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