Unemployed natives available for work: Report finds huge number of less-educated Americans not working
The Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) has released a new study detailing the U-6 unemployment rates among native born workers. U-6 is a broader measure of employment that includes the unemployed, people who would like to work but who have not looked for a job recently, and those involuntarily working part-time. A look at these numbers shows the situation is particularly bad for minorities, the young, and less-educated Americans. These are the workers who face the most competition from immigrants – legal and illegal.
The study, “A Huge Pool of Potential Workers: Unemployment, Underemployment, and Non-Work Among Native-Born Americans,” is authored by CIS Director of Research Steven A. Camarota and Demographer Karen Jensenius. The report is available online at: http://cis.org/UnemploymentAmongNativeWorkers.
Among the findings:
– As of the third quarter of 2009, there are 12.5 million unemployed native-born Americans, but the broader U-6 measure shows 21 million natives unemployed or underemployed.
– There are 6.1 million natives with a high school education or less who are unemployed. Using the U-6 measure, it is 10.4 million.
– In addition to those less-educated natives covered by U-6, there are another 18.7 million natives with a high school education or less not in the labor force, which means they are not looking for work.
– The total number of less-educated (high school education or less) natives who are unemployed, underemployed, or not in the labor force is 29.1 million.
– To place these numbers in perspective, there are an estimated seven to eight million illegal immigrants holding jobs.
– As of the third quarter of 2009, the overall unemployment rate for native-born Americans is 9.5 percent; the U-6 measure shows it as 15.9 percent.
– State with the highest U-6 rates for less-educated natives are Michigan, California, Arizona, Florida, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Nevada, Illinois, and Georgia.
– Nationally, the unemployment rate for natives with a high school degree or less is 13.1 percent. Their U-6 measure is 21.9 percent.
– The unemployment rate for natives nationally with less than a high school education is 20.5 percent. Their U-6 measure is 32.4 percent.
– Nationally, the unemployment rate for young native-born Americans (18-29) who have only a high school education is 19 percent. Their U-6 measure is 31.2 percent.
– Nationally, the unemployment rate for native-born blacks with less than a high school education is 28.8 percent. Their U-6 measure is 42.2 percent.
– The unemployment rate for young native-born blacks (18-29) with only a high school education is 27.1 percent. Their U-6 measure is 39.8 percent.
– Nationally, the unemployment rate for native-born Hispanics with less than a high school education is 23.2 percent. Their U-6 measure is 35.6 percent.
– The unemployment rate for young native-born Hispanics (18-29) with only a high school degree is 20.9 percent. Their U-6 measure is 33.9 percent.
– Nationally, the overall unemployment rate for immigrants (legal and illegal) is 9.9 percent. Their U-6 measure is 19.6 percent, which is significantly higher than the rate for natives.
– The unemployment rate for immigrants with less than a high school education is 12.3 percent. Their U-6 measure is 27.4 percent. The unemployment rate for young immigrants (18-29) with only a high school education is 12.2 percent. Their U-6 measure is 25.2 percent.
The Center for Immigration Studies is an independent research institution that examines the impact of immigration on the United States.
Source: Center for Immigration Studies
The Daily Beast ranks The Smartest and Dumbest college towns in America
Chapel Hill, NC Ranks At Top, Athens, Georgia at Bottom
The Daily Beast released its ranking of the twenty five smartest (and dumbest) college towns in America.
The towns are, from smartest to dumbest:
1. Chapel Hill, North Carolina(Grade: A)
2. Ann Arbor, Michigan(Grade: A)
3. Boulder, Colorado(Grade: A)
4. Cambridge, Massachusetts(Grade: A)
5. Berkeley, California(Grade: A)
6. Madison, Wisconsin(Grade: B)
7. East Lansing, Michigan(Grade: B)
8. State College, Pennsylvania(Grade: B)
9. Ames, Iowa(Grade: B)
10. Amherst, Massachusetts(Grade: B)
11. Ithaca, New York(Grade: B)
12. Columbia, Missouri(Grade: B)
13. Charlottesville, Virginia(Grade: B)
14. Davis, California(Grade: B)
15. Corvallis, Oregon(Grade: B)
16. College Station, Texas(Grade: C)
17. Gainesville, Florida(Grade: C)
18. Auburn, Alabama(Grade: C)
19. College Park, Maryland(Grade: C)
20. Lawrence, Kansas(Grade: C)
21. Champaign-Urbana, Illinois(Grade: D)
22. Norman, Oklahoma(Grade: D)
23. South Bend, Indiana(Grade: D)
24. Kent, Ohio(Grade: D)
25. Athens, Georgia(Grade: F)
Methodology:
After choosing towns where the college or colleges define the community that have a population minimum of 25,000 as of the 2008 Census, The Daily Beast ranked them based on the following four criteria:
1. Bachelor’s degrees per capita for the over-25 population: this measured the relative education of permanent residents.
