WOMAN DIES IN DAKOTAS WITH NO PROPANE TO HEAT HOME

[Jesus Malverde]

Authorities on a North Dakota reservation are investigating whether a woman found dead in a mobile home with an empty propane tank died from the cold.

Debbie Dogskin's body was discovered Tuesday morning at her Fort Yates home.

Sioux County Sheriff Frank Landeis says the temperature on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation dropped to 1 degree below zero overnight.

Landeis says he believes Dogskin "just froze to death." Autopsy results are expected by Friday.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_PROPANE_SHORTAGE_DEATH?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2014-02-05-14-06-41

There are a lot of people out there hurting right now. Extend unemployment benefits would be a good start.

[Cleita]

1. There used to be a law against turning off essential utilities in spite of

ones ability to pay. It was so vulnerable people like children and the elderly wouldn't have to go without heat or water. It seems getting propane should fall under that. Why can't we seem to take care of the least of us anymore?

[BainsBane]

5. I bet she didn't have central gas

but had to buy it by the canister. Such laws are created by the state. I know it's illegal to turn off utilities during the winter in MN.
This sort of thing should never happen in America.

[Cleita]

8. In a mobile home, she probably had a tank that the propane company

fills periodically. I have the same thing. Still, they should have filled it. I think my state has such a provision. I don't have any heat anyway cause my heater is busted but I live in California and can get warm in other ways during cold snaps. In a place like the Dakotas there should be a law.

[In_The_Wind]

2. No one should should suffer from the cold or freeze to death!

[SammyWinstonJack]

3. This really is a rotten country.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

15. American deceptionalism.

[Brickbat]

4. Incidental, but what a bizarre headline.

She died in one Dakota, not both.

[RC]

6. More than likely it was 10° to 15° below zero, not -1°

I wonder if alcohol was involved? She drank it to feel warm.

[Jenoch]

7. My brother in northern Minnesota

uses propane to heat his home. Last fall it cost him about $250 to fill his tank. Last week it cost him about $800 to fill it. Fortunately for him he can afford it, but not without some complaining.

[libdem4life]

9. This was my very short experience with propane. Add in likely an old, leaky, uninsulated trailer

house and the amount of propane one could go through would be devastatingly high.

RIP...there will be those on the other side to greet you with warm blankets and love.

[Cleita]

10. The sad thing is that it doesn't have to cost what they are charging.

Bernie Sanders explained today that our petroleum products, including propane, are not being priced because of supply and demand, which would give us much lower prices. The high prices are because of gambling done by Wall Street bidders on the commodities markets. Really wish I could blow the whole place up for the damages their greed is causing.

[bvar22]

13. ^^^THIS^^^

Thank You, Bernie Sanders.

The Wall Street Speculators, and those politicians who refuse to rein them in,
have blood on their hands.

[Kaleva]

11. A friend recently received 100 gallons for the price of $604

My ex and I recently moved back into my small home which is heated by natural gas as living in the main house, heated with propane, would have cost us over $1200 for just one month.

[Coyotl]

12. If we gave the Native Americans some of their best land back ....

instead of confining them to the poorest land in the country, they might not be dying in poverty. Meanwhile, they are surrounded by millionaire farmers getting rich and driving $50K pickups.

[bvar22]

14. ...and many of them just had their Farm Subsidies renewed in the same Fram Bill...

...that CUT Food Stamps.

[farmbo]

16. And they're flaring gas off Bakken wells...

... Fifty miles away from where she died.

Ain't Capitalism Grand?

[Jesus Malverde]

17. Strange world sometimes...nt