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Hamilton County Commissioners voted today to axe Music Hall from a proposed sales tax increase designed to pay for renovations to that structure and Union Terminal. Now, only Union Terminal will benefit from the potential tax hike, which county voters will decide on in November. Voters won't get a chance to decide whether a similar hike will pay for Music Hall.
Mayor John Cranley and Cincinnati City Council are not happy about the change-up.
"As mayor of this city, I'm deeply offended when we're treated as second-class citizens in our own county," Cranley said during a vote approving the city's contribution to renovations at today's council meeting. "We have done our part. We will pay the tax if it is passed. In no other jurisdiction, not even Hamilton County, is being asked to cut its budget … for these institutions."
Cranley said asking city taxpayers for more money represents a kind of double taxation, since they would also be paying the county sales tax increase.
Ostensibly, council was voting to approve annual payments toward upkeep of both Union Terminal and Music Hall for 25 years. The $200,000 yearly commitment to each building adds up to $10 million. Cranley floated the plan last week as a demonstration of the city's commitment to the landmark buildings.
Council approved that money unanimously, but that vote is mostly symbolic now that the fragile plan to fund both renovations with a tax hike, first proposed by a cadre of area business leaders called the Cultural Facilities Task Force, has fallen through. Hamilton County Commissioners Greg Hartmann and Chris Monzel said the proposed contributions, which the city already makes, don't represent a renewed effort to fix the buildings.
The city has also pledged another $10 million toward Music Hall repairs. Those contributions weren't enough for Hartmann, who had been the swing vote on the three-member commission. He signaled he would not vote for the original 14-year, .25 percent sales tax increase designed to raise much of the $331 million needed to repair the buildings.
Instead, he voted with fellow Republican Monzel today for an alternate tax measure that left Music Hall out of the deal, raising $170 million over five years for renovations to Union Terminal only. Democrat Todd Portune, who supported the original plan, voted against the new deal.
Former P&G CEO Bob McDonald, who led the task force designing the original deal, said the new plan jeopardizes more than $40 million in private donations, as well as historic preservation tax credits.
"The idea that somehow there's going to be more money falling from space or that this money will be put forward for an alternate plan is a fallacious assumption," McDonald told the Cincinnati Business Courier. "That money has been committed to us personally for this plan."
Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld called the development "frustrating."
"I'm not here to add gasoline to the fire, but I think logic is a fair expectation of our elected leaders, and after people have said repeatedly that plans haven't been vetted, that questions haven't been answered, they've now moved forward with something that has no vetting," Sittenfeld said, referring to criticisms of the original plan by anti-tax groups like COAST. "I hope people don't forget what happened eight blocks from City Hall anytime soon."
Monzel said that the plan's details would
be worked out in the coming weeks, and that he wants to keep the county
from overextending itself.
"Going back through the real-estate records, it's clear that time and time again the city has stepped forward," said Councilman Kevin Flynn. He highlighted the city's rescue of Union Terminal from a failed plan to turn it into a mall in the 1980s. The city bought the building from a developer after the plan crashed and burned. Flynn also said the city has made significant contributions to 136-year-old Music Hall's upkeep since the 1800s.
Following county commissioner's Feb. 12 meeting, the dispute between Cincinnati and Hamilton County over contracting rules for Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) projects appears to be heading to court.
The court battle comes after the county dismissed multiple concessions from the city and put MSD's revamp of the local sewer system on hold in protest of the city's rules. With a federal mandate looming, both sides agree a resolution is needed soon to avoid costly fines from the federal government.
For many across the city and county, the conflict is understandably confusing. The debate has often been mired down by biased media reports and political talking points that obfuscate the issue. Jargon referencing "responsible bidder," "local hire," "local preference," unions, apprenticeship programs, a pre-apprenticeship fund and contractors make it even more difficult to grasp what is going on.
Cutting through the politics, here is what the responsible bidder rules actually do and why the city and county seem incapable of compromise.
What is responsible bidder?
It's a city ordinance that essentially forces MSD contractors to adopt job training measures known as apprenticeship programs and pay for a pre-apprenticeship fund. By requiring the training options, the city hopes workers will be able to improve their skills and successfully transition to other jobs once their MSD work is finished.
Apprenticeship programs take workers through extensive on-the-job and classroom-based training in which they can hone their skills in a specific craft, such as electrical or plumbing work. Because workers get paid for their work while participating in an apprenticeship, the programs are typically characterized as an "earn-while-you-learn" model.
The pre-apprenticeship fund will put money toward programs that will teach newcomers basic skills, such as math and reading, so they can eventually move up to an apprenticeship program.
The rules don't apply to every MSD contractor. Contracts worth less than $400,000, which make up roughly half of MSD's sewer revamp, are exempted.
What about local hire and local preference?
Those are ordinances separate from responsible bidder that give preference to Cincinnati-based businesses. They try to keep MSD contracts within local companies.
What's the conflict about?
The conflict is between Cincinnati and Hamilton County, which jointly run MSD. The Democrat-controlled city supports the rules, while the Republican-controlled county opposes them.
The city and county also dispute which governing body can set policy for MSD. Under a 1968 agreement, the county owns and funds MSD, and the city operates and maintains it. City Council argues the agreement allows the city to set policy for MSD, but the county disagrees. Both sides acknowledge the set-up is far from ideal.
So, did the city's rules halt MSD projects?
No. Nothing in the city's ordinances forces MSD projects to stop. County commissioners singlehandedly halted MSD projects in protest of the city's rules. If it were up to the city, work would continue today.
Why are these projects so important?
By federal decree, the city needs to revamp the sewer system to bring it up to environmentally safe standards. The project will cost $3.2 billion over 15-20 years, making it one of the most expensive in the city's history.
If the city and county don't carry on with the revamp soon, the federal government will begin issuing fines. By some guesses, the fines could begin rolling in by the end of the year.
Why does a majority of City Council support responsible bidder?
Councilman Chris Seelbach, the Democrat who championed the rules, says they will boost local employment and create more job training options for the city's struggling workforce.
Other Democrats on council agree, although some, like Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld, believe the ordinance is "imperfect."
Does responsible bidder benefit workers?
Some research suggests it would.
The left-leaning Center for American Progress (CAP) in a December report argued apprenticeship programs provide an opportunity to revitalize the U.S. workforce.
"By 2020, America is projected to experience a shortage of 3 million workers with associate's degrees or higher and 5 million workers with technical certificates and credentials," the report claimed. "Compounding our inadequate workforce development system, research shows that employers are now spending less on training than they have in the past. At the same time, industry surveys show that a lack of qualified workers is a top concern for many employers."
Citing a 2012 study from Mathematica Policy Research, CAP estimated apprenticeship programs alone can boost a worker's lifetime earnings and benefits by more than $300,000. Over 36 years of employment, that's an average gain of nearly $8,400 a year.
Why do county commissioners oppose the rules?
In terms of policy, county commissioners say the responsible bidder rules favor unions and burden businesses.
On a legal basis, the county argues the city's responsible bidder rules conflict with state law and the local hire and preference rules enforce unconstitutional geographic preferences.
Does responsible bidder actually favor unions?
Since unions tend to offer better and more apprenticeship programs, yes.
But the rules don't exclude non-union businesses from participating. For example, Ohio Valley Associated Builders and Contractors maintains some non-union apprenticeship programs that would qualify under the law.
Still, most of the union favoritism debate centered around a regulation the city actually offered to give up. Specifically, under current rules employers are only eligible to contract with MSD if they have apprenticeship programs that have graduated at least one person a year for the past five years. In October, Seelbach offered to strip the mandate and replace it with an incentive program. The county seemed unmoved by the proposal.
What about businesses? Does responsible bidder burden them?
By requiring businesses to adopt apprenticeship programs and put 10 cents for each hour of labor into a pre-apprenticeship fund, the law certainly places more regulations on businesses. Whether the requirements are a burden is subjective.
John Morris, president of the Ohio Valley Associated Builders and Contractors and an opponent of the law, told CityBeat the pre-apprenticeship fund's requirement will increase business costs by $2-3 million over 15-20 years.
Citing MSD estimates for the cost of labor, Rob Richardson, regional manager of the Laborers' International Union of North America, said the fund will cost businesses $1.5 million.
Even if someone accepts Morris' estimate, the requirement adds up to at most 0.1 percent of the $3.2 billion project.
