U.S. Bicyclists Save $4.6 Billion Per Year By Riding Instead Of Driving

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May 18 2012

Contact:
Joseph Rendeiro
NCLR
(202) 776-1566

Carolyn Szczepanski
League of American Bicyclists
(202) 822-1333

Eddie Scher
Sierra Club
(415) 977-5758

Millions to participate in National Bike to Work Day tomorrow

New data released today by the League of American Bicyclists, Sierra Club, and NCLR (National Council of La Raza) highlights the tremendous economic benefits of bicycling and its importance as a transportation choice that should be safe and accessible for every U.S. resident.

The fact sheet release coincides with National Bike to Work Day, when millions of U.S. residents will participate in hundreds of events across the country showcasing bicycling as a healthy, affordable, and efficient form of transportation.

Among the new data highlighted in the fact sheet:

• Bicyclists in the U.S. save $4.6 billion per year by cycling instead of driving.
• If American drivers replaced just one four-mile car trip with a bike trip each week, it would save more than 2 billion gallons of gas per year.
• From 2001 to 2009, Hispanics, African Americans, and Asian Americans took up biking at faster rates than other Americans, representing 21% of all bike trips in the U.S. in 2009.

“There are so many reasons more people are riding, from improving their health to protecting the environment,” said Andy Clarke, President of the League of American Bicyclists. “But, especially in tough economic times, bicycling can also be an economic catalyst, keeping billions of dollars in the pockets of American families.”

“Biking is an important piece of a 21st century transportation system,” said Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune. “Biking reduces America’s dependence on oil and lets individuals bypass the gas pump, saving individuals money and protecting our health and environment from dirty oil pollution.”

“Bicycling is a crucial mode of commuting for many Latinos,” said Catherine Singley, Senior Policy Analyst at NCLR. “Federal transportation policy should ensure that biking is a safe and viable way to connect people to jobs.”

Widespread interest in—and benefits to be gained from—bicycling make it a crucial and timely priority in our transportation system. Everyone who chooses to bicycle should have access to safe infrastructure that lets them take advantage of the economic and other benefits of cycling.

Click here to view the full fact sheet.

Find additional information, data, and National Bike Month events at www.bikeleague.org/bikemonth.

###

Issues:
Geography:California, Far West, Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, Texas

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U.S. Bicyclists Save $4.6 Billion Per Year By Riding Instead Of Driving

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

May 18 2012

Contact:
Joseph Rendeiro
NCLR
(202) 776-1566

Carolyn Szczepanski
League of American Bicyclists
(202) 822-1333

Eddie Scher
Sierra Club
(415) 977-5758

Millions to participate in National Bike to Work Day tomorrow

New data released today by the League of American Bicyclists, Sierra Club, and NCLR (National Council of La Raza) highlights the tremendous economic benefits of bicycling and its importance as a transportation choice that should be safe and accessible for every U.S. resident.

The fact sheet release coincides with National Bike to Work Day, when millions of U.S. residents will participate in hundreds of events across the country showcasing bicycling as a healthy, affordable, and efficient form of transportation.

Among the new data highlighted in the fact sheet:

• Bicyclists in the U.S. save $4.6 billion per year by cycling instead of driving.
• If American drivers replaced just one four-mile car trip with a bike trip each week, it would save more than 2 billion gallons of gas per year.
• From 2001 to 2009, Hispanics, African Americans, and Asian Americans took up biking at faster rates than other Americans, representing 21% of all bike trips in the U.S. in 2009.

“There are so many reasons more people are riding, from improving their health to protecting the environment,” said Andy Clarke, President of the League of American Bicyclists. “But, especially in tough economic times, bicycling can also be an economic catalyst, keeping billions of dollars in the pockets of American families.”

“Biking is an important piece of a 21st century transportation system,” said Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune. “Biking reduces America’s dependence on oil and lets individuals bypass the gas pump, saving individuals money and protecting our health and environment from dirty oil pollution.”

