Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Northern Virginia Dominates List of Highest-Income Counties, Census Bureau Reports

"The U.S. Census Bureau reports that five of the counties or county-equivalents nationwide with the highest median household income in 2012 were located in Northern Virginia. Among them were Arlington County, at $99,255, Fairfax County, at $106,690, Falls Church (an independent city), at $121,250, Loudoun County, at $118,934, and Stafford County, at $95,927. Falls Church and Loudoun also had among the lowest poverty rates in the country..."
Median household income

Monday, December 16, 2013

5 Steps to Making Your Windows More Energy Efficient

Find tips for making your windows more energy efficient from the U.S. Department of Energy.
Energy efficient windows

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Books that Shaped Work in America

"In honor of its Centennial in 2013, DOL, in partnership with the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, is developing a list of Books that Shaped Work in America. To get started, we've asked members of the DOL family, as well as many other esteemed individuals, for suggestions. That includes you! Suggest a book to add to the list..."
Books shaped work

Saturday, November 30, 2013

Mercury Levels in Women of Childbearing Age Drop 34 Percent

"Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a study showing that blood mercury levels in women of childbearing age dropped 34 percent from a survey conducted in 1999-2000 to follow-up surveys conducted from 2001 to 2010. Additionally, the percentage of women of childbearing age with blood mercury levels above the level of concern decreased 65 percent from the 1999-2000 survey and the follow-up surveys from 2001-2010..."
Mercury

National Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week, Jan. 13-17, 2014

"The Federal Trade Commission has named Jan. 13-17, 2014, Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week. The FTC will host national and regional events designed to raise awareness about tax identity theft and provide consumers with tips on how to protect themselves, and what to do if they become victims..."
Tax identiy theft

U.S. Ethanol Market Remains Unconcentrated

"The market for fuel ethanol in the United States is unconcentrated, with 156 firms nationwide either producing ethanol or likely to begin producing ethanol in the next 12 to 18 months, according to the Federal Trade Commission’s 2013 Report on the State of U.S. Ethanol Production. The lack of market concentration in this industry has been the case each year since the FTC began issuing reports in 2005..."
Ethanol industry

Where to insulate in a home

"For optimal energy efficiency, your home should be properly insulated from the roof down to its foundation. In addition to insulation, consider moisture and air leakage control in each area of your house. If radon is an issue where you live, you’ll also need to consider radon and radon-resistant construction techniques as you research foundation insulation options. In addition, if you live in an area with termites, you’ll have to consider how termite protection will affect the choice and placement of insulation in your home..."
Insulate home

Unemployment Insurance: Programs and Benefits

"Various benefits may be available to unemployed workers to provide income support. When
eligible workers lose their jobs, the Unemployment Compensation (UC) program may provide up
to 26 weeks of income support through the payment of regular UC benefits. Unemployment
benefits may be extended for up to 47 weeks by the temporarily authorized Emergency
Unemployment Compensation (EUC08) program. Unemployment benefits may be extended for
up to a further 13 or 20 weeks by the permanent Extended Benefit (EB) program under certain
state economic conditions..."
Unemployment insurance

Pay Equity: Legislative and Legal Developments

"The term “pay gap” refers to the difference in earnings between male and female workers. While
the pay gap has narrowed since the 1960s, female workers with a strong attachment to the labor
force earn about 77 to 81 cents for every dollar earned by similar male workers. Studies have
analyzed the earnings and characteristics of male and female workers and found that a substantial
portion of the pay gap is attributable to non-gender factors such as occupation and employment
tenure..." Pay equity

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Wisconsin Driving Conditions

Now that the winter driving season is here, one might want to contact the Wisconsin Dept. of Transportation's  Wisconsin 511 Driving Conditions site for the most recent driving conditions information.
Driving conditions

Wisconsin No Call List

For those wishing to add their telephone number to the Wisconsin no call list, the deadline for being added to the list effective on January 1, 2014 is December 1, 2013.
Wisconsin no call

World AIDS Day

"On December 1, people throughout the world observe World AIDS Day. The theme—"Shared Responsibility: Strengthening Results for an AIDS-Free Generation"—highlights the global commitment needed to achieve that goal..."
World Aids Day

Epilepsy Often Comes With Other Health Issues

"Epilepsy affects about 2 million adults in the United States. New research from CDC shows that adults with epilepsy often have other health conditions that also need to be managed.

Some of the health conditions that are more common in adults with epilepsy include high blood pressure, pre-diabetes, obesity, and history of stroke. Asthma, emphysema, bronchitis, migraine, arthritis and other pain are also more common in adults with epilepsy..."Epilepsy

HPV Vaccine is Recommended for Boys

"Why do I need to protect my son against HPV-related diseases?
A lot of parents know that HPV vaccine protects girls against cervical cancer. But did you know that vaccinating boys can protect them against cancer, too?.."
HPV Vaccine Boys

Be Prepared to Stay Safe and Healthy in Winter

"Although winter comes as no surprise, many of us are not ready for its arrival. If you are prepared for the hazards of winter, you will be more likely to stay safe and healthy when temperatures start to fall.
Many people prefer to remain indoors in the winter, but staying inside is no guarantee of safety. Take these steps to keep your home safe and warm during the winter months..."
Winter Weather

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Where Do You Want to Dwell?

"The Census Bureau’s new mobile app, dwellr, provides those on the go with immediate, personalized access to the latest demographic, socio-economic and housing statistics from the American Community Survey for neighborhoods across the nation. Using the level of importance you place on a location’s characteristics, the app generates a list of top 25 towns or cities most suitable for you..."
where-do-you-want-to-dwell

Health Disparities and Inequalities Report — US, 2013

"The factors that influence the socioeconomic position of individuals and groups within industrial societies also influence their health. Socioeconomic position has continuous and graded effects on health that are cumulative over a lifetime.
The socioeconomic conditions of the places where persons live and work have an even more substantial influence on health than personal socioeconomic position.."
Health disparities

Friday, November 22, 2013

Managing your diabetes during holidays

"Preparation is the most important step in managing diabetes during holiday travel and festivities. Know what you'll be eating, how to enjoy a few traditional favorites while sticking with a healthy meal plan, and how to pack necessary supplies for a trip, and you're ready to celebrate!

Feasts and Parties

Before you go, take these steps to ensure you stick to your healthy meal plan.

