> this is a flat out lie. >> and never have sex with governor rick perry.

>> i want you to watch what we are about to do. [music planying] >> did you know the press is the only industry specifically mentioned in the constitution? that is because a free and open press is critical to our democracy. in fact, the single biggest threat facing our nation is the corporate takeover of our

government and our press. we have been hijacked by a handful of transnational corporations that will profit by destroying what our founding fathers wanted. on the show, we reveal the big picture of what is actually going on in the world. we go beyond identifying. rational debate and a real discussion. ready to join the movement. >> i would rather ask questions of people in positions of power instead of speaking on their

behalf. that is why you can find my show right here on rt. question more. >> exotic dancers are now getting the rights they were once stripped. a judge ruled that ricks cabaret had been wrongly denying minimum wage. the manhattan nightclub had argued that the dances were independent contractors, not house employees and they did not merit a standard wage. after a three-year lawsuit, there was a number of written guidelines that they were expected to adhere to as in toys would.

-- were expected to adhere as employees would. we are joined by an attorney for discussion on this case. the nightclub in this case, trying to argue that these women were independent contractors. what were the factors that really indicated these women were being treated like in-house employees? >> a lot of the factors were identified like the club exercise a lot of control in the manner in which the entertainers conducted their profession. they controlled everything from the height of the heels they could well do the length of the dresses they wore to what order they could go. what are they focused on which was so central to this industry and not just club in particular is the fact that really adult entertainers don't own maryland businesses.

these are people who ply their trade to a variety of different customers the way that a house painter might or that other sort of consummate independent contractors might. here, the entertainers are dependent on the club to determine how much they will learn or how much they won't earn. the reality is, they don't do what it takes to get customers to get customers to come to the club in the first place, our customers will not make money. it is the lack of that economic control that drives the decision. >> the lawsuit claimed that the nightclub had been requiring them to pay a variety of fees to the club where every shift they worked and to pay fines for breaking the rules, whatever that means. can you talk about what that entailed and were women

actually in some cases losing money? >> yes. the adult entertainment industry as far as adult entertainers are concerned, they are very frequently paid to work industry. you have a barn fee when you show up at night. if you don't make it back, too bad for you. if you file it the clubs rules, most get added onto the roster of money that you are owed. many of the rules go back to the position of control. not dancing on stage when your name is called, chewing gum, having your cell phone on the floor. you can be find in this industry. these are all of the kinds of things that are eliminated between the issues. controlling what inner tenors can do and the lack of control that they have.

>> it is incredible how strict those rules are. >> it is hard to imagine how these entertainers should be paid at the minimum wage which amounts to the fraction of the $1000 or more that some of them acknowledge they earned in a single night. what is your response? >> they are attempting to take a couple of special occurrences where a couple of entertainers might have had really big earnings on a given night and great the public impression that that is the norm. some inner tenors are routinely earning thousands of dollars of night, it seems a lot of people would be interested in going into that industry. they would be flocking to this post graduation and we are not seeing that. this is not a viable on its face.

it evidences their attitude and that will be a problem. they have earned enough, so what about the minimum wage. the truth is that you cannot rely on the fact that you are entertainers or employees get good tips, in order to avoid the if a waiter at a restaurant has a night where he gets a big tip, the restaurant is a good to say, sorry, we are not paying you. >> you make a lot of very good points. unfortunately, we have run out of time but i do appreciate you coming on. michele break, one of the representatives of the women in this case. thank you so much. a federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit demanding the removal of the words "in god we trust" from all u.s. currency. it was brought against a treasury department from the freedom from religion

foundation. in the initial complaint, the group along with a dozen more plaintiffs argued that having a phrase like in god we trust is proselytizing, discriminatory, and the establishment of monotheism. the group argued that this is not exhibit a separation of church and state. however, the judge presiding was not persuaded by these arguments. in the court order he wrote that the phrase was not a violation because the supreme court has repeatedly assumed the secular purpose and effect. i was joined earlier by the lead counsel in the case. i first asked him why he thinks having the phrase is problematic. >> i don't see how anyone can think it is anything but. it says in god we trust, that is a religious statement. >> the plaintiffs on the case

