Students with Diabetes: A Resource Guide for Wisconsin Schools and Families

"The purpose of this guide is to provide information and tools for parents, students, teachers, coaches, bus drivers, school nurses, relatives, and others to assist in caring for students with diabetes."
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BadgerStat

"We are a new nonpartisan nonprofit organization that encourages performance-focused, transparent government in Wisconsin in order to make our public sector more accountable, efficient, and effective."

Adult Smoking in the United States

"Tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease, disability, and death in the US. Some people who smoke every day are smoking fewer cigarettes; however, even occasional smoking causes harm. The percentage of American adults who smoke decreased from 20.9% in 2005 to 19.3% in 2010. That translates to 3 million fewer smokers than there would have been with no decline. But almost 1 in 5 adults still smoke..."
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The White Population: 2010 (2010 Census Briefs)

"This report provides a portrait of the White population in the United States and discusses its distribution at the national level and at lower levels of geography.1 It is part of a series that analyzes population and housing data collected from the 2010 Census. The data for this report are based on the 2010 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File, which was the first 2010 Census data product released with data on race and Hispanic origin and was provided to each state for use in drawing boundaries for legislative districts..."

Black Population: 2010 (2010 Census Briefs)

"This report provides a portrait of the Black population in the United States and discusses its distribution at the national level and at lower levels of geography.1, 2 It is part of a series that analyzes population and housing data collected from the 2010 Census. The data for this report are based on the 2010 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File, which was the first 2010 Census data product released with data on race and Hispanic origin and was provided to each state for use in drawing boundaries for legislative districts..."

Wisconsin's Architecture and History Inventory

"This resource is a search engine that provides historical and architectural information on approximately 120,000 properties in Wisconsin. The AHI contains data on buildings, structures and objects that illustrate Wisconsin's unique history.."

Reducing Fever in Children: Safe Use of Acetaminophen

"You’re in the drug store, looking for a fever-reducing medicine for your children. They range in age from 6 months to 7 years, and you want to buy one product you can use for all of them. So you buy liquid acetaminophen in concentrated drops for infants, figuring you can use the dropper for the baby and a teaspoon for the oldest.

This could be a dangerous mistake.

This use of concentrated drops in much larger amounts—as would be given with a teaspoon—can cause fatal overdoses, says Sandra Kweder, M.D., deputy director of the Food and Drug Administration’s Office of New Drugs.."

CONSUMER EXPENDITURES--2010

"Average annual expenditures per consumer unit(1) fell 2.0 percent in 2010
following a decrease of 2.8 percent in 2009, the U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics reported today. While spending fell in 2010, prices for goods and
services increased 1.6 percent from 2009 to 2010, as measured by the average
annual change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). This was the second
consecutive year that there has been a drop in spending. The 2010 level of
average annual expenditures, $48,109, was lower than the 2006 amount of
$48,398..."

2012 Statistical Abstract of the United States

"The Statistical Abstract of the United States is the standard summary of statistics on the social, political, and economic organization of the United States. It is also designed to serve as a guide to other statistical publications and sources. The latter function is served by the introductory text to each section, the source note appearing below each table, and Appendix I, which comprises the Guide to Sources of Statistics, the Guide to State Statistical Abstracts, and the Guide to Foreign Statistical Abstracts..."

Overview of Race and Hispanic Origin: 2010

"This report looks at our nation’s changing racial and ethnic diversity. It is part of a series that analyzes population and housing data collected from the 2010 Census, and it provides a snapshot of race and Hispanic origin in the United States. Racial and ethnic population group distributions and growth at the national level and at lower levels of geography are presented."

Same-Sex Couple Households

"Living arrangements are rapidly changing in America, especially when it comes to both same-sex couple households and the recognition of same-sex marriages by individual states. A description of
these households is not complete without identifying the presence of children in these households by their relation to the householder—whether they are biological children, stepchildren, or adopted children. This report addresses these topics by presenting data from the 2010
American Community Survey (ACS) on same-sex couple households at national and state levels..."

U.S. Periods of War and Dates of Current Conflicts

"Many wars or conflicts in U.S. history have federally designated “periods of war,” dates marking their beginning and ending. These dates are important for qualification for certain veterans’ pension or disability benefits. Confusion can occur because beginning and ending dates for “periods of war” in many nonofficial sources are often different from those given in treaties and other official sources of information, and armistice dates can be confused with termination dates. This report lists the beginning and ending dates for “periods of war” found in Title 38 of the Code
of Federal Regulations, dealing with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)..."