More broadly, some supporters of the city's rules question whether placing a burden on businesses is innately a bad thing. The basic point of government regulations is to make the economy and businesses work better for the public. In that sense, regulations are always going to burden businesses to some extent.
For example, financial regulations burden big banks and financial institutions. But many Americans agree the regulations are necessary to avoid another financial crisis like the one that plunged the country into the Great Recession.
Still, critics argue the extra regulations would increase the cost of business, and the impact could ultimately be felt by MSD ratepayers.
Why don't the city and county just compromise?
They kind of tried, but it seems the philosophical split between Hamilton County Republicans and Cincinnati Democrats is too strong to reach a substantial agreement.
The city, for example, has offered multiple concessions to the county. In May, City Council modified the law to ease some requirements and add an exemption for contracts worth less than $400,000, which covers half of the contracts involved in MSD's sewer revamp. In October, Seelbach offered to replace a strict mandate with a looser incentive program. Seelbach also told CityBeat on Feb. 6 that he would consider raising the contract exemption from $400,000 to $750,000.
In return, the county rejected the concessions and instead offered to establish aspirational inclusion goals and some funding for local job training programs — as long as the city repealed its rules altogether.
Which side would win the court battle?
It's hard to say. Both sides — and their lawyers — seem pretty confident about their legal standing.
So what's next?
At the current rate, it looks like the city and county are heading to court. Whether the process involves a full-on legal battle or mediation between the city and county's lawyers remains uncertain, but it's clear something will eventually have to give.
This blog post will be regularly updated as the situation develops.
For some, Dennis McGuire's 26-minute, seemingly painful execution raises constitutional and ethical questions about Ohio's use of the death penalty. In particular, the convicted killer's family and medical experts say the state's use of a new cocktail of drugs presented problems even before McGuire was killed, with one Harvard professor of anesthesia warning the state prior to the execution that its dosage was too low for McGuire's size and the drugs inadequate. Jonathan Groner, a professor of clinical surgery at Ohio State University, told CityBeat, "I wouldn't want what he got to have my appendix out. … I would be concerned that I would feel something."
Hamilton County commissioners yesterday accepted a Mount Airy facility offered to the county as a gift by Catholic Health Partners, with plans to use the former hospital as the campus for a new crime lab. The acceptance came despite previous warnings that the Mount Airy facility could not be taken in by the county if the Board of Elections didn't also move its office and early voting to the Mount Airy location, where only one bus line runs, from its current downtown office. A party-line tie vote left the Board of Elections move in limbo, with a tie-breaking decision expected from the Republican secretary of state in the next few weeks. Democrats oppose the move because it would limit voting access for people who rely on public transportation, while Republicans argue free parking at the new facility would outweigh the loss of bus access.
Officials plan to break ground today on the Anna Louise Inn's new location at Mount Auburn. The start of construction marks the beginning of the next chapter for the Inn afters its owner, Cincinnati Union Bethel (CUB), lost a contentious legal battle against financial giant Western & Southern. CUB sought to keep the Inn at the location it has been at since 1909, while Western & Southern aimed to claim the property to invoke its full development vision on the Lytle Park neighborhood. After two years of litigation, both sides reached a settlement in which CUB agreed to move.
Commentary: Media Should End Reliance on "He Says, She Says."
A local abortion clinic asked a Hamilton County judge to suspend a state order that would shut down the facility. The Sharonville clinic would close down by Feb. 4 if courts don't step in.
With bipartisan support, the Ohio House cleared a bill that reduces the costs and speeds up the process of adoptions. But some Democrats worry the bill goes too far by shortening the period a putative father must register with the state if he wants to be able to consent to an adoption.
The tea party failed to put forward a Republican primary challenger to Gov. John Kasich.
Meanwhile, Hamilton County Commissioner Todd Portune says he's talking to former Toledo Mayor Jack Ford as a potential running mate in a Democratic primary challenge against gubernatorial candidate Ed FitzGerald. With less than one week left, Portune needs to name a running mate and gather 1,000 valid petition signatures to actually run — a prospect that's looking dimmer by the day.
A federal judge sentenced an Ohio man who threatened to kill President Barack Obama to 16 months in prison.
Cincinnati-based Kroger might test an online ordering system.
Gladys, the Cincinnati Zoo's newest gorilla, celebrated her first birthday party with cake.
Scientists developed hair-growing cells from ordinary skin cells, potentially providing a new option for curing baldness.
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Hamilton County commissioners on Wednesday announced they will accept a Mount Airy facility offered to the county as a gift by Catholic Health Partners, opening the door to a new county crime lab at the location.
The acceptance comes despite lingering uncertainties about whether the Board of Elections will also move to the former hospital in Mount Airy. County commissioners previously warned the Board of Elections must move with the crime lab to provide the occupancy necessary to financially justify renovations at the 500,000-square-foot facility.
The decision also comes despite remaining questions about how exactly the cash-strapped county government will fund the move and the renovations it entails.
Hamilton County Coroner Lakshmi Sammarco and Sheriff Jim Neil both lobbied for the new crime lab. Citing expert opinions, they argue the current crime lab lacks space and needs to be modernized, which could put criminal evidence and trials at risk.
Board of Commissioners President Chris Monzel called the gift a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" — a sentiment both other commissioners seemed to follow.
"This is a home run for law enforcement in Hamilton County," Commissioner Greg Hartmann said.
Commissioners explained they will seek various
opportunities to fill out remaining space in the facility.
Mayor John Cranley on Jan. 23 offered to move some city police services to the facility, but Hartmann told CityBeat the offer wouldn't be enough to replace the Board of Elections.
"Without the Board of Elections coming with the crime lab, that's not enough occupancy," Hartmann said. "There would be some good potential co-location opportunities with the city (at the Mount Airy facility), but not enough to take up 400,000 square feet."
But with Wednesday's development, county commissioners appear ready to take up the Mount Airy facility and new county crime lab even if the Board of Elections doesn't move.
On Monday, the Board of Elections split along party lines over whether the board should move its offices and early voting from downtown to Mount Airy, where only one bus line runs. Democrats say the move would reduce voting access for people who rely on public transportation to make it to the ballot box. Republicans argue the potential of free parking at the facility outweighs the lack of public transportation.
Of course, part of the issue is political: Democrats benefit from a downtown voting location that's easily accessible to Democrat-leaning urban voters, and Republicans benefit from a location closer to Republican-leaning suburban voters.
With the board's tie vote, the issue now goes to the secretary of state — Republican Jon Husted — to potentially decide. The secretary of state's office says Husted will make a decision after he reviews documents from the Board of Elections explaining both sides of the tie vote, but spokesperson Matt McClellan says Husted would like to see the issue resolved locally before he is forced to intervene.
Mayor John Cranley on Thursday offered the Hamilton County Board of Elections free space at the city-owned Shillito's building to keep their offices and early voting downtown.
The offer comes in the middle of a contentious debate between Democrats and Republicans on the Board of Elections over whether the county should move the board to a former hospital at Mount Airy, where only one bus line runs.
The Board of Elections currently rents its offices from a private landlord. Moving to the Mount Airy facility would place the board on county-owned property and allow the county to avoid paying rent.
Along with the Board of Elections move, the county wants to establish a new crime lab at the Mount Airy location. Consolidating the crime lab and Board of Elections at the Mount Airy facility would provide the critical mass necessary to financially justify the move and the renovations it would require, according to county officials.
To solve the critical mass issue if the board moves to the former Shillito's building instead, Cranley, a Democrat, said he's willing to look into moving some city police services, including SWAT operations, to the Mount Airy facility.
But Hamilton County Commissioner Greg Hartmann, a Republican, told CityBeat the offer probably won't satisfy the county's needs.
"Without the Board of Elections coming with the crime lab, that's not enough occupancy," he said. "There would be some good potential co-location opportunities with the city (at the Mount Airy facility), but not enough to take up 400,000 square feet."
Hartmann said it's now up to the Board of Elections to accept or reject the Mount Airy facility. If the board declines to move to Mount Airy, Hartmann explained the county would likely drop the Mount Airy plan and the county coroner would go without a new crime lab.
For the city, Cranley's offer raises questions about what other potential uses exist for the Shillito's building, given the high property demand downtown. But Cranley said there's currently no credible attempt at marketing the facility for other uses.
"The building is vacant, and we spend over $100,000 a year just to maintain a vacant building," Cranley said. "I believe that getting someone in there that takes a significant amount of space is going to open up the rest of the building, which would be over 200,000 square feet, to make it more marketable. I think long-term it would be better for the city financially."
