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July 2014
- 07/25/14 Westat Staff to Participate in 2014 Joint Statistical Meetings
- 07/14/14 International Family Violence and Child Victimization Research Conference Draws Westat Research
June 2014
May 2014
- 05/29/14 Westat Staff Recognized with PRNews Group's Social Media Icon Award
- 05/22/14 Communicator Award of Distinction Given to Westat-Developed Videos
- 05/20/14 Kalton Honored with Award from Polish Statistical Association
- 05/16/14 Westat to Conduct Cognitive Testing for the American Community Survey
- 05/09/14 AAPOR Draws Westat Expertise
April 2014
- 04/29/14 Understanding How Visitors Travel While in Las Vegas
- 04/24/14 Surveying Minnesotans About Substance Use and Mental Health Issues
- 04/21/14 National Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect Draws Westat Research
- 04/08/14 NHLBI-UnitedHealth Global Health Meeting Draws Westat
March 2014
- 03/27/14 Westat, BJS, and Collaborators Recognized with 2014 AAPOR Policy Impact Award
- 03/25/14 Westat Researcher Leads Workshop on Using Google for Communication Campaigns
- 03/21/14 CSDI 2014 Workshop to Feature Westat Expertise
- 03/18/14 Westat to Survey Satisfaction with Reforms in DC Public Schools
- 03/11/14 Lohr Named 2014 Deming Lecturer by the ASA
- 03/0714 FedCASIC 2014 Draws Westat's Range of Expertise
February 2014
- 02/25/14 Westat Researcher Explores Digital Media Trends for Public Health
- 02/21/14 State Education Reform Implementation Examined by Westat
- 02/12/14 Combining Satellite and Health Data to Learn How Environmental Change Affects Health Outcomes
- 02/10/14 CMS Hosts Physician Compare Town Hall Meeting
- 02/06/14 Esri Federal GIS Conference Draws Westat Researchers
January 2014
- 02/03/14 Transportation Research Board Includes Westat Expertise
- 01/30/14 High Viral Load Levels in HIV-Infected Youth Contribute to High Rates of Sexual Transmission
- 01/22/14 Westat Staff Attend White House Safety Datapalooza
- 01/07/14 Westat Researchers Contribute Expertise to New Handbook of Child Maltreatment
- 01/03/14 New Eagle Books Novel Published by CDC
Westat Staff to Participate in 2014 Joint Statistical Meetings
Researchers from Westat will be participating as authors, discussants, session chairs, organizers, and officers in this year's Joint Statistical Meetings(external site) [*] (JSM) to be held in Boston, Massachusetts, August 2-7, 2014. The theme of this year's conference is Statistics: Global Impact - Past, Present, and Future. The conference is expected to attract more than 6,000 statisticians from around the world.
JSM is jointly sponsored by the following organizations:
- American Statistical Association (ASA)
- Institute of Mathematical Statistics
- International Biometric Society (Eastern and Western North American Regions)
- International Chinese Statistical Association
- International Indian Statistical Association
- International Society for Bayesian Analysis
- Korean International Statistical Society
- Royal Statistical Society
- Statistical Society of Canada
Westat has a strong tradition as an active presence at JSM. David Morganstein, ASA 2014 President-elect, and Westat Vice President and Director of the Statistical Staff, will be attending and participating as a panelist at Can Mentoring Enrich Professional Experience for Young Statisticians? An ASA Perspective. Sharon Lohr, Westat Vice President and Associate Director, is the 2014 Deming Lecturer and will be presenting Red Beads and Profound Knowledge: Deming and Quality of Education. Westat staff will be on hand for presentations and discussions that will cover a wide range of topics. In addition, Westat is sponsoring the Opening Mixer, Longtime Member Reception, and ASA's 175th Anniversary Celebration.
A list of other papers, panels, and meetings to which Westat staff (names in bold) will contribute follows. For details on the time and location of each, refer to the online JSM program(external site) [*].
- Laura Alvarez-Rojas (Presenter), Thomas Krenzke, and Leyla Mohadjer.
- Reducing Quality Variation Across Countries in an International Survey.
- William Cecere (Presenter), Rui Jiao, Martha Rozsi, Jacqueline Severynse, Sharon Lohr, and James Green.
- Composite Measure of Size Evaluation and Primary Sampling Unit Formation for NHTSA's New National Automotive Sampling System.
- Jay Clark (Presenter) and Ralph Digaetano.
- Using the National Provider Identification File as the Sampling Frame for a Physician Survey.
- Mamadou Diallo (Presenter) and J. N. K. Rao.
- Small Area Estimation of Complex Parameters Under Unit-Level Models with Skew-Normal Errors.
- Sylvia Dohrmann (Presenter), Jill Montaquila, Trent D. Buskirk, and Ashley Hyon.
- Address-Based Sampling Frames for Beginners.
- Brad Edwards (Panel Discussant).
- Current Research on the Use of Paradata to Examine Multiple Error Sources Simultaneously in the Total Survey Error Framework.
- Robert Fay (Presenter).
- The Sample Overlap Problem for Systematic Sampling.
- Ismael Flores Cervantes (Presenter).
- Tools for Analyzing Nonresponse Adjustments in Survey Sampling.
- Ronald Hodge (Presenter), Naomi Dyer Yount, and Jennifer O'Brien.
- Assessing the Compliance Costs of IRS Post-Filing Processes.
- Valerie Hsu (Presenter), Thomas Krenzke, Leyla Mohadjer, and Sixia Chen.
- Evaluation of Sample Designs Using Results from the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies.
- Rebecca Goldring (Presenter) and Minsun Riddles.
- Examining the Role Gender Plays in the Public School Principalship.
- Paul Guerino (Presenter) and Ryan Hubbard.
- Stop Chasing Your Tail: Reining in Hard-to-Reach Respondents.
- Rui Jiao (Presenter), Yumiko Sugawara, Martha Rozsi, Sharon Lohr, James Green, and William Cecere.
- Estimating Population and Design Parameters for NHTSA's New National Automotive Sampling System (NASS).
- Jennifer Kali (Presenter), Richard Sigman, Weijia Ren, Yumiko Sugawara, Michael Jones, and Adam Chu.
- Experiences with the Use of Address-Based Sampling in Two In-Person National Household Surveys.
- Graham Kalton (Panel Discussant).
- The Past, Present, and Future of Federal Surveys: Observations from the Committee on National Statistics.
- Graham Kalton and Sixia Chen (Presenter).
- Geographic Oversampling for Race/Ethnic Minorities Based on Data from the 2010 U.S. Population Census.
- Graham Kalton (Presenter) and Richard Sigman.
- Handling Frame Problems with Address-Based Sampling and In-Person Household Surveys.
- Thomas Krenzke (Presenter), Jianzhu Li, and Lin Li.
- An Evaluation of the Impact of Missing Data on Disclosure Risk.
- Jianzhu Li (Presenter), Sixia Chen, Thomas Krenzke, and Leyla Mohadjer.
- Replication Variance Estimation for Balanced Sampling: An Application to the PIAAC Study.
- Lin Li (Presenter), Leyla Mohadjer, and Thomas Krenzke.
- Considerations for Selecting Reserve Samples for In-Person Surveys.
- Tiandong Li (Presenter) and Ulrike Luderer.
- Analysis of Interval-Censored Data Using Competing Risks Model and Multiple Imputation.
- Jill Montaquila (Panel Discussant).
- Use of Vendor Data in Optimization of Address-Based Sampling Procedures.
- Martha Rozsi (Presenter), William Cecere, Sharon Lohr, and James Green.
- Creating a Flexible and Scalable PSU Sample for NHTSA's New National Automotive Sampling System.
- Yumiko Sugawara (Presenter), Barnali Das, Rui Jiao, and James Green.
- Multivariate Sample Design Optimization for NHTSA's New National Automotive Sampling System.
- Wendy Van de Kerckhove (Presenter), Thomas Krenzke, and Leyla Mohadjer.
- A Weight-Trimming Approach to Achieve a Comparable Increase to Bias Across Countries in the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies.
- Sylvia Dohrmann (Chair).
- CSP Steering Committee Business Meeting.
- Robert Fay (Chair).
- Committee of Representatives to AAAS.
- Jill Montaquila (Chair).
- Government Statistics Section Business Meeting.
- Jill Montaquila (Chair).
- Government Statistics Section Executive Committee Meeting.
- David Morganstein (Chair).
- Leadership Support Council Meeting.
Paper Presentations and Panel Discussions:
For more information: Contact Westat
International Family Violence and Child Victimization Research Conference Draws Westat Research
Westat staff is attending and participating at the International Family Violence and Child Victimization Research Conference(external site) [*] in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, July 13-15, 2014.
This conference, which is part of an ongoing series dating back to 1981, is sponsored by the Family Research Laboratory and the Crimes Against Children Research Center at the University of New Hampshire.
These meetings draw about 300 to 400 researchers from around the world and provide opportunities for researchers and scientist/practitioners from a broad array of disciplines to share, integrate, and critique accumulated knowledge on family violence and methodological approaches to its study.
Andrea Sedlak, Ph.D., a Westat Vice President, will contribute the following presentations:
- Easy Online Access of Data from the Fourth National Incidence Study of Child Abuse and Neglect. [www.nis4.org](external site) [*].
- Strategies for Sampling Agencies to Estimate the Incidence of Child Abuse and Neglect, in Panel Session: Developing an International Toolkit for Mapping Agency Response to Child Maltreatment.