A Glimpse at 'Gluten-Free' Food Labeling

"How Is FDA Proposing to Define ‘Gluten-Free’?

In 2007, FDA proposed to allow manufacturers to label a food “gluten-free” if the food does not contain any of the following:

1. an ingredient that is any type of wheat, rye, barley, or crossbreeds of these grains
2. an ingredient derived from these grains and that has not been processed to remove gluten
3. an ingredient derived from these grains and that has been processed to remove gluten, if it results in the food containing 20 or more parts per million (ppm) gluten
4. 20 ppm or more gluten

In the notice reopening the comment period, FDA states that it continues to believe the proposed definition of “gluten-free” is the correct one.

FDA’s notice also describes current analytical methods that can reliably and consistently detect gluten at levels of 20 ppm or more in a variety of foods.

The agency is interested in hearing from the public and industry. The public comment period on the proposed rule will officially open after noon on Aug. 3, 2011, and will remain open for 60 days. To submit comments electronically, go to www.regulations.gov..."

The Clean Air Act Where You Live

"This Administration has taken a series of reasonable, common-sense steps under the Clean Air Act – many of which are decades over due and issued in response to court orders – to reduce emissions of mercury, acid gas, particulate matter, arsenic and other harmful chemicals from some of the biggest polluters in the nation. Two of these, the Cross State Air Pollution Rule and the proposed Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, will save tens of thousands of lives, prevent hundreds of thousands of asthma and heart attacks and avert millions of missed school and work days – yielding hundreds of billions of dollars in benefits to our communities. The Cross State Air Pollution Rule ensures that hundreds of millions of Americans from the midwest to the East Coast are not forced to breathe air pollution from other states."

Federal Aid to States for Fiscal Year 2010

"This report presents data on federal government aid to state and local governments by state and U.S. outlying area. Coverage is restricted to federal government expenditures for grants to state and local governments for which data are available by state and outlying area. For fiscal year 2010 (October 1, 2009, to September 30, 2010), the statistics compiled cover $630.2 billion..."

New consumer protections for airline passengers take effect

"Here are some of the common-sense ways we're looking out for passengers under these new protections:

* If you are involuntarily bumped from an oversold flight, the new rules double the amount of money you are eligible for as compensation.
* DOT's successful ban on lengthy tarmac delays will now cover the international flights of foreign airlines at U.S. airports, and domestic flights at small-hub and non-hub airports.
* If your bag is lost, you are entitled to a refund of any fee for carrying that bag. Airlines are already required to compensate passengers for reasonable expenses for loss, damage or delay in the carriage of passenger baggage.
* Airlines must prominently disclose all optional fees on their websites, including but not limited to fees for baggage, meals, canceling or changing reservations, or advanced or upgraded seating."

Economic Indicators

Economic Indicators, a newly formed database with monthly statistical reports measuring the economic pulse of the nation. Some reports begin in the mid-1990s.

Health Insurance: Most Have Coverage

"New figures released by the U.S. Census Bureau show that most of us – 256.2 million, or 83.7 percent – did, in fact, have health insurance coverage during the entire 2010 calendar year. However, that left 49.9 million, or 16.3 percent, who did not.

Dig a little deeper into the numbers and we see so many key factors that influence whether one ended up in the “have” or “have-not” camp.

One key factor is age. Because of Medicare, coverage for people 65 and older is virtually universal, with only 2.0 percent lacking coverage in 2010. On the other hand, for young adults 18 to 24, the situation was vastly different, as 27.2 percent were not covered..."
View additional coverage of health insurance.

Illegal Internet Streaming of Copyrighted Content: Legislation in the 112th Congress

"Technological developments related to the Internet benefit consumers who want convenient ways
to view and hear information and entertainment content on a variety of electronic devices (such as
televisions, radios, computers, mobile phones, video game consoles, and portable media players).
New technologies offer the potential to help copyright holders promote their creative works for
artistic, educational, and commercial reasons. However, new technologies may increase the risk
of infringement of the copyright holders’ rights because they often provide faster, cheaper, and
easier means of engaging in unauthorized reproduction, distribution, and public performance of
copyrighted works than previous technologies. The widespread consumer use of high-speed
Internet connections as well as increased reliance on data storage offered by “cloud computing”
services may also contribute to infringement problems..."

National Disaster Recovery Framework

"The National Disaster Recovery Framework is a guide that enables effective recovery support to disaster-impacted States, Tribes, Territorial and local jurisdictions. It provides a flexible structure that enables disaster recovery managers to operate in a unified and collaborative manner. It also focuses on how best to restore, redevelop and revitalize the health, social, economic, natural and environmental fabric of the community and build a more resilient Nation..."