2. Graduate degrees per capita for the over-25 population: similar to above, but more stratified.
3. Median SAT score for the town’s student population.
4. Voter turnout in the 2008 election: political engagement, whether left or right, has repeatedly correlated with higher intelligence; the one criteria that measures behavior, rather than achievement.
Each category was ranked and weighted equally, with more points given for the best and fewer points for the worst, and then tallied. The Daily Beast then handed out grades on a curve; the top 20 percent got As, the next 40 percent got Bs, the following 20 percent got Cs, and then the bottom fifth got Ds, with the exception of the very last town, which got an F.
Source: The Daily Beast
Report: Same-sex couples face significant disadvantages in retirement
New Study Released During National Save for Retirement Week Documents How Lack of Federal Recognition for Same-Sex Couples Reduces Their Retirement Income and Survivor Benefits
A new study released details the inequalities faced by same-sex couples in employer-sponsored retirement plans. Without legal recognition of their relationships under federal law, the report concludes, lesbians and gay men have less retirement income and are disadvantaged in their ability to pass on savings to their families after their death.
The study, “The Impact of Inequality for Same-Sex Partners in Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plans,” provides the first detailed demographic portrait of older same-sex couples. It was released by the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law with funding support from Merrill Lynch in conjunction with National Save for Retirement Week.
“The findings show that, in particular, female same-sex couples have far less retirement income than different-sex married couples,” says study author Naomi Goldberg. Key findings of the report include:
– Female same-sex couples over 65 have almost 20% less income than different-sex married couples.
– Only 50% of female same-sex couples have at least one member eligible for an employer-sponsored retirement plan. That compares to 56% of different-sex married couples and 79% of male same-sex couples.
– Older female and male same-sex couples receive less income from traditional retirement sources–retirement, survivor, and disability pensions–than older different-sex married couples.
– Men in same-sex couples earn less than their heterosexual counterparts, but appear to work for more years.
The study also analyzes the ways in which elderly lesbians and gay men are disadvantaged when their partner or spouse dies. Upon death, unlike married different-sex couples, 401k balances and remaining assets cannot be passed tax-free to the surviving same-sex spouse or partner. In particular, these studies conclude:
– Even in states where same sex couples can marry, private employers can discriminate against same-sex married couples for the purpose of welfare and pension plans because of the reach of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA); thus, same-sex couples typically cannot avail themselves of pension survivor benefits.
– Surviving same-sex spouses or partners are unable to access social security spousal or survivor benefits. As a result, they lose out on an estimated $5,700 each year in benefits.
– Because same-sex surviving spouses cannot have the balance of their dead spouse’s 401k transferred directly to them, they must begin making withdrawals immediately- often resulting in a higher tax rate and missing out on potential earnings and the ability to withdraw when they are really needed.
“The bulk of these inequalities are a direct result of the Defense of Marriage Act, which forces the federal government to treat same-sex couples differently than married couples when it comes to retirement savings or estate taxes after death,” said Goldberg.
“Even without repealing DOMA, Congress could address these inequalities similar to the way it allowed same-sex partners to rollover the balance of their dead spouse’s 401ks in 2006. While not perfect, the Pension Protection Act has at least moved same-sex couples closer to equality in the treatment of their retirement assets.”
The full report is available at http://www.law.ucla.edu/williamsinstitute/home.html.
Warning to motorists: Fall is peak season for deer-vehicle collisions
The I.I.I. Offers Tips to Avoid Deer-Related Accidents
Cars and deer can be a lethal combination. Deer migration and mating season generally runs from October through December, and causes a dramatic increase in the movement of the deer population. As a result, more deer-vehicle collisions occur in this period than at any other time of year, so drivers need to be especially cautious, according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.).
The I.I.I. estimates that there are more than 1.6 million deer-vehicle collisions each year, resulting in 150 occupant deaths, tens of thousands of injuries and over $3.6 billion in vehicle damage. An additional billion dollars is spent on medical payments for injuries to people in the car and out-of-pocket expenses paid by vehicle owners, bringing the total cost to approximately $4.6 billion. The average claim for deer-vehicle collisions is $3,000, with costs varying depending on the type of vehicle and severity of the damage.
Studies by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) show that three out of four vehicle-animal collisions involve deer, and that November is the peak month for these accidents. These collisions also account for tens of thousands of injuries each year, according to the National Safety Council.
“As our wildlife habitat continues to shrink, accidents with deer and other animals are likely to increase. Drivers should stay alert and pay particular attention to the sides of the road, especially during the hours just before dusk and just before daylight. “said Jeanne M. Salvatore, senior vice president and consumer spokesperson for the I.I.I.
Not only is urban sprawl displacing deer from their natural habitat, but the deer population is also growing. As a result, many of them find their way onto highways and into suburban neighborhoods, especially during deer season.
