jonathan. >> allen schauffler.tennessee is bringing back the electric chair as a method of executions. if lethal drugs are not available. the lethal cocktail is less and less available. prosecutors might be challenging tennessee's rule calling it cruel and unusual punishment. >>> a man spent 19 years in jailed until he was recently pardoned by president obama. leading some to wonder how fair the justice system is. natasha guinane has the story. >> ricky was sentenced with no violence and no victim. >> people did worse crimes this me got lesser crimes that me. it was hurtful. >> his crime, possession of seven ounces of crack found in a car during a traffic stop. that and two earlier cocaine acquisitions found that he would spend the rest of his life behind bars. as the father of two faced the possibility of facing life in prison, he did the only thick he could, he prayed. >> god, i know i'm a better person than how i'm living and i need your help. >> patterson was sentenced at the time when the penalties for possess

allen schauffler, al jazeera, vantage, washington. >> rebecca, dry conditions not good. >> montana, bringing lot of rainfall and showers and thunderstorms. but these have become severe in eastern montana. reports of funnel clouds twice we've gotten these in the last two hours and wind and hail reports as well. in fact golf ball sized hail is entirely possible in these powerful storms. tracking across eastern montana but now we're going osee that risk continue into the evening through parts of wyoming and the dakotas. otherwise we are looking at drought area specifically california, arizona, new mexico, where we've been so dry without very much rainfall at all. and now this same storm system is going to be spinning its way down over the drought-ridden area and we are going to expect a lot of that rain evaporate into the air. when that rain evaporates, the cold heavy air crashes down causing heavy gusts. so if we get to lightning sparked with wildfires, the wind gusts will encourage that. wind gusts are still very strong in northern california because of this low pressure system but wind gusts

allen schauffler with more on this, ala allen? >> reporter: michelle anderson and her boyfriend joseph mcenroe face possible death sentences for shooting anderson's parents, brother and sister-in-law, niece and nephew. killing the older couple, hiding the bodies and then waiting for the young family to arrive for a holiday dinner and shooting all of them. five-year-old olivia and three-year-old nathan last. >> how do you do that? a small tiny blue-eyed baby boy in diapers. this is sick. >> reporter: pam lost her daughter and two grandchildren that night. she estimates she has watched more than 100 pretrial hearings. no jury has been seated yet. she calls it all a circus. >> is justice being served? >> reporter: no, no, absolutely not. we're exactly the same place that we were in october of 2008 when they decided on the death penalty. >> court appointed attorney katie ross, a veteran of capitol cases represents joe mcenroe. she said they're doing what they're supposed to do, trying to save their clients lives. >> we have to get the

allen schauffler has more on that from seattle. >> good evening. it didn't take long after the federal judge's ruling that people's constitutional rights were being violated and counties could be responsibility if they uphold the ice requests. >> reporter: after a domestic dispute. dan yal landed in this gaol. he and his wife say he was behind bars longer than he should have been because ice, immigration and customs enforcement asked that he be held. he could have been out in a day or a couple of hours, but immigration put a hold on him and his situation changed. ice wanted to decide if he was an undocumented immigrant. he says he is here illegally, he's one of more than 17,000 holds or detainers the agency issues, a number dropped since late 2011. a judge in portland ruled if people are breaking the laws, the holds violate the 4th amendment covering illegal search and seizure. >> the judge said if the country holds people in gaol as a result of the ice holds, that they violate the constitution in doing so. and that they are on the hook for damages

we are joined outside seattle, allen schauffler, tell us about the ice holes. >> reporter: yes, interesting stuff. it really didn't take long after the federal judge's ruling that you mentioned that people's rights were violated, their constitutional right and the counties honouring the ice detainers or hold requests could be liable for damages. didn't take long before sheriffs around the west changed their policy. after a domestic dispute daniel landed in this gaol. he and his wife say he was behind bars longer than he should was ice, immigration customs and enforcement asked that he be held. he could have been out in a day. immigration put a hold on him, his situation changed. ice wanted the hold to despite if he was undocumented. he says he's here illegally. he's one of more than 17,000 holds or detainers the agency issues nationally, a number that dropped since late 2011. a federal judge in portland ruled if people break the lawyers, the holds break the fourth amendment covering illegal search and sees your. this professor teaches immigration law. >> if the country holds people in gaol