NOAA researchers release study on emissions from BP/Deepwater Horizon controlled burns

"During the 2010 BP/Deepwater Horizon Gulf oil spill, an estimated one of every 20 barrels of spilled oil was deliberately burned off to reduce the size of surface oil slicks and minimize impacts of oil on sensitive shoreline ecosystems and marine life. In response to the spill, NOAA quickly redirected its WP-3D research aircraft to survey the atmosphere above the spill site in June. During a flight through one of the black plumes, scientists used sophisticated instrumentation on board, including NOAA's single-particle soot photometer, to characterize individual black carbon particles..."

OnGuard Online

"Want to know more about Internet safety and security? Visit the new and improved OnGuardOnline.gov for practical tips and resources on how to be safe, secure and responsible online. Created through a partnership of 16 federal agencies led by the Federal Trade Commission, it’s a great source of free information for your home, school, community group, or workplace..."

Criminal Prohibitions on the Publication of Classified Defense Information

"The online publication of classified defense documents and diplomatic cables by the organization WikiLeaks and subsequent reporting by The New York Times and other news media have focused attention on whether such publication violates U.S. criminal law. The suspected source of the material, Army Private Bradley Manning, has been charged with a number of offenses under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), including aiding the enemy, while a grand jury in Virginia is deciding whether to indict any civilians in connection with the disclosure. A number of other cases involving charges under the Espionage Act demonstrate the Obama Administration’s relatively hard-line policy with respect to the prosecution of persons suspected of leaking
classified information to the media..."

The Congressional Budget Process: A Brief Overview

"The term “budget process,” when applied to the federal government, actually refers to a number of processes that have evolved separately and that occur with varying degrees of coordination. This overview, and the accompanying flow chart, are intended to describe in brief each of the parts of the budget process that involve Congress, clarify the role played by each, and explain how they operate together. They include the President’s budget submission, the budget resolution, reconciliation, sequestration, authorizations, and appropriations."

Employment/Population Ratios for the 50 Largest Metropolitan Statistical Areas: 2008, 2009, and 2010

"According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, the recession that began in December 2007 ended in June 2009. However, during 2009 and 2010, many areas of the country were still struggling economically. Using data from the American Community Surveys (ACS), this report will show employment/population ratios for the 50 largest
metropolitan areas between 2008 and 2010, with particular emphasis on those
metropolitan areas hit hardest by the most recent recession."

Projections of Education Statistics to 2020

"This publication provides projections for key education statistics. It includes statistics on enrollment, graduates, teachers, and expenditures in elementary and secondary schools, and enrollment and earned degrees conferred expenditures of degree-granting institutions. For the Nation, the tables, figures, and text contain data on enrollment, teachers, graduates, and expenditures for the past 14 years and projections to the year 2020..."

Living Within Our Means and Investing in the Future The President’s Plan for Economic Growth and Deficit Reduction

Full text of President Barack Obama Plan for Economic Growth and Deficit Reduction, submitted to Congress September 19, 2011.

INTERNATIONAL ENERGY OUTLOOK 2011
"In the IEO2011 Reference case, which does not incorporate prospective legislation or policies that might affect energy markets, world marketed energy consumption grows by 53 percent from 2008 to 2035. Total world energy use rises from 505 quadrillion British thermal units (Btu) in 2008 to 619 quadrillion Btu in 2020 and 770 quadrillion Btu in 2035 (Figure 1). Much of the growth in energy consumption occurs in countries outside the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (non-OECD nations)2 where demand is driven by strong long-term economic growth..."

"Inside Knowledge" About Gynecologic Cancer
"New resources are available from CDC to inform women about gynecologic cancer. Developed by the Inside Knowledge: Get the Facts About Gynecologic Cancer campaign, they include—

A comprehensive brochure [PDF-3.5MB] about gynecologic cancer in general and fact sheets about the five main types of gynecologic cancer (cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal, and vulvar cancers).
A symptoms diary [PDF-503KB], including a symptoms matrix and a place for women to note symptoms that may be related to a gynecologic cancer..."

Fact Sheet: Health Insurance Coverage 2010
Key data resources on health insurance from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Fact Sheet: Income and Poverty: 2010
Key data resources on income and poverty from the U.S. Census Bureau.

HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH 2011: An Update on the Economic Well-Being of the Latino Population
"The U.S. Hispanic community was hit hard by the Great Recession. Its story is one of industry employment and geography, with Hispanic workers disproportionately employed in some of the sectors hardest hit during this recession – construction and leisure and hospitability. In addition, Hispanic or Latino workers are more likely to live and work in the Sunbelt states – such as California, Nevada, and Florida – that saw their unemployment rates soar during the recession. Combined, these factors had a significant impact on the economic well-being of Hispanic households in the United States..."

ESA: Education Supports Racial and Ethnic Equality in STEM
"Acting U.S. Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank unveiled findings from the Economics and Statistics Administration’s (ESA) third and final report on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) jobs and education today at a Brookings Institution forum on advancing STEM education in the United States..."
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Estimated Impact of Automatic Budget Enforcement Procedures Specified in the Budget Control Act
"The Budget Control Act of 2011 (enacted on August 2 as Public Law 112-25) made
several changes to federal programs and established budget enforcement mechanisms—including caps on future discretionary appropriations—that were estimated
to reduce federal budget deficits by a total of at least $2.1 trillion over the 2012–2021
period.

The caps on discretionary appropriations will decrease spending (including
debt-service costs) by an estimated $0.9 trillion during that period, compared with
what such spending would have been if annual appropriations had grown at the rate
of inflation. At least another $1.2 trillion in deficit reduction was anticipated from
provisions related to a newly established Congressional Joint Select Committee on
Deficit Reduction...

Confronting the Nation’s Fiscal Policy Challenge
Statement of Statement of Douglas W. Elmendorf, Director Congressional Budget Office before the
Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, U.S. Congress, September 13, 2011.

Income, Poverty and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2010
"The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that in 2010, median household income declined, the poverty rate increased and the percentage without health insurance coverage was not statistically different from the previous year.

Real median household income in the United States in 2010 was $49,445, a 2.3 percent decline from the 2009 median.

The nation's official poverty rate in 2010 was 15.1 percent, up from 14.3 percent in 2009 ─ the third consecutive annual increase in the poverty rate. There were 46.2 million people in poverty in 2010, up from 43.6 million in 2009 ─ the fourth consecutive annual increase and the largest number in the 52 years for which poverty estimates have been published..."
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Authorized Generic Drugs: Short-Term Effects and Long-Term Impact
"This Report analyzes the competitive effects of authorized generic drugs (“AGs”). AGs
are pharmaceutical products that are approved as brand-name drugs but marketed as generic
drugs. AGs do not bear the brand-name or trademark of the brand-name drug or manufacturer,
but the brand-name and AG products are manufactured to the brand’s specifications. In
examining competitive effects, the Report looks both at the price and revenue effects of AG
competition and at the potential long-term impacts on incentives for generics to challenge
patents on brand-name drugs. The Report also assesses the competitive implications of patent
litigation settlements in which brand-name companies refrain from offering an AG when the
generic company agrees to defer its entry (so-called “pay-for-delay settlements..."

State-Specific Trends in Lung Cancer Incidence and Smoking — United States, 1999–2008
"...From 1999 to 2008, decreases in lung cancer incidence were observed among men in 35 states and among women in six states. Regionally, the lowest rates and most rapid rate of decline in lung cancer were concentrated among states in the West, correlating with low smoking prevalence and high ratios of former smokers to ever smokers. Further reductions in smoking prevalence are critical to continue the decline in lung cancer incidence."

FTC Seeks Comment on Proposed Revisions to Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule
"The Federal Trade Commission is seeking public comment on proposed amendments to the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule, which gives parents control over what personal information websites may collect from children under 13. The FTC proposes these amendments to ensure that the Rule continues to protect children’s privacy, as mandated by Congress, as online technologies evolve. The Commission proposes modifications to the Rule in five areas: definitions, including the definitions of “personal information” and “collection,” parental notice, parental consent mechanisms, confidentiality and security of children’s personal information, and the role of self-regulatory “safe harbor” programs..."

Social Media and Disasters: Current Uses, Future Options, and Policy Consideration
"This report summarizes how social media have been used by emergency management officials
and agencies. It also examines the potential benefits, as well as the implications, of using social media in the context of emergencies and disasters..."

Productivity and Costs by Industry: Wholesale Trade, Retail Trade, and Food Services and Drinking Places Industries, 2010
"Labor productivity - defined as output per hour – rose in wholesale trade, retail trade, and food services and drinking places, in 2010, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Productivity increased as follows:

9.0 percent in wholesale trade,
3.9 percent in retail trade, and
1.9 percent in food services and drinking places..."

