News Unfiltered

American Humane Association Awards $20,000 Grant to Help Feed Hundreds of Starving Horses on Foreclosed Montana Ranch

Tue, 01 Feb 2011 11:50:48 -0500

American Humane Association, the nation's voice for the protection of children and animals, has awarded a $20,000 grant to the Northern International Livestock Exposition (NILE) Foundation to help feed hundreds of horses that had been abandoned when a Billings, Mont., ranch was foreclosed upon in July 2010. An estimated 350 horses had been fenced inside a 2,000-acre pasture with limited food and water at Home Place Ranch. The situation had become critical for these animals in recent weeks, as the natural food and water supplies in the area began running out. American Humane Association's Vice President of Emergency Services, Debrah Schnackenberg, presented the grant to the NILE Foundation in Billings yesterday. "This is a tragic situation that required immediate action to save these horses, and American Humane Association wanted to help these animals and support the ongoing efforts to care for them," she said. Full release

Caring for Teeth and Gums Can Help Promote Heart Health

Tue, 01 Feb 2011 11:45:56 -0500

During American Heart Month in February, United Concordia Dental, one of the nation's largest dental insurers, wants to remind adults that taking care of their teeth and gums is an important part of promoting heart health. "There's plenty of research out there that links the oral health of your mouth to other medical conditions such as heart disease and stroke," said Jerome Blum, D.D.S., corporate dental director of United Concordia Dental. "In fact, a study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests that the risk for heart disease among people with gum disease is nearly three times higher than those without it." More than 75 percent of American adults suffer from periodontal disease, a chronic inflammatory condition that destroys bone and gum tissues that support the teeth, according to the American Academy of Periodontology. Full release

Pending Results of 2010 U.S. Census Expected to Renew Focus on Hispanics

Tue, 01 Feb 2011 10:41:37 -0500

PowerDirect Marketing today announced growing client demand for its innovative front door marketing capabilities in reaching the Hispanic market. 2010 U.S. Census data is set to be released over the coming months - the U.S. Hispanic population is projected to hit 50 million, maintaining its stature as the nation's largest ethnic or racial minority. Seeing the significant growth and spending potential of this audience, Fortune 500 brands in industries such as retail, consumer packaged goods, financial services, entertainment, restaurant and others, are leveraging PowerDirect's strategic front door marketing and media solutions to connect with this complex market segment. "The Hispanic audience is not only increasing in number but also in wealth and economic influence. Smart marketers are recognizing this and turning to Hispanics for brand growth opportunities," said Barry Gilbert, Vice President, Marketing, PowerDirect. Full release

Dietary Guidelines: Urgent Prescription for an Unhealthy Public, Says American Dietetic Association

Tue, 01 Feb 2011 09:49:04 -0500

With a majority of the country's adults either overweight or obese, the new 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans are the first to address an unhealthy public, making their recommendations especially urgent for consumers and health professionals alike, according to the American Dietetic Association. ADA supports the Dietary Guidelines' "healthy balance" approach to weight management, which focuses on consuming "nutrient-dense foods and beverages" and engaging in regular physical activity to create an eating pattern that is right for each individual. ADA also supports the Dietary Guidelines' call for "options that can accommodate cultural, ethnic, traditional and personal preferences and food cost and availability" in developing practical advice from scientific findings. Full release

Watchdog Group Says Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas Appears to Have 'Knowingly and Willfully' Violated Rule of Law for Twenty Years by Falsifying Disclosure Forms

Tue, 01 Feb 2011 09:13:58 -0500

The words "EQUAL JUSTICE UNDER LAW" are famously chiseled above the main portico of the U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington D.C. But it appears that Justice Clarence Thomas is instead receiving special treatment under the law, says the watchdog group, www.ProtectOurElections.org. Evidence is mounting that Justice Thomas violated federal law from 1989 through the present by failing to report his wife's annual salary by checking "NONE" on the box for "Non-Investment Income" on judicial AO 10 Financial Disclosure Reports. Seven of those forms can be found at http://protectourelections.org/index.php?q=node/105. Full release

Climate Policy Initiative and Climate Strategies Study Finds EU Emissions Trading Scheme Supports Low-carbon Investment but Impact Can Be Strengthened

Tue, 01 Feb 2011 09:06:50 -0500

Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) and Climate Strategies announced the results of a study on the impact of the EU ETS on low-carbon investment. EU ETS captures companies' attention, contributes to clarity for strategic decision-making, and is part of the enabling environment for low-carbon investments. The study suggests improvements such as increasing stringency, limiting CDM use, changes in international financial reporting standards, and complementary policies. Full release

'How Free is Burma's Suu Kyi?' Ask Former White House Drug Spokesman Robert Weiner and James Le

Mon, 31 Jan 2011 21:00:05 -0500

Former White House National Drug Policy Spokesman, Robert Weiner, and National Security Analyst, James Lewis, in the Honolulu Star Advertiser, assert that the media in the U.S. and around the world have misinterpreted the "release" of Burma's Aung San Suu Kyi. Weiner and Lewis contend that she is not "free" because she cannot run for or win office despite her earlier election (which the junta blocked) as the country's national leader -- and that real change in Burma is only possible if the drug-funded junta is ousted and drug transportation, with Hawaii as a main port, is eliminated. Weiner and Lewis ask, "How free is Suu Kyi? Full release