Some states experience more deer related collisions than others. According to a study of annual claims statistics, the states with the highest claim frequency are West Virginia, Michigan, Arkansas, South Dakota, Wisconsin, North Dakota and Virginia.
Fortunately, there are steps you can take to decrease the likelihood of being involved in a deer-vehicle collision.
Drivers should be aware of the following:
– Deer are not just found on rural roads near wooded areas; many deer crashes occur on busy highways near cities.
– Deer are unpredictable, especially when faced with glaring headlights, blowing horns and fast-moving vehicles. They often dart into traffic.
– Deer often move in groups. If you see one, there are likely to be more in the vicinity.
Drivers should take the following precautions:
– Drive with caution when moving through deer-crossing zones, in areas known to have a large deer population and in areas where roads divide agricultural fields from forestland.
– Always wear your seatbelt. The IIHS reports that in a study of fatal animal crashes, 60 percent of people killed were not wearing a seatbelt. sixty-five percent of people killed in animal related crashes while riding motorcycles were not wearing a helmet.
– When driving at night, use high beam headlights when there is no oncoming traffic. The high beams will better illuminate the eyes of any deer on or near the roadway.
– Be especially attentive from sunset to midnight and during the hours shortly before or after sunrise. These are the highest risk times for deer-vehicle collisions
– Brake firmly when you notice a deer in or near your path, but stay in your lane. Many serious crashes occur when drivers swerve to avoid a deer and hit another vehicle or lose control of their cars.
– Do not rely on devices such as deer whistles, deer fences and reflectors to deter deer. These devices have not proven effective.
In the event your vehicle strikes a deer, try to avoid going near or touching the animal. A frightened and wounded deer can hurt you or further injure itself. If the deer is blocking the roadway and poses a danger to other motorists, you should call the police immediately.
Contact your insurance agent or company representative as quickly as possible to report any damage to your car. Collision with a deer or other animals is covered under the optional comprehensive portion of your automobile policy.
Source: Insurance Information Institute
New survey: Food banks struggle as economic woes and record unemployment send many Americans in search of food
Increasing Demand Driven By First-Time Users
Food banks across the nation report that the current recession and the continuing rise in unemployment are having a profound effect on their ability to feed millions of Americans living at risk of hunger, according to a new survey released today by Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger relief charity.
The increase is nearly universal — 99 percent of all participating food banks reported a significant surge in demand for emergency food assistance over the past year.
The hardest hit areas include Asheville, North Carolina; Fort Myers, Florida; Kansas City, Missouri; Minneapolis; and food banks in South Carolina, Mississippi and Colorado.
Food banks report that the increase is particularly driven by first-time users of the food assistance system (98 percent of food banks) and more people who have recently lost their jobs (92 percent).
More than half (56 percent) of food banks reported that they are seeing more children as clients.
“It’s becoming increasingly difficult for many food banks and their agencies to meet the needs of their clients, especially when new clients arrive all the time,” said Vicki Escarra, president and C.E.O. of Feeding America. “This is especially sobering when you consider that our network of 205 food banks delivered a record-breaking amount of food and groceries this past year — more than 2.6 billion pounds between July 2008 and June 2009 — which was an increase of 21.4 percent over the previous year.”
“More and more families are waiting in lines overnight, coming out in high heat, or traveling long distances in rural America just to get a meal or a box of food. The humbling reality for many of these Americans is that they have never had to rely on emergency food assistance before, and they never dreamed they would find themselves in this situation,” Escarra said.
More than half (55%) of food banks reported that they or the agencies who help distribute the food they provide have had to turn people away in the last year.
The survey showed an average increase of 30 percent in requests for emergency food assistance since July 2008, with increases ranging from 5 percent to more than 100 percent.
More than 175 Feeding America food banks responded to the survey, which collected information about the economic challenges faced by the nation’s food assistance network, and the ability of food banks, soup kitchens, emergency shelters and other providers to respond to the need.
“While local economic circumstances, like plant closings, can have a significant impact on food banks, the most critical change we’ve seen over the past year in the ability of low-income families to put food on the table is a shift from the challenges of increasing food and fuel costs to unemployment and underemployment,” said Escarra. “We frequently hear stories from around the country that people who once donated to food banks are now waiting in lines as clients.”
“Even in areas where food banks have reported more support in food and funds, they almost universally report that the need is outpacing the availability of resources,” said Escarra. “Most economists project that unemployment lags the return of economic stability following a recession by one to two years. This means that the incredible strain on the nation’s charitable food assistance network is not likely to dissipate any time in the foreseeable future.”
Additionally, participation in the Supplemental Food Assistance Program (SNAP formerly the Food Stamp Program), the largest of the nation’s federal nutrition programs, reached an all-time record of 35 million recipients in June 2008 — a 22 percent increase over a year prior. Child nutrition programs are currently set to expire on Sept. 30, 2009, and Congress will be considering whether to extend current levels of funding or increase funding in the coming weeks.