For more information: Contact Westat
Cancer Registries Conference Includes Westat Staff
Westat staff will be participating in this year's North American Association of Central Cancer Registries (NAACCR) Annual Conference(external site) [*]. The meeting will be held in Ottawa, Ontario, from June 21-26, 2014.
The theme for this year's meeting is Capitalizing on Cancer Surveillance Data for Improved Cancer Control. This year's meeting is being cosponsored by the International Association of Cancer Registries (IARC).
Westat will be exhibiting at Booth 12 in the exhibit hall. Westat staff will be available to provide meeting attendees an opportunity to learn about our projects and capabilities.
Westat staff (names in bold) will be participating in the following:
- Barnali Das. (Workshop.)
- Multiple Imputation in Cancer Surveillance Workshop.
- Marsha Dunn. (Session moderator.)
- Breast Cancer.
- Serban Negoita. (Paper.)
- Feasibility of Using Trends to Forecast Late-Stage Breast Cancer Incidence Rate Reductions in the USA.
- David Stinchcomb. (Session moderator.)
- Using Data for Cancer Control II.
- David Stinchcomb, Serban Negoita. (Paper.)
- Komen Community Profiles Needs Assessment.
For more information: Contact Westat
Westat Staff Recognized with PRNews Group's Social Media Icon Award
Amelia Burke-Garcia, Social Media Director for Westat's Health Communications group and the Center for Digital Strategy & Research, has been named a Social Media MVP by PRNews Group. PRNews' Social Media Icon Awards celebrate leaders in the field of digital communications who took chances, made incredible strides, and understand the power of social media in public relations.
The Social Media Icon Awards luncheon will take place on June 2, 2014, in New York City where attendees will salute the winners and honorable mentions of this inaugural program.
Other Social Media MVP awardees include staff from PBS, Mashable, National Geographic Channel, MasterCard, and NASA, to name a few. "I am very excited to have been named to this list by PRNews," noted Ms. Burke-Garcia. "To be included among such a great group of people is a real honor."
Along with Social Media MVP, categories for award include Best App, Social Media Team, Technology Service, and YouTube Campaign, among others.
For more information: Contact Westat
Communicator Award of Distinction Given to Westat-Developed Videos
Four videos developed by Westat have been recognized with the Communicator Award of Distinction. The videos span different content areas for client requirements as well as corporate marketing efforts. The Communicator Award of Distinction recognizes work that exceeds industry standards in quality and achievement to make a lasting impact based on big ideas in marketing and communications.
The winning videos include the following:
- The 1-2-3 Approach to Provider Outreach(external site) [*] is an interactive training video developed for the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention and the Directors of Health Promotion and Education.
- What Is Tagging?(external site) [*] is a recruitment video that was developed for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's Measures of Effective Teaching project.
- Improving Lives Through Research(external site) [*] and ACASI(external site) [*] were developed for Westat use.
Judging for the awards is done by members of the invitation-only Academy of Interactive & Visual Arts, a group consisting of top-tier professionals from acclaimed media, communications, advertising, creative, and marketing firms. Members include executives from organizations such as Condé Nast, Disney, The Ellen Degeneres Show, Lockheed Martin, MTV Networks, Time, Inc., and Yahoo!
For more information: Contact Westat
Kalton Honored with Award from Polish Statistical Association
Graham Kalton, Ph.D., Westat Chairman of the Board and Senior Vice President, has been honored by the Polish Statistical Association with the Medal of Jerzy Neyman that was established on the occasion of the Association's 100th anniversary. The Autumn 2013 issue of Statistics in Transition(external site) [*], published by the Polish Statistical Association, contains an appreciation of Dr. Kalton's lifetime of work and notes his extraordinary contribution to contemporary statistics and to survey methodology in particular.
For more information: Contact Westat
Westat to Conduct Cognitive Testing for the American Community Survey
Westat will conduct cognitive testing on updated questions for the American Community Survey and Puerto Rico Community Survey. Both surveys are conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. The data these surveys provide give communities the current information they need to plan investments and services.
Westat will test updated questions on
- Cohabitation/domestic partnership
- Race and Hispanic origin
- Health insurance premiums and subsidies
- Telephone service
- Computer and Internet use
- Commuting mode
- Time of arrival at work
- Number of weeks worked
- Class of worker
- Industry and occupation
- Retirement income
We will conduct more than 400 cognitive interviews in English and Spanish over three rounds of testing, summarize and analyze the interviews, and report the findings from each round of testing.
"We are pleased to be part of the U.S. Census Bureau's mission to maintain current best practices in the development of the next iteration of the American Community Survey," noted Martha Stapleton, Westat project director.
For more information: Contact Westat
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/02/us/census-bureau-arabs-hispanics-diversity.html?_r=0(external site) [*]
AAPOR Draws Westat Expertise
A contingent of Westat staff will participate at the 2014 conference of the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR)(external site) [*] in Anaheim, California, May 15-18, 2014. The theme of this year's conference is Measurement and the Role of Public Opinion in a Democracy. This event is considered the premier gathering of survey and public opinion researchers from around the globe.
The AAPOR 2014 Policy Impact Award will be presented to the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), Westat, and other collaborators for their work on measuring sexual assault among prisoners in the United States. The award recognizes the BJS team for their work in measuring sexual assault within juvenile and adult correctional facilities, its impact on increasing awareness of the problem, and shaping policies to prevent assaults.
Westat staff will also be on hand to share their expertise in a number of ways. Brad Edwards will be teaching a short course: Total Survey Error in Project Management. Presentations by Westat staff will cover a variety of topics, including questionnaire design, respondent incentives, nonresponse error, cell-only surveys, telephony technology issues, obtaining interview assent from minors, and more.
A list of presentations and posters to be contributed by Westat staff (names in bold) follows.
- Valerie Atkinson, Kwang Kim, and Christine Nord. (Poster.)
- Best Practices in Recruiting Parents of Children in Child Care Programs for Research Study Participation.
- David Cantor, Darby Steiger, Shannan Catalano, Kay Ricci, and Reanne Townsend. (Presentation.)
- Using Cognitive Interviews to Test Behaviorally Specific Questions on Rape and Sexual Assault.
- Andrew R. Caporaso, Andrew Mercer, David Cantor, and Reanne Townsend. (Presentation.)
- Monetary Incentives and Response Rates in Household Surveys.
- Jennifer Crafts, Earlayna Batch, Sarah Bennett-Harper, Jasmine Folz, James McClain, Jana Eisenstein, and Heather Bowles. (Presentation.)
- Use of Qualitative Research Techniques to Evaluate Usability of a Diary Application.
- Sherman Edwards, William R. Andrews, J. Michael Brick, and Howard King. (Presentation.)
- Cost-Effectiveness of Monetary Incentives in a Dual-Frame Mail Survey.
- Ismael Flores Cervantes, Matt Jans, and Trent D. Buskirk. (Presentation.)
- Exploring the Impact of Various Control Total Sources for Adjusting for the Cell-Only Population in the California Health Interview Survey.
- Ryan Hubbard and Paul Guerino. (Presentation.)
- Stop Chasing Your Tail: Identifying Respondents That Are Hard to Catch and That You Will Not Miss.
- Matt Jans, David Grant, Royce Park, and Sherman Edwards. (Presentation.)
- How to Ask for Parental Permission to Interview a Teenager: A Telephone Experiment in the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS).
- Ashley Kaiser, Jill Walston, Rebecca Medway, Cong Ye, and Roger Tourangeau. (Presentation.)
- Providing a Deadline for Response: Results from Two Recent Experiments.
- Aaron Maitland. (Presentation.)
- The Impact of Question Format and Respondent Background on Data Quality in a Health Survey.
- Andrew Mercer. (Presentation.)
- Survey Response as a Process: How Response Propensity and Data Collection Costs Vary Together in a Face-to-Face Survey.
- Zeina N. Mneimneh, Mick Couper, Roger Tourangeau, Beth-Ellen Pennell, Steven Heeringa, and Michael Elliott. (Presentation.)
- Cultural Variations in the Effect of Interview Privacy and the Need for Social Conformity on Reporting of Sensitive Outcomes.
- Royce Park, Matt Jans, David Grant, Sherman Edwards, and John Rauch. (Poster.)
- Does the Graphic on an Envelope Increase or Decrease Response Rates?: An Experiment with an Address-Based Sampling (ABS) Mail Screener Form for the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS).
- Hanna Popick, Eric Jodts, and Jonathan Wivagg. (Presentation.)
- Where Am I Calling?: New Telephony Technologies and Implications for Respondent Location in RDD Samples.
- Tim Smith, Leanne Heaton, Sharon Zack, and David Cantor. (Presentation.)
- Obtaining Assent from Minors — Assessing Comprehension in the National Survey of Youth in Custody.
- Darby Steiger, David Cantor, Aaron Maitland, and Martha Stapleton. (Presentation.)
- Reliability in Qualitative Research: Now What Does That Question Mean to You?
- Andrew N. Williams and Ryan A. Hubbard. (Presentation.)
- How to Open a Door with a Packet of Seeds and a Magnet: The Effect of Non-Monetary Incentives on In-Person Study Response Rates.
- Douglas Williams, David Cantor, and Shannan Catalano. (Presentation.)
- Use of Promised Incentives and Methods to Increase Incentive Saliency.