have argued that this violates the constitution but technically the constitution doesn't mandate that church and state be separate, that wording comes from a thomas jefferson letter. how does this violate the right to practice your religion? >> that argument that the constitution doesn't say separation of church and state, it doesn't say a lot of things. it doesn't say separation of powers but we certainly have a tripartite government. the fact wording is that congress shall make no law establishing religion. if you look at what they were talking about, they were talking about exactly things like this where the government takes a view and advocates for that view. >> of course, the motto, in god we trust, is not just in

currency. it is written in the chambers of the house of representatives. why focus just on currency? >> you need standing to bring a case. we don't have standing to challenge what congress does unless it personally affects us. if it personally affects us that says something completely contrary to our views. what would they do if it said, in allah we trust. what would you say if it said, in jesus we trust? what would catholics do if it said something different? everybody would be upset at that. it's is the exact same thing except it is flutes fewer people and unpopular people. josh except that it excludes -- except that it excludes fewer people and unpopular people. >> we have a culture of using religious phrasing even if we are not necessarily religious.

people sometimes say thank god, or heaven sakes. how do you address how language has permitted our culture? is anything that you and the people who are working to do the same work that you're doing, is anything you you are doing to tackle this. >> there is nothing wrong with it. you are missing the key point which is that we have nothing against people, individuals, groups, people who want not the government to doing what they in terms of religion. if they want to worship god, they have every right. what we are against is them using the government of all of us to do this. when government speaks in terms of religion, if government says there is no god, and that would be just as wrong. government should stay out of this business. >> what other battles are you and other atheists organizations fighting at this point to separate church and state? i just want to get an idea of

what other types of initiatives that you have. >> anytime the government is getting involved. there is a case with they are trying to get under god out of the pledge of allegiance. they have little children put their hand over their hearts and say, under god. individuals can do this all they want. if kids want to meet before school and pledge allegiance to jesus christ, they can do that. you just cannot get the government to do it. we have our passport, it is all filled with god stuff. if you want to be an naturalized citizen, you have to say so help me god. we have this permeating our society, it is unnecessarilry ad wrong. are you -- >> are you coming up against roadblocks? what's we're coming up against judges judges that choose not to uphold the constitution's principles. they would prefer to protect

their careers. that is a roadblock. >> as i understand it, you are planning to appeal this case. are there any new strategies that you're hoping to employ the second time around? >> no, it is the same strategy. it is getting the judge to acknowledge. i don't anybody believes that this is not a violation of the constitution. it says in god we trust. the judge in this case, government cannot have religious purpose. the purpose as stated by the director of the mental. he said, this is what he said, quote we claim to be a christian nation. our national coinage should proclaim our trust in god in him who is king of kings, jesus christ.

if you are done for a religious purpose when the director of the meant says that was a purpose, there's not much you can do. hopefully, i can find to judges who will say, this is ridiculous. we will uphold the constitution. the supreme court has never ruled on this. give the supreme court a chance to see if they will uphold the rights of all americans including atheists. >> we are deftly going to follow the appeal. i appreciate you coming on and sharing your insight on this case and we wish you all of the lock. that was the lead counsel on this case. -- we wish you all of the luck. the cheese capital of the nation might be putting their cheese curd leftovers to good use. they announced they would be trying something different this winter am a using cheese rind to deice the streets. this isn't inexpensive

byproduct of the cheesemaking process. they say this will not replace rock salt and instead add to it making it much more effective. they say they already know it will work. the case in point, tiny polk county. they have been using this since 2009. according to the report, the county state approximately $40,000 as a result. in addition, officials say using this will lessen the possible long-term environmental impact of using only rock salt. there is a downside. this is known to have a distinctive odor. we will have to wait and see if the city is up for a smelly challenge. that does it for now. for more on the stories we have covered, go to youtube.com /rtamerica. we will see you right back here at 8:00.

nhk world "newsline." the secretary general of the united nations says a urn team is likely to conclude chemical weapons were used in syria but they're not saying who is to blame. government or opposition forces. >> our team came out with the report but i believe that the report will be an overwhelming report that the chemical weapons