Local Area Personal Income:2012

Find new estimates of local area personal income from the Census Bureau.
Local Area Personal Income

Trends in Health Care Cost Growth and the Role of the Affordable Health Care Act

"The Affordable Care Act (ACA) was passed against a backdrop of decades of rapid growth in health care spending in the United States. While much of this historical increase reflects the development of new treatments that have greatly improved health and well-being (Cutler 2004), there is widespread agreement that the system suffered from serious inefficiencies that increased costs and reduced the quality of care that patients receive. A key goal of the ACA was to begin wringing these inefficiencies out of the health care system, simultaneously reducing the growth of health care spending and its burden on families, employers, and state and federal budgets–while increasing the quality of the care delivered.
This report analyzes recent trends in health care costs, the forces driving those trends, and their likely economic benefits..."
Health cost report

Infographic Profiles Young Adults Without Health Insurance

"In 2012, 27 percent of young adults (ages 19 to 34) lacked health insurance, although the rate varied widely from state to state, according to a new Census Bureau infographic, "The Young and Uninsured in 2012." The infographic looks at the characteristics of this group and their uninsured rate in states and the largest metropolitan areas..."
Uninsured youth

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Dangers of Hookah Smoking

"Hookahs are water pipes that are used to smoke specially made tobacco this is usually flavored. They are also called a number of different names, including waterpipe, narghile, argileh, shisha, hubble-bubble, and goza. Hookah smoking is typically practiced in groups, with the same mouthpiece passed from person to person..."
Hookah smoking

Antibiotics Aren't Always the Answer

"Colds and many other upper respiratory infections, as well as some ear infections, are caused by viruses, not bacteria. If antibiotics are used too often for things they can't treat—like colds or other viral infections—they can stop working effectively against bacteria when you or your child really needs them. Antibiotic resistance—when antibiotics can no longer cure bacterial infections—has been a concern for years and is considered one of the world's most critical public health threats..."
Antibiotics

Lead Hazards in Some Holiday Toys

"The holiday season is here, and that means many children will be given toys as gifts. While new toys are a holiday tradition, parents should be aware of potential lead hazards associated with toys, including toy jewelry. Review these important facts to keep your children safe this holiday season..."
Lead InToys

Polio free US

"Thanks to effective vaccine, the United States has been polio-free since 1979. But poliovirus is still a threat in some countries. Be part of the success story and get your child vaccinated on schedule..."
polio

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

New guidance limits antibiotics for common infections in children

 "Every year as many as 10 million U.S. children risk side effects from antibiotic prescriptions that are unlikely to help their upper respiratory conditions. Many of these infections are caused by viruses, which are not helped by antibiotics.
This overuse of antibiotics, a significant factor fueling antibiotic resistance, is the focus of a new report  Principles of Judicious Antibiotic Prescribing for Bacterial Upper Respiratory Tract Infections in PediatricsExternal Web Site Iconby the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)..." antibiotics guidelines

Poverty in the United States: 2012

"In 2012, 46.5 million people were counted as poor in the United States—the number, statistically unchanged over the past three years, is the largest recorded in the measure’s 54-year history. The poverty rate , or percent of the population considered poor under the official definition, was reported at 15.0% in 2012, a level statistically unchanged from the two previous years. The 2012 poverty rate of 15.0% is well above its most recent pre-recession low of 12.3% (2006) and
remains at a level not last seen since 1993.."Poverty

Federal Debt and the Statutory Limit, November 2013

"The debt limit—commonly referred to as the debt ceiling—is the maximum amount of debt that the Department of the Treasury can issue to the public and to other federal agencies. That amount is set by law and has been increased over the years in order to finance the government’s operations..."
Federal Debt

Custodial Mothers and Fathers and Their Child Support: 2011

"This report focuses on the child support income that  custodial parents reported receiving from noncustodial  parents living elsewhere, and other types of support,
such as health insurance and noncash assistance..."
Custodial mothers and fathers

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Warren Commission Report Report of the President's Commission on the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy

Access the Warren Commission report from the U.S. Government Printing Office's FDsys database.
Warren Commission Report

Navigating the Market: A comparison of spending on financial education and financial marketing Navigating the Market

"The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (the CFPB) looked at the information
sources consumers are exposed to when they make financial decisions. Empowering
consumers to make the financial decisions that will help them meet their own life goals is a
critical part of the mission of the CFPB. To understand the wide range of information sources
consumers could be exposed to in making financial decisions, the CFPB commissioned a study
of the size and scope of the financial information field..."

Navigating the market

Monday, November 18, 2013

About 36 Million Americans Moved in the Last Year,

"The U.S. Census Bureau reports that 35.9 million U.S. residents, or 11.7 percent of all Americans, moved between 2012 and 2013.

The nation's mover rate is down from 12.0 percent in 2012. The decline in the nation's overall mover rate follows an uptick from the record low of 11.6 percent in 2011. That leaves the 2013 mover rate not statistically different from the 2011 rate. The number of people who moved in the past year was not statistically different from the corresponding 2012 number (36.5 million).

This information comes from Geographical Mobility: 2012 to 2013 [PDF], a collection of national- and regional-level tables from the Annual Social and Economic Supplement of the Current Population Survey..." Geographic mobility

Invasive Species: Major Laws and the Role of Selected Federal Agencies

"All 50 states and the U.S. territories have at least some invasive plants and animals. A few (e.g., Hawaii, Florida, Louisiana, the Great Lakes states, and California) have so many harmful non- natives as to cause major ecological and economic damage to a variety of locations and industries.

This report provides an overview of the federal laws and directives in the United States that govern invasive species, and the role of selected federal agencies. A summary of selected laws and agencies is provided in Appendix A . The patchwork of laws that currently govern invasive species in the United States also contribute to fundamentally different approaches to regulate invasive species, which is beyond the scope of this report..."
Invasive species

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Estimating Appliance and Home Electronic Energy Use.

Find formulas for estimating various home appliance and electronics energy use.
Appliance and Electronic Energy use

Written testimony of FEMA Office of Response and Recovery... “Progress Report: Hurricane Sandy Recovery – One Year Later”

Written testimony of FEMA Office of Response and Recovery Deputy Associate Administrator Elizabeth Zimmerman for a House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on Transportation and Infrastructure hearing. dated November 14, 2013.
Hurricane Sandy

Home Value and Homeownership Rates: Recession and Post-Recession Comparisons From 2007–2009 to 2010–2012


"This report examines the differences in the median home value and homeownership rate across different geographies during and after the recession of 2007 through 2009. The data used in this report are from a 3-year period roughly encompassing part of the 2007–2009 recession and the 3 years following the recent recession (2010 through 2012) collected in the American Community Survey (ACS).."
Homeownership

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Options for Reducing the Deficit: 2014 to 2023

"This volume presents 103 options that would decrease federal spending or increase federal revenues over the next decade (see Table 1-1 on page 5). Those options cover many areas—ranging from defense to energy, Social Security, and provisions of the tax code. The budgetary effects identified for most of the options span the 10 years from 2014 to 2023 (the period covered by CBO’s May 2013
baseline budget projections), although many of the options would have longer-term effects as well.."
Reducing Deficit

Reported Tuberculosis in the United States: 2012

"Reported Tuberculosis in the United States, 2012 presents summary data for tuberculosis (TB) cases verified and counted in 2012..."
Tuberculosis