- Cong Ye and Roger Tourangeau. (Presentation.)
- Nonresponse Error in a Total Survey Error Context.
For more information: Contact Westat
Understanding How Visitors Travel While in Las Vegas
Las Vegas is one of the top tourist destinations in the world, with more than 150,000 hotel rooms and nearly 40 million visitors in 2013. Westat is conducting a survey to help understand the impact of visitors on the area's roadways, public transit system, and other transportation infrastructure, information that is critical to effective and efficient planning for the area's future.
Our intercept survey of approximately 2,500 hotel, resort, and casino visitors will provide data for the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada's regional travel demand and forecasting model update as well as advanced model development. In this region where the daily transportation systems must support a large influx of visitors, the results of this study will add valuable information that will help planners better address the infrastructure needs of the area.
Sociodemographic characteristics and travel behavior data will be collected during these interviews. The data will provide an in-depth understanding of where visitors went, for what purpose, and how they got there.
For more information: Contact Westat
Surveying Minnesotans About Substance Use and Mental Health Issues
Westat will conduct a statewide telephone survey of Minnesota adults to collect data about substance use and mental health. The data will help to determine treatment needs for substance use and mental health disorders.
Westat will perform a series of activities for the survey.
- Assist the Minnesota Department of Human Services in updating the 2010 survey to reflect changes in diagnostic criteria
- Translate the survey into Spanish
- Design a dual-frame, random digit dialing sample with oversampling of target demographic groups
- Conduct telephone interviews with 18,000 Minnesota adults
- Analyze data to prepare reports that estimate the need for substance abuse treatment in Minnesota
"With a need for a large and high-quality data collection effort, a complex sample design, and subject-matter expertise for design and reporting, this survey effort integrates a range of Westat's capabilities," noted Jonathan Wivagg, Ph.D., project director of the study. "Through our efforts, the Minnesota Department of Human Services will have the data it needs to meet the needs of residents who have substance abuse and mental health problems."
For more information: Contact Westat
National Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect Draws Westat Research
Westat staff will be attending and participating at the 19th National Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect (external site) [*] in New Orleans, Louisiana, April 30-May 2, 2014. This year's theme is Making Meaningful Connections. The conference will also celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act.
The conference provides opportunities to forge new partnerships, exchange cutting-edge information on research and practice, review model programs, and learn innovative techniques and strategies in the field of child welfare.
Westat will be hosting an exhibit booth in the Strand Foyer, Booth 18. Westat staff will be available to discuss our experience in studying issues affecting children, youth, and families.
Westat staff (name in bold) will contribute the following presentation.
- Tamara Fuller, Raquel Ellis, Julie Murphy, and Marc Winokur.
- Examining Outcomes of Differential Response: Results from Three Randomized Controlled Trials in Colorado, Illinois, and Ohio
For more information: Contact Westat
NHLBI-UnitedHealth Global Health Meeting Draws Westat
Westat staff will join National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)-UnitedHealth Global Health Program members at the 9th and Final Semi-Annual Steering Committee meeting in Bethesda, Maryland, April 13-16, 2014.
The meeting's focus is to
- Share final results from the 11 Centers of Excellence (COEs) on their research initiatives directed at combating noncommunicable cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases (CVPD)
- Discuss the network's research efforts in combating chronic disease
- Examine the progress made in the program in the last 5 years
The NHLBI-UnitedHealth Global Health Program's goal is to reduce the burden of noncommunicable CVPD by building research and training capacities at 11 emerging COEs in developing countries (Argentina, Bangladesh, China, Guatemala, India [2 centers], Kenya, Peru, South Africa, Tunisia, and Northern Mexico).
All of the COEs are located within institutions that also serve as Fogarty International Clinical Research Fellow or Scholar sites, which are top-ranked National Institutes of Health-funded research centers in developing countries.
Each COE is supported by an academic institution, known as a developed country partner (DCP), that serves as a mentor to the COE staff. DCPs assist with developing new clinical infrastructure to combat these debilitating diseases through a global approach.
Westat serves as the administrative coordinating center to provide oversight for the network and manage day-to-day project logistics to allow NHLBI, the COEs, and the DCPs focus on research and training activities.
Westat has supported efforts to
- Develop a performance monitoring plan and collect data to track program achievements
- Develop a Manual of General Operations and network standard operating procedures
- Manage network-wide training
- Identify and implement communication options suited to each country's technological capacity
- Facilitate domestic and international semi-annual network meetings
- Manage regulatory documents
- Maintain network web site and discussion forums
For more information: Contact Westat
Westat, BJS, and Collaborators Recognized with 2014 AAPOR Policy Impact Award
The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), Westat, and other collaborators will receive the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) 2014 Policy Impact Award for their work on measuring sexual assault among prisoners in the United States. The award presentation will take place at the AAPOR Annual Conference in Anaheim, California, on May 15-18, 2014.
The award recognizes the BJS team for their work in measuring sexual assault within juvenile and adult correctional facilities, its impact on increasing awareness of the problem, and shaping policies to prevent assaults. In addition to Westat, collaborators include RTI International, National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago, and the U.S. Bureau of the Census.
The research was funded under the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA), which included the requirement that BJS conduct surveys and use other statistical studies of current and former inmates from a representative sample of Federal, state, county, and municipal prisons.
At the time PREA was passed, very little data existed on the prevalence and circumstances surrounding sexual assault in correctional settings. To meet the Act's requirements, BJS developed a new national data collection on the incidence and prevalence of sexual assault within correctional facilities. The program includes four separate, yet complimentary, data collection efforts.
Westat implemented the survey of youth in juvenile correctional facilities by completing two separate waves of data collection in 2008-09 and 2012. The National Survey of Youth in Custody (NSYC) collected information on assaults against youth perpetrated by youth or by facility staff. The award recognizes the significant challenges posed by such a survey.
With respect to Human Subject issues, the survey required special procedures to address emotional trauma, protection against retaliation, and submitting mandatory reports of abuse. To maximize the credibility of the information, the procedures addressed both the tendency of youth to underreport because of the sensitivity of the topic, as well as overreporting incidents to reflect badly on the staff.
The award recognizes the significant impact the results have had on correctional policies. The findings have received widespread attention in numerous articles and editorials, as evidenced by a series of four articles in the New York Review of Books. The most recent article pointed to the fact that
"As recently as five years ago, American corrections officials almost uniformly denied that rape in prison was a widespread problem…What we have now that we didn't then is good data…The more closely one looks at these studies, the more persuasive their findings become. Very few corrections professionals now publicly dispute them." (New York Review of Books, October 24, 2013(external site) [*])
The reports have had a direct impact on policies in a number of states. The most recent NSYC report triggered special investigations by governors and state legislatures in Ohio and Illinois and immediate changes in policies and plans of action in Georgia. The results of the studies have served as a basis for the U.S. Department of Justice to set standards related to preventing and reporting sexual assault in correctional settings. These standards are now being implemented across the country.
"It is very gratifying to see the hard work and dedication of all the NSYC staff being recognized for meeting the huge challenges posed by this project and the clear impact these efforts have had on addressing this important issue," noted David Cantor, Ph.D., the Westat Co-Principal Investigator.
For more information: Contact Westat
Westat Researcher Leads Workshop on Using Google for Communication Campaigns
Amelia Burke-Garcia, Director of Westat's Center for Digital Strategy & Research, will be co-leading the preconference workshop with a representative from Google at this year's PRNews' Measurement Conference. The workshop is titled Google for Communicators: Essential Tools and Tactics(external site) [*].
The half-day workshop will be held April 7 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, and aims to teach PR professionals how to effectively leverage the capabilities that Google has to offer for their communications initiatives.
Westat's Adam Finch will also be on hand to support the presentation by providing a live demonstration of the company's work in this area.
"We are pleased to have been invited by PRNews to co-lead this workshop together with Google," noted Ms. Burke-Garcia. "Google is a vital part of many of our campaigns and studies, and this workshop will highlight the value of these platforms and strategies for other communication professionals through the demonstration of Westat's work."
For some immediate tips on how you can improve your brand outreach with various Google tools, read this PRNews interview(external site) [*] with Ms. Burke-Garcia.
For more information: Contact Westat
CSDI 2014 Workshop to Feature Westat Expertise
A contingent of Westat staff will be participating at the Twelfth International Workshop on Comparative Survey Design & Implementation(external site) [*] (CSDI) in Bethesda, Maryland, on March 27-29, 2014.
The main goal of CSDI is to improve comparative survey design, implementation, and related analysis and dissemination. The workshop provides a forum and platform for researchers involved in work related to evaluating and/or developing comparative survey methods and tools. A number of CSDI work groups exist to encourage and facilitate cooperation on different key issues.
The following Westat staff will be chairing sessions or giving presentations at the workshop.
- Brad Edwards. (Presentation).
- Managing 3MC Surveys: Putting Total Survey Error in the Toolkit.
- Brad Edwards. (Session Chair).
- Measurement Error.
- Jacquie Hogan. (Session Chair).
- Response Process.
- Jacquie Hogan. (Presentation).
- The Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies: Data Collection Operational Standards.
- Tom Krenzke. (Presentation).
- Monitoring Indications of Quality Variation in Sampling Activities in the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies.
- Leyla Mohadjer. (Presentation).
- Approach to Data Quality Evaluation in an International Assessment Survey.