VIDEO from U.S. Department of State Available on thenewsmarket.com: Janice Jacobs, Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs at the Department of State updates on the U.S. Citizen Evacuation in Egypt

Mon, 31 Jan 2011 20:54:18 -0500

See video from U.S. Department of State at:

http://www.thenewsmarket.com/Releases/StoryDetailPage.aspx?GUID=d693542a-b71c-4d79-888f-ffd73046ba31&lr=ls

Janice Jacobs, Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs updates on U.S. Citizen Evacuation in Egypt

Full release

Civility is Only First Step in Problem Solving

Mon, 31 Jan 2011 16:17:25 -0500

The national discussion on civility, borne out of the terrible events in Tucson, demonstrates that many believe the current overheated rhetoric is not working as a means to solve the nation's problems. Policy debates are increasingly fraught with name calling, electioneering, posturing and worse. In action guide, Beyond Civility: From Public Engagement to Problem Solving, to assist local elected officials in creating a framework for civility and democratic governance that encourages governing a community in a participatory, deliberative, inclusive and collaborative way.

For a copy of the guide, go to: http://nlc.staging.10floor.com/ASSETS/B5FAD9F7F4B84A2E93D8DB388FA8C700/RI_CivilityGuide2010_FINAL.pdf (pdf)

Full release

New Dietary Guidelines Recommend Filling Half Your Plate with Fruits and Vegetables

Mon, 31 Jan 2011 15:13:01 -0500

Less sodium, added sugar, and solid fat, and fill half your plate with fruits and vegetables; the government's recommendations about what we should eat have been updated with a few key changes. Every five years, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) examine the latest developments in nutritional science and release a new version of their Dietary Guidelines for Americans. This is done to keep them current with new developments in nutritional science. The guidelines serve as the basis for federal food and nutrition programs like the USDA school breakfast and lunch programs. Full release

Mayor Bloomberg Announces Results of Undercover Investigation Into Firearms Sales at Arizona Gun Show

Mon, 31 Jan 2011 14:29:59 -0500

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today announced the results of a New York City undercover investigation of gun sales at the Crossroads of the West Gun Show in Phoenix, Arizona. The investigation proves on video how easy it is to obtain firearms with high capacity magazines at gun shows, even for those who tell sellers that they probably couldn't pass a background check. A Glock pistol with a 33-round extended magazine, like the weapon used in Tucson, was legally purchased with no background check - exposing a dangerous gap in our existing federal gun laws. Two other semi-automatic pistols were purchased with no checks even after sellers were told by undercover buyers that they probably could not pass a background check; under federal law the sellers should have stopped the sale. The videos are available at: www.gunshowundercover.org. Full release

VIDEO from The US European Media Hub, US Department of State Available on thenewsmarket.com: Iran's Human Rights: U.S. Works to Amplify Opposition Voices

Mon, 31 Jan 2011 14:18:29 -0500

Get content from The US European Media Hub, US Department of State at:

http://www.thenewsmarket.com/Releases/StoryDetailPage.aspx?GUID=67ea50f9-f06a-44b9-a550-c9ca36dd555e

The U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Philo Dibble visited Brussels to discuss how to end suppression of opposition voices in Iran. Currently American hikers are being detained in the country without reason. The U.S. sees the human rights situation in Iran deteriorating and is working closely with European counterparts on ways to address human rights situation in the country. Available material includes soundbites. Full release

Americans More Optimistic on Job of President and Congress

Mon, 31 Jan 2011 14:11:23 -0500

A new year often brings resolutions and hopes for a new beginning. This year for many Americans the new year seems to have also brought a renewed sense of optimism towards the President, the direction of the country and, to a lesser degree, even Congress. When asked to rate the overall job President Obama is doing, over two in five Americans (44%) give him positive ratings and just over half (56%) give him negative marks. This is better than in December when just 36% gave the President positive marks and 64% gave him negative ratings. These are some of the results of The Harris Poll of 2,566 adults surveyed online between January 17 and 24, 2011 by Harris Interactive. Please note this survey was conducted before President Obama delivered his State of the Union address. Full release

Race in the Age of Obama

Mon, 31 Jan 2011 10:15:36 -0500

How have race relations in America evolved since the civil rights movement of the 1960's? Was the election of President Barack Obama a milestone in this regard? Did it truly serve as a turning point in America's history of racial inequality? In the newly released issue of Daedalus (http://www.amacad.org/publications/daedalus.aspx), the Journal of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, guest editor Gerald Early and 14 leading humanists examine "Race in the Age of Obama." Through the lens of literature, politics and popular culture, their essays consider both recent progress and setbacks in American race relations. Early, the Merle Kling Professor of Modern Letters and Director of the Center for the Humanities at Washington University in St. Louis, suggests that the national conversation about race today is as significant as it was in the 1960s, "when America seemed on the edge of a brave new world, poised for redefinition and ready to see itself anew." Full release

Video from U.S. Department of State Available on thenewsmarket.com: U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Launches New PSA on the Current Situation in Egypt

Mon, 31 Jan 2011 08:49:10 -0500

Get content from U.S. Department of State at:

http://www.thenewsmarket.com/Releases/StoryDetailPage.aspx?GUID=e4f22b82-5651-4af8-bf26-c63aacf00ec6

PSA by Janice Jacobs, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs, to help U.S. citizens obtain information on the situation in Egypt. Full release