Sovereign Debt in Advanced Economies

"Sovereign debt, also called public debt or government debt, refers to debt incurred by governments. Since the global financial crisis of 2008-2009, public debt in advanced economies has increased substantially. A number of factors related to the financial crisis have fueled the increase, including fiscal stimulus packages, the nationalization of private-sector debt, and lower tax revenue..."
Sovereign debt

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

The mix of fuels used for electricity generation in the United States is changing

"The mix of fuels used to generate the electricity in homes, factories, and businesses across the United States has changed in the past few years as coal, still the largest single fuel used for electricity, has lost some of its share of the generation market to natural gas and non-hydroelectric renewables..."
Fuels for electricity

Monday, November 11, 2013

Sexual Assault in the Military

"On behalf of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, and pursuant to Public
Law 103-419, I am pleased to transmit our 2013 Statutory Enforcement
Report, Sexual Assault in the Military. The report is also available, in full, on
the Commission’s website. The purpose of the report is to examine how the Department of Defense and its Armed Services — the Army, Navy, Marine
Corps, and Air Force — respond to Service members who report having been sexually assaulted and how they investigate and discipline Service members accused of perpetrating sexual assault.."
Sexual Assault in Military

Veterans History Project:Helping tell the story of our Nation's veterans.


"Approximately 17 million American war veterans are living in the United States today.
Every one of them has a story.
For the past 13 years, the Veterans History Project (VHP) has been collecting the oral histories and personal documents of America’s war veterans, to ensure their stories are preserved in the Library of Congress so that future generations may better understand the realities of war..."
Veterans history project

Friday, November 8, 2013

Rental Vacancy Rates

"The U.S. Census Bureau has added the rental vacancy rate to America's Economy, the Census Bureau's widely downloaded mobile app that provides constantly updated statistics on the U.S. economy, including monthly economic indicators and trends, along with a schedule of upcoming releases. This information allows the public to evaluate the housing market according to the latest housing trends..."
rental vacancies

What Is a Species? Insight From Dolphins and Humans

"New species of insects, worms and other creepy-crawlers are announced on a monthly basis. Similarly, just last week, two new humpback dolphin species splashed into the headlines. And in October, news broke that early humans may have included fewer species than previously thought. This forces the question: what does it take to be a distinct species?..."
What is a species

National Prematurity Awareness Month

"What is Premature Birth?
It is a birth that is at least three weeks before a baby's due date. It is also known as preterm birth (or less than 37 weeks—full term is 40 weeks). Important growth and development occur throughout pregnancy—especially in the final months and weeks..."
Premature Birth

Promoting Global Internet Freedom: Policy and Technology

"This report provides information about federal and private sector efforts to promote and support global Internet freedom and a description of Internet freedom legislation and hearings from the 113th and 112th Congresses. Three appendixes suggest further reading on this topic and describe censorship and circumvention technologies..."
Internet Freedom

FDA reduce trans fats in processed foods

"The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced its preliminary determination that partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs), the primary dietary source of artificial trans fat in processed foods, are not “generally recognized as safe” for use in food. The FDA’s preliminary determination is based on available scientific evidence and the findings of expert scientific panels..."
Trans fats in foods

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Unemployment Insurance: Consequences of Changes in State Unemployment Compensation Laws

"This report analyzes several types of recent changes to state Unemployment Compensation (UC) programs. Three categories of UC state law issues are considered: (1) changes in the duration of state UC unemployment benefits; (2) changes in the UC weekly benefit amount; and (3) the enactment into state law of two trigger options for the Extended Benefit (EB) program.."
Unemployment insurance

Multiyear Procurement (MYP) and Block Buy Contracting in Defense Acquisition

"Multiyear procurement (MYP) and block buy contracting (BBC) are special contracting mechanisms that Congress permits the Department of Defense (DOD) to use for a limited number of defense acquisition programs. Compared to the standard or default approach of annual contracting, MYP and BBC have the potential for reducing weapon procurement costs by several percent..."
multiyear procurement

Native American Heritage Month: 2013

"The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in paying tribute to the rich ancestry and traditions of Native Americans..."
Native American Heritage

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Hypertension Among Adults in the United States

Find the latest statistics on hypertension in the United States for the years 2011-2012.
Hypertension

What is the Supplemental Poverty Measure and How Does it Differ from the Official Measure

"The official poverty measure compares an individual’s or family’s before-tax cash income to a set of thresholds that vary by the size of the family and the ages of the family members. These official poverty calculations do not take into account the value of in-kind benefits, such as those provided by nutrition assistance programs, and housing and energy assistance. Nor do they take into account regional differences in living costs or expenses, such as housing..." variation.
Supplemental poverty measure

New DOT rules to make flying easier for passengers with disabilities

"At DOT, we believe that all airline passengers deserve to be treated fairly when they fly. And we’ve been hard at work introducing consumer protections to ensure equal access to hassle-free transportation for all air travelers.
Today as part of that ongoing effort, we announced a new rule requiring airline websites and automated airport kiosks to be accessible to passengers with disabilities..."
passengers and disabilities

4 Things You Need to Know About Repaying Your Student Loans

Find key points to remember when repaying your student loan.
student loans

Veterans Day 2013 (November 11)

Find facts and features from the U.S. Census Bureau highlighting Veterans   Day.
Veterans Day

FTC Poses Eight Questions to Ask When Choosing a College After Military Service

"
The Federal Trade Commission is advising servicemembers, veterans, and their families that some for-profit schools may be more interested in gaining access to their post 9/11 GI Bill benefits than helping them fulfill their education goals. To help servicemembers identify a school that will meet their needs as they transition to student status, the FTC released a new tip sheet. 
The guidance, 8 Questions to Ask When Choosing a College, encourages servicemembers, veterans and their families to carefully assess the schools they’re interested in attending, whether working toward a certificate or a higher degree..."veterans and college

Be Prepared to Stay Safe and Healthy in Winter

"Winter storms and cold temperatures can be hazardous, but if you plan ahead, you can stay safe and healthy. Prepare your home and cars. Prepare for power outages and outdoor activity. Check on the elderly..."
Winter weather

Pregnant? Get a Flu Shot!