For more information: Contact Westat
Westat to Survey Satisfaction with Reforms in DC Public Schools
Westat will be conducting the District of Columbia Public Schools Surveys to gauge stakeholder satisfaction following education reforms in District public schools.
Surveys will be administered to approximately 50,000 parents of students in the District's public schools, 25,000 students, 4,000 teachers, 200 school administrators, and 2,000 other school staff.
Westat will use scannable forms to conduct censuses of these groups over a few weeks. Using TeleForm, we have designed multipage scannable questionnaires for each audience and are also creating an online version of each survey.
"We are thrilled to again be working with DCPS on these important surveys," noted Brad Chaney, Ph.D., project director of the surveys. "Westat first started doing these surveys in 1999, and the data provide a valuable tool for monitoring DCPS' progress."
For more information: Contact Westat
Lohr Named 2014 Deming Lecturer by the ASA
Sharon Lohr, Ph.D., a Vice President and Associate Director of Westat's Statistical Staff, has been named the 2014 Deming Lecturer by the American Statistical Association (ASA). She will present her lecture, "Red Beads and Profound Knowledge: Deming and Quality of Education," at the Joint Statistical Meetings(external site) [*] in Boston to be held August 2-7, 2014.
Dr. Lohr joined Westat in 2012 after a 25-year academic career, most recently as the Dean's Distinguished Professor of Statistics at Arizona State University. She obtained her doctorate in statistics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1987.
The author of the book Sampling: Design and Analysis, Dr. Lohr has also published numerous articles in leading journals on survey sampling, hierarchical models, missing data, design of experiments, and applications of statistics in the social sciences and education.
Dr. Lohr is a Fellow of ASA, an elected member of the International Statistical Institute, the 2009 recipient of the Morris Hansen Lecture Award, and the inaugural 2003 recipient of the Gertrude M. Cox Statistics Award for contributions to the practice of statistics.
The Deming Lecturer Award was established in 1995 to honor the accomplishments of Dr. Deming, recognize the accomplishments of the awardee, and enhance the awareness among the statistical community of the scope and importance of Dr. Deming's contributions.
For more information: Contact Westat
FedCASIC 2014 Draws Westat's Range of Expertise
Westat staff will be addressing many topics of interest at the 2014 Federal CASIC(external site) [*] (Computer-Assisted Survey Information Collection) Workshops in Washington, DC, on March 18-20, 2014. Westat Vice Presidents Jane Shepherd and Brad Edwards are the Westat coordinators for this annual workshop series. The series is sponsored by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the U.S. Census Bureau.
The following Westat staff will be chairing sessions or giving presentations on a variety of current issues.
- Laura Branden. (Presentation.)
- Use of eLearning to Support Training for CAI Data Collectors.
- Amelia Burke-Garcia. (Presentation.)
- Using Digital Media to Target Potential Focus Group Respondents.
- David Cantor. (Session Chair).
- Incorporating New Technologies on the Consumer Expenditure Survey.
- Brad Edwards. (Session Chair).
- Administrative and Linked Records.
- Peter Ha, Bruce Allen, and Paul Segel. (Presentation.)
- Predictive Dialing for CATI Surveys.
- Tom Krenzke. (Presentation.)
- Attention to Data Confidentiality in CAI Studies.
- Aaron Maitland and Laura Branden. (Presentation.)
- Creating a More User-Friendly CARI System.
- Dennis Pickett. (Presentation.)
- Security for Mobile Devices.
- Abie Reifer. (Presentation.)
- Lessons Learned Using Open Source Software.
- Abie Reifer. (Presentation.)
- Recent Innovations.
- Jane Shepherd. (Session Co-Chair).
- CASIC Survey Management Challenges.
- Jerry Wernimont and Kathleen O'Reagan. (Presentation.)
- Multimode Survey Management.
For more information: Contact Westat
Westat Researcher Explores Digital Media Trends for Public Health
Amelia Burke-Garcia, Director of Westat's Center for Digital Strategy & Research, explores future trends in digital media use for public health in a recent paper published by Oxford Journals' Journal of Public Health(external site) [*].
The paper focuses on a number of trends, including use of buzz monitoring tools, local meet ups, and expanded health information delivery services and their impact on public health issues. The article was also picked up and reviewed by Reuters(external site) [*].
"The opportunities for harnessing the power of digital media are enormous," noted Ms. Burke-Garcia. "Health care professionals need to consider how to use this media in their own programs to enhance health behavior change outcomes."
For more information: Contact Westat
State Education Reform Implementation Examined by Westat
Westat researchers co-authored a report, State Implementation of Reforms Promoted Under the Recovery Act(external site) [*], examining state implementation of key education reform strategies funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act). The report summarizes reform implementation during the 2010-11 school year, measures state progress since Recovery Act funds were first available, and outlines state's challenges.
The Institute of Education Sciences, within the U.S. Department of Education (ED), sponsored the research for this report, which was based on surveys completed by all 50 state education agencies (SEAs) and the District of Columbia during spring 2011.
Among the report's findings are the following insights.
- State implementation varied across the strategies assessed.
- Almost all SEAs provided guidance for choosing and implementing one of the four school intervention models ED recommended to improve low performing schools. Only two SEAs reported supporting teacher evaluation models that included the complete set of criteria (e.g., use of student achievement gains) that the Recovery Act promoted.
- The majority of SEAs reported that measuring student growth for teachers of nontested subjects was a challenge.
For more information: Contact Westat
Combining Satellite and Health Data to Learn How Environmental Change Affects Health Outcomes
Westat researcher Kiersten Johnson, Ph.D., co-authored a recent paper(external site) [*] in Population and Environment describing innovative approaches to linking satellite remote sensing data and human population and health data to examine the relationship between environmental change and human health and nutrition outcomes. NASA sponsored the research, with additional support from the University of Utah and Purdue University.
The authors provided a summary review of four published studies that have laid the groundwork for future work in this area.
This research is particularly important given the current global context of climate change and ecosystem services degradation, which may, in turn, threaten the ability of current agricultural systems to keep up with demand for adequate and inexpensive food, and for clean water, waste disposal, and other broader ecosystem services.
For more information: Contact Westat
CMS Hosts Physician Compare Town Hall Meeting
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is hosting a Town Hall meeting(external site) [*] on February 24, 2014, to solicit input on the future of the Physician Compare(external site) [*] website. The Town Hall will give stakeholders the opportunity to provide feedback regarding the future of public reporting on Physician Compare. Westat provides ongoing support to the website.
Physician Compare, launched in 2010 by the Affordable Care Act, helps consumers search for Medicare physicians and other health care professionals. CMS has been working continually to enhance the site and its functionality, improve the information available, and include more and increasingly useful information. This effort, along with the eventual addition of quality measures on the site, helps it serve its two-fold purpose:
- Provide information for consumers to encourage informed health care decisions
- Create explicit incentives for physicians to maximize performance
For the Town Hall meeting, Westat will facilitate registration, assist in preparing meeting materials, provide communication and outreach support, as well as supply meeting documentation. Each of these tasks plays an important role in assisting CMS develop its long-term vision of Physician Compare.
For more information: Contact Westat
Esri Federal GIS Conference Draws Westat Researchers
Westat staff members Kathryn Kulbicki and Jordan Frey will be attending the Esri Federal GIS Conference(external site) [*] on February 10-11, 2014, in Washington, DC.
The conference provides training and scientific knowledge of value to Federal Government and industry policymakers and analysts. It will include workshops, immersion summits, exhibits from Esri re-development vendors and plenary sessions highlighting geospatial technology.
For more information: Contact Westat
Transportation Research Board Includes Westat Expertise
Westat expertise was well represented at the 93rd annual conference of the Transportation Research Board (TRB), which was held January12-16, 2014, in Washington, DC. Approximately 12,000 participants attended this year's event. Westat staff contributed as members and friends of committees, focusing on a range of topics from occupant protection to teenage driver safety.
Rick Huey unveiled a speed data measurement collaboration website at TRB's meeting of the Subcommittee on Traffic Speed & Safety. Westat is hosting this site as a service to professionals researching traffic speed.
The intent is to promote networking among the community and provide a location where otherwise obscure information about the challenges of collecting and interpreting these data can be discussed. The site offers opportunities for members to share insights, opinions, and experiences from work in this area. In addition to a discussion board, members can share the products of their efforts and notifications of upcoming events.
Doreen De Leonardis, Ph.D., presented a paper entitled, Threshold Effects of Speed Monitoring Devices on Driver Speeding Behavior. In collaboration with Emanuel Robinson, Ph.D., Randy Atkins (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), and Rick Huey, this paper outlined a preliminary study of the effect that immediate feedback had on chronic speeders. The effort employed a unique feedback device from inthinc™, the tiwiPro™, capable of monitoring, verbalizing, and collecting data on speeding behavior. This research is part of an overall program exploring the effect of electronic devices and applications on driver behavior.
Dr. Robinson also gave two presentations:
- Improving Decision-Making in Command Centers: Identifying Errors and Mitigation Strategies (part of the workshop: Pathway to Command Performance: Applying Human Factors Principles to Emergency and Operational Command Centers)
- Human Decision-making and the Psychology of Stressful Environments (part of the workshop: Next Generation Traffic Incident Management Research Workshop: What Are the New Frontiers to Improve How We Manage Traffic Incidents?)