“Bicycling is a crucial mode of commuting for many Latinos,” said Catherine Singley, Senior Policy Analyst at NCLR. “Federal transportation policy should ensure that biking is a safe and viable way to connect people to jobs.”

Widespread interest in—and benefits to be gained from—bicycling make it a crucial and timely priority in our transportation system. Everyone who chooses to bicycle should have access to safe infrastructure that lets them take advantage of the economic and other benefits of cycling.

Click here to view the full fact sheet.

Find additional information, data, and National Bike Month events at www.bikeleague.org/bikemonth.

###

Issues:
Geography:California, Far West, Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, Texas

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New Eyewear For the Whole family from Crocs

The Grundig family lives in Crocs in the summer, and since school got out officially today, I’m considering it summer.  I was so happy to hear that our favorite summer shoe brand has just come out with a new eyewear collection for the whole family.

As a mom with a young boy and girl, I have a hard time keeping their eyes safe.  While they’ll happily wear bug repellent and sunscreen, they aren’t too excited about wearing sunglasses.  So I need sunglasses that are not only high-quality, but are also lightweight and easy to wear.  The new Crocs eyewear line is perfect.  The glasses are stylish and fun, with interchangeable hinges for some style changes.  But, they are also a nice size – covering the whole eye.  And, they are lightweight so they aren’t too heavy for my kids to wear.

To learn more about the new Crocs eyewear line, visit their website.

Disclosure: I received samples at no cost for review.

Tagged as: crocs, sunglasses

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We Want Your Thoughts on the Foreclosure Crisis!

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June 05 2012

June is National Homeownership Month, and NCLR and its partners are taking a closer look at some of the states harmed most by the foreclosure crisis. The crisis exposed weaknesses in the housing system that has long affected low-income families and communities of color. An estimated 25% of Black and Hispanic borrowers in the U.S. lost homes or are at serious risk of losing their homes, compared to 12% of White borrowers.

We must stabilize the housing market by making it more accessible, equitable, and sustainable. To shed light on solutions and bring sensible homeownership back to the national debate, NCLR and its civil rights and consumer partners are hosting a series of Home for Good town halls, the first of which will take place in Nevada later this week. We are holding these town halls to ensure that our leaders:

1. Stop needless foreclosures.
2. Expand affordable rental housing.
3. Revive a sustainable path to homeownership.

We want to hear from you!

In step with the town halls, we're also hosting a blog carnival that will take place Thursday, June 28. The carnival will feature blog posts related to the foreclosure crisis as it pertains to communities of color. Join this blogger effort and add your voice to those speaking out against needless foreclosures.

Send your blog post and contact information no later than close of business on Sunday, June 24 to David Castillo at dcastillo@nclr.org.

OR:

Publish the post on your own site by close of business on Monday, June 25 and send us the link!
We will reprint your posts on Thursday, June 28, marking a milestone in our Home for Good town hall tour and to mark the end of National Homeownership Month. You will see your blog post published on myhomeforgood.com and nclr.org alongside those from the many others seeking to end needless foreclosures that are tearing families apart.

Email us at dcastillo@nclr.org with any questions. Happy blogging!

Issues: Wealth-Building, Home for Good Campaign, Housing
Geography:California, Far West, Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, Texas

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We Want Your Thoughts on the Foreclosure Crisis!

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AppId is over the quota

June 05 2012

June is National Homeownership Month, and NCLR and its partners are taking a closer look at some of the states harmed most by the foreclosure crisis. The crisis exposed weaknesses in the housing system that has long affected low-income families and communities of color. An estimated 25% of Black and Hispanic borrowers in the U.S. lost homes or are at serious risk of losing their homes, compared to 12% of White borrowers.

We must stabilize the housing market by making it more accessible, equitable, and sustainable. To shed light on solutions and bring sensible homeownership back to the national debate, NCLR and its civil rights and consumer partners are hosting a series of Home for Good town halls, the first of which will take place in Nevada later this week. We are holding these town halls to ensure that our leaders:

1. Stop needless foreclosures.
2. Expand affordable rental housing.
3. Revive a sustainable path to homeownership.

We want to hear from you!