"If you're pregnant, a flu shot is your best protection against serious illness from the flu.
Flu is more likely to cause severe illness in pregnant women than in women who are not pregnant. Changes in the immune system, heart and lungs during pregnancy make pregnant women more prone to severe illness from flu, which can lead to hospitalization or even death.."Pregnancy and Flu

Mumps: Be Sure Your Child Is Fully Immunized

"Puffy cheeks and a swollen jaw—that's what many people think when they hear about mumps. This disease used to be common in infants, children, and young adults in the United States. But now, mumps is not very common in this country. That's because the mumps vaccine is widely used..."
Mumps

American Indian/Alaska Native Heritage

"American Indians and Alaska Natives have profoundly shaped our country's character and our cultural heritage. Today, Native Americans are leaders in every aspect of our society -- from the classroom, to the boardroom, to the battlefield. This month, we celebrate and honor the many ways American Indians and Alaska Natives have enriched our Nation, and we renew our commitment to respecting each tribe's identity while ensuring equal opportunity to pursue the American dream..."
American Indian heritage

Lung Cancer Awareness

"Each year, about 200,000 people in the United States are told they have lung cancer and more than 150,000 people die from this disease. Deaths from lung cancer represent about one out of every six deaths from cancer in the U.S..."
Lung Cancer

Diabetes Awareness

"Diabetes: if you don't live with it yourself, then it's likely you have a family member or friend who does. This November during National Diabetes Month, ask yourself if you're at risk of type 2 diabetes and take steps to prevent it. Diabetes affects 26 million Americans, with 19 million people diagnosed and 7 million undiagnosed. And an estimated 79 million American adults aged 20 years or older have prediabetes, which puts them at high risk for developing the disease..."
Living with Diabetes

Thursday, October 31, 2013

FAA to Allow Airlines to Expand Use of Personal Electronics

"The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Michael Huerta today announced that the FAA has determined that airlines can safely expand passenger use of Portable Electronic Devices (PEDs) during all phases of flight, and is immediately providing the airlines with implementation guidance..."
Personal Electronics on Airlines

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Cybersecurity: Authoritative Reports and Resources

"Cybersecurity vulnerabilities challenge governments, businesses, and individuals worldwide.
Attacks have been initiated by individuals, as well as countries. Targets have included
government networks, military defenses, companies, or political organizations, depending upon
whether the attacker was seeking military intelligence, conducting diplomatic or industrial
espionage, or intimidating political activists.."Cybersecurity

Highlights of Women’s Earnings in 2012

"In 2012, women who were full-time wage and salary workers had median usual weekly earnings of $691. On average in 2012, women made about 81 percent of the median earnings of male full-time wage and salary workers($854). In 1979, the first year for which comparable earnings data are available, women earned 62 percent of what men earned..."
Women's earnings

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

U.S. Strategic Nuclear Forces: Background, Developments, and Issues

 "Even though the United States plans to reduce the number of warheads deployed on its long-range missiles and bombers, consistent with the terms of the New START Treaty, it also plans todevelop new delivery systems for deployment over the next 20-30 years. The 113th Congress will continue to review these programs during the annual authorization and appropriations process.."
 Strategic Nuclear Forces

Stay Healthy at Animal Exhibits This Fall

Find tips to follow when visiting animal exhibits this fall.
Animal Exhibits

Monday, October 28, 2013

Cyber Tips

Find cyber security tips from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Cyber-tips

Justice Sandra Day O'Connor on Why Judges Wear Black Robes

Justice Sandra Day O'Connor traces the origin of the use of black robes by judges.

Wood and Pellet Heating

Find tips installation and use of wood and pellet heating appliances from the U.S. Department of Energy.
Wood & pellet heating

Weatherization Saves Families Energy and Money

Find weatherization tips from the U.S. Department of Energy.
Weatherization

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Updating the Statutory Framework for Communications for the Digital Age: Issues for Congress

"The statutory framework for the communications sector largely was enacted prior to the commercial development and deploy ment of digital technology, In ternet Protocol (IP), broadband networks, and online voice, data, and video services. These new technologies have drivenchanges in market structure throughout the communications sector.."
Statutory Framework for Communications

Join the White House Fall Garden Instagram Meetup

"Today, we're excited to announce an opportunity for our Instagram followers to take a special tour of the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, the Rose Garden, and the South Lawn, including the  White House Kitchen Garden on Sunday, October 27th.  
Interested in joining? Be sure to follow @WhiteHouse or @MichelleObama on Instagram..."
White House Fall Garden meetup

Farm to School Census

"To determine the prevalence of farm to school programs in the United States, USDA surveyed an estimated 13,000 public school districts..."
Farm to school

Income and Earnings Estimates: 2011

"Annual and monthly estimates by selected demographic characteristics, such as gender, race and ethnicity, age, marital status and highest level of educational attainment, are reported..."
Income and earnings

Bullying Prevention Monty, Oct. 2013

"October is Bullying Prevention Awareness Month - when individuals, families, schools, and communities across the nation help to raise awareness about bullying prevention.  Bullying remains a widespread problem with nearly 30 percent of adolescents in the U.S. reporting some experience with bullying, whether as the victim, the bully or both.  An infographic  developed by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) highlights important facts and information about bullying prevention..."
Bullying

Ward off Energy Waste

Find energy saving tips for winter heating from the U.S. Department of Energy
Energy Waste

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Prevalence of Obesity Among Adults: United States: 2011-2012

"The health risks associated with obesity make reducing the high prevalence of obesity a public health priority.  Previous publications have shown both racial and ethnic disparities in obesity prevalence and no change in the prevalence of obesity among adults since 2003–2004.."
Obesity in the United States

Tubercclosis in the United States: 2012

Find the latest statistics on tuberculosis in the United States.
Tuberculosis in the U.S.

Ten Leading Cause of Death and Injury

Find data on the leading causes of death and injury from the U.S. Centers for Disease and Control.
Leading Causes Death

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Constitution of the United States: Annotated

"The Constitution of the United States of America: Analysis and Interpretation (popularly known as the Constitution Annotated) contains legal analysis and interpretation of the United States Constitution, based primarily on Supreme Court case law..."
Constitution annotated

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Government Shutdown Research Guide (UW-Madison)

Beth Harper, Government Information Librarian, UW - Madison - Memorial Library  has created a research guide to find federal information resources during the time that federal agencies are shutdown.
Government Shutdown Research Guide

Monday, October 7, 2013

Wisconsin Blue Book: 2013-2014 ed.

The latest edition of the Wisconsin Blue Book has been posted on the Wisconsin  Legislative Reference Bureau's web site.
Wisconsin Blue Book

Thursday, October 3, 2013

The Debt Limit: History and Recent Increases

"Total federal debt can increase in two ways. First, debt increases when the government sells debt to the public to finance budget deficits and acquire the financial resources needed to meet its obligations. This increases debt held by the public. Second, debt increases when the federal government issues debt to certain government accounts, such as the Social Security, Medicare, and Transportation trust funds, in exchange for their reported surpluses. This increases debt held by government accounts..."
Debt Limit

Race to Equality:A Baseline Report on the State of Racial Disparities in Dane County

 "The following Baseline Report, authored by the Race to Equity Project team, summarizes our first year of data collection, analysis and community feedback -- all aimed at promoting greater public awareness and understanding of the depth and breadth of the racial disparities that differentiate the white and black experience in Dane County, Wisconsin..."
Race to Equality

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Breast Cancer Awareness Month:Oct. 2013

"The best way to find breast cancer early is with a mammogram. If you are a woman age 50 years or older, be sure to have a screening mammogram every two years..."
Breast Cancer

Childhood Obesity

 "Obesity now affects nearly 18% of all children and adolescents in the United States, and since 1980, the number has almost tripled. The good news is there are a number of strategies communities, states, schools, and parents can use to combat the childhood obesity epidemic..."
Childhood Obesity