FTC Launches 2011 "We Don't Serve Teens" Education Campaign
"As the new school year starts, the Federal Trade Commission is launching its 2011 “We Don’t Serve Teens” consumer education campaign, which warns of the hazards of underage drinking. The FTC and a coalition of private and public groups are distributing education materials that support the legal drinking age of 21 and emphasize that what parents know about underage drinking can make a huge difference in their children’s future..."
Veiw We Don't Serve Teens program.

Green Tier Clear Waters Initiative Charter from DNR. Must be available to the public for 60 days from June 7, 2011.
"The expressed purpose of this Charter is to establish a foundation pursuant to s. 299.83, Stats., by which voluntary methods can be used and improved to minimize and prevent storm water run-off problems associated with land disturbing activities..."

Lakeshore Residence Hall Phase 2 & Utilities Draft Environmental Impact Statement DSF Project #10G3D, Stantec Consulting.
"Construction of the Lakeshore Residence Hall Phase 2 and Utilities project is proposed on the University of Wisconsin – Madison campus. Following completion of a Residence Halls and Food Service Master Plan in 2004, the Division of University Housing undertook the Lakeshore Residence Hall Plan which detailed program requirements, examined alternative solutions, and provided a proposed design, cost estimate and schedule for construction of a new multi-phase residence hall/food service facility to be sited near the existing lakeshore residence halls..."

Education and Synthetic Work-Life Earnings Estimate
"The relationship between education and earnings is a long-analyzed topic of study. Generally, there is a strong belief that achievement of higher levels of education is a well established path to better jobs and better earnings.

This report provides one view of the economic value of educational attainment
by producing an estimate of the amount of money a person might earn over the
course of their working life, given their level of education..."

Kids, the School Bus, and You
Tips for driving among school buses.

Cracking Down on Violators of Lead-Based Paint Laws
"Exposure to lead can seriously impact people’s health, leading to learning disabilities, hearing loss and violent behavior. Children six years old and younger are most at risk. To protect the public’s health, EPA is taking action against violators of lead-based paint laws. The cases included in this enforcement alert involve licensed inspectors and building managers who failed to meet their responsibilities under lead-based paint regulations, putting children and residents
at risk..."

CDC's Vital Signs: Adult Smoking in the US
"Tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease, disability, and death in the US. Some people who smoke every day are smoking fewer cigarettes; however, even occasional smoking causes harm. The percentage of American adults who smoke decreased from 20.9% in 2005 to 19.3% in 2010. That translates to 3 million fewer smokers than there would have been with no decline. But almost 1 in 5 adults still smoke..."

Prostate Cancer
From the CDC's Features series:
"...Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men, and second only to lung cancer in the number of cancer deaths. In 2007 (the most recent year for which statistics are available), 223,307 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer, and 29,093 men died from it.* CDC provides men, doctors, and policymakers with the latest information about prostate cancer..."

Facts for Features: Labor Day 2011: Sept. 5
Facts and features about the Labor Day holiday.

United States leads world in coal reserve
"The United States leads the world with over 260 billion short tons of recoverable coal reserves—28% of total global reserves and 50% more than Russia, which possesses the world's second largest reserves. Despite significant U.S. coal production since the industrial revolution, recoverable domestic coal reserves at current mining levels would last 222 years..."

The Cool Spot: the Young Teens Place for Info on Alcohol
Find tips for talking to teens about alcohol, peer pressure, right to resist, and real life.

Protecting Your Child's Personal Information at School
"Back to school – an annual ritual that includes buying new notebooks, packing lunches, coordinating transportation, and filling out forms: registration forms, health forms, permission slips, and emergency contact forms, to name a few. Many school forms require personal and, sometimes, sensitive information. In the wrong hands, this information can be used to commit fraud in your child's name. For example, a child's Social Security number can be used by identity thieves and other criminals to apply for government benefits, open bank and credit card accounts, apply for a loan or utility service, or rent a place to live.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation's consumer protection agency, cautions that when children are victims of identity theft, the crime may go undetected for years – or at least until they apply for a job, a student loan or a car loan, or want to rent an apartment..."

Mental Illness Surveillance Among Adults in the United State
"Mental illnesses account for a larger proportion of disability in developed countries than any other group of illnesses, including cancer and heart disease. In 2004, an estimated 25% of adults in the United States reported having a mental illness in the previous year. The economic cost of mental illness in the United States is substantial, approximately $300 billion in 2002. Population surveys and surveys of health-care use measure the occurrence of mental illness, asociated risk behaviors (e.g., alcohol and drug abuse) and chronic conditions, and use of mental health–related care and clinical services. Population-based surveys and surveillance systems provide much of the evidence needed to guide effective mental health promotion, mental illness prevention, and treatment programs..."