haha. I'm guessing that since you saw fit to respond to all of the posters who deigned to question this dead story, that you must somehow be related to the girl in the story. And, judging by your screen name, I'll bet that you run around shooting off your big mouth trying to make up for your small stature and are always trying to prove that size doesn't matter.
First: I agree with you, if your child is handicapped (mentally, physically or otherwise) - this driver should be fired. If she isn't - this driver should be punished.
Second - You have failed this 12 YEAR OLD child by coddling her and not preparing her for life outside of her home. It's a big world out there and getting "lost" less than a mile from home should be one of the easiest for her to resolve.
Lastly - I may be a SOB and I may be heartless, but I believe that this world has never been safer for children. From Amber Alerts to child safety seats to ratings on games to "no dodgeball" ... we are raising future, mamby pamby OCCUPIERS with no sense of direction or common sense. Literally and figuratively.

Interesting... the word r*e*t*a*r*d*e*d was censored. Patty Cake, Patty Cake!

The article doesn't mention if this child is mentally retarded or physically handicapped. If that's the case the driver should be in big trouble. On the other hand, if this child is "lost" within a 1 mile radius of her house, I blame her parents for overprotecting her. Seriously, by age 12 one should have cognizant awareness of her surroundings and be able to navigate their neighborhood. Perhaps this will prod the family to take walks together and discover the area beyond one block from their house.

I wouldn't be surprised if this caused enough "emotional stress" that the parents will see fit to $ue the school district for damages - to prove a point of course, not to collect the $$$. (rolls eyes)

OCCUPY and the "99%" is such a flimsy excuse for these vagrants to assemble. They keep claiming that they are protesting because they need jobs. I'll bet my 40 hour per week job that not one of them is "job ready" - you know... sober, clean, hygenic, educated - or willing to start at the bottom and work their way up like the rest of us did. Instead, because they were not hugged enough or they were hugged too much, they think they are entitled. That things should just be given to them. Again I ask, if you hate corporations, who do you want to work for? The T-shirt guy at Saturday Market? Guess what... he buys his t-shirts from Fruit of the Loom (corporation). It's nonsense and the Mayor would do what is left of his legacy a favor by enforcing laws that are being broken. At least I'd feel better about the $182,000 if I saw even one baton being swung. Damn!
I again find myself quoting Jack Nicholson's Joker - "This Town Needs An Enema!"

Anti-war protesters in school are nothing new... That pretty much describes every teacher I ever had in middle and high school.

hey! You kids get off my lawn!
Let's see if I have this correct:

They want jobs... but apparently not with a corporation (not sure what that leaves. Landscaping?)
They want student loans absolved... but demand costly education (Don't need that to run a mower.)
They want to own homes... but hate banks (Probably not gonna qualify unless you start cutting more grass)
They want health care... but hate the government (you should grow your business, incorporate and offer benefits)

Oh, and we're back to square one.

Good luck suckers, hope you don't catch pneumonia while you're ruining the lawn. When the Mayor is done playing patty-cake with you, I hope you'll exercise your right to demonstrate a little self respect.
Meanwhile, I'm going to work (for the man), paying my taxes (to support you) and sucking it up (because I have a shred of dignity). Try it!

"Occupy Portland protesters march to show solidarity with OWS"

Why not march in solidarity to the nearest computer where they can check out the thousands of jobs listed on craigslist? I hope that while they are "protesting" the government that they are refusing their: unemployment checks, food stamps and emergency benefits. I hope that while they camp illegally in city parks that they are not using Coleman tents (corporation), that they are not wearing Columbia clothing to stay warm and dry (corporation) and that they are not using Bic (corporation) lighters to smoke... whatever it is they must be smoking.
It is time for this Mayor, whom until recently I have supported, to stop governing with a limp wrist. It is time to sac up, pretend he has a spine and take a stand against these law-breaking SOBs.
Meanwhile, I'll circumvent the distraction as i drive to work 5 days a week, pay my taxes and fulfill the obligations I agreed to whilst not blaming anyone but myself for my situation. Peace.

Finally... Logging returns to the state of Oregon!

I can't go 15 minutes without checking to see if my wallet and keys are in my pocket. I'd like to think if I were carrying a gun, I'd check it every 5 minutes.

"Andy: Can I have a bullet this time?"

Gunshots in North Portland? That's weird!