He added, "In the short-term I think there are some things more important than money. And I think the symbolism of keeping the Board of Elections and voting downtown is just worth it."
City Council appears to agree with the mayor. Shortly after Cranley announced his offer, council passed a symbolic resolution opposing the Mount Airy move.
From an electoral perspective, part of the issue is which voting location would favor Democrats or Republicans. Democrats tend to dominate in urban areas like downtown, while Republicans could benefit from a facility in Mount Airy that's closer to suburban voters.
State Rep. Alicia Reece, who joined Cranley for the announcement, tried to defuse concerns that she, Cranley and other Democrats are trying to keep voting downtown for electoral gains.
"The reality is the Board of Elections at its current location has declared both Democrat and Republican winners of elections," Reece said. "I think the focus is to just make sure that we have a facility that everyone can have access to, whether you're driving or whether you're on the bus."
Ohio now bans abusive dog breeding practices that previously earned the state a reputation as one of the laxest for dog breeding rules in the nation. With the new rules, dog breeders must maintain improved living conditions for the dogs, including standards for cage size, regular grooming, veterinary examinations and socialization. The rules earned praise from many animal activists as a step forward, but some say the bill should act as a start that leads to even stronger regulations.
City Council advanced a largely progressive agenda that moves forward with initiatives aimed at job training, homelessness and inclusion. Specifically, the Democratic majority on council acted as the foundation in keeping controversial contracting rules for sewer contracts, continuing support for a permanent supportive housing facility in Avondale and approving a new study that will look into potential race- and gender-based disparities in how the city awards business contracts. With the Democratic coalition seemingly established on most issues facing the city, it's now much clearer what direction council will take the city over the next four years.
Hamilton County commissioners yesterday proposed a compromise with the city over controversial contracting rules for Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) and Greater Cincinnati Water Works projects. Although both sides agree the issue must be resolved soon to avoid a costly legal battle and allow MSD to carry on with work on a federally mandated overhaul of the local sewer system, the Democratic-controlled city and Republican-controlled county have failed to reach a resolution. Since the county put MSD projects on hold in protest of the city's rules, $152 million worth of sewer projects and 649 potential jobs have been put on hold, according to data from Councilman Charlie Winburn, a Republican who opposes the rules.
Councilmen P.G. Sittenfeld and Chris Seelbach questioned whether recent personnel changes at City Hall violated the city charter. The concern is whether Mayor John Cranley pushed Interim City Manager Scott Stiles to move John Curp from his previous role as city solicitor to chief counsel of the city's utilities. Sittenfeld and Seelbach noted the charter prevents the mayor and council members from interfering with personnel decisions. But Stiles declined to answer and sidestepped Seelbach and Sittenfeld's questions.
Commentary: "Republicans Continue Hindering Access to the Ballot."
Cincy Bike Share still needs more funds to launch.Cincinnati has the most unhappy employees in the country, according to an analysis by CareerBliss.
Ohio Democrats and Republicans have begun a push for a May 6 ballot initiative that would expand state spending on road, bridge, water, sewer and other local public works projects.Micah Kamrass yesterday filed petition signatures with the Hamilton County Board of Elections, making him the likely Democratic candidate to replace State Rep. Connie Pillich, a Democrat, as she runs for state treasurer. Kamrass will likely face off against Republican Rick Bryan.
A condemned Ohio killer will be executed with a new, never-tried lethal injection method adopted after the state's previous drug supplies dried up.Ohio high-school students could receive some school credit for off-campus religious education attended during regular school hours, thanks to a new bill passed by the Republican-controlled Ohio House of Representatives.
If damage related to potholes is $10,000 or less, drivers can file a complaint at the little-known Ohio Court of Claims and get their money back. In the past five years, reimbursements for more than 1,300 Ohioans cost the state nearly half a million dollars.
The secretary of state's office announced early voting hours for the upcoming primary election here. If Hamilton County Commissioner Todd Portune decides to stay in the gubernatorial race and challenge Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald, the primary election would decide which Democrat will face off against Republican Gov. Kasich in November.Most Americans avoided vaccinations during the previous flu season — a trend experts attribute to increased complacency toward the virus.
University of Cincinnati researchers say they wants to dispel the belief that drones are only used to kill.
For example, a collapsible, camera-toting drone currently in development could be used just to spy on people.
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The agenda defined City Council's first meeting of the new year — the first full session since council decided to continue work on Cincinnati's $132.8 million streetcar project.
The meeting also showed that the Democratic majority — once fractured over the streetcar project and parking privatization plan — now appears to have formed a coalition on most issues facing the city. Perhaps more than anything, that could indicate the direction of Cincinnati for the next four years.
Responsible bidder
Most contentiously, the Democratic majority on City Council rejected a repeal of the city's contracting rules for Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) and Greater Cincinnati Water Works (GCWW) projects.
The rules dictate how the city and county will award contracts for the federally mandated $3.2 billion revamp of the local sewer system.
The city's rules impose stricter job training requirements on city contractors and require them to fund pre-apprenticeship programs that would help train new workers in different crafts.
Councilman Chris Seelbach, a Democrat who spearheaded the rules, argues the requirements will help foster local jobs and job training.
But the Republican-controlled county government, which also manages MSD and GCWW, says the requirements unfairly burden contractors and favor unions. Last year, county commissioners halted MSD's work on the sewer overhaul in protest of the city's rules.
The county's halt has put 649 jobs and $152 million worth of sewer projects on hold, according to data released by Councilman Charlie Winburn, a Republican who opposes the city's rules.
With the federal mandate looming, county commissioners on Wednesday unanimously proposed a compromise that would create some job training and inclusion initiatives.
"We are approaching a crisis here in this dispute with the city," said Commissioner Greg Hartmann, a Republican who opposes the city's rules.
Vice Mayor David Mann, a Democrat, said he will look at the county's proposal. But he cautioned, "I'm not going to repeal it until we have a substitute. To have a substitute we have to have conversations. This could be the beginning of a framework."
The issue could end up in court. The city's lawyers previously claimed they could defend the local contracting rules, but the county insists the city would lose.
"Portions of what the city wants will not stand in court. Our lawyers should meet," Hartman told Seelbach on Twitter.
If the city and county don't act before February, Winburn said the
federal government could impose a daily $1,500 fine until MSD work fully
Supportive housing project in Avondale
A supermajority of council — the five Democrats plus Charterite Kevin Flynn — agreed to continue supporting state tax credits for Commons at Alaska, a 99-unit permanent supportive housing facility in Avondale.
Although several opponents of the Avondale facility claim
their opposition is not rooted in a not-in-my-backyard attitude, many
public speakers argued the housing facility will attract a dangerous
crowd that would worsen public safety in the neighborhood.
Supporters point to a study conducted for similar facilities in Columbus that found areas with permanent housing facilities saw the same or lower crime increases as demographically comparable areas.
Other opponents decried the lack of outreach for the project. They claim the project was kept hidden from residents for years.
National Church Residences (NCR), which is developing the facility, says it will engage in more outreach as the project moves forward.
Councilman Christopher Smitherman, an Independent, said council's decision ignores what most Avondale residents told him.
"The supermajority of residents that I have talked to that are directly impacted by this project are against it," asserted Smitherman, who is leading efforts against the facility in council.
Even if council decided to rescind its support for the Avondale project , it's unclear if it would have any effect. NCR already received state tax credits for the facility back in June.
Disparity study
City Council unanimously approved a study that will look into potential race- and gender-based disparities in how the city awards business contracts.
The $690,000 study is required by the courts before the city can pursue initiatives that favorably target minority- and women-owned businesses with city contracts, which Mayor John Cranley and most council members support.
But Flynn and Councilwoman Yvette Simpson, a Democrat, voiced
doubts that the study's findings will fulfill the legal requirements necessary to legally enact initiatives favoring minority- and women-owned businesses.
Given the doubts, Simpson cautioned that the city should begin moving forward with possible inclusion initiatives before the disparity study is complete.
"I do think we need to rally around a mantra that we can't wait," agreed Democratic Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld.
Once the study is complete, several council members said it will, at the very least, provide valuable data to the city.
Other notable actions
• Council approved a tax budget that lowered the property tax millage rate from 5.7 mills to 5.6 mills, which will cost $500,000 in annual revenue, according to city officials.