Neil Lerner, Ph.D., served as the TRB Human Factors Workshop Committee liaison for a day-long workshop: Human Factors Issues for Safety of Emergency Responder Vehicles. In this role, he developed the workshop concept, recruited workshop leaders, coordinated the planning activities, and took an active part in the workshop itself.
The workshop addressed many human factors issues that related to safety for police, firefighters, and EMS personnel, that, unfortunately, have not received much research attention. Among the many issues were driver workload and distraction, vehicle conspicuity, occupant protection (particularly in ambulances), risk taking/decision making, coordination with other traffic, and potential benefits of emerging smart technologies.
James Jenness, Ph.D., presided over a podium session, Naturalistic Driving Data and Driver Behavior. He also participated in a human factors workshop, Is the Partially Automated Car Semiautonomous or Semimanual?
For more information: Contact Westat
High Viral Load Levels in HIV-Infected Youth Contribute to High Rates of Sexual Transmission
A recent study of HIV-infected youth newly entering into care, especially young men who have sex with men, show that almost 30 percent have high viral load levels. If left untreated, these levels correlate with high rates of sexual transmission. The study's findings(external site) [*] were published online in AIDS(external site) [*]. Westat researchers participated as co-authors.
These study findings, of more than 1,400 12- to 24-year-olds referred to the study, further support the need to not only identify HIV-infected youth, emphasizing young men who have sex with men, and link them to medical care as soon as possible.
The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development sponsored the research, with additional support from the National Institute of Drug Abuse and the National Institute of Mental Health.
The study is one of many studies being conducted within the Adolescent Medicine Trials Network for HIV/AIDS Interventions (ATN)(external site) [*]. Westat serves as the data and operations center for the ATN, providing support for study design, development and conduct, database management, and analysis and reporting.
Westat's ATN Principal Investigator James Korelitz, Ph.D., noted that Westat "provides the infrastructure and organizational support to allow more than a dozen clinical research sites to conduct a broad array of therapeutic, behavioral, and community prevention studies within the network."
For more information: Contact Westat
Westat Staff Attend White House Safety Datapalooza
Westat staff attended the Second Annual White House Safety Datapalooza, an invitation-only event that highlights innovators from the private, nonprofit, and academic sectors who have used freely available government data to build products, services, and apps that advance public safety in creative and powerful ways. The event was held on January 14, 2014, at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Sponsored by the White House, hosts included the U.S. Departments of Transportation and Agriculture. Fran Bents, manager of Westat's Transportation and Safety Research group, attended, as well as senior Federal and state officials, academics, technology innovators, and students.
This conference presented new safety data resources in areas as divergent as transportation, food, and occupational and consumer product safety. Important advances in data availability to improve disaster preparedness and emergency response were also shown.
Federal agencies issue online contests at Challenge.gov that describe incentives for entrepreneurs to help government solve safety problems. Examples of apps that are currently available or are coming soon include
- Keychain Logistics that connects shippers to independent truck drivers who are located through geocoding, and also links to the Federal safety records for these drivers and their vehicles.
- Lantern will be helpful during weather and other disasters by charting power outages, gas station availability, locations for downed power lines, and other tips and guidance based upon both official data and crowd sourcing from tweets, Facebook postings, and other social media.
For more information: Contact Westat
Westat Researchers Contribute Expertise to New Handbook of Child Maltreatment
Westat Vice President Andrea J. Sedlak, Ph.D., and Senior Study Director Raquel T. Ellis, Ph.D., have contributed their expertise to a new handbook, Handbook of Child Maltreatment: Contemporary Issues in Research Policy(external site) [*], which is the second in a series that examines core issues in the field of child maltreatment. This publication is designed to be used and referenced by all professionals in the field, including students, researchers, practitioners, and policymakers.
The handbook addresses a range of major challenges in child maltreatment work: what child abuse and neglect is exactly, why maltreatment occurs, what its consequences are, prevention, treatment, and intervention, as well as legal perspectives. Its ultimate goal is to help make progress in helping abused children, their families, and their communities.
Dr. Sedlak and Dr. Ellis authored the handbook's first chapter, "Trends in Child Abuse Reporting." The chapter examines trends in Child Protective Service (CPS) reporting, considering the existing evidence on how many maltreated children receive CPS attention and why the majority of maltreated children do not.
The findings indicate that many maltreated children are not reported to CPS. After reviewing research on mandated reporters—who do not report and why not—the chapter ends with conclusions and implications for future research.
"Our chapter provides an overview of the history of mandatory reporting laws and of how the Child Protective Service system responds to the reports it receives," notes Dr. Sedlak. "We presented research showing that, although rates of child abuse are declining, many maltreated children are still not seen by Child Protective Service agencies because they are not reported.
"All states have laws that require reporting of child maltreatment, but many who are mandated to report fail to do so. So, the mandatory reporting system does not work the way many might expect it should," continues Dr. Sedlak. "To inspire meaningful discussion on this topic, we concluded by offering some thoughts on how much of a problem this is, on how policy might affect compliance with mandatory reporting, on the need for research to improve mandatory reporting, and on what changes might improve the current CPS system to better serve children and families that need intervention."
For more information: Contact Westat
New Eagle Books Novel Published by CDC
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently published the second in a series of books for middle school children that combines mystery with health promotion messages about preventing type 2 diabetes. Readers have called the novels "amazing," "cool," and "the best stories I have ever read!"
Hummingbird's Squash builds on the storytelling traditions honored in the original Eagle Books(external site) [*] series for younger children. Written by retired Westat health communications expert, Terry Lofton, PhD; illustrated by Native American artist Patrick Rolo; and designed by Westat's Graphics Department, this young adult novel continues the story of the characters in the first novel, Coyote and The Turtle's Dream.
For more information: Contact Westat
* Related Internet link - Westat is NOT responsible for the privacy practices or the content on other web sites. (See Westat's Privacy Policy.)


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Journal Sentinel sports columnist Bob Wolfley offers his take on the local and national sports scene.
So does Rodgers make receivers look good, or do receivers make Rodgers better, or both?
Are the Packers' receivers really good or does Aaron Rodgers' high level of play just make it seem that way? Could Rodgers be as effective with any set of receivers?
Those questions, which came from a Minneapolis reporter, were put to Fox's Troy Aikman and Jimmy Johnson during a conference call with reporters about the NFL playoffs on Wednesday.
"Aaron's outstanding," Aikman said. "He's really good. And he would be really good almost anywhere. But he is even better because he's got really great players. Then these great players are better because they have a quarterback who can read defenses and put the ball where he wants to put it.
"I felt when I was playing, for instance, our passing game was about as good as our third receiver," Aikman said. "I think now these passing games are as good as their fourth receiver. What I mean by that is, you can do things to kind of take away a number one guy. . . . Then you can do some things to slow down this other guy. Then the mismatches really start coming into the middle of the field. Who is that third receiver? Now these defenses, they are employing six defensive backs. They are spending more time evaluating those types of people.
"It really speaks the job that Ted Thompson has done," Aikman said. "You can have a Greg Jennings, who essentially misses an entire year, and yet they are still able to put up huge numbers. He comes back and then Jordy Nelson is down. And Jermichael Finley is banged up. It's a great group of players on that side of the ball. A lot of talent. And Aaron is really the ringleader and makes it all happen. But you couldn't just plug him in anywhere and he would still do those things. There have to be good players around you."
Johnson said the passing game in Green Bay is not just about Rodgers.
"Not only is there a tremendous amount of talent – there are talented players at the receiver position – but also Mike McCarthy has done a good job making sure they are all on the same page, so that they are that much better with Aaron Rodgers."
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The answer to this question?
Yes.Hide replies
troy agrees
aikman said. "He's really good. And he would be really good almost anywhere.
..But you couldn't just plug him in anywhere and he would still do those things. There have to be good players around you."
I noticed Troy's fence-sitting ability there too. I wonder how well Rodgers would do with the receivers Favre had and vice versa. Generally I think Favre did not have a corps of receivers like our current crop. However, I also believe Favre enjoyed outstanding protection and had a superior complimentary run game so it might be hard to really make a true comparison.
put him at quarterback in detroit i guarantee every receivers numbers go up - even calvin johnson's. maybe not number of catches, but yards per catch and completions per attempt. aaron has made pedestrian receivers in training camp look like they were on their way to the hall of fame. tori gurley anyone?
He just needs receivers that can catch the ball, the last couple of years have been known more for the dropped balls than outstanding catches. Arodg has probably only thrown one ball over 30yds the entire season, it would seem we have no deep threat.
It only seemed like the Packers kept on trucking when receivers went down. The passing game did suffer in several areas, but not enough to worry about. YAC was lower, which is a significant part of the plan. Receivers were not as sharp in breaking off plays, and Rodgers wasn't as sharp in spotting open receivers. Part of that was open passing lanes, and part was an unwillingness to take any risks. But these are the playoffs. The whole squad is now intact. Assuming the OL can give Rodgers his 4 seconds, there is no team in the NFL that can stop them.
What is fire without coal?
What is coal without fire?
One compliments the other,
and is needed for the other to function.
Rogers is the fire.
His recievers the coal.

subset: commoncrawl


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Related Stories
Chargers ILB Stephen Cooper has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Bengals. He is one of just three Chargers linebackers to play in every game this season.
Cooper suffered a sprained MCL in the Week 15 win over the 49ers. He is expected back for the season finale against the Broncos.