allen schauffler is in seattle with more on that. >> reporter: good evening.s is a civil rights complaint filed in federal court. by seattle police patrol officers, naming attorney, the city of seattle, mayor, police chief, city attorney and more. the officers are claiming that constitutional rights are violated by federally required reforms within the police department, governing the way they do their job, and particularly how and when they use force. >> reporter: seattle police are under orders to change their ways after the department of justice found for years officers used excessive force. a consent decree requires reforms, including complicated rules about the use of force. the lawsuit, brought by more than 120 patrol officers claims the new policy undermines the constitutional rights afforded plaintiffs, asking them to take unreasonable risks. it leaves the public less safe as well. it goes on to use the use of force policy vague, complicated and contradictory, claiming the confusion makes it inevitable officers or citizens will be killed or injured. th

and nowhere is that more ef denth -- evident than the state of oregon and allen schauffler reports. >er: meet mia, toby, and their little sister. they are brought, energetic, adorable and expensive. about $1,500 a month for child, $18,000 a year for three days a week. the parents work four days a week each. >> if we were to pay full-time, we shouldn't be working. we would -- it would cost the same amount as our mortgage does. >> reporter: according to a recent report, oregon is the most expensive state in the country for child care followed by new york and minnesota. in oregon the average cost of infant day care for one is more than $13,000 a year. yearly tuition and fees at state universities run just under $7,000. >> it's not an oregon alone. we're just more dramatic. but -- but it would be a mistake to think this is an oregon phenomenon. >> reporter: dr. bobby webber has studied family dynamics for years. she says finding affordable quality child care is a constant scramble. >> this isn't a land of equal opportunity if by age five your trajectory is already set. and the evidence is

let's go to allen schauffler who has been following this from seattle. allen tell us about this ruling. >> this ruling took effect immediately today it was issued at noon and two of the plaintiffs who brought suit against the state of oregon were the first in line, first to get married in multnomah county in oregon today. organizians voted back -- oregonians volted by a 53-47 margin to make marriage a heterosexual institution between a man and a woman. the court threw that out saying the guarantee of equal protection under the law, this decision was widely expected around the state of oregon and around the country. gay and lesbian couples gathered to celebrate and were ready for the i do's. >> thrig about all the -- thinking about all the people who haven't lifd to see this. this is something that has mattered not just now but it has married forever. >> i think the part about we're no longer looking in the shadows of the closet that we're out and living publicly, we are family, you know here we are. it's a tremendous and powerful day. >> now, the attorney

. >> allen schauffler covering the story. >>> russian president vladimir putin says he has ordered troops deployed near the ukranian border to return to their home bases. the united states and n.a.t.o. says they have seen no major withdrawals. vladimir putin called for the redeployment. we have more from moscow. >> reporter: for months they've been a threatening appearance on the ukraine border. 40,000 troops officially an exercise, though battle trained and ready. on monday vladimir putin ordered soldiers back to the bases. >> this is a postponement of a big war, which is rather very good. it's not yet - it's not strategic, it's tactical. a tactical decision that gives everyone breathing space, two months to speak a political solution that will be permanent. >> n.a.t.o. is skeptical. it has heard this before from russia in recent weeks. >> so far we have not seen any withdrawal. at all. i strongly regret that because a withdrawal of russian troops would be a first important correction to de-escalating the crisis. >>> ukraine's border has noticed a reduction in activity. if soldiers move