In step with the town halls, we're also hosting a blog carnival that will take place Thursday, June 28. The carnival will feature blog posts related to the foreclosure crisis as it pertains to communities of color. Join this blogger effort and add your voice to those speaking out against needless foreclosures.

Send your blog post and contact information no later than close of business on Sunday, June 24 to David Castillo at dcastillo@nclr.org.

OR:

Publish the post on your own site by close of business on Monday, June 25 and send us the link!
We will reprint your posts on Thursday, June 28, marking a milestone in our Home for Good town hall tour and to mark the end of National Homeownership Month. You will see your blog post published on myhomeforgood.com and nclr.org alongside those from the many others seeking to end needless foreclosures that are tearing families apart.

Email us at dcastillo@nclr.org with any questions. Happy blogging!

Issues: Wealth-Building, Home for Good Campaign, Housing
Geography:California, Far West, Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, Texas

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Inspiration for the Whole Family With Papersalt

Despite my love of the electronic world, I’m still a sucker for the written word.  I like to touch and feel the paper in my hand, and give paper as gifts.  So when Papersalt, a Seattle-based company, asked me to review some of their family books, I was excited to receive them.

Papersalt’s products are all written and researched by them, and produced in Seattle.  They have a fun, professional appearance, and look great in any office.  The books are all inspirational and educational, and make great gifts.  They are wire-bound and produced on high-quality paper – with cool-looking rounded corners and stylish fonts.

My personal favorite of the books is the “me” book – a thick, wire-bound book where you are inspired to answer such questions as “These things make me happy” and “These women inspire me”.  I also love the “being a girl – the things mom wants you to remember” book.  It includes advice such as “Be the best YOU that you can be.  Sometimes others will be good at different things than you.  That’s okay.”  I was so thrilled to give this book to my daughter, because she can learn so much from it.

They also offer books for high school graduates, new drivers, and families.

Visit Papersalt online for more information.

Win it!  Win a copy of the “me” book and the “being a girl” OR the “being a boy” book (winner’s choice).  Enter via the Rafflecopter.

Disclosure: I received samples from Papersalt at no cost for review.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tagged as: graduation gifts, paper products

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We’re Getting Out the Latino Vote!

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AppId is over the quota

May 23 2012

Latinos have been some of the hardest hit by the foreclosure crisis and have suffered a massive loss of wealth because of it.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture wants to make already tough working conditions even tougher and more dangerous for poultry workers, many of whom are Latino.  Our education system is not serving our kids well enough.  Members of Congress are comparing immigrants to dogs while they do nothing to fix our terribly broken immigration system.  Voter suppression laws are popping up in heavily Hispanic states like Florida and Texas.  Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio is being sued by the Department of Justice for civil rights violations against Latinos in his county.  And Alabama has just passed a revised, yet still harsh anti-immigrant racial profiling law.

If you’re a Latino in America, the future appears to be a grim one, but being the resilient and optimistic people that we are, it’s important to remember that we have the power to do something about it.  We have the power of the vote.  And with 500,000 Latinos turning 18 every year for the next 20 years, those votes have awesome potential to translate into power.

At NCLR, we’re doing our part to get as many Latinos registered as we can through our Mobilize to Vote campaign, and we just celebrated our first milestone:  registering 20,000 new voters for the 2012 election!

Registration is crucial, and meaningful outreach matters for the youthful Latino community.  “There is no substitute for one-on-one contact, which helps demystify and facilitate the voter registration process, and that is the cornerstone of our campaign,” said Clarissa Martínez-De-Castro, Director of Immigration and Civic Engagement for NCLR.

We’ve only gotten started.  You can expect many more milestones to be reached as we ramp up our voter registration effort in the lead-up to the general election in November.

If we’re going to wield our buying, voting, and political power, however, we’re going to need to band together as a community and get everyone we know to register.  It’s the only way we can move forward.  So, join us in celebrating this achievement and then get back out there to help us spread the word!