Fall Prevention

"We all want to protect our older family members and help them stay safe, secure, and independent. Knowing how to reduce the risk of falling, a leading cause of injury, is a step toward this goal..."
Preventing falls

Second Hand Smoke

"Learn more about the dangers of secondhand smoke and what can be done to limit exposure where you live, learn, work, and play..."
Smoke-secondhand

Got Mice? Seal, Trap, and Clean Up to Control Rodents

"It is getting colder outside – rodents may enter your home for food or shelter! Seal up holes or gaps in your home, trap any existing rodents, and clean up any sources of food or water and items that might provide shelter for them..."
Rodents

FoodCORE: Enhancing foodborne disease outbreak response

"Each year, foodborne diseases cause illness in 1 in 6 Americans (or about 48 million people), resulting in about 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths. FoodCORE is a program supported by CDC that helps states detect and respond to multistate foodborne disease outbreaks.."
FoodCore


Know Hepatitis B:Testing for Asisan Americans

"Know Hepatitis B is the first multi-lingual campaign from US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) encouraging Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) to get tested for Hepatitis B. AAPIs are disproportionately affected by Hepatitis B, and the campaign uses a variety of multi-media channels in English, Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese to reach individuals in their native language..."
HepatitisB

Friday, September 27, 2013

New Guidance Supports Voluntary Use of Race to Achieve Diversity in Higher Education

"Today, the U.S. Departments of Education and Justice released new guidance that provides colleges and universities with information about the ruling in Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin, and reiterates the Departments' position on the voluntary use of race to achieve diversity in higher education. The guidance is the first time the Departments have provided policy clarification on the use of race in higher education since the U.S. Supreme Court decision in June..."
Diversity in Higher Education

Security Clearance Process: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

"This report provides a primer on some of the fundamental aspects of the security clearance process, using a “Frequently Asked Questions” format. A security clearance is a determination that an individual—whether a direct federal employee or a private contractor performing work for the government—is eligible for access to classified national security information. A security clearance alone does not grant an individual access to classified materials.."
Security Clearance

Thursday, September 26, 2013

American Community Survey Briefs U.S. Department of Commerce Economics and Statistics Administration U.S. CENSUS BUREAU census.gov Household Income: 2012

"this report presents data on median household income at the national and state levels based on the 2011 and 2012 American Community Survey (ACS). Estimates from the 2011 ACS and the 2012 ACS show no significant change in median household income at the national level and for most states.."
Household Income

Shutdown of the Federal Government: Causes, Processes, and Effects

"When federal agencies and programs lack appropriated funding, they experience a funding gap.
Under the Antideficiency Act, they must cease operations, except in certain emergency situations
or when law authorizes continued activity. Failure of the President and Congress to reach
agreement on interim or full-year funding measures occasionally has caused government
shutdowns, the longest of which lasted 21 days, from December 16, 1995, to January 6, 1996..."
Shutdown of the Federal Government

CBO Federal Debt and the Statutory Limit, September 2013

"The Congress has traditionally placed a limit on the total amount of debt that the Department of the Treasury can issue to the public and to other federal agencies. Law- makers have enacted numerous increases to the debt limit—commonly known as the debt ceiling—some of which have been temporary but many of which have been permanent..."

Federal Debt

Individual State Descriptions (Census of Government)

"The “Individual State Descriptions” provides information about the organization of state and local governments. There is a separate summary for each state and the District of Columbia. The summaries are divided according to the five basic types of local governments recognized for the  U.S. Census Bureau’s classification of government units—  county, municipal, township, school district, and special
district governments.."

Individual State Descriptions

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

High Cholesterol

What to do if you have high cholesterol.
Cholesterol

Choosing and Using a Car Seat

 Find information on choosing a car seat for your child.
Choosing a Car Seat

Revolution Now: The Future Arrives for Four Clean Energy Technologies

A new U.S. Department of Energy report explores the current status of four clean technologies:      
      
  • Onshore wind power
  • Polysilicon photovoltaic modules
  • LED lighting
  • Electric vehicles     

Four Clean Energy Technologies

Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2012

"This report presents data on income, poverty, and health insurance coverage in the United States based on  information collected in the 2013  and earlier Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic
Supplements..."
Income Poverty and Health Insurance

Monday, September 16, 2013

Immigration-Related Worksite Enforcement: Performance Measures

"In 2009, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued new guidance on immigration- related worksite enforcement. Under the guidelines, DHS “will use all available civil and administrative tools, including civil fines and debarment, to penalize and deter illegal employment.”..."

Immigration and Work Sites

Climate Change and Existing Law: A Survey of Legal Issues Past, Present, and Future

"This report surveys existing law for legal issues that have arisen, or may arise in the future, on account of climate change and government responses thereto.."
Climate Change and Law

Antibiotic resistance threats in the United States, 2013


"This report, Antibiotic resistance threats in the United States, 2013 gives a first-ever snapshot of the burden and threats posed by the antibiotic-resistant germs having the most impact on human health..." 
Drug resistance threat

Thursday, September 12, 2013

How We Measure Health Insurance

" Next week, the Census Bureau is releasing two sources for health insurance statistics in the United States:  the Annual Social and Economic Supplement to the Current Population Survey (CPS ASEC) and the American Community Survey (ACS).  While both surveys have questions that attempt to measure the same phenomena, they go about it in different ways..."
Health insurance

How the Census Bureau Measures Income and Poverty

"Income, poverty and health insurance statistics  for 2012 from the Current Population Survey (CPS) will be released Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2013. One-year statistics from the 2012 American Community Survey (ACS) will be released on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2013.
In all likelihood, the national statistics from these two sources will not be identical. Why not? Which is correct? Well, it’s complicated..."
Census Bureau measures of income andpoverty

Tenure of American Workers

Find data on the tenure of the American workforce for the years 1996-2012.
Tenure American Workers

Chemview

"To improve chemical safety and provide more streamlined access to information on chemicals, EPA has built and is populating a new database. This new database, named ChemView, greatly improves access to health and safety data on chemicals regulated under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). It contains information EPA receives and develops about chemicals including those on EPA’s Safer Chemical Ingredient List..."
Chemview

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Flu Season Is Around the Corner

"Everyone 6 months and older should get an annual flu vaccine. It takes about two weeks after vaccination for your body to develop an immune response. Get vaccinated now so you will be protected all season long!.."
see also: Vaccine Locator for location of vaccine clinics in the area.
Flu Season

Recipes for Disaster: Keep safe from food poisoning

"Learn the risks and consequences of food poisoning in the fun new web series, Recipes for Disaster – a fictional cooking show where the host, Maria, unintentionally makes common food safety mistakes when preparing her dishes..."
Food Safety

25 Years a Champion for Health Equity!

"During these 25 years, OMHHE has advanced the science and practice of eliminating health disparities and inequities –or health differences that are systematic, unfair, and avoidable--by, for example, collaborating with others across CDC in publishing manuscripts exploring topics such as health life expectancy by race, sex, and geography and contributing to the 2011 CDC Report on Health Disparities and Inequalities..."
Health Equity