• Council approved an application for a $70,000 grant that would fund local intervention efforts meant to help struggling youth.
• Council approved an application for a nearly $6 million grant to provide tenant-based rental assistance to homeless, low-income clients with disabilities.
• Council disbanded the Streetcar Committee, which the
mayor and council originally established to look into halting the
project. Streetcar items will now be taken up by the Major Transportation and Regional Cooperation Committee.
Hamilton County commissioners on Wednesday unanimously approved a resolution that seeks a compromise over Cincinnati's controversial contracting rules for Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) projects.
Both sides agree the issue must be resolved soon to avoid a costly legal battle and allow MSD to fully continue work on a federally mandated $3.2 billion revamp of the local sewer system. But so far the Democrat-controlled city and Republican-controlled county have failed to reach an agreement.
"We really are approaching a crisis here in this dispute with the city," said Commissioner Greg Hartmann, who proposed the resolution commissioners approved Wednesday.
The county's proposal creates aspirational inclusion goals and funding for local job training programs for MSD and Greater Cincinnati Water Works. The county estimates the resolution will cost $550,000-$700,000 a year.
But it remains unclear if the county's measures will satisfy a majority of City Council, which as of December supported its own set of contracting rules.
The city rules require contractors to follow stricter standards for apprenticeship programs, which unionized and nonunion businesses use to train workers in crafts, such as electrical work or plumbing. The rules also ask contractors to put 10 cents for each hour of labor into a pre-apprenticeship fund that will help train newcomers in different crafts.
With the county proposal approved, commissioners say it's up to the city to make the next move in the dispute.
The county's proposal:
The latest administrative shakeups at City Hall spurred
controversy after the city administration confirmed City Solicitor John
Curp will leave his current position and one of the new hires — Bill
Moller, a city retiree who will become assistant city manager — will be
able to "double dip" on his pension and salary ($147,000 a year). Councilman
P.G. Sittenfeld said on Twitter that City Council will discuss the personnel changes at today's council meeting. The hiring decisions are up to Interim City Manager
Scott Stiles, but some council members say they should be more closely
informed and involved. (This paragraph was updated after council members called off the special session.)
Hamilton County Juvenile Court Judge Tracie Hunter was indicted on a ninth felony charge yesterday. The charge — for misusing her county credit card — comes on top of eight other felony counts for allegedly backdating court documents and stealing from office. In response to the first eight charges, the Ohio Supreme Court disqualified Hunter as she fights the accusations and replaced her with a formerly retired judge, who will be aided by the juvenile court's permanent and visiting judges in addressing Hunter's expansive backlog of cases.
A bipartisan proposal would allow Ohioans to recall any elected official in the state.Duke Energy cut a $400,000 check to the Greater Cincinnati Port Authority for redevelopment projects at Bond Hill, Roselawn and Queensgate.
Sixty-two people will be dropped from Hamilton County voter rolls because they didn't respond to a letter from the board of elections challenging their voting addresses.
It's official: Democrat Charlie Luken and Republican Ralph Winkler will face off for the Hamilton County Probate Court judgeship.
Facing state cuts to local funding, a Clermont County village annexed its way to higher revenues. But the village has drawn controversy for its tactics because it explicitly absorbed only public property, which isn't protected from annexation under state law like private property is.
More Ohio inmates earned high school diplomas over the past three years, putting the state ahead of the national average in this area, according to a report from the Correctional Institution Inspection Committee.Ky. Gov. Steve Beshear says he supports legislative efforts to increase Kentucky's minimum wage to $10.10 over the next three years.
One Malaysian language describes odors as precisely as English describes colors.
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text:
TV Star Fractures Spine During "Drunk, Stupid" Stunt for MTV's First Date
Every star wants their Almost Famous roof-jumping moment, but sometimes a dramatic reenactment can come with consequences.
Blake Anderson (pictured, right), star of Comedy Central's Workaholics, injured his spine and "anal area" in December after he jumped off a one-story building onto a ping pong table while filming a party scene for MTV's First Date in Los Angeles, Calif.
According to a 911 call obtained by TMZ, Blake landed on his feet but began to feel pain around his spine and bum following the stunt. According to Blake's father, the pain got so bad that the TV star could no longer stand or walk. Yikes!
Turns out, Blake ended up fracturing his spine. Ouch.
"I was drunk and it was stupid," Blake told MTV after the incident. "Don't jump off roofs into hard surface areas."
There's no word on if Blake's injury will affect his filming schedule, but he appears to be in good spirits now.
Sources: TMZ, MTV
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Hope for the poor
Effective Compassion | Poverty in the United States is at a two decade high, but local groups that connect work and faith to charity provide lasting relief
When Brian Fikkert of the Chalmers Center near Chattanooga, Tenn., tallies the number of people his Christian development organization has helped in Rwanda, he speaks of "hundreds of thousands." (The work includes a Bible-based curriculum that helps poverty-stricken families save money and assist other community members.)
But when Fikkert, executive director at Chalmers and an economics professor at Covenant College, considers the number of poor people the group has helped in Chattanooga since he founded the organization in 1999, he says the figure drops dramatically: "I can count it on one hand."
Why the gap?
While Rwanda has a violent past and far worse poverty than the United States, Fikkert says it also has something else: "The churches in Rwanda are churches of the poor. ... They are full of the poor." In Chattanooga, he says, churches are often "full of people who don't have relationships with the poor."
It's not just a problem in Chattanooga. It's a conundrum for many Christians across the country who want to help the poor in their own communities, but aren't sure where to begin. Fikkert, co-author of When Helping Hurts, admits he struggles with such problems as well.
That's not because there's a lack of poverty in America. A Sept. 12 report by the U.S. Census Bureau found the poverty rate in the United States hovers around 15 percent—the highest level in almost two decades. The rate barely changed from 2010 to 2011. It means some 46 million people in the United States live below the official poverty line—about $23,000 for a family of four. (The poverty rate calculations don't include certain government benefits like earned income tax credits or food stamps, which would lower the number of those living below the poverty level.)
When it comes to children, the numbers are especially startling. The report found the poverty rate for children raised by single mothers was 40.9 percent. (The rate of poverty for children of married couples was 8.8 percent.)
The problem will likely grow worse: Kay Hymowitz of the Manhattan Institute noted that out of 1 million children likely to be born into poverty next year, nearly three-fourths will be born to single mothers.
For years, politicians have debated the best way to help poor Americans, and the winner of November's presidential election will face the same question. But as politicians struggle with the government's role in poverty relief, Christians also continue grappling with their own responsibilities to help the poor.
Former Sen. Rick Santorum, a devout Catholic, says that's particularly important as conservatives call on the government to curtail runaway federal spending. During a pro-life event filled with Christians at the Republican National Convention in August, Santorum told the group: "If the government is going to do less, we've got to do more."
What that looks like varies widely among cities, Christians, and churches. For the last seven years, WORLD has featured examples of Christians seeking to help needy populations by applying biblical principles to addressing material and spiritual needs.
Each year, we profile a handful of worthy organizations nominated by readers, and ask our readers to vote for a winner online. On Oct. 18, we announced the winner of WORLD's 2012 Hope Award for Effective Compassion: The WorkFaith Connection, a Houston-based group that helps some of the city's least employable men and women find jobs.
It's one example of many groups working to do more to meet deep needs. In this report, we'll review some of the past winners, examine some of the historical context for Christian poverty fighting, and look at ways that Christians can start small to do more.
For men and women looking for jobs after serving time in prison, starting small can seem like a huge task.
Sandy Schultz, CEO of The WorkFaith Connection, talked about helping people with troubled pasts start over during the Hope Award's dinner in October. "For so many of the men and women we are serving, putting the truth on a [job] application can be painful," she said. "But God uses The WorkFaith Connection to remind them that they are a new creation in Christ, that the old is gone. They are living proof, bright lights in the world. They bring Scripture to life."
Other groups seek to bring Scripture to life for needy populations in other cities. In 2006, the first Hope Award recipient was the Christian Women's Job Corps in Nashville, Tenn. The group began in 1997 as a program of the Woman's Missionary Union, an affiliate of the Southern Baptist Convention.
The group offers computer and GED classes, job skills counseling, one-on-one mentoring, Bible study, and childcare to women struggling with difficult circumstances, including addiction and poverty.
Six years later, executive director Becky Sumrall is still leading the group, and spoke in a phone interview about the organization's growth. Significant changes include adding an ESL class for international students and a jobs program for men. (When the group advertised for a GED class, 75 percent of the respondents were men.)