as allen schauffler reports, it has the most expense ist childcare in the -- expensive childcare in theountry. >> meet mia 8, toby 5, and sara 3. they are bright, energyic, adorable and expensive. about $15 huz a month for child care. bill and raphaela work four days each. >> if we paid full-time, we shouldn't be working. it would cost the same as our mortgage. >> according to a report by the national family support organization, child care aware. oregon is the expensive state followed by new york and minnesota. in orgob, the -- oregon the after cost is $13,000. tuition and fees run under $,000. >> it's not an oregon problem. we are more dramatic. it would be a mistake to think it's ar oregon phenomena. >> dr bobby studied family dynamics and said all over the country finding affordable child care is a scramble with families under pressure and kids' futures at stake. >> this is not a land of equal opportunity if by age 5 the trajectory is set. >> some child care advocates say government need to do more. >> our public education system and university system is paid for in part by taxpayer

allen schauffler has the story. >> meet mia, 8, toby 5, and sara, 3. they are bright, energetic, adorable and expensive. >> 1500 a month to childcare. that's for three days a week. bill and raphael, a social worker and school counsellor work four days a week each. >> if we pay full-time we doesn't be working. it would cost the same amount as the mortgage. >> according to a report by the national family support organization, child care aware. oregon is an expensive state in the country, followed by new york and minnesota. the cost of daycare is 13,000 a year. for some perspective tuition and fees at state universities run under 7,000. >> it's not an oregon problem. we are just more dramatic. but it would be a mistake to think this is app oregon phenomena. >> dr bobby has suffered family dynamics for 45 years, and said all over the country finding affordable child care is a scramble, with families under pressure and kids futures at stake. >> it's not a land of equal opportunity if your straj ectry is sacked by age five. >> if you come to kippeder garden

allen schauffler went to find out what is wrong with one dam, and what it will take to fix it. >> reporter there's trouble at this dam, deep in the concrete of a pier, there's a crack. >> you can tell something is wrong. >> reporter: engineers believe improperly cured concrete and mathematical areas during construction willed to weak possess in the spill way, cracking on a seam because of the pressure of all the water. >> a fracture 65 feet wide, gaping open about two inches, with water flowing into it. when we reduced the water elvaugs, it -- vasion it set the -- elvaghts it set the pier in place. >> reporter: 70 miles of this has been dry. fruit growers are scrambling to make do. nelson expanded pipes to reach the lowered river, added a pump and generator to water the crops. it's a lot of extra money. >> it is, but you have to have water. there's no get around that. i have water going up to the farm, that's what counts. >> the dam is operating far below capacity with repair costs pegged at more than $60 million the bd rock apping -- bedrock anchoring is needed across the spill ways, not

allen schauffler was given a building tour.ere is his report. >> reporter: behind the barbed wire tense, watched by 70 cameras, the workers take orders. the call center busy on day two. a multi-million investment for a seattle based venture capital firm. >> you have never seen a facility like this. >> with backers betting on bud in canned dead, but not the u.s. -- canada, but not the urks where it is still illegal. >> we'd never invest $15 million into a building that could be seized by the federal government at any moment. >> kennedy calls it the biggest legal grow operation in north america. >> it's described as a bank inside a proiften fall of toasters. >> the bank holds $30 million of processed marijuana. the toasters the machinery for involving the environment. packed and shipped by courier to people with medical prescriptions. >> reporter: there's so much that is propriety we'll have a tour but they won't let the camera in. we had to settle for video from the company, carefully shot, lots of plants. >> reporter: as promis

allen schauffler reports from british columbia. >> reporter: behind the barbed wire-topped fence watched by 70 security cameras, workers take orders. >> we hired about 16 employees. >> the call center busy on day two of operations, a multi-million investment for a seattle based venture capital firm. >> you have never seep a facility like this - it's stayed of the art. . >> backers bidding on bud in canada, but not the u.s. under federal law it is still there considered a dangerous and illegal drug. >> we'd never invest 16 million into a building that could be seized by the federal government at any moment. >> kennedy calls it the biggest legal grow operation. >> it's described as a bank inside of a prison, full of toasters that we are trying to cool. >> the bank will hold $30 million worth of processed marijuana. the coasters, machinery for controlling the environment where dozens of strains to be packed and shipped by courier to people holding medical prescriptions. >> reporter: we have a chance to see what's in here. so much is propriety, we won't let the camera in. we settled for vide