Alcohol Screening and Brief Intervention

"CDC recently reported that 1 in 8 women and 1 in 5 high school girls binge drink, increasing their risk of breast cancer, heart disease, sexually transmitted infections, and unintended pregnancy. CDC also reports that 1 in 13 women drink during pregnancy, increasing their risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, and a range of lifelong disorders in their babies known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs)..."
Alcohol Screening

Financial Crisis Five Years Later

The U.S. Department of the Treasury takes a look at the financial crisis after 5 years.
The Financial Crisis

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

President’s Taskforce on Wildlife Trafficking

The formation of a new Whitehouse initiative on combating wildlife trafficking.
Wildlife Trafficking

Wisconsin Fall Color Report

Find fall colors within Wisconsin at the Travel Wisconsin web site.
Wisconsin Fall Color Report

Monday, September 9, 2013

Disparities in STEM Employment by Sex, Race, and Hispanic Origin

"One focus area for increasing the STEM workforce has  been to reduce disparities in STEM employment by sex,  race, and Hispanic origin. Historically, women, Blacks,  and Hispanics have been underrepresented in STEM
employment..."
STEM Employment

Friday, September 6, 2013

Federal Reserve Biege Book: August 2013

" Reports from the twelve Federal Reserve Districts suggest that national economic activity 
continued to expand at a modest to moderate pace during the reporting period of early July through late 
August..."
Federal Reserve Biege Book, Sept. 4, 2013

Job Patterns For Minorities And Women In Private Industry

"As part of its mandate under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission requires periodic reports from public and private employers, and unions and labor organizations which indicate the composition of their work forces by sex and by race/ethnic category.."
Job Patterns for Minorities and Women

Post JFK Assassination Audio Tape Recordings

"Audio tape recordings of conversations that took place after the Kennedy assassination are available at GPO and the National Archives.."JFK Assassination Auto Tape

Testing and Analysis of Arsenic in Rice and Rice Products

"As part of its ongoing and proactive effort to monitor food safety, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration today posted the results of testing for the presence of arsenic in approximately 1,300 samples of rice and rice products. This includes the approximately 200 samples of rice and rice products that the FDA initially tested and released the findings in September 2012..."
Arsenic in Rice and Rice Products

Extended Measures of Well-Being: Living Conditions in the United States: 2011

"Although money can provide access to a variety of goods and services common to modern life, financial resources alone cannot provide an overall picture of well-being. That is why the U.S. Census Bureau uses the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) to collect information on a variety of other measures, creating a broad picture of well-being..."
Extended Measure of Well-Being

Married-Couple Households by Nativity Status: 2011

"According to the results of the 2010 Census, almost 7 percent of married-couple households in the United States included a householder and a spouse of
different races.1 In addition, about 4 percent of married- ouple households were composed of partners where one was Hispanic and the other not of Hispanic origin..."
3
Married-Couple Households by Nativity

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Preventable Deaths from Heart Disease & Stroke

"Nearly 1 in 3 deaths in the US each year is caused by heart disease and stroke. At least 200,000 of these deaths could have been prevented through changes in
health habits, such as stopping smoking, more physical activity, and less salt in the diet; community changes to create healthier living spaces, such as safe places to exercise and smoke-free areas; and managing high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes.."
 Preventable Deaths from Heat Disease

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Bee Health: Background and Issues for Congress

"Bees, both commercially managed honey bees and wild bees, play an important role in global food production. In the United States alone, the value of insect pollination to U.S. agricultural production is estimated at $16 billion annually, of which about three-fourths is attributable to honey bees..."
Bee Health

The National Nanotechnology Initiative: Overview, Reauthorization, and Appropriations Issues

"Proponents of the NNI assert that nanotechnology is one of the most important emerging and enabling technologies and that U.S. competitiveness, technological leadership, national security, and societal interests require an aggressive approach to its development and commercialization..."
National Nanotechnology Inititative

National Security Strategy: Mandates, Execution to Date, and Issues for Congress

"This report offers a brief overview of the role of strategy in conducting the business of national security; and it reviews the major statutory and non-statutory mandates for national security activities, addressing both requirements and execution to date..."
National Security Strategy

Preventing Suicide

"Suicide (i.e., taking one's own life) is a serious public health problem that affects people of all ages. It is the 10th leading cause of death for Americans. Suicide resulted in 38,364 lives lost in 2010. The top three methods used in suicides included firearm (51%), suffocation (25%), and poisoning (17%)..."
Preventing suicide

Pet Food and Treats

"A healthy diet is important for pets. But did you know that dry pet food, treats, and supplements can become contaminated with Salmonella, a harmful germ that can make both people and pets sick? To protect you and your pet from getting sick, it is important to know how to correctly purchase, handle, store, and behave when handling dry pet foods and treats..."
petfood

National Cholesterol Education Month


"Too much cholesterol in the blood is one of the main risk factors for heart disease and stroke—two leading causes of death in the United States. One way to prevent these diseases is to detect high cholesterol and treat it when it is found..."
Cholesterol Awareness

Test Your Knowledge: Sickle Cell Disease

"September is Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) Awareness Month. How much do you know about SCD? Take a quiz to find out and learn about the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) work..."
Sickle Cell Disease

Support Your Grandkids’ Health and Safety

"Aging well benefits not only you, but also the people you love. Take steps to live a long and healthy life and guide your grandchildren’s health and safety..."
Grandparents Health

Inside Knowledge About Gynecologic Cancer

"Get the facts about the signs, symptoms, and risk factors of gynecologic cancers. When gynecologic cancers are found early, treatment is most effective..."
Gynecologic Cancers

A New World-Old World Problem and How Genetic “Fingerprints” May Help

"When it comes to grapes, there’s a New World-Old World dichotomy. Grapevines originating in the Americas (e.g. Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia) can resist pests and diseases, but they generally don’t have the taste or aroma of grapes with European origins (Vitis vinifera)..."
When it comes to grapes, there’s a New World-Old World dichotomy. Grapevines originating in the Americas (e.g. Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia) can resist pests and diseases, but they generally don’t have the taste or aroma of grapes with European origins (Vitis vinifera).  But European grapes are more susceptible to pests and disease. - See more at: http://blogs.usda.gov/2013/09/03/a-new-world-old-world-problem-and-how-genetic-fingerprints-may-help/#sthash.V9Eh8LEz.dpuf
When it comes to grapes, there’s a New World-Old World dichotomy. Grapevines originating in the Americas (e.g. Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia) can resist pests and diseases, but they generally don’t have the taste or aroma of grapes with European origins (Vitis vinifera).  But European grapes are more susceptible to pests and disease. - See more at: http://blogs.usda.gov/2013/09/03/a-new-world-old-world-problem-and-how-genetic-fingerprints-may-help/#sthash.V9Eh8LEz.dpuf
When it comes to grapes, there’s a New World-Old World dichotomy. Grapevines originating in the Americas (e.g. Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia) can resist pests and diseases, but they generally don’t have the taste or aroma of grapes with European origins (Vitis vinifera).  But European grapes are more susceptible to pests and disease. - See more at: http://blogs.usda.gov/2013/09/03/a-new-world-old-world-problem-and-how-genetic-fingerprints-may-help/#sthash.V9Eh8LEz.dpuf
When it comes to grapes, there’s a New World-Old World dichotomy. Grapevines originating in the Americas (e.g. Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia) can resist pests and diseases, but they generally don’t have the taste or aroma of grapes with European origins (Vitis vinifera).  But European grapes are more susceptible to pests and disease. - See more at: http://blogs.usda.gov/2013/09/03/a-new-world-old-world-problem-and-how-genetic-fingerprints-may-help/#sthash.V9Eh8LEz.dpuf
New world vs old wolrd in Graph culture