And, if you haven’t registered yet, we have only one question:  what are you waiting for?! Visit our Mobilize to Vote website or find us on Facebook or Twitter for all the info you need to get registered.

Issues: Mobilize to Vote, National Campaigns, Latino Voter Participation, Voter Education Materials
Geography:California, Far West, Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, Texas

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We’re Getting Out the Latino Vote!

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

May 23 2012

Latinos have been some of the hardest hit by the foreclosure crisis and have suffered a massive loss of wealth because of it.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture wants to make already tough working conditions even tougher and more dangerous for poultry workers, many of whom are Latino.  Our education system is not serving our kids well enough.  Members of Congress are comparing immigrants to dogs while they do nothing to fix our terribly broken immigration system.  Voter suppression laws are popping up in heavily Hispanic states like Florida and Texas.  Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio is being sued by the Department of Justice for civil rights violations against Latinos in his county.  And Alabama has just passed a revised, yet still harsh anti-immigrant racial profiling law.

If you’re a Latino in America, the future appears to be a grim one, but being the resilient and optimistic people that we are, it’s important to remember that we have the power to do something about it.  We have the power of the vote.  And with 500,000 Latinos turning 18 every year for the next 20 years, those votes have awesome potential to translate into power.

At NCLR, we’re doing our part to get as many Latinos registered as we can through our Mobilize to Vote campaign, and we just celebrated our first milestone:  registering 20,000 new voters for the 2012 election!

Registration is crucial, and meaningful outreach matters for the youthful Latino community.  “There is no substitute for one-on-one contact, which helps demystify and facilitate the voter registration process, and that is the cornerstone of our campaign,” said Clarissa Martínez-De-Castro, Director of Immigration and Civic Engagement for NCLR.

We’ve only gotten started.  You can expect many more milestones to be reached as we ramp up our voter registration effort in the lead-up to the general election in November.

If we’re going to wield our buying, voting, and political power, however, we’re going to need to band together as a community and get everyone we know to register.  It’s the only way we can move forward.  So, join us in celebrating this achievement and then get back out there to help us spread the word!

And, if you haven’t registered yet, we have only one question:  what are you waiting for?! Visit our Mobilize to Vote website or find us on Facebook or Twitter for all the info you need to get registered.

Issues: Mobilize to Vote, National Campaigns, Latino Voter Participation, Voter Education Materials
Geography:California, Far West, Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, Texas

View the original article here

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Report: Last fugitive nabbed in '95 Japan gassing

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AppId is over the quota
TOKYO (AP) — Japanese police Friday arrested the last fugitive suspected in a doomsday cult's deadly nerve gas attack on Tokyo subways 17 years ago, media reports said.

Katsuya Takahashi, 54, a former member of Aum Shinrikyo cult, was arrested on suspicion of murder after being spotted at a comic book cafe in downtown Tokyo, Japan's public broadcaster NHK said. A cafe employee had recognized him and called police.

Takahashi admitted who he was when approached by the police at the cafe, NHK said.

TV footage showed a huge crowd outside the shop, trying to catch a glimpse of the last cult fugitive. NHK showed a thin, bespectacled Takahashi being pushed into a police car.

His appearance had changed over years — in particular, his trademark bushy eyebrows have become much thinner. So police had to wait while his fingerprints were verified. He was arrested after being taken to a nearby police station, then transferred to Tokyo police headquarters for interrogation, reports said.

Takahashi, who had been cult guru Shoko Asahara's bodyguard, was on Japan's most wanted list for his suspected role in the sarin gas attack on Tokyo subways, which killed 13 people and injured more than 6,000.

Takahashi's trail had been cold for years, but it heated up after another fugitive from the cult was arrested June 3.

Since then, thousands of officers were mobilized across the Tokyo area, handing out fresh photos of Takahashi and monitoring transportation hubs to keep him from escaping the capital.