“This survey underscores the importance of Congress providing more funding for Child Nutrition programs this fall and supporting President Obama’s pledge to end child hunger by 2015,” said Escarra. “It is both tragic and unacceptable for anyone in this nation to go hungry, but we are especially concerned for the 12 million children living in food insecure households and suffering long term consequences as a result. Recent research has shown that children in food insecure households have difficulty learning and are less likely to become healthy, productive members of our society.”
Food banks also reported in the survey that increased support through federal nutrition programs, including through the recent American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, have provided vital support to their local efforts. Among food banks that distribute The Emergency Food Assistance Program, USDA’s commodity program intended to help feed low-income Americans, 92 percent said the increase in food from the federal government has been very important to their capacity to meet the growing need. Additionally, half of the food banks cited recent increases in benefits from the SNAP (formerly the Food Stamp Program) as being very important to clients in their service area.
“As Congress and the Administration balance a very daunting list of priorities to jumpstart our economy, I hope that they will continue to remember the poor and near poor who suffer the most,” said Escarra. “We are deeply grateful for the support our food banks and clients have seen from the federal government this year, but it is important to acknowledge that millions of people still are continuing to face extraordinarily difficult times.”
For complete details on Feeding America’s “Economic Impact Survey” including anecdotes from across the nation, please visit http://feedingamerica.org/newsroom/local-impact-study.aspx .
Source: Feeding America
Hotels with the ‘est’ factor – Hotels.com names its List of Record-Breaking Hotels
For those travellers who wish to heighten their holiday experience and ‘Wake Up Happy’, Hotels.com(R) highlights some record-breaking hotels around the world, whether they are the biggest, tallest, oldest, greenest or most expensive.
The hotels featured on the Hotels.com list of ‘est’ factor hotels offer extraordinary accommodation which defies the norm and offers travellers a truly memorable experience. Hotels include the Burj Al Arab in Dubai, currently the world’s tallest hotel, Icehotel in Sweden, the world’s coldest, and Daintree Eco Lodge & Spa in Queensland, which is regarded as the world’s ‘greenest’ hotel.
In addition to introducing travellers to some exciting ‘extreme’ hotels, Hotels.com offers over 100,000 properties globally to search and book.
Hotels with the ‘est’ factor – as named by Hotels.com
World’s Tallest Hotel: Burj Al Arab – Dubai
Currently the tallest hotel in the world is the Burj Al Arab in Dubai (however, the Rose Tower, also in Dubai, will surpass it once opened in late 2009). Standing at 321 metres in height, the hotel is a self-rated 7 star hotel built on a man-made island 280 metres from shore. Burj Al Arab is arguably one of the most luxurious hotels in the world with its own Rolls Royce fleet, private shopper and helicopter landing platform. All of the hotel’s 202 duplex suites, ranging from 170 to 780 square metres, are fitted with Versace bedspreads, full size Hermes products and come with a private butler. Naturally the hotel isn’t cheap, with the Burj Al Arab also having some of the most expensive rooms costing up to US$15,000 per night.
World’s Largest Hotel (number of rooms): The Palazzo Resort Hotel & Casino – Las Vegas, USA
Where else other than in Las Vegas would you find the world’s largest hotel? The Palazzo Resort Hotel & Casino, which operates under the same license as The Venetian hotel next door, has 8,108 rooms combined. The hotel is like a mini city, with a large selection of restaurants, fashion stores (including its own version of Barneys New York) and, of course, its own casino with over 139 gaming tables and 1,400 gambling machines. The hotel also has its own Lamborghini dealership, which houses the only Koenigsegg dealer in the United States. The Palazzo is home to the Broadway smash musical Jersey Boys, while the widely acclaimed Blue Man Group is permanently on show at the Venetian. If you want to relax, there is the choice of seven pools and four hot tubs.
World’s Oldest Hotel: Hoshi Ryokan – Komatsu, Japan
The Hoshi Ryokan hotel in Komatsu, Japan is the oldest hotel in the world. It has been in operation for over 1,300 years dating back to its opening in 718; this hotel has been run by the same family for 46 generations. The hotel has only 100 rooms, with a focus on ensuring comfort and satisfaction. Guests are welcomed with a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. For relaxation, guests can walk through the traditional Japanese gardens or slip into their ‘yukata’, a cotton kimono, provided for their use after soaking in either the indoor or outdoor hot springs.
World’s Most Expensive Hotel Room: Royal Villa at Grand Resort Lagonissi – Athens, Greece
Featuring a dedicated butler, chef and pianist, the Royal Villa at Grand Resort Lagonissi in Athens is the world’s most expensive hotel, with rooms attracting a hefty $50,000 per night. The room overlooks the Aegean Sea, which you can view from a private pool with a hydro massage device. The room has all the luxuries you would expect for the price tag such as a marble-lined bathroom, oversized walk-in wardrobe and a private wooden terrace. If you find a reason for leaving the room, the hotel offers a spa that uses the Chenot massage method, which incorporates traditional Chinese medicine with modern technology. The hotel has ten restaurants, many of which have been awarded the five star diamond award. The resort also has a private Lear jet available to fly guests around the Greek Islands.