Retaining and Preserving Federal Records in a Digital Environment: Background and Issues for Congress

"All federal departments and agencies create federal records “in connection with the transaction of
public business.” The Federal Records Act, as amended (44 U.S.C. Chapters 21, 29, 31, and 33),
requires executive branch departments and agencies to collect, retain, and preserve federal
records, which provide the Administration, Congress, and the public with a history of public-
policy execution and its results..."
Retaining Federal Records

School Enrollment:2012

"As the nation's students begin a new school year, the Census Bureau releases its annual set of tables on the characteristics of children and adults enrolled in school at all levels — from nursery to graduate school. Among the characteristics examined are age, sex, race, Hispanic origin, nativity and foreign-born parentage..."
School Enrollment: 2012

Friday, August 30, 2013

Thursday, August 29, 2013

2011 Small Area Health Insurance Estimates (SAHIE)

"The Census Bureau today released its 2011 Small Area Health Insurance Estimates (SAHIE). The estimates show the number of people with and without health insurance for all states and each of the nation's roughly 3,140 counties. The statistics are provided by broad age group, sex, race and Hispanic origin, and at income levels that reflect thresholds for state and federal assistance programs. The data can be used to assess annual changes in health insurance coverage from 2008 through 2011..."
health insurance coverage

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Pets and Disaster

"If a natural disaster strikes, what will happen to your pet? Be prepared: make a plan and prepare a disaster kit for your pet..."
Pets and disasters

Kids and Rabies

"Rabies is a dangerous virus that is found in the saliva of animals. It can infect and kill animals and humans. Every 10 minutes, someone dies from rabies. Even though anyone can get rabies, more than half of the people who get rabies are kids under the age of 15..."
Rabies And Kids

HPV Vaccination (DVD)

"August is National Immunization Awareness Month. Learn more about a 13-minute DVD that effectively promotes and increases the completion of the 3-dose HPV vaccine series that prevents most types of cervical cancer..."
HPV vaccinations

Whooping Coughs

"Whooping cough is very contagious and can cause serious illness―especially in babies too young to be fully vaccinated. Protect babies from whooping cough by getting your vaccine and making sure your baby gets his vaccines..."
Whooping Coughs

Wildfire Safety

"When wildfires burn in your area, they produce smoke that may reach your community. Smoke from wildfires is a mixture of gases and fine particles from burning trees and other plant materials. Smoke can hurt your eyes, irritate your respiratory system, and worsen chronic heart and lung diseases..."
Wildfires

School Health Policies and Practices Study


"The School Health Policies and Practices Study* (SHPPS) is a national survey periodically conducted to assess school health policies and practices at the state, district, school, and classroom levels..."
School Health Policies and Practices

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

March on Washington, August 28, 1963

From the National Park Service comes a visual presentation of the March on Washington, August 28, 1983
March on Washington, 8/28/1963

Gluten-Free Food Labeling Final Rule

The FDA (Food and Drug Administraton) has issued its final rule to define gluten-free for the voluntary lableling of foods.
Gluten-Free Food Labeling Regulation

Changing the Federal Reserve’s Mandate: An Economic Analysis

"The Federal Reserve’s (Fed’s) current statutory mandate calls for it to “promote effectively the goals of maximum employment, stable prices, and moderate long-term interest rates.” Some economists have argued that this mandate should be replaced with a single mandate of price stability.."
Changing the Federal Reserve's Mandate

The U.S. Science and Engineering Workforce: Recent, Current, and Projected Employment, Wages, and Unemployment

"The number of scientists and engineers needed to meet growth and net replacement needs between 2010 and 2020 is 2.4 million, including 1.4 million in the computer occupations and 525,900 engineers..."
Science and Engineering Workforce

America’s Families and Living Arrangements: 2012

"The goals of this report are to provide an updated picture of the composition of families and households and to describe trends in living arrangements in the United States..."
America's Families and Living Arrangement

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

The 50th Anniversary of the "I Have a Dream" Speech and the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom: Aug. 28

"On Aug. 28, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. spoke to more than 200,000 people from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. His famous "I Have a Dream" speech and the march were key moments in the American Civil Rights Movement, before the landmark legislation securing voting, housing and employment rights for all Americans regardless of race. To mark the anniversary, the U.S. Census Bureau has gathered key statistics that measure changes in some characteristics of the black population to date..."
50th Anniversary of the March on Washington, August 28, 2013

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

2013 Hypertension Control Challenge

"Calling all clinicians, clinical practices, and health systems working with patients to get blood pressure under control—enter the 2013 Million Hearts® Hypertension Control Challenge today to spread the word about your successful strategies for better blood pressure control..."
Hypertension

School and Vaccines

"School-age children, from preschoolers to college students, need vaccines. CDC has online resources and tools to help parents and doctors make sure all kids are up to date on recommended vaccines and protected from serious diseases..."
Schools and Vaccines

Attorney General Eric Holder Delivers Remarks at the Annual Meeting of the American Bar Association's

Statement of Attorney General Eric Holder before the American Bar Association's House of Delegates in which he calls for significant changes in the criminal justice system.
Attorney General Eric Holder

Friday, August 9, 2013

2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipients

2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients hosted at the Whitehouse.
Presidential Metal of Freedom

Large Western Fires Increase

Researchers explore the reasons for the recent increase in the number of large western fires and what to do about them.
Large Western Fires

Affordable Health Care: Speaking to Women's Unique Health Needs

Find information on how the Affordable Health Care law address the unique health care concerns of women.
Affordable Health and Women's Needs
http://www.hhs.gov/healthcare/facts/blog/2013/08/womens-health-needs.html

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Obesity Among Low-Income, Preschool-Aged Children — United States, 2008–2011


"Small but significant declines in obesity among low-income preschoolers were observed in 19 of 43 states/territories examined. Continued prevention efforts are needed to sustain and expand the implementation and evaluation of population-level interventions to prevent childhood obesity..."
Obesity and Children