allen schauffler joins us live from seattle with more. six years later, no trial - what is the delay here? reporter: lots of pre-trial motions. defense attorneys say they are doing their job in a case that could see two executed. relatives of the six victims say the delays are tactics, intended to drive up the price of capital punishment. >> michelle anderson and boyfriend joseph mcin roe face death sentences for shooting her parents, brother-in-law recollects sister-in-law, niece and others. they describe killing the ordinarily couple, hiding the bodies and waiting for the family to arrive for a holiday dinner and shooting all of them, 5-year-old olivia and 3-year-old nathan last. >> how do you do that, a small tiny blond-haired blue-eyed baby boy in diapers? it's sick. >> pam lost her daughter and two grandchildren and has watched more than 100 pre-trial hearings. no jury has been seated. she calls it a circus. >> is justice being served? >> no, no, absolutely not. we are exactly the same place that we were in october of 2008 when they

. >> allen schauffler reports. what are people saying about the increase? well, we have had reactions from this is a good first step to "it's not enough", when we say 15 now, we mean now. the mayor on the may day - saying it was a coincidence - announcing the committee he appointed for coming up with recommendations has come out with a proposal that would raise the minimum wage across the city to $15 an hour. there'll be a difference in the way different companies get to the level. big companies will have to get to $15 within three years. sma smaller companies have smaller leeways and will consider tips and everything in the formula. a step in the right direction. the mayor calls it a difficult compromise and a victory. the loudest voice in the $15 now chorus says no way. she intends to keep the pressure up. >> low wage workers get a $15 raise. we will avoid a costly battle of competing initiatives and deal with what the president called one of the great issues of our time. >> ask any person who works any hours and lives in poverty. it's not complicated. th

allen schauffler reports on a win, win for both. >> reporter: nexting time.he sound never stops on east and islands. >> they are not quite burns. don lyons of oregon state university says the low-lying island at the mouth of the river, a few minutes by boat from the washington shore is perfect for the caspian turner. that means big trouble for young fish like salmon and steal-head smolt. >> all the food comes from the water, 99% or greater fish. >> more than 14 thous turins ate 5 million young salmon and steel head. that's half the number in the late 1990s, when the army core of engineers under orders to protect the fish moved them to change their diet. >> when the re-election program began. the islands were home to the biggest nesting to caspian tur jips in the world. 15 years and 25 million later, they are. it's a big price tag, but money well spent. less than other fish application projects. for example, renovating dams that the salmon have to navigate. lyons, and a team of biologists monitoring the programme have seep progress. the colony were moved 13 mi

allen schauffler tells us what is delaying justice. >> reporter: there are a lot that would like the delay explained. there's an abundance of caution because two people could be put to death, and defense attorneys are saying they are doing their job, being as careful as possible. relatives say these delays are tack techal, intentional, and -- tactical, intentional and meant to boost the price of capital publishment. >> that couple face death sentences for shooting her parents, brother and standard, niece and nephew. they describe killing the older couple, hiding the bodies and waiting for the young family to arrive and shooting all of them. 5-year-old olivia and 3-year-old nathan last. >> dear god, how do you do that, a small tiny blond-haired, blue-eyed baby boy in dipers much it's sick. >> pam lost her daughter and two grandchildren. she watched more than 100 pre-trial hearings. she calls it a circus. >> reporter: is justice being served? >> absolutely not. we are exactly the assume place we were in october 2008 when they decided on the death penalty. >> court-appointed attorney ka