World’s Most Expensive Hotel to Build: Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi
The Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi, which opened in 2005, cost over three billion dollars to build. Silver, gold and marble are used throughout the hotel as well as in the guest rooms; the 1002 chandeliers are made from Swarovski crystals. The hotel also includes 70 football pitches, a 1.3 kilometre private beach and its own marina offering a number of different water activities, as well as a helicopter pad. All of the 394 rooms are decorated with acres of gold leaf and marble and come complete with a private butler service. The hotel has two large pools, one on the east wing and one on the west. The west wing pool is in fact an adventure pool equipped with a waterslide, waterfalls and a lazy river.
World’s Largest Hotel Room: Royal Suite in the Grand Hills Hotel & Spa – Broummana, Lebanon
The Royal Suite in the Grand Hills Hotel & Spa in Broummana in Lebanon is the largest hotel room in the world. The suite is set over six floors at a combined staggering size of 8,000m2, while over 4,000m2 is used with living space. The rest is made up of two swimming pools, a private garden, terrace and three pavilions. The hotel’s other 117 suites are also spacious and luxuriously fitted. The hotel has 12 restaurants and bars, its own nightclub and three swimming pools within the hotel; the main outdoor pool has a giant jacuzzi and a fountain. The hotel also has its own shopping arcade with a number of designer boutiques.
World’s Coldest Hotel: Icehotel – Jukkasjarvi, Sweden
Icehotel represents an exciting winter experience, with rooms built entirely from ice and snow, uniquely decorated with handcrafted ice art and sculptures and with temperatures between -5 degrees and -8 degrees Centigrade. The Icehotel also houses an ice chapel, which is licensed for marriages and baptisms. There are two restaurants serving a range of Lappish and Swedish dishes and the Absolut Icebar offers designer cocktails served from ice glasses. Activities include snowmobile excursions, northern lights tours, snow-shoe and cross-country ski excursions, and dogsled and reindeer tours.
World’s Highest Hotel (floor height): Park Hyatt – Shanghai, China
The Park Hyatt in Shanghai is currently the highest hotel in the world, occupying floors 79 to 93 of the 101 story Shanghai World Finance Centre; the hotel has magnificent views over the Huangpu River and the city skyline. Located in the heart of Lujiazui business district in Pudong, the hotel is within walking distance to some of the city’s best eateries. The hotel’s renowned Water’s Edge spa offers daily tai chi classes and an infinity swimming pool, which creates the optical illusion of continuing cascading water.
World’s Highest Hotel (altitude above sea level): Hotel Everest View, Nepal
It’s of no coincidence that the world highest hotel above sea level is set on the highest mountain in the world, Mt Everest. The Hotel Everest View is 3,880 metres above sea level and is set in the Sagarmatha National Park. Fortunately for guests, all rooms have views of the iconic Mt Everest standing at 8,848 metres and the most awe inspiring and beautiful mountain peaks. Mountaineers can embark on a number of different treks that the hotel can arrange including an eight-day Mt Everest trek. Naturally there is no direct access to the hotel other than by chartered helicopter; guests must remember to bring walking boots as it’s a 45 minute hike from the airstrip to the hotel.
World’s Most Eco-Friendly Hotel: Daintree Eco Lodge & Spa, Queensland, Australia
Set in the world’s oldest rainforest, Daintree Eco Lodge & Spa has 15 villas nestled inside the Daintree Rainforest, allowing guests to be one with nature whilst offering all the creature comforts of a five star hotel. The hotel has received various awards for being eco friendly, including being named the Leading Eco Lodge of the World in 2007 due to its commitment to complying with sustainable tourism standards set by the United Nations, the World Tourism Organisation, World Conservation Union, the International Ecotourism Association, and the World Trade Organisation. Some of the practices in place include using solar power, low energy lights, having an organic farm to grow its own produce, having no electrical appliances, as well as composting and recycling whatever it can.
Source: Hotels.com
Bed bug epidemic and upcoming school breaks could wreak havoc on homeowners
Pest Control Company Offers Tips on How to Prevent Your Child From Bringing Bed Bugs Into Your Home
While parents may be busy preparing their children for departure for school, it is just as important that parents take important steps to prevent their children from bringing bed bugs home from college and their travels. Bell Environmental Services, a full-service pest management company located in the New York Metropolitan area, has seen a significant increase in bed bug infestations in the last six months in dormitories and student housing in the tri-state area.
With the upcoming fall school break calendar – Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Fall Break and Thanksgiving – Bell cautions all homeowners to be prepared when students return home with their luggage, electronics and belongings. Families must be vigilant to prevent bed bugs from entering and may consider an inspection from a highly trained canine detection team. Certified canine teams can pinpoint the location of bed bugs before these pests launch a multi-room invasion that becomes disruptive to the entire household.