The eighth-year veteran has 43 tackles and a sack this season, in addition to six passes defensed and two forced fumbles. Brandon Siler will likely replace Cooper. The Chargers also have recently-signed Brandon Moore for depth at the position.
The way we see it
The Chargers have used 14 linebackers this season but trail the Chiefs by just one game in the AFC West. Cooper's absence shouldn't hurt too much against the 3-11 Bengals, but the Chargers have little room for error.


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County opens flu shot clinics
Date: September 15, 2009
by: Robin Roy | City Editor
Sarasota County is offering several flu-shot clinics throughout the county. Health officials say the shots are for everyone 6 months of age and older. The cost will be from $20 to $30.
However, these vaccinations will not protect against the H1N1 (swine) flu. Those vaccinations won't be available until mid-October at the earliest.
No appointment is needed at the following dates and locations:
•10 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Sept. 16, at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 2506 Gulf Gate Drive, Sarasota
•10 a.m. to noon Friday, Sept. 18, at Sarasota Baptist Church, 7091 Proctor Road, Sarasota
•10 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Oct. 13, at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church, 425 Tamiami Trail, Osprey
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- Aug
4 Meet the Sky
8:00 pm
- Aug
5 Volunteer Connect Meeting
11:30 am - 12:00 pm
- Aug
9 Back to School Bash 2014
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
- Aug
9 Cat Depot Leash Walking Class
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Forever young
Heron East Assisted Living Facility held its second annual "Senior Prom" last month.
Community drive
Sarasota nonprofits the Boys and Girls Club of Sarasota County and Big Brothers Big Sisters are hosting donation drives. The Boys and Girls Club's drive runs from July 21 through Aug. 2 and is accepting clothing, shoes, books and small household items for Goodwill Manasota.
Vive La France
The Alliance Francaise held a fundraiser in honor of Bastille Day, or La Fête Nationale, Monday, July 14, at Marina Jack.


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Inconsiderate and Rude
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PFLUGERVILLE, TEXAS -- I recently had an emergency surgery due to undetected cancer. I couldn't work for a month due to recovery. I was less than 20 days past due on my site rent and got an eviction notice. I have explained the reason I've been late but there's been no consideration or help from management due to the circumstances. I've been threatened with more fines on top of the normal fees.
This place keeps raising their site rents yearly but there is no perk to renting here. My home and my neighbors homes have been broken into and of course we have to pay more each year for an unsafe place to live. Stay away from Sun Communities and Boulder Ridge, you'd be better off elsewhere.
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Lack of enforcement of community rules
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LADY LAKE, FLORIDA -- Water Oak, a property of Sun Communities, has a lack of enforcement of its Rules & Regulations. Although management has been advised of the police being called on numerous occasions because of illegal activities at a resident's home, they have done nothing to protect the other residents safety. They are lax when it comes to evicting residents who have children living with them in direct violation of HUD rules. Although there should be some time given to these residents to have children with them in cases of emergencies, not setting a time limit is the norm in this community.
Although quite a number of residents have received letters from management concerning the lack of maintenance of their lawns, other residents live in horrendous conditions without any action being taken. It seems to be "pick and choose" where enforcement is involved.
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tnchuck100 on 2007-01-05:
Exactly how has this impacted you? Have you suffered any loss or endangement by what has (or has not) taken place?
Frick on 2007-01-05:
If HUD determines that children are allowed to live here, it may cost the community the "Over 55" status which we currently have. Since people chose to live in a retirement community, this in effect would negate our current status. This would also affect the sale of our homes as there may very well be a glut of homes on the market if our status changes.
As far as endangerment, if there is an ongoing problem and drugs are involved, I see no reason for us to wait for an incident to happen to a member of our community before action is taken. The lease we signed upon purchasing our homes had many clauses concerning the actions of residents that was unacceptable.
Since management has changed a number of our original Rules & Regulations (ex. now allows motorcycles which was strictly forbidden when we bought) to increase their sales, there is a definite consensus among many residents that they only do something when it is to their advantage. This is a large problem you face when you build your home on rental property.
Florida state laws do very little to protect manufactured home communities. I really believe that the residents must be vigilant to protect their investment.
tnchuck100 on 2007-01-05:
Is it an "Association" you pay dues to? Does it consist of a board made up of residents? If so, vote in a new baord and take leagal action. If not, I still need more information on your situation. However, as far as drugs are concerned, you need to notify the police.
Frick on 2007-01-05:
I don't believe you understand what type of community this is. Sun Communities owns and operates Water Oak. We rent the land our homes are built on. The residents have NO SAY in how it is run. We based our purchase on the information provided in the leasing agreement. Management has since changed our prospectus and leasing agreement to suit their sales needs even if it means they change the very things that other people based their purchase on.
As far as calling the police, they have been called on numerous occasions and did their job. Only management can take the steps to evict a resident and they are not following through as per their rules.
Anonymous on 2007-01-05:
I can see why you're concerned, Frick. Looks like its time to play a little hardball to get their attention.
tnchuck100 on 2007-01-06:
I think I am beginning to understand. You own this home that cannot be moved and it is on rented land? That does not sound like a desirable situation. Any any rate, if you have a contract that specifies certain conditions and Sun Communities have breached any part of it sue them. Maybe you can get with other residents that feel as you do and share the cost.
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Jasper County - Missouri
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Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Wendi Douglas of the Carthage CVB shares details about the British Car and Bike Show and the upcoming Art Walk.
Chandra Halliburton and Kathy Page share details about the upcoming Annual Bowl-A-Thon and Walk to End Alzheimer's.
Shelby Bates highlights shares tips for finding some great deals on our website and mobile app.
Kristi Seibert and Steve Roark of the Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks share details on the upcoming Annual Pink Ribbon Gala.
Meg Bourne-Hulsey of Art Feeds is joined by Erika Hamilton and Misha Wilson of Coco's to share details about the upcoming Art Feeds Gala.
Financial Advisor Jennafer Johnson talks about what investors can learn from the baseball all-stars.
Each year families around the area struggle to provide the supplies their children need to be successful in school. Bright Futures Carl Junction, Carthage, East Newton, Neosho, and Seneca are teaming up to sponsor "Stuff the Bus" to help area families meet this need.
JLT is just about to kick off their 75th anniversary season, but first they're presenting their summer production. The musical/comedy is called "The Boyfriend."
Philip Mitchell visits with two of the KidzBop Kids from the KidzBop 26 CD and tour.
Shelby Bates shares tips for using the Four States Homepage Mobile App to find clips from KSN broadcasts.
Workers at the humane society have issued an emergency request for help with their pets.
All dogs and cats that have been at the shelter for more than 30 days will be available for adoption for free.
With the 4th of July just a couple days away, it's important to protect your four legged friend from loud fireworks.
Some of your co-workers may have brought an extra friend to work today.
Temperatures are getting hotter and it's important to remember our four legged friends.
Summer begins next week and area animal experts are asking you to warn your children about petting strange dogs.
Going to pick out a new family pet can be exciting. However, there are a few things you need to think about before making that commitment.
Signing adoption papers is only the beginning of being a pet parent.
Representatives with the Joplin Humane Society say they couldn't take care of hundreds of dogs and cats without donations.
The Carthage Humane Society needs more helping hands.


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Levin Furniture has been passed down through generations of Levins since 1920, when Jessie Levin persuaded her husband to start a business to help their daughters' prospects. Since then, the business has grown, expanded, and gained a reputation for procuring and selling quality furniture. Levin Furniture's stock includes leather reclining sofas, beautifully carved dining tables, and sleigh beds from Daniel's Amish using hardwood materials from Ohio.
The traditional farmers' market at Trax Farms, owned and operated by the Trax family since 1865, teems with an eclectic array of produce grown onsite, freshly baked goods, deli fare, and gifts amid 325 acres of fields and orchards. The owners eschew imported produce for farm-grown, seasonal vegetables and fruits, and furnish their shelves with local and international specialty foodstuffs, Sarris and Wagner's chocolates, and the farm's own brand of flavored coffee. The aroma of freshly baked seasonal pies, homemade breads, and made-from-scratch cookies tantalizes noses as the deli rolls out soups, salads, and sandwiches assembled from premium meats and cheeses. In addition to a selection of quilts, clothing, and jewelry, the shop boasts wines, including award-winning Arrowhead Wine Cellar varietals. Furthering its homey, community-centered approach, the farm hosts flea markets, festivals, and special events, such as its autumnal hayride, which entices young visitors and scarecrows with thinning scalps.
Mattress World carries more than 20 mattress brands and houses more than 100 mattress styles in its wall-to-wall-mattress store. Factory-trained sales associates guide guests to mattresses that fulfill their needs in terms of firmness, durability, size, and ability to withstand being dropped off a 10-story building.
Nations largest high end home furnishings outlet including accessories , lamps, and oriental rugs. In business since 1953
Owned and operated by three generations of Staley family women, The Picket Fence has swathed women, children, and infants in designer apparel and accessories for the past 10 years. The shop's selection of sweaters was named as one of the best in town by CBS Pittsburgh in an article that asserted that "this shop will become one of your favorite places to frequent when you are craving something new for your wardrobe." The fashion-savvy Staley women select items from lines such as Orla Kiely, Lauren Moffatt, and Alexis Bittar. Children's items run under labels including Oilily and Lilly Pulitzer. Thanks to a number of home accessories and gifts that enhance the shopping experience, an examiner.com columnist dubbed The Picket Fence as "the ultimate Shadyside fashion boutique." Additionally, a variety of children's toys offer whippersnappers respite from stressful make-believe games of applying for imaginary car loans.
