June 04, 2010

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) lauded Gilead Sciences, maker of several key AIDS drugs, for its announcement earlier today that it will offer significant pricing and access concessions for the nation's beleaguered AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAPs), the federally funded, state run programs that supply lifesaving AIDS drugs to low-income Americans in need. Gilead's concessions, most of which will take effect on or before July 1st, will increase patient access to lifesaving AIDS medications for patients served by the network of cash-strapped ADAPs across the country. Full release.

U.S. Foodservice today answered First Lady Michelle Obama's call to help schools promote healthy eating habits as part of the "Chefs Move to Schools" initiative. The program, run through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, allows chefs to adopt K-12 schools across the United States to help reduce childhood obesity. U.S. Foodservice Corporate Chef Marty Bermpohl joined Mrs. Obama on the South Lawn of The White House this morning to launch the program. Bermpohl is adopting a school in the Washington, D.C. area, and will work with students, teachers, parents, school nutritionists and administrators to re-build menus, cook, educate and help improve food and nutrition in a fun and appealing way. Full release.

As oil continues to gush into the Gulf and our country spends more than a billion dollars a day on foreign oil, groups of Americans across the country are showing their support for clean energy through "American Clean Energy Now" events. Beginning this week, as Congress adjourns for Memorial Day recess, Repower America, a project of the Alliance for Climate Protection, is holding dozens of events across the nation showing urgent support for climate and clean energy policies from diverse communities including veterans, business, labor and faith leaders. "The massive oil spill off our coast has devastated whole industries, ruined the entire Gulf way of life, and proven that our dependence on dirty sources of energy is more dangerous than we ever imagined," said Dave Boundy, Repower America campaign manager. "Meanwhile we are still spending over a billion dollars a day on foreign oil." Full release.

GHSA applauds Georgia, Kansas and Vermont for enacting new laws to improve highway safety in their states. Kansas and Georgia strengthened their seat belt and distracted driving laws, while all three states have banned texting for all drivers. Yesterday, Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue signed a bill that removed a pickup truck exemption in that state's seat belt law. Now, all Georgians must 'Click It or Ticket.' State estimates indicate at least 100 lives annually will be saved by requiring pickup drivers to be belted. Today, Governor Perdue also signed a bill banning cell phone use for novice drivers as well a ban on texting for all drivers. Georgia is now the 28th state to ban texting for all drivers. Full release.

The SFN Group Employee Confidence Index dropped by 0.5 points to 52.6 in May. The Index, which measures workers' confidence in their personal employment situation and optimism in the economic environment, reveals a decrease in workers' confidence in the strength of the economy, as well as in the future of their current employer. "Our latest report is still very positive despite a slight dip in overall confidence," said Roy Krause, president and CEO of SFN Group, Inc. "Not only are workers more confident in the number of jobs available, but over 40 percent are optimistic that they would be able to find one." Full release.

Ricoh Americas Corporation, a leading provider of digital office equipment and advanced document management solutions and services, today announced the completion of its 100 percent solar powered electronic billboard, the Ricoh Eco Board, located at 3 Times Square at the corner of 7th Avenue and 42nd Street. The Ricoh Eco Board, which is 47 feet high by 126 feet long, is the first billboard in Times Square to be totally lit by solar energy. It is powered solely by 62 solar panels and 24 thin-film PV solar modules, and illuminated by 16 LED floodlights. Full release.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today in response to the report that the economy added 431,000 jobs in May and saw the unemployment rate fall to 9.7 percent: "Today's jobs report marks another step forward for our middle class, working families, and small businesses, but it is not enough. We must do more to strengthen our private sector, support our small businesses, and keep our economy moving in the right direction. Last month, the unemployment rate fell and private sector jobs expanded; we have added jobs in six of the last seven months. This year, we have added an average of 200,000 jobs per month, a majority in the private sector, a stark contrast to the Bush Administration record of losing an average of nearly 750,000 jobs per month in its last three months." Full release.

As the Gulf oil spill continues unabated, Catholic Charities agencies along the Gulf Coast are serving thousands of people and families who have felt the effects of the economic impact almost overnight. Food, household supplies and clothing have been the primary needs to date, but increasingly Catholic Charities' disaster response and case management services are focusing on employment assistance, anger and stress management, and crisis counseling. Full release.

Golden Age Resources, Inc., (Pink Sheets: GDAR) and its strategic alliance partner, Cobra Technologies, announced today the hiring of Geometrix Engineering, Inc. of Hollywood, FL to finalize the development of Cobra. This is a high pressure, oil containment system that is designed to stop deep water oil leaks like the one that is devastating the areas in the Gulf of Mexico. Now that "top kill" has failed and the relief well will not be ready till August, Cobra seeks an invitation from BP to assist in stopping this unprecedented oil leak. Full release.

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