Free of Fear, Violence, and Bullying

Features the video "It gets Better" and the web site "StopBullying.gov" to promote  safe place for learning.
Free of fear, violence, and bullying

Prevent Shingles

"Shingles is also known as herpes zoster. It causes a painful, blistering skin rash that can last 2 to 4 weeks.."
Shingles

E. coli Infection and Food Safety

"Most E. coli are harmless and actually are an important part of a healthy human intestinal tract. However, some E. coli are pathogenic, meaning they can cause illness, either diarrhea or illness outside of the intestinal tract..."
E.coli

Breastfeeding, Early Care and Education

"The first week in August is World Breastfeeding Week. It is a time for people around the world to promote and encourage breastfeeding. Breastfeeding Support: Close to Mothers is the theme for World Breastfeeding Week 2013..."
Breastfeeding

West Nile Virus and Preventing Mosquito Bites

 "Stay healthy this summer. Protect yourself and your loved ones from mosquito bites that cause West Nile virus infection.."
West Nile Virus and Mosquitoes

Public Health and Drought

"Cycles of drought have affected us throughout history and CDC and its partners want you to be prepared to face this public health challenge..."
Public Health and Drought

What Languages are Spoken in Your Area?

From Random Samplings:
"Did you know that more than 300 different languages are spoken in the United States? A new report and mapping tool released today by the U.S. Census Bureau takes a detailed look at many of the most popular languages spoken at home in America.

Of the 292 million people age 5 and older in the U.S.  in 2011, 60.6 million individuals, or 21 percent, reported speaking a language other than English at home. This number grew by 158 percent from 1980 to 2010, while the nation’s overall population age 5 years and older grew by 38 percent. Check out this viz-of-the-week to see which languages grew the most..."
Languages spoken by area

Ocean Acidification

"With increasing concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere, the extent of effectson the ocean and marine resources is an increasing concern. One aspect of this issue is the ongoing process (known as ocean acidification) whereby seawater becomes less alkaline as more CO2 dissolves in it, causing hydrogen ion concentration in seawater to increase.."
Ocean Acidification

State of the Climate


Find a "collection of monthly summaries recapping climate-related occurrences on both a global and national scale..."
State of the Climate

Friday, August 2, 2013

U.S. Crude Oil and Natural Gas Reserves

"In 2011, oil and gas exploration and production companies operating in the United States added almost 3.8 billion barrels of crude oil and lease condensate proved reserves, an increase of 15 percent, and the greatest volume increase since the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) began publishing proved reserves estimates in 1977.."
Crude oil and natural gas reserves

Gluten Free Labeling for Food

"On August 2, 2013, FDA issued a final rule defining “gluten-free” for food labeling, which will help consumers, especially those living with celiac disease, be confident that items labeled “gluten-free” meet a defined standard for gluten content..."
Gluten Free Labeling Food

Digest of Equal Employment Opportunity Law

"This publication includes feature articles on timely issues in equal employment opportunity law, as well as summaries of recent Commission decisions and federal court cases, as they affect Federal government employees..."
Digest of EEOC Law

Where's Baby: Look before you lock

When preparing to take a trip with your baby, here are a few safety tips to consider.
Where's Baby

Labor Stats

Find labor statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics with this android app from Google Play. 
Labor Stats

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Characteristics of New Housing: 2012

"This page provides national, annual data on the characteristics of new privately-owned residential structures, such as square footage, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, type of wall material, and sales prices.."
Characteristics of New Housing

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Congressional Primer on Responding to Major Disasters and Emergencies

 "The principles of disaster management assume a leadership role by the local, tribal, and state governments with the federal government providing coordinated supplemental resources and assistance, if requested and approved.."
Congressional Primer on Responding to Major Disasters and Emergencies

Monday, July 29, 2013

Health Information for International Travel, 2014

"CDC Health Information for International Travel (commonly called the Yellow Book) is published every two years by CDC as a reference for those who advise international travelers about health risks..."
Health Information for International Travel

Friday, July 26, 2013

FRED(Federal Reserve Economic Data)

Find a host of data on the nation's economic condition at the Federal Reserve Economic Data site. 
FRED

Health of White non-Hispanic Population

 Find recent health statistics on the white non-Hispanic population.
Health White non_Hispanic Population

Companies Barred from Advertising Mattresses as Free From Volatile Organic Compounds

"Under settlements with the Federal Trade Commission, three mattress manufacturers have agreed to stop making unsupported claims that the mattresses they sell are free of harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs)...."
Mattresses with Volatile Organic Compounds

Cool Roofs

A part of the U.S. Energy Department's Energy Sever, cool roofs are a new type of roof "designed to reflect more sunlight and absorb less heat than a standard roof. Cool roofs can be made of a highly reflective type of paint, a sheet covering, or highly reflective tiles or shingles..."
Cool Roofs

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Cybersecurity: Authoritative Reports and Resources

"Congress has been actively involved in cybersecurity issues, holding hearings every year since
2001. There is no shortage of data on this topic: government agencies, academic institutions,
think tanks, security consultants, and trade associations have issued hundreds of reports, studies,
analyses, and statistics.
This report provides links to selected authoritative resources related to cybersecurity issues
Cybersecurity: Authoritative Reports and Resources

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Firearms Commerce in the United States;2013

 Find statistics on firearms manufactured in the United States for the years 1986-2011.
Firearms Commerce

Small Business Facts

Find information on starting and operating a small business from the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Small Business Facts

Firearm Violance, 1993-2011

Find data on the number and rate of firearm violence for the period 1993-2011. 
Firearms, 1993-2011

Hate Crime Victimization, 2003-2011

Find data on hate crimes for the period 2003-2011.
Hate Crime Victimization

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Kids Can Strangle in Window Cords

"Do you live in military housing with your family?   Take a look at your window blinds or other type of window coverings, including Roman shades.  If you can see any dangling or accessible cords, your child is at risk..."
Kids and Window cords

World Hepatitis Day

"Viral hepatitis is the leading cause of liver cancer and cirrhosis worldwide. Approximately 1 in 12 persons, or around 500 million people, have chronic viral hepatitis and most of them do not know they are infected..."
World Hepatitis Day

Home Canning and Botulism

"Home canning is an excellent way to preserve garden produce and share it with family and friends, but it can be risky or even deadly if not done correctly and safely..."
Home Canning and Botulism

Protect Your Family from Rabies

"Rabies is a dangerous virus that anyone can get if they handle or get bitten by an animal that has the disease. Protect yourself and your family from rabies: stay away from wild animals and be sure pets are vaccinated every year..."
Rabies

Monday, July 22, 2013

Products made by forced or indentured child labor

"The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs today announced a revised "List of Products Produced by Forced or Indentured Child Labor," adding six new products from five countries. Federal contractors supplying products on the list must certify the goods were not produced by forced or indentured child labor in accordance with Executive Order 13126..."
Products made by forced labor