A security camera last week showed Takahashi trying to withdraw money from a bank shortly after other fugitive was arrested. Police believe he had been hiding in the Tokyo area under a false name. Local media have reported that he was working at a construction company, where he was known as a quiet and anti-social person who always wore a surgical mask.

Aum Shinrikyo had amassed an arsenal of chemical, biological and conventional weapons in anticipation of an apocalyptic showdown with the government. Nearly 200 of its members have been convicted in the 1995 attack and dozens of other crimes. Thirteen, including Asahara, are on death row.

Makoto Hirata, charged in a 1995 cult-related kidnapping-murder as well as the subway attack, surrendered to police on New Year's Eve, stunning the nation. The second-to-last fugitive, Naoko Kikuchi, 40, was arrested on June 3. She had been accused of helping produce the sarin the group released on the subway.

The cult, split into two groups — each renamed Aleph and the Circle of Rainbow Light — once had 10,000 members in Japan and claimed another 30,000 in Russia. It still has hundreds of members. The cult is under police surveillance and its current leaders have publicly disavowed Asahara.

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What Does $300 Extra a Year Mean to You?

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AppId is over the quota

May 22 2012

by Sergio Muñoz, Senior Policy Analyst, Health Policy Project, NCLR

Remember the trending Twitter campaign, #40Dollars, which the White House launched last December to rally support for extension of the payroll tax break?  That extra $40 per paycheck was apparently a big deal—responses flooded in at a rate of 2,000 an hour.  What do you think another $535 or $589 means for American families? 

Curious?  You have something to look forward to. A research study just published on the savings for health care consumers if the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is implemented in its entirety is starting to attract notice.  According to the researcher, the regulated benefits of individual health insurance plans that will be available under the ACA would have saved the average consumer almost $300 a year in out-of-pocket costs.  The savings are even more significant for the near-elderly and those with limited incomes, which come out to $589 and $535, respectively.  That’s not between-the-sofa-cushions-change.

The high out-of-pocket costs of most health insurance plans prior to health care reform are a big reason why 15% of insured Hispanics cite financial concerns as a barrier to a usual source of care, and why one in four dips into savings for health care costs when a doctor’s visit can no longer be postponed.  This is the sort of out-of-pocket unaffordability that the ACA was supposed to fix, and if this study is any indication, the savings are not chump change. 

So the next time someone tells you they want to repeal the law completely, keep in mind that this would also repeal all the other reforms that will finally make affordable quality health insurance available, and deliver hundreds of dollars in savings to us all. 

Preventive services offered without cost-sharing, already estimated to be available to 6.1 million Latinos?  Gone with repeal. 

Tax credits toward the purchase of private health insurance that will help low- and moderate-income families even more, on top of the out-of-pocket savings projected by the study?  Yup, gone with repeal as well.

The Supreme Court has always affected our daily lives more than most people realize.  An adverse decision on the constitutionality of health care reform might finally drive this point home.  Sticker shock tends to do that.

Issues: Basics of Health Care Reform, Health, Health Care, Health Care Reform
Geography:California, Far West, Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, Texas

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What Does $300 Extra a Year Mean to You?

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

May 22 2012

by Sergio Muñoz, Senior Policy Analyst, Health Policy Project, NCLR

Remember the trending Twitter campaign, #40Dollars, which the White House launched last December to rally support for extension of the payroll tax break?  That extra $40 per paycheck was apparently a big deal—responses flooded in at a rate of 2,000 an hour.  What do you think another $535 or $589 means for American families? 

Curious?  You have something to look forward to. A research study just published on the savings for health care consumers if the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is implemented in its entirety is starting to attract notice.  According to the researcher, the regulated benefits of individual health insurance plans that will be available under the ACA would have saved the average consumer almost $300 a year in out-of-pocket costs.  The savings are even more significant for the near-elderly and those with limited incomes, which come out to $589 and $535, respectively.  That’s not between-the-sofa-cushions-change.