Because many students have spent their summers in locations with a prevalence of bed bugs, the close proximity of student living quarters, and the fact that students spend a lot of time in each others’ rooms, bed bugs may find their way into other students’ rooms and belongings.
“Bed bugs are known hitchhikers and it is possible that students will bring them home in their belongings when they leave for break,” said Jennifer Erdogan, manager, Bed Bug Division, Bell Environmental. “If parents don’t take measures to prevent bed bugs from entering their house or detect them early, these bugs can quickly reach alarming levels and infest many areas of the home.”
Virtually non-existent in the U.S. from the 1950s through the late 1990s, the bed bug population has rebounded dramatically over the last several years, and infestations have now been reported in all 50 states and in a wide variety of settings.
Bell is currently handling an infestation in a Bergen County home that was infested after the homeowner said her son came home from college this past spring. To date, the homeowner has had to pack 150 bags of the home’s belongings and Bell’s scent hound was called out to inspect the entire house. Several of Bell’s Instant Freeze procedures – a non-toxic dry ice procedure that kills the bed bugs on contact – have been employed. “This family’s life has been turned upside down this summer,” said Erdogan.
Early detection is the best and most effective solution to the bed bug problem because it is easier to handle a bed bug infestation in its early stages before the insects reproduce and hatch more eggs.
Bell Environmental offers these tips: perform a visual inspection of your child’s belongings for signs of bed bug activity; place clothes and laundry in sealed plastic bags before bringing them inside your home; put clothes (including the ones the student is wearing) directly in the dryer on high heat for 15-20 minutes (a dryer is preferred over a regular wash cycle to kill beg bugs); and lastly, call for a bed bug inspection. Bell’s certified K-9 bed bug detection teams can pinpoint bed bugs with 98% accuracy in your home.
“If parents suspect that bed bugs are present in their home, Bell recommends a dog inspection right away. Early detection can make eradication more manageable and less disruptive to a family,” said Erdogan.
Source: Bell Environmental Services
H3N2 Influenza unlikely to spread between humans, K-State infectious disease and diagnostics experts say
Swine Exhibits at Fairs are Safe With Proper Hygiene
Seeing animals up close is an integral part of experiencing the state and county fairs that take place around the country each summer and fall. And with good hygiene, Kansas State University veterinary experts say fair visitors shouldn’t worry about contracting diseases from animals.
“Be very attentive to good hygiene and wash your hands after contact with animals,” said Gary Anderson, director of K-State’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. “We encourage people to visit animal exhibits at fairs as long as they take appropriate precautions.”
A case of H3N2 influenza was reported in Riley County after a child apparently had direct contact with pigs at a county fair. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment reported that the child completely recovered.
K-State experts said people shouldn’t worry excessively about contracting H3N2 from pigs. For one thing, attention to hygiene and proper hand washing are a good defense, they said. Another reason is that this virus does not appear to be particularly virulent for humans.
Not all influenza viruses are like the pandemic H1N1, which has the ability to easily spread from human to human. The K-State researchers said that although H3N2 can pass from pigs to humans, it has not been shown to pass from humans to humans easily. However, there is the potential that it could pass from people back to pigs. This is one reason why workers in swine operations wear masks and other personal protective equipment when working with the animals.
Also, the researchers said it should be emphasized that pork is safe to eat, even when influenza viruses have been involved.
“This H3N2 is a virus that doesn’t appear to be particularly virulent for humans,” Anderson said. “You could say that the person infected was a dead-end host because it didn’t like him too much. The virus didn’t manage to survive and be passed on.”
The H3N2 virus is different from the novel pandemic H1N1 virus that does spread among people. According to the literature, the majority of swine viruses that transfer to humans are H1N1 types, said Juergen Richt, Regents Distinguished Professor at K-State’s College of Veterinary Medicine and a Kansas Bioscience Authority Eminent Scholar.
However, Richt said that the H3N2 virus introduced to North American pigs in the mid-1990s was a human-swine double reassortant virus.
“This scenario shows the need for and importance of studying zoonotic infectious diseases — those that spread between humans and animals and vice versa — and that’s where we at K-State have expertise,” Richt said. “Even if there is a disease problem, our faculty here at K-State can provide answers and solutions. We can diagnose diseases quickly and therefore can provide clear answers to pressing questions.”
Anderson said that another K-State strength is having a strong partnership between diagnostics and research.
“It makes our research and diagnostic efforts that much better,” he said.
Anderson said that the K-State Veterinary Diagnostic Lab and researchers in K-State’s College of Veterinary Medicine welcome opportunities to work on infectious zoonotic diseases with state agencies like the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Kansas Animal Health Department, as well as federal researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
“At K-State, we’re ready for the unknown,” Anderson said.