With the poverty rate reaching 16.5 percent in Tennessee, a weakened economy has brought more people seeking help. Sumrall has joined Nashville's poverty reduction committee to serve the city in looking for ways to help needy residents.
The growth at the ministry has brought more challenges, including maintaining enough volunteers to meet the needs, says Sumrall: "The hardest thing has been that we can't serve as many as walk through the door."
Sumrall says the group has stayed at a size it can sustain, and keeps the spiritual component at the forefront: "Our model is still working."
Each of the other Hope Award recipients continues its model as well: The Arkansas Sherriffs' Youth Ranches (2007) provides a home for hundreds of abused, neglected, and homeless children.
A Way Out (2008), a Memphis, Tenn.–based ministry, rescues women from the city's prostitution, stripping, and drug culture. An intense program includes Bible studies, counseling, and Bible-based classes on subjects like sexual addiction, depression, and maintaining boundaries.
Forgiven Ministry (2009) is a Taylorsville, N.C., ministry that still provides day camps for prisoners and their children. The program includes biblical teaching on fatherhood for the inmates, and gives children a day with parents they rarely see. The group has added more camp dates and additional staff.
Freedom for Youth (2010), a Des Moines, Iowa, ministry, teaches inner city kids how to break cycles of poverty. The services include a mentoring and tutoring program for elementary-school students, an after-school program for teenagers, and a residential house for adults.
Mark Nelson still directs the ministry, and says he's seen similar growth that others report—and similar challenges—as the poverty rate has increased. "We're seeing it at our rural sites," Nelson said in October. "The kids are coming in very hungry. They haven't eaten."
More children means the need for more volunteers—something the ministry struggles to maintain. But the group has added three sites in rural areas, and a girl's home for homeless young women.
"Ministry isn't getting any easier," says Nelson. "But when things get tight, that's when our faith seems to grow the most. … It's showing us there is even a greater need to give the hope that only Christ can give to those who are suffering."
By 2011, a cooking school won the Hope Award: Victory Trade School in Springfield, Mo., provides a Christian discipleship program—and culinary training—for men who need help finding and keeping jobs. Young men apply from 15 different states, and many have gone on to successful careers.
This year's Hope Award winner has a similar goal of training men and women to learn how to get and keep jobs by offering a Christ-centered approach that encourages a biblical work ethic.
The WorkFaith Connection has chosen not to pursue government funding so that it can maintain its Christian emphasis. That has cost the group grants from other sources as well, but CEO Schultz said: "We cannot make Scripture optional. Without connecting work and faith, we are not The WorkFaith Connection."
The concept of connecting work and faith in poverty fighting isn't a new idea. In the Old Testament, God commanded the Israelites to take care of the poor, including providing opportunities for them to work.
In the New Testament, that teaching continued, as the early church took close care of its neediest members, and the Apostle Paul encouraged hard work from all Christians—a teaching that flowed from God's creating Adam and Eve as workers in the Garden of Eden.
Christian care for church members—and outsiders—continued as the still-young church cared for the poor, the orphaned, the widowed, and many of the sick during plagues that ravaged the ancient world.
By 362 A.D., the emperor Julian complained to the high priest of Galatia about the virtues and extensive system of good works by Christians: "The impious Galileans support not only their poor, but ours as well, everyone can see that our people lack aid from us."
By the time of the Protestant Reformation, theologians began re-emphasizing the importance of caring for the poor. Indeed, John Calvin asked his congregation: "Do we want to show there is a reformation among us?" If so, he said, "There must be pastors who bear purely the doctrine of salvation, and then deacons who have the care of the poor."
As a pastor in Geneva, Calvin developed a robust diaconal program in the church. David Hall, a pastor and the author of Calvin in the Public Square, calls the theologian's diaconal work "one of Calvin's contributions to Western civilization."
Calvin helped form the diaconate as a response to refugees flowing into Geneva, but extended that care to widows, orphans, the hungry, and the poor. He even directed the deacons to make sure the public hospital was maintained so that the poor and needy could find good medical care.
All of these efforts were grounded in an expectation that those seeking help would also seek work. Calvin taught that begging without honest work (for those who were able) was incompatible with a biblical work ethic—a break from Roman Catholic almsgiving that had distributed charity more indiscriminately.
And diaconal assistance in Geneva came with biblical counseling from the deacons, and an expectation that recipients attend the local church.
By 1578, theologian and pastor John Knox was continuing an emphasis on helping the poor in his work as a leader in the Protestant Church in Scotland. Knox supervised a substantial system for deacons to visit the poor in local parishes and help tend to their spiritual and material needs.
Thomas Chalmers, a Scottish pastor in the early 1800s, revived this emphasis after it had declined, and became known as one of the most significant social reformers of his era. Chalmers directed deacons to help the unemployed find work, and help uneducated children find schools to attend through a meticulous home visitation system.
Chalmers also wrote extensively on poverty relief. Tim Keller, a pastor and author of Ministries of Mercy, notes Chalmers once said the church could do what the government could not: address the moral and spiritual roots of poverty.
Addressing the moral and spiritual roots of poverty remains the challenge for Christians today.
Back at the Chalmers Center, Fikkert says that the government does have a role to play in poverty fighting, including promoting a healthy economic environment that will create jobs and give people an opportunity to work.
Christians can help by teaching poorer people how to be spiritually healthy, he says, "So that they will know they are made in the image of God and called as His image bearers to work and be productive."
And though specific programs and ministries are often critical, Fikkert says encouraging the poor to be part of regular church life is perhaps the most critical step: "Sometimes we lose sight of the fact that the ordinary means of grace—worship, preaching, fellowship, prayer, the sacraments—are a part of how God transforms lives. The poor need these too."
That means considering how to do more in the days ahead will require Christians to think deeply about how to be involved in local ministries, but also how to involve the poor in the ministry of their churches. Fikkert says that's a task that takes tremendous effort and "unbelievable intentionality."
2013 Hope Award of Effective Compassion
WORLD is now taking nominations for poverty-fighting ministries to be considered for our 2013 Hope Award for Effective Compassion. Please email June McGraw (firstname.lastname@example.com) with basic information about your nominee: Name, city, website address, and a paragraph on why you think it's great. Criteria: Groups should be explicitly Christian, privately funded, and centered on offering challenging, personal, and spiritual help. The national winner receives a check for $25,000, and regional winners receive $4,000 each.


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How to keep your yard mosquito-free this summer
Don't Waste Your Money
It's hard to enjoy a summer evening in your backyard if you constantly have to spray yourself head-to-toe with mosquito repellent.
These days, more and more people are spraying their yard instead – either with a store-bought spray or a professional service.
So what's your best option to stay mosquito-free this summer?
Remove Breeding Grounds
If you don't like spray, the easiest thing to do is remove mosquito breeding grounds from your property, according to our partners at the consumer guide Angie's List.
Get rid of the obvious, such as puddles that don't dry out, and flowerpots filled with water.
Angie's List founder Angie Hicks says it's not just puddles you need to check, but birdbaths and gutters too.
"When it comes to mosquitoes, they love to breed in standing water," Hicks said. "The key is to remove any standing water on your property. If you have a kiddie pool, a birdbath, empty those at least once a week."
Hicks says "if you have gutters that are clogged, that's also a potential problem. Be sure they are properly maintained."
Trim Back Low Foliage, Spray
Scrub trees in the back of your yard, and other low foliage create perfect mosquito hiding spots. You have two options here: trimming back the undergrowth, or spraying it.
We actually target the underside of the leaves of the foliage," said pest control expert Scott Robbins. "That is where the mosquitoes like to rest during the day."
A pest control company will spray your backyard for about $60 to $100, depending on size. A professional spraying can keep the bugs at bay for up to 8 weeks, which gets you through the summer.
Robbins also recommends you trim your yard regularly and keep plants from overgrowing, after the spraying.
Purchase Do-it-Yourself Spray
Looking for a cheaper option?
You can find anti-mosquito yard sprays at Lowe's, Home Depot and most hardware stores.
One popular brand is Cutter Backyard Bug Control, which hooks up to your garden hose, and costs about $10 a spray bottle. It gets mixed reviews, and is not as effective as what a professional will spray.
Ask Neighbors to Help
Finally, Hicks suggests you get neighbors involved too.
Your efforts won't work if the homes surrounding yours are infested with mosquitoes.