The high out-of-pocket costs of most health insurance plans prior to health care reform are a big reason why 15% of insured Hispanics cite financial concerns as a barrier to a usual source of care, and why one in four dips into savings for health care costs when a doctor’s visit can no longer be postponed.  This is the sort of out-of-pocket unaffordability that the ACA was supposed to fix, and if this study is any indication, the savings are not chump change. 

So the next time someone tells you they want to repeal the law completely, keep in mind that this would also repeal all the other reforms that will finally make affordable quality health insurance available, and deliver hundreds of dollars in savings to us all. 

Preventive services offered without cost-sharing, already estimated to be available to 6.1 million Latinos?  Gone with repeal. 

Tax credits toward the purchase of private health insurance that will help low- and moderate-income families even more, on top of the out-of-pocket savings projected by the study?  Yup, gone with repeal as well.

The Supreme Court has always affected our daily lives more than most people realize.  An adverse decision on the constitutionality of health care reform might finally drive this point home.  Sticker shock tends to do that.

Issues: Basics of Health Care Reform, Health, Health Care, Health Care Reform
Geography:California, Far West, Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, Texas

View the original article here

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Common Cancers

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AppId is over the quota

April 6, 2012 / Vol. 61 / No. RR–2
Good Laboratory Practices for Biochemical Genetic Testing and Newborn Screening for Inherited Metabolic Disorders
CE Available

This report provides recommendations for good laboratory practices for biochemical genetic testing and newborn screening for inherited metabolic disorders. The recommended practices address the benefits of using a quality management system approach, factors to consider before introducing new tests, establishment and verification of test performance specifications, the total laboratory testing process, confidentiality of patient information and test results, and personnel qualifications and responsibilities for laboratory testing for inherited metabolic diseases. These recommendations are intended for laboratories that perform biochemical genetic testing to improve the quality of laboratory services and for newborn screening laboratories to ensure the quality of laboratory practices for inherited metabolic disorders. These recommendations also are intended as a resource for medical and public health professionals who evaluate laboratory practices, for users of laboratory services to facilitate their collaboration with newborn screening systems and use of biochemical genetic tests, and for standard-setting organizations and professional societies in developing future laboratory quality standards and practice recommendations.

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NCLR Supports DOJ Lawsuit Against Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office

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AppId is over the quota

May 10 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE             

Contact:
Joseph Rendeiro
(202) 776-1566
jrendeiro@nclr.org

Washington—Today, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a federal lawsuit against Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and his office over a number of alleged civil rights violations, including discriminatory practices targeting Latinos.  NCLR (National Council of La Raza) firmly stands behind the DOJ’s decision to file suit against the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) and, once again, calls on Sheriff Arpaio to resign.

“DOJ’s findings corroborated what has been a long-standing pattern and practice of unwarranted, unequal, and unconstitutional treatment of Latinos by Sheriff Joe Arpaio,” said Janet Murguía, President and CEO of NCLR.  “We welcome DOJ’s lawsuit, in light of the sheriff’s refusal to put in place the necessary mechanisms to prevent abuses of power that have hurt Latino immigrants and U.S. citizens alike.”

As a result of the findings from its investigation, DOJ proposed a settlement that would have required the MCSO to train officers to make constitutional traffic stops, collect data on people arrested in traffic stops, and begin outreach to the Latino community, and it would have required a court-appointed monitor to oversee these changes.  However, Arpaio refused a court monitor, thereby putting an end to negotiations and resulting in the lawsuit.

“We have a high regard for the work that law enforcement officers do every day, as well as their efforts to put in place community policing strategies that uphold the constitution and public safety,” added Murguía.  “Sheriff Arpaio’s practices, however, are a black eye on the law enforcement community.  ‘To serve and protect’ should not be determined by the color of your skin.  We hope that our elected leaders heed this lesson and the dangers of having law enforcement prioritize immigration status over criminal behavior.”

NCLR—the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States—works to improve opportunities for Hispanic Americans.  For more information on NCLR, please visit www.nclr.org or follow along on Facebook and Twitter.