A strong partnership between diagnostics and research has helped Richt and a fellow K-State researcher in dealing with an unknown flu strain while both were researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Animal Disease Center in Ames, Iowa.
When diagnosticians from the University of Minnesota ran into difficulties determining exactly what type of flu was in a pig sample from two Missouri farms, they turned to Richt and Wenjun Ma, who is now a research assistant professor at K-State.
In two weeks, Ma said, they had sequenced the virus, which turned out to be H2N3 — not to be confused with H3N2 that showed up in Riley County. This information helped Ma, Richt and U.S. Department of Agriculture colleagues develop a vaccine for it and create better diagnostic tools.
“When diagnostic labs get a sample, they now can use the diagnostic tools we developed,” Richt said.
Their work was published in 2007 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, a prestigious academic journal.
But how do influenza strains get their names anyway? H1N1, H1N2, H2N3, H3N1, H3N2, H5N1 look like a jumble of numbers and letters to most of us, but they actually tell scientists quite a bit about particular strains of influenza viruses.
Anderson and Richt explained that influenza subtypes get their names from the unique combination of proteins on the outer layer of the virus. The H stands for hemagglutinin, for which there are 16 types, and the N is for neuraminidase, for which there are nine types.
Richt said that in mammals — humans, pigs, horses, dogs, marine mammals and the like — only a few of these H’s and N’s can be consistently isolated, whereas all 16 H’s and nine N’s have been found in waterfowl and seabirds. He said that when mammalian virus strains meld, or “mate,” with avian strains they may become virulent in other animals like humans and in pigs.
Because these proteins are on the outer layer of the virus, they make first contact with the receptors that line the animals’ respiratory tracts and with their immune systems. That also means these are the genes most likely to be altered, resulting in new, mutated strains of flu, the researchers said.
Novel viruses often are a combination of two or three viruses, Richt said. So, a particularly virulent virus like the pandemic H1N1 flu virus contains genes from human, swine and avian strains.
Biographical information on Anderson and Richt is available at:
http://www.k-state.edu/media/mediaguide/bios/andersonbio.html
http://www.k-state.edu/media/mediaguide/bios/richtbio.html
Source: Kansas State University
Former military officer pleads guilty to participating in scheme to steal fuel worth $39.6 million from U.S. Army in Iraq
Robert Young, 56, a former captain in the U.S. Army, pleaded guilty to participating in a scheme to steal fuel worth approximately $39.6 million from the U.S. Army in Iraq, announced Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Division Lanny A. Breuer and U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Dana J. Boente.
Young, a U.S. citizen who resided in the Philippines until his arrest in connection with this case, entered his guilty plea today in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Va., before Judge Claude Hilton. Young pleaded guilty to both counts of a two-count superseding indictment filed on May 21, 2009, charging him and Robert Jeffery with conspiracy and theft of government property. Young’s sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 30, 2009.
In his plea, Young admitted that in October 2007, he and other co-conspirators agreed to participate in a scheme to steal fuel from the U.S. Army. Young also admitted that between October 2007 and May 2008, he and his co-conspirators, purportedly representing Department of Defense contractors in Iraq, used fraudulently-obtained documents to enter the Victory Bulk Fuel Point (VBFP) in Camp Liberty, Iraq, and presented false fuel authorization forms to steal aviation and diesel fuel from the VBFP for subsequent sale on the black market. The United States owns and operates the VBFP in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The VBFP supplies fuel to both military units and U.S. government contractors operating in and around the Victory Base Complex. To retrieve and transport the stolen fuel from the VBFP, Young admitted that he and his co-conspirators employed several individuals to serve as drivers and escorts of the trucks containing the stolen fuel.
During Young’s participation in the scheme, he and his co-conspirators stole from the U.S. Army fuel worth approximately $39.6 million. As a result of the scheme, Young received approximately $1 million in personal profits.
At sentencing, Young faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and a fine of the greater of $250,000 or twice the value gained or lost.
In a related case, Lee William Dubois pleaded guilty on Oct. 7, 2008, to participating in the same scheme. In his plea, Dubois admitted that he obtained government-issued common access cards for the drivers and escorts of the trucks and also presented false documents to the VBFP authorizing his co-conspirators to draw fuel. Dubois admitted that he and his co-conspirators stole approximately 10 million gallons of fuel, and that Dubois received at least $450,000 in personal profits from the subsequent sale of the fuel on the black market. Sentencing for Dubois is scheduled for Sept. 4, 2009.
The superseding indictment filed on May 21, 2009, charges Robert Jeffery, 55, a former master chief petty officer in the U.S. Navy, with conspiracy and theft of government property in connection with the same fuel theft scheme. The indictment alleges that Jeffery served as the lead escort for the fuel trucks for several months and illegally retrieved thousands of gallons of fuel from the VBFP. Jeffery is a U.S. citizen who, until his arrest in connection with this case, resided in the Philippines. Jeffery’s trial is scheduled to begin Aug. 10, 2009.