Ace Paints & Furniture's staff of color-matching experts and trained designers assist clients in their searches for home-decorating solutions through a wide selection of premium paints. Patrons choose from more than 3,000 colors of Benjamin Moore paints to brighten domiciles. Ralph Lauren paints in suede and metallic finishes line shelves alongside high-traffic area coatings from Daich, which simulate the sturdy look of brick and stone. Outdoor furnishings such as adirondack chairs and porch swings provide a place to rest on sunny days so visitors can avoid splinters caused by tree-stump seating.


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July 30, 2014
Tisha Casida is the unaffiliated candidate for Congressional Representative from District 3, running against Scott Tipton, Sal Pace and Gregory Gilman.
Know more about Casida by clicking the links below to her website, Facebook and Twitter.
KKCO firmly believes in freedom of speech for all and we are happy to provide this forum for the community to share opinions and facts. We ask that commenters keep it clean, keep it truthful, stay on topic and be responsible. Comments left here do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of KKCO 11News.powered by Disqus


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August 1, 2014
Posted: Tuesday, September 25, 2012 --- 8:33p.m.
Adjusting to life after serving overseas can be difficult as it is, then add going back to school to that list. A new clinic at Madison College's Truax Campus is helping ease the veterans' transition.
Randy Bouzek served overseas for several years. When he got back, he realized he was missing one thing, a college degree. He's now a student at Madison College. He says "VA Connections" will help him as well as other vets adjust to school and succeed at getting their education. The clinic will offer therapy, crisis management and health care.
The vets will then be able to focus on their futures and bring their leadership and experiences to the college to share with classmates.
There were at least 800 veterans enrolled at Madison College last year.


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- 7
2010 Chevy Silverado AFM Engine Problems or not??? Fuel mileage? 5.3 engine AFM
I have recently purchased a 2010 Silverado with a 5.3 with 35xxx miles. When I test drove the vehicle it drove great. Now that I have had it a few weeks I have noticed it seems to make different sounds mainly I think when the active fuel management starts working. I am not getting that good of gas mileage, I was hoping for 18-19, I am however getting 16-17. the truck is bone stock. I have been trying to drive half way decent to see what the highest mileage is I could get. I have started to notice that when you are coming off of cruising thottle to accelerate it makes different noises almost like a skip.
i know it isnt skipping, otherwise it would log a dtc. My question is, Why kind of mileage is everyone else getting? i never see a light or indicator when the afm is working. Is this normal on this model ? I have read alot of posts where people wanted the afm removed simply because of the different sounds or feeling when it works. i dont mind so much, i would care less if I were getting better mileage.
Just a little about myself, I am a master tech we lost our gm badge right after obama made gm obama motors. (we were one of the medium dealers that got a pink slip). I do however currently have a tech2 in the truck, we dont have access to tsb's now. But, I have all kinds of toys to play with. . i have been working on gm's for over 10 years mainly medium duty, aka duramax etc. . I can help myself, and have no major complaints with the truck. Since I am a tech by trade and am not familar with the system it's driving me insane when it works and there is no indicator. Just looking to see how the system works for everyone else. Any and all input would be greatly appreciated.
Last edited by ChevyFan; 01-24-2013 at 11:38 AM.
Similar experience. Also when it cuts back to v4 I get a vibration that seems to be getting worse. Unfortunately my dealer can not duplicate the feel.
With 20,000 miles I get an average of 17. I find going downhill the v4 doesn't always kick in.
This is with meticulous upkeep, air pressure is double checked every Saturday. Oil changes and washes are religiously performed.
Best MPG in one trip was 18.3.2010 Chevy Silverado Z71 ext cab.4x4
72 Monte Carlo 350-415 hp- sold (June 2011) to pay medical bills
79 Impala 350 4bbl 375 hp- sold (June 2011)to pay medical bills
"If He asks you to go a mile go two"
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- Dec 2011
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Thanks for the reply. I seem to be getting the same. I really wanted a full size, but purchased a canyon new instead (price). Now, I am not quite so sure it was a good trade. I love the truck, and have been a chevy guy all my life. having said that, I reset all of the fuel trim data, and learned data and the issues toned down. I'm not saying they are gone, But maybe for a little while anyway.
Do you have a light that tells you when its going into v-4, i only ask cause I do not. I can however see which cylinders its cutting off. While monotoring the tech two it cuts off different cylinders on decel, cruise, etc. I have noticed that it constantly cuts them off even if you don't feel it.
From what Ive read, 17 average is pretty normal. You should be able to see when the V4 mode is active. Do you see the 4 buttons aligned vertically on the left hand side of your guages (on LS and LT)? Push the top button, and it will give you different kinds of vehicle data.2011 Silverado, ext cab, LT, Z71, 4X4, leather interior, color matched mirror caps & bowtie.
if you have the DIC you can cycle through the buttons and one will show which mode you are in.
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- Dec 2011
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My dic dosent have that. I only have the trip reset type dic. I dont have the buttons to the left of the steering wheel. When I cycle through it shows trip, oil reset, compass, trans temp, and mileage.
I am going to the dealer to have remote start programmed (since I can no longer program through tech 2), i am going to ask if they can program any extra abilities.
---------- Post added at 05:48 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:46 PM ----------
Mine is a 2010 lt 5.3 6 speed flex fuel
Welcome to the club. I would buy one of the Diablo tuners and turn the afm off. People that I know that did this saw no drop in fuel mileage.:cool:
2005 Chevy Silverado Z71 Crew Cab
6" Skyjacker lift w/Edlebrock dual front remote resoviour shocks, single rear remote. Rancho skid-plate.
17" x 9" M/T Classic Lock Wheels, 35" BFG A/T or M/T tires
4.10 PercisionGears w/factory locker, T/A Performance rear-end cover
Banks CAI intake, ported throttlebody, JBA coated headers, over-sized Magnaflow cats, Magnaflow cat back exhaust, Diablo tuned
B&M aluminum deep transmission pan
Warn brush guard w/Warn 9.5 XP winch, PIAA bulbs, Line-X bedliner, AWS Black tool chest, Extang tonneau cover
Weather Tech floor mats
Cover-Craft seat covers
Dash mat cover
Formula One window tint
One black Lab in rear seat.
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my 2011 5.3 gets 15 to 16 city and on highway 20 and if your on a long flat road with cruse you can get 22. (3:42 rear end)
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I've only had my 2011 Silverado a week and have 370 miles on it but one thing I noticed right away was a sort of lag when changing throttle positions, where I noticed it a lot is when coasting in V4 and giving more throttle it tends to lag like a small hiccup then accelerates and changes to V8 mode.
Other 5.3's with AFM I test drove had this same hiccup so I assume it's normal, I have 18" wheels on mine and did notice a truck I test drove with 20" wheels had more of a lag to it. Hadnt noticed any noises associated with the different modes.
- Join Date
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I got 18.5 last week, This week i got 13.5 Not real sure what thats about. Filled up tonight, if I get that horrible again will have to back up and punt.
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Game details
- Game:
- Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
- Assassin's Creed 4
- Genre:
- Action
- Sub Genre:
- Adventure
- Release Date (US):
- November 15th, 2013
- Release Date (UK):
- November 22nd, 2013
- Players:
- 1
- Online Players:
- 2-4
- Developers:
- Ubisoft Montreal
- Publisher:
- Ubisoft
- Rating:
- PSU Rank:
- 0 of 1166 Games
- PSU Rank on :
- 0 of 0 Games
- Additional Information:
- Also available on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC and Wii U.
About Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
The latest entry in the Assassin's Creed franchise sees players controlling former privateer Edward Kenway during the Golden Age of Piracy.
- PSU Review Score
- 9.0
- Avg. user review score:
- 9.9
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Black Flag on PS4 adds some impressive spit and polish to an already-stunning adventure game.
We like
- The same brilliant Black Flag experience brimming with content and engaging gameplay
- Some nice DualShock 4 functionality
- Stunning visuals made all the more impressive thanks to PS4
We dislike
- A few minor technical hiccups still exist
See PSU's review on Metacritic & GameRankings
I waxed lyrical on Ubisoft's pirate-themed adventure in my PlayStation 3 review of Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, and for good reason. Combining the very best of the historical action-adventure series' brutal, stealth-oriented components and giving players a massive, Caribbean open world to explore, Black Flag offers unprecedented freedom and a wealth of side activities to indulge in beyond the already-dece...
- Posted Dec 7th 2013
- Read full review
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag News
Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag Jackdaw Edition announced for PS4
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag is getting re-released for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One under the Jackdaw Edition moniker, Ubisoft has announced. Due out on March 28, the Jackdaw Edition of the pirate-themed adventure includes the full game, plus a host of downloadable content, including Blac...
- Posted Mar 10th 2014
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Assassin's Creed 4 ships 10 million
Ubisoft has revealed that its pirate-themed adventure Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag has shipped 10 million copies as of December 31, 2013. By comparison, Assassin's Creed III shipped 12 million copies during the same time frame. However, Edward Kenway's nautical outing perform...