###

Issues:
Geography:California, Far West, Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, Texas

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NCLR Supports DOJ Lawsuit Against Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

May 10 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE             

Contact:
Joseph Rendeiro
(202) 776-1566
jrendeiro@nclr.org

Washington—Today, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a federal lawsuit against Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and his office over a number of alleged civil rights violations, including discriminatory practices targeting Latinos.  NCLR (National Council of La Raza) firmly stands behind the DOJ’s decision to file suit against the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) and, once again, calls on Sheriff Arpaio to resign.

“DOJ’s findings corroborated what has been a long-standing pattern and practice of unwarranted, unequal, and unconstitutional treatment of Latinos by Sheriff Joe Arpaio,” said Janet Murguía, President and CEO of NCLR.  “We welcome DOJ’s lawsuit, in light of the sheriff’s refusal to put in place the necessary mechanisms to prevent abuses of power that have hurt Latino immigrants and U.S. citizens alike.”

As a result of the findings from its investigation, DOJ proposed a settlement that would have required the MCSO to train officers to make constitutional traffic stops, collect data on people arrested in traffic stops, and begin outreach to the Latino community, and it would have required a court-appointed monitor to oversee these changes.  However, Arpaio refused a court monitor, thereby putting an end to negotiations and resulting in the lawsuit.

“We have a high regard for the work that law enforcement officers do every day, as well as their efforts to put in place community policing strategies that uphold the constitution and public safety,” added Murguía.  “Sheriff Arpaio’s practices, however, are a black eye on the law enforcement community.  ‘To serve and protect’ should not be determined by the color of your skin.  We hope that our elected leaders heed this lesson and the dangers of having law enforcement prioritize immigration status over criminal behavior.”

NCLR—the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States—works to improve opportunities for Hispanic Americans.  For more information on NCLR, please visit www.nclr.org or follow along on Facebook and Twitter.

###

Issues:
Geography:California, Far West, Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, Texas

View the original article here

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Hand, Foot, and Mouth Season

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

April 6, 2012 / Vol. 61 / No. RR–2
Good Laboratory Practices for Biochemical Genetic Testing and Newborn Screening for Inherited Metabolic Disorders
CE Available

This report provides recommendations for good laboratory practices for biochemical genetic testing and newborn screening for inherited metabolic disorders. The recommended practices address the benefits of using a quality management system approach, factors to consider before introducing new tests, establishment and verification of test performance specifications, the total laboratory testing process, confidentiality of patient information and test results, and personnel qualifications and responsibilities for laboratory testing for inherited metabolic diseases. These recommendations are intended for laboratories that perform biochemical genetic testing to improve the quality of laboratory services and for newborn screening laboratories to ensure the quality of laboratory practices for inherited metabolic disorders. These recommendations also are intended as a resource for medical and public health professionals who evaluate laboratory practices, for users of laboratory services to facilitate their collaboration with newborn screening systems and use of biochemical genetic tests, and for standard-setting organizations and professional societies in developing future laboratory quality standards and practice recommendations.

View the original article here

Read More

NCLR’s Mobilize to Vote Campaign Registers 20,000 Voters

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AppId is over the quota

May 22 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                         

Contact:
Camila Gallardo
(305) 573-7329
cgallardo@nclr.org

Washington—Today, NCLR (National Council of La Raza) announced that it has registered 20,000 new Latino voters for the upcoming 2012 elections through its multistate campaign, Mobilize to Vote (M2V).  M2V is the electoral arm of NCLR’s Civic Engagement Program, which aims to build and support long-term Latino participation in the democratic process.  M2V focuses on registering eligible Latinos to vote, elevating the issues Latino voters care about, providing voters the tools to exercise their right to vote, and mobilizing Hispanics to the polls on Election Day.

“As a young community, registration is crucial and meaningful outreach matters,” said Clarissa Martínez-De-Castro, Director of Immigration and Civic Engagement for NCLR.  “There is no substitute for one-on-one contact, which helps demystify and facilitate the voter registration process, and that is the cornerstone of our campaign.  We celebrate these 20,000 voters and expect to keep the momentum in the months ahead.”