The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Linick, Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, and Fraud Section Trial Attorneys Andrew Gentin and Brigham Cannon. The investigation of this case was conducted by the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the FBI and members of the National Procurement Fraud Task Force and the International Contract Corruption Task Force (ICCTF).
The National Procurement Fraud Task Force, created in October 2006 by the Department of Justice, was designed to promote the early detection, identification, prevention and prosecution of procurement fraud associated with the increase in government contracting activity for national security and other government programs. The ICCTF is a joint law enforcement agency task force that seeks to detect, investigate and dismantle corruption and contract fraud resulting from U.S. Overseas Contingency Operations, including in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice
American hygiene habits getting worse: International study reveals more illness-causing germs than ever in American kitchens
Global Experts Call for Improved Hygiene Practices to Fight the Spread of Infectious Diseases
American hygiene habits are going downhill and kitchen surfaces continue to harbor illness-causing bacteria that can threaten families, according to a new international study released today from the Hygiene Council, sponsored by LYSOL brand products. Investigators swabbing for bacteria in the United States and around the world found that, despite American home owners claiming to clean their kitchen sink faucet handles at least once per week, 60 percent of faucets analyzed failed the hygiene test for having unsatisfactory or heavily contaminated levels of bacteria that come from feces or can cause skin infections. This is dramatically worse than 2008 when only 25 percent of kitchen faucets failed.
Of the eight countries participating in the 2009 global study, the United Kingdom, Germany, South Africa and Saudi Arabia all had cleaner kitchen sink faucets than the United States. While the United States fared better than much of the world in other rooms of the home, it continued to lose the battle against germs in the kitchen, one of the places where families spend the most time.
The new study also found that 65 percent of Americans claim to clean or change their kitchen sponge or cloth every month or more, but 70 percent of American sponges analyzed failed the hygiene test. This is only a 5 percent improvement over 2008, when 75 percent failed the hygiene test — concerning because analysis of the new swabs revealed that U.S. sponges harbored E. coli, which can cause urinary tract infections and diarrhea. Kitchen cloths and sponges proved, once again, to be the germiest item in the home, which only 20 percent of homeowners predicted.
“Given the recent influenza A (H1N1) pandemic, it is more important than ever that Americans make hygiene a priority for their families. Parents’ intentions are good, but results can be dramatically improved by following simple, proper, hygiene routines to help protect their families from illness-causing germs,” said John Oxford, chairman of the Hygiene Council and Professor of Virology at St. Bartholomew’s & The Royal London Hospital, Queen Mary’s School of Medicine and Dentistry.
The Hygiene Council is comprised of leading experts in the fields of microbiology, virology, infectious diseases, immunology and public health from around the globe, who have been educating consumers for the past four years about effective hygiene practices to help in the fight against the spread of infectious diseases. For the 2009 Hygiene Council study, investigators examined more than 1,280 household surfaces in eight countries around the world (Australia, Germany, India, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States) to look for bacteria and learn more about families’ hygiene habits.
The Council recommends that families follow these routines to help stop the spread of harmful germs:
Hand Washing – Wash your hands frequently and regularly, especially after going to the bathroom, before and after preparing food, after changing a diaper, after touching animals and pets and if someone in your household is ill. It is important to use soap and water, scrub underneath your nails and the back of your hands and dry thoroughly with a paper towel.
Surface Disinfection – According to global results from the study, more than 27 percent of home owners said they only clean their home to make it “look clean” and “smell nice.” However, study results showed that simply cleaning is not enough to kill germs. Commonly touched surfaces, such as the kitchen faucet, should be regularly sprayed down with a disinfectant, such as LYSOL Disinfectant Spray. To reduce the chances of cross contamination, skip the sponges and instead clean kitchen surfaces with a disinfectant product before preparing food and immediately after surfaces have been in contact with raw foods, such as meat and poultry.
Cough and Sneeze Etiquette – Practice good cough and sneeze etiquette to prevent spreading germs to others. Cough into your elbow, rather than your hands, and sneeze into a tissue to minimize hand contact transmission of germs. Immediately throw away used tissues and wash your hands.
“These simple, low cost activities can be quite effective in keeping families healthy,” says pediatrician Dr. Laura Jana, co-author of Heading Home with Your Newborn: From Birth to Reality and Food Fights. “While it’s easy to understand how parents might overlook all of the common places where their young children can come into contact with germs in the course of their hectic daily lives, consistently following these simple steps can help protect their families.”
The Hygiene Council recommendations are consistent and in support of recommendations made by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in their Ounce of Prevention materials (www.cdc.gov/ounceofprevention). The Hygiene Council is funded by an educational grant from Reckitt Benckiser, makers of LYSOL brand products.
Additional information:
- LYSOL: http://www.lysol.com/
- The Hygiene Council: www.hygienecouncil.com
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Ounce of Prevention Campaign: www.cdc.gov/ounceofprevention