- Posted Feb 11th 2014
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Assassin's Creed: Freedom Cry hitting PS Store as standalone spin-off
Ubisoft has announced that Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag add-on Freedom Cry will be released as a standalone, downloadable title exclusively for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, and PC. Priced at $14.99, the game will release on February 18. There is no word as to if this is a timed exclusive, leavi...
- Posted Feb 5th 2014
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Assassin's Creed 4 gets massive PS4 patch
Ubisoft has released a new patch for the PlayStation 4 version of Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag. The update weighs in at a rather hefty 2.3GB, and targets the pirate-themed adventure's single-player component. See below for a full list of fixes. -Fix rare c...
- Posted Feb 4th 2014
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Assassin's Creed series ending hasn't exactly been planned after all, says Ubisoft
The lead writer on Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag has clarified previous reports that Ubisoft has already planned out the conclusion to the popular historical action-adventure franchise. Darby McDevitt told EDGE (via IGN) that claims of the series' planned ending are "not exact...
- Posted Jan 29th 2014
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Assassin's Creed 4 'Illustrious Pirates' DLC detailed
Ubisoft has unsheathed a fresh batch of DLC for Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, titled The Illustrious Pirates. This latest chunk of post-lunch content supplements the swashbuckling action-adventure title with a host of extra content, most of which was previously exclusive to various retai...
- Posted Jan 8th 2014
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Assassin's Creed 4 Freedom Cry PS4 release date confirmed
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag's first batch of single-player DLC, Freedom Cry, will hit PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3 on December 18, Ubisoft has announced. The DLC forms part of the historical action-adventure's Season Pass, and takes place 15 years after the events of Blac...
- Posted Dec 12th 2013
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Assassin's Creed 5 hints featured in Black Flag DLC, no Kraken included
Ubisoft has revealed that the forthcoming Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag DLC, Freedom Cry, will contain hints to the direction of the next installment in the annual historical action-adventure franchise. Speaking to Eurogamer, the French publisher confirmed the DLC, which stars Edward Kenw...
- Posted Dec 10th 2013
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Here's a deal for your family: Get into any national park or national forest for free this weekend. The national parks and forests are offering free admission in honor of Veterans Day.
Many parks will also have free hikes or campfire talks during the weekend for visitors. The fee-free weekend begins this Saturday, Nov. 10, and runs through Monday, Nov. 12.
The tradition started in 2006 as a way to honor veterans and armed forces personnel.
For a full list of parks check out the National Park Service National Park Service and forests at the U.S. Forest Service.


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folkfolk dance of Chile, northern Argentina, and Peru. A courtship dance known since the period of Spanish colonization, it is danced to the rapid, rhythmic music of guitars. The dancing couple pursue and retreat, pass and circle about each other, twirling handkerchiefs as they dance. Chilean sailors took the dance to Mexico (where it is called chilena).
Learn more about marinera with a free trial on Britannica.com.
Dictionary.com presents 366 FAQs, incorporating some of the frequently asked questions from the past with newer queries.


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By Nita Johnson
Staff Writer
LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. —
The gasoline prices have soared as high lately as the temperatures, making the average consumer wonder if everyone is heading for the beach or the far north where one might find cooler temperatures.
But the northeastern section of the country has fallen prey to the same heat wave that has overhung our southeastern homes, and large cities of concrete and asphalt are reporting an even higher heat index than some of the rural areas of Appalachia.
Many folks have taken refuge in their own homes, or in their offices, from the intense heat that has plagued us over the past couple of weeks, basking in air conditioning units that skyrocket electric bills but make life a bit more tolerable.
Yet, it was just the week prior that we were complaining about too much rain. Torrents of rain on a daily basis were similar to the daily rains in Florida, except, once again, we southeastern Kentucky dwellers were left without the welcome beaches for which Florida can boast.
The heat has prompted casual conversations such as, "Is it hot enough for you?" or "I'll be glad to see October."
We the people are hard to satisfy. In spring, we dread the frequent rains and winds and high pollen count, in summer we complain about the heat and either too much or too little rainfall, in fall we don't like the allergies and humidity that comes with the changing seasons, and in winter, we abhor the cold, snow, sleet, and freezing rain.
Is there a season that we really like? Is there a time of year that we appreciate the beauty of creation without having some criticism?
Probably not.
Each time of the year has its own characteristics, and not everyone will agree on which of those are the most favorable. Farmers, of course, like the spring and summer rains that keep their crops producing, while outdoor enthusiasts prefer the warm, sunny days that make the perfect setting for picnics, sports and camping. Summertime is the vacation season in which families load up the family vehicle and head to selected vacation spots, all hoping for the desired weather for their own interests.
The fall brings its share of rains with warm days, cooler nights, and falling leaves, along with school-related and professional sports. Winter creeps in to provide a two-week break for students during the Christmas holidays, while the work force prepares to battle snow and ice en route to work.
Even with this writing, the sky is turning gray and the thunder nearby is sending vibrations through the keyboard as yet another pop-up thunderstorm moves in.
I have an appointment and hope I don't get caught in a severe downpour with lightning, but if the rain comes, I sure hope it cools the temperature down some.


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The game concept from legendary game developer Gunpei Yokoi comes to life on the PSP! Re-imagined by the creative minds at Q Entertainment, GUNPEY delivers an addictive puzzle game experience, combined with exciting music and visuals for the ultimate game on the go. The players objective is simple or is it? Lines of various shapes climb up the screen over five columns, and you must connect all the lines over the five columns, filling the screen from left to right. If an incomplete line reaches the top of the screen, the game is over! With a variety of challenging modes, original music that changes pace and rhythm as you accomplish more combos and multiplayer capabilities; this is the game to pick up for any PSP owner.
Gunpey is an Action/Adventure video game for PSP developed by Q-Entertainment and published by Namco on November 14, 2006. It's rated Everyone-10 by the ESRB and no users have rated it yet.
Our newest cheats for Gunpey were added January 4, 2008.
If you were looking for Gunpey for PSP cheats, then you might also want cheats for:


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Attention San Antonio craft beer lovers: Another local brewer is about to go into production.
Although Busted Sandal is months behind schedule thanks to some minor inspection mishaps and some lagging construction progress, Michael DiCicco and his crew should be churning out three base brews pretty soon: Slippery Rock IPA, El Robusto Porter, and Fire Pit Wit, a non-traditional Belgian-style beer with ginger and grapefruit peel.
In the first segment:
San Antonio is the headquarters of the United States District Court - Western District of Texas. The U.S. defenders office here has the second highest rate of cases per attorney in the entire country and we are looking at the single largest budget cut in the district's history. A minimum 25 percent of the personnel will have to be let go, so what now?
Maureen Franco, the federal public defender here in San Antonio, gives us a look at what is going on in her office.
In the second segment:
Texas Senate Democrats rallied at the capitol and then boarded a big orange "Stand with Texas Women" tour bus to take the abortion fight on the road.
Sen. Kirk Watson of Austin, who is the chair of the Democratic Caucus, had initially requested the entire Senate take committee hearings on the road. When that request was denied, Stand With Texas Women chartered their own.
Furloughs began Monday for 23,000 Department of Defense employees at Joint Base San Antonio as part of the government's sequestration measure to tighten the federal budget.
About 700,000 total Department of Defense employees will be taking one day a week off for the next 11 weeks -- the government reduced the furloughs from the original 22 days.
Joint Base San Antonio's Brent Boller said the military could not avoid the cutbacks entirely, despite other efforts to reduce military expenses:
The UTSA Small Business Development Center is offering a half-day class on Wednesday for people interested in starting a new business.
SBDC Marketing Associate Rebecca Montalvo said the short class offers the first steps for new business ideas – and answers questions people have about getting started:
Bexar County Sheriff Susan Pamerleau is looking for funds in other places after her office was denied almost $100,000 worth of equipment funding from a federal grant.
The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant is a fund to help state and local entities prevent or reduce crime and violence and is administered through the Justice Department.
The sheriff hoped to get some of the local funds to purchase vests, helmets, AR15 rifles, and shields for deputies in case of a violent incident at the civil or criminal courthouse.
More concerts and outreach events are on tap for the Cactus Pear Music Festival's 17th annual season this week.
Three young people's concerts are free and open to the public on Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday afternoons. The musicians of the Young Artists Program, led by Craig Sorgi, play on these concerts. They will also perform Sergei Prokofiev's Overture on Hebrew Themes on the festival finale Sunday evening.
Summer break is still in full swing, but for the 136 area high school students participating in Camp GenTX, their vacation still involves learning.
The students moved into the dorms at Trinity University on Monday morning, ready for a three-day college experience of eating in the dining halls, hearing lectures, and walking around on campus.
Residents in Northeast Bexar County will have a different water source for the next several weeks as the San Antonio Water System addresses water concerns from Lake Dunlap.
The affected area of customers are between IH-35 and IH-10, inside 1604 -- an area previously served by BexarMet. Those customers are now using Edwards Aquifer water for the time being.
SAWS Spokeswoman Anne Hayden said warmer weather in the shallow lake Dunlap caused algae to flare up.
Baylor College of Medicine has now taken over clinical responsibility at Children's Hospital of San Antonio, which is owned by Christus Santa Rosa.
Believing the need for pediatric care is on the rise, Christus Santa Rosa Health System President Patrick Carrier said children's services are an important part of the health system's care ministry. It started providing pediatric services in 1874. In 1917, the first hospital wing dedicated to pediatrics opened.
Carrier said in 1959 the first hospital for children in San Antonio opened.