Mobilize to Vote has full-time operations currently running in Florida, Colorado, and Nevada, and in June will expand to other states including California, North Carolina, and Texas, working in partnership with NCLR’s Affiliate Network.  In addition, a web portal will allow Latinos nationwide to register online.

“We are committed to expanding Latino civic participation, and this phase is about voter registration, protection, and turnout.  We are already a community whose votes are needed by any candidate to get to the White House.  Growing our electoral and advocacy strength, we can usher in the transformative change our community and our country need,” concluded Martínez-De-Castro.

NCLR—the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States—works to improve opportunities for Hispanic Americans.  For more information on NCLR, please visit www.nclr.org or follow along on Facebook and Twitter.

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Issues: Civic Engagement, Latino Voter Participation, Mobilize to Vote, National Campaigns
Geography:California, Far West, Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, Texas

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NCLR’s Mobilize to Vote Campaign Registers 20,000 Voters

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

May 22 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                         

Contact:
Camila Gallardo
(305) 573-7329
cgallardo@nclr.org

Washington—Today, NCLR (National Council of La Raza) announced that it has registered 20,000 new Latino voters for the upcoming 2012 elections through its multistate campaign, Mobilize to Vote (M2V).  M2V is the electoral arm of NCLR’s Civic Engagement Program, which aims to build and support long-term Latino participation in the democratic process.  M2V focuses on registering eligible Latinos to vote, elevating the issues Latino voters care about, providing voters the tools to exercise their right to vote, and mobilizing Hispanics to the polls on Election Day.

“As a young community, registration is crucial and meaningful outreach matters,” said Clarissa Martínez-De-Castro, Director of Immigration and Civic Engagement for NCLR.  “There is no substitute for one-on-one contact, which helps demystify and facilitate the voter registration process, and that is the cornerstone of our campaign.  We celebrate these 20,000 voters and expect to keep the momentum in the months ahead.”

Mobilize to Vote has full-time operations currently running in Florida, Colorado, and Nevada, and in June will expand to other states including California, North Carolina, and Texas, working in partnership with NCLR’s Affiliate Network.  In addition, a web portal will allow Latinos nationwide to register online.

“We are committed to expanding Latino civic participation, and this phase is about voter registration, protection, and turnout.  We are already a community whose votes are needed by any candidate to get to the White House.  Growing our electoral and advocacy strength, we can usher in the transformative change our community and our country need,” concluded Martínez-De-Castro.

NCLR—the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States—works to improve opportunities for Hispanic Americans.  For more information on NCLR, please visit www.nclr.org or follow along on Facebook and Twitter.

###

Issues: Civic Engagement, Latino Voter Participation, Mobilize to Vote, National Campaigns
Geography:California, Far West, Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, Texas

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Go Light on the Joints

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

April 6, 2012 / Vol. 61 / No. RR–2
Good Laboratory Practices for Biochemical Genetic Testing and Newborn Screening for Inherited Metabolic Disorders
CE Available

This report provides recommendations for good laboratory practices for biochemical genetic testing and newborn screening for inherited metabolic disorders. The recommended practices address the benefits of using a quality management system approach, factors to consider before introducing new tests, establishment and verification of test performance specifications, the total laboratory testing process, confidentiality of patient information and test results, and personnel qualifications and responsibilities for laboratory testing for inherited metabolic diseases. These recommendations are intended for laboratories that perform biochemical genetic testing to improve the quality of laboratory services and for newborn screening laboratories to ensure the quality of laboratory practices for inherited metabolic disorders. These recommendations also are intended as a resource for medical and public health professionals who evaluate laboratory practices, for users of laboratory services to facilitate their collaboration with newborn screening systems and use of biochemical genetic tests, and for standard-setting organizations and professional societies in developing future laboratory quality standards and practice recommendations.

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