That way, you don't waste your money.
Don't Waste Your Money is a registered trademark of the EW Scripps Co.
"Like" John Matarese on Facebook
Follow John on Twitter (@JohnMatarese)
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The innovative and elegant Xelsis is a super automatic espresso machine fit for any home or workplace that appreciates superb coffee and quality design.
Extremely versatile, this stainless steel machine features an intuitive one-touch screen interface that allows for 6 users to create 6 custom beverages each. From strong espressos to frothy cappuccinos to thick, rich lattes, each user can program a signature drink and activate it with the touch of a button. An additional hot water wand can be used to froth milk manually. The Xelsis also features a removable milk carafe with built-in cappuccinatore that attaches to the front of the machine and automatically froths milk directly into the cup. And it cleans itself after each use – a beautiful idea.
Saeco Aroma System programmable (on/off/long) pre-brewing cycle injects hot water into ground coffee to maximize flavor extraction.
Wide, easy-to-read display screen with one-touch activation allows for 6 different users to create customized profiles with 6 drinks each.
Protective coffee bean hopper features air tight, sealed lid with anti-UV coating to help keep beans fresh.
Adjustable built-in ceramic disc grinder with automatic shut-off is safe, quiet and long lasting.
Saeco Brewing System allows you to choose the strength and consistency of your coffee by turning a dial.
External milk container automatically froths milk into your cup. Automatic cleaning cycle keeps machine perfectly clean at all times.
Double boiler provides steam in an instant
Hot water wand dispenses hot water for tea, hot chocolate and other beverages.
Removable 54-fl oz water tank comes with the Intenza water filter included.
Ergonomic design integrates water tank and bean hopper, which are easily accessible from the top of the machine.
Automatic cleaning with rinse and descaling cycles
Easy front access to the removable brew group and used grounds tray without removing drip tray or milk carafe makes cleaning very practical.
Large, metal drip tray holds cups and is removable for easy cleaning.
Sliding wheel base for convenient rotation.
- Dimensions: 11"W x 14.5"D x 16.5"H
- Weight: 37.5 lbs
- Color: Stainless Steel and Chrome
- Bean Hopper Capacity: 12 oz
- Water Tank Capacity: 54 fl oz
- 15-bar pump pressure
- Construction: Stainless Steel, Ceramic grinder
Click here for manufacturer's warranty information.
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Michael Nyqvist
Birth Name: Michael Nyqvist
Born: 11/08/1960
Birth Place: Stockholm, , SE
Born in Stockholm in 1960, Michael Nyqvist spent the early days of his youth living a relatively normal life. When he was still a toddler, however, the people he assumed to be his parents informed Nyqvist that he was adopted. His birth parents gave him up shortly after his birth, and for a brief period Nyqvist resided in an orphanage. The thought of knowing he was given up at birth haunted Nyqvist for most of his adult life, yet not enough to deter him from pursuing his love of acting. Nyqvist took his very first acting classes while living in Omaha, NE as a foreign exchange student. It was there that the young actor learned to harness the emotional trauma from his past and use it in his per...
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I created a meeting room as a resource location in admin panel. However, when I tried to add location to calendar, I could not find any resource. When I searched in "find locations", it return no result found. Do I need to set things up except creating new resource? Do this problem relate to mail server or domain setting? (Let's say: my mail server is xx.bb.cc, inbound SMTP hostname is yy.bb.cc, whereas email is bb.cc)
Any suggestion would be appreciated.
Edit: Ok. I could find resources now, after waiting for one night. I found similar problems in this forum since last year. Will this problem not be fixed? If so, it would be nice to state it in the help manual.


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ST. PAUL, Minn. (KARE) -- The Minnesota Visiting Nursing Association was on hand at the State Fair to help people interested in protecting themselves from the flu.
Last year was a severe flu season that sickened millions and cleared out drug aisles everywhere.
This year researchers have developed a new vaccination that covers four flu strains rather three. The vaccine, called Quadrivalent, protects two strains of type A influenza like last year's strain of H3N2 and now two strains from type B.
Dr. Ayesha Rashid at United Hospital says its too early to tell if this vaccination will provide the best protection. But researchers wanted to be prepared.
The four-in-one vaccines are so new that they'll make up only a fraction of the nation's supply of flu vaccine. And experts say that at this point its more important to get vaccinated rather than worry about which one you need.


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This is the heaviest season of the year. Halloween
through New Year's tends to be the time when many
put on a few extra pounds.
Paula Wolfson, wtop.com
WASHINGTON – This is the heaviest season of the year.
Halloween through New Year's tends to be the time when many put on a few extra pounds.
"People typically gain 4 pounds on average from Halloween through the first of the year," says registered dietitian and sports nutritionist Marie Spano.
The reason is simple: There's so much food.
"We have Halloween candy. We have leftover pumpkin pie. And, then all the holiday parties in December," says Spano.
"There is just an over abundance of food, and some people just throw in the towel once they eat that first piece of candy."
But there are ways to keep seasonal weight gain in check. Spano says she always encourages her clients to take "a moderate approach."
Everyone should make an effort to cook healthy meals at home, Spano says, incorporating as much fall produce as possible, such as squash.
The real challenge comes when it's time to eat out. Spano suggests having a nutritious snack before going to a party, and even downing a glass or two of water.
She also recommends using the smallest available plate at a buffet.
"Put what you want on it in small quantities and move away from the food and get talking."
For those planning to do some holiday imbibing, Spano offers this advice: Have a cocktail, but also have a glass of water and alternate the two. Remember, alcoholic drinks are far from calorie free, so get one, and then get away from the bar.
Follow WTOP on Twitter.
(Copyright 2012 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)


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Viking VSN
The Viking VSN is a comfortable, stretchy and durable drysuit manufactured from a unique rubber based material. VSN is a triple layered material comprising of a middle rubber layer with Armatex nylon on the external and internal surfaces. This suit is designed for use by technical divers, police underwater dive teams, military divers, and anyone who requires a drysuit with high degrees of abrasion and puncture resistance.
Unique stretch material manufactured by Trelleborg
'Vulca Seam' technology
Highly abrasion and puncture resistant
Neutrally buoyant material
Front and rear entry versions available.
Front entry suits feature an adjustable torso with external crotch strap
Viking VSN
Trilaminate construction. Mid ply of NR/EPDM rubber. External and internal knitted Armatex jersey nylon. Average material weight 1100 +/- 100 g/m2. Material is totally non compressible. Material is also neutrally buoyant.
External seams stitched together with an elastic tape for security. Internal seams are chemically treated and then an uncured rubber tape is applied to the seams using heat and pressure. Finally the suit is placed inside a vulcaniser whereby the rubber tape becomes cured into the material surface. This is known as 'Vulca Seam technology '.
VSN material is inherently abrasion and puncture resistant. Shaped 'Superfabric' knee pads featuring flexible cut and abrasion resistant guard plates are fitted to the legs above and below the knees. Drain holes are also fitted to the pads.
Front entry adjustable torso models are fitted with a MED duty non mag zipper as standard in 85 cm or 90 cm length.
Rear entry suits are fitted with a MED duty non mag zipper of 90 cm length.
Zip flaps are fitted as standard on both models.
OPTION: A 90 cm Heavy Duty zipper may be fitted to REAR entry models only. Relief zipper available.
Standard configuration includes the following mounted on rubber backing discs:
Central chest:Viking push protected inlet valve
Hose: CEJN fitting, 80 cm long
Upper left arm:Viking low profile adjustable exhaust valve
Alternative options:
Non magnetic inlet valves, Apeks inlet valves, Non magnetic hoses
Non magnetic exhaust valves, Apeks exhaust valves
Rubber coated 5mm neoprene boots with a fin retainer are fitted as standard.
OPTIONS include latex socks, or VSN material socks may be specified if suit is to be used with overboots.
The Viking VSN is fitted with a Surveyor latex neck seal as standard.
Alternative options:
Bellows latex neck seal, neoprene neck seal, quick connect collar system which allows for quick changing of broken seals. A neoprene neck warmer may be paired with a latex neck seal.
Viking VSN suits may be fitted with a wide range of hood options as follows:
Surveyor latex hood + thermal inner hood, Nautic neoprene hood with smooth face seal, Smoothskin hood.
If the suit has been fitted with a Quick Connect collar system, then specific latex and neoprene hoods are available for fitting.
Latex conical cuffs are standard
Cuff options:
PRO latex cuffs or bellows latex cuffs.
Glove ring options:
In order to make the suit completely waterproof, it is possible to fit a rubber cuff ring system with fixed external rubber ring, and loose stiff plastic ring which holds the latex seal in place. The alternative is a plastic bayonet glove ring system with a plastic ring mounted on the sleeve, and a replaceable cuff held in place with a plastic ring.
Both systems then make the fitment of latex gloves possible.
Each suit comes supplied as standard with the following items:
Suspenders, carry bag, user manual, repair kit and zip care materials.


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Establishment of the Organization
In the summer of 1905, Professor C.W.A. Veditz of George Washington University initiated a discussion among sociologists throughout the United States. He wrote to several dozen people to ask if there was need for or desire for forming an organization of sociologists. Dozens of letters were exchanged that summer. Ultimately, consensus was that the time had come for a society of sociologists in the United States.
In early December, Veditz and eight others wrote to roughly 300 people inviting them to attend a special session during the American Economic Association and American Political Science Association meetings later that month to discuss the possible formation of a society of sociologists.
At 3:30 on Wednesday afternoon, December 27th, approximately 50 people (yes, there was one woman present!) gathered in McCoy Hall at Johns Hopkins University. Before the meeting was adjourned, the group acted to form a new society of sociologists. The group debated whether this new society should be federated with another existing organization, such as the American Economic Association, but ultimately decided the new society should be an independent entity. At the end of the day, those gathered formed a five-person committee to develop a plan for the new society and how it should be governed.
All concerned re-convened at 3:30 the next afternoon to review the proposed structure of the society. The following men were elected officers of the new society: Lester Ward (President), William Sumner (First Vice President), Franklin Giddings (Second Vice President), C.W.A. Veditz (Secretary and Treasurer). Council members were: E. A. Ross, W.F. Wilcox, Albion Small, Samuel Lindsay, D. C. Wells, and William Davenport.
When they left Baltimore, the birth of the American Sociological Society was complete, a Constitution had been adopted, officers were elected, and plans were made for the second Annual Meeting of the new Society.
The First 75 Years
In 1981, in commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Association, Lawrence J. Rhoades prepared a history entitled A History of the American Sociological Association, 1905-1980. This 90-page publication provided a brief overview of the founding and early years of the Association, as well as highlights of key activities and events in the intervening decades. Proceed to A History of the American Sociological Association, 1905-1980.
The Next 25 Years
In 2005, in celebration of the Centennial of the founding of the Association, ASA published A History of the American Sociological Association, 1981-2004. This 201-page book picks up where the 1981 Rhoades history left off and continues the story to through 2004. This volume is the culmination of more than two years of detailed research by Katherine J. Rosich. Proceed to A History of the American Sociological Association, 1981-2004.


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"Roche looks like the best pharma play to me in Europe, if not in the global Big Pharma space," said Nick Draeger, an analyst at Adamant Biomedical Investments, as the Swiss drugmaker announced its '07 results this January. "The company has a solid profile in terms of patent-expiry issues, and it is still the leading company in oncology."
Draeger's enthusiasm may betray a slight hometown bias—Adamant and Roche are both headquartered in Basel, Switzerland—but industry analysts agree that Roche is on a remarkable roll.
In 2007, Roche posted sales of $42.1 billion with 10 percent growth—the highest in the industry. (For more on Roche's financials, see the box at right.) It remains the uncontested global leader in oncology, pharma's hottest field, and its two breakthrough monoclonal antibody (mAB) products, Herceptin (trastuzumab) and Avastin (bevacizumab), drove almost 50 percent of its revenue. But topping sales, at $5 billion, was a third Genentech mAB—Rituxan (rituximab), currently approved for lymphoma, set for approval for rheumatoid arthritis, and showing strong effects against multiple sclerosis and a host of other B-cell-related diseases.For the first time, Roche even beat hometown rival Novartis in sales by $2.4 billion—sweet revenge over the powerhouse that only eight years ago was said to be on the verge of taking over a weakened Roche.
At a time when drug giants face the prospect of losing up to half their current sales when their megablockbusters go off patent in 2011 and 2012, and companies are scrambling to buy enough late-stage drugs to staunch the revenue hemorrhage, Roche has escaped the prevailing panic. According to Lehman Brothers, patent expirations will cost the company only 11 percent of sales between 2008 and 2012. Most of its leading growth drivers were approved within the past five years. (For a list of Roche's top-selling drugs, see the box.)
But robust productivity alone hasn't given Roche the luxury of staying focused on a future beyond the patent cliff. Its pioneering strategy of investing in promising biotechs, starting in 1988 when Roche paid $2.1 billion for 60 percent of Genentech, has delivered a portfolio rich in biologics. And its famously arm's-length approach to managing Genentech and Chugai has preserved their entrepreneurial spirit and innate culture, earning Roche the status of biotech's most-favored partner. What's more, as the longtime global leader in diagnostics, Roche enjoys a head start over its richer competitors in the race for personalized medicine.
In many ways, the self-proclaimed "world's biggest biotech" looks a lot like the new business model that other pharmas are downsizing, restructuring, and licensing their way toward. Yet Roche didn't set out to be ahead of its time. The family-controlled firm apparently just never felt compelled to follow the pack—an independent streak that was paradoxically easy to ignore in a pack as obdurately conformist as Big Pharma. Above all, Roche never went in for '90s-style megamergers that promised much but delivered little.
At Roche's analyst meeting, CEO Franz Humer, who deserves credit for the company's turnaround, remarked tellingly that Roche was now solid enough "to maintain its independence for another 50 years." This month, as he hands the reins to protégé Severin Schwan—who, at 40, is the industry's youngest CEO—the challenge couldn't be clearer. Now that the rest of Big Pharma is rushing to buy up biotechs for products, platforms, and partnerships, can the Swiss juggernaut remain first among equals while making good on its promise of personalized medicine?
M&As have become the new R&D, and Roche is, by default, ahead of its time in this way too. Only a handful of its most innovative and profitable drugs were developed in-house. From Genentech's treasure trove of oncology mABs to Chugai's hot, new Actemra (tocilizumab) for rheumatoid arthritis to the late-stage diabetes and cholesterol NMEs, partnering has long been the key to Roche's success. And that makes Dan Zabrowski, who was tapped last July as global head of pharma partnering, the man to meet.


text: So, you're waiting for an elevator and when the door opens.......you see a guy getting murdered. What would you do? That's what the makers of this video wanted to find out, so they staged a fake elevator murder and recorded people's reactions. There's a guy near the end that does something so unbelieveable.....I don't even want to tell you, but it made me want to slap him. Seriously. What is wrong with some people? Anyway.....I'd like to think I'd try to save the guy, but I'd probably run and call 911. Just being honest. What about you?


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CEC video 'Love. Not Loss.' wins film festival prize
04 November 2012 | News story
In its French version, the video won the European prize in the 'Festival Européen du Court-Métrage de Fontainebleau'.
The Festival Européen du Court-Métrage de Fontainebleau was held in Fontainebleau, France, on 14 October 2012. The video competed against some 25 other entries in this category. It was produced in English by Jeremy Bristow for Wildscreen and in collaboration with Futerra for the IUCN Commission on Education and Communication (CEC) and Secretrait of the Convention on Biological Diversity.
The French translation of this video was produced thanks to CEC members from the IUCN French Committee.


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We all know that skin products are not a one-for-all deal. Some products are good for my skin, and maybe aren't great for yours. What works for me isn't always what works for my husband. I've been finding more and more lately that my husband has been using the men's skin care products I've gotten for him and not just the soap I use. With fall and winter coming, it means drier air, and since we heat our home with a woodstove, drier skin. We both want to find something that works well for him that isn't "girly" and will keep his skin feeling clean, not dry and, well, manly. (Ok maybe that last bit was my idea…) Dove Men+Care has a great and affordable line from a brand we've used and trusted for years just for men with the ingredients to combat dryness.
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|IMPACT awards grant money
|Written by Holyoke Enterprise
Several northeast Colorado nonprofit organizations were recently awarded a total of $5,000 in grant money from Holyoke High School's IMPACT program.
IMPACT (Involving Many People Across Communities Today) was organized by the student leadership class and has taken over responsibilities of the traditional EPYCS club (El Pomar Youth in Community Service).
According to advisor Tracy Trumper, El Pomar Foundation is phasing out the EPYCS program over two years. As this process takes place, the new IMPACT group was given $10,000 to give in grants over the two year period. Trumper noted the group chose to split the money into $5,000 for this year and the same amount for next year.
IMPACT's mission statement said the students aim to "empower nonprofit organizations with endowments to meet the needs of childhood education, teen pregnancy and youth recreation in the community."
With that in mind, IMPACT awarded grant money to the following nonprofits: Dragon's Wagon Preschool, $460; Holyoke Elementary School, $500; Phillips County Arts Council, $290; A Caring Pregnancy Resource Center, $750; Phillips County Family Education Services, $500; and Northeast Colorado Health Department/Family Recess Respite Program, $2,500.
Students involved in the IMPACT program include Diana Baeza, Christina Banaka, Mallory Bennett, Briar Bergner and Karla Cruz. Trumper and Ashley Geist serve as advisors.
In addition to IMPACT, the student leadership class has been busy with the Penny Harvest project, the recycling program and an outdoor classroom development at HHS.


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Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is an intermediate stage between the expected cognitive decline of normal aging and the more serious decline of dementia. It can involve problems with memory, language, thinking and judgment that are greater than normal age-related changes. If you have mild cognitive impairment, you may be aware that your memory or mental function has "slipped." Your family and close friends also may notice a change. But generally these changes aren't severe enough to interfere with your day-to-day life and usual activities.
Mild cognitive impairment may increase your risk of later progressing to dementia, caused by Alzheimer's disease or other neurological conditions. But some people with mild cognitive impairment never get worse, and a few eventually get better.
Your brain, like the rest of your body, changes as you grow older. Many people notice gradually increasing forgetfulness as they age. It may take longer to think of a word or to recall a person's name.
But consistent or increasing concern about your mental performance may suggest mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Cognitive issues may go beyond what's expected and indicate possible MCI if you experience any or all of the following:
If you have MCI, you may also experience:
There's no single cause of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), just as there's no single outcome for the disorder. Symptoms of MCI may remain stable for years, progress to Alzheimer's disease or another type of dementia, or improve over time.
Current evidence indicates that MCI often, but not always, arises from a lesser degree of the same types of brain changes seen in Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia. Some of these changes have been identified in autopsy studies of people with MCI. These changes include:
Brain-imaging studies show that the following changes may be associated with MCI:
The strongest risk factors for MCI are:
Other medical conditions and lifestyle factors have been linked to an increased risk of cognitive change, but the evidence for these risk factors is less clear. These risk factors include:
People with MCI have a significantly increased risk — but not a certainty — of developing Alzheimer's disease or another type of dementia. Overall, about 1 to 2 percent of older adults develop dementia every year. Among older adults with MCI, studies suggest that 6 to 15 percent develop dementia every year.
You're likely to start by seeing your family doctor. If your doctor suspects you have cognitive changes, you may be referred to a specialist with expertise in evaluating mental function. The specialist may be a neurologist, psychiatrist or neuropsychologist.
Because appointments can be brief and there's often a lot to talk about, it's good to be well prepared. Here are some suggestions to help you get ready for your appointment and know what to expect from your doctor.
Because time with your doctor is limited, writing down a list of questions will help you make the most of your appointment. List your questions from most pressing to least important in case time runs out. For cognitive changes, some questions to ask your doctor include:
In addition to the questions you've prepared ahead of time, don't hesitate to ask your doctor to clarify anything you don't understand.
Your doctor is also likely to have questions for you. Being ready to respond may free up time to focus on any points you want to talk about in-depth. Your doctor may ask:
There is no specific test to confirm a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Your doctor will decide whether MCI is the most likely cause of your symptoms based on the information you provide and results of various tests that can help clarify the diagnosis.
Many doctors diagnose MCI based on the following criteria developed by a panel of international experts:
As part of your physical exam, your doctor may perform some basic tests that indicate how well your brain and nervous system are working. These tests can help detect neurological signs of Parkinson's disease, strokes, tumors or other medical conditions that can impair your memory as well as your physical function. The neurological exam may test:
Blood tests can help rule out physical problems that can affect memory, such as a vitamin B-12 deficiency or an underactive thyroid gland.
Your doctor may order an MRI or CT scan to check for evidence of a brain tumor, stroke or bleeding.
Short forms of mental status testing can be done in about 10 minutes. In testing, doctors ask people to conduct several specific tasks and answer several questions, such as naming today's date or following a written instruction.
Longer forms of neuropsychological testing can provide additional details about your mental function compared with others' of a similar age and education level. These tests may also help identify patterns of change that offer clues about the underlying cause of your symptoms.
Currently, no mild cognitive impairment (MCI) drugs or other treatments are specifically approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, MCI is an active area of research. Clinical studies are under way to shed more light on the disorder and find treatments that may improve symptoms or prevent or delay progression to dementia.
Doctors sometimes prescribe cholinesterase inhibitors, a type of drug approved for Alzheimer's disease, for people with MCI whose main symptom is memory loss. However, cholinesterase inhibitors aren't recommended for routine treatment of MCI because they don't appear to provide lasting benefit.
Other common conditions besides MCI can make you feel forgetful or less mentally sharp than usual. Treating these conditions can help improve your memory and overall mental function. Conditions that can affect memory include:
Study results have been mixed about whether diet, exercise or other healthy lifestyle choices can prevent or reverse cognitive decline. Regardless, these healthy choices promote good overall health and may play a role in good cognitive health.
Some supplements — including vitamin E, ginkgo and others — have been purported to help prevent or delay the progression of mild cognitive impairment. However, no supplement has shown any benefit in a clinical trial.
Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., ranks No. 1 for neurology and neurosurgery in the U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals rankings. Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Ariz., and Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., are ranked among the Best Hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery by U.S. News & World Report. Mayo Clinic also ranks among the Best Children's Hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery.
Mayo Clinic works with hundreds of insurance companies and is an in-network provider for millions of people. In most cases, Mayo Clinic doesn't require a physician referral. Some insurers require referrals or may have additional requirements for certain medical care. All appointments are prioritized on the basis of medical need.
Doctors trained in neurology, psychiatry and psychology, and other areas evaluate and treat people with mild cognitive impairment and related conditions at Mayo Clinic in Arizona,
Mayo Clinic in Arizona is part of the Arizona Alzheimer's Research Consortium, a statewide research collaboration that studies ways to detect, treat and prevent Alzheimer's disease.
For appointments or more information, call the Central Appointment Office at 800-446-2279 (toll-free) 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mountain Standard Time, Monday through Friday or complete an online appointment request form.
Doctors trained in neurology, psychiatry and psychology, and other areas evaluate and treat people with mild cognitive impairment and related conditions at Mayo Clinic in Florida.
Staff in the Memory Disorders Clinic conducts research and cares for people with mild cognitive impairment and other memory disorders. The neurosciences research program actively conducts research in Alzheimer's disease and related conditions.
For appointments or more information, call the Central Appointment Office at 904-953-0853 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday or complete an online appointment request form.
Doctors trained in neurology, psychiatry and psychology, and other areas evaluate and treat people with mild cognitive impairment and related conditions at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. Staff in the memory training program helps people with mild cognitive impairment to learn habits to compensate for a decline in mental functioning.
For appointments or more information, call the Central Appointment Office at 507-538-3270 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Central time, Monday through Friday or complete an online appointment request form.
See information on patient services at the three Mayo Clinic locations, including transportation options and lodging.
Mayo Clinic researchers at Mayo Clinic in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota study mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's disease and other conditions that affect your memory and thinking skills. Researchers study risk factors, predictors, prevention, diagnostic techniques and potential treatments for mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's disease and other conditions. Staff in the Robert and Arlene Kogod Center on Aging also conducts research in many age-related conditions.
The Mayo Alzheimer's Disease Research Center at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota and Mayo Clinic in Florida is 1 of 34 Alzheimer's Disease Centers in the United States designated and funded by the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health. Mayo Clinic in Arizona is part of the Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium, a statewide research collaboration. You may have the opportunity to participate in clinical trials at Mayo Clinic. Read more about Mayo Clinic Alzheimer's disease research.
See a list of publications by Mayo Clinic doctors on mild cognitive impairment on PubMed, a service of the National Library of Medicine.
Read an article about neuroimaging for dementia.
Original article: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mild-cognitive-impairment/care-at-mayo-clinic/why-choose-mayo-clinic